Would You Read It Wednesday #95 - That Tommy Thompson (PB) PLUS a Short Blog Hop

Okay.  I know I failed on the chocolate front last WYRI when I was away on vacation, so let's just start right out with that, shall we?  I won't keep you waiting a second longer!

I have the perfect chocolate delight for the summer heat which also happens to be perfect for breakfast because it's a legitimate breakfast item!  Are you ready?

FROZEN HOT CHOCOLATE!!!  YUM :)

Ah!  How refweshing! :)

Now, let's get right to WYRI!

Today's pitch comes to us from Lisa who says: A little about me.  I'm a former elementary school social worker, mom of two, and have recently made writing my full time job.  Two years ago I wrote my first picture book and just this past fall I  decided it wasn't going to do any good sitting on my computer. I began taking classes, reading craft books, attending conferences and workshops and just writing, everyday, writing.   The original story is long gone but at last count I've got 42 other drafts and ideas jotted down.  Oh yeah, and about four or five ready to go manuscripts. I have worked with kids my entire adult life and I feel strongly that this is the avenue in which I am meant to reach those little hearts and minds at this time in my life.  On a random note, I'm a big fan of chocolate covered gummy bears. ;)

(Chocolate-covered gummy bears?  She'd my kind of gal :))

Here is her pitch:

Working Title: That Tommy Thompson
Age/Genre: Picture Book (ages 5 and up)
The Pitch: Just a girl???? Abigail Richmond was not about to let "that" Tommy Thompson ruin her day. In fact, she has just enough confidence combined with a dash of sass that allows her to prove she can do anything she puts her mind to, just like some other famous women in history. Luckily, she also has the smarts to know what she shouldn't do. 

So what do you think?  Would You Read It?  YES, MAYBE or NO?

If your answer is YES, please feel free to tell us what you particularly liked and why the pitch piqued your interest.  If your answer is MAYBE or NO, please feel free to tell us what you think could be better in the spirit of helping Lisa improve her pitch.  Helpful examples of possible alternate wordings are welcome.  (However, I must ask that comments be constructive and respectful.  I reserve the right not to publish comments that are mean because that is not what this is about.)

Please send YOUR pitches for the coming weeks!  For rules and where to submit, click on this link Would You Read It or on the Would You Read It tab in the bar above.  There are openings in August (GULP!) so we could really use some new pitches!  Send yours for your chance to be read by editor Erin Molta!

Lisa is looking forward to your thoughts on her pitch!  I am looking forward to seeing who wins the 4th of July Secret Mystery Contest!!!  If you haven't voted, please go HERE.  It's a very tight race so we need all the votes we can get!

Now, before I let you go, I have a quick little blog hop item.  My friend and fellow horse lover, Robyn, who blogs over at Robyn Campbell, just asked me to participate in this "blog hop interview."  Naturally I said yes, since Robyn is my pal :)  The idea is, she sends me a bunch of questions of which I can answer as few as 4 or as many as all of them (don't worry, I'm going with Option A - short and sweet for the time-challenged!).  At the end, I tag three other writers, who will in turn answer their choice of the same interview questions on their blogs next week.

Here are las preguntas (I hope you're admiring my splendid accent :)):

1. What are you working on right now?
2. How does it differ from other works in its genre?
3. What experiences have influenced you?
4. Why do you write what you do?
5. How does your writing process work?
6. What is the hardest part about writing?
7. What would you like to try as a writer that you haven't yet?
8. Who are the authors you most admire?
9. What scares you?

Alrighty then.  I shall proceed with the answering.  Skipping right over the first 5... :)

6.  What is the hardest part about writing?
For me, there are two hardest parts: finding enough time and shutting up my inner editor.  Time is an issue because I always seem to want to do more things than actually fit into a day.  The inner editor problem has to do with perfection.  Sometimes I'm so afraid to write something that isn't good enough and thereby ruin a potentially great idea that I can't seem to write anything at all.  Other times, I spend so much time on page 1 that I never get to page 2! :)

7.  What would you like to try as a writer that you haven't yet?
Well, this is a little bit cheating because I have tried it (very unsuccessfully!) but I would like to try writing a YA novel.  I would also like to try my hand at some non-fiction.

8.  Who are the authors you most admire?
Why did I pick this one?  What was I thinking?  This is an impossible question because there are so many.  But I love Joyce Sidman's way with words.  I love Oliver Jeffers's ability to tell wonderful picture book stories with humor and also equally successfully to tell ones that are sweet.  I love anything Sarah Dessen.  And I think Patrick Ness knows how to tell a riveting story.  I could go on indefinitely, but I'll stop :)

9. What scares you?
Not being good enough.
Also competitive eaters who can eat 69 hot dogs in 10 minutes.  That is VERY scary!

Thanks for reading!  And please check out Robyn's answers.  Feel free to leave her a comment (read pleasepleaseplease leave her a comment because she is tons of fun:)) and let her know you hopped over from my blog.

I am tagging

Stacy Jensen
Alison Hertz
Julie Rowan-Zoch

Feel free to stop by their blogs today if you don't already know them, and definitely next week when they post!

Oh and one more thing:  I just found out my guest post with Sarah Forrest at Easy Read went up today.  It's about helping kids who struggle with reading find the fun in it (I have a M.A. and M.Ed in Counseling Psychology and Special Education of Children With Learning Disabilities, and before I wrote full time I helped kids with dyslexia learn to read.)  Sarah would love some visits, and perhaps if you have a child who struggles with reading or know someone who does the post could be useful and you could share the word of her blog.

And now, after that detour :), please leave your comments for Lisa below and cast your vote for your favorite story in the 4th of July Contest!

Have a lovely day, everyone!