Hi everyone! There’s great news developing on my book and I wanted to share much of it with you. Samuel T. Moore of Corte Magore just got a 5-Star Video Review at Give Me Apps where also the reviewer mentions the great functionality and the collaborative efforts that went into the book. At one point in the review, he describes the animation as “something that almost looks like a Hollywood movie!” Here’s their Blog Review as well. Right after the review, Best Preschool Books, put Sam on their list! That’s some really great news and hopefully will continue to help me reach my target demographic, children ages 4-8.
In week two of the book’s release, the book made it to the 2nd Best App in the App of the Week Contest at iHeartThisApp. This is a parent/teacher/peer voting opportunity and you can help by voting anytime for the book by clicking the link above. Sam also reached the Top 100 Books in the App Store list for iPad, which in my elated and humble opinion is a major feat, given the legions of books out there! Today we are #100! Oh what it would be like to reach #1!
Aristo Media, the publicity agency who represents Robby Armstrong, the Nashville star who wrote and produced the book’s original Americana-style musical score, pressed news about Robby’s involvement with Samuel T. Moore of Corte Magore. That press release went out to all country radio news outlets, and the release has cropped up all over the web. It was pretty neat to see Samuel T. Moore of Corte Magore mentioned on a CMT site! Country Pulse also wrote up a nice story called, “Catch a Rising Star,” about Robby and mentioned his collaboration on my book.
Further, I was interviewed in this great article at iMedia about technology use for children, and have also enjoyed being on various talk radio programs throughout the country. I really enjoyed this particular radio interview on Tots and Technology on IMI Tech Talk with Tom D’Auria. (Move ahead to about the twelve-minute mark to bypass all the tech news at the start of the show.) I am in the process of putting all my radio interviews up on SoundCloud, so stay tuned for links to all of those. This interview with Derrell Connor on 620 WTMJ Wisconsin Talks was another one of my favorites, if you haven’t heard it yet. I’ve guest-appeared on stations in Indiana, Wisconsin, California, Kansas, New York and even Canada, working to get the word out about the book.
I’m just now getting exposure in the blogging community, and will be introducing myself to “Mommy Bloggers” next. If you know any mommy bloggers who would be interested in writing a review about the book, I’d love to hear from you. One blogger, GONGLESHANKS, who is part of a huge artist community and company called Grimnian Promotions, recently made me their featured artist!
This week, I will be writing a bi-line article for Today’s Parent, on any parenting topic of my choosing. Today’s Parent boasts a readership of over 100,000 site visitors a month, and the article will include a blurb about me and the book.
Finally, this month, I will head to Philadelphia for a live presentation at the Central Library where I’ll also be interviewed live by Al Butler at WURD. I’m honored to have a library event in the fourth biggest media market in the country, with a reputable urban broadcaster interviewing me on site. I’m also in the throes of getting scheduled to speak at an elementary school that has recently moved to an iPad only curriculum, and really do hope to start working with children on writing and going after their dreams!
As you can see, we have lots of great things in the works. Writing a book is one thing. Getting it published is another. Marketing a book is still another. I can honestly say– it’s all hard work! Thanks for continuing to help me get the word out about Sam. It means a lot to me, and we all know it takes a community to raise a children’s book author and I still have a lot of work ahead of me! In all seriousness though, we’re not doing too shabbily for just two months of marketing and publicity!
P.S. If you don’t have an iPad, and want to hear the book, you can download the full narrated book with music here. Thanks again for all of your love, kindness and support!
P.S.S. Thank you for indulging me in some of these bragging rights. It’s these big and small accomplishments that get the media’s attention, which will help me market the book, but more importantly, it’s the word-of-mouth contributions that you are all making that is helping me immensely. Thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart!
Tonia Allen Gould
A multi-disciplinary creative, always creating. 