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YAY! In case you missed all the screaming from Betsy Devany and all her friends, Betsy signed a contract for her first picture book, SMELLY BABY to Christy Ottaviano of Christy Ottaviano Books at Henry Holt.

Betsy’s debut book will be illustrated by Christopher Denise.

Everybody thinks Smelly Baby is gross, but she is beloved by Lucy. No one understands how amazing Smelly Baby is – or so Lucy thinks until Smelly Baby is … Publication is scheduled for spring 2016; Emily van Beek at Folio Literary Management did the deal on behalf of both Devany and Denise.

CONGRATULAIONS! BETSY, CHRISTOPHER, EMILY, and CHRISTY!

Robin Newman is celebrating, too.

She has two picture books coming out in 2014 with Creston Books.

Hildie Bitterpickles Needs Her Sleep,
illustrated by Chris Ewald (Spring 2015)
                     
         and

The Case of the Missing Carrot Cake, A Wilcox & Griswold Mystery,
illustrated by Deborah Zemke (Fall 2015)

CONGRATULATIONS, ROBIN and agent LIZA FLEISSIG!

WINNER: Rosi Hollinbeck is the winner of IT’S A FIREFLY NIGHT written by Dianne Ochiltree and illustrated by Betsy Snyder.

Congratulations!

Please send me your address, so I can pass it on to Dianne. I know you will love the book.

Now for my idea to send CHERRY MONEY BABY traveling:

I bought a copy Of John Cusick’s new book and will send it out to someone who leaves a comment saying they will read the book within a month or less and then pass it on to another person who can read it less than a month. I would like everyone who receives the book to email me with a little blurb of what they thought of the book and take a picture of yourself with Cherry holding the book and telling us about your location. It would be fun if you could mail it to someone in another state, etc. If everyone took a month that would take her off to twelve locations, but if it goes to some fast readers she could really see the world. I will post each month about Cherry’s travels. I will put up a blurb about you, too, so if you have signed a contract or have a published book, it would help show you off, too.

If you end up with the book and don’t know who to send it to, I will be glad to give you a name and address. So join in the fun and leave a comment letting me know you are willing to read and send on. You could even say the winner could send to you.

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy

Hunger Mountain’s Annual Manuscript Critique Auction is happening NOW on ebay. Don’t miss out. It ends on May 12th. I have listed below the agents involved in children’s books and YA novels. Here is the link to bid: http://stores.ebay.com/The-Hunger-Mountain-Store

Young Adult/ Middle Grade Manuscript Critique with Literary Agent and former Simon & Schuster Editor Alexandra Penfold

ALEXANDRA PENFOLD has been working in publishing for nearly a decade. Formerly an Editor at Paula Wiseman Books/Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, she’s now an agent with Upstart Crow Literary and specializes in young picture books and middle grade and young adult fiction. She is the co-author of New York a la Cart: Recipes and Stories from the Big Apple’s Best Food Trucks. 

25-Page Middle Grade Fiction Critique with Agent Alyssa Henkin

ALYSSA EISNER HENKIN began her career in children’s publishing as an editorial assistant in 1999. Now, as a successful literary agent at Trident Media Group, Alyssa considers herself privileged to be able to work with such talented authors and illustrators who create the books readers cannot put down.

25-Page Middle Grade, Picture Book, or Young Adult Manuscript Critique with Author and Literary Agent Ammi-Joan Paquette

AMMI-JOAN PAQUETTE is associate agent with the Erin Murphy Literary Agency, where she represents all forms of children’s and young adult projects. She’s especially passionate about connecting with and launching the careers of debut authors and is most excited by a strong lyrical voice, tight plotting with surprising twists and turns, and stories told with heart and resonance. She is the author of a picture book, The Tiptoe Guide to Tracking Fairies, and a middle grade novel, Nowhere Girl.

Full-length Middle Grade Fiction Manuscript Up to 250 Pages with Literary Agent Elena Mechlin

ELENA MECHLIN  began as a literary agent at Pippin Properties, Inc. in June of 2009. She notes that she “is thrilled to be pursuing her love of children’s literature and the industry from her seat at Pippin and especially enjoys the treasure hunt that is sorting through the daily query emails.” Pippin Properties, Inc., an agency devoted primarily to picture books, middle-grade, and young adult novels, has represented such literary luminaries as Katherine Applegate, Kate DiCamillo, Kathi Appelt and illustrator Harry Bliss.

100-Page Young Adult or Middle Grade Critique with Literary Agent Emily Van Beek

EMILY VAN BEEK is a literary agent at Folio Literary Management. She spent six years as agent and rights director at Pippin Properties, Inc, where she represented such titles as Kathi Appelt’s Newbery Honor-winning The Underneath , Jandy Nelson’s The Sky is Everywhere, and Jenny Han’s New York Times bestselling Summer series. Since joining Folio in May of 2010, Emily has represented established writers of YA and Middle Grade fiction, debut voices in children’s lit, and a select group of illustrators, including the Caldecott Medal winning creators of A Sick Day for Amos McGee, Philip C. Stead and Erin E. Stead.

Full-length Picture Book Critique with Agent and Agency Founder Holly McGhee

HOLLY MCGHEE founded Pippin Properties, Inc., an agency devoted to the management and representation of the finest authors and artists at work today. Her fascination with making books began in 1991, and now her agency is devoted primarily to picture books, middle-grade, and young adult novels, and has represented such literary luminaries as Katherine Applegate, Kate DiCamillo, Kathi Appelt and illustrator Harry Bliss.

50-Page YA or Middle Grade Manuscript Critique with Literary Agent Tricia Lawrence

TRICIA LAWRENCE worked for 17 years as a developmental and production-based editor (from kids book to college textbooks, but mostly college textbooks) before she joined the Erin Murphy Literary Agency team in March 2011. As associate agent, Tricia represents picture books/chapter books, and middle grade and young adult fiction and nonfiction. She also writes a blog about social media for authors and the publishing industry at large.

Hunger Mountain is both a print and online journal of the arts. They publish fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, visual art, young adult and children’s writing, writing for stage and screen, interviews, reviews, and craft essays.

Good Luck! and Happy Bidding.

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy