Thing 1 and Thing 2

Punxsutawney Phyllis- Road to Publication Part 2

2012-01-28T11:30:00.000-05:00

Susanna Leonard Hill is back to continue her story of how PUNXSUTAWNEY PHYLLIS went from concept to contract. If you missed Part 1, you can catch it here.

Take it away, Susanna!

I wrote the first draft of Punxsutawney Phyllis. I didn't even know how to spell Punxsutawney - it's wrong all through that draft! The original manuscript was slightly over 2000 words.

Ahem! What did I say? No judging!

So I rewrote it.

I had some lovely passages.... "Down in the hollow, she could hear the water in the brook chuckling under the ice as the cold loosened its grip..." that had to go!

It was painful, but I cut and I cut and I cut. And as I cut, the story began to emerge. It wasn't just about Groundhog Day, or a girl doing what had traditionally been a boy's job, or wishing for early spring. It was about believing in yourself. It was about having the courage to stand for your beliefs even when no one else seemed to be listening.

My first final draft was still over 1000 words, but I sent it to my agent.

She had a few suggestions.

I tweaked.

My second final draft met with her approval, so off it went to Holiday House. "They're looking for a Groundhog Day story," my agent said. "I think they're going to like this one!"

I waited.

I waited some more.

I hashed over that manuscript in my mind. I should have done this.... I thought. I should have done that... I should have said this differently....

I waited some more.

You know, you hear these stories of people who send in their manuscripts on a Friday and by Monday there's a furious bidding war going on between 3 of the Big Six houses? That has not happened to me! :)

I did morning drop-off, noon pick-up, afternoon bus stop. I folded laundry and washed dishes and vacuumed and picked up toys. I read stories and played games, cooked dinner and gave baths, and I wrote new stories whenever I could, often by the nightlight in the bathroom when I had an idea at 2 AM.

And I waited some more.

And then one day, in the end of January, my agent called with those magical, magical words!

"I've got an offer for you!"

Holiday House wanted to publish Punxsutawney Phyllis.

Punxsutawney Phyllis- Road to Publication Part 1

2012-01-26T14:48:00.003-05:00

I love hearing how picture books evolve- from that very first second when the seed of an idea is discovered to the final draft.

Susanna Leonard Hill is here today to share the story behind her adorable Groundhog's Day book PUNXSUTAWNEY PHYLLIS:

It's morning drop off time.
Child number one, who is 5, gets dropped at Kindergarten.
Child number two, who is 3, gets dropped at preschool.
Child number three, who is 1, stays in her car seat and puts anything within reach up her nose.
Child number four, (who some mistake for a dog although she is actually a human trapped in a dog's body), licks the window experimentally to see if child number two left anything good there - always a distinct possibility - and yes! score! there is a trace of strawberry milk!
It's really best if you never look inside my car. It's called the Dogmobile for a reason :)
The morning is gray. The sky spits ice. Dirty snow is lumped along the road sides. Everything looks defeated. Whose idea was winter anyway?
As I drive toward home, the baby sneezes - has she found something to put up her nose or is this the onset of a cold?
I wish for an early spring.
Just then, the radio DJ announces that Punxsutawney Phil has come out of his hole and declared 6 more weeks of winter.
In my sleep-deprived state I have forgotten that today is Groundhog Day.
I think - hunh! 6 more weeks of winter! Why doesn't spring ever some early?
Then I think - why is it always Punxsutawney Phil? Couldn't a girl groundhog do the job?
And then I think - HEY! I have an idea for a story! and suddenly I feel a little less grouchy about the weather :)

This is how stories often come to me - in the middle of everyday life, a piece from here, a piece from there that suddenly seem to fit together. And that is where the idea for Punxsutawney Phyllis came from while driving my kids to school on a gray February morning - Groundhog Day weather prediction, girl instead of boy, early spring.

All morning while I played with the baby, folded laundry, (wait, who am I kidding all morning - anyone who has kids in preschool knows they only stay there long enough for you to drive home and load the dishwasher before you have to turn around to go get them!), but anyway, as the morning passed I made up that story in my head. I thought up the first sentence and rehearsed it so I could remember it until I had a chance to write it down. "It was February 2nd. Down in the groundhog hole things were stirring, but not very much. Mostly there was a lot of snoring and rolling around."

OK. Hold on there a second. Before you start judging me for my GACK-awful beginning, let's just remember - we've all got to start somewhere!

TO BE CONTINUED

Tell the Truth Tuesday

2012-01-24T11:46:00.001-05:00

1. I have a dentist appt at 10:00 and an agent call at 2:00. Not sure which one I am more nervous about.

2. If you ask me to do a critique, sometimes I will have fantastic suggestions and other times I will have absolutely nothing helpful to say whatsoever.

3. My husband blows a gasket because every night a half an hour after dinner, my kids say "I'm hungry." I'm scared to tell him, but... I'm hungry too.

4. Though I am extremely camera shy, I got caught on film Sunday night doing the Cruz Dance with Joshy after the Giants beat San Francisco.

What Are Little Boys Afraid of?

2012-01-15T09:06:00.002-05:00

My son has seen every scary movie ever made. By the time he was four, my husband had shown him the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy. Is he scared of Orks? (like his mom) No. Is he scared of Golem? (like his big sister) No.

These are some of the things that keep him up at night.

He is scared he will get "out" in baseball.

He is scared that none of his friends will be able to make it to his birthday party.

He is scared that one the papers he glued onto his homework sheet will fall off and the teacher will get mad at him

He is scared to take his "smock" off in art class because someone might see his stomach when he pulls it over his head.

He is scared to go to school because he can't find his library books.

He is scared to go to camp. What if he and Jordan are not on the same bus? (Ha, ha... as if the camp would send two buses to the same house!)

And my all time favorite...

He is scared that when he gets older he might "accidentally" do drugs.

One Word

2012-01-06T20:53:00.003-05:00

2011, I can't say I am sorry to see you go! You were a sucky year career-wise, filled with a lot of frustration and disappointment. You took all the joy out of the publication process for me.

But 2012 is going to be different. I can feel it. If I have to pick one word to encapsulate my vision for 2012 it is PSYCHED.

I am feeling very optimistic about 2012 sales and super pumped up about my upcoming Fall release!

For a sneak peek at THE THREE NINJA PIGS and several other amazing 2012 picture books, check out this trailer:

2012, the adventure begins!!!

All I Want for Hanukkah

2011-12-20T14:48:00.001-05:00

My husband has this friend, Grant. He is young (relative to us), smart, and incredibly ambitious. David had lunch with him recently and they came up with an idea for a new medical product that they are going to try to pursue.

Then I saw him at a birthday party.

ME: We'd like to do blah blah blah, but we can't right now cause we just did our basement which was very expensive.

HIM: Well, when our new product comes out...

ME: Oh, you mean, when we make our millions?

Grant just looked at me.

HIM: "Why are you thinking so small?"

Ha! Apparently, I need a better attitude!

The Year of the Monster- and Some Post PiBo Tips

2011-12-05T10:23:00.004-05:00

PiBo 2009 was the year of Goldilocks for me. 2010 was the year of the dinosaur. (I had at least a dozen dinosaur titles, though I didn't end up writing any of them!) This year, nearly half the items on my PiBo list are in some way connected to monsters.

Is it because I am dying to write a monster story? Well, monster stories are certainly fun and appealing. But it's more than that. It helps me move my list along if I brainstorm one specific area- whether it's a character, a topic, or a theme. I was able to hit 30 ideas way before Nov 30th, by narrowing my focus.

So PiBoIdMo is over for 2011, now what?

MAKING YOUR LIST. Don't stop just because November is over. I find once I am in idea-generating mode, the ideas continue to flow effortlessly for at least a few more weeks. Keep your list in a handy place so you will have easy access when an idea pops into your head.

CHECKING IT TWICE. Check your list. Twice. Three times. Forty times. Check last year's list (if you made one) Are there ideas that can be combined? Sometimes an idea by itself it too slight but when used in conjunction with something else on your list it's the perfect premise for a PB!

In 2009, I had the following two ideas on my list:

25. Golidlocks has a twin sister- Tawnylocks?
34. Use fairy tale to teach fractions. Goldilocks and the three and a half bears? How can you have half a bear? Bear in Mommy’s tummy? Could mama bear deliver right in the middle of the story?

See? I wasn't kidding about the Goldilocks theme.

Neither idea went anywhere, but those two concepts nagged at me. twins... fractions....twins... fractions... Both seemed like premises I wanted to pursue.

And then during PiBo 2010, it hit me!

TWINDERELLA

The perfect way to combine the two.

Cinderella and her twin sister share everything. Each does half the chores, half the washing, half the ironing, and each takes half the fairy godmother’s goodies. But when they each spend half the night dancing with the prince, and they both fall in love, they have a problem.

PiBoIdMo- The Pressure is On!

2011-11-06T12:28:00.001-05:00

Okay, so.. during PiBoIdMo 2009, I came up with the title GOLDI ROCKS AND THE THREE BEARS. I wrote it with Beth Coulton and it sold to Putnam.

During PiBoIdMo 2010, I came up with another title for a fractured fairy tale. I wrote it and though I don't have a contract yet, I am convinced that ultimately... it will sell.

Now, it's PiBoIdMo 2011 and the pressure is on! I am off to a very late start due to six days with no power! Our electricity was restored late on Nov 3rd, but I am only just now getting into the PiBoIdMo mindset.

It's Nov 6th and I am staring at a blank list!

But I am not going to panic. It takes time to get into an idea-generating groove. If I incubate every day, ideas will hatch and multiply!

Success

2011-10-20T11:07:00.004-04:00

We all know the road to publication can be rough. Long and winding. Bumpy and bouncy. Puddly and potholed. I have hit roadblock after roadblock this year, and to be honest... I have been very down about it.

But I saw this graphic on Facebook today and it made me feel a little better:

It's all about managing expectations.

Conferences- A Double-Edged Sword

2011-09-18T11:48:00.005-04:00

Once, at the Rutgers conference, a panelist (whose name has totally escaped me) said this:

Don't take rejections personally. I've been in the business for 30 years and I've sold over 45 books and I still occasionally get a form letter! That should make you feel better.

Or..... NOT.

We all laughed, but I think as soon as it came out of his mouth, he realized that his statement, intended to encourage us, had actually had the opposite effect on his audience.

Yikes! This is some tough business. And that is the double-edged sword of attending conferences. You can leave feeling invigorated and inspired. But you can also walk out feeling slightly discouraged and depressed. We picked an industry where the odds are so overwhelmingly against us.

What do you do when this industry gets you down?

I'M NOT READY!

2011-09-14T18:07:00.002-04:00

My daughter does not do well with change.   When she was two, we got her a toddler bed. We talked it up, and she was very excited to sleep in it. We moved her 200 doggies and kitties from her crib to her beautiful new bed. We moved her blanket and her special pillow. We tucked her in. And started to walk away...

"I'M NOT READY!" she screamed. "I WANT MY CRIBBY!" So we moved all 200 doggies and kitties, blanket and pillow back to her crib and said, "We'll try again tomorrow."

This went on for months.

Two years ago, we got her a big girl bed. It sits in the corner of her room empty. I say to my husband, "What's the matter with her? She is seven and half and insists on still sleeping in her toddler bed."

Yesterday, I clicked on a button that said, "Try the new blogger interface now."

Two seconds later, I screamed I"M NOT READY!!!!    I WANT MY OLD INTERFACE BACK!

Imagine my surprise and relief when I saw a button that said, "Return to old interface."

The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

I will not be trying that new interface again for a LONG time.    Possibly not ever.

Slow as Molasses

2011-09-09T20:12:00.001-04:00

Okay, Karma Wilson wrote a PB on a Saturday, revised it Monday, and by Wed her agent had sent it to her editor who LOVED it.

I, uh, on the other hand, am still working on the same friggin' fractured fairy tale that I began last December!

If this were college, I'd be on the seven year plan

Crawling along at a snail's pace, but I think I am finally (almost) at the point where my agent is happy with it.

Just need to polish up a few final spots and then, my editor should have it, by say... oh, November?

I Must Really Be a Nerd

2011-08-20T13:06:00.002-04:00

Ann Hathoway was on Jon Stewart the other night and she referred to herself as a nerd. Jon Stewart asked her "What sort of nerdy pursuits do you have?" And she answered, "I'm a Scrabble fiend."

Well, if that is the definition of nerd, then I more than qualify. At any given time, I am in no less than 18 concurrent games. (at least 4 on my iPhone and 14 on Facebook)

But I think what really makes the case is this... I participated in a PB Makeover workshop on Write on Con this week, and it was THE MOST FUN I'VE HAD ALL SUMMER!

Yes, really. Better than beaches and boating. Better than wining and dining.

It really was a shot of adrenalin for me.

For example,

BEFORE

Beware the itching snitcheroo
with fingertips that stick like glue.
Make sure he never touches you.
The itch will drive you to snitch, too.

I took this already fun, Seuss-y stanza by Myrna Foster, and came back with this:

AFTER

Beware the itching snitcheroo
with fingertips that stick like glue.
But please don’t touch him, if you do
The itch to snitch will switch to you!

More fun than careening down a steep water slide.

Yup, NERD-ville.

