Jump into Summer and a Kid Lit Beach Read

Is life slowing down for you as summer temps heat up and days grow longer?  Or are the kids upping the pace now that school is out -:D?
 
Life’s is leveling for me this summer but in a good way. 
 
Over the moon to share with YOU….
My fourth chapter book, Sweet T and the Turtle Team, is set to launch on 21 July! 
 
I nearly did myself in trying to create a WOW! reading experience for you and your young book lovers. Read on to discover how and why I stretched my limits for today's screen-clicking kids.

btw....Great insights for anyone thinking of starting on the Indie writing road, too!

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​About the Book
Title: Sweet T and the Turtle Team |  Author Cat Michaels |  Illustrator Irene A. Jahns | Publication Date: 21 July 2017 | Publisher: 2101 Ink | Recommended Ages: 7-10 | Pages - print: 72 | Illustrations/photos - print: 25
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*Print books available 21 July on Amazon and from your local bookseller*

​Nine-year old Tara, or Sweet T as her family sometimes calls her, learns about friendship while helping a troubled boy and facing an approaching tropical storm (I decided hurricanes were too scary for kids!), sea turtle nests in peril, and a boy with a secret.  Lots for beginning and reluctant readers to enjoy while engaging critical thinking skills and learning about sea animals. Irene A. Jahn returns with her shimmering watercolors that always bring my tales to life.


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The sweet moment of having a book ready for you took over a year to come together.  To be honest, there were times I thought it never would happen. 
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I stopped everything to take time and mourn dad's passing in February. After the tears, I moved forward because dad had been so proud of my books.
 
And even though I love learning and pushing my limits, I nearly did myself juggling four publishing platforms and software apps.   
 
Here’s what I'm doing …

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​As an Authorprenuer
I'm stretching my wings by offering Turtle Team in different formats across multiple distributors (iTunes, Amazon and IngramSpark).  Why?  I want to reach readers who prefer their books in print, ordered online or in bookstores, and who enjoy tablet reading on Kindles and iPads.
 
Mercy, it took six weeks just to format, proof and edit the four formats required by each distributor!  My brain fried, my head hurt, and my eyes yelled, "no more!"  Editor/Spouse deserves an award for helping me keep it together -:D.  

As a Kid Lit Writer

Text-messaging experiment

​I'm pushing traditional boundaries by introducing parent-approved, nightly text messaging to Sweet T from sister Kristen, who are spending the summer hundreds of miles apart. 
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I use texting as a plot device to move the action and entice 21st-century kids --- NOT to destroy spelling and written language. (I see you, parents and teachers, looking concerned. Don't worry!  I supply a texting dictionary and discussion questions for you to raise any issues with your reader.)
 
Crossing fingers and toes this texting convention works for kids AND grown-ups.

​As an Educator 
I'm introducing Billy at the request of the Boys’ Book Club, who asked for a male character.  Billy is an island child T befriends.  He's burdened with a heavy secret.

How will children (and YOU) react when you discover it?  Will kids understand?  Knowing Billy and his challenges, might they use critical thinking skills to change their perspective of kids with this real struggle? 
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As a Tech Nerd

I'm adding juicy extras for you at the end of the book. (Yep.  Love gadgets, social media, and all things digital.)
 
For instance, you'll find a glossary of texting symbols to help grown ups decipher Kristen's text messages <wink, wink>.
 
Plus, Mama writes a blog and shares her sea turtle hatch photo gallery.  fyi....Those are REAL photos (and a video on i-Tunes) taken by readers of hatches along the North Carolina coast.

I don't abandon all to tech. There's a short, old-fashioned comprehension quiz (interactive on iPad) and brain-stretching discussion questions for you to tackle with your young readers.

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I don’t know how my venture of seeking new ways to reach readers will play out.  I hope it will. Time will tell.  

Don’t know unless you try, right?

Your feedback means the world!  How does your young one prefer to read a tale? You?  Can’t wait to hear what you think about my experiment to reach 21st-century kids.  Please share your thoughts in the comment section.
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