Category: Would You Read It

Would You Read It Wednesday #197 – Nicky And The Inchworm PLUS A Plethora Of Pitch Pick Winners

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Mornin’ folks!

Golly, has it gotten cold hereabouts!  It’s like winter!

Oh, wait…

🙂

But guess what?

Today is Brown Scouty’s birthday!  She is 9.  And yes!   Certainly we are having cake!  Although not chocolate because alas, chocolate is not good for dogs and she must have some of her own birthday cake!

Here she is when she was tiny:

c37fe-dscn0148

I love this picture. She’s such a little stumper 🙂

And here she is now:

IMG_0011

Apparently not much has changed… she likes to sleep on the furniture 🙂

She is my faithful companion.  She walks and runs with me on our road, she takes her squirrel-chasing duties very seriously, she sleeps by guards my bedside at night, and she is lying on my feet while I write this post so that in case I should decide to get up and do something that is Interesting For Dogs she will not miss out 🙂  She is the Best Dog Ever.  Happy Birthday, dear Scouty ❤

I’d offer you some of Scout’s birthday cake, but since it’s not chocolate it would be all wrong for today.  Besides, I promised Cathy Nutella Croissants, so here they are in all their chocolate-hazelnut-buttery-pastry deliciousness…

3-Ingredient-Nutella-Croissants-5

3 Ingredient Nutella Croissants Recipe HERE at Gimme Some Oven http://www.gimmesomeoven.com/3-ingredient-nutella-croissants-recipe/

3-Ingredient-Nutella-Croissants-2

3 Ingredient Nutella Croissants Recipe HERE at Gimme Some Oven http://www.gimmesomeoven.com/3-ingredient-nutella-croissants-recipe/

Scrumptious!  And if you’re looking for an easy recipe, this one has only 3 ingredients!  (Possibly even within my limited cooking capacity! 🙂 )

Alrighty!

Now that you’re not in danger of a low blood sugar flame-out and have consumed enough calories to help you withstand with extreme cold without perishing :), let’s get down to the fun!

First, the Pitch Pick Winners!

We have so many, I think it calls for some kind of celebration so how about this:

celebration

For September, the winner is Zainab, with her picture book pitch for Dear Cat!

For October, the winner is Kirk, with his MG pitch for My Next Door Neighbor Is A Dragon Princess!

And for November, the winner is Jessica with her picture book pitch for Showdown At The Sippy Cup Saloon!

Congratulations Zainab, Kirk, and Jessica Your pitches are winging through cyberspace to editor Erin Molta for her thoughts!

Congratulations also to ALL our intrepid pitchers who stepped up boldly and put their work out their for all the world to see in an effort to improve their craft!  Everyone did a great job, and I hope you all got valuable feedback that will help these pitches to pique the curiosity of the agent or editor of you dreams!

And thank you to all the wonderful readers who show up to lend their expertise each week and to vote for the monthly winners!  Would You Read It wouldn’t be what it is without you! ❤

Next up we have today’s Would You Read It pitch which comes to us from Cynthia who says, “When I’m not working, or taxi driving my kids to sporting events, I play with words. I have a love for picture books, especially ones in verse.”

You can find her at her website: http://randomthoughts-myblog.blogspot.com/ and on Twitter @Elomaa10.

Here is her pitch:

Working Title: Nicky And The Inchworm

Age/Genre: Picture Book (ages 4-8)

The Pitch: Nicky loves to splash in puddles, but when Nicky finds a shiny wet inchworm hanging by a thread Nicky knows he has to act fast, but not before being amazed by this tiny little creature.  Nicky soon forgets all about splashing in the puddles and sets out to find a safe home for his tiny new friend.

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 Cynthia improve her pitch.  Helpful examples of 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 HERE or on Would You Read It in the dropdown menu under For Writers in the header bar above.  There are openings in February which isn’t that far off, so polish up your pitches and send yours for your chance to be read by editor Erin Molta!

 

Cynthia is looking forward to your thoughts on her pitch!  I am looking forward to posting the guidelines for the brandy spandy new writing contest that we will be having!  Mark your calendars for the week of February 8-12 and keep a weather eye out for a special post from moi with the low-down!

Have a wonderful Wednesday, everyone!!!

 

A Plethora Of Pitch Picks!

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HI!

I’m so glad to see you! 🙂

This extra Monday post gives me a whole ‘nother day to hang out with you!

