Golly! I’m so excited my fingers are literally tripping over the key board, so please forgive me if I make a lot of typos! And no, it is not because I am over caffeinated. Or over chocolated. Yet. (Although I do have a cup of coffee and a chocolate croissant near to hand lest I become faint whilst typing :))
First, I have been honored with more awards! The lovely Clar has give me The Sunshine Award and The Kreativ Blogger Award. Thank you so much Clar! As I responded to awards just a week ago, I will refrain from boring you all again, but I did place the awards in my left sidebar with thanks to everyone who gave them to me. And you know my policy with passing awards on – I think you all deserve them, so help yourselves! 🙂 (You can lift them from the sidebar.)
And, this just in, the wonderful Christie at Write Wild has awarded me the Pot ‘O Gold Blogger Award – such a prestigious honor! There are rules about accepting which I’m not going to manage just now because this post is already long and I added this in after I wrote it, but I wanted to acknowledge and thank her for the award and all her kind words! Thank you, Christie! (I’m going to pop the award in the sidebar for now because I’m not posting on it properly but do take a look! – so pretty!)
Next, I want to update you on Phyllis’s World Tour.
WOW is she having a blast! She has already been to The Golden State With Kirsten, The Sunshine State With Kelly, and The Lone Star State With Natalie, and has arrived at Pam Courtney’s young literacy programs in The Peach Tree State! Last I heard she was headed for The Show Me State as well as back to The Golden State. (Bonus points to anyone who can identify the states by their nicknames. There will be a quiz on April 1st :))
You can follow all her travels with photos and weather reports on her new special tab above: Phyllis’s World Tour. But for your extra convenience here’s a little sneak peek:
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| Here she is, lounging in what the locals refer to as “some sort of palm tree” – I believe that is a botanical term 🙂 |
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| And here she is modeling her sombrero, which I have a sneaking suspicion she plans never to take off! Ever! |
Thanks to everyone who has hosted her so far. I hope she has been behaving herself!
Now, before we get to Would You Read It, I have a surprise for you! Actually, it was a surprise for me, too! Yesterday afternoon, I opened an email from the lovely Donna Farrell (you all remember her from her interview, right? My multi-talented web designer?) Well!
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| illustrations copyright Jeff Ebbeler badge designed by Donna Farrell |
Is this a thing of complete beauty and awesomeness or what???!!! And I didn’t even ask her (although I had been thinking about making a badge and who I should ask to design it.) Apparently, in addition to her creative talents, she is also a mind reader 🙂 I love this so much I want to make stickers… and bookmarks… and car magnets… maybe a billboard in Times Square 🙂
Anyway, I will be plastering it anywhere I can possibly get away with it, including but not limited to my blog sidebar and the Phyllis World Tour page and FB and maybe a huge one for my living room and perhaps a flag on Blueberry Hill, and you are all welcome to share it too! But would you kindly do me a favor if you use it and mention that the illustrations copyright is to Jeff Ebbeler and the badge was designed by Donna Farrell? Because they deserve the credit!
You have NO IDEA how hard it was for me not to post this on FB the second I got it. I hope you’re all admiring my self-restraint 🙂 I think it’s so incredibly perfect! (The badge, I mean, not my self-restraint!) (You probably couldn’t tell that from the amount of gushing :))
Okay. Now we have to get down to business. Sorry, Miranda for keeping you waiting! It’s time for Would You Read It, and this week’s post is from the wonderful Miranda who has just returned from The Gambia! Miranda Paul is an author who began her career studying aquatic biology and other oddities. Now a mother, picture book writer, and editor, she splits her time between getting splashed by her kids, wading through revision, and drowning in submissions at Rate Your Story. Read more at: Miranda’s Website and Miranda’s Blog.
Here is her pitch:
Working Title: Reef Stew
Age/Genre: Rhyming Picture Book ages 4-8
The Pitch: When a shipwreck destroys their reef, the shellfish grow selfish and every creature’s a crab. Can Whale stir up happiness with a single piece of stony coral? Filled with slurps, burps, and spicy sargassum, this quirky version of a classic tale will send ripples of laughter through any school of young guppies.
Miranda is looking forward to your thoughts on her pitch!
And please stay tuned for more exciting updates from Phyllis! 🙂
Susanna Leonard Hill 
Thanks, Coleen! I'm glad you like it!
The pitch had me at spicy sargassum! And can I get a PWT badge to post when she gets here?
The pitch had me at spicy sargassum! And can I get a PWT badge to post when she gets to the Centennial State?
Julie, you are a stop on the tour! Of course you may have the badge whenever you'd like it!
Thank you, Jen 🙂
That's a fun sounding pitch. A great punctuation mark to a fun post. I've been reading about Phyllis' adventures. And, I love the idea of a passport mentioned in other comments. A cool idea.
Wow, everyone – thanks for the awesome motivation about my pitch! Let's hope agents and editors like it (and the story) as much as you all did since this story is definitely one that I'm planning to shop around soon. And yes, to answer your question Margaret – you got it – a saltwater spin on stone soup. 🙂 🙂
Thanks, Stacy! 🙂
Such a good idea! 🙂
I love the badge and I think the idea of sending Phyllis on a world tour is genius. As for the pitch, I'm sorry to disagree with most of your followers and I do like the idea of the picture book but I can't help wondering if the pitch is a bit too gimmicky. It's very clever use of language but is it accurately conveying the content of the story?
Thanks so much for your kind enthusiasm about the tour and the badge, Rosalind! I can't remember where in the UK you live? Would you like a visitor? I may be sending a book that way and would LOVE someone in Scotland, Ireland or Wales to host my marmot friend! And thanks for your comment for Miranda!
I love the badge. You could have it painted on the outside of your house. It would make a great mural. 😀
Susanna – I love the badge, it is adorable. Can't wait to use it when Phyllis comes to visit Silicon Valley. She is going to be getting an educational high-tech tour. 😉
Miranda- Yes, I would read this. I like your use of alliteration it gives a great sense of your writing style. The pitch seems a little long. I am bit stumped as what to say about the last line. I like that you mention that it is a quirky version of a classic tale (though I must admit I am not sure what story you are referring to, but that could just be me). However, the part where you say “will send ripples … ” is cute but it feels a bit presumptuous. I haven't reviewed that many pitches, I could very well be wrong. That was just the feeling it left me with. I am sure your story has a lot of heart, would like to see that come through in the pitch, with your fun writing style. Good luck. I look forward to reading it.
Excellent idea, Stina! I know just the spot 🙂
You may take the badge whenever you like, Darshana 🙂 And that sounds like a fun and different time for Phyllis!!
LOVE the badge! Wow, Donna is talented. 🙂
And yes, I would read Reef Stew. I'll be honest, the title might make me think twice, but her clever plays on words in the pitch would make me want to read it. I did like that you mentioned the classic tale because it made me want to find out which one. I don't recognize it from the pitch (which may be a turn off to some). I also might suggest changing the question to a statement. I've heard may editors/agents share words on that subject, but there you have to go with your gut.
Best of luck with this!
Isn't she just? I couldn't have imagined anything more perfect! And thanks for your comments for Miranda 🙂
I didn't want to get lost in your ever multiplying sea of Phyllis fans…;0)
First, Miranda's pitch – Yes, I would read it. The pitch is witty and just too cute. When it comes to the pitch, I'm not sure, so please don't hold me to this, but I'm not sure if possible reader reaction should be included, though I must admit the way you include it is done swimmingly (sorry, couldn't help myself)
Susanna – I'm sure Phyllis is behaving just fine as she travels from state to state. And you may be quite right, the sombrero may never come off now. I also love that badge. How blessedly wonderful of her to do it.
I certainly like books with funny sounds because my kids love to hear those stories over and over. But I do tire so much of rhyming books. So I'm torn about would I read it or not. If the funny words are fun enough, then yes.
I could never lose you 🙂
tkd2lady wrote, in response to Susanna Leonard Hill:
I didn't want to get lost in your ever multiplying sea of Phyllis fans…;0)
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The boots are pretty awesome too! Did you see those? And yes, Donna is the best!!!
Thanks so much for your comments, Laura!
Oh, goodness. I missed the boots. Gonna check it out 🙂
You will LOVE them and want some of your own 🙂
Angela Brown wrote, in response to Susanna Leonard Hill:
Oh, goodness. I missed the boots. Gonna check it out 🙂
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hi miss susanna and miss miranda! i love anything thats about the sea so for sure id read this book. i gotta tell you before i read the pitch the title scared me some cause it made me think yikes someones gonna cook up my friends in the sea. ack! but the pitch was real cool and it make me laugh so i knew my friends are safe. and its cool that whales gonna make them go from crabby to happy. 🙂 i love love love miss phyliss badge! its the coolest badge ever. wow shes been doing lots of traveling. i got that badge up already on my side bar even before im doing this comment. maybe shes gonna come visit me and my coonies and squirrels. 🙂
…smiles from lenny
Hi Lenny – I think Phyllis would like a visit with the coons and squirrels! I'm glad you like the badge – I LOVE it!!! 🙂
Miranda, yes, I recognized the Stone Soup connection. And translating this into a sea story is cool. All things ocean I love and would read this based on the pitch.
It seems a little long, but I am NOT the person to criticize wordiness. I fight it constantly. Don't know how you could trim it down, but it did make me want to read the tale.
Great tour badge for Phyllis, Susanna. What talented art and design, Jeff and Donna!
Glad you like it, Damon!