Ken Baker: Children's Author

Keys to becoming a successful author

2024-04-25T13:34:00.004-06:00

Have you ever wanted to become a successful author? That's a great goal. Unfortunately, according to a 2023 study, the odds of an author getting their work published is between 1 to 2 percent. My latest newsletter article talks about essential keys to increasing those odds, as well as other insights. If you like the article, be sure to subscribe and share it with others. Enjoy! https://www.kenbakerbooks.com/news202404.html

2024-03-27T13:05:00.005-06:00

I love reading to my grandkids. When my children were younger, I loved reading to them. At the time, I didn't realize what a great impact it would have on their lives. Want to learn the science behind parent-to-child reading, as well as get an update on my latest author activities? Check out my March newsletter. https://www.kenbakerbooks.com/news202403.html

Overcoming the winter blues

2024-01-24T09:55:00.004-07:00

Less sunlight. It's cold outside, or raining or snowing. You feel down more than usual. You've got the winter blues. But there are things you can do to lift your mood and better enjoy winter. And it all begins with engaging your happy hormones. Discover how in my January newsletter.

Enjoy holiday traditions for better health and happiness

2023-12-11T09:26:00.000-07:00

Multiple studies indicate that people that engaging in holiday traditions can strengthen relationships and improve mental, emotional, and physical health. In our family, holiday traditions have evolved over time, but I would agree with the studies' statements; that they've brought our family closer together and have helped us in a time of year when mental and emotional could otherwise become more fragile. So, whatever your beliefs, engage or create new holiday traditions and allow them to help you better enjoy the holiday season.

As a Christian, my most cherished holiday tradition is celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. I love him and I worship him as my Savior and the Savior of the world. Have a wonderful holiday season as you celebrate your religious beliefs and engage in holiday traditions that make this season the most wonderful time of the year.

P.S.

For more on the benefits of holiday traditions, check out my December newsletter.

Italy and Roman Mythology

2023-11-02T20:39:00.000-06:00

Last month my wife and I visited Rome and Sicily. It's a beautiful country with a rich culture. To get a taste of our trip, watch our reel.

In celebration of our visit to Italia, my October newsletter focused on the importance of Roman mythology and other mythology inspired books in terms getting non-readers to read. I hope you enjoy them.

How to build readers with art

2023-09-29T14:10:00.005-06:00

Legacy of Life by Howard Lyon

It's amazing what can happen when you combine art with the written word, whether it's picture books, graphic novels, or cover art. Not only does art have the ability to engage readers, but it improves comprehension and retention.

Art speaks to our imagination and inspires. Learn more about the power that art brings to the written word in my latest issue of Worth & Soul of Words. Special thanks to Howard Lyon for is contribution to this month's issue.

Check out the newsletter at https://www.kenbakerbooks.com/news202309.html And take a look at Howard Lyon's amazing art at https://www.howardlyon.com/

Power of reading to newborns and older

2023-08-29T10:23:00.008-06:00

Did you know that reading to you newborn all the way to age 5 can expose them to about 1.4 million words, which can give them head when it comes time to go to school? Impressive. Did you also know I'm working on a YA fantasy and we just had grandchild number three. Read and subscribe to my new newsletter, Worth & Soul of Words, to learn more.

T-Rex a picky eater?

2021-09-30T12:54:00.001-06:00

It’s true. T-Rex just joined the picky eaters club. Researchers in Japan recently discovered that T-Rex had nerve sensors in its jaw that allowed it to discern the tastiest parts of its food. They compare T-Rex’s complex distribution of nerves to that of today’s crocodiles and tactile-foraging birds, which have extremely keen senses.*

What does that mean? If you didn’t taste good, T-Rex was likely to spit you out.

Want to share other, but perhaps more child-friendly T-Rex facts with your young ones? Check out “How to Care for Your T-Rex.”

*Jason Goodyer, "Tyrannosaurus Rex may have been a picky eater." Science Focus, August 24, 2021. https://www.sciencefocus.com/news/tyrannosaurus-rex-may-have-been-a-picky-eater/

Did T Rex have feathers?

2019-09-04T14:09:00.000-06:00

Learn whether or not paleontologists think T-Rex had feathers.

New T-Rex compare and contrast lesson plan

2019-05-14T11:09:00.000-06:00

For the teachers out there, I've uploaded a new lesson plan to my website that teaches the concepts of comparing and contrasting by comparing T-Rex to people. It uses my latest picture book as a resource. Plus it has a cross-curriculum component that gives you the option to use comparing and contrasting to have students form or validate scientific hypotheses about T-Rex. Check it out at www.kenbakerbooks.com/lesson_plan_t-rex_compare_contrast.html

Happy Release Day!

2019-04-30T10:03:00.000-06:00

How to Care for Your T-Rex is now available. Yay! If you want to celebrate with Buddy and me, join us at any of the following events:

King's English (Storytime & Book signing in Salt Lake) - 5/4 12-1:30pm https://www.facebook.com/events/897522127256459/
Barnes & Noble (Storytime & Book signing in Orem) 5/7 11am-1pm https://www.facebook.com/events/836391520048461/
Release party at Provo Library(reading, signing, and more) - 5/7 7pm-8:30pm https://www.facebook.com/events/276444323296092/

How fast can T-Rex run?

2019-02-19T12:30:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wondered how fast a T-Rex could run? Or do you simply love dinosaurs, and especially T-Rex. Then, this video is for you.

Picture Book trailer for my T-Rex book

2019-02-12T09:10:00.000-07:00

The April 30th release of my new picture book How to Care for Your T-Rex is getting closer. If you want a sneak peak at what it's about, check out the book trailer. Enjoy! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHIkzS75bmU&feature=share

100 Scope Notes list of How-To PBs

2019-02-07T08:48:00.000-07:00

Travis Jonker is a well-known and insightful elementary school librarian and blogger. Today he published a list of picture books coming out in 2019 that teach kids how to do certain things. It's a fun list of books, but there's one on the list in particular that's my favorite. Check it out. http://100scopenotes.com/2019/02/07/how-to-do-just-about-everything-in-2019/

New compare contrast lesson plan

2017-03-13T09:44:00.000-06:00

For any elementary teachers out there, I've updated the compare and contrast lesson plan on my website. Hopefully, it's helpful. Check it out. If you have feedback on how I might make it more useful, I'd love to hear.

http://www.kenbakerbooks.com/lessonplancompare.html

Thanks!

Great writer's conference. Low cost. Great cause.

2017-02-06T11:05:00.000-07:00

For any of you aspiring children's writers, Writing For Charity is a great low-cost writers' conference. And since all my author friends and I donate our time at the conference, all the proceeds go to a great cause to get books into the hands of underprivileged kids.

It's on March 11 at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. Get more info at www.writingforcharity.org.

Illustrator for T-Rex book

2016-11-17T23:41:00.002-07:00

So excited to have Dave Coverly illustrating HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR T-REX! It's going to be awesome!

Check out some of his award winning cartoons.
Check out the blurb about our upcoming book on PW.

Kid Boss on Amazon Rapids

2016-11-02T14:04:00.001-06:00

Amazon Education released a new reading app today with short stories for kids ages 7-12. It's called Amazon Rapids. One of its goals is to provide another, more familiar venue to get kids reading. I think it's a great idea. That's why when they asked me to write stories for it, I happily said "yes." If you decide to subscribe to it or do the free trial, check out my Kid Boss stories. It might just get your kids reading, and hopefully laughing too.

P.S.
They should also have another story series of mine on the app before too long.

Signed contract arrived!!!

2016-10-13T13:48:00.001-06:00

Drum roll........ Today the mailman delivered the signed contract for my next picture book - HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR T-REX. It will be published by Christy Ottaviano Children's Books, and imprint of Macmillan Children's publishing Group. More details to come. Happy dancing!!!

Getting author inspiration from Pinterest

2016-01-29T13:12:00.000-07:00

My kids thought it was weird when they found out I was on Pinterest. But I've found it to be an invaluable tool as an author. I have boards with lesson plans that have book tie-ins. Boards about my books. Boards with book trailers. Boards with kid activities that deal with dragons, monsters and cows. And then some miscellaneous boards on other things I like.

But the board I'm lately getting the most use out of contains a variety of images that give me insight, inspiration, and ideas for the current middle grade fantasy I'm working on. If I'm trying to figure out how to describe aspects of a rainforest, I look on my board or search for other rainforest pins. If I need insight into clothes, armor and even hats worn in ancient China, I look on my board or look for more pins to add. If I need help with wildlife or plants, I turn to my board. If I need to refresh certain ideas or get new ones, my board helps me. If it's not on my board, I find other pins that might help. And when I need new inspiration, it's always waiting there for me on my board.

I also think it might be fun for others to look at my board, to just wonder and imagine what in the world this book I'm working on is going to be about. If you're curious, check it out.

https://www.pinterest.com/kenbakerbooks/inspiration-for-current-wip/

Help Kids Deal with Fear and Have Fun

2015-09-16T16:11:00.000-06:00

When my picture book Brave Little Monster came out, in addition to being a book that makes young and old laugh, many parents and teachers liked how it could be used to help young children deal with both real and imaginary fears. To help with that effort I created a fun puppet-making activity that can be used in the home and classroom to further help teachers and parents talk to kids about their fears and help them learn how to deal with them. Check it out and make your own "Be Brave" puppet.

http://www.kenbakerbooks.com/lessonplanmonsterart.htm

8 Ways Character Relationships Can Enhance Your Writing

2015-08-05T10:44:00.000-06:00

Tonight in the night class I teach at a local university on writing children's books, we'll be talking about how the relationships your characters have can deepen your story's plot, enhance the connection between your characters and readers, raise tension, complicate conflicts, and much more.

The following are 8 ways you can use relationships between your characters to enhance the stories you write:

Create resonance with your audience by putting your characters in relationships that matter most to and intrigue your readers
Use your character relationships to better reveal your characters’ personality and inner conflicts
Use character relationships to pull your readers deeper into the story and your characters’ lives
Use your character interactions to give your characters more profound opportunities to experience growth or change
Deepen your plot with character relationships that increase the conflict, tension and emotional/physical stakes of the story
Deepen your plot with character relationships that impede, thwart or help the protagonists’ success, or distract the protagonist from the end goal
Raise the emotional tension of your stories by creating relationship events or taking character relationships in a direction that terrify your readers
Increase the emotional connection between your readers and characters by creating relationship events or taking character relationships in a direction that makes readers worry, sad and/or happy

Image courtesy of arztsamui at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Insights Gleaned from Jane Yolen

2015-05-21T14:32:00.000-06:00

A critical part of developing your craft as an author is research. Research involves a wide array of activities. It includes reading as much as you can in the genre you’re writing in. It involves attending writing conferences, networking with editors, agents and other authors. Part of it includes taking classes or reading the latest and greatest books on how to improve your writing. It also includes learning what other authors have to say on being an author.

As part of my recent research activities, I’ve been visiting the websites of some of my favorite children’s authors, one of which is the notorious and supremely talented Jane Yolen. I can’t count the number of times I’ve read one of her books only to say to myself, “Wow! That’s exactly the kind of book I wish I had written.”

In reading Jane Yolen’s “Random thoughts on writing and on children’s books” found on her website, here are a few highlights that resonated with me.

“I generally do not think out plots or characters ahead of time… I want my own writing to surprise me, the way someone else’s book does.”

“Sometimes [a work in progress] seems promising, sometimes brilliant, sometimes just plain stupid. And that may be the same piece on alternate days.”

“Intuition works best when you remember that “tuition” is part of it.”

“Know this about being published: it is out of your hands. Even if you do everything you can think of to affect that outcome, you cannot make an editor take your work.”

And perhaps my favorite;

“A writer puts words on a page. An author lives in story… Learn to write not with blood and fear, but with joy.”

Writing Tip: How to Create Engaging Characters

2015-05-12T13:58:00.001-06:00

So, you've written a story with an exciting or awesome plot, but for some reason your readers fail to connect with it or they quickly lose interest in reading it. It could be your characters' fault. Unless you have created engaging characters, it won't matter how interesting your plot is. Here's a short writing tip video on how to create engaging characters for the stories you write.

Even though the video targets young writers, the concepts it teaches applies to writers of all ages. It's also great for teachers who want to supplement creative writing lesson plans. Enjoy!

Try-Fail Cycle Brainstorming Tips

2015-04-17T16:40:00.001-06:00

Bestselling author, David Farland is not only a great author, but he's a great writing instructor. If you're an aspiring author and do not subscribe to his writing tips, you should. Today he posted a writing tip on brainstorming obstacles for try-fail cycles that I love. Try-fail cycles play a critical role in creating tension and moving a story's plot forward. But often effectively executing the the try-fail cycle as a writer can have mixed results. David's post gives some great insight for those who struggle with try-fail cycles or just need a little more help coming up with more creative ideas to throw more obstacles in your protagonist's path.

Check it out. 12 types of obstacles to consider when creating try/fail cycles