Woo hoo!
It’s Wednesday!
And Would You Read It is back!!! 🙂
It so happens, though, that while Would You Read It is back, I was called away to defend the universe…
…from terrifying threats 🙂
So I hope you’ll forgive a brief post… I mean… seeing as how I’m a mite busy with saving the world and all 🙂
I’ll try to make it up to you a little with Something Chocolate. How about, hmmm…. Texas Sheet Cake Cookies! (with many thanks so Stacy for the photo and for introducing me to this delightful dessert breakfast!)
Recipe HERE at Cookies & Cups
Now then, onto today’s pitch which comes to us from Maureen who says, “I am a high school English and ESL teacher with my summers off so when the 3:00am ideas arrive, I can get up and act on them without looking like a zombie for school.
I’m a recent graduate of the writing program of Stony Brook University where I was lucky enough to be mentored by amazingly gifted humans such as Emma Walton Hamilton and Peter H. Reynolds. ”
Here is her pitch:
Working Title: Kit, Not Kitty
Age/Genre: Picture Book (ages 4-8)
The Pitch: For as long as Kit can remember having feelings, she has felt more like fetching a ball, and less like a feline. But how can she convince her family that it’s nothing to take puuuuurrsonally, it’s just who she is.
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 Maureen 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 Would You Read it in the dropdown under For Writers in the bar above. There are openings in October, so you could get your pitch up pretty soon for helpful feedback and have a chance to have it read and commented on by editor Erin Molta!
Maureen is looking forward to your thoughts on her pitch! I am looking forward to another fun-filled day in sunny CA… where I will be pursuing my destiny of Greased Lightning 🙂
Have a wonderful Wednesday everyone!!! 🙂
Susanna Leonard Hill 
Thanks in advance for any feedback you have. (Today I might be that kid checking her phone during class.)
Haha – LOVE the pics Susanna! I’m jealous you got to take a pic with Danny! 🙂
Maureen – this is a cute premise and I’d read it. I do think you could leave out the words “having feelings” and just say “as long as Kit could remember.” I also think the next part could be more consistent … either “she has felt more canine than feline” OR “she has felt more like fetching a ball and less like sunning herself in a window” (or something else cats like to do!) I’d also like to see a hint of how her canine behavior affects her family or what the big issue is with it.
Good luck with this!
I’m totally dating myself, Jen, but I have such a clear memory of going to see GREASE in the movie theatre when I was about 12! My sister and friends and I all sang those songs ad nauseum for ages – I’m sure we drove my parents nuts! 🙂 You can join me in the Pick Ladies any time 🙂 Thanks so much for your helpful thoughts for Maureen!
I sing “It’s Raining on Prom Night,” anytime it actually rains on prom night. (Not such a hit with teenage girls and up-dos.
Thanks so much. At this very moment, it would be, “felt more like fetching a ball and less like laying right on top of the laptop!”
First of all, I was part of the Stonybrook summer writers conference and am pulling for you as a fellow writer. I received excellent advice from EWH! 💜 I love the concept of this book and its application to any child who feels like a square peg in a round hole. Best of luck with your book! 🍀
Thanks so much for your encouragement for Maureen, Laura!
Thank you! Nice to hear from another Stonybrook fan. I agree that EWH is an idea and picture book goddess!! That woman could critique my mother and I would listen to her advice.
I’m still amused by this reply. Does your mother know you are taking critiques of her? 😉
Oh my gosh, Susanna…if they do a remake of Dance Fever, you’d better get your dance moves on!
Looks like you guys had great fun!
And Maureen…I LOVE your story premise…and the title is PURRRRFECT!
I 100% agree with Jen…she’s given you a great pitch fix…I think you don’t need the ‘feelings’ and you definitely need to compare ‘apples to apples’ in that sentence. This is a winner! And congrats on getting to learn from Emma and Peter…WOW!
Just wait til you see me with Elvis and Patrick Swayze, Vivian! I didn’t want to make you guys TOO jealous! 🙂 Thanks so much for your very helpful comments for Maureen!
Wow! Thanks so much. I need it to be the weekend, and I may need a note to my principal for why my lesson plans could be late on Monday!
Welcome back Susanna. I’m surprised you have enough energy to write a blog post after defending the universe. You are truly amazing. =)
I would read this. I like Jen’s suggestion as well. The more puns the merrier.
Thanks, Greg! I guess my energy comes from having super powers 🙂 Thanks so much for your encouragement for Maureen!
Thanks!
Fun photos and new chocolate cookies – this is what Wednesdays were made for!
I like the pitch and the suggestions sound really helpful too. Perhaps instead of “feel” we could learn what she wants or likes, which would be easier to illustrate. As Vivian said, purrrfect!
I have to agree, Cathy… although I think cookies are good every day! 🙂 Thanks so much for your thoughts for Maureen!
Got it! Thanks so much.
I’ll refrain from suggestions, since you’ve already had them offered to you.
What I will say is that not only would I read this, but I think there’s a dire (yes, dire) need for literature that enables kids to feel accepted. This applies to all age groups, but specifically in the 4-8 age group.
Keep me in the loop – I not only look forward to reading this, but I know a number of my little loved ones who will benefit from it.
Thanks so much for your enthusiasm for Maureen, Kathleen!
Why thank you for checking in my friend.
Love the pictures Susanna!
Maureen, I agree with the earlier comments and that this is necessary for many (adults and kids). It is also true to life – I have a cat who thinks (at least 1/2 the time) he’s a dog. He will even toss a ball against a wall or stairs and chase it. I’d also like to see either how it affects her family OR what she’s planning to try to gain their acceptance of her individuality. Good luck with it.
I think I was born to be a defender of the universe and a pink lady, Maria! 🙂 Thanks so much for your thoughtful comments for Maureen!
I would definitely read it! I like the pitch because of the fact that the cat feels “different” and I want to know how that will be worked out (I may be in left field, but I’m thinking that a child reading this who feels “different” for any reason will feel better about himself or herself after reading it – it’s just who I am). And I love the “puuuuurrsonally” in your pitch.
Thanks so much for “pitching in” 🙂 with your postivie feedback for Maureen, Angele!
I think this pitch is great for the Twitter pitches and other times there’s a need for an elevator pitch. I think for a longer pitch, like in a query letter, maybe add a little about how it affects the family or such like Maria suggested above. Best of luck!
Thanks so much for your helpful feedback for Maureen, Suzie!
I have missed this blog the last 3 months. My summer was crazy and I am so glad to be back here with everyone. Maureen, I have read hundreds of children’s books as an elementary librarian and I can’t recall reading one or owning one about a cat who feels like being a dog. I think you have a winner here. I agree with the others about balancing your pitch…a cat behavior with a dog behavior. I would definitely read this. Good luck!
What a clever idea! I would definitely read it. Curious as if Kit’s family is all cats vs humans? And as others mentioned above, balancing the canine / feline behaviors. Good luck! 🙂