(And a Monday post reminds me (just come along on the stream-of-consciousness train of thought here) that it’s been ages since we did Oh Susanna!  So if anyone – writer, teacher, parent – has a question of any kind about reading, writing, submitting, picture books, etc… – feel free to email it to me using the handy Email Me button or susanna[at]susannahill[dot]com and put Oh Susanna in the subject line.  Your picture book questions answered!  I’d love to run Oh Susanna! again, at least occasionally :))

But today is all about Pitch Picks!  So many!  In appreciation of your hard work and dedication, I will supply Something Chocolate – extra Something Chocolates! Triple Something Chocolates! – for each Pitch Pick!

Ready?

Here we go!

The September Pitch Pick… with this delicious, delectable, Triple Chocolate Cheesecake with Oreo Crust… YUM!!!

 

Chocolate-Cheesecake-Pinterest-4a

Triple Chocolate Cheesecake with Oreo Crust Recipe HERE at OMG Chocolate Desserts http://omgchocolatedesserts.com/triple-chocolate-cheesecake-oreo-crust/

#1 Lizette – Moms (PB ages 1.5 – 3)

This book is an illustrated story about mothers. It demonstrates that mothers from all over the world love and care for their children no matter what walk of life they come from. It is very reflective of Canada’s multicultural community and celebrates diversity. It is a simple story where the only text is the word ” Mom” “Mother or “Mommy ” in various languages. The illustrations will represent the feelings and interactions that occur daily between a mother and her children.  Pictures can capture emotions and can be understood by all and make for an open ended reading experience.

#2 Maria – Firefighters’ Busy Day (PB ages 2-6)

Firefighters are busy! They have many tasks to do each day including “washing, waxing shining the truck, cleaning the gear, getting rid of the muck.”

Many don’t realize that firefighters do much more than just put water on fires. In Firefighters’ Busy Day, they can see the jobs firefighters do before, during, and after a fire call. Through the use of movement written into the text, they can even help firefighters get their jobs done.

Young children can pretend to be busy firefighters too, by trying some of the exciting fire safety activities included such as a fire truck parade or having firefighter-themed meal. The activities included are sure to turn everyday learning into firefighter fun.

#3 Diana – Wait For Cate (PB ages 4-8)

Cate has made a promise to her school friends to be on time for the big kickball game at recess. And they need her! When Cate encounters the new girl stuck in the sand in her wheelchair, Cate needs to make a decision. Should she keep her promise to her kickball team or help a new friend out of a “sticky” situation?

#4 Zainab – Dear Cat (PB ages 4-8)

Persistent Bird keeps bugging Cat with his letters to be his friend.  Cat snubs Bird…until it’s snack time. Cat is ready for a tasty meal except Bird has his own devious plan in mind for this “clever” cat.

Please read and consider Lizette, Maria, Diana, and Zainab’s pitches and choose the one you think is best and deserves a read by editor Erin Molta, and vote for it in the poll below by Tuesday January 12 at 7 PM EDT.

Aaaaand… a little more Something Chocolate to keep your strength up… Triple Chocolate Poke Cake (bonus points to anyone who can tell me what a poke cake is! :))

triple chocolate poke cake

Triple Chocolate Poke Cake Recipe HERE at Beyond Frosting http://beyondfrosting.com/2013/12/08/triple-chocolate-poke-cake/

The October Pitch Pick

#5 Kirk – My Next Door Neighbor Is A Dragon Princess (MG)

I didn’t care much for Maddie Buckner. At two, she bit my ear. At four she pushed me off a slide. At 8, she broke my favorite model airplane that took five months to build. At 10, she kissed me – on the lips! – under the Big Toy in the playground and told me she loved me. At 11, she spit in my face and said she hated me. Then she asked Parker Williams to the sock hop. Parker Williams! Oh, how I despised her. But then she had to go and save my life. That’s when I discovered her secret.

#6 Lisa – Kitten Ciao (PB ages 4-7)

Kitten Ciao is fed up with Mama’s cooking, so he consults his food lover’s map and dashes off to Europe. It all seems so right, but everything goes wrong. The rain in Paris turns his crepes to goo, his English pudding is filled with (gasp!) raisins, the sauerkraut at Oktoberfest is, well, he’s not sure what it is, and there’s no chocolate dip for his Spanish churros. Most tragically, he accidentally bites his tongue while eating pasta in Rome. Kitten Ciao swiftly learns there is no place like home – and a grilled cheese sandwich.

#7 Patricia – Aunt Elvira and the Watermelon Seed (PB ages 4-7)

A visit from Great-Aunt Elvira happens once in a lifetime. But why must it be during Clarissa’s lifetime? Her prim and proper twin, Marissa, is sure to shine. With her slurps, burps and spitting skills, Clarissa can’t imagine how to shine, let alone survive dinner, even with watermelon on the menu.

Please read and consider Kirk, Lisa, and Patricia’s pitches and vote for the one you think is best and deserves a read by editor Erin Molta in the poll below by Tuesday January 12 at 7 PM EDT.

And now, last one! You’re doing great! And here’s a little more Something Chocolate to keep you going! Triple Chocolate Mousse Cake… sorry if you’re drooling on your keyboard… I take full responsibility 🙂

Triple-chocolate-mouse-cake-2

Triple Chocolate Mousse Cake Recipe HERE at OMG Chocolate Desserts http://omgchocolatedesserts.com/triple-chocolate-mousse-cake-by-vera/

The November Pitch Pick

#8 Jessica – Showdown At The Sippy Cup Saloon (PB ages 4-8)

In the tiny town of Toddle, in the cradle of the West, Sheriff Wyatt Burp is snoozing in his crib when Wild Bill Hiccup arrives to wake up — and shake up — the pint-size population. “Don’t go gettin’ yer onesie in a twist,” Wild Bill warns Wyatt, but tempers flare until the two go bib to bib in a showdown at the Sippy Cup Saloon. Who will emerge the rootin’ tootin’ squirt gun shootin’ hero of the West?

#9 Sandy – Caterwauling Cats (PB ages 4-8)
Jack and Dave miss their happy home where they take cushy naps and eat Kitty Cat Comfort Cozies. After several attempts to escape overdressing and mud pie feeding from Esther, they learn to yowl like monsters under her bed. Esther exits and the kitties have their own room for napping and noshing.

#10 Christie – The Naked Goose (PB ages 3-7)

When Honk flies south, he meets a few oddly dressed geese and tries to follow suit. However, he does not realize they are lawn ornaments. After an awkward inquiry, followed by several disastrous outfits, Honk discovers he is happier the way he came – naked.

#11 Jen – Ernie’s Toothfake (PB ages 4-8)

Ernie Blossomfoss rushes home to get his first lost tooth under his pillow, but when he trips he watches it go sailing into the playground woodchips. Convinced the tooth fairy won’t come unless she has a tooth to collect, Ernie hatches a plan to leave the perfect counterfeit. When the clever fairy doesn’t fall for it, Ernie ups the ante until he finally discovers that being honest is more valuable than a crisp dollar bill.
Please read and consider Jessica, Sandy, Christie, and Jen’s pitches and vote for the one you think is best and deserves a read by editor Erin Molta in the poll below by Tuesday January 12 at 7 PM EDT.

Phew! I know! That was a lot of pitch reading and picking! You are all the absolute best, and that is why I and everyone who submits a pitch love you so much. Know that you have done a good deed for the day and that the universe will return that goodness to you in multiples!

And now, this extra poll-laden post wouldn’t be complete without me telling you the results of last week’s poll on the subject of an extra writing contest in February….

The response was overwhelmingly in favor of a contest!

So I guess I’ll be seeing what I can put together for you all! 🙂

Ooh! This is exciting!

Stay tuned! I’ll get the contest guidelines up as soon as I think of them… and keep your fingers crossed that I can rummage up some good prizes for you on short notice!!!

Have a marvelous Monday, everyone, and thanks again for all your help with the pitches! We couldn’t do it without you!

Would You Read It Wednesday #196 – Unicorn With A Stache (PB) PLUS Some New Year’s News!

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Happy New Year, Everyone!

I hope you all had wonderful, happy, healthy holidays and are raring to charge full speed into 2016!

I confess that I’m unusually glad to be starting a new year.  I’m ready for some changes and I hope you’ll be excited to come along with me!

For starters…

DRUM ROLL…!!!

I’m about to unveil my new and improved website and blog!

Some people (who shall be nameless) (you know who you are Julie Hedlund and Katie Davis) have been urging me for some time to switch to WordPress.  So I’m taking the plunge!  Seeing as how I’m completely inept when it comes to technology there are bound to be some glitches during the switchover, so I beg your patience with me! 🙂

I am also (hopefully) on the verge of launching a totally awesome newsletter (she said modestly).  More on that when it’s closer to ready – I’m still working on layout and format, and my incredibly talented artist and I are still working on the banner.

I am also hoping to have a new class and/or workshop on offer at some point… though that may take me a little longer since I’m wrestling with how to make it make sense and work smoothly.  It’s in the hopper, though, so fingers crossed!

In the meantime, my old class will be now be offered at two levels: the traditional one that’s been offered for the past 3 years at a wee price increase and a new Self Study version (for less $) where you can work on your own.

I’m cutting back on critiques a bit for the next little while to give myself more time to work on these other projects, but will continue to offer a shorter, quicker, (cheaper :)), less formal version of my critiques for those interested as well as a limited number of full critiques for returning writers who have gotten critiques from me before.

WOW!  That’s a lot of new news, don’t you think?  I’m thrilled by all of it… now it just remains for me to get it all finished and up and running! 🙂

Now then!  Onto the business of Would You Read It Wednesday!

