With the second release of "The Popcorn Hydrangea of Poppingtom" The Beantown Tales will become an official series!  Due to be launched on websites such as Barnes and Nobles, Borders and Amazon on September 13, 2011, this sequel to
 "The Land of Chocolate Cosmos" will become Book #2 in The Green Series which seeks to educate children about the impeding environmental issues impacting our society.  Once again, a young hero named Nicholas undertakes the responsibility of guiding his community towards recovering from a tragic air pollution blight, killing a magical popcorn producing bloom imperative to the town's tourist driven movie drive-in-lot.  Thematically written after the author's love of legal studies and film industry, this tale reflects the inherent power of a child to circumvent and revamp legislation in order to make a healthier living space for all. 

Fun Facts
*The Popcorn Hydrangea is a REAL flower named after it's popcorn kernel resemblance.

*The little boy, Nicholas is written after "Nicholas Charles Seringe" who was the man responsible for giving the Popcorn Hydrangea it's name. The imagery and caricature of the boy is illustrated to mirror the appearance of Suzie's youngest son, Lance.

*The legal aspect of the tale was inspired by Suzie's love of law and childhood dream of practicing.

*The Popcorn Hydrangea flower originated in the country of Japan.

*The inspiration to create a "movie" inspired town directly reflects Suzie's adoration for the film industry inhereted from her father, Lance Hearl, who appeared in "Up The Down Staircase", "The Detective" and "Valley of The Dolls". 

*"The Popcorn Hydrangea of Poppingtom" is the 1st book of The Beantown Tale series to possess the new logo designed by 11-11 Graphics.

When the decision is made to attempt publishing a book, little does the author know of the remarkable adventure that they are about to embark.  The word "adventure" strikes a particular importance since there is absolutely no way of telling which roads you will cross or how long your journey will stretch.   There is although, a set path to which every writer realizes once their ideas, dreams or perhaps both become actual stories on paper. 

The first step is to connect your material with a publisher and persuade them to read it.  If the manuscript is accepted, your book will soon undergo edits, added  illustrations (orchestrated by a publisher unless otherwise supplied) and final layout design.   Once this version is complete and approved, it is off to the printers where pages will be morphed into a final product.  Weeks later, the author will experience the gift of opening a box where the indescribable scent of crisp binding floods the air as the case is unsealed.  It is amazing and an instant in my life which I will never forget.

One of the biggest misconceptions of new authors is that publication is where your jobs ends.  This is simply not true and in fact the exact place where your real work begins.  Step two is the task to convince online bookstores, discount market places and just about anywhere else that you can think of to feature your book.  Amazon, Barnes and Nobles, Borders, Walmart, Ebay, Etsy...the possibilities are endless. 

Once this has been accomplished, a writer is wise to launch campaigns on social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter where links can be posted and reposted by your networks of family, coworkers and friends.  For "The Land of Chocolate Cosmos", this step was the pivotal piece of whether the book would succeed to any other level of readership.  I will never forget standing in the subway the day it was released and watching link after link of Barnes and Nobles websites featuring the cover of my first children's tale.  I stood absolutely speechless at the kindness that  friends had shown and have no doubt of the magnitude in  role that they have all played. 

If tactics in media have been received favorably and your publisher has established contacts with local retailers (as Mascot Books had)the impact of driven sales online may get you a trial on a few bookshelves.  This is the good part.  This is the where all of your anticipated dreams, hard work and most of all "faith" becomes realized.  

Over the past weekend, I was lucky enough to have stepped nervously into two Boston Barnes and Nobles bookstores where I found copies of "Coco" smiling back at me from his cover.    As my six year old son beamed excitedly to share in the discovery of the treasure we had found, it struck me instantly and without hesitation of the incredible excursion that I had been so fortunate to have been invited to voyage upon.  Although I have been a children's book author for only seven months, I can't help but think of the incredible people I have been able to work with and old friends who I couldn't have sold one copy without.  As wonderful as this beginning has been, I pray that this tale has only just begun to have spun.

The Beantown Tales is gearing up to become an official series with the upcoming July 2011 release of "The Popcorn Hydrangea of Poppingtom"!  Written as the sequel to "The Land of Chocolate Cosmos", the author once again discusses an enviromental issue by incorporating a fantasy world stricken with blythe, a magical flower and the power of a child to set things right.  Within this second tale, a boy named Nicholas takes it upon himself to enact clean air legislation for his home of "Poppingtom" after the popping popcorn hydrangea plants begin to die.  Filled with delicious imagery, drive in movie lots and a child who just wont give up, "The Popcorn Hydrangea of Poppingtom" is a fun and educational "next chapter" to Canale's mystical world of fairy tale adventures.  Reserve your copies now by pre-ordering from Amazon.com and Barnes & Nobles.com.

The most common tasks that most children experience as part of their daily routines are attending a school each morning and being tucked into bed with a story each night.  As part of many consistent activities, it is hard to believe that there are hundreds of boys and girls throughout Massachusetts that are not able to retain these basic necessities.  Fortunately, Boston encompasses nonprofit charities that work tirelessly to fulfill these needs, two of which being School on Wheels of Brockton, Ma and Pajama Program of Boston.  Understanding the tremendous importance of education and nighttime comforts, The Beantown Tales is now involved with supporting these two organizations.  Here's why and how...

School On Wheels of Massachusetts   This relief organization provides homeless children with education by motorizing the transportation of lessons and books!  Having the mission "to educate children impacted by homelessness by providing academic support and one-on-one mentoring so children can reach their full potential", School on Wheels assists young students with tutoring, supply drives, family read aloud, and support services after leaving shelters.   

Pajama Program, Boston Pajama Program of Boston has maintained the mission to supplement homeless, sheltered and orphaned children with the basic amenities of evening snugness.  Asking for donations of books and pajamas, this team of advocates reaches out to provide "warm bedtime clothing and education through a creative program".   Launching pj/book drives, slumber party and donation events, this charity is determined to reach their goal of giving 440,000 pajamas and books to the needy children of Massachusetts by the completion of 2011.

To both contribute to these efforts and encourage healthy reading habits, Suzie Canale will be offering storytime readings and supplying copies of "The Land of Chocolate Cosmos" to several metro School on Wheels students and Pajama Program children.  The author will also be donating book- themed nightshirts, wishing that all of their "Sweetest Dreams in Life Come True".

One of my greatest loves in life has always been the magic of the stage. Transforming words into live art, the theater possesses the enchanting gift to envelop audiences, allowing them to feel "with" the characters while being escorted to worlds beyond their imaginations.  Whether scripts reveal stories of suspense, drama, humor or even children's tales, the experience to guest or participate within the thespian world is both priceless and ambitiously effecting to the soul.
Having enjoyed a personal contribution to several productions in the past within the areas of acting, music and play writing, The Beantown Tales is now releasing the first adapted script of "The Land of Chocolate Cosmos" for schools, boy/girl scout troops, youth groups, ect.  Copies are sold conveniently through this website for $15.00 where patrons can simply fill out a contact form as well as request suggested music for desired choir performances. Additionally, there will also be a donated portion of the proceeds to Green Schools of Massachusetts, a non-profit organization whose mission is to create greener & healthier learning environments. 
Maintaining the desire to educate and empower children to make key transitions within our community's challenges through books about child friendly flowers, it is impertinent to find diversified channels to continue unfolding this positive widespread message.  As William Shakespeare wrote sweetly, "Out of this nettle, danger, we pluck this flower, safety."

Most company strategies will all concur that it is impertinent to create a distinctive logo which both reflects who the company is and where it attempts to go.  Keeping both aspects in mind, The Beantown Tales has assumed a new logo which encompasses a child friendly presentation while reflecting a distinctive path for the future.  Graphed by 11-11 Graphics of Georgia,  the icon features a periwinkle blue outline of Boston's skyline(signifying the author's love of Boston and the ocean), as well as two beanstalks with storybooks resting atop.  The beanstalks are climbing the city, chosen for their symbolic meaning; the assertation of a higher purpose through a climbing journey.   The first two stalks have been drawn to represent "The Land of Chocolate Cosmos" (December 2010) and "The Popcorn Hydrangea of Poppingtom" (available in early July 2011). 

Sound ordinary? 

Having the intention to appeal magical and fantastical, this will be an interactive logo where readers will be able to follow the picture's GROWTH!  With every Beantown Tale the author releases, a new beanstalk will grow with a book signifying another tale is approaching.  Once the series has concluded, a tenth and final vine will unearth to complete the picture.  

Keep your eyes peeled for a third beanstalk to see what's coming next!

The second installment to the Green Series,"Popcorn Hydrangea of Poppingtom", is in it's final stages of layout design and soon will be sent to press!  Mascot Books has once again done a fantastic job managing the illustration work (again drawn by Kevin Coffey), page design and  cover selections.  Looks like this popcorn extravaganza will be released in hard cover by the end of July!  Curious to see what the second book has to offer?  Here's a sneek preview! 

At once the crowd turned to each other in grief,
and asked Nicholas, “What shall we do?”
“If we don’t stop polluting our skies up above,
“The hydrangeas won’t pop anew.”

Being a boy as bright as he was,
Decided to write a letter,
Telling the mayor what needed to be done,
to make the environment feel better.

He seemed to remember learning a tip,
In a history book he once saw,
How to prevent a community’s potential problems,
and how to write a bill into law.

The Beantown Tales website is officially up and running!!  Although certain parts are still "under construction" as well as still searching for the perfect logo, visitors will be able to read up on previews of books, about the author, signings, events, children's workshop activities and of course, current blog reports!