Book Giveaway: THE SCHOOL OF FAILURE: A Story About Success by Rosie J. Pova

Rosie J. Pova has a new picture book, THE SCHOOL OF FAILURE: A Story About Success, illustrated by Monika Filipina and published by Yeehoo Press. Yeehoo Press has agreed to send a copy to the one lucky winner in the US.

Just leave a comment. Reblog, tweet, or talk about it on Facebook with a link and you will get additional chances to win. Let me know other things you did to share the good news, so I can put the right amount of tickets in my basket for you. Sharing on Facebook, Twitter or reblogging really helps spread the word for a new book. So, thanks for helping Rosie and Monika.

If you have signed up to follow my blog and it is delivered to you everyday, please let me know when you leave a comment and I will give you an extra ticket. If you want to make sure you don’t miss seeing that you won, please click “Notify Me of Follow-Up Comments By Email” box. I will leave a comment in reply if you win the book. Thanks!

BOOK DESCRIPTION:

A charming fractured fairy-tale about how the road to success is often paved with mistakes and the most important thing is to keep trying.

Once upon a time, there were three hopeful fairy-tale characters: Wolfred, Zinderella, and the Non-Evil Queen. Already rejected from classic fairy-tales, a happily-ever-after for these three seems a world away. So, the trio is headed to the School of Failure. Once there, they discover that with patience and persistence, mistakes can also lead to the perfect storybook ending.

From author Rosie J. Pova and illustrator Monika Filipina comes a sweet and sassy fractured fairy-tale about beloved characters who don’t make the final cut to be in a famous story but still find their starring roles.

BOOK JOURNEY:

A few years ago, our family was away for Thanksgiving. We were up in the mountains in Colorado, in a rental cabin, and between cooking the holiday meal and getting ready for our celebration, I sat down to write.

I had just watched a webinar with Jack Canfield, the co-author of Chicken Soup for the Soul series, and I felt inspired. I decided to brainstorm possible titles for a picture book, trying to come up with something catchy. Something that would appeal to educators. I wanted a title with a bit of a surprise, juxtaposition, or an element of shock.

THE SCHOOL OF FAILURE flashed through my mind. I thought it was intriguing, and so I wanted to find out what that story could be about.

As we normally associate going to school in order to acquire skills for success, I wondered, why would anyone want to attend a school that teaches you how to fail?

Then I pondered some more…. What if this was the key to success? What if learning how to fail without giving up, and accepting “failure” as part of the process was the missing part that wasn’t taught as much as it needed to be?

So, I was excited that I might be onto something with this story…

The three characters that popped into my mind next were sort of knockoffs of famous fairytale characters. Those misfortunate folks did not make it into stardom since they got rejected as the leads in the fairytales. And moreover, they did not take those rejections lightly. In fact, they were devastated and quite dramatic about it.

Were their chances over forever? Will they ever recover from that failure? What would they do next?

Soon, I had finished the story. I was amused with this trio and their journeys, and happy that I had a new manuscript.

It was a fun story to write. But also, I could totally relate to the pain of rejection, the crashing of hope, and the heartbreak of an unrealized dream…. I, too, had had to learn how to move on through all that in my writing journey, how to learn from mistakes and grow, and even how to see failure as a friend.

There was my juxtaposition again. I incorporated that idea into the story.

I loved the premise and the humor of my new fractured fairytale, but even though I had finished writing it, it wasn’t quite done.

The manuscript went through many, many revisions, both before sending it out on submission and after it found a publishing home. I changed characters, plotlines, emotional arcs, the beginning, the ending, and modified the middle, too. It was a long process of finding the version that worked for me and my publisher.

Marrying the story with the art next was a whole other process of its own to make it work for the book. But that’s where the true magic happens for a picture book, and I am so happy with the way it turned out!

The book released in May of 2022 and has been getting wonderful reviews all around – from parents, peers, educators, and book reviewers, which is quite exciting and rewarding.

I am grateful to Yeehoo Press, Monika Filipina, and her wonderful art, bringing this story to life, and I’m thrilled to have the book out into the world now, finding its own path to success!

ROSIE’S BIO:

Rosie J. Pova is a multi-published, award-winning children’s author and kidlit Writing Coach. She’s the creator of *Picture Book Mastery System* that helps children’s writers advance their career and get closer to their publishing goals through her 10-week online course and her 6-week mentorship program.

Rosie’s picture book, Sunday Rain, was featured in The New York Times and recommended by Parents magazine. Her latest picture book, The School of Failure: A Story About Success is now available in both China and the USA, and has gotten rave reviews from educators, parents, and book reviewers.

Rosie also loves to visit schools and her interactive workshops empower students to unleash their creativity and grow in confidence through reading, writing, and creating. Teachers and librarians love Rosie for her bubbly, upbeat personality which captures students’ attention, encourages them to think creatively, and motivates them to pursue big dreams.

She has been featured on TV, radio, podcasts, and print media, and also speaks on women’s and moms’ topics, sharing her journey from a Bulgarian immigrant to a published author.

Find out more about Rosie’s books, online courses, mentorships, and her work by visiting her website: RosieJPova.com

MONIKA’S BIO:

Monika is a children’s book author and illustrator. In 2011 she completed BA with Hons in Illustration at the University of Wolverhampton and received Dean’s Prize for Excellence in Visual Communications. She was also chosen one of Highly Commended Students at the D&AD New Blood Show in London. In 2014, she completed MA in Children’s Book Illustration at Cambridge School of Arts.

In 2013 the book Monika illustrated, “Oh! What a Tangle”, published by Digital Leaf, was awarded the Golden Pinwheel for best International children’s book at Shanghai Children’s Book Fair!

Rosie, thank you for sharing your book and journey with us. I love how you created a fractured fairy-tale about how the road to success is often paved with mistakes and the most important thing is to keep trying. So true and so important for everyone to learn, especially kids. Using your words Monica created quirky characters which surely will keep children turning the pages. Great job! Good luck with the book.

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy