Barnes and Noble Educator Event

Thank you to everyone who participated in the Barnes and Noble Educator's Event and Signing. LongTale Publishing and Barnes and Noble were able to give away a Free Author School Visit and a $500 Barnes and Noble Gift Card to two lucky attendees! Later in the day, one happy girl won her very own Snap Shell Stuffed Animal!




















Many questions were asked pertaining to the publishing industry, the future of the Iggy Series, and ways for parents to get involved in the reading and learning process with their children. Here are a few answers to those questions.

I chose to start LongTale Publishing so I could be in control of the overall interior and exterior of the books I write. It is very important to work with people I know and trust will work with me one-on-one to create the vision I have always had for Iggy the Iguana. When you are an author, you chose to stand for something and your books do relay a message.



As a publisher I work with My illustrator, Graphic Designer, Editor and Copy Editor, Co-Writers and other Authors, My Online Marketing Manager, Publicist, Events Coordinator, Sales Team, Web Designer, Stuffed Animal Designer, Print House, Distributors, T-Shirt Designers, Marketing Material Distributors, Lawyers, CPA, My Business Partner for Read3Zero, and list goes on and on to Book Stores, Newspapers, Newsletter Companies, Teachers, Librarians, Children, Radio Show Hosts, Media, etc. You can see that this may seem overwhelming, but if you lay the foundation in the beginning and delegate tasks, everyone is able to work together beautifully. It can not be done alone, but I like to always know what is going on in my business.

On to the next question. I see the Iggy Series turning into a few different chapter book series, the next one being, Turtle Town. LongTale Publishing will also work on the Molly Picture Book Series for the little ones soon. The characters in Iggy the Iguana represent positive values and promote literacy and creativity. One of my goals is to encourage children to read and write stories of their own, which is why Read3Zero, LongTale Publishing's Literacy Foundation, will be hosting the Short Stories Written By Kids For Kids Anthology Project.

Be sure to email me at melissa@longtalepublishing.com
for an entry packet.

Lastly, a wonderful question was posted by one of the parents at the event pertaining to questions and learning activities that go along with Iggy the Iguana. I love getting to talk with my readers and the parents because I want to provide what you need for your children. I have started developing the Iggy Creative Writing Workbook, but I think it would be a wonderful idea to add questions to each chapter of the Iggy series for parents to ask their children. These questions would include what we think the character is feeling, or what lesson did they learn from the experience, etc. The concepts with in the stories are meant to get the reader to think outside the box and put themselves in the character's shoes. I think questions for the stories are a wonderful idea! Be looking for it soon!

I want to thank Sarah Attia at the River Oaks B&N for inviting me to present to the Educators! We all had a great time! Be sure to visit the Brand New and Beautiful Barnes and Noble Location in Houston at the River Oaks Shopping Center. I look forward to going back in the future. And thank you to Flynn Photography for the wonderful pictures!




















~Melissa
LongTale Publishing
Literacy~Creativity~Learning