Checking In, Checking the List, and Checking on Characters

 Monday, Blog Day. So what shall we talk about?

I'm working on several writing projects: revising 2 manuscripts, finishing another, rethinking yet another, looking for an agent, managing a critique group, posting on other blogs, getting ready for Christmas, and navigating life in a pandemic. 

And I'm thinking about Jack the squirrel and Hades. 

Jack's story isn't done. For Evolution Revolution: Book 4 Simple...? (haven't figured the full title out yet) I'm introducing a new character, a 'partner in crime' for Jack. Initially I planned on 5 books in the series, but cut it down as I struggled to find an editor or an agent who could sell it. Sometimes, though, a character needs to continue their story, just to give the author some peace. As I learn more about animals- and not just squirrels- and the amazing things they can do, it inspires more storylines. I think I could make a career out of writing sequels, if only a single editor would give Jack a chance... I mean, this series has won awards, gotten great reviews  ("unbelievably brilliant" - Writer's Digest) and includes many STEAM/STEM features. Sigh...

As for Hades, I've written Sirenz 3 and will Indie publish it. I've got to find a cover artist and it's ready to go. Obviously since I'm writing it solo, I had to make a few adjustments, namely, not using my former co-author's character, which took the story in a new direction. Sirenz 3: A New Trend, features Hades doing what he does best-  stirring up trouble and making Sharisse crazy. But! This time, it's Hades needing Sharisse's help... how the mighty have fallen.... I love writing Hades' story and giving the well-worn Greek mythology freshness from a modern perspective. Stay tuned! 

I've successfully finished #NaNoWriMo (52,000+) although that story is only half finished. (I finished one manuscript and started another.) I'm agent hunting (again) and that always sucks the life blood out while you wait to hear, get nibbles, then rejections, and start subbing again. That whole process is depressing.

I have other MG, YA, and adult romance novels on my desk. So that's where I am. There's always writing/revisions to do. Being an author, that's what the life is. 

I hear my newest characters screaming for me to get back to their story, now that I've finished my Christmas decorating (except for the tree, since we put up a real one). It's rainy and gray today, the perfect condition for writing.

Be safe. Be good to yourself and others. 

Char 

"Brilliant!" But I Knew That

Sometimes, well all the time, authors have to toot their own horns. Publicity and marketing, the bane of most of us, is a continual thorn. There are moments, though, when we are THRILLED to shine the spotlight on ourselves.

My middle grade trilogy, Simple Machines, Simple Plans, and Simple Lessons in the Evolution Revolution series, was shopped around by myself and my former agent. Unfortunately, there were no takers. While I knew an interested editor might want to make a few changes, I had faith in the whole concept. When it failed to get picked up by publishers, I believed in the story enough to Indie publish. I hired a wonderful artist, Cathleen Daniels (former NJSCBWI regional advisor), who brought my vision to life through her fabulous artwork and layout expertise. Since it was pubbed in 2016, I have entered it in contests, gotten a favorable review in Publishers Weekly, and even won 2 awards (Feathered Quill). Unfortunately, Indie books are still looked down upon by libraries, schools, and the publishing world. Undaunted, I subbed the first book Simple Machines, to the Writer's Digest Self Published Book Awards.

I could NOT have been more surprised and thrilled. While I didn't win, the comments of the judge has not only confirmed my belief in the series, but maybe will help get the books the recognition others (not just myself) think it should have:  

Judge, 27th Annual Writer's Digest Self-Published Book Awards:

Evolution Revolution by Charlotte Bennardo features Jack, the gray squirrel, and his mission to save his forest and fellow animals from losing their habitat to disastrous human machinery. The book is designed to allow STEM lesson plans to be taught alongside a class reading, and an example syllabus is made available online. This is unbelievably brilliant, and I cannot say I've seen anything like this before. What a perfect example of carving out one's own market for the book! On a production level, the illustrations that accompanied the story were magnificent, especially on page 28, and I liked how the writing carved out space for these illustrations to thread into the prose.

There are some editorial notes about what this particular judge wanted and I can see the sense of them, but having had so many agents and editors look at this novel, what pleases one probably wouldn't please them all, so I've skipped over the notes.

Overall, Bennardo has created a solid book here, and I hope many STEM classrooms will take advantage of it!

If I could get into schools and libraries I think my series would have done better, but the label 'Indie - self- published' seems to be a flag to walk on by. The covers alone should have snagged readers and educators to at least take a peek and read the back flap or a chapter. The educational guides attached to each book would help teachers easily adapt to lesson plans in a number of STEM/STEAM and language arts areas.

So please show a little love for a smart gray squirrel who may be leading a revolution...

Char

I'm taking a break (a cliche) from cliches - and sharing this review by kids of my book Evolution Revolution: Simple Machines. Sometimes you have to do what makes you feel good. And kids loving my book and getting it makes me happy. Here's the review from kids at

Litpick 

Give it a listen. And if you're a teacher looking for STEM/STEAM books for middle graders with a fresh approach, (with resource guides for free!) let's talk! 

Char

It's Here!

The final book in my Evolution Revolution series, Simple Lessons, is out! (ebook available on the 20th).

It's been a long journey (actually, a little less than a year, but it feels like sooooo long). Thanks to everyone for sharing this adventure. Sometimes it's brought me such joy, sometimes I wanted to cry. This was truly a project of passion.

Jack's adventures won't end (I don't know what that squirrel is up to at this moment, but I'm sure he'll stop by to tell me a story which I'll share with you-). While he's learned a lot: science, machines, and STEAM principles, like me, there's still so much more to be learned.

Thanks to all the people who've been with me for the journey- my illustrator, Cathy Daniels, my publicist Rebecca Grose of SoCal PR, my family, and my friends who've kept up with Jack and shown him book love. Thanks to those who've given me blurbs- author Darlene Beck-Jacobson and educator/consultant Elena Migliaccio. To those who reviewed Jack: Michael Gettel-Gilmartin from Project Mayhem, Feathered Quill blog, Critical Blast, Log Cabin Library, YA Central, Semicolon Blog, The Entertainment Report, and the numerous radio shows like WOCA Ocala Live!, WEOL in Ohio, Haystack Broadcasting Cover to Cover in Oregon, and Culture News Radio in NYC. Indie books must fight harder for recognition and I can't thank these people and organizations enough.

It's my hope that these books will get they attention as a professional product they deserve. So please, help a girl-and a squirrel out- leave a review, mark it as 'to read' and pass the word. And encourage the squirrels, and animals, in your yard, to trust you.

Char

Hurry! Free Doesn't Last Forever!

Yes, the Amazon giveaway is done. Congrats to the 5 winners. But you can still enter the Goodreads giveaway!

HERE is the link!

Really, can you think of any reason not to enter to win a free book? If it's not what you usually read, take a chance and try something new. You might be surprised. Or, read it and pass it on (you'll know who would like it).

Hurry! Giveaway ends at midnight!

One last thing- please mark it as Want To Read!

Okay, two things- please share the book love!

Char

That's a wrap!

THANK YOU! to everyone who came out yesterday to the Bridgewater Barnes and Noble to see Cathy Daniels and me for Jack's release into the wild! You make these events fun! And Jack says:

He wishes all of you good things for next year...and he has a surprise.... a new adventure! He'll let you know when you can catch up with him, but here's a peek at Cathy's beautiful cover art!

So until 2017, Jack and his friends, my family and I, wish you all Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah, Healthy New Year, and happy Holidays!

Char

3...2...1...Launch!

I'm so happy to announce that I'll be having the launch for Evolution Revolution: Simple Machines at Barnes and Noble in Bridgewater (on the traffic circle) on December 21st. I'll be chatting and signing from 4 - 8 p.m. Literacy Volunteers of Somerset County will be doing a Book Fair Gift Wrap, so not only can you do shopping, but get them wrapped too! And you'll be helping a cause authors  love!!! *literacy.* As a former member of Literacy Volunteers, I helped tutor immigrants who sought to learn a new language for their new life. We love to see people read!

