Do not give up!

by Darcie Mae
(Solon, Maine, USA)

Sammy & Robert Book 1 Cover

It was back in 2001 when I was living in a log cabin totally unaware of what was going on in the world when someone suddenly came speeding into my driveway. This person jumped out of their vehicle and told me about a plane hitting the towers. I could not believe it. While my world and life in the woods in this log cabin in Maine was peaceful as could be, chaos was filling the rest of the world. That is when I made up my mind that I was going to write fun, rhyming, educational children's stories that would take them to a place that would be forever peaceful no matter how chaotic world events may be. Since then I have completed 100's of stories. Some I have illustrated. Some I have not. I do love to draw, but my passion is in the writing. I have found myself in my own style of writing. No matter what the story is about, it always comes out the same way. 4 line stanzas, 6 syllables a line, and the 2nd & 4th lines end in rhyming words. For years I have spent a lot of money on supplies for my work as well as suplies for mailings etc... My stories kept on being returned. I would eventually get a little down about it and quit for a while, but before long I would pull myself back up and go at it again. My Sammy & Robert series is ten stories long. This happens to be a series I have illustrated. I took a chance and sent the first story to Publish America. Much to my surprise they wished to publish it. You can never understand the joy I felt at this time. Getting my book published with Publish America did not cost me anything to begin with. I received one copy for free. Any others I must purchase myself. I do find the price on my book to be a little high. I try to purchase them when discounts are available and sell for them as low a price as I can. I am pleased when I put Sammy & Robert By Darcie Mae in the Yahoo or Google search engine and find my book for sale through many websites. I will be receiving my first royalty check in August 2008. I am anxiuos to see how well it has sold. There is no way of tracking the sales so I have to patient and wait. Royalties by Publish America are paid out only twice a year. I have created my own website. On the site I tell about and offer the first Sammy & Robert book ISBN# 1-60474-811-7 , Sammy & Robert book bags, posters, coloring pictures, and special pictures for Sammy & Robert fans. I have been visiting libraries to read my book to children and to donate a book. Before school ended for summer I was visiting classrooms, and will do that again as soon as school starts back up again. I try to contact as many book stores as I can in Maine. One problem I have found is that Publish America has a no return policy, and the price. Even though retailers get my book for a 40% discount most think the price is still too high. I did have a book signing at the Mr. Paperback book store in Ellsworth, Maine, but I had to bring the books, book bags etc.. They had me a leave few signed books on consignment after the signing. I find you just have to be strong and determined and don't let the obstacles you come across stop you. They may slow you down, but if you believe in your work you must keep pushing forward. I will find out about the second book in the Sammy & Robert series the beginning of September 2008. I still continue to write and draw daily, and to mail out other stories to children's book publishing companies all across America. I know in my heart and soul that someday children all over the world will be enjoying reading the fun, rhymng, educational stories by Darcie Mae.

2nd book in the series

After having Publish America publish my first Sammy & Robert book I realized I'd have to wait six months before hearing if they will publish the second book or not. There are ten books in the sammy & Robert series. While waiting I decided to try another company. I chose Mirror Publishing www.pagesofwonder.com I sent them one of my Mother Mouse stories. There are a total of five Mother Mouse stories. After they looked at all the stories they got back to me with praise on how well the rhyme reads and that they would be happy to publish my stories. Each story is fun, rhyming, and educational. There will be two books. The first contains three stories that teach children good manners, a few simple measurements, and a few shapes. This company requires you to pay one price for the first book, a lesser price for the second book, and even lesser price for the third and any other books. I found the price to be very reasonable. They also let you know that if your book(s) are selling well the price may even be lower. There is constant communication between the publisher and I. I had the final say on how the cover looks and when the inside was ready for publishing. On their website is a page that tells about me and my book(s) and also has direct links to my book on amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com as well as has my website address. The book, Mother Mouse written & illustrated by darcie Mae,(ISBN# 978-0-9817521-8-1) is very reasonably priced at $8.99 each and the publisher only makes $1.00 a book. There is a set price for me to purchase my book no matter whether I purchase one or one-hundred. There is also a special price determined ahead of time for non-profit organizations as well. I am extremely pleased with this company and with my book. I will use this company again and have them publish the second Mother Mouse book which will teach children opposites and ways of transportation. Be looking for this book in the future.

Visit Darcie's Sammy & Robert.