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Category Archives: absolutely agggie

April showers bring…free books! My newest picture book, Dust Fairy Tales: Absolutely Aggie is free on Kindle until April 12.

It’s the story of a dusty little fairy struggling to fit in. She doesn’t have the “perfect” hair, she’s too loud, and her clothes are a mess. Just when she thinks all is lost, Aggie discovers a way to truly shine. Oh, did I mention she plays the bagpipes?!

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This adorable book makes a unique, sugar-free, Easter gift. Hop over to Amazon, and get a copy for each of your devices.
If you enjoy the story, please take a moment to leave a short review or rating on Amazon. Thank you!

Here’s a short preview trailer:

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I am celebrating the 2nd Christmas season of Dust Fairy Tales: Absolutely Aggie with an awesome giveaway. From now until December 25, I am offering a free audio book, free gift wrap, and free shipping with any Absolutely Aggie book purchase (USA only) via my web site www.michelleeastmanbooks.com

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Aggie’s heart-warming story is a perfect gift for the little ones on your list. You can watch a preview trailer here: Absolutely Aggie Trailer

I wish each and every one of you a safe, blessed, and happy holiday season!

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April is Rhyming Picture Book Month, so I thought I’d celebrate by giving away my newest picture book, Dust Fairy Tales: Absolutely Aggie.

Download the ebook for FREE, this week, on Amazon. Here’s the link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0155J4Q7I/

I just discovered that UK Amazon customers are eligible for the free offer as well.

Happy Reading!

 

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Here are some other literacy celebrations going on this month:

National Poetry Month

This April marks the 20th anniversary of National Poetry Month, which was inaugurated by the Academy of American Poets in 1996. Over the years, National Poetry Month has become the largest literary celebration in the world with schools, publishers, libraries, booksellers, and poets celebrating poetry’s vital place in our culture.

National Library Week  April 10-16, 2016

http://www.ala.org/nlw

First sponsored in 1958, National Library Week is a national observance sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA) and libraries across the country each April. It is a time to celebrate the contributions of our nation’s libraries and librarians and to promote library use and support.

Children’s Day/Book Day – El día de los niños/El día de los libros (Día) April 30, 2016

http://dia.ala.org

Children’s Day/Book Day, also known as El día de los niños/El día de los libros (Día), is a celebration of children, families, and reading and held annually on April 30. The celebration emphasizes the importance of advocating literacy for every child regardless of linguistic and cultural background.


WARNING-

This post contains a shameless plug for my new children’s picture book…

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What’s cuter than kitties in bunny costumes?

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My new picture book! And it makes a much more practical Easter gift. For a chance to win a copy, head over to my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/michelleeastmanbooks/

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Post your favorite bunny picture on my Facebook page, and you are entered to win a free hard cover book and the audio book CD (US residents).

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Meanwhile, the real Easter bunny will be kissing winter good-bye…hello razors!

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I am trying out the new Amazon Giveaway service. Andy Mulberry recently blogged about her experience, so I thought I’d give it a whirl.

Many authors have a love/hate relationship with Amazon, so I understand if you do not want to participate.

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But, if you are willing to give it a go, Amazon tells me my giveaway is now live and I should, “Share this link to let the world know.” I am quite sure the world has bigger fish to fry…

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but here it is:

https://giveaway.amazon.com/p/7483c0f0946705bc

I appreciate any feedback you have about the entry process. If you’ve used this service, please feel free to share your experiences/opinions.

You are all winners in my book! Thank you!

Girl wearing 1st place medal with arms in the air

 


To say the past year has been a whirlwind would be an understatement.

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I self-published my first children’s picture book around this time in 2014. Aside from my first year teaching, I have never worked so hard, or felt more inept. But, in both cases, I was determined to learn what I needed to know in order to be successful.

From the blog of Nicholas C. Rossis, author of science fiction, the Pearseus epic fantasy series and children's books

I set out to learn the best way to publish my book, but I gained much more than that. I started this blog, fumbled my way around Twitter and a few other social sites, and met a lot of truly wonderful people along the way.

Success is a relative term. And, for me, it has been a dichotomy. I have enjoyed many successful moments. But, for whatever reason, I still beat myself up about my shortcomings (not sure if that is an indie author thing or just an all-around author thing).

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They say success breeds success, and despite my attempts to sabotage my own, I’ve managed to publish a second children’s book. I was blessed to work with the same illustrator on what we both feel is our best work to date.

I’ll host the book launch party for my second book tomorrow. And, I’ll also celebrate the one-year anniversary of the book that started me on this wild and winding path.

To mark the event, I am offering both books for $.99 on Kindle from December 4-11.

I’d like to extend a sincere thank you to all of my online friends and colleagues. Being part of this community has definitely been one of the best aspects of becoming an author.

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I wish each of you joy in the things you love to do. I’d love to hear about your experiences. Please feel free to leave a reply about your joyful moments.

Here are some of the moments that have brought me joy:

 

 

 


I am celebrating the arrival of baby book number two, Dust Fairy Tales: Absolutely Aggie. So, I am offering a giveaway each week, leading up to the official launch party on December 4.

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Both of my books feature mischievous fairies who enjoy making messes in our homes while we sleep. Legend has it that each fairy has his/her very own dust bunny. The dust bunnies accompany the fairies during the long, and sometimes lonely, nights. The legend also says, the fairies are sometimes careless and leave a dust bunny or two behind.

