I'm part of a large group. Yes, the photo above is of a large group of authors, with me sort of in the second row, but I'm talking about a different large group: a member in the small business nation.
As I watched a commercial on television the other day, I thought, "Oh, my, that's me, only my name isn't Dave." No, I don't do all the jobs in 4RV Publishing, but I do many I never realized a president would do. I've been forced into the technical age, kicking and screaming. However, I had to do the jobs no one else could do because he/she didn't exist. The 4RV Bookstore site, for example, is one of my accomplishments. I finished revamping it today, well, finished until more books are out, but I think I have the setup where adding authors and books won't be very hard -- I hope.
I do the bookkeeping, the advertising, promotions, recruiting, and anything else that no one else does. I'm not exactly a one woman operation, though. I have Aidana WillowRaven and Harry Gilleland, excellent editors and proof readers. We have lost some illustrators but are gaining others. Small businesses don't get bailouts. We often get bailed on. I still am determined to put out the best books possible for as long as possible.
December has arrived. The Advent calendar has been set up; each day, its doors and windows open, one by one, to reveal the story of Christmas – and a sweet treat to widen a child’s eyes. Streets are lit with the colors of Christmas – some designed to take an adult’s breath away with their magical elegance, others calculated to make children laugh and skip with anticipation. With a little luck, a crisp, clean snow crunches underfoot. Carols play everywhere – music you’ll never hear in March, or April.
The smell of cookies and gingerbread and peppermint is pervasive. Of course, there’s hot chocolate with tiny marshmallows to go with absolutely everything. The tree appears, one day – as if plunked down next to the hearth by early elves, sparkling with ornaments – each one unique, special, and laden with its own Christmas memories; twinkling lights; tinsel or angel hair, garlands of gold or hand-strung strands of popcorn and cranberries. It is truly magical.
The presents begin to appear, but it is not until Christmas morning that the full bounty is revealed. A peek at plate of cookie crumbs, half eaten carrots, and empty milk glass confirm it: Santa has been there with his team of reindeer.
As adults, we need to take a deep breath and smell the gingerbread – remember what really made Christmas special. It’s not all about the presents. It’s that special combination of anticipation and magic, wrapped in the once-a-year scent of evergreen and home-baked treats. Let’s not allow stress to rob us of that childlike wonder or hinder our efforts to share it with our kids.
The Twelve Days of Christmas, Irma Style
During the virtual book tour to launch A Puppy, Not a Guppy, the book’s star human, Irma, made it clear that she was quite a character. Her “Twelve Days of Christmas” is a gentle jab at me, her author – but she insisted that I share it with you, again, here:
On the first day of Christmas my author gave to me
A tiny little kitty in a treeeeee!
On the second day of Christmas my author gave to me
Two precious puppies,
And a tiny little kitty in a treeeee!
On the third day of Christmas my author gave to me
Three dirty looks,
Two precious puppies,
And a tiny little kitty in a treeeeeee!
On the fourth day of Christmas my author gave to me
Four pairs of jeans,
Three dirty looks,
Two precious puppies,
And a tiny little kitty in a treeeeeee!
On the fifth day of Christmas my author gave to me
Five croaking frogs!
Four pairs of jeans,
Three dirty looks,
Two precious puppies,
And a tiny little kitty in a treeeeeee!
On the sixth day of Christmas my author gave to me
Six ballet lessons (yuck!),
Five croaking frogs!
Four pairs of jeans,
Three dirty looks,
Two precious puppies,
And a tiny little kitty in a treeeeeee!
On the seventh day of Christmas my author gave to me
Seven guppies playing,
Six ballet lessons (I’m a klutz),
Five croaking frogs!
Four pairs of jeans,
Three dirty looks,
Two precious puppies,
And a tiny little kitty in a treeeeeee!
On the eighth day of Christmas my author gave to me
Eight shortbread cookies,
Seven guppies playing,
Six ballet lessons (dorky!),
Five croaking frogs!
Four pairs of jeans,
Three dirty looks,
Two precious puppies,
And a tiny little kitty in a treeeeeee!
On the ninth day of Christmas my author gave to me
Nine night-night stories,
Eight shortbread cookies,
Seven guppies playing,
Six ballet lessons (why not tap?),
Five croaking frogs!
Four pairs of jeans,
Three dirty looks,
Two precious puppies,
And a tiny little kitty in a treeeeeee!
On the tenth day of Christmas my author gave to me
Ten tons of homework (due before the break),
Nine night-night stories,
Eight shortbread cookies,
Seven guppies playing,
Six ballet lessons (c’monnnn - violin?),
Five croaking frogs!
Four pairs of jeans,
Three dirty looks,
Two precious puppies,
And a tiny little kitty in a treeeeeee!
On the ‘leventh day of Christmas my author gave to me
Eleven candy canes,
Ten tons of homework (due before the break),
Nine night-night stories,
Eight shortbread cookies,
Seven guppies playing,
Six ballet lessons,
Five croaking frogs!
Four pairs of jeans,
Three dirty looks,
Two precious puppies,
And a tiny little kitty in a treeeeeee!
On the twelth day of Christmas my author gave to me
Twelve GREAT BIG PRESENTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (right Miss Holly?)
Eleven candy canes,
Ten tons of homework (due before the break),
Nine night-night stories,
Eight shortbread cookies,
Seven guppies playing,
Six ballet lessons,
Five croaking frogs!
Four pairs of jeans,
Three dirty looks,
Two precious puppies,
And a tiny little kitty in a treeeeeee!
Kling, Glöckchen, Kling
My grandfather was from the tiny town of Tauberbischofsheim, Germany. Each Christmas, one thing I most looked forward to was singing along to an album of German Christmas songs. This was one of my favorites, and I hope you enjoy it, too:
Thirteen mystery writers will participate in a virtual tour which begins the week of May 23 and will run through the week of August 14. Each person involved will host another person on the tour at least one day that week, a different person each week.
My blog posts will usually go up on Wednesday of the scheduled week and will remain the rest of the week. My scheduled guests are as follows:
What surprised me was how many of these women I know, either online and/or off. Several are members of OWFI (Oklahoma Writers Federation, Inc.) as I am. We spent time together the first full weekend of May at the conference.
When the blog tour begins and continues, I'll post on which person's blog I'll appear as guest.
Written for tweens (middle graders), the book appeals to readers of all ages. The characters and storyline are timeless and grab the readers' interest from the beginning.
Twelve-year-old Rebecca dreams of becoming a famous dog sled racer. She's an inventive but self-doubting musher who tackles freezing blizzards, wild animal attacks, puppy training,and flying poo missiles. All of her challenges, though, seem easier than living up to the dogs' trust in her abilities.
Terry’s passion for the outdoors evolved while she paddled Quetico Provincial Park as a Canoe Ranger. One winter she worked for a dogsledding company, and eighteen huskies followed her home.
Dogsled Dreams is her debut novel about those quirky dogs that entered her life and heart.
Dogsled Dreams can be purchased through most bookstores or ordered from the 4RV Bookstore, Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble. com, and from other online bookstores.
If you read the book, and you wish, if you'll send me a review, I'll post it here.
My previous post included some of the 4RV books coming out in 2011 and some of my personal goals. I promised to give readers a sampling of children's books and books for tweens and teens coming soon.
I always try to keep my promises, so let's begin with those for children:
A New Friend for Dilly, the second in the Dilly series by Rena Jones and illustrated by Lia Oakman, should arrive in bookstores, on Amazon and other online bookstores, and on the 4RV Publishing website not long after the start of the new year.
Another picture book which will be out in 2011 is Carla's Cloud Catastrophe by Beth Bence Reinke and illustrated by Ginger Nielson.
Chapter books on the schedule include Dylan's Tale by Harry Porter and illustrated by Mandy Hedrick and Priscilla Holmes & the Glass Slipper by John Lance and illustrated by Diana Navarro.
The preceding titles are a sample of what people can find at 4RV Publishing. We get many accolades for the quality of the writing and illustrations published by 4RV, as well as the quality of the workmanship of the books themselves.
Another goal I have is to help more excellent books to be available for everyone, readers of all ages.
P.S. Stolen is still available and has been entered into two competitions. I hope to hear from people who read the novel.
The year 2010 will soon be gone, just 5 more days, and 2011 will arrive. Father Time is always supplanted by the baby New Year. No matter what joys and sorrows; successes and failures may have filled the old year, the new year gives us a clean slat, a chance to renew our lives.
I have personal goals and business goals for the upcoming year. I don't make resolutions because I don't like failing. Goals are end results that may or may not be reached, but moving toward fulfilling them means successes of small steps.
Personal writing goals include finishing my Western novel, working on the sequel to Midnight Hours, and submitting my romance novel for publication. I also have a project with my daughter-in-law: a novel with Facebook's Mafia Wars as part of the concept. I hope some of my writing entered in the OWFI writing competition will place.
4RV Publishing has several books coming out the first of the year, and we have to make final preparations. The ARCs for Conscience: Breaching Social Amnesia by vehoae are already sent out for reviews, and once final edits and additions are finished, it will be released. ARCs for Time Pullers by Horton Deakins should be out right after the first of the year, and the sci-fi novel released in March. Harry Gilliand's Aldric and Anneliese, historical adventure/romance, will also be out by March.
In the next few days I'll share 4RV children's books coming out after the new year and a few for tweens and teens.
Until New Year's Eve, I'll be frantically finishing year end reports for the business. Why or why didn't I ask Santa for an accountant?
Carolyn Hart, one of my favorite authors, allowed me to interview her. I first posted this on Make Mine Mystery, but I wanted the interview also to be on my personal blog. Carolyn is not only a good writer of cozy mysteries, but she also is a mentor and friend to other writers.
Carolyn's two most recent books are as follows, both of which I have read: Dare to Die, publisher Morrow, ISBN 978-0-06-145303-8 published date 3/31/09 Ghost at Work, publisher Morrow, ISBN 978-0-06 087436-0 published date 10/27/08 (set in Oklahoma)
Vivian: How did/does your history and home background affect your writing?
Carolyn: I grew up wanting to be a reporter and majored in journalism at OU. I've used a news background for several books. I also love to read mysteries. This provided the background for the Death on Demand series. Vivian: The Murder on Demand books are set on Broward’s Rock, an island off the coast in South Carolina. Why did you choose that location?
Carolyn: We started vacationing on Hilton Head Island in the mid 1970s. When I decided to write Death on Demand, I wanted to use a resort background for Annie's mystery bookstore and Hilton Head was the only resort area I knew well. I created a fictional sea island inspired by Hilton Head of the '70s.
Vivian: The first book in your new series with Bailey Ruth is the first book set in Oklahoma, I believe. What made you decide to have a book set here?
Carolyn: The Bailey Ruth series is my only series set in Oklahoma. Oklahoma is also the background for Letter from Home, a standalone novel set in a small northeastern Oklahoma town in the summer of 1944. It is a story of the home front during WWII.
Vivian: I forgot about Letter from Home.
Carolyn: I love Oklahoma and enjoy using my home state as a background.
Vivian: The Henrie O series attracts me, probably because I can emphasize with a woman of “a certain age.” Do you have any more books featuring her in your writing future? If so, would you share some tidbits of information about one?
Carolyn: Henrie O is currently resting, as they say in Hollywood. I am committed to write one Death on Demand book and one ghost book every year and I don't at the moment have time for a new Henrie O.