I may read, or talk about the book, it all depends on the crowd. Please stop by and say hello, support authors and Literacy Volunteers.

Hope to see you there!

Char

5 Things That Scared Me Writing This Book!

Happy Halloween! 

Hope you all have a booooo-tiful day!

In the spirit of the day, here are 5 things that frightened me writing this book (or, actually, the first 3 books of the series):

1. I was afraid kids wouldn't understand the concept; that it was too complex for them to realize the main character, a squirrel, was learning and evolving intellectually.

2. Kids would want a 'magic' explanation why the squirrel was smart and learning human things, like The Secret of Nimh, or the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles where a scientist creates a serum which gives the animals super intelligence.

3. The series might be too long- originally I had planned 6 books (but now the series will stop at 4 unless an enthusiastic editor shows up waving a contract).

4. The squirrel would seem like a person in a squirrel suit- and not give the reader the 'feel' of the main character, Jack, of being a squirrel kids might find in their backyard.

5. The science would bog the story down and kill the adventure aspect. There are several STEM sciences (evolution, simple machines like lever and wheel/axle, loss of habitat, machines, engineering a wagon for a squirrel- but no math!) which might seem like too much.

All these fears were terrifying!!! But writers push on--and they write the story. After editing, revising, beta reading, and a final polish, it was ready. As I'm wrapping the series up with the last book as my NaNoWriMo project, I've read through the previous books. I'm still laughing at the jokes, Jack's antics, and holding my breath when his war against the machines commences. 

But I think it's come together; writer colleagues, initial reviewers and readers have given it a hearty thumbs up. At the Collingswood Book Festival, where the initial copies of Evolution Revolution: Simple Machines debuted, almost all the targeted age kids (7-12) bought a copy. They seemed excited about the science aspect and accepted that the squirrel learned without magic or scientists being responsible. And after the Harry Potter and other successful series, people in the book business see that kids love series. Stand-alones no longer have as much appeal, kids just don't want the story to end. As for the science, I tried to keep it in check, balanced with adventure and humor and tension. So far, it seems I've succeeded. I'll have to wait for further reviews--from kids who read the book. 

If you have kids of this age, (or even if you don't!) enter to win a copy from Goodreads (click on the link). Help them leave a review here (please!) or a comment on my blog or Facebook. I'm dying to know....

what they think. 

Tomorrow starts the insanity of NaNoWriMo which will see the finish of the series with the completion of book 4. If you're doing NaNoWriMo, good luck! And remember it's about getting the words down; not being the fastest, or writing the perfect manuscript or even completing the novel. Let's struggle--and succeed--together. 

Until then, 

No tricks, all treats!

Char

You Know You Want a Free Book!

Goodreads Giveaway! Enter to win a copy of Evolution Revolution: Simple Machines!

The giveaway runs from 10/24/16 to 11/4/2016. Please mark as To Read! Simply click the colored link below!

GOODREADS Giveaway!

Now I must finish up book 3: Evolution Revolution: Simple Lessons. Look For Evolution Revolution: Simple Plans in January!

All the best, and thanks for your support!

Char

The War in the Woods!

Protect your nests! Save your trees!

That's the rallying call of Jack, a common gray squirrel. Taught by a human friend how to use simple machines, he's leading the charge of animal versus human for ownership of the wood. Introducing my middle grade adventure novel,

Beautifully illustrated by Cathy Thole-Daniels, it's 60 pages, the first in a series, and will be available in both soft cover and ebook. Based on the third grade science curriculum, it incorporates STEM  principles: Science (biology, evolution), Technology (motorize RC car), Engineering (simple machines like the wheel and wedge).

This has been the book of my heart, over 10 years in the making. (So if you'd like to help me publicize it, I'd love it!). The book will officially launch Sept 30th.

Char