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Peter H. Reynolds has signed a three-book deal with Scholastic.

Liza Baker, the executive editorial director at Cartwheel and Orchard Books, negotiated the terms of the agreement with Holly McGhee, the founder of Pippin Properties. The first book, entitled Happy Dreamer, will be published in 2016.

Reynolds had this statement in the press release: “Happy Dreamer is inspired by my own creative journey. I want readers to say ‘Hey, that’s me!’ and realize that their daydreaming, their wild energy—and even their challenges—are all good. I want to encourage kids—and grownup kids—to be happy with who they are, and to be confident about what lies ahead.”

Kate DiCamillo (pictured, via) has landed a deal with Candlewick Press for a new middle grade novel.

President Karen Lotz negotiated the terms of this agreement with Pippin Properties literary agent Holly McGhee. Editor Andrea Tompa will edit the manuscript.

The publisher plans to release the book in Spring 2016. According to the press release, the story “features three girls over one tumultuous summer, discovering a friendship that changes their lives.”

(more…)

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

I am very happy to announce that Agent Holly McGhee has agreed to be our Guest Critiquer for August. Holly McGhee opened Pippin Properties in 1998, after being an executive editor at HarperCollins and has built one of the most prestigious Literary Agencies in the Children’s Book Industry.

Holly says, “At Pippin we embrace every artistic endeavor, from picture books to middle-grade novels, nonfiction, young adult, graphic novels. We don’t follow trends—we encourage our clients to follow their hearts. Our philosophy, the world owes you nothing, you owe the world your best work, hasn’t changed, but as an agency we have evolved to keep pace with our clients.”

Among Holly’s celebrated clients are Kate DiCamillo, David Small, Doreen Cronin, Jandy Nelson, Kathi Appelt, Harry Bliss, Peter H. Reynolds, Sujean Rim, Jon Agee, and Holly’s very own big sister, Alison McGhee. Holly lives with her husband and three children fifteen miles west of the Lincoln Tunnel, and she also writes under the pen name Hallie Durand.

Here are the submission guidelines for submitting a First Page in August:

Please “August First Page Critique” in the subject line. Please make sure you include your name, the title of the piece, and whether it is as picture book, middle grade, or young adult, etc. at the top.

Please attach your first page submission using one inch margins and 12 point font – double spaced, no more than 23 lines to an e-mail and send it to: kathy(dot)temean(at)gmail(dot)com. Also cut and paste it into the body of the e-mail and then also attach it in a Word document to the email.

DEADLINE: August 21st.

RESULTS: August 29th.

Use inch margins – double space your text – 12 pt. New Times Roman font – no more than 23 lines – paste into body of the email

You can only send in one first page each month. It can be the same first page each month or a different one, but if you sent it to me last month and it didn’t get chosen, you need to send it again using the August’s directions. Of course, it doesn’t have to be the same submission.

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy

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

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

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

25-Page Middle Grade Fiction Critique with Agent Alyssa Henkin

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Good Luck! and Happy Bidding.

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy

Ann Bellov submitted the illistration below, titled “Summer Cold.”  https://sites.google.com/site/annebelovfineart/

I asked Wafa Musitief to take notes during the Pitch Session with Agent Holly McGhee at Pippin Properties and Associate Publisher Steve Meltzer of Dial, Dutton, and Celebra.  There are snippets of the session, which Kate DiCamillo sat in on and participated at the bottom of yesterday’s blog post.  Here are the notes that Wafa took:

- It helps to do your research on comparative titles in your genre and mention that in your pitch if you can, because an agent will sell your story to an editor and that editor must sell it to the sales and marketing division, so you really must give enough information for a defined ‘hook’ in your pitch but not too much information.

- The pitch should include details such where, when, who, what, how, etc. to draw in the reader, and give a good sense of the character personality and the sense of environment of your story. All basic answers should be in the pitch.

- Holly McGhee emphasized that is all in the execution. The more personal and detailed your story is, the more universal the story becomes
And she advised when sending query letter, she recommended adding some personalization and then putting your manuscript or a few chapters at the bottom. Too much information in the query is not needed, except to show you have done your research when you wisely query the agent you have selected. The whole goal is to make the perfect match.

- When formulating your pitch, think what does the main character have to pull the reader in? Think about what’s magical about your story. The character should have a transformation that we find ourselves caring about.

- Keep in mind when pitching a story that you describe as Historical Fiction, it could leave questions for the agent regarding where your potential book would fit on the shelves of a bookstore. This could raise more flags and questions for the agent you are pitching.

-When pitching a middle grade or YA story, keep in the mind the stakes should be raised high for your character. It’s not always right to play it safe.

- in summary, a great execution is what it takes for a successful pitch while dropping a comparative title or two .

Thanks, Wafa.  I know people feel like they miss out, when so many workshops are happening at once.  I am sure this will help a lot of people who wanted to attend the workshop and couldn’t.

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy