Columbus Day Weekend marks the online launch party of my patriotic children’s picture book The Flag Keeper! To celebrate, CSN Stores is generously offering a $50 gift certificate to one lucky winner to spend on anything from dinnerware, to dog beds, to suitcases and diaper bags. With over 200 online stores to choose from, the winner will definitely find something to spend the one-time-use CSN $50 gift certificate on!
If you’d like to submit your name for the drawing, then please post a comment and include your email address. You may blog about this giveaway to receive an extra entry – just remember to leave me another comment. Deadline to enter is Oct. 13 at midnight.
Also, if you purchase The Flag Keeper on Amazon or through the Flag Keeper e-store between now and Oct. 13, and email your receipt to stacy (at) stacyjuba.com, you’ll be entered into a drawing to win a free red, white or blue patriotic teddy bear for a special child in your life. If you order multiple copies, you’ll receive an entry for each copy ordered.
Columbus Day Weekend seemed like the perfect opportunity to celebrate the release of my brand new patriotic picture book The Flag Keeper.
Elizabeth may be a little bear, but she treats the American flag with big respect. Elizabeth wakes up the American flag in the morning and puts it to bed at night. She acts as her father’s “flag keeper,” helping him with his daily tasks of raising the flag and retiring it for the evening.
She soaks up the etiquette facts that Dad teaches her, including don’t leave the flag out in the dark without a spotlight. When Dad leaves for a business trip, it frustrates Elizabeth that their flag will be stuck in a boring garage. Every flag she sees reminds her of her job as flag keeper, and Elizabeth grows determined to make her father proud.
Written by myself and illustrated by Larry Drumtra, this book is designed to educate children about U.S. flag etiquette through an educational fiction story. It includes discussion questions, flag facts, and an activity. Check out The Flag Keeper web site and Facebook page.
It can be purchased on Amazon,
which I’m happy to report just discounted the book to $8.63 this week, a $3.36 savings off the cover price. I’m not sure how long that discount will last as Amazon prices tend to bounce around a bit, so
alternatively, you can use this special coupon code: HB8C68KK to purchase it for $8.63 in The Flag Keeper online store. Remember to e-mail your receipt by Oct. 13 to enter the teddy bear drawing. Here are some endorsements that the book received:
“The Flag Keeper is unique in its approach to younger children…complex issues such as patriotism, personal responsibility, honor and faithfulness are presented easily, graphically and with a sweetness and gentleness that belies the weight of these issues. I would encourage all true patriots with children to purchase a copy to start their “little patriots” off on the right foot.” Steve Van Buskirk, Director of Programs, VFW National Headquarters
“A wonderful story about Elizabeth, who through life’s day-to-day adventures learns how to care for and display the flag. An excellent read!” Mike Buss, Deputy Director, Americanism, American Legion National Headquarters
Please help get the word out about this little book by sharing it on Facebook, Twitter and emailing the web site link to any friends who might be interested in a patriotic children’s book. Don’t forget to post a comment below (with your e-mail address) so that you can be entered in the drawing for the CSN Stores giveaway!
Thank you to the following sites for promoting my giveaway: West of Mars – Win A Book, CashNet Sweepstakes, www.contestbeat.com, www.online-sweepstakes.com, and www.contestguide.com. And thank you to CSN Stores for making this giveaway possible!
Congratulations on the book release, Stacy! I’ve had the pleasure of reading this one and it’s a great story for children. I love the way you teach information about the flag, while, at the same time, making it a fun and entertaining read. Many adults out there will also learn a thing or two about the U.S. flag. I know I did!
Awesome giveaway, also! CSN Stores is quite generous with their offers and a person could spend weeks deciding what to buy!
I’m curious — which is harder to write–adult fiction or children’s?
Good luck with your new book.
gkw9000 [at] gmail.com
Your book sounds wonderful, teaching a great lesson to children! I really feel it’s so important for kids and adults alike to be proud of America and the flag.
Best wishes on your book!
Although you wrote this for children I believe that adults could benefit as there seems to be an overall lack of courtesy.
Congrats and good luck with your book
sounds like a good book that I would read with my son. He is starting to understand the concept of state, and country.
No need to enter me, I just posted this on win a book!
http://winabook.westofmars.com/2010/10/09/50-gift-card-to-csn-stores/
congrats on your book release!
Congrats on the release!!
bacchus76 at myself dot com
congrats and best of luck
tvollowitz at aol dot com
I will tell my sister who has three young boys (5,4 and 1 1/2) who I know would enjoy reading such a book.
Thank you and all the best for this book.
Congratulations on your new book!
i love children’s literature. i’m a 1st grade teacher and a mom so i’m always on the lookout for new books! thank you!
