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Louise Fury has left L.Perkins Agency to join The Bent Agency this past week. A select group of advanced and published writers will be getting full critiques with Louise at the end of this month. I will give you feedback on that in October.

Louise is interested in:

Picture books
Literary Middle Grade
Young adult
New adult
Graphic Novels
Commercial fiction, especially all sub-genres of romance
Suspense/Thriller
Erotica/Erotic romance
Cookbooks
Pop Culture

Louise is currently closed to unsolicited materials. To send Louise requested materials, please review our submissions guidelines Then email [email protected]

Louise Fury represents young adult, middle grade, new adult, commercial fiction including romance, and select nonfiction.  

A native South African, I now live in New York City and travel to Cape Town every year, where I spend time educating South African writers, meeting with international publishers and distributing books. Before agenting, I worked in marketing and advertising for both the consumer markets and publishing. Prior to joining The Bent Agency, I worked as a literary agent at the L. Perkins Agency. I represent numerous New York Times and USA Today best-selling authors. I encourage my authors to have one foot in traditional print publishing and the other in the digital-first arena and am a huge advocate of utilizing secondary rights—I have sold film/TV, audio and foreign rights for my clients. I believe in staying ahead of the pack by embracing change, not just adapting to it. 

I’m looking for writers with a unique voice and an unforgettable story. I’m particularly drawn to stories with a strong protagonist. In young adult, I look for manuscripts that are written with an unforgettable voice—this can be deep, dark and gritty or literary, lyrical and emotional. I’d love to find a young adult novel that has a bone-deep sense of danger that haunts me from page 1 and doesn’t let go of me for days. I want delicious adult romances with creative plots, sexy liaisons and unique characters who sweep me up in their love story. I want to feel something unforgettable when I read your pages. I want manuscripts that I can’t stop thinking about.

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy

Hope everyone has a wonderful July 4th. I am sure you will want to help the two illustrators in this post celebrate their recent successes. First, I want to show off and congratulated illustrator Tory Novikova for her new book. She has a BFA from Pratt Institute in Communication Design: Graphic Design & Illustration and is the mastermind behind Torynova Couture- uniting art with fashion.

http://torynovacouture.com/

Illustrator Michelle Kogan is having a solo painting exhibit in Chicago: Narratives of Nature Watercolors by Michelle Kogan. It’s going to be at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum in Chicago. Congratulations, Michelle. Please let us know all about it.

Enjoy the holiday!

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy

This fun illustration was sent in by Wendy Wahman. She is the author/illustrator of DON’T LICK THE DOG, A CAT LIKE THAT and illustrator of SNOWBOY 1,2,3. Here is her Website: http://www.wendywahman.com

Kat Yeh’s THE FRIEND SHIP, about a lonely hedgehog who sets off on a voyage to find the wonderful ship where everyone is a friend, only to make an unexpected discovery as she invites more and more lonely animals to join her on their increasingly crowded boat, to Rotem Moscovich at Disney-Hyperion, for publication in Summer 2015, by Sarah Davies at the Greenhouse Literary Agency (World).

Tassy Walden Award: Tassy Walden Awards competition encourages and nurtures the creation of exceptional quality books for children by unpublished Connecticut writers and illustrators in each of five categories: Picture Book (text only), Illustrated Picture Book (art and text), Children’s Book Illustrator Portfolio, Middle Grade Novel, and Young Adult/Teen Novel. Sponsored by Barnes & Noble the Tassy Walden: New Voices in Children’s Literature is a prestigious competition, judged by editors and agents in the field.

New Voices in Children’s Literature 2013 honorees were announced Tuesday night. BETSY DEVANY was a double-honoree this year. She was a middle-grade finalist for FILBERT AND THE GOOBERS,  and won honorable mention for FINDING BEAUTY. This was Betsy’s ninth Tassy.

If you attended the NJSCBWI Conference a few weeks ago, you heard Lauren Oliver (“Delirium series”) read an excerpt from her new YA novel PANIC. HarperCollins imprint Harper Teen will publish the book in spring 2014. Well, I thought you would like to know that Universal Pictures landed the film rights to PANIC in a bidding war. The seven-figure deal closed on Monday night, according to an individual familiar with the negotiations.

Michelle Nagler will join Random House Children’s Books on July 15 as associate publishing director for the Random House/Golden Books group, reporting to Mallory Loehr. Nagler is currently editorial director at Bloomsbury Children’s. Editorial director for Stepping Stones Jennifer Arena; executive editor Shana Corey, and associate editor and Chelsea Eberly will report to Nagler going forward.

Lynda Zuber Sassi will rejoin Chronicle Books as associate director, mass markets. Previously she was director of wholesale at DwellStudio; she was last at Chronicle in 2010. In addition, Erynn Im-Sato has been named associate manager, mass markets.

Lindsey Schwoeri has joined Penguin Books as editor. Previously she was an editor at the Random House Publishing Group.

Christina Quintero has joined Little, Brown Books for Young Readers as art director for licensing. Previously she was associate art director at Grosset & Dunlap/Price Stern Sloan.

Rysa Walker won the overall Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award for her YA book Timebound. Walker will receive a $50,000 advance and publishing contract with Amazon Publishing.

The ebook of The Activist’s Daughter, about college life in the South during the civil righs turmoil of the 1960s is available for FREE from Amazon Kindle for 5 days only - June 20 – 24.  Don’t miss out! http://www.amazon.com/The-Activists-Daughter-ebook/dp/B00D45LGU6%3FSubscriptionId%3D0DK6RX2SNSBPXDSWSNR2%26tag%3Dwwwellynbache-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3DB00D45LGU6

Here’s your chance to win advance reader’s copies of FOUR of Greenwillow’s Fall 2013 books! They’ll be giving away one prize pack of all four ARCs. Here’s the link: http://greenwillowblog.com/?p=5606

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy

This Father’s Day card was sent in by Tracy Campbell to help wish all you Dad’s and single Mom’s a Happy Father’s Day. Tracy was featured on Illustrator Saturday on May 18th.

I missed getting Tara Lazar’s debut book THE MONSTORE at the conference last weekend. I took too much time, before I tried to buy her and all the books were gone, but Amazon has plenty in stock. I am sure I will see Tara soon at another event to have her sign it for me. Looks like a great picture book.

Tara Lazar is a children’s book author, foodie, mother and boogeyman assassin (currently booked at 3:00 a.m. nightly).  She writes quirky, humorous picture books featuring magical places that adults never find. Her debut THE MONSTORE releases in June 2013, with I THOUGHT THIS WAS A BEAR BOOK and LITTLE RED GLIDING HOOD to follow in 2014. She’ll also debunk the rule “Grow Up, Be Serious” in BREAK THESE RULES, a YA anthology due in September 2013. Tara lives in New Jersey with her husband and two daughters. Discover original stories, book reviews, giveaways and boogeyman extermination advice at www.TaraLazar.com.

The Monstore is a one-stop shop for all your monsterly needs in this enormously funny story that’s full of friendly, kooky creatures.

At the back of Frankensweet’s Candy Shoppe, under the last box of sour gumballs, there’s a trapdoor.

Knock five times fast, hand over the bag of squirmy worms, and you can crawl inside The Monstore.

The Monstore is the place to go for all of your monsterly needs. Which is perfect, since Zack definitely has a monsterly need. The problem? His pesky little sister, Gracie, who never pays attention to that “Keep Out” sign on Zack’s door—the one he has made especially for her.

But when Zack’s monsters don’t exactly work as planned, he soon finds out that the Monstore has a few rules: No Refunds. No exchanges. No exceptions.

Publishers Weekly

Debut author Lazar takes readers to an underground emporium, the Monstore, which trades in “the most useful monsters, just right for doing tricky things around the house.” Tricky things like handling “pesky little sisters.” However, the monsters that Zach purchases aren’t working as advertised. Instead of scaring Gracie, the enormous, three-eyed, orange-furred Manfred teams up with her to frighten Zach. And because the Monstore’s return policies are none too friendly, Zach purchases more monsters (“Add another,” suggests the wild-eyed shopkeeper. “A monster threesome is more gruesome than a twosome”), all of which wind up tormenting Zach. Readers shouldn’t be surprised that Gracie is delighted, not frightened, by the blobby, tentacled additions to the household—Burks’s (Beep and Bah) colorful creatures are firmly in the scary-cute vein of Monsters, Inc. (in one scene, they use a purple snake monster to jump rope with Gracie). Zach gets a chance to prove himself as a capable older brother, but this story really belongs to Gracie.

Ages 4–7. Author’s agent: Ammi-Joan Paquette, Erin Murphy Literary Agency. Illustrator’s agent: Kelly Sonnack, Andrea Brown Literary Agency. (June)

ISBN-13: 9781442420175
Publisher: Aladdin
Publication date: 6/4/2013

Tara Lazar wished there was a Monstore when she was a kid so she could’ve spooked her pesky little brother. Her mischievous imagination led her to write picture books, and she founded PiBoIdMo (Picture Book Idea Month). She lives in New Jersey with her husband and her two daughters. Visit http://www.TaraLazar.com for stories, giveaways, and contests for kids of all ages (like Tara!).

James Burks started drawing as a little kid and hasn’t stopped since. Along the way he’s written and illustrated some books of his own, including Gabby and Gator, Beep and Bah, and Bird and Squirrel on the Run. James lives in southern California with his two little monsters.

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy

When talking with Charlotte Bennardo on Friday at the conference, she showed me a receipt that she received at Barnes and Noble after buying a cup of coffee. I just thought this was so cool. Imagine seeing your book suggested on the receipt. Must have been very exciting for Charlotte. Another reason to make sure you look at your receipts.

In its nearly three centuries of existence, The Saturday Evening Post has published short fiction by a who’s who of American authors including F. Scott Fitzgerald; William Faulkner; Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.; Ray Bradbury; Louis L’Amour; Sinclair Lewis; Jack London; and Edgar Allan Poe. Now you have the opportunity to join that illustrious line-up by taking part in The Saturday Evening Post’s Second Annual Great American Fiction Contest.

The winning story will be published in the Jan/Feb 2014 edition of the magazine and on our website. The winning writer will receive a payment of $500. Five runners-up will be published on our website and receive payment of $100 each.

Helpful Hints:

“We like a good story! Entries should be character- or plot-driven pieces in any genre of fiction, but keep it readable, please! “We are looking for stories with universal appeal touching on shared experiences and themes that will resonate with readers from diverse backgrounds and experience,” says Joan SerVaas, publisher of The Saturday Evening Post.” Think local. The Post has historically played a role in defining what it means to be an American. Your story should in some way touch upon the publication’s mission: Celebrating America, Past, Present, and Future.

Submission Guidelines:

Stories must be submitted by the author, previously unpublished (excluding personal websites and blogs), and 1,500-5,000 words in length. No extreme profanity or graphic sex scenes, please. All stories must be submitted online and should be in Microsoft Word format with the author’s name, address, telephone number, and email address on the first page. There is a $10 entry fee, which helps defray a portion of the cost of operating the contest.

Click on the “Fiction Contest Entry Form” link below to upload your story and make a secure payment. Deadline for entry is 11:59 p.m. (EST), July 1, 2013.

Fiction Contest Entry Form

Thanks in advance for participating! The Editors

We’re pleased to announce “Wolf” by Lucy Jane Bledsoe the winner of our 2013 Great American Fiction Contest! Click here to read the prize-winning fiction from our winner and six runners-up.

- See more at: http://www.saturdayeveningpost.com/fiction-contest#sthash.sEifrf2J.dpuf

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy

Jason Kirschner’s above illustration was the winner of the NJSCBWI Artist Exhibit Award for an Unpublished Illustrator.

Yvonne Ventresca – Signed book deal with Skyhorse Publishing for a contemporary YA novel about a flu pandemic.

Robin Newman – Signed a book contract for her chapter book, “The Case of the Missing Carrot Cake, A Wilcox & Griswold Mystery (Creston Books, Agent: Fleissig) Plus, she received an SCBWI Barbara Karlin Grant Letter of Commendation.

Linda Bozzo – Signed two book deals with Amicus for eleven nonfiction books about the military.

Susan Hood – Sold 2 new picture books to Random House. Plus, her book SPIKE, THE MIXED-UP MONSTER won a 2013 Int. Latino Award.

Ame Dyckman – Signed another book deal and picked up her Crystal Kite Book Award at the conference.

Adam Lehrhaupt – Landed an Agent when his editor Alexandra Penfold joined Literary Agency, Upstart Crow. His debut book, Warning: Do Not Open This Book! with Simon and Schuster is coming out 8/27/13.

Nancy Viau - Had two PBs come out this spring: LOOK WHAT I CAN DO! and STORM SONG. One PB forthcoming in 2014.

Pam Brunksill – Sold her first magazine piece to Highlights for Children It will appear in this September’s issue.

Laurie Wallmark – Magazine article printed in Cricket and a story in Boys Quest. She sold two additional articles to Boys Quest.

Dave Amaditz – His young adult novel, Dirty Secrets, was the winner of the 2012 SCBWI W-I-P Grant for a Contemporary Novel.

Wendy Greenley – Just discovered her poem “Elegy to my Hotel Bed” is included in the July/August issue of the SCBWI Bulletin.

Tracey Baptiste – Is working with Scholastic as an editor in their education department with a digital teacher training product called Scholastic U.

Eric Sailer took Honorable Mention in the NJSCBWI Artist Exhibit with the above illustration.

Left to Right: Agent Jessica Regel, Agent Stephen Barbara, Sheri Oshins, Leeza Hernandez, Kelly Calabrese, Connie Colon, Agent Marietta Zacker.

If you would like to see more photos taken at the conference click these links:

http://robinnewmanbooks.wordpress.com/

http://nerdychicksrule.com/2013/06/11/the-quotable-nerdy-njscbwi/

https://www.facebook.com/connie.t.colon/photos

Congratulations to all! I expect that I will be able to report back lots of other success stories once the bubble to the surface after the dust settles from the good things that went on at the conference.

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy

The theme for this years artist exhibit and contest at the NJSCBWI Conference was “Down the Rabbit Hole” There were four different awards. Below is Deborah Cuneo’s winning illustration. She was the winner of the Members Choice Award. Anyone who didn’t attend missed a wonderful display of talented illustration pieces.

The 259 people who attended the NJSCBWI conference this past weekend included 30 auth/illus speakers, and 32 industry professionals. They came from 18 states, various Canadian provinces and one from South Africa.

I just have to sing the praises of RA Leeza Hernandez, ARA Sheri Oshins, former ARA Laurie Wallmark, ICC Karen Romanga and their wonderful committee and volunteers. I had forgotten how much fun attending a conference could be. Having the opportunity to see things from the attendee side gave me the time to talk to the many friends who would not be in my life had I not volunteered to run the chapter for ten years. What a treat it was to be able to enjoy their company!

It was a privilege to read and critique a few writer’s manuscripts and share my thoughts about improving their stories. I conducted a workshop on marketing and gave everyone who attended a plan on what to do at every stage in their career, which I hope motivated them to start thinking about what they could do right now and start laying out a plan to be prepared for the successes that will come on the road to publication. Plus, I laid out what to do once they have signed a contract with a time frame on how to prepare for that book launch and after.

To be able to go to a workshop without having to run out to put out fires was fabulous. This gave me time to learn from the great editors, agents, and authors who shared their expertise. I even got to do my first pitch ever with agent Louise Fury from L Perkins Literary Agency – love Louise’s voice and her energy.

Louise was just one of the “New To NJSCBWI Conference” faculty. The conference was a good mix of conference veteran editors and agents and first time faculty members like: 

Elizabeth (Betsy) Bird, Librarian, NYPL/SLJ
Melissa Faulner, Editorial Assistant, Abrams
Louise Fury, Agent, L. Perkins Agency
Julie Ham, Editor, Charlesbridge
Erin Harris, Agent, Folio
Janine Hauber, Agent, Sheldon Fogelman
Lexa Hillyer, Editor/Co-Founder, Paper Lantern Literary
Janet Kusmierski, Art Director, Scholastic
Tricia Lawrence, Agent, Erin Murphy Literary
Rotem Moscovich, Editor, Disney/Hyperion
Jessica Regel, Agent, Jean V. Naggar Agency
Martha Sikkema, Senior Designer, Charlesbridge
Jenne Abramowitz, Senior Editor, Scholastic

Vin Vogel was the winner in the Published Illustrator category for the above illustration. He was featured on Illustrator Saturday in December. Here’s the link: http://kathytemean.wordpress.com/2012/11/10/illustrator-saturday-vin-vogel/

Ame Dyckman picked up her Crystal Kite Award for BOY+ BOT before funny and nice-guy Author/Illustrator, Peter Brown kicked off the conference. Shared his artwork as a child and his colorful illustration of his “Mommy.” Peter has promised to be featured later this year on Illustrator Saturday. I was disappointed that I didn’t grab his Creepy Carrots book on Saturday, because they were gone on Sunday. I’ll just have to buy it at Amazon.

Tara Lazar (The Monstore) followed by sharing her publishing journey and the pitfalls of battling Multiple Sclerosis. Tara is proof that you can overcome anything if you have to in order to get published – very inspiring.

I signed up for Stephen Barbara and Lauren Oliver (Delirium, Pandemonium, Requiem, Before I Fall, Spindlers ) workshop, but Lauren was sick with the flu, so she stayed in bed and pumped up the antibiotics, so she would be able to show up for the ending keynote on Sunday. Luckily Lexa Hillyer (Ex- Razorbill editor and Lauren’s partner at Paper Lantern was at the conference and could step-in without a hitch. Lexa was the hidden jewel at the conference.

Stopped in to learn from ultra successful author (25 books) and New Jersey member Wendy Mass talk about how she builds a book chapter by chapter.

Wanted to attend Laurie (Boys of Wartime) Calkhoven’s workshop on writing scenes and her mediation workshop, who everyone raves about, but I was doing my workshop during the mediation workshop and I only caught the end of the scene writing workshop. I am sure that Laurie will repeat both of these next year or another time during the year. Laurie always give a good workshop on every topic she does.

I attend Julie Hedlund’s workshop on App’s, but that is a big subject to tackle in a 45 minute window. I know I would be interested in an intensive on this subject. Julie took some of her unpublished picture books and developed apps of them which can be bought on Amazon.

Charlotte Bennardo (co-author Sirenz) did a fantastic workshop about what type of swag you could use to promote your book and individualized it for everyone who attended. I am sure she will repeat it again next year, so if you attend in 2014 – DON’T MISS IT!

It was nice to hear Charlotte remind everyone (what I always emphasize) that we are all in this together and should try to support each other by buying each others books and attending each others book signings when possible. What goes around comes around, so do unto other as you would have them do unto you. When your house starts getting run over by books, give them away to schools or friends.

Idea: Laurie Wallmark has a book swapping party at her house once a year where she gives away books and takes what isn’t picked up to the schools in the area.

More Tomorrow.  I will share the long list of people who came up to me at the conference to let me know about their successes. If something good has happened with you, please email me. You do not have to have been at the conference. I love to hear them and I think we can all draw inspiration from sharing in their successes.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MAURICE SENDAK!

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy

Two Weeks ago I featured John Mander on Illustrator Saturday. John was busy getting ready to attend the Reuben Awards dinner in Pittsburgh, PA. and didn’t have time to finish the answers for his featured post. John won the Best Illustrated Children’s Book Award that Saturday night for illustrating Jack and the Giant Barbecue. .Here is the link to read john’s interview answers that were added duribg the week: http://kathytemean.wordpress.com/2013/05/25/illustrator-saturday-john-manders/  Congratulations John!

Bloomsbury Children’s Books has promoted Caroline Abbey and Mary Kate Castellani to senior editor, while Brett Wright and Laura Whitaker move up to associate editor. Both Castellani and Whitaker move over from Walker Children’s, which will shift its focus to that of a boutique imprint under publishing director Emily Easton, publishing 18 titles per year with an emphasis on nonfiction and select fiction for preschool through young adult.

Phoebe Yeh will join Random House Children’s Books as vp, Publisher, Crown Books for Young Readers on June 21, reporting to Barbara Marcus. Yeh was most recently editorial director at HarperCollins Children’s. ““I have known Phoebe for many years and admire her as a highly creative and versatile editor with an excellent track record for discovering and nurturing new voices,” said Marcus in a statement. “I am so pleased to welcome her to Random House, where her expertise in nonfiction and commercial middle-grade books will perfectly complement and further strengthen our list.”

Sarah Harrison Smith has been named children’s editor at the New York Times Book Review. She was most recently on the paper’s metropolitan desk.

Tara Gelsomino has joined F+W Media’s Crimson Romance digital/POD imprint as executive editor. She was most recently executive marketing manager at AudioGO.

At BEA, HarperCollins announced their new in-house program to provide and manage digital galleys as well as promotional copies of their ebooks (including providing authors with multiple ebook “copies” of their books). Called the e-Insider Program, it works from a new website — e.hc.com — and uses Adobe Digital Editions (and thus requires a free Adobe ID to read the ebooks).

Authors will be given a set of one-time use of codes, each good for a single ebook download. For trade shows, like this one, “rather than distributing physical copies of books, HarperCollins can now provide a code that will bring promotional finished e-books or galleys directly to key constituents.” They used the platform to provide titles from Avon, Avon Impulse, Harper Teen and Harper Teen Impulse at the convention.

On Friday at BEA, the Publishing Hackathon awarded first prize to Evoke — which maps how characters in fiction are emotionally similar to each other as a way of discovering new books (and characters) to enjoy. The founders described it at the event as a “social recommendation algorithm that associates characters with each other based on reader preferences.”

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy

I am starting to set up a small Writer’s Retreat for this September in Avalon NJ, similar to what we did last year, which was a four day workshop with an editor and an agent. It included a one hour full manuscript critique with one of the mentors and a one hour 50 page critique with the other mentor, a first page session, a brainstorming session, group critiques, and pitch practice. The cost last year was $850 which included the cost of the house, the critiques, and most food.

Since the house is rented for the week, you have the choice to come early before the mentors get there to relax and work on your writing. I have not confirmed the mentors, yet. It would be nice to customize to fit the final group. I am looking to let two additional writers attend, so if you are interested in joining our group of advanced writers, please email me (Kathy.temean(at)gmail.com) for more details. Last year’s retreat was the best thing I have ever put together.It is a great opportunity.

Gregory Myers from Australia sent in this illustration called “Haru” that was commissioned by Tokyo Journal as part of a series on the seasons in Japan. Gregory is a freelance illustrator. Studied under Czech artist Petr Herel at Canberra School of Art, and Akira Kurosaki at Kyoto Seika University. He is based in Sydney, Australia. Hand-coloured scraperboard artworks like this one prove to be popular with his clients.

Ammi-Joan Paquette has been promoted to senior agent at the Erin Murphy Literary Agency.

Julie Just, who became an agent at Janklow & Nesbit in late 2010 after working at the NYT Book Review as children’s book editor, is moving to Pippin Properties on May 1. Pippin founder Holly McGhee says: “We were looking to expand our agency and had just signed a new office lease when we began talking to Julie. Since we are interested in representing our authors’ and artists’ work across all genres, including more YA and adult trade books as well, Julie Just is exactly the right fit.”

Greenhouse Literary Agency has hired Polly Nolan head up the UK side of their business representing children’s and YA authors. Currently associate publishing director, fiction, at Macmillan UK Children’s, she will start her new job on June 3.

At Simon & Schuster, Molly Lindley has been promoted to associate editor.

Alison Weiss has been promoted to associate editor at Egmont USA.

Amber Morley has joined Chronicle Books as marketing coordinator for their children’s division.

At HarperCollins, Dana Trombley has been promoted to senior manager, digital marketing, adding oversight for the marketing of all the digital-first titles published through the Impulse lines.

Angela James has been promoted to editorial director, Carina Press.

At Harlequin, Adrienne Macintosh has been promoted to editor, series, while Karen Reid moves up to associate editor, Harlequin Superromance and Charles Griesman has been promoted to editor, Harlequin Desire. In addition, Reka Rubin has been promoted to senior manager, subsidiary rights, while Amy Wilkins moves up to the manager, online engagement.

At Simon & Schuster Children’s, Nicole Russo has been promoted to deputy publicity director and Lydia Finn has been promoted to publicist. Russo has been with the company since 2005.

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy

I have to point out the book trailer that Gayle Krauss sent me a few days ago. I knew that Gayle had published a book titled, RAT GIRL.  I was planning to buy a copy, because I know Gayle and I always try to support people I know, but somehow (Don’t be mad at me Gayle) the title did not entice me. I am so glad Gayle sent me this trailer, because it does exactly what a book trailer should do – sell the book. Now I am really  looking forward to reading RAT GIRL: SONG OF THE VIPER. Great job!

Gayle Krauss’s RAT GIRL: SONG OF THE VIPER book trailer.

Kit Grindstaff did a great job with her book trailer, too, for her new book THE FLAME IN THE MIST

Kit at her first book signing.

Paula Newcomer signing her poetry book, TOSSING OFF THE GLOVES.

Tori Corn’s debut picture book, WHAT WILL IT BE PENELOPE? arrived in the warehouse this week and will be available on June 4th. Here is the Amazon link.

It looks like Penelope is a popular name.

Robin Hutchinson has combined the fun of cooking and reading in this self published book titled, PENELOPE’S SECRET COOKING CLUB: IS THERE A SECRET TO KEEP? Here is the Amazon link.

Congratulations to all!

Hope I will be able to share your success on a future post.

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy

It seems more and more picture books and middle grade books are being picked up and brought to stages around the country. We all dream of seeing our books on the big screen, but more and more production companies are looking at children’s books to bring to the stage. I thought you might like to know that if you live in the New York area you can see Eileen’s Spinelli’s picture book “Wanda’s Monster” played out on stage.  It sounds like a lot of fun and runs through May 12 at Theater 3, 311 West 43rd Street, NYC (646) 250-1178, www.makingbookssing.org .

Here is a an article that appeared in Theater Review on April 25th.

Feared Fiend to Gentle Friend

Wanda’s Monster,’ With Laurie Berkner’s Tunes, at Theater 3

By LAUREL GRAEBER

Anyone familiar with cable television knows that plenty of adults believe in monsters. But the parents of Wanda, the heroine of the new family musical “Wanda’s Monster,” must not be fans of series like “Finding Bigfoot.” Wanda can’t convince them or her brother that a creature lives in her closet.

Audiences at Theater 3, however, know he’s there. Looking more like a Honker from “Sesame Street” than like Nessie or Sasquatch, this fuzzy beast enters from the aisles. Like the children around him, he’s been enjoying the show’s opening, set at a rock club run by Wanda’s grandmother. Granny, you see, is Joan Jett.

Well, not really Joan Jett, though she does wear black leather and ride motorcycles. Mostly Granny evokes Laurie Berkner, a wholesome singer-songwriter who’s bigger than Justin Bieber, if you happen to be 4 or 5. Making Books Sing, which turns children’s books into musicals, commissioned Ms. Berkner to write the score and lyrics for “Wanda’s Monster,” based on Eileen Spinelli’s 2002 picture book. Ms. Berkner, who doesn’t perform in the show, has filled it with catchy, folk-flavored pop, arranged by the production’s music director, Kristen Lee Rosenfeld. The upbeat melodies include one of Ms. Berkner’s longstanding hits, “Monster Boogie,” which fans are invited to dance to.

Barbara Zinn Krieger, founder of Making Books Sing, wrote the script, one of whose most inspired touches is turning Granny, who wears sweat pants and sensible shoes in Nancy Hayashi’s book illustrations, into this kick-out-the-jams rocker. Vibrantly played by Jamie Kolnick, Granny alone takes Wanda’s side, acknowledging the Monster’s existence but persuading her granddaughter (Laura Hankin, a grown-up who makes a convincing 5-year-old) that monsters are really shy, gentle, misunderstood souls.

In this hourlong adaptation, briskly directed by Adrienne Kapstein, the Monster is not only sweet but also sublimely silly. Winningly portrayed by James Ortiz in a role greatly expanded from the book, he eats the flowers Wanda slips into the closet for him and attaches her artwork to the wall with his spit. While the hulking, horned Mr. Ortiz may frighten a few little theatergoers at first, most, like Wanda, will want to hug him at the conclusion. This charming musical brings home a point worth considering at any age: embrace what you fear, and you just may find a friend.

“Wanda’s Monster” runs through May 12 at Theater 3, 311 West 43rd Street, Clinton; (646) 250-1178, www.makingbookssing.org.

Congratulations, Eileen! It must be exciting to see your book come to life.

Everyone, please let me know if you get to see this show. I would love to hear your thoughts.

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy

THE SOCIETY OF CHILDREN’S BOOK WRITERS AND ILLUSTRATORS ANNOUNCES THE WINNERS OF THE ANNUAL CRYSTAL KITE MEMBER CHOICE AWARDS

The SCBWI is excited to announce the winners of the 2013 Crystal Kite Member Choice Awards for our fifteen regional divisions: 

Africa

• Neil Malherbe – The      Magyar Conspiracy (Tafelberg Publishers)

Australia

• Meg McKinlay – Ten Tiny Things (Fremantle Press)

California/Hawaii

• Katherine Applegate – The One and Only Ivan (HarperCollins Children’s Books) 

Florida/Georgia/South Carolina/North Carolina/Alabama/Mississippi

• Augusta Scattergood - Glory Be  (Scholastic)

Kansas/Louisiana/Arkansas/Tennessee/Kentucky/Missouri

• Sharon Cameron – The Dark Unwinding (Scholastic)

Middle East/India/Asia

• Benjamin Martin – Samurai Awakening  (Tuttle Publishing)

Minnesota/Iowa/Nebraska/Wisconsin/Illinois/Michigan/Indiana/Ohio

• Aaron Reynolds – Creepy Carrots (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers)

Nevada/Arizona/Utah/Colorado/Wyoming/New Mexico

• Jean Reagan – How to Baby Sit A Grandpa      (Alfred A. Knopf (Random House Children’s Books)

New England (Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire. Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island)

• Jo Knowles – See You At Harry’s (Candlewick Press)

New York

• Kate Messner – Capture the Flag (Scholastic)

Pennsylvania/Delaware/New Jersey/Wash DC/Virginia/West Virginia/Maryland

• Ame Dyckman – BOY + BOT  (Alfred A. Knopf (Random House Children’s Books)

Texas/Oklahoma

• Lynne Kelly – Chained (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, Inc.)

The Americas (Canada/Mexico/Central & South America)

• Jennifer Lanthier - The Stamp Collector  (Fitzhenry and Whiteside)

UK/Europe

• Dave Cousins – Fifteen Days without a Head  (Oxford University Press)

Washington/Oregon/Alaska/Idaho/Montana/North Dakota/South Dakota

• Kim Baker – Pickle  (Roaring Brook Press (Macmillan Publishers)           

About the Crystal Kite Awards

The Crystal Kite Awards are given by the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators to recognize great books from the seventy SCBWI regions around the world.  Along with the SCBWI Golden Kite Awards, the Crystal Kite Awards are chosen by other children’s book writers and illustrators, making them the only peer-given awards in publishing for young readers.

About SCBWI

Founded in 1971, the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators is one of the largest existing writers’ and illustrators’ organizations, with over 22,000 members worldwide. It is the only organization specifically for those working in the fields of children’s literature, magazines, film, television, and multimedia. The organization was founded by Stephen Mooser (President) and Lin Oliver (Executive Director), both of whom are well-published children’s book authors and leaders in the world of children’s literature.  For more information about the Crystal Kite Award, please visit http://www.scbwi.org, and click “Awards & Grants.”

Congratulations to everyone, but big Kudos to Pennsylvania/Delaware/New Jersey/Wash DC/Virginia/West Virginia/Maryland – my regional winner Ame Dyckman!

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy

Tracy Campbell sent in this April showers illustrations.  She is a writer and an artist, living my dream. When she is not busy with her interior decorating business, she taps away on her laptop and writes for children, tweens, and teens. She also sharpens pencils, flips open paint lids, and yank off marker caps to draw and paint whimsical works of artfrom her second-floor studio in my 1841 farmhouse nestled high on a hill…assuming she doesn’t get distracted by howling coyotes marching up the gangway or by ribbon-streaked sunsets that take her breath away.  She has a whimsical shop where she sell greeting cards, inspired by all things warm and fuzzy. To view my Premier Collection, pop on over to www.tracycampbell.net/shop.html.

At Bloomsbury, Rachel Mannheimer has been promoted to editor.

Tracy Sherrod will join Amistad as editorial director on April 22. Previously she was the founder and proprietor of Tracy Sherrod Literary Services, representing Karine Steffans, Katori Hall, Kalisha Buckannon, and others (and prior to that she was an editor at Simon & Schuster).

Amistad is a division of HarperCollins, who publishes works by and about people of African descent, on subjects and themes that have significant influence on the intellectual, cultural, and historical perspectives of a world audience.

At Simon & Schuster, Nick Greene has been promoted to associate editor and Jonathan Cox moves up to assistant editor.

At Workman Publishing, Raquel Jaramillo, who has been acting creative director for two years, will return full time to her position as director of children’s publishing.

Following on Avon Impulse and Harper Teen Impulse in the US, Harper UK will launch a digital first women’s fiction and romance imprint in May. Harper Impulse, an imprint of their Harper Fiction division, aims “to find, publish and break new talent from debut authors, and import the hottest trends from the US.” Harper Fiction publishing director Kimberley Young will run the line , joined by content developer Charlotte Ledger, who worked previously at Chawton House Library as well as Mills & Boon.

They invite unrepresented submissions and are looking for everything from “short reads to epic sagas.” The company says they have received hundreds of manuscripts over the past month and have three acquisitions in the works. and has already received nearly 500 manuscripts in less than a month and has three acquisition deals in the works. Their editorial team will offer writing workshops and events “to give authors a diverse publishing experience.”

Publishers Marketplace reports: After Skyhorse and Start Publishing’s intended joint acquisition of Night Shade Books’ assets ignited public controversy over the original terms of sale (and now, after a revision, the sale “is in a holding pattern right now waiting for all the authors’ feedback”, a Skyhorse spokesperson told us) the two publishers have bought a different science fiction & fantasy publisher, Underland Press, for an undisclosed sum. The deal for the six-year-old press, according to a joint release, is part of Skyhorse and Start Publishing’s plans “to deepen their relationship to the genre community.”

Skyhorse publisher Tony Lyons said in a statement: “We are thrilled at the acquisition of Underland. We look forward to publishing 10–20 new books a year.

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy

KIT & VESPER & JOYCE, YAY!

Kit Grindstaff’s debut novel hits the bookshelves on April 9th and she is having a Book Launch Party on the evening of April 19th from 7 pm- 9pm at The Doylestown Bookshop 16 South Main St, Doylestown, Pennsylvania 18901. If you live in the area, it would be great if you could stop by and help Kit celebrate. Big Congratulations to you. I wish you the best of luck with the book. Kit said, “And the book’s publication is SO much due to your teaming me w/Michelle Poploff at the 2010 conference!” That is music to my ears.

Vesper Stampers new picture book In The Hall of The Mountain King. Vesper will be signing her book at the New Jersey SCBWI June Conference, but if you aren’t attending you can get one with this link: http://www.allisonflannery.com/buy-book/ Congratulations, Vesper! Love how successful you have become. Versper was featured on Illustrator Saturday in Aug 2011.  Here is the link: http://wp.me/pss2W-39y

Joyce Wan signed a contract with Farrar, Straus and Giroux/Macmillian for her picture book WHALE IN MY SWIMMING POOL that she wrote and illustrated. It was a two-book deal, sold to editor Janine O’Malley by her agent Teresa D Kietlinski at Prospect Agency. If you attended the 2010 Writer’s Retreat in Princeton, you may remember the story, since that is the one she brought with her.  Congratulations, Joyce. We are so proud of your success.

Joyce will be teaching a workshop on Branding this June at the NJSCBWI annual conference. Don’t forget to register. www.regonline.com/njscbwi2013conference

Christian Trimmer will join Simon & Schuster Children’s as senior editor on April 15. Previously he was senior editor at Disney-Hyperion. GOOD LUCK!

Emily Graff has been named associate editor at Simon & Schuster. CONGRATULATIONS!

Other Industry News:

San Francisco-based publisher of science fiction & fantasy Night Shade Books, which has been struggling financially for several years, indicated in a letter to authors and agents earlier this week that the company plans to sell its assets to Skyhorse (as well as another entity, Start Publishing LLC.) The catch is that the sale cannot happen unless “a sufficient number of Night Shade authors agree to certain changes to their contracts.” Alternately, Night Shade will file for bankruptcy or liquidation proceedings.

In the letter, Night Shade explains their financial difficulties were exacerbated by Borders’ liquidation, so much so that they “have reached a point where our current liabilities exceed our assets, and it is clear that, with our current contracts, sales, and financial position, we cannot continue to operate as an independent publisher.” They claim the potential sale to Skyhorse and Start Publishing “will result in authors getting paid everything they are due as well as finding a future home for their books,” while the “revenue received from the sale would go towards paying off the debts of the company.”

The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America originally supported the possible deal in a letter to members, saying “it was in our members’ best interests to encourage the deal to go through” because otherwise, liquidation could tie up contracts and owed royalties for years, if they are ever paid out at all. Should the asset transfer happen, Skyhorse would publish Night Shade titles under a dedicated imprint, with co-owners Jeremy Lassen and Jason Williams staying on in consulting editorial roles.

But a number of Night Shade authors, including Jeff Vandermeer and Kameron Hurley, said they would not sign off on the new terms. So everything continues to hang in question.

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy

You may have noticed that I had mentioned doing a Weekend Writer’s Retreat this past weekend. We had eight authors and Agent Stephen Fraser from the Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency mentored us for the weekend. Getting your full novel critiqued is such a wonderful thing and we each had a full hour to discuss our manuscript with him.  We worked very hard as a group on our manuscripts, which was very valuable to everyone.  On Sunday we spent the morning picking Stephen’s brain and then he got us working on our pitches for the story.  Since we all had read each other’s manuscripts we could all throw in our two cents on what worked and what needed more work.

But the big exciting news from the weekend is Stephen signed up Doug Anders and his sci-fi manuscript. It is excellent and Stephen is good at spotting talent. When I asked Stephen about his clients, he said you could actually tell which conferences and workshops he had attended around the country, when you looked at his list of clients and their locations.  I point this out to you, to drive home how important it is to get yourself out there to meet editors and agents.

Even if you aren’t planning to attend a conference, you should work on your pitch. In the past, my pitches have been too long. Stephen told us to get it down to one or two sentences and commit it to memory. We never know when we’ll bump into someone who wants to know about our book.

I know writers who were published, because when they walked into a elevator and met an editor, they had an “elevator pitch” ready to use. I know writers who met a publisher on an airplane. I know writer’s who have met editors in some very strange places and it was that prepared pitch that initiated the spark for their books success.

Thought I would share some of our pitches from the weekend to give you an idea on what you should strive to achieve.

Doug Anders: As soon as 12-year-old Peter enters the Star Trials, a riot ensues. The reason? Peter is human.

It’s Men in Black meets The Hunger Games in this middle grade, sci-fi, adventure-mystery called The Star Trials.

Dee Falvo: The Bookmark, a Young Adult fantasy, portrays a time traveling Joan-of-Arc-esque heroine, who discovers the power of the four elements while in military school.

Think Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander meets Menahem Golan’s Delta Force.

Jody Staton: My Father’s Moccasin is the story of a middle-grades boy playing spy to avoid thinking about a family tragedy.

Think Harriet the Spy meets Confessions of a Part-Time Indian.

Patricia Alcaro: Stuff Touching Cousins is a picture book about annoying but lovable cousins. Through tenderness and patience a young boy learns to cope with the onslaught of 5 younger cousins.

Think of Cynthia Rylant’s Caldecott Honor book The Relatives Came meets Ezra Jack Keats Peter’s Chair.

Kathy Temean: Shaken by the death of her mother, tormented teen turns father’s US Senate campaign upside down when she is caught on camera pole dancing – causing a media frenzy in this YA novel titled POLL GIRL.

Think Coyote Ugly meets Clueless meets Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.

Keep an eye on Doug. He is a very nice guy who is a really good writer – a great combination. CONGRATULATIONS! Doug.

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy

According to editor Tamra Tuller at Chronicle Books, her company has won the BOLOGNA PRIZE FOR THE BEST CHILDREN’S PUBLISHER OF THE YEAR. It was announced in Bologna at the Ceremony organized to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Fair.

Here is the list of nominated publishers in North America:

North America

Chronicle Books, San Francisco, USA - www.chroniclebooks.com

Groundwood Books, Toronto, Canada - www.houseofanansi.com

Abrams, New York, USA - www.abramsbooks.com

Annick Press, Toronto, Canada - www.annickpress.com

Houghton Mifflin, New York, USA - www.hmhbooks.com

CONGRATULAIONS! CHRONICLE!

Stop back tomorrow to read about the Writer’s Retreat Weekend and the results of working on our pitches for the books we submitted.

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy

KUDOS:

Author Carol Murray sent me a  note this week thanking me for advising her to submit and sign with agent Kathleen Rushall of Marsal Lyon. Kathleen sold Carol’s poetry collection, Cricket in the Thicket to Christy Ottaviano Books (her  imprint) with Henry Holt & Company. Melissa Sweet, who was featured on Illustrator Saturday has been contracted to do the illustrations.

At Knopf Books for Young Readers, Michele Burke has been promoted to senior editor and Allison Worchte moves up to editor. SO HAPPY FOR BOTH OF YOU!

Maria Ribas has been promoted to assistant editor at Harlequin Nonfiction and Harlequin Kimani.

NEWS:

Jonathan Cape Children‘s, which has been publishing new picture books and backlist titles by Roald Dahl and Joan Aiken, will now publish new fiction, led by Random House Children’s UK publisher Annie Eaton.

Penguin Australia announced it will rename its Books for Children & Young Adults as Penguin Young Readers.

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy

This March Illustration was sent in by Barbara Eveleth. Barbara was featured on Illustrator Saturday in 2010. She tells stories with watercolor and cut paper collage.

Edward Necarsulmer IV and Eleanor Jacksonhave joined Dunow, Carlson & Lerner. Necarsulmer was previously an agent at MacIntosh & Otis, and will focus on representing middle grade, YA, and adult literary fiction. Jackson was most recently an agent at Markson Thoma, which last week saw partner Geri Thoma move to Writers House.

Nancy Inteli has joined Harper Children’s early childhood as editorial director. Nancy She was the global editorial director at the Disney Book Group. The division has also hired both Kristen Pettit and Alexandra Cooper as executive editors. Petit was most recently with Razorbill and will acquire and develop teen and tween fiction; Cooper, was at Simon & Schuster Children’s for thirteen years.

After some publicity Ninety-six-year-old LA blogger Barbara Cooper found her Fall In Love for Life making online bestseller lists. I figured anyone who is 96 years old should get a kudo, even if they haven’t written a children book.

This is interesting: April’s Next Indie list features a tie for the #1 choice for the first time, and both happen to be novels titled LIFE AFTER LIFE, by Kate Atkinson and Jill McCorkle, respectively. The full list:

At Crown/Hogarth, Zack Wagman has been promoted to senior editor, and Christine Kopprasch moves up to associate editor.

NEW: The Folio Prize, named for its sponsor publisher The Folio Society, will hand out its inaugural 40,000 pound ($60,000) purse in March 2014.

The new literary prize is hoping to beat the Booker to the title of Britain’s most prestigious fiction award – in part by including Americans. I will report more about this as details come out.

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy

Sr. Editor Alexandra Copper at Simon & Schuster has moved over to HarperCollins as executive editor position.  She will be working on YA and middle-grade novels and some picture books.

At HMH Children’s, Mary Wilcox has been promoted to the newly-created position of vp, editor in chief.  In addition,  Adah Nuchi has been promoted to associate editor.

Christa Heschke has been promoted to agent within the children’s department, handling all foreign, domestic and subsidiary rights for children’s clients while actively building her own list.

At Penguin, Katherine Tiernan McCahill has been promoted to assistant director of the digital products group.

In Canada, former senior executives at D&M Publishers Chris Labonte, Peter Cocking and Richard Nadeau have founded Figure1 Publishing, devoted to books in the art & architecture, food & wine, lifestyle, illustrated history and business book categories. The reason I point this out is because of this quote: “Our goal is to become the premier publisher of high quality illustrated books in the country.” Think Chronicle Books, or Rizzoli.” Even though they are not invloved in children’s books, it might be a good place for illustrators to query for work. Cocking has been named creative director.

*****

Hazel Mitchel who was featured on Illustrator Saturday http://wp.me/pss2W-2pf 

has a new picture book “1, 2, 3, By the Sea” is available to buy on line.

Hazel is having a book give-a-way, too.  Use this link for a chance to win: http://tinyurl.com/c8donqt

*****

Shannon Hitchcock debut YA book The Ballad of Jesse Pearl came out in February – Published by namelos.

www.shannonhitchcock.com

*****

If you follow this blog and would like to announce a success or book coming out, please let me know.  If you sent me an e-mail and I missed it, please remind me.  I get hundreds of e-mails everyday.

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy

Christine Brower-Cohen sent me this good news and nice note today. I thought I would share it with you:            

A while ago you advised blog readers to find a niche and try getting published in a national parenting magazine to build an audience with moms. Well, I followed your advice and my first article in a national parenting magazine appears in the March 2013 issue of Parenting- School Years edition. I’ve also sold them a second article to be published at a future date, and am currently researching a third piece for them. Thank you for this great advice. For more info on the article which appears in the current issue, click the link to my blog below post below:

http://tinyurl.com/cgj5232

Illustrator Russ Cox, who was featured this year on Illustrator Saturday has been hired by Island Port Press to illustrate author Lynn Plourde book ”Merry Moosey Christmas” that is slated for release in 2014. Read the full release here: http://www.islandportpress.com/news.html.

You have the unique opportunity to have a one hour critique consultation with an experienced children’s book editor, Simone Kaplan at Picture Book People. Simone had a deal that I missed sharing with you, so I asked her if she would extend her $50 off a critique consultation with the visitors to my blog. She said she would extend it for a week to anyone using the Coupon Code KathyTemean. Simone has two decades of insider experience at Henry Holt and Company and HarperCollins Publishers during which she’s personally accepted, edited and rejected hundreds of children’s picture books. She knows, from beginning to end, how the words and pictures of your manuscript can jump off the page. You’ll find out where your manuscript is, where it should be and how you can best get there and spark the interest of an editor or agent.

To take advantage of this offer, simply use this link: http://bit.ly/XJu3HJ and the coupon code: KathyTemean March 1st to March 8th to receive your discount or LOVE2013 if you do it today Feb. 28th.

PLEASE VOTE: The first round of voting continues until midnight (PST) today. The top 5 titles that receive the most votes in each Regional Division will advance to the semi-final round of voting which begins on Monday, March 4, 2013 at 9am PST and closes on Friday March 15th at 6pm PST. You will be able to vote for a winner from these 5 titles.

To cast your vote simply log in to the www.scbwi.org website, click on the See what’s going on in your region, click on your regional page, then click on the Crystal Kite tab. Read through the list and then cast your vote for your favorite book.

The votes will then be tabulated and the top vote getters put on a short list for the next round of voting. Round Two voting opens on Monday March. 4th

Below are the books that were published in 2012 in the Atlantic Region (Pennsylvania/Delaware/New Jersey/Wash DC/Virginia/West Virginia/Maryland) Note: I listed all the books for the Atlantic Region, because the list is very impressive and it should give you inspiration to keep moving forward. Just imagine how long the list would be if I had the time to list all the regions. There are a lot of picture books on this list, so things are looking up in that area, too.

Elaine Allen
Mallory the Forgetful Duck
Gregory Allen
Chicken Boy: The Amazing Adventures of a Super Hero with Autism
Gigi Amateau
Come August, Come Freedom
Mary Amato
Guitar Notes
Kell Andrews
Deadwood
Beth Arnstein
I’M NOT AFRAID OF ANYTHING
Cyn Balog
TOUCHED
Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen
Pirate Princess
Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen
Half-Pint Pete, the Pirate
Gene Barretta
Timeless Thomas: How Thomas Edison Changed Our Lives
Charlotte Bennardo
Sirenz Back In Fashion
Kathy Beynette
When Your Porcupine Feels Prickly
Ann Bonwill
I Don’t Want to be a Pea!
Alfred Bortz
Meltdown: The Nuclear Disaster in Japan and Our Energy FutureJacqueline Boulter
Where Horses Fly
Monica Carnesi
Little Dog Lost: The True Story of a Brave Dog Named Baltic
Angelique Clarke
Boomer Explores Annapolis
Daryl Cobb
Pirates: The Ring of Hope
Carol Cole
The Penguin Lady
Debbie Dadey
Trouble at Trident Academy, Book one in Mermaid Tales series
Debbie Dadey
Battle of The Best Friends
Lorraine Dey
The Rain Forest Party
Natalie Dias Lorenzi
FLYING THE DRAGON
Frederic Durbin
The Star Shard
Ame Dyckman
BOY + BOT
Kelly Ehasz
Anna Abel Takes a Tumble
Marty Figley
Emily and Carlo
Kelly Fineman
At the Boardwalk
Elizabeth Foley
Remarkable
Alison Formento
THESE BEES COUNT!
Jennifer Gladen
Angel Donor
Cynthia Grady
I Lay My Stitches Down: Poems of American Slavery
Jean Heilprin Diehl
Three Little Beavers
Wendy Higgins
Sweet Evil
Jennifer Hubbard
Try Not to Breathe
Ana Jennings
Gopher to the Rescue, A Volcano Recovery Story
Catherine King
Santa’s Glee
Alethea Kontis
Enchanted
Alethea Kontis
The Wonderland Alphabet: Alice’s Adventures Through the ABCs and What She Found There
Lana Krumwiede
Freakling
Karen Leggett
Hands Around the Library: Protecting Egypt’s Treasured Books
Kristin Levine
The Lions of Little Rock
Maggie Lyons
Vin and the Dorky Duet
Maggie Lyons
Dewi and the Seeds of Doom
Dionna Mann
Freedom Pen
Donna Mayers
Wish Upon a Chil.d
Donna Mayers
My Pets Are Always Getting Me Into Trouble!!
Margaret Medina
The Girl Who Could Silence the Wind
Jodi Moore
Good News Nelson
Dorothy Morrison
The Lapis Key
Michael Muller
Mirabelle and the Butterfly
Michael Muller
Mirabelle Goes for a Walk
Michael Muller
Mirabelle and the Bouncy Red Ball
Kim Norman
I KNOW A WEE PIGGY
Anna Olswanger
Greenhorn
Anne Marie Pace
Vampirina Ballerina
Sydelle Pearl
Hope Somewhere in America: the Story of a Child, a Painting, and a President
Mary Quattlebaum
Jo MacDonald Had a Garden
Candice Ransom
Rebel Mckenzie
Candice Ransom
Iva Honeysuckle Discovers the World
Ron Rauss
Can I Just Take A Nap?
Catherine Reef
The Bronte Sisters: The Brief Lives of Charlotte, Emily, and Anne
Brian Rock
WITH ALL MY HEART
Mara Rockliff
My Heart Will Not Sit Down
Mara Rockliff
Me and Momma and Big John
Luis Rodriguez
The Klampie Mystery
Madelyn Rosenberg
The Schmutzy Family
Madelyn Rosenberg
Happy Birthday, Tree: A Tu B’Shevat Story
Rachel Ross
Claws
Tiffany Schmidt
Send Me a Sign
Tracy Searight
Images in America Salem Township and Delmont
Marilyn Shank
Child of the Mountains
Jason Smith
Shoo Fly Please Bother Me
Jessica Spotswood
Born Wicked: Book 1 in the Cahill Witch Chronicles
Ann-Michele Sproviero
Caution: Under Construction
Vesper Stamper
The Night the Tooth Fairy Didn’t Come
Laurie Steckler
Lewis the Lamb
Mark Steensland
Behind the Bookcase
Lois Szymanski
Wild Colt
Audrey Vernick
Brothers at Bat: The True Story of an Amazing All-Brother Baseball Team
Audrey Vernick
So You Want to Be A Rock Star
Kristin Walker
7 Clues to Winning You
Sara Walsh
The Dark Light
Kate Walton
Cracked
Mark Weakland
Sports Illustrated Kids Football ABCs
Mark Weakland
Sports Illustrated Kids Football Opposites
Stephanie Weis
The Star Child
Timothy Young
Shadows On My Wall
Timothy Young
They’re Coming!
Natalie Zaman
Sirenz Back In Fashion
Glenn Zimmer
Dollars and Sense

Hope to see your name and book on this list next year!

Timothy Young posted in I Hate Picture Books! Book Launch Party! at Books of Wonder Saturday with cupcakes!

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy

All of us have heard of the Newbery Awards, but there is another very prestigious award that is given out every year that you may not be as familiar with.  It is The Sydney Taylor Book Award and it is presented to outstanding books for children and teens that authentically portray the Jewish experience. Presented by the Association of Jewish Libraries since 1968, the award encourages the publication and widespread use of quality Judaic literature.

Gold medals are presented in three categories: Younger Readers, Older Readers, and Teen Readers.

Honor Books are awarded silver medals, and Notable Books are named in each category.

Kristina Swarner illustrated ZAYDE COMES TO LIVE written by Sheri Sinykin.  The book was a 2013 Sydney Taylor Honor Books for Younger Readers Award.  It was published by Peachtree Publishers.

Kristina’s illustrations are often described as magical and dreamlike and she draws much of her imagery and inspiration from dreams and from memories of exploring  forests, gardens, and old houses when she was a child.

Since graduating from the Rhode Island School of Design,  Kristina has illustrated books, greeting cards, magazines, wine labels, CD covers, and theatre posters, and has won numerous awards.  You will be hearing more about Kristina and her beautiful illustration on a future Illustrator Saturday post.

For now, I want too share with you some of the answers to questions I had for Kristina about this book and the wonderful recognition she has been awarded for this book.

How did you come involved with Zayde Comes to Live?

As I heard it, Jane Yolen recommended me to Sheri Sinykin as a possible illustrator.  Luckily for me Peachtree Publishing agreed with the choice.

Tell use your thought processes when you knew you were chosen to illustrate the book. Did the ideas immediately come to you or did you play around with different ways to approach the book? 

I really didn’t want to make the art too sad or pensive. The ideas evolved as I sketched, and the more I sketched, the more the tenderness and joyfulness of the story came out in the art.

How do books get considered for the Sydney Taylor Book Award? 

So far it’s been a mysterious process to me, because my publishers submit the books without telling me, and then I’ll suddenly get a phone call that I’ve won.

Did you know that the book was under consideration for the award? 

I suspected that it was, and Sheri confirmed it.

How did you find out that the book and your illustrations had won the award? 

The call came on a grey day in early January. First I was asked how I would feel about being recognized again by the Sydney Taylor Committee. Of course I said that I would feel delighted.

What has happened since it won? 

This early, it’s mostly been a lot of congratulations, and interviews.

Congratulation Kristina! We will spend more time with you on Saturday February 23rd.

Below is the schedule for:

THE 2013 SYDNEY TAYLOR BOOK AWARD BLOG TOUR

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2013
Ann Redisch Stampler, author of The Wooden Sword Sydney Taylor Honor Award winner in the Older Readers Category At Shelf-Employed
Carol Liddiment, illustrator of The Wooden Sword Sydney Taylor Honor Award winner in the Older Readers Category At Ann Koffsky’s Blog
Doreen Rappaport, author of Beyond Courage: The Untold Story of Jewish Resistance During the Holocaust Sydney Taylor Honor Award in the Teen Readers Category At Bildungsroman

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2013
Linda Glaser, author of Hannah’s Way Sydney Taylor Book Award winner in the Younger Readers Category At This Messy Life
Adam Gustavson, illustrator of Hannah’s Way Sydney Taylor Book Award winner in the Younger ReadersCategory At Here in HP
Louise Borden, author of His Name was Raoul Wallenberg Sydney Taylor Book Award winner in the Older Readers Category At Randomly Reading
Deborah Heiligman, author of Intentions Sydney Taylor Book Award winner in the Teen Readers Category At The Fourth Musketeer

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 201
Sheri Sinykin, author of Zayde Comes to Live Sydney Taylor Honor Award in the Younger Readers Category At Read, Write, Repeat
Kristina Swarner, illustrator of Zayde Comes to Live Sydney Taylor Honor Award in the Younger Readers Category At Writing & Illustrating

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2013
Linda Leopold Strauss, author of The Elijah Door Sydney Taylor Honor Award in the Younger Readers Category At Pen and Pros
Alexi Natchev, illustrator of The Elijah Door Sydney Taylor Honor Award in the Younger Readers Category At Madelyn Rosenberg’s Virtual Living Room

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2013
Blog Tour Wrap-Up at The Whole Megillah

Did you notice that New Jersey Adam Gustavson won the award for his illustrations in Hannah’s Way?  He was featured July 2, 2011 on Illustrator Saturday.

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy

Here is your chance to win a copy of Denise Morsenten new book BUG PATROL comes out on Feb. 12^th.  Just leave a comment and tweet and you may be the winner.

Wee-o! Wee-o! Wee-o! Woo! Bug Mobile coming through! Bugs are a misbehaving bunch, so Captain Bob, insect cop, has a busy beat. The beetles are using their bug mobiles like bumper cars, the roaches are protesting for better housing (down with roach motels!), and the crickets are up late, partying. Can Captain Bob keep the peace and maintain law and order? This enthusiastic, goofy-sweet read-aloud is crawling with fun rhymes, lots of action, endearing bug-eyed characters, and a few lessons in manners, too!

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Clarion Books (February 12, 2013)
• ISBN-10: 0618790241
• ISBN-13: 978-0618790241

Denise Dowling Mortensen is the award-winning author of Good Night Engines, Wake Up Engines, a combination flip book of both Good Night Engines/Wake Up Engines, Ohio Thunder, and the forthcoming Bug Patrol, all published by Clarion Books. When she is not writing, she proofreads, edits, tutors students on the art of writing, and occasionally cleans her house. She is the mother of five children and lives in New Jersey.  You can follow her fan page on Facebook at Denise Dowling Mortensen or follow her on Twitter at @dmortensen5.

Tracey Baptiste, author of ANGEL’S GRACE signed with Agent Maria Lamba at the end of last year.

Tracey Baptiste was born in Trinidad and moved to Brooklyn, New York, when she was fifteen. Ms. Baptiste is a former elementary school teacher.

She lives with her husband and daughter in Englewood, New Jersey.

Marie Lamba sold two middle grade books in January.  Congratulations Marie!

Now for the editorial changes and pats on the backs:

At the Random House imprint, Kaela Myers, Sam Nicholson, and Anna Pitoniak have all been promoted to associate editor.

Emi Ikkanda has been promoted to associate editor at Holt and Times Books.

At Farrar, Straus & Giroux, Emily Bell has been promoted to associate editor.

At Simon & Schuster Children’s, Sylvie Frank has joined Paula Wiseman Books as associate editor. Previously she was an editor at Holiday House.

Kerri Kolen will join Putnam as executive editor on February 24. Previously she was executive editor at Hyperion.

At Tor, Melissa Frain, Kristen Sevick and Whitney Ross have all been promoted to editor.

Congratulations to Denise and Tracey and all the editors who are moving up the ladder.

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy

Sarah Davies at the Greenhouse Literary Agency sold Author Kat Yeh’s debut book THE TRUTH ABOUT TWINKIE PIE, pitched in the vein of SHUG and THREE TIMES LUCKY, about a girl who moves to a new town and tries to leave her past and her name behind, only to learn life-changing secrets about her family, to Alvina Ling at Little, Brown Children’s, at auction, in a two-book deal, for publication in Fall 2014.

Congraulations! Yay! Kudos!  

Kat and Sarah!

Egmont USA has hired literary agent Andrea Cascardi from the Transatlantic Literary Agency for the new combined role of managing director and publisher, effective immediately. Prior to joining TLA, she was associate publishing director at Random House Children’s for the Knopf and Crown imprints. Current publisher Elizabeth Law is leaving after five years with the company.

Fiona Kenshole has joined Transatlantic Literary Agency, where she will represent children’s authors and illustrators. Previously she was vp, development acquisition at animation studio Laika and before then, publishing director for OUP Children’s.

At Harper, Maya Ziv has been promoted to editor. She is looking for literary fiction with commercial appeal with a focus on women’s fiction; dark suspense (with a possible speculative twist); YA crossover; and narrative nonfiction, including memoir.

Film development and publishing veteran Ruth Pomerance will join Hyperion on January 28 as a senior editor, focusing on the acquisition and development of new stories and author talent that will translate across the Disney/ABC Television Group businesses. Most recently she was executive producer for the adaptation of Judy Blume’s Tiger Eyes and a consultant to entertainment firms. Pomerance has worked for producers including Scott Rudin, Arnold Kopelson, Fred Zollo, and John Davis, for whom she acquired and developed literary properties for film and TV, and has worked at The Rockwell Group, USA Films, Artists Management Group, and the William Morris Agency. She is known for coming across the unpublished manuscript of John Grisham’s The Firm in 1990 and helping him land a publishing deal with Doubleday and a film deal at Paramount.

At becker&mayer!, Kjersti Egerdahl has been promoted to senior editor/editorial manager for adult and children’s books.

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy

Author/illustrator Mary Zisk sent me the Christmas card she made. I added my name and my cute little red headed Conure, creatively named Baby at the bottom . Hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas and hope Mary doesn’t mind me jumping in.

This week we had a few more Kudos to send out. I thought I would share them with you.

At Balzer + Bray, Sara Sargent has been promoted to associate editor. It is well deserved and everyone who has had any contact with Sara knows what a great editor she is and we wish her the best in her new position.

Wendy Grieb just signed a contract to illustrate her first picture book!  Wendy was featured on Illustrator Saturday.  Click Here to View.

Anne Hoppe will join Clarion Books as senior executive editor on January 23. Previously she was executive editor at Harper Children’s.

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy

Many of you already know Anna Olswanger as a literary agent at Liza Dawson Associates, but she is also the author of Shlemiel Crooks (Junebug Books, 2005), a Yiddish-inflected Passover story, named a Sydney Taylor Honor Book and PJ Library Book and now author of her new book GREENHORN. In 2011 the Kaufman Center premiered a family musical based on Shlemiel Crooks at Merkin Hall in New York. Anna is a literary agent and lives in the metro New York City area with her husband. Her website is www.olswanger.com

She taught business writing for twelve years at the Johns Hopkins Center for Training and Education, and writing for physicians for five years at Stony Brook University Hospital. She continues to give writing workshops for corporations and universities. (See more about Anna as an agent further down in this piost.)

Daniel, a young Holocaust survivor, arrives at a New York yeshiva, his only possession a small box he never lets out of his sight. He rarely talks, but Aaron, a stutterer taunted by other boys, find his voice and a friend in Daniel.

The mystery of what’s in the box propels this 48 page book with interior colored illustrations by Miriam Nerlove, but it’s the complex relationship of the school boys that reveals the larger human story. Young readers, as well as adults, will find Greenhorn moving. Families will want to read it together.

Newbery Medal winner, Karen Cushman says, it is “A tender celebration of friendship, family, and faith. I cried at the horror and humanity of this simple story. Read it with your arms around someone you love.”

ISBN-13: 9781588382351                       

• Publisher: NewSouth, Incorporated
• Publication date: 3/1/2012
• Pages: 48
• Age range: 10 – 14 Years

Miriam Nerlove received her master’s degree in printmaking from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York, and worked for a time in the photograph and slide library at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. She lives with her family just outside Chicago, where in addition to illustrating, she enjoys writing, painting, listening to music, and working part-time at a library.

More About Anna the agent:

Anna Olswanger has been an agent with Liza Dawson Associates for seven years. She focuses on adult nonfiction and children’s books from picture books to YAs, and especially enjoys working with author-illustrators. Although she rarely takes on novels, she’s intrigued by historical fiction (especially mysteries), ghost stories, stories with animals as the protagonists, Southern settings, Judaica and Israel.

Anna has sold to Balzer & Bray, Bloomsbury, Boyds Mills Press, Delacorte, F+W Media, Marshall Cavendish, Chronicle, Cinco Puntos, Dutton, Eerdmans, Greenwillow, Houghton Mifflin, McElderry, Pelican, Penguin Classics, Pomegranate, Random House, Sleeping Bear Press, Star Bright, and Wiley.

Although most of Anna’s clients are author-illustrators, she enjoys working with any author who has a new slant on an old idea. Zack Miller’s book, for example, describes how to use the new social media (Facebook and Twitter) to make investment decisions.

Anna is not interested in what she calls “baby bumble bee” stories. She doesn’t like superficiality in any genre, especially YAs. We can all see suffering and dying. What do you, the writer, see beneath that?

Anna works hard with authors to get their manuscripts into shape for submission. In that sense, she’s also an editor. She finds that most manuscripts need work on the plot, so if you’re a potential author or illustrator client, be ready to go through many revisions before Anna agrees to send out your manuscript. Her job is to get the story to the point where an editor will make an offer. (And then be prepared to make more revisions for the editor.)

You can read interviews with Anna online at Cynsations, the blog of Cynthia Leitich Smith, and artistsnetwork.com, the site of Artist’s & Graphic Designer’s Market. You might find other interviews with Anna on the Web, but most have outdated information. For example, these days she prefers email queries, not snail mail. If you send an email query, you’ll hear from her in a day or two. If you send a snail mail query, you might not hear for a month or longer.

So, having read the above, if you think Anna would be the right agent for you, start by sending her an email with a few details about your book. She can usually tell from a query if she would be the right agent, and if not, don’t take it personally. Just move on to the next agent. This is a subjective business and it’s a matter of finding who you click with.

If Anna likes what she reads in your query, she’ll ask to see the first five pages of the manuscript in the body of an email. (She doesn’t open attachments.) At that point, she’ll either ask to see more of the manuscript, or let you know she’s not the right agent for you. She’s not able to give feedback if the latter is the case, and you’ll find that true of most agents (they reserve that time for their clients).

Congratulations Anna!

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy