The First Draft of Our Blurb - What do you think?

I've been busy re-reading your brilliant blurbs and trying to put the best bits together. Because blurbs have to be short and snappy, I had to leave out some of the subplots (like Simon and Tigotha falling out) even though those are very important to the story.

Here is my first draft of the blurb. What do you think? Do you like it? Can it be improved?

Deadly ducks with an appetite for chaos, are planning to take over Fangleland. So called because of their luminous poo, the lumipoo momps begin their mayhem by banning bananas – the punishment, getting spiked to death!

Simon is just a regular boy, whose life is turned upside down when his dying grandpa reveals that his parents were killed by a flock of lumipoo momps. He and his beloved best friend, Tigotha, set off on a perilous journey to save Fangleland.

Meanwhile, a scientist tries to invent a predator to eat the lumipoo momps. However, when his plan goes horribly wrong, the heroes end up fighting not just one species of monster – but two!

Simon and Tigotha’s adventure raises many questions. Who is the mysterious caretaker and what is he doing with that hoover? Why is there a disco happening in the microwave? And who is the toddler with helicopter hair, who keeps turning up to save the day? 

Are you aching to know whether the monster avengers save Fangleland? Turn the pages if you dare – these monsters would like to eat you for breakfast!

Week 10 Task - Promote the Book

When you're a professional author, you only get to spend half of your time writing. The other half of the time is spent promoting your book. Promotion is making people aware of something. When you promote a book, you are trying to convince people to buy it.

Here are some of the promotional activities I like to do:
- running competitions
- visiting schools
- giving away badges
- giving away bookmarks
- being interviewed on the radio
- sending press releases to newspapers
- asking bookshops to stock copies

This week, you are going to promote Monster Avengers.

You can choose to create anything you like, as long as it promotes our book. Ideas include:
- giving a talk
- making a poster
- acting out a scene in assembly
- making bookmarks
- a classroom display
- writing a press release
- making Monster Avengers merchandise

Your teacher might have something particular in mind for you to do.

Please send me photos and scans to rosen.trevithick@gmail.com so that I can see all the lovely promotion you have been doing. You've got from now until whenever you like. Promoting a book never ends!

It's a Cover-a-thon!

It's a very exciting blog post - here are some of the fantastic and colourful covers I've received so far:

Above: Charlotte from St Edward's.

Who doesn't love bright and cheery rainbow colours? The bright lumipoo momp pops when you look at it. Plus, the scene with the hairdryer might make a reader think, 'What the Dickens is going on here?' (Then he or she will hopefully open the book to find out!)

Above: Cover by Anonymous from St Edwards

If you look closely, it appear that the features of this monster have been stuck on with glittery paper - very creative.

Above: Cover by Anonymous from St Edward's

The central tubster of terror is rather frightening - the red background helps make him stand out. I really like the bubble font, especially the little monsters peeping over the tops of some of the letters.

Above: Cover by Anonymous from Queensgate

I really enjoyed the cheerful and charismatic characters in this one. They're definitely engaging.

Above: Cover by Cam from Queensgate

Because our book is going to be massive, the idea of lots of small characters mounted on a bright background might work. However, they might be tricky to pick out in a thumbnail or from a distance.

I like the author name: 'Rosen Trevithick, also some young talented school children'.

Above: Cover by Chloe from Queensgate

It's hard not to be attracted to this bright cover. The font is ideal. I like the blue stripe used to make my name stand out. Telling readers of past successes gives them confidence in an author and makes them more likely to trust that a book will be good. All in all, a super piece of work.

Above: Cover by Ella from Queensgate

This is a very simple but effective cover. The title appears to burst from the page, which I particularly like. Also, it gets in many of the key characters.

 Above: Cover by Emilie from Queensgate

'Amazingly Talented Children' is a great way to describe yourselves - it's accurate and will hopefully intrigue potential readers.

Above: Cover by Kiri from Queensgate

The border of this one reminds me of a stamp. I like the way that so many characters - even Simon, appear in this cover.

Above: Cover by Lacey from Queensgate

Again, nice to see so many of the key characters on the cover. Toby flying overhead adds a nice touch.

Above: Cover by Josie from St Edward's

This cover looks like a photo of Fangleland taken from the air - very original. The text is pretty; it might be a little hard to read from a distance because it's very fancy.

Above: Cover by Matthew from St Edward's

Ha ha - a momp going up an old lady's skirt is one of the funniest moments in the book. I like the 'Starring' strip, too.

Blurbs from Queensgate

I enjoyed reading the blurbs created by Queensgate Primary. I decided to add some individual feedback.

Read Queensgate's Blurbs and My Feedback Here.

Includes work by Abi, Cameron, Connor, Sapphire, Grace, Liam and Emily. Many thanks for all of your hard work.

I Just Wrote Bob's Death!

I just drafted Chapter 14 - the section where Bob gets evaporated and Jeff the cleaner bursts into tears. Thank goodness I know what happens next, otherwise I'd be really sad right now.

Feedback on The Troll Trap's Blurb

One of the classes at St Edward's School got so carried away with editing that they commented on one of my blurbs - The Troll Trap.

Here's what they had to say:

Feedback on Blurbs So Far

Are you busy crafting the perfect blurb for our monster book? If so, perhaps this feedback on other children's blurbs might be helpful.

Many thanks to St Edward's and Highfield schools for these intriguing and amusing blurbs.

Corey and Wezley's blurb

James, Tyler, Katy, Corey, Harry, Harvey, Chloe, Wezley, Will and Joe's blurb

Joe and Josh's blurb

Josie's blurb

Tyler and James's blurb

Will, Chloe and Harry's blurb

Anonymous blurb

Madeline's blurb

Highfield School Monster Avengers blurb