Congrats on the book! How exciting!
Sounds like a great book for my grandkids.
boots9k at wowway dot com
congrats mrs.mommyyatgmail
Congrats on the book, and thanks for the giveaway!
I hope your book does well.
Please enter me! Congrats!!
Congrats on your book release.
congrats on the book, i believe my cousin would love to read it!
This sounds like an excellent book to teach children about the flag. Congratulations on publication.
pennyt at hotmail dot com
BEST OF SUCCESS WITH YOUR NEW BOOK.
I AM A SUBSCRIBER TO YOUR FEED AND FOLLOW ON TWEETER
@LILLYROCKHILL
Congratulations! I commend you and admire you for writing a book to foster good patriotism and respect in young ones. Thank you so much.
dchrisg3 [at] gmail [dot]com
Congrats on your book release!
Thanks everyone who has taken the time to comment so far – I appreciate all the well wishes! Thanks so much for posting at Win A Book, Mary. To answer your question, Kari – writing an adult book and a children’s book each has a different set of challenges.
With the adult books, the hardest thing I have to work at is developing the story enough to fill 250-300 solid pages. It took me several years of writing and rewriting to learn how to develop characters and subplots. I also had to learn how to edit out all the padding – excess words and details that don’t add to the story. So it’s a fine balance of adding and cutting, and knowing what you need to add and what needs to go on the cutting room floor.
With the picture book, the challenges were to write tight, to keep the vocabulary at a child’s level, and to create enough actions and scene changes so that an illustrator would be able to create a picture for every page. It can be a challenge to write visually when you’re writing tight – as there isn’t room for much character description or place descriptions. If you add too much of that in, your word count starts creeping up and you don’t want to lose the kids’ interest. Luckily, I know some talented children’s picture book writers, so I was able to collect a lot of feedback on the various drafts. I had no idea at that time that my father would be the illustrator – or that Elizabeth would be a bear!
I would say that writing novels comes more naturally to me, but it was a fun change of pace and a learning experience to write a picture book and I’m excited to be able to share a book with children.
It’s great to see a patriotic children’s book. Congrats!
rdwriter at hotmail dot com
Thanks for sharing your information, and thanks for the giveaway!
txhottie_86 at yahoo dot com
Thank you for the opportunity!
ourkidsmom @ gmail dot com
Congrats on your new book!!!
Growing up as a child, I never cared about the flag, our freedom or what it meant to be an American.
Needless to say I am so happy and PROUD you are doing a children’s book about this! Children need to know how special the red white and blue is and that it lives inside us all.
I would love to win this!
I’ve never shopped at the CSN Store, but I’ve looked through it, and I’d love to have a chance to buy some stuff I’ve had my eye on.
And congratulations on the release of your book!
This sounds like a book that all parents should read to their children. I think my son would enjoy it a lot!
Please enter me in your CSN giveaway also.
digicat {AT} sbcglobal {DOT} net
The book sounds wonderful, something both the child and the parent will benefit from reading. Best of Luck!
Sounds like a great book. I really like CSN
CSN Stores have the best, most unique and huge variety of products!
Congratulations, Stacy! Your new book looks wonderful. I appreciated your discussion of how you view the difference between writing an adult book and writing a child’s book.
Your book is inspiring. Thanks for sharing it with the public!
I have a brand new nephew who I’m sure would LOVE your new book!
Best wishes on your new book!
I hope parents and educators will share the book with the children in their lives.
My husband is very patriotic and has always been interested in flags, so when we moved to our house, I suggested that he get an actual flag pole as opposed to the one that hangs on the side of the house. It cost about $500 to buy the pole and it took some research to find someone fairly local who delivered and installed flag poles. After all that effort, I figured he’d leave the flag out all the time! But, he kept bringing it inside every night. I was confused until he explained that you really shouldn’t leave the flag out at night without a spotlight. I’d never realized that before, and he told me about other aspects of flag etiquette also, so that’s where I got the idea for the book. I figured that if I hadn’t known all of these details as an adult, then many children probably don’t know all of this information either.
Ironically, my husband is a graphic designer, so he’s the one who did the design of the book, such as the back cover layout and the red, white and blue lettering on various pages.
The book sounds really good. Glad to see one for the kiddoes on this subject.
Congrats on your release and please count me in for the gift certificate! Best wishes with your work!
Thanks!
would love to win
congrats
Sounds like a wonderful book.
jas8929 at gmail dot com
Best wishes on the success of your new book.
Good luck with your book! Patriotism is certainly an important issue.
Congratulations on your book and thank you for the subject! Sounds like a great and fun way for everyone to learn good flag etiquette!
Congratulations on the release of your book, and thanks for the generous CSN giveaway! Pudyqat2@aol.com
Great subject for kids to understand flag traditions.
msboatgal at aol.com
What a great idea for a book and thanks for the giveaway!
eswright18 at gmail dot com
Congrats on your book
They have a lot of really nice things at CSN.
Cool book topic
joy.bennett at live dot com
CSN does have a really nice selection – it’s so generous of them to do this. I hope whoever wins has a fun shopping spree!
Congrats with the book release and thanks for the giveaway!
The books looks very interesting and sweet.
I love csn stores
floatingonabiscuit at gmail.com
Sounds like I should get this for my little ones
rmartinclarke at gmail dot com
What a lovely and sweet idea for a book )
Congratulations
thanks for the giveaway
I just wanted to let u know that I shared this on my fb page-Julie Scott Laws
autneegem@yahoo.com
Awesome giveaway…
Congrats on your book and thank you for the awesome CSN Giveaway.
pica_princess_88@yahoo.com
Congrats on your book! The more patriotic books the better. Also great giveaway
That sounds like a cute story. Congrats!
jessi at jessisbubble dot com
What a cute book. Best of luck with it!
What an adorable book! I shared this on my facebook page (Lisa Duncan)
http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=158820354139795&id=1538011386
duncan.lisa at gmail.com
Congratulations, and thank you for the giveaway!
chelsreb(at)aol(dot)com
Happy Columbus Day! I’d love to win this, thanks!
shared on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/tnshadylady/posts/153175141386252
Congrats on the book!
I love CSN
ndrkae411 at yahoo dot com
Thank you so much to those of you who have been sharing the link on Facebook and other networks – can’t tell you how much I appreciate it. For this book, I am a one-person marketing department so any help in spreading the word about the book and the contest is very appreciated!!!
Congrats on the book release and thanks for the giveaway!
Congrats on the book, it looks really cute.
over30mommy(at)gmail.com
Wow, congrats!
& generous giveaway.
evil_eva12 at hotmail dot com
I emailed 5 friends the link.
Thank you, Ashley! By the way, everyone who would like to be entered in the giveaway, make sure to leave your email address so we can get in touch with you if your name is pulled. If you forgot, you can just leave another comment with the email address, and for everyone who is sharing it on Facebook or Twitter or sending the link to someone else, I will be giving you an extra entry in the bowl.
Perfect holiday to launch your patriotic book. Congratulations and good luck!
Sounds like a great book. Thanks for offering an awesome giveaway.
Blessings!
Congratulations!!!
jennyjoz24 (at) hotmail.com
Great book idea, thanks!
supergrand2009@yahoo.com
Congratulations On your new book and Thank you for the awesome giveaway.
rsj2000mrs at gmail dot com
a great idea
Great little book and congrats!!
marci
tristatecruisers at yahoo dot com
love the CSN choices! Book sounds great too!
Congratulations on your new book. It looks so cute!
Sounds like such a cute educational book. When my son was in 4th grade he was part of a group of students who put the flag up every morning and took it down every afternoon.
Lona728@ yahoo dot com
How neat it looks like a fantastic book! Thanks for the chance to win too!
congrats
i posted this on my FB wall
ape2016(at)aol(dot)com
Love CSN – count me in please!
Congrats on your book!
Best of luck with your book – it looks and sounds like an excellent learning tool for children.
This would be a great book for kids.
Thank you for the chance.
congratulations on your book what a great idea and will be good for kids thanks for the sweepstakes.
Congrats and Thanks so much for the giveaway opportunity! ….Tiffypoot @ (aol.com)
Congrats! Hope I win!
Congrats on the book
oka_arbogasm at yahoo dot com
Congratulations on writing a book
This sounds like a book every child should read.
Congratulations on the new book!
Congrats on your new release
Sounds like a book they should use in the classroom!
Congrats on your book!!!
nmbrumfield@yahoo.com
What a wonderful idea for a children’s book!
thanks for the giveaway!
jkrs01 @comcast.net
I’m so proud for you and of you. Kids don’t know things like this due to the school, cutting out ALOT of things I done as a child. My 1st cousin was killed in Iraq 3 yrs. ago, he was on his 3rd tour. He died a HERO! His mom and my mom are sisters. We farmed tobacco when I was coming up, and his mom, my Aunt helped us. He was always at our house, cause we has chicken houses too. Anyway, my point is people don’t really put an emphasis on the freedom we have and exactly what the flag means. Congrats to you and your husband.
Tchoplin2009@gmail.com
the book sounds great – congrats!
autumn398 @ yahoo.com
Awesome blog and thanks for the giveaway!
Would love, love, LOVE to win this!
=]
Congratulations on your book release! It looks like a wonderful book for children! Please enter me in your CSN contest also. Thanks.
CalifKitties (AT) aol.com
Congratulations! Nice giveaway!
Thanks for the giveaway!
gmloschiavo at yahoo dot com
Good luck with your book!
Teresa, thanks so much for telling us about your cousin. I’m so sorry to hear that he died serving our country. He certainly he is a hero and your family must be so proud of him.
Thanks for the giveaway opportunity!
Congrats and thanks for the great giveaway!
Congratulations! and thanks for the great giveaway!!
Looks like a great children’s book.
Please enter me in your giveaway–thanks!
Good luck with your book, it looks great!
purehrt555(At)yahoo(dot)com
What a wonderful book. I will have to get a copy for my niece and nephews.
Thank you for the terrific giveaway!
I will work on getting the word out about The Flag Keeper.
Your new book sounds great! I would love to win the giveaway
I love Columbus Day, as I get the day off work!
This is a great idea!
I like the synopsis of your book. Congrats.
jnmacdonald at hotmail dot com
Congratulations on the book release, how exciting!
Congratulations. What a wonderful way to teach children the proper way to “treat” and “respect” our flag. Thank you for the giveaway.
dancejamboree at gmail dot com
Congratulations on your book release and thank you so much for the wonderful giveaway!
sewmuchstuff at ymail dot com
This looks like such an adorable book.
Thank you for the giveaway. Congratulations on your new book! I’ve always wanted to write a book but, everytime I start one I don’t finish it.
I would dare to say there’s probably more information on flag etiquette in your (children’s) book than most adults know!
Congrats on your book!
Congratulations on your book–and thanks for the chance to win!
Congrats on your book and Best wishes!
Best of Luck with your book.
I appreciate everyone’s kind comments on the book. I just created a coupon code to get it for $5.99 for a limited time in the Flag Keeper estore, for those who have taken the time to enter the drawing. Visit
https://www.createspace.com/3475588 and type 89QHJ9FV at checkout.
Congratulations on your book and thanks for such a great giveaway!
thransom@gmail.com
Congrats on the book!Thanks for the giveaway!
braaisjo@gmail.com
We need more books for children that are about our country and it’s history.
Congratulations on this HUGE accomplishment!!!!
sounds like a great book for kids or adults
ardelong2(at)gmail(dot)com
Being a Military Family and expecting our first child I would love to add this book to his library. How wonderful!
bakergurl02 @ yahoo dot com
Congrats on the new book, I hope it does well.
twoofakind12@yahoo.com
Sounds like a great book, I’ll be looking for it!
The Flag Keeper sounds like a great book and I Tweeted about it to spread the word! http://twitter.com/#!/lisalmg/status/27268035053
lisalmg25 at gmail dot com
This book looks like one my children would enjoy. Please enter me in your CSN drawing also.
Congratulations on your new book. It sounds like a great childrens book.
Good luck with the book!
Having a brother in the Marine corp I love the patriotic theme.
Congrats on your book!
oinkmoobaa at yahoo dot com
It sounds like a wonderful book! My parents taught us to love our country and we’ve tried to instill those same values into our children! Thanks for writing a patriotic children’s book!
congrats on the book. There are so many cool things on csn it would be hard to choose but i love looking.
teelugo @ msn.com
congrats and good luck with the book
klp1965(AT)myfairpoint(DOTNET)
Congrats! I’d love to be able to write a book. How exciting for you. Thanks.
Good for you! Thanks for the giveaway!
Congratulations on your book. It sounds great.
This looks great to me.
Here is wishing you great luck on your book. Thanks!
michelle (at) harrisbb (dotcom)
The book looks great. Thanks for the giveaway!
Thanks for the giveaway…congratulations on the publication of your book !
senorpiero [at] yahoo [dot] com
This is a great book
It sounds really good.
Yay for you!
A big congratulations and sure to be a hit!
tweeted
http://twitter.com/Ardy22/status/27308745935
ardy22 at earthlink dot net
I’ve got a rocker i’ve had my wyes on for my twins on there!
cmanventuresinc(at)gmail(dot)com
Your book sounds wonderful, teaching a great lesson to children!
mightynaynay(at)cs.com
Thanks so much to everyone for entering! The winner of the CSN gift certificate was Alisha L. and the winner of the teddy bear was Curtis T. Stay tuned as I’ll be doing more CSN giveaways in the future and I’ll also have an upcoming giveaway for free jewelry and an upcoming giveaway for many free books and ebooks donated by author friends. In the meantime, if you know anyone who might enjoy a patriotic children’s book, or who enjoys reading mystery novels, please tell them to check out http://www.stacyjuba.com!