Come on in and set awhile, folks! It’s time for your favorite and mine: Would You Read It Wednesday!
But first, a word from our sponsors.
Has winter got you down? Are you loathe to emerge from the comfy warmth of your blankets on these cold, dark January mornings? Have the last 3 stories you wrote been titled Smiley Miley Goes To Aruba, Stinky Pete And The Tropical Island Paradise, and A Hot, Hot Day In July? Are you making secret plans to hibernate until April?
Never fear! We have a remedy for your winter doldrums!
Wash your hair! Shave your legs! Put on actual clothing and join your fellow writers for some fun in the creative sun! You’ll be surprised by how happy and energized you feel (and not just because of the 5 pounds of hair you shaved off your legs :)) You can write a brand new story, enjoy the company of other writers and the entertainment of their stories, and possibly win a fabulous prize which I haven’t thought up yet but I WILL! 🙂
So get out your writing implements, rev up your brain, and join us at a blog near you!
Now, back to our regularly scheduled programming!
Something Chocolate anyone? I’m feeling Brownie Sundae-ish this morning. You know, some nice hot fudge to warm us up!
Now then, today’s pitch comes to us from Carleen who says, “I am a writer who forgot to grow up, and now it’s too late!”
Here is her pitch:
Working Title: Annabelle Changes Her Name
Age/Genre: Picture Book (ages 4-8)
The Pitch:
Annabelle’s name is too long, too hard, too different. But when she decides to change it, she runs into all sorts of problems. And then she meets a new girl whose name is long and hard and different, too. And now Annabelle isn’t so sure anymore about changing her 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 Carleen 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 Itor 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!
Carleen is looking forward to your thoughts on her pitch! I am looking forward to drumming up some great prizes for the aforementioned Valentiny Writing Contest! Wish me luck! 🙂
Have a wonderful Wednesday, everyone!!! Stay warm! 🙂
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:
I love this picture. She’s such a little stumper 🙂
And here she is now:
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…
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:
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.”
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!
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!!!
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! :))
#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 🙂
#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!
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!)
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 Itor 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!
Susanna Leonard Hill 
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