Showing posts with label debut author. Show all posts
Showing posts with label debut author. Show all posts

Thursday, November 30, 2023

Interview with the members of PB Soar24

 Written by Leah Moser & the members of PB Soar24



From Left to right, Top to bottom:
Kealani Netane, Steena Hernandez, Meghana Narayan, Leah Moser
Ana Velez, Faith Kazmi, Jackie Morera, Arlene Abundis, Dara Henry
Laura Bower, Megan Woodward, Melissa Trempe, Kristi Mahoney

I connected with these fabulous debut authors/illustrators on social media. Together, we formed PB Soar24 - a promotional marketing group with traditionally published picture books coming out in 2024. 

To learn more about these creators, read below and follow us on Twitter/X and Instagram!

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Name: Leah Moser

Debut Picture Book: I Am a Thundercloud illustrated by Marie Hermansson

Publisher/Release Date: Running Press Kids/Hachette, April 2024



Describe yourself as a writer in ONE word: Empathetic

Why do you think promo groups are successful and helpful as a debut author? Connecting with authors in the same writing stage has been incredibly valuable. We are going through these next steps together for the first time. We have a build in support system and promote each other's work. I've loved getting to know these smart and creative people!

What's your favorite picture book you've read recently? 
My Red, White, and Blue by Alana Tyson illustrated by London Ladd. It was beautifully written and powerful.

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Name: Meghana Narayan

Debut Picture Book: A Little Bit of Everything illustrated by Michelle Carlos

Publisher/Release Date: Sleeping Bear Press, March 2024



Describe yourself as a writer in ONE word: Lyrical

Why do you think promo groups are successful and helpful as a debut author? 
I joined my debut group for community. Writing can be so solitary, and my writing always becomes stronger when there are more eyes and fingerprints on my work. There is also so much about the world of publishing that can feel elusive, if not completely foreign. Having others in your corner who you feel comfortable asking all the "silly" questions to can make this journey a lot easier. We all know how hard it's been to get to this point, so it only makes sense to extend a hand to the creator next to you. I have found almost everyone in the "kid lit" world to be generous, genuine, and kind. 

What's your favorite picture book you've read recently? 
Who Am I? Written by Julie Buchholtz, illustrated by Aliya Ghare

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Name: Megan Woodward

Debut Picture Book: This Book is Definitely Not Cursed illustrated by Risa Rodil

Publisher/Release Date: Simon and Schuster, June 2024



Describe yourself as a writer in ONE word: Funny

Why do you think promo groups are successful and helpful as a debut author? 
It helps us learn from each other and provides a natural extended network of support and promotion. I also believe that just chatting with others who are going through similar experiences and who are similarly clueless is beneficial for mental health. (It’s comforting to know I’m not the only doofus.) And then there’s all the FREE CARS! 
*That was a joke. There are no free cars. Not even toy ones.

What's your favorite picture book you've read recently? 
Fish and Crab written by Marianna Coppo

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Name: Jackie Morera

Debut Picture Book: Abuelo's Flower Shop illustrated by Deise Lino

Publisher/Release Date: Beaming Books, June 2024



Describe yourself as a writer in ONE word: Sincere

Why do you think promo groups are successful and helpful as a debut author? 
Promo groups are an excellent way to build community at any stage of your writing career, but especially as a debut when every step of the process is a discovery. It's nice to have people to venture out into the dark with!

What's your favorite picture book you've read recently? 
I recently read Santiago's Dinosaurious by Mariana Ríos Ramírez, and it was equal parts beautiful, educational, and inspiring.

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Name: Steena Hernandez

Debut Picture Book: Lupita's Brown Ballet Slippers illustrated by Melissa Castillo

Publisher/Release Date: Beaming Books, October 2024


Link to Preorder: Coming Soon

Describe yourself as a writer in ONE word: Hopeful

Why do you think promo groups are successful and helpful as a debut author? 
As a debut author, a promo group has been invaluable to a successful start in my publication journey, from helping navigate marketing, interviews, book tours/events, and even making friends along the way.

What's your favorite picture book you've read recently? 
A favorite picture book that I read recently is Mother of Sharks by Melissa Cristina Márquez and illustrated by Devin Elle Kurtz- a compelling fantastical story paving the way for Latinas in STEM books.

