Why You MUST Write That Children’s Book

I was recently interviewed for the esteemed blog “Cynsations,” run by the very talented YA author Cynthia Leitich Smith.  It was a real honor – Cynthia’s site is among the most respected, and followed, in the Kid Lit blogosphere – but it also gave me an opportunity to reflect on a core value of mine, [...]

The Why’s and How’s of Choosing an Editor

Writing for young people is deceptively difficult. But getting published these days can be a harder task than the writing process.  The marketplace has changed dramatically over the past ten years, and the pressure on publishing houses to cater to their bottom lines means fewer acquisitions and higher hoops for authors to jump through in [...]

Just Write For Kids

I have terrific news!
But first – let me ask you a question:
*Have you ever dreamed of writing a children’s book?
*Do you have an idea for a story but don’t know where to start?
*Have you written a book, but don’t know what the next step should be?
*Would you like to join the multi-million dollar children’s book [...]

Marketing Mondays #8: Agents and Publishers

Two of the most frequently asked questions I hear from aspiring authors are: “Do I really need an agent?” and “How do I get one?”
The answer to the first question is: Ideally, yes. Agents handle everything from submitting your manuscripts to publishers, to negotiating contracts  and overseeing royalty statements, in exchange for which they take [...]

Marketing Mondays, #6: Submissions 101

So, you’ve written a children’s book and you’re ready to submit it to an agent and/or a publisher.  The following are the industry standards for manuscript submission, regardless of  whether the manuscript is for a picture book, a chapter book or a novel:
Standard white paper – Don’t even think of using colored paper!
Black ink [...]