Once Upon an... Entreprenuer

Have you ever wished that reading could be your job? Like seriously, to sit around and be paid to read good books? Michelle Wolett gets to do this every day and has pretty much the best job on the planet. She is the creator of Once Upon a Book Club, a subscription box. It is one of the most fun reading experiences I’ve ever had, and I can’t wait to tell you all about it.

Here’s how it works. Each month, for the bargain price of $34.99, a box arrives on your doorstep. Inside your box (both adult and young adult options are available), awaits hours of reading entertainment and enjoyment. The box contains a book (sometimes paperback, sometimes hardcover) and three to five wrapped gifts. Set the gifts aside (I promise your patience will be rewarded…) and start reading. After a few chapters you will come across a little post it note that says, open your gift! Find the gift with the corresponding page number and voila! The very item you were just reading about, is now in your hands! It is pure perfection for my geeky little soul.

The anticipation and full sensory experience of reading a book this way is incredible! Here are a few examples of past books and the gifts included so you can see what I’m talking about.

It’s genius right? I recently caught up with the creator of this curated reading experience, Michelle, an Arizona momma-prenuer of Rockstar levels, and picked her brain on the how and why of her business, as well as asked her some nerdy, bookish questions.

When did you first have the idea for Once Upon a Book Club?

I came up with the idea in May of 2016 when looking for a gift for my mom.  I had recently read "The Nightingale" by Kristin Hannah.  I thought it would be cool to include a gift of something that was actually mentioned in the book and decided to pair it with a wine from the region the book takes place. 

At the time, I had already ran a subscription box service for phone cases called "Once Upon a Book Case". I immediately started thinking about how this concept of books and paired gifts would make a great subscription box. I thought, “What if we could create something that makes you feel like you were physically a part of that world? ” My mind started brainstorming and I eventually came up with the Once Upon a Book Club.

When did you decide to take the leap and put your idea into the world?

I'm the type of person that doesn't waste time.  As soon as I had the idea I created an Instagram page and started working on prototypes. Then I set up my website.  We started accepting subscribers in mid-June 2016 for the July box, and just a little over two months after I had the idea, the first box went out on July 17th.

How many subscribers did you start with your first month? How many are you up to now?

Our first month we sold out at 200 subscribers! Since then we have grown massively and are now averaging about 1,200 boxes a month.

What has been your biggest challenge with Once Upon a Book Club?

Planning and staying within a budget.  I underestimated how hard it can be to find a good book that a large audience would enjoy.  A lot of time is spent reading- and sometimes books don't offer up good gift ideas, or we have already done a certain gift or theme that was mentioned. Sometimes we begrudgingly have to put the book down and find another!  Also, our discounts for books aren't as good for certain publishers- so sometimes we have go into our gift budget- which makes it hard! It can truly be a puzzle to put together the perfect reading experience, but this is also what makes it fun.

What has been the greatest surprise with Once Upon a Book Club?

The community!  I especially love how involved everyone is active on our social media sites like our Instagram and Facebook pages!  We have read-alongs and discussion questions each month where readers can chime in with their thoughts. I just love the little online reading community we have built!

Who are the top three authors on your pipe-dream list to include in Once Upon a Book Club?

Hmm,,, that is a hard one- I really love authors that are great at describing details. So definitely Kristin Hannah... Sarah J Maas... and Sarah Addison Allen.  Each is so different- but they are all so good!

What advice do you have for running a great book club?

Book Clubs are about Community!  You want to create a space where readers not only discuss books, but discuss their lives and feelings. 

What advice do you have for other entrepreneurs?

Just take the leap!  Test things out and if they don't work- move on to something that does.  My favorite quote is by Erin Hanson "What if I fall?  Oh but my darling, what if you fly?" 

Anything else you'd like to share about Once Upon a Book Club?

Once Upon a Book Club is a lot of work, but it has been the best thing I have ever done.  I have been able to quit my day job, and support my family while staying home with my little one to watch her grow. What could be better? Plus, I get to read a lot of books!

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So there you have it. Michelle and Once Upon A Book Club. What do you think? I just received my first box last week, and already I am in love! What book would you love to see turned into a Once Upon a Book Club box? (P.S. I created a set of gifts to go with my book, Champion Chocolatier… if you are in need of a divine holiday gift, you know where to find me! Michelle even featured this book combo on her Facebook page!)

Happy subscribing, and happy reading!

Switching Up Your Skill Set and Style

The task of writing encompasses many skills. While your abilities may lean toward one type of writing (fiction), it is good to occasionally brush up on the other (non-fiction). So even though I almost always write fiction, this past week while on vacation, I decided to brush up on my observational and reporting skills and deliver you a fact filled report.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I proudly present, 5 Interesting Facts on the British Island of Bermuda.

Bermuda Fact #1

Well, I lied. I guess this isn’t really a fact. (See, I told you it was good to practice!) Bermudian folklore says that twenty-five years ago a hurricane came and devastated the island… damaging land and physical property. Amidst the damage goods were many chicken coops, leaving the chickens to run free and wander the island. The birds were never collected, and learned to live off the land. Now, feral chickens and roosters freely roam, clucking and laying eggs here and there, crowing when they please, despite the fact that the morning hours have long since passed. Our host asked us to please not call animal control, because they would be forced to shoot the birds. It appears, the Bermudians liked the chickens just the way they are.

Bermuda Fact #2

The roofs in Bermuda are specially designed to collect rain water. This water is then purified with lime (and another mineral component I can’t remember… see, detail collecting, need to improve there too!). It is the only water the citizens have to use, unless they pay to have more delivered to their homes. The environmentalist in me loves this, and I’ll admit had me acting a bit more conscientious about my water usage. It rained almost every day while we were in Bermuda, and each time, instead of being crabby, I was grateful.

Bermuda Fact #3

In Bermuda the cemeteries are above ground. Our taxi driver, Ken (include a source with your material to make it more credible… check!), told us that they can fit twelve coffins into each grave. The bodies and wood decompose quickly in the hot and humid climate and after a time, they compress and crush the remains to make room for more coffins and bodies. Slightly creepy, but super interesting.

Bermuda Fact #4

A supply ship, called Deliverance, was forced to crash land on Bermuda in 1609, before the island was inhabited. The ship, carrying fresh supplies and colonists for the quickly declining colony of Jamestown, took ten months to rebuild and then another two weeks to finish their journey to America. It is said that these people and supplies saved Jamestown. The ship secretary, William Strachey, chronicled the events, and his writings later inspired William Shakespeare to base his play, The Tempest, on the real-life events. (Using historical figures and allegorical writings, increases the quality of your writing and take it to a whole new level of awesomeness!)

Bermuda Fact #5

Some of the particles of sand on the beaches in Bermuda are red, creating an overall vision of pink sand. This result is created by the countless lobster, crab and mollusk shells that have been broken down by the relentless ocean waves. This pink sand is featured in souvenir shops in the forms of snow globes, jewelry and tiny bottles with shells. While on vacation I even ordered a Pink Sand Pina Colada that was both beautiful and delicious. (Adding a personal experience to your writing provides both credibility for you as the writer, and an enjoyment factor for your readers.)

A few insignificant things I learned… Itty bitty pig tails work best for my hair in this humid climate. If you are willing to pay $7.20 for a 6 pack, which I am, you can enjoy Diet Pepsi in Bermuda. Long sleeves are not required. Sleeves in general are unnecessary. Roundabouts drive to the left, and the taxis are a MUCH more efficient way of traveling, albeit, a bit more expensive.

So there you have it. Thank you for allowing me to both tune up my nonfiction writing skills and relive my vacation. I hope you learned a few fun facts about Bermuda, and a few writing tips as well.

Writing in the Good Old Summer Time

The longer I am a teacher, the weirder it feels to not work in the summer. Granted with boat loads of freedom, an endless array of weather-warm options and minimal responsibility just seems… too good to be true. It was this gift of limbo-time that allowed me to complete the ungodly amount of things I accomplished this summer. Things like, visit seven states, ride six planes and drive for twenty-four hours in a twelve day period of time; things like celebrating the lives of two grandparents now gone to heaven; things like sell a house and move; things like plan and attend a class reunion; all without taking a single day off of work. 

While this summer was busier than most, I did manage to use this weird, child-like time off to accomplish some writing. (It may not feel like it if you use my blog as a measuring stick, but I assure you, I did write… some.) Below are the writing highlights of my summer. 

In June I attended a one week workshop at the Highlights Foundation. I spent five days in the Pennsylvania wilderness learning the ins and outs of the Educational Market. Unlike the traditional market or the self-publishing world, this writing niche is home to assessment text, classroom materials, purposeful fiction series and nonfiction book sets. I learned about the practical application of my writing skills and educational experience and made a dozen new writing friends a long the way. The quaint cabins and gourmet food were the icing on this piece of word-nerd cake. The week was capped off with a tour of the Highlights offices and Boyds Mills Press. I hope to return for another workshop in the future. If you are debating on attending, save your money and go. You won’t be disappointed. 

In July I traveled to Glenwood City, Wisconsin to teach an all day young writer’s workshop at the incredibly beautiful Everwood Farmstead. Generous hosts Chris and Bill have created an artist’s haven. Nine young writers and I spent the day creating and polishing, playing and critiquing. I was blown away and humbled by the abilities of the writers who attended and beyond impressed when they braved the stage and read their stories aloud for parents and friends at the end of the day. Definitely put visiting Everwood, whether for a workshop, concert, or culinary event, on your bucket list. 

Finally, I finished, truly finished, two manuscripts. 

The first one, has been a long time in the making. A reallllly long time. The manuscript for The Birthday Cache has been through seven drafts, a couple of agents and their thoughtful feedback, an editor, and critiques from a writing partner and writing mentor. I had begun to feel like the story wasn’t even mine anymore. BUT, then I thought about the writers whom I had listened to over this past year in conference presentations, author panels, blog posts and online articles. They went through how many drafts? How many rounds of revisions from their editor? How many interns helped work on their text? When I felt like I was relying too heavily on others to create high quality work, was I really just becoming more professional? Instead of putting out low grade literary work all on my lonesome, was I really just working hard (really hard) and using the resources available to shine and polish and mold my story into its best possible version? I am choosing to go with this second line of thought. I now have a really great middle grade story that I can’t wait to get out there. Stay tuned for this first geocaching book in the exciting series Adventures Await. 

The second manuscript was a MUCH faster ordeal. I started it in February and finished it last night. Six months, three beta-readers (thanks ladies!), two drafts, and thirty-five thousand words. Champion Chocolatier is being released next month by independent publisher Lovely Christian Romance. This book is part of a six book collection. Each author was asked to write a story that took place in a northern state during Christmas time and had hot chocolate play a major role in the story. I haven’t read the other novellas in the collection yet, but I can’t wait to see what everyone came up with. This book is my first non-self-published book and also my first book to be turned into an audiobook. Proud and excited do not even begin to describe how I feel about it. If you'd like to pre-order this book, please email me! amanda.zieba@yahoo.com  

So, tomorrow the summer ends. I start back too school with teacher meetings and orientations and technology trainings and a million other work-related tasks. So long to the summer hours and the lack of structured schedule. Sure part of me is sad, but there is another part that is ready for the school year and the order that it brings to our family’s chaotic life. See ya later summer, hello fall.

Writing is hard. Sometimes I read instead.

Writing is hard work.

And sometimes, after a full day of work and mothering… I just don’t have any parts of my brain working at full functioning levels to plot, dialogue or edit. Last Friday was one of those days. I had taught half a day, visited my son’s school for Muffins with Mom, done three Career Day Presentations at a local elementary school, ran a rummage sale for a few hours after school and managed to get the boys fed and in bed.

I sat down. It was 9:00. I couldn’t fathom doing a single thing more. Even my Friday cocktail sat in a melted pool of ice. If I couldn’t finish that, how on earth was I going to puzzle through the forty pages of edits and editions I needed to type into my novella-in-progress? I couldn’t.

