I miss seeing you guys on Mondays and Fridays, but it's a good thing I'm not trying to post 3 days a week right now - I'd never manage! :)
This week I have been to Massachusetts and Maine... where I STILL did not see a real live moose! Everyone else on earth has seen a moose, but not me. Nosirreebob! I think they run away when they see Princess Blue Kitty approaching. But I'm going to keep on trying! I have spent many hours sorting through boxes of stuff that came home from college and needs to be washed and packed away for the summer - but don't be jealous - it's not as glamorous as it sounds :) I got to visit with my daughter and son-in-law and granddaughters over 4th of July weekend, and also with my parents - lots of cookouts! Also lots of blueberry pie baking and eating :) And today I have a school visit... well, technically it's a day care since school is out for the summer, but same idea :) I feel pretty certain there's more, but my head is spinning from all the driving and I can't remember :)
So! Onward!
First, it is my pleasure to announce that the winner of the May Pitch Pick is Todd! Congratulations on an intriguing pitch, Todd! It has already been sent to editor Erin Molta and I'm sure you will hear from her shortly!
Congratulations to all our other pitchers as well - you all did a terrific job! Even with such a helpful and generous crew of readers as we are fortunate to have over here for Would You Read It, it takes a lot of courage to post your pitch for people to comment on. I know I speak for everyone when I say you are very brave and committed to honing your craft and we all applaud you for it.
Let's skip merrily on to the June Pitch Pick now.
Here are the pitches:
#1 Kimberly - Sprinkles Goes To School - Picture Book (ages 4-8)
Sprinkles the Clown wants to fit in with her classmates on the first day of Kindergarten, but when her show-and-tell juggling act goes wrong, all the kids laugh at her, in a way even clowns don’t like. However, as a storm rolls in scaring all the students, Sprinkles puts her own fears aside and uses one of her true clowning skills to save the day!
#2 Katey - Dandelion Wishes - Picture Book (ages 3-7)
4 year-old Gia and her mother marvel in the changing seasons from their house on the hilltop until dandelion wishes disappear, and with them Gia’s sense of magic. She finds it again in her first experience of snow. A lyrical, share-able picture book at 578 words, Dandelion Wishes celebrates the everyday magic of nature and family.
#3 Amanda - Immortal Island - YA
Seventeen year old Aria Perin spent her life running from her mother’s demons. That is, until her mentally ill mother attempted to commit suicide. Now, Aria has awoken in the strangely familiar parallel world, Immortal Island, where life is eternal and her mother’s imaginary monsters lurk everywhere.
Her arrival has set off a chain of events that leads to the destruction of Immortal Island. The evil ruler seeks to slaughter Aria with hopes of saving her people and regaining her seat of power.
Against his mother’s command the ruler’s son, Julian, vows to protect Aria. He leads her to bargain away the life of an undiscovered sibling to cursed Muses, swim with flesh eating Sirens and cross hell to battle Nymphs of the Underworld all for the obscure hope of returning her home to safety.
As the connection between Aria, her mother and the island becomes clear, so does the true nature of the ruler and friends Aria has made. Her discovery will set both the Mortal World and the Immortal World on a path to complete annihilation. As her arrival brought catastrophe to the island, only her journey to find home can set everything right.
#4 Stacey - The Bad Guys’ Breakfast - Picture Book (ages 3-7)
Brave Addie’s not afraid of the “bad guys” at bedtime. No way! But after a spooky night seeing a bear in her chair, a witch by her light switch, and a ghost eating toast—EEEEK!— Addie decides the way to a bad guy’s heart might just be through his stomach. So, she invites them over for a home-cooked breakfast. And when the troupe of bad guys shows up at her doorstep ready to eat, things can only go one of two ways.
Please vote for the pitch you think is most deserving of a read by editor Erin Molta in the poll below by Sunday July 13 at 5 PM EDT.
Many thanks!
Now, I don't know about you, but I am definitely in need of Something Chocolate! And given the extreme heat, I think something cool and refreshing is called for...
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| Butterscotch ice cream sandwiched between chocolate chip cookies - YUM! Recipe here: http://mom.me/food/8552-chocolate-chip-ice-cream-sandwich/ |
It is VERY hot, so if you need 2 or 3, you know, in the interest of keeping your core at a safe temperature :), please help yourselves! :)
And now that we are thusly fortified and cooled off, let's have a look at today's pitch.
It comes to us from Brandie who says, "In the library story time world I am known as Miss Brandie. At home I am mom, mama, or MAMA! Either way my life is centered around kids...and... books. After reading what has seemed like a bazillion books aloud to children, I decided that I wanted to read one of my own. Thus, my journey into the picture book writing world was born."
Here is her pitch:
Working Title: The Trouble With Keeping Vikings
Age/Genre: Picture Book (ages 4-6)
The Pitch: Having a horde of Vikings come stay for a visit sounds harmless enough, right? Wrong! From snot-snakes to clashing swords, the outrageous antics of these pesky Vikings seem to be never-ending. But who will come to the rescue and bring them under control?
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 Brandie 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 September so you've got a little time to polish up your pitches and send yours for your chance to be read by editor Erin Molta!
Brandie is looking forward to your thoughts on her pitch! I am looking forward to catching up on all the work I didn't do while I was driving around the eastern seaboard!
Have a wonderful Wednesday, everyone!!! :)
Brandie is looking forward to your thoughts on her pitch! I am looking forward to catching up on all the work I didn't do while I was driving around the eastern seaboard!
Have a wonderful Wednesday, everyone!!! :)
