The Why Series and other stories

I have read a few of your stories and enjoyed them immensely - I think they would be even better with the illustrations. A few of them I thought would be more tailored to adults, but the collection is great overall, and well thought out.

Hi Eric!

I am quite impressed by what I have read so far! Best of luck; I hope you can find a big-time agent.

I have promptly backed it.

Douglas

Hi. I browsed through, that’s all the time I had. Fantasy is not something I usually read but I enjoyed your wordsmithing enough to back it. If you would like a specific chapter critiqued, tell me which one and I’ll do my best.
Your comments and backing of my book will be appreciated.
Dan

I have followed your posts with interest and particularly your frustration with not being picked up by a publisher. It is very difficult to convince a publisher to take on rhyming stories for children. Although children love verse, too many authors submit doggerel, where the internal sense of the poem has to be distorted to ensure the rhyme works. This, I feel, is somewhat the case here. Animals behaving like humans is another problematic area - although talking/civilised animals are also beloved by children, publishers are inundated by these types of stories. To get noticed, they have to be extremely good and have an excellent internal logic. Why would an owl want something on toast, when real owls don't eat toast? It sounds like a humorless question, but there has to be a good answer. In the Narnia Chronicles, animals behave like this because Aslan gave them the power of speech. And so on. Also watch your punctuation and grammar, which goes awry in your prose section.

There is a lot of charm here, and I'm glad you're having so much success hand selling your books. It sounds like you don't need a publisher in any case. If you're still looking for a publisher, you may want to consider some of the above points, if they ring a bell with you.

The easy rhythm and the simple subject matter of your verses should appeal to young children but as an adult I can't help picking up a number of punctuation errors which need sorting before the books are presented to children. A word of caution, Spot the Dog is a well known character in a series of high profile children's books and T.V series. You may run into copywrite issues with this one.
Backed
Robert Davidson
THE TUZLA RUN

"Good morning Spot -- your face looks red" Comma after 'morning.' When you address someone in dialogue, offset their name or title with commas. There are more cases of this type of problem. Other than that, these are engrossing children's stories. Very believable, charming characters. Convincing dialogue. Confident writing. Backed.

Eric. These stories are so marvellous. Esp. Why Fairies ch.10 and Why Owls ch.2. Hope you do not mind. But I am down loading all of them, and taking then to school today, to read to my class [if they are particularly good - one a day] So please write some more a 10 days time when they run out. !!!
I would be really pleased if you could read my childrens' book ; Paperbat Adventures . Many thanks for that.
Jerry [paperbat]

Brilliant! For kids and parents.

These are absolutely delightful - my partner's nine year old grandson has been having a wonderful time reading them aloud to me! Backed with pleasure
Joanna
Fossil Farm

well-written stories. Backed.

I intive you to read or comment on The Rebel

God Bless,
Chipper

These stories are fantastic! I was totally enthralled and so were my Grandchildren. The stories are suitable for a wide age range because they can be read at many different levels. I thoroughly recommend everyone who has a love of rhyme and fun to read these books - you will not be disappointed. Well done Eric Pullin and please write some more Why books soon!
Best wishes
Rosie Posie

Hi Eric

I'm sorry for the delay in reading this, I started a new job this week and have been a bit busy.

It has been a long time since I have read poetry as delightful as this.
I would just love to have this and read to children at bedtime and I know this would be a firm favourite.
My favourite was of course chapter eight. I randomly picked that number and there in front of me was a fairy poem!
I can clearly see why this is selling so well and I definitely think it needs a much wider audience as more people should read this to bring a smile to their faces.
Backed with absolute pleasure.
Sarah. T-cup and the Dream Team Fairies

The world explained through poetry, and lilting rhyme...very nice. I would love to read all these to a kid, with great illustrations to go with it. You know, when you are a kid you remember these things forever, even when you don't believe them anymore. And it makes the world that much more magical...good work, and backed!

You are a poet and a master story teller - your book is very well done. Not only will children truly enjoy these stories but there parents will enjoy reading them to their kids. There's no better compliment. Backed with pleasure.

Andrew Burans
The Reluctant Warrior: The Beginning

Ow, read from chapter 12 to end and got a dash of cold water! Love Digweed though, him I relate to! My father always said (sorry, Digweed, just cover your ears or substitute 'cat') "It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog." Great little story, hope it ends well. Jim Darcy The Firelord's Crown

Loving it! I can see in my mind the pictures that could go with the first chapter. You do have something here, backed with pleasure. I, too wish I could post the pictures from my book "The Big Hat", maybe one day it will be possible. Keep on keepin' on...Allison

Verdict from my six yr old "love it!, can I have it" I not sure if you have an illustrator but with good drawings along with the easy flowing passages, you have managed to produce a real hit! well done.

Jen
(All comments welcome for Do You Believe in Angels?)

I could see a child on my lap as I read them, delightful. Good Luck. E.Loraine Royal Blood Chronicles book one

Loved the poems and will read to my girls for sure! I'll let you know what they say.
K.

This is quite delightful. Not only chirpy little poems, or at least the ones I read are but a message of learning too in each of them.
You ask for an honest crit. I can truthfully say I should love this book to read to the smallest in my family and actually enjoy it for me too!
Simple, well written and most of all fun. Exactly what children's books should be. Well done. No difficulty in backing this. Margaret.

Eric,

You made me smile. Amidst deep stories and hungry philosophy on this site, I have found this delightful oasis of innocence. You have some beautiful work, and I read them aloud to my two year old, who clapped at the end of each one. I think readers of all ages will enjoy the perfect simplicity of these.

Backed.
Abi xxx
"Everyone knows the rule: Stay inside the Wall, but Tisha believes rules are made to be broken." - Relic

Dear Eric,

You have been reviewed by my daughter, SarahAnn, who is 10 years old. We read the 1st poem and the 8th. "This is perfect because I love poetry and he has poetry. Some people do not get what poetry is -- and he gets what poetry is. It is something like rhyming poems... every sentence has to end with something that rhymes with the other line. I enjoyed how he said that butterflies are really fairies in disguise -- so now, I can go up to a butterfly and say, 'Grant me a wish.'"

SarahAnnie is American (Texan) by being born in the US to a US citizen... and her father is Canadian... so now you have two countries to add to your list... and depending on the opinion and the day, Texas is still a Republic... so maybe even three.

Thank you very much for sharing your lovely book with us, my daughter loves poetry. She thinks Shel Silverstein is a rock star.

SueAnn Jackson Land
The Truth About Whales

Dear Eric, I love your poems, especially when you put a line over to the right - that is really enhancing/gripping.. Your little stories are good, too. :) It is a good read because you create interest by having short paragraphs (since it for children, you may want to cut the longer ones in 2, so that you don't lose the in the middle) & which makes me want to keep reading to find out what's going to happen next. I'm backing/commenting on your book to help it advance. Could you please return the favor by taking a moment to back/comment on my TWO books, "He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not" & the unedited version? "Tell Me True Love Stories." Thanks, Susie :)

Absolutely brilliant. You make poetry look easy. Perfect six lines to each stanza, perfect eight syllables to each line. I really love this.

Good Luck Mary

Utterly charming! and very well done - engaging and how skilled are you?! best wishes, Diane

"But every cat deserves just one break in life..." - I loved it! Interwoven well into these stories and poems are such profound thoughts within such whimsical tales. Great story(ies) and poems. I love animals anyway, so this truly was a pleasure. Very well done. I think you will be successful in your endeavors. Good luck!
Backed.
Christian Rogue (Wings of the Heart)

Another comment. I re read your profile it's great your books are doing well one negative for me here was your cover. It's not as good as the content

Oh my goodness
whoa
this is not good ....... This is sheer brilliance. Sheer delight
no. It's better than that even.
What you have here is magic on a page. I read all the first 8. I love 4 and 8
I loved each one
ok.... I hope you have copywrited these and I actually think you need to self publish...... Get your own isbn and get these on sale through the book chains that go into schools and nurseries. Get yourself as the author to libraries to do author readings
you have gold dust in your hands and I mean that
good luck you should be in print. You will be in print

Oh...I LOVED Chapter 4! Is there anyway to actually get to your book? I would love to read the real thing with illustrations. It's a book I would keep even after my girl had grown up. It was cute before but Chapter 4 was the hook for me.

One thing you may want to consider though is that some rhymes don't rhyme. I'm sure they probably rhyme in Scotland, but the way we say words in the US might be different. Like "It helps to know what stars are for. And why there's any stars at all. I hear 'oar' and 'all' naturally because of where I'm from. I don't know if that has any bearings on publishers, I'm no expert, I just thought I'd draw your attention to it.

I hope one day I can indeed purchase this.:)

Chapter three was so cute, I loved the baby whale, and the ending too was good. I don't know if you know or not but in your second set of verses you have Wilberforce spelled wWilberforce. How did you come up with that name, did it have some kind of meaning? Or was it made up? I can see force in it, that's why I asked.

Chapter two is clever, I haven't read anything about why owls were smart before for children. Bookworm!:)

I loved Why Animals don't talk, I think I see the theme already. This is really cute, I wish there were illustrations to show my little girl. She's a little too young to understand but she'll like this I'm sure when she gets older.

my self and my daughter have so far read the dog and owl. my daughter who is eight loved the two so far.
but she said that if it was in a voice format it would better. she has commanded me to put your book on WL so she can read more.
backed with pleasure
L.O.V.E

A postscript from Betty Tyrrell- are you related to Kevin Pullin, the musician?

This is delightful stuff and I have enough experience of children and grandchildren to know they would love it. Congrats on choosing a difficult genre. The childrens market is a tough nut to crack. Do you have an illustrator?Your verse gave a feel good start to my day. If you are into something quite opposite, please take a peek at the first chapter of my book The Strangling Angel and let me know your opinions. Sincerely, Elizabeth (Betty) Tyrrell

Aye lovely stuff, my children would love it

Cute! I really wish I could see the pics that go along with this.

Backed. I'm guessing that if I could see the pics, I would think this an excellent children's book.

My kids would love your stories. The words are easy enough that children just learning to read would be able to, and they flow well enough that adults wouldn't mind reading them at bedtime.

Mandi
Dacia Wolf & the Prophecy

That is just adorable. I could see this story with pictures. Kids in the USA would love this. Also being a Childrens Writter, I will back this book. Great Great Job!
Shawna Lynn
Lessons from an Evil Mind (this one is not a childrens book)

Hi Eric, This is great for kids and I have read some to my 3 year old. With pictures, this would be the bee's knees. Gerry

Eric you are quite right in your assertion that children will love this book.
You really know your audience. This is a perfect book for the little ones.
Backed
David
Bailey of the Saints

Brilliant for younger children

Jane Holyoake (The Spiral Pendant)

OK, that was cute. I read #7, the curl in the pig's tail. I could hear that one being read to my kids at night. Great job.

The only thing I had a complaint about was punctuation. And by that I mean missing apostrophes to indicate possession.

But other than that, a job well done.

Leah Petersen - Mourn the Sun (See what I did there?)

Eric,

These books are fun, and just the job
For reading to the little mob.
It's such a shame, it seems to me,
Your pictures are not here to see.
For though, of words, you have a score,
A picture's worth a thousand more.

Good luck! Backed.

Rachel

It's a lovely concept Eric. Very amusing too. Good luck, mariecapri

Very clever poems - just the sort of thing younger children would love. I would have loved reading this to my three maybe ten years ago. I can imagine a rather large picture book with brightly colored illustrations. This should do well with preschools, church day schools, etc. Best of luck to you!

Vickie

Hi Eirc

no ! The edited lines are grey and it's vital that the first line stand out! The idea of animals downgrading to noises from speech thanks to Spot is great but soe verses need tweaking. e.g. scanning on the verse which starts As time went on the animals saw.. Also if you could find a reason why each animal chooses his particular sound that would greatly stregthen the humour. But great stuff. My 3rd daughter's a bilingual teacher in Spain in a bilingual school. she ha 10 year olds. I wonder if you could have a stab at this market?

Rosalind

Good for Him

I really liked it, if illustrated it could prove to be a great learning book for children but it needs the pictures to fly. Backed.

Very cute - the stories were really sweet, and the poetry was very well written. I found myself already imagining the art work that would go with each poem. I would definitely buy this book for any child.

Backed with pleasure! Good Luck!!
A look at Sicilian Shadows would be greatly appreciated.
Frank.
If you back my work, you may also want to approach BJD (a big supporter of Sicilian Shadows) for a further read and possible backing of your book.