Tag: writing fun

Would You Read It Wednesday #296 – Enough (PB) PLUS The January/February Pitch Pick!

10 Comments

Holy Lightning Bugs, Batman!

Where did summer go?

I blinked and somehow Labor Day weekend has come and gone and school buses are rumbling along the roads today!

I’m sad to see the days shortening, but I am so happy to be back with all of you!  I hope you all had wonderful summers and are renewed and refreshed and ready to launch into a flurry of writing!

As I’m sure you’ve all noticed, I have struggled a bit this year to keep up with everything.  My parents aren’t as young as they once were and have faced a number of challenges since the end of January.  I am fortunate to be in a position to help and care for them, but that added onto life-in-general leaves me with less time for other things.  As a result, I’m just now getting around to all the Pitch Picks for this year.  Sorry about that!

I don’t want to swamp you with all of them at once, so I’m going to add one a week into the next few Would Your Read It Wednesdays until we catch up, starting today with…

The January/February Pitch Pick (at long last!!!)

Our brave pitchers took all your helpful comments to heart and I present you now with their revised pitches.

#1 – Erik – Stoyanovich in Paris (MG historical fantasy)

Nikolai Stoyanovich Krisayev is the last of a long line of Russian rat nobility, living in exile in 1880’s Paris. When he rescues a visiting mouse princess from armed kidnappers, he is thrust into the midst of a silent war being waged secretly in the streets and sewers of the city.
With only his wits, his father’s sword, and the aid of a shadowy figure who may or may not be on their side, he will have to fight to save both the princess and the city he loves.

#2 – Kari – Kids Can’t Fetch (formerly: Training Your Human) (PB ages 4-8)

Kids don’t come with an owner’s manual, and Freckles the dog is having a RUFF time keeping his kid Zach out of the doghouse. After an ice cream truck chasing fiasco, Zach gets Freckles laughed right out of the dog park. If Freckles and his kid Zach can’t foster a friendship, life may turn into an epic dogpile.

 

#3 – Francis (Tim) – Murphy The Reluctant Potato (PB ages 4-8)

Murphy isn’t like all those other potatoes. He doesn’t dream of becoming a delicious side dish on the dinner table; of making beautiful art that gets displayed on the fridge; or of winning ribbons as a science fair project. Murphy is very happy kicking back in Farmer McCubbin’s cozy little garden. He has no plans for going on any “potato adventures” thank you very much. But when a shovel turns his world upside down, getting back to the garden turns into an adventure Murphy never imagined.

#4 – Jennifer – Taste of Summer  (PB ages 4-7)

It doesn’t matter if it’s sliced, diced, smashed into juice or dressed up like dessert, Wendy turns her nose up at any kind of fruit. But, on a class trip to a famous watermelon farm, all eyes are on her as she’s offered a deal that might be too sweet to resist.

 

#5 – Ann – The Lovesong of Jubal Jacques (chapter book ages 8-adult)

The ten-year-old narrator has been sent to stay with her grandmother on a small, green island, to convalesce after a long illness.

Her Uncle Jubal is in love with the honey-haired lady who lives on the hill. He writes her a beautiful lovesong and sings it to her, but the lady just sits on her verandah and weaves and weaves, never as much as turning her head. How can she be so cruel?

It is the child who finally guesses the secret that will enable Uncle Jubal’s lovesong to reach the honey-haired lady’s heart.

 

Now that you’ve had a chance to read through the revised pitches, please choose the one you like best and feel is most deserving of a read and comments from editor Erin Molta and vote for it in the poll below by Sunday September 9 at 9PM Eastern.  Thank you for taking the time to read and vote!

 

Phew!  All that voting made me a little faint from hunger.  Let’s have Something Chocolate, shall we?  Since it’s been so warm, I think some Oreo Ice Cream Cake would be just the thing!

Oreo Ice Cream Cake

oreo-ice-cream-8-683x1024

Recipe HERE at Foodtasia

Doesn’t that look like the perfect second breakfast?!  Plus, for those of you who like to double your chocolate, you can make it with chocolate ice cream instead of vanilla!  Or if you like coffee, you could use coffee ice cream!  The possibilities!!!

