DUCK AND COVER!!!!

We’ve got a cover….

What do you think? I think it’s SOOOO spunky!

A month out… THE DUCK WILL FLY!!!!

Coal City stories is about a month out. The duck will fly October 10th. Until then – we are going to have some fun. Just a little bit of behind the scenes, a few sneak peeks, and some little things that will make the waiting easier for all! Steamduck Learns to FLY! is on the way!

Steamduck will RISE again!

If you haven’t already – go buy my first children’s book. Go on… we’ll wait…..

Got it? Oh, good. Happy to sign it for you next time I see you. AND NOW — you are ready for:

Join us as we attempt to make the bestseller lists again on 10-10-2012 with our new book – Steamduck Learns to FLY! Thanks for your support!

And the Steamduck RISES!

Kevin and I have been working hard. Plotting, planning, rhyming, drawing…. We have a frame for a new Coal City Stories book, and the plan is good. Take a look:

Please follow THE DUCK on Facebook! http://www.facebook.com/pages/Steamduck/108061409309296

I know. Kevin does FANTASTIC work. So charming.  He really sold me on that ice cream parlor font. Before I get all into what’s coming next, I want to take a second and thank ALL the folks – and especially the kids – who have made HME such a success. Now, before the media swarm…. Here’s today’s announcement press release:

Press release June 27^th 2012

Author Emilie P. Bush and illustrator William Kevin Petty are proud to announce the release date of the follow up to their bestselling children’s book Her Majesty’s Explorer: a Steampunk bedtime story.  On October 10, 2012, the waddling hero of HME – Steamduck – returns with another adventure in Steamduck Learns to Fly! 

 In this new tale, the plucky mechanical duck discovers that REAL birds do more than swim. He turns to his old friend and maker – the Otter – to learn a few things about flying. They try and fail with propeller contraptions, hot air balloons and more. Despite all the mishaps, the pair eventually defy gravity and take to the sky.

“With the success of Her Majesty’s Explorer, we thought long and hard about where we wanted to go with our darling characters. Steamduck has quite a following, and we wanted to make sure he was true to his heroic nature. Kevin is a pilot, and a huge fan of flight history, so we went with those ideas for our second Steamduck story,” says Emilie P. Bush.  “So, as he tries and fails with many different types of flight, he never gives up, and he never stops learning.”

Fans wanting to keep up with details and sneak peek images from Steamduck Learns to Fly! can follow the project on Facebook – as Steamduck has his own fan page. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Steamduck/108061409309296

 ###

The calm after the story.

Well, we are exhausted. Kevin and I have worked pretty hard getting Her Majesty’s Explorer: a Steampunk bedtime story, up and out. Last night – I just hit the wall, and then the floor. It’s been a long, LONG journey.

But, as you can see by the chart yonder, a good one! that’s our sales report from Amazon for the book. Me likey. In a nutshell, it shows us doing well and I like doing well. Doing well beats stinking up the joint any day.

BUT, this doesn’t mean we can take it easy. Kevin and I are still working – we have plans for more books this year, individually and together. Well – paintings for him and some other book things for me.  I’m finishing up the text for the next Coal City Stories book project this week, and while Kevin draws, I will work on editing my two manuscripts that are pining away for my attentions. I’ll keep you posted here with stuff about each. BUT, again, we are both a little tired, so don’t worry if you hear nothing but snores from this quarter for a short time. We’re working. And resting.

Thanks again for all your support!

Sunday Morning Coming Down

It was a blast to launch and see the book go from over 100,000th in the sales rankings on AMAZON to it’s highest point of #471. That was awesome. That was better than I thought it would do. But… we’re coming down. It’s natural. It is what it is. Kev prefers not to watch the slide. He  told me not to do the reverse play by play, and that’s probably wise. But I still look at the rankings every day. It’s in the 10-20K range now – still very respectable for the kind of publishing we are.

Kevin and I shrug and say – this is a marathon, not a sprint, and in the long run, our books – yes bookS, as we have already started working on the next two – will become a body of work that will stand for some time. A good launch is nice, now we need to keep moving, keep working every day and creating more wonderful titles for our little imprint, Coal City Stories.

In other book news – had a long interview with Geekout at CNN this week. There will likely be a story about the book on CNN’s blog on Monday – will be watching for that.

Space Gypsies reviewed the book, and here’s what they said: “Whether you are a fan of Steampunk or not. Whether or not you are a Parent or Child. Even if you are a non-geek adult. Don’t miss out on reading this little charmer!” OK! I’ll take that.

Also – the price rolled back to list for the book on AMAZON – so – Sorry to the people who were waiting, you now will have to pay 21% more for the book.  AND the promotion of 4-for-3 is also over – we did VERY well with that one. We hit #3 on the best seller list in that category – OVER ALL!  Amazing how that worked. The other caveat of changing the price is that I activated the expanded distribution for H.M.E. – hopefully – this will get the book IN PAPER in Canada and UK and Europe. We will see.

Speaking of UK – Chenda is VERY cheap there right now… In fact, Chenda and the Airship Brofman is on sale for the month of MARCH! 99-cents in the US – 0.77 in the UK

BUT – more on that tomorrow….

Press Release: Her Majesty’s Explorer Launches to Rave Reviews

For Immediate Release:                                                               February 27, 2012

Her Majesty’s Explorer: a Steampunk bedtime story LAUNCHES Tuesday – to rave reviews.

Blurbs and reviews are rolling in to Coal City Stories for  its first publication Her Majesty’s Explorer: a Steampunk bedtime story, which is to launch Tuesday February 28^th, 2012.

Atlanta, GA — Praise is rolling in from around the Steampunk community for a first of its kind Steampunk children’s book.  Her Majesty’s Explorer: a Steampunk bedtime story, featuring a bonus story, “Three Cheers for Steamduck”, was written by Steampunk novelist Emilie P. Bush and illustrated by William Kevin Petty. The tale is receiving praise from illustrators, authors, bloggers and publishing organizations inside and out of the Steampunk Community. Here is what some early reviewers are saying:

“The illustrations are adorable!”  ~ Beyond Victoriana Blog

“I did enjoy Steamduck.  A wonderful whimsical story so real you might feel a little seasick. But in a good way.” Jenny ~The Bloggess

“St John Murphy Alexander marches the young reader through the excitement of exploration and duty, and lulls us with the tender familiarity of a comforting bedtime routine. The story is curious and intrepid, yet ready to be tucked in for a good night’s sleep.” ~ Nancy Overbury, Overbury Ink.

“St. John Murphy Alexander, “Her Majesty’s Explorer,” is literature’s most charming mechanical man since L. Frank Baum’s Tin Man.” ~ Jim Barnes Independent Publisher Magazine.

“I just finished reading Her Majesty’s explorer to Chloe (9 years old) and Isabella (just 6). They both loved it, and both wished they could have their very own Steamduck.”  Captain Robert of Abney Park.

“Utterly charming” ~M.K. Hobson, Steampunk Novelist

“This is the perfect childhood book for steampunk parents to introduce their children to the steampunk subculture. I use that term loosely. Steampunk has managed to increasingly wedge its way into popular culture and this book drives that opening wider and opens it to the youngest of readers.” John Iwasz, ComicBooked.com

“My syn­apses have always fired for a bot in uni­form…” ~ S. J. Chambers, co-author of The Steampunk Bible

“A story that is sweet and dreamy-a perfect bedtime story and a great introduction for children to Steampunk.”  ~ Benito, Corral, Betwixt Book Reviews.

“Absolutely charming.  It is the Dr. Seuss of Steampunk, and… I LOVED it.” ~ DJ Doctor Q, The Artifice Club and The Steampunk Chronicle.

Links:

THE BOOK LINK to AMAZON.COM. The book will be available on the 28th – for a special discounted price! http://www.amazon.com/Her-Majestys-Explorer-Steampunk-bedtime/dp/0984902805/

The Launch Page:  http://www.facebook.com/events/347525985265865/

The Her Majesty’s Explorer Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/HerMajestysExplorer

The blog: http://coalcitysteam.wordpress.com/

The Video Book trailer: http://youtu.be/kHb3Wpe3F2o

The Tease Read by Captain Robert of Abney Park: http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=2931604900935

Chenda and the Airship Brofman: http://www.amazon.com/Chenda-Airship-Brofman-Emilie-Bush/dp/1449542549

The Gospel According to Verdu : http://www.amazon.com/Gospel-According-Verdu-Book-Brofman/dp/1461026466/

AMAZON UK Kindle link: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Her-Majestys-Explorer-Steampunk-ebook/dp/B007AV8LVC/

AMAZON GERMANY Kindle Link: http://www.amazon.de/Her-Majestys-Explorer-Steampunk-ebook/dp/B007AV8LVC/

Amazon Italy Kindle edition: http://www.amazon.it/Her-Majestys-Explorer-Steampunk-ebook/dp/B007AV8LVC/

Amazon France Kindle Edition: http://www.amazon.fr/Her-Majestys-Explorer-Steampunk-ebook/dp/B007AV8LVC/

The Last Day…. We LAUNCH at Dawn!

Tuesday – We Launch.

I’m asking you all to help us.  Kevin and I are hoping to make this book an Amazon Bestseller tomorrow. We think we can do it, with help from our friends and ALL of the Steampunk Community. If you fancy our little mechanical man and his trusty bathtub ducky, show your support. Buy it from Amazon, tweet to your friends, maybe change your Facebook picture to Steamduck, help us get the word out in any way possible. It’s a great story, and if we can generate just a little bit of solid buzz right off the bat, we will be set. Like Mary Poppins said, “Well begun is half done!”

So let’s begin….

THE LINK TO AMAZON:  http://www.amazon.com/Her-Majestys-Explorer-Steampunk-bedtime/dp/0984902805/

… and Kevin and I thank you.

Feel free to use either of these images on your Facebook page, or as any avitar that is yours to play with:

Her Majesty's Explorer - COVER

Here are the links you might want to share:

The Launch Page:  http://www.facebook.com/events/347525985265865/

The Her Majesty’s Explorer Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/HerMajestysExplorer

The blog: http://coalcitysteam.wordpress.com/

The Video Book trailer: http://youtu.be/kHb3Wpe3F2o

The Tease Read by Captain Robert of Abney Park: http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=2931604900935

Chenda and the Airship Brofman: http://www.amazon.com/Chenda-Airship-Brofman-Emilie-Bush/dp/1449542549

The Gospel According to Verdu : http://www.amazon.com/Gospel-According-Verdu-Book-Brofman/dp/1461026466/

AMAZON UK Kindle link: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Her-Majestys-Explorer-Steampunk-ebook/dp/B007AV8LVC/

AMAZON GERMANY Kindle Link: http://www.amazon.de/Her-Majestys-Explorer-Steampunk-ebook/dp/B007AV8LVC/

Amazon Italy Kindle edition: http://www.amazon.it/Her-Majestys-Explorer-Steampunk-ebook/dp/B007AV8LVC/

Amazon France Kindle Edition: http://www.amazon.fr/Her-Majestys-Explorer-Steampunk-ebook/dp/B007AV8LVC/

12 days to Launch: Hide and Seek and going in circles

The seek and find page from Her Majesty's Explorer

My kids are all about the bedtime story, and, for me, the best bedtime stories are the ones I can read with my kids, then I can leave while they explore the book on their own.

I hope that parents will read Her Majesty’s Explorer: a Steampunk bedtime story to their kids and then leave the light on a while for the kids comb through Kevin’s very detailed images a second time or more. It’s a pleasant way to wind down.

When I planned out the structure of the main story, I wanted it to be a circle. Kids are all about going around in circles. So, St.John Murphy Alexander marches for weeks, goes home and washed up for bed, the story comes back around again to his dreams, where he has visions of marching for weeks and weeks. The story naturally takes the reader right back to the beginning.

The Seek & Find page encourages them to take a look again. I read my own book with my kids (really a thrill that they want it again and again) and point to the pictures there and ask, ” Can you go back and find the eagle? Where is the picture frame in the book?” – and so on.

I recall growing up with the Richard Scarry picture books, and in each two page spread was hidden The Gold Bug.  My sister and I spent HOURS looking at Richard Scarry illustrations searching for that little bitty thing!

Like I said – for simple creatures – kids like detail and to do things over and over again. We all know what happens when a kid is left alone in the car for a second – they climb up into the front seat and flip all the knobs and switches and play with the mirrors and stick quarters from the coin drawer into the CD player. Kids can turn ANYTHING into an exploration and experiment. Children and adults connect to Steampunk on THAT level. Together. For grown ups, we talk about the subversive nature of Steampunk – the class and gender bending in costumes, making contraptions and so on, but it really brings out the play in us – the KID in us – to craft costumes and play with the test tubes, cogs and grease.

I hope that this book is a start for Steampunk parents. But, don’t take my word for it. Here’s a review on ComicBooked.com – from John Iwasz, as he talks about kids and books and steampunk! A great review for HME, and an interesting couple of thoughts on involving kids in the world of Steam.

Tomorrow – Favorites! and Blasts from the past. Until then, don’t forget to check out:

The Launch Page

The Her Majesty’s Explorer Facebook Page

The Video Book trailer

The Tease Read by Captain Robert of Abney Park

13 days to launch: Guess what is in my hot little hands?

It’s here… Our book is HERE!

The proof copy, the very first copy of the book, arrived well after 7PM yesterday (who knew that Brown delivered so late?).

There is something trilling and magical about tearing into the cardboard and holding a REAL book with your name on it. Lives were nearly lost in the tidal wave of my glee when the the proof copy of Chenda and the Airship Brofman, my first novel, came. Now – receiving my third book,  I have to say the thrill is no less, So, if you live in my neighborhood, are one of my friends, my favorite barista, or happen to be at the gas pump at the same time as me, getting me to NOT show you the book will be the trick.

OK – so what else came yesterday? Here’s an excerpt:video.php?v=2930770480075&saved