Would You Read It Wednesday #156 – Stormy With A Chance Of Pizza (PB)

Happy New Year, Everyone!!!

It’s so lovely to see you all again!

I hope all your holidays were festive and joyful!

And now, here we are at the front end of a brand new year.  Just like a blank page, it’s full of possibility.  Who knows what great ideas we’ll have this year, what wonderful new stories we’ll write, what hare-brained schemes we’ll come up with?! 🙂

It’s a good feeling, isn’t it?

I have already had two happy surprises – well, one surprise and one much-looked-forward-to occasion.

The surprise was that the lovely and talented Stacy Jensen, out of the pure kindness of her heart, took time out of her Lego Pirate war to try to solve the problem of updating Perfect Picture Books.  Her idea is a good one, and she’s done a beautiful job (if you need web work, contact her at once!).  More exploration is required before we see whether it’s something the Truly Tech Challenged (er, that would be Yours Truly) can actually manage, but either way it was incredibly kind and generous and thoughtful of her, and really that is what so many people in this kidlit community are like that it just reinforces my gratitude to be part of it.  Thank you, Stacy!!!

The much-looked-forward-to-occasion (which was only a surprise because we managed to pull it off at long last!) was that I got to have lunch with the wonderful Elaine Kearns, writer, and creator of Kidlit 411 (which, in case you’ve been under a rock somewhere, is celebrating it’s First Birthday this week and you should definitely hustle on over and check it out because it’s fantastic and there are all kinds of amazing prizes on offer!)  It was such a pleasure to meet her in person, after all this time of knowing her online.  And we only live about 20 miles from each other so really, what took us so long???!!!  I apologize for no photographic evidence of our meeting, but it was too cold to take pictures outside, and too dark inside.  (Anyway, that’s the story I’m sticking to :))

I think all that wonderfulness calls for a little Something Chocolate, don’t you?  (And no, of course I’m not trying to distract you from the glaring lack of photographs!  Why would you think that?!)

Since it is 0 (that’s ZERO, folks) here, we need a warm Something Chocolate, so how about…

… warm pain au chocolat?  (which, for our English-speaking audience is plain ole chocolate croissant :))

Mmm!  Flaky pastry… warm dark chocolate… who notices the temperature now? 🙂

So, we were supposed to have the November Pitch Pick today, but what with holiday busy-ness and such, not everyone was ready.  So we’ll have to do that next week.

Meanwhile, let’s get onto today’s WYRI!

Today’s pitch comes to us from Jeff who says, “Though I’ve come to popular writing late, in a sense I’ve been writing all my life.  I’ve enjoyed a career in science and as a military health officer. In 2005 one of my journal articles won a prize and award as ‘best new research paper,’ which inspired me to try other genre.  

Under pen name ‘Jake McKenzie’ I’ve self piublished a novel, When Pigs Flu… a military spy thriller about pandemic risks and bio-terror threats and a work of creative non fiction, Civil War Comes Home, about what life was like in a sleepy Southern town (Williamsburg) when the war suddenly arrives on the town’s doorstep and Union forces occupy for the remainder of the war.
As we often hear, ‘wrote what you know,’ these are based on my career as a public health scientist and living in Williamsburg

As a recent grandfather, my favorite audience now however,  is children and I have several children’s picture books, targeted for ages 3-7 for which I am seeking a publisher or agent. (Please see: http://jeffdrifmeyerauthor.wix.com/home#)”

Here is his pitch:

Working Title: Stormy With A Chance Of Pizza
Age/Genre: Picture Book (ages 3-7)
The Pitch: Grandpa’s creative problem solving saves the day (or at least their dinner) when ‘can do’ perseverance triumphs over challenges of a new recipe and Mother Nature’s threats, showing  his storytelling grandchild the value of self reliance.

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 Jeff improve his 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 May so you’ve got a little time to polish up your pitches and send yours for your chance to be read by editor Erin Molta!

Jeff is looking forward to your thoughts on his pitch!  I am looking forward to seconds on pain au chocolat and spring.  Yep.  Now that Christmas is over I’m pretty much done with winter! 🙂

Have a wonderful Wednesday, everyone!!  See you on Friday for Perfect Picture Books!

65 thoughts on “Would You Read It Wednesday #156 – Stormy With A Chance Of Pizza (PB)”

  1. Susanna Leonard Hill says:
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    Unknown's avatar

    Hi Stacy! Thanks, and to you too! I'm so glad you're already a Kidlit 411 fan – they are amazing! And yes, Stacy is the bee's knees. I feel cautiously optimistic that we might somehow come up with a plan 🙂 Thanks so much for your helpful thoughts for Jeff!

  6. Jean James says:
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    Unknown's avatar

    Sorry I'm late, but I seem to be scheduled to work every Wednesday! I'm a bit on the fence with this story. I had to read the pitch a few times, and still wasn't clear about the story. I also think the title is too close to “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs”. That being said, what I do love is the story idea of a grandson and his grandfather, and all the funny things that can happen between them. Good luck with your story!!

  8. This_Kid_Reviews_Books_Erik says:
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    Unknown's avatar

    Sorry I am late on this! I am a maybe on the pitch. The story sounds like it has some cool parts to it, but I am not really sure what it is about.

    Isn't it cool when you meet a blogging friend in real life?!? 🙂 Have a great weekend!

  10. Vivian Kirkfield says:
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    Unknown's avatar

    Howdy…so sorry I am so very late,Susanna. I've heard they say better late than never…just hope that is true. 😉
    First of all, congratulations, Jeff…on your writing successes and on your grandfather-hood!
    I do love the idea of inter-generational interaction…so I'm a yes on your story.
    Perhaps the pitch might give us a bit more about what is happening and how the grandchild is a storytelling kid. I wasn't sure if he loved stories…or he fibbed and 'told' stories. 🙂 I loved the idea in the comments of having the kid in the background, fixing things., but perhaps that is not the direction you want the story to take. 🙂

  12. Susanna Leonard Hill says:
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    Unknown's avatar

    Please don't worry at all, Vivian! It is so nice of you (and everyone!) to come over and help people out with their pitches! If it weren't for you, this forum wouldn't work! So whenever you get here, I am grateful, and I know the pitchers are too! Thanks so much for your thoughtful suggestions for Jeff!