Vivian: *sigh* I can understand Henrie O resting. I find I need more rest, too. At least we'll be able to read more of your books, though, and I did enjoy "meeting" Bailey Ruth.
Please fill us in on your hobbies, interests, or activities you participate in during your leisure time. *laugh* If you have any.
Carolyn: I used to enjoy jogging and tennis but now settle for leisurely walks in the park. Walking and reading are my hobbies.
Vivian: Authors are often asked when they started writing or what triggered their interest in writing. I like to know that, also, but I would especially like to know what keeps you writing. Carolyn: I have always been fascinated by language. I enjoy creating a scene that I hope will interest readers. Writers are not disciplined. Writers are compulsive. Writers have to write. It is their destiny.
Vivian: Oh, I so agree with your description of writers.
You have so many projects going all the time: working on books, traveling, etc.; how do you manage?
Carolyn: I always focus on one task at a time.
Vivian: The two most recent of your books I’ve read are Ghost at Work and Death Walked In. What influenced you to write those books? Carolyn: I love ghost stories, but I like happy ghost stories such as Topper. I wanted to write a book of that sort and the outcome was Bailey Ruth Raeburn, my impulsive, well-meaning redheaded ghost. Death Walked In, as are most of the stories in the Death on Demand series, a study of failed relationships and the effect on everyone involved.
Vivian: Do you have a particular writing process or technique that you use, if so, what? Carolyn: When I start a mystery, I know the protagonist, the victim, the murderer, and the reason for the crime, and I have a working title. That is all I know. I have no idea where the story will lead or how I will get to Page 300.
Vivian: Do or have any writing groups benefited you and your writing? If so, how?
Carolyn: I am a member of Sisters in Crime, Authors Guild, Mystery Writers of America, the American Crime Writing League, abnd the International Association of Crime Writers. If so, how? Membership affords information about the industry and collegiality.
Vivian: What advice would you have for a new author?
Carolyn: Write about something that matters enormously to you. If you care, somewhere an editor will care.
Vivian: Any other comments?
Carolyn: Follow your star.
Thank you, Carolyn. I know I enjoyed our visit, and I'm sure many others will, too. At the OWFI writing conference the first of May, I was telling a group at lunch about Ghost at Work, and one comment was, "Carolyn can pull it off better than anyone else." I agree that you did "pull it off," and I thoroughly enjoyed the book.
Readers, if you enjoy Carolyn's books, please leave a comment about which are your favorites. If you haven't read any of her books, yet, when you do, please share your thoughts.
What! I've heard of the right hand not knowing what the left is doing, but the latest news is astounding and more confusing than ever. The CPSC doesn't know what the CPSIA is supposed to do, and members of the CPSC don't know what each other does or should do.
As Walter Olson on Overlawyered, "CPSC: No, we didn’t ask libraries to pull pre-1985 books," wrote, an associated press article yesterday quoted Scott Wolfson, a spokesman for the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Wolfson's message, as found also here this morning, stated that libraries should take steps to put pre-1985 books out of reach for children.
Now,commission chief of staff, Joe Martyak, says that Wolfson “misspoke." He says the commission never made any such recommendation. Huh?
Another CPSC commissioner, Thomas Moore, declared a few weeks ago that a large section of older books should be be “sequestered” from children for the time being.
When will the government admit defeat and scrap this poorly written law that does not protect children but harm them?
For updates on the CPSIA debacle, Overlawyered is an excellent source.
Are you as confused as I am? Apparently the CPSC is confused, too. Hmmm ... maybe the members ate too many lead filled books as adults.
Due to health issues, I've allowed others to continue the battle against the Customer Product Safety Improvement Act, but I need to update those who follow Brain Cells & Bubble Wrap about an important event April 1.
