The Adventures of Bella and Finny Series

SCBWI Conference

The SCBWI Eastern NY chapter
14th annual Mid-Hudson Valley Conference
Saturday, June 12, 2010 from 8:00am to 4:00pm
Poughkeepsie, New York

Authors Corral at the BEA

BEA!

BookExpo America
Tuesday, May 25 – Thursday, May 27
Jacob K. Javits Center, New York, NY

I love going to the BEA!  It is a wonderful opportunity to meet Authors, Illustrators and speak with people within every realm of the  publishing industry.  There were over 500 Authors, 2,000 Companies and I was thrilled to be a part of it!  It is truly an honor for me. Bella and Finny made a lot of new Fans!  They were a big  hit! Teachers and Librarians love the “Laugh and Learn” approach.

A New Bella and Finny Fan!

Great Book Festival!

I had a great time at the Albany Children’s Book Festival. Spoke with some great Authors, made some new friends and Bella and Finny made a lot of people laugh!

Albany Children’s Book Festival

This will be a wonderful event for the whole family!

 Free admission, storybook parade and over

40 Children’s & Young Adult Authors & Illustrators!

Albany Children’s Book Festival

Saturday, May 15, 2010

10:00am – 3:00pm

The Albany Academy for Girls Campus

140 Academy Rd.

Albany, NY

Please stop by, I love to meet Bella and Finny Fans!

France Catalogue

This was Bella and Finny’s French debute!  They are now international stars!!

Catalogue page from France!

Finny at Dog Ate My Homework!

What a fun time we had at Dog Ate My Homework! This was Finny’s first time at a Book Event with me. He was great and the little ones loved him!

Post Star

Here is an article from the Post Star!

Events Coming Up!

I am happy to announce some up coming book events. One of the best things about being an author is meeting my readers! So I look forward to meeting all of you!

March 26 – 31, 2010
Salon des Livres
Paris, France

Friday, April 9, 2010
10:30 am
Interactive reading and power point presentation
Finny, one of the stars of the series will be present
Dog ate my homework
Glens Falls, NY

Saturday, April 10, 2010
11:45- 12:15 pm
Autograph / Meet & Greet Session
Author Signing Tables located at base of Egg
outside Meeting Room 7 Bookstore
Empire State Book Festival
Empire State Plaza
Albany, NY

Saturday, May 15, 2010
10:00am – 3:00pm
Albany Children’s Book Festival
Albany Academy for Girls
140 Academy Road
Albany, NY

May 25-27, 2010
Thursday May 27, 2010
10:30 – 11:30 am
Authors Corral
Autograph / Meet & Greet Session
BookExpo America
Jacob K. Javits Center
New York, NY

Perpetual Pose Interview

To read the interview on perpetual prose, click here!

My interview with Michael is now posted on Perpetual Pose!
Bonnie A. Wayne – Interview
21 March 2010 By Perpetual Prose 0 In Author Spotlight Print This Post

Bonnie, what was your first piece of serious writing?

My very first piece of serious writing was The Adventures of Bella and Finny Series! Counting with Bella and Finny was the first book in my Laugh and Learn approach to teaching basic concepts to children.

What inspired you to become an author?

My inspiration comes from the love I have for children and my poodles! I have always enjoyed working with children. My background is in Human Services, and I have worked with children in different capacities for nearly three decades. Through my experience, I have found that humor is a very effective way to teach. I love to make people laugh! I take pictures of my two standard poodles in everyday situations that are normal for humans but very unusual for dogs. The pictures are hilarious!

Tell us about The Adventures of Bella and Finny Series.

The Adventures of Bella and Finny Series currently has four books in the series. Counting, Shapes, Colors and Opposites. The books take a fun and unique approach in teaching basic concepts to children. The stars of this series are my two standard poodles, Bella and Finny. The pictures that I take of them are real! I do not photoshop them on a skateboard, they are on a skateboard! The photographs are just plain funny! The books appeal to children on many different levels.

