It’s Tuesday which means it’s time for another edition of our Featured Writer Series. Today I’m excited to bring you a true renaissance woman, Cheryl Malandrinos.
V.R.L: Thanks for being a part of our Featured Writer Series, Cheryl! First off, tell us a little bit about how you started your writing career.
CCM: Thanks Vanessa. It’s great to spend time with you and your readers. I’ve been an avid reader since preschool and began writing in my teens. Of course, back then I was using an electric typewriter with an “i” key that stuck. (Doesn’t that make me sound like a dinosaur?) I had always wanted to pursue a career in writing, but it wasn’t until I became a stay-at-home mom in 2003 that I could do much about it. I began blogging, getting involved in writing groups, and networking. In 2006 I began writing articles for Writer2Writer on the subjects of time management and organization. In 2008, I presented a workshop on these topics at the Muse Online Writers Conference. I am also a founding member of Musing Our Children, and last year took over as editor in chief of their quarterly newsletter, Pages & Pens. My first children’s book will be released by Guardian Angel Publishing this fall.
You are involved in quite a few things. You do a lot of online book promotions, you’re a copy editor, create video trailers, and much more. How do you manage to do all of these things and still find time for your own writing?
Now, why didn’t someone tell me I am supposed to manage my time? LOL! Seriously, time management and organization have always come easy to me. I took for granted that it was this way for everyone until I was asked to start writing articles on these topics. Making time for my writing is a challenge. Working as a virtual book tour coordinator for Pump Up Your Book Promotion is a full-time job. Luckily, I love it, because it requires me to be online almost all day long. I go to my office right after the girls get on the bus at 8AM. Then except to eat or do housework, I am there until 3PM when the girls come home from school. The rest of the afternoon is spent with the girls. I go back to my office after they are in bed for the night and try to use that time to write. It doesn’t always work, but I make decent progress. Some weeks are more productive than others. The reason many people struggle with time management is that they don’t know where their time is going. I began tracking my time, which allowed me to cut out areas where I wasted it—surfing the Net, overcommitting to projects I didn’t have time for, and just plain old focusing on things other than my writing. I religiously write a weekly to-do list to keep me focused.
I understand that you are sponsoring “Promo Day” this year. Tell us a little about that.
Officially, Pump Up Your Book Promotion is sponsoring PROMO DAY. Jo Linsdell, a wonderful and talented lady I met through the Muse Online Writers Conference, puts on this event each year. PROMO DAY 2010 will take place on Saturday, May 15th. In Jo’s words, PROMO DAY is “an all day, online, international event for people in the writing industry packed full of tips and advice along with a variety of opportunities for writers, publishers, editors, etc. to promote their work and services. Readers are also welcome to drop in and get to know the authors better.” This is the first time that Pump Up Your Book Promotion is sponsoring PROMO DAY, but I doubt it will be the last.
You have a children’s book coming out and are currently working on a middle grade novel. Can you tell us a little about those?
Now you’re in dangerous territory because a writer likes nothing more than to talk about her work. [snicker, snicker]
My first children’s picture book will be released by Guardian Angel Publishing in the fall. Anyone who knows me knows that I absolutely love Christmas; so it will be no surprise that my first book centers around this holiday.
Little Shepherd Boy tells the story of Obed, a young shepherd in the fields outside of Bethlehem on the night of Christ’s birth. After the angel’s visit, Obed is hesitant to follow the others to see the newborn King because he doesn’t want anything to happen to his flock. His father finally convinces him to go, but Obed spends the whole time worried about his sheep. When Obed returns, however, he discovers all his sheep safe and sound and not even the fire has dwindled in their absence. Obed believes it is a night of miracles.
My current work in progress is a middle grade novel about a young orphan girl named Amelia who is sent to live with her spinster aunt in a fictional New England town. Aunt Martha is a very unhappy person. Amelia is determined to figure out why her aunt is so miserable and fix it. Amelia’s best friend is Ralph, the stable hand at Havenwood, Aunt Martha’s estate. Ralph is opposed to Amelia poking her nose into her aunt’s business. In addition, Amelia wants to teach Ralph to read, but he refuses, even though Amelia is sure he wants to learn.
Where can we read more about you and your work?
Thanks for asking. I’m in the process of having a new website designed, but for now, readers can find me at http://ccmalandrinos.tripod.com/ I have a few blogs that I update on a regular basis:
The Children’s and Teen’s Book Connection
I can also be found at Facebook and Twitter if anyone looks up ccmalandrinos.
Thanks for giving me the chance to talk about myself and my work.
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31 users responded in this post
Thanks for featuring me today, Vanessa. I enjoyed answering your questions. I hope we’ll see you at the Muse Conference this October and at PROMO DAY on May 15th.
All my best,
Cheryl
Great interview. I’m interested in knowing more about promo day.
Thanks for stopping by Kathy. You can find more info on PROMO DAY by stopping by the PROMO DAY blog
Hey Cheryl!
Great interview! You are such a busy woman!
great interview Cheryl.
Thanks ladies. What would I ever do if I relaxed for a day?
How fun to read about you for a change, Cheryl! Learned a bit more.
Marilyn
LOL! Thanks Marilyn. It does seem strange talking about me instead of my clients.
I envy you for being so organized. I will try to follow your example.
Morgan Mandel
http://morganmandel.blogspot.com
So nice to learn a little more about you, Cheryl. Congrats on your forthcoming book. Good luck with your mg wip. I’m ready to read more about Amelia.
Bev
Thanks Bev. I’m very excited about my first book. I’m glad you’re liking Amelia’s story. I’m trying to finish Chapter 6, but haven’t managed to find time yet this week to work on it.
Time management is important if a writer wants to be successful. And I know Cheryl does a lot of things that benefit others, such as her First Time Authors Club that I’m a participant. So thanks to Cheryl and others who somehow manage to pencil in time for such events.
Stephen Tremp
Wonderful interview, ladies! I know Cheryl firsthand and she’s a powerhouse. Just when I thought I knew it all, she lets out what her middle age book is about and I am loving it!
Hi Cheryl:
I enjoyed learning about your W-I-P. I look forward to working with you for my virtual book tour. Can’t wait!
Best wishes for your continued success!
Warmly,
Donna
Cheryl, it’s wonderful to learn more about you. I’m glad to be joining the GAP family and eager to learn about Promo Day.
Thanks for stopping by to offer your support everyone. I am overwhlemed by your kindness. Hey Dot, sometimes I feel more like a flash in the pan than a powerhouse.
Donna, I can’t wait to read The Golden Pathway. Promoting it will be fun.
Margie, I bet the G.A.P. family is just as thrilled to have you as you are happy to be part of them. And Stephen, I don’t think I can take credit for the First Time Authors Club, but feel free to fill me in on the details. It sounds like a great thing.
Thanks again everyone!
Cheryl
Cheryl’s new books sound great. What a busy and talented person she must be to accomplish so much.
Thanks so much Vanessa and Cheryl for your time and sharing this great interview!
Cheryl congrats on your new book, I really admire how you manage your time! I would’ve chimed in sooner but have been sick this week.
I was wondering if you’d mind me asking some advice?
I am currently working on writing and illustrating a picture book about our rescue dog. I believe I’m doing all the right things so far:
I have a BFA in illustration
I am a good writer, taken classes, am currently reading “writing picture books” by Ann Whitford Paul
I am studying massive amounts of current picture books, especially about pets
I joined the SCBWI and my regional chapter NESCBWI
I will be attending the spring conference.
I started a blog last summer and have been building a following
Is there anything else I need to do? Thanks so much for your time!
Cheryl, sorry I missed you yesterday. Great interview. To-do lists are necessities for mothers and writers–good for you for following yours, instead of just adding to it, like I do!
Thanks for stopping by ladies. Janet and Jessica, you’re so sweet.
Jessica, you don’t need to only add to that to-do list. It sounds like you’re overcommitted–which I understand because I do that to myself from time to time. One of the hardest things for us to learn is how to say “no”. I think it’s even harder for women than men. I was at a planning committee meeting last Wednesday for a writers conference that is taking place this October and I kept saying to people, “Let me know if you need help with that.” On the drive home I wanted to smack my head against the steering wheel. I don’t have any time left to offer right now. My goal is to not say that at the next meeting.
Take a look at your to-do list. Prioritize it. Set some realistic goals for completing the most important item and then go from there. I know you can do it!
Cheryl
Wow everybody, thanks so much for stopping by and Cheryl, thank YOU for taking the time to let us get to know you better.
Anybody have any other questions? Ask away!!
Thanks for stopping by Susan. I admire your dedication to your craft. It will definitely make a difference.
I’m sure there are many more experienced people who could provide excellent advice, but since I’m here, you’re stuck with me.
One of the things I see in book promotion so often is that an author writes a really good book and then does next to nothing online to promote it. If I like a book I’ve reviewed at one of my blogs I go searching for more information online about the author; but a lot of times Google turns up next to nothing.
That’s definitely not true in your case, so kudos to you for getting your name out there.
Keep networking. Use the social networks as much as you can to promote your work. Just don’t start playing around on Facebook because that steals precious moments you might not be able to spare.
Keep blogging. I’ve been to both your blog and your website. Your artwork is lovely. By posting to your blog on a regular basis, you’ll have a positive impact on Goggle.
See if you can find bloggers who would be willing to interview you or let you guest post for a day. Since your books are geared toward children you can ask mommy bloggers, children’s authors and illustrators, and those bloggers who address the topics discussed in your books. While you’ll be talking from an illustrator’s point of view, it will still be useful to their audience.
It’s okay for illustrators to contact bloggers and ask them to review copies of the the books featuring their artwork. I’ve had illustrators contact me directly from time to time, though it’s usually the author.
Keep doing market research to see who is accepting the types of books you’re writing. I only had one publisher in mind when I wrote “Little Shepherd Boy”. I had reviewed several of their titles, so I had a good feeling for what they liked before I pitched to them. They accepted the manuscript within a few months of receiving it.
Feel free to email me at cg20pm00(at)gmail(dot)com–those are zeroes, not o’s– if you would like to be featured at my kid’s book blog.
Best of luck to you.
Cheryl
Hi Cheryl and Vanessa:
Good interview and lots of info. Notice you can’t stop Cheryl, she’s still being interviewed all the way though the comments.
I enjoyed the VTB I did with her on Pump, but I’d really like to be able to find websites and blogs where I might be able to offer something useful. How about a ‘wanted’ site Cheryl?
Chris Hoare
Hi Chris,
Thanks for dropping in. I’m glad you enjoyed your virtual book tour. Not sure what you mean by “wanted” site, but don’t discount yourself and your contributions. Every time you share about the writing process from your point of view, you have the opportunity to help someone. Your way of doing things might just be the answer to a problem another writer struggles with.
Tell me more about this “wanted” site, Chris. Maybe I can help you out.
Cheryl
So wonderful to read more about another “angel” with GAP. Great interview and thanks so much for sharing so much of yourself with us, Cheryl.
Vanessa, This is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about Cheryl and all she does. BTW, Cheryl, my first stories were written on a non-electric typewriter with keys that stuck, so don’t feel like a dinosaur yet. You have a long way to go. Great interview, ladies.
Thanks for the support Nancy and Penny. Oh Penny, when I tell my son that we managed to survive without cell phones he just dies laughing. He has gone through at least four phones in the same time that I’ve owned my one because he sends so many text messages. I remember typing up resumes that said I knew the Leading Edge Word Processor. Who knew then that computers would become so much a part of my life?
Thanks again ladies.
All my best,
Cheryl
Wow, great questions and responses. Thanks again for your time Cheryl! And thanks everybody else for stopping by.
Anytime Vanessa. Didn’t I ever tell you that I’m my favorite subject? LOL!
Cheryl, you are one amazing woman!
Glad to see your interview featured here!
It was great!
~ JoElle
Aw, Elfie. You’re such a charmer.
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