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Name: Ana Velez - author and illustrator

Debut Picture Book: The Three Little Guinea Pigs and the Andean Fox 

Publisher/Release Date: Page Street Publisher, August 2024



Describe yourself as a writer in ONE word: Accidental

Why do you think promo groups are successful and helpful as a debut author? 
We can accomplish more as a community, share tips we learn along the way, and support each other.

What's your favorite picture book you've read recently? 
I laughed reading Good News Bad News by author/illustrator Jeff Mack. He cleverly uses the 4 words in the title to tell the whole story.

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Name: Laura Bower

Debut Picture Book: The Imposter illustrated by Kerisa Greene 

Publisher/Release Date: Gnome Road Publishing, March 2024



Describe yourself as a writer in ONE word: Dreamer

Why do you think promo groups are successful and helpful as a debut author? 
I think that promo groups are invaluable and am so thankful to be part of PB Soar. As a debut author, there are so many questions that arise and it has been so helpful to bounce ideas off of each other, discuss strategies, get tips and resources from a group of authors that know exactly what you are going through and are working towards the same goal!

What's your favorite picture book you've read recently? 
Becoming Charley by Kelly Dipucchio

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Name: Dara Henry

Debut Picture Book: Hanukkah Pajamakkahs illustrated by Olga and Aleksey Ivanov

Publisher/Release Date: Sourcebooks Kids, September 2024


Link to Preorder: Coming Soon

Describe yourself as a writer in ONE word: Persistent

Why do you think promo groups are successful and helpful as a debut author? 
Being a debut author is incredibly exciting, but it’s also a little scary. There is so much to learn about the publishing industry, and promotional groups are helpful, especially for debut authors, because everyone in the group is going through the publishing process for the first time. Group members understand the writing journey, offer support, and work together as a team throughout the months leading up to publication. These groups become valuable resources and act as a network, helping to spread the word about publishing news, marketing efforts, and even boost visibility online. Additionally, promotional groups are a fantastic way to build lasting relationships and create valuable friendships with other authors.

What's your favorite picture book you've read recently? 
There are so many wonderful picture books out there, it’s really hard to name just one, but recently I read: Wombats Are Pretty Weird: A (Not So) Serious Guide by Abi Cushman. This book is a favorite because not only is it kid-friendly and funny, but it’s also jam-packed with facts that kids (and adults) will want to know about wombats. With comic panels, silly dialogue, and adorable characters, Wombats Are Pretty Weird was a hit in my house. 

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Name: Kristi Mahoney

Debut Picture Book: Alpacas Make Terrible Librarians illustrated by Chantelle and Burgen Thorne

Publisher/Release Date: Gnome Road Publishing, Fall 2024


Link to Preorder: Coming Soon

Describe yourself as a writer in ONE word: Optimist

Why do you think promo groups are successful and helpful as a debut author? 
Promo groups are often initially formed to provide added reach and exposure of your debut book. But I’ve found the very best part is the wonderful people you get to know from all over the country in the same stage of their writing journey.

What's your favorite picture book you've read recently? 
I love THE LOUD LIBRARIAN by Jenna Beatrice and Erika Lynne Jones. It’s wonderfully written, beautifully illustrated, and the ending is uniquely untraditional for picture book standards.

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Name: Faith Kazmi

Debut Picture Book: Box of Dreams illustrated by Christine Almeda

Publisher/Release Date: HarperCollins, May 2024



Describe yourself as a writer in ONE word: Heartfelt

Why do you think promo groups are successful and helpful as a debut author? 
It's a great way to meet and learn from others in a similar stage in your writing career and share best practices for how to get the word out. Also, it's another incredible support network, and you can never have too many writing friends. 

What's your favorite picture book you've read recently? 
Dear Mr. G, by Christine Evans and Gracey Zhang

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Name: Melissa Trempe

Debut Picture Book: Ladybug Launch: Inspired by a True Story of Chinitas in Space coauthored by Dr. Natalia Ojeda and illustrated by Manuela Montoya

Publisher/Release Date: Margaret K. McElderry (Simon & Schuster), April 2024



Describe yourself as a writer in ONE word: Persistent

Why do you think promo groups are successful and helpful as a debut author? 
Being a part of a debut group has so many benefits. First and foremost, you are there to help promote each other’s books, and the network of ten is mightier than the network of one! We all know the writing world is full of rejection and can feel lonely, so the more author friends you have in your corner, the better. At times you can take the lead in your group and help others, and when life is overwhelming, you can also step back and lean on your group for help.

Perhaps one of the best parts is the peer pressure. Hear me out! I would happily crawl under a pile of blankets and pray to the book gods that my debut be an instant success. Unfortunately, that’s not how marketing works, and my group is a great motivator to get moving! When I hear how other authors are being brave and reaching out to schools, libraries, and bookstores, it’s much easier to stop putting off that intimidating to-do list.

All debut authors are new to the publishing game, and finding fellowship with other debut’s is a life saver! I’m so grateful for my group, PB Soar 24, and I can’t wait to cheer each author on as our books come into the world!

What's your favorite picture book you've read recently? 

Splash! Ethelda Bleibtrey Makes Waves of Change by Elisa Boxer and illustrated by Elizabeth Baddeley. A beautiful written biography about a woman who fought through the pain of polio to become an Olympic gold medal swimmer, and bring women equal rights.

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Name: Arlene Abundis

Debut Picture Book: Into the Mighty Sea illustrated by Cynthia Alonso 

Publisher/Release Date: HarperCollins Children, June 2024



Describe yourself as a writer in ONE word: Evocative

Why do you think promo groups are successful and helpful as a debut author? 
I believe promo groups are successful and helpful as a debut author because it builds support and community. Launching a book requires marketing and publicity strategies which can simultaneously be exhilarating and daunting, so having a team of authors in the same journey, coming together, is pivotal. You learn together while promoting each other’s books and expanding more as a collective.

What's your favorite picture book you've read recently? 
A favorite picture book I recently read was Every Night at Midnight by Peter Cheong. A lone werewolf who prowls at night by himself, finds friendship and his pack in the most unexpected way. 

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Name: Kealani Netane

Debut Picture Book: Tala Learns to Siva illustrated by Dung Ho 

Publisher/Release Date: Scholastic, May 2024



Describe yourself as a writer in ONE word: Overthinker

Why do you think promo groups are successful and helpful as a debut author? 
Promo groups are helpful as a debut author because we are all venturing into the unknown together. Our collective knowledge of the publishing industry makes debut life so much easier. We have people to turn to when we are unsure about something. For instance, my editor’s assistant recently let me know that she was sending a sample of my book. Before joining a debut group, I didn’t even know that publishers send book samples, but two people in my group already received their samples so I had an inkling of what to do with my sample. 

What's your favorite picture book you've read recently? 
I loved GRUMPY NEW YEAR by Katrina Moore. It’s the sequel to GRANDPA GRUMPS. Daisy is visiting her grandpa in China and she’s so excited that she doesn’t sleep, which leads to her grumpiness. She must find a way to feel better so she can enjoy the New Year celebrations. I love how Katrina Moore captures the perspective of a child. Daisy is so relatable.


About the Author

Leah Moser is a former elementary school teacher turned children’s book author. She lives in Northern Virginia with her husband, three children, and dog. 


Leah is a member of the SCBWI community, 12x12 PB challenge, multiple picture book critique groups, PB Soar 24 (a promotional marketing group of authors debuting in 2024), and is a judge for Vivian Kirkfield’s 50 Precious Words contest. 


Additionally, Leah has recently launched her own freelance picture book editing company to help other writers! To work with Leah or learn about her available services, click here.



Leah is represented by Daniel Cramer of Page Turner Literary Agency. Her debut picture book titled I Am a Thundercloud, illustrated by Marie Hermansson, will be released in April 2024 by Running Press Kids/Hachette.  PREORDER HERE!


Connect with Leah and follow her on Instagram, Twitter, and Bluesky.


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Location: Washington, DC, USA

Thursday, July 21, 2022

Promo Groups 101

Promo group posts seem to be growing on Instagram and Twitter these days. PB Sunrays Book Launchers, Picture Book Scribblers, Picture Book Launch 2022, 22 Debuts, 2023 Debuts, and Class of 2k22 Books are just some of the ones I've seen lately.

But what even is a promo group? Do you need one? And how do you join or start one?

As a proud member of PB Crew 22 (shout out to all my crew-mates!) I have just enough experience to answer some of your burning questions.


WHAT A PROMO GROUP IS (AND IS NOT).

Sadly, a promo group is not a collection of top notch publicists summoned by your publisher to tirelessly promote your new book. No, in actuality most publishers would like you to pull quite a bit of weight in advancing your work. (You thought you were done selling it when you queried your agent, didn't you?) A promo group is a collection of debut authors and illustrators, usually all releasing traditionally published books in the same year. They are self organized, often 15-20 members large, and they work cooperatively to promote each other's books. Promo groups have a social media presence and some even have websites.

DO I NEED ONE?

Let's first look at what a promo group might accomplish. PB Crew 22 came up with a pretty expansive task list before I even joined them, which included a short introductory video, regular promotional posts on Twitter and Instagram, Pinterest boards for each book, reviews on Goodreads and Amazon, panel presentation opportunities, blog interviews, and book giveaways. (Phew!)

Clearly, a promo group can go a long way in helping you get your debut out in the world. I would say that a quarter of the Twitter followers I currently have are thanks to the countless tweets and retweets of my crew-mates. Our group had the opportunity to collectively create a post for Tara Lazar's Storystorm on how our books were born. I also have significantly more reviews for my 2022 releases than I would have without them.

I'm not the only one that feels this way. Crew member Laura Lavoie, author of Vampire Vacation said, "I think the reviews are the biggest way this group has helped me. I don't think I'd have nearly as many reviews if we weren't all doing them together for each of our books, and definitely not pre-release. That, and it's nice to have a built-in group to help boost each others' posts in a reciprocal way." Valerie Bolling, author of Together We Ride told me, "what I really like about our group is reading everyone's books that are all so good and knowing that members will read my 2022 books and post reviews and request them at their local libraries. I've appreciated the graphics that some members have created, amplifying my books on social media. It's also been good to present on panels with members from this group."

Beyond that, many promo group members feel they've gained a supportive network that goes beyond promotion. Lisa Tolin, author of How to be a Rock Star shared, "It's also been wonderful to learn from people who have been through this before. They've helped us understand things like how to approach bookstores or libraries. And within our group we have former teachers and booksellers, plus authors who have put together panels and teacher guides. That perspective has been so helpful to those of us who are new!"
My crew is more than an all-star team, it's become a network for support and advice.

So you definitely need a promo group, right?! Not necessarily. Being part of a promo group means you're not just promoting your own work, but the work of up to 20 other children's book creators as well. (In my case, 21 others!) And that can be, well... a lot of work! Ask yourself if you have the time and energy to write and post 20 reviews to multiple outlets, if you're willing to do frequent retweets for your group members, and if organizing panels and guest blog entries sounds like fun. If the answer is no, a promo group is probably not right for you. Keep in mind as well, that all this time spent on promotion can sometimes take away from time spent on your next project.

HOW DO I JOIN OR START A PROMO GROUP?

PB Crew 22 started when Cynthia Harmony, author of Mi Ciudad Sings reached out to Laurie Lavoie and asked if she was interested in starting a promotion group. They then reached out to Lisa Tolin and the three kept an eye on Twitter and Publisher's Weekly for picture book authors, illustrators, and author/illustrators with 2022 releases from Big 5 publishers. Through emails and DMs, the group slowly grew until it became its current size. I was lucky enough to meet Cynthia through an email thread for SCBWI EI Coordinators and she invited me to be the 22nd and final member of the crew.

They quickly established social media accounts for the group, but decided against a website and commissioned member Blythe Russo, author and illustrator of Sloth Sleeps Over to create the adorable banner below, among other graphics. Through email communication and group discussion over Zoom, PB Crew 22 created the initial task list mentioned above.

Our group logo, created by Blythe Russo

A promo group is just one tool in an author's publicity tool belt, but it can be a hefty one. If you are interested in starting a promo group of your own, start by following some of the ones mentioned above and note the types of content they produce and engagement they create. Then start asking around. Your local SCBWI chapter, Publisher's Weekly announcements, and social media are great places to find other debut authors and illustrators that may be interested in helping you get your work into the hands of readers... assuming you're willing to help them too.




Ellie Peterson is an author and illustrator of many picture books including HOW TO HUG A PUFFERFISH and SCHOOL IS WHEREVER I AM. Find out more about Ellie and her work at elliepetersonart.com. 




