Thomas Whaley's Blog

I love teaching. I want you to know that. There is nothing better in this world than being a teacher regardless of the bumps, bruises, nicks and scratches that my heart, mind, and body have taken over the years. I am all in on teaching, and I am all in on every parent, guardian and child that come my way.

I have the privilege of waking up each day with the opportunity to make a difference. I get to spend every day talking about things that matter to us while helping young children explore the things that matter to them. Teaching is a surefire path to immortality. While I cannot turn back the clock, or better yet, stop it, each day I spend with any given child allows me to reflect on my past, peer into the future, and find peace in our present. I am humbled to share my ideas and knowledge with children so that they can internalize them and hopefully pass them on someday.

Children are all so amazing. I embrace and celebrate the uniqueness of each one. I encourage them to recognize and embrace that individuality.

To glimpse the inner growth and development taking place within is to take snapshots of miracles. If pride were an energy source, I could light up a city. The fact that I get to learn and grow beside every child is a responsibility I do not take lightly. Each day I wake up, take a deep breath, and realize just what an awesome experience learning is. The kernels of knowledge I am honored to bestow on my students shines more brilliantly than the largest diamond and is far more valuable to our existence.

I love knowing that in my classroom, it’s not always about what’s right and what’s wrong. Instead, it’s about taking risks and figuring out what we think in that moment of time and expression.

I love knowing that the next question asked could be the key to unlocking a new truth. I love knowing that if I don’t like how something is going in class or a parent is concerned about an experience their child is having, I can start over the next day. I get to spend my day in a constant search for better ways of doing the thing that I love most. I get to try new things and immerse myself in change.

That is a powerful place to reside.

So, this New Year, and every year that follows, I thank the spirits around me for giving my life purpose and ensuring that my short time here matters. I thank all parents or guardians for trusting me to help guide their children as they begin their journeys in the world.

And to all my children, past, present and future, thank you for having the courage and curiosity to walk into my classroom and say, “I guess I’ll see what this guy has to offer.”

Happy 2017 to each and every teacher out there! Remember, YOU ARE AMAZING!

Check out my profile and small Q & A on Book Club Mom's Book-Blog "Who's That Indie Author?" where I talk about my book Leaving Montana!

http://wp.me/p32mlf-18S

I was honored to be interviewed by the Rave Reviews Book Club for their "Buy The Book" segment on their BlogTalkRadio about my awardwinning novel Leaving Montana! What a great experience! Check it out.

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/raverevi...

Closets are too confining...

Children learn from positive role models!

I am SO PROUD to be profiled in the last two issues of Gay Parent Magazine! It is so important for gay teachers to be defined by their character and not what others think they should be.

Be Proud Folks!

Hi Everyone!!

Happy CYBER WEEK!! The eBook version of my debut novel,Leaving Montana, is FREE today through Wednesday on Amazon! I hope you all get a chance to check it out!

Here is the link: http://www.amazon.com/Leaving-Montana...

HAPPY READING!

Thomas

For the last year, I have been blessed to have several wonderful things happen in my life; publishing my first novel, winning the NYS 2nd Grade Teacher of the Year Award and being profiled on NPR's 50 Great Teachers on All Things Considered. Things that I never thought would happen. Things that I am so very grateful for and proud of. Things that I never asked for, but came my way, changing me for the better. But these amazing things have also opened my eyes wider than I would have ever thought possible.

I need to take this time to say THANK YOU to each and every genuine person who took the time to reach out and celebrate these moments of pride with me. My readers, colleagues and friends who realized my journeys and battles to overcome. You understood that my pride was not boastful, but sincere excitement. You saw how happy and unexpected each moment was and took the time to congratulate me and take part in those exciting moments in my life. You took the time to acknowledge these accomplishments with true celebration, rather than ignoring the fact that a simple "Congratulations" goes a long way.

Friendships that are not solely based on Facebook "likes" but rather heartfelt comments, real conversations and personal acknowledgments. For those of you who took the time out of your busy lives to be supportive and kind, I AM SO GRATEFUL!!! You made each exciting moment even more memorable!

Sadly, like most of us, I have learned a lot about myself and people over the course of one year. I have come to realize that some people do not have the ability to feel happy for others, not matter the celebration.

Those who never really have anything nice to say about anyone. The people who always seem to make us feel bad when we are around them...in our most highest of moments...even when we don't know why.

This is just sad...but true colors emerge in times like these. It is our job to realize this and live our own lives celebrating those who matter.

Social media has stripped away true personal connections. Nowadays, personal connections have been replaced with a quick hit of the "like" button. A human accomplishment parallels a picture of someones dinner or a ridiculous video clip from YouTube. Our ability to not like or not comment is exactly the same as being in someone's presence and not being acknowledged.

Funny thing is....THOSE people who treat you poorly in person do the same on social media. So, ask yourself, why the friendships? Why have your timeline cluttered by those who can truly care less?

I truly appreciate those who matter. Now more than ever. But it takes situations like these to open our eyes to our own actions - to not "like" but send a message of "love". To call rather than bypass, to comment rather than ignore.

Celebrate those who take the time to reach out...Those who we can't wait to congratulate when something good happens to them. Those who are happy for your accomplishments rather than burdened by them or feel your not deserving of them.

Donate the phonies to Goodwill.
Put forth your energies to those who truly deserve it.
The dedicated ones.
The real ones.
I know I will.

SUCH AN HONOR!! I was interviewed by NPR reporter Jasmine Garsd for NPR's year long profile of 50 Great Teachers. It aired on All Things Considered on June 18th. A shining moment in my teaching career!

http://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2015/0...

So, you wrote your book, completed the tedious task of having it edited and found a publisher that had faith in your work…CONGRATULATIONS!! Your masterpiece is now available for the masses to buy; HOWEVER, books do not magically appear on Kindle’s, Nooks, and bookshelves without precise marketing and quality exposure.

FACT!

Publishers and literary agents do some marketing for “Your Baby” but not ALL of it. This is a given. When you are ready to submit your work to agents and publishers, it is clearly stated on all submission outlines “What marketing ideas or strategies do you have to help promote you work?” Authors are expected to contribute to their own personal success. THIS takes time and effort! Lots and lots of TIME and EFFORT. But it is all worth it – because once it is organized – it is YOURS forever. All you need to do in round two of your career is tweak it!I researched for months before my book was released. Here are the marketing strategies that work for me.

Let’s Get This Promo Party Started!

Social Networks: Facebook, Twitter, GoodReads, LibraryThing, Pinterest, Instagram, Delicious, LinkedIn, Shelfari and the list goes on and on and on.

STOP THE INSANITY!

Before you begin creating accounts for all of them, like I did, invest your time and energy to the social networks that are the best for YOU. A word of advice: IT IS BETTER TO DO GREAT PROMOS ON A FEW THAN SPORADIC/INCONSISTENT PROMOS ON ALL OF THEM! This is KEY! Your time is precious, especially if marketing yourself and your product is not your full time job.

As a teacher, husband and parent of two young boys, it was very important for me to maximize the time I have when it becomes available. I chose Facebook, Twitter, Amazon GoodReads and LibraryThing as my MAIN avenues of marketing/exposure. But each one has its own purpose and do not magically organize themselves overnight.

FACEBOOK: Some people like to make an author Facebook page that followers can “LIKE”. This is a personal choice; however, at first, this was NOT FOR ME. The questions you need to ask yourself are: What exactly does “liking” do for book exposure? Will followers come back again after “liking” your page? I have “liked” many pages, but I have to be honest…I rarely ever or NEVER look back. After much consideration, I decided to revamp my existing Facebook page and use it as a marketing tool. WHY? Because WORD OF MOUTH IS INCREDIBLE! Friends, family, acquaintances, colleagues, you name it! These are your biggest fans! FIND YOUR PAST! Request friendships! You can begin promoting your work BEFORE it is finished/accepted or even submitted. But do not force feed it. Be subtle. Exciting reminders of what’s to come make people talk. When your masterpiece is finally available, your fans are ready to pounce! Post links. Post events. Ask everyone to SHARE your journey on their Facebook pages. Make those closest to you a part of that journey. It is rewarding for everyone! AFTER my novel, Leaving Montana began to make a name for itself and gain momentum, I created an author Facebook page that people could "LIKE" - but I began by inviting those who read the book to follow it first - slowly, it became a page their friends liked and so on. It was authentic to those who were following it.

GROUPS: A great way to market yourself on Facebook! There are GAZILLIONS of groups all over the world that you can join and promote yourself on. Use this to your advantage! Again, do not go overboard. You will find it VERY easy to. Do your research! Each group has its own agenda and set of rules. BEFORE you submit a request to join, read the moderators/admins terms and conditions. Are they a good fit for you and your precious time? Some groups are craft specific – meaning, they only post about the process of writing and DO NOT permit promotional links. If you do, you can easily be removed from the group.

Most promotional groups allow you to post twice a day, but ask that your two posts be different. I suggest passages from your work (teasers), current reviews or parts of reviews with the purchase link. It entices those following. I like to post between 6-7 am and 6-9 pm. Word of advice: DON’T POST AND RUN! Take the time to “like” other links/posts. Make connections with those who “like” and “share” your posts. Reciprocate! You meet really nice people in the process. Here is step by step link on how to find groups:

http://www.wikihow.com/Join-Groups-on...

EXAMPLES OF FACEBOOK GROUPS: Authors, Everything Books, Aspiring Authors, Promote Your Book! Amazon Kindle GoodReads, Author Pond, Great Reads, Literary Promotions, etc. Search for groups specific to your genre. There are groups for poets, fantasy, erotica, you name it! Again – investigate which are right for you. Join them BEFORE your book is finished. Support others in those groups, because they will support you.

http://writerswin.com/five-fab-facebo...

http://www.writersandauthors.info/201...

TWITTER: MY personal favorite! However, at first, it is also the most time consuming and intimidating. The difference here is that you have to “earn” your connections. First, you have to search for and follow those members of interest; Authors you enjoy or aspire to be. Fellow writers with similar journeys. Support groups or marketing avenues that can help you with exposure. This is not easy, but once you establish a small group, you can begin connecting with them during every stage of your process.

Follow their TWEETS.
Favorite their TWEETS.
RETWEET their TWEETS.
Basically…FULL TWEET AHEAD!

Just make sure they are genuine. Do not favorite tweets or retweet tweets “just because”. Fortified, established members of social networks can sniff out transparency. The next step is getting people to trust you enough to “follow” back. This is why it is important to only follow those who truly interested you and you can learn from. As you become more established, your connections will steadily grow and you will find people following you. Again, BEWARE. Do not follow back everyone who follows you. Now it is YOUR TURN to decide if your followers are trustworthy enough to “follow back”. Spammers, sales pitches: 10K faux-followers for $5, posers and the occasional porn addict. Choose wisely. Your professional credibility and reputation is at stake. Here are some links I used to help me understand the proper way to use Twitter for marketing!

http://blog.bookbaby.com/2013/07/soci...

http://www.iuniverse.com/ExpertAdvice...

*** An exceptional group on Twitter is #RRBC or #RaveReviewsBookClub! An amazing group of writers and authors who support each other in the MOST amazing way! To learn more:

http://ravereviewsbynonniejules.wordp...

I have joined and DO NOT REGRET IT!! Once established with them, you can use their HASHTAG in exclusive posts on Twitter. You CANNOT combine other hashtag sites with theirs, but everyone retweets each other’s posts. Truly amazing!

I also enjoy Rukia Publishing (#rpbp), Independent Author Network (#IAN1), Author Social Media Support Group (#ASMSG) and Indie Author Retweet Group (#IARTG). Amazing people!

HASHTAGS!(#): Hashtags are extremely important on Twitter. They are specific. They are necessary. BUT – using them incorrectly can give you a bad reputation among fellow writers/authors/businesses in all stages of their hobby/career. Believe me, I know! In the beginning of my Twitter journey, I had my hand bitch-slapped by quite a few “owners” of various hashtags for accidental misuse. But when they ARE used the right way – the results and support can be incredible!

The type of hashtag depends on what type of exposure you are looking for. Here are the links I used to organize which hashtags were appropriate for every stage of my writing process and marketing goals.

http://www.aerogrammestudio.com/2013/...

http://www.bookmarketingservices.org/...

http://publishing.about.com/od/BookMa...

GOODREADS: I began setting up my Goodreads account way before my novel was ready for print. As a matter of fact, I began establishing my basic connections and profile in the early stages of editing. Although this site is very different from Facebook and Twitter, it is specific and, in my opinion, a requirement! Editors, authors, librarians, bloggers and readers of all genres are on these sites, so it can maximize your exposure as a writer and/or established author. You can begin establishing your profile then add your book to it once it is published. IN THE MEANTIME, join groups of interest. Connect with people you already know that have active accounts. Find “friends” that have similar interests and become active members in the groups you have joined. I LOVE GOODREADS...and once your initial anxiety dissipates, you will too!

Discussing/reviewing/recommending similar books are a great way of making connections on Goodreads! There are also groups you can join to promote your own work!

http://writersrelief.com/blog/2012/01...

GoodRead Giveaways! I have had FOUR successful Goodread Giveaways for far and I highly recommend them! It is a great way to gain exposure! I mailed signed paperback copies to all my winners – with a note of gratitude inside. Make is personal! Remember, they entered the giveaway because your work was interesting to them! Emails, ratings and reviews have already begun rolling in – even one in GERMAN! It is great connecting with people from around the globe! You can also promote your Goodread Giveaways on Twitter! #goodreadsgiveaway

Here is the link I used to make my giveaways successful:

http://www.novelpublicity.com/2012/02...

LIBRARYTHING: I did not set up my LibraryThing profile until my book was published. Authors and publishers can offer e-book giveaways to begin promoting interest and exposure on this site. Once my book giveaway was over, have I slowly begun to make some connections. Of the four sites I have listed, this is my least favorite. I find it to be a confusing site and never really know how or what to do that Goodreads does not already offer. This is MY opinion - But, I do recommend you have an active profile!

http://www.librarything.com/about_aut...

http://www.librarything.com/about

LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST: Reach out to reviewers and bloggers!

You can find these hardworking, dedicated, honest (Oh yes, sometimes it can be brutal, but suck it up!) and VERY BUSY people on Facebook, Twitter, Amazon & GoodReads. FIND THEM! REQUEST REVIEWS & INTERVIEWS! DON’T GIVE UP!

The worst thing that can happen is no response or rejection, but that’s the name of the game. Remember, it only takes one to say YES and you’re on your way! There are also groups on Facebook that cater to review swapping, but be careful not to overwhelm yourself with reviews...if you say yes, you must read and review it in a timely manner. This is only fair.

Here are a few links I used that may help you:

http://www.amazon.com/review/top-revi...

http://www.onlinecollege.org/2009/09/...

http://www.cision.com/us/2012/09/top-...

http://www.theindieview.com/indie-rev...

I hope my information was insightful and the links helpful! I am SURE many of you already know most, if not all, of this, but hey, someone out there just might not!

Oh, don’t forget to check out my book below!

#LeavingMontana! Your next #FiveStar #NewRelease #MustRead #LitFic #FamilySaga #Novel to #Read on #Amazon!

Leaving Montana

http://www.amazon.com/Leaving-Montana...

Over the last several months, I've had amazing & enlightening experiences with dozens of readers attending my Leaving Montana book signings and discussions. I have also enjoyed reading the reviews on Amazon, Goodreads, B&N, and so forth...However, one thing has come up recently that I found so forthright and true that I felt the need to communicate. One reader wrote:

"...as I read Leaving Montana, my intuition kept telling me that it was much more than literary fiction...the emotions were so believable, almost "memoirish"

So, this reader actually asked what so many people have been wondering but were too uncomfortable to ask...always asking questions that ALMOST got there, but dodged what their gut was dying to know.

Leaving Montana, although deemed literary fiction, is based on four decades of true life family turmoil. Autobiographical, in many ways, a memoir easily disguised as literary fiction with the perfect seasoning of assumed dialogue and precise sprinkling of levity to make moments easier to swallow.

So, my question:

Are most compelling works of literary fiction masking real life experiences that the author has self-encountered or witnessed?

Do we, as writers, find it easier to tag a book "litfic" because we still don't want to fully acknowledge what we've experienced?

Are we afraid to be tagged a "victim"?

Today was the very first time a reader/reviewer didn't play dodge-ball with their thoughts. It made me sit back and contemplate a decision I made when it was time to decide what genre Leaving Montanashould fall under.

Call it literary fiction.
Call it memoir.
Call it fictional memoir for all I care! Fact is...if it makes you change your way of thinking or helps you self-reflect, then believe your intuition.
I did.

http://www.amazon.com/Leaving-Montana...