Mickey and the Gargoyle

Mickey and the Gargoyle

I've never been much of a blogger, but I now find myself in the unique position (yeah, right) of having written a book.  If I sell ten copies, I'll do several back-flips on a trampoline that's been set on fire.  I need to be blogging if I want people to find me and find my book.  That's just the way of things in the world today.  And I've decided not to harass, harangue, or cajole friends, relatives, coworkers, and passing acquaintances into buying my book.  There are still lines out there that I refuse to cross.  No spamming friends on Facebook and Twitter.  No arm-twisting. 

My book's just about ready to go live on CreateSpace and Amazon, though I want to go on the soapbox for a minute in order to give you a heads-up about ordering through Amazon.  Excellent website, however, the self-published, POD (print on demand) books ordered through that site are printed at a different facility than the ones ordered through the CreateSpace website, even though they are the same company.  

The problem isn't with the Amazon website--it's the printing facility.

However, a lot of writers who go the route of POD and have their books listed on Amazon are frustrated with the binding problems.  We write a book, someone expresses enough interest and confidence in that title to go to the bother of ordering it, and they receive a book, open it, and pages fall out.  Writers like us are already fighting tooth and nail for the slightest bit of respect and validity, and this certainly doesn't help.

The long and short of it is this: I'm recommending that anyone who decides to order my book for their kid, please order through the CreateSpace listing that is linked above.  I'm sure Amazon will address the binding issues at this facility where they print the POD titles, but until then, go to CS.

Off the soapbox and back onto the issue at hand:  I've never been so excited in my life.  This book is the first in what will be a series.  This is Christian children's fiction, fantasy/mystery, and middle grade--that's readers aged 8 - 12.  In the world of Christian fiction, fantasy falls under the heading of 'speculative.' 

This story is a modern-day Wizard of Oz of sorts, with eleven-year-old Mickey Walker and his nine-year-old sister, Fidget, finding themselves trapped in 'the dark, creepy underworld.'  Their 'tin man, scarecrow, and lion' are three gargoyles:  Grigori, Constantine, and Otto.  

Perhaps this strikes some as an odd premise for Christian fiction specifically, and children's fiction in general.  Gargoyles are portrayed in books, magazines, video games, and even cartoons as vicious, evil monsters.  Perhaps they neglected to check the history books.  First, gargoyles were created in order to cast water from buildings.  Medieval gutter spouts.  That's what they were, primarily, and that just doesn't sound too scary to me.  

Second--and more importantly--they were designed to scare evil spirits away from old churches.  Doesn't sound like a malevolent being to me.  As Mickey says in this first book, "What kind of monster guards a church?"   He then very accurately determines they're not monsters--they're protectors.  The whole idea of this just absolutely screamed out "undiscovered hero in Christian children's fiction" to me, and I think it worked quite well.  Hopefully, your kid feels the same way.

And finally, I want to put in a word here with regard to the book's illustrator, William R. Palacio.  I'm not much for commercials, but if I feel strongly about any product or service, I'll put in a good word for them, and without any money changing hands.  If this guy isn't absolutely up to his eyeballs in work, there's something tragically wrong.   I still can't believe I was able to afford him.  Are you kidding?  I'm a bus rider.

If you're writing a book, particularly a children's book where this artist really shines, you better email this guy. 

This guy isn't just amazing--he's affordable.  Those two things don't usually go hand-in-hand.  You only ever get one or the other...unless you hire William Palacio.  Check these out:

Bill's glowing recommendation aside, this book will be live on both CreateSpace and Amazon--barring any unpleasant/unforeseen issues when I review the proof copy--by the weekend.  My heart's all aflutter.  :)

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