Publishers Marketplace: Joe Frey

JJ McShay Has Something To Say!

In "Fruit of my Labor", JJ McShay introduces kids to different types of poetry and explores the many forms and styles in a fun and exciting way. He might have a poem about his favorite color, or introduce children to forms like: Haiku, Rhyme, or Free Verse. Six year-old JJ and his orphan friends at the House of Shady work very hard to get kids excited about one of the most difficult forms of writing to do well - poetry.

This 63 page, three-chapter book is written for an elementary school audience. It may be the only one of its kind introducing the different forms and styles of poetry in a way that kids find very easy to learn and have lots of fun while doing it!

The book continues to grow in readership, having sold very well in the first five months via self-promotion, with a continually expanding fan base and the piqued interest of teachers as far away as Washington State. Receiving JJ fan mail and email from elementary students whose classes I’ve visited further validates the potential for the next book in the series and gives me the motivation to continue forward. Since the re-release of the edited version of the series, which was just last month, I have sold over two-hundred copies and visited four schools!

An unagented writer, I don't mind doing my own leg work or going against the grain, but I would welcome agent representation.

I've received awards and recognition for the "Fruit of my Labor" series from Kiwanis chapters, cable TV news, and local publications. I was Featured Poet on a televised program reaching almost 20,000 viewers. In addition, the series has received two reviews, one of them a Four-Star review from Rhonda Fischer with Readers Favorite!

My other self-published poetry books: "Tin Mouth"; "A Quest For Paradise","A Return From Retreat" and just released "Variations" have been chosen as part of a pilot project generated between Lulu.com & Amazon.com. I would welcome a traditional publisher for these books as well.

I have been writing poetry, short stories and essays for more than twenty years.

I am very active in the writing community and a member of writing groups that include the Hudson Valley Writers and the Hollywood Writers, an online group moderated by well-known author/screenwriter Skip Press.

I am also a member of the Society of Children's Book Writer's & Illustrators (SCBWI). I am a member of JacketFlap and a premier member of the Academy of American Poets.

Thank you for stopping by and visiting and please feel free to contact me for an autographed copy of "Fruit of my Labor" or to inquire about my other books, existing or upcoming.