(August 23, 2009 – Chicago, IL)  ABC’s 7’s Chicagoing host Bill Campbell interviews Cynthea Liu, Trina Sotira, Jen Cullerton Johnson, and Michelle Duster about writing using your personal, family and other people’s history to create writing that connects.   11AM CST. Channel 7 in Chicago.

MuseWrite on Bill Campbell's Chicagoing, ABC 7

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(Chiacgo, IL – August 9, 2009). Author dipped into her own family history for kids book

Chicago author Cynthea Liu (Keith Hale/Sun-Times)

BY DELIA O’HARA [email protected]

Chicagoan Cynthea Liu has hit the middle-school/teen book market with a bang this year, bringing out not one but two debut fiction books. The Oklahoma native, whose parents were both born in China, has used her heritage as a touchstone for both books.

Liu’s Paris Pan Takes the Dare is a middle-school mystery, shot through with comedy, about a “new girl” in a small town who fears her home is haunted by the ghost of a girl who died years before during a hazing-type ritual that Paris herself now must face. Read more …

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Tulakes Elementary students

“As the principal of Tulakes Elementary, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. You have been a tremendous blessing, and words can hardly express what your generosity means to our staff and school.”

“I am bubbling over with excitement and anticipation because of the generosity you have shown towards Tulakes Elementary. You all are a testament to the greatness of the human race.” – 2nd gr. teacher Kim Hooks

“We at Tulakes are truly overwhelmed with what you have done for our school. You are helping our reading goals become a reality, and the childrens’ love for reading will certainly continue to grow because of your generosity.” – 3rd gr. teacher Michele Parham

Thank You Letter from Tulakes Elementary

Dear contributors and supporters of “Take the Dare: Show You Care”,

Tulakes Elementary would like to extend a warm thank you for supporting our school. You have raised a great deal of money to benefit literacy instruction for our students. To say that we are thrilled with your generous contributions is an understatement. We are so completely overwhelmed by your generosity! We would also like to thank Cynthea for the hard work she put in on our behalf while promoting a new book! What Cynthea has done, along with the help of so many people from the children’s book community, will benefit our students for the rest of their lives.

Statistics show that 80% of U.S. families did not buy or read a book last year. Most of our students have an extremely, limited literacy background and get most of their reading time at school. It is our school-wide goal that at least 80% of our students will be reading on grade level. It has been a vision for our school to provide each classroom with leveled classroom libraries. We want to have leveled text available to students at all times. These leveled texts will be available to students during independent reading, learning centers, research time, writing time, reading instruction time, etc. We want our libraries to be supplied with more non-fiction, high interest books, and of course, the great books by all of you great authors.

Because of you, we will be able to accomplish just that. Also, we’ll be able to supply our teachers with additional resources to help strengthen our children’s reading and writing skills. For example our Pre-K can now purchase Handwriting Without Tears, a complete writing curriculum which contains reading and writing materials to get the children started with the process. Our kindergartners can have Take Home Reading Bags which contain a book and literature activities for parents to do at home with their child and return it back to school. In addition to leveled readers, our 1st-3rd Grades’ requests for things like book boxes, books with CDs for listening centers, classroom dictionaries, and Weekly Readers can now be met.

Words cannot express how thankful we are. Without your help, much of this would have never been purchased for our school Tulakes would like to thank you so much for your kindness and willingness to give.

With extreme gratitude,

Michele Parham on behalf of Tulakes Elementary
3rd Grade Teacher
Tulakes Elementary
6600 N. Galaxie
Oklahoma City, Ok 73132

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The Prize: One critique of your fiction picture book manuscript (max 1000 words.) This auction ends Saturday, 7/25. 11:59PM EASTERN (this website runs on Central time, one hour behind Eastern! So make sure you are bidding based on EASTERN.)

Abigail Samoun

The Darer: Abigail Samoun is a project editor with Tricycle Press in Berkeley, California.  Abigail has edited board books, picture books, and middle-grade fiction. These include the 2003 Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) Golden Kite winner for best picture book text, George Hogglesberry: Grade School Alien by Sarah Wilson with illustrations by Chad Cameron and the 2004 New York Public Library Ezra Jack Keats award-winner, Yesterday I Had the Blues by Jeron Frame with illustrations by R. Gregory Christie. Abigail also edits the middle grade series Edgar & Ellen published by Simon & Schuster. Some other books Abigail has edited:King & King by Stern Nijland and Linda de Haan, Ten Little Elvi by Duffy Grooms and Laura Henson, illustrated by Dean Gorissen, Finklehopper Frog by Irene Livingston, illustrated by Brian Lies. The “Busy” board book series: Busy Monkeys, Busy Doggies, Busy Kitties, Busy Piggies, Busy Barnyard, and Busy Horsies; Urban Babies Wear Black (board book series).

Favorite recent children’s books: A Wreath for Emmett Till by Marilyn Nelson (published by Houghton-Mifflin)DeShawn Days by Tony Medina, illustrated by Greg Christie (Lee and Low Books)Mountain Dance by Thomas Locket (Harcourt)Jabberwocky by Lewis Carroll, illustrated by Stephane Jorisch (Kids Can Press)Invisible Enemies: Stories of Infectious Disease by Jeanete Farrell (FSG)Guinea Pig Scientists: Bold Self-Experimenters in Science and Medicine by Leslie Dendy and Mel Boring, with illustrations by C.B. Mordan  (Henry Holt)Freaky Green Eyes, by Joyce Carol Oates (Harper Collins)

“I had a chance to hear Abigail speak at an SCBWI conference this past spring. She is as witty, insightful and a caring cultivator of wonderful books for children.  Seriously, you should hear her stories of looking for the right lines for a picture book text. She’s pitch-perfect and I have no doubt she’ll be able to see right into the heart of your ms!”

The Dare: Place a minimum bid of $35 by leaving a comment, then outbid the highest bidder until you win! *All winners must take the solemn critiquee oath.*

*Did you bid on this auction? Don’t forget to enter our drawings for fabulous giveaways.*

ALL AUCTION ITEMS LISTED BELOW ARE CLOSED. This is your last chance to get in on an editor critique. BID. NOW.

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(Chicago, IL – July 13, 2009) In less than four weeks, the online book launch event “Take the Dare: Show You Care” has raised over $15,000 to support a Title I school in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Over a hundred children’s book industry professionals including literary agents from the nation’s top agencies as well as prominent editors from major publishing houses like HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster and Penguin, and authors from bestselling to those just arriving on the scene have donated manuscript critiques and autographed prizes for the cause. Now Pre-K through 3rd grade classrooms will have new  enrichment resources such as books, book boxes, even LeapFrog systems, to supplement their reading and writing programs . Author Cynthea Liu, whose debut middle grade novel PARIS PAN TAKES THE DARE, is ecstatic about the outpouring of support from her colleagues, but she is not surprised. “The children’s and teen book industry is made of people who have the utmost love for children, books, and the power a good story can give to those who need it most.”

The teachers at Tulakes are excited to have their wishlists fulfilled, and students will arrive next fall to classrooms that are more than equipped to foster a love of reading and writing. Cynthea looks forward to visiting  the school in September and seeing the difference “Take the Dare: Show You Care” has made.

In addition to Tulakes Elementary, Ms. Liu has also chosen other Title I schools in her home state of Oklahoma to receive support through DonorsChoose.org.  To learn more about “Take the Dare: Show You Care,” please visit www.cynthealiu.com/showyoucare or contact [email protected].

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1. THIRTY CHILDREN’S AND TEEN BOOK AUTHORS RAISE MONEY FOR TULAKES ELEMENTARY, A TITLE I SCHOOL IN OKLAHOMA

Children’s author Cynthea Liu believes in putting her money where her mouth is. And she’s succeeded in encouraging others to put their money down for a good cause. To the tune of $15,000 and counting, in fact.

Liu, a native of Oklahoma and the author of The Great Call of China (Speak, 2009), launched her second book for middle-grade readers, Paris Pan Takes the Dare (Putnam, June), with an online “slumber party,” featuring an auction to benefit Tulakes Elementary, a Title I school in an impoverished and crime-ridden area in Oklahoma City. Read more … http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6669903.html

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The Giveaway: An autographed copy of picture book IN MY BACKYARD signed by both Valarie Giogas and illustrator Katherine Zecca

In My Backyard

The Prize: Baby dogs are puppies and they belong to a litter, but what is a baby skunk and what is the name of its group? This clever, rhythmic story tells us just that! Counting from one to ten, familiar backyard animals are introduced by baby and family group name. Each stanza also tells a bit more about each animal by providing clues as to what they eat, how they sound or where they live. The “For Creative Minds” section includes more animal fun facts, information on keeping a nature journal and how to watch for wildlife in your own backyard.

The Author: Learn more about Valarie.

Valarie Giogas

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Jennifer Laughran

The Prize: One critique of the first five-pages of your double-spaced manuscript for a middle grade or young adult novel. Please note: Jennifer will request to see the first 20 pages of your manuscript to see if the story engages her further. HOWEVER, your critique will be limited to the first five pages of your manuscript.

The Darer: Jennifer Laughran is an associate agent at Andrea Brown Literary Agency. She represents authors of Middle Grade and Young Adult fiction. Her favorite writers are offbeat and funny and straddle the line between literary writing and a commercial hook. She’s always on the lookout for great new talent!

Jenn likes funny, sharp, voice-driven YA as well as lush romantic stories that the reader can get lost in (fantasy or realistic), and she loves awesome female heroines!

The Dare: Place a minimum bid of $35 by leaving a comment, then outbid the highest bidder until you win! *All winners must take the solemn critiquee oath.*

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The Prize: First five-pages double-spaced manuscript critique of any fiction picture book (1000 words max.)

The Darer: Margaret O’Hair is the author of four rhyming picture books, so rhymers get on this one quick! She is the author of STAR BABY (Clarion), TWIN TO TWIN (McElderry/S&S), MY PUP (Cavendish), and MY KITTEN.

“Meg is a good writer friend of mine, and I love her fabulous ability to communicate so much with such little text. Meg knows how to use language and rhyme in a playful way to get those young children bouncing when reading the text! Baby Liu is one of her #1 customers. If you are writing a rhyming picture book, get Meg to help you whip your rhyme into shape. You won’t regret it.” – Cynthea Liu

My Pup

The Dare: Place a minimum bid of $35 by leaving a comment, then outbid the highest bidder until you win! *All winners must take the solemn critiquee oath.*

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No related posts.

Having once been a teacher, I’ve seen first-hand the positive impact reading has on teens. Books rule!

Jen Rofe

The Prize: One critique of a fiction picture book (1000 words max, double-spaced) or the first five pages of your fiction middle grade or young adult novel (double-spaced).

The Darer: Jennifer handles children’s fiction projects only, from picture books through young adult, and is particularly interested in literary, multicultural, offbeat, paranormal, and commercial-with-heart material. She enjoys magical-realism and reality-based fantasy; ghost stories (though not gore); stubborn characters who learn lessons the hard way; and unassuming heroes and underdogs.

The Dare: Place a minimum bid of $35 by leaving a comment, then outbid the highest bidder until you win! *All winners must take the solemn critiquee oath.*

*Did you bid on this auction? Don’t forget to enter our drawings for fabulous giveaways.*

Receive a reminder before auction the closes.

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Books lift up the mind, and the soul. Every child deserves free access to a variety of books, to a world beyond their own.

The Prize: One critique of the first five double-spaced pages of your fiction middle grade or young adult novel.

Jill Corcoran

The Darer: Jill Corcoran is an Associate Agent at Herman Agency representing Chapter Book, Middle Grade and Young Adult authors. Jill is a huge fan of humor. If you can make her laugh or crack a smile, you are her kind of writer. Even in a serious literary book, there is room for humor. Jill prefers realistic and paranormal to high fantasy. A commercial hook with a literary bent. Some of her favorite books are Frindle, Stargirl, Speak, Stuck in Neutral, How I Live Now, Millicent Min, Good Enough, Seeing Emily, Things Left Unsaid, Flipped and Because of Winn Dixie.

For more about Jill Corcoran please see the Herman Agency website and Jill’s blog.

The Dare: Place a minimum bid of $35 by leaving a comment, then outbid the highest bidder until you win!  Value: Priceless. *All winners must take the solemn critiquee oath.*

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The Prize: One critique of your fiction picture book (max 1000 words).

Summer Dawn Laurie

The Darer: Summer began her story in the San Francisco Bay Area, graduating with an English degree from UC Berkeley. After an eye-opening stint as an account executive with an investor relations company, she set her sights on the world of book publishing. She began to gather steam down this path at Chronicle Books where she worked in both the marketing and editorial departments during her three-year tenure in the children’s division there. In 2000 she crossed the bay to join Tricycle Press, the children’s imprint of Ten Speed Press in Berkeley, California. As Senior Editor, Summer worked on over 50 books—picturebooks, board books, novels, activity books, fiction and non-fiction for young people up to age twelve. After seven years she has chosen yet another fork in the road and is now an independent editor, working to strengthen each and every word her clients write. Summer is also a children’s specialist at independent bookseller Books Inc. where she has started the “Wild Girls Mother-Daughter Book Club.” And just for the fun of it, Summer is a co-producer of Kidquake and a member of the board of the NCCBA (Northern California Children’s Booksellers’ Association).

The Dare: Place a minimum bid of $35 by leaving a comment, then outbid the highest bidder until you win!  Value: Priceless. *All winners must take the solemn critiquee oath.*

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Receive a reminder before the auction closes.

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The Prize: One critique of the first five double-spaced pages of your fiction middle grade and young adult novel.

Andrew Karre

The Darer: Andrew Karre is the editorial director of Carolrhoda Books, an imprint of Lerner Publishing Group. Carolrhoda has published fiction and nonficiton for all ages since for four decades. Andrew acquires all types of kidlit, but he’s particularly interested in YA and single-title middle grade now. Before moving to Carolrhoda, Andrew Karre was the editor at the YA imprint Flux, where he edited Maggie Stiefvater, Laurie Faria Stolarz, Carrie Jones, Simone Elkeles, Emily Wing Smith, Micol and David Ostow, and A.S. King among many others. He is an admitted sucker for first-person YA.

The Dare: Place a minimum bid of $35 by leaving a comment, then outbid the highest bidder until you win!  Value: Priceless. *All winners must take the solemn critiquee oath.*

*Did you bid on this auction? Don’t forget to enter our drawings for fabulous giveaways.*

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The Prize: One critique of the first three chapters of reasonable length AND a query letter for your picture book, middle grade, or YA novel.

The Darer:

Stacy Whitman

Stacy Whitman specializes in fantasy and science fiction for children and young adults, and related genres. She spent more than three years as an editor for Mirrorstone, the children’s and young adult imprint of Wizards of the Coast in Seattle. She holds a master’s degree in children’s literature from Simmons College. Before that, she edited elementary school textbooks at Houghton Mifflin, interned at the Horn Book Magazine and Guide, and spent a brief stint working as a bookseller. Stacy edited such favorite fantasy titles for children and young adults as the highly acclaimed YA series Hallowmere, the middle grade fantasy adventure series that debuted with Red Dragon Codex, and The New York Times best-selling picture book A Practical Guide to Monsters.

Stacy provides all phases of editorial services to publishers, including developmental editing, line editing, copyediting, and proofreading. She also provides a critique service for writers and teaches occasional community seminars on writing science fiction and fantasy for children and young adults.

The Dare: Place a minimum bid of $30 by leaving a comment, then outbid the highest bidder until you win!  Value: Priceless or $50 if you go to Stacy directly, but remember THE CAUSE! *All winners must take the solemn critiquee oath.*

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Ammi-Joan Paquette

The Prize: One double-spaced manuscript critique of any picture book (five pages max.)

The Darer:  Ammi-Joan Paquette is known as a bit of globe-trotter. She spent much of her early years in France, then traveled throughout Europe and to Japan before settling down with her family just outside of Boston. The Tiptoe Guide to Tracking Fairies was inspired by a real-life fairy hunt she took with her two daughters one spring day. Although they didn’t meet any fairies face to face, they saw signs of them everywhere. This is her first picture book. Ammi-Joan is also an associate agent with Erin Murphy Literary Agency.  Learn more about Ammi-Joan Paquette.

“Joan’s Tiptoe Guide is such a charming and delightful text for young children. I have no doubt that Joan can help you strengthen the whimsy and charm of your picture book text to up that kid appeal that every picture book needs.” – Cynthea Liu

The Tiptoe Guide to Tracking Fairies

The Dare: Place a minimum bid of $35 by leaving a comment, then outbid the highest bidder until you win! *All winners must take the solemn critiquee oath.*

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The Prize: One critique of the first five double-spaced pages of your fiction young adult novel.

The Darer: As an agent, Kelly specializes in all types of children’s literature (picture books, middle grade, young adult, and graphic novels). In picture books and middle grade fiction, Kelly looks for a good sense of humor, stories that stretch a young reader’s imagination, and an authentic voice. In young adult, she appreciates literary voices and character-driven stories with heart. In non-fiction for children, she enjoys projects that inspire and stimulate the minds of our younger generations. At this time, Kelly is not accepting unsolicited submissions in adult fiction or adult non-fiction.

Some of the titles Kelly has represented include include: Steve Watkins’ DOWN SAND MOUNTAIN (Candlewick) and GOAT GIRL (Candlewick); Merrily Kutner’s ALPHABET MAGIC (Roaring Brook); Jin Pyn Lee’s THE ELEPHANT AND THE TREE (Running Press); Candace Ryan’s ANIMAL HOUSE (Walker); Heather Leigh’s HEY LITTLE BABY (S&S/Beach Lane Books); Neil Johnson & Joel Chin’s THE FALLING RAINDROP (Tricycle Press); and James Burks’ graphic novel GABBY AND GATOR (Yen Press)

The Dare: Place a minimum bid of $35 by leaving a comment, then outbid the highest bidder until you win!  Value: Priceless. *All winners must take the solemn critiquee oath.*

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The Prize: One critique of your picture book manuscript (1000 words max, double-spaced.)

The Darer: Alvina Ling, Senior Editor, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. Alvina acquires children’s books for all ages (baby-teen), with a particular interest in literary middle grade fiction and books with multicultural themes. She is interested in both genre (including science fiction, fantasy, and mystery) and contemporary fiction, and is a fan of beautiful and/or funky picture books with unique illustration styles, as well as trade nonfiction books. Some of her recent publications include the NY Times bestselling picture books Wabi Sabi by Mark Reibstein, illustrated by Ed Young and The Curious Garden by Peter Brown; Eggs by Jerry Spinelli; Edgar Award winner The Postcard by Tony Abbott; Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin; North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley; The Devouring by Simon Holt; and Freaks and Revelations by Davida Wills Hurwin. Before starting at Little, Brown in 1999, Alvina was a bookseller, an intern at Charlesbridge Publishing and The Horn Book, and has always been a life-long lover of children’s books.

The Dare: Place a minimum bid of $35 by leaving a comment, then outbid the highest bidder until you win!  Value: Priceless. *All winners must take the solemn critiquee oath.*

*Did you bid on this auction? Don’t forget to enter our drawings for fabulous giveaways.*

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The Prize: One critique of the first chapter of your double-spaced young adult manuscript (10 pages, 2500 words maximum) AND a critique of the matching query letter. Hello!

Michelle Zink

The Darer:  Michelle Zink lives in New York and has always been fascinated with ancient myths and legends. Never satisfied with simply reading them, she usually ends up asking, “What if?” Sometimes asking only leads to more questions, but every now and then, when everything falls into place just right, a story is born. Prophecy of the Sisters is one of those stories.

“Prophecy of the Sisters is one of this year’s biggest forthcoming titles in teen fantasy. You will totally regret missing the opportunity to have a critique from this talented woman! Don’t miss out!” - Cynthea Liu

Prophecy of the Sisters

Twin sisters Lia and Alice Milthorpe have just become orphans. They have also become enemies. As they discover their roles in a prophecy that has turned generations of sisters against each other, the girls find themselves entangled in a mystery that involves a tattoo-like mark, their parents’ deaths, a boy, a book, and a lifetime of secrets.

Lia and Alice don’t know whom they can trust.

They just know they can’t trust each other.

The Dare: Place a minimum bid of $35 by leaving a comment, then outbid the highest bidder until you win! *All winners must take the solemn critiquee oath.*

*Did you bid on this auction? Don’t forget to enter our drawings for fabulous giveaways.*

Receive a reminder before the auction closes.

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The Prize: The Kelly Milner Halls “Wonders of Weird” Prize Pack includes …

Albino Animals

Tales of the Cryptids

Dinosaur Parade

Dinosaur Mummies

• Four signed books by Author Kelly Milner Halls! FOUR!
• • Dinosaur Mummies
  • Dinosaur Parade
  • Tales of the Cryptids
  • and Albino Animals

But WAIT! There’s more!

• Autographed booksmarks
• A Bigfoot keychain
• A raptor claw fossil replica (dinosaur),
• A sample of real dinosaur bone more than 65 million years old and …
• A real coprolite more than 65 million years old — that’s dinosaur poop — the most popular feature of Kelly’s school visits!

The Darer: Kelly Milner Halls is a quirky nonfiction author and speaker, specializing in “weird” (but cool) books for young readers including Tales of the Cryptids, Albino Animals and her upcoming release, Saving the Baghdad Zoo.  From Bigfoot to albinism to dinosaur poop, she offers reluctant readers a pathway to literacy in a most unusual way.  Halls studied journalism before she dedicated herself to writing for kids, so as odd as her topics may be, they are rooted in top notch research.  She makes her home in Spokane, Washington, where she also works as Chris Crutcher’s zany assistant.

The Dare: Place a minimum bid of $35 by leaving a comment, then outbid the highest bidder until you win!  Value: Priceless.

*Did you bid on this auction? Don’t forget to enter our drawings for fabulous giveaways.*

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The Prize: One full manuscript critique of your fiction middle grade (244 pages, double-spaced max) or young adult novel (double-spaced, up to 100,000 words – DANG!).

The Darer:  Prior to becoming a full-time fiction writer, Phoebe Kitanidis was a Contributing Writer at Discovery Girls magazine for six years. (She’s also the author of the DG book Fab Girls’ Guide to Friendship Hardship.) A former creative writing and Language Arts teacher, she holds a Masters degree in Communication and has often spoken on Communication issues at literary conferences, conventions, and professional meetings. She and her husband live in Seattle, where she’s been exploring Pacific Northwest hobbies such as coffee drinking, zone 8 gardening (after growing up in California), and open water swimming (brrrrrrr!). Her teen paranormal Whisper comes out in April 2010.

About WHISPER

About WHISPER (Harper Collins, April 2010):

I’d love a cup of coffee. I wish she knew how pretty she was. I wish I could drop this kid in the dryer sometimes. I just want her to be happy. I hope she didn’t find out what Ben said about her. I wish I knew how many calories were in a bite of muffin…

Joy is used to hearing Whispers. She’s used to walking down the street and instantly knowing people’s deepest, darkest desires. She uses this talent for good, to make people happy and give them what they want. But for her older sister, Jessica, the family gift is a curse, and she uses it to make people’s lives—especially Joy’s—miserable. Still, when Joy Hears Jessica whisper: I want to kill my Hearing dead, and kill me too if that’s what it takes, she knows she has to save her sister, even if it means deserting her friends, stealing a car and running away with a boy she barely knows—a boy who may have a dark secret of his own.

The Dare: Place a minimum bid of $35 by leaving a comment, then outbid the highest bidder until you win!  Value: Priceless. *All winners must take the solemn critiquee oath.*

*Did you bid on this auction? Don’t forget to enter our drawings for fabulous giveaways.*

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1. NEW! Full Manuscript Critique from Author Rhonda Stapleton (Contemp)
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I care because my own twelve year old son attends a Title I school and I am aware of the many needs a school like this has.

Kathryn Fitzmaurice

The Prize:  One critique of the first fifteen pages of your double-spaced fiction middle grade novel AND your synopsis (2 pages, single-spaced maximum).

The Darer: When Kathryn Fitzmaurice was thirteen years old, her mother sent her to New York City over the summer to visit her grandmother, who was a science fiction author. After seeing how her grandmother could make the characters in her books into whomever she wanted, Kathryn decided that she, too, wanted to become a writer someday. Years later, after teaching elementary school, and taking many classes, she now writes full time and lives with her husband, two sons, and her dog, Holly, in Monarch Beach, California.  Kathryn was born in New York City, but grew up in Scottsdale, Arizona. She holds a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Chapman University. Her favorite thing to do is walk her dog, Holly, who, she says is so smart, she can practically empty the dishwasher. She also likes organizing absolutely anything, including messy garages, closets, and even cluttered junk drawers. If she could, she would eat the same thing for lunch everyday, which would be a ham, Swiss cheese, and tomato Panini, a green apple, and a chocolate soufflé. Learn more about Kathryn.

“Kathryn Fitzmaurice is as beautiful person both inside and out. And her debut book–one destined to br a classic for every kids’ bookshelf, demonstrates that you, too, can break out, and breakout BIG. Let Kathryn show you how to revise your manuscript in a way that will produce a story that can withstand the test of time.” – Cynthea Liu.

The Year The Swallows Came Early

The Dare: Place a minimum bid of $35 by leaving a comment, then outbid the highest bidder until you win!

*Did you bid on this auction? Don’t forget to enter our drawings for fabulous giveaways.*

Receive a reminder before auction the closes.

Related posts:

1. Critique from Author Kathryn Fitzmaurice (Contemp Realistic)
2. NEW! Critique Package from Author Margie Gelbwasser (Contemp Realistic)
3. NEW! Critique Package from Author Neesha Meminger (Contemp Realistic)

The Prize:

• Your choice of THREE autographed copies of any of the seven titles below.
• Each book also has an original Scott Magoon little drawing in it. *GASP*!  (You may specify your choices when the auction closes.)
  

  Ugly Fish

  

  Spoon

  

  The Luck of the Loch Ness Monster

  
  

  

  Mystery Ride

  

  Otto Grows Down

  

  Hugo & Miles in I've Painted Everything

  

  Rabbit & Squirrel

  
  

  • Spoon
  • Otto Grows Down
  • Mystery Ride
  • Luck of the Loch Ness Monster
  • *Rabbit and Squirrel
    
  • Hugo and Miles in I’ve Painted Everything
  • **Ugly Fish

• *Rabbit and Squirrel come with pins (one of Rabbit and one of Squirrel)
• **Ugly Fish comes with a pin as well!

The Darer: Scott Magoon currently works as the art director for Houghton Mifflin children’s books in Boston. His book illustration debut

Scott Magoon

swam on to the scene with the publication of Ugly Fish, written by Kara LaReau. Ugly Fish won the Bulletin of the Center of Children’s Books blue ribbon in 2006, and a Bilby award, an honor bestowed by Australia’s school children. In 2007, Hugo and Mile in I’ve Painted Everything and The Luck of the Loch Ness Monster were published and featured in the Society of Illustrators Original Art Show as well as its annual exhibition in New York. The Luck of the Loch Ness Monster was also selected as one of the NYPL’s 100 Books for Reading and Sharing for 2007. It was also selected as a finalist in the Texas Bluebonnet Award for 2008.  In 2008, Rabbit & Squirrel, a Tale of War and Peas and Scott’s own Mystery Ride! arrived in bookstores. Rabbit & Squirrel was selected as a Borders Original Voices pick. Mystery Ride!, Scott’s second authored book, is in stores now and is based on his adventures growing up in New Hampshire and Maine.

This year, Otto Grows Down by Michael Sussman made its debut, a time and space-bending tale, cautioning us to be careful of what we wish for. Also this year causing a stir is Spoon by Amy Krouse Rosental.  Spoon is about a little utensil who comes to know and love his own place in the universe. Spoon was selected as an IndieBound IndieNext list.

Scott thinks the best books for children take the ordinary, make it extraordinary and let them know “it’s all going to be ok. Now go to bed.” Scott currently lives in Massachusetts with his wife and two young sons.

The Dare: Place a minimum bid of $35 by leaving a comment, then outbid the highest bidder until you win!  Value: Priceless.

*Did you bid on this auction? Don’t forget to enter our drawings for fabulous giveaways.*

Receive a reminder before the auction closes.

Related posts:

1. NEW! Author/Illustrator Scott Magoon Prize Pack #2
2. NEW! Illustrator Dan Santat Prize Pack
3. Wiggle and Waggle Prize Pack from Illustrator Mary Peterson

The Prize:

• Your choice of THREE autographed copies of any of the seven titles below.
• Each book also has an original Scott Magoon little drawing in it. *GASP*!  (You may specify your choices when the auction closes.)
  

  Ugly Fish

  

  Spoon

  

  The Luck of the Loch Ness Monster

  
  

  

  Mystery Ride

  

  Otto Grows Down

  

  Hugo & Miles in I've Painted Everything

  

  Rabbit & Squirrel

  
  

  • Spoon
  • Otto Grows Down
  • Mystery Ride
  • Luck of the Loch Ness Monster
  • *Rabbit and Squirrel
    
  • Hugo and Miles in I’ve Painted Everything
  • **Ugly Fish

• *Rabbit and Squirrel come with pins (one of Rabbit and one of Squirrel)
• **Ugly Fish comes with a pin as well!

The Darer: Scott Magoon currently works as the art director for Houghton Mifflin children’s books in Boston. His book illustration debut

Scott Magoon

swam on to the scene with the publication of Ugly Fish, written by Kara LaReau. Ugly Fish won the Bulletin of the Center of Children’s Books blue ribbon in 2006, and a Bilby award, an honor bestowed by Australia’s school children. In 2007, Hugo and Mile in I’ve Painted Everything and The Luck of the Loch Ness Monster were published and featured in the Society of Illustrators Original Art Show as well as its annual exhibition in New York. The Luck of the Loch Ness Monster was also selected as one of the NYPL’s 100 Books for Reading and Sharing for 2007. It was also selected as a finalist in the Texas Bluebonnet Award for 2008.  In 2008, Rabbit & Squirrel, a Tale of War and Peas and Scott’s own Mystery Ride! arrived in bookstores. Rabbit & Squirrel was selected as a Borders Original Voices pick. Mystery Ride!, Scott’s second authored book, is in stores now and is based on his adventures growing up in New Hampshire and Maine.

This year, Otto Grows Down by Michael Sussman made its debut, a time and space-bending tale, cautioning us to be careful of what we wish for. Also this year causing a stir is Spoon by Amy Krouse Rosental.  Spoon is about a little utensil who comes to know and love his own place in the universe. Spoon was selected as an IndieBound IndieNext list.

Scott thinks the best books for children take the ordinary, make it extraordinary and let them know “it’s all going to be ok. Now go to bed.” Scott currently lives in Massachusetts with his wife and two young sons.

The Dare: Place a minimum bid of $35 by leaving a comment, then outbid the highest bidder until you win!  Value: Priceless.

*Did you bid on this auction? Don’t forget to enter our drawings for fabulous giveaways.*

Receive a reminder before the auction closes.

Related posts:

1. NEW! Author/Illustrator Scott Magoon Prize Pack #1
2. NEW! Illustrator Dan Santat Prize Pack
3. Wiggle and Waggle Prize Pack from Illustrator Mary Peterson

The Prize: A bubble themed party prize package which includes …

Bubble Homes and Fish Farts (the book)

• A copy of Bubble Homes & Fish Farts, autographed by both writer Fiona Bayrock and illustrator Carolyn Conahan.

• A dozen invitation cards, (6″ X 4″) featuring 3 different illustrations from the book (see below) , PLUS …
• Signed prints of the same gorgeous llustrations, (roughly 10″ x 8″) to frame and keep!

Print 1

Print 2

Print 3

• Plus: Coloring pages! Directions for very silly bubble-using-creature hats! Directions to make splendid bubble-makers from house-hold objects! Recipes for super-duper bubble solutions! And last but not least: tips and tricks and bubble facts, for bubble party success! WOWOWOW!  Throw your kiddo a bubble party right now, while you enjoy the art!

The Dare: Place a minimum bid of $35 by leaving a comment, then outbid the highest bidder until you win!  Value: Priceless.

*Did you bid on this auction? Don’t forget to enter our drawings for fabulous giveaways.*

Receive a reminder before the auction closes.

Related posts:

1. NEW! Illustrator Dan Santat Prize Pack
2. NEW! Author/Illustrator Scott Magoon Prize Pack #1
3. NEW! Author/Illustrator Scott Magoon Prize Pack #2

Lara Zielin

The Prize: A critique of the first three chapters of your young adult novel (30 double-spaced pages max), which includes one full chapter of line-edits and directional suggestions for the rest.

The Darer: Lara Zielin’s roots are in Wisconsin, and she’s proud to call herself both a cheese head and a Packer fan. All her books take place in the Midwest, including her debut novel, DONUT DAYS. During the day, when she’s not imagining she’s the superhero Cheese Woman (with a yellow, sparkly cape in a wedge shape) Lara works as the editor for an alumni magazine at the University of Michigan. Find out more about Lara at www.larawrites.com

About DONUT DAYS (Putnam)

Donut Days

DONUT DAYS’ main character, Emma, has a lot going on. Her best friend’s not speaking to her, a boy she’s known all her life is suddenly smokin’ hot, she’s at a camp-out for the opening of a donut shop, and oh yes — her evangelical pastor parents may lose their church. And that’s just this weekend. Suddenly, sixteen-year-old Emma has to make some serious choices: creationism or evolution, faith or freedom, Harley bikers or Frodo wannabes, and of course, cruller or glazed.

The Dare: Place a minimum bid of $35 by leaving a comment, then outbid the highest bidder until you win! *All winners must take the solemn critiquee oath.*

*Did you bid on this auction? Don’t forget to enter our drawings for fabulous giveaways.*

Receive a reminder before the auction closes.

Related posts:

1. NEW! Chapter Critique from Author Angie Frazier (Historical)
2. One Chapter Critique from Author Lindsey Leavitt (Contemp Fantasy)
3. NEW! Three Chapter Critique from Author Tara Kelly (Contemp Realistic)