I don’t know about you, but I feel like I’ve been working like the proverbial beaver this week and have nothing to show for it except that it’s already Wednesday and I’m still on Monday’s to-do list!
Uh… and that might be last Monday’s now I come to think of it! đ
It’s possible my to-do lists are too long!
Because, to be fair, I have done Many Things!…it’s just that the list seems to grow at the same rate it shrinks, so it never gets any shorter!
Luckily, I know the answer:
Something Chocolate!
My brother gave me this card for my birthday a few days ago (which just proves we’re related đ ):
So you can feel totally virtuous as you dig into today’s Dirty Chocolate Chip Cookies – perfect for springtime! – and 100% healthful!
(you really cannot go wrong with chocolate chip cookies with crushed Oreo in the dough, rolled in Oreo crumbs to bake!)
Now then, onto today’s pitch which comes to us from Sarah, who you know pretty well by now from many previous pitches đ  Sarah says, “I am an Optometrist, mother, and lover of the outdoors. I live in NH with my husband and two children. I love to paint in my free time, when I’m not writing.”
The Pitch: LANE MAKES MAMA SMILE is about a boy who wants to make his eighth birthday special. His mamaâs depression seems to be getting in the way. Lane finds a clever way to succeed, and he realizes that his mother is still capable of much love.
So what do you think? Â Would You Read It? Â 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. Â If your answer is MAYBE or NO, please feel free to tell us what you think could be better in the spirit of helping Sarah improve her pitch. Â Helpful examples of possible alternate wordings are welcome. Â (However I must ask that comments be constructive and respectful. Â 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! Â 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. Â There are openings in June, 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!
Sarah is looking forward to your thoughts on her pitch! Â I am looking forward to FINISHING MY TO-DO LIST!!!
Ah! Ever the optimist! Â One can hope, right? đ
So, darlings, here we are at Wednesday and it feels like a whole week and half has already been packed into the first couple days of this week!
Just one thing after another! Â Not bad (well, the flat tire and the leaky toilet I could have done without…!) – but busy!
I’ve got an unexpected deadline for… well… NOW! so no chitchat today! Â We’re getting right down to brass tacks!
And by “brass tacks” of course I mean Something Chocolate đ Â How do you feel about Texas Sheet Cake Cookies? Melt in your mouth chocolate-y goodness that goes perfectly with your morning (or mid-morning, or noon time, or early, mid, or late afternoon, or evening or bedtime or midnight snack) cup of coffee, tea or milk!!! đ
Now then, onto today’s pitch which comes to us from Maria.  Maria Bostian began work with children as a Montessori teacher, but through a chance meeting found her dream job as a safety advocate with a local fire department. Sheâs been in the fire service for over 14 years and when sheâs not in schools teaching fire and injury prevention, she hones her writing skills through participation in Julie Hedlundâs 12X12 Challenge, SCBWI Carolinas critique group sessions, and by networking with other passionate authors. She can be found shopping for an antique or inspirational find, traveling with her firefighter hubby, or with her keyboard sunning in her backyard You might even catch her bathing one of her four âpurrfectâ pals.
Find her on the web at
Facebook – @MJBostian
Twitter – @MariaMariaB71
Pinterest – K-Town Fire Girl
Blog – www.mariabostian.com
Here is her pitch:
Working Title: Klean Kitty Super Suds
Age/Genre: Picture Book (ages 4-8)
The Pitch:
Has your precious Leo ever gotten into a stinkysituation? Did Beau Diddley ever fall victim to a pole cat hazing? Was darling Nell caught playing with something that smelled worse than three cow pastures at high Noon?
Well, no worries, friends, âcause Iâm Andi T. Vipperman and Iâm here to help. With my Klean Kitty Super Sudsand easy-to-follow directions, youâll be bathing your delightful feline like a pro. And once again, your loyal companionâs coat will be restored to silky softness and will smell just as sweet as Grannyâs kitchen.
Thatâs right, ladies and gents; my Klean Kitty Super Sudsmakes bath time for your purrfect pal âeasy as pieâ and just as delicious.
