Monday, July 9, 2012

Out and About at the Zoo

Welcome to Jo Linsdell's blog tour!  Jo has written a wonderful story called Out and About at the Zoo, and she's come to talk to us today about her work. Jo, thank you so much for stopping by. Your book is delightful.

For the benefit of those who don't know you, can you tell us a little bit about you?

Where to start.... well, I'm originally from the UK but moved to Rome, Italy in 2001. I'm married to a lovely Italian man named Maurizio and together we have two children. Matteo who is 4 years old and Lorenzo who is 9 months. I've been writing pretty much since I could hold a pen and love being a writer. I even enjoy the marketing side of things. I'm an avid blogger too. I can't imagine ever doing a different job now.
2.Wow, you even love marketing!  I'm not as good with that as you are.  What was your motivation for writing Out and About at the Zoo?

Matteo asked me why I hadn't written a book for him. I figured he made a good point and so decided to write one based on the first time I took him to the zoo. He played an active role in the creation of the book too. A very vocal and honest critic until both the text and illustrations were just right. It was nice to be able to involve him in my work for once.

3.What other things have you written?

I like to experiment with my writing and try out new genres. I've published various non-fiction including an English-Italian phrasebook (Italian for Tourists) and A Guide to Weddings in Italy, poetry, short stories and now a children's picture book. I'm also working on a chick-lit and a book about social media.

4.If I ever come to Rome I'll need a copy of that first book. What was the hardest part of writing the book?

Writing the text was the easy part. Sketching the illustrations wasn't a problem either (I studied art and design at college) but making them digital and print quality was a whole different story. It was my first time using a graphics program and it turned into a real learning curve. Transparencies and layers, suitable colours... I would have been completely lost without the advice and guidance of one of my tech savvy friends. He saved the day more than once!
5.I'm impressed that you pulled it off. What are your future plans regarding your work?

As I mentioned above, I'm currently working on a chick-lit and a non-fiction book about social media (one of my other big passions). I'm definitely going to do more children's books in the future too.
6.What advice would you give to those who'd like to write for children?

Draw up a plan of the pages so you can see how the layout of your book will be. This will help you divide the text and give you ideas the placing of illustrations. Also, Children's books are meant to be read aloud. Read to an audience or record yourself reading the text so you can check for flow.
Jo, thank you so much for including me on your blog tour. Readers, hurry and get the book as soon as possible so you can read it to your own children and Grandchildren. 

Out and about at the zoo


Written and illustrated by Jo Linsdell 




Rhyming text and colourful pictures accompany this fun day out discovering different animals at the zoo.

About the author:
Jo Linsdell is a freelance writer, author and illustrator. Originally from the UK, she now lives in Rome, Italy with her husband and their two young sons.

Author website: www.JoLinsdell.com

Release Date: 1st June 2012



Product details:



ISBN/EAN13: 1477446591 / 9781477446591

Page Count: 32

Binding Type: US Trade Paper

Trim Size: 6" x 9"

Language: English

Colour: Full Colour with Bleed

Related Categories: Juvenile Fiction / Stories in Verse



Purchasing links:







Contact details:

Email: webmaster@jolinsdell.com



Reviews:

5 Stars

"Out and About at the Zoo by Jo Linsdell is a delightful story set in rhyme about a boy and his mum. The two spend the day at the zoo and meet many animals along the way. Your child will enjoy reading this book time and time again. The colorful illustrations make this book a joy to read. Pick up a copy of this book and share a day at the zoo memory with your little one".

By Kate Mueller, Author of Bella's Birthday Surprise

5 Stars 



"Out And About At The Zoo is a cute book that describes a child's memory filled trip to the zoo. Are you heading to the zoo and you would like to tell your kids what animals they will see there and what they might be doing? Then Out And About At The Zoo would be a great choice. Easy to understand and easy for children to read along with. It is filled with simple yet colorful pictures that even held my one year old's attention!

Would also make a good gift for young readers who are just beginning to read!"



2 comments:

  1. Thanks for hosting me today Elaine. I really appreciate your support.
    I'm really pleased with how things are going so far with Out and About at the Zoo. Last week it made it into the best sellers list for large print children's books on Amazon and has collected a large number of 5 star reviews too.

    ReplyDelete
  2. That's fantastic. I knew you'd do well with it.

    ReplyDelete