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Amalia Hoffman sent this in to help us celebrate Chanukah. Amalia was featured on Illustrator Saturday: http://kathytemean.wordpress.com/2010/09/18/illustrator-saturday-amalia-hoffman/

Michelle Kogan not only sent in the illustration above, but also the poem below to celebrate Hanukkah.

Hustle of Hanukkah
Michelle Kogan © 2014

Hustle of Hanukkah
somehow squeezing it in
In between holidays
falling often mid week

In between school and work
and numerous car trips
In between tradition
and finding your own way

In between Maccabees
the temples destruction
In between stolen oil
a miracle appears

In between night’s darkness
inner warmth radiates
In between lights glowing
throughout cold winter days

In between your mom’s arms
and between dad’s embrace
Making Hanukkah fit
in between for eight days

The poem below was sent in by Marie Wagner. Marie is an Artist, Author, Publisher, and Web designer. http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/marie-wagner.html?tab=artworkgalleries

Thank you Amalia, Michelle, and Marie for sharing your work with us.

Hope all my Jewish friends around the world have a wonderful holiday!

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy

Congratulations to everyone in this post. I am sure all of you are doing somersaults like Luther in this new illustration sent in my Amalia Hoffman. http://www.amaliahoffman.com

Kirkus published a great review for Darlene Beck-Jacobson ‘s new book WHEELS OF CHANGE which is coming out in September. I read an advanced copy and wrote a review that is up on Goodreads.

Here are the links:

http://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/darlene-beck-jacobson/wheels-of-change-jacobson/

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1023025140

Vesper Stamper proves that winning a contest can get you noticed and sometimes that is all you need to make things happen. Vesper won the NJSCBWI Illustrator Showcase at the end of June and six weeks later, that win landed her representation with Lori Kilkelly at Rodeen agency.

Yvonne Ventresca was featured in the August NJSCBWI Author Spotlight. Here is the link: http://newjersey.scbwi.org/author-spotlight/author-spotlight-yvonne-ventresca/

At P.S. Literary Agency, Carly Watters has been promoted to vp, senior literary agent.

Julia Maguire has joined Knopf Children’s as editor. Previously she was an associate editor at Simon & Schuster Children’s.

Orion Children’s Books editorial director Amber Caraveo is leaving the publisher to become an agent, creating Skylark Literary along with Joanna Moult, officially launching in November. The agency will focus on YA and children’s authors.

The Simon Pulse imprint has promoted Liesa Abrams to vp, editorial director of Simon Pulse and associate editorial director of Aladdin. Plus, Michael Strother is being promoted to associate editor of Simon Pulse.

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy

Here is another fabulous illustration from the NJSCBWI Artist Showcase done by Doris Ettlinger. Doris has illustrated over 25 picture books, you can visit her at: www.dorisettlinger.com, facebook/dorisettlingerstudio, and etsy/DorisEttlingerStudio

Anna Olswanger has opened her own agency. Olswanger Literary LLC. People can visit my page at: http://www.olswanger.com/agent.shtml

Illustrator Hazel Mitchel signed a contract to be represented by Literary Agent, Ginger Knowlton of Curtis Brown Ltd., New York City

Illustrator Michelle Kogan has Two Paintings on Exhibit at the United States Botanic Garden, DC through November 2014. They are Wildlife Comes to Lake Shore Drive and Rogers Park Dunes Restoration and Piping Plover, watercolor and watercolor pencil.

Amalia Hoffman won the 21st century Children’s Nonfiction Conference Illustration Award in June.

If you sent me a success story and I didn’t put it up, please send it again to me. The last month has been extremely busy and I feel like I missed someone.

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Remember, Agent Jenny Bent is doing four of our first page critiques this month. Below are the guidelines:

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

Please “July 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: July 24th.

RESULTS: August 1st.

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 July’s directions. Of course, it doesn’t have to be the same submission.

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy

This June illustration was sent in by Amalia Hoffman. It looks like another character fell down the rabbit hole. Amalia was featured on Illustrator Saturday September 9, 2010. Here is the link: http://kathytemean.wordpress.com/2010/09/18/illustrator-saturday-amalia-hoffman/. You can also visit her site at: www.amaliahoffman.com 

Do you write picture books? Can you edit to tell your story in 150 words or less? If so, this Contest put on by Children’s Writer® might be right up your alley.  It does cost $15 to enter, but the fee will also pay for an introductory eight-month subscription to Children’s Writer, a monthly 12-page+ emailed digital newsletter that’s dedicated to keeping you up-to-date on children’s writing.

The contest is for fiction about exploration for kindergarteners up to 150 words. The story should be appropriate to children 5 to 7 learning to read on their own. The theme of exploration could be set at home, down the block, at school, on vacation, in books: Use your imagination! The story should be fun, colorful, use well-targeted words, and have special interest for the age group. Do not write too high for this readership. Know what a five or seven-year-old can and cannot read. Originality and the overall quality of writing will also be considered. Publishability is the ultimate criterion.

There are five cash prizes: $500 for the top winner, $250 for second place, and $100 for third, fourth, and fifth places.

Entry Fee: $15

Entries must be received by July 12, 2013.

Good luck!

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy

Every year Connecticut writers can enter the Tassy Writing Competition put on by The Shoreline Arts Alliance. The award is to help encourage and nurture the creation of exceptional quality books for children.

This year Betsy Devany was a finalist for her story titled, Ibbie-Rae Paves the Way.  She has been one of the winners for the last three years making her the first-ever triple-crown finalist in the Tassy Contest. No one has ever been a finalist in all three categories: picture book, middle grade novel, and young adult novel.

Congratulations Betsy!
www.shorelinearts.org/tassywalden.cfm

Amalia Hoffman’s book,  The Klezmer Bunch was selected by the talented director, composer and writer, Elizabeth Swados to be part of her children’s production entitled, Jewish Books Cooking.

Ms.Swados is best known for her Broadway smash hit, Runaways. Her innovative creations thrilled audiences for over thirty years. She won three Obie awards and five Tony nominations. www.elizabethswados.com

All performances are free to the public thanks to a generous grant from The Covenant Foundation. http://www.covenantfn.org/

Congratulations Amalia!

http://www.jccmanhattan.org/performancespage=catcontent&pID=2605&progID=25915

You may be interested in attending. Here are the performance dates, times, and locations:

The JCC in Manhattan

334 Amsterdam Avenue
New York, NY 10023
www.jccmanhattan.org
646-505-4444
Grand opening May 20^th @ 11:00 am and 1:00 pm
RESERVE ONLINE

Center for Jewish History

Center for Jewish History
15 W. 16th Street
New York, NY 10011
www.cjh.org
June 3^rd @ 11:30 am
RESERVE ONLINE

Kings Bay Y

3495 Nostrand Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11229
www.kingsbayy.org
June 6^th @ 5pm

Bryant Park

THE CAROUSEL, 40^th
Street Between Fifth and Sixth Avenues.
www.bryantpark.org
June 17th @ 1:00 pm

Lorraine Dey has written and Illustrated a picture book, “The Rain Forest Party” to be released in May 2012 by publisher, Raven Tree Press.

Congratulations Lorraine!

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy

Here is some examples of Amalia’s talent:

Next Five Illustrations from From The Klezmer Bunch.  Amalia works in watercolor and color pencil.

From Purium Goodies

Collage Picture Book

Example of Paper Sculpture

Art for Store Window

To see more visit http://www.amaliahoffman.com

Hope you enjoyed viewing Amalia’s art and thanks for visiting.

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy