Wrapping Up 2012!

Wrapping Up 2012

Many of you who have been following my blog know that I have been spending most of my holiday break as a teacher updating my website and finishing my first writing prompt.  Last night was a late night 1:30am because I was spending much needed time with family.  I woke up at 5am this morning and I wanted to check out my book marketing with search engines.  I found the following information and made the post to facebook below:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/?aref=3146%2C2734&dref=6&sort=SA&startat=31&store=KIDS&view=grid

Each year Barnes and Noble puts together their bestselling e-books/NookBooks for the year, Top Selling 100 for the NY Times Best Selling, Most Popular in the Lending Program, and Trending. I am currently ranked #49 out of 4,000 for the children's category of best selling NookBooks currently in 2012 and ranked 9,882 amongst over 350,000 titles. I am blessed to be where I am right now as an author and illlustrator. Please feel free to pass this information on to others. I will be posting a complete version of my story on my blog.

I just woke up to give an update and post a blog.  I am humble through all of this and reminded that all things are possible.  People who know me personally know that I often second guess what I do with my writing and illustrating, wanting to put forth 100%, pleasing everyon.  This holds me back.  I have reached this level of success because other people have taken time to repost what I write, and they send it to friends and family, with the hope that I make it.  I would not be where i am in life without those around me.  During the holiday season I watch movie classics that remind me of the past and get me in the holiday mood.  It's a Wonderful Life is a spectacular movie that summarizes my thoughts and feelings with this post.  You might say that this is my "George Bailey" moment!  Clarance's inscription in the book at the end reminds me of what is most important with success: "Remember, George: no man is a failure who has friends." --Clarence in "It's A Wonderful Life."  The whole point of my post is this:  You are already a success!  You just haven't realized it yet.

Quick Tip for Authors and Illustrators:  You have to market yourself!  If you don't tell people about the great things you are doing, who will?  If you are an upcoming author, illustrator, or trying to get your stuff marketed, you have to have  website and get your name out there.  Once youare out there, you have to keep updated where you are and keep telling people about what you are doing.  Never give up!

Jeremy Cole's Writing Prompt - Angry Caveman

This is a vision that I had to promote kids to write.  There will be more to come!http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Jeremy-Coles-Writing-Prompt-Angry-Caveman

Link to Teachers Pay Teachers How to Draw Santa

Link to Teachers Pay Teachers How to Draw Santa

I know that the time for Santa has passed, but some of you might be thinking about next year.  Please pass this on to your fellow teachers and home schoolers!http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/How-to-Draw-Santa-Claus-Video-Lessons-and-Coloring-Sheet

Preparing for Rain!

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Jeremy-Coles-Writing-Prompt-Angry-Caveman

Preparing for Rain!

"Exhausted" is the word that best describes how I feel right now, but I am "preparing for rain."  I have spent most of the 24 hours (5 hours of sleep) finishing up on my first writing prompt booklet to help teachers inspire kids to write and illustrate.  I have been updating my website to better connect as a marketing tool. ( I can't stand the marketing and business aspect of all of this.  If only I could just teach, write, and draw.)  And now I am beginning my campaign for the 500 UG Fan Club to generate the necessary capital for my business to keep going for the upcoming year.  I have been doing this for two years now and each year taken a loss on the business.  I see the potential, and jeremycolebooks is almost a debt free business.  But I need to ask myself... Have I given my best in all of this?  Have I sacraficed enough?  No, I have not and...Yes, I am "preparing for rain."  I am reminded of two farmers.  One of the farmers stepped out in faith during a drought with no sign of rain, but he had the faith enough to go out into the field till the ground, plants the seeds, and tend to the field.  Standing in faith, he did what he was designed to do.  By preparing for rain, he was expecting rain!  The second farmer saw his cricumstances: the dry ground, the cloud free sky, the hopelessness of other farmers, and chose not to plant seed.  He didn't do what he was designed to do.  The rain came!  Which farmer was the better man?  We are asked to "bloom" right where we are.  Some people will view this post because they want to become an author or illustrator, or simply out of interest.  What were you designed to do?  Are you fulfilling your purpose, "blooming" exactly where you are, or are you looking at your circumstances, second guessing your purpose, and not planting seed?  It's a choice: I am "preparing for rain", because I expect the rain to come.  I plan to put my best toward all aspects of my life, as a man, a husband, a father, a son, a friend, a leader, a teacher, an author, and an illustrator.   

Quick Advice to Authors and Illustrators:  Would you rather be short on ideas or time to write and illustrate?  Some authors and illustrators may express that they are short on ideas and often sit idle, stumped for an idea.  I never let an idea go!  Often I will go about my daily routine and an idea will come to me out of nowhere.  I take a second to write the idea, usually a phrase that will trigger the idea later to memory, and go about my day.  I am never short on ideas.  My biggest frustration is not having the time to write or illustrate.  I have over 30 book ideas and it seems like I never have enough time, but I would rather have that problem than the inverse.  I couldn't imagine having all the time in the world to write and draw, but a "drought" of ideas.  Tip:  Pause and write the idea down.  You don't want to lose it!

An Invitation to Watch My Story Unfold...

An Invitation to Watch My Story Unfold...
I have been a teacher for 21 years now and I have been blessed with talent to both write and illustrate.  Everyone that I talk to on this journey has heard some sort of story of how an author or illustrator struggled through a time of proving one's self to the publishing community, and then out of no where - Success!  I am fortunate to have had some success with my first book The Boy Who Cried Ug! (See more at www.jeremycolebooks.com) and I continue on my journey as a author and illustrator towards reaching a higher level of success.  I invite you to watch my story unfold as I continue to chase a dream of being an author and illustrator.