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I advocate letting sleeping dust bunnies lie. If you agree, post a selfie or picture of the most active or interesting place YOUR dust bunnies hide.

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Yes, this is a poorly-veiled attempt to plug my book.

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But, I am donating $1 from each book sold to Operation Christmas Child. And, I am giving away a print copy of my book (or ebook for outside the US) to the winner of the “selfie-sweepstakes”.

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Head over to my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/michelleeastmanbooks to post your entry.

Show Me the BUNNY!

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How about a free audio book? I recently released my second children’s picture book, Dust Fairy Tales: Absolutely Aggie. As an indie author, spreading the word about my books is challenging. I’d like to offer the audio version of the book in exchange for a like or share on Facebook.

The audio book is delightful, thanks to talented voice-over professional, Melissa Hughes. She brings Aggie’s story to life with the whimsy and magic of a classic fairy tale, complete with quirky voices and sound effects. She’s been the voice of Toys R Us, JC Penny, Dillard’s, Krispy Kreme, and more. It was a pleasure working with her on this project.

Synopsis:

Fairies, music, and dust! Oh my! Aggie is a little Dust Fairy with a big problem. She wants to join the fairy band, but they do not approve of her offbeat style. Aggie is determined to impress them, but that turns out to be harder than she imagined. Just when she thinks she will never find a way to fit in, Aggie discovers it might be more fun to stand out. Lively, rhyming stanzas and vibrant illustrations come together in this magical tale. It is sure to delight boys and girls alike while imparting a positive message about embracing one’s individuality.

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Like or share https://www.facebook.com/michelleeastmanbooks/ on Facebook and you are entered to win this “absolutely” fabulous CD.

Learn more about the Dust Fairy series of books at http://www.michelleeastmanbooks.com/


Hello. I am a children’s author, and I recently released my second picture book. Although it is my second book, I am relatively new to blogging and publishing, so it is a challenge to solicit reviews. Friends and family will be “officially” introduced to my new book at the launch party on December 4. I value their input, but I’d also like to get reviews from people outside of my support circle.

If you are interested in reviewing my book on Amazon, Goodreads, or your blog, Please contact me via the comments or at dmeastman (at) msn (dot) com to receive a PDF review copy.

Here is a little more information about the book and author.

Dust Fairy Tales: Absolutely Aggie (Children’s Picture Book, ages 4-8)

Fairies, music, and dust! Oh my! Aggie is a little Dust Fairy with a big problem. She wants to join the fairy band, but they do not approve of her offbeat style. Aggie is determined to impress them, but that turns out to be harder than she imagined. Just when she thinks she will never find a way to fit in, Aggie discovers it might be more fun to stand out.

About the Author:

Michelle Eastman is the author of ‘Dust Fairy Tales: Absolutely Aggie’ as well as ‘The Legend of Dust Bunnies, a Fairy’s Tale’. Michelle’s books take a lighthearted approach to the compelling desire kids have to fit-in. The stories validate the need kids feel for acceptance, while imparting a gentle take-away message of the joy that can come from embracing one’s individuality. The lively, rhyming stanzas and vivid illustrations appeal to boys and girls alike.

Michelle began her career as an elementary teacher in the West Des Moines School District. At Iowa Public Television, she wrote educational content for teachers and students. Her work with children, and passion for picture books, inspired her to found the literacy initiative, Picture Book Pass it On (#PBPiO). When she’s not chasing dust bunnies, or her two cats, she likes to cuddle up with a good book and her son. Michelle lives with her husband and son, in Waukee, Iowa.

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If you have any tips or advice for seeking reviews, or helpful resources, I would love to hear from you. I enjoy connecting with fellow authors. I’m on Twitter, Goodreads, and Facebook. Thank you for your time.


Hello to all. I am beyond excited to share my newest picture book, Dust Fairy Tales: Absolutely Aggie. I am running a Goodreads giveaway until October 5.

If you are a book reviewer, please contact me about receiving a complimentary PDF copy for consideration.

Here is the synopsis:

Fairies, music, and dust! Oh my! Aggie is a little Dust Fairy with a big problem. She wants to join the fairy band, but they do not approve of her offbeat style. Aggie is determined to impress them, but that turns out to be harder than she imagined. Just when she thinks she will never find a way to fit in, Aggie discovers it might be more fun to stand out. Lively, rhyming stanzas and vibrant illustrations come together in this magical tale. It is sure to delight boys and girls alike, while imparting a positive message about embracing one’s individuality.

https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/155813-dust-fairy-tales-absolutely-aggie/

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I am excited to be publishing my second children’s book. I created this short preview video, and I would love to hear your thoughts. Thank you!

Here is the synopsis:

Fairies, music, and dust! Oh my! Aggie is a little Dust Fairy with a big problem. She wants to join the fairy band, but they do not approve of her offbeat style. Aggie is determined to impress them, but that turns out to be harder than she imagined. Just when she thinks she will never find a way to fit in, Aggie discovers it might be more fun to stand out. Lively, rhyming stanzas and vibrant illustrations come together in this magical tale. The story is sure to delight boys and girls alike, while imparting a positive message about embracing one’s individuality.


I don’t know how I got so lucky as to have Kevin Richter beside me through the production of two books, but I am so happy he’s along for the ride. Here is the cover reveal for our forthcoming children’s picture book.

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