Do you know what time it is?
It’s time for Would You Read It Wednesday!
Come on down, everybody!
There are still a few seats in the front row.
Don’t worry. I won’t call on you unless your hand is raised 🙂
Okey dokey! First, it is my pleasure to announce the winner of the August Pitch Pick and that is
Congratulations, Lisa! Your pitch is already on its way to editor Erin Molta for her thoughts! And congratulations to all our brave pitchers. You all did a wonderful job! And thank you to all our stalwart voters without whom a winner would not be possible. You are all lovely! 🙂
Speaking of snacks…
Oh. We weren’t?
Well, we are now 🙂
So, speaking of snacks, today, thanks to the lovely Kathy, we have the perfect Something Chocolate! Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars! Allow me to wax poetic about their many virtues:
1. Plenty of chocolate (obviously!) which, as I keep reminding you, is a vegetable since it is derived from a bean. = Health Food!
2. Plenty of peanut butter, which is an excellent source of protein, so important for fueling our brains for a long day of writing.
3. People often refer to peanut butter as PB (as in PB&J) and here we are in the world of picture books – also PBs!!! Coincidence????? I don’t THINK so!
Let’s eat some and see if we all have an amazing-better-than-usual-brilliantly-productive PB writing day!
Now that our mouths are all full (glass of milk anyone?) today’s pitch comes to us from Donna. Donna is the author/illustrator of children’s picture book, LUCCI- THE NO SMOOCHIE POOCHIE. She loves kids, books and animals, but most of all, kids’ books about animals. She lives, writes, and pursues learning the craft out in beautiful Central Texas Hill Country with a husband and a menagerie. You can find her online at:
Working Title: The Light Bulb And The Lab Coat
Age/Genre: Picture Book (ages 8-12)
The Pitch: What if a bird building her nest was responsible for Thomas Edison’s first successful light bulb? My story finds Edison and his associates up against the clock and investors’ expectations to deliver an incandescent bulb, capable of bringing safe, economical light to homes. Mr. Edison befriends an orphan robin by providing it a home in his lab, and the robin, in turn, provides the inventor companionship, inspiration and the answer to his quest. The Light Bulb and the Lab Coat, intended for ages 8 – 12, combines a small ‘element’ of fiction with factual information to elicit a child’s sense of wonder, and what could be a complex process becomes a fun read.
So what do you think? Would You Read It? YES, MAYBE or NO?
Donna is looking forward to your thoughts on her pitch! I am looking forward to announcing a writing contest pretty soon… Maybe next week! 🙂
Alrighty folks. That’s it for today’s show. Please tune in Friday, same bat time, same bat station!
Have a wonderful Wednesday! 🙂
Susanna Leonard Hill 
Thanks for chiming in for Donna, Coleen! And help yourself to as many Chocolate PB bars as you like 🙂
Great advice, Stacy, thanks! And help yourself to another choc and pb bar 🙂
I'm traveling, but so hooked on reading pitches and having something chocolate on Wednesdays that I had to drop by and check out the goings on. I'm having the chocolate peanut butter bars for a bedtime snack.
Congrats to Lisa.
I love the title of your story and agree that the pitch needs to be shortened. You have so many excellent comments on strengthening your pitch that I can't think of anything to add. I would definitely read your book.
Of course, Donna! 😉
Mom taught me to share all too well…so occasionally I like to play rebellious daughter. 😉
Donna- sounds like a great story, and I would read it. The title doesn't mesh with the pitch though – where's the robin? For the pitch, I'd say aim for tighter. Suggestions:
Edison is up against the clock and investors' expectations to invent an incandescent bulb, capable of bringing safe, economical light to homes. When Mr. Edison provides an orphan robin a home in his lab, the robin inspires the answer to his quest.
I'm not sure what the right way to say “non-fiction with narrative story arc” is. I'll have to scroll through the comments to see if someone has the answer to that!
Thanks for your very helpful suggestions for Donna, Lauri!
Thanks so much for stopping by to help Donna, Penny, even though you are traveling! That is dedication! Have another chocolate peanut butter bar as a reward and enjoy your travels! 🙂
Alrighty. Well I've got my eye on you. And the ECP is near to hand just in case! 🙂
You run a tight ship, Ms Susanna! =D
Love the story idea. I know others have commented about ways to tighten the pitch.I heard both an agent and an editor at Albert Whitman say they are interested in these types of stories. Good luck.
Ooh! That's encouraging! Thanks, Stacy 🙂