Nanny's Tales: The Dragon and the Unicorn

                                  

Starting with Nanny's adventures of a princess-turned-unicorn, FutureWord Publishing will be releasing the first of a series of colorful tales written by Katherine Coppinger. This time it is about a grandmother's adventures with her grandchildren, a unicorn, and a hateful, fire-breathing dragon. Nanny is not like any other grandmother. She dresses much younger than the average granny would. To her nine year-old granddaughter, Kirstin and her four-year-old grandson, Michael, she's a ticket into some dreamy, but edge-of-your-seat action. The story brings to its readers a vivid picture of warmth, love and beauty through the images drawn by the storytelling alone. Add the talents of one of the best illustrators,Valerie Bouthyette, and you have a captivating book for young readers.

Katherine Coppinger's stories were originally written to read to her grandchildren. Now she has decided to present one of them to FutureWord, who is now ready to illustrate a 22 page story that actually was first written out to take up the space of a novella for children if combined with the sequel, Nanny and the Frocodile King.


Nanny's Tales: The Dragon and the Unicorn opens with Kirstin and Michael flying kites while Nanny is working in the flower bed. Their kites look like a dragon and a unicorn. Suddenly, the kites come to life and the dragon soars upward to a castle somewhere in the sky with Michael tucked away snugly under the dragon's tail. Nanny and Kirstin are left with the unicorn who explains that the dragon is really a mean sorcerer who wanted to marry a princess. When she refused, he turned her into a unicorn and himself into a dragon. The kidnapping of Michael is a just a lure for the loving unicorn to make a rescue attempt so he can try to get her to submit to marriage. Nanny won't tolerate this. According to Kirstin's faith in Nanny, it will all be over for the dragon once Nanny arrives. So, off they go with the unicorn to attempt the rescue.

Good stories come from real life events, whether they are for children or for adults. Katherine explained how she thought of the idea for this book.
  
"'I always made up stories for the children because they found them more fun when I used their names or the names of their friends. This story began when Kirstin and Michael were flying kites in front of the house. I began working in the flowerbed and heard Michael call out, 'Nanny, help me.' I turned and found him with his kite string wrapped around his neck and shoulders with the kite still flying. It looked as if it was trying to take him with it. I ran to untangle Michael and I told him, 'What happened honey, did that kite try to fly off with you?' That night our story was about a dragon who did steal Michael. Since Kirstin was also flying a kite, I made her kite a unicorn and the story spun a life of its own.'"

The 8 by 10 children's picture book has 44 pages of text and pictures. The total number of pages is 52. It is perfect bound and soon will be available on Amazon. B & N.com, Books-a-Million, Borders, and all the online book stores. Contact the publisher for more details at www.futureword.net. The release is just around the corner.

~C. Haynes

Little Rockin' Roger makes a debut in Uk and the USA

Benjamin Moores may be modest about his own name, but not about Little Rockin' Roger. For the last two years, Benjamin worked slowly and painstakingly to develop his story and gradually worked with New York illustrator Valerie Bouthyette to bring that story to life. Benjamin searched for agents in the UK and was determined not to put Little Rockin' Roger on the waiting list too long. I'm glad he didn't wait!

Benjamin wrote in a recent letter to FutureWord the reason he submitted to a US publisher.

"Well, I was having hard luck with English agents here in the UK. Because of the recession, most were sticking with their "sure things". So on a prayer, I emailed Valerie my full manuscript hoping that she might like and recommend it to her friends (at this point I didn't know who Futureword were). A week or so later I got an email telling me she loved it to which I said, "Thank you very much".

Then a week later Valerie said that she had emailed my manuscript to one of her friends (Cheryl Haynes) and that she will let me know when she made a decision.

This took about 3 weeks. In the meantime I researched Cheryl Haynes and her site and made notes and was very impressed of all of its staff. This made me very anxious for her decision... which at first wasn't what I hoped for lol but in time she decided to take me on and here we are now!!"

FutureWord told the author that his book had a very high potential for a British audience. He insisted that the US audience would be a bigger one. He had been working on these series of stories in his mind long before he located an illustrator. Perseverance is one true sign of a winner. FutureWord let him try his hand at placing it with a UK publisher first. We couldn't believe we were lucky enough to have the story. Just reading it gave this publisher ideas . . .created brainstorms within. I contacted Lea Heil and asked her if she could write a musical score to go with Benjamin's lyrics. There is a rare and unique tale here. He never really showed Valerie the full manuscript for the illustrations. He only told her what he wanted for the pictures. She complied. Such was an extraordinary way of getting a book illustrated. You can almost read the whole process on the Little Rockin' Roger fan page created back in 2008.

