Gather round, y’all!

It’s time for everyone’s favorite pitching pastime!

What would Wednesday be without Would You Read It?  Just a plain old middle day of the week.  Boring.  Lackluster.  Dull!  So sad 😦

But not for us!  We’ve got a fabulous new pitch AND Something Chocolate AND each other’s company and the camaraderie of the writing community to enjoy!  (Because what would Would You Read It be without chocolate?  And what would WE be without each other?!  Luckily, we’ll never have to know! 🙂 )

Today our Something Chocolate shall be Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Brownies, because I feel strongly that one should never have to decide between brownies and chocolate chip cookies!  That would be like Sophie’s Choice 🙂

Recipe at Recipe Girl http://www.recipegirl.com/2012/05/29/chocolate-chip-cookie-dough-brownies-take-two/

YUM!  So delicious!  And totally healthy of course!  As I’m sure you all know, chocolate is a vegetable (it comes from the cocoa BEAN!), and cookie dough most certainly involves protein, calcium, and whole grains because there are eggs and butter and wheat in there somewhere.  I feel it’s my hostessly (yes that can be a word if I want it to!) responsibility to make sure you’re all well fortified for your day! 🙂

Today’s pitch comes to us from Kirk, whom you will remember from May with his MG pitch for When Your Best Friend Wants To Be Your Girlfriend And Other Horror Stories.  Kirk is the Ringmaster of Kraft Three-Ring Circus which includes his beautiful wife, Patty, four kids aged 6-12 and a silly German Shepherd, Blitz. In all his spare time, not spent managing this circus or working his day job, he writes YA & MG fantasy, picture books and parenting nonfiction. The pitch before you is his first attempt at humorous MG. 

You can find him online at:

Twitter – @KAKraft
LinkedIn – www.linkedin.com/in/kirkkraft

Here is his pitch:

Working Title: My Next Door Neighbor Is A Dragon Princess
Age/Genre: MG
The Pitch: 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.

So what do you think?  Would You Read It?  YES, MAYBE or NO?

Happy Wednesday, Everyone!

I hope you’re all wearing your raincoats and galoshes and holding tight to your umbrellas!

After the driest summer in recent memory, we are experiencing heavy rain.  The crunchy grass and thirsty trees are drinking it up gratefully, and the Weather People (who may or may not be related to the Village People :)) are all in an uproar, delighted to have weather drama to report in the form of flood watches.  I’m not sure when weather became entertainment, but boy do they do their best to keep you riveted!

Of course, when it rains like this, you know what that means…  I’ll be in my basement paddling about in the canoe and bailing out 🙂

There is an upside, though.  All that paddling calls for extra sustenance (I’ve got to keep up my strength! :)), and what better than Something Chocolate?  Hmm… what should it be today?  I don’t think we can go wrong with Oreo Brownie Trifle, do you? 🙂

Recipe HERE at BakerHomemaker http://www.bakerhomemaker.com/2012/09/oreo-brownie-trifle.html

Yeah.  Forget the bowl/plate.  I’m just grabbing a spoon and digging in! 🙂  Enjoy!

Today’s pitch comes to us from Zainab.  Zainab Khan is a pre-published author who writes picture books that are quirky or interactive. She also writes picture books that deal with serious issues like disabilities, homelessness, and diversity. In addition, Zainab is in the midst of writing a middle grade mystery about ancient civilizations.

Here is her pitch:

Working Title: Dear Cat
Age/Genre: Picture Book (ages 4-8)
The Pitch: 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. 

So what do you think?  Would You Read It?  YES, MAYBE or NO?

Happy Wednesday, folks!

It’s been a busy week on Blueberry Hill.  I know you’ll all be gratified to learn that our house is, at last, all one color!  I know this shouldn’t seem like an accomplishment – after all, most people’s houses are all one color.  But we are not “most people.”  Our house has not been all one color for 3 years because one of the gable ends is very high and hard to reach, so the rest of the house got stained dark brown… but that one triangular patch stayed the old lighter, redder cedar color.  It did NOT look good.  Now our house is very happy and feels like it can show its face in public again.  (Not that there’s much public to see it up here in the wilderness.  But you know, it’s the principal of the thing 🙂 ) And if any bears happen to wander by (which they do pretty frequently) they will certainly say to themselves, “Hmm!  How handsome that house looks now that it’s all one color!” 🙂

It’s like when you write a picture book and it begins as one story… and somehow ends as another.  You’ve got to pick one story and stick with it – make sure you’re ending the same story you began – you know, make it all the same dark brown.  (See what I did there? 🙂 )

Speaking of dark brown (smooth segue alert :)) makes me think of chocolate (what doesn’t?), so how about Something Chocolate?  Great idea, if I say so myself!  Always is a good time for Something Chocolate 🙂  Some days you can get by with a tootsie roll or a handful of chocolate chips, but some days you just have to throw moderation to the wind and go whole hog, and it turns out this is one of those days… I am seriously in need of gooey, chocolatey, deliciousness… so let’s have some Smores Cupcakes, shall we? – YUM!!!

See recipe at OMGChocolateDesserts http://omgchocolatedesserts.com/hershey-smores-cupcakes/

Now that we are all covered in chocolate properly nutritionized (or possibly nutrisized? or nutriated?), today’s pitch comes to us from Diana who says, “I am a retired 1st and 2nd grade teacher with an M.S. in reading, diagnostics, and remedial reading. I retired from the U.S. Army/Army Reserves (HOOAH!) and also retired as a special effects designer and Pyrotechnician with my husband’s company. When my husband doesn’t have me hiking through the Himalayas, crewing on a 100 year old square rigger, or volunteering at airshows, I hide out and enjoy my passion for reading and writing children’s stories.” 

Here is her pitch:

Working Title: Wait For Cate
Age/Genre: Picture Book (ages 4-8)
The Pitch: 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? 

So what do you think?  Would You Read It?  YES, MAYBE or NO?

Hello, darlings!  Happy Wednesday!

I don’t know about where you all live, but here on Blueberry Hill autumn seems to think it’s coming early.  The hummingbirds have almost all departed for warmer climes, the mornings have been very cool, and the leaves are falling much too soon.  I hope winter doesn’t get any bright ideas because seriously I feel like last winter only just ended!  I’m not kidding! and I’m not ready for colder weather yet!

Something about September and cooler weather, though, gets me thinking about baking.  And baking gets me thinking about chocolate.  (You’re shocked, I know! :))  So I think we need something baked and chocolatey and delicious for our Something Chocolate this morning… but also healthy since we’re eating breakfast and breakfast is the most important meal of the day… hmmm… how about this???

From The Baker Upstairs recipe here: http://www.thebakerupstairs.com/2013/08/chocolate-zucchini-cake.html

See?  I always have your best interests at heart! 🙂  This snack even has zucchini in the title.  That’s how healthy it is!  (And I’m betting this cake would be a good way to sneak a little health food into your youngsters if you have any picky eaters at home!)

Mmm-mmm!  Something Chocolate always gets the day off to a good start!  And now that you’re all fortified and ready for anything, today’s pitch comes to us from Maria, whose PB pitches for The Trouble With Homework and A Pup Called Freelance you may remember from January and March respectively. Maria is an educator with a municipal fire department. She thinks she’s got the best job in the world! When she isn’t teaching others how to be safe, she can be found writing under a pecan tree, playing with her dogs and cats, or cruising around town “with the top down” searching for inspirational ideas or the next big story.

You can find her online at:
www.pinterest.com/ktownfiregirl
and
https://www.facebook.com/MJBostian?ref=hl

Here is her pitch:

Working Title: Firefighters’ Busy Day
Age/Genre: Picture Book (ages 2-6)
The Pitch: Wow! Firefighters are Busy! Did you know that firefighters do more than just put our fires? They have many important jobs to do! Can you name some? “Washing, waxing shining the truck. Cleaning the gear, getting rid of muck.” Join author Maria Bostian as she takes you on a journey through a busy day with some of America’s favorite heroes! You can even help the firefighters get their jobs done! Busy little firefighters are safe and smart! Be sure to try some of the exciting Fire Safety Activities to turn everyday learning into firefighter fun!

So what do you think?  Would You Read It?  YES, MAYBE or NO?

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 November 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!

Maria is looking forward to your thoughts on her pitch!  I am looking forward to going horseback riding one of these days soon.  I help do the barn chores every weekday morning, but somehow I rarely seem to find time to ride.  I don’t really mind – I just like being around horses in any way, shape or form – they are so warm and comforting and peaceful – but autumn is one of the nicest times to ride if you get a chance – good weather and no bugs 🙂

Have a wonderful Wednesday everyone!!!

Howdy, folks, and welcome to another fun-filled edition of Would You Read It Wednesday!

I hope everyone’s summers are going swimmingly so far!

I have to apologize. . . sometimes life goes to heck in a hand basket and things you normally keep up with just fine suddenly fall by the wayside, or have to be put off.  Best laid plans and all that. . .  but for a little while I’m just not going to be able to keep pace with normal.

I know I promised a writing contest to follow the illustration contest, but after much agonizing, I just don’t think I can do it right now.  I’m so sorry.  I feel terrible about it!  Please feel free to note in the comments if you’d be interested in doing it in September instead, even though the Halloweensie Contest will take place the last week of October and the Holiday Contest will be the second week of December.  I’m hoping I’ll be able to do it by then.

I also meant to post the June Pitch Pick today, but forgot to email the pitchers… so that will have to be next week.

But I CAN award the picture book prizes to a random handful of you wonderful people who so graciously commented on two pitches on our double-header WYRI day! 🙂

The randomly selected people paired with the randomly selected books by random.org are as follows:

Stacy Couch – My Love For You Is The Sun
Cathy Hall – Tyrannosaurus Wrecks
Joanne Sher – What About Moose
Vivian Kirkfield – Tea Party Rules
Mishka Jaeger – Little Miss Muffet
Teresa Robeson – Me Want Pet
Erik Weibel – Jeremy Draws A Monster

Thank you all so very much for pitching in (hehe) to help two people at once, and thanks to everyone else who did so too!

Winners, please email me with your snail mail address, and if anyone wants to trade books or already has what they won and has no one to give it to or what not, let me know!

Now then, how about Something Chocolate and then we’ll get down to today’s pitch.

Recipe at Lil’ Luna http://lilluna.com/frozen-oreo-pudding-cake/

Frozen Oreo Pudding Cake!

YUM!!!

Today’s pitch comes to us from Rene.  Rene` Diane Aube’s long-dreamed-of writing journey began in 2011 as she and hubby bickered over renovations on a vintage camper. After overcoming some fears and insecurities ~ well, somewhat ~ she plunged into and completed several writing courses and began participating in on-line study groups in the hope that someday she will see one of her picture book manuscripts in print.

Here is her pitch:

Working Title: Ber-r-rnice
Age/Genre: Picture Book (ages 3-5)
The Pitch: Mushy meadows, a ravenous Rain Crow, and galloping mares, too! How will a wee Woolly Bear caterpillar fare in her quest to reach her hibernation destination as snow begins to fly?

So what do you think?  Would You Read It?  YES, MAYBE or NO?

Howdy Folks!

It’s time for Would You Read It Wednesday!

But since Im interrupting the voting for the Illustration Contest, I have to add a link right here to remind anyone who hasn’t voted yet to hop over and show those talented illustrators some love 🙂

http://susannahill.blogspot.com/2015/06/illustration-contest-for-childrens.html

And since you are all so wonderful for voting, we’ll skip right to Something Chocolate… Brownie Ice Cream Sandwich!

Perfect for a July summer day! 🙂

Today’s pitch comes to us from Lavanya whom you will remember from last July with her pitch for Sophie vs. The Monster and her pitch last month for The Sun, The Moon And Eve.  She says, “I’m a software engineer by day, and an avid reader of fiction, science fiction, fantasy, and literature by night. I’m also mother to a young girl who has just discovered the magical ability to make meaning out of the printed word. I started putting my own words down on paper last November, and when I went to my regional SCBWI conference in April, I confirmed a suspicion that I had long harbored – writers are the nicest people in the world, and I want to be one of them. :-)”

Here is her pitch:

Working Title: How I Made My Baby
Age/Genre: Picture Book (ages 4-8)
The Pitch: The thing about making a baby sister is, you have to be patient. First, you have to be patient until Mom and Dad realize you have the best idea. Then, you have to be patient for the baby to come out. But hardest of all is being patient while the baby grows big enough to play with you.

So what do you think?  Would You Read It?  YES, MAYBE or NO?