Now then, onto today’s pitch which comes to us from Katie, whom you will remember from her pitches in June and July for The Tooth Fairy Conference and The Boys Who Brushed Teeth Too Much (and almost destroyed the world) Katie says, “I’m an educator, Word Nerd, and Ice Cream-Loving Optimist. Faith, family, and fitness are my motivators. My #1 writing goal is picture books featuring Big Ideas for Young Minds (also the name of my main blog). My side gig is creating teaching resources (my own and for hire).”

Here is her pitch:

Working Title: Enough

Age/Genre: Picture Book (ages 4-9)

The Pitch: Elpis is an uncommon thing. With feathers sparkling, she spreads hope in brilliant cascades. Until… Moros throws deep, deep shade. Families, cities, and even nations suffer as Elpis sputters, shrinks, then sinks. Moros gloats…until he’s challenged by a few spirited youngsters. Is it enough? Does Moros prevail, or will Elpis rise to sparkle once again?

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 Katie improve her pitch.  Helpful examples of possible alternate wordings are welcome.  (However I must ask that comments be constructive and respectful.  I reserve the right not to publish comments that are mean because that is not what this is about.)

Please send YOUR pitches for the coming weeks!  For rules and where to submit, click on this link Would You Read It or on Would You Read it in the dropdown under For Writers in the bar above.  There are openings in October, so you could get your pitch up pretty soon for helpful feedback and a chance to have it read and commented on by editor Erin Molta!

Katie is looking forward to your thoughts on her pitch!  I am looking forward to all the fun things we’re going to do this year – Perfect Picture Books (which starts Friday), Tuesday Debuts (next one on September 18), Would You Read It, contests, and who knows what other high jinx and shenanigans!  Plus, there’s always plenty of chocolate around here! 🙂

Have a wonderful Wednesday everyone!!! 🙂

 

Would You Read It Wednesday #295 – The Remindeer (PB)

28 Comments

Shhh!

(I don’t want my computer to hear this conversation!)

But between you, me and the fencepost, I’m afraid it’s going over to the dark side.

I mean, when I turn it on and it looks like this:

IMG_4400

it really can’t be good!

So I think I may be taking a little jaunt to the computer store soon…

…much as I hate the idea of change!

I’m such a tech dinosaur.  I like to keep the devices I’m used to.  (Witness last week’s phone screen disaster when I elected to replace the screen rather than the phone!)

Wait.

Is there a trend here?

Now that I think of it, it’s a bit worrying!  First my phone, now my computer!  I may be in some kind of electronic device black hole.  Do they have those on Blueberry Hill?  Maybe I should check with the neighbors…

fullsizeoutput_1bb1

Well, she says she’s not having any problems with her electronic devices and she thinks the green screen is pretty and actually looks quite delicious.

IMG_6391

These guys agree.

So I guess everything’s okay.

It’s making me a little anxious, though, so I think Something Chocolate would be just the thing to settle my nerves 🙂

Scouting around for something delicious for today’s Something Chocolate, I came across the creation of a brilliant mind – someone who clearly said to themselves why have plain chocolate chip cookies when you could have them stuffed with cheesecake?  Really, it’s sheer genius.  Why has no one thought of this before? 🙂

Cheesecake Stuffed Cookies

choc chip cheesecake cookies

Recipe HERE (including helpful video!) at Delish.com

Screen Shot 2018-07-24 at 10.07.19 PM

…and the surprise inside! 🙂

I’m sure you can see the improved nutritional and healthful benefits of this beautiful creation – protein, dairy, whole grains and vegetables (don’t forget – chocolate comes from a bean!) in the cookie, and plenty of calcium in the cheesecake filling!  What could be a better breakfast?!

Now then, onto today’s pitch which comes to us from Greg who says, “I’m a husband, father, author, hockey player, geocacher, and cockeyed optimist. I enjoy cooking and baking, especially chocolatey goodies. I have two self-published books out and one traditional published book.”

LINKS

https://www.facebook.com/gregoryebray/

http://gregoryebrayauthor.blogspot.com/

Twitter:  @GEBray19

Instagram: gregoryebray

Here is his pitch:

Working Title: The Remindeer

Age/Genre: Picture Book (ages 4-10)

The Pitch: Santa has departed to deliver Christmas presents, but one has been left behind. Wally, being Santa’s right hooved reindeer, has to find a way to deliver it.  Unlike the other reindeer, Wally can’t fly. He’ll have to find another means to deliver the present and save Christmas for the intended child.

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 Greg improve his pitch.  Helpful examples of possible alternate wordings are welcome.  (However I must ask that comments be constructive and respectful.  I reserve the right not to publish comments that are mean because that is not what this is about.)

Please send YOUR pitches for the coming weeks!  For rules and where to submit, click on this link Would You Read It or on Would You Read it in the dropdown under For Writers in the bar above.  There are openings in October, so you 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!

Greg is looking forward to your thoughts on his pitch!  I am looking forward to looking…just looking…at new computers… and what might come of that no one knows so no current computers should take offense or feel insulted and stop working completely if they happen to be overhearing this conversation!

Have a wonderful Wednesday everyone!!! 🙂

Would You Read It Wednesday # 294 – Firestarter (MG)

18 Comments

Happy Wednesday, Chickadees!

Wait til you hear this one!

I was getting into my car yesterday – nothing acrobatic, just getting in normal-like – and my phone somehow fell out of the back right pocket of my jeans, across the seat and out the driver’s side door on the my left (how??? I ask you!!!) just at the exact moment that I was slamming the door shut…and it fell right between the door and the car CRUNCH!  I mean, you couldn’t do that if you tried!  It was some kind of mystical confluence of physics or something!  But anyway, my poor phone screen shattered!

I felt so bad 😦  I have never damaged a phone before (well, except the time it accidentally fell into the toilet… but that was fixed easily enough by a lot of lysol and a bag of rice 🙂 )  So now I have to take a little jaunt to the Genius Bar today and see if they can fix it for a reasonable amount or whether I have to get a new phone… which I hope I don’t because it will be new and different and new and different technology is always Very Intimidating!

I’ll show you a picture, but if you’re easily upset by graphic horror avert your eyes and scroll down quickly! ( 🙂 )

IMG_0962IMG_0961

After all that trauma, I am seriously in need of Something Chocolate.  You probably are too, what with the sympathy trauma you’re likely experiencing on my behalf 🙂

Since it’s hot out, let’s skip the baking today, shall we?  I opt for Easy No Bake Coconut Chocolate Bars!  (Plus coconut is so tropical and summery sounding!)

Easy No Bake Coconut Chocolate Bars

I’m pretty sure coconut counts as either a fruit or a vegetable – maybe both – so in addition to being a no bake summery choice these are pretty much health food and YUMMY! 🙂

Now then, onto today’s pitch which comes to us from Sherry who says, “I am a woman of many passions—mother, blogger, child advocate, author, and friend, but grandmother is the most rewarding. Watching your child’s child move into the world with their wide-eyed innocence is inspiring. I love it, and it is what led me to writing for kids.”

Find her on the web at
http://www.sherryalexanderwrites.com/
https://www.facebook.com/sherryalexanderbooks/
Twitter @hungerdragon

Here is her pitch:

Working Title: Firestarter

Age/Genre: MG Action/Adventure

The Pitch: 12 year old Cody’s mother left on the last day of school, and the care of his sisters and the small farm became his responsibility while his father works from dawn to dusk. Anxious to get away from his sisters demands and his father’s constant belittling, he makes plans to run away. But when smoke appears on the ridge above their home, he has to make a choice—fight the fire or leave his family to fend on their own. And to make matters worse, he has a secret that could cause him to lose his family for good and land him in jail.

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 Sherry improve her pitch.  Helpful examples of possible alternate wordings are welcome.  (However I must ask that comments be constructive and respectful.  I reserve the right not to publish comments that are mean because that is not what this is about.)

Please send YOUR pitches for the coming weeks!  For rules and where to submit, click on this link Would You Read It or on Would You Read it in the dropdown under For Writers in the bar above.  There are openings in September which will be here before you know it, so polish up your pitch and send it on in for helpful feedback and a chance to have it read and commented on by editor Erin Molta!

Sherry is looking forward to your thoughts on her pitch!  I am looking forward to having a phone I can actually read/see!  Wish me luck in my Genius Bar Adventure! 🙂

Have a wonderful Wednesday everyone!!! 🙂

Would You Read It Wednesday #293 – Maggie’s New Bike (PB)

27 Comments

Darlings!

In case you haven’t noticed, it is extremely hot.

I can tell because of the copious amounts of dog hair adorning my house.

My vacuum is getting the workout of its life!

They make sweaters and afghans and such out of sheep hair and llama hair and alpaca hair… I think it’s time to invent something made out of dog hair!  I could make a fortune!  And then I could use my fortune for good…you know, world peace, end world hunger, cure cancer, make sure everyone has Something Chocolate 🙂

Given the heat, I think our Something Chocolate should be something refreshingly cool today, don’t you?  How about a little (or a lot!) Oreo Chocolate Ice Cream Pie?  Sounds perfect to me!  And look how delicious…!

Chocolate Oreo Ice Cream Pie

I want you all to have at least 2 or 3 slices to make sure your core temperature is cool enough and you have the energy needed to help today’s intrepid pitcher! 🙂

Now then, onto today’s pitch which comes to us from Gabrielle who enjoys travel, exploring, and researching new book ideas. Her passion for writing is reflected in her weekly newspaper column and her blog, Butterfly Kisses and Silly Wishes, where she shares her thoughts on life, love, and the pursuit of a writer’s dream. Gabrielle is an active member of SCBWI, Maryland Writers Association, and graduate of Children’s Book Academy.

Find her on the web at her “in the works” website!
http://butterflykisses.gabrielleschoeffield.com/

Here is her pitch:

Working Title: Maggie’s New Bike

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

The Pitch: Maggie wants shiny new wheels, not Dad’s old rust bucket. When Dad hints she could get one after she learns how to ride, Maggie gives the junker a second look. With determination and her barnyard cheering section of hens and roosters, Maggie soon discovers not every treasure comes from a store. This is a delightful story of one girls’ never-give-up attitude.

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 Gabrielle improve her pitch.  Helpful examples of possible alternate wordings are welcome.  (However I must ask that comments be constructive and respectful.  I reserve the right not to publish comments that are mean because that is not what this is about.)

Please send YOUR pitches for the coming weeks!  For rules and where to submit, click on this link Would You Read It or on Would You Read it in the dropdown under For Writers in the bar above.  There are openings in September, which will be here before you know it, so polish up your pitch and send it along for helpful feedback and a chance to have it read and commented on by editor Erin Molta!

Gabrielle is looking forward to your thoughts on her pitch!  I am looking forward to having my daughters home!  One arrives tomorrow, one Friday, and I can hardly wait! 🙂

Have a wonderful Wednesday everyone!!! 🙂

 

Would You Read It Wednesday #292 – The Boys Who Brushed Teeth Too Much (PB)

10 Comments

Happy 4th of July, Everyone!

Due to all our work/life schedules, I’d love to share what my daughter shared on FB yesterday, but it was a SomeCards meme  that used an impolite word, and as this blog is family-friendly and g-rated I will have to summarize by saying that it showed Thomas Jefferson on July 3, 1776 realizing he had a serious and as yet unmet work deadline coming up 🙂

I think we can all relate 🙂

Since it’s July 4th, I suppose we should be celebrating with a snack in patriotic colors.  But chocolate brown is not one of them, and what kind of celebration would it be without chocolate???!!!  (And I’m sorry – white chocolate and red velvet just don’t cut it! 🙂  And even if they did, what the heck chocolate would qualify as blue?!)

So let’s just throw caution to the wind and make brownies out of candy!

Ferrero Rocher Fudge Brownies

I think we can all agree they have a firecracker-y celebratory look about them! 🙂

Hip hip hooray for the 4th of July and Something Fabulously Chocolate!!! 🙂

Now then, onto today’s pitch which comes to us from Katie whom you will remember from her recent pitch for The Tooth Fairy Conference and who says, “I’m an educator, Word Nerd, and Ice Cream-Loving Optimist. Faith, family, and fitness are my motivators. My #1 writing goal is picture books featuring Big Ideas for Young Minds (also the name of my main blog). My side gig is creating teaching resources (my own and for hire).”

Here is her pitch:

Working Title: The Boys Who Brushed Teeth Too Much (and almost destroyed the world)

Age/Genre: Picture Book (ages 5-9)

The Pitch:  In this modern nod to Panchatantra fables, Advik’s addiction to a toothbrushing game app accidentally launches a gum abrasion pandemic that threatens global shut-down. When his tech-avoidant brother, Barun, realizes he’s part of the problem, too, the boys must unite to restore dental and mental balance to the world before it’s too late.

·        ~775 words, PB ages 5-9+

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 Katie improve her pitch.  Helpful examples of possible alternate wordings are welcome.  (However I must ask that comments be constructive and respectful.  I reserve the right not to publish comments that are mean because that is not what this is about.)

Please send YOUR pitches for the coming weeks!  For rules and where to submit, click on this link Would You Read It or on Would You Read it in the dropdown under For Writers in the bar above.  There are openings in September, which will be here before you know it, so polish up your pitch and submit for helpful feedback and a chance to have it read and commented on by editor Erin Molta!

Katie is looking forward to your thoughts on her pitch!  I am looking forward to whenever this insane heatwave ends!  Meanwhile, if you need me, the dogs and I plan to tie cool wet cloths around our heads (a look I’m sure will set a new trend 🙂 ) and lie on the floor in front of the fan 🙂  Come on over and hang out with us!

Have a wonderful Wednesday everyone!!! 🙂

 

Would You Read It Wednesday #291 – Granny’s Veggie Garden (PB)

14 Comments

Hiya, Friends!

It’s officially summer, but that doesn’t mean ALL goofing around 🙂  Nosirreebob!

It means it’s the perfect time to perfect our pitching and help our fellow writers perfect theirs!  Practice over the summer so we’ll be all be ready to explode from the starting gate this fall with a passel of perfect pitches to tempt editors everywhere! 🙂

We most certainly need to fuel up, though.  We wouldn’t want to tackle pitching without the proper well-balanced nutritional preparation, which is why I recommend Something Chocolate.

And I think we can all agree that today’s Something Chocolate is the perfect answer to breakfast… and dessert… and proper well-balanced nutritious fuel! 🙂  (Okay.  Maybe the last one is a bit of a stretch… 🙂 )

Chocolate Buttercream Donut Cake! 🙂

Seriously.  Why has no made cake out of donuts before?  It’s a no-brainer!  A truly genius inspiration!  So please!  Dig in! 🙂

Now then, onto today’s pitch which comes to us from Yvona who says, “My love of books and words led me to become a librarian. And now, I write. I’ve authored 4 books including a cookbook, a poetry chapbook and a guide for people on the autism spectrum published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers. I write a weekly food column for the Adirondack Daily Enterprise.”

Find her on the web at http://www.wordsaremyworld.com/

Here is her pitch:

Working Title: Granny’s Veggie Garden

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

The Pitch: Granny’s Veggie Garden is a gentle rhyming book that takes the reader through the seasons of a garden, introducing many vegetables in a fun way. With the growing popularity of school gardens, community gardens and farmers’ markets I believe this book will find a wide audience. This read-aloud will appeal to 4-8-year-olds as well as their parents and is great for both storytime and classroom use. I’m happy to provide back matter: recipes for any or all of the dishes mentioned, and/or information about starting a garden.

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 Yvona improve her pitch.  Helpful examples of possible alternate wordings are welcome.  (However I must ask that comments be constructive and respectful.  I reserve the right not to publish comments that are mean because that is not what this is about.)

Please send YOUR pitches for the coming weeks!  For rules and where to submit, click on this link Would You Read It or on Would You Read it in the dropdown under For Writers in the bar above.  There are openings in September, which will be here before you know it! so send your pitch for helpful feedback and a chance to have it read and commented on by editor Erin Molta!

Yvona is looking forward to your thoughts on her pitch!  I am looking forward to when the nice air conditioner technician comes to repair the air conditioning because it is totally dead and I heard a rumor that it’s about to get hot.  Possibly because it’s summer… 🙂

Have a wonderful Wednesday everyone!!! 🙂

Would You Read It Wednesday #290 – The Librarian’s Treasure (YA)

15 Comments

After a wonderful week I am back from California, another graduation – Master’s Degree this time – celebrated!

We did all sorts of other fun stuff too, including walking and biking for miles along the beach, going down (and then back up!) the Thousand Steps (which turned out to be 223 – we counted! – but were still very long and steep! 🙂 ), and visiting the Pirate’s Tower (if there isn’t a picture book in that, I’d be astonished! 🙂 )

Plus we went to see The Incredibles II because everyone should! 🙂

Oh!  And did I mention we visited one of the Sprinkles Cupcake Bakeries?!  Not the flagship, but still!  Anyone who has watched Cupcake Wars can appreciate 🙂

fullsizeoutput_1b90

I think we can count that as today’s Something Chocolate because I can promise you there was plenty of chocolate in that box! 🙂 And boy were those cupcakes delicious!

Now then, onto today’s pitch which comes to us from Katie who says, “My name is Katherine Brown but friends and family call me Katie. I have been scribbling out stories since I was a child, poetry as a teen, and finally some very short children’s books as an adult. I loved writing and reading as long as I can remember; in fact, I wrote newsletters as a kid and sold them to parents for fifty cents each (making them purchase separately of course).”

Find her on the web at: http://www.katherinebrownbooks.com/

Here is her pitch:

Working Title: The Librarian’s Treasure

Age/Genre: YA Fiction

The Pitch:

His assignment: Raegan, the hum-drum librarian. Or was she? His superiors thought there was more though for weeks Drake had felt he was wasting his time, but now he wasn’t so sure. Suddenly Drake was fighting to avoid falling under her spell, still unsure if the mission he was on could possibly involve Raegan, this enigma of a woman who never did a thing but stack books and read.
(FYI if you want to include this question to readers out there ………I have two completely different ideas about how to take this book to completion and would love a vote: Action/Romance or Fantasy?)

 

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 Katie improve her pitch.  Helpful examples of possible alternate wordings are welcome.  (However I must ask that comments be constructive and respectful.  I reserve the right not to publish comments that are mean because that is not what this is about.)

Please send YOUR pitches for the coming weeks!  For rules and where to submit, click on this link Would You Read It or on Would You Read it in the dropdown under For Writers in the bar above.  There are openings in July, so you could get your pitch up pretty soon for/[so you have time to polish your pitch before putting it up] for helpful feedback and have a chance to have it read and commented on by editor Erin Molta!

Katie is looking forward to your thoughts on her pitch!  I am looking forward to visiting with my sister who is here from Georgia!  Always so great to see her and her family 🙂

Have a wonderful Wednesday everyone!!! 🙂

(And help yourself to seconds on cupcakes 🙂 )

 

Would You Read It Wednesday #289 – Amy’s Birdsong Airs/Composer Amy Cheney Beach (PB)

9 Comments

Hiya, folks!  Hope your Wednesdays are all off to a good start!

Princess Blue Kitty and I (that’s my car, for anyone who happens to be new around here and doesn’t know her 🙂 ) are hopefully off to a good start (or possibly arrived, depending on exactly when you’re reading this) to our favorite long-term parking lot.  I am such the traveller these days.  Normally I don’t go anywhere, but when I do, it seems to all be at the same time.  Didn’t I just get back from Brazil? 🙂

Anyway, let’s all get fortified with Something Chocolate, shall we?  And then we’ll be all fueled up and rarin’ to go to help  today’s pitcher!

Earthquake Cake

 

 

If you’re drooling it’s okay 🙂  You’re in good company 🙂

Now then, onto today’s pitch which comes to us from Patricia who says, “As a kid, I was totally into painting, singing, dancing and making up stories. Sometimes things never change and I’m glad I still enjoy it all :>)   And I’m so happy and blessed that Callie-Metler Smith at Clear Fork Publishing has given me the opportunity to have two books published in the near future.”

Find her on the web at:

www.patriciasaunders.com…..website
@Writer Saunders….twitter

Here is her pitch:

Working Title: Amy’s Birdsong Airs/Composer Amy Cheney Beach

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

The Pitch: Amy, a prodigy, wants more than anything to play the piano and compose music, but isn’t allowed, so she compensates by writing songs in her head. Eventually, her God given talent is recognized and Amy learns that perseverance leads to success.

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 Would You Read it in the dropdown under For Writers in the bar above.  There are openings in July, 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!

Patricia is looking forward to your thoughts on her pitch!  I am looking forward to 6 hours on an airplane!  (Okay, maybe not that part 🙂  But I sure am looking forward to seeing my daughter! 🙂 )

Have a wonderful Wednesday everyone!!! 🙂

 

Would You Read It Wednesday #288 – The Tooth Fairy Conference (PB)

15 Comments

You know it’s June when suddenly there are fiercely protective does everywhere and, if you’re lucky, you get to see tiny new fawns wobbling along behind them.

A doe with a new fawn has taken up residence on the wooded outskirts of my yard.  I have yet to see the baby, but I know it’s there because the doe is terrorizing my dogs!  (Not that they don’t deserve it – they’re entirely too interested in the proceedings, and even though I know they’d never hurt the fawn – if only because they’d have no idea what to do with it! – they make the doe nervous with their investigations.  And as someone who is a mother, I understand 🙂 )

Since I haven’t seen the fawn yet, I’ll entertain your with baby horse antics instead 🙂

 

You will recall that we had a barn baby back in April… whose mother, coincidentally, is named April 🙂  At the moment, this little dickens is referred to as Sassy… when she isn’t being called something less polite 🙂  She is quite a handful 🙂

Anyone feel a picture book coming on? 🙂

Alrighty, then!

Since today’s pitcher is a self-professed Ice Cream Lover, and since summer is coming, and since what could be better for breakfast than ice cream, let’s have Something Chocolate Ice Cream for today’s snack!

Brownie Cup Ice Cream Sundae

brownie cup sundae

Recipe HERE (with helpful video!) at delish.com

Obviously either chocolate or coffee is the best flavor of ice cream to use, along with hot fudge and/or caramel topping, but since it’s breakfast time, if you feel compelled to have some fruit, you can go strawberry ice cream 🙂

Delish! 🙂

Now then, onto today’s pitch which comes to us from Katie who says, “I’m an educator, Word Nerd, and Ice Cream-Loving Optimist. Faith, family, and fitness are my motivators. My #1 writing goal is picture books featuring Big Ideas for Young Minds (also the name of my main blog). My side gig is creating teaching resources (my own and for hire).   Additionally, you may want to know:

        1. “Goodnight, Moon” is my least-favorite classic, but “Runaway Bunny” is tied for first with “Harold and the Purple Crayon” and “The Lorax.” Also, I have too many modern favorites to pick even the Top 10.
        2. I want to know why zillions of the facing-out picture books (e.g. hot sellers) in stores rhyme when verse is supposed to be verboten.
        3. Age ranges on picture book queries make me wince since I think picture books are perfect for any age. The little plus sign I put after the age range (e.g. 4-8+) makes me feel better.”

 

Here is her pitch:

Working Title: The Tooth Fairy Conference

Age/Genre: Picture Book (ages 5-9)

The Pitch: Tooth Fairy Gwyneth rallies brainy and brawny conference attendees to extract Plaque Man, a rot-minded foe, and save the fairy economy. Gwyneth must convince skeptical speakers presenting key economic and tooth collecting knowledge to form a posse with tough tooth fairies from all over the world. Now if only they can combine their dental and mental derring-do and wash skunky, gunky Plaque Man down the drain.

·        ~1250 words, PB ages 5-9+  It’s dreadfully long as a fiction PB, but it has nonfiction elements integral to plot and character development. I’m open to input on if it should be a chapter book instead.

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 Katie improve her pitch.  Helpful examples of possible alternate wordings are welcome.  (However I must ask that comments be constructive and respectful.  I reserve the right not to publish comments that are mean because that is not what this is about.)

Please send YOUR pitches for the coming weeks!  For rules and where to submit, click on this link Would You Read It or on Would You Read it in the dropdown under For Writers in the bar above.  There are openings in July, 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!

Katie is looking forward to your thoughts on her pitch!  I am looking forward to seeing that little fawn one of these days soon 🙂

Have a wonderful Wednesday everyone!!! 🙂

 

Would You Read It Wednesday #287 – I Am Not A Hugger! (PB)

23 Comments

Darlings, I am such the world traveler!

Here I am, back from Brazil for the second time in 6 months!

I!

Who didn’t even have a passport until about a year ago!

Where should I go next?

I’ve always had a hankering to visit the Spanish Riding School in Vienna and see the Lipizzans… And for no particular reason I can think of I’ve always wanted to go to Ireland.  Maybe it’s because they have a lot of horses there too… 🙂  Any suggestions?  Maybe one of you will have a great idea and I’ll go and get a picture book out of it! 🙂

I will not even pretend that I’m on top of things around here.  I’m so behind it isn’t even funny.  So let’s all fuel up with Something Chocolate, shall we?  And then you guys can help out today’s pitcher, and I can go try to desperately to dig myself out of my email inbox, meet my editorial deadline, finish some critiques, and…. ok, I’m just going stop listing stuff because it’s scaring me 🙂 Did someone say CHOCOLATE?!

I’m in a cookie mood.  You can eat 3 cookies without feeling too guilty, whereas 3 cupcakes… ok, well I would eat 3 cupcakes too on a day like today! 🙂

Fudgy Chocolate Brownie Cookies

Mmmm!  Chocolate cookies!  They’re what’s for breakfast!  A perfect companion to coffee, tea, milk, or hot chocolate!  And why stop at 3?  They’re small… 🙂

Dig in!

Now then, onto today’s pitch which comes to us from Francis S. Poesy who says, “Francis S. Poesy is the pen name of Tim Canny, a writer of children’s stories aspiring to authorship, or is it authorhood? Authorness maybe? Basically, he’d like to be published. He has self-published a self-illustrated alphabet book, titled A Rather Round Alphabet, just to see what that would be like. He is a part-time graphic artist, but does not consider himself an illustrator.”

He can be found on the web at:
website: http://www.mulberryandbliss.com
twitter: http://www.twitter.com/tcanny
instagram: http://www.instagram.com/timcanny
A Rather Round Alphabet: https://www.amazon.com/Rather-Round-Alphabet-Francis-Poesy-ebook/dp/B06XFSKV1D/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0

Here is his pitch:

Working Title: I Am Not A Hugger!

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

The Pitch: Val likes her personal space. But she is a minority of one in her extended family of huggers. So when the latest family gathering promises to be a complete hug fest, Val must find her voice and stand her ground if she wants to avoid the impending hugtastrophe.

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 Francis improve his pitch.  Helpful examples of possible alternate wordings are welcome.  (However I must ask that comments be constructive and respectful.  I reserve the right not to publish comments that are mean because that is not what this is about.)

Please send YOUR pitches for the coming weeks!  For rules and where to submit, click on this link Would You Read It or on Would You Read it in the dropdown under For Writers in the bar above.  There are openings in July, 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!

Francis is looking forward to your thoughts on his pitch!  I am looking forward to catching up, which at this stage feels impossible, but I’m sure with enough chocolate it can be done 🙂

Have a wonderful Wednesday everyone!!! 🙂