Benjamin teaches young teens in IT but keeps a private collection of Little Rockin' Roger stories in his back pocket for when these are sold. The 48 page, perfect bound 8 by 10 is fully illustrated and can be purchased in the US for $12.99 and in the UK for as little as £7.78.

The book is also sold globally and at all retail online bookstores including Barnes and Noble.

So now, what is and who is Little Rockin' Roger? He's everywhere on the Internet. Roger, his mother and his pet fish move to a new home. Roger hums to himself at night because he's afraid. Someone or something starts to hum the tune back to Roger. He suspects ghosts but he can't be sure. Then a mouse leads him to the old attic where a magic glass guitar will make him become the next rock star!

The children can sing the song if the parents can read the musical score. It's a lovely way to teach children to love arts and culture. It helps them to learn music and gives the family a sense of togetherness.

Little Rockin' Roger just may rock your world like he has some of the people on his fan page.

Check out www.littlerockin'Roger.com or go to Facebook. He's listed there too!
Little Rockin' Roger! Oh, yeah! Little Rockin' Roger! Oh, Yeah!

GAYA nominee to give "Inspiration" for the banquet

Nicole Izmaylov will present the "Inspiration" at the Georgia State Convention banquet, which will be held at the Georgia International Convention Center in College Park. The banquet will commence on Friday, June 25, 2010 at 6 PM EST.

Nicole also received a notice by mail along with silver labels to distinguish her book, Ronnie and BB, as a candidate for the prestigious GAYA Award. The GAYA (Georgia Author of the Year Award) is held each year annually and an author is awarded merits for outstanding achievements in literary works.

This award is presented by the Georgia Writers Association. This event is scheduled for the 19th of June. These are two separate events.

Nicole's first book is about Ronnie, a bumblebee who meets up with a mole named BB. These two characters, created by Nicole Izmaylov, share her message in an acrostic poem that reminds the readers that love and friendship are never to be taken lightly. Her twenty-four page children's book is perfect bound 8.25 by 8.25 with colorful illustrations by Valerie Bouthyette.

Nicole interviewed with this publisher by telephone prior to re-submitting an acrostic poem-story. I asked her if she was familiar with acrostic poetry.

Publishers seek authors who can supply what the publishers believe the readers would enjoy. At the time, I saw the need for acrostic poetry. It wasn't until after I spoke with Nicole that I truly realized how skilled she was in literature and poetry. I made an agreement to see what she could do with acrostics when she replied that she worked with acrostics in the past. Within an hour, I received the first draft of the poem-story converted into an acrostic.

Nicole was born in Atlanta and received national recognition for literary and musical compositions, including the "Reflections" award for literature during her elementary school years and various times throughout middle school. Her personal interests include: writing poems, playing violin and piano, and acting in the drama club at her school. She is now attending seventh grade at Webb Bridge in Alpharetta, Georgia. She recently interviewed on Cynthia Brian's internationally syndicated radio show, "Be the Star You Are." It was during that interview that Nicole made a vocal submission to FutureWord for a forthcoming novel.

Michelle Izmaylov had her own fame established as one of the "Top 20 Under 20" on CNN.com. Her award-winning novel "Dream Saver" sold 35,000 copies. Michelle will also be in attendance as a nominee for her science fiction, "The Galacteran Legacy: Galaxy Watch."

Are the girls nervous? Well, maybe, but when you are already used to the limelight it doesn't hurt to look it straight in the eye.

If anyone would like to attend the awards, the ceremony begins at 7:30 PM and is free and open to the public. There is a fee of $55.00 for the banquet, which precedes the ceremony and begins at 6 PM, but this money is going to a great cause. Just click on the link GAYA for more information. The deadline for purchasing tickets for the banquet is June 8th.

Little Rockin Roger rocks

Now and then, Valerie Bouthyette has a book that she is illustrating that she runs by me to see what I think.

I saw this one and it was a no-brainer. My own personal ethical code will not allow me to talk Benjamin Moores into letting me publish his first book of The Little Rockin Roger series that he has been talking about for months.

This book needs a home at brick and mortar stores.

There are novels that can be read on Kindle and novels that can be printed on demand and purchased on line, but this one will pop out on a book store shelf to any child or adult.

Little Rockin Roger & the Magic Glass Guitar is about a young boy, Roger, who moves to a new house and encounters some seriously spooky events. No rattling chains or creaking noises, but a "tune".

Roger and his pet fish get carried away with the magic of a glass guitar that makes Roger a singing idol .

The lyrics are lively, the illustrations, by Valerie Bouthyette are once again, remarkable and eye-catching.

FutureWord had to turn Benjamin Moores in another direction. All suggestions for Benjamin Moore's book should be sent to: Ourfutureword@aol.com.

Right now, we want to see who is paying attention and how it turns out.

"One must never keep a dream waiting." -Og Mandino- The Greatest Salesman in the World

New York Illustrator creates juvenile fiction character

Valerie Bouthyette has decided to bring everything she's got to the children of the world. For years she has been illustrating stories for authors and encouraging others to write, illustrate and publish. Now this creative innovator has a children's book of her own now available through Amazon.com.

Valerie's first book, in a series of stories that chronicle the adventures of a mouse and all of the friends that climb on his bandwagon while learning some valuable lessons in life, is a Christmas story that introduce the main character, Mousie.

Mousie lives alone in a barn on a farm owned by a family. Mousie treks across snow- covered fields in cold, biting winds to just catch a peek of the little boy who lives inside the little white farmhouse.

As each day passes, the family decorates and prepares for the Christmas season--something Mousie has never experienced.

"We don't have all the details worked out but we would like to continue the series of Mousie with an introduction to a few other characters around the farmhouse," says Cheryl Haynes, President of FutureWord Publishing. Cheryl has collaborated with the renown illustrator about the possibility of doing a number of books, all of which will showcase her outstanding artwork and heart-warming stories that teach social and moral values to children.

Valerie is working on a teaching degree but says, "I student taught at Calvin U. Smith Elementary School last Spring in Mrs. Merrill's first grade class and worked with the students to write and illustrate a book which they followed through to self-publish through Lulu.com. The titled work was called the Magnificent and Scientific Adventures of Mouse. This mouse character is one created by the students. I'll be student teaching with Mrs. Colunio's 5th grade class this fall."

The launch date for Valerie's new title, The Christmas Wish, is set for Friday, October 9, 2009.



The book is perfect bound, 8.25 by 8.25 and is full color illustrations with bleed.

An official press release date is also set for October 9, 2009.

FutureWord is forming its staff

FutureWord is proud to introduce a new staff member. . .

Valerie Bouthyette is known for her prolific art and dazzling illustrations that have entertained children all over the United States. Valerie Bouthyette is an illustrator, specializing in children’s books. Valerie has a degree in Graphic Design from SUNY Farmingdale, and was formerly an art director for American Lithotech on Long Island many years ago.

She's been in the graphic design field for more than twenty-five years, and currently owns her own illustration business. Valerie is an award winning artist and also creates logo and graphic designs as well as book trailers.

She works in watercolor, pencil, acrylic and a variety of other mediums including digital artwork and design. Valerie says she been working in this field since she “could hold a crayon”, and her favorite color is Crayola’s periwinkle.

Cheryl Haynes, President of FutureWord, commented, "I was impressed with the Disney quality of Valerie's work and was astounded that she accepted the invitation to provide illustrations for authors who query their work to FutureWord. If the authors have a fantastic story and they can't illustrate, we have one of the top ten illustrators on Guru.com. Anyone who has a great children's story would be lucky to have her illustrations. I have used her services myself and am positively 100% satisfied. One of her virtues that I find matches with my own interests are her philanthropic points of view."

In Valerie's own words:

"I hope to give our community’s youth the opportunity to express themselves creatively and I am most looking forward to providing affordable access to the arts to all, regardless of financial status."

"Valerie will have her own business but she will represent FutureWord in their acquisitions of children's illustrated books. We are lucky to have her commit her talented services to making the world of readers, and the authors who provide their leadership, a better picture of the message in storybooks." Cheryl told one interviewer.

Another goal of FutureWord is to make illustrating and editing a more economical solution for authors, apart from the publishing business. We're not just a publisher. We're consultants.

FutureWord is a publishing group that acts like a network for whatever the authors need to get published. If they need an editor--bingo!. They may need an illustrator or a beta reader, or even a book trailer. So you think you need an agent? No, you don't--we are the publisher too!

No cost to you if you are contracted for a book. We pay for the editor and the illustrator. If you are someone looking for an editor or illustrator but want to query your work somewhere else, we offer recommendations for that as well.

We have someone linked here to help you. We aim to provide the readers with quality writing and illustrations for the youth of today. www.futureword.net