Would You Read It Wednesday – The 45th Pitch Plus Several Tidbits :)

I have lots to share today, but I’ll try to be brief 🙂

First, I’m so glad everyone enjoyed Joanna’s post.  It was terrific, wasn’t it?  Let’s all give her a round of applause by way of thanks! 🙂  clapclapclapclapclapclapclap!  Also, I don’t think a shower of confetti is out of line 🙂

Second, I am SO excited for the self-publishing mini-series!  This is because I get to read everything coming in ahead of time, so I already know how great it’s going to be and I just can’t wait to share it with you all! 🙂

Third, in the midst of all the busy-ness around here, it had slipped my mind that we were going to have a guest post with the one and only Erin Molta where she answers questions sent in by you!  Luckily she sent me the answers yesterday, which reminded me 🙂  Due to the fabulous mini-series, I don’t have room to fit that post into June unless you all want to turn on your computers on the weekend, so I think that post will go up on Monday July 9.  Mark your calendars! – it’s great!

Fourth, in case you hadn’t realized it yet, I’m just a little bit nuts 🙂  This is obvious because, in the midst of all the afore-mentioned busy-ness, I’ve decided it’s necessary to work on a new secret project which turns out to be very time-consuming.  More on that if and when I succeed with it, but don’t hold your breath 🙂

Speaking of which, I’m a little out of breath after telling you all that!

But now it’s time for Would You Read It, so make sure your Something Chocolate is handy and have a look-see at what we’ve got here.

Today’s pitch comes to us from the Habitual Rhymer herself, Lori Degman!  Lori teaches deaf/hard of hearing children by day and writes picture books by night, weekend and school holidays.  Her picture book 1 Zany Zoo was the winner of the 2008 Cheerios New Author Contest and was published by Simon & Schuster in 2010.  It received the Gold-Level Mother’s Choice Award in 2012 and has been nominated for the 2012-2013 South Carolina Book Award.

You can find her in all these places!

Here is her pitch:

Working Title:  These Little Piggies
Age/Genre: Rhyming Picture Book (ages 4-8)
The Pitch:  In this Mother Goose mash-up, five little piggies are living happily in a shoe until a callous old woman forces her way in and turns their lives head over tails.  The piggies decide to set a trap for the old woman so, the first little piggy goes to market… the second little piggy stays home…  Will they succeed in giving the old coot the boot?

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 Lori 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.  There are openings in August, so you have time to polish 🙂 for a chance for it to be read by editor Erin Molta!
Lori is looking forward to your thoughts on her pitch!  And I am looking forward to seeing you all on Friday for the first up in our self-publsihing mini-series, Suzanne McGovern! 🙂

99 thoughts on “Would You Read It Wednesday – The 45th Pitch Plus Several Tidbits :)”

  1. This Kid Reviews Bks says:
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    Unknown's avatar

    Wow. That is a lot! I can't wait! Congrats! I can't wait to see what it is!
    Onto the pitch – I LOVE this! I really like fractured fairytales and there are a lot of them out there, but nursery rhymes have barely been fractured or mixed up like this (hee hee). These Little Piggies! I would love to read it! 🙂

  2. Joanna Marple says:
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    Unknown's avatar

    OH MY GOSH! Yes I absolutely would read it! Great pitch! The humor in the pitch no doubt reflects this funny story!

    Thank you once again for having me post, Susanna, such a privilege to be on your blog *picks confetti out of hair with smile on her face*! And I am VERY excited to learn more about self publishing!

    Oooo, wondering about your new project!

  3. Susanna Leonard Hill says:
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    Unknown's avatar

    Thanks for your comments for Lori, Joanna – I'm sure she'll be pleased 🙂 And thank you for guesting – it was very fun! I'm not sure my new project will be very interesting to you since you are a published author, but it is interesting to me! 🙂

  5. Ldegman says:
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    Susanna, I thought I was busy – I'm pooped just reading your post!! Can't wait to hear about your project!

    Thanks so much for letting me pitch my story!!

  7. sharon stanley says:
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    Oh yeah! Why wouldn't want to read this one? Lori, your pitch piques my interest because I love the idea of an old coot trying to outwit 5 perky piggies….or vice versa. Perfect!

  8. Ldegman says:
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    Thanks, Erik – I love your enthusiasm!! I'm a big fan of fractured fairy tales too – every since The Stinky Cheese Man!

  13. Mindy G. says:
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    I like the idea of mashing the two stories together…and I love the line “giving the old coot the boot!”

    The only thing I'd change is the title. It says nothing about the old woman or the shoe they're living in.

    Yes, I'd read it 🙂

  15. Tina Cho says:
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    Unknown's avatar

    Lori,
    Yes, I'd love to read this book. Sounds very fun. I like fractured fairy tales, and so I'm sure I”ll like fractured nursery rhymes. I like the humor, “head over tails.” Do you already have an interested editor?

    Susanna,
    I'm excited with you about your secret project. Can't wait to find out about it!

  18. Susanna Leonard Hill says:
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    Thanks for your comments for Lori, Tina. I think she should have an interested editor, don't you? 🙂 And the secret project has a LOOONNNGGG way to go and may not turn into anything… we'll just have to see… 🙂

  21. Miranda Paul says:
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    Unknown's avatar

    Great pitch. Hilarious. “coot the boot” won me over (ok, I was already convinced I would read it from “Mother Goose mash-up,” but that phrase takes the cake). Definitely would read!! Great job Lori.

    And good luck with your secret project, Susanna.

    Here's a virtual brownie. **YUM**

  22. Susanna Leonard Hill says:
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    Unknown's avatar

    Thanks for your thoughts, Miranda! I love that line too. And brownies – yum! I'm cheating. As we speak I'm just getting around to breakfast – a bowl of raspberries and blueberries with a few cheerios thrown in and not a speck of chocolate in sight 🙂

  23. Vivian Kirkfield says:
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    Unknown's avatar

    YES! I would definitely read it…congrats, Lori, on hooking us with the humor. 😉 So creative! But I'm confused, Susanna, I thought questions in a pitch were a no-no…I actually love them, but somewhere I remember reading not to do it. Looking forward to the mini-series and anything else you decide to “dish” out…especially the chocolate!

  24. Susanna Leonard Hill says:
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    I've heard that too, Vivian, but I think questions in the pitch is one of those vague areas. I guess, given editor comments, I'd try to avoid it, but sometimes maybe it works better. There are apparently exceptions to every rule 🙂 Now. Here is a lovely dish of chocolate mousse with fresh raspberries on top just for you! 🙂

  25. Margaret Greanias says:
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    Unknown's avatar

    I love the mashups and I would definitely read this. I love “head over tails” and “coot the boot.” This looks like a really fun story.

  30. Ldegman says:
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    Unknown's avatar

    Do you think it would make the pitch too long if I add what they go for? Or, I could just mention the first little piggy including the detail and not mention the second. What do you think? Thanks for the help!

  33. Ldegman says:
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    Thanks so much, Tina! This is still a WIP but I'm bringing it to a writer's retreat this weekend and hope to finish the edits!

  41. Penny Klostermann says:
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    Unknown's avatar

    I would read it for sure. I love your pitch, Lori!

    Susanna-You have so much in store for us that I'm thinking about dancing on my table as I eat my chocolate!!!

  49. Brenda says:
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    I would love to read the story. I love fragmented fairy tales. The pitch seems to need a touch of work. The first sentence is perfect. The second sentence is not as concise. It seems to need better word choice. Sorry, I know almost everyone thinks it's great as it is. In any case, the pitch has captured my imagination. 🙂