Promotional Interview with Cheryl Malandrinos
You have been invited to share your promotional experience with others.
Your Name: Cheryl C. Malandrinos
Nikki Leigh – Where you are from and where are you now?
Cheryl C. Malandrinos - I’ve lived in Western Massachusetts my entire life. While I have moved around from city to town, I’ve never moved further than 30 miles from my childhood home. I currently reside in Wilbraham, which used to be part of Springfield until it became its own town in 1763.
I can’t imagine living anywhere else. We have the beauty of the four seasons, tons of great local events, and lots of open space.
Nikki Leigh – How did you get started writing?
Cheryl C. Malandrinos - I’ve dabbled in writing since I was a kid. I still have some of those stories and poems in my hope chest upstairs. I didn’t begin to pursue writing as a career until I became a stay-at-home mom in 2004. I enrolled in the Breaking into Print program from Long Ridge Writers Group and I’ve never looked back.
Nikki Leigh – What do you do when you are not writing?
Cheryl C. Malandrinos - We have two young children and a son who is married. Just for the record, kids never stop needing you, no matter how old they are. I volunteer at church and at the girls’ schools. I also read a lot and garden when I have time. I also love cooking and baking. The holiday season is quickly approaching, so my time in the kitchen will greatly increase.
Nikki Leigh – What would readers like to know about you?
Cheryl C. Malandrinos - While I coordinate virtual book tours every day, this is the first time I’m putting together one for myself. It’s a very different experience and makes me appreciate those writers who coordinate their own tours even more.
I’m a founding member of Musing Our Children and Editor in Chief of the group’s quarterly newsletter, Pages & Pens, which is available as a free download from our website. I am also a regular contributor for Writer2Writer. My articles focus on helping writers increase productivity through time management and organization.
Nikki Leigh – What inspired your first book?
Cheryl C. Malandrinos - Would you believe a song? I often use Christmas hymns as lullabies for my girls. Years ago, when Katherine was still a toddler, I would sing “The Little Drummer Boy” to her and get this feeling that I needed to write a book about a young shepherd who visits the newborn King on the first Christmas.
While the finished Little Shepherd ended up being very different than the idea God first planted in my heart, it all started with that song.
Nikki Leigh – How many books have you written?
Cheryl C. Malandrinos - While Little Shepherd is my first published book, I have another children’s picture book manuscript ready to submit, a middle grade novel I am working on, and a completed first draft of a women’s fiction novel I co-wrote with my sister that is desperately in need of edits.
Nikki Leigh – What are the titles of your books and what genres are they?
Cheryl C. Malandrinos - Little Shepherd is a Christian children’s picture book.
Nikki Leigh – Why are you specially qualified to write about this topic?
Cheryl C. Malandrinos - I’ve been a Christian my entire life. I was baptized into the Catholic Church as an infant. I was confirmed as a teenager, but now attend a non-denominational church where I teach Sunday school and head up our Vacation Bible School program.
The Christmas story is one that has been retold many times, but this story of God’s love for us can’t be spoken of too often. It is a reminder to all that God keeps His promises.
Nikki Leigh – How do you manage to keep yourself focused and on track when you’re writing a book?
Cheryl C. Malandrinos - It’s hard because I work from home. I had this grand delusion that working from home was easier. It’s not. Your office is always right there calling to you and your family is always wandering in and out to distract you.
Right now I spend the 7 hours a day my girls are at school to work on virtual book tours and sneak in some writing. I’m most productive after the girls are in bed, so I stay up late many nights to complete projects, though I don’t recommend it long-term.
Nikki Leigh – Do you write to make money, for the love of writing or both?
Cheryl C. Malandrinos - Money would be nice, but I don’t think anyone goes into it for the money. Not too many of us are going to become Joyce Meyer, Nora Roberts or Stephen King. Writing to me is like breathing—I have to do it or I die.
Nikki Leigh – What are some unique methods of marketing you have used? Which were the most successful?
Cheryl C. Malandrinos - I doubt my ways are unique, but I recently sat on two panels at a writers conference and have a two-and-a-half month virtual book tour that started on October 4th. I’m also going to be signing copies of the book at our church’s annual Country Christmas Bazaar and Tag Sale on the Saturday after Thanksgiving.
Nikki Leigh – Do you sell through a website? If so, what’s the address? If not, why not?
Cheryl C. Malandrinos - While I talk about Little Shepherd at my website frequently, I don’t sell books off of it. I figure more of my sales are going to come off Amazon and other online retailers than from someone visiting my site.
Nikki Leigh – Where can people order your books?
Cheryl C. Malandrinos - Books are available at Amazon, Barnesandnoble.com, indiebound.org, and from the Guardian Angel Publishing website.
Nikki Leigh – What format are your books – e-book, print, audio etc?
Cheryl C. Malandrinos - Little Shepherd is available as a PDF eBook, as an eBook CD, and in a printed version.
Nikki Leigh – Will you write more books?
Cheryl C. Malandrinos - Already on that. I don’t want to lose the momentum of promoting this first book by not coming out with another book for a long period of time.
Nikki Leigh – What do you have in the works now?
Cheryl C. Malandrinos - I have another children’s picture book set around Christmas that is more for a secular audience. It is about a young boy visiting Santa at the mall on Christmas Eve who learns the true spirit of season. I’m also twelve chapters into a middle grade historical that I simply love. I have a ghostwriting project in the wings, which would be a Christian chapter book. I’m waiting for the go-ahead on that one.
Nikki Leigh – What does the future hold for you and your books?
Cheryl C. Malandrinos - Hopefully lots of great things. I’m determined to persevere and keep working to achieve my dreams. I’m looking to pitch the Christmas story I mentioned above to an agent next month. We’ll see what happens. If it’s meant to be, it will all come together. Only God knows what He has in mind for me.
Nikki Leigh – What was the most successful thing you did to promote your books?
Cheryl C. Malandrinos - That’s hard to answer since I’m just getting going, but I can say that I have concentrated almost 100% of my efforts online and have already seen some sales. Through local networking I have several people awaiting autographed copies.
Nikki Leigh – What was the least successful thing you did to promote your books?
Cheryl C. Malandrinos - I truly believe online promotion is where I need to concentrate. That will be my main focus. I’ve paid for some advertising spots on some blogs. Only time will tell if they were worth the cost.
Nikki Leigh – What makes this book special to you?
Cheryl C. Malandrinos - Well, it’s special because it’s my first, but also because God planted this idea in my heart years ago. Every time I sang that song the shepherd’s story would come to me. When God has a plan, He doesn’t give up.
Nikki Leigh – What sort of comments have you gotten about the content of the book?
Cheryl C. Malandrinos - What I’ve seen so far has been very positive. Kathi Macias, a Christian author whose work I greatly admire said, she would be delighted to read this book to her grandchildren. Dixie Phillips, a pastor’s wife and Christian children’s author called it a “gripping tale” that would “inspire and become a family favorite.”
Nikki Leigh – What makes this a book that other people MUST read and WHY?
Cheryl C. Malandrinos - As a Sunday school teacher, I’m always looking for new ways to bring passages of Scripture to life for little ones. Little Shepherd can do that. It’s important for kids to realize that God loves them, and that unlike others, God always keeps His promises. They need to know they can count on God for anything and everything.
Nikki Leigh – What people NEED to read this book and WHY?
Cheryl C. Malandrinos - Little Shepherd is good for kids who already believe and for those who are just coming to know the Lord. For those who have heard the Christmas story time and again, it’s a new way for them to experience it. For those who might not be familiar with the story, it shares the true meaning of Christmas in a unique way, with a character who experiences emotions they or someone they know has dealt with. Obed, might be a shepherd, but he’s also a boy who is in awe of seeing the angels appear while afraid of the unknown. His father encourages him to go see the newborn King with the others, but even then Obed isn’t sure the choice he makes is the right one. It isn’t until he returns to his flock that he realizes what a miraculous night it is.
Nikki Leigh – What sparks your creativity? Any tips to help others spark their own
creativity?
Cheryl C. Malandrinos - In this instance it was a song, but more times than not it’s my children. I make up a new story for them every night at bedtime. They’re disappointed if I claim I’m too tired or it’s too late. Having to come up with new stories every day certainly keeps the brain working
Writing prompts, timed writing sessions, and journaling are all good ways to spark creativity. I’ve used those in the past. I also like to go for walks and just let my mind wander.
Nikki Leigh – What do you think motivates people to become authors? What motivated you to get into this unusual industry?
Cheryl C. Malandrinos - Most people I know do it because they can’t not do it. I’m the same way. Writing to me is just like getting dressed. Of course, I don’t have to worry about getting arrested if I don’t write one day. More times than not, I have a plethora of ideas waiting to be written. I keep a little notebook with all of them so I don’t forget any.
Nikki Leigh – Tell me about the most unusual things you have done to promote any books?
Cheryl C. Malandrinos - Unusual isn’t really my thing. I’m very boring. Just ask my kids. What I recently did, however, is sponsor a website for a year. I’ve been a fan of this site for years. It’s how I met many of my online chums.
The cost was minimal considering what I could pay to promote my book online. The cover art for the book appears in the left-hand sidebar with a link to purchase it and a link to my website. It might not translate into many sales, but I didn’t have to mortgage my house to pay for it either.
Nikki Leigh – If a potential reader thinks that your book wouldn’t interest them, what would you say to convince them to buy? I’m thinking something better than “It’s the greatest book ever.” Give me something more specific 
Cheryl C. Malandrinos - I think it would depend upon why they weren’t interested in the book. Christian fiction reaches out to a specific market. If you’re not of the Christian faith, it might not be of interest. I would, however, encourage that person to think of friends or relatives who might enjoy the book. Even if someone doesn’t have young children or grandchildren, their church might appreciate a copy as a donation.
Nikki Leigh – Why does the topic of your book interest you? Why would it interest potential readers? Give us a hook to reel in new readers.
Cheryl C. Malandrinos - As a mother and a Sunday school teacher, I like the message of Little Shepherd. I hope families everywhere believe in miracles such as Jesus being born into this world so that He could deliver us from our sin. Little Shepherd shares this message in a new way and I encourage children to take the journey with Obed to visit with the Christ Child and His family on the very first Christmas. Witness how a young shepherd’s visit with the Holy Family and the divine protection of his flock leads him to realize what a night of miracles it truly is.
Nikki Leigh – Did I miss anything you want to tell my blog readers?
Cheryl C. Malandrinos - I would like to thank you for allowing me to visit with your readers today. They can find out more about Little Shepherd and my other work if they stop by http://ccmalandrinos.com/ I’ll be talking about my virtual book tour at my new blog, http://littleshepherdchildrensbook.blogspot.com/ They’ll also find a video trailer for the book in the right-hand sidebar of the blog. I’m also on Facebook and Twitter.
There is an exciting giveaway as part of the promotion for Little Sheperd – http://littleshepherdchildrensbook.blogspot.com/2010/09/giveaways-announced-for-little-shepherd.html
