Hi Everyone! I’m so sorry, but there is absolutely no chance I’m going to have finalists Friday morning as I originally posted. I’m not even sure when to say I will have them, though I’ll get them up as soon as I can. It will not be over this weekend, I’m sure of that. Thank you all for your patience. I’m so sorry for the delay!

[For those trying to post, you must click on the Blog Post Title to get on the blog post page and access the comments]

Roses are red

Violets are blue

Valentinies rock

And so do YOU!

Whether your characters are filled with pride and joy, puffed up with pride, or in danger of pride going before a fall, the time has come for . . .

The 7th Annual Valentiny Writing Contest

~ for children’s writers ~

The Contest:  since writing for children is all about “big emotion for little people” (I forget who said that, but someone did so I put it in quotes!) and Valentines Day is all about emotion, write a Valentines story appropriate for children (children here defined as ages 12 and under) maximum 214 words in which someone feels proud!  They can be proud in a good way or a bad way. They can be proud of themselves for asking someone to be their Valentine, or they can be proud of how they asked. They can be proud of a Valentine they make, or a Valentine celebration they plan. They can be proud of giving something up, or proud of asking someone they’re not sure about for some reason in order to be nice. They can be proud of their performance in a Valentines Day play or concert or parade. . . sky’s the limit!  Just make sure it is clearly Valentine-centered! Think beyond the obvious!  Your story can be poetry or prose, sweet, funny, surprising or anything in between, but it will only count for the contest if it includes someone proud (can be the main character but doesn’t have to be) and is 214 words (get it? 2/14 for Valentines Day 😊 ) You can go under the word count but not over! (Title is not included in the word count.)  If you are so inclined, you are welcome to enter more than one entry – just remember you’ll be competing against yourself 😊  No illustration notes please!

Post your story in the comment section below between right now this very second and Sunday February 13th by 11:59 PM EDT.  There will be no regularly scheduled posts for the duration of the contest (Tuesday Debut, Would You Read It, or PPBF), so the post and all of your entries will stay up for everyone to enjoy.  If you have difficulty with the comments, which unfortunately sometimes happens, you may email your entry to me and I’ll post it for you. [Also, a small note: I have a serious family situation at the moment. I didn’t want to cancel the contest at the last minute, but please be patient with me if it takes me a while to post emailed entries and update the link list etc. I will do my best, but apologies in advance for delays.]

The Judging: my lovely assistants and I will narrow down the entrants to 6-12 top choices depending on number and quality of entries (hee hee hee – you know how much trouble I have with the narrowing, so we’ll see) which will be posted here and voted on for a winner on Friday February 18th (or possibly a day or two later if the judges need extra time.)   The winner will be announced Monday February 21st depending on judging and voting time needed.  The dates of the judging/voting/winner announcements are subject to finagling depending on how much time the judges actually end up needing!

Judging criteria will include:

1. Kid-appeal/Kid-friendliness – remember, this is a story for kids!
2. Creativity in using pride, and success in making us feel the pride (whether it’s good pride or bad)!
3. Valentine’s Day appropriateness – this is a VALENTINE story and Valentine’s Day must be central to it!
4. Quality of story – we will look for basic story elements and a true story arc
5. Quality of writing – use and flow of language, correctness of mechanics, excellence of rhyme and meter if you use it, PROOFREADING!
6. Originality – surprise us with something new and different! 😊
7. How well you followed the Submission Guidelines – agents and editors expect professionalism. This is a chance to practice making sure you read and follow specified guidelines.

The Prizes:  As always, we are so fortunate to have an abundance of wonderful prizes donated by our very generous friends in the kidlit community! Just look at all these goodies!

⭐️ Picture Book Manuscript Read & Critique from agent Mary Cummings of Great River Literary, “an agency devoted exclusively to representing authors and author/illustrators of books for children and teens. Strong relationships with editors have resulted in a rapidly growing list of sales of board and picture books, chapter books and novels to such publishing houses as Knopf; Philomel; Viking; Nancy Paulsen/Penguin; Balzer & Bray; Walker; Little, Brown; Henry Holt; Holiday House; Feiwel & Friends; FSG; Running Press; WorthyKids; Abrams; Random House; Wiseman S & S; Chronicle; Candlewick; HarperCollins and many others.”

⭐️ 1/2 Hour Zoom Picture Book Manuscript Critique or Mentoring Session with author Lynne Marie!

Lynne Marie is the accomplished author of Hedgehog Goes to Kindergarten – art by Anne Kennedy (Scholastic 2011), Hedgehog’s 100th Day of School – art by Lorna Hussey (Scholastic 2017), The Star of the Christmas Play — art by Lorna Hussey (Beaming Books 2018), Moldilocks and the 3 Scares — art by David Rodriguez Lorenzo (Sterling 2019 and Scholastic 2019),  Let’s Eat! Mealtime Around the World — art by Parwinder Singh (Beaming Books 2019) and The Three Little Pigs And The Rocket Project — art by Wendy Fedan (Mac and Cheese Press 2022) and American Pie — art by Dea Lenihan (Dancing Flamingo Press, April 12, 2022)

⭐️ Picture Book Manuscript Critique from Penny Parker Klostermann, talented author of THERE WAS AN OLD DRAGON WHO SWALLOWED A KNIGHT (Random House 2015) and A COOKED-UP FAIRY TALE (Random House 2017)

⭐️ 30 Minute Zoom Ask Me Anything with Keila Dawson, author of THE KING CAKE BABY (Pelican Publishing 2016), NO VOICE TOO SMALL (Charlesbridge 2020), and OPENING THE ROAD: VICTOR HUGO GREEN AND HIS GREEN BOOK (Beaming Books, 2021)

⭐️ Access to author/editor Alayne Kay Christian‘s webinars! Alayne is the author of BUTTERFLY KISSES FOR GRANDMA AND GRANDPA (Blue Whale Press, 2008), SIENNA THE COWGIRL FAIRY: COWBOY TROUBLE (Blue Whale Press 2021), THE WEED THAT WOKE CHRISTMAS (Blue Whale Press, 2020), and AN OLD MAN AND HIS PENGUIN (Blue Whale Press, 2020)

⭐️ Picture Book Manuscript Critique (fiction) from Melissa Stoller, author of SCARLET’S MAGIC PAINTBRUSH (Spork 2018), READY, SET, GORILLA! (Spork 2018), THE ENCHANTED SNOW GLOBE COLLECTION (chapter books) (Spork 2017), SADIE’S SHABAT STORIES (Spork, 2020) and PLANTING FRIENDSHIP: PEACE, SALAAM, SHALOM

⭐️ Picture Book Manuscript Critique from Rebecca Gardyn Levington author of BRAINSTORM! (Sleeping Bear Press, Summer 2022), I WILL ALWAYS BE…(HarperCollins, Spring 2024) and a contributor to the delightful anthology HOP TO IT: POEMS TO GET YOU MOVING (Pomelo Books, October 2020)

⭐️ Picture Book Manuscript Critique (nonrhyming) from Rebecca Kraft Rector, author of SQUISH SQUASH SQUISHED (Nancy Paulsen Books, Penguin Random House, 2021), LITTLE RED AND THE BIG BAD EDITOR (Aladdin, September 2022), and TRIA AND THE GREAT STAR RESCUE (Delacorte/Random House)

⭐️ Picture Book Manuscript Critique and Query Letter Critique from Jessica Stremer author of the forthcoming GREAT CARRIER REEF (Holiday House, 2023)

⭐️ Picture Book Manuscript Critique from Cathy Ballou Mealey author of WHEN A TREE GROWS (Union Square Kids, 2019), SLOTH AND SQUIRREL IN A PICKLE (Kids Can Press, 2021), and the forthcoming MAKE MORE S’MORES (Sleeping Bear Press, 2023)

⭐️ Personalized Signed Copy of THE KING CAKE BABY by Keila Dawson

⭐️ Personalized Signed Copy of PLANTING FRIENDSHIP: PEACE, SALAAM, SHALOM by Melissa Berger Stoller

⭐️ Personalized Signed Copy of IT’S A MUFFULETTA! IT’S A WHATA? (Sprok 2021) by Patricia Saunders

Please join me in thanking these very generous authors and other writing professionals for contributing their books and writing expertise as prizes by visiting their websites and blogs, considering their books and services for birthday, holiday or other gift purchases, rating and/or reviewing their books on GoodReads, Amazon, B&N, or anywhere else if you like them, recommending them for school and library visits, and supporting them in any other way you can dream up! 😊

Now! Put your heart into it and proudly post your entries!

I can’t wait to read your stories!!!

Eager Readers: Check out the comment section for all the fabulous entries! 😊

ENTRIES (all entries are linked) [will be linked tomorrow – sorry for delay]

1. The Perfect Present – Sara Kruger
2. Dr. Basil Discovers His Secret Admirer – Royal Baysinger
3. Teeny Houdini – Heather Ferranti Kinser
4. How To Win At Wordle – Anne Lipton
5. Eva Valentina’s Day – Katie Fischer
6. Chick Forgot Valentine’s Day – Jess Burbank
7. The Make-A-Valentine Contest – Hanna Geshelin
8. Never Too Many Valentines – Lori C. Evans
9. Proud As A Peacock – Bru Benson
10. Valentine Farm – Jennifer Lowe
11. Gary Groundhog Conquers The Shadow Monster – Deborah Foster
12. Tucker And The Sneezies – Susan E. Schipper
13. When Dad Is Away – Aileen Stewart
15. It’s Valentine’s Day, Thomas, The Worm – Maria Lahman
16. The House On The Corner – Elyse Trevers
17. Staying In The Lines – Elizabeth Meyer zu Heringdorf
18. Top Of The World – Christine Alemshah
19. The Canape Caper – Cathy Stenquist
20. My Icky Sticky Valentine – Chayala Nachum
21. The Best Card Maker – Stephanie Maksymiw
22. Dad Gets Weird On Valentine’s Day – Debbie Day
23. The Valentine Tiff – Sally Yorke-Viney
24. Glitter & Glue – Janna MacLean
25. Heart Aflutter – Kelly Clasen
26. Little Things – Molly Ippolito
27. Veronica’s Surprise – Janel Caverly
28. My Quiet Valentine – Amanda Sherlock
29. Who’s Ana? – Ellie Langford
30. Prince Of The Pride – Jessica Seitz
31. Cupid’s Big Day – Marty Bellis
32. A Match Made In Socks – Laura Heath
33. Momma’s Smile – Amber Hendricks
34. The Perfect Valentine – Kimberly Shrack
35. Miss Frog And Mister Turtle – Sharon McCarthy
36. The Trees Of The Girl Who Raised Bees – B.J. Genovese
37. Mailbirds: Valentine’s Day – Reed Ambrose
38. The Perfect Card – Keely Leim
39. Valentine’s Day Is For Everyone – Janet Scratchley
40. Valentine’s In The Jungle – Melissa Rafson Friedman
41. The Lovesick Groundhog – Debbie Daugherty
42. Rosas For Senor Perez – Carmen Castillo Gilbert
43. Get Well Soon, Mrs. Love – Rebekah Hoeft
44. A Valentine For You – Marty Findley
45. Cupid, A New Generation – Linda Staszak
46. A Valentine For Her – Marty Findley
47. Mr. Sunder’s Valentine’s Day Cookie – Marta Cutler
48. Valentine Countdown – Marta Cutler
49. V’s For Valentine – Rachel Bandy
50. ValenTINY – Jessica Milo
51. Three Hearts – A. Kidd
52. I Whale Always Love You – Kimberly Horch
53. Isabella’s Valentine – Terrie Hellard-Brown
54. Dear Moon – Carissa Brown
55. A Nose For Love – Julie Kurtz
56. Rabbit [heart] Rebecca – Anne Bromley
57. The Heart Of A Wizard – Jany Campana
58. Sweet Valentine – Daniella Kaufman
59. The Valentine’s Cake – Kate Thompson
60. Gene’s Forbidden Valentine – Vanessa Konoval
61. The Best Part – Sarah Meade
62. V-Day! – Sarah Meade
63. The Special Valentine Card – Sherry Roberts
64. Cutting Is Hard – Ashley Chance
65. Hammie’s Valentine Surprise – Jenna Elyse Johnson
66. Pinky’s Message – Elizabeth Muster
67. Everyting You Taught Me – Shuba Mohan
68. It’s A Matter Of Taste – Corine Timmer
69. Broken Hearts Need Love Too – Stephanie Henson
70. All Aboard – Debbie Whittam
71. Dove Letters – Amy LaMae Brewer
72. My Furry Valentine – Tiffany Hanson
73. A Squawking Serenade – Tiffany Hanson
74. Proud That You Are Mine – Tonnye Fletcher
75. Mother, You Are One In A Million – Elaine D’Alessandro
76. King Of Love – Sue Ko
77. Rose’s Creative Valentines – Elaine D’Alessandro
78. Dear Valentine – Jill Burns
79. Subterranean Lovesick Blues – Andrea MacDonald
80. Love, Mama And Me – Karen Olmstead
81. A Gift For My Mami – Lana Montalban
82. Baby Bear’s Heart – Lori Himmel
83. Gumballs – Jill Purtee
84. Beaming With Pride – Paul Kurtz
85. Proud As A Peacock – Paul Kurtz
86. Don’t-Let-The-Dung-Beetle-Make-The-Valentine-Brownies! – Donna Kurtz
87. Best Valentine’s Day Ever! – Donna Kurtz
88. To Sarah – Elizabeth Westra
89. The Heart-Shaped Mitten – Sherri T. Mercer
90. Love Inside – Kristy Roser Nuttall
91. Valentine’s Field Trip – Darcee Freier
92. Heart And Hands – Marjorie David
93. Flicker’s Valentine – Laura Bost
94. A Valentine For Birders – Geraldine Oades-Sese
95. The Floofabims – Sabrina Shah
96. I Wanted To Say I Love You – Joy Curtis
97. Percy’s Performance – Allison Strick
98. Showdown In Smoochalot – Jesse Anna Bornemann
99. Theo’s Not-So-Perfect Valentine’s Day – Kelsey E. Gross
100. Mama, Are You Proud Of Me? – Pamela Swanson
101. Awesome Together – Sarah Hetu
102. Valentine’s Breakfast For Mom – Patti Ranson
103. Special Delivery – Emily Keener
104. Harriet’s Cards – Jessica Reed
105. Dolley’s Favorite Month – Lincoln Mansch
106. Llama Love – Laura Bower
107. Will You Be My Valentine? – Michelle S. Kennedy
108. Sunshine Valentine – Vashti Verbowski
109. Shelby’s Heartache – Susannah Lee
110. Taffy’s Sweet Surprise – Mary Schultz
111. Where Is Puppito? – Bridget Magee
112. Princess Candace – Sheila R. Schmotzer
113. Suzie And Jordan’s Special Day – Shadi Kafi
114. Valentine Delivery – Part II (sequel to 2021 Valentine Contest Entry) – Katie Brandyberry
115. A Friend For Valentine’s Day – Daniele Arndt
116. Hoppy Belated Valentine – Zach Schloss
117. Remember The Love – Ashley Murray
118. The Proudest Pencil – Lori Sheroan
119. My Gummy Love – Lauri C. Meyers
120. Love ME – Melissa Rutigliano
121. Love Potions And Laughter – Tiffany Hanson
122. A Cake-tastrophe – Tiffany Hanson
123. The Valentine’s Day Invitiational – Lori Keating
124. Lost But Found – Armineh Manookian
125. L-O-V-E – Ronda Einbinder
126. Shakesbear In Love – MaryLee Flannigan
127. A New Friend – Steve Jankousky
128. What Kind Of Cupid Am I? – Alayne Kay Christian
129. My Hero – Dawn Young
130. Valentine’s Day Dance-Off In Nestville – Lynn Marie Moore
131. Hidden In These Hallowed Hills – Shuba Mohan
132. A Rose For Toad – Ashlee MacCallum
133. I Do NOT Like Rohini Rao – Sandhya Acharya
134. Untitled – M.M. Sutanto
135. A Heart Of Gold – Ryan Schneck
136. Haiku Valentines: Love In 5-7-5 Rhyme – Brenda Whitehead
137. Kate’s Valentines – Sheila M. Hausbeck
138. A Nest For Bluegill – Katie Palazzola
139. A Puzzling Valentine – My Side Of The Phone Call… – Ingrid Boydston
140. Smelly Kelly – Glenda Roberson
141. Underneath It All – Carrie Charley Brown
142. How To Find A Valentine – Bevin Rolfs Spencer
143. My Daddy’s Valentine – Gayle Krause
144. Proud Valentine’s Day – Deborah Hunt
145. A Valentine For Annie B. Bear – Charlotte Dixon
146. Valentine’s Day Heartache – Cindy Greene
147. Valentine Shenanigans – Vasilia Graboski
148. You Make Me So Proud – Erika Romero
149. I Am Proud To Be Your Friend – Kerry Porter
150. Love Somebody – Brigid Finucane
151. Marcus Is Not An Elephant: How A Woolly Mammoth Makes A Friend – Susan Schwartz Twiggs
152. Purple Lace – Liz Kehrli
153. Puppy Love – Kathy Halsey
154. Valentine’s Day Booty – Danielle Sharkan
155. Wholeheartedly – Catherine Brewer
156. Valentine Barks – Kathy Crable
157. Oog Love Rock – Katie Palazzola
158. C.I.T. (Cupid In Training) – Colleen Murphy
159. Allie’s Biggest Heart – Julianna Helt
160. Detective Spot And The Search For A New Cupid – Sophia Moore (age 10)
161. The Valentine Surprise – Claire Noland
162. The Purrfect Valentine – Tara Knox Cerven
163. A Valentine For Mr. Weatherly – Lindsay Moretti
164. A Proud Mum – Shariffa Keshavje
165. Valentine’s Day At Sweet Pig’s – Patricia Corcoran
166. Poppy’s Gift – Melanie Adkins
167. Go Tell Bully Brady – Mona Pease
168. Valentine Surprise – Abby Wooldridge
169. Full Of Heart – Allison Burke
170. Two Little Valentines – Judy Abelove Shemtob
171. A Change Of Heart – Michaela Almeida
172. The Mural – Susanne Whitehouse
173. The Perfect Friend Chip – Cheryl Simon
174. Sloth’s Original Valentine – Judy Sobanski
175. Be My Fred – Lisa Furness
176. Cupid’s Confidence – Amy Leskowski
177. The Flower Code – Ashlee Hashman
178. A Valentine For Jake – Andrew Fairchild
179. Cardi V – Alicia Meyers
180. The Heart Of The Matter – Sarah Marhevsky
181. Bear And Fish – A Love Story – Aly Kenna
182. Valentine Wins – Sara Petersohn
183. Sweet Breakfast – JC Kelly
184. ValenTalent Show – Becky Goodman
185. Marla’s Mistake – Jessica Watts
186. The Koi That Should Have Been In The Zodiac – MeiLin Chan
187. Surprise Valentine’s Day Party – Una Belle Townsend
188. My First Love – Adolfo Gomez-Herrera