I feel like I’ve had a week-long celebration with the launch of MOON’S FIRST FRIENDS! Sourcebooks has been amazing with providing resources for the book – a fantastic Common Core State Standards Aligned Educator’s Guide for Grade 1, 2, and 3, as well as the most beautiful coloring/activity sheets which I hope I’ll be able to share with you, but I have to find out if I have permission.
At story time on Saturday there were multi-colored glow-in-the-dark stars
and COOKIES to color in with edible markers (and let me tell you, those were a big hit! 😊)
And as if all that weren’t enough, an astronaut – an actual astronaut! – read the book and liked it! I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say I’m starstruck! 😊
To continue the party mood, I think we should have Something Chocolate, don’t you?
As you can see, I chose actual breakfast health food without even hardly cheating at all this week, so help yourself to your heart’s content guilt-free!!!
Now then, onto today’s pitch which comes to us from Diana who is a retired Primary grades teacher with a MS in Remedial Reading.
Here is her pitch:
Working Title: Wrong Way, Ray
Age/Genre: Picture Book (ages 4-8)
The Pitch: Ray’s poor sense of direction heads the flock of geese off in the wrong direction each time it’s his turn to lead them south for the winter. The gaggle are ready to give him the boot. When a raptor attacks the gaggle, Ray flies into action to save his feathered friends.
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 Diana 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, 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! (Doesn’t hurt to save yourself a spot!)
Diana is looking forward to your thoughts on her pitch! I am looking forward to summer, which officially starts in 9 days, and which I hope will be full of family, friends, fun, and tons of inspired writing!
Golly, what a lovely day was yesterday! So many wonderful people took the time to share my little MOON book on FB and Instagram, post their own photos and like and share mine and others. I hope the book took off like a rocket 🚀 😊
Here’s a little slideshow of posts (which I just this second discovered you could do on a WordPress post!!! How fun is that?) 😊
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
I’m sure I drove everyone nuts with my photos and videos and slideshows – I sincerely apologize! – but it’s not every day you get to launch a book in celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Moon Landing! You are all kind to indulge me! 💕
This weekend, MOON’S FIRST FRIENDS will be featured at Saturday Story Time in Barnes & Noble nationwide, and you can purchase the book for $7.99 if you buy another kids’ book as well. I will be reading at B&N Poughkeepsie, so if you’re in the neighborhood, stop by!!!
Okay. Blahblahblah enough about me and my book!
Let’s celebrate with Something Chocolate, shall we? You’ve certainly earned it after listening to all that MOON talk! I don’t think we can go wrong with this!
Sorry 🤣 I couldn’t help myself! But they do look delicious, don’t they? Dig in!
Now then, onto today’s pitch which comes to us from Deborah who says, “I am a mother, author, and architectural drafter from Iowa. This is my first time submitting a pitch to you. Here is a link to my author website: http://deborahclaytonbooks.com/”
Here is her pitch:
Working Title: Farmer Jo And The Chicken Coop Calamity
Age/Genre: Picture Book (ages 4-8)
The Pitch: Farmer Jo will do anything to keep her chickens happy including building an egg-stravagant chicken coop, but when word spreads about the new hen house and her flock grows, everything comes crashing down.
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 Deborah 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, 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! (But no harm in saving your space now!)
Deborah is looking forward to your thoughts on her pitch! I am looking forward to reading at Story Time on Saturday! And hopefully getting to attend the second half of the Children’s Writers Of The Hudson Valley Annual Conference afterwards!!!
In my neck of the woods, many families got extra-long weekends with kids off from school Thursday, Friday, Monday and even Tuesday because of “give back days” – the ones that didn’t get used for snow days this winter – so there was plenty of celebrating around here! 😊
I spent Saturday at the first ever Sullivan County Youth Book Festival which was very nice in spite of a little rain in the afternoon. My friends and fellow authors Nancy Furstinger, Iza Trapani, and Katey Howes were there as well, and I got to meet Colleen Kosinski, a frequenter of this blog whose art placed well in the illustrator contest I ran a few years ago, so that made it extra fun!
