Month: December 2020

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Year in Review

December 31, 2020-This year was different, to say the least! No one could have predicted what 2020 was going to look like, but we got through it and we didn’t just “get through it” we flourished. Here are some of the highlights from 2020 from Pandamonium Publishing House-we couldn’t have done this without you, our loyal supporters. Thank you for everything. 

  1. We signed a bunch of new authors: Regan McAulay, Dale Shipley, Tonya Cartmell, Alex Goubar, Rachel Adema-Hannes, Annie Kittiphanh, and Paul Moscarella bring mega talent to our team! Welcome aboard and thank you for creating such awesome works.  We can’t wait to collaborate again soon on new projects. 
  2. We created new books: 17 to be exact not including our client projects! From One Christmas to the Next by K.G. Watson and Alex Goubar, Inside Looking Out by Tim Ford, Acts of Kindness by collaborative authors, Machinia by Paul A. Moscarella and Alex Goubar, The Celestial Squid by Alex Goubar, Lost and Monkey Around by Rachel Adema-Hannes and Erin Cutler, The 12 Days of Rescue by Tonya Cartmell and Emily James, The Midas Haircut by Lacey L. Bakker and Emily Keown, The Magic Pumpkin Farmer by Lacey L. Bakker and Alex Goubar, The Clouds Above Lamasol Island by Alex Goubar, Dealer by Annie Kittiphanh and Alex Goubar, Life Supports by K.G. Watson and Alex Goubar, Becoming James Cass by L.L. Colling and Alex Goubar, Grandma’s Table by Michelle Pontefract and Erin Cutler, The Adventures of Milan and Friends; Baseball Bedlam by Lacey L. Bakker and Alex Goubar,  Advice from a Publisher by Lacey L. Bakker and Alex Goubar, and Acts of Remembrance by Engelina Hummel, K.G. Watson, and Alex Goubar. 
  3. We increased our website traffic: As of 8 am this morning, we’ve had 17, 267 views of our website which was an increase of +106% over last year, 10, 259 visitors which was an increase of +160% over last year, 129 likes which was an increase of +93% over last year, and 38 comments which was an increase of +52% over last year. 
  4. We did a collaborative book: Acts of Kindness was a collaborative book by many authors from Canada and the US. Authors shared their stories of how kindness touched their lives with heartwarming and sometimes heartbreaking experiences. Thank you so much to each contributor, we appreciate you! Keep spreading kindness. We’ll be working on another collaborative book in 2021, stay tuned for details! 
  5. We had 5 best sellers: The 12 Days of Rescue by Tonya Cartmell and Emily James, The Adventures of Milan and Friends; Baseball Bedlam by Lacey L. Bakker and Alex Goubar, Advice from a Publisher by Lacey L. Bakker and Alex Goubar, The Magic Pumpkin Farmer by Lacey L. Bakker and Alex Goubar, and Becoming James Cass by Lacey L. Bakker and Alex Goubar. Thank you SO much for supporting our work, Canadian authors, artists, and illustrators! I  am absolutely sure that 2021 will bring us more bestsellers, we can’t wait:) 
  6. We started a book club: Pandamonium Publishing House International Book Club was born and we have readers from around the globe! In 2020 we read authors from 6/7 continents and in 2021 we’ll be reading and discussing our own CANADIAN authors which we couldn’t be more excited about! Currently, we have 225 members and hope to increase our membership each year with membership reaching 1,000 by 2025. 
  7. We started a subscription book box: This was a super fun option to set up for our readers! We currently have 127 subscribers that receive books each month on a variety of subjects, genres, and authors. We hope to grow our membership steadily over the years and have 1,000 members by 2025. 

To all of our readers, subscribers, supporters, and people cheering us on-YOU matter to us. Without all of you, we wouldn’t be able to do what we love. Thank you for believing in our business and for championing Canadian artists, authors, and illustrators. We appreciate you and it’s a pleasure to write for you. 

To our clients-THANK, YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! You make us a better business and we are so thankful for you and your trust in our company. We are so happy to work with you and help bring your wonderful stories to life. We adore you all! 

To my team-You are an epic group of individual voices with unique experiences that give you so much power as authors, illustrators, and artists. Without each one of you, there would be no Pandamonium Publishing House. Your hard work, positivity, and work ethic are inspiring and uplifting on my darkest days. All of you keep me going during the toughest challenges. THANK YOU Tamara Botting, Tim Ford, Michelle Pontefract, Alex Goubar, Erin Cutler, Rachel Adema-Hannes, Christopher Botting, Ken Watson, Tonya Cartmell, Paul A. Moscarella, Samantha Ramos, Annie Kittiphanh, Gina Nateo, and Maryanne Smith.  It is an absolute honour to work alongside each one of you; thank you for believing in me and in Pandamonium Publishing House. YOU who make this company a pleasure to lead and remind me that I have a great responsibility to each of you. 

Happy 2021! Wishing you much success, happiness, and love, now and always. X LLB

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Pandamonium Publishing House International Book Club 2021!

December 30, 2020– I’m so excited to announce our book club lineup for 2021! We’ll be reading books from our very OWN authors at Pandamonium Publishing House. Here’s what you can look forward to and the best part? If you’re a book box subscription member, you’ll get all of our book club selections included! 

January- Machinia by Paul A. Moscarella Cybersecurity officer Damon Maxwell wakes from cryogenic sleep expecting to be ten years into his future but instead finds himself in the root ruled empire of Machinia, 2156! Welcomed by Machinia’s omnipotent leader, the Universal, Damon learns that his extraordinary journey is part of a complex plan by the Universal to bait Machinia’s deadly enemy, the Underground, into action. But the Universal’s brilliant robot aide, Nepcar, fears his leader’s dangerous scheme and pairs Damon with the beautiful and mysterious Cynthia Lhan hoping their union can prevent a catastrophe. Yet, even as the Universal’s plans fall into place an enigmatic figure appears in Damon’s life that even the mighty Universal is powerless to control. Will Damon ultimately be the destroyer of the robot race or its saviour? Machinia – Pandamonium Publishing House

February- Life Supports by K.G. Watson Is it because we don’t have stuff anymore that we feel so lost in a place like this? I ask myself this all the time. When we give up those memory chains Hiram spoke of, do we lose the anchor they connected us to? I don’t think I feel it as keenly as some others here. I have my organ and wall of memories for refuge when I feel unable to bear the loneliness of others about me as well as my own. It is the time between concerts, like now, when I find myself most strongly in retreat.  “Life supports by K.G. Watson is a wonderful reminder of what matters most and his work asks us to think about what our legacy will be.” Life Supports – Pandamonium Publishing House

March-Once Upon a Vision by Gina Collins Ramkissoon and Lindsay V. Rose Becky hoped for a life full of adventure in New York City, but after a failed marriage and business, she returns to her childhood roots in Savannah, Georgia, to start over. Unsure of what her future holds, she settles into a charming loft above a Carriage House on a beautiful estate where she meets the Riley Family members. Was it by chance, or was it meant to be? Instinct draws her to read Tarot at a quaint Tea House down by the river. Becky finds her inner-self emerging. One day a mysterious woman comes into her life, and then another. Is there a connection between these two women? Will Becky’s intuition expose a hidden family secret? Will Becky trust her inner strength to unfold the mystery? Once Upon a Vision: Amazon.ca: Collins Ramkissoon, Gina, Rose, Lindsay V: Books

April-Becoming James Cass by L.L. Colling The prequel to Obsessed with Her, Becoming James Cass, is finally here. Find out what makes James the man he is today and what life-changing events forced him to take inventory of his life. Will he become the man he needs to be, or will he be left with no options except to fight his way out of the cage that he’s built around himself? This psychological thriller from L.L. Colling will make you question human behaviour and will leave you wondering just how much one person can take. Rated R for violence, language, and explicit content. Becoming James Cass – Pandamonium Publishing House

May-Duty’s Dad by K.G. Watson Duty’s Dad is a story of bravery, loss, life and love. It accompanies the book, Duty’s Son, by K.G. Watson. “Watson,” he said without preamble, “I want you to print up a poster offering a reward for the apprehension of Mr. William Lyon Mackenzie and his rebel leaders-one thousand pounds for Mackenzie and five hundred pounds for the others!” Richard was stunned by the size of the rewards. That sort of money was a life-long pension that would keep any family in comfort. He flashed back to his youth in Limerick when similar rewards for rebels or their weapons were shouted out in the parade square of Limerick Castle. He recalled the silent response, hundreds strong, from his neighbours facing the regiment and its gold-braided Colonel. He remembered that not one person claimed the reward. Would it be the same here? Would your barn ever be safe if you turned in any one of them? Duty’s Dad – Pandamonium Publishing House