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Thursday, June 20, 2019

Debut YA Author Karol Ruth Silverstein On How Volunteering for SCBWI Led To Her #OwnVoices Breakthrough

SCBWI Volunteer Karol Ruth Silverstein's debut YA novel is called "Cursed" (June 25, Charlesbridge Teen).

Karol sporting her Disability Pride in a t-shirt she designed!


I interviewed Karol to find out more...

Lee: Hi Karol! So please tell us, how did volunteering for SCBWI lead to your getting a book deal?

Karol: Actually Lee, I have you to thank! My journey really started when you invited me to become a coordinator for the Westside Writers Schmooze (now called the Westside Writers Mingle) here in Los Angeles. For any readers who aren't familiar with the Mingles (or LitMingles), they are monthly meetings held by many local SCBWI regions where writers and/or illustrators get together to discuss topics related to children’s books. I ended up coordinating with fellow SCBWI-L.A. member Charlie Cohen for four years. Toward the end of our "reign," I was prepping for a Schmooze on social media for writers. Though I'd had a Twitter handle for a while, I barely used it. Twitter seemed so confusing! I went onto Twitter determined to familiarize myself with the various things one can do on the platform. I spent some time tweeting, retweeting and commenting, and then I decided to follow a few hashtags. I happened to stumble onto the last 15 minutes of a Twitter pitch event (#PitMad)--just enough time to get out a few pitches. Literary agent Jen Linnan “liked” one of my tweets, which meant she wanted to read my manuscript. Long story short, she signed me! (I think it would be responsible of me to add a disclaimer here: results not typical!)

Though my debut YA novel Cursed wasn't the book I'd pitched in the Twitter event, Jen read an excerpt and loved it. She helped me fine tune the manuscript before we went out on submission and we eventually found it a home with Charlesbridge Teen. Cursed was not necessarily an easy sale and I was extremely lucky to find an agent who fell in love with it. I was in the right (virtual) place at the right time. And I was there specifically due to my SCBWI volunteer gig.

Karol's debut YA comes out on June 25, 2019

Lee: Wow, what a story! Why do you say Cursed wasn’t an “easy” sale?

Karol: The easy/most direct answer is that the manuscript had a lot of profanity in it. Like - A LOT. Plus, my main character was originally 13 (though she's now been aged up to 14 to put the book more squarely into the YA category). The cursing is an integral part of the story, so it wasn't like I could cut it all out. The protagonist, Ricky, is newly diagnosed with a painful chronic illness and cursing is one of her main coping mechanisms. As she adjusts to her new reality, she does learn better ways of handling her anger and curses less. But it was important that she be able to fully and realistically vent her frustrations, anger, and fear at the beginning of the book. That meant real cursing—f-bombs and all. Using "darn" and "heck" was not going to cut it in terms of authenticity, which was tremendously important to me.

Cursed is also what some refer to as "younger YA" - for readers aged 12-15 or so. This can be a somewhat tough market in general. Publishers Weekly had an article a while back explaining that, while readers in this age range are underserved and definitely in need of great reading options, agents aren't always sure how to pitch these books, publishers struggle to market them, and booksellers aren't clear where to shelve them. So that added to the challenge.

Lastly, Cursed is about a teen with a chronic illness who experiences chronic pain. Despite the incredibly valuable push for all kinds of diversity in kids books over the last decade, books featuring physical disability and/or chronic medical issues are still not exactly abundant on bookshelves. My editor Monica Perez said that she noticed a lack of these kinds of books in YA in particular, and that was one of the things that drew her to Cursed. The fact that the book is #ownvoices was icing on the cake.

Lee: #Ownvoices of course leads to the question: How much of Ricky’s story is your story?

Karol: I'm glad you asked! While Cursed is very much drawn from my personal experience, it's definitely fiction. People who know me sometimes get confused on that front, I think because Ricky's voice is so similar to mine. The set-up of the story mirrors my life the most: Ricky is sent to live with her dentist dad at his ill-equipped one bedroom apartment (which she dubs the Batch Pad), as a way to make things easier on her physically. Getting to school is still really painful though. Since her dad leaves for work before she needs to leave for school, she realizes she can just pretend she's getting ready for school—and then go back to bed once her dad's gone. She ends up cutting six weeks of school before her truancy is discovered. Basically ALL of that is taken from my life—other than the snarky name for her dad's apartment. