Black History Made with StoryChimes™ launch of Wiggles Press at Apples iTunes

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America (Free-Press-Release.com) February 19, 2011 -- Today everyone around the world can download a multicultural book from Wiggles Press with the launch made possible by StoryChimes™ a division of Siena Entertainment Los Angeles, California.

Two years ago this newly widowed mother of three was laid-off from Converse Inc after a downsizing by its parent company Nike. She had no idea that the poem written while waiting to be interviewed would eventually be a book or that her experience in marketing would lead her to launch a publishing company with the income she had from her husbands Social Security benefits.

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Black History Made with StoryChimes™ launch of Wiggles Press at Apples iTunes

Welcome visit Our WebSite:

http://wigglespress.com/Storychimes.html

Publisher Rochelle O’Neal Thorpe graduated from Emerson College with Master of Arts in Integrated Marketing Communications and within months she lost her husband, Writer Richard Thorpe to leukemia. With two children heading to college, a toddler under the age of 2, and surmounting student loans, she tried her hand at several jobs to realize her desire to reestablish her career as a Marketing Executive; however that was hard to juggle in a down spiraling economy. In fact, just when she thought things had turned around after landing a temp to perm position at Converse, Nike announced layoffs.

Undaunted by it all she decided to find an artist to illustrate the story “My Favorite Shoes,” which she wrote while waiting for the Converse staff to interview her. Surrounded by new shoes and a larger than life-size portrait of Dr. J, her husband’s favorite basketball player back in the day, she was inspired to write a rhythmic story about why she loved sneakers.

Artist Robert W. Murrell, Jr. created beautiful illustrations of two urban sisters who run to the playground after changing into their favorite shoes and truly brought the story to life.

Rochelle dreamed of finding a publisher for her story, but without success she investigated self-publishing and that is when she realized her experience working for dotcom startups and designing collateral would be a great asset to her in publishing.

Soon she not only was publishing her own book, but had clients including renowned Boston Civil Rights Leader Mel King. She landed a publisher for Mel King and lots of media coverage for Streets, a Poem Book about Urban Communities. Mel was even covered by Boston Magazine and given the Harriet Tubman Award for his lifetime of service to his South End Community by the United South End Settlements.

When things with Sweeties Books, the publisher of Mel King’s book became perplexed, Rochelle began to resolve the many issues independent of the publisher; that’s when she realized that she had what it took to launch a boutique publishing house right from her living room.

Right as she established Wiggles Press Mel King sent author Robert Peters her way. Da Goodie Monsta was published and sold over 500 copies within three months, which for a first time author is great!

Now Rochelle O’Neal Thorpe has successfully published 25 authors in print, both paperback and hardcover.

As the second year at Wiggles Press approached, Rochelle began dreaming of taking books into cyberspace.

“Anything is imaginable, but it is great people like Nick, Justin, and Keith of StoryChimes who make it possible to achieve.”

- Rochelle O’Neal Thorpe, Publisher, Wiggles Press


In December 2010 StoryChimes took a trip to the East Coast to meet with several publishers to find prospects for their iTunes App and she decided to seal the deal.

Since then both teams have been very hard at work making this historical step possible!

The initial launch includes nine 2010 storybook releases:

1. I Saw Wild Parrots in New York City, George Sommers
2. My Favorite Shoes, Rochelle O’Neal Thorpe
3. Don’t Play Catch with Jelly, George Jack and Jennifer Rackley
4. Tyler and the Spider, Melinda Lancaster

5. The Moon Creeper, Monique Howard
6. There’s No Mouse in My New House, Jean Smith Andrews
7. Metal Mike, Larry Richardson
8. Perfect Pet, Donald Cantor and Michael Cantor
9. Gabe’s Nantucket Adventure; Daffodil, Dogs, and Cars

In Spring and Summer 2011 these books will follow:

Animal of the year, Donald Cantor and Michael Cantor
Can I Still Be President, Magnolia Walker
Flowers, Cynthia Davis
Presents for Phoebe, Paul Rhode
The Little Plum Tree, Sarah Wallas Reidy
The Tales of Teacups, Rochelle O’Neal Thorpe

Books that have been released in Chinese, Japanese, French and Spanish will soon follow.

Le Petit Prunier (French/ The Little Plum Tree), Sarah Wallas Reidy
Miguel Metalico (Spanish – Metal Mike), Larry Richardson
The Tales of Teacups (Japanese), Rochelle O’Neal Thorpe
The Tales of Teacups (Mandarin Chinese), Rochelle O’Neal Thorpe


Lastly, the story that started it all "My Favorite Shoes," is now a free download at iTunes - Imagine that!

About Wiggles Press

Wiggles Press was founded in March 2009; the collaborative publishing house aims to provide multicultural storybooks for the hands of little. In 2010, Wiggles Press grew its authorship from twelve to twenty five new authors with a promising catalog for 2011.

Founder and Publisher, Rochelle O’Neal Thorpe is a graduate of Emerson College with a Master of Arts in Integrated Marketing Communications and the University of Massachusetts, Isenberg School of Management, Bachelor of Business Administration.

URL: wigglespress.com


About StoryChimes

StoryChimes™ are interactive children's stories available for the iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch accessible exclusively through Apple’s iTunes App Store. These fun and educational stories are brought to life by great narration, music and more! StoryChimes are fun for children as well as parents, who remember the books of yesteryear that prompted you to turn the page "when you hear the chime."


Contact:


Janine Lewis
janine@sienaentertainment.com
(480) 227-0053
Director, Client Relations

More information can be found online at http://wigglespress.com/Storychimes.html

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