Wow! There is so much fun stuff going on it’s hard to keep track!
First off, thank you all for your enthusiastic response to Oh Susanna! I’ve already got a couple questions, so I’ll probably post the first episode of that feature on Monday. Lest the first also be the last, though, please send more questions 🙂
Second, guess what I get to do today? Interview the talented author/illustrator Michael Garland – in person! – so that I can share the interview with you on Sunday!!! I know. I said the author interviews this year were going to be the 3rd Sunday of the month. But January started on a Sunday so that one doesn’t count! I hope you’ll all tune in this Sunday January 22. I’m sure Michael will have lots of wonderful things to share, and I will do a book giveaway in conjunction with the interview. I think something along the lines of comment on which Michael Garland book you love most or would most like to own and why… But maybe I’ll think up something to make it more challenging… 🙂 I am open to suggestions… what do you think would be fun?
Third, (see, I TOLD you there was all kinds of fun stuff going on!) I am going to be hosting an event for the Ossining Open Door facility of Reach Out And Read on February 22. Look at this totally cool poster:
And for our Spanish-speaking audience (which alas is not me!)…
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sorry the bottoms got cut off – I had a terrible time uploading these!
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How cool is that?!
Reach Out And Read seeks to get books into the hands of children ages 2-5 who otherwise wouldn’t have any. In conjunction with this event, we are trying to get as many donations of my books as possible to give away for free to the kids that attend. If you’d be interested in donating a copy of Can’t Sleep Without Sheep, Punxsutawney Phyllis, April Fool, Phyllis, Not Yet, Rose, Airplane Flight or Freight Train Trip, you can order from Merritt Bookstore at (845) 677-5857. Tell them the book is for Susanna Hill’s Reach Out And Read event and you will get a 20% discount and no tax on your purchase of the books for Reach Out And Read. Open Door will collect the books on February 1st for inventory and transport, so if you’re interested, please call before February 1.
And now, finally, grab your chocolate and get ready for Would You Read It!
This week’s pitch comes to us from Margaret. (Her blog is just getting started, so hop on over and make her feel welcome to our writing community!) Margaret is from the Silicon Valley and is a full-time SAHM of 2 young children (SAHM is mom blogger speak for Stay-At-Home-Mom.) She is also a budding entrepreneur and picture book writer. Like all of us, she is looking for a formula to stretch time so if you find one… 🙂
Here is her pitch:
Working Title: Home Is Where The Bird Is
Age/Genre: Picture Book
The Pitch: Bird thought he found his perfect birdhouse – until he encountered the mouse living inside. After a feather-raising experience house hunting on his own, Bird asks Mouse for help. Mouse leads Bird on a hilarious tour of unconventional housing options. As winter looms, will Bird accept anything but his perfect birdhouse?
So what do you think? Would You Read It? YES, MAYBE or NO?
If your answer is YES, please feel free to tell us what you particularly liked and why the pitch piqued your interest. If your answer is MAYBE or NO, please feel free to tell us what you think could be better in the spirit of helping Margaret improve her pitch. Helpful examples of possible alternate wordings are welcome. (However, I must ask that comments be constructive and respectful. I reserve the right not to publish comments that are mean because that is not what this is about.)
Please send YOUR pitches for the coming weeks! For rules and where to submit, click on this link Would You Read It or on the Would You Read It tab in the bar above. Pitches are currently queued through March 7, but there are lots of openings after that, so send your pitch for a chance to be read by editor Erin Molta!
Margaret is looking forward to your thoughts on her pitch!
Please join us Friday for Perfect Picture Books! I have such a wonderful book to share that I can barely wait to tell you what it is… but I will 🙂 See you Friday!
Susanna Leonard Hill 
Yes, I would read it. I love the pitch and can just imagine the houses they check out!
Hi Hannah, thanks for your feedback. You gave me some great suggestions to start with…I'll play around with them. 🙂
Thanks Penny. I see what you mean about potentially having two stories there. I actually don't spend that much time on the feather-raising adventure in the story — perhaps it's best to leave it out of the pitch.
Thanks Jennifer! I appreciate the feedback!
Yes I would read it! I love the title and the premise. Great job!
Thanks for the reminder about buying your books for Reach Out & Read because of course I forgot! Will do tomorrow!!
I'm late to the party again. I may try unsubscribing, and then subscribing again in the early morning, and see if that helps.
Anyway, I would definitely read it. I concur with Penny Klosterman that perhaps the search Bird does on his own needn't be in the pitch.
I hate to lose the “feather-raising experiences” though. What about something like “After a long search, Bird finds the perfect house, but it's already occupied by Mouse. When Bird asks Mouse for help, Mouse leads him on a feather-raising tour of unconventional housing options. Will Bird find just the right house before winter?”
Thanks Julie!
Thanks for the suggestions, Beth. I'm going to keep playing with the pitch and see if I can shorten and keep the words that people liked here today. 🙂
I wouldn't read this book because it's not my kind of read. HOWEVER, I love the pitch. 🙂 It's intriguing, unambiguous, and just plain great!
It's the type of book my 4-year-old could convince me to read at least once without me feeling like I'm forced into a major chore.
That pitch and story sound awesome, I'm in!
Your interview surprise is super! Let the fun begin.
Those posters look adorable, best of luck with that great project. You are a busy bee!
You're so sweet, Julie! Thank you so much!
I'm sorry, Beth. I don't know how to fix that. I have the same problem with Joanna's posts, and Peggy's and a bunch of other people – I'm always the last to comment because I get the notification so late. Please let me know if you figure it out. Maybe I'll try asking on the FB groups – Melissa seems to know a lot! 🙂
Yes, I AM a busy bee. I wasn't everyone to call me that :)I really enjoyed interviewing Michael yesterday, and I asked him YOUR question! 🙂 So stay tuned…
Pitch sounds interesting to me! I am already envisioning cute illustrations 😉
Looking forward to the interview!
Thanks, Coleen! 🙂
Thanks Reena!
Thanks Catherine!
Thanks Coleen! I hope the story gets illustrations some day!
I would definitely read this! Love the idea and how great would it be in the end if Bird and Mouse decided to be roommates? I love the expression “feather raising.” I can see it!
Love the pitch! As someone who recently navigated the real estate market in NYC to find my place I am truly intrigued by what mouse and bird encounter. :). You should probably edit to tighten it a bit but I do like it! Well done!
Marcie, Tracy, Reena, Jennifer, Penny, Roasalind, Del, Vicki, Rachel and Vivian – thank you all so much for your helpful comments to Margaret!
Margaret, I would read it. I can just see mouse and bird looking for the perfect house and can imagine what mouse shows him.
What a neat feature, Would You Read It?!
Yes, I would read this. “…unconventional housing options” is what attracts me, but I think the synopsis is pretty good overall.
The title is a bit drab, I'm afraid, but titles are hard and likely to change. Even though I haven't read the story, this idea came to mind based on the little that's conveyed here: If Bird finds other animals living in all the places s/he likes, maybe several animal names can be listed and crossed out before BIRD is finally placed in the phrase.
I feel very silly making a suggestion when I know so little about the story, but there it is. Obviously, Margaret will know best.
Thanks for you comments for Margaret! I'm glad you like the idea of WYRI. Please feel free to send a pitch anytime 🙂
The pitch is interesting and the results could be fun to read and great to look at. Children enjoy unusual ideas and funny ways a story can go so this one would certainly lead them up different paths( or trees!)
The pitch is interesting and the results could be fun to read and great to look at. Children enjoy unusual ideas and the funny ways, a story can go, so this one would certainly lead them up different paths( or trees!) Lots of laughter too.