Bedtime Reading

Night time is the right time for reading because I have small, crazy children that keep me occupied during the day. I am well into "How to Promote Your Children's Book" by Katie Davis and it is simply fabulous. The author presents specific tips and concepts, like buying domain names for your book titles**. And she seems so NICE! Everything she writes is clear and encouraging and positive. I want to be this woman's friend. I will be her friend. Okay we are best friends now.

http://katiedavis.com/books/how-to-promote-your-childrens-book


**Guess who just bought a bazillion domain names on Go Daddy?

Unleash the Underpants!

People ask where my ideas come from but there is no easy answer. Sometimes I work very hard and MAKE myself think of an idea (I use tips like these: http://www.wifyr.com/blog/tag/picture-book-ideas). Other times ideas just whisper their way into my brain, fogging out important to-do lists and all the state capitols. Then I email myself the idea so I won't forget it - which is why my inbox is filled with gems like "Astro-Cats" and "Unleash the Underpants!"

I'm Back!

I know I've been gone for awhile so here's Reading Cat to make up for it. 

It's been a busy few months because we built a house (well, most of it anyway), but I HAVE been writing. (Don't you judge me Reading Cat!). I attended a Highlights Workshop in August, and am now working on a few new manuscripts. My uber fabulous critique group keeps me on my toes and I'm participating in PiBoIdMo. 

It's hectic here in writer-land, but that's a good thing.

Big BIG News!!

As announced in yesterday's PW Children's Bookshelf: 

Nicole Frail at Sky Pony Press has acquired world rights to Hypnosis Harry by Catherine Bailey, a picture book about a boy whose parents say no to everything. But when he gains the power to hypnotize them he begins to question if he really wants his every wish granted. It's scheduled for winter 2016; Kathleen Rushall of Marsal Lyon Literary Agency negotiated the deal. 

So there it is people. I sold a second book. Can I get a whoot-whoot? 

You bet I can. WHOOT-WHOOT! Also I'm going to need more graphics. 

Okay got a little off track there... Whatever. Book contract!!!

Book Nerds Unite!

If book nerds ran the world... 

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/blog/if-book-nerds-ran-the-world/

Teaching Moment!

This article superbly explains how Goodnight Moon uses structure and, more importantly, when to "float" out of it.

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/07/19/what-writers-can-learn-from-good-night-moon/?_php=true&_type=blogs&emc=eta1&_r=0

Every rejection ever.

Well, Isn't That Nice!

The lovely folks at The Children's Book Academy have put together an updated list of publishers accepting unsolicited submissions. This is how I started - I was unagented and pulled from the slush. Now of course I work with the greatest agent EVER, but still, it's a good list to share.

http://www.childrensbookacademy.com/mondays-with-mandy-or-mira/publishers-accepting-unsolicited-manuscripts

Happy subbing!

When Revisions Are Annoying

Big News

I just read that Reading Rainbow is making a come back thanks to Kickstarter funding. 
I was all, like, "Not even" and then the internet was all, like, "Even." 

Ocean Commotion

This past Saturday I watched Janeen Mason, a talented children's author and illustrator, speak at our local Elliott Museum. She did an amazing job engaging the audience and sharing her passion for our oceans. Now I'm all jazzed up to do my own author presentations! I used to do a lot of public speaking in my old profession, and I miss that energy and excitement. 

Afterwards, Janeen invited everyone to paint a fish in the museum's art studio as part of her ongoing efforts to keep our rivers clean. You can learn more about Janeen's work here: http://www.janeenmason.com/books.html  

Sunshine Blogger Award

I was nominated for the Sunshine Award by fellow blogger, Lauri Meyers. Thank you Lauri! You are both sweet and funny (I can prove it - look here: http://www.laurimeyers.com). To play I must list ten interesting things about myself which will be easy since I am so fascinating.   

(1) I like donuts past the point of reason. 

(2) I lived on a sailboat in Greece, and in a converted chicken coop in Canterbury. 

(3) I am terrible at math BUT I do like the number two.  

(4) I was in one real plane crash and another almost-plane crash.

(5) Donuts.

(6) I was an intern at Cartoon Network. 

(7) I have an older sister who - until recently - was always taller than me but, in our thirties, I have grown taller than her by like, half an inch. We are really short (under 5') so this is a big deal. I'm pretty sure she's shrinking. Or else I unknowingly ate magic beans.  

(8) 87% of my parenting is folding laundry.  

(9) I was stung by a wasp during the bar exam.**

(2) I ran two half marathons which means, based on math, I have run seven full marathons. 


And now, I must also nominate some other bloggers for this award who will list ten interesting things about themselves, nominate others, and so on. I believe scientists call this the "Cycle of Life" or, more commonly, the "Flux Capacitor."

Josh Funk: http://papajfunk.wordpress.com
Amy Dixon: http://www.amydixonbooks.com/amillionwords
Jaimie Engle: http://jaimiengle.com/blog
Anna Staniszewski: http://www.annastan.com
Dani Duck: http://daniduckart.blogspot.ca/2014/06/fairy-dog-mothers.html










** I passed so, you know, nice try wasp. Nice try. 

The High Life

I am attending a Highlights Foundation workshop at the end of this summer. The Staff bios are amazing and I can't wait. I will be staying in one of these cabins - cute, right? And I hear Pennsylvania doesn't have any spiders, so that's good. 

Celebrating

I received more images of my book Mind Your Monsters (like the whole thing, and every. single. image. is perfection). I have thus declared today CELEBRATION DAY. I shall begin by looking at pictures of cats on the internet.

Saw it. Want it.

Promotion Idea #249

Flippy Wiggler

I don't know who made this but they should write children's books. 

Oriol Vidal

I have a new best friend. His name is Oriol Vidal and he is illustrating Mind Your Monsters. Oh sure, we have never met. Or spoken. Or emailed. But I've seen his amazing, hilarious, awesome sketches and I know we are simpatico.

Thank you Oriol!

http://www.shannonassociates.com/artist/oriolvidal

** Oriol did not draw the milk and cookie above. But he could if he wanted to. Because he's awesome. 

Market Thyself

As you may know, I have a contract for my first picture book. This is very exciting, and I'm confident my mother will buy the book.

But it would be nice if some other people bought the book too - possibly complete strangers. In other states! With fun names like Petunia Snortweasel and Joe Snickelpants! With that in mind, I have a few helpful websites to share:

http://www.crossbooks.com/Resources/Articles/Build_Your_Author_Platform_Before_You_Publish.aspx

http://www.30daybooks.com/six-powerful-ways-to-market-childrens-books

http://www.lulu.com/blog/2012/07/how-to-market-childrens-books

http://www.selfpublishingadvice.org/reaching-readers-6-tips-for-childrens-authors

Magazines - Wheee!!!

Happy News - I just signed another contract with Babybug, and received a second offer from them for another poem. AND I just got a "bear card" from Highlights for three other poems (which means they are considering my submissions rather than just, you know, rejecting them).

And the Winner is...

I'm sure every kid lit author and illustrator is posting this so I'll be brief. Here is a link to the 2014 ALA Winners:

http://www.ala.org/news/press-releases/2014/01/american-library-association-announces-2014-youth-media-award-winners

Congratulations!

Owlkids

In my relentless* quest to bring you publishers that accept unsolicited manuscripts, I present: Owlkids. Their website explains: "Owlkids Books is currently looking for graphic novels, activity, non-fiction, and picture book manuscripts." This is a Canadian publisher. For more, visit:

http://www.owlkidsbooks.com/Submissions.aspx

*Relentless in the way that I'd rather do this than fold laundry

Well Hello There

I had a nice surprise arrive in the mail yesterday: 

Author copies of my latest poem / publication. 

Of course now my daughter wants a puppy...