Parents and educators will find that the familiar activities and recognizable items help to provide for many language based activities. The books really help with memory and comprehension. Each book has a review at the end to reinforce the concepts which they are learning. These books are educationally sound as well as entertaining. I have found that educators and parents find the books to be great learning tools with many teachable moments. So children can learn a little more about their favorite Laugh and Learn Poodles, at the end of each book I have included a “Fun Facts” page on Bella and Finny.

The Adventures of Bella and Finny Series have received the Mom’s Choice Award and The Dove Award both awards honor excellence in family-friendly media. Having both the Mom’s Choice Award and The Dove Award Seal really help families and educators navigate the vast array of products to make informed decisions. When they see the seal they can be sure of a family-friendly quality product.

Do you plan to keep writing in this series, Bonnie, or branch out?

I absolutely will continue with this series! The only branching out that I will do, is to have more Bella and Finny products! I have so many more books that I want to write. I love what I do and can’t imagine doing anything else!

How important are books like yours as a teaching tool for children?

I feel it’s so important that leaning should be fun! Especially in the very young children. Research shows when children enjoy what they are being taught they will retain the information longer and better. You want children to have enthusiasm for learning. I think any book that will help to develop the mind of a child and to inspire and promote the love of learning is invaluable!

What advice do you have for self-published authors like yourself?

In my opinion, you must be passionate about your writing. You have to love with your heart and soul what you do! Next I would say you need to be your own best cheerleader. Which goes to the next piece of advise, market, market, market, network, network, network! I would also suggest to become a member of a professional organization. If you write books for children, an example would be the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). It is also a good idea to attend workshops and conferences. The BookExpo America, BEA, is a great opportunity to network and to market. I would encourage anyone who has an intrest in self-publishing to attend. I guess it boils down to work hard, be persistent, love what you do and everything else seems to fall in to place!

Dove Award!

The Adventures of Bella and Finny Series receives the Dove Award!

Exciting News!!

The Adventures of Bella and Finny Series just signed on with Mariposa Press for distribution of our books in France!

Donations Made!

The Adventures of Bella and Finny made donations to Albany Medical Center, Ronald McDonald House and the Saratoga Animal Shelter.

Book Event

I’ll be at The Little Book House today! I’ll be signing The Adventures of Bella and Finny Series! A Poodle See Poodle Doo Book!! You can also register to win a free Bella and Finny Product
The Little Book House
Stuyvesant Plaza
Albany, NY
Sunday, December 13, 2009
2-4 pm

Book Signing

Saratoga Borders Book Event!
I’ll be at Borders today signing The Adventures of Bella and Finny Series. Books are wonderful gifts to give.
Saratoga Borders
Saturday, Dec. 12
1-3 pm
See you there!

Bella and Finny’s newest Fans, Lila and Anna!

New Fans

Saratoga’s Victorian Streetwalk

A great time meeting new Bella and Finny Fans!

Book Events

Meet and Greet Bonnie A. Wayne
Dawgdom l where dogs rule
Victorian Streetwalk
Thursday, December 3, 2009
6-9 pm

Okte Craft Extravaganza
Okte Elementary School
1581 Crescent Road
Clifton Park, NY 12065
Friday, December 4, 2009
5-8 pm

Dawgdom | where dogs rule
441A Broadway
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
Saturday, December 5, 2009
12-3 pm

Borders
395 Broadway
Saratoga Springs NY 12866
Saturday, Dec 12, 2009
2-4 pm

The Book House of Stuyvesant Plaza
1475 Western Avenue
Albany, NY 12203
Sunday, December 13, 2009
1-3 pm

1570 WVTL-AM The Bob Cudmore Show

I will be on The Bob Cudmore Radio Show!
1570 WVTL – AM
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
8:30 am

Please tune in and listen.

CPIMS Literacy Night

Opposites

WNYT TV

I taped my first TV interview! Thank you Phil Bayly for making it fun and keeping me relaxed! A great opportunity to talk about my books and the 2 Stars, Bella and Finny!
Forum with Phil Bayly
WNYT TV Channel 13
Sunday, November 22, 2009
6:00 am

Literacy Night

I will be attending Literacy Night at Central Park International Magnet School. Come join the Fun!
Central Park International Magnet School
421 Elm Street, Schenectady, NY 12304
Literacy Night (Grades K-6)
November 17, 2009
6:30 – 8:00 pm

Join Bella & Finny’s Facebook Fan Page

Follow Bella & Finny on Facebook by clicking the link below:

The Glens Falls Chronicle Book Fair

I will be attending The 14th annual Glens Falls Chronicle Book Fair. It will take place on Sunday, Nov. 1, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Queensbury Hotel in downtown Glens Falls, NY.
Last year, more than 120 authors, book sellers, publishers and non-profit groups participated in the Book Fair.
Please stop by and say “Hi”!
For more information:
The Chronicle
518-792-1126
chroniclebookfair@loneoak.com

The Saratogian Interview with Bonnie Wayne

June 2009
Who are you?
Author, recipient of Mom’s Choice Award of the “Adventures of Bella and Finny” book series and Clifton Park resident.

What got you started photographing your dogs?
I always, always took pictures of my dogs, both standard poodles. Bella is now 9 and we got her as a puppy. Finny was a rescue dog we got after he turned one; he’s also nine years old and apricot in color. Friends and colleagues kept telling me to do something with my photos of them, but I couldn’t come up with exactly the right idea. After I retired, one morning in 2004, I asked myself “Why not turn the photos into learning tools, books, for children?” This idea blended my background in human services including working one-on-one with special ed students at Shen and my love of my standard poodles.

Where did you find a publisher?
My first four concept books have all been self-published.
To date, I have sold over 1,000 books in “The Adventures of Bella and Finny Series.” They are for sale locally at Borders in Saratoga and The Little Book House in Stuyvesant Plaza. You can also order from my Web site at www.bellaandfinny.com. I just attended my very first BookExpo America in New York City I met with agents and other authors including Meg Cabot and the Julie Andrews who were there for Cabot’s “Princess Diaries.”

When did you win the Mom’s Choice Award?
I was in Florida recently when I got the e-mail and I was all alone when I read the news. I started jumping and screaming. It was a huge honor and very humbling.
This award is known for establishing the benchmark of excellence in family-friendly media, products and services.
The panel consists of esteemed judges from companies like Baby Einstein and Reading Rainbow along with some regular moms, dads and kids who just really like what they are reading.
It is really going to open doors for me. It’s been a real validation for what I’m doing and it’s so gratifying to see that I can help kids start their love of learning through my books – that’s just wonderful.

Why do your dogs make just great models?
I’m not a professional photographer; I don’t use any special camera or computer tricks. Bella and Finny just absolutely love doing this – they are the biggest hams in the world.

— Lauren Carpenter
www.saratogian.com

Interview with Mom’s Choice Award Founder

I was recently interviewed by the Mom’s Choice Award founder, Tara Paterson, on her blog, after receiving a Mom’s Choice Award for The Adventures of Bella and Finny Series books. Read the interview here.

The Mom’s Choice Awards® is known for establishing the benchmark of excellence in family-friendly media, products and services. This annual competition recognizes authors, inventors, companies, parents and others for their efforts in creating quality family-friendly media products and services.

Book Expo America

The Adventures of Bella and Finny Series went to the Book Expo America convention at the Jacob K. Javits Center in New York City on May 28, 2009.

Recent School Visits

Kiddie Academy of Albany, NY
Happy House, Elmira, NY
Zoller Elementary, Schenectady, NY
First Baptist Church School, Mount Pleasant, SC
St.Vincent Preschool, Albany, NY
Laurel Hill Primary School, Mt. Pleasant, SC
Gateway Charter School, Fort Myers, FL
Celebration Elementary School, Celebration, FL

Book Signings

Barnes & Noble, Orlando, FL 3-4-06
Books a Google, Clermont, FL 3-29-06
Borders, Saratoga Springs, NY 6-18-06
Borders, Saratoga Springs, NY 8-22-06
Borders, Saratoga Springs,NY 10-14-06
Dog Bark Barkery, Celebration, FL 3-16-07
Share Health Fair, Clifton Park, NY 9-29-07
Borders, Saratoga Springs, NY 11-15-08

Woman’s World Feature

Bella and Finny photos were featured on the Puzzle of the Week pages of the January and February 2006 issues of Woman’s World Magazine.