Howdy, folks, and welcome to Perfect Picture Book Friday!
According to the Farmer’s Almanac, the first day of autumn 2019 is Monday September 23…which is in a couple days. I am not in ANY way trying to hurry the onset of winter with today’s selection! I love autumn. And autumn is the time when animals prepare for winter. So even though today’s book has a wintry-looking cover, think of it as a celebration of autumn rather than a harbinger of cold and snow! 🙂
Title: Snack, Snooze, Skedaddle: How Animals Get Ready For Winter
Written By: Laura Purdie Salas
Illustrated By: Claudine Gevry
Millbrook Press, September 3, 2019, nonfiction
Suitable For Ages: 5-9 (I think younger kids will enjoy it too!)
Themes/Topics: nature, animals, preparing for winter
Opening: “Soak up the sun, breathe in the breeze, Munch crunchy apples that fall from the trees. Enjoy every morsel you feast on today: the banquet of autumn will soon fade away.
So plump up or burrow or journey before frosty winds rattle and batter your door. Snowstorms and dark nights are next to arrive. Here comes winter! PREPARE. SURVIVE!”
text copyright Laura Purdie Salas 2019, illustration copyright Claudine Gevry 2019 Millbrook Press
Brief Synopsis: From the publisher: “There is more than one way for animals to prepare for winter. Some, such as mice, foxes, and moose, simply tolerate the cold. Of course black bears hibernate, but chipmunks, wood frogs, and garter snakes do too. And then there are the creatures that migrate, including hummingbirds, blue whales, and even earthworms! This rhyming nonfiction picture book by Laura Purdie Salas tells you all about how animals survive chilly weather.”
Links To Resources: the book itself is a resource, full of facts about toleration, hibernation, and migration. There are several pages of back matter about survival strategies, survivors, and a glossary. Hibernation activities; Hibernation Migration activities
Why I Like This Book: the rhyming text is engaging and fun to read aloud and provides a lyrical aspect to the nonfiction content. It is accompanied by simply stated facts that children will find accessible. And the text is beautifully complemented by the colorful art which is both eye-catching and warm and appealing. The whole book is a gem that you and your little animal enthusiasts will love!
text copyright Laura Purdie Salas 2019, illustration copyright Claudine Gevry 2019 Millbrook Press
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!
Since it’s Would You Read It Wednesday, I have something fun to share that I hope you will read! (There should be a rhyme about that… maybe something like how many books would a woodchuck… uh, well, actually maybe not that 🙂 Devouring books is fine, but not necessarily the way a woodchuck might 🙂 )
I am fortunate to have many friends who are talented writers and illustrators, and I always love to share their books. If you’re looking for something great and hot off the presses, check out these two titles released in the past week!
Congratulations to Iza and Della on their newest books! (and don’t miss their previous titles! 🙂 )
Now that we’ve got some good new books to read, let’s cozy up with Something Chocolate – a breakfast treat I’m sure we can all agree is totally healthy and delicious for myriad reasons – Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies.
Not only is this Something Chocolate totally yummy, I got to use the word myriad and it’s always a good day when you can work that in! 🙂
Now then, onto today’s pitch which comes to us from Kim who says, “I’m blessed to be pursuing my dream of writing full-time after a career in mortgage lending. I have two grown boys but no grandkids to read my stories to yet.”
Find her on the web at
Here is her pitch:
Working Title: P. I. Goat And The Case Of The Missing Bone
Age/Genre: Picture Book (ages 4-8)
The Pitch: P.I.Goat gets his first case when Puddles, a puppy, hires him to find Paw-Paw’s bone. Nearsighted Paw-Paw thinks Goat is a pig, but Goat has a worse problem: he faints when startled! Despite the lack of help from a cast of wacky farm animals, Goat unravels the startling truth behind the Case of the Missing Bone. He also discovers that being a P.I. is not for the faint of heart—KLUNK!
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 Kim 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 a chance to have it read and commented on by editor Erin Molta!
Kim is looking forward to your thoughts on her pitch! I am looking forward to seeing my new book which is due out in a couple weeks and which I am hoping will show up on my porch one of these days VERY SOON! (Not that I’m impatient, mind you. Not me! I’m a model of calm and decorous waiting 🙂 )
Yee haw! It’s Tuesday! And you know what that means!
Time to meet another brand new author and find out how she navigated the path to publication!
Today I’m happy to introduce Nadine Poper and her funny informational-fiction sea story, RANDALL AND RANDALL!
RANDALL AND RANDALL
written by Nadine Poper
illustrated by Polina Gortman
published by Blue Whale Press
release date Oct. 1, 2019
fiction picture book, ages 4-8
This very funny informational-fiction story about one of the sea’s naturally-existent odd couples illustrates how certain species depend upon their symbiotic relationship for survival.
SUSANNA: Welcome, Nadine! And thank you so much for coming to share your book journey with us today! Where did the idea for this book come from?
NADINE: The idea for RANDALL AND RANDALL came while researching unusual animal relationships ( I actually Googled ‘unusual animals relationships’, I think). When I saw that a specific species of goby fish and snapping shrimp have this symbiotic relationship, a light bulb went on. I said to myself, “There is a story here! I don’t know exactly what yet, but there is a story here.”
SUSANNA: How long did it take you to write this book?
NADINE: Writing this story didn’t take too long. The more I researched these two animals and their natural relationship, the idea for their friendship (and their slight moment of animosity) formed rather quickly. Their true behaviors in the ocean were so comical to me that the plot just rolled out.
SUSANNA: Did you go through many revisions?
NADINE: RANDALL AND RANDALL didn’t go through a ton of revisions. I was pretty satisfied from the beginning with the overall storyline that came out of my head. The Spanish language needed to be tweaked often because I knew I wasn’t going to get it correct right away. That was probably where I spent most of my revision time, on the Spanish.
SUSANNA: When did you know your manuscript was ready for submission?
NADINE: I had taken it to my critique groups at least twice. I wasn’t getting a lot of advice or feedback that was major. t just felt that it was ready to submit.
SUSANNA: When and how did you submit?
NADINE: RANDALL AND RANDALL is not the manuscript I queried to the editor Alayne Christian at Blue Whale initially. I had queried her with my book that is coming out November 1 titled PORCUPETTE AND MOPPET. It just so happens that R&R is coming out first. I do not have an agent but at the time I queried Blue Whale, I had queries out to agents. I saw that Blue Whale was looking to grow their list and I felt that PORCUPETTE AND MOPPET was what they were looking for.
SUSANNA: When did you get “the call”? (Best moment ever! 🙂 )
NADINE: I received an email from Alayne two days after submitting saying that she would like to talk to me about it and when would be a good time. We arranged a call for two days after that email. I was offered a contract for it. I didn’t accept immediately since the manuscript was out to agents, one of which expressed interest as well. As the industry expectation and out of courtesy, I had contacted that agent to let her know of Blue Whale’s offer. After about two weeks, I had made my decision to sign with Blue Whale. During that time, I had sent Alayne RANDALL AND RANDALL, which she also wanted to sign. I was just beyond thrilled at this point!
SUSANNA: How did you celebrate signing your contract? (If you care to share J)
NADINE: Honestly, I don’t think I did anything! How boring, right? I should have made one of your amazing chocolate recipes Susanna from Would You Read It Wednesdays and celebrated with that!
SUSANNA: Was the contract what you expected in terms of advance, royalty percentage, publication timeline, author copies etc.?
NADINE: I didn’t have any experience with contracts so I wasn’t completely sure of what was acceptable, but it turns out that yes, the contract was extremely fair and is pretty much right on target with what I hear about other authors’ deals. Since I submitted right to a publishing house and without an agent, my royalties are slightly higher.
SUSANNA: Tell us a little bit about the editorial process?
NADINE: There weren’t too many big changes to the manuscript. Alayne had suggested some areas needed clarification since the one Randall is singing and then he goes into spotting a predator. The way I had it written, it seemed as if Randall was still singing when he wasn’t. The ending is stronger too because of a suggestion Alayne had made.
SUSANNA: What can you tell us about your experience of the illustration process?
NADINE: Aren’t the illustrations just so awesome?? From the beginning, Alayne had sent me a list of illustrators she had come across and whose worked she liked. I was encouraged to look at all their online portfolios and share my thoughts with her. We then agreed on Polina. I can’t quite pinpoint why I was drawn to Polina’s art, but that it just felt that my Randalls would be in good hands with her. I saw proofs and sketches along the way. I didn’t really have my own vision of what the characters or the setting was to look like. Polina’s attention to detail in the undersea world she created is impressively meticulous. That part I never imaged. As far as art notes, looking back, I think the copy I sent initially may have had one or two about the animals that the goby Randall was calling predators. I realize now that they weren’t necessary. So, no. I don’t think I had art notes.
text copyright Nadine Poper 2019, illustration copyright Polina Gortman 2019
SUSANNA: Did you get to see advance reviews from Kirkus, SLJ, etc? What was that like?
NADINE: Yes. Kirkus actually awarded RANDALL AND RANDALL a blue star. That was thrilling.
SUSANNA: How long did it take from offer to having the first copy in your hand?
NADINE: The offer came April of 2018 and real copies will be available October 1, 2019. So 18 months from query to release.
SUSANNA: What kind of marketing and promotion has your publisher done for this book?
NADINE: Blue Whale has created a book trailer and has sent the book out for reviews. Alayne is busy on social media too.
SUSANNA: How long was it between the time you started writing seriously and the time you sold your first picture book?
NADINE: Well, I started writing seriously in 2013 so about 5 years.
coming soon from Nadine Poper
SUSANNA: Thank you so much for taking the time to participate in this series and paying it forward to other writers, Nadine! We so appreciate everything you shared with us today and wish you the very best with RANDALL AND RANDALL and your forthcoming PORCUPETTE AND MOPPET!
Welcome back to Perfect Picture Book Friday, everyone!
A week later than I intended, but, you know, stuff happens… and better late than never 🙂
You all know I like rhyming truck books, having written a couple myself and shared more than one of Little Blue Truck’s adventures here. Today I’m thrilled to be sharing one written by two of my very talented friends. I hope you’ll enjoy it!
Title: Two Tough Trucks
Written By: Corey Rosen Schwartz and Rebecca Gomez
Illustrated By: Hilary Leung
Orchard Books, September 17 2019, fiction
Suitable For Ages: 3-5
Themes/Topics: cooperation, compromise, working together, friendship
Opening: “One Mack, revved up and ready to go. One Rig, a wreck, unsteady and slow. Two trucks off to school for their first day of class. One riding the brakes. One hitting the gas. VROOM! ZOOM! A beep-beep goodbye. A Rig holding back, a Mack saying “Hi!””
Brief Synopsis: (from the jacket) “Mack and Rig couldn’t be more different.
One loves the fast lane. The other, the off-ramp. But when they’re forced to pair up on their first day of school, can Mack and Rig figure out a way to get along and learn what it really means to be a tough truck?”
Why I Like This Book: this delightful book brings the concept of learning to get along into the world of trucks. What could be more fun? 🙂 Mack and Rig are as different in their skills and personalities as they can be, and at first it seems there’s no hope for them to accomplish anything together. But they learn what we all need to learn: that our differences complement each other and working together is always better than going it alone. The story is engaging with fun to read-aloud rhyme, and the art is warm, bright and appealing. A great choice for little truck-lovers and for kids who need a little encouragement to give potential friends a chance.
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!
(Somehow that reminds me of the episode of I Love Lucy when Lucy writes a play and then there’s confusion amongst the actors about whether they’re performing with a Cuban accent or a British one and they keep saying “Pip! Pip! Cheerio, wot?” 🙂 )
(And since Lucy wrote a play, that is a writing reference and therefore appropriate for inclusion here… 🙂 )
But ANYway… 🙂
After a month off, it’s time to get back to everybody’s favorite past-time: Would You Read It Wednesday! (Which. I’ll have you know, is a legitimate educational writing feature and not just a thinly veiled excuse to eat chocolate 🙂 )
First, I’m thrilled to announce that the winner of the July Pitch Pick was Nancy with her PB pitch for Cupid’s Tango! Congratulations on a fabulous pitch and a terrific story idea, Nancy! Your pitch has been sent to editor Erin Molta for her comments and I’m sure she’ll get back to us at her earliest convenience. Then we can have a Straight From The Editor party with Erin’s thoughts from the June and July pitches!
Congratulations also to the other pitchers from July who did a great job writing and revising their pitches as well! It takes a lot of courage and dedication to your craft to put a pitch up for everyone to read and comment on, but it’s invaluable because we all get to learn from the experience and hopefully the pitchers end up with something stronger than they started with!
I think all your awesomeness calls for a little Something Chocolate, don’t you?
Let’s hang onto summer a little longer with some S’mores Fudge Bars!
Don’t those just make you think of summer sing-alongs beside the campfire with the starry heavens up above?
“The other day The other day “I met a bear I met a bear A great big bear A great big bear Away up there Away up there
The other day I met a bear….
A great big bear away up there!”
Come on, everybody! “He looked at me…” 🙂
Okay! Enough campfire singing 🙂 Onto today’s pitch which comes to us from Erin who says, “I am a book writer, avid reader, twin mama, and cf fighter. I have called WI, MN, MS, NYC and now San Diego CA home.”
The Pitch: On the airport lawn, a herd of goats munches grass day after day, but one goat is not content. One morning, tired of his repetitive diet, this goat takes off to investigate new culinary options. He will have to search high and low and avoid airport security, but surely somewhere there are more delectable things to eat.
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 Erin 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 actually still openings in September, so you could get your pitch up very soon! for helpful feedback and a chance to have it read and commented on by editor Erin Molta!
Erin is looking forward to your thoughts on her pitch! I am looking forward to the return of Perfect Picture Books on Friday (good lord willin’ and the creek don’t rise! – my best intentions last week were derailed!) because I have a fun book to share! But you’ll just have to wait and see what it is! (How’s that for a cliffhanger ending! 🙂 )
I hope you all had wonderful summers, got the kiddos off to school, and are ready to return to writing, reading, teaching, and/or librarying refreshed and full of energy and enthusiasm!
Jumping back into blogging gear with a Tuesday Debut seems just right, because there is nothing like a brand new author sharing her brand new book to inspire us all!
I am thrilled to introduce today’s debut-ess, Shannon Stocker, and her entertaining picture book, CAN U SAVE THE DAY!
CAN U SAVE THE DAY
By Shannon Stocker
Illustrated by Tom Disbury
Sleeping Bear Press
Pub date: August 15, 2019
Fiction
Age range: 4-8 (and up)
SYNOPSIS:
Distraught by bullying consonants, the vowels decide to leave the farm (and the story), one by one. Once A, E, I, and O are gone, a mess of concerned consonants and stammering animals must face a pending (but humorous) disaster that can only be saved by U.
SUSANNA: Welcome, Shannon! Thank you so much for joining us today. Where did the idea for this book come from?
SHANNON: CAN U SAVE THE DAY began as one of those “moments-before-you-fall-asleep” ideas. I couldn’t shake the thought that a book with departing vowels would be funny, and animal sounds without vowels kept playing in my drowsy mind. Eventually, when a stanza came to me in rhyme while I was still trying to sleep, I got out of bed and started writing. By the next afternoon I had a great idea and a horrible first draft. In that drafting process, though, I googled a number of farm animals to play with the sounds they make as vowels departed (first A, then E, etc), trying to see how I could create fun noises and unusual rhymes (like “brk” and “crk” instead of bark and croak, though that particular rhyme didn’t make it into the final story). I played with words and sounds a ton during the writing process.
SUSANNA: How long did it take you to write this book?
SHANNON: I wrote my first draft in late 2015 and it was purchased in spring 2017, so it took well over a year to polish this enough to be sold. Although I have an agent now (whom I adore), I sold CAN U SAVE THE DAY without an agent. I do think it can be harder to get an agent than a book contract. Subbing to houses that are open to unsolicited queries and meeting editors at conferences and online events is such a great way to get your work noticed.
SUSANNA: Did you go through many revisions?
SHANNON: Since this was only the second manuscript I’d ever written, I don’t think I really understood how bad it was. I had no inciting incident, no real reason for the vowels to leave, and no stakes. But since I didn’t know any better, I subbed it to some agents and editors, got a few nibbles with great feedback, and kept revising. I worked with critique partners and revised more, and more, and more. Eventually I paid for a critique with my fabulous editor, Sarah Rockett (Sleeping Bear), and she made a few additional suggestions that really resonated. Fifty plus revisions after that first draft, I’m so excited that it’s actually come to fruition.
SUSANNA: When did you know your manuscript was ready for submission?
SHANNON: This is such a great question. When I’d just started writing, my critique partners were also newbies. When they all felt the manuscript was ready, I began subbing to a few agents (though in hindsight, I think we all jumped the gun a bit). Many people had told me that agents rarely respond, so I took the responses that I did get seriously. I didn’t really get constructive feedback from any agents but I did get positive remarks on my voice and the idea behind the story, so I took an online class. In one of the sessions, I had the opportunity to read the manuscript aloud and everyone loved it. I knew I was onto something.
SUSANNA: When and how did you submit?
SHANNON: I submitted to my first agent in January 2016. I always submitted through guidelines as outlined on website/SCBWI/Children’s Bookwriters and Illustrators/#MSWL/etc. I did as much research as I could to see if an agent would be a good fit, looking at their client list, books they repped, and houses to which they subbed, before deciding if I should query someone. I joined Publisher’s Marketplace and kept up with the picture book section religiously, too. I would also scour the internet for interviews and follow people on Twitter to see if I thought we’d gel, or to try and find some little pertinent pearl that I could mention in a query to show them I’d done my homework. Spring 2016, I got a nibble from an editor at a different house from Sleeping Bear (I’d subbed through the slush pile). She and I made revisions, then she took it to the other editors for approval. That’s really the first time I started increasing the stakes, focusing on the bullying theme, and she even had me take the animals off the farm. I learned a lot from her and really appreciated her insight. Unfortunately, someone on the editorial team felt the idea was too abstract and it got cut. So, I continued attending conferences, getting feedback, and revising. In early 2017, I paid for an online critique with Sarah Rockett (Sleeping Bear). She suggested I clean up the logistics of the manuscript and remove the vowels from all the dialogue when they left. She also wanted the letters to stay on the farm, and she wanted more tension. Once the manuscript went to Acquisitions, I received an offer for representation from my first agent. Unfortunately, that relationship ended shortly after it began due to some honesty issues. It was a really heartbreaking and confusing time; I liked her, personally, but couldn’t trust her. I didn’t know if all agents would be like that (they’re not). So I ended up selling the book myself, hiring a contract attorney, and asking my published CPs for advice.
SUSANNA: When did you get “the call”? (Best moment ever! 😊)
SHANNON: I actually got an email instead of a call! Every time I saw Sarah’s name in my inbox, my stomach dropped. I’d always heard about getting “the call,” so I didn’t want to get an email from her; I thought an email would equal bad news. Sarah had written to me at the end of April, 2017, to tell me it was going to Acquisitions. At the end of May, she wrote to tell me CAN U had made the 2019 list. My husband and I share an office and our desks face one another, but computer monitors obscure our view of the other. My jaw dropped and my voice slid up the musical scale as I let out a sort of “Greeeeeeeeg” whoop, and I stood up so he could see me above my monitor. He said, “What? WHAT?” My whole body just vibrated, I was so excited. I screamed, “THEY WANT MY BOOK!” Then I called my CPs and we all squealed and danced together. That’s such an amazing moment!
SUSANNA: It sure is! It’s the moment we all dream about, and it’s just as exciting every time it happens – it never gets old! 🙂 How did you celebrate signing your contract?
SHANNON: I celebrated signing my book contract with a bottle of champagne and a family night. The whole family chattered about how fun the launch would be. We talked about party possibilities, maybe writing a song to go with the book (which I did), maybe doing a music video to go with the song (which we shot a week ago), and, of course, cake. You can’t have kids and a party without cake. It was hard for them to understand that all these things wouldn’t happen for two years, but somehow, they kept their excitement up that whole time. The launch was a blast!
Shannon’s inspirations
SUSANNA: Was the contract what you expected in terms of advance, royalty percentage, publication timeline, author copies etc.?
SHANNON: I’d done a lot of research about first-time authors and publication, so I knew there wasn’t a lot of money to be expected. Royalty rates and number of author copies allowed were both reasonable from Sleeping Bear; I’d definitely recommend people submit to them. The quality of their books is fantastic, and Sarah’s been so communicative. I was surprised by a publication timeline that was over two years away, but I’ve since come to learn that’s pretty normal for many of the smaller to medium-sized houses. Patience is non-negotiable in this field!
SUSANNA: Tell us about the editorial process…
SHANNON: Honestly, this may have been my favorite part of the whole process, outside of that initial rush you get with the first draft. Sarah knew exactly what she wanted from me, but she was always respectful of my vision. When I wanted something she didn’t, she clearly (and kindly) explained why we needed to move in a different direction. I never felt like I was losing my voice, and I never worried that the meter of the story would be lost (it’s a rhyming manuscript). It was an open, honest collaboration that led to a story I loved even more. We had several back-and-forths before we got to the manuscript on shelves today.
SUSANNA: Tell us about your experience of the illustration process…
SHANNON: Sarah initially asked me to send her names of illustrators that I liked, which pleasantly surprised me. I’d been told to expect I would have no input regarding illustrations, so I tried hard not to really envision my characters. I didn’t want to be disappointed. Still, that’s almost impossible to do! So when Sarah told me that Tom Disbury would be illustrating, I looked him up and was thrilled. I envisioned playful letters and animals in the same style and colors that he used. I hadn’t envisioned them on a simple, white background, but that’s why I don’t illustrate – I don’t have an eye for that kind of thing! I just love what he did with the book. Sketches came to me each step of the way in digital form until I received the final pdf of the book. What a fabulous moment that is!
Shannon’s work buddy 🙂
SUSANNA: Did you get to see advance reviews from Kirkus, SLJ, etc? What was that like?
SHANNON: I did, I did! We celebrated the Kirkus review because it was so positive, and I know Kirkus can be tough on authors. The last line of the review is, “Stocker’s wordplay is icing on the cake.” We printed it out and stuck it to a window right by our kitchen table. Because this industry is so tough, we celebrate each little step as a family. I think it’s important to get excited when something positive happens! SLJ’s review actually just came out last week (after the release), but it’s also very good. A snippet from that says the book is a “fun rhyming addition to elementary libraries and classrooms.” It also says CAN U “will guarantee laughs as a read-aloud and will teach a lesson in cooperation and respect and give some pointers on how to apologize.” I’m thrilled with the two reviews I’ve received so far!
SUSANNA: Very nice reviews!!! How long did it take from offer to having the first copy in your hand?
SHANNON: I received an offer on May 30, 2017, and the book released on August 15, 2019. But it’s sooooooo worth the wait.
SUSANNA: If your book has been out for at least one statement cycle, has it earned out yet?
SHANNON: Sorry, can’t help here – the book just released on August 15th. I’d love to know this answer for other authors, though. Great question!
SUSANNA: What kind of marketing and promotion has your publisher done for this book?
SHANNON: Being pretty new to the market, I’m still learning a lot about this. I’ve been in touch with Sleeping Bear’s publicist about a number of things, though, ranging from library readings to school visits to bookstore signings. I’ve been impressed with Sleeping Bear on so many levels. They really care about their authors and they want their books to succeed. They work directly with schools on book orders prior to signings, and they’ve submitted CAN U for a number of reviews that haven’t come in yet. The design team also helped with the bookmark, flyers, and activity sheets.
SUSANNA: Describe any marketing/promotion you did for this book.
SHANNON: I love Canva, so I’ve used that for flyers and Twitter banners and things like that – it’s very user-friendly. But probably my favorite thing that I, personally, have done for promotion is to write a song to accompany the book (co-written with my Nashville friend, Scott Sandford). I’m a musician (singer/songwriter/guitarist/pianist), so it’s fun to combine my passions this way. Last weekend, we filmed a music video to go with the song—my brother-in-law, Mark, is editing and producing it. I’ve seen a couple clips and cannot wait to see the finished product! I bought little animal ear headbands that kids can wear during readings, so they can each have their own animal sound (or one person can wear the headband and lead their own group). The video will be hysterical. Lots of kids, but a couple adults have cameos when you least expect it. I also asked an illustrator friend, Scott Soeder, to do face painting at my launch (my illustrator lives in England). Scott was a huge hit and the kids loved having the animals and letters painted on their faces! I’m also doing a blog tour and a few podcasts; you can find a listing of all those events on my website.
SUSANNA: Your video sounds terrific! I can’t wait to see it! 🙂 How long was it between the time you started writing seriously and the time you sold your first picture book?
SHANNON: Songwriting was my first love, but I always wanted to write picture books and novels. I finally gathered the courage to quit my job in the fall of 2015 and give my dream a chance. I sold my first picture book in May 2017. I feel pretty lucky—I know that’s not a long period of time in this industry.
SUSANNA: Anything else you’d like to share about your book’s journey from inspiration to publication?
SHANNON: For every success story there are hundreds of rejections, and that can be a tough place to live. Thick skin is mandatory. But, in my opinion, so are critique partners. I would not be the writer I am today—no, the personI am today—without my critique partners. When you get knocked down, critique partners do more than help you back up. They actually lie down and cry with you first, THEN they help you back up. They’ve been knocked down, too, so they understand. When things get tough, they remind you of all the wonderful reasons you love writing. They will point out the reasons a manuscript is working, but also why it’s not…gently, but firmly. They are my first litmus test, encouraging me when a manuscript is agent-ready…and helping me revise when it’s not. We’ve been through so much together already that I can call on any number of them if my world blew up, and they would be there for me. If you don’t have a critique group, I strongly encourage you to consider finding a partner or two. Check the SCBWI website, look for local people, go to conferences, join 12×12…do the work, but reach out to people, too. You shouldn’t necessarily initially expect to join a critique group with a bunch of agented, published authors, but rather look for other newer writers with whom you jibe…and look for writing that resonates with you. Then ask those people if they want to be your CP and form your own group. Or ask if they have a group you can join. Nothing is easy in this business. But it’s all so much more worthwhile when we band together.
SUSANNA: Thank you so much for taking the time to participate in this series and paying it forward to other writers, Shannon! We are all grateful to you for sharing your experience and expertise and wish you the very best of success with this and future books!
Readers, if you have questions for Shannon, please post them in the comments below and if she has time I’m sure she’ll respond!
Mmmm-mmm good! Scrumptious breakfast perfection for summertime! 😊
Now that we’re all fortified, let’s get right to the July Pitch Pick!
Our pitchers for this month have taken your helpful advice to heart and revised their pitches. Please read through and evaluate them and decide which one you think is best and most deserves a read and comments from editor Erin Molta, then vote in the poll below by Sunday July 28 at 9PM Eastern.
#1 – Nancy – Cupid’s Tango – (PB ages 4-8)
Cupid, the prairie chicken, has his feathers all in a twist over his flock’s step dance contest. If he fails, no hen will pick him to go to the All Species Ball. The problem – he is horrible at step dancing and when he’s nervous, he’s worse. When the contest ends in disaster, Cupid is determined to find a dance he loves and win a hen’s heart to go to the ball.
#2 – Nadishka – The Fishing Cat Who Found Her Home (PB ages 2-7)
The story is about a fishing cat who overcomes adversity and finds out where she truly belongs.
Fiona lives with her adopted family who rescued her off the highway. However, they realize she is a fishing cat and since it is illegal to keep endangered animals as pets they abandon her in a forested area. Having lived in a human household from when she was very young, she has to use her wits to survive. She escapes the jaws of a monitor lizard and she learns to forage for food. She learns to avoid road traffic and garbage dumps. Finally, she meets an adult fishing cat who teaches her more about her species and escorts her to a Wetland Sanctuary.
Fishing cats are a type of small wildcat that lives in wetland areas. They get that unique name because they are able to swim underwater and fish for food. They are an endangered species. This book is aimed at educating children about endangered species in Sri Lanka. I have already partnered with the Urban Fishing Cat Conservation Project and I have some fun facts and an educational element to the book. The researchers at the Conservation Project have already confirmed that the storyline is quite plausible since many people unknowingly rescue fishing cat kittens. The story also teaches youngsters to persevere when times are hard.
#3 – Corine – Well Spotted, Joey! (Creative nonfiction Short Story ages 8-12)
When nearsighted Joey forgets his glasses at the safari lodge, the morning game drive becomes increasingly frustrating. Every five minutes his family points out another animal and he can’t see beyond the bonnet of the jeep. Just when he is about to burst with anger, a change of focus leads to a discovery that saves the day.
Tough choice, I know! As always! Thank you for voting!!!
Now then.
It’s the end of July, so I’m going to take a little blogging break. I do have Tuesday Debut-ers scheduled for Tuesday July 30 and Tuesday August 6, so please do stop by and support them!
But otherwise, you are all excused for summer vacation and I’ll see you back here sometime after Labor Day for all our regularly scheduled programming!
Enjoy your summers and families and whatever time off you can get! You deserve it!!! 😊 😊😊
I hope you are all excited for the 50th Anniversary of the Moon Landing!
I know I am!
The whole idea of getting into a rocket and flying into space to walk on the moon is just so thrilling, don’t you think?
I have learned so many things about the Apollo 11 mission, not just from writing my book and sharing it with kids, but also from the newspaper this past week.
True or false? Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Buzz Aldrin all weighed 165 pounds and were all within an inch of 5′ 11″?
True or false? The astronauts ate Pop Tarts for their pre-lift-off breakfast?
True or false? A rocket weighs more than 6 times as much as a 747 Jumbo Jet and can travel 40 times as fast? 🚀✈️
True or false? Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin were saved by quick thinking and a pen?
True or false? One of the Apollo 11 astronauts was born on a popular holiday?
Maybe if I’m feeling very nice I’ll tell you the answers at the end 😊
Meanwhile, let’s talk about the winner of the June Pitch Pick.
In an (I think!) unprecedented moment in WYRI history, we actually had a tie! It was one of the closest pitch picks ever, as all 4 pitches came within just a few points of each other, but I’m pleased to announce that the winners were Deborah (Farmer Jo And The Chicken Coop Calamity) and Ana (Bella The Best Quits Again). Congratulations! Fabulous pitches! I will send them both to editor Erin Molta and prevail upon her extraordinary kindness to get her thoughts on both.
Congratulations also to Christina and Diana who also did a fantastic job and had very nearly as many votes as the two who won! Tough competition this month! But great job all around!!!
Truly, all that talk about rockets and ties has made me feel a tad faint. I believe Something Chocolate is called for. (Really, any excuse will do 😊) Hmm… what should we have today?
Nothing says breakfast like marshmallow-filled chocolate cupcakes…! 😊
As Cookie Monster would say, “Nom-nom-nom-nom-nom!”
😊
Now then, onto today’s pitch which comes to us from Corine. Corine Timmer is a self-published author, haiku poet, nature lover, and street dog advocate. She lives in the countryside in Portugal together with her adopted dogs and her beloved donkey, Lolita. When she is not writing, tending to her animals, or creating artwork, she enjoys nature walks, visiting art galleries, and eating with friends. She loves chocolate! You can visit her on her website www.bicadeideias.com ”
Here is her pitch:
Working Title: Well Spotted, Joey
Age/Genre: Short Story (ages 8-12) nonfiction
The Pitch: When Joey, who is nearsighted, forgets his glasses at the safari lodge, the morning game drive becomes increasingly frustrating. His family are spotting wildlife every five minutes and he cannot see farther than the bonnet of the jeep. Just when he is about to have a tantrum, a change of focus leads to a discovery that saves the day.
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 Corine 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 September, which at this point is not all that far away, but you have time to polish your pitch before putting it up for helpful feedback and a chance to have it read and commented on by editor Erin Molta!
Corine is looking forward to your thoughts on her pitch! I am looking forward to making you all go do some research to find out which of those questions were true and which were false! Mwa ha ha! (how’s that for an evil laugh?! 😊)
Nah! I’m just kidding you! They are all true except the pop tarts! The astronauts actually had orange juice, steak and eggs, toast, and coffee for breakfast (surprisingly hearty, given they were about to get into a compartment about the size of a car and stay there for the better part of 8 days while traveling through space at 24,000 mph!). One little girl at an author visit I was on recently suggested the astronauts have ice cream sandwiches for breakfast, proving that I am not the only one who thinks ice cream for breakfast is a good idea! 😊 Oh, and if you’re wondering, Michael Collins was born on Halloween! 😊
Hello my friends who I’m down to seeing once a week these days!
I hope everyone who celebrates had a fabulous Fourth!
I spent a good portion of mine hiding in the basement behind the drum set comforting my trembling dog! Poor Jemmie. She does not like fireworks or thunder one single eensy weensie teeny tiny little itty bitty bit!
Scouty, meanwhile, lay flat out and snoring without a care in the world – completely oblivious! If only she could explain to Jemmie that this too shall pass and there’s no need to fret!
But until that day, all moments of terror require crouching in the corner behind the drum set. So comfortable. 😊
Speaking of drums, let’s get to the June Pitch Pick!
(How’s that for a non sequitur? 😊)
Our June pitchers took your helpful advice to heart and set about revising their pitches for your vote. Please read through them, choose your favorite, and vote for it in the poll below by Sunday July 14 at 9 PM Eastern. The winning pitch will be sent to editor Erin Molta for her comments!!! 😊
Here are the pitches:
#1 – Deborah – Farmer Jo and the Chicken Coop Calamity (PB 4-8)
Henrietta, Goldie, and Pearl are three chickens with grand ideas. After convincing Farmer Jo to build improvements on their hen house, word spreads and many new chickens come to the farm to roost. But the weight of the situation proves to much to bear and the results are shattering as the hen house splinters apart.
#2 – Diana – Wrong Way, Ray (PB 4-8)
Ray’s poor sense of direction heads the flock of geese off in the wrong direction each time it’s his turn to lead them south for the winter. The gaggle are ready to give him the boot. When a raptor attacks the gaggle, Ray flies into action to save his feathered friends.
#3 – Ana – Bella The Best Quits Again (PB 4-8)
Bella, a Latina girl as sassy as Junie B. Jones, quits everything she (barely) tries because she’s not the best at it: her backflips look like giraffes rolling downhill & her dulce de leche frosting: crocodile skin. Bella must learn it’s ok to try again or she won’t be good @ anything. For kids who enjoy The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes.
#4 – Christina – Aurora Takes The Lead (formerly Mommy Is Not A Morning Person) (PB 4-8)
AURORA TAKES THE LEAD is a role-reversing romp about how to be a leader, when you’re the smallest one in the house. Spunky Aurora flies out of bed, bent on getting her family up and out the door on time. It’s field trip day, and like it or not, those sea lions wait for nobody. But there are road blocks along the way. Baby Olive won’t stop bawling. Big brother AJ refuses to brush his own teeth. And Mommy has one hand stuck on the snooze button. It’s up to Aurora to pull on the parenting pants (just for fun!) in the ultimate battle to the school bus.
And now I think we all deserve Something Chocolate! (Don’t we always? 😊)
How about some No Bake Chocolate Ricotta Cake (because it’s summer and while we all want to eat chocolate no one wants to overheat their kitchen with baking!)
Now then, onto today’s pitch which comes to us from Nadishka. Nadishka Aloysius is a teacher, actor, author, blogger and mother of two boys. All her books are intimately related to life-experiences, and although they are all based in her home country of Sri Lanka they are generic enough for an international audience.
Nadishka loves reading crime fiction and fantasy and this is reflected in her writing. She conducts creative writing workshops and school visits to share her love of literature. As an actor, she prefers to play the antagonist since it allows her to explore the darker sides of human nature.
The Pitch: Fiona is a fishing cat. She doesn’t realize how special she is until she survives a terrifying journey. Abandoned by her human family, she escapes predators and finds her way to a Wetland Sanctuary. This is the first in a new series aimed at educating children about endangered species in Sri Lanka. I have already partnered with the Urban Fishing Cat Conservation Project and I have some fun facts and an educational element to the book. The story also teaches youngsters to persevere when times are hard.
(Nadishka mentioned she’s still deciding on the cat’s name.)
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 Nadishka 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 September, so you have time to polish your pitch before putting it up for helpful feedback and a chance to have it read and commented on by editor Erin Molta!
Nadishka is looking forward to your thoughts on her pitch! I am looking forward to continuing all the fun with MOON’S FIRST FRIENDS! I am doing a countdown to the 50th Anniversary of the Moon Landing on FB, Instagram (and twitter sometimes although twitter just baffles me), so there are lots of recipes, fun facts, activities, and even a giveaway or two! Come join the fun!
And to start off the festivities we have Straight From The Editor for May!
You will recall that the May Pitch Pick was won by Andrew with his PB pitch for Dorian And The Silent Piano.
His pitch was:
Dorian And The Silent Piano (PB ages 6-8)
In a search to find his talent, Dorian becomes captivated by an old man playing a piano with great gusto and joy. There’s just one problem-Dorian is deaf. Guided by the old man, Dorian struggles to read music, hear notes, and learn proper hand movement across the keys. As their special friendship develops, Dorian learns that talent can be one of heart.
Here are editor Erin Molta’s comments:
This looks quite intriguing. The only thing I would suggest is that you SHOW us HOW he hears the music. I’d even simplify it a bit, as I show below, and make it less about talent but doing something despite a so-called disability..
Dorian becomes captivated by an old man playing a piano with great gusto and joy. But–Dorian is deaf. Guided by the old man, Dorian struggles to read music, hear notes (by how? Does he feel the vibrations?), and learn proper hand movement across the keys. As their special friendship develops, Dorian learns that even if you can’t hear the music you can make beautiful sounds….
As always, I find Erin’s thoughts interesting and helpful! I hope you all do too!
And now, I think it’s time for Something Chocolate! How do you feel about Loaded Cowboy Cookies? They are chewy oatmeal cookies filled with chocolate, coconut and pecans! Absolutely impossible to resist!!
And given that they are made out of oatmeal they are obviously breakfast! 😊 Also, a lot like trail mix or granola bars in case you need a snack for your summer outings! 😊 I guess they’re called Cowboy Cookies because they are hearty and portable for taking out on the range!
Now then, onto today’s pitch which comes to us from Nancy who says, “I’m Nancy Riley, writer, competitive adult figure skater, and retired wildlife biologist. I’m a member of the Rocky Mountain Chapter of SCBWI and live on 35 acres of Colorado heaven north of Denver with my husband, two horses, and a happy dog named Scout. When not writing, I’m out and about with Scout or figure skating! ”
The Pitch: Cupid’s heart is not into step dancing, the traditional dance of the prairie chickens. He doesn’t like it. He won’t practice enough, but he must do well in his flock’s dance competition to win a date to the All Species Ball. When his first contest is a disaster, he decides to find his own dance style. His heart comes alive when he discovers the tango. He wows the crowd at the Second Chance Dance, but will it be enough to impress the judges and win a date?
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 Nancy 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 September, so you have time to polish your pitch before putting it up for helpful feedback and a chance to have it read and commented on by editor Erin Molta!
Nancy is looking forward to your thoughts on her pitch! I am looking forward to going out on the range just so I have a reason to bring Cowboy Cookies! I’m not sure where I’m going to find a range on Blueberry Hill, but that is a mere technicality! 😊
Susanna Leonard Hill 
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