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I write and illustrate books for children but my real work is to spread the joys of literacy everywhere I go. Developing innovative ways to strengthen vocabulary acquisition for young people is at the heart of my mission. The Miss Alaineus  (miscellaneous!) Vocabulary Parades are an example of the kind of work I have done nationally. Many ask me: You mean this doesn’t cost money? Why?

Why—because words are all around us, free for the taking. We just need more ways to encourage families to make vocabulary acquisition a core value. Let’s make it an involving, fun activity at the fair!

I DO hope you will chose to offer my book, A Fabulous Fair Alphabet, as part of the gift selection at your fair. Book sales can help fund whatever level of the game you offer. (You will be asked to credit the book in game announcements with the standard tag line seen below.) Autographed nameplates can be added to make the book a special memory from your fair.

My book, A Fabulous Fair Alphabet, has an open page in the front—for families to add their own photos, words, and memories about their annual trips to your fair. Ordering information is below.

Thank you!

—Debra Frasier
Author & Illustrator

Read about Debra's experience at the Minnesota State Fair in Publishers Weekly online.

Level 1: Least expensive

Announce the Find YOUR Fabulous Fair Alphabet game to your fairgoers in your standard press releases and website link. Direct your fairgoers to my website where they will find a 2 min introductory movie and game card to download. They can also download an award “ribbon” to download once they have completed a game card.  (No cost except your webmaster’s linking labor. We will send you web linking information.)

If you would like to offer a ribbon on your fairgrounds you can have an information booth designated as a review spot, or a card table, or invite an educational organization to handle the review and awarding of a ribbon. (Libraries are a perfect match, as well as local college education departments, or 4-H groups.) You can also simply print-on-demand the paper ribbon from the free materials on my website.

Ribbons: I have a standard, generic blue ribbon that can be ordered by contacting me at debrafrasier@mac.com. (I can send you a sample. They are produced by Regalia.) The least expensive ribbon-on-a-roll is approximately $45.00 per 450 ribbon roll, plus shipping. (No mark up, you cut). A string-blue ribbon is also available. Write for costs. You can design your own ribbon with the ribbon company you work with, too, but you avoid a design and set up charge with this pre-designed ribbon.

If this is your first year with the project you may want to try a one-day experiment, or one weekend, just to see how it goes.

Level 2: Print your own card

You may like to print your own Find YOUR Fabulous Fair Alphabet game card with information particular to your fair. Write me at debrafrasier@mac.com to discuss which template might best suit your situation. We will send you a digital file with a game card that is “set” except for a section on the back panel. Your designer may add your fair name, dates, and the place where you can redeem your card for a ribbon or certificate. If you have found a sponsor for this project you may drop in their logo and credit information.

This template is $60.00, which pays the designer’s time to sort the orders and track the email correspondence.

Game cards can then be printed locally, or offered only online for home printing, depending on your funding. We have printer services we can coordinate if shipping from Minnesota is feasible.

Level 3: Design and printing handled by Winding Oak Design Services
(Winding Oak served the Minnesota State Fair Foundation’s effort in 2010 and 2011).

For $120.00 Winding Oak will add your information to the back panel of the card and send a print ready file to your designated recipient. You provide the content information on deadline and receive up to two proofs with one edit between. This is usually enough but if further work in needed, standard design rates apply. We can arrange printing or you use your own printers.

Free Poster File: An electronic file for a poster describing the project will be sent to all who host a Find YOUR Fabulous Fair Alphabet project. 8 ½ x 11 inches, and made for table top holders, this poster can be used by schools, libraries, or community groups to announce the project within the community. You fill in your own local information and print in whatever quantity your budget allows.

Author Appearance: I am available for a fair visit to autograph books on  designated day(s) as an Author0in-Residence at your fair. Fees to be discussed depending on the situation. If your fair is scheduled during the school year, often area schools host a Debra Frasier Author Visit tour and travel costs can be shared by several organizations. Sometimes a library system sponsors author visits. My travel time is limited due to my work and appearance schedule so contact me early if this is of any interest to you.

Book Sales

Fabulous Fair Alphabet book sales on your fairgrounds:

To order the book (12 copies or more, wholesale, $8.50 each, plus shipping, prepay by credit card), call Norma Lippencott at Simon and Schuster special sales at (1-800-824-2014). The book retails for $17.00 leaving room for discounting and still raising funds for the project.

To order 1-12 sample autographed copies ($13.00 plus $3 shipping, pre pay with check), email debrafrasier@mac.com.