Like many writers, I’ve never been entirely comfortable with the self-promotional end of the biz. I just have a hard time repeatedly and relentlessly saying:
LOOK AT ME! I HAVE BOOKS! BUY MY BOOKS! BUY BUY BUY!
If left to my own devices, I would just write and doodle and do laundry.
But sometimes a writer has to do these things.
*sigh*
So look at me, okay? I have books. And, well, you should very much consider buying them. That is, if you want to.
My picture book, Scampers Thinks Like a Scientist, has won a few awards, most recently the top prize from Learning Magazine’s 2020 Teachers Choice Awards. So that’s cool.
It was also a finalist for the 2019 Next Generation Indie Book Awards, received a 2019 Purple Dragonfly Book Award (STEM category), and got a 2019 Creative Child Magazine’s Preferred Choice Award. So that’s cool, too!
My other picture book, Everybody’s Favorite Book, didn’t win anything, but that’s because the world is jealous of its super-awesomeishness. After all, EFB is the only book on Earth that features a mastodon-sized guinea pig.
So both books are worth buying.
***
If you already did buy these books, thank you! But, um, could you also please write up a review on Amazon? Because that would help out this writer/doodler/laundry master a heckuva lot.
Now, as most readers of this blog know, I don’t usually ask anything of you unless I’m also willing to give something in return. So…
HERE’S SOME FREE STUFF!
If you buy, review, and/or otherwise do something groovy and helpful on behalf of Scampers Thinks Like a Scientist and/or Everybody’s Favorite Book, I will mail you
An Official Yer Awesome Promo Par-T Pak!
Each Par-T Pak will include:
- An Official Scampers Thinks Like a Scientist Bookmark (while supplies last)
- An Official Everybody’s Favorite Book Bookmark (while supplies last)
- And An Official Mike Allegra Three-Minute Doodle
What is a Mike Allegra Three-Minute Doodle? Well, I take three minutes to doodle something of my own choosing. Then I send that doodle to you!
Will this doodle be suitable for framing? Sure, if you don’t discriminate much when it comes to framing things. The point is, it’ll be yours.
How to claim your Official Yer Awesome Promo Par-T Pak
Just leave a comment below telling me what you’ve done to support Everybody’s Favorite Book and/or Scampers Thinks Like a Scientist!
That’s it! I’ll be in touch!
Thank you in advance for whatever you’re willing to do to generate some interest in my humble picture books! I am very grateful.
Hey, Look! A Writer Fellow! 
Well, I’ve already bought 5? of your books? Or is it 6 now? I think I’ve already done a review on Amazon but I’ll double check that fer ya.
If I can figure this out, I’ll link it to my page and SPREAD the word!!!
You are an awesome author, Waffle Man, and an even better hooman.
Yeah, you got this, Boo.
I think you already have the bookmarks, yes? If so, I draw you a SIX minute doodle!
No bookmarks.
Is that to say you don’t have the bookmarks or don’t need for me to send you the bookmarks?
I have no bookmarks. My books are lonely.
I shall rectify this. Please email) me your mailing address (once again.)
And, hey, do feel free to Amazon review Scampers if ya haven’t already! 😉
I will when I get a moment….homecoming is coming up and two g’sons play!!!
THANK YOU !!
Done
As self-promotion goes I recommend setting up your Goodreads author page (I checked-you weren’t there, Mike). If this Cricket can venture out from her hermitage, I know the gregarious Allegra can sound out his promotional song more grandly. And yes, I have gladly reviewed your books, even coerced umm, asked our librarian to order your books. Yay, Mike! P.S. I’m not even requesting a bookmark for my efforts. Although doodles are always appreciated.
Good advice, Pam. I just signed up for a Goodreads author page. Once the confirmation comes through, I’ll spruce up my page with good info and oodles of reviews.
Nice. It will be cool knowing you’re my neighbor now.
And it’s nice to know that your parents didn’t actually name you Cricket!
Haha—it’s still a nickname and I am reluctant to let fade away
Excellent idea. I’ll look forward to “friending” you on Goodreads, Mike.
I officially have my Goodreads author page up and running!
People – please review and join the par-tay!
Also – Twitter. Even if you think you can’t…Twitter is where it is at for book promo. Doesn’t Scampers deserve it? She’s sooooo deserving.
Twitter? But it’s such a mean place!
I only follow kidlit accounts – it’s all rainbows and sunshine. And capybaras.
Your books are wonderful, Mike. I love the illustrations. And congrats on all the awards! My grandson has both Prince Not So Charming books on his shelf just waiting for him to get a touch older. Great fun. 🙂
Both? But there are SIX Prince Not-So Charming books out now! 😉
SIX??? WE ONLY HAVE TWO! Ha ha ha. Well, have to get started remedying that! 😀
Thank goodness!
Done!
Thank you! (But what didja do?)
A review for Scampers on Amazon.
Oh, and it’s a lovely review! Thank you! Now all ya gotta do is head over to the “Hire Me” menu and send me an email with your address and I’ll be gettin’ that Par-T Pak out to you!
Your characters are so darling. I wish I had grandkids.
Thanks, Jacqui! (And, for the record, you don’t need grandkids to buy, enjoy, and review my books. Just sayin’!)
That self-promotional comment I just made makes me feel so dirty.
Wow, you do laundry? I’m impressed. I, too, would’ve thought 33%, but I guess my math teacher husband would set me straight. Way to go doing the hard part of trying to promote yourself. I’m also awful at it, but, unlike me, you’re actually doing it!
Do I do laundry? I’ll have you know that I am a Laundry Master! And I have proof!
https://mikeallegra.com/2015/04/28/more-resolved-solved/
Self-promotion is hard. I think you’d be good at networking with schools, libraries to do readings and signings. Kids love you! Agree you should sign up for Good Reads. I plan to review your book at some point, but I have a stack of PBs to tackle first. Scampers looks like a cute story.
I now have an official Goodreads author profile. And you’re right, I do love going to schools to perform my dog ‘n’ pony show for the kiddos.
Hope you enjoy Scampers!
Hmmm, how many books of yours do I own??? Gonna have to comb through the bookshelves because I don’t seem to store them in any kind of order…..how many have I reviewed on my blog??? Two or three? ….how many have I reviewed on Amazon??? um, not sure…but I know I have. Self-promotion is the least favorite part of the job, isn’t it? And no one ever warned you just how much you’d be expected to do….Cheers!
OK, so I just figured out that I own 5 of your books. And I’ve reviewed all of them on Amazon. You’ll be happy to know that a hardcover of Sarah is selling for $196!
The high price for Sarah is because it is out of print 😦
And five Allegra books is an impressive number! I have written 10 books—if you count Blood on the Floor (which I rarely do).
ooooh, I want to read Blood on the Floor! I’m sorry that Sarah is OP. I did my best to convince your publisher that it needed to go paperback, but they figured out that I wasn’t some random person asking, sadly.
I thought you won Blood on the Floor in one of my blog contests. It’s an anthology on rejection.
I know we talked about it….but do I have it? No!!! Maybe another one of your fans has it. Some other lucky prize winner….
Not to brag, but I notice that I was the FIRST to write a review on Everybody’s Favorite Book. And I bought TWO Scampers book when they were first published, but realized as I read your post that I never reviewed it, so that is just accomplished. Many congrats, by the way, on the Book Awards. That is (as they say here – continuously – in Boston) AWESOME.
You, Pam, have always been a champion for my books. Shoot me an email and I’ll get you a Par-T Pak. You’ve earned it.
I’m a winna, I’m a winna! (Boston style….) 🙂
First let me apologize that this took me so long. I thought I had already written a review for “Everybody’s Favorite Book”. Thanks for the reminder and it is there now.
Thank you, my friend for the wonderful review! All you gotta do now is head over to the “Hire Me!” menu item and send me an email with your mailing address. Then the Par-T Pak is as good as yours!
You didn’t keep it on file from before! 😉
Just received my Scampers book. Loved it, and made sure that all the folks at Amazon knew how much I loved it! Ned Flanders says “Diddly Doodle please send me a Doodle”!
Yer a peach, Celeste. You’ll get your doodle!