Somehow, due to one thing and another, we haven’t had a Pitch Pick since July!  So this coming Monday January 11 there will be a special Pitch Pick post in which you will have the chance to choose your favorite pitches from September, October and November without having to focus on anything else – a new pitch or a Perfect Picture Book or whatnot.  I will provide an extra Something Chocolate to make it worth your while 🙂  but it just seems easier and less stressful to put the Pitch Picks by themselves then to lump them all in with another post, don’t you think?

But, lest you be in voting withdrawal :), I have something else for you to vote on today.

Quite a few people have asked me how I’d feel about running a writing contest in February to break up the winter doldrums.  If there is interest, I’d be happy to run one with a Groundhog Day or Valentines Day theme (providing I can drum up good prizes on short notice.)  I’ve never run one in February before because I feared it would be too much for you all coming so close on the heels of the Halloweensie and Holiday Contests, but it DOES seem appealing to have something fun in February, and it WOULD be a great opportunity for you to create a new manuscript!  So here’s a poll where you can vote to let me know if you’d like a contest and whether you’d prefer a Groundhog Day or Valentines Day theme or if you have a better idea!  And if anyone has brilliant ideas for prizes (given that a Groundhog Day Contest would take place in barely a month!) please mention them in the comments or email me! 🙂  I’ll leave the contest poll open from today until Saturday evening.

And now, the moment you’ve all been waiting for (admit it! :))… today’s Something Chocolate!  It is frigidly cold here in the Northeast, so I’m thinking rich and delicious and decadent Belgian Hot Chocolate would really hit the spot!!!  (Which if you’ve never tried you MUST!)

Recipe HERE at

Busy Creating Memories

http://busycreatingmemories.com/belgian-hot-chocolate-recipe/

Ah!  That’s better!!! 🙂

Today’s pitch comes to us from Gabi.  Gabi lives in Oregon with her husband, two kiddos, one dog, and one dog-like cat. She loves reading, nature, and caffeine, and she’d love to see you at her blog: https://writingtoconnect.wordpress.com/.

Here is her pitch:

Working Title: Unicorn With A Stache

Age/Genre: Picture Book (ages 4-8)

The Pitch: Meet Eustace.  Like his fellow unicorns, he smells like roses. Unlike his fellow unicorns, Eustace grows a mustache. He likes his dapper new look, but his schoolmates tease. 

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 Gabi 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 the Would You Read It tab in the bar above.  There are openings in February so you’ve got a little time to polish up your pitches and send yours for your chance to be read by editor Erin Molta!

Gabi is looking forward to your thoughts on her pitch!  I am looking forward to getting all my projects finished and launching my new site, and to your answers about a February Writing Contest!

Have a wonderful Wednesday, everyone!!! 🙂

Would You Read It Wednesday #195 – Peyton The Cat And The Princess Who Loves Everything Pink (PB)

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Good Wednesday to you all!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Those of you who frequent this neck of the woods may have noticed that my Thanksgiving was so lovely and absorbing that it finally happened.  After 5 years…  I totally forgot to post the Perfect Picture Book Post on Friday!  Just completely never even thought about it until Saturday when I realized I had somehow missed the fact that Friday was Friday!

(Sorry about that!  Anyone who had a perfect picture book last Friday can add it to this Friday’s list… assuming I remember to post that! :))

But that reminded me that it has actually BEEN 5 years – my 5th blogiversary was yesterday, December 1!  Can you even believe it?  How time flies!

In celebration of December, and the holiday season, and my 5th blogiversary, let’s have something festive and pretty for our Something Chocolate, shall we?  I’m thinking Snowflake Peppermint Bark!

So pretty!  AND chocolate!!!
Recipe HERE at Baked By Rachel
http://www.bakedbyrachel.com/snowflake-peppermint-bark-memories/

Aren’t those snowflakes beautiful?  And delicious-looking??! 🙂  I will probably have to try out that recipe…!  Probably today.  Probably soon today!  Maybe before lunch 🙂

I had planned to post the September and October Pitch Picks today… since we seem not to have gotten around to them yet… but I only heard back from 2 of the 7 pitchers about revisions…  So I’m thinking I’ll come up with a Plan B.  Maybe a random day dedicated to pitch picking when we can do September, October and November all together in one fell swoop.  And have chocolate even if it isn’t a Wednesday 🙂

Meanwhile, today’s pitch comes to us from Diane who says, “I am a freelance writer, in Southern California. I’m published as a magazine author but love the delight of writing for children. Therefore, I am an aspiring children’s book writer and belong to the SCBWI along with CBI. My web page/blog is at dianedramirez.com. (Although I have a page on my site with my PB’s WIP, the blog is more of an inspirational one).”


Here is her pitch:

Working Title: Peyton The Cat And The Princess Who Loves Everything Pink
Age/Genre: Picture Book (ages 4-8)
The Pitch: What’s Peyton, a witty-cat, to do when his new owner, Pauline—a self-procliamed princess, loves pink and thinks he should be a princess with glittery pink bows too? Peyton dislikes girly stuff and fears he’ll live with pink forever. When Peyton develops some cat-devious ideas, to alert his owner he’s unhappy and should be a prince, Pauline is met with some challenges a princess should never have.


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 Diane 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 the Would You Read It tab in the bar above.  There are openings in January so you’ve got a little time to polish up your pitches and send yours for your chance to be read by editor Erin Molta!

Diane is looking forward to your thoughts on her pitch!  I am looking forward to Snowflake Peppermint Bark and the upcoming HOLIDAY CONTEST!!!  It’s next week, people!  I can’t wait to read all the amazing stories that I’m sure you’re hard at work on even as we speak (… right? :))  There are some pretty good prizes on offer, so it’s worth your writing time!  I, of course, haven’t got even an inkling of an idea what to do for my sample… somehow I feel like I’ve been in this position before… 🙂  But there are still a few days!

Have a wonderful Wednesday everyone!!!

Would You Read It Wednesday #194 – Ernie Fakes A Tooth (PB)

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Holy Pumpkin Pie, Batman!

How did we get to the day before Thanksgiving already?

If you’re like me, you still have to vacuum, bake pie, clean the bathrooms, bake more pie, make sure there are fresh towels, and bake more pie 🙂  And those of you not cleaning and baking probably have to travel.

So we’re going to keep today’s post as short and sweet as possible!

In honor of Thanksgiving tomorrow, I think our Something Chocolate should be festive and turkey-oriented, don’t you? 🙂

Obviously dark chocolate is preferable to milk chocolate,
but we’ll take what we can get 🙂

Gobble, gobble, gobble!!! 🙂

Today’s pitch comes to us from Jen who says, “I’m just starting out on my journey into the overwhelming and wonderful world of picture book writing.  When I start to doubt myself, my two young kids cheer me on and get me back in the game.  We live in the beautiful seacoast of New Hampshire.  Next up – work on my social media presence!”  

Here is her pitch: (and she would especially love feedback on a title since she’s not wild about this one but has yet to come up with anything she likes better!)

Working Title: Ernie Fakes A Tooth
Age/Genre: Picture Book (ages 4-8)
The Pitch: In a rush to get his first lost tooth home and under his pillow, Ernie Blossomfoss trips and watches his tooth go sailing into the playground woodchips.  Convinced the tooth fairy won’t come unless she has a tooth to collect, Ernie hatches a plan to leave the perfect counterfeit.  When the clever fairy doesn’t fall for it, Ernie ups the ante until he finally learns a lesson more valuable than a crisp dollar bill.  

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 Jen 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 the Would You Read It tab in the bar above.  There are openings in January so you’ve got a little time to polish up your pitches and send yours for your chance to be read by editor Erin Molta!

Jen is looking forward to your thoughts on her pitch!  I am looking forward to having the family together for Thanksgiving tomorrow… even though I have to vacuum 🙂

Have a wonderful Wednesday, everyone, and Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Would You Read It Wednesday #193 – The Nude Goose (PB)

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Happy Wednesday, dearies!

Boy has it been a busy week so far!  First off, the guidelines for the 5th Annual Holiday Writing Contest went up on Monday!  If you haven’t seen the post yet, you can check it out HERE.  I have already updated the prize list twice with new prizes coming in, so make sure to take a look at the goodies on offer to the winners!!!  And rest assured, there are more to come! 🙂  (At least I’m hoping… fingers crossed! :))

Also, I just got done with two full days of school visits which are always tons of fun, but always leave me playing catch-up with the rest of my work!  So if you’re waiting for an email reply or a critique or a response to a comment you left on my blog, or, I don’t know, pretty much anything 🙂  I’m working on it and will get back to you as soon as I can! 🙂

And the week promises to get busier still since Thanksgiving is approaching and that means kids returning to the nest – a thought which fills me with joy! 🙂

What with Thanksgiving on the horizon, I think today’s Something Chocolate should be Something Turkey and Something Easy Recipe 🙂

Recipe HERE at the Krazy Coupon Lady
http://thekrazycouponlady.com/at-home/snacks-under-5-kid-friendly-thanksgiving-oreo-turkeys/

Easy Oreo Pretzel Turkeys seem like they’ll cover all the requirements!!

YUM! 🙂

Even I can probably manage this recipe… and I can practice it for the afore-mentioned returning kids 🙂

Now then, today’s pitch comes to us from Christie who says, “I’ve loved writing since I was small, but when an academic counselor suggested I study something that could get me a “real job”, I mistakenly took her advice – until eight years ago. I’ve since been writing, attending conferences, joined SCBWI and 12X12. I am a wife, mom, and pet person who loves Don Quixote and when someone else does the cooking.”

Please find her online at http://www.christieallred.com  And hot-off-the-presses news: Christie is having a “housewarming” party on her new website, where people can come celebrate with her for a chance to win a prize.  So hustle on over and check out her site!!!

Here is her pitch:

Working Title: The Nude Goose
Age/Genre: Picture Book (ages 3-7)
The Pitch: When Honk flies south, he meets a few oddly dressed geese and tries to fit in. However, he does not realize they are lawn ornaments. After an awkward inquiry, and a few disastrous outfits, Honk discovers he is happier the way he came – naked. 

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 Christie 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 the Would You Read It tab in the bar above.  There are openings in January so you’ve got a little time to polish up your pitches and send yours for your chance to be read by editor Erin Molta!

Christie is looking forward to your thoughts on her pitch!  I am looking forward to practicing with chocolate, oreos and pretzels and having my flock return to the fold! 🙂

I hope you’ve all got those writerly thinking caps on and are cooking up your Holiday Contest stories!!! 🙂  I, of course, will likely not give my sample a moment’s thought until 10 PM on December 6th when I shall fly into a panic at having to come up with something RIGHT THEN in order to post it on time.  You’d think knowing this would encourage me to plan ahead…  You’d think…!  What is that saying about teaching old dogs new tricks??? 🙂

Have a wonderful Wednesday, everyone!!! 🙂

Would You Read It Wednesday #192 – Cursing Cats (PB)

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Happy Wednesday, everyone!

Today is a very exciting day!

Remember how a few weeks back I was all excited because my house was no longer two-tone but all one color… after a year or more of being unfinished?

Apparently this is a trend because let me tell you about my stove.

Once upon a time, we moved into this house with a new stove.

22 years later (which was last year), on Thanksgiving, the oven decided it didn’t feel like working any more.  Our turkey did not cook.  Really.  I am not making this up.

Now, you’d think, given the trauma of Thanksgiving without a turkey, we would have gotten right on that and bought a new stove immediately…  But that is not the way things work on Blueberry Hill.  After all, the oven still functioned well enough to bake brownies and cookies, which is pretty much all I use it for 🙂

So we coasted along happily using the stove top… and then summer came and we could use the grill outside… and all was well.

But a few weeks ago, we started talking about Thanksgiving.  And using my keen powers of reasoning, I astutely realized that we were going to find ourselves in the same predicament this year as last, since our oven had not magically resurrected itself, which did not bode at all well for the Thanksgiving turkey.

So I bit the bullet and bought a new stove!

It’s so pretty!

It has convection roast and convection bake as options (not requirements, for those of us who embrace change slowly) and a simmer burner and a power burner and a griddle/grill for the stovetop.  If all goes according to plan, our Thanksgiving turkey will cook this year!

There’s just one little thing.

The gas has yet to be hooked up.

And it turns out the stove/oven doesn’t work so well without it 🙂

But that’s supposed to happen today.  TODAY, I tell you!  So let’s get ready for some baking!

And speaking of baking makes me think of Something Chocolate (shocking, I know :))  How about some triple chocolate cheesecake with oreo crust?  Sound good to you?  It sounds good to me!

Triple Chocolate Cheesecake with Oreo Crust from OMG Chocolate Desserts
http://omgchocolatedesserts.com/triple-chocolate-cheesecake-oreo-crust/
and yes the recipe is on that link 🙂

YUM!  And I believe it covers all the basic food groups… dairy, veggies (chocolate comes from beans, remember?!), whole grains (there has to be some kind of flour/wheat product in oreos!), and chocolate!  Eat up, lambies!  You need your strength! 🙂

Now that we are all fortified, and our brains are functioning at 200% power, today’s pitch comes to us from Sandy who says,  “I started buying picture books for my kids before I even had kids! And even though my seven-year-old granddaughter can read chapter books on her own, she still lets me read picture books to her. I’ve published one story in the now defunct “Pennywhistle Press,” a Gannett Press newspaper insert for kids. I also write non-fiction articles for local publications.”

You can find Sandy on FB at Sandy Lowe Ink.

Here is her pitch:

Working Title: Cursing Cats
Age/Genre: Picture Book (ages 4-8)
The Pitch: Tired of being misused and overdressed by a little girl, Jack and Dave learn “curse words” from watching TV. They hope that using words like “bifurcated” and “crepuscular” in front of the girl will ensure her grandmother won’t let her play with them anymore. They succeed, but in a way they weren’t expecting. 

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 Sandy 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 the Would You Read It tab in the bar above.  There are openings in January so you’ve got a little time to polish up your pitches and send yours for your chance to be read by editor Erin Molta!

Sandy is looking forward to your thoughts on her pitch!  I am looking forward to getting my stove hooked up and trying it out!  Plus, my lovely sister-in-law, upon hearing we were getting a new stove, sent me a new cookbook to go with it!  Hopefully it’s idiot-proof and will provide recipes for the cooking-challenged that I can actually be successful with!  Wish me luck! 🙂

Have a wonderful Wednesday, everyone!!! 🙂

Would You Read It Wednesday #191 – Showdown At The Sippy Cup Saloon (PB)

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Howdy folks!

We interrupt our regularly scheduled Would You Read It for this important message from our sponsors:

Voting continues in the Halloweensie Contest until 5 PM today!!!  If you haven’t had a chance to weigh in yet, please hop over HERE to read the amazing finalist stories and vote for your favorite!!!  We need all the votes we can get!!!

Now then, back to WYRI!

And by “back to WYRI” I of course mean “time for Something Chocolate!!!” 🙂  And since it’s only a couple days after Halloween, what better than leftover chocolate Halloween Candy???

Whoever thought up Halloween was a genius! 🙂

YUM!!!  Of course, I don’t actually HAVE any leftover chocolate Halloween candy… I can’t imagine why… 🙂

Today’s pitch comes to us from Jessica Swaim, a parttime poet who spends an inordinate amount of time playing with her dogs.
Take a peek at both her books and her dogs at http://jessicaswaim.com

Here is her pitch:

Working Title: Showdown At The Sippy Cup Saloon
Age/Genre: Picture Book (ages 4-8)
The Pitch: In the tiny town of Toddle, in the cradle of the West, Sheriff Wyatt Burp is snoozing in his crib when Wild Bill Hiccup arrives to wake up — and shake up — the pint-size population.  “Don’t go gettin’ yer onesie in a twist,” Wild Bill warns Wyatt, but tempers flare until the two go bib to bib in a showdown at the Sippy Cup Saloon. Who will emerge the rootin’ tootin’ squirt gun shootin’ hero of the West? 

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 Jessica 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 the Would You Read It tab in the bar above.  There are openings in January so you’ve got a little time to polish up your pitches and send yours for your chance to be read by editor Erin Molta!

Jessica is looking forward to your thoughts on her pitch!  I am looking forward to finding out who wins the Halloweensie Contest!  Tune in tomorrow!!!  Meanwhile, try to keep calm and think about something else so you won’t go nuts waiting.  Really.  Just don’t think about it.  Don’t keep wondering who the winner might be, and who might be second and third….! 🙂

Have a wonderful Wednesday everyone! 🙂

Would You Read It Wednesday #190 – Aunt Elvira And The Watermelon Seed (PB)

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Howdy, my friends!

I hope you’re all having a wonderful week so far!

Has everyone besides me written their entry for the Halloweensie Contest?

I confess, I haven’t even started my sample.  I haven’t even thought about it!  I don’t have the slightest inkling of an idea… which is a little worrisome given that it has to be posted in 5 days!  GULP!

Lest you think I’ve been totally goofing off, though, let me assure you you’re right I have been very busy!  I spent the weekend at the New York State Sheep & Wool Festival in Rhinebeck, NY, and I must say, if you’re ever in the neighborhood, you should come!  It’s as crowded as the country fair, but it’s all about everything sheep!  And the wool!  It’s so gorgeous!  Everyone parades around in beautifully crafted clothing they’ve made themselves – hats, scarves, mittens, shawls and shrugs, ponchos, socks, crocheted bags, I even saw a few women in elaborate knitted dresses!  Every year I go, I’m inspired to spend the winter knitting 🙂  Not so inspired that I actually do it, mind you, but I love the idea.  Maybe this winter… 🙂

Anyway, my dear talented writer and illustrator friends Iza Trapani and Nancy Shaw and I all got to sit together to sign copies of our sheep books, and we got to do a group story time for the kids both Saturday and Sunday which was really fun.

Here we are… like our own little herd 🙂
me, Iza, and Nancy

So you see, I have a legitimate excuse for not getting my Halloweensie sample written yet.

It is making me anxious, though.  I think Something Chocolate is called for to calm the nerves 🙂  Hmm… what should we have today?  I’m in the mood for chocolate cupcakes! (am I ever not?! :))  A cupcake is basically a muffin, and therefore qualifies as a breakfast food, so dig in!