A Pitch in Time Saves Nine

2011-08-10T08:51:00.002-04:00

Okay, so I had this whole post written... in my head. I was going to explain how I used to write picture books and then send them to my agent, only for her to write back and say "Eh. The story is well-written, but I don't really care for the premise." After a half a dozen of these experiences, my husband said to me, "You really need a new strategy." (Yes, he knew if he didn't speak up, I would continue banging my head against the wall indefinitely)

He suggested I 'pitch" an idea to my agent BEFORE I started writing. Well, eventually (after several more experiences like my earlier ones) I decided to give it a try.

And guess what?

It worked!

So, I was going to suggest that you all try to write your pitch before you write your story.

Bu then Jean Reidy went ahead and said that exact thing. And she articulated the reasoning behind it so well! So... go check out her post!

NOTE: If anyone would like to test out his/her pitch, there is a great opportunity over at Susanna Hill's blog today called Would You Read It Wednesday?

Sometimes Less is More

2011-08-04T16:25:00.003-04:00

I always struggle to come up with new premises for picture books. I rack my brain for something high concept. Something that has a "Hollywood" hook.

But sometimes the simplest stories are the sweetest!

Today I read POUCH by my new idol, David Ezra Stein. (Author-illustrator of the ever-hilarious Interrupting Chicken.)

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 1—Stein continues to create deceptively simple yet very affecting picture books. One day, little Joey peeks out of Mama Kangaroo's pouch and says, "I want to hop!" Each time he leaves his safe haven, he takes more steps, meets a strange new animal, yells out "Pouch!," and hops back to his mama to hide. But when the final animal is another little joey who also yells "Pouch!," the two realize there is nothing to fear, have a good laugh, and hop off together. When their mamas offer their pouches, the youngsters say, "No, thanks."

I found this book to be so darling, probably in part because it reminds me of Jordan when she was little. But isn't that always what makes a book special? The fact that you can see a little part of yourself (or your kids) in it!

When Jordan was 12 or 13 months old, every time we were out and ANYTHING did not go her way (perhaps, for example, another kid grabbed a toy from her) Jordan would come running over to me yelling and signing, "Home!"

Can't wait to get my hands on Stein's other picture books.

NOTE: Now that I think of it, Jordan did this at home too. Whenever we were in the apt. and something did not go her way, she would yell "CRIBBY!" That was her pouch. God, how could I have not written this book?

What's the Worst That Can Happen?

2011-08-02T09:46:00.001-04:00

I don't like to do too much self-promotion on here, but since my Hop! Plop! Amazon price just dropped from its highest ever ($15.95) to its lowest ever ($6.38), I feel like I ought to mention it.

Okay, moving on....

I had a bit of an eye-opening talk with my agent last week. I have been with her for two years and I have shown her close to a dozen manuscripts. She has subbed and sold two and has not wanted to sub any of the others. My attitude was "Why not give one a shot? What do we have to lose?" In my mind, the worst that could happen was that it doesn't sell. But my agent explained to me that there is something worse. It can sell to a house, but not do well with the public. She said, "Early books with poor sales figures can hurt your career."

Her philosophy is quality over quantity. This actually works for me.

Beth Revis once asked (in early 2009, when she and I first started blogging):

If you could have one book published--but only one book--and that book would 100% for sure be published, and you would 100% for sure have moderate success (a good advance, book tour, signings and readings--but we're not talking JK Rowling here), BUT after this happened you would 100% for sure never publish again (you can write all you want--just not be published)...would you do that instead of staying in the rat race of publication and trying to break out with your own chops, knowing the chances? Which would be better--guaranteed one perfect slam dunk, or just the chance to stay in the game and hope the ball comes your way?

I still remember it well, because I was pretty much the ONLY person who responded that I would take the slam dunk!

I would rather have one -or a small handful of- very successful books, then 30-40 mediocre ones.

How 'bout you?

Bummer in the Summer

2011-07-28T12:11:00.002-04:00

So... I got some "problematic" feedback on a manuscript this week. I say problematic because my agent wants a more satisfying ending, and I don't feel like I can come up with one that is satisfying to everyone. Bummer in the summer.

I kind of dug myself into a hole with the story's conflict. I have two MC's and they both want the same thing. They can't BOTH have it.

So, what can an author do?

I can change the problem, of course,... but that is really the essence of the whole story.

I can brainstorm other solutions, but my gut tells that no matter how creative I get, some readers will always feel like one character got short shrift. Oy!

Have you ever given your characters a problem that they couldn't satisfactorily solve?

Tell the Truth Tuesday- I Mean Monday

2011-07-25T12:14:00.004-04:00

Okay, I have come to two big realizations, so BIG that I can't wait till tomorrow to post.

1) I hate my Kindle.

I am sorry to admit this... I WANT to love my Kindle, but I think I just don't enjoy books as much when I read them electronically. At first, I thought I was just picking "bad" books. But now, I have gotten stuck midway through THREE different MG/YA novels, all of which are getting great reviews around the blogosphere. So, it must be the format, right?

2) I am a friggin' nightmare to work with!

I collaborate on nearly all my PB manuscripts and I can often be heard b*tching about how difficult my partner is acting. She is obstinate. She is unyielding.

But now I am working on a project with my husband, and I'm being a complete a-hole. A perfectionist. A control freak. I ask for help and then I ding all his suggestions. Poor David. It's not you, honey, it's me!

Summer Biggest List

2011-07-19T11:44:00.000-04:00

Biggest Dream- Three Ninja Pigs makes the NY Times bestseller list

Biggest Regret- That I didn't write Go The F*ck to Sleep

Biggest Hurdle- Cannot multi-task

Biggest Accomplishment- started working out four times a week (which means... no writing, blogging, cleaning, etc. See Biggest Hurdle)

Biggest Mistake- promised my daughter a puppy for her eighth birthday

Biggest Sacrifice- gave up one Starbucks coffee frap per day

Biggest Weakness- still drink two Starbucks coffee fraps per day

Biggest Goal- To make it into a Lisa-Laura, Elana, & Friends Vlog.

Do you have any "biggies" this summer?

From the Trenches

2011-07-15T08:44:00.002-04:00

The most humiliating thing happened. I was chatting with Steve Meltzer (very senior editor at Dial) at the NJ SCBWI conference and he asked me what picture books I was shopping.

Uh... I have one about a girl and her doll and they pretend all the time. It's about imagination really and her brother keeps trying to steal her doll, but she keeps rescuing her, and .... well, really it's about sibling rivalry, but.. there is a lot of imaginary play, and... in the end, the doll goes missing, and the brother rescues her. Um, well.. it's a lot better than it sounds!

Could anything be more embarrassing.

Lessons to learn from this?

(1) Always have a pitch ready. I was not attending any pitch sessions, so I did not prepare anything. Plus, I have an agent, so I am not really attending conferences to pitch my work. I am there to just make connections and build relationships. But I should have had one ready just in case!

(2) Make sure your story has a strong hook. Even though this particular story has some universal themes and may appeal to a lot of people, I realized (in the midst of my stammering and stuttering, stumbling and bumbling) "This story is never going to sell!"

If I can't pitch it to an editor, how will an editor pitch it to a sales and marketing team?

Compare it to .. oh, say THREE NINJA PIGS: The three pigs get fed up with the big bad wolf and go to ninja school!

Sounds so much more appealing!

Do you have a good one line pitch for your story?

Being Invisible

2011-07-07T15:46:00.000-04:00

I was skimming Aaron Shephard's "The Business of Writing for Children" last night and one thing really resonated with me.

Aaron was attending a storytelling festival many years ago and he says:

All, at once, in the middle of the story, I "woke up" with a shock For a few seconds, I had completely forgotten I was sitting in a hot tent with a thousand other people. The storyteller had drawn me into the story so completely that I was aware of nothing, but the story's unfolding within my own mind.

That moment told me that the height of storytelling-- oral or written-- is when the teller becomes invisible.

As writers, I think we often find it hard to turn off our internal editors when we read.. I try to just 'enjoy" a book but often find myself thinking, "Boy, she is using too many adverbs" or "Gee, a little too much of an info dump here."

I remember noticing that I was NOT doing this during The Hunger Games. Suzanne Collins was such an amazing storyteller that I never once thought about her sentence structure!

What was the last book you read where the author was invisible?

The Chicken's Cooking!

2011-06-29T10:04:00.002-04:00

Okay, so it's been a while since I talked about a WIP. When I last left off, my little chicken was having some problems. And not the good kind that you throw at your character to make the story more compelling. That was back in March. I am happy to report that he is doing much better. But picture books (especially those written in rhyme) are very labor intensive. Becky and I can sometimes spend two hours on one line!

For any PB writer who missed it, Mem Fox's Green Sheep Secrets is a must-read! She makes this point very well when she talks about the last stanza of Where Are the Green Sheep.

It originally read:

Where IS that green sheep?
Let’s turn the page softly, and take a peep. . . .
Here’s the green sheep,
Fast asleep…!

But she goes on to explain it was missing an essential element that she now recognizes as "solace."

It was re-written many times. In the end, a single word provided the solace of togetherness in the last lines—the use of ‘our’ instead of ‘the’:
Where IS that green sheep?
Turn the page quietly—let’s take a peep. . . .
Here’s our green sheep,
Fast asleep…!

Amazing, how one tiny word made such a difference, huh?

Anyway, back to our chicken. We pretty much had him fried, baked, and fricasseed. But in the end, the foxes decide to make him into chicken stew!

We started with the super BLAH

     When darkness falls, we'll have a meal
     of tasty chicken stew

and revised until we had

   Tonight we'll feast on finger-lickin'
     chunky chicken stew

Now, we're cooking, baby.

Speaking of Strengths

2011-06-21T09:38:00.002-04:00

I was playing Jenga with Jordan recently. In her version of the game, each stick that you pull out has a question written on it like "What was the best day of your life?" or "Who is the cutest boy in your class?"

Jordan got the question, "What is your best physical attribute?'

JORDAN: What's an attribute?
ME: It's like a trait or feature. Something about the way you look.
JORDAN: Oh, I guess mine would be my hair or my smile.
ME: Actually, I would definitely say it's your eyes. You have gorgeous eyes!
JORDAN: And yours would be... your smile
... or your boobs.

I almost died. The funny thing about it was ... she was dead serious.(and she's seven!)

So, I guess for the foreseeable future, I will be writing in rhyme and buying some low cut dresses.

Play to Your Strengths

2011-06-15T14:48:00.003-04:00

I stirred up a lot of controversy with my last post. That certainly wasn't my intention. If I wanted controversy, I would have said something like... pretty friggin' scary when Michele Bachmann is declared the "winner" of a presidential primary debate.

Anyway, my point was... write what comes most easily and naturally to you.

Sometimes my writing partner, will say to me, "Let's write this PB in prose." And my response is "Okay, and maybe Derek Jeter should try out for the Jets."

Rhyme is what we do best. Why would we throw our best asset out the window?

When editors read our manuscripts at conferences, they don't say "Wow, what a great plot!" Or "Oh my gosh, I LOVE this character!" They say, "This has a lovely, rollicking rhythm."

Once we are a bit established, then we can experiment with different formats and styles. But for now, we should play to our strengths.

Are You Writing for the Right Age?

2011-06-10T13:19:00.001-04:00

At the 2009 Rutgers's conference, our five-on-five panel leader asked us to go around the table and tell everyone two things. (1) our name (2) the age we felt inside.

I am clearly a four year old. A very smart four year old, but a four-year-old nonetheless. Some of us were 8-9. Others were 11-12. But for most of us it was easy to answer. And THAT is the age you should be writing for.

I have seen lots of people who write picture books who should really be writing chapter books. At the first page session I attended Sunday, at least two people (out of the half a dozen who attempted PBs)) were told, "This sounds like the first page of a chapter book."

If you've heard this comment about your work more than once, chances are you are writing for the wrong age!

Conference Woes- But Not the Kind You Might Expect

2011-06-02T16:24:00.002-04:00

I'm going to the NJ-SCBWI conference this weekend. I've been to lots of conferences before, but never one that meant being away from home for two nights. I've given my husband detailed lists and schedules, but I'm still nervous. Everyone knows... a father is not a mother. KNUFFLE BUNNY makes that abundantly clear! (Have I mentioned Mo Willems is a genius!)

Will David remember to sunblock the kids at the pool? Will he make sure that Jordan wears her black jazz shoes on Sunday for her Aladdin show? Will he leave the can't-live-without bunny in the laundromat? (No, wait. That's Trixie's dad!)

Usually my biggest fear is "Will he give them nightmares for years by showing them completely inappropriate movies," but with Jordan in her first Disney musical, there is a bit more at stake! (and, no, of course I am not missing her big debut. I am skipping out of the conference early and going straight to the theater)

The good news is.. with all these worries running around my head, I have no time at all to be nervous about meeting editors and agents!

Inside the Mind of a Five Year Old

2011-05-21T11:48:00.001-04:00

My sense of humor must have gotten washed away during the nine days in a row of rain that we just had. I can't seem to come up with a single witty or amusing thing to say. So, I'll do what I always do in that situation. Exploit my offspring.

Here are some recent conversations with Thing 2.

JORDAN: I wonder who was the first person to get an iPod touch?
JOSH: It was probably Adam and Eve

ME: I think I'll go read some books to get ideas.
JOSH: You're not like the Beatles. They were original.

And my favorite...

JOSH: Why are there two N's in the alphabet?
ME: Why do think there are two N's?
JOSH: Cause there are... L, M, N, O, P ... Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, N, Z!

What hilarities have your kids been up to lately?

When is it Time?

2011-05-13T13:12:00.001-04:00

Okay, Google Blogger somehow gobbled up my last post. I don't feel like rewriting it, especially since I wrote something embarrassingly similar here. (How Do You Know When You're Ready to Submit)

But I am interested to hear what everyone else thinks. I'm sure we've all sent things out too early (The classic mistake of a newbie!). But I'm sure we also all have at least one manuscript that we have "over-written." One that we kept revising and revising to address other people's issues until the manuscript lost some of its original charm and appeal.

So, how do you know when you have hit that "sweet" spot. The exact right time to submit?

NOTE: Google blogger spit my post back out fully in tact. Now I feel even dumber!

How Do You Know When to Submit?

2011-05-12T13:27:00.000-04:00

This is a tricky one. My new WIP is off to my editor. I thought it was ready. (My agent didn't)

I've seen people send things off way too early. I've also seen the opposite. I've seen people over-revise. They keep getting feedback and keep reworking and reworking until the story has lost some of its original appeal.

So, how do you know when you have hit that "sweet' spot. The place where it is time to submit.

I think a good writer has to trust her instincts on this. Did I feel like there was no way my manuscript could be improved? No. It's not about being "perfect". It's about being "irresistible." I felt like any editor who read it would love it enough to want to work with me on "perfecting" it.

Not to sound conceited, but I felt that it was too charming and compelling to pass up. That's the time to send it out. When you can't imagine anyone would say 'no."

When you can drop it in the mailbox and walk away with a huge smile on your face.

That Comfy Couch

2011-05-10T11:40:00.001-04:00

I recognized that Tess was a genius a long time ago, but I was reminded of her brilliance when I read her recent post The Quitting Place. I've been on that couch and god, is it comfortable!

I was on it just this past week. It would have been so easy to stay there. But I picked up the phone and I called my agent. It was incredibly UNCOMFORTABLE. My heart raced. I broke into a sweat. I stuttered and stammered. But I did it. And I'm so glad I did.

Sitting on the Head of a Pin

2011-05-03T09:56:00.000-04:00

I feel like I am sitting on the head of a pin. If I move in any direction, I will fall off.

This is NOT a good feeling, by the way.

I think it's being caused in large part by the fact that my agent and I are having artistic differences. We have two completely different visions for my WIP.

I wrote a fraction story. And she likes it, except for the fractions. Ha!

So, I guess my problem is... I am not entirely clear on an agent's role. Is it her job to sell what I write? Or is it her job to sell only what she likes?

Day 5 Giveawaty- Signed Goodnight Goon

2011-04-26T09:47:00.000-04:00

Note to self: No more five day parties (I somehow forgot how little stamina I have!)

I'm so sorry. I've been neck deep in revisions (knee deep really isn't all that deep when you think about it) and I have totally neglected my blog and my contest! (I also owe some of you prizes and I promise I will get to the post office soon.)

Okay, onto the fifth and final giveaway. Goodnight Goon written and illustrated by Michael Rex. This petrifying parody earned Michael a spot on the NY Times bestseller list.

In a cold gray tomb
There was a gravestone
And a black lagoon
And a picture of –
Martians taking over the moon

All you have to do to enter is be a follower and leave a comment. (and you must have a U.S. Postal address)

Contest ends Thurs, April 28th at 5:00 PM.

Day 4 Giveaway- Hop! Plop!

2011-04-12T11:04:00.001-04:00

Many authors dream of the day that they will see their book on a shelf in B&N. I gotta say... it's a great moment! But there is actually something better. Watching as your own child reads your story!

Here is Jordan "reading" Hop! Plop! when it first came out in 2006.

To win, all you have to do is tell me how cute she is. Kidding! Just follow me on Facebook at Three Ninja Pigs.

And leave me a comment to let me know you want to be entered.

Day 3 Giveaway- Nightshade City

2011-04-08T12:08:00.002-04:00

Okay, I am falling way behind schedule, but it's spring break and my kids are home. Need I say more?

For day 3 of the Hop! Plop! Birthday Bash, I am giving away NIGHTSHADE CITY by Hilary Wagner. Can you believe this exciting underground MG adventure started out as a picture book?

Hilary is here to tell us about it in her own words:

When I got the idea in my head to write Nightshade City, it started out far different. I was pregnant with my daughter Nomi (who at the time we were told was a boy), so I thought wouldn't it be great if I wrote a picture book for my two sons! Vincent was about five at the time and my baby on the way was going to be called Victor. If we have another boy anytime soon at least we already have the name picked out!

So, I started writing. The story began on a roof top of an old apartment building in a dilapidated city, two bony rats brothers, shivering close to each other on a dark and stormy night. *insert record screech here* Hmmm...two emaciated rats in an old dirty city on a dark and stormy night...that didn't scream picture book to me, especially when the owl comes after them moments later!

At that moment, I realized (quite clearly) I was not meant to write picture books. I adore them and buy way too many of them for Nomi--two now--and a total bookavore! I think writing picture books takes a special kind of knack, just like novels do. You either have the talent for them or you don't and just because an author can write a string of bestselling novels, don't think picture books are easy peasy to that same author--total myth! Last year I saw literary agent Michael Stearns speak (who has this awesome dry sense of humor) and he said (I'm summarizing) that many picture book writers move on to novels, but it is rare for a novelist to move on to picture books--at least good ones! He was certainly right in my case.

Just a few weeks back, I finished KINGS OF TRILLIUM, Book II in the Nightshade Chronicles and now I'm working on a second series. I'm so hooked on novels. I can never see myself moving into picture books. I'm just not built for them! For now, I'll just buy Corey's! Nomi can't wait for Three Ninja Pigs!!!! ;)

NIGHTSHADE CITY is available at Barnes and Noble stores nationwide, Indie Booksellers, Amazon and more.

Thanks, Hilary!

All you have to do to enter is be a follower and leave a comment. (You must also reside in the U.S.)

Contest ends Mon, April 11th at 5:00 PM.

Day 2 Giveaway- The Liar Society

2011-04-05T14:20:00.000-04:00

Okay, day 2 of the Big Hop Plop 5th Birthday Bash! I realize that not everyone out there reads and writes picture books. So, today, I am giving away a copy of The Liar Society by the funny and fabulous Roecker sisters, Lisa and Laura. This YA mystery is fun, fast.paced, and full of suspense. (OMG, I am going a little overboard with the alliteration today)

You'd have to be living under a rock to have not heard of this one, but just in case... here is the blurb:

Kate Lowry's best friend Grace died a year ago. So when she gets an email from her, Kate's more than a little confused.

To: KateLowry@pemberlybrown.edu
From: GraceLee@pemberlybrown.edu
Subject: (no subject)
Kate,
I'm here... sort of.
Find Cameron. He knows.
I shouldn't be writing.
Don't tell. They'll hurt you.

Now Kate has no choice but to prove once and for all that Grace's death was more than just a tragic accident. She teams up with a couple of knights-in-(not-so)-shining armor-the dangerously hot bad boy, Liam, and her lovestruck neighbor, Seth. But at their elite private school, there are secrets so big people will do anything to protect them-even if it means getting rid of anyone trying to solve a murder...

All you have to do to enter is be a follower and leave a comment.

For this one, you must reside in the U.S.

Contest ends Wed, April 6th at 5:00 PM.

Happy Birthday HOP PLOP (and some giveaways!)

2011-04-04T10:53:00.003-04:00

Okay, I'd like to say this is epic. But if you want EPIC, you need to go to Lisa and Laura's blog for a truly epic, huge, crazy, insane contest, creative beyond your wildest imagination. (or at least mine)

In any case, today is the 5th birthday of Hop! Plop! And I really want to do something special. So, I am giving away FIVE prizes.

Each day, there is different prize and a different way to enter. So check back M-F for new ways to win.

Today, all you have to do is announce on facebook or Twitter:

Happy Birthday HOP PLOP, an Eric Carle Museum PB of Distinction- http://bit.ly/guDDnx

Leave me a comment to let me know you've done it. Do both (facebook and twitter) and get two entries.

Today's prize is a $20 Amazon gift card or a PB critique.

Contest ends April 5th and 5:00 PM (EST)

Thanks for celebrating with me!

Quacky Baseball- The Story Behind the Story

2011-03-30T09:29:00.000-04:00

Peter Abrahams is on deck to share the genesis of his new picture book, QUACKY BASEBALL. Peter is a New Your Times best-selling author of 25 novels. QUACKY BASEBALL is his first creation for the 3-8 crowd. Young baseball fans will love this nail-biter!

Peter, you're up!

Back when I was writing the Echo Falls mysteries (a middle-grade series for Harper), I was hit by a sudden and unexpected idea for a picture book. It arrived in the form of the title – Quacky Baseball – grew in minutes to a whole history of baseball starting from caveman times, and culminated in a ninth-inning nail-biter; all the players would be ducks, meaning there’d be cavemen ducks, which I was eager to see. I called my editor and told her the idea. She said it sounded interesting: “Write it up.” I wrote it up that very day – not many words in a picture book! – and a contract was drawn up soon after.

Time passed. My editor left and I began working with a new one. Frank Morrison was brought in to do the art. I checked out his work, loved it. Soon we discovered there was too much story. I cut out everything but the most dramatic and action-oriented component, meaning the nail-biter, Quackers versus Webbies. Those cavemen ducks? They’ll have to exist only in my mind. I came up with names for the players (I’m very big on getting the exact right names for characters in my work) such as the little hero, Thumby Duckling, and his teammates – Flakey Duckstein, Manny El Pato, Medwick Ducky (an inside-baseball joke I’m not sure anyone has gotten yet), and the others, all brought beautifully to life by Frank. My editor left and I began working with a new one. Yes, again: this is the kind of thing you have to get used to in publishing. I made a few last tweaks of the text to better match the final pictures, then put my feet up, smoked a cigar and retired to an assisted-living compound in Florida.

All of the above guaranteed 100% true (except for the cigar and Florida part).

Peter, thanks so much for stopping by!

Visit the rest of the stops on the QUACKY BASEBALL tour.

Comment here, or on any blog stop, for a chance to win a signed copy of the book.

Monday, March 28 - Megan Frances Abrahams - On Beyond Words & Pictures - interview with Kristin Daly Rens, Senior Editor, Balzer & Bray

Tuesday, March 29 - Julie Musil Julie Musil - interview with Thumby Duckling - the main character - via author Peter Abrahams

Wednesday, March 30 - Corey Schwartz Corey Schwartz - author Peter Abrahams on the genesis of Quacky Baseball

Thursday, March 31 - Diane Browning - Out of the Paintbox - interview with illustrator Frank Morrison

Friday, April 1 - Hilde Garcia Pen & Ink - interview with author Peter Abrahams

Saturday, April 2 - Lori Walker L.H. Walker - book review/synopsis with input from Lori's childre

Is Your Head in the Sand?

2011-03-28T16:46:00.002-04:00

Today's topic is... wait for it...

DENIAL

Like politicians ('I did not have sexual relations with that woman'), my mother-in-law's favorite method of dealing with things is to DENY DENY DENY.

When my sister-in-law got married, my MIL threw her a brunch the next day. She had this conversation with the host.

MIL: Excuse me, sir. We need more seats and place settings.

HOST: Well, Ma'am. You said there would be ninety guests and there are clearly more.

MIL: No there aren't

HOST: Well, we set 90 places and they are all taken. So, there have to be more than 90 people in attendance.

MIL: No. There aren't.

We all put our heads in the sand sometimes. A little voice inside kept trying to tell me this week that my chicken story had an issue, but I kept telling that voice to shut up!

Luckily, I have a friend who was honest enough to call me on it.

As writers, we really need to listen to that voice. Denying that there is a problem is not going to get us publishing contracts!

The Butterflies are Back

2011-03-22T15:17:00.001-04:00

Sometimes, you get an idea... a shiny new idea that you are excited about... but for some reason, you can't get it off the ground. This has been happening to me a lot lately.

I get an idea. I get that flittery, jittery feeling that comes when you know an idea is good. I start writing. And then... BAM! I lose all enthusiasm for the project.

This occurred recently with a story that I'll refer to as HA. (I don't know why, but I am suddenly tight-lipped about sharing titles. I blabbed GOLDI ROCKS all over the blogosphere, but now I am being cautious)

So, anyway, Becky and I got the idea for HA in one of our brainstorming sessions. We meet on Instant Message and just throw out anything that pops into our heads. One thing led to another and DING DING DING, we hit the jackpot. or so I thought. It was clever. It was fun. It had a marketing hook I got all tingly inside.

Becky and I began outlining and drafting. From the beginning, we couldn't agree on anything. We spent an hour arguing about whether the MC should be male or female (I kid you not) We had lengthy discussions about species (we finally decided upon gopher) And we were conflicted about whether or not to have a refrain (we both liked the "idea" of a refrain, but it kept feeling forced.)

We got about halfway through a super rough draft and I absolutely HATED it.

So, we did what anyone would do in our situation.

We ate a LOT of chocolate.

Then we gave ourselves some distance. We worked on other things.

And when we were ready to take another look, I had an epiphany. The MC needed to be a chicken. I'm not sure why, but he just did.

We started over completely and we only have a few stanzas, but already it feels much more "right."

I am once again excited to work on it. The butterflies are back!

Liar Society Blog Tour of Awesome- Evolution

2011-03-16T08:50:00.005-04:00

You Say You Want Evolution...

The version of Liar Society that we queried with was 55,000 words. The published book is 78,000 words. To say that the book has evolved as we edited would be a HUGE understatement.

When we had our first conversation with our agent about the book she told us the book needed work. She had a few ideas about how we could improve the story we were trying to tell. We took her advice to heart and never looked back. After a couple of months of heavy revision we were ready to go out on sub. The book was right around 75,000 words and we were happy with the way we developed the characters and the plot.

And editors liked the book. A few liked it enough to suggest further revisions. So we revised again. We strengthened our central mystery. We got rid of these convenient little magic heart pills that appeared midway through the book. We gave Kate more of an edge, tried to make her grief more immediate. This version of the manuscript clocked in at 85,000 words.

And Sourcebooks bought that book. The fell in love with Kate and her secrets and her snooty school. And then of course we revised some more feedback. The book was too long. We had to cut. So we shaved off about 10,000 words to make things move faster in the beginning. And then we got a new editor, with some truly amazing ideas about Kate and the gang. That's when we added 8,000 NEW words. But they were good words. Words that strengthened our characters and made the book stronger. At least that's what we keep telling ourselves.

So yeah, for us: 55,000 words + 20,000 words + 10,000 words - 15,000 words + 8,000 DIFFERENT words = a fully evolved manuscript. Makes our heads hurt just thinking about it.

Psst...we have a secret. Click here, hit the Pemberly Brown Plaque. The password is CREST.

And if you want to enter The Liar Society Blog Tour of Awesome contest, and really, who wouldn't want to enter!?! There's a $100 Amazon gift card up for grabs! Just click here and enter the super secret password, CREST, for an entry. Remember you can enter one time for each stop on our blog tour, so be sure to click here and see where else we're visiting this month to maximize your chances of winning.

Audi, Vide, Tace,

L&L

You Gotta Have Friends

2011-03-02T14:56:00.001-05:00

Tag, I'm it! Tara Lazar wrote a post about the importance of having writer friends. And then, well... she tagged me. Why? Because she and I have a particularly symbiotic relationship. We each give ourselves credit for at least one picture book sale that the other has made! (We think we have a decent shot of making that two each by the end of the year! :)

I have very few marketable skills (unless you happen to know of a position that pays for high Scrabble scores?)

But one thing I can do... I can spot a PB winner when I see one!

So, when Tara wrote The Monstore, I said, "Tara, this will sell. Time to get yourself an agent." I then gave her a referral to Ammi-Joan Paquette. Joan and I had been in an online critique together years ago before she was an agent at Erin Murphy Literary Agency. I had a sense of her style and taste and thought it would be a good fit. (though, honestly, I didn't think any agent would say no tot hat manuscript!)

Joan fell in love and quickly sold it to Aladdin,/Simon and Schuster.

Tara didn't really need my help The Monstore would have sold without me. But it sure is nice to have a friend's vote of confidence to get you through the lows of this industry.

Pinky's Binky

2011-02-23T14:41:00.000-05:00

Okay, this is only funny if you know me really well. (For those of you who don't, let me just say that by the time my daughter was one and a half, she was already outsmarting me.)

Jordan was home sick from school last week and she insisted that we write and illustrate our own picture books.

Here is my story

Pinky had a little Binky
She loved that Binky so.
Everywhere that Pinky went,
the Binky had to go.

Mommy said, "You're getting old.
It's time to say good-bye."
Pinky said, "I can't do that."
And then began to cry.

I love my Binky far too much
I can't throw it away
Mommy said, You're turning three.
That Binky cannot stay."

Pinky said, "I'll give it up,
if you give up your Fraps!"
Mommy, said, "Okay, it stays.
Come on. Let's take our naps."

I'm a Puggle, You're a Puggle (and a Giveaway!)

2011-02-17T09:03:00.003-05:00

Kristy is not my only friend to have a book launch this week! Aaron Zenz, author and illustrator of The Hiccupotamus, also had a PB hit the shelves on Tuesday.

Here he is to talk about his new release:

I know authors whose chapter book ideas ultimately became picture books. And I know of television pitches that instead became graphic novels. But how's this for a transformation: my most recent book has its roots in... a coloring book!

Back in 2003 I was busy creating art for fun activity books. One of my assignments was a coloring book simply titled "Baby Animals." For my own entertainment, I decided to set a challenge for myself. Could I design the book so that each page had an animal with a unique baby name? For example, one coloring page would feature a "Calf," another page a "Chick," another page a "Cub." Could I do 24 pages with no repeats?

Once I started researching, I was astounded at the baby animal names I discovered! Now, we all know that baby dogs are "Puppies" and baby cats are "Kittens." But do you know what baby platypuses have been called? Are you ready for this? Puggles! I kid you not! Baby mice are "Pinkies," baby oysters are "Spats," and baby eels are "Elvers." I fell in love with this wonderful nonsense, rooted in reality.

After the coloring book was done, these wonderful words stayed with me. The phrase "I'm a Puggle, You're a Puggle" popped into my head, and I knew I had a children's book. I didn't care what form it took. I love nonsensical words, and I just wanted to author a book with the word "Puggle" in the title.

To organize these wonderful critters I'd collected, I took my list of 54 baby animals and worked them into a poem. Here's a verse:

I'm a PUGGLE, you're a PUGGLE

PINKY, KIT, and PORCUPETTE

What's a CRIA?

Who's a JOEY?

HATCHLINGS race the LEVERET

I wrote my story in 2005 and started shopping it around soon after. Over the years I created a variety of potential art styles for it. Whichever style was ultimately chosen didn't matter much to me. I just wanted to author a book with "Puggle" in the title.

At last, the fine folks at Walker Books decided to publish "I'm a Puggle, You're a Puggle." It is interesting (and highly unusual) to note that over all those years and after all those pitches, the story has remained nearly identical to Draft Number One set down on December 21, 2005. A few animals have been shuffled around or swapped out. But the book has remained virtually unchanged. With two big exceptions:

Ha ha! You can't win them all. In the end it was decided that a cluster of baby ducks has much more appeal than a platypus and an echidna. A platypus and a what??? My point exactly. I wholeheartedly agree with the change to "Chuckling Ducklings." And at least I get to use the line "I'm a Puggle, You're a Puggle" inside the book right? Oh wait... that was change number two:

It's the one and only line of text from the whole book that fell under the editor's knife. But on the bright side... we've jumped from two appearances of the word Puggle on the spread to three appearances! Yes! More Puggle for the buck!

So look for inspiration everywhere -- you may find your muse in a coloring book or in the name of a baby animal. And as you craft your works, I suggest you cling tightly to a passion (nonsense words!) but hold loosely to specific details (formats, titles, lines of text).

Wow! Great story. Thanks, Aaron. To enter to win a copy of Chuckling Ducklings, just "Like" my Three Ninja Pigs page on Facebook.

You get an entry just for "liking" the page. You get an extra entry if you leave a comment (there or here) Winner will be picked Monday, Feb 22nd at 10:00 AM EST. (Entrants must be U.S. residents)

The Story Behind Mini Racer- and a GIVEAWAY!

2011-02-14T13:21:00.004-05:00

Tomorrow is the release date for MINI RACER by Kristy Dempsey! I have been eagerly awaiting this book for YEARS! To celebrate, I asked Kristy to give us the inside scoop on how MINI RACER came to be.

MINI RACER stars a memorable cast of animals in customized vehicles — a mouse in a cheese cart, a team of alligators in a gas-guzzling racecar, a seal in a wheelchair tricked out with rainbow colored rims, alongside others. This romping race in rhyme zooms through town and country, with mishaps and mischievousness along the way, leading to an exciting finish with an unexpected winner.

The original manuscript was written in about 20 minutes flat. Seriously. I was trying my best to carve out some writing time while my three young children had play time. They proceeded to ride their little vehicles — one on a bike, one on a scooter and one on a tricycle — around the table where I was working, out the side porch doors, around the back of the house and back inside the door on the other side of the house complete with sound effects. Zoom! Vroom! Beep, beep! Around and around and around. I felt as if I were in a circus.

The thought crossed my mind that I should “write what I know” so I pictured a little boy racing through his day like a race car and proceeded to put the rhyming scenes on paper. A few drafts (and a couple of weeks later) I sent it to my agent and she had interest from an editor that same day. Since that day, I look at my children and all the noise they generate with a lot more patience and gratitude! They’re generating inspiration too.

In my very talented illustrator’s (Bridget Strevens-Marzo) hands, MINI RACER became a root-for-the-underdog story with a whole cast of characters with their own side stories. I think the town and country scenes have a slightly European feel and I’m hoping if I ever get to visit Bridget in France, she’ll take me to the little bakery in the “in-town” spread and treat me to one of those éclairs.

To win a copy of this bouncy book, just "Like" my Three Ninja Pigs page on Facebook.

You get an entry just for "liking" the page. You get an extra entry if you leave a comment (there or here) Winner will be picked Monday, Feb 16th at 10:00 AM EST. (Entrants must be U.S. residents)

How Much Does the Medium Matter?

2011-02-08T12:40:00.003-05:00

I had this conversation with a friend today.

ME: You have got to watch Lost! It's AMAZING. I'm addicted.

HER: I never get addicted to shows

ME: But it's like crack cocaine.. The characters are so well-drawn. The plot is so intricately woven.

HER: I just am not that into TV

ME: But.. but... but... this is not like other shows! It's like the Hunger Games of television. You just can't walk away.

HER: Books are different to me

Of course, the written word is my first love. I go to movies all the time and say "that didn't compare to the book" But to me, the medium is less important than the following things:

Did the story-teller choose an interesting way in which to present the story? (i.e. by playing with time and perspective)
Are there unpredictable twists?
Do the characters have something at stake?

The biggest test of success for me is this ... is my head in the story even when I am not actively reading/watching? Considering that Jack and Sawyer often come to the supermarket with me, I'd say Lost passes with flying colors.

The Evolution of Mr. Duck Means Business (and a giveaway)

2011-02-04T12:54:00.000-05:00

Okay, there is a definite theme here this month. Has anybody noticed it? Some people claim that ideas just come to them wholly formed. But for most of us, ideas evolve. For the next few weeks, I am going to focus on how ideas develop and change during the process of crafting a story.

We may start out writing a PB and it ends up a middle grade novel! (Yes, come back next week to hear about the evolution of Nightshade City by Hilary Wagner) We may start out writing in prose and it may end up in rhyme. Or... we might do what Tammi Sauer did. I'll let her tell you in her own words:

MR. DUCK MEANS BUSINESS stars an uppity duck that goes a little haywire when the other barnyard animals mistakenly think they’ve been invited for a swim in his otherwise peaceful pond.

The original manuscript, however, didn’t have a duck or a pond. It featured a huffy little old lady. Miss Matilda’s house was located near the park and all of the neighborhood kids used her yard for the shortcut. The chaos drove her bananas. After some doing, Miss Matilda found a way to isolate her house and yard from the commotion. But…it didn’t take her long to discover she missed those kids.

Pre-agented, I subbed MISS MATILDA MEANS BUSINESS and received lovely rejections and a revision request. But no takers. Then something occurred to me about a year later—kids don’t relate to an old lady who wants to keep a nice yard!

Shocking, I know!

I kept the same premise, tweaked the characters and the setting, and *presto-chango*, the manuscript sold in a multiple-bidding situation.

To enter to win a copy of this adorable book, just "Like" my Three Ninja Pigs page on Facebook.

You get an entry just for being a follower. You get an extra entry if you leave a comment. Winner will be picked Monday, Feb 7th at 10:00 AM EST.

Love Your Author Friends!

2011-02-03T11:28:00.000-05:00

I'm declaring February "Love your author friends" month! I'll be giving away a book a week- all newly released children's books (PBs and YA) authored by my very own amazingly talented friends.

How can you win? It's easy. Just "Like" my Three Ninja Pigs page on Facebook.

You get an entry just for being a follower. You get an extra entry if you leave a comment whenever I leave a "Book giveaway" status.

I will putting up a lot of "behind the scenes" posts here, but all giveaways will be done through Facebook.

The first giveaway? Mr Duck Means Business by Tammi Sauer. Come back tomorrow to find out how Tammi's initial idea evolved into this adorable story.

Helpless

2011-02-02T16:11:00.002-05:00

Groundhog says, "Early spring is coming." Why do I find that so hard to believe?

Maybe because there's three feet of snow on my deck?

We had a power outage for a few hours today and I realized how helpless I am without electricity.

ME: It's getting cold in the house. Maybe I'll call a friend and see if I can bring the kids over... D'oh! All my phone numbers are in Outlook.

ME: (10 minutes later) Brrr, I know.. I'll just get in the car and drive someplace warm like Starbucks. Double d'oh!!! I don't know how to manually open the garage door!

(Yes, for someone who did great on the SATs, I pretty much have no life skills)

Oh, Groundhog, please be right!

The Evolution of...GOLDI ROCKS

2011-01-30T12:35:00.001-05:00

Okay, way back when... I posted a before and after stanza from THREE NINJA PIGS to give you an idea of how rhyming picture books evolve.

I thought it might be fun to do the same thing for GOLDI ROCKS AND THE THREE BEARS.

GOLDI was much more of a struggle than PIGS. It went through many more incarnations.

In the first draft, I just try to get the skeletal frame down. Roughly what content will fall in each stanza. I do try to make it rhyme, but I don't worry about the meter at this stage.

Perfecting meter can take hours tweaking. I don't want to take the time until I know I have the content right. Stanzas may have to combined or cut completely. So, I wait until I can take a look at the big picture. I may LOVE a stanza on its own, but it may not work within the larger context of the story.

Here is Goldi entering the Bears' house:

She heard the bear's stereo blaring
Without hesitation, she knocked
"It's such a great oldie!
"I'll join in," cried Goldi.
She soon found the door was unlocked.

We later realized, we didn't want Goldi to be enticed by music. So it turned into this:

She spotted their quaint little cottage.
"Oh what a sweet house!" Goldi cried.
She rang the front bell
Is that porridge I smell?
"I'll just take a small peek inside!"

The story turned out to be too long, so we had to combine this stanza with the previous one in which the bears set out to find a singer.

They set out to find a soprano
Soon after they left, a girl knocked
"Is that porridge I smell?
Gee, that would be swell.”
She checked and the house was unlocked.

We save all drafts. You never know when you might want to return to an earlier rhyme (knocked, unlocked)

Sometimes when you are revising, you have to kill your darlings. My favorite stanza in the whole story got cut :(

The Bears kept on ruling out singers:
"Too fancy." "Too dance-y." "Too plain."
While they judged in the square…
a young girl with blond hair
was wandering down the Bears' Lane.

I could see the three bears sitting at "The Judges" table like Paula, Randy, and Simon! I loved it, but I had to let it go!

We have dozens and dozens of drafts. And we are not done. Goldi sold to Putnam, and our editor will no doubt want at least one more round of edits.

Buried

2011-01-27T15:34:00.000-05:00

Buried in the snow
with no where to go
the kids keep fighting
can't do any writing
I'm playing referee
I'd much rather be...
Buried in a book

Actually, I'd rather be watching Lost, but that didn't go with the buried theme :)

What's an Idea Worth?

2011-01-24T23:27:00.003-05:00

We all know what a picture is worth. But what is an "idea' worth? An agent once said to me, "Ideas are cheap." The context was "Someone gave me an idea. Therefore, they deserve a co-author credit." (And a percentage of whatever is earned.)

The agent felt that ideas are everywhere. They have no value unless you have the talent to execute them well. I don't agree. It's hard to quantify, I think they are worth a lot. If one person comes up with a fully developed idea for a PB and another did all the writing, I might view it as equal contributions.

Recently, I gave a couple of ideas away. (Not fully formed ideas.. really more like titles.) I handed them over to friends who I thought might be a better fit for them than I was. Will I end up have giver's remorse? Maybe... if the stories sell :)

What's an idea worth to you?

And the Winner is...

2011-01-22T16:26:00.002-05:00

Before I post the name of the contest winner, I just want to say... not a single person guessed that Beth's Amazon ranking would go up. What a lovely, optimistic group!

Her rank bounced around... at one point it was down in the 500's, at another up in the high 800's. But at precisely 3:00 PM eastern standard time, Across the Universe was ranked at #608, giving the win to Kristin Lynn Thetford with a guess of #622.

Congrats, Kristin!

And don't feel bad if you didn't win. You'll get another chance in February. I'm going to run the contest again!

Across the Universe Giveaway

2011-01-19T15:39:00.001-05:00

Okay, anyone who has a book out knows how tempting it is to check your Amazon rank every hour or so! This can be a dangerous addiction. Fortunately for me, my Hop! Plop! rank has gotten so pathetic that I now only check it once every day or two. Ah, what to do with all my spare time? Check the rank for Across the Universe!

This book has amazingly sky-rocketed to #637. No tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands. Beth is in the triple digits, people. And I want to get her into the double digits.

So, I am having a contest. Guess what Beth's ranking will be at 3 PM tomorrow. (Thursday, Jan 20th)

The person who comes closest will win a copy of the book. But you have to enter by 10:00 AM eastern standard time so as not to give you too much of an unfair advantage.

To qualify you must be a follower of my blog (you're on your honor here) and you must live in the U.S.

Good luck.

Dedicated to Beth Revis!

2011-01-11T19:01:00.005-05:00

In my early days of blogging, the blogosphere felt like the bar Cheers. You could name a person, and I could tell you the name of their blog, the genre and subject of their WIP, and how many kids they had. I knew if they were agented or not and what nickname they used when referring to their hubby. I basically read their blog every time they updated and commented on every post. I miss those days.

Of course, I have met many new and wonderful writers in the last two years, but there is something very special about those first bloggers buddies. A special bond that forms from following each other's journeys so closely. (Now I'm like "What??? I follow a blog called Out for Blood?)

So, it is with that in mind, that I send out a HUGE congrats to one of my first blogger friends- Beth Revis. Congrats on the launch of ACROSS THE UNIVERSE. I know how much love and sweat she poured into this book and I am so excited to be holding a copy in my hands!

Beth, we love you!

Cheers!

My Type of Present!

2011-01-06T20:52:00.003-05:00

My mother-in-law asked me if I would like a Pandora bracelet for my birthday. I was pretty sure the answer was "no" but I asked "What's that?" just to be polite. (I have zero interest in jewelry.) The first chance I got, I whispered in my husband's ear, "Kindle!"

And yesterday... my brand new shiny Kindle arrived in the mail! Now this is my kind of gift! I had a hard time deciding what to download first. I got lots of suggestions from friends on Facebook, but after some consideration, I chose Savvy by Ingrid Law.

When my brother Fish turned thirteen, we moved to the deepest part of inland because of the hurricane and, of course, the fact that he'd caused it.

Is that a killer first line or what?

Me and My Menopot

2011-01-05T15:20:00.000-05:00

So ... I have a big-ish birthday coming up and I am a little freaked out. Okay, a lot freaked out. I mean... I have a kindergarten-er and a first grader. That makes me like 32... 33 max, right? Not 45-with-50-on-the-horizon, right? That just isn't possible!

To make matters worse, I have a black tie wedding next weekend and when I pulled my fancy dress out of the closet, it became abundantly clear that I was not going to be able to get it zipped.

I called my mom and she said, "Don't worry. I have a stunning dress you can borrow. It's gorgeous. You'll love it!" She brought it over last night and guess what? No, it wasn't hideous. (Well, it was a little hideous, but in a pretty kind of way) I couldn't get it zipped! My mother's dress. Now that is just sad.

So, now here I am... an almost 50-year-old with a menopot.

Thing 2's Greatest Hits

2011-01-03T10:34:00.001-05:00

As a writer, it is important to get inside the minds of your audience. So for those of you who write PBs, here are my five-year-old's best quotes from 2010:

Feb '10

(While visiting, Charlie, a neighbor's new puppy)
JORDAN: Charlie is smarter than Grandma's dog, Rosie.
JOSH: Well, Rosie is smarter than Sarah Palin.

March '10

ME: Josh, when is the last time you washed your hair.
JOSH: December

April '10

JOSH: Mommy, I have a new system. If I back up when I pee, I don't hit the wall.

June '10

(During Monopoly)
JOSH: I read the word "Indiana"...without even looking!

Sept '10

JOSH: Mommy, come here. I need you.
ME: I can't right now, sweetie. I'm cooking something
JOSH: Can you pause?

Oct '10

ME: Josh, I am so proud of you. You read your first book!
JOSH: Can you tell all your friends on Facebook?

Dec '10

ME: Josh, did you play Mario with your friend, Spencer?
JOSH: Yeah, but he hadn't played in a long time, so he was a little dusty.

Happy 2011, everybody! Hope my kids still have a few years of good material left in them!

Ten in '10 - Final Check In

2010-12-19T13:12:00.002-05:00

Okay, back in the beginning of the year, I set a goal for myself- write ten picture books in 2010. (Some of you even said you would join me!)

For those of you who missed it, the motivation for this goal came from the realization that a good picture book author sells approximately one in five PB manuscripts.

My goal was to write ten, so that I could sell two.

Well, it is the end of the year. How did I do?

I wrote six manuscripts. (and, BTW, that is a HUGE record for me!)

It may be four short of my goal, BUT ... I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that I might have met my ultimate goal. GOLDI ROCKS sold and I think my CINDERELLA story will sell as well.

So, for me, I consider 2010 a writing success. (Don't ask my parenting or exercise goals, though!)

How did you guys do in 2010?

Baby, It's Cold Outside

2010-12-17T11:15:00.001-05:00

Megan Bickel wrote a post this week about embracing your mood, whatever it is, and using it to write. If you are grumpy, write about a grumpy character. "Carpe Grumpy!" she said.

Well, I have been freezing for days. I feel like there is no circulation in my hands. I get back under the covers instead of changing and going to he gym. I take a hot bath, instead of working on story revisions. (Who can type when they can't even feel their fingers?)

But today, I am going to take Megan's advice and think freezing. Carpe Cold!

Coldilocks and the Three Polar Bears? (Can't do it, already have a Goldi story)
The Three Skiing Pigs? (Can't do it, already have a pigs story)
Shiverella? (Can't do it... yeah, got one of those too!)

I'll go make a hot chocolate and keep thinking...

ADDENDUM: Just got another one... Little Red Sliding Hood

I Got an Easy One!

2010-12-16T09:40:00.004-05:00

I'm in love with my new baby! I'm not ready to reveal the hook yet, so I will just refer to her as CINDERELLA. (She was previously known as idea #11 :) She is an angel. So cooperative!

GOLDI ROCKS was never this well-behaved. She fought me tooth and nail the entire way through. She had endless time outs! A lot like Thing 2. Cute, but naughty. Always testing. Several times I considered putting her up for adoption. (Fortunately, my agent wouldn't allow that)

But not CINDERELLA. She is every mother's dream. Easy, easy, easy!

Wishing all of you out there one easy one!

The Season of Shivering and Sobbing

2010-12-11T16:05:00.002-05:00

Oh, how I wish...
that I was born a bear
so I could spend the winter
hiding in my lair.

Snuggled, warm and cozy,
I could hibernate.
Oh, to be a bear,
wouldn't that be GREAT!

I have a bad case of winter blues and it's not even mid-December! I just want to crawl under the covers and not come out till March.

Unfortunately, my husband has vetoed that plan. He also said a move to the Caribbean was "out of the question." (Gosh, what a killjoy, he is! :)

So, if I can't escape physically, I'll have to escape mentally. Anyone have a good book to recommend that is not at all depressing?

Joey Fly 2- The Bugs are Back in Town!

2010-12-07T10:35:00.003-05:00

If you liked Joey Fly, Private Eye- Creepy Crawly Crime, then you will love Joey Fly 2- Big Hairy Drama. Aaron Reynolds and Neil Numberman team up again to bring you another installment of this funny, punny graphic novel series.

LIFE IN THE BUG CITY. HOT. WET. AND WICKED.

A cold snap has blown into town like an unwanted house pest. But there’s only one guy in the bug city with the power to put crime permanently on ice: Joey Fly, Private Eye. He’s always on the lookout for trouble, and he runs into it when he meets Harry Spyderson, proprietor of the Scarab Beetle Theatre and director of the much-anticipated Bugliacci.

Greta Divawing, the four-winged, long-legged leading lady, has gone missing. Harry hires Joey Fly and his assistant, Sammy Stingrear-- oops, tail, it's Stingtail--to crack the case. Can they find Greta in time to save the show?

It has intrigue.

"What about Fleeago? Did you hear him threaten her in any way?"
"Wait a minute! You think Fleeago did this?
"Just answer the question. Did he say "You'll pay for this!" or "Mwaa-ha-ha!" or anything like that?"

It has word play.

"You are a lover of theater, I see?"
"Well, I was in my second grade school production of A Lice in Wonderland. I'm no theater bug, though."

It has bathroom humor!

I eat poop, okay? So I am not exactly what you'd call a discriminating eater. But there are still some things that should go uneaten. I'm just saying...

What more could a kid want?

Aaron Reynolds is a human, not a bug, but he often writes about bugs. He is the author of Chicks and Salsa, Superhero School, Buffalo Wings, and, of course, the Joey Fly, Private Eye graphic novels.

Neil Numberman is a termite currently residing in New York City. Joey Fly, Private Eye is his first graphic novel, but he is also the author/illustrator of the picture book Do NOT Build a Frankenstein.

And for every 10 comments, one random winner will be drawn to receive a bug caricature done by Neil!. Many thanks in advance, Neil!

From the Trenches

2010-12-03T20:44:00.007-05:00

Okay, so I was interviewed yesterday over at Julie Hedlund's blog. The topic was "How I Got My Agent." Julie and I agreed to cut one question (because the interview was getting long and I was afraid of putting everyone to sleep) but the more I thought about it, the more I wanted to answer it..

Has your writing process changed since signing with an agent?

I am dying to hear other how other agented writers would respond this question. For me, the answer is a resounding YES. I hadn't really expected it to change. I assumed I would send her a manuscript and she would give me feedback, not unlike the sort of feedback I was always got from my critique partners She would tell me what was working for her and what wasn't, and I would revise accordingly. (That is pretty much what happened with my first agent)

But that's not at all how it worked with my current agent. I'd write a manuscript that I thought was funny and clever and cute, and I'd send it to her, and I'd get a reply to the effect of, "It's well-written. But I just don't care for the premise."

In those cases, it seemed like no amount of revising in the world was going to her change her mind. This was totally devastating at first. But after several of these experiences, I realized (or actually, my husband forced me to recognize)... I HAD to change my process.

So, now.. when I get an idea, I write up a two or three sentence pitch. I email it and I wait to see how she reacts. If she is on board, I move forward. If she isn't, I keep brainstorming.

I hope one day we can revisit some of my "drawer-ed" manuscripts, but for now, this is the way I need to proceed.

Anyone else care to share their answer?

PiBoIdMo Wrap Up

2010-11-30T16:53:00.006-05:00

My recent attitude has been.... why write a blog post, when there are so many good ones out there that I can just link to? This has not just been pure laziness (though it is hard to find time to blog with 19 games of Scrabble going simultaneously on Facebook). It is more a matter of practicality. (The wheel really doesn't need to be reinvented)

So, instead of sharing my last few words of wisdom on PiBoIdMo today, I present you with Julie Hedlund's post.

Julie really nails it with her three bullet points:

Trust your instincts
Stamp out censorship
Be alert

To this, the only item I can think of adding is...

Keep your list going

Don't put aside your list now that PiBoIdMo is over. Keep it on your desktop or some other easy-to-access place. (I'd say if it takes more than two click to get to it, it is too far. Oh, wait... not everyone is as lazy as I am!)

Every time you get even the smallest inkling of an idea, add it to your list!

I still pull out my PiBo 2009 list and look over the 56 or so ideas that accumulated throughout the year. In fact, my best idea this November came from something I jotted during the year. I had the title, but not the "hook."

Okay, gotta go. 19 games of Scrabble don't play themselves!

Happy Hanukkah!

What a Feeling!

2010-11-23T14:57:00.004-05:00

I've got my next big idea. #11 on my list. The title came to me last year, but I didn't have the real hook until PiBoIdMo 2010 started. My agent is on board. My husband says, "It's as good as sold!" (Ha! Gotta love that guy. It doesn't even have a rhyme scheme yet!)

As Tammi Sauer said in her Guest Post today, "Oh, the thrill! Oh, the pressure!"

I think only writers know this particular feeling. That mix of "I've got a surefire winner!" and "What if I can't pull it off?"

What a feeling.
Bein's believin'.
I can have it all, now I'm dancing for my life.
Take your passion
and make it happen.
Pictures come alive, now I'm dancing through my life.
What a feeling.

Excuse me, while I go throw up.

PiBoIdMo- Another Word of Advice

2010-11-19T09:26:00.005-05:00

Last year during PiMoIdMo, I was obsessed with coming up with another fractured fairy tale. I had dozens of variations on the Goldilocks theme. But I had other fairy tales as well.

Goldilocks and the Three Pirate Bears
Scoldilocks and the Three Naughty Bears
Coldilocks and the Three Eskimo Bears

Okay, I'm kidding. (None of these titles were actually on my list, but I can't keep citing the same examples over and over :)

Anyway, this year I am obsessed with dino-titles.

And after accidentally stumbling upon Brontarina on Amazon (well, Ballet-a-saurus now has to come off my list) I was reminded of how important it is to do research!

There is no such thing as a new idea! This doesn't mean you can't do something that has been done if you put your own unique spin on it, but... it is good to at least know what exists on your topic.

It would be a shame to write a beautifully crafted "Dinosnores" only to discover that there is already a very popular book with that title by the well-known Kelly DiPucchio.

Social Media Revolution

2010-11-17T12:39:00.005-05:00

One of the sessions at the Rutgers one-on-one conference was a panel on the use of Twitter and social media. They showed us a video that included mind blowing stats such as "If Facebook were a country, it would be the third largest in the world."

If you ever had any doubts about whether or not you need an online presence as an author, this video should immediately put them to bed:

Incidentally, this might be a good time to mention that I have a new Facebook page- Three Ninja Pigs :)

Couldn't Have Done It Without You!

2010-11-14T13:30:00.006-05:00

This week marks my two year blogiversary. Though my posts have been very infrequent of late, I never forget where my blog has gotten me. Many writers sing the praises of blogging- it creates friendships, support, sense of community... but for me, blogging has led to even more than that.

For me, blogging has directly led to a publishing contract!

Don't believe me? Check my PiBoIdMo Guest Post at Tara Lazar's blog.

Without participating in PiBoIdMo in 2009, I would never have had the idea for GOLDI ROCKS AND THE THREE BEARS.

Without whining on my own blog about how pathetic my idea list was, I would never have realized that this idea was actually a gem! And I would never have gotten this comment on my post from Beth Coulton:

I LOVE the Goldi-Rocks one! Want to collaborate?

Beth later emailed me with a one paragraph synopsis, and I was immediately sold on the idea!

So, thanks to all my blog followers and commenters. Without you, I would never have written GOLDI ROCKS which is now under contract with Putnam. (Well, almost... the ink hasn't quite dried yet :)

A toast to you all!
Cheers,
Corey

Hijacked

2010-11-07T11:52:00.005-05:00

I had dinner at a lovely restaurant last night with Katniss and Peeta. They weren't invited, but they came anyway. I was so worried about how they would make it out of the arena alive that I couldn't focus on anything my husband was saying.

Our friends Jackie and Dimitry chatted about the new baby they ware expecting. "What name do you like better- Kira or Sasha?" they asked. Have you considered Katniss? "We hope it's a girl so Nika can have a sister," Jackie added. Just be happy they'll never have to go to a reaping.

Kudos to Suzanne Collins for commandeering my entire evening It takes talent to do that!

Thing 1 and Thing 2- Big Book Plans

2010-10-27T11:11:00.004-04:00

The other day, we saw hundreds of birds flying and had the following conversation:

JOSH: Those birds are flying to Florida
ME: You're probably right sweetie. A lot of birds fly south for the winter.
JOSH: They fly faster than we drive.
ME: Well, not too sure about that. We'd have to Google and see just how fast birds can fly. But my guess is they couldn't keep up a rate of 60 miles per hour.
JORDAN: Well, they'll get there faster than us if we took a plane.
ME: Nope, quite certain that airplanes move WAY faster than birds.
JORDAN: But, Mommy, we'd have to go to the airport and WAIT for the plane. They could just go...

This got us thinking...

JOSH: Let's write a book. WHO WOULD WIN THE RACE?
A bird or a car?

JORDAN: Or... a car or a plane?

ME: Or... a bird or a tiger?" A shark or a whale? A bird or a dolphin?

The possibilities are endless.

My kids are now wondering if Kendra will rep them. Ha!

Creativity- It's in the Genes

2010-10-25T10:06:00.005-04:00

How can there be only three posts for October? I wrote tons more than that... or was that all just in my head?

This was a crazy busy month. We had a surprise party for my dad's 70th and most of my creative energy went into creating the content for his birthday video titled "70 Things We Love About Pa!" (Feel free to steal the idea... it makes an amazing gift!)

The party wasn't a total surprise though. Josh whispered something to Jordan and my dad her reply "Joshy, not until the guests arrive. " Then she spotted my dad a few feet away and said, "No guests. There are no guests."

Jordan got the "spill the beans" gene from me for sure. I am TERRIBLE at keeping secrets. That's because I am an ENFP on the Myers-Briggs scale, and we're notorious for "speaking before we think."

Fortunately, Jordan got some good genes from me as well.

The other night she wrote her first poem in bed, and I am proud to say, the meter gene lives on!

Sally's Pearl

Sally is a little girl,
and Sally has a little pearl.
She loves her pearl very much.
And Sally loves to touch, touch, touch.
When Sally goes to bed at night,
her pearl gives her a little fright.
Boo!

Every Word Matters

2010-10-19T09:42:00.004-04:00

Sometimes my husband comes home and asks me, "How was your meeting with your writing partner, Becky?"

And I say, "We spent like an hour arguing over one word."

That may seem insane.

But Janet Reid has an amazing post about how the placement of one word can make all the difference in the world.

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

2010-10-15T09:25:00.005-04:00

Okay, so... I am a very blunt critiquer. I try to warn people ahead of time, don't ask me for my opinion unless you can take it. Ha! I mean what is the point in asking for criticism unless you want honest feedback.

So, when Becky and I finished a draft of our new story BW, of course, I wanted to hear what people really thought.

THE GOOD
M- I like the concept and you should keep playing with it.
J- I like the idea of the story (just nothing that you've done with it)
B- It's a good premise and it is worth pursuing

THE BAD
M- Too similar in style to How I Became a Pirate, voice is too old
J- There is no voice (Yikes! But doesn't that contradict M?)
B- The ending doesn't work for me

THE UGLY
J- I hate it. It's BORING. This story should be hilarious, but there was NOTHING funny in it. I would never want to read it a second time.

Ouch!

(Okay, in J's defense, she was talking to her own mom, so she shouldn't have to worry about tact.)

Ha.

I think I'll go crawl under a rock now.

The Joy of Reading

2010-10-12T17:01:00.006-04:00

My son read his first book this week. I use the term "read" loosely. He did a tiny bit of decoding but relied heavily on pictorial and context cues. (The book had a simple repetitive pattern which would allow even a toddler to pretty much recite it from memory.)

I'll never forget the look on his face when he was done. Such a sense of accomplishment!

ME: Joshy, I am so proud of you!!!
JOSH: Can you tell all your friends on Facebook?

Ha! Not sure if that line says more about him... or more about me?

(But if you were ever confused about the difference between showing and telling, there is some excellent showing for you!)

I Have to Draw the Line Somewhere

2010-09-27T13:23:00.009-04:00

Okay, so Friday night I took the folding chairs out of the garage. I opened one up to sit on it, and Oh. My. God.

Inside were four tiny newborn mice! (Maybe five... I didn't stick around long enough to get a good count)

I ran off screaming.

My kids stared in complete fascination. They tried to guess how old the mice were. A few days? A few hours? Their eyes were not even open yet.

We discussed what to do with the babies.

I was not about to go anywhere near the little guys, so we waited for David to come home and we agreed that he would fold the chair back up and put it exactly where we had found it.

Yup. Dumb and dumber here. We're supposed to get mice out of our homes, not bring them in.

But I was worried the mom wouldn't be able to find her babies to nurse them.

I may be a plant murderer. But I cannot have a whole family of mammals on my conscience.

Finishing Touches

2010-09-24T13:56:00.004-04:00

I bought a plant at Ikea today. Not sure why, since the one plant that I already own is always in a state of near-dead. I guess I just felt the kitchen was missing something. When we bought our house four years ago, we completely renovated it. Everything is brand new... cabinets, appliance, counter-tops, everything! It's gorgeous. But yet, we never put the little finishing touches on it. To give it that warmth. Like a manuscript- when the plot arc is totally in place, but it still needs a little something to make it feel complete.

Gosh is there anything that can't be used as a writing analogy?

Becky and I are are at that point right now in a our new picture book manuscript. We have a draft finished, but we can't agree on how to wrap it up in a way that feels entirely satisfying to the reader. Sometimes it's those little threads that weave through a story and give it that feeling of perfection. A short line that repeats. A minor theme that recurs. We'll get it eventually.

Now, if I can just keep this plant alive.

Beep Beep Beep

2010-09-23T14:08:00.004-04:00

My kids love Alvin and the Chipmunks- The Squeakquel. They quote lines from the movie all the time. One of their favorites is... "I don't mean to toot my own horn, but... beep, beep, be-beep, beep!" (Okay, sounds much better in a little squeaky voice)

Anyway, one of my blogger friends went to a conference in Spokane, Washington. She attended a session by agent, Kendra Marcus (who represents yours truly). It turns out that Kendra mentioned THREE NINJA PIGS in her presentation as an example of a very clever picture book!

So... beep, beep, be-beep, beep!

Okay, now that I got that out, your turn? What do you have to toot about this week?

Please share.

No Such Thing as a New Idea?

2010-09-21T11:20:00.005-04:00

Good thing this cartoonist didn't decide to be a picture book writer!

I found this cartoon after writing THE THREE NINJA PIGS! (Putnam, 2012)

Bedtime Monster- Road to Publication (Part 2)

2010-09-16T14:08:00.003-04:00

Here is the second half of Heather's fascinating journey. And a huge congrats to her on the release of her debut picture book, BEDTIME MONSTER.

Guest Post- Heather Ayris Burnell

Bedtime Monster was illustrated and put into the Spring 2009 catalog. Unfortunately, there was still more waiting to come. Raven Tree Press sent the illustrated book out on an initial test and the results came back negative.

WHAT? Publishing houses run focus groups??? (I've always said they should, but never knew they actually DID!)

Readers found the illustrations too dark and scary. Luckily, they liked the story, and Raven Tree Press believed in it, so they set out to find a new illustrator with an eye towards Spring 2010 publication. I was a bit shocked.

Holy cow! Wouldn't it make sense to do some initial tests earlier? Like... before an entire book is illustrated?

I didn’t know these sorts of things were done, but I was also pretty glad about it. I hadn’t taken a real liking to the initial illustrations myself. I mean, they were good. The monster was monstrous. But it was certainly not a sweet rendition of a bedtime monster as I had imagined. It was more of a big kid scary type of monster, and Bedtime Monster is a story for younger children in the learning to go to bed period of their life. I didn’t want them to be afraid of the monster, I wanted them to relate to him.

So, here we are in October of 2008, and I decided to take the opportunity to speak up about how I saw the illustrations, soft and having a sweet and innocent appearance. They listened. In March ‘09 I found out that Bonnie Adamson was illustrating Bedtime Monster when I received the cover illustration. I was thrilled. The color palate was soft and colorful. The shadow was mysterious. I looked up Bonnie’s website. Her illustrations were adorable. I couldn’t wait to see what Paul looked like.

In January 2010 I interviewed Bonnie for my Illustrator of the Month feature on my blog. She sent some sketches of Paul the boy and Paul the monster. I was delighted because he was adorable! Bonnie told me the illustrations would be completed by the end of February. In the interim, I was sent edits on the manuscript. A few things had been cut so I suggested some additional changes. We also developed activities to go along with the book and those extra sorts of things needed for promotion.

April 9th brought a new surprise. My editor stepped down from her position. I was told I was going to be left in capable hands, but wasn’t specifically told that my book was still going to be published so, as a natural-born worrier, I worried! Luckily it wasn’t too long before I was reassured that Bedtime Monster was still a go.

April 22nd I was emailed my proofs. June 9th I received my galleys to proof. June 14th they were approved and sent to the printer. I received my glorious box full of Bedtime Monster books on September 8th. Bedtime Monster releases on September 16, 2010.

That's today, folks! I'm off to order it right now!!!

Phew. It’s been an interesting ride. Hopefully I’ll get to go on another one soon.

Bedtime Monster- Road to Publication

2010-09-13T11:39:00.011-04:00

There is nothing more interesting to me than reading about someone's publishing journey! I love getting the inside scoop. How many drafts. How many months? How many queries?

So, I was thrilled to receive a guest post from Heather Ayris Burnell on her Path to Publication.

Heather's story is long, so I will split it into two parts... and her timing is great. This will save me from canceling another week of posts. Hurray!

Here is Heather's story (in black) with an occasional comment from me (in red):

Guest Post- Heather Ayris Burnell

My road to publication has been a lot like the dirt mountain road I live on, bumpy, with a few rocks to dodge, but ending up in a pretty good place. It all started in 2005 one night after I finally got my reluctant four-year-old son to bed. He’d been going through a time when he just didn’t want to go to bed and, well, he had been acting a bit monstrous. My husband and I tried all sorts of things to get him to bed. We rocked him. We sang to him. We made him warm milk. It was a struggle.

After the house was quiet one of those nights, I lay on the bed and thought about how he was acting. It was like he turned into a little monster at the words, “time for bed”. Then I thought about him turning actually turning into a little monster, tail and all. It made me laugh.

Brilliant! Why didn't I think of that?

I wrote the story down. Entertained myself with it a bit (also known as revising), then stuck it away in my filing cabinet, which is a bad habit I have. I thought of the story from time to time but didn’t look at it again until the next year when my critique partner, Amanda Noll, had a great monster story called I Need My Monster (Flashlight Press, 2009).

Oh! She's your critique partner? Her road to publication can be found here.

It reminded me that I had a monster story too, so I dug through the filing cabinet and put it up for critique. The feedback was pretty positive so I did some revision and sent Bedtime Monster to one publisher. (Obviously, I am not a submission powerhouse.) I got one form rejection. Then I sent a query out and waited. While I was waiting, I heard that Raven Tree Press was open for e-subs and it seemed to me that Bedtime Monster might be a good fit, so I sent the manuscript in for consideration in October of ’06. The same day I was told they were interested and was asked if I would send the story again in February when they were sending manuscripts out to readers. What a whirlwind that was. I wasn’t used to hearing back so quickly on anything let alone positively!

In January ’07 I received a letter about the query I’d sent to the other publishing house. The editor wanted to review Bedtime Monster. I was thrilled. It was my first manuscript request from a query—another milestone moment. I sent the manuscript out to both houses, and waited.

In March ’07 Raven Tree Press emailed me with an offer for a contract. I got a little bit excited! (Bwah-hahaha!) I called the other publisher to let them know. No, I was no good at any of these things. I’d never even been to a writer’s conference at this point in my life, but I called that publishing house and talked to the editor. She ultimately passed, but it was okay. I did have another offer, which I accepted (obviously). Then I waited some more.

TO BE CONTINUED...

A Whole Week of Posts- Canceled!

2010-09-10T08:48:00.002-04:00

I have not been able to blog for days. I write... delete. Write... delete.

Maybe it's because this week marks a new year on the Jewish calendar and that makes me overly reflective. (and unfunny)

In any case, this has happened to me before. Luckily, I have already have a handy dandy list of ways to cheer myself up when I am in this situation.

Go see what shenanigans Lisa and Laura are up to.
Read my latest story with a British accent (Always sounds bloody brilliant that way).
Tell my husband, "Honey, I'm late," and watch the sheer panic that comes over him. (This might seem mean, but if you saw the look on his face, you'd laugh too)

If all else fails, I can always watch this video (for the thousandth time):

The Boss Baby

2010-08-30T16:03:00.003-04:00

Once every few years, a picture book comes along and I say, "Holy ^%$@^%$, why didn't I write this???" (sob, sob)

Well, that is what precisely happened to me today when I read The Boss Baby by Marla Frazee:

From the moment the baby arrived, it was obvious that he was the boss.

He put Mom and Dad on a round-the-clock schedule, with no time off...

It's friggin' hilarious! And it is so exactly my experience! If your household is- or has ever been- run by a little creature who can't even talk yet, you have got to check out this book!

A Fractured Ballad

2010-08-24T12:58:00.005-04:00

One of the things I liked most about my husband on our first date was that he had a creative side. He is a scientist by training and profession, but he told me over dinner that he had written a screenplay and was making a mockumentary for his sister's wedding. "Cool," I thought. "Someone who works on artistic projects like me!"

Well, this is his latest endeavor... starring Thing 1 and Thing 2, of course!

Lawyers, Guns, and Money - A Knucklehead Production

The Waiting Place

2010-08-20T12:48:00.004-04:00

I stole this off Linda Carter Dimmer's Facebook page (the embellishment is hers)

Dr. Seuss was right. "... a most useless place, The Waiting Place...Waiting for... the mail to come, or the rain to go, or the phone to ring, or the snow to snow, or waiting around for a Yes or No, [or waiting around for an e-mail to show]. Everyone is just waiting."

If you look at the book, Seuss goes on to say "Waiting for the fish to bite or waiting for wind to fly a kite or waiting around for Friday night or waiting, perhaps, for their Uncle Jake or a pot to boil, or a Better Break or a string of pearls, or a pair of pants or a wig with curls, or Another Chance."

Kind of makes you want to write your own, huh?

Waiting around for your garden to bloom, or waiting in line for the little girls room. Waiting your turn to go up to bat, or waiting for Mom to read Cat in the Hat. Waiting all year till your birthday is here, or till June when school's out and your classmates all cheer...

This is fun. I could go on all day!

But what I am really waiting for is for my agent to call with news!!!

Creative Description

2010-08-16T14:07:00.002-04:00

We went to my parents house in the Berkshires this weekend. They're on a lake and the kids love it up there. The only downside to visiting is that it is a three and a half hour drive. One of my Mom's friends asked my five year old, "How far away do you live?" I was very curious to see how he'd answer, since three and half hours can feel like a life time to a kid trapped in a car. Josh didn't even hesitate. "Two whole movies," he said. Ha! Guess that's how kids measure time.

That got me thinking about description in books. Kristin Clark Venuti, who I talked about once before, came up with such creative ways to describe things in her novel, Leaving the Bellweathers. The one that particularly stood out to me was her description of Heyboy, Spider's Endangered Albino Alligator, who from snout to tail was "the length of a Cub Scout and a half." Ha! She had so many choices there. Six feet. Two meters. A kayak. The shortest NBA player. The possibilities were endless.

Wow! Every choice we make as writers is an opportunity to be creative. Suddenly, I feel totally overwhelmed.

Novels You Shouldn't Give Up On

2010-08-07T12:12:00.004-04:00

Okay, I kind of avoided blogging this week, because if I did... I would no doubt have had to mention how happy I am about the Prop 8 ruling and that would surely have opened a big can of worms.

So, let's see... if I can't talk about politics, what can I talk I talk about?

Uh, books? That's somewhat safe.

Sometimes you really have to struggle to stay with a book in the beginning, but it totally pays off in the end. I found this to be the case with A Thousand Splendid Suns. Very slow for the first 100 pages, but I ended up loving it!

I am sort of dealing with that now with Life of Pi. I am having trouble getting into it, but from what I have heard, it is worth sticking with!

What's one novel that you are really glad that you didn't give up on???

A Tale of Two Stories

2010-08-03T19:27:00.005-04:00

It was the best of times.

My son said something about karate and an idea popped into my head.

The Three Ninja Pigs!

I wrote it. I revised. I subbed to agents.

An agent fell in love with it.

She said, "It will sell."

It sold.

It was the best of times.

It was the worst of times.

Agent asked, "What else have you got?"

I had nothing.

I thought and thought and thought and thought and thought.

I had some dumb ideas...

My blog followers had to convince me that one idea wasn't so dumb after all.

I wrote and wrote and wrote and wrote and wrote.

I revised and revised and revised and revised an revised.

I showed Agent.

She said, "Needs a LOT of work."

I revised and revised and revised and revised and revised.

Agent said, "Needs a lot more work."

It was the worst of times.

TO BE CONTINUED

What to Do When You Feel Like Throwing In the Towel?

2010-07-28T13:10:00.008-04:00

In which I state the obvious, and more of the obvious.

So, we all get to that point now and then when we get one too many pieces of bad news and think, "This industry is just too darn hard for me. I can't take it anymore!" The question is... what do you do when you get to that point?

Well, you can...

1. Eat yourself into oblivion.
2. Drink yourself into oblivion.
3. Mope around the house for days.

But I don't recommend any of these options. (Trust me, it may seem like a good idea at the time, but the five pound bag of chocolates will not make you feel any better about your writing career!)

So what other choices are available to you?

4. Vent to your writing friends.

I really don't recommend this option either. Though I ADORE my writing friends and they are extremely supportive, the more you talk about writing, the more you are thinking about writing, and therefore, the more you are languishing in your own misery.

So, what's left?

5. Read some good books (I recommend that you read books that are not in your exact genre to ward off feelings of "What? How did this crap get published when my clearly far superior manuscript did not?") Read to ESCAPE. Get lost in someone else's problems. A sure way to get your own woes out of your head.
6. Watch great films (see #5)
7. Exercise
8. Hang out with non-writer friends.

In other words, take a vacation from all things writing. Oh, and for those of you who like to shop., try getting a kick ass pair of new shoes.

Reasons to Go to Conferences- Part 3

2010-07-27T15:24:00.006-04:00

REASON #3- You Get the Inside Scoop on What Editors Want

For this one, I bring you Meg Wiviott, author of the beautifully written picture book, BENNO AND THE NIGHT OF BROKEN GLASS. The following is Meg's story in her own words...

Guest Post- Meg Wiviott

Successful writers don’t just wake up one morning and decide they are going to write a picture book. At least I didn’t. I got the idea for BENNO AND THE NIGHT OF BROKEN GLASS roughly eleven years ago at an NJ-SCBWI conference when a well-known editor from a well-known publishing house said the one project he’d like to see come across his desk was a picture book on Kristallnacht. The gasp in the room was audible. A picture book on the beginning of the Holocaust – how does one do that? It took me about seven years to figure out how.

That is not to say that I thought constantly about this project for seven years. It stayed in the back of my mind and occasionally I would pull it out, play with it, mull it over and then push it back into the recesses of my mind. I finally decided that the way to do it would be by staying neutral, by just presenting the facts. My first attempt was a poem (Yikes!), outlining the events of the infamous night of November 9, 1938. My idea was to tell a simple narrative story and use sidebars to give the historical facts so that younger children could enjoy the story and have the facts available to them when they were ready. I took Version #1 to my critique group, who in their always kind and supportive way, said it was boring. Without there being a character readers could latch on to and sympathize with, the story had no heart. They were right. They suggested I tell the story from the point of view of a child. But I couldn’t do that.

Kristallnacht is not a happy story. It does not have a happy ending. I did not want to tell the story from the point of view of a Jewish child because the end is so ambiguous. Nor did I want to tell the story from the point of view of a German child because I did not want to get inside the heads of the German parents. Instead I came up with the idea of Benno the cat (although he was originally named Kater, which means tom cat in German). A cat is a child-like character who allows the reader to see the unfolding of events without expressing emotion. Benno simply observes. His lack of understanding and confusion allows the child reader to be confused herself and to ask, Why did this happen? Which, ultimately, is the message of the story. In this version of the story, I still used sidebars to present the historical facts. My critique group was much happier with this version. So was I.

I sent the manuscript to the well know publishing house, but I did not send it to the well-known editor who’d originally asked for the story. Instead, I sent it to a young editor with whom I’d had dealings with in the past. After about nine months of silence I sent a letter to follow up. I got an email from a different editor telling me that the editor to whom I’d sent the manuscript was no longer with the firm, but he was taking over all her work so if I wanted to send it to him he would “put in on the fast track.” Which I did but he didn’t. After another ten months of silence, I asked the second editor to return the manuscript. There were other houses I wanted to submit it to and at the time I was still doing exclusive submissions. I then sent the manuscript to another editor who responded that although she liked the idea, it was too graphic. She was right. So I took it back to my critique group and toned it down and then decided to attend the November 2006 Jewish Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators Conference. At this conference, I signed up for a 15-minute critique session with Judye Groner, Editor and founder of Kar-Ben Publishing. Having attended several similar editor/agent critique sessions, my experience was that the person giving the critique usually had a lot to say. But Judye had little to say, so I came out of it feeling quite sorry for myself. The next day I got an email from Judye encouraging me to make the few changes we had discussed and resubmit to her. I submitted the revision and Kar-Ben, six months later, bought the story.

My road from concept to contract was particularly long. Mostly because of the time it took me to figure out how to tell such a difficult story. But, I needed that time to sort through the ways of telling such a difficult and sensitive story.

I Am Obsessed with Butts

2010-07-22T12:39:00.004-04:00

I am still totally shell-shocked by the visit from The Bear. I don't think I could have been more surprised if a giraffe knocked on my door wearing a suit and tie. I mean, bears don't just casually saunter by when you live in central Jersey! It's surreal.

Anyway, I tried reading Jordan my latest PB manuscript to see if it had kid appeal, but she wasn't too helpful. No matter what I read her lately, her feedback is, "Change animal X to a puppy, and make him a she." Ha! She is obsessed with dogs. Guess I need a new six-year-old beta reader.

She did think the underwear line was hilarious though. This got me thinking... why do all my PBs mention undergarments and tushes? Rump, butt, caboose, tush, behind, rear, panties.... they appear in nearly every manuscript I write! Hmm... perhaps I need therapy?

Squirrels and Chipmunks and... Bears? Oh My!

2010-07-20T09:01:00.006-04:00

We live in the suburbs. My son knew the word "deer" before he knew "dog." We have a lovely little rabbit who eats all our strawberry plants. We've even seen a fox or two. But NEVER did I ever think I would look out my window and see this:

Holy friggin' cow! My heart hasn't raced like that since I let a hot Israeli guy talk me into going up in a two-seater plane with him.

I may never recover.

2010 Check In

2010-07-16T09:10:00.003-04:00

Okay, so some of you may recall that back in March, I said I was going to write ten picture books in 2010. (And some of you even said you would join me in this goal!)

Well, since we have recently passed the halfway mark, I thought it would be a good time to check in. For those of you who are giving it a try, how are you doing?

Technically, we should have five manuscripts done by now. I've got four. I'm not too worried. Still plenty of time to catch up. (and truthfully, if I get to eight by Dec 31st I'll be very pleased)

For those of you who don't write PBs, how is it going with your 2010 goals?

Are You a Writer or An Author?

2010-07-13T17:19:00.004-04:00

Sudipta Barthan-Quallen started off her PB workshop by saying, "There are writers and there are authors. Writers write for the pure joy of writing. They write what they love. Authors write to get published. They know the market and they write to it. There is nothing wrong with being either one, but you should know which one you are." (Okay, she may have said it a little better than that, but you get the gist.)

I knew the answer.

I started out as a writer who thought she was an author. I wrote cute, sweet little stories with great language. I happened to get lucky... I got a contract for Hop! Plop! in 2003.

In 2008, I became an author. I know the exact moment when it happened.

I subbed a PB manuscript to Stephen Barbara.

He wrote back saying, "I can see the Dr. Seuss influence here and the fine and playful grasp of language you have. I’m concerned though that this may not be quite a big enough concept in this difficult picture book market. Are you working on anything else?"

And I suddenly got it.

I had received five years of rejections saying, this is charming and we love your rhythm and rhyme, but we have to pass. But in that one line from Stephen Barbara, I got the gestalt. Something clicked. I finally understood that if I wanted to get another book published, I needed to WRITE SOMETHING BIGGER.

Something high concept. Something with mass appeal. Something with a strong hook.

Shortly after, I wrote THE THREE NINJA PIGS. I knew immediately that this one would sell. And it did.

Which category do you fall into? Are you sure?

Happiness is....

2010-07-08T09:01:00.005-04:00

Watching my kids board the camp bus together in the morning (and knowing they won't be back until after 4:00!)

Being asked by Tammi Sauer if I would like a review copy of Mostly Monsterly? (Like one? I'd love one!! I feel so honored :)

Hearing my six-year-old say, "Mommy, I thought of a great blog topic!"

Collaborating on a clever project

Listening to my kids play "Wiener the Superhero" in the bath tub. (They crack me up)

Drinking a Starbucks Coffee Frappuccino.

Being told by Joshy, "If Astro Boy is too hard, we can play Mario. I'll teach you Astro Boy when you're older."

Reading a fantastic manuscript written by a friend! (Pssst, Melissa has a winner! You heard it here first)

What's your happiness today?

We've Turned a Corner!

2010-07-06T08:54:00.004-04:00

When my kids were like two and three, I would tell my husband, "I think we're turning a corner," and his response would be "Yeah, just like we're turning a corner in Iraq!"

He was right. I was trying to convince myself that things were getting better, but they weren't.

But now.... we really have turned a corner!

Our kids are five and six and we had the best weekend with them. Not to jinx myself, but they played so nicely together and I got to finish The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest while they swam and made up games involving a crazy mixture of horses and Jedis.

Have I mentioned that they are SO cute?

Now if only I had their imaginations, I could go write a great book!

The Lightbulb is On

2010-06-30T15:38:00.003-04:00

I haven't had a light bulb moment in... uh, pretty much my whole life. (I think my only light bulb moment ever might have been to write THREE NINJA PIGS.) So imagine my astonishment last night when I suddenly figured out how to turn a "blah' story into something that may actually have a hook?

Last May ('09), I participated in NaNoPiBoWee (National Picture Book Writing Week) The goal was to write one picture book manuscript per day for seven days. Let me tell you... this was quite a challenge! I only wrote one decent story the whole week. The story had some fun elements- a unique structure, inventive word play, and some irreverent humor. But something was severely lacking. It fell flat.

It needed a whole other dimension and for the life of me, I couldn't figure out what.

That was over a year ago. I never showed the manuscript to my agent because I was a bit embarrassed by it. And yet, there were components of it that I did not want to go to waste.

Then last night, while brainstorming ways of addressing another abandoned manuscript, I had my "aha!" moment.

My Muse seems to sleep way more than most Muses, but boy am I glad she woke up and decided to turn on the light.

Waiting

2010-06-24T20:50:00.002-04:00

Waiting
Waiting
Waiting...
It's excruciating.

How I hate
this awful wait.
I think I need sedating.

I was going to post on how torturous it is to wait while you're out on sub, but Mandy over at Writing Out the Angst already did it so much better than I could have, so just go on over and check out her post.

What's the Story?

2010-06-18T11:15:00.007-04:00

Okay, so we have a new favorite game at our house. I've been having trouble coming up with an idea for a new picture book, so I figured "Why not put my kids to work?" It's not like they help with laundry or dishes. They've got to earn their keep around here somehow.

So, I made up a game. It's called "What's the Story?" I give them a title and then they tell me what happens in the story.

The first title I gave them was ROSCOE TO THE RESCUE.

Jordan said, "Roscoe is a raccoon and he thinks he has super powers, but he doesn't (Clearly, the movie Bolt is a favorite at our house) He goes around trying to rescue all sorts of little animals. Then at the end, his mom gives him super powers." (She lost me with the last line, but up until that point, it was sounding like it had potential. )

Joshy said, "How about a story about monster trucks?" (Okay, he hasn't really grasped the game yet)

But I plan to keep playing! Sooner or later, one of them will give me my next big idea!

Reasons to Go to Conferences- Part 2

2010-06-16T17:56:00.005-04:00

REASON #2- You Could Get a Contract (or Two)

If getting an agent at a conference is like getting a four-of-a-kind in poker, then getting an actual contract is a straight flush. It is hitting the jackpot. The only thing better would be to get a Royal Flush like picture book author, Karen Rostoker-Gruber. Karen got TWO book deals from attending one conference! Here's the story in her own words:
_______________________________________________________________________

Back in 2001 I wrote a book called "Food Fright." I thought it was really
good, so I sent it in to Dial Books. (This is relevant by the way--later,
much later, in the story.)

1 month later I got a "we don't take unsolicited manuscripts" letter back
in my mail box from Dial--no surprise there!

That same day, I drafted a query about "Food Fright" and I resent it to
Dial Books.

I didn't hear back from Dial and the due date for the RUCCL was coming up.
Knowing that that was my best book, I sent it into the conference.

1 month later someone from Dial told me to submit the whole manuscript to
them and mark it "requested material" and send it directly to Karen
Riskin.

I immediately did as told and sent "Food Fright" to Karen Riskin at Dial.

In August I heard that I had gotten into the RUCCL conference and was
sooooo excited.

Two nights before the conference, I had a dream that I got Karen Riskin at
Dial as my mentor.

I freaked out. What if that was true? What if I got Karen Riskin as my
mentor at the conference? Would she be upset that she came all that way
to read something that she had already read and possibly rejected at Dial.

I called my friend Edna the next day. "I'm not going to the conference,"
I told her.

"What? You have to go!"

I told her about my dream and my feelings. She told me to stop being
strange, bite the bullet and come to the conference. She also said, "What
are the odds that Karen Riskin was an editor that was even invited to the
conference. And, if Karen Riskins was invited as a mentor to the
conference, what are the odds that you'd get her. Plus, if even you did
get Karen Riskin as your mentor, maybe she wouldn't be angry with you for
submitting the same work to her as you did to the conference and maybe she
hadn't even read it yet."

I thought about it. I knew Edna was right. I needed to go to the
conference.

Soooooo, I'm at the conference breakfast. (This is where you go through
your folder to see who you are matched up with.) I look down the
list.....L M N O P Q R......

Rostoker-Gruber...................

.......................................Karen Riskin

I almost DIED right then and there. Freak-out city is what I'd call it.
I tried to calm down, but it was hard. My dream was becoming a reality
and I wasn't sure if it was going to be a good or bad thing, but it was
most def a thing.

As it turned out the meeting with Karen Riskin was the most amazing
one-on-one I have ever had.

As soon as we sat down this is what she said:

"I can't believe that I got you as a mentee because just yesterday, at
Dial, I read you manuscript "Food Fight."

(Now I am really beginning to freak-out, as this was exactly like the
dream that I had had.)

.........and then this morning I opened up my folder and there was "Food
Fright" again. I just want to tell you--and I hope that you don't mind,
but I gave it to my good friend, Kelli Chipponeri, at Price Stern and
Sloan. Do you have anything else for me to see?"

Did I have anything else for her to see, I had a whole folder filled with
wonderful manuscripts. That was when I gave her "Rooster Can't
Cock-a-Doodle-Doo."

After a few rounds of changes (over the course of a couple of months after
the conference) Karen Riskin bought Rooster Can't Cock-a-Doodle-Doo" and
Kelli Chipponeri at PSS bought "Food Fright."

It was unreal!

All I am going to tell you is this: if you get into the conference, you
are a really talented writer. I didn't know that the three times that I
had gotten in.

Now, being on the other side, I know it is true. The competition is
fierce and there are sooooo many applicants that are worthy, but we can
only pick 75 to 80 mentees each year--space issues.

The editors don't get paid to come to this conference. They are coming on
their own time. They know that we have quality mentees and that is why
they continue to attend this conference.

If you get in, just know, it may change your life!

K

Reasons to Go To Conferences- Part 1

2010-06-15T09:28:00.008-04:00

Okay, we all know there are TONS of reasons to go to conferences. But it is always nice to hear specifics rather than generalities.

REASON #1 - You could get an agent

Tracey Adams was critiquing conference manuscripts. Most of them were pretty crappy. But then she picked up one called LEAVING THE BELLWEATHERS. She read the first paragraph:

It is nighttime in the village of Eel-Smack-by-the-Bay. All is quiet except for the chirp of crickets and the occasional moist ribbit of a bullfrog. A slanted yellow patch of lamplight shines through a window and rests softly on the grass. Certainly there is nothing in this peaceful scene to hint that pandemonium is likely to break out at any moment. On the third floor of the Lighthouse on the Hill an upright man sits in an upright chair. at an upright desk, up writing in his diary.

Tracey knew on the spot that she wanted to represent this writer, Kristin Venuti Clark!

She sold this fabulous quirky novel to Regina Griffin at Egmont, and the sequel THE BUTLER GETS A BREAK is now out.