I recently saw a social media post by an aspiring author at the very very beginning of their journey. They were unsure what the next steps were once they had a picture book manuscript written. So, I thought I’d go over the usual next steps taken at this point. If you’re completely new to traditional publishing, here’s a post to get you started.
Continue reading “First Steps: You Have a Picture Book Manuscript Draft. Now What?”
There are two pitch parties coming up next month: PitMad and LatinxPitch. I’ve already participated in a couple parties, but I have more polished manuscripts to work with now. I’ve been doing even more research than usual on how to create strong pitches and participate in these events. Thought I’d share what I’ve learned and some resources.
Continue reading “Prepping for Pitch Parties”
I’ve been doing a lot of research these past few months, and I thought it’d be helpful to create a running list of publishing terms. This list isn’t exhaustive, but it’s a good start for anyone new to researching kidlit publishing. Also, I can only promise that these definitions are how I understand these terms. I might be missing some nuances.
Continue reading “A List of KidLit Publishing Terms”
Another galley I won as part of the US Book Show Grab a Galley Giveaway. This board book was a lovely read, so let’s talk more about it. Find it on Amazon (affiliate) or Bookshop or a bookstore near you.
Continue reading “Book Review: My Feelings by Jeffrey Turner”
I decided to pitch at this year’s SCBWI Summer Conference. It was a digital experience, where 10 pitchers were in a Zoom call with the editor or agent we signed up to pitch to. We each had 2 minutes to pitch, and 4 minutes of feedback. We could pitch our story or read the first manuscript page (250 words). Here’s how it went…
Continue reading “My First Conference Pitching Experience”
I attended my first SCBWI conference this weekend, and it was a fantastic experience. I really appreciated the opportunity to attend, as it was a fully digital conference this year. I pitch one of my picture book manuscripts to an editor tomorrow, which I’ll create a separate post about. But for now, here are some of my takeaways from the editors and agents that spoke at this year’s conference.
Continue reading “Insights Gained from the SCBWI BigFiveOh Summer Conference”
I won a few galley’s through the US Book Show Grab a Galley Giveaway. So, I have some books already on my to-review list. The first is Adrift by Heidi E.Y. Stemple, illustrated by Anastasia Suvorova. Buy it on Amazon (affiliate) or Bookshop or a bookstore near you.
Continue reading “Book Review: Adrift by Heidi E.Y. Stemple, Ill. by Anastasia Suvorova”
If you’re teaching a children’s literature college course, then it makes sense to assign picture books as part of your readings. But, what if you’re teaching a non-children’s literature course. Is there still a place for picture books with these college-level students? Yes, there definitely is!
Continue reading “Teaching Picture Books in College Courses?”
Now that I’ve completed the basic work needed to create this website, it’s time to write the first post. I thought the best place to start is here in the “Write” section. If I want to use this website as a record of my publishing journey, then I better create a post that describes where I am currently at on my journey. So here we go…
Continue reading “I Am Here: Where I Am on the Publishing Journey”
I joined the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (aka SCBWI) in April of 2021. Since then, I’ve used quite a few resources on their website. So, I thought I’d share some of my favorites, in case you’re new to the group or are considering joining but don’t know if it’s worth the annual fee (hint, it is).
Continue reading “My Favorite SCBWI Resources”