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Apparently, I have shopping all wrong.

Did you know you're not supposed to wait until you need something?

To me, that is brain-fizzingly stupid counter-intuitive.  Why, WHY? I ask, would you subject yourself to shopping when you don't have to?

(And yes, I realize that being a woman who does not enjoy shopping (unless it's for books or horse equipment) puts me in the minority, but if you had zero spare time and looked like a potato you wouldn't like it either!)

So anyway, the point is, according to the experts (my daughters) you're supposed to shop on a regular basis.  And by "shopping", they mean wending your way through aisles and aisles and AISLES of clothing, at an excruciatingly slow pace (the shopping walk) with no plan to purchase.  No.  You are just keeping a weather eye out for something that might be useful at some point.  And if, for example, you should come upon the perfect little black dress, or the perfect cute boots, even though you don't need said item right then, you pounce on it and carry home your prize in triumph, now prepared for some future as-yet-unknown little black dress or cute boot event.

This is because (so I'm told) you can never find anything when you need it.  So you have to find it when you don't need it.

If you don't know you need it, how do you know you'll ever need it? I argue.  To which the answer is, you don't.

Sigh.

This shopping logic escapes me.

Anyway, you must absolutely not do what I do, which is wait until 5 minutes before you desperately need a dress for a friend's wedding or a child's graduation, frantically ransack every store in the mall, panic because nothing is suitable/nothing looks good/nothing is in your size/budget, and then buy something that makes you look like a potato in a camping tarp because you HAVE TO HAVE SOMETHING!  (Which you are then photographed in for posterity and vow never to wear again because seriously, what were you thinking???!!!)

Now.  The point of this lesson on shopping (aside from the public service to you, my peeps, who might benefit from my worldly experience and wisdom) is that one of the people who taught it to me has accidentally put herself in the same situation.  So this afternoon, after my school visit is over, I'll be at the mall while herself and her friend shoe shop for the prom.

(Being the fashion queen that I am, I suggested sneakers.  They're comfortable, and in a full length gown, whose going to see them?  That's just practical good sense!  Plus it renders a trip to the mall unnecessary!  A win-win!  But that opinion earned me the sympathetic poor-mom-she's-so-cute-when-she's-pathetically-cluelessly-hopelessly-fashion-challenged look.)

So if you need me this afternoon, I'll be in the tenth circle of hell mall :)

Now, I think it's high time we got around to some actual business!  What better to take our minds off the horror of shopping then to announce the results of the April Pitch Pick?

Are you ready?

The winner of the April Pitch Pick is Amelia!!! with her pitch for The Princess And The Pee!!!  Congratulations, Amelia!  Your pitch is on its way to editor Erin Molta for her comments.

And congratulations to our other pitchers who had wonderful pitches too.  I hope you all feel like winners just for taking the time to polish your pitch, put it out there, receive constructive feedback, and then make your pitch even better!  I am impressed every week with the quality of the pitches, and every month by how much people's pitches improve after feedback.

After all that excitement, I think it's fair to say we need Something Chocolate to calm our nerves :)  Today we have the lovely Teresa to thank for pointing us in the direction of Four-Layer Chocolate Birthday Cake with Ganache Filling and Nutella Buttercream Icing!  Swoon!

Since we really should have a birthday to go with our birthday cake, shall we celebrate with Stevie Wonder?  (Because yes, today is his birthday!)  It's also a popular day for Popes to be born (Innocent XIII and Pius IX!)

Go Wild! :) http://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/four-layer-chocolate-birthday-cake-milk-chocolate-ganache-nutella-buttercream

Would it be wrong to sing, "Isn't she lovely..." with our mouths full of chocolate cake???  Or maybe Ebony And Ivory... the Saturday Night Live version with Frank Sinatra and Eddie Murphy impersonating Stevie is not to be missed :)

Whether or not you choose to sing with your mouth full, today's pitch comes to us from Linda who says, "I have been writing for over thirty years, as I held other positions including teacher, and mother to six precious children.  I especially like writing about people and have been published dozens of times in magazines and newspapers.  With my children grown, and more time available, I’m turning toward more serious writing.  Poindexter’s Particular Procedure for Cold Feet may be my first published book."  

You can find her online at:

Here is her pitch:

Working Title: Poindexter's Particular Procedure For Cold Feet
Age/Genre: Picture Book (ages 3-8)
The Pitch: This play on the letter “P” pops the story along as it addresses the common childhood problem of cold feet.  Humor, kindness, and a bit of mystery are woven throughout, as young Evan’s mother creatively resolves the problem.

So what do you think?  Would You Read It?  YES, MAYBE or NO?

Add a Comment

Guess what???

It's time for everybody's favorite writerly game: Would You Read It?!

***cue game show music and wild applause from the overly excited audience***

"And what do we have for our contestant today Helmut?"

"Well, Brunhilda, today's contestant will receive the priceless gift of advice from readers, writers, teachers, librarians, parents and even a few kids around the globe!  Not advice on their love life, or how to build their house so it won't get swept away during monsoon season or how to make a delicious casserole out of stale breakfast cereal, but much more valuable advice on their book pitch!"

"That IS a prize Helmut!"

"They will also receive an unopened jar of a mystery substance that may be jam, or possibly a fruit butter of some type, or possibly refried beans, or possibly (but probably not) the unidentified growth that was removed from Uncle Howard's big toe last spring because dang-it-all no one seems to know where that got to!"

"Oh, the excitement!  Imagine the thrill of getting to open that mystery jar!"

"Well, let's get right to it, Brunhilda, starting with the April Pitch Pick!"

That's right, folks!  It's time for the April Pitch Pick!  Here are the five fabulous pitches, revised and polished by their authors thanks to your generous and helpful advice.

#1 Lidia - Don't Pinch Me! (PB ages 4-8)

#2 Amelia - The Princess And The Pee (PB ages 1-4)

When little Addy discovers an unexplored room in the family castle, her big sister Millie informs her that it holds The Royal Throne - a special seat only true princesses can use.  True princesses who are so sensitive they just can't play one second in a dirty diaper.  True princesses who are so clever they can sense wiggles and tinkles moving around even before they come out.  True princesses like Millie.  Addy knows she's a princess too, but if she ever wants to see The Royal Throne for herself, she'll have to find a way to prove it!

#3 Ariel - The Octopus Wants What She Wants (PB ages 4-8)
#4 Pat - Monster Bakery (PB ages 4-8)
Esme and her parents run The Ghoulangerie, a popular bakery where maggot and mince meat pies, booger bagels with brain cheese, and bloody orange cupcakes fly off the shelves daily. However, the monsters in their neighborhood start moving away and business is falling. As hard as Esme and her parents try to cater to the new human clientele, nothing is working. Then one day, they can’t find regular baking ingredients anymore and Esme has to use her smarts and creativity to solve the problem.

#5 Randy - The Last Race (MG)

Many thanks!

And now it's time for Something Chocolate, helpfully discovered and shared by one of my favorite little chocolate hunters who frequently supplies us with our Wednesday chocolate delights!  Thank you, Kathy!!!  It's called Skinny Almond Joy Poke Cake, but let's forget the "skinny" shall we, and just go all out.  Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, after all - we must be well fueled!  You never know when you're going to be called upon to open a mystery jar!

SKINNY ALMOND JOY POKE CAKE from Renee's Kitchen Adventures is an easy low calorie dessert recipe that tastes like your favorite candy bar! RECIPE--> http://bit.ly/1IEpHNE PIN--> http://bit.ly/1IEpJVz

Now that we've bolstered our caloric intake to a functional level, today's pitch comes to us from Zainab Khan.  She is a pre-published author who writes picture books that are quirky or interactive. She also writes picture books that deal with serious issues like disabilities, homelessness, and diversity. In addition, Zainab is in the midst of writing a middle grade mystery about ancient civilizations.

Here is her pitch:

Working Title: A Case Of Cane-Syrupy-Sugar-A-Bitus
Age/Genre: Picture Book (ages 4-8)
The Pitch: When Samantha swallows too many sweet treats, she contracts a case of cane-syrupy-sugar-a-bitus (a.k.a. Sugar Bug). Will this high fructose bug send her home from school and end her dreams of becoming THE pirouetting star of the school talent show?

So what do you think?  Would You Read It?  YES, MAYBE or NO?

Add a Comment

Hiya, folks!

How're things?

Here on Blueberry Hill, spring is finally really probably almost definitely thinking about coming!  We haven't had any snow for over three days, nor has the temperature gone below 20 at night.  This is progress, folks!

Also, the bear has been to visit.  He broke both the bird feeders out of the trees and carried one off into the woods.  I am not running a take-out service for bears!  Bird feeders are not cheap, and that bear owes me some money.  He does this EVERY YEAR!  (And I hear the wise-guy in the back saying, "If he does it every year, why don't you take the feeders down before he does?", and the answer to that, wise-guy, is uhhh....)

Last weekend I had the privilege of attending the New England SCBWI Conference in Springfield, MA. It was my first time going, and boy do they run a great conference!  I recommend going next year if you get the chance!  I got to hear some inspiring speakers - Dan Santat, Kwame Alexander, and Jo Knowles, among others - and perhaps even more importantly I got to hang out with some old friends and meet a couple of hitherto online friends who I have now gotten to talk to IRL!  There will be no photographs, however, because I prefer that you all think of me as tall, willowy and breathtakingly beautiful :)

Also, they had really good brownies :)  Not that I'm suggesting that chocolate is the most important feature of a conference...  but, well, I'm just saying... :)

Speaking of chocolate, let's start the day off right! :)

Something Chocolate this way comes... (and thank you Kathy for sending it my way - you are a treasure! :))

Use Ice cream cones, dip the top in chocolate, add fruit and add your favorite fruit dip to the middle!! So easy!! Follow me i am always posting awesome stuff! https://www.facebook.com/raylene.j.smith

I think I've taken chocolate to a whole new level of healthfulness today.  (You're welcome Julie R-Z :))

Okay, now, if everyone could get their fingers out of the dip, today's pitch comes to us from Randy, a writer/illustrator who lives in a treehouse overlooking Dawson Pond in Pontiac, MI.  He doesn't have a website at the moment, but has a presence on Facebook, is involved with the Michigan chapter of SCBWI, and belongs to a good crit group.

Here is his pitch:

Working Title: The Last Race
Age/Genre: MG (ages 9-14)
The Pitch: Twelve year old Ben races 1/4 midget car that his Dad built for him. Soon after his first race, his Mom dies of breast cancer. The story is about how he deals with the loss. Will his life ever be the same again? Why can't he talk to his Dad like before?  Will he ever race again? Find out how his maternal grandfather becomes a mentor to Ben.

So what do you think?  Would You Read It?  YES, MAYBE or NO?

Add a Comment

Well, hello there!  Fancy meeting you here!

Oh, right!  You're here for the chocolate.

We'll get to that in a sec.

First, I have to tell you what a big week it's been here at the Hill Homestead.  I have been to Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Vermont.  I celebrated the 21st anniversary of my 29th birthday and joined the half-century club.  My husband and I celebrated our silver wedding anniversary.  And Princess Blue Kitty has a headlight that is almost out!

I know!

Not every week is that chock-full of love, travel, adventure, drama, and the knife-edge of danger (what if a policeman sees us before our beloved Subaru mechanic gets back from vacation to replace Blue's headlight???!!!  Edge-of-your-seat thrill ride - that's the way we roll around here!)

A week like this gives me a chance to pause and reflect (whilst driving), to look at all the blessings in my life and be grateful, and to think holy swiss cheese, Batman, when did I get so OLD?! :)

All this by way of saying if I owe you an email or haven't commented on your blog or etc., etc., that's why.  Blame it on senility :)

Now then, first on today's agenda we have Straight From The Editor for both February and March!

February - you will recall Kirsten's winning pitch for Finley vs. The Fly (PB ages 4-8)

Editor Erin Molta had this to say:

I really like the potential action of Finley vs. the Fly. However, Finley wondering whether he won after all is a bit of a downer and nobody likes a fly. Finley needs to be the victor in this story and it seems as if he’s not.

March - you will recall Carrie's winning pitch for Stepping Into Adventure: The Magic Rocks (PB ages 4-8)
For this one, Erin said:

This sounds interesting but you need to tie in the beginning and the last sentence.  A discovery that Jude and his stepmom are even better together implies that he thought they weren’t and that seems to be more a problem than boredom. Perhaps if you started the pitch with something like, Jude’s new step mom took some getting used to but Jude is incredibly bored…and then perhaps make it so that his step mom gives him some adventurous ideas. Then it becomes a family story with more of a hook than just alleviating boredom.

As always, I find Erin's comments very enlightening (thank you, Erin!), and I hope Kirsten and Carrie will find her thoughts helpful!

Now then.  You've been very patient.  And now your patience shall be rewarded.  It's time for everybody's favorite snack: Something Chocolate!!!

http://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/chocolate-brownie-cookies

Really, when the name is Chocolate Brownie Cookies you just need to grab a cup of coffee or a glass of milk and dive in :)  (With many thanks to the lovely Teresa who supplied this deliciousness.  There was a rumor that Renee was going to test the recipe, but results have not been reported in! :))

Onward!

Today's pitch comes to us from Pat who says, "As an established food writer and cookbook author, my food obsession spills over into my children’s writing. I love reading and writing picture books, and am especially attracted to stories that have clever punch lines and subterfuge, diverse characters and themes are a bonus!  
Here is her pitch:

Working Title: Monster Bakery
Age/Genre: Picture Book (ages 4-8)
The Pitch: Esme and her parents run The Ghoulangerie, a popular bakery in their neighborhood. Every day, maggot and mince meat pies, booger bagels with brain cheese, and bloody orange cupcakes fly off the shelves. However, the neighborhood is changing and their regular customers soon stop coming in. To bring in new customers, Esme comes up with a three-step plan: tweak their recipes, change their opening hours, and advertise. Nothing’s working until a crisis encourages Esme to push the limits of her creativity.

So what do you think?  Would You Read It?  YES, MAYBE or NO?

Add a Comment

Are you familiar with Steve Martin from Saturday Night Live back in the old days?

You know that skit where he strums his banjo and sings, "I'm a ramblin', ramblin', ramblin', ramblin', ramblin', ramblin'  GUUUYY!"?

Well, that's me.

I'm a ramblin', ramblin', ramblin', ramblin', ramblin', ramblin'  GUUUYY, er, well I guess technically, gal!

I took Princess Blue Kitty for her very overdue oil change on Monday, loaded her up yesterday, and... you won't believe it... but right now, this very second, while you are here reading my blog (thank you so much for being here!) I am somewhere in the wilds of Pennsylvania at an institution of higher learning.

Basically, I am a chauffeur.

A ramblin', ramblin', ramblin', ramblin', ramblin', ramblin'  chauffeur :)

So anyway, whilst I'm touring the eastern United States, I am simultaneously presenting to you the winner of the March Pitch Pick, a delicious Something Chocolate, and a fabulous pitch from today's WYRI participant!  I'm such a multi-tasker.  (Er, ahem, that was a tiny fib.  A fiblit.  I am so not a multi-tasker.  I can't even talk on the phone and fold laundry because I get a crick in my neck.  You can thank Blogger's scheduling feature for making this presentation possible.)

So first off, let's have a round of applause for the winner of the March Pitch Pick!  It is Carrie with her PB pitch for Stepping Into Adventure: The Magic Rocks!  Congratulations, Carrie!  Your pitch is on its way to editor Erin Molta for her comments!

And congratulations to our other brave and talented pitchers for doing such a great job!  Everyone is a winner, really, just for polishing their pitch, putting it out there, taking the feedback constructively, and making the pitch even better than before.  Bravo to all of you!!!

After all that excitement, you probably need Something Chocolate.  Today's pitcher has requested Chocolate Cream Pie, and far be it from me to disappoint a pitcher :)

Can you say scrumdiddlyumptious?  Mmm-mmm!

Today's pitch comes to us from Ariel who says, "I'm a mom of two young children in New Jersey, which means I get to read a ton of picture books and pretend I'm reading them for my kids and not myself. I'm on Twitter @a3bernstein and write a blog, How to Raise Benevolent Dictators at https://a3bernstein.wordpress.com. I also believe that a day without chocolate isn't a completed day."
Here is her pitch:

Working Title: The Octopus Wants What It Wants
Age/Genre: Picture Book (ages 4-8)
The Pitch: Sea creatures beware! Billie the octopus wants what she wants and she takes what she wants. But when Billie takes a boy from a fishing boat and finds out what it's like to have a friend, she learns what she really wanted all along.
So what do you think?  Would You Read It?  YES, MAYBE or NO?

Add a Comment

Howdy boys and girls!

I'm going to be so succinct today you won't even recognize me!

(That is because my sister is visiting from Georgia and I barely ever get to see her, so I'm taking advantage of the time :))

So straight down to business!

First off, the March Pitch Pick.

Our March pitchers have taken all your good advice to heart and revised their pitches for your consideration.  Please read through them and then vote below for the pitch you like best.  Hopefully we will not get a three-way tie this time! :)

#1 Donna - The Chocolate Train Wreck - ER - ages 6-9

Nine–year-old Abigail must do an essay about one of her favorite things. But train whistles or chocolate-chip-cookies don’t seem big enough for her paper and nothing new ever happens in Hamilton. That is, until an airborne diesel engine and 50 tons of chocolate create a delicious mystery still unsolved more than fifty years later.

#2 Maria - A Pup Called Freelance - PB ages 5-8

Pam - Freedom's Eve - PB ages 5-8

Eight-year-old Eve-Lynn groans about attending Watch Night service. A night commemorating the vigil of December 31st, 1862, when her ancestors watched and waited for the dawn of a new day. Freedom from slavery. But it is 1962. Gathering in an old barn, with a bunch of old relatives holds little excitement for Eve-Lynn. She dislikes her old-timey name. A hush interrupts Eve-Lynn’s grumbling. Eve-Lynn comes face to face with her one-hundred-eight- year old aunt, Lil’ Eve, an former-slave for whom she was named. The old aunt's voice rings out with an ancestral song, signaling the start of Watch Night. It is a song Eve-Lynn loves but has never understand the words, until tonight. Will Eve-Lynn learn to honor the Watch Night tradition? Will she learn to appreciate the significance of her name, and its link to her rich heritage?


Carrie - Stepping Into Adventure: The Magic Rocks - PB ages 4-8

Stepping Into Adventure: The Magic Rocks is the story of Jude, a boy who is on a quest to find adventure because boredom has captured him.  He discovers he cannot escape his suddenly dull days without the help of his step-mom.  This results in high-flying adventure and a discovery that they are even better together.  

Please vote for the pitch you think most deserves a read and comments from editor Erin Molta by Sunday April 12 at 5 PM.
March 2015 Pitch Pick
Today's pitcher is sharing her own favorite Something Chocolate with us: Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream with thawed frozen raspberries on top!



YUM!!!  Help yourselves :)

Now then, today's pitch comes to us from Amelia who says, "I am a former teacher - preschool, elementary, and middle school, both general education and Spanish, and now I'm staying at home with two boys who love to roar at each other.  I've been a writer my entire life, and have my eyes set on a second career as an author, so I've committed to saying yes to every writing opportunity that arises in 2015, to see where that takes me!

Here is her pitch:

Working Title: The Princess And The Pee
Age/Genre: Picture Book (ages 2-5)
The Pitch: When little Addy discovers an unexplored room in the family castle, her sister informs her that it holds The Royal Throne - a special seat only true princesses can use.  True princesses who are so sensitive they just can't play one second in a dirty diaper.  True princesses who are so clever they can sense wiggles and tinkles moving around even before they come out.  Addy knows she's a princess, but if she ever wants to see The Royal Throne for herself, she'll have to find a way to prove it!

So what do you think?  Would You Read It?  YES, MAYBE or NO?

Add a Comment

Does everybody know what day it is???

Woo hoo!

It's April Fools' Day!

And Mother Nature is certainly April Fooling with us, as she continues to send snow!  Which I am ignoring.  Pointedly.

I hope you will all indulge me a moment of shameless self-promotion (due to the fact that I never seem to remember ahead of time to do anything about this!)

Enjoy April Fools' Day high jinx and shenanigans with Phyllis and the gang! Grab a copy for yourself, one of the littles in your life, your local library, etc... :) Helpful purchasing links for your convenience: AMAZON, B&N, INDIEBOUND, Merritt Bookstore

If you feel the urge to share April Fool, Phyllis! on FB, twitter, etc, Phyllis and I will be extremely grateful and will sing a song in your honor :)  It will go like this:

FOOORRR you're a jolly good fellow
For you're a jolly good fellow
Oh you're a jolly good fell-ooowwwwwww
And Phyllis and I love you!

As you can see, we worked hard on the music and lyrics, and we practiced our singing all night... which is why we might sound a little hoarse.

Neigh!

And now for your Something Chocolate!

Meatloaf with gravy, mashed potatoes, and peas!!! Recipe HERE at Party Pinching http://www.partypinching.com/parties-holidays/april-fools-day/

Tee-hee-hee!  April Fool! :)

The "meatloaf" is a chocolate rice krispie treat with chocolate sauce for "gravy", the "mashed potatoes" are half a cupcake with vanilla frosting, a yellow starburst, and a little yellow gel icing, and the "peas" are from the peas and carrots Jelly Belly pack!  Pretty clever, don't you think?  :)

Today's pitch comes to us from Lidia.  In an April Fool move of her own, Lidia had not sent her pitch to me by my bedtime... I am hoping it will be here when I get up at 5:15 and I'll add it in then...  If not, this whole post will be an April Fool!

Here is her pitch:

Working Title:
Age/Genre:
The Pitch:


So what do you think?  Would You Read It?  YES, MAYBE or NO?

Add a Comment

The tension has been just unbearable, hasn't it?

You could just cut it with a knife!

I know you guys have barely managed to go about your daily activities, what with the wondering and anticipation and general angst over WHO WON THAT PITCH PICK!

I mean, seriously!  When have we ever had to do a pitch pick twice?  And even the second time I had to jump on Face Book at the eleventh hour and beg people who hadn't voted to go read and vote quickly in order to break yet another tie!

Talk about closely matched!  I came THIS CLOSE to having to let random.org make the decision.  But luckily it didn't come to that.

So it is with great pleasure (and no small measure of relief) that I announce that the tie was finally broken and we do have a winner!

So who's following March Madness?

Are you all basketball fans?

Everyone's brackets still holding up?

Can you believe Villanova is out?  Where did THAT come from?

Okay, I can't keep this up - I'm just fooling with you.  I don't even watch basketball.  I had to ask my kids for a team name :)

So anyway, yeah.  The winner of the hotly contested February Pitch Pick is. . .

Congratulations, Kirsten!  Your pitch is on its way to editor Erin Molta for her read and opinion!

And congratulations to ALL OF YOU!  My goodness what a close race!  You all did such an amazing job, and I truly am sorry I didn't have the nerve to ask Erin to read and comment on all of them because you all deserved it!  But you are all winners just for working so hard on your pitches and putting them out there for feedback and then polishing them up to the point where literally no one could decide whose was best! :)

Whew!  After all that tension (which no doubt burned off at least a million calories) I think we need a little Something Chocolate, don't you?

I was going to go with just a plain old-fashioned delicious chocolate eclair...

Image and recipe at Tender Crumb HERE

... but then I thought of you nutty chocolate-isn't-for-breakfast types, so I added the healthy version :)

Image and recipe at Tender Crumb HERE

Scrumptious, no?!  We are all geared up for an amazing day with a start like that! :)

Today's pitch comes to us from Carrie who says, "I currently live just north of Cincinnati and am a step-mother to a hilarious and sweet eight-year-old boy. When I am not working as a pediatric social worker, I enjoy photography, running, and taking my best shot at this writing thing."

Here is her pitch:

Working Title: Adventures With My Step-Mom: The Magic Rocks
Age/Genre: Picture Book (ages 4-8)
The Pitch: Days had grown dull until Jude discovers magic rocks, one for him and one for his step-mom.  Only when connected, the rocks send them sailing through the sky together on an adventure full of twists and turns. 

So what do you think?  Would You Read It?  YES, MAYBE or NO?

Add a Comment

What?

A little overly dramatic?

You think?

Okay, well, how about:

Two weeks ago...

... er, right here in the exact same place where we are right now...

(but don't think that just because we're all still here in the same place we are couch potatoes, or joined at the hip to our computers, or that we haven't gotten up for two weeks because we are taking the writer's commandment of butt-in-chair far too seriously and no those are NOT potato chip crumbs in the cushions)

...PITCH PICK THREE-WAY TIE!

I think the second version inspires the same goods bumps of anticipation as the first, don't you?  And I feel sure it's only a matter of time before George Lucas/Lucasfilms/Disney produces the blockbuster hit Pitch Pick Wars :)

Anyway, there we were, voting out little hearts out, and lo and behold a three way tie resulted.  Quel horreur!  What to do?

Many of you suggested random.org... which I almost did... but it seemed so, well... random... and the pitch pick is supposed to be based on merit.

Others suggested voting between the three that were tied... but I felt bad for the 4th one who was the only one not in the tie, and I didn't want anyone to feel bad.

So here's the plan:

We shall have a new vote on all 4.

If by chance we get another tie, I'm giving the pitchers fair warning that it will go to random.org.

I'm hoping this is fair, and that you guys don't mind voting again too much.  I have a special treat to reward you with right after!  So ready, set, VOTE!

#1 Kirsten - Finley VS. The Fly PB ages 4-8


#2 Kathy - King Of The Boards PB ages 4-8 (formerly Son of Boogie)

Dean dreams of matching his father's expertise on the boards–skateboards, surf boards, snowboards - but his flip flops at Half Pipe Park, and he wipes out at the beach. Monstrous moguls and an ice storm stop him cold on the slopes. While chillin’ at the ski lodge, Dean discovers a different board he rocks- a game board. KING OF THE BOARDS is a 332 word picture book that champions perseverance and finding your own groove.

#3 Robyn - Barebones The Skeleton PB ages 4-8

#4 Joanne - The Animal Crackers PB ages 3-6


Please vote below for the one you feel most deserves a read by editor Erin Molta by Friday March 20 at 9 PM EDT (when we will all be enjoying the first day of spring!!!)
February 2015 Pitch Pick Redux
Today's pitcher requested "a supremely rich chocolatey dessert... With peanut butter... Ooh, and caramel bits" for her Something Chocolate.  I know she's feeling a little anxious, so I did my best!  Plus, I promised you all a reward for voting a second time!

So here is an assortment - a smorgasbord of chocolatey peanut buttery caramelly deliciousness!  I feel sure there's something here for every taste (except maybe those of you who have the misguided sense to eat fruit, yogurt, and/or granola for breakfast... but don't worry, we love you in spite of your weird taste in breakfast :))

For the cake lovers: Chocolate Peanut Butter Torte

From Lemon Sugar - recipe HERE

From Lemon Sugar - recipe HERE

For the bar lovers: Peanut Butter Caramel Toffee Chocolate Chip Cookie Bard

From Mom On Timeout - recipe HERE

For the bonbon lovers:  5 Ingredient Salted Caramel Peanut Butter Truffles

From Minimalist Baker - recipe HERE (and these, believe it or not, are vegan and gluten-free, so really, health food :))

Thank you all for voting again - I hope you enjoy the treats! :)

Today's pitch comes to us from Pamela who says, "I have a  love for reading and using music to increase descriptive language, which prompted me to create a music and literacy program called MyLMNOP (Language & Literature-Music-Naming-Oral language-Phonemic Awareness). Children love learning new vocabulary from books with beautiful, visual language. But I couldn’t find exactly what I needed. “I’ll write my own picture books, get them published this year (2005), and use them in my program.” Cut to 2012..writing courses (Making Picture Book Magic) webinars, retreats, and revisions of (fiction & nonfiction), poetry, and even Middle Grade drafts and I discovered it would take more than a year for me to meet my goal as writer extraordinaire. Thank you for helping me become a better writer."

Here is her pitch:

Working Title: Freedom's Eve
Age/Genre: Picture Book (ages 5-8)
The Pitch: Ten year old Eve-Lynn grumbles about her name and spending her last day of the year observing Watch Night, “In an old barn with a bunch of old relatives.” She comes face to face with her namesake, Lil’ Eve. Through the eyes of her 102 year old aunt, Eve-Lynn learns to appreciate the history of her name and the significance of Watch Night. A nighttime vigil honoring her people, who watched and waited for the dawn of freedom. The first Watch Night of December 31, 1862, known as Freedom’s Eve.


So what do you think?  Would You Read It?  YES, MAYBE or NO?

Add a Comment

So I was going to tell you the story of how Buddy became a bobcat, but I'll have to put that on hold.

Because, Dearies, you are not going to believe it!

Something happened that has never happened before.

Remember when I said good luck voting on the pitch pick last week because all the pitches were so evenly matched?

Well, we had a 3-way tie for first place!

I am not making this up!

So I don't know what to do.  Although Erin has very kindly agreed to comment on 2 pitches when we've had ties twice in the past, I think 3 is a little unfair to ask.

But I also hate to ask you all to vote again... what if the numbers come out exactly the same?

So I need your advice.  How should we handle this unprecedented state of affairs?

Please wow me with fabulous solutions in the comments! :)

To heighten your brain power (for wowing me and for helping today's pitcher) how about Something Chocolate?  (as if we really need an excuse :))

Death By Chocolate Icebox Cake Recipe at Life, Love and Sugar HERE

Really.  Breakfast doesn't come any better than that :)

Today's pitch comes to us from Maria, whom you will remember from January with her pitch for The Trouble With Homework.  Maria is an educator with the best job in the world – she works as a Fire & Life Safety Educator for a municipal fire department! When she isn’t teaching others how to be safe, she can be found writing under a pecan tree, playing with her dogs and cats, or cruising around town with the top down searching for inspirational ideas or the next big story.

Here is her pitch:

Working Title: A Pup Called Freelance
Age/Genre: Picture Book (ages 5-8)
The Pitch: Hard headed, stubborn, mind of his own - those are just a few of the ways the little, tan puppy was described.  That is why my dad and the other firefighters gave him the name, “Freelance.” 
So what do you think?  Would You Read It?  YES, MAYBE or NO?

Add a Comment

I'm dating myself, I realize, but when my kids were little, GameBoys were all the rage.  Oh! how they longed for GameBoys.  But my husband and I didn't feel that children under 10 really needed to play video games for hours on end... even though all their friends had GameBoys as well as whatever the ancient versions of PlayStation, Xbox, etc... were.  We figured it was easier not to have game systems then to have them and have to enforce limits.  So our poor deprived children had to soldier on, the ONLY kids in the ENTIRE world without electronic games.

Cruelty, thy name is Mom and Dad.

Really, it's amazing they survived childhood :)

Eventually, we caved.  One unforgettable July (well, it was unforgettable at the time... I'm pretty sure none of them remember it now! :)) the whole crew was blessed with the coveted GameBoys (because we had a Long Drive on the agenda.)  But there was a Rule: the GameBoys could only be played in the car.  And only while driving.  There would be no sitting out in the car in the driveway or any of that nonsense!

It worked very well.

For them.

An excellent solution.

But now I'm having a problem of my own.

Not GameBoy.

No. I have no desire to to give my thumbs a workout bopping turtles or whatever, especially because that would require a degree of coordination and multi-tasking I do not possess whilst driving :)

Nope.  My problem is The Girl On The Train.

I know you were all waiting with breathless excitement to find out which book I picked for my March Audible selection, and yep! that was it.

And I'm hooked.

Seriously, I do not want to get out of the car!

I try to think up extra errands that will give me 4 more minutes of story!

I have become the most speed-limit-observing person on earth!

I think turtles walk faster than my car is going by the time I pull in my driveway!

But after all those years of the GameBoy Rule, I have to abide.  It's the same principle.  There can be no sitting in the car in the driveway just to find out what happens next!

(Plus, really, it's too cold unless the heat is running and that's wasteful of fossil fuels.)

(Plus, really, I have NO TIME for extra listening to stories since I've usually got 6 weeks of work to do on any given day.)

Nope.  There can't be any cheating or any wasting of time.  Only legitimate driving for continuing the story.

Which is why I ask, does anyone need a ride anywhere?

A pick up in Maryland?  Or Georgia?

Because, as it happens, I'm available :)

You'll just have to listen to The Girl On The Train :)

And now that I've got you all desperate to rush out to the library and get a copy right this minute, don't even think about it!  You can go in 5 minutes, but right now...

...it's time for the February Pitch Pick!

Here are the awesome February pitches for your voting pleasure, newly improved and updated thanks to all your helpful comments!  Good luck picking between this bunch! :)

#1 Kirsten - Finley VS. The Fly PB ages 4-8

#2 Kathy - King Of The Boards PB ages 4-8 (formerly Son of Boogie)

Dean dreams of matching his father's expertise on the boards–skateboards, surf boards, snowboards - but his flip flops at Half Pipe Park, and he wipes out at the beach. Monstrous moguls and an ice storm stop him cold on the slopes. While chillin’ at the ski lodge, Dean discovers a different board he rocks- a game board. KING OF THE BOARDS is a 332 word picture book that champions perseverance and finding your own groove.

#3 Robyn - Barebones The Skeleton PB ages 4-8

#4 Joanne - The Animal Crackers PB ages 3-6


Please vote below for the one you feel most deserves a read by editor Erin Molta by Sunday March 8 at 5 PM EDT (because yes, we will be springing forward!!!)
February 2015 Pitch Pick
In honor of today's pitch, I have selected an ENTIRE TRAIN made out of chocolate for our Something Chocolate!  Have you ever seen anything so glorious?  It's almost enough to make me forget it's still freezing cold and snowing!

http://greatfoodfunplaces.com/tag/chocolate-train/

"Confirmed to be pure chocolate and weighing over 2,755 pounds"!  What craftsmanship!  Lucky it's not parked near my house or it would be missing a few cars by now :)

Take your time... munch away... and when you're ready...

Today's pitch comes to us from Donna.  By day, Donna is a 4th Degree Black Belt Certified Taekwondo Instructor and by night she is a Ninja writer of children's books, chapter books, and young adult novels. Her debut picture book, THE STORY CATCHER, was just released by Anaiah Press on January 20th of this year.
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Author Email: [email protected]
Story Catcher Fan Club Email: [email protected]

Here is her pitch:

Working Title: The Chocolate Train Wreck
Age/Genre: Early Reader (ages 6-9)
The Pitch: Nine–year-old Abigail must do an essay about one of her favorite things. But train whistles or chocolate-chip-cookies don’t seem big enough for her paper and nothing new ever happens in Hamilton. That is, until an airborne diesel engine and 50 tons of chocolate create a delicious mystery still unsolved more than fifty years later.

So what do you think?  Would You Read It?  YES, MAYBE or NO?

Add a Comment

You know what?

I have decided that spring is coming!

I know the thermometer by my kitchen window says 11 below zero this morning... er, possibly 12 below.

I know Blueberry Hill is still blanketed under a solid two feet of snow.

I know my fingers get so cold while I'm doing the barn that first they hurt and then I forget I have any fingers :)

But hear me out.

In 3 days - THREE! - it will be March!  And March is the month that technically contains the first day of Spring!

See?  Spring is coming!

In addition, the angle of the light has changed.  The earth is tilting her face toward the sun.  When I get up at 5:15... well, okay... it's still dark.  But by 6 AM the light is coming up - it really is.  If it wasn't 11 below zero I could take the dogs out :)

So I feel freezing confident that Spring is right around the corner! :)

Meanwhile, let's have Something Chocolate, because it is a completely fabricated outright lie well known fact that chocolate is good for  warming people up.  Really, it's true.  (And no, that is not the end of my nose in Pennsylvania...)

Today's pitcher was kind enough to bring Something Chocolate for all of us.  (Thank you, Joanne :))  The person who thought up the recipe is seriously a person after my own heart!  She says she was rummaging in the pantry for something healthy and this is what she came up with! :)  And it's called a S'MOreo!  How can you not LOVE that???!!!

"Recipe" HERE :) and this is the kind of recipe I might actually be able to manage as it involves no actual cooking - unless you count toasting the marshmallows :)

I am not kidding when I say HOW HAS NO ONE EVER THOUGHT OF THIS BEFORE?  IT'S GENIUS!

I have every intention of experimenting with this genius right after Would You Read It.  I feel certain that there will be a lot of trial and error to get the marshmallow toastiness/smushiness ratio exactly right... meaning a lot of taste-testing... but, you know, all in the name of culinary excellence or whatever :)

Today's pitch comes to us from Joanne who says, "I've been writing since I was knee-high to a grasshopper (actually, I was NEVER that little - I'm currently 5'10" and I may have been born that tall LOL), but I only started focusing on children's writing (picture books in particular) at the beginning of last year. I'm a Southern California native who escaped (they almost held me hostage - truly!) to Michigan 20ish years ago with a Michigander husband (who I dragged out of California) and two darling (well, sometimes) kids currently in 5th and 8th grade. I LOVE the kidlit community I have found here and at other amazingly cool places on the Internet (12 x 12, PiBoIdMo, ReviMo, Kidlit411 and probably half a dozen others that eat up WAY too much of my time). I love to learn - and I absolutely KNOW I'm not "there" yet - so critique away! I can use it!

Here are her links if you'd like to go visit her and get to know her.  I highly recommend her - she's lovely :): 
blog/website: www.joannesher.com 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joannesherwriter
Twitter: https://twitter.com/joannesher
Here is her pitch:

Working Title: The Animal Crackers
Age/Genre: Picture Book (ages 4-8)
The Pitch: Elephant wants to play in his animal friends' band, but every instrument he tries doesn't work – whether he swallows the harmonica or breaks a drum. With the band's help, Elephant discovers he's had music in him all along - in his stomping feet and trumpeting trunk. Meet the newest member of the Animal Crackers! 

So what do you think?  Would You Read It?  YES, MAYBE or NO?

Add a Comment

In case you are wondering (now that it's February 11) I have NOT forgotten about picking winners for Phyllis's Birthday Bonanza!

I've just been highly distracted from work by people in this house having snow days - which is absolutely lovely! - but allows me to watch back-to-back episodes of Say Yes To The Dress and/or the entire Star Wars saga out of the corner of my eye when I'm supposed to be focusing on whose Ode To Phyllis is the best.

Phyllis thinks everyone should win because she loved them all.

I also loved them all, but I said that if everyone won then no one would FEEL like they won.

Phyllis said that was horsehockey and didn't even make sense and was I going to eat the last strawberry pancake or could she have it?

So you can see it was a very productive conversation.

The easy route would be to make YOU guys pick.  But I'm always making you vote for things, and I still don't have an "I Voted" sticker to tempt you with, so I don't know if that would be asking too much.  Do you guys want to vote?  Or do you want Phyllis me to pick?  Let me know in the comments along with your thoughts for today's pitcher and then, weather depending :), we'll try to get around to one or the other before Spring actually arrives :)

Oh!  And before we get to today's pitch, we have a winner for the December/January Pitch Pick from last week!

Drum roll please..... rata-tat-tata-tat-rata-tat-tata-tat-etc....

The winner is MICHELE! with her pitch for Hoot & Holly!!!

Congratulations, Michele!  Your pitch has been sent to editor Erin Molta for her comments, and I'm sure you'll hear from her soon.

And congratulations to all our other fine and brave pitchers!  You all did an excellent job - it was a tough choice! - and I hope you all feel good about bravely putting yourselves out there to test your pitches and that you found the feedback from our wonderful and generous readers helpful and constructive!

Now, then, onto today's Would You Read It!

I love that today's pitcher volunteered her own Something Chocolate... and boy does it look good!  Can I offer you a cup of coffee or a glass of milk to go with that?

Kusina Master Recipe's Peanut Butter Fudge Cake Recipe HERE (feel free not to watch the shocking presentation on how to remove dark spots from your hands :))

I also REALLY love that today's pitcher is using Would You Read It in a way I hoped people would (at least some of the time) but which seldom happens.  She's using her pitch, and your feedback, to help her figure out her story! (as you'll read below.)

So without further ado, today's pitch comes to us from Kathy.  Kathy Halsey has been writing picture books and nonfiction stories for two years. In a prior life she taught English and served as a K-12 school librarian. Since she has an agent, ,Jodell Sadler at Sadler Children's Literary, the purpose of her pitch is to guide her plot and focus her manuscript.

Here is her pitch:

Working Title: Son Of Boogie
Age/Genre: Picture Book (ages 4-8)
The Pitch: Conquering the boards–skateboards, surf boards snowboards­–that’s Lil Boogie’s dream. He and his Pops head off the Half Pipe Park to skate, but his flips flop. Lil Boogie heads for the beach, but the waves bury him. And on the snowboard, an ice storm stops him cold. Back at the ski lodge, he finds his board–the CHESS BOARD. Lil Boogie rules and rocks this board like a king. SON OF BOOGIE is a 453 word picture book for PreK-2nd grade that champions perseverance and the father-son bond.

So what do you think?  Would You Read It?  YES, MAYBE or NO?

Add a Comment

Wowee!  What a busy week it's been so far and it's only Wednesday!

Monday was Phyllis's big day, and boy did we ever get a lot of AMAZING poetry, videography, art, photography, etc to celebrate!  If you didn't get a chance to see/read, you really won't want to miss it (and everything is very short and un-time-consuming to you should totally check it out! :))  Go HERE.

One item that didn't make it in time for Monday's post, and didn't get posted yesterday because I was away at a school visit, is Dana Atnip's totally fun depiction of everyone's favorite weather-hog!

illustration copyright Dana Atnip 2015 please visit her website HERE

I'll add it to Monday's post, but I didn't want anyone to miss it! :)

We will figure out some winners from Phyllis's celebration, I just haven't had time because, as I mentioned, I was "out of the office" :)

Phyllis and I had a LOVELY school visit yesterday!  There were balloons and cake and wonderful students and teachers!  I'm hoping to have pictures to share at some point, but my photo stream won't update... because I am a technopoop!... so maybe next time!

Now then!  Onward to today's business!

First, we have the December/January Pitch Pick!

Here are last month's wonderful pitches, newly tweaked and polished thanks to your helpful advice.

#1 Marla - Froggy Went A Courtin' (PB ages 4-8)
Froggy Went a Courtin’ is an updated version of the traditional song. Missy Mousey has agreed to marry Froggy. But an old tom cat crashes their wedding and wants to eat the bride. It’s up to the strong and independent Missy Mousey to save herself, Froggy, and the day.

#2 Jeff - Stormy With A Chance Of Pizza (PB ages 3-7)
Grandpa’s creative problem solving saves the day (or at least their dinner) when ‘can do’ perseverance triumphs over challenges of a new recipe and Mother Nature’s threats, showing  his storytelling grandchild the value of self reliance.

#3 Bekah - The Penguin And The Pelican (PB ages 4-8)
#4 Michele - Hoot And Holly (PB ages 4-8)

#5 Maria - The Trouble With Homework (PB ages 6-9)

Please vote for the one you think is best and deserves a read by editor Erin Molta by Sunday February 8 at 5 PM EDT and I will announce the winner next week.

December 2014/January 2015 Pitch pickNow dearies, I know you're pooped out after all that reading and voting, so how about  quick pick-you-up?  Something Chocolate always does it for me :) and I'm in a brownie mood today so...

YUM!

Feel better?

Good!

Today's pitch comes to us from Kirsten.  Kirsten W. Larson used to work for NASA but now writes about rocket science — and just about any science — for kids. She is the author of SCIENCE FAIR SUCCESS! and USING THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD (Rourke), as well as more than a dozen children’s magazine articles. Find her at kirsten-w-larson.com
Here is her pitch:

Working Title: Finley VS The Fly
Age/Genre: Picture Book (ages
The Pitch: On the verge of losing his favorite sandwich to a pesky fly, Finley strikes back with a vacuum, the sink sprayer creating and more creating chaos in the kitchen. But when he finally wallops the fly, he learns to be careful what he wishes for.

So what do you think?  Would You Read It?  YES, MAYBE or NO?

Add a Comment

Wait til you hear how forethoughtful I'm being!

Seriously.  You are NOT going to believe it.

It's Sunday night.  SUNDAY.  And I am putting the finishing touches on this post which isn't due to go up until Wednesday!

Wednesday is like 2 1/2 entire days from now!

I don't think this has ever happened before in the history of my blog!

Don't worry.

You're in the right place.

I have not been possessed by aliens or anything.  (Of course, I would probably say that if I had been, wouldn't I? Because they'd make me... But I'm pretty sure I haven't!)

It's just that the weatherperson in these parts seems pretty convinced that we're going to be getting heavy snow - at least a foot - maybe 3 - and that means, in all probability, that I will have no internet.  So my usual operating procedure of finishing my Wednesday post 37 seconds before it's due to go up may not pan out well.  And I don't want today's pitcher to miss her day!

PLUS!  We have not one, but TWO Straight From The Editors to share - always educational AND fun - so I wouldn't want you to miss that either.  Or the most important part of the post... Something Chocolate :)

Black Magic Cake

Yummmmm!  Scrumptious!!

I know how you all count the hours until Wednesday for your chocolate treat, so far be it from me to deprive you! :)  I would never want it to be said that I don't take good care of you!

Alrighty!  Now that we're fortified, let's see what the editor has to say!

Straight From The Editor for October:

You will recall Michelle's winning pitch:

Miss Knaffle and her second graders all just want to have fun at school. But when her students take theiridea of fun too far—conducting a farting symphony during reading time, smuggling coffee beans to the class hamster, and using their desks for a bubblegum sculpture contest—Miss Knaffle decides that only a field trip to the zoo will avert classroom disaster. Once there, the canny teacher enlists irritable zoo animals to her cause. When Fátima tangles with a snake and Mario ends up on the wrong side of a baboon, the students quickly come to appreciate the zoo rules—and their teacher—in a whole new way.

Here are editor Erin Molta's comments:

Straight From The Editor for November:

Here is Heather's winning pitch:

The harpsichord is dusted, the tea is poured, the vases are arranged on doily laces, and Hubert the pug is settled calmly on the rug. Lottie Dobson is ready for her fancy luncheon party. But when the members of the Grandview Rose Society arrive with even more blooms, poor Hubert's allergies kick in. What happens next is a riot of mishaps that gets him banned from the room. But when a wily rat sneaks in, steals the cheese, and dangles from the chandelier, it sends the proper party guests on a crazy chase--with a sneezing Hubert in the lead. One big sneeze will save the day! Too bad for Hubert, the sneezing doesn't end there. 

And here are Erin's comments:

As always, I find Erin's comments insightful and helpful!  I hope they help you in your mission to create the perfect pitch!

Today's pitch comes to us from Maria.  Maria is an educator with the best job in the world – she works as a Fire & Life Safety Educator for a municipal fire department! When she isn’t teaching others how to be safe, she can be found writing under a pecan tree, playing with her dogs and cats, or cruising around town with the top down searching for inspirational ideas or the next big story.

Here is her pitch:

Working Title: The Trouble With Homework
Age/Genre: Picture Book (ages 6-9)
The Pitch: What’s a kid to do when he’s waited until the lastminute to do his homework? Sometimes, you just have to improvise!

Disclaimer: No snails or house cats were harmed in the making of this book! 

So what do you think?  Would You Read It?  YES, MAYBE or NO?

Add a Comment

Happy Wednesday, Everyone!

I hope you are all in fine fettle!

(I don't actually know what fettle is... it sounds like kettle, so maybe it means you're well stoked up on tea... though hopefully not so much so that you have that sloshy feeling, the technical term for which - according to me and my best friend in 6th grade - is "joggling" :)  But it also sounds like fete, so maybe it means you're partying.  Partying or tea-a-plenty, either option seems good on a cold January day :))

Whatever condition your fettle is in I'm glad you're here :)

(That sounds like it should either be a line from a Broadway show tune, or the end of a Mr. Rogers song, don't you think?  We should work on that... :))

Anyhoo . . . Let's get on with our regularly scheduled programming, shall we?

First off, I'm happy to announce that the winner of the November Pitch Pick (in an exceptionally tight race, I might add - very, very close this month!) is Heather with her pitch for Hubert's Dreadful Allergies!  Wahoo!  Congratulations, Heather!  Your pitch has already been sent to Erin Molta for her thoughts, and I'm sure you'll hear from her soon.

And congratulations as always to ALL our pitchers for bravely putting themselves out there and sharing truly fabulous pitches!  Is it just me, or do you all agree that the overall quality of the pitches has steadily improved since the early days of Would You Read It?  Seriously, I think everyone does such a good job!

Phew!  After all that excitement, I think we need . . .

Something Chocolate!!!

Today's Something Chocolate is not so much chocolate as Something Caramel - although you could (and should!) quickly remedy that with a drizzle of hot fudge sauce :)  But I thought we should go healthy this morning, what with it being January and a time for new beginnings and all... :)

Recipe HERE

YUM!

Now that we're all full of healthy apples (and possibly slightly less healthy caramel, and hopefully also a healthy dose of hot fudge sauce :)) let's get right down to WYRI!

Today's pitch comes to us from Michele who says, "I can't promise that a long time policy wonk and public relations professional can succeed in the world of picture book making. But I can promise that she will try!"

Here is her pitch:

Working Title: Hoot And Holly
Age/Genre: Picture Book (ages 4-8)
The Pitch: When Holly finds the orphaned owlet Hoot in a windswept field near home, she knows he won’t survive without her help. Together, Hoot and Holly forge an unlikely friendship as Holly cares for the baby owl until he can care for himself. Hoot & Holly is a story about growing up and saying goodbye. It blends the emotion of an Alison McGhee story with the sweet fun of impossible friend stories like Sophie’s Squash, Peep, and Fly Away Home (film). Like Flora & Ulysses, Hoot & Holly celebrates the special bond between humans and animals. It’s a love story with a realistic end that will resonate with people of all ages.

So what do you think?  Would You Read It?  YES, MAYBE or NO?

Add a Comment

I'd like to begin today's post with a Public Service Announcement.

As you all (may or may not) know, January is National Bath Safety Month.

Yes.  It's true.

And I'm concerned this may be something you don't take seriously enough, potentially risking life and limb.

So please.  If you're going to have a bath, keep this in mind:

Baths, especially the young ones, are extremely vulnerable to attack by toddlers with rubber duckies, siblings engaged in splash wars or games of "Kickie", and dogs that have met the wrong end of a skunk (dog hair, tomato juice and skunk oil are a triple threat - I beg you!  Think of your poor little bath!)  Princesses with excessively long hair should NEVER be allowed near a bath - they should just be hosed down outdoors (the necessary shampoo required may cause a dangerous build up of soap scum and the excessive hair itself may lead to the dreaded condition of Clogged Drain! - you mustn't - you simply mustn't!)

A threatened bath is an unpredictable bath which may lash out in self-defense.

A safe bath is a happy bath.

Be a responsible bath owner!  Keep your bath (and yourself) safe!

Thank you.

(This message has been brought to you by the Blueberry Hill Coalition For Bath Safety, which meets weekly under the guise of providing a public service but is really just using the meeting as a reason to eat large quantities of coffee and donuts.)

Phew.  I'm so glad we shared that important Public Service Announcement, aren't you?  I feel much better knowing that the care and safety of baths everywhere has received some much-needed attention!

Now then, if you'd all quit lolling about in the tub, we've got all kinds of high jinx and shenanigans lined up for today.

First, the November Pitch Pick!  (Yay!  At long last! :))

Here are our 4 pitches, all spiffed up and improved thanks to your very helpful feedback.  Please read through them and vote below for the one you think most deserves a read by editor Erin Molta.

#1 Maria - Just Like Us (PB ages 2-6)
As children frolic through and around a park playground, glimpses of two bear cubs mimicking their fun can be seen, partially obscured on each page. Both the bears and children roll down a hill, play on the equipment, and dig for treasure. But in the end, who is watching whom. 

#2 Heather - Hubert's Dreadful Allergies (PB ages 4-8)
The harpsichord is dusted, the tea is poured, the vases are arranged on doily laces, and Hubert the pug is settled calmly on the rug. Lottie Dobson is ready for her fancy luncheon party. But when the members of the Grandview Rose Society arrive with even more blooms, poor Hubert's allergies kick in. What happens next is a riot of mishaps that gets him banned from the room. But when a wily rat sneaks in, steals the cheese, and dangles from the chandelier, it sends the proper party guests on a crazy chase--with a sneezing Hubert in the lead. One big sneeze will save the day! Too bad for Hubert, the sneezing doesn't end there. 

#3 Gail - Knights Of The Kids' Table (PB ages 4-8)
Most of the Knights of the Kids’ Table found Flooted funny. After all, when he got nervous, Flooted tooted. But cranky Hugh couldn’t stand the smell, so he hatched a plan to get rid of Flooted…for good. When Hugh’s scheme flopped, the little knights giggled, the big knights enjoyed silly sword fights, and the grumpy little knight got exactly what he wished for.

#4 Jean - Got Your Nose (PB ages 4-8)
Jack loves playing ‘Got Your Nose’ with his mom, but when bedtime comes, and Jack’s not ready to quit, he turns to his sleeping brother and steals the nose right off his face!  When Jack hears approaching footsteps, he nervously tosses his brother’s nose into the dirty laundry basket, sending it on a harrowing adventure faced with drooling dogs, hungry owls, and stinky skunks that will have you holding your breath, and your nose a little tighter. Will Jack succeed in finding his brother’s nose before morning?    

Please cast your vote by Sunday January 18 at 5 PM EDT, and I will announce the winner on next week's WYRI.  Many thanks!!!

November 2014 Pitch Pick
Now, onto the new pitch!

Today's pitcher personally selected her Something Chocolate, and I must say, she has EXCELLENT taste!  Help yourselves!!!

Find the recipe at The Sweets Life HERE http://www.thesweetslife.com/2012/05/salted-caramel-chocolate-shortbread.html

YUM!  Anyone else need a cup of coffee to go with that? Or maybe a bath?  (Just kidding :))

Today's pitch comes to us from Bekah who says: "Wife, mom to a ten and seven year old, and teacher, I've been stealing time to write poetry and stories for over a decade and using my family as my "willing" critique group.  Recently, I've entered the online writing community, through partipation in PiBoIdMo 2014 at taralazar.com (thanks, Tara!) and the 2014 March Madness-style children's poetry contest at thinkkidthink.com (thanks, Ed!).
Here is her pitch:

Working Title: The Penguin And The Pelican
Age/Genre: Picture Book (ages 4-7)
The Pitch: A penguin and a pelican try to fix their awkwardness on land by learning to dance gracefully. When they discover, embarrassingly, that dance lessons can't cure their clumsy gaits, new friends convince the birds to keep dancing joyfully. In the end, the penguin and the pelican's gracefulness in the water and in the air amazes their friends.
So what do you think?  Would You Read It?  YES, MAYBE or NO?

Add a Comment

Happy New Year, Everyone!!!

It's so lovely to see you all again!

I hope all your holidays were festive and joyful!

And now, here we are at the front end of a brand new year.  Just like a blank page, it's full of possibility.  Who knows what great ideas we'll have this year, what wonderful new stories we'll write, what hare-brained schemes we'll come up with?! :)

It's a good feeling, isn't it?

I have already had two happy surprises - well, one surprise and one much-looked-forward-to occasion.

The surprise was that the lovely and talented Stacy Jensen, out of the pure kindness of her heart, took time out of her Lego Pirate war to try to solve the problem of updating Perfect Picture Books.  Her idea is a good one, and she's done a beautiful job (if you need web work, contact her at once!).  More exploration is required before we see whether it's something the Truly Tech Challenged (er, that would be Yours Truly) can actually manage, but either way it was incredibly kind and generous and thoughtful of her, and really that is what so many people in this kidlit community are like that it just reinforces my gratitude to be part of it.  Thank you, Stacy!!!

The much-looked-forward-to-occasion (which was only a surprise because we managed to pull it off at long last!) was that I got to have lunch with the wonderful Elaine Kearns, writer, and creator of Kidlit 411 (which, in case you've been under a rock somewhere, is celebrating it's First Birthday this week and you should definitely hustle on over and check it out because it's fantastic and there are all kinds of amazing prizes on offer!)  It was such a pleasure to meet her in person, after all this time of knowing her online.  And we only live about 20 miles from each other so really, what took us so long???!!!  I apologize for no photographic evidence of our meeting, but it was too cold to take pictures outside, and too dark inside.  (Anyway, that's the story I'm sticking to :))

I think all that wonderfulness calls for a little Something Chocolate, don't you?  (And no, of course I'm not trying to distract you from the glaring lack of photographs!  Why would you think that?!)

Since it is 0 (that's ZERO, folks) here, we need a warm Something Chocolate, so how about...

... warm pain au chocolat?  (which, for our English-speaking audience is plain ole chocolate croissant :))

Mmm!  Flaky pastry... warm dark chocolate... who notices the temperature now? :)

So, we were supposed to have the November Pitch Pick today, but what with holiday busy-ness and such, not everyone was ready.  So we'll have to do that next week.

Meanwhile, let's get onto today's WYRI!

Today's pitch comes to us from Jeff who says, "Though I’ve come to popular writing late, in a sense I’ve been writing all my life.  I’ve enjoyed a career in science and as a military health officer. In 2005 one of my journal articles won a prize and award as ‘best new research paper,’ which inspired me to try other genre.  

Here is his pitch:

Working Title: Stormy With A Chance Of Pizza
Age/Genre: Picture Book (ages 3-7)
The Pitch: Grandpa’s creative problem solving saves the day (or at least their dinner) when ‘can do’ perseverance triumphs over challenges of a new recipe and Mother Nature’s threats, showing  his storytelling grandchild the value of self reliance.

So what do you think?  Would You Read It?  YES, MAYBE or NO?

Add a Comment

In case anyone is wondering, we are fast running out of time to shop for the holidays!

ACK!

Panic!!

Every year, I tell myself that THIS year I'm going to be organized.

THIS year, I'm going to shop in August, wrap in September, design a lovely and tasteful holiday card in October, address envelopes for said lovely and tasteful holiday cards in November, mail the cards and do Christmas baking in December, all in a calm, unhurried manner, the epitome of poised organization.

I might even wear a dress while I do it - one with a poofy skirt - so I can float about looking serene.

Think of me as Emily Post or Martha Stewart - a role model of perfection!

Guffaw!

Yeah, right! :)

"Oh, Susanna," I say to myself, shaking my head with fond tolerance.  "I know you WAY better than that!"

I am beyond a shadow of a doubt, scientifically proven, genetically incapable of doing anything before the last minute.

It focuses the mind.

And it makes you more efficient!

How foolish to spend 4 and 1/2 months preparing for the holidays when you can bring your A game to the table and accomplish the whole kit and caboodle in 27 hours! :)

So I wish you all bonne chance with your shopping and hope you find the perfect gifts for everyone on your lists whilst I loll about watching Christmas specials and munching bonbons, relaxing away the hours until it's time to get serious! :)  Records are going to fall this year, people - just you wait and see! :)

Care to join me for Something Chocolate?  Today we have Hot Fudge Pudding Cake, with many thanks to Kathy for providing it!  Really, just the name makes you want to dig in, doesn't it?

Recipe HERE

I'm going to have a scoop of vanilla ice cream with mine - please feel free to join me :)

YUM!  Now that's what I call breakfast! (but please don't tell my kids or they'll never eat their hearty spelt cereal again.  Hahaha!  I know!  It's hopeless to try to convince you that anyone in my house eats spelt for breakfast.  By the way, did you know spelt is also called dinkel wheat?  That's just funny!  Okay, I'll put some pudding cake in my mouth now so I stop blathering :))

We probably should have had the November Pitch Pick today, seeing as how the next couple weeks will be taken up with the Holiday Contest, but the person in charge around here apparently fell asleep at the switch and forgot to ask the November's pitchers for their revisions in time.  I blame Thanksgiving.  So look for that the first week of January :)

Today's pitch comes to us from Marla who is an aspiring writer/illustrator from Canada.  This is an idea she was planning to use to build her illustration portfolio. Now she is wondering if she should fully develop it into a book dummy to submit to publishers.  Please visit her website with portfolio and blog at www.marlalesage.com

Here is her pitch:

Working Title: Froggy Went A Courtin'
Age/Genre: Picture Book (ages 4-8)
The Pitch: Froggy went a courtin’ and he did ride.  But in this version Froggy rides a motorcycle and Missy Mousey is a welder. If Froggy and Missy Mousey are going to live happily ever after, they have a number of obstacles to overcome (including an unapproving Uncle Rat and an old tom cat who wants to eat the bride). 

So what do you think?  Would You Read It?  YES, MAYBE or NO?

Add a Comment

Well, dearies, you're about to get the most unembellished Would You Read It post ever!

That is because yesterday I had to drive to Boston... normally a 7 hour round trip, but what with Thanksgiving traffic and the fact that lots of people were traveling early due to the storm we're getting today, it took closer to 12.

By the time I got home, it was 11:20 PM, and I still had to write today's post...

But the important stuff is here :)

The winner of the October Pitch Pick was Michelle, with her PB pitch for Zoo Rules!  Congratulations, Michelle, well done!  Your pitch is on its way to editor Erin Molta, and I'm sure you'll hear from her soon.

And congratulations to our other brave pitchers as well!  Everyone did such a great job, and you are all winners just for writing and polishing your pitches and putting them out there for people to comment on!

Even in my zombie I've-been-driving-a-car-non-stop-for-nearly-12-hours stupor, I would not forget your Something Chocolate!  I think it should be something Thanksgiving-y, don't you?  In the spirit of giving, I offer you a choice of

But anyway you gobble it, a chocolate turkey is delicious :)

Now then, today's pitch comes to us from Jean, who says, "I am a critical care nurse by day, and aspiring writer on my days off.  I write a nursing blog at nightingalechronicles.com, and have been published at inthepowderroom.com,  but I have always had a love of children’s stories.  I am a mother of three children ages 11, 9, and 7.  I look forward to submitting my pitch; this will be my first time putting my children’s work out there."

I'd like to add a quick note that Jean's schedule caused her to be on duty for her Would You Read It day, so please know that she will be reading your comments as soon as she can, and responding when she can, but it will probably take her a couple days.  She is very grateful for your help!

Here is her pitch:

Working Title: Got Your Nose
Age/Genre: Picture Book (ages 4-8)
The Pitch: Who doesn’t love the game 'Got Your Nose’?  Jack doesn’t, that’s for sure; well, not anymore.  You see, Jack loved playing 'Got Your Nose' with his mom, but when bedtime came Jack wasn’t ready to quit.  Instead, Jack decided to see if he could play with his sleeping brother’s nose by stealing it right off of his face.  But when Jack heard the sounds of approaching footsteps he nervously tossed his brother’s nose sending it flying on a harrowing adventure that’ll be bound to make you hold your breath, and your nose a little tighter.


So what do you think?  Would You Read It?  YES, MAYBE or NO?

Add a Comment

Happy Wednesday, my friends!

I think I might owe you an apology.

I may have accidentally abused my powers.

You see, on Monday, I posted the contest rules for the Pretty Much World Famous 4th Annual Holiday Contest.  If you have read them, you will know that the subject matter is wild weather.  I was merely thinking we could have tons of fun with that topic. . .

But here we are, within hours of that posting, and the temperature is 12 degrees in mid-November!

In New York!  (not the Buffalo part! where there are already 3 feet of snow with 3 more predicted!)  in the semi-civilized part not that far from NYC!

Wild!

Unheard of!

Coincidence?

I'm afraid not.

I'm going to do my best to turn things around by buying a new pair of expensive warm winter boots (Sorel.  Model: Women's Caribou.  Color: Cinnamon.  Or maybe Slate. Size: 7.5 - or maybe 7 since the reviews say they run large.)  That should pretty much guarantee that we won't get any snow.  But of course that will be unusual too... so there we are, back at wild weather!

I'm afraid I've caused it coming and going.

You just have to be sooooo careful when you have magical powers!  One little moment of inattention, and whoops! you've unleashed Winter 2014-2015!

So yeah, sorry about that.

Let me try to distract you with a look at the fabulous pitches from October which await your voting pleasure for the October Pitch Pick.

#1 Tonia - Eat At Antonio's - PB ages 8+
A  strange looking restaurant pops up in a small ho hum farm town offering fine cuisine. A real stir is created as these plain Jane folks can't swallow much more than meat and potatoes and common sense. The Grand Opening announces a real eating adventure. Once inside, Master Chef Antonio will transform the taste buds that will take them to exotic places with just one bite.

#2  Gail - Me Hungry - PB ages 4-7

#3  Debbie - Exactly Ten Marshmallows - PB ages 4-8 (originally titled Your Friend, Conrad)
Finally, an invitation! According to the instructions, Conrad must bring a sword, a bow and arrows, and … exactly ten marshmallows?! He eagerly sets out for his best friend Fiona’s new home. But his journey quickly becomes complicated by a leaky boat, prickly brambles, and a sweets-loving dragon lurking in the moat. Will Conrad have the wits (and enough marshmallows) to make it to Fiona’s front door?

#4  Michelle - The Zoo Rules - PB ages 4-8
Miss Knaffle and her second graders all just want to have fun at school. But when her students take theiridea of fun too far—conducting a farting symphony during reading time, smuggling coffee beans to the class hamster, and using their desks for a bubblegum sculpture contest—Miss Knaffle decides that only a field trip to the zoo will avert classroom disaster. Once there, the canny teacher enlists irritable zoo animals to her cause. When Fátima tangles with a snake and Mario ends up on the wrong side of a baboon, the students quickly come to appreciate the zoo rules—and their teacher—in a whole new way.

Please vote for the pitch you feel most deserves a read by editor Erin Molta in the poll below by Sunday November 23 at 5 PM EST.



October 2014 Pitch Pick
Many thanks!

Now then, since the Mid-Hudson Valley is in the grip of the polar vortex (I know! My fault!) and I am therefore freezing ( I know! Still my fault!), we shall have something warming for our Something Chocolate today... Molten Chocolate Cake!!!

Don't you feel warmer already just looking at that molten flood of scrumptious chocolate?  Plus, we really need the extra calories to keep warm, so it's actually GOOD for us to eat this :)

Now that we've averted the danger of freezing AND wasting away into skin and bones, let's jump into Would You Read It!

Today's pitch comes to us from Gail, whom you will remember from October with her pitch for Me Hungry.  (Um, really you don't even need to remember since her pitch is above in the October Pitch Pick :))  She says, "Recently, I participated in the Making Picture Book Magic workshop and in the Telling Children Stories in Today’s Market intensive. I’m a member of SCWBI, and hold both a degree in Fine Arts from Wilfrid Laurier University and a diploma in Journalism from Cambrian College. You’re welcome to visit http://gailtalbot.com anytime to learn more."

Here is her pitch:

Working Title: Knights Of The Kids' Table
Age/Genre: Picture Book (ages 4-8)
The Pitch:  Most of the Knights of the Kids’ Table found Flooted funny. After all, when he got nervous, Flooted tooted. But cranky Hugh couldn’t stand the smell, so he hatched a plan to get rid of Flooted…for good. When Hugh’s scheme flopped, the little knights giggled, the big knights enjoyed silly sword fights, and the grumpy little knight got exactly what he wished for.


So what do you think?  Would You Read It?  YES, MAYBE or NO?

Add a Comment

Good morning, merry sunshines :)

I don't know about you guys, but I love this writing life.

I feel so lucky that it's what I get to do.

I get up at 5:20, when the world is dark and quiet.

I get to take my dogs for a run on this quiet, pretty road as soon as it's light enough to see.

Sometimes I see these guys (though of course they're older now :))

Hopefully, I don't meet this guy
but as you know from Friday's post, I do run into him occasionally :)

I get to drive my daughter to school - a little time we get to chat each morning - and then go do the barn (and what could be better than hanging around with horses?) :)

Then I come home, ignore my office :) and work at my sunny kitchen table (of which I apparently do not have a picture :))

I set my own schedule, which allows me to be there for my family all the time.

And I am lucky enough to work at something that, though challenging and prone to making me tear my hair out from time to time :) doesn't really feel like work.  As I tell kids on school visits, I get to make up stories all day long - as jobs go, pretty awesome.

So when I have days like yesterday - days when the rejections come in an avalanche - literally! - days when I question whether I really have any right to be doing this at all, whether I have any ability for this career that I've chosen, whether somehow I have wandered onto a path that isn't mine to travel - I try to remember all the things I love about this writing life so I don't lose my perspective entirely.

It's so easy to feel discouraged.

But if you can find the courage to dust yourself off, go for a morning run, and sit yourself right back down at that kitchen table, it's also easier than you'd think to try again.

So for anyone else who had that kind of day yesterday - or any day :) - here's to optimism and inspiration and trying again.  Who knows?  This could be the day we get our best idea yet :)

And of course, around here, we raise our glasses with Something Chocolate :)

Recipe for this gorgeous creation HERE

Dig in :)  (Remember, a healthy breakfast is essential to a productive day - and what could be healthier than cocoa beans (vegetables!) and milk (protein and calcium!)?)

How do you cope with the hard days?  Because let's face it - in this business, we all have them!  That's one of the things that makes them bearable - knowing that we're in good company :)

Now then!  Onward to a good day and Would You Read It!

Today's pitch comes to us from Heather.  Several years ago, Heather Kinser was a Silicon Valley proofreader/editor. Now she’s the mother of two amazing girls, a charter school volunteer, a breast cancer survivor, a long-term writer’s group member—and a wanna-be children’s book author. She keeps her head in the clouds and sand in her shoes. She lives with her husband and children in beautiful Redwood City, California (“Climate Best by Government Test”).

If you'd like, you can go show her some love on her brand new blog! http://troubadourmoon.weebly.com/

Here is her pitch:

Working Title: Hubert's Dreadful Allergies
Age/Genre: Picture Book (ages 4-8)
The Pitch: Aunt Lottie’s fancy luncheon party is in full swing when her highly allergic dog, Hubert, walks in and sniffs the flowers. What happens next is a riot of mishaps that eventually sends the proper party guests on a crazy chase, with Hubert leading the way.

So what do you think?  Would You Read It?  YES, MAYBE or NO?

Add a Comment

Due to all the flurry and excitement and extensive reading involved in the Halloweensie Contest, I'm going to take pity on you today and present nothing but Something Chocolate and Would You Read It.

No amusing anecdotes from my childhood.

No tales of adventure from the wilds of Blueberry Hill.

No witty musings on life.

(Well, okay, I don't really ever have those :))

Just one thing before you get your snack:  if you haven't had a chance to vote yet for your favorite Halloweensie Contest finalist, you have until 5 PM and we really need all the votes we can get.  The top contenders keep being tied.  So please go HERE (and encourage your neighbors and your grandmother and your mailman to stop over, read the entries and pick their favorite too!)

Wasn't that so quick?  And now your reward....

Something Chocolate!

Hold onto your dental work...

Recipe HERE http://damndelicious.net/2013/12/11/easy-homemade-toffee/

I LOVE toffee!  Truly, I think it is one of the best inventions ever.  Help yourselves!  Tell me if you agree! :)

Now then, today's pitch comes to us from Maria who says, "I am a pre-published author and roommate of two loving, adorable Pixiebob cats. Recently granted a chance to decide "what I wanted to be when I grew up," I began actively pursuing my my love of writing (a path on hold for the past ten years, while I raised my kids).  I renewed my SCBWI membership, joined Julie Hedlund's 12x12 forum, and Kid Lit Summer School, took numerous writing courses, found awesome critique groups, and attendeded conferences."

Here is her pitch:

Working Title: Just Like Us
Age/Genre: Picture Book (ages 2-6)
The Pitch: As children frolic through and around a park playground, glimpses of two bear cubs mimicking their fun can be seen, partially obscured on each page. Both the bears and children roll down a hill, play on the equipment, and dig for treasure. But in the end, who is watching whom. 

So what do you think?  Would You Read It?  YES, MAYBE or NO?

Add a Comment

There is never a dull moment around here.

First, I got a flat tire.  (It's possible this had something to do with the wood full of nails and screws that someone left directly in front of the garage... that I drove over as I hurried out to pick up my daughter from school and wondered, "Hmm... what was that?" Really, your guess is as good as mine... :))

Then the bear came and had a picnic out of our trash cans.  (If you haven't had much experience with bear picnics, I can tell you they are not at all tidy.  There is much clean-up involved...)

Then on Monday the house that's going in down the road from us had its foundation poured, so a parade of cement trucks thundered up and down the road all day.  Scout felt it her duty to bark at the passage of each one.  Both ways.  Jemma hid under the piano.  It was traumatic for everyone.

And now we are expecting rain in these parts so if anyone needs me I will be in my basement in the canoe.

I know!

Harrowing tales of this nature just don't come along every day!

I'm dreadfully sorry if my horror stories have left you in a weakened state, but never fear!  I have snacks!

Continuing with our get-ready-for-Halloween-theme, today's Something Chocolate is just the thing for when you want something sweet, salty, and candy-corny all at once.  (Because really, isn't that a combination you often find yourself wanting?  I know I frequently find myself thinking, "Hmm... I'm in the mood for something sweet, salty and candy-corny... what to have?"  Okay.  I admit it.  I have never thought that.  But there's always a first time :))  And they are pretty :)

Candy Corn Pretzel Hugs :)  Recipe HERE!

I think they might be easy enough for even me to make, so go ahead!  Give them a try!

Now that we have averted any danger of fainting, we have Straight From The Editor for September, which you will recall was won by Hope with her pitch for Cleo And Pinkie:

Whether it is marker stains on the carpet or mud trails in the hall, Cleo blames her mischievous, imaginary friend, Pinkie, for everything. “Pinkie did it!” Soon Mommy can’t take it anymore and declares, “No more Pinkie!” But without Pinkie, the house is too quiet until Cleo makes another mess, this time, to everyone’s delight.

Here's what editor Erin Molta had to say:

This sounds really cute. I made a small tweak because I think if you put the Pinkie did it in the beginning it’s more of a hook. The only thing that didn’t quite work for me was the very ambiguous ending—Cleo made a mess to everyone’s delight? You don’t want to make readers guess, you want to intrigue them, yet this is just confusing. It would be better to be more specific so they can get the joke. Then they would appreciate it more.

“Pinkie did it!” Whether it is marker stains on the carpet or mud trails in the hall, Cleo blames her mischievous, imaginary friend for everything. Soon Mommy can’t take it anymore and declares, “No more Pinkie!” But without Pinkie, the house is too quiet until Cleo makes another mess, this time, to everyone’s delight.

It's amazing what a difference a small change can make, isn't it?  As always, I find Erin's comments so helpful!

Let's move onto Would You Read It, shall we?  (Please, have another pretzel hug if you're feeling peckish!)

Today's pitch comes to us from Michelle, who you will remember from her July pitch for Escalators Don't Bite (WYRI #140).  She is a mom, a teacher, and a writer.  She blogs at http://amomnextdoor.wordpress.com/about/

Here is her pitch: (and she did mention that she's still looking for a title that really zings, so feel free to chime in if you've got any brilliant ideas!)

Working Title: Zoo Rules
Age/Genre: Picture Book (ages 4-8)
The Pitch: Miss Knaffle's second graders have a thing or two to learn about their teacher. They think they can get away with feeding coffee beans to the class hamster, or making farting houses during read aloud. Will a trip to the zoo set them straight? When the canny Miss Knaffle enlists zoo animals to her cause, readers will delight in seeing what happens to children who don't follow the zoo rules in this PB cross between Peggy Rathmann's GOODNIGHT, GORILLA, and William Bee's WHATEVER.

So what do you think?  Would You Read It?  YES, MAYBE or NO?

Add a Comment

Darlings!

I was going to be so succinct and just get right to Would You Read It today, and you were going to be so proud of me for my extreme brevity... I had it all planned out...

BUT!

I have to squeeze in a teensy Halloweensie Contest update!!!

Remember how I told you that the prizes kept rolling in?

Here's what our goody bag of prizes looks like now!

- Julie Hedlund's fantastic new course How To Make Money As An Author, interesting, educational and suitable for writers at any stage of their career

 - a 2015 membership to Children's Book Insider, an absolutely fabulous resource for kid lit writers of all kinds generously offered by Jon Bard and Laura Backes

 - a picture book manuscript critique from the renowned Alayne Christian (prose only, 800 words or less)
Alayne Kay Christian is an award winning author of BUTTERFLY KISSES FOR GRANDMA AND GRANDPA. She is represented by Erzsi Deak of Hen&Ink Literary Studio. To read more about Alayne, her critique service, and her books visit her websites and blog.

- a picture book manuscript critique (rhyme or prose) from Penny Parker Klostermann who, after extensive experience critiquing for writing partners, members of various kid lit groups, and clients of Erin Murphy Literary Agency, is opening her own critique service!!!

Website: www.traceymcox.com
Blog: www.traceymcox.wordpress.com
 - an e-pub or PDF copy (winner's choice) of Linda Ashman's Nuts And Bolts Guide To Writing Picture Books

 - a personalized signed copy of I WANNA GO HOME by Karen Kaufman Orloff, the latest in the brilliant PB series that began with I WANNA IGUANA.

 - a personalized signed copy of I AM COW HEAR ME MOO by Jill Esbaum (reviewed for Perfect Picture Books HERE and HERE - yep, it's so popular it got reviewed for PPBF twice :))

 - a personalized signed copy of NINJA RED RIDING HOOD by Corey Rosen Schwartz, the riveting follow-up to THE THREE NINJA PIGS.

 - a PDF copy of Ryan Sias's A Spooky-Doodle E-Book, "doodle pages, drawing lessons and writing prompts inspire kids to invent their own stories, characters and artwork."

And I'd like to clarify (because I got asked) that people who donate prizes are still eligible to enter the contest!  Just, if they win, I won't give them their own prize :)

And that is 10 prizes now, all very generously donated!  So I'm hoping we'll get at least 10 entries :)

Okay!  Now back to our regularly scheduled programing.  (Brevity is overrated anyway... :))

Since I know you're all revved up at the prospect of all those amazing prizes, and are going to run right off to your favorite writing corner and get to work on your entries as soon as you've commented for today's WYRI pitcher, let me fortify you with a little Something Chocolate! :)

Since Halloween is coming, it's important that we embrace the occasion in our chocolate snacks.  Today (don't be scared!) we have Spooky Boo Brownies!!!

Find the recipe HERE if you want to give these scary delights a try! :)

Oooh!  So spooky! . . . and chocolatey and delicious :)

Now then, today's pitch comes to us from Debbie who says, "I have been writing all my life but have been more serious about it in the last 5 years, joining groups like SCBWI and Julie Hedlund’s 12 X 12, taking courses like MPBM (Making Picture Book Magic), and attending conferences. Susanna’s knowledge, generosity, and encouragement make this group essential to my writing life. Thank you, Susanna! And thank you all in advance for your feedback."

(Debbie's website will be up soon, and when it is, I'll let you know where to find her! :))

Here is her pitch:

Working Title: Your Friend, Conrad
Age/Genre: Picture Book (ages 4-8)
The Pitch: Conrad receives an invitation to visit his best friend Fiona. She tells him he’ll need to bring a sword, a bow and arrow, and … exactly ten marshmallows?! Conrad bravely sets out not knowing that the path will lead him into a leaky boat, past pesky ravens, through prickly brambles, and to the edge of a moat where a sweets-loving dragon lurks in the deep. Will this unlikely hero have the wits (and enough marshmallows) to make it to Fiona’s front door?

So what do you think?  Would You Read It?  YES, MAYBE or NO?

Add a Comment