Recipe HERE at Sprinkle Some Sugar
http://www.sprinklesomesugar.com/ultimate-chocolate-cupcakes/

YUM!!!!!

Now that our mouths are full of delicious chocolatey goodness, today’s pitch comes to us from Patricia.  Patricia is a former lawyer who migrated to the not-for-profit world many years ago.  A pre-published author and long-time 12×12 and PiBoIdMo participant, she primarily writes picture books, as these are the books she best loved reading with her three (almost) grown children. Patricia currently lives with her husband, two orange Tollers and almost 400 high school students at a New England boarding school.  Find her on Facebook at Two Orange Pups, on Twitter @ptntweets, or during Susanna’s super writing contests at Wander, Ponder, Write.


Here is her pitch:

Working Title: Aunt Elvira And The Watermelon Seed
Age/Genre: Picture Book (ages 4-7)
The Pitch: A visit from Great-Aunt Elvira happened once in a lifetime.  But why did it have to be during Clarissa’s lifetime? Prim and proper Marissa was sure to shine, but with her slurps, burps and two left feet, Clarissa couldn’t imagine how she could impress her aged aunt.

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 Patricia 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 the Would You Read It tab in the bar above.  There are openings in December so you’ve got a little time to polish up your pitches and send yours for your chance to be read by editor Erin Molta!

Patricia is looking forward to your thoughts on her pitch!  I am looking forward to coming up with an idea for Halloweensie so I can write my sample and stop feeling anxious that I haven’t! 🙂  Also to seconds on that cupcake! 🙂

Have a wonderful Wednesday, everyone!!! 🙂

Would You Read It Wednesday # 189 – Kitten Ciao (PB)

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Hey there, friends!

I hope your week is going swimmingly so far!

I’m off in a mad rush this morning to two solid days of school visits, so no time for lollygagging about!  We’re going to get right down to it!

First, we need to attend to the most important meal of the day – Something Chocolate!  (It’s what’s for breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, dinner, snack, snack, snack! :))

Our Would You Read It pitcher for today recommended chocolate pancakes spread with Nutella!  So here you go – chocolate pancakes!!!

YUM!  Chocolate Pancakes!!!
Recipe HERE at Bakerella
http://greatideas.people.com/2014/07/25/bakerella-chocolate-pancake-recipe/
…and here’s some Nutella to go with… 🙂

Boy, do those look good!  The cross-section really looks more like actual cake than pancake.  This is a breakfast I could grow to love 🙂

Now then.  Today’s pitch comes to us from Lisa (recommender of chocolate pancakes with Nutella) who says, “I am a Northern California based writer and aspiring picture book author who enjoys thinking and rethinking how I would describe myself in one sentence. Some days I am a chocolate pound cake baking, back yard squirrel watcher who keeps thinking I just felt an earthquake.  Other days I am a coffee frenzied, Scrabble player determined to get the 50 bonus points that come with using all seven tiles in one word.  Lately, I am an-empty nester who just gently pushed the last little birdie out into the world.  It is an exciting time for me, and I am thrilled to submit my pitch for Kitten Ciao to Would You Read It.”

You can visit her blog at https://closeddoorandopenwindow.wordpress.com/posts/

Here is her pitch:

Working Title: Kitten Ciao – A Culinary Tale In Six Bite-Sized Chapters
Age/Genre: Picture Book (ages 4-7)
The Pitch: Kitten Ciao is fed up with the food at home, so he dashes off to dine in Europe, where the food must be better.  He sees famous sights, makes new friends and learns to say “hello” and “goodbye” in each country’s language. But the rain in Paris turns his crepes to goo, there are raisins in his English Pudding, the sauerkraut at Oktoberfest is, well, sour, and there’s no chocolate dip for his Spanish churros.  When he gets to Italy, the worst possible thing happens and Kitten Ciao figures out that the world will never quite be able to top the food at Mama’s table. A glossary of terms is included.


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 Lisa 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 the Would You Read It tab in the bar above.  There are openings in… hmm, let me see… I have to consult my calendar… I think due to the Holiday Contest we might be getting into the new year for openings, but there might be room for one or two in December… so you’ve got a little time to polish up your pitches and send yours for your chance to be read by editor Erin Molta!

Finally, in case you missed the not-normally-scheduled post on Monday, it’s time to fire up your genius for the 5th Annual Halloweensie Contest!!!  Hop over HERE and check out the guidelines and fabulous prizes!

Lisa is looking forward to your thoughts on her pitch!  I am looking forward to 2 days, 9 presentations, 30 classes, and your guess is as good as mine how many little smiling Kindergarten – Grade 2 faces of school visit fun! 🙂  Wish me luck!!!