Trafford Publishing: Comfy, Cozy Tales

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Comfy, Cozy Tales

by Lauren L. Young

47 pages; quality trade paperback (softcover); catalogue #02-0937; ISBN 1-55395-223-5; US$27.00, C$31.00, EUR22.00, £15.50

This is four stories in one book! Educational, entertaining for ages 4 through 7. Get comfy-cozy; enjoy the thrill of fantasy and fiction. Quality Time is Reading Time!

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about the book about the author reviews interview with the author catalogue info

About the Book

Thank you for purchasing Comfy Cozy Tales.

"It's Okay to be Little"
Why would you want to be taller than you are or bigger when you are just the right size for you, wonderful you?

"All in a Day's Work"
It is nice to help other people. Your reward cannot be measured or bought unless, of course, it involves food.

"Jack Jester"
A jester is a jester, but there is only one Jack Jester.

"Sock Feet"
Six-year-old Chris helps his five-year-old sister Ellen solve a mystery involving her sneakers.

Coming soon in Comfy Cozy Tales Two
"Grandma, Let's Go to the Duck's House"
"What do you mean? Where is the present box?"

"Lulu's Legend"
Perhaps you have a desire to skim the white caps and fly with the Kingfishers.

"The Silver Lake Champ"
Do you know the real reason frogs croak at night? Come to Silver Lake!

About the Author

I live in Enosburg, Vermont with my husband, Robert. In 1996 I received a diploma from the Institute of Children's Literature for completing the course of study for writing for children and teenagers.

It is my mission, my passion to write, and write I do! I own a company called "Lauren's Lyrics". I create greeting cards and write custom orders of poetry. My poetry runs through my photography. Every picture tells a story, be it simple or complex. It is life.

Lauren's Lyrics flows through my veins. It feels like the calm before a storm, riding the crest of an ocean wave, and soaring through the air propelled by my own energy. Writing for me is an emotional high that whets my appetite, causing insatiable hunger, which is temporarily sated with each new story or poem. In the near future, I will publish a book of my poetry.

I sent my poem "America! America!" to Washington. It is my goal that it reach worldwide. A friend returned my poem with signatures of our military who are fighting for our freedom! How humbled and grateful I am!

I am extremely delighted to present to you Comfy Cozy Tales, illustrated by Kevin M. Lane. The book contains delightful stories. They are educational, entertaining, mysterious and funny.

I'd like to dedicate Comfy Cozy Tales in memory of my mom and dad, Aunt Ruth and Thomas Cook.

To my grandchildren Ian, Ally, Brianna, Ana
I thank my husband Robert, my children Stephanie, Amy, Rob, their spouses Kevin, Jeff and Amy-Jo, my family, my dearest friends who supported me, who believed in me, and encouraged me to write. A special thank you to Franklin County Business and Professional Women, and my special friends, Evelyn, Pauline, Sandra without whom I could not have had the confidence to pursue this endeavor.

I would like to thank my Grandchildren Ian, Ally, Brianna, Ana, and to all the children who listened to my manuscripts and to the people who read them especially my cousins, Carolyn, Marilyn and Pat. A special day spent with Aunt Ruth.

I am truly blessed, and so very grateful to my family and many wonderful friends; some who shake their finger at me and like me anyways because I am me!
Love you lots
Lauren

"Success is being yourself in a world that is trying hard to make you like everyone else."
e.e. cummings

Reviews

Forever Young

By Rebecca Hamm

ENOSBURG: Lauren L. Young said she's always written children's stories and poems. "Writing for me is a passion. I reached a point where I wanted to find a vehicle for my writing," the Enosburg author said. The grandmother cum author said her grandchildren were the greatest inspiration for her imaginative books.

On March 3, [2004] Young will be reading her third and newest book, "Comfy Cozy Tales"at the Enosburg Library at 7 p.m.

The book was released in September and its author has given open readings across the country at elementary schools and libraries. "Tales," four stories in one, is geared towards children ages four to eight. "Each one has a lesson for children and for adults," said Young.

The book is colorfully illustrated by Massachusetts artist Kevin Lane. "It's been fun working with him," Young said.

The illustration in "Tales" is more impressionistic than in her book "Meadow Mystery," which incorporates detailed pencil scenes drawn by Franklin County artist Shawn Larivee. Interspersed in "Tales" are four poems with black and white photography that Young shot herself. Children are introduced to characters such as Jack Jester, a sad little wooden jester who is overheard singing by Alison, a character based on Young's own granddaughter. Jack once amused the kings and queens of England. However when Jack could no longer make the royalty laugh, he was sent away to Las Vegas. Also included in "Tales" are the stories "Sock Feet," "It's Okay To Be Little," and "All In A Day's Work."

"Heartwarming glimpse of the world through a child's eyes. Entertaining, educational, playfully illustrated by Kevin M. Lane. fun to share, Lauren L. Young's Comfy Cozy Tales is an original collection to be cherished."
from MID WEST BOOK REVIEW, Oregon, Wi USA
Young said her family and friends have been very supportive of her and her writing. She road-tested each story on her five grandchildren. Over 100 children and adults read the book before she published it through Trafford Publishing. Young said she used their feedback to tailor her work. "They gave me really good suggestions."

Writing aside, the author keeps busy this time of year running Young's Accounting in Enosburg with her husband Robert Young. "It butters my bread, so to speak," she said. On top of people's taxes, Young has been working on several more children's books and a romance novel for adults under the pen name Renee L. Scott.

"Some of my friends are nervous," she said of the romance novel, "and they should be." Her books are available at the couple's home and accounting company, and by ordering on amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com.

The author has also published "Fish, Fun and Fantasy," with pictures by Susan Pritt, which can be found at her home and the online bookstores.

Interview with the Author

CHILDREN'S 12 RULES AND REGULATIONS
1. Children are children for a short time.
2. Children are tomorrow's adults.
3. Children are not little adults.
4. Children are important.
5. Children need to be loved.
6. Children need to know you care.
7. Children need guidelines.
8. Children need to play.
9. Children need to have fun.
10. Children are special.
11. Children are smart.
12. Children are a gift.
NO RETURNS
NO REFUNDS
NO GUARANTEES
From our children we learn so very much. I write children's stories because I love children; the expressions on their faces, their eyes of wonder, and their smiles. It is a humbling and rewarding experience to receive a compliment from a child. They are a gift to be cherished always!
Interview with the Author, written by Richard Harper, from The St. Albans (Vt) Messenger, Thursday, October 2, 2003

"When you look at a blank piece of paper and have an idea in your head and you develop that idea, you could just float to the sky," said Enosburg writer Lauren Young. Her new children's book, "Comfy Cozy Tales" is now available from Trafford Publishing.

A "cozy" is an English mystery for grownups but "Comfy Cozy Tales," written by Ms. Young and illustrated by Kevin M. Lane, "is educational, entertaining, and it is a mystery" for children. This cozy includes "Jack Jester" in which Alison hears singing while playing outside her grandmother's house. The singer is a sad little wooden jester who once made the kings and queens of England laugh. When he no longer made them laugh, they shipped him off to Las Vegas. Ms. Young wrote "Sock Feet" when her grandson Ian was born although the much older six-year-old Chris helps his five-year-old sister Ellen solve the mystery of her sneaker. "Cozy" also includes "It's Okay to be Little," and "All in a Day's Work."

Writers are always at work on the next project. "'Comfy Cozy Tales Two' is coming soon," she said.

The books are written for children aged 4-7. "Over 100 children read the manuscripts and I got their feedback. I wanted to make sure the stories were interesting enough," she said.

Each story has a message for everyone who reads it.

"I've always loved children," she said. "Children should be cherished but they also need guidelines."

One way kids can find guidelines is through literature. "Reading inspires [kids'] own imagination. And to know that it's okay to be them." She also used an e. e. cummings quote in the book. "Success is being yourself in a world that is trying hard to make you like everyone else."

Lauren Young is not only a photographer, poet, and children's writer, she also takes an entrepreneurial approach to her ventures.

"Some of my photography has poetry running through the pictures," she said of her line of custom and stock poetic photography. She creates custom orders for any occasion, offers unique greeting cards, and has published two earlier children's books, "Fish, Fun, and Fantasy" illustrated by Susan Pritt, and "Meadow Mystery" illustrated by Shawn Larivee. She has exhibited photographs at the Vermont Statehouse, in the Robert Paul Gallery, Barnes & Noble, and in several galleries around the state. Her own gallery is Lauren's Lyrics in Enosburg Falls.

Trafford Publishing, a division of Trafford Holdings, Ltd., has physical offices in Victoria, British Columbia, New Bern, North Carolina, Crewe, Cheshire, UK, and Drogheda, County Louth, Ireland. They offer Print on Demand services.

The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America states that print on demand is a printing technology that produces a compete printed and bound book in minutes. POD companies such as Xlibris, Universe, and Trafford charge a fee for the publishing services they offer to writers who are also entrepreneurs. It is a reasonably cost-effective means to produce books in lots as small as one or two and it eliminates the expense of warehousing books until they sell. Authors typically earn income as a royalty on sales. Although most reviewers and booksellers regard the fee-based PODs as vanity publishers, they can offer attractive, professionally designed books at a lower cost than self-publishing, and they eliminate some of the pitfalls. The principal downside is that POD books, like e-books, are often available only through online sources and less than 10 percent of all book sales are made online.

SWFA maintains extensive information about the joys and pitfalls writers face. Visit www.sfwa.org/beware/printondemand.html for more info.

Since this is Print on Demand, the book is harder to find in a traditional bookstore. It will be in amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, and chapters.com shortly. Ordering through a traditional bookstore "takes about three of four days" because each book is printed on demand and shipped. "With Publish on Demand, [bookstores] don't have inventory." Schools and libraries can get a substantial discount.

Another interesting marketing idea Ms. Young will try is the Vermont Restaurant and Lodging show at the Sheraton on November 4.

Lauren Young lives in Enosburg with her husband, Robert. She received a diploma from the Institute of Children's Literature for writing for children and teenagers in 1996. "Comfy Cozy Tales" is available online at www.trafford.com/robots/02-0937.html.

Catalogue Information