Loren Long | children's book gallery | Sluggers series title change

BECOMES

EXTRA, EXTRA,
READ ALL ABOUT IT!

Dear Readers,

I’ve heard a lot lately about change!

And I want to make sure everybody knows about the exciting new changes that are happening in February of 2009…with our chapter series formerly known as Barnstormers. Barnstormers, the chapter series about BASEBALL, MAGIC, MYSTERY, ACTION, SUSPENSE, FAMILY and AMERICAN HISTORY.

WHAT’S IN A TITLE?

First, we are changing the TITLE of the series from Barnstormers to SLUGGERS.

WHY???

As creators of Barnstormers, Phil and I really liked the historical aspect of the term, Barnstormers. After all, our characters, Griffith, Ruby, Graham and the Travelin’ Nine baseball team are in fact “barnstorming” as they travel around the country playing baseball. BUT, we have learned that the TITLE of a book series must clearly indicate what the series is about. While Phil and I like the term, barnstormers, we’ve realized that it does not immediately say that this series is about BASEBALL. In fact, there were many different types of barnstormers in Amercian History other than baseball players. For this reason, we are changing the name to SLUGGERS, a more easily identifiable baseball term. We feel that this new title will help us reach a larger audience of young readers who would like to read “the series that saved baseball”, SLUGGERS!

COVER ART!

While the story is the same and the art on the inside is the same, I’ve created new cover art for each book in the Sluggers series. Just like a TITLE, a COVER is a selling point for any book and we wanted the art on the covers to reflect the BASEBALL and MAGIC that takes place inside the books.

We want you to “judge our books by their covers”!

PAPERBACKS!

As a father myself watching the price tags of everything from groceries to soccer cleats, I’m especially excited that we are offering the SLUGGERS series books in a paperback format with a significantly lower price point. In February 2009 as the national economy continues to raise concern, SLUGGERS books ONE and TWO will be available in paperback. In April of 2009, Sluggers book THREE will be available in paperback and the brand new book in the series, SLUGGERS book 4 will be available in hardcover.

There are 3 collectible baseball cards inside the front of each paperback book!

SOMETHING SPECIAL
IN BOOK ONE OF SLUGGERS!

With all these changes to our series, we decided to add something special to the first book in the entire series, Game 1 of Barnstormers which becomes SLUGGERS, Book One, MAGIC IN THE OUTFIELD. We’ve added something special we’re calling “The ballad of the ball” at the beginning of the series. In addition, in book one of Sluggers, we’ve rearranged the story and added a bit overall to heighten the excitement of the book as early as possible.

WEBSITE!!!

READBARNSTORMERS.COM has changed to READSLUGGERS.COM.

MOST OF ALL!!!

We want our readers to know that even with these changes, the series is still the same.

If you love Barnstormers, we know you will continue to love it as SLUGGERS!

And if you are new to our BASEBALL SERIES, consider this a hearty welcome. Step up to the plate and remember, swing hard in case you hit it!

Hip, hip, Huzzah!

Loren