Enterprising Writers - Chrissie Gittins

Following on from my series last week on The Writer as Entrepreneur, in conjunction with Mslexia magazine, I received this email from self-published children’s book author Chrissie Gittins.

If you are an Enterprising Writer, check out my invitation to share your enterprising story and get in touch to showcase your story on Fusion View.

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Dear Yang-May,

I was very interested to read your article on self publishing in Mslexia
today. I self published my two children’s poetry collections as
mainstream publishers are reluctatnt to take on newish children’s poets -
though they use my poems in their anthologies. Both my collections were
shortlisted for the only prize for a children’s poetry book - the CLPE
Poetry Award, and the second was also a Poetry Book Society Choice for the
Children’s Poetry Bookshelf. ’I Don’t Want an Avocado’ has sold
5,800 copies so far since October, and I’m about to reprint ’Now You
See Me, Now You …’.

I thought you might like to hear about this little-known world of
children’s poetry. I’m also booked to talk about self-publishing at the
Lancaster Literature Festival in November - I shall go armed with your
article!

There are more details about my books, should you be interested, on my
website - www.chrissiegittins.co.uk

Best of wishes and thanks for a great read,
Chrissie

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Chrissie’s website lists a great number of her other books and activities and if you’re in the UK, you can catch her at one of her many events around the country. She’s certainly very dynamic and energetic in managing her career as a writer beyond the written word - through radio, personal appearances, involvement in the Arvon Foundation and running poetry workshops.