What do writers do when they are too tired? This writer reads. It is my reward, my learning experience, my relaxation… all in one. So today, instead of productively detailing a technique or sharing some bit or writer wisdom, I am going to tell you about the best books I have read lately. If you find yourself burnt out at the end of your day and unable to be productive on your WIP, here are a few books for you to consider. (** Disclaimer, other than being great written works from which to learn or enjoy, the books below are not writing related what-so-ever.**)

A Year of Biblical Womanhood by Rachel Held Evans

When one woman sets out to live a year of her life as a woman of the bible would, hilarious, relatable and intriguing events occur. I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book that my pastor ensured me was “funny”, but I can tell you I am taking a lot more than funny away from it. Rachel is the girl next door. Nothing fancy. Nothing perfect. A regular-Jane, attempting to live life as a good Christian woman would. It is her “every-day-ness” that makes her lessons easy to apply to your own life. And if you are not ready or willing to cover your head at all times, call your husband master or sleep in your front yard during your period, you can learn valuable life lessons vicariously through Rachel’s experiences. Through this book I have learned that not all customs (religious or cultural) that seem from a distance backwards or barbaric, truly are. I learned a lot about what it means be a Christian/Biblical woman, but mostly I learned about how to be a woman of high moral character, one that from any standpoint or walk of life I would admire. For the record, my pastor was right. This book is very funny. I would also label it thought provoking, enjoyable, and an easy read.

The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater

This is the fourth and final book in The Raven Boys series, and because the literary universe loves me, it was released on my birthday. The sheer weightiness of my schedule prevented me from picking it up until yesterday… but now that I have, I will cease to do anything unnecessary until it is finished. Beautiful prose weaves a fantastical tale of a girl, her psychic “relatives” and four Prep-School boys on a quest to find an ancient king and collect their one wish reward.

“These days, they all had their hands thrust into the sky, hoping for comets.” – Maggie Stiefvater, The Raven King

If every book that was thrust into my hands, or onto my computer screen via an inbox advertisement or jammed on to my shelf was like this series, I’d never write or cook or sleep a full night, ever again. Do it. Stiefvater, she’s amazing. Just read them. All of them.

The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen

Reading just a chapter a day aloud to my students was pure torture. This book begs to be devoured. (Judging by their audible groans at the end of every chapter, I think it is safe to say I am not alone in this sentiment.)

Sage is an orphan that has been pulled from a medieval orphanage and thrust into a dangerous game of political intrigue. Conner plans to mold Sage, or one of the other three orphans he has “selected”, into the supposedly dead Prince Jaron. He plans to claim the throne through his chosen boy, rule as a regent and live himself a pretty fine life. What happens to the three not chosen? Well, one is already dead.

Secrets and facts are woven into half-truths and bold faced lies. The reader is tugged (not always so gently) through each chapter with the promise of more truth around every corner. Who will be chosen? Who will be declared the winner at the end of the dangerous game? The best part of this book just maybe that reaching the end is truly only a beginning. Two more books follow in this incredible middle grade series.

Laugh-Along Lessons by Helen Lester

Reading at home this spring has happened less than I would have liked, but one book my sons (ages 6 and 3) have gone to again and again is Laugh-Along Lessons by Helen Lester. While it slightly resembles a school-basal text book, I assure you it is much more fun. Inside, 8 great stories featuring real-to-life problems and characters walk readers through sticky situations and their sometimes funny solutions. My sons and I adore the illustrations by Lynn Munsinger, an added bonus. My favorite is “Princess Penelope’s Parrot”, while Kameron loves “The Wizard, the Fairy and the Magic Chicken”, and Riley likes “Me First” best. There is really something for everyone. One short story turns into two more helping us easily fill up our reading calendars.  

A few Side notes

I read to my middle school students each day, 5 minutes aloud at the start of class. This year I have read some amazing titles: Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper and A Night Divided by Jennifer A. Nielsen would top this list (along The False Prince mentioned above). I also had the pleasure of re-read Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone and Maniac Magee, both truly a treasure.

Books on my TO-READ-List include: The Invasion of the Tearling by Erika Johansen,  Baby Fat: Adventures in Motherhood, Muffin Tops and Trying to Stay Sane by Pauline M. Camposand The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss. 

What about you? What have you recently loved? What is next on your list?

Happy reading!

~ Amanda