I don’t know where the days disappear to, but somehow here we’ve rolled around to another Would You Read It Wednesday AND it’s the last day of March!
Seeing as how tomorrow is April Fools’ Day, may I suggest (at the risk of promoting my own book 🙃) a little reading material for anyone who is looking?
I’ll make it teeny so it’s less self-promotional 😊
Ok, forget teeny 😊 And forgive me for getting Ain’t She Sweet stuck in your head for the rest of the day 😊
Now, as a reward for putting up with my shameless self-promotion, may I offer you Something Chocolate? Death By Chocolate Eclair Cake sounds like a perfect choice!
Yumyumyum! Creamy and chocolate-y and scrumptiously delicious! Feel free to take an extra slice for later. You never know when you might need a quick pick-me-up!
Now then, onto today’s pitch which comes to us from Jamie who says, “I’ve been working on picture books for a few years. In terms of style, they are all over the place: lyrical, humorous, and now a fractured fairy tale. I have entered a few editions of your fabulous contests and enjoy the community you’ve created. People can find/follow me on Twitter https://twitter.com/jmdonahoe or Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jamiedonahoe/“
Here is her pitch:
Working Title: Goldilocks: A Very Tired Tale
Age/Genre: Picture Book (ages 4-8)
The Pitch: Goldilocks is exhausted and knows deep down there is a solution, but she can’t quite put her finger on it. Mares? Pears? Stairs? Hijinks ensue as Goldilocks puts her quest for rest to the test in this fractured fairy tale.
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 Jamie 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 April, so you could get your pitch up pretty soon for helpful feedback and a chance to have it read and commented on by editor Erin Molta!
Jamie is looking forward to your thoughts on her pitch! I am looking forward to APRILwhich, in addition to having a realistic chance at a little spring weather, is a month which boasts 6 family birthdays PLUS jelly beans and chocolate easter eggs! Eggsellent!
Today I am thrilled to introduce debut author Moni Ritchie Hadley and show off her gorgeous book about the Japanese Star Festival which releases Thursday (April 1st) (no fooling 😊). Just look at that cover!
Title, THE STAR FESTIVAL Author Moni Ritchie Hadley Illustrator Mizuho Fujisawa Publishing House – Albert Whitman & Co. Date of Publication 4-1-21 Fiction, age range 4-7
When Keiko, Mama, and Oba attend the Japanese Festival of Tanabata Matsuri, Keiko saves the day by reliving the events of the folktale it celebrates.
SUSANNA: Welcome, Moni! Thank you so much for joining us today. We are looking forward to hearing all about how The Star Festival was born. Where did the idea for this book come from?
MONI:THE STAR FESTIVAL began as a multigenerational concept book about the similarities between caring for toddlers and caring for my mom. It remained in that state for a few months. Letting go of that first idea took some time. Eventually, I changed the perspective and the setting to the Japanese Tanabata Festival (The Star Festival). I celebrated many festivals in Japan as a child, but it wasn’t until I wrote this story that I discovered the origins and distinctions between each celebration. The research opened up a whole new world of ideas, and that is when the story blossomed.
SUSANNA: How long did it take you to write this book?
MONI: The initial draft to submission took about five months, but I continued to revise until the signing of the contract, which put it at nine months. I edited for another month after the signing.
Moni’s (extremely tidy!) writing area (Although she also has workstations in the dining room, bedroom, and outside! A girl needs choices, right? 😊)
SUSANNA: Did you go through many revisions?
MONI: Yes! It amazes me that other writers can count them. I’m continually fiddling and reworking manuscripts, and I forget to create new documents. So, I’ll give a ballpark figure, 20-30, including rewrites with the editor.
For a long while, I couldn’t let go of what I wanted the story to be. When I allowed it the freedom to go where it needed to go, the story turned a corner. The bond between the main character and her grandmother, remained, but the details changed completely.
One technique that I used was to put the story on a plot hill diagram on my wall. I assigned three stickies to each scene, one color for the setting, another color for the plot, and another for the emotion. I then went through and asked myself questions about the stakes and reactions of my character. This visual strategy was very effective. Sometimes when I’m stuck in the mucky middle, I cut apart my story and tape it sideways to my wall, and like magic, I see the areas that aren’t working. Changing the perspective and moving the pieces around helped me see the story’s flow more clearly. I’ve recently started to create dummies for some of my stories. Putting my ideas into a visual format, no matter how rough the drawings are, helps me address issues. Another strategy that works for me is to deformat the text. I find that I play more with structure when I do this. I hesitate to change blocks of text if I leave it in its original structure.
Moni’s writing buddies: Dogs in order – Patti, Rusy, Smiley; Cat – Numnums
SUSANNA: When did you know your manuscript was ready for submission?
MONI: There was an energy I felt when I finally grasped the story, I was meant to tell. I banged it out in the last couple of weeks of the class I was taking. The deadline really motivated me to get it submission-ready. And all my critique partners rallied and helped me get it into shape.
SUSANNA: When and how did you submit?
MONI: In the fall of 2019, I took an online class with Mira Reisberg at the Children’s Book Academy, The Craft and Business of Writing Picture Books. In the end, I was able to submit a pitch for the participating editors and agents. Editor, Christina Pulles, liked my pitch and invited me to submit the manuscript.
SUSANNA: When did you get “the call”? (Best moment ever! ☺)
MONI: I didn’t get a call!😆 My email submission was answered with a request for changes, which I agreed to. The editor liked the changes, and it quickly escalated from there, all through email! It was a month from the time I submitted to the time I heard back from the editor, late November to late December, around the holidays. We passed the manuscript back and forth for about another month. From there, I continued to make changes with the editor. It was intense, but it was a pleasure working with Christina. She had a gentle communication style and always considered my opinion and what was best for the book.
SUSANNA: Can you tell us about your experience of the illustration process?
MONI: I had read that authors rarely get to see the sketches in progress. So it came as a surprise that Christina involved me at every major step. She sent me initial sketches and near-finished art for review. Since she asked, I gave honest opinions.
She considered everything I said and then let me know which changes she agreed with and which she didn’t. It was nice to know that she valued my opinion. And if she felt strongly about something, I trusted her.
I was fortunate to be paired with illustrator Mizuho Fujisawa. She is Japanese as well and gave such nuanced details to every spread. I was blown away when I saw the cover for the first time. The colors on the cover were bold and vibrant. She brought the setting and character to life. Mizuho exceeded my expectations, and the illustration process proceeded very quickly.
Up until writing this story, I rarely used art notes. Some editors do not like them. But for this manuscript, I decided to include them. Japanese words and customs needed notes, and I wanted my story to be understood in the way that I intended. Here some examples of notes that I thought were necessary and would make the reading clearer.
Keiko slips on her summer kimono. [incorrectly] [image below]
text copyright Moni Ritchie Hadley 2021, illustration copyright Mizuho Fujisawa 2021, Albert Whitman
The skies explode. [fireworks] [image below]
text copyright Moni Ritchie Hadley 2021, illustration copyright Mizuho Fujisawa 2021, Albert Whitman
“And look who helped me, the Emperor of the Heavens.” [security guard] [no image supplied]
SUSANNA: Did you get to see advance reviews from Kirkus, SLJ, etc? What was that like?
MONI: Christina shared a positive review from Kirkus privately about a week before it was available online. I was thrilled. I floated through that day! And the very next day, she shared a starred review from the School Library Journal! In all the time that lead up to that moment, I hadn’t thought about professional reviews, so it was a pleasant surprise to get those!
SUSANNA: Congratulations! How wonderful to get such great reviews! How long did it take from offer to having the first copy in your hand?
MONI: 14 months.
SUSANNA: Describe any marketing/promotion you did for this book.
MONI: I sent letters to schools, held giveaways, and made stickers and bookmarks. I have done many blog interviews and activities for the story. I also made a short gif and had a book trailer made for the book.
SUSANNA: How long was it between the time you started writing seriously and the time you sold your first picture book?
MONI: That’s a difficult question to answer. Define seriously? I feel like every story, revision, critique, submission is an effort to be a serious writer.
When I was working full time, I struggled to balance writing with work and my home life. I think that the time I spent working on stories, critiquing, and learning in those thirteen years attributed to getting published.
When I retired from teaching, it took me less than a year to get a contract. I feel strongly that it would not have been offered if I waited to start writing when I “had the time.”
All the minutes here-and-there add up. All the failures, stories that went nowhere, and writing practice add up. It gets you ready for the right moment. It prepares you to get “lucky.”
SUSANNA: What is the most important/helpful thing you learned on your way to publication? (Or what is your most helpful piece of advice for up-and-coming writers?)
MONI: Don’t get stuck on your early manuscripts. They will always hold a special place in your writer’s heart, but continue to evolve, discover other stories, and challenge yourself.
SUSANNA: Anything else you’d like to share about your book’s journey from inspiration to publication?
MONI: I tried not to make getting published my everyday goal. I changed my mindset and was grateful to be writing every day. Whether I was published or not, I figured I’d be doing the same thing anyway, working on my craft.
SUSANNA: So much wonderful advice, and so much helpful information! Thank you so much for taking the time to participate in this series and paying it forward to other writers, Moni! We all really appreciate it. And I know I speak for everyone when I wish you the very best with this and future titles!
Readers, if you have questions for Moni, please post them in the comments below and if she has time I’m sure she’ll respond!
You may purchase Moni’s book at: (all links below are book-specific)
PPBF folks, please add your titles and post-specific blog links (and any other info you feel like filling out 😊) to the form below so we can all come see what fabulous picture books you’ve chosen to share this week!
Did you know that today is National Chocolate-Covered Raisin Day?
Raisins, being very tiny, are perhaps not the best vehicle for maximizing one’s chocolate experience, but still, chocolate is chocolate and raisins do happen to go well with it! And clearly they make an excellent writing snack. I knew you would want to celebrate accordingly 😊
Close-up they look bigger! 😊
But that was just a bonus because it happens to be a National Holiday!
Since it’s Wednesday, we still get to treat ourselves to Something (else) Chocolate. I picked cake, because…well… it’s cake! 😊, and cherry because it’s pink and spring-like and makes me think of cherry blossoms 🌸 Dig in!
Now that we are extra-specially supplied with chocolate, let’s get to today’s pitch which comes to us from Diana. Diana Gibson is a pre-published author with 30 years teaching Special Ed and El-Ed children. She has a Masters Degree in Reading Diagnostics and Remedial Reading. She’s also spent 22 years in the Army and worked weekends as a Pyrotechnician all over the world.
Here is her pitch:
Working Title: Wait For Cate
Age/Genre: Picture Book (ages 5-8)
The Pitch: Cate promised her team she’d finally be on time for the championship kickball game. But when she encounters the new girl in her class, stuck in the sand on the playground in her wheelchair, she has to make a BIG decision. Should she help or hurry on by? The clock’s ticking.
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 Diana 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 April, so you could get your pitch up pretty soon for helpful feedback and a chance to have it read and commented on by editor Erin Molta!
Diana is looking forward to your thoughts on her pitch! I am looking forward to getting to see 2 of my daughters, whom I have not seen in way too many months! (Because they work in priority fields they are both fully vaccinated now – hurray! 😊)
Today’s guest we has written and illustrated a fun story in rhyme that also includes interesting, educational, nonfiction back matter. And she self-published. Talk about doing it all!
I know we’re all going to learn a lot, so let’s get right to it and meet today’s debut-ess, Nancy Derey Riley, and have a look at Curiosity’s Discovery!
CURIOSITY’S DISCOVERY written and illustrated by Nancy Derey Riley Self-published/print-on-demand through IngramSpark – Rolling Prairie Publishing LLC November 10, 2020 Rhyming fiction with NF back matter For ages 4-8
CURIOSITY’S DISCOVERY takes the reader on a mystery adventure on Mars as the trusty rover hears an unknown radio signal. She discovers an older rover, Spirit, just as his batteries crash and his transmission ends. Now, she must revive him if she has any chance of having a friend.
SUSANNA: Welcome, Nancy! We are so thrilled to have you here today to share your journey to publication! As you know, I am especially fond of this story for a reason I know you’re about to explain 😊, and because I share your interest in the Mars missions and have a Mars book of my own! Where did the idea for this book come from?
NANCY: The idea for this story came from you, Susanna, and Valentiny! Last year’s 2020 Valentiny Contest rules were: write a child-friendly Valentine’s story, no more than 214 words, and show someone or something being curious. I immediately thought of Curiosity, the Mars rover—nothing more curious than Curiosity, right? Well, I wrote a rhyming story entitled, Finding a Friend, and miracle of miracles, I came in 4th! I was so excited.
I find writing contests for kid-lit writers help me generate ideas for stories beyond just a particular contest. Plus, there are prizes, often critiques from published authors and, even, agents. These critiques have helped me polish my stories for submission to agents and publishers.
SUSANNA: How long did it take you to write this book?
NANCY: After basking in my 4th place finish for a few days, I decided to transform it into a complete picture book manuscript. Since it is a rhyming story, this took me a couple of weeks. In March 2020, as the pandemic was beginning, it was critiqued by all my critique partners (I’m in three different groups, one is dedicated to rhyming picture books).
SUSANNA: Did you go through many revisions?
NANCY: I didn’t go through many revisions, certainly not major rewrites or anything. The back matter took much longer to decide what to put in and what to leave out. The moment I discovered your website and your books, Susanna, I loved the idea of back matter at the end of a fictional tale. Since I’m a biologist, I wanted to include facts on Mars, the rovers, and, for this story, Morse code.
SUSANNA: It’s really an added value for young readers and for their parents and teachers! And something I haven’t seen as much in self-published titles. So kudos to you! When did you know your manuscript was ready for publication?
NANCY: In the middle of April 2020, after a final review by my rhyming partners, I submitted query letters to nine publishing houses that accept unagented manuscripts. In June, I subbed to 13 agents who were open to submissions. Also, I participate in Twitter pitch contests as they come along, but I have yet to have any success with them.
SUSANNA: At what point did you decide to self-publish rather than submit to traditional publishers? Did you try traditional first? Or did you have specific reasons for wanting to self-publish?
NANCY: In May 2020, came a long road trip to visit my stepdaughter in Oklahoma and a LONG discussion with my husband about my writing journey. I’d been writing picture books for nearly four years and submitting to agents/publishers for three. I’ve only gotten a couple “champagne” rejections, the rest either form letters or no response at all. I told my husband that even if I got an agent in one day and that agent sold my manuscript to a publisher the next day (impossible, but I simplified it for the sake of our discussion), it could be two years before I held a book in my hands. I was 63 and not getting any younger. I’d researched independent publishing a little at that point. That is when I decided to self-publish this story. I did submit the story to agents in June figuring I would work both ends and see what happened first—an agent or a book in hand.
SUSANNA: How did you find an illustrator?
NANCY: The smart aleck answer is, I looked in the mirror. I’m very left-handed and right-brained. I love to draw when I make the time. I did a lot of illustrations for handouts and handbooks in my federal career. I’m even a sometime silversmith. My husband says I’m a serial hobbyist! I have rough book dummies for several stories and I when I subbed to agents, I asked them to consider me as an author-illustrator. I did receive one response from an agent who liked my story and the rhyme (often hard to get a positive response), but my art style did not resonate with her AND she was ONLY taking on author-illustrators. Sigh.
So, I decided to try my own illustrations. I find humans hard to draw, so luckily, there are no humans in Curiosity’s Discovery! LOL!
text and illustration copyright Nancy Derey Riley 2020 (p.11)
SUSANNA: Since you illustrated your own book, I’m guessing you were able to talk your illustrator into working for a very reasonable price 😊 But were there any costs associated with illustrating?
NANCY: The biggest cost for me was buying the whole Adobe Creative Cloud package for a year. I started out trying to use watercolor pens, but decided that Photoshop was my best medium for these illustrations. That cost me around $360. I’m a member of the Colorado Independent Publishers Association and there are several service providers. One illustrator said his price is around $5000-$10000! One of my critique partners, who self-published, found an illustrator in eastern Europe, maybe Romania, and that was around $150 for the whole picture book. She was very pleased with the product. I believe she found her illustrator on Fiverr.com. I have heard mixed reviews about this service.
SUSANNA: How did you format your book for publication?
NANCY: It was written in Microsoft Word and then the sentences were added to the artwork Photoshop. Then the pages were converted into pdfs. I’ve been told that the NEXT time to create the pages in Adobe InDesign because it is even more compatible with the print service I use.
SUSANNA: How did you select a printing service?
NANCY: I read up and researched print-on-demand services, such as, Amazon’s KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing), IngramSpark, BookBaby, Draft2Digital, etc. I knew that I would not want to afford a printing company. IngramSpark prints both hardcover and paperback whereas KDP only does paperback. I also met another wonderful self-published author, Barbara Renner, online. I contacted her and asked if we could video chat about her publication process. She is beyond helpful.
SUSANNA: Did you do a print run so you’d have inventory, or is your book print-on-demand?
NANCY: My book is both. It is print-on-demand, but I can order my books at cost plus shipping so I do have a small inventory. My book is available online at: Amazon (around the world), Barnes & Noble, Walmart, Target, eBay, Waterstones (in the UK), and more. IngramSpark distributes their list to many outlets. Currently, the only physical place that has my book on consignment is the Fort Collins, Colorado Discovery Museum.
SUSANNA: How long was the process from writing through publication of your book?
NANCY: The story was started in mid-February 2020 for Valentiny. The full story was complete and critiqued by mid-April 2020. I spent last summer working on the illustrations and the publication date was November 10, 2020. So, around 11 months. There was a steep learning curve relearning Photoshop and getting the whole book formatted properly for IngramSpark.
SUSANNA: Were you able to get your book reviewed by Kirkus, SLJ, Hornbook, Booklist etc.?
Also, I entered the Colorado Book Awards and the SCBWI Spark Award. Fingers crossed!
SUSANNA: Describe any marketing/promotion you did for this book.
NANCY: I’m still figuring this out! I did have my website revamped and we had a countdown to release, trailer which we also put it on YouTube, word search, maze, and coloring pages available on my website. I tried to have a book launch or signing locally, but late November saw an upswing in Covid cases and stores stopped all in-person events. I didn’t know how or where to do a virtual event. I still have much to learn in the marketing arena.
The other place I want to reach are schools. I would love to do author visits and talk about the rover programs, Mars, space, whatever the kids dream up!
SUSANNA:Anything else you’d like to share about your book’s journey from inspiration to publication?
NANCY: I’m still smiling that I can hold this book in my hands! A pandemic is a funny time, but maybe the best time to try this! I haven’t given up on traditional publishing as well. Now I have a much better appreciation for what an agent and publishing company do for you! With that said however, I must toot my horn a little more.
This year I placed 3rd in the 2021 Valentiny with a story about the Perseverance rover landing on Mars. I’m working on a longer non-Valentine story for Percy and Ingenuity, the little helicopter that went with him. I will self-publish this one too because I want the art to match with Curiosity. Who knows, it might lead to a whole Mars series.
Nancy reading Curiosity’s Discovery to Perseverance (Percy) – apparently you can do this on NASA’s website which is so cool I may have to try it with MARS’ FIRST FRIENDS!
SUSANNA: Thank you so much for taking the time to chat with us today, Nancy! We’ve learned so much! I know I speak for everyone when I say we wish you the best of luck with this and future titles, and I think we’re all looking forward to the continuation of your Mars series!
NANCY: Thank you, Susanna for being such an inspiration to me and many others in the children’s literature field. Without your writing contests, I doubt this book would exist.
Author/Illustrator Nancy Derey Riley
Website: nancyrileynovelist.com Twitter: @NancyDereyRiley Facebook: Nancy Riley Novelist or Nancy Derey Riley (personal page) Instagram . . . soon for an author site ISBN-hardcover – 9781735737102 ISBN-paperback – 9781735737119
About Nancy: I’m a retired wildlife biologist living with my husband, dog, Scout, and our 2 horses on 35 acres north of Fort Collins, Colorado. I have a grown daughter, stepdaughter, and stepson, and two fantastic teenaged granddaughters. I split my time between writing, enjoying our land and life, and being a competitive adult figure skater.
Readers, if you have questions for Nancy, please post them in the comments below and if she has time I’m sure she’ll respond!
You may purchase Nancy’s book at: (all links below are book-specific)
Look at that! It’s Perfect Picture Book Friday again!
And just in time, too!
In keeping with my theme for this week (you know, the one where I insist that spring is coming in spite of overwhelming evidence to the contrary 😊 ) I have the perfect book!
Quick like springtime bunnies before we get to it, though, I want to announce that the winners of the copies of Bindu’s Bindis donated by publisher Sterling Children’s Books (from the PPBF post on February 26) are Sue Heavenrich and Anna Maledon! (because they actually sent two copies so YAY!) Please email me (susanna [at] susannhill [dot] com) with your snail mail address and I’ll send them out to you ASAP!
And now. . .
Title: Finding Spring
Written & Illustrated By: Carin Berger
Greenwillow Books, January 2015, fiction
Suitable For Ages: 4-8 (though I think a lot of 3 year olds would love it too 😊 )
Opening: “The forest was growing cold. Mama said that soon it would be time to sleep, but all Maurice could think about was his first spring.“
Brief Synopsis: Mama bear says it’s time to sleep, but all Maurice can think about is spring. So when Mama goes to sleep, Maurice sets out to find it. He has never seen spring, however, so he’s not really sure where to look or even what he’s looking for!
Why I Like This Book: Every child on earth understands impatience – how hard waiting is, and how much more fun to take action! Maurice is not deterred in the slightest by the fact that he doesn’t actually know what spring is. He just looks until he knows he’s found it. And he can tell he’s found it because it’s the most magical thing he’s ever seen! Just wait until you see what it is (and no, I’m not telling! 🙂 ) The book is illustrated with dioramas and cut-paper collages and is just gorgeous – a feast for the eyes of kids and grown-ups alike. A perfect choice for those of us currently longing for spring 🙂
PPBF folks, please add your titles and post-specific links (and any other info you feel like filling out 🙂 ) to the form below so we can all come see what fabulous picture books you’ve chosen to share this week!
Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!!! 😊 And enjoy spring which starts TOMORROW!!! 😊
Happy Would You Read It Wednesday St. Patrick’s Day!
It is not looking particularly green around here since it snowed again last night, but Spring is still coming in 3 days!
Here is a fun fact to cheer you while we wait: the shamrock is the national flower/emblem of Ireland, and its leaves are said to represent faith, hope, and love. If you find a four-leaf clover, the fourth leaf represents luck, which is why four-leaf clovers are said to be lucky!
I think there is probably a picture book in that somewhere 😊 Let’s all put on our creativity caps and think one up!
And since it is a known fact that chocolate fuels creativity and brain power, how about a little Something Chocolate? I think we should embrace the holiday and go with St. Paddy’s Day Oreo Bark!
Not only is that chocolate-y and scrumptious, it is also crunchy, and science tells us that crunchy things like apples and carrots (and therefore Oreo Bark!) help keep us awake and alert. (Do not ask me what science. That is classified and on a need-to-know basis. 😊)
Now then, onto today’s pitch which comes to us from Sally who says, “I am a young soul in an old body, whose many lifetimes have led me to this moment. From elementary teacher, to folk/lounge band singer, to children’s theatre actress, to cruise ship entertainer, back to teacher, choir director, reading specialist, literacy coach, college professor, Ph.D., educational consultant, now back to my creative roots in writing and art. My life has been as unpredictable as it is joyful. I live in the snowy Poconos and have retired to make time for my creative endeavors. In this new path, I have been embraced by this network of teachers, colleagues, writers and illustrators. I am a total newbie in this profession and consider myself a student. I am learning as much as possible My joy is playing with words, juggling them and making them turn somersaults. To that end I welcome all your feedback.”
Here is her pitch:
Working Title: Broccol-Trees And Mac And Cheese
Age/Genre: Picture Book/Toddler Board Book (ages 3-6)
The Pitch: Broccol-Trees and Mac and Cheese is a collection of tasty tidbits for toddlers and their parents. This rhythmic romp of playful poetry has sixteen silly scenes where eating food may just be the last thing that happens! Similar to the wonderfully inventive and irreverent style of Jack Prelutsky’s poems, these foodie offerings are sure to please parent palettes and tickle toddler funny bones and bellies!
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 Sally 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 April, so you could get your pitch up pretty soon for helpful feedback and a chance to have it read and commented on by editor Erin Molta!
Sally is looking forward to your thoughts on her pitch! I am looking forward to Spring! Three days, my friends! Three day! 😊 🦋 💐 🌷 🌹 🌺 🌸 🌼 🌻
So what if it’s snowing again! It’s time for Tuesday Debut, and it always makes the day wonderful to celebrate one of our own achieving publication – that pinnacle of success we all strive for whether it’s our first book or (I presume) our 50th – I’ll let you know if I get there! 😊
I am so thrilled to introduce today’s debutess, Julie Rowan-Zoch! You had the opportunity to meet her last fall when she made her illustration debut, but this time she is debuting her writing and art together!
And today is her book’s actual birthday, so feel free to have some cake 😊
Nice and Spring-y to help us ignore the snow! 😊
I’M A HARE, SO THERE! story and pictures: Julie Rowan-Zoch Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books for Young Readers (HMHKids) rel. date: March 16, 2021 (Informational) Fiction Pre-K – 3 (4-7yrs)
Exasperated hare puts a plucky squirrel in his place as they stroll through the desert comparing similar-not-same animals – while oblivious to predators! This hare may call the squirrel Chippie, or a tortoise a turtle, but Jack is NOT a rabbit!
SUSANNA:Thank you so much for coming to visit with us today, Julie! We are all so thrilled to have you here (again!)! I may be wrong, but I think you’re the first author/illustrator debutess we’ve had, and I know you’re the first person we’ve had who had an illustrator debut and then also an author/illustrator debut! We can’t wait to hear your unique perspective! Where did the idea for this book come from?
JULIE:I have your illustration contest to thank for the character, Susanna! That was the first drawing I made, but a few more followed and my agent soon asked, “What is his story?” Having a character with a bit of attitude helped “walk” the story, at least especially after researching where one would even find jackrabbits! It has gone through a number of revisions, including rhyme, but I recall the process as being easy (or Corona really has done a number on my brain!)
SUSANNA: Haha 😊 I think Corona has done a number on all our brains! But I have to say, I have loved that jackrabbit from the first moment I saw him, and I’m glad you were encouraged to tell his story! How long did it take you to write this book?
JULIE:According to the files I could find, about 3-4 weeks – NOT my norm!
SUSANNA:Did you go through many revisions?
JULIE:I (used to) re-number every draft, no matter how small the revision, and I believe it was about 15. I don’t have a real process for revision. I’m a pantser through and through!
Julie’s work space -contents: book ARCs, tiny bits of paper to help with beats while writing in rhyme, junkmail, dish of spicy -lime cashews, bills, critique notes, more beat charts for rhyme, prune juice, filthy old mouse, colored pencil leftover from my kids in elementary school!
SUSANNA:When did you know your manuscript was ready for submission?
JULIE:It felt good after running it by my critique groups numerous times. Then I showed it to my agent and we made one major change to the ending (let the main character live!). But we didn’t submit it for some time. I had some personal issues which brought life to a long halt! We finally offered it as an exclusive to the editor I worked with illustrating Tom Lichtenheld’s book, LOUIS.
SUSANNA:When and how did you submit?
JULIE:We submitted exclusively shortly after work on LOUIS had begun in 2018. After a week the editor asked for another week (!) then asked if I would be willing to add back matter. I agreed, though I was completely unsure about it – I had not expected that request!
SUSANNA: When did you get “the call”? (Best moment ever! ☺)
JULIE:My agent informed me via phone call after a deal was made, and yes, it felt great to sell my own writing!
SUSANNA: How did you celebrate signing your contract?
JULIE:I was lucky to celebrate with my dear friend and fellow writer, Julie Hedlund at our favorite hangout, about halfway between our homes in Colorado. There was champagne!
SUSANNA: Was the contract what you expected in terms of advance, royalty percentage, publication timeline, author copies etc.?
JULIE:I was very pleased with the offer, which my agent managed to bump up from the original a bit! It’s embarrassing, but I have no head for contract details – but I did get 20 author copies!
SUSANNA: What can you tell us about the editorial process?
JULIE:The editor and art director asked if I would be open to including a few more similar-but-not-the-same animals in the illustrations, which really made the book better! There was one revision request in the text but it was minor. There were a lot more requests after the initial sketches, lots of revision work on continuity and composition, even after the final artwork was submitted and color proofs came through! My experience was completely positive. I have to say, coming from graphic design, I find the collaboration in publishing with people who want to support you and produce really good books out of passion, well, you can guess – it’s much more satisfying!
Text & Illustration copyright Julie Rowan-Zoch 2021, HMH
SUSANNA: Did you get to see advance reviews from Kirkus, SLJ, etc?
JULIE:Actually, I found the (very nice!) reviews myself and shared them with my agent and the team. Maybe because we were knee deep in Corona-time? I was also the one to notice when HARE was chosen as an Editor’s Pick for best books in March for the 3-5yr age bracket. I feel very lucky to receive that kind of exposure for the book!
SUSANNA: I think it is very well deserved! 😊 How long did it take from offer to having the first copy in your hand?
JULIE:About 2yrs. Print run is 30K.
SUSANNA: What kind of marketing and promotion has your publisher done for this book?
JULIE:My publicist helped me with adding images to the book’s Amazon page, and facilitated an interview with Mr. Schu, but the rest has been up to me.
created by Julie and her publicist
SUSANNA: Describe any marketing/promotion you did for this book.
JULIE:I am very fortunate to belong to the Soaring20’s promotional group, as well as Picture Book Playground. Even if I were not debuting (twice!) in a pandemic, I would highly recommend finding such a group for the camaraderie and emotional support. And for the help with marketing, but honestly, that feels like less of a priority considering COVID. As you well know, it is the community which makes our little world go ‘round!
SUSANNA: How long was it between the time you started writing seriously and the time you sold your first picture book?
JULIE:For writing: 8.5yrs. I mentioned personal struggles along the way earlier, which slowed me down, but somehow I still feel lucky to be debuting right now. More likely I am just so happy to have this particular joy during these trying times!
SUSANNA:It certainly is a welcome bright spot – for you as creator and for us who get to enjoy your book! What is your most helpful piece of advice for up and coming writers?
JULIE:Everyone knows how important it is to engage with newer books on the market. But the current market shows you the current market, not necessarily great books. Yes, it’s very important to know what is selling, but I have found so many gems beyond the familiar classics over the last few years which feel as fresh today as when they were written in the 70’s, 80’s 90’s. For a book to have that kind of longevity they HAVE to have the rock-hard quality to stand the test of time. It may not be everyone’s goal, but I want to be reading my own books to kids for many, many years – and still enjoy it! Read the gems, write them out, read them again! Oh, and once you feel like you’ve got the basics down, don’t be afraid to break some rules! (For anyone interested in some of those old gems I heartily invite you to scroll around on my blog!)
SUSANNA: Anything else you’d like to share about your book’s journey from inspiration to publication?
JULIE:Maybe it’s the pandemic, and maybe it’s the kind of books released over the last few years (and I read A LOT as a bookseller), but I am starving for more humor in picture books and value a good find now more than ever before!
*Also, I have become extremely choosy in books for adults and I attribute it all to the concise writing and reading of picture books!
SUSANNA: Thank you so much for taking the time to participate in this series and paying it forward to other writers, Julie! We are so grateful to have gotten the opportunity to learn from you today, and wish you all the best with LOUIS, I’M A HARE, and all future titles!!!
I have a such a sweet and lovely book to share today – one that feels just right for the coming of Spring! AND a special treat – an activity from the author herself!
One look at this cover, and you’ll be hard-pressed not to pick this book right up for a peek inside! And you won’t be disappointed! 😊
Opening: “One shepherd opens up the gate. “It’s time to eat.” The sheep can’t wait!”
Brief Synopsis: When Shepherd calls his sheep in for dinner, Little Ewe is too busy to listen. Before long, she finds herself lost! What’s a little lamb to do?
text copyright Laura Sassi 2021, illustration copyright Tommy Doyle 2021, Beaming Books
Links To Resources: Today we have a special resource from author Laura Sassi!
A LITTLE EWE BOOK-THEMED GAME: “Where are you, Little Ewe?” “I am here, Shepherd, dear.”
Did you know that sheep recognize the sound of their shepherd’s voice? Likewise, shepherds know their flocks well and recognize their sheep’s “baa-ahs”? In fact, that’s how Little Ewe and Shepherd find each other at the end of the story! Inspired by this caring connection, here’s a fun variation of the traditional “hot potato” game you can play as part of a LITTLE EWE storytime. To play, you will need music that you can turn on and off, a little toy lamb that can be passed around a circle (like the hot potato) and at least six children.
Select one child to be Shepherd. The rest will be the sheep. Have the sheep sit in a circle around the Shepherd, who will sit in the middle.
Show them the little sheep toy. Explain that when the music plays, the Shepherd will close his/her eyes and the sheep will quietly pass “Little Ewe” around the circle.
When the music stops, the Shepherd (eyes still closed) will see if he/she recognizes the the voice of Little Ewe by asking: “Where are you, Little Ewe?”
The child holding Little Ewe will answer: “I am here, Shepherd, dear.”
Allow the Shepherd a few guesses, if needed, to identify the sheep’s voice. Then celebrate as a flock with a chorus of baahs.
6. Rotate who gets to be Shepherd until every one has a chance. 7. At the end of the game marvel together just how wonderful it is that just as sheep have loving shepherds who care for them, we too have shepherds (brainstorm who those might be) who care for us.
Why I Like This Book: Written in trademark perfect rhyme, this sweet story with its charming illustrations shows a busy youngster caught up in the wonder of the world. Exploring one interesting thing after another, chasing three lizards and watching four spiders, bouncing on five floating logs and splashing with six frogs (note there is also a delightful counting element to this book!) it’s no surprise Little Ewe is too distracted to heed the shepherd’s call. What preschooler hasn’t found her/himself in that predicament!? 😊 When the sky begins to darken, Little Ewe suddenly realizes she’s lost, and oh! what a scary feeling that is! But the shepherd, kind and caring, has of course noticed one of his flock is missing. He goes right back out into the gathering shadows and finds his little lost lamb. Such a comforting resolution that will make every child feel safe and snug. Another gem from Laura 😊
text copyright Laura Sassi 2021, illustration copyright Tommy Doyle 2021, Beaming Books
PPBF folks, please add your titles and post-specific blog links (and any other info you feel like filling out 😊) to the form below so we can all come see what fabulous picture books you’ve chosen to share this week!
How great is today? It’s Would You Read It Wednesday AND the weather people say it’s going to be sunny and 52 degrees! Can you imagine? A little taste of spring after all these weeks of snow and ice and cold. Here on Blueberry Hill we are ready! Scout and Violet and I are putting on our sunglasses, getting out the lotion, and preparing to work on our tans! 😊
And the only thing that can make this warm, sunny, spring-like day better?
You guessed it!
Something Chocolate!
Since we’re feeling springy and it’s nearly St. Patrick’s Day, we will be serving Pistachio And Chocolate Leprechaun Cookies!!
Now then, onto today’s pitch – a good one for March, with changeable weather and St. Patrick’s Day around the corner! It comes to us from Robin. Award winning author Robin Currie learned story sharing by sitting on the floor. At libraries and churches in the Chicago area she has engaged children and their parents with stories full of noise, action, and energy. A professional librarian and editor, Robin writes stories to read and read again!
The Pitch: On a March day in Ireland, the fickle weather shifts from sun to wind to rain to snow. In rollicking read aloud rhyme, Katie O’Shea (watched by her cat Shamrock) changes clothes until a look at the calendar reveals the perfect outfit!
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 Robin 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 April, so you could get your pitch up pretty soon for helpful feedback and a chance to have it read and commented on by editor Erin Molta!
Robin is looking forward to your thoughts on her pitch! I’d like to say I am looking forward to lying on the back porch in the sun doing nothing, but as I have editorial deadlines I had gosh darn well better be writing! 😊
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