Here, let me show you!
So what do you think? Â Would You Read It? Â 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. Â If your answer is MAYBE or NO, please feel free to tell us what you think could be better in the spirit of helping Maria improve her pitch. Â Helpful examples of possible alternate wordings are welcome. Â (However I must ask that comments be constructive and respectful. Â 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! Â 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. Â There are openings in June, so you have a little 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!
Maria is looking forward to your thoughts on her pitch! Â I am looking forward to meeting that deadline so I can stop feeling panicky! đ
I want to start today’s post with a little something special – just a tiny sneak peek at my new book baby. Â It had it’s birthday yesterday đđđ
This was kind of a different project for me – a work-for-hire where I turned a grown-up book into a picture book. Â It was a challenge to make it kid-friendly…and in rhyme! Â But it was fun and I think the book came out super cute!
Because the idea belonged to someone else, my name appears only on the inside title page…but I did in fact write the words đ
illustration copyright Sydney Hanson 2019
Sydney did an absolutely amazing job with the art! So adorable!
illustration copyright Sydney Hanson 2019
Anyway, thank you for indulging me in my little book baby celebration :). I think it would be a great Mother’s Day present for a child, or a new mom, or a not-so-new mom, or a grandmom… đ
(It has a companion that will be out in another month in time for Father’s Day… but I won’t force that on you now! đ )
Now then! Â Down to actual business! Â First, we have Straight From The Editor for January! Â You will recall the winner was Dedra with her pitch for Mawbelina Ballerina (PB ages 3-8):
This seems like it could be cute but Iâd trim it a tad and try to make it more fun, rather than preachy. Perhaps something like below with something more specificâlike what does she do with her mother thatâs so special, rather than staying home? Do they make dog treats or is her being small a way to help her mother when nobody else can? Something like that SHOWS an editor, rather than tells her.
Mawbelina Ballerina is a young weenie dog desperate to go to dance school with her older siblings. Being the youngest of the family frustrates Mawbelina. Not long enough or tall enough to go, she whines and pouts until she realizes staying home with her mom is special and being small can be fun.
As always, I find Erin’s comments so insightful, and I hope you do too!
Next, I think we can all agree you have earned your Something Chocolate break by listening to me ramble on about my new book! Â We’re edging toward Easter, and I thought these looked pretty and delicious, so have at them! đ
Now then, onto today’s pitch which comes to us from Mary.  Mary is a picture book writer who lives in Minnesota, so she’ll be enjoying Spring around mid-July! She can be a goofball, and tends to add one or more layers of humor to her manuscripts. She’s currently in the process of training her dog to be a reading therapy animal. He’s sort of a goofball too, so he may never pass the test. But they’ll have fun trying!
Here is her pitch:
Working Title: April’s Shower
Age/Genre: Picture Book (ages 3-7)
The Pitch: Flaming space rocks, smoochy frilly weddings, and pirates are things April is determined to avoid when her mom suggests taking her first shower. Armed with her wild imagination and precise plans, she takes avoidance to a whole new level. When failures and consequences escalate and she ends up covered in mud, sitting in grimy bath water isnât an option. But this girl can push the very definition of shower to the limit.
So what do you think? Â Would You Read It? Â 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. Â If your answer is MAYBE or NO, please feel free to tell us what you think could be better in the spirit of helping Mary improve her pitch. Â Helpful examples of possible alternate wordings are welcome. Â (However I must ask that comments be constructive and respectful. Â 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! Â 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. Â There are openings in June, 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!
Mary is looking forward to your thoughts on her pitch! Â I am looking forward to seeing all my siblings on Friday when we celebrate my dad’s birthday together, a couple weeks early, but when people are traveling from Georgia you gotta do it when you can do it! đ
I hope you’re all feeling bright-eyed and bushy-tailed today!
I don’t know how many of you are aware of this, but on Friday March 29 – in just 2 days! – the first all-female spacewalk ever is set to take place!
How cool is that?
(And how is it possible that there hasn’t been one before?!)
I confess, I’ve been paying a little more attention than usual to news from space because I have a book coming out June 4 in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the moon landing, and another space-oriented book in the works for next year, and I am fascinated by how amazing all space/NASA-related endeavors are.
Of course, now that she’s heard about an all-female spacewalk, my friend and yours, Punxsutawney Phyllis, wants to try an all-female groundhog spacewalk. Â I’m not sure she’s going to be able to pull that off, but she says she at least wants a book in which she gets launched somewhere in a rocket!
That’s Phyllis đ
I guess I’ll have to put my thinking cap on!
The perfect thing for thinking is Something Chocolate, and the perfect choice for today, given Phyllis’s nutty plan, is clearly  Chocolate Peanut Butter Crazy Cake!!! đ
If you happen not to be a peanut butter fan, it would be as easy as pie (er, I guess easy as cake? đ ) to make the frosting with almond or cashew butter instead of peanut butter. Â Either of those would go well with chocolate cake. Â What doesn’t?! đ
Now then, onto today’s pitch which comes to us from Joyce.  After decades as an educator and principal, Joyce Uglow has a passion for literacy that lives in stories about acceptance, friendship, and family. A graduate of Children’s Book Academy, she spends time honing her craft via SCBWI, the 12×12 Challenge, the Complete Picture Book Submission System, reading books for children. Find her at the keyboard, in her vineyard or flower gardens, or @jpuglow on Twitter.
Here is her pitch:
Working Title: Will Bear Come Through?
Age/Genre: Picture Book (ABCs) (ages 4-8)
The Pitch: It’s time to enter this year’s Amazing Baking Contest. But, last year Bear devoured their entry. Can the Bakersville animals pull together and bring the trophy back – without Bear? Will Bear Come Through? is a 447-word alphabet picture book complete with recipes for children 4-8 to bake with their family.
So what do you think? Â Would You Read It? Â 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. Â If your answer is MAYBE or NO, please feel free to tell us what you think could be better in the spirit of helping Joyce improve her pitch. Â Helpful examples of possible alternate wordings are welcome. Â (However I must ask that comments be constructive and respectful. Â 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! Â 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. Â There are openings in May, 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!
Joyce is looking forward to your thoughts on her pitch!  I am looking forward to this weekend when the local weatherfolk and Phyllis are predicting temperatures near 60 degrees!!! đ  If that doesn’t make you smile… have some more cake! đ
There may not be any grass to walk barefoot in quite yet (at least not in my neck of the woods! đ ) but a little Whoopie Pie indulgence on the back porch in the sunshine works just fine!
Have two! đ
Now then, onto today’s pitch which comes to us from Sarah, whom you will remember from several previous pitches (but not the same Sarah as last week!) Sarah says, “I am an Optometrist, mother, and lover of the outdoors. I live in NH with my husband and two children. I love to paint in my free time, when I’m not writing.”
The Pitch: Matt, Bratt, and Scit-Scat are three rat friends who leave the rat pack and find their own feast. They become trapped in a trash receptacle. Nudging not a budge, that can just wonât take a shake. The whole pack is summoned, and the friends re-think their initial plan.
So what do you think? Â Would You Read It? Â 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. Â If your answer is MAYBE or NO, please feel free to tell us what you think could be better in the spirit of helping Sarah improve her pitch. Â Helpful examples of possible alternate wordings are welcome. Â (However I must ask that comments be constructive and respectful. Â 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! Â 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. Â There is one opening left in May, and more in June, so you have a little 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!
Sarah is looking forward to your thoughts on her pitch! Â I am looking forward to seeing a PDF of my long-awaited ALPHABEDTIME! Â It’s been promised, and hasn’t arrived yet, but it could at any minute! Â You never know! Keep your fingers crossed! đ
I am counting the minutes until Spring! (10,080! Â Or if that sounds like too big a number we can count by hours – 168! or by days – 7! or by weeks – 1!!!)
I realize of course that up here on Blueberry Hill the Spring Equinox does not blossoms and bunnies and green grass make.
But Spring is a state of mind – a state we have official permission to be in in one week!
And I am READY!
So ready  that I’ve got the picnic packed with Something Chocolate!  How do you feel about Italian Chocolate Cake?
Doesn’t that look scrumptious? Â It’s part of a complete breakfast along with toast, juice, eggs, milk, fruit, and breakfast cereal! đ
Now that we are suitably fortified, onto today’s pitch which comes to us from Sarah who says, “After spending most of the past decade living in various parts of Europe with my husband, I’ve recently returned to the US. I currently run a freelance business providing editing and book design services to independent authors while continuing to work toward my own publishing dreams, which began with the paid publication of a short story online. I am an active member of SCBWI.”
The Pitch: Charley Sock-kitty finds a sock with stripes like hers, and then another one. Her wise friend Patrick the Pony tells Charley socks always come in pairsâtheyâre twins. Charley wonders if she has a twin like the sock does. Her friendsâBubbles the Yarn-Kitty, Teddy the Bear, & Patrickâhelp her try to find her family. But Charley discovers sheâs had one all along.
So what do you think? Â Would You Read It? Â 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. Â If your answer is MAYBE or NO, please feel free to tell us what you think could be better in the spirit of helping Sarah improve her pitch. Â Helpful examples of possible alternate wordings are welcome. Â (However I must ask that comments be constructive and respectful. Â 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! Â 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. Â There are openings in May, 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!
Sarah is looking forward to your thoughts on her pitch!  I am looking forward to đŒđžđč SPRING!!! đ·đșđŒ(although it is marginally possible I may have already mentioned that! đ )
If you’re feeling especially artistic today, it’s probably because it’s Michelangelo’s 544th birthday. Â I know this because he and I go way back. Â “Best buds” is not a stretch. Â As you may or may not know, we are both known for our terrible fashion sense đ And he was a poet who wrote over 300 poems, and a sculptor of great renown, and I am not a poet and my sculpting ability is taxed by making snowmen đ Â Kindred spirits, obviously.
đ
Anyway… while we are not talking about ballet… (and in a stunning example of a non sequitur) I’m pleased to announce that the winner of the January Pitch Pick is Dedra with her PB pitch for Mawbellina Ballerina!  Congratulations, Dedra!  Your pitch has been sent to editor Erin Molta for her thoughts!
Congratulations to all our other brave pitchers as well! Â You all wrote fabulous pitches and improved them beautifully based on the feedback you received. Â It is always a tough pick! Â I hope everyone feels that they have solidly improved pitches to send out into the world as a result of their courage in asking for input.
You may not all have gotten to have Erin read your pitches but you have DEFINITELY earned Something Chocolate!!! đ How about some Fudge which is total health food because it’s Paleo-friendly, dairy-free, and gluten-free! Â (I think we can just add to that “calorie free” and “guilt free”! đ )
I mean, health food doesn’t get much more delicious-looking than that, does it?! đ
And it’s so good for you there’s no reason not to indulge in seconds and thirds! đ
Now then, onto today’s pitch which comes to us from Shell who says, “My name is Shell LeDrew, I live in beautiful Newfoundland, Canada and I am a grateful Mom to my reader Sam 10 and my tornado Buddha Charlie 7.  After a career wearing many hats including that of flight attendant, I married a pilot and wrote a story about it!
Here is a pitch for my silly and sweet 443 word Picture Book (ages 3-7) entitled âMommy, Whereâs Daddy?!â”
Here is her pitch:
Working Title: Mommy, Where’s Daddy?
Age/Genre: Picture Book (ages 3-7)
The Pitch: After Dylanâs day dream of flying fabulous airplanes with his pilot Daddy is interrupted by his Moms insistence of bedtime, he comes up with countless tricks to delay going to bed until he realizes his sleep dream is the way back to being the wingman of his dreams!
So what do you think? Â Would You Read It? Â 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. Â If your answer is MAYBE or NO, please feel free to tell us what you think could be better in the spirit of helping Shell improve her pitch. Â Helpful examples of possible alternate wordings are welcome. Â (However I must ask that comments be constructive and respectful. Â 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! Â 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. Â There are openings in May, 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!
Shell is looking forward to your thoughts on her pitch!  I am looking forward to improving my  sculpting skills in the medium of cookie dough! đ
After what seems like a long hiatus due to the Valentiny Contest, we’re back to our regularly scheduled Would You Read It Wednesday!
Apparently we’re in a voting mode this week, because if it’s not noon yet there is still time for you to read Valentiny Writing Contest Finalists and vote for your favorite (and also please spread the word to everyone you know who might want to read and vote because we need all the votes we can get!) AND today we have the January Pitch Pick, so you can vote for your favorite of those!
So let’s start with the Pitch Pick. Â Here are the January pitches, revised by their authors on the basis of all your wonderful and helpful feedback! Please read through them and choose the one you feel is best and most deserving of a read and comments from editor Erin Molta! Please vote for your favorite in the poll below by Sunday March 3 at 5 PM Eastern.
#1 – Aileen – Professor Hound and the Elusive Thieves (CB)
John B. Hound, Professor at the Collarsville Academy and secret agent working for Breeds Over National Emergencies or B.O.N.E. for short, is on a mission to sniff out thieves and recover stolen goods. His job_ to determine why recent burglaries only occur in the homes of wealthy Hound Academy students, if any of the Hound Academy staff are involved, and who sent the perfumed note containing a clue. Will Professor Hound decipher the note and other clues in time or will the sneaky culprits outsmart him and get away with the valuables?
#3 – Jennifer – BYOB, Bring Your Own Bear (PB ages 4-8)
Jillian knew that Rex wasnât a bear, it wasnât something that had ever mattered before. But, on the day of the Teddy Bear Picnic, it suddenly mattered⊠a lot. Realizing she might be the only one without a bear, Jillian decides do whatever it takes for she and Rex to fit in, even if it means keeping a secret from her friends.
#4 – Fanny – Hazel Lee’s Place In The Sky (NF PB ages 6-9)
Hazel Lee is not the stereotypical Chinese-American young woman. She is loud, stubborn, and athletic. Against the expectations of her Chinese community, she earns a pilotâs license, when women in the 1930s are thought to be too emotional to be a pilot. Her high-spirited personality gains friendship and acceptance among fellow WASPs (Womenâs Airforce Service Pilots) who had never met a Chinese before. Hazel proves she can fly fighter planes as well as any man.
Always such a hard choice, isn’t it? Clearly we need Something Chocolate after that! Since it’s breakfast, I’m incorporating fruit for your health! đ
YUM! Delicious AND nutritious! (from a certain point of view đ ) Please feel free to help yourselves to seconds. Â There’s plenty for all! đ
Now then, onto today’s pitch which comes to us from Sarah, whom you will recognize from several previous pitches.  Sarah says, “I am an Optometrist, mother, and lover of the outdoors. I live in NH with my husband and two children. I love to paint in my free time, when I’m not writing.”
The Pitch: Alien Blob hi-jacks my school bus one morning. He tells us that he wants us to help him gather the ingredients to make school-berry muffins, and weâre supposed to be the school-berries! Blob is not exactly familiar with the ways and the words of Earth, so I try to fool him. He is smart enough to see right through my attempts, though. I must plan something really clever.
So what do you think? Â Would You Read It? Â 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. Â If your answer is MAYBE or NO, please feel free to tell us what you think could be better in the spirit of helping Sarah improve her pitch. Â Helpful examples of possible alternate wordings are welcome. Â (However I must ask that comments be constructive and respectful. Â 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! Â 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. Â There are openings in May, 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!
Sarah is looking forward to your thoughts on her pitch! Â I am looking forward to seeing who wins the Valentiny Contest! Â We will find out tomorrow!!! Â I can’t wait!!! đ
Wouldn’t it be great if Would You Read It Wednesday had a theme song?
Something catchy, like The Beverly Hillbillies tune?
Then we could all start our Wednesday mornings singing together!
I’m sure it would bring about great changes for good in the world đ
So if anyone is inspired, feel free to make suggestions in the comments – video auditions welcome đ
Meanwhile, now that it’s February, it’s time to announce the winner of the October Pitch Pick! (We are right on schedule around here! đ )
The winner of the October Pitch Pick was Ciara with her PB pitch for Drop The Dragon! Â Congratulations on a fabulous pitch, Ciara! Â It is on it’s way to editor Erin Molta for her thoughts!
And congratulations also to our other brave pitchers who stepped up and shared their work for all of us to learn from and who hopefully feel they gained from the experience even if they don’t get to have Erin critique their pitches. Â You are all amazing!
Onward to the November/December Pitch Pick!
Please read through the following pitches, revised on the basis of your helpful feedback, and choose the one you feel is best and most deserving of a read and critique by editor Erin Molta! Â Vote for your choice in the poll below by Sunday February 10 at 5 PM Eastern.
But Flaminga is willing to try anything to win the admiration of zoo patrons from daring disguises, delightful dances, to gifts of guppies. Her clumsiness may set her plans afoul, but it is also becomes the key to achieving her dreams.
#2 – Mary – The Mouse Of Rocktown Museum (PB ages 3-7)
Parker Higgins adores his museum home until he comes face-to-face with a new security guard, who is decidedly not mouse-friendly. After close calls with a broom, mousetraps, and a hungry cat, Parker launches an ingenious plan to protect the life he loves.
#3 – Sarah – Hive To Move (PB ages 4-8)
Betsie and Leeleeâs hive has outgrown its home. The bees swarm, which is explained in the back matter. Betsie, a scout, must find a new home before her sisters are disturbed by the pesky humans. When a bee wrangler is summoned, Leelee encourages Betsie to search faster. This fictitious story is based on Thomas Seeleyâs HONEYBEE DEMOCRACY.
#4 – Lily –Â Ana and Puto –Â Hungry In The Hills Of Hercegovina (PB ages 4-8) Creative nonfiction (based on my auntâs true story)
Ana wants to relieve her hunger but it is a struggle in her poor village in the hills of Hercegovina, Yugoslavia in 1956. Puto, her dog, chases foxes and wolves away from the familyâs herd of sheep. When Ana and Puto face a hungry vulture and their lives are threatened, she braves the battle with her shepherdâs staff and the bark of her courageous dog. She discovers that being grateful âfor not just every morsel we receive but for every breath we are givenâ.
I think a little pick-me-up is in order after all that voting, don’t you? Â How about Something Chocolate? Continuing our Valentine theme, I’m thinking Red Velvet Brownies With White Chocolate Icing (because red velvet is technically chocolate, red and white are very Valentiny, and if you put the two weaker sisters of the chocolate family together (red velvet and white chocolate) they equal actual chocolate đ )
Now then, onto today’s pitch which comes to us from Amitha who says, “This is my first book, and I truly enjoy writing. I am a high school student with a passion to learn. In my free time, most can find me reading a book, playing with my dog, or writing more stories! Apart from writing, I enjoy being with animals or reading on a rainy day. Much like my character, I am an introvert and love staying inside and learning new things. However, the times where I interact socially is at the mall or library looking for cute plushies to satisfy my inner child. Speaking of which, I also like to help children learn more about reading, and I set up a reading program for young children for a full year back in my previous primary school.”
Here is her pitch:
Working Title: The Genchi War
Age/Genre: Early YA
The Pitch: A girl (Amethyst Capricorn) who’s never fit in, finally finds others like her but must fulfill an ancient prophecy to save her new world, and her hostage family.
So what do you think? Â Would You Read It? Â 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. Â If your answer is MAYBE or NO, please feel free to tell us what you think could be better in the spirit of helping Amitha improve her pitch. Â Helpful examples of possible alternate wordings are welcome. Â (However I must ask that comments be constructive and respectful. Â 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! Â 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. Â There are openings in March, 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!
Amitha is looking forward to your thoughts on her pitch! Â I am looking forward to sharing my new classroom guides with anyone who might be interested! Â Check out the appropriately named Classroom Guides page of my website to see the beautiful Guides By Deb created for WHEN YOUR LION NEEDS A BATH, WHEN YOUR ELEPHANT HAS THE SNIFFLES, WHEN YOUR LLAMA NEEDS A HAIRCUT, and WHEN YOUR MONKEYS WON’T GO TTO BED!
Have a wonderful Wednesday everyone!!! đ
P.S. How is your Valentiny Contest entry coming along??? Check the page for updated prizes!
How are things in your reading, writing, teaching, library-ing, and parenting worlds today?
There is snow in my world, and it’s making me want to write a picture book about snow. The Snowy Day has been done đ Â but there’s got to be another possibility!
For any of you who didn’t notice the post I snuck in on Sunday evening, the guidelines for the 4th Annual Pretty Much World Famous Valentiny Contest have been posted! Â And for those of you who did see it, the prize list has been updated! đ So hop on over and check it out.
Then hop back here and make your choice in the October Pitch Pick!
Here are the revised pitches from our talented October participants. Â Please read through them and choose the one you think is best and most deserving of a read and comments from editor Erin Molta, then vote for your pick in the poll below by Sunday February 3 at 5 PM (see? you’ll be done before the Super Bowl! đ )
#1 – Katie – The Night There Was No Bedtime (PB ages 3-6)
Mischievous Bedtime decides sleeping is boring. When she and one playful little girl sneak outside for some starlit hide & seek, parents everywhere wonder if their children will ever sleep againâuntil Bedtime discovers the one thing that makes sleeping sound fun.
#2 – Ciara – Drop The Dragon (PB ages 4-12)
Dragon theft is a real problem for Lily. Her best frenemy, the family dog, is a pilfering pup. To thwart the theft of her toy dragon, Lily engineers towers, traps, and more. But when their toy disappears, these two must join forces to save their beloved dragon.Â
#3 – Meghan – Weeping Willow (PB ages 4-10)
Todd is a young boy that faces an unexpected choice: one that could ruin or fulfill his new friendâs deepest dreams. She is a tree that yearns to be made into something magical, but the consequence might be too much for Todd to bear. Can he handle the pressure?
#4 – Sarah – The Punching Ballerina  (PB ages 4-8)
KC, a karate student, longs to take ballet lessons. He weaves all things dance throughout his days, which encourages negative attention at school. After several minor social losses, a group of kids confronts him on the playground. He sticks up for himself peacefully, winning confidence, and gaining something else.
Thank you all in advance for your votes! Â I think everyone has earned Something Chocolate! I’m on a Valentines theme apparently, started last week with the creme filled chocolate cake hearts, so let’s have heart-shaped butter cookies dipped in chocolate today!
That’s what I call breakfast/second-breakfast/elevenses/afternoon snack/dessert/bedtime snack/midnight snack! Perfect for dunking in coffee/hot chocolate/milk/maybe even tea đ
Now then, onto today’s pitch which comes to us from Fanny who says, “I’m a Chinese-American writer who used to design multicultural dolls and puppets for the early childhood education market. After my retirement, it’s natural I want to write for children.”
Working Title: Hazel Lee Flew A Fighter Plane As Well As Any Man
Age/Genre: Picture Book (ages 6-9)
The Pitch: A Chinese-American woman fighter pilot in WWII? No way! Women shouldnât be flying alone, they are too nervous, too emotional. But Hazel Lee is not the stereotyped Chinese women!
So what do you think? Â Would You Read It? Â 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. Â If your answer is MAYBE or NO, please feel free to tell us what you think could be better in the spirit of helping Fanny improve her pitch. Â Helpful examples of possible alternate wordings are welcome. Â (However I must ask that comments be constructive and respectful. Â 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! Â 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. Â There are openings in March, 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!
Fanny is looking forward to your thoughts on her pitch! Â I am looking forward to writing my snow story! Â I hope I get farther with it than I did with last week’s pie story! đ
Have a wonderful Wednesday everyone!!! đ
Oh, and P.S. Â If I manage to scrape it together, I will post a Straight From The Editor post with the 6 I have hopefully on Saturday or Sunday!
