Happy Wednesday, my friends!
I think I might owe you an apology.
I may have accidentally abused my powers.
You see, on Monday, I posted the contest rules for the Pretty Much World Famous 4th Annual Holiday Contest. If you have read them, you will know that the subject matter is wild weather. I was merely thinking we could have tons of fun with that topic. . .
But here we are, within hours of that posting, and the temperature is 12 degrees in mid-November!
In New York! (not the Buffalo part! where there are already 3 feet of snow with 3 more predicted!) in the semi-civilized part not that far from NYC!
Wild!
Unheard of!
Coincidence?
I’m afraid not.
I’m going to do my best to turn things around by buying a new pair of expensive warm winter boots (Sorel. Model: Women’s Caribou. Color: Cinnamon. Or maybe Slate. Size: 7.5 – or maybe 7 since the reviews say they run large.) That should pretty much guarantee that we won’t get any snow. But of course that will be unusual too… so there we are, back at wild weather!
I’m afraid I’ve caused it coming and going.
You just have to be sooooo careful when you have magical powers! One little moment of inattention, and whoops! you’ve unleashed Winter 2014-2015!
So yeah, sorry about that.
Let me try to distract you with a look at the fabulous pitches from October which await your voting pleasure for the October Pitch Pick.
#1 Tonia – Eat At Antonio’s – PB ages 8+
A strange looking restaurant pops up in a small ho hum farm town offering fine cuisine. A real stir is created as these plain Jane folks can’t swallow much more than meat and potatoes and common sense. The Grand Opening announces a real eating adventure. Once inside, Master Chef Antonio will transform the taste buds that will take them to exotic places with just one bite.
#2 Gail – Me Hungry – PB ages 4-7
#3 Debbie – Exactly Ten Marshmallows – PB ages 4-8 (originally titled Your Friend, Conrad)
Finally, an invitation! According to the instructions, Conrad must bring a sword, a bow and arrows, and … exactly ten marshmallows?! He eagerly sets out for his best friend Fiona’s new home. But his journey quickly becomes complicated by a leaky boat, prickly brambles, and a sweets-loving dragon lurking in the moat. Will Conrad have the wits (and enough marshmallows) to make it to Fiona’s front door?
#4 Michelle – The Zoo Rules – PB ages 4-8
Miss Knaffle and her second graders all just want to have fun at school. But when her students take theiridea of fun too far—conducting a farting symphony during reading time, smuggling coffee beans to the class hamster, and using their desks for a bubblegum sculpture contest—Miss Knaffle decides that only a field trip to the zoo will avert classroom disaster. Once there, the canny teacher enlists irritable zoo animals to her cause. When Fátima tangles with a snake and Mario ends up on the wrong side of a baboon, the students quickly come to appreciate the zoo rules—and their teacher—in a whole new way.
Please vote for the pitch you feel most deserves a read by editor Erin Molta in the poll below by Sunday November 23 at 5 PM EST.
Many thanks!
Now then, since the Mid-Hudson Valley is in the grip of the polar vortex (I know! My fault!) and I am therefore freezing ( I know! Still my fault!), we shall have something warming for our Something Chocolate today… Molten Chocolate Cake!!!
Don’t you feel warmer already just looking at that molten flood of scrumptious chocolate? Plus, we really need the extra calories to keep warm, so it’s actually GOOD for us to eat this 🙂
Now that we’ve averted the danger of freezing AND wasting away into skin and bones, let’s jump into Would You Read It!
Today’s pitch comes to us from Gail, whom you will remember from October with her pitch for Me Hungry. (Um, really you don’t even need to remember since her pitch is above in the October Pitch Pick :)) She says, “Recently, I participated in the Making Picture Book Magic workshop and in the Telling Children Stories in Today’s Market intensive. I’m a member of SCWBI, and hold both a degree in Fine Arts from Wilfrid Laurier University and a diploma in Journalism from Cambrian College. You’re welcome to visit http://gailtalbot.com anytime to learn more.”
Here is her pitch:
Working Title: Knights Of The Kids’ Table
Age/Genre: Picture Book (ages 4-8)
The Pitch: Most of the Knights of the Kids’ Table found Flooted funny. After all, when he got nervous, Flooted tooted. But cranky Hugh couldn’t stand the smell, so he hatched a plan to get rid of Flooted…for good. When Hugh’s scheme flopped, the little knights giggled, the big knights enjoyed silly sword fights, and the grumpy little knight got exactly what he wished for.
So what do you think? Would You Read It? YES, MAYBE or NO?
Gail is looking forward to your thoughts on her pitch! I am looking forward to Spring 🙂
Have a wonderful Wednesday, everyone!!! 🙂
I'm late to the party – and haven't read much below – so just my thoughts. I found “Flooted” off or weird – do you HAVE to give the character a name in the pitch? Might work fine without. Just a thought.
Also not feeling the need for the second paragraph – though I wonder if you could work the info about the “Origin of fart gags” into the first somehow. Cuz it may just me, be but THAT grabbed my attention more than anything else.
And as you know, Susanna, we've got the polar vortex thing too – though not as bad as upstate NY! Hoping we aren't in for another winter like last year.
Thanks so much for your helpful impressions for Gail, Joanne! And I've heard mixed predictions for this winter – the doom and gloomers call for worse than last year, but others are saying maybe not as bad. I'm a glass half full kinda gal, so I'm going to go with Spring is right around the corner 🙂
Thanks for your helpful reactions for Gail, Teresa (and there's no such things as late around here! :)) Glad you enjoyed the cake 🙂
Thanks for your comments for Gail and for voting, Penny! 🙂 And I'm so glad you enjoyed the cake – of course you may always have as much as you like – I try to be sure there's MIK (more in kitchen :)) I would be happy for the opportunity to use my powers for good, so I will trot down to West Texas in my fanciest sun hat… which is sure to bring rain immediately!
Fair enough, Rosi – not all books are for everyone! I'm glad you enjoyed the cake 🙂
I'm glad you're finding everyone's comments helpful, Gail. They're the best, aren't they? 🙂
Surely you know an old windbag or two who could do it for free, Donna! 🙂