Would You Read It Wednesday #92 – The Cat Who Lived In The Flowerpot (PB) AND The May Pitch Pick!

Happy Wednesday, Everyone!  I hope you are all having an excellent week so far!

We’ve got two things on the agenda today – the May Pitch Pick and today’s Would You Read It.  Luckily, we’ve got something delicious and chocolatey to fortify us 🙂

Yum!  Chocolate Cream Pie! 🙂

Please help yourselves to as many slices as necessary to fuel you for the morning 🙂

Now then.  Let’s start with the May Pitch Pick.  We had 5 terrific pitches.  The pitchers all took your generous counsel to heart and have revised their original offerings.  Please read the pitches below and then vote for the one you feel deserves a read by editor Erin Molta!

#1. Jesse
Daydreamer (YA/Sci-Fi)
Dr. Edwin Wallace has found the answer to one of science’s great mysteries – deja vu, revealing a clue to his visions. But as they fade with age, could the exceptionally gifted 17 year old Jackson Cooper unlock the answer to harness their premonitions for the good of mankind? When Jackson is taken by a secret military agency, he will need to rely on the bond of new found friends to help him fight his way back home.

#2. James
Story Bored (MG)

The narrator has a problem. Too many of the stories on his bookshelf have changed. Humpty Dumpty is not on his wall but in a recipe for chocolate cake. The old lady who lives in a shoe is now the old lady who lives in nice cozy house with a big screen TV. And the tortoise is missing. The hare has nobody to race against. But those problems are not as important as the narrator’s major concern. Where is the 8 year old writer who made all those story changes?
The narrator sighed ‘why are books so complicated?’


#3. Rita
Nobody Loves Roberto A. Tailbottom (PB)

Robbie Tailbottom is concerned only about his next meal, but when he finds out that other animals are in trouble this rat becomes a hero.

#4. Kimberly
Bonjour, Remy! (PB)
Six-year-old Remy loves adventure—just so long as it never leaves the garden. So she hesitates when her parents surprise her with a trip to Paris. How can she leave all of her favorite things? It might take some convincing, but if Remy will leap into the new and wonderful Parisian culture she might just learn that beauty and her favorite things can be found in many places. They just might have different names.

#5. Sian
The Word Thief (PB)
Benedict the Vampire likes nothing more than snacking on a tasty noun.  He’s on a rampage, gobbling up ‘words, whispers, songs and shouts’ until the city is silent.  Who can stop him?  Something furry lurking in the sewer could have the answer….

Please cast your vote for your favorite pitch by Saturday June 15 at 11:59PM EDT.


Now, onto today’s pitch which comes to us from the lovely Heather who says, “When people used to ask me what I wanted to be when I grew up I answered, “A children’s book author and illustrator.”  As I grew older I thought that was too unrealistic so I majored in sociology and started working for a small business.  However, I recently decided to chase that childhood dream, and started writing!  Hopefully this dream comes true!”  

(And I just have to sneak in with my 2 cents and say I think she’s well on her way 🙂  She wrote a terrific entry for the In Just Spring Contest, and if you go to her blog you’ll get to see some of her fabulous art… including a picture of the cat who lived in the flowerpot :))

Here is her pitch:

Working Title: The Cat Who Lived In The Flowerpot
Age/Genre: Picture Book (ages 3-7)
The Pitch: Tristan the cat lives in the flowerpot between apartments 7 and 8.  He loves his human neighbors and they love him.  There was just one problem.  NO PETS ALLOWED!  One day the strict landlady swings by for a surprise visit and discovers Tristan.  He finds himself in danger of losing his flowerpot home and the neighbors he loves.

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 Heather 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 July so we’re about ready for some new pitches!  Send yours for your chance to be read by editor Erin Molta!

Heather is looking forward to your thoughts on her pitch!  I am looking forward to seeing who wins the May Pitch Pick.  I have a feeling it’s going to be another tight race!

Have a wonderful day, everyone! 🙂

80 thoughts on “Would You Read It Wednesday #92 – The Cat Who Lived In The Flowerpot (PB) AND The May Pitch Pick!”

  1. PamBrunskill says:
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    Unknown's avatar

    Yummy pie, Susanna.

    The pitch sounds so sweet, Heather! Yes, I would read it. The only thing I would change is the tense in the third sentence. It should read, “There's (or There is) just one problem” to be consistent with the other tenses in your pitch. Good luck!

  5. aliciafinnnoack.com says:
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    Unknown's avatar

    I would totally read it. That landlady better fall in love with him and let him stay — look at that, it seems I had an emotional reaction, so that's good (right?). I really love the idea of a flowerpot home.

  8. Teresa Robeson says:
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    Unknown's avatar

    Oooh, you read my mind again, Susanna! I have a pie crust in the fridge that I was wondering what to do with (hubby was going to make quiche but changed his mind), and now I know I'll make chocolate cream pie with it!

    I sure would read Heather's story. I think it sounds adorable! My only nit-pick is that from the rest of the pitch, it sounds like a world where cat and humans co-exist as equals…that is, Tristan is neighbors with the humans…but the line about pets throws things off kilter since it was obvious from the start that Tristan was nobody's pet.

    I don't know if the word “squatter” would be too big a word for little ones, but maybe the landlady's stance is that Tristan can't be there because he's not paying rent rather than that he's a pet? Hmmm.

    Love it otherwise!

  9. Robyn Campbell says:
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    Unknown's avatar

    Sus, SAVE THE CAT! (Oh yeah. That's another book.) *wink*

    Heather, I would definitely read this. How adorable. A story all kids can relate to. I agree with Pam, but the pitch is totally sound otherwise. Super job!

    Holds humongous plate out with giant sized fork. *nom* *nom*

    I voted. Do I get a sticker? 😉

  11. nrhatch says:
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    Unknown's avatar

    Yes . . . here's hoping that Tristan is the EXCEPTION to the NO PETS ALLOWED rule.

    And thanks for the pie. YUMMY.

  12. Catherine says:
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    Unknown's avatar

    What a great pitch and story. There's an obvious problem and I'm intrigued how it pans out. So cute too in a flower pot, well done Heather.
    Thanks for the pie!

  13. Julie Rowan-Zoch says:
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    Unknown's avatar

    Mad – my first comment evaporated! Yes, I would, but I'd tighten a bit:

    Tristan the cat lives in the flowerpot between apartments 7 and 8. He loves his neighbors and they love him. There was just one problem. NO PETS ALLOWED! When the strict landlady swings by for a surprise visit he finds himself in danger of losing his home and the neighbors he loves.

  14. Wendy Greenley says:
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    Unknown's avatar

    I would read (and eat pie!) Maybe just tighten the last two lines and combine?

    One day the strict landlady swings by for a surprise visit and Tristan finds himself in danger of losing his flowerpot home and
    the neighbors he loves.

  15. delores @ thefeatherednest says:
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    Unknown's avatar

    Strictly speaking, if Tristan has his own home in a flowerpot he's not a pet….yes, I would read it because I want to know what happens to Tristan.

  21. Susanna Leonard Hill says:
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    Unknown's avatar

    I LOVE Save The Cat! Thanks for your input for Heather, Rob, and glad you're enjoying the pie. I don't have any stickers handy, but here's a smooch for you MWAH! Now. Get to work on your 4th of July story 🙂

  32. Sian says:
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    Unknown's avatar

    Yes, I'd read it. I agree with Wendy about combining the last two sentences but other than that I think it sounds great!

  33. Heather Dent says:
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    Unknown's avatar

    That's a good point Teresa. I address the fact that Tristan is not technically a pet later in the book. Do you think I need to address this point in the pitch?

    Your comment about using the word “squatter” for Tristan made me laugh. Tristan the squatter lived in the flower pot between apartments 7 & 8. It would put a rather humorous twist on the story wouldn't it?

    Thanks for your feedback. I truly appreciate it.

  41. Heather Dent says:
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    Unknown's avatar

    True enough! I actually address the fact that he is not technically a pet later on in the book. Thanks for the feedback!

  43. Vivian Kirkfield says:
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    Unknown's avatar

    Voted! All the stories sound intriguing…but I felt one pitch was right and tight.:) Thanks, Susanna, for the Chocolate Cream Pie…how did you know that is my ABSOLUTE favorite pie?

    And I would definitely read Heather's story…love the pitch! Love your illustration! Love the idea of a cat living in a flowerpot! And so glad decided to make writing and illustrating your career! Heather, if you want to tighten it up just a little, maybe you could combine it a little.
    Tristan the cat lives in a flowerpot between apartments 7 and 8 in a complex where there are NO PETS ALLOWED! When the strict landlady discovers Tristan, he finds he is in danger of losing his flowerpot home and the neighbors he loves.

  44. Heather Dent says:
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    Unknown's avatar

    Thank you for you thoughtful comments and words of encouragement Vivian. I agree the pitch would sound better if it were tightened up a little. Thanks for the feedback!

  47. Stacy Couch says:
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    Unknown's avatar

    So many good pitches. Kudos to all the writers. Tough vote!

    Sure, I'd read it. Any kid would want to take in Tristan. My 3-sentence suggestion: “Tristan the cat lives in the flowerpot between apartments 7 and 8. Everybody loves him–except the pet-wary landlady. When she swings by, Tristan…”

    Hmm…though not sure one can make “pet-wary” a word.

  50. Heather Dent says:
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    Unknown's avatar

    That's a good suggestion. I might try something like that. Surely there is a similar word for pet-wary.

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