YAY! In case you missed all the screaming from Betsy Devany and all her friends, Betsy signed a contract for her first picture book, SMELLY BABY to Christy Ottaviano of Christy Ottaviano Books at Henry Holt.
Betsy’s debut book will be illustrated by Christopher Denise.
Everybody thinks Smelly Baby is gross, but she is beloved by Lucy. No one understands how amazing Smelly Baby is – or so Lucy thinks until Smelly Baby is … Publication is scheduled for spring 2016; Emily van Beek at Folio Literary Management did the deal on behalf of both Devany and Denise.
CONGRATULAIONS! BETSY, CHRISTOPHER, EMILY, and CHRISTY!
Robin Newman is celebrating, too.
She has two picture books coming out in 2014 with Creston Books.
Hildie Bitterpickles Needs Her Sleep,
illustrated by Chris Ewald (Spring 2015)
and
The Case of the Missing Carrot Cake, A Wilcox & Griswold Mystery,
illustrated by Deborah Zemke (Fall 2015)
CONGRATULATIONS, ROBIN and agent LIZA FLEISSIG!
WINNER: Rosi Hollinbeck is the winner of IT’S A FIREFLY NIGHT written by Dianne Ochiltree and illustrated by Betsy Snyder.
Congratulations!
Please send me your address, so I can pass it on to Dianne. I know you will love the book.
Now for my idea to send CHERRY MONEY BABY traveling:
I bought a copy Of John Cusick’s new book and will send it out to someone who leaves a comment saying they will read the book within a month or less and then pass it on to another person who can read it less than a month. I would like everyone who receives the book to email me with a little blurb of what they thought of the book and take a picture of yourself with Cherry holding the book and telling us about your location. It would be fun if you could mail it to someone in another state, etc. If everyone took a month that would take her off to twelve locations, but if it goes to some fast readers she could really see the world. I will post each month about Cherry’s travels. I will put up a blurb about you, too, so if you have signed a contract or have a published book, it would help show you off, too.
If you end up with the book and don’t know who to send it to, I will be glad to give you a name and address. So join in the fun and leave a comment letting me know you are willing to read and send on. You could even say the winner could send to you.
Talk tomorrow,
Kathy
Filed under: Contests, Kudos, opportunity Tagged: Betsy Devany, Betsy Synder, Cherry Money Baby, Christy Ottaviano Books, Emily Van Beek, It's a Firefly Night, Traveling Book
Hi Kathy, Thanks so much for the kudos. And super kudos to my agent, Liza Fleissig! The Case of the Missing Carrot Cake, A Wilcox & Griswold Mystery, is actually an early chapter book/early reader. (Ironically, it started out as a picture book.) Both books are due out in 2015. Woo-hoo!
And mega congrats Betsy! Looking forward to reading Smelly Baby.
And speaking of reading, I’d be happy to take on the Cherry Money Baby challenge.
I’ ll do it. Great idea! Sharon
Sent from my iPad
Thanks, Kathy!
As always, I appreciate your support and the kudos. You’ve been on this journey with me since the very beginning. I remember calling you in February 2007 to inquire about a writing retreat you were running in Princeton, NJ. A month later, we met. It was the first of many SCBWI events I attended, all of which led to where I am now. I am forever grateful to my agent, Emily van Beek, and to Christy Ottaviano, for believing in Smelly Baby. I still pinch myself over being paired with the super-talented Christopher Denise. His wife, author Anika Denise, is a gifted picture book writer.
And Robin, I am thrilled to learn of your upcoming chapter books! Huge congrats to you and Liza! Would love to hear the process of how your manuscripts grew from picture books to acquired chapter books. Can’t wait to read and share with kids.
I would also love to take on the Cherry Money Baby challenge. I had the pleasure of seeing John again this past September at the Squam Lake Writing Retreat. He is a great asset to our community as both a writer and an agent.
Lastly, kudos again to Dianne Ochiltree for another winning picture book: It’s a Firefly Night. Beyond her talent as a children’s writer, Dianne has always encouraged emerging writers with her stellar advice. She remains invested in paying forward. Thank you, Dianne!
Our community of children’s writers/illustrators is one of a kind. May we continue to cheer each other on, reach out to those who are new to this business, and focus on giving our best to the world. Children, our readers, deserve nothing less.
Happy writing!
Betsy
Betsy, I’m dying that we have to wait until 2016 to meet Smelly Baby!
Reblogged this on Darlene Beck-Jacobson.
Congratulations to Betsy and Robin! I can’t wait to read the books! Also, Did I win a copy of CHERRY MONEY BABY? JUST ASKING!
Congratulations, NJSCBWI-ers! Best wishes for your books, no matter how they smell! And Kathy, if you’d like to send me CHERRY MONEY BABY, I can promise to read it within a WEEK and to then send it to someone who wouldn’t take more than a month at most!
Darlene,
Yes, I announced that win on Friday. I sent your address to John already. I started reading the one I bought it last night. Diane Warner who was at the retreat read it before she came and said it was great.
Kathy
Count me in for reading John’s book. I’m a fast reader and I have a critique buddy in Kentucky who met John at an SCBWI conference last April and would love to read it and pass it on to another crit partner who lives in New York.
Just sayin’ — Three stops in one win.
Best,
Gail
Congrats, Betsy and Robin!