Tag: writing

creativity

Tips for authors: How to successfully pitch individual book reviewers

Christa Avampato
Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on Unsplash

My second novel, Emerson Page and Where the
Light Leads, will be released everywhere books are sold
in less than a month on May 14th. This week I’m focused on pitching the book to
individual book reviewers. These are reviewers with popular websites and social
media accounts who primarily focus on reviewing books. I wanted to share some
top tips for authors who are pitching these reviewers:

Review their websites
There are sites like BookSirens.com that make it easy to find book reviewers.
It may be tempting for authors to just contact all reviewers on platforms like
this and let the chips fall where they may. This hurts you and it hurts all
other authors, too. Use these platforms to go to the individual websites. What
does a reviewer care about? What’s their style and brand? Would your book be
appealing to them, and if so, what you can you highlight about your book to get
their interest?

Respect the reviewer’s guidelines
By going to their websites, you will almost always find review guidelines.
Please follow these to the letter. What do they want in the pitch? What do they
not want in the pitch? What types of books and authors interest them? If they
are not a match for you, don’t contact them. Again, they are flooded with
requests. If they aren’t a match for your book, save your time and theirs, and
move on. 

Respect the reviewer’s genre and format preferences
Within their guidelines, they will often define the genres and formats
(paperback, ePub, PDF, etc.) they prefer. They may also define what they don’t
want. Again, if they aren’t a match for you and your book, move on. I started
out sending my PDF as an attachment in my pitches. Then I decided it was best
to send the pitch without any attachment because the PDF is a big file and may
clog their inboxes. So just send the pitch as an email with no attachment and
include a link to your book or author website instead.

Personalize the pitch
Now that you have all this information from the reviewer’s website, personalize
your pitch. Give them everything they ask for and give them a reason to be interested
in your book. Is there something on their website, social platforms, or in
their bio that you love? Do they have a personal interest that matches with a
unique aspect of your book? Touches like that show your care and generate
connection. 

Respect the reviewer’s time
Authors are strapped for time whether or not they have an agent, and whether or
not they have a publisher or have chosen to self-publish. (FYI — I don’t have
an agent and I have a publisher.) Having a book published is launching a
business. You, the author, need to do a lot of marketing and promotion of your
book. There’s a temptation to save time and send mass emails to reviewers or
take a “spray and pray” mentality. I get it. But please don’t do that. You are
asking a reviewer to give hours of their time reading and reviewing your book.
Make it easy for them to say yes by following their guidelines, preferences,
and personalizing your pitch.

Have you successfully pitched book reviewers? What are some other top tips
you would share? 

creativity

Wrapping up my year as a pen pal with Letters to a Pre-Scientist

Christa Avampato

This was my first year as a pen pal for Letters to a Pre-Scientist (LPS), a nonprofit that pairs fifth to tenth grade students in low-income communities with a worldwide network of STEM professionals for a yearlong pen pal program to inspire all students to explore a future in STEM. I was matched with a student in Arizona. We exchanged eight letters during the school year and discussed higher education pathways, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) career journeys, and overcoming obstacles in life, school, and career.

I think that piece about overcoming obstacles and getting through difficulty in life is incredibly important. We all face challenges at some point. It’s important for young people to know the challenges can be overcome and provide examples of how we’ve faced challenges as a way to inspire them.

My pen pal was always very interested to know about my dog, Phineas. She has a dog, too, and this was something we bonded over from our first letters. I decided I had to be honest with her about Phin’s passing in January, how it made me feel, and how I was coping with grief. Something extraordinary happened in our last letter exchange; something I didn’t expect.

My pen pal showed such an incredible amount of empathy for my loss. To cheer me up, she made me these little reminders that show wisdom far beyond her years. The front sides of the notes say “It’s okay…” and “I’m not gone”. Inside, they say “A dog wags his tail with his heart. Don’t forget the love they shared” and “Dogs leave paw prints on our hearts.” Truer words were never written. I’ve placed them by my desk because they make me smile while I’m working. All the while I was hoping to inspire her; turns out she inspired me even more!

In her letter, she goes on to talk about how much her dog means to her, and to also express some challenges she’s having in school. She said even though school was very difficult for her right now, she believed in herself, loved learning new things, and knows she will get through these challenges. This student did not express this level of confidence in herself at the start of the school year, not by a long shot. Growth and evolution are beautiful gifts to witness.

My gifts to my pen pal

To further encourage her, I decided to put together a special package. I made her a book mark with charms I thought she’d like–a book, a paw print, a moon and star, and the planet Saturn. I also sent her one of my Emerson Page charms that I hide around the world for readers to find. It says, “She believed she could so she did” and has a tag with “Always believe in yourself.” My pen pal’s confidence reminds me of Emerson so I thought this was a fitting gift.

I wrote my reply letter to her on fancy paper. I told her how much her kindness meant to me and how I admired her belief in herself to overcome her challenges in school. I told her my dream for her is find something that brings her joy every day. I made sure to mention to love every day she has with her dog so she has a lot of wonderful memories with him, and that giving him his food and water, playing with him, taking walks together, and brushing his hair will make him so happy. I closed the letter with one of my favorite quotes by the great naturalist Mary Oliver who asks in one of her poems, “What will you do with your one wild and precious life?” I told her I can’t wait to see what she decides to do with her life.

We never know how our words and actions may impact someone. The important thing is that we keep putting our hearts out there, that we keep showing concern, empathy, compassion, and kindness at every turn, even when our world and the world at-large is heavy. Perhaps especially when it’s heavy. This might be the only way we’re going to save ourselves and each other–keep showing up and giving our best, honest, authentic selves.

creativity

My letter to President Biden after the World Central Kitchen tragedy in Gaza

Christa Avampato
From World Central Kitchen. https://wck.org/

In the aftermath of the World Central Kitchen tragedy that took the lives of 7 humanitarian aid workers in Gaza this week, I wrote a letter to President Biden on Wednesday evening. The text of my letter is below. My hope is that my letter will inspire other people to not just post on social media but also to write to all of their elected officials and policy makers as a way of pushing for change at a system level.

“Dear President Biden,

On the news tonight, I heard you’re speaking to Prime Minister Netanyahu tomorrow. I know you receive a multitude of letters and that mine will likely never reach you but I’ve been so racked by grief at the tremendous loss of life in Gaza, especially the aid workers from World Central Kitchen, that I had to write to you.

This war’s made it unsafe for Americans to be abroad and unsafe to be Jewish, even in a city as diverse and accepting as New York City, where I live. This war is starving millions of people. It’s killed tens of thousands, the majority children and women. It’s maimed, disabled, and orphaned an untold number of innocent people. The people of Gaza are penned in with nowhere to go, no safe passage out and no safe space within.

I know the situation is complicated. I know the Jewish people have suffered for decades, for centuries. I know October 7th was a horrific unspeakable act by Hamas. And I also know what Netanyahu’s government is doing now is as cruel and inhumane as what has been done to them. The people of Gaza and Israel deserve better. They deserve peace. Netanyahu will never give them peace. And so, we have to use every resource we have to stand for peace: A stop on weapons, funding, and support for Netanyahu.

The second term of your presidency is on the line, and with it the future of our nation and the world. We’re asking you to lead, to protect us, to stand on the side of humanity and peace, and that means we cannot stand with Netanyahu. That way lies another Trump presidency, more anti-Semitism, and more anti-American sentiment. We and the world cannot afford any of that.

This war must end and Netanyahu must go. And you must be the one to take that stand. It’s as simple and as complex as that. I know it’s painful. I know it’s difficult. It must be done and you must do it, for all our sakes.

Sincerely yours,
Christa Avampato”

creativity

Pre-order links for my new novel, Emerson Page and Where the Light Leads, are live

Christa Avampato
Pre-order Emerson Page and Where the Light Leads now

Breaking news! My new novel, Emerson Page and Where the Light Leads, will be released on May 14th, and the pre-order links are live. You can order it in paperback or in eBook format via Amazon now. The book will be available everywhere books are sold on May 14th. If you’d like to get a copy of the first book, Emerson Page and Where the Light Enters, it’s available now in paperback and eBook. You can order it on Amazon or request it at your favorite local bookstore.

I’m so excited for this next chapter of her adventure to be out in the world. A million thanks to everyone who’s loved us and cheered us on through our journey.

creativity

Two more reviews for my upcoming novel, Emerson Page and Where the Light Leads

Christa Avampato
Photo by Aung Soe Min on Unsplash

I’m smiling from ear to ear as I close out the week with two more reviews of my novel, Emerson Page and Where the Light Leads, from people for whom I have enormous respect: Felicia Sabartinelli and Matt Joseph Misetich.

“It’s rare to find a book that not only ignites your imagination but explores the varying degrees of grief with such beauty and skillful precision. Through mystical creatures and new worlds, Avampato does an incredible job of balancing fantasy and folklore with the complexities of human emotion. This is – in many ways – an immersive and powerful ride through Emerson’s journey into young adulthood and the importance of finding one’s power. Readers, young and old, will not be able to put this down.” ~Felicia Sabartinelli, award-winning essayist, poet, public speaker, and creator of Ferocious. https://www.feliciasabartinelli.com/

“A thoroughly enchanting ride. Christa Avampato drops us into a wondrous world dazzling with imagination and magic. But what sets this apart is her keen ability to make us somehow relate so strongly, and so universally, to a story otherwise steeped in pure fantasy. A book drowning in charm. Avampato brings her own light and magic to familiar-yet-extraordinary settings alive with warmth, honesty, and an eclectic cast that will please even casual YA readers.” ~Matt Joseph Misetich, Senior Executive and Partner at Pipeline Media Group. https://pipelinemediagroup.com/

creativity

Writing the acknowledgement and author’s notes sections of my novel

Christa Avampato
Photo by Leon Contreras on Unsplash

Today I’m writing my author’s note and acknowledgement sections of my novel, Emerson Page and Where the Light Leads. With a May 14th release date, tomorrow March 1st is my last day to submit anything to my publisher. I’ve procrastinated (which to be honest I never do because it’s not at all in my nature) writing these sections for two reasons: 1.) I’ve been heads-down on my dissertation and 2.) I’m scared. My first full messy draft of my dissertation is nearly done so now I need to get over my fear and write these last 2 pieces.

Why am I afraid to write them? First, these are very personal sections of the book. I want them to be meaningful and poignant as I talk directly to the readers and publicly thank those who have been instrumental in the creation of this book in particular. At the time of this writing, the world is a heavy place. Since my first Emerson Page novel, Emerson Page and Where the Light Enters, was released in 2017, the world at-large and my world in particular have gone through seismic shifts. I want to say something that gives people hope, and I want to express my immense gratitude as clearly as possible.

Maybe that’s it. Maybe that’s where I start, exactly where I want these pieces of the book to land—with hope and gratitude. If I can get those two ideas across to the readers, then I’ll have done what I set out to do.

creativity

Early reviews for my upcoming Emerson Page novel releasing May 14, 2024 are in!

Christa Avampato
Emerson Page and Where the Light Leads by Christa Avampato

Five 5-star reviews for my upcoming novel, Emerson Page and Where the Light Leads, which will be released on May 14th everywhere books are sold! I cried big, happy, overjoyed tears reading these reviews. They express everything I hope readers think and feel in Emerson’s story.

Some highlights:
“It’s Indiana Jones for young adults with much more magic and lore”
“A mythic quest exploring grief, creativity, and what it means to step into one’s power”
“Captivates from the first page to the last”
“Every fantasy lover’s dream book”
“Sleek and highly detailed”
“I couldn’t put it down”
“Unforgettable”

Longer reviews:
“A mythic quest exploring grief, creativity, and what it means to step into one’s power. Avampato’s ability to weave themes of inner exploration, imagination, and loss into an epic adventure is second to none. From the hectic streets of Times Square to Dublin to worlds unknown, I’d follow Emerson Page (and Friday) wherever their light will take me! I wish I had this book when I was a teenager!” ~Torri Yates-Orr, Emmy-Nominated history and mythology communicator, writer, host, and creator of the “On This Day in History” series

“With a healthy dose of adventure, mystery, and magic, Emerson Page and Where the Light Leads captivates you from the first page to the last. Christa Avampato has built an immersive fantasy world featuring talking trees, superpowered teenage protagonists, faeries, and a host of other magical creatures. Imagine Indiana Jones for young adults with much more magic and lore, and you will end up with something like this. Keeping a brisk pace to the narrative, Avampato weaves an absorbing plot that keeps you hooked with unexpected reveals and twists and turns you never see coming. Emerson is a likable main character who finds it easy to make friends. She is someone you want to root for. I found the book very entertaining, and if you enjoy YA urban fantasy, this will be right up your alley.” ~Pikasho Deka, Pittsburg Post-Gazette, and NBC, ABC, and Fox affiliates

“Since Christa Avampato has incorporated the necessary details from the first book, I had no trouble picking up the threads. However, I advise readers to read the previous book first because everyone should enjoy this amazing series to the fullest. I loved how Avampato included lush descriptions of a cozy bookstore boasting giant tomes, a club brimming with memorabilia from daring adventures, a planetarium with a view into the infinite world of stars, and the Library of Imagination with all its grandeur. The visuals made me feel like I was there with Emerson, soaking up the moments. Although the story depends on the death of a parent and even portrays Emerson’s grief, it is nonetheless full of positivity. With talking and moving statues, hidden rooms inside ancient trees, and secret underground pathways, Avampato transports readers to an alternate reality. Featuring an unseen world teeming with folkloric beings, hard bargains, and strange rules, Emerson Page and Where the Light Leads is every fantasy lover’s dream book.” ~Shrabastee Chakraborty, The Chrysalis BREW Project

“Christa Avampato’s beautiful storytelling builds a magical world where human creativity has a tangible quality, and controlling it is the difference between life and death. The characters are crafted nicely with noticeable traits that the reader will easily connect with. Avampato impresses upon the reader the importance of developing an interest in adventure, honing leadership qualities, and appreciating what one can learn from books. Avampato’s storytelling is sleek and highly detailed, describing the magical creatures to such an extent that the reader will have no difficulty imagining what they look like. With its even pace and Avampato’s knack for dropping subtle clues in unusual parts of the plot, Emerson Page and Where The Light Leads is a balanced story that YA adventure fans will love.” ~Essien Asian, OnlineBookClub.org

“Emerson Page and Where the Light Leads has unique and creative lore that makes it unforgettable. Christa Avampato is a skilled writer who blends familiar mythology with imaginative elements to craft a compelling tale. Her descriptions are clear and detailed, painting vivid scenes that bring the story to life. The characters are interesting, with diverse personalities, backgrounds, and motives. What sets this book apart from other young adult adventures are the lesson-filled stories woven into the main plot and the thought-provoking riddles that serve as clues for Emerson’s quest. I could not put the book down because I did not want to miss anything crucial to Emerson’s journey.” ~Luwi Nyakansaila, Readers’ Favorite

“Emerson Page and Where the Light Leads is a captivating book that features intriguing characters and elements of Greek and Celtic mythology. The book is well-written, with a smooth flow and a unique plot. The lessons she learned along the way served their purpose in the final chapter. I highly recommend this book to all young adult adventure fans.” ~Doreen Chombu,  Readers’ Favorite

creativity

Press release and sell sheet for Emerson Page and Where the Light Leads

Christa Avampato

Another exciting book launch milestone! The press release and sell sheet for my novel, Emerson Page and Where the Light Leads, are complete and being sent out with the galley (watermarked book manuscript) to media for review. Please feel free to share these with any media contacts whom you think would be interested. Pre-order links will be available next week, and I’ll share those as soon as I have them. Thank you to everyone for all the support. It takes a village, and I’m glad I’m with you.

creativity

#Sundaybuffet – January 7, 2024

Christa Avampato

Every Sunday on Instagram (@christarosenyc), I create a #Sundaybuffet post that highlights the top 10 things that inspired me, brought me joy and wonder, and made me laugh that week as part of my gratitude practice. I’d love to have you join me on Instagram and I’d love to know what inspires you. The images below are my #Sundaybuffet this week, along with a description, attribution, and the Instagram accounts for each one.

Here’s to being alive, healthy, and grateful in this beautiful world. I hope your Sunday is filled with love in all its wondrous forms.

@smithsonianmagazine @tzahi_finkelstein -Tzahi’s image of the happy turtle and dragon fly was short-listed for Wildlife Photographer of the Year People’s Choice Award at London’s @natural_history_museum

@USinterior @hikester_ –January 5th was National Bird Day. This photo of a bald eagle in Idaho was taken by Derek Butler, an Irish photographer. There was a record number of bald eagles observed at Lake Coeur d’Alene in Idaho in December – 409

January 5th was also my awesome niece, @lorelei_waldrep_08 ’s, 16th birthday. I remember the exact moment I first met her as a baby, and she is one of the reasons I’m so passionate about protecting the health of the planet—so she has a future to look forward to.

@Blacksun_awaken –Helena Bonham Carter is a queen. I love her perspective on the art in everything

@amyselwynphotographer –Stunning image “the journey felt enormous” is a collaboration between her imagination and AI platform @mid.journey. I’m really interested in learning more about AI for visual climate storytelling, and Amy’s work is a beacon of how to do this well.

@NewYorkerMag @rachsyme @the.irving.penn.foundation @vogue –Arctic explorer Peter Freuchen & his chic wife, Dagmar Cohn. Opposite attract!

@Sweatpantsandcoffee –How I like to spend every Sunday morning if I’m honest – in sweatpants, coffee in hand, and reading inspiring words. This post by writer and artist Nanea Hoffman about how we are born of stars is the crux of my @iamEmersonPage novels.

@Victoriaericksonwriter –Let love in!

@Secret.London @AshCrossan –Nothing better than a cozy pub on a blustery day. In the U.S., we don’t have the Sunday roast tradition but I’m going to start making Sunday roast in my Brooklyn apartment to make winter more joyful.

@tanner_smiths –shabby chic meets gangster-inspired décor at this speakeasy in midtown Manhattan. It looks unassuming from the outside and is a favorite spot of mine to meet up with friends. They’re all-in on the steampunk /1920s aesthetic I love. Their cocktail (and mocktail!) list as well as their food is top-notch. I was here this week for the launch of @fringepress, @bookpipeline’s latest project.

creativity

To create a joyful life, imagine these 3 versions of your career

Christa Avampato
Photo by Denys Nevozhai on Unsplash

What would you do if the work you do right now ended tomorrow? I’ve been thinking about this question since I was at University of Cambridge / Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) in December for my Masters in Sustainability Leadership program. My wonderful friend, Karen, in my cohort found me one morning to show me a Stanford TEDx talk titled 5 Steps to Designing the Life You Want by Bill Burnett that she felt I needed to see. She was right.

The whole talk is worth watching and the part that affected me most is a future visioning exercise called 3 lives. You imagine the next 5 years of your career in these scenarios:

1. Keep doing exactly what you’re doing now and it’s going to turn out great. What does great look like? In your career and life?

2. What would you do if what you’re doing right now ends tomorrow? How would your career and life change? What would that look and feel like?

3. Now for your wildcard plan. You have enough money to pursue any career you want, and no one would laugh at you for it. What would you do? What would your life and career look like then?

Which of these lives feels like the best path? Put aside the inner critic. Which one makes you happier and more fulfilled? For various reasons, that one may not be the one you choose to pursue but having a sense of these different paths helps us get unstuck.

Futures visioning is a part of my Cambridge dissertation so doing this exercise was a part of practicing what I preach. I sat down and sketched out these 3 lives for myself. It helped me uncover hidden ideas, interests, and desires I didn’t even know I had. It also helped me realize a few things that Bill speaks to in his talk:

1. The really interesting opportunities present themselves in our periphery. They are the things we didn’t see coming and didn’t plan for. Realizing this encourages me to be open to new people, information, learnings, ideas, and opportunities.

2. Bill encourages us to look at these three lives with our head and our heart. Decisions made from your emotions are just as valid, if not more so, than those made from our logic and reasoning. Emotions have much more wisdom than we give them credit for.

3. There isn’t one way to build a life or career. We can and will grow into different lives, and that can happen at any and every age. There is no timeline that we must follow. We can trust the timing of our lives and career. Things unfold in ways we don’t always understand. That’s okay. Be open, and be prepared to be lucky.

Let me know how it goes for you if you try this exercise. I’d love to hear about what you discover and I’d also love to support your journey.

Bill’s TEDx talk in here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SemHh0n19LA

He also has several books with Bill Evans on the topic of designing a joyful life and career: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Bill-Burnett/author/B01KVOW2RS?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true