June-Duty’s Son by K.G. Watson A delightful, historical fiction novel that Hamiltonians will enjoy! Lots of entertaining facts about the city as well as major events that shaped Canada. Dundurn Castle, Niagara Falls, and The Great Western Railway are just a few of the places featured. Duty’s Son by K.G. Watson is a wonderful trip back in time. John Harvey Watson was a courageous soldier, a gentleman, and a man of duty. This is his story. Duty’s Son – Pandamonium Publishing House

July-Duty’s Daughter by K.G. Watson Duty’s Daughter is a remarkable story about a courageous young woman who refuses to play by the rules. She is vibrant, fearless, and defiant. This historical fiction novel by author K.G. Watson is part of a series that includes Duty’s Son and Duty’s Dad. Duty’s Daughter – Pandamonium Publishing House

August-Obsessed with Her by L.L. Colling  What would you do if your child was missing? How far would you go to find out the truth about what happened to her? Obsessed with Her is every parent’s worst nightmare; with twists and turns so shocking, it will leave you breathless until the very last page. “Totally shocking, disturbing and NOT for the easily offended or squeamish.”-Goodreads “Thrilling, scary, jump off the edge of your seat entertaining. “-Goodreads “Four stars for scaring the bejeezus out of me.”-Goodreads “Don’t read this when home alone if you are bothered by gore.”-Goodreads  Obsessed with Her Novel – Pandamonium Publishing House

September-DJ the terrible by Samantha Nemeth This hilarious middle-grade novel will make you stand up and cheer for DJ the Terrible and her equally terrible cat, Godfrey. Djeaneauth (D.J) decides to go undercover with her sidekick Godfrey the Super Cat to assimilate with her new neighbours, AKA “The Borings”, gain their trust, then turn the town on its head!  The only thing is…blending in simply isn’t DJ’s strong suit. With her inventive, mischievous mind, wild hair, and clumsy demeanour, Terrible trouble follows this Terrible girl wherever she goes! DJ (Djeaneautha) The Terrible! – Pandamonium Publishing House

October-Unfrogged by Tamara Botting Her parents are gone, she’s a klutz, and her cousin hates her. Plus, there’s a weird frog! This is the story of Princess Meredith and her unforgettable adventure of friendship, courage, and tea with three shakes of pepper and a pinch of hot sauce. This is definitely not a typical fairy tale! Unfrogged – Pandamonium Publishing House

November-From One Christmas to the Next by K.G. Watson He hadn’t counted on going in. He’d just been too darned lonely house-sitting the place while its owner studied overseas. He really resented the inane or gratuitously violent TV offerings. So, after his TV dinner, he’d just gone out, walking, till he got tired enough to sleep – just like every other night for the past six months. But who counted? He had seen the bustle from a block away. Cars had been trying to get into the plugged parking lot. Lines of bundled-up families chatted excitedly and called to each other as they converged. Bright light bathed the spire and filled the windows. He found himself trapped between clumps of people ahead and behind and fenced in by the solid row of parked cars to his left. The human tide simply herded him off the sidewalk with them and up the broader approach to the double doors. Rather than step out of the line into the knee-deep snowbanks, he decided he’d just go with the flow. It wasn’t that he didn’t know the drill. It was Christmas Eve. How many similar services had he conducted through his lifetime? It’s just he couldn’t do it anymore. And he had nobody to not do it with either since Margaret had died back in the Spring. From One Christmas to the Next – Pandamonium Publishing House

December-Acts of Remembrance by K.G. Watson  Revolution is in our land.  In Amsterdam and Rotterdam, cannons stand on every street corner.  A Curfew is at 7:30, but the people are standing by the front door listening to others who are rioting. The rioters are so fed up with things they are marching through the street singing. For punishment, they have no light or water. It was not smart. Many were shot. Now, what do you do? A death sentence is carried out on everyone who does not obey.  These words are straight from the pages of a young girl’s (Engelina Aasman Hummel) diary during the Second World War. They are true, haunting, and raw. Acts of Remembrance is a book that you’ll never forget. Acts of Remembrance by K.G. Watson and Engelina (Aasman) Hummel – Pandamonium Publishing House

We hope that you’ll join us for this year’s line up as we celebrate Canadian authors! For more information please email us at pandapublishing8@gmail.com 

 

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Reluctant Readers

December 29, 2020-Let’s talk about reluctant readers! What are they and what can we do about it? Reluctant readers are defined as any child who does not show an interest in reading. They may actively resist reading, mask their dislike by clowning around or misbehaving when asked to read, become easily frustrated during reading, or need to be coaxed into picking up a book.

We know that literacy matters and that it’s the key to success; that’s why we need to encourage children to enjoy reading at a young age, the sooner they learn to love books, the better! Illiteracy impacts 12 million Canadians, here’s how to ensure that your child does not become a statistic: 

  1. Start early-One of the most critical time frames for brain development in children is 6-12 months old. Read with your child. Although they may not understand what you’re saying or the words on the page, you’re setting them up for success! You’re introducing them to sounds, words, visual stimulation, and spending valuable time with them bonding over books. 
  2. Start small-If your reluctant reader is a bit older, start small-start by reading the back of the cereal box, street signs, grocery items, and other daily use items. Label the items in your home and make a game of it! 
  3. Focus on their interests– Whatever your kid wants to read, let them! Whether it’s short stories, Manga, poetry, comic books, or graphic novels, let them read! Do they love sports? Maybe they love fashion, adventures, or animals! Whatever they want to read about that interests them, encourage it!
  4. Go graphic-Graphic novels are still novels! Yes, they have pictures, but if your child enjoys reading these types of books, allow them. Any reading is better than none. 
  5. Read together-Spending time reading together as a family makes magical memories that will last a lifetime! Take turns reading to each other and carve out some time each day to read. Treat it as a ritual, something sacred and special!
  6. Make it fun– Pair interactive activities to encourage reading. Have your kids read the book before seeing the movie and have a discussion afterward of which was better and why. Host a scavenger hunt with themed items from the book e.g. An acorn, bird’s nest, a daisy, a blue car, etc. Set up a reading chart with stickers for each book completed and see how many books can be read by the end of the year for an epic prize (maybe a new book, bookmark, or digital book download). 

Reading is power! Books are portable magic that expand our minds and imaginations! You cannot be a good writer if you don’t read-remember that. If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the tools to write, it’s that simple. 

Here are some of our favourite options for the reluctant reader in your life: 

The Old Farmer’s Treasure – Pandamonium Publishing House
Unfrogged – Pandamonium Publishing House
DJ (Djeaneautha) The Terrible! – Pandamonium Publishing House

Posted on by — Leave a comment

2021 The Year You Become a Bestseller

December 28, 2020– It’s only a few more sleeps until we usher in 2021! Here’s to happiness, adventure, and realizing our writing potential in the new year! Is 2021 the year that YOU become a best selling author? I hope so; we’re here to help with a variety of options to get you to your goals. Imagine what it would be like to sign copies of your book at major bookstores, to be interviewed about your work, to have your book reach number 1 on Amazon, and to have people tell you that you’re their favourite author!

By writing your story, you can make a difference in the lives of others; stories are used to educate, entertain, and provide an escape. What are you writing about? Whatever it is, we can help you make your dreams come true. Whether you’re looking for editing or ghostwriting services, crafting the perfect query, or interested in getting your book noticed and increasing your sales, we’re the experts that can guide you!

We’ve helped writers become number 1 bestsellers, hone their craft, get publishing deals, and have shown them how to get paid for their writing, plus we’ve coached them to sell more books, how to market their work, and how to connect with their readers. For more information on our services send us an email pandapublishing8@gmail.com for a price quote. 

Do you have a list of writing goals? Where do you want to be next year? Are you ready for success? Do you dream of seeing your book on shelves? What are you waiting for? Let’s make 2021 your best year yet! 

Check out some of our valuable services here: 

Novel Editing 56,000 to 79,999 words – Pandamonium Publishing House
Novel Editing 80,000 to 89,999 words – Pandamonium Publishing House
Novel Editing 90,000 to 100,00 words – Pandamonium Publishing House
Mini-Course Crafting the Perfect Query – Pandamonium Publishing House
Picture Book Manuscript Consultation – Pandamonium Publishing House

Posted on by — 2 Comments

Adopt A School

December 23, 2020-During shows and events where we’re selling our books, one of the most common comments we get are, “Your books are so cute/funny/awesomely illustrated, I wish I had kids, but all of mine are grown.” The good news is, you can adopt a ton of kids! Let me explain; even if there are no children in your life, you can make a difference in the lives of many with our Adopt a School program! This is the perfect gift to give the person on your list that has everything! Here’s how it works (Click on the link to order): Adopt a School! Literacy Matters – Pandamonium Publishing House

When you purchase this collection, we’ll send TEN of our children’s book titles to local inner-city schools. We believe that literacy should be a right, not a privilege and that every school library deserves new books that will excite young readers. Please partner with us in this crucial initiative as 12 million Canadians are currently illiterate. This collection is suitable for young readers ages 4-8 depending on the reading level and includes themes such as teamwork, kindness, differences in ability, unconditional love, adventure, and friendship! The children will also receive a handwritten note from one of the authors talking about the importance of books while inviting them to participate in a virtual classroom author visit!

Thank you for your continued support of literacy and Canadian authors, illustrators and artists and for joining us in our mission to ignite a love of reading that will last a lifetime! 

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Girl in the Red Coat

December 15, 2020– A few weeks back we posted a writing prompt of a little girl in the snow with a pair of skates draped over her shoulder. We asked our readers to submit their work for the chance to be featured on our blog. Check out K.G. Watson’s story, Girl in the Red Coat below:

“Hey!  Girl in the red coat.” The call rang across the snow. She’d been spotted.  She walked on pretending not to hear.  Another call. “Please don’t go.  We need another player.” She turned to see who, in the group, had called.  It sounded like another girl but everyone was in hockey gear, skating circles and passing a puck on the newly-frozen pond.   The caller was short, like herself.  “I see your skates and you were watching us.  Can you come and play three-on-three?”  The speaker hopped the snowbank and walked up the bank as she spoke. “These are figure skates,” she said as the other girl got close.   She nudged them with resignation. “I see that.  They’ll do.  You were watching us for a while.  You are coming from a lesson?” “Yep.” “Can you skate backwards?” “Of course.” The girl in red replied indignantly.  Her cold hands holding skate laces under her velvet collar slid into her pockets.  Mittens should have been there.  They were home, clipped to the hot air register. The hockey girl noticed.  “I have a pair of mine inside hockey gloves, and a spare stick and helmet.”  She nodded towards bags at the log where the kids had been lacing their skates. “I’ve always wanted to try hockey besides in the driveway when my brother is out.  Mom says it’s a boy’s game.   And I’m too small.  I have to take figure skating.”  She watched the others.  “Poor skaters,” she decided. “Well …  Can you stay?” “Mom dropped me and I took the bus home.  I live over there.”  She nodded at the mansion on the edge of the park as she checked her phone.  “She took my brother to his hockey game.  He won’t be home for half an hour.” As they walked down the bank, her hockey hostess explained how she could start easily.  “You can play defence. We have no goalie, just two forwards and a defence.”  She pointed to the piles of snow that marked off the goalposts.   “If you can skate backwards, stay just to the centre side of anyone coming at you.  They’ll cut outside along the boards.  Just back up, keep in place and angle them into the snow.  When they fall, shoot the puck to a forward.” The others turned to welcome her; ponytails and stray ends peaked from under helmets; they were all girls.  She appreciated the warmth of the woollen gloves lining the padded hockey ones that were set beside her while she laced up.  She hefted the battered hockey stick.  “Same as my brother’s,” she decided and glided into position.  The other team was bringing the puck up from their end. Her greeter met the attack early but was late with a stab to free the puck.  It shot to the other forward who cut inside theirs for the pass and was under-speed as she crossed centre ice, bearing down on the girl in the red dress coat.    Red stepped to the attacker’s right leaving an opening on her left. The forward took the bait.  But she hadn’t expected the quick response.   With a little more speed, she’d get around the guard.  A couple fast strides.  The girl in red remained, preventing a shot on goal.    She made one more spurt and ran out of ice at top speed; the puck slid free and … The girl in red stopped. “Are you OK?”  The other girl was struggling up in a cloud of snow.  “Never had that happen. Where did you learn that?” “What?” “You really deked me out.  I was sure I could get around you. You let me commit and then moved me over like my dad’s dog herds sheep. The next try was unsuccessful too.  The attacker stopped short but the girl in red poked the puck free and flipped it over the teammate’s stick to her own forward who sent a long lead pass to their player racing around their defence to score. She was complimented on the lift she put on the puck to get it past the opposition.  “You handle a stick well.  This isn’t your first time.” “My brother plays,” was all that Red said.  As the sky slowly darkened, the girl in red learned stick tricks to block passes or poke checks.  The streetlights were on when a van pulled into a parking place. “That’s my Dad.  We have to go.” The girl in red looked at her watch,”. “Oh-oh.  I’m late.”  When she realized she still wore a borrowed helmet it was hard to find her red hat in the snow at the end of the log. “Maybe we can do this again,” the hockey player said.  “What’s your name?” Laura,” said the figure skater.  “What’s yours?” “Haley,” she said.