Now I think we can all have some extra fun by indulging in Something Chocolate! How do you feel about Chocolate-Filled Banana Muffins? Sounds like a healthy breakfast to me!!! 😊😊😊
It is important to fortify ourselves with whole grains and fruit rich in potassium so our minds are sharp enough for the business at hand! (Not to mention chocolate which makes everything better! 😊)
Today’s pitch which comes to us from Andrew who says, “I am currently a self-published author who has taken a hiatus from the publishing world to develop my craft and seek representation the more traditional way. I have been working on many manuscripts. Mostly picture books and a few middle grade ideas as well. I live in Texas with my three fur babies (One dog and two cats). My spouse and I are currently in the process of adoption and I want to create the books that I never got to read growing up. I love a good DIY project and burning water. I love everything from chocolate to Brussels Sprouts, but have never tried chocolate Brussels Sprouts…do they make those? I’d probably eat those too.”
The Pitch: When Dorian sees an old man in the window playing a piano with great gusto and joy, he longs to learn. There’s just one problem-Dorian is deaf. Despite that, the man agrees to teach Dorian. As Dorian struggles to read music, hear notes, and learn proper hand movement across the keys, their friendship blossoms. Tragically, his teacher falls ill and must close his store. It is then that Dorian learns the best music is music played right from the heart.
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 Andrew 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 September, 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! (But it doesn’t hurt to reserve your spot now!)
Andrew is looking forward to your thoughts on his pitch! I am looking forward to seeing Rocketman, which is coming out this weekend! (Not that I’ll necessarily get to see it right away…but hopefully before it leaves theaters.) Did any of you see Bohemian Rhapsody? I thought it was so amazing that now I want to see all the movies about musicians 😊
Today feels like a good day for writing, doesn’t it?
After our work here is done, let’s all set our timers for 15 minutes and see what fabulous ideas come to us and what stories we’re going to write today!
In case anyone needs a little starting point, how about:
– Snow White from the poison-apple-pedaling witch’s POV (or maybe Grumpy’s POV – that could be fun 😊)
– begin with: Edward liked to get his own way. (or use the general idea of a child who wants his/her ow way…)
– begin with: A toad was hopping down the street – hop hop kerplop! – so Ursula followed it. (or use the general idea of following something into adventure, trouble, mystery, an unexpected surprise, whatever…)
– what would give a monster nightmares?
– a story where a thief leaves an “I’m sorry” note
And because creativity requires fuel, I recommend Something Chocolate! Chocolate-Dipped Cannoli Cupcakes sound like they’d be very helpful in generating creativity, don’t you think? 😊
I don’t know about you, but I think one bite of that cupcake equals inspiration! Two bites will probably be genius, and by the time the last crumb is gone I’m pretty sure we’ll all have written New York Times Bestsellers today!
Now then, onto today’s pitch which comes to us from Keely. Keely is a southern transplant pioneering in the Inland Northwest (can it still be pioneering if we live in suburbia? Please tell me it can!) and writing books for children when she isn’t shoveling snow. She grows zinnias in her garden boxes in the summer and raises 4 beautiful crazies alongside her husband. Having a daughter with profound disability continues to teach her every day. Some days she’s more open to learning than others.
The Pitch: Evangeline’s sister cannot use her voice to speak. In “How My Sister Says, ‘I Love You’” Evangeline begins to interpret different non-verbal, unconventional expressions of love and how to offer them in return to her elder sister.
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 Keely 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, 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! (No harm in reserving your space now, though – they do fill up!)
Keely is looking forward to your thoughts on her pitch! I am looking forward to the first ever Sullivan County Youth Book Festival this weekend! If you live in the area, come join the fun!
Just when I think I might be approaching being organized, a tight deadline comes along and WHAM! I am speedily disabused of that notion!
So, since I have a deadline in a matter of hours, there will be no chit-chat today!
Right down to business! That’s me!
First, I’m thrilled to announce that the winner of the April Pitch Pick is Mary with her pitch for April Showers! Congratulations, Mary!!! Your pitch is on its way to editor Erin Molta for her thoughts and I’m sure you’ll hear from her soon!
Congratulations as well to all our other amazing pitchers who did such a fabulous job writing and submitting their pitches so bravely for your comments, and then taking your feedback and improving their pitches! Well done, all of you, and I hope you’ve come out of this with pitches you feel are stronger than what you started with!
In celebration of our awesome pitchers and because by golly! I need something to perk me up after an inadequate amount of sleep (please refer to deadline mentioned above) I think it’s time for Something Chocolate! How do you feel about Easy 5-Ingredient Black Forest Trifle? As you can see, it has fruit in it, so that makes it breakfast in my book. (Not the book I’m currently writing, just, you know, the proverbial my book… Sorry, this is the kind of drivel that occurs when you’ve been banging your head on the wall for a few days… Muse, thy name is Capricious! 😊)
Now then, onto today’s pitch which comes to us from Sarah who you know very well by now! 😊 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: Two friends plan to bake a cake. Only Cat ends up doing the work; Bear takes a nap. This, as well as an additional unfair action by Bear, causes problems between the two friends. All is made well in the end and Bear even makes up for his earlier lack of action.
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 Sarah 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, 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, but there’s no harm in saving yourself a spot!
Sarah is looking forward to your thoughts on her pitch! I am looking forward to a 1) a nap after close of business, and 2) a celebratory weekend because someone in my house is graduating from college! 😊😊😊
is 22 today! Hard to believe…especially since I’m still 29 😊
We’ll be having cake (chocolate of course) right after the pitch pick, but in the meantime, Happy Birthday to the girl who is the poster child for last-could-never-ever-in-a-million-billion-years-be-least! 💕
Ready for the April Pitch Pick?
I present to you the new and improved pitches from the talented April WYRI participants! Please read through the choices and then vote for your favorite in the poll below by Sunday May 13 at 7 PM Eastern.
#1 – Mary – April Showers (PB 4-8)
April adores taking big bubbly baths. When Mom suggests a shower, April’s imagination runs wild with fears of fiery space rocks, smoochy weddings, and pirates! Armed with determination and precise plans, April takes avoidance to a whole new level. In the end, her resourcefulness is the key to helping her wash away her fears. APRIL’S SHOWER combines the literal thinking of Amelia Bedelia with the humorous logic of The Big Bed by Bunmi Latidan.
#2 – Maria – Clean Kitty Super Suds (PB 4-8)
Andi T. Vipperman was born with a true knack for business and a bit lazy streak when it comes to homework. But, he mustmake it out of 1st grade before he can make it on Wall Street.
Will the stow-away in his backpack help him razzle-dazzle Ms. Stegman with his final project? Or, does Andi create a “cat”astrophe that dooms himself to summer school or even worse?
*** Disclaimer: No animals were hurt in the making of this story!
#3 – Sarah – To Brighten A Birthday (PB 5-8) (formerly Lane Makes Mama Smile)
As Lane’s birthday nears, he pictures every detail of his special day: a party…caramel brownies…animal balloons. But Mama stares out the window, with eyes as empty as their new home. Lane hugs her, breathing in her perfume of paint and gloom. He suggests they go for a walk in the sunshine, or watch a funny movie – Mom doesn’t want to do either. Lane works with his dad to find a clever way to succeed, realizing that his mother is still capable of much love…and birthday celebrations!
#4 – Nadia – My Pet Phoenix (Graphic Novel ages 8-12)
Arka desperately longs for a pet. Her father doesn’t think she is responsible enough to have one. She makes a wish under a dark moon, but instead inherits an ailing phoenix from her uncle. He tasks her to take the dying phoenix to Sun City before the next full moon to retrieve something special. With less than 30 days and more than one Sun City on the map, Arka must journey through the eight phases of the moon to get the ailing phoenix to the right Sun City or it will die. And, if the phoenix dies, Arka will not be able to complete her journey.
And now, I think we have waited long enough for Something Chocolate! Bring out the cake!
Raw Chocolate Cheesecake (from a Healthy Dessert Blog!)
You’ll note that I’m serving health food – chocolate cake that comes from a healthy dessert blog – because I always have your best interests at heart! So, feel free to have multiple slices, since it’s good for you and all… 😊
Now then, onto today’s pitch which comes to us from Nicole.
Nicole is a mom, social worker, member of SCBWI, and a big believer in Unicorns. You can find her on Twitter @beautify_life
Here is her pitch:
Working Title: Thaddeus, The Unicorn
Age/Genre: Picture Book (ages 4-8)
The Pitch: Thaddeus isn’t like other unicorns – he doesn’t have a flashy name, he can’t sing or dance, and his special power is a bit of a…well…snooze. But when an angry dragon attacks town and threatens his little sister, Thaddeus must put his best hoof forward and save the day.
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 Nicole 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, 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!
Nicole is looking forward to your thoughts on her pitch! I am looking forward to birthday celebrations! In the words of everyone’s friend, Max, “Let the wild rumpus start!”
Okay. It’s possible the original version of that song had a word other than “lovely” but this is supposed to be an E for Everyone blog… 😊
Here on Blueberry Hill we are still having April Showers… always a little behind the times up on ye olde mountain top!… but we also have more than 4 dandelions, so May is definitely trying to get her foot in the door!
In other news, Amazon and Barnes & Noble indicate that WHY A DAUGHTER NEEDS A DAD is having a book birthday today, in plenty of time for folks to pick one up for Father’s Day or any day 😊 B&N recognizes me as an author, Amazon does not (I have no explanation) but I did in fact write the words! 😊
Artist Sydney Hanson did such a fantastic job, don’t you think?! 😊
Okay, sorry! I’ll stop! Everyone put on your serious face and we’ll be all business from here on in!
First, I’m thrilled to announce that the winner of the February/March Pitch Pick is one of the Sarahs (not surprising since we had 3 of them!) for her pitch for Trapped In Trash!
Congratulations, Sarah (Hetu-Radny lest there be any Sarah confusion)! Your pitch is on its way to editor Erin Molta for her thoughts!
And congratulations to all our other pitchers for stepping out of their comfort zones and bravely posting their pitches for constructive criticism and a learning experience for all of us. Even though Erin won’t read these pitches, I hope you all got enough helpful feedback from our fabulous readers to feel that you have stronger pitches now than you did when you started! (Also, I want you to know this is the closest Pitch Pick vote we’ve ever had – all the pitches were within 4 votes of each other and there was a tie for second! So you should all feel good!)
To celebrate Sarah, congratulate our other pitchers on their wonderful work, and thank our amazing, generous, and helpful readers, I think it’s time for Something Chocolate! How about some Peanut Butter Oreo Dessert!
We can start a trend and have dessert for breakfast! Although, when I think about apple danish (essentially pie) and pancakes (I mean, come on, they have cake in the name!) I have a feeling we may not be the first to have come up with this idea… 😊
Now then, onto today’s pitch which comes to us from Nadine. Nadine is an elementary librarian for an urban PA school district. She loves how fortunate she is to be surrounded all day by books and children to share them with. She is a mom to three young men and two dachshunds.
Nadine has two picture books being published later this year by Blue Whale Press. You can visit her website Nadinepoper.weebly.com to learn more.
The Pitch: Pufferfish meets Picasso. The ocean art contest is days away. Pufferfish works hard at his project only to have it ruined by a hostile ocean dweller. A faceoff with his adversary leads Pufferfish to unexpected teamwork.
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 Nadine 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 June, 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!
Nadine is looking forward to your thoughts on her pitch! I am looking forward to taking my dad’s car for a oil change! (Yeah, I know, today’s agenda is a little less exciting than some…but you’ve got to find the fun, even when it appears to be lacking…! 😊)
I hope you all enjoyed lovely family weekends for Easter or Passover if you celebrate, and lovely weekends Just Because if you don’t!
We had an unexpected little break from Tuesday Debut yesterday because the author who was on the schedule had other commitments, so hopefully you are all feeling rested and relaxed 😊
It’s been a pretty fun week for me so far. I got to see the covers of three new books I have coming out October 1, November 1, and December 1, so that was VERY exciting!
Plus the edits are finished for a 2020 book, so that is a good feeling!
But blah blah blah! Enough about me!
It’s time for the February/March Pitch Pick, so let’s have a look at that!
Our pitchers have taken your helpful comments to heart and revised their work to reflect your feedback. Please have a read through the pitches below and then vote for the one you think is best and most deserving of a read and comments by editor Erin Molta by Sunday April 28 at 5 PM Eastern.
#1 – Amitha – The Genchi War (YA)
Amethyst Capricorn, a sixteen year old girl, has never fit in. Over the years, she has always been an outcast at school due to a near death experience that unearthed a secret that only some in the afterlife know. Upon her return to Earth, Amethyst receives some magical abilities that leads her to find others who also know the secret that could destroy humanity. She is taken away to a new world (Genchi) to guard said secret, but instead, she uncovers a prophecy with roots in the ‘accident’ that began her journey to Genchi. Amethyst is left no choice but to reveal the Afterlife Secret to everyone on Earth and win a hidden war against an ancient foe who holds her family hostage, or leave both worlds to die along with her family.
#2 – Sarah – SCHOOL-BERRY MUFFINS (PB 5-8)
Doug’s school bus is hi-jacked by an alien named Blob, who expects his captives to help him look for the ingredients to make school-berry muffins. With limited knowledge of earthly customs and language, Blob urges the kids to help him on his quest. When Doug realizes Blob intends for the kids to be the school-berries, he comes up with a plan, using Blob’s confusion to outsmart the muffin-making alien.
Today is exciting because for (I’m pretty sure) the first time we have a pitch for a graphic novel!
#3 – Shell – Mommy, Where’s Daddy (PB 3-7)
After Dylan’s 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!
#4 – Sarah – Charley Finds Her Family (PB 3-7)
WHO’S IN MY FAMILY X OTTER
When Charley Sock-kitty discovers socks come in pairs, she wonders if she has a twin. Her stuffed friends help her search for her #family. But she finds she had one all along. CHARLEY FINDS HER FAMILY helps kids understand mixed families
#5 – Sarah – Trapped In Trash (PB 3-7)
Three rat friends leave the pack to find a snack they don’t have to share. After feasting on the treats of all rats’ dreams, they become trapped inside a trash can. They nudge, but it won’t budge. They stack on each other’s backs, but fail. They holler for help, hoping the rat pack still has their backs.
#6 – Joyce – Bear Is Hungry For An ABC Win (PB 4-8)
BEAR IS HUNGRY FOR AN ABC WIN is a picture book with recipes for children ages 4-8 to bake with family members. After Bear taste-tested his way out of the last Amazing Baking Contest, he has a lot to prove to his fellow animals. He bakes his way from A to Z for their ABC entry with hopes of saving his reputation and the Patty Cakes Café.
Please vote by Sunday April 28 at 5 PM Eastern – many thanks!
I don’t know about you, but all that reading and evaluating and choosing and voting has brought on an attack of the vapors! I think we need a little Something Chocolate pick-me-up! Don’t worry, we’re going SUPER healthy this morning! Chocolate peanut butter cupcakes made out of oatmeal!
For those of you who struggle with your food groups, that is salad (chocolate – see last week’s post 😊), protein (peanut butter) and all-around-health-food whole grain cholesterol-lowerer (oatmeal)!
That spells YUM!
(Actually I think it technically spells SPAAHFWGCL but that is really hard to say! 😊)
Now that you are fueled with high-energy, onto today’s pitch which comes to us from Nadia. Nadia writes picture book and graphic novel manuscripts covering South Asian and Caribbean culture, STEM, non-fiction and humor themes.
The Pitch: When Arka’s wish for a pet, gives her an ailing phoenix instead, she must journey through eight phases of the moon and several Sun City’s to keep it alive.
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 Nadia 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 June, 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!
Nadia is looking forward to your thoughts on her pitch! I am looking forward to seeing whether the wild flowers I planted at the edge of my yard come up or get mowed down by the deer before they even have a chance to sprout all the way up out of the ground. Common sense tells me one thing, but my innate optimism urges me to bet the other way (with fingers crossed! 😊) We’ll just have to wait and see who is right and who 🦌 has wildflower snackums 😊
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! 😊
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 😊 ):
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 🙂 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 mama’s 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? 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 Sarah 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 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! I am looking forward to FINISHING MY TO-DO LIST!!!
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! 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! We’re getting right down to brass tacks!
And by “brass tacks” of course I mean Something Chocolate 🙂 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!!! 🙂
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. She’s been in the fire service for over 14 years and when she’s not in schools teaching fire and injury prevention, she hones her writing skills through participation in Julie Hedlund’s 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 “purrfect” 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, ‘cause I’m Andi T. Vipperman and I’m here to help. With my Klean Kitty Super Sudsand easy-to-follow directions, you’ll be bathing your delightful feline like a pro. And once again, your loyal companion’s coat will be restored to silky softness and will smell just as sweet as Granny’s kitchen.
That’s right, ladies and gents; my Klean Kitty Super Sudsmakes bath time for your purrfect pal “easy as pie” and just as delicious.
Here, let me show you!
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 Maria 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 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! I am looking forward to meeting that deadline so I can stop feeling panicky! 🙂