I've heard about the CPSIA "people's hearing" in Washington D.C. from CPSIA-Central, and now by Walter Olson in Overlawyered. Everyone needs to read the complete blog entry, but here's the first paragraph from that post:
Coming up April 1, but not a joke: Since Henry Waxman and other CPSIA defenders on Capitol Hill are still stonewalling demands for hearings on the law’s catastrophic effects, some citizen-activists are preparing an alternative event for the nation’s capital in which persons from many affected constituencies will have a chance to tell their stories; there may also be “rally” activities, as well as events in other states for those who find it more convenient to protest there. Rick Woldenberg has details. Rob Wilson has created a fledgling Facebook event page and a new domain with email: hearings - at - cpsiahearings - dot - com.
Amy Ridenour declares Representative Henry Waxman (D-CA) the "winner" of the Outrage of the Day because he refuses to hold hearings on the CPSIA.
Ms. Ridenour puts the law in perspective when she states Congress adopted the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 in part because it (Congress) has no idea what it is doing. She continues by saying "that's what happens when lawmakers vote on bills no one has read, coming from an ideological bias that the bigger governement grows, the better we'll be. However, she continues, "that's no excuse for not revisiting the issue now that the truth is kicking many people in the teeth."
When, and if, anyone contacts Rep. Waxman, he tells the person that he'll get to it later. Why is Waxman waiting? He wants a new chairman to be appointed, now by President Obama, who will be on Waxman's side and keep the CPSIA in effect, destroying children and small businesses in the process.
Please find ways to support the fight against the CPSIA. Children need books, those published now and those before 1985. Children need bikes (who has heard of a child becoming deathly ill by eating the tires or other parts of a bike -- well, guess eating anything like that would make them sick, IF they could manage to ingest such parts).
IF you can, join the protest in Washington D.C. If you can't, send more messages to members of Congress, the President, anyone in power.
The war still rages, and we could lose more rights if we don't win.
I started a group on CPSIA - Central about the effect of the CPSIA on books, producers, sellers, users, schools, and libraries. Interest was greater than I expected, and today on Overlawyered, Walter Olson embedded a link to the OPSIA - Central group. "There’s also a page at cpsia-central (the Ning group) on books and libraries."
I'm not engaged in the trenches of this war any more because I've had to cut back on at least some of the stress in my life (my doctors -- primary and cardiologist -- insist I need to), but I still read and keep track of the battles being waged. The problem still exists and isn't improving. In fact, the scheduled hearing with small business owners to address the impact on them was canceled and is not going to be rescheduled.
The war against the CPSIA needs some media coverage from major newspapers, magazines, radio, and/or television stations. However, what little has been printed in most small papers downplays the seriousness of the problem. Why is the media essentially helping Waxman and company to cover up the damage this law has caused already and will continue to cause?
Books are being destroyed. Small toy businesses are closing their doors. Suppliers of home schooling material can't stay in business.
From Overlaywered: "Community Homestead is a center for developmentally disabled adults in rural Wisconsin that has sold residents’ handcraft toys." The community supports itself through the winter months by creating toys, and now the law will put countless independent businesses, particularly of hand crafted toys, out of business, including Community Homestead.
And the voice of reason continues to be gagged by the media and supporters of this poorly written and researched law.
On one hand, the government is doing its best, through the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, to remove books from the hands of children. After all, children might be hurt by books (never mind clothes, beds, chairs, etc.). On the other hand, the courts declare children can watch anything available on the internet, even porn. According to Fox New.com "The government lost its final attempt Wednesday to revive a federal law intended to protect children from sexual material and other objectionable content on the Internet."
Huh? As Rena Jones stated on a private forum, "I'm sorry, but people are so mixed up these days. Protecting kids from lead is good. Making the law so it affects everything a child touches nearly illegal is bad. But now this?
"Sorry kids, but I'm gonna have to confiscate that classic copy of Winnie-The-Pooh. Why don't you go surf the Net for porn. Now, go on, have a good time."
Sorry -- some things just make me rage! Who are these people and who voted them into office?"
Good question, Rena. I wonder if anyone has a reasonable answer?
We must keep fighting stupid laws. Have you visited with your Congress members lately? Well, that's too long.
4RV Publishing won't add porn to the book list for children's books, we promise. Ish.
Another blog that has interesting and timely information: The Common Room.
A good rule of thumb is that when everyone in Washington agrees on something it's either inane or you better hide your wallet. Of course, there's nothing that will rally together Congress faster than a law written "for the children". So it should come as no surprise that the innocuously named Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) proposed following the lead-paint-in-childrens'-toys-from-China scare last year received almost unanimous support. It passed by a vote of 89-3 in the Senate and 424-1 in the House.
What should also come as no surprise are the unintended consequences CPSIA will have on everyone from toy manufacturers to public libraries.
The post continues with Yet another classic case of razing the house because someone saw a cockroach. The blame here is obviously bi-partisan, and this abomination was signed into law by President Bush. Clearly, no politician (other than Ron Paul) will stand up when they might be shouted down as wanting to poison the children. But either large numbers of Congress-critters supported this law without fully reading and understanding its impact or their intention all along was to saddle makers of kid's goods with an exasperating suite of regulations that will yield no significant improvement on children's health.
Commentary from Forbes, "Scrap the Consumer Product Improvement Act" (by Walter Olson, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute and the author of The Rule of Lawyers and other books. He edits Overlawyered.com), is quoted in the above post. One section of the commentary by Olson needs to be emphasized: As CPSIA opponents mobilize, the phrase "unintended consequences" is often heard. Part of the irony, after all, is that the Hasbros and Targets, with their standardization and economies of scale, can afford to adapt to such rules as part of their business plan, while the sorts of enterprises that initially looked to benefit most from the Chinese toy scare--local, organic and so forth--are also the ones who find it hardest to comply.
But the failure here runs deeper. This was not some enactment slipped through in the dead of night: It was one of the most highly publicized pieces of legislation to pass Congress last year.
And yet now it appears precious few lawmakers took the time to check what was in the bill, while precious few in the press (which ran countless let's-pass-a-law articles) cared to raise even the most basic questions about what the law was going to require.
Yes, something's being exposed as systematically defective here. But it's not the contents of our kids' toy chests. It's the way we make public policy.
Hopefully, someone will do something before our house is burned to the ground.
Here is Stories for Children's Magazine review of Karen Cioffi’s and Robyn Feltman’s book. Read and enjoy. The next step is to read the book itself to your favorite little one.
BOOK REVIEW by Wayne Walker
STORIES FOR CHILDREN MAGAZINE BOOK: Day's End Lullaby AUTHORS: Karen Cioffi and Robyn Feltman ILLUSTRATOR: Karen Cioffi PUBLISHER: Book Surge (2008) ISBN-13: 978-1-4196-9157-7 ISBN-10: 1-4196-9157-0 READING LEVEL: Infancy to age 4 RATING: 5 stars
A child has his favorite teddy bear. The sun has set. The moon is out. The day is over. The child is tired. Now it is time for him to close his eyes and go to sleep.
This lovely little book, with its lilting, lyrical poetry and its soothing message, is intended for just such a time. One of the best things that parents may do for their children is to read aloud to them. It can be both fun and educational. Our family has tried to have two read aloud periods each day. One is after lunch, when we have generally chosen historical fiction, and the other is right before bed, when we have used other books which relate to our children's interests.
Reading aloud before bedtime serves several purposes. First, it is an opportunity for personal interaction between parent and child. Second, it is helpful in getting settled down for children who have been playing for a while to have a period of transition between the activities of the day and the need to rest at night. This picture book is perfect for that purpose. It has the additional benefit that the text has been set to music, and the lullaby is included. Author Karen Cioffi says that she wrote the lullaby to the story over 30 years ago for her firstborn who didn't like sleeping. This is one of those books that wee ones will probably want read over and over to them.
Ever hear of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008? If not, you need to read it and understand that, as of next month, the world of publishing, especially children's books will change. It also means that anything in your home that children touch can be illegal.
Here is what Amazon.com sent 4RV Publishing:
The U.S. House and Senate have passed the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (the 'Act'), and on August 14, 2008, President Bush signed the Act into law.
We expect that all Amazon.com vendors will ensure that their products are compliant with the Act in accordance with all applicable effective dates. Specific provisions of the Act discussed in this letter are for ease of reference only. Specific provisions of the Act discussed in this letter are for ease of reference only. Further information on the Act is available on the Consumer Product Safety Commission ('CPSC') website at www.cpsc.gov.
The Act prescribes strict limits on the content of certain materials in products intended for children, including lead and phthalates. In particular: * Effective February 10, 2009, the Act prohibits the sale of children's toys and child care articles with concentrations of more than 0.1 percent of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP), diisononyl phthalate (DINP), diisodecyl phthalate, (DIDP), or di-n-octyl phthalate (DnOP). * The Act mandates a phased-in ban on lead in substrate for all children's products, requiring that lead levels be reduced to a maximum of 600 parts per million by February 10, 2009; 300 parts per million by August 14, 2009; and 100 parts per million by August 14, 2011. Electronic devices and inaccessible component parts will be subject to rules to be issued by August 14, 2009. * The Act also reduces permissible lead in paint content from 0.06 percent to 0.009 percent (effective August 14, 2009), which may be lowered further by administrative action.
******************************** What you need to do ********************************
We expect that vendors will familiarize themselves with the effective dates of each applicable limit. In order to minimize the difficulty of tracking multiple versions of the same product through the supply chain, it is highly advisable for manufacturers to promptly eliminate or phase-out product offerings which do not or will not comply with the most restrictive limits described above, well before such limits take effect.
Follow the instructions located in this file, download and complete the spreadsheet and return it to us as an attachment to a Contact Us form, using Issue: Item Detail Page; Subissue: Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act.
If all of your products are compliant with the lead and phthalate limits according to the table below, submit a Contact Us, using the instructions above, with the following statement 'We, [Vendor Name], certify that all of our products are compliant with the lead and phthalate limits effective as of August 14, 2011 as defined by the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008.'
If some of your products are not compliant by any of the dates below, you must complete the spreadsheet located in the Resource Center of Vendor Central, as stated above. Only one spreadsheet needs to be completed.
As of each date set forth in Column III of the table below, each vendor must confirm and report to Amazon.com that all of your children's products (i) in Amazon.com's inventory, as reported to you in Vendor Central as of such date, and (ii) in transit or shipped to Amazon.com on or after such date, will comply with applicable limits set forth in Column I.
******************************** Specific Guidelines: ******************************** Limit Phthalate ban: Effective Date of Limit per the Act 10-Feb-09; Products shipped to Amazon.com must comply by 30-Nov-08; Noncompliant products are subject to return to Vendor 15-Jan-09
Lead 600 ppm: Effective Date of Limit per the Act 10-Feb-09; Products shipped to Amazon.com must comply by 30-Nov-08; Noncompliant products are subject to return to Vendor 15-Jan-09
Limit Lead 300 ppm: Effective Date of Limit per the Act 14-Aug-09; Products shipped to Amazon.com must comply by 14-Apr-09; Noncompliant products are subject to return to Vendor 1-Jul-09
Limit Lead paint 0.009: Effective Date of Limit per the Act 14-Aug-09; Products shipped to Amazon.com must comply by 14-Apr-09; Noncompliant products are subject to return to Vendor 1-Jul-09
Limit Lead 100 ppm: Effective Date of Limit per the Act 14-Aug-11; Products shipped to Amazon.com must comply by 14-Feb-11; Noncompliant products are subject to return to Vendor 1-Jul-11
Please put your vendor name in the subject field of the email when you respond in any case.
Any children's products which are not so confirmed are subject to removal from the Amazon.com catalog, and Amazon.com will be entitled to return to you for a full refund (including shipping costs) any non-compliant products which remain in our inventory as of the dates in Column IV above.
In order to minimize difficulties in inventory compliance tracking, any products which are altered to comply with a limit described in the Act must have a distinct SKU number from previous versions. These changes must be reported to Amazon.com along with a return authorization for any Amazon.com inventory of previous versions.
The Act provides that the CPSC may issue regulations providing for further limitations on the content of children's products. Vendors are responsible for tracking and complying with any regulations issued by the CPSC.
We are confident that you share our commitment to ensure the full compliance with the Act of all of your products sold on Amazon.com.
Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.
Best Regards, Amazon.com
Next post: What does this mean to small publishers and others (even authors) who sell children's books?
I'm involved in Virtual Book Tours, and the first week of posts from guests on host blogs begins tomorrow, November 15. I'll host Suzanne Lieurance, as explained in previous post, and I'm a guest on Anna Prezio's blog. In fact she has already posted material about Prairie Dog Cowboy and Midnight Hours.
Prairie Dog Cowboy is in the last stage of publication, and and now we wait for the finished book to appear . The scheduled release date is October 15. Since this is one of my books, I can hardly wait to hold a copy in my hands, the prize after months and months of work and effort on my part and Jordan Vinyard's.
Does anyone realize how many problems can pop up as a book works its way from author and illustrator through the editing process and designing and formatting before it actually can be printed? Looking back over my experiences at all stops a book makes, I'm amazed any are actually released. However, that's another blog post - gremlins in the publishing business.
Prairie Dog Cowboy has taken over a year, but that's really not a long time in the publishing world. Other books have taken two and three years from contract to release. Why? Because doing a good job takes longer than throwing something together.
Many of us have picked up a book and found too many errors, inconsistency, and lack of cohesion. We wonder how editors missed the problems. Some times, editors may not know what to look for or hurry the process. Other times, no editing or proofreading occurs. Experienced editors are required for a good results, as is thorough edits and multiple revisions.
Perhaps the author failed to edit the final proof sent him (or her), personally, but accepted that editors did their jobs. I go over mine with a fine-tooth comb, over and over. I know that there will be something missed, but I want to be sure the errors are few if any, and nothing major.
The best way to survive the experience of creating a book is to put the time, effort, edits, and revisions needed into having as perfect a book as possible. Now, that's bubble wrap.
For five days Aidana WillowRaven and I worked frantically to put a book together. She would put the book block together and send it to me in a PDF. I would edit it and let her know what needed to be changed. We did this process over and over and over and over again.
Sometimes those changes that fixed problems would cause other problems. We'd have to fix those: a long, tedious process, but one needed for a good book. Finally the book block, the interior of the book, was finished and as close to perfect as anyone human could make it.
Then the dust jacket for the book had to be prepared. The illustrations didn't have any trim area or bleed; images would be cut off and part of the needed images removed. Aidana spent hours and hours working to find a solution. She would send me a PDF of the dust jacket, and I'd give my opinion and suggestions. She would rework areas and resend. We spent most of one day and a night doing and redoing. She deserves an award for all her work and expertise. As I told her, I wish I could pay her what she's worth.
Authors and artists wonder why 4RV needs their finished work perferably months before a release date. Finishing the book once we have the components can take weeks. Then the printing company takes a week to two weeks to get a proof back to us. After we approve it, the printing company takes up to three weeks to print copies of the book and a week or more to ship them. Thankfully Aidana stayed with the job until it was ready. Now the waiting begins again. Hopefully the files uploaded at the printers were correct, and the proof won't show any problems.
Most people have no idea all the hard work and long hours -- after the author, and illustrator if one is used, send in their finished manuscripts and/or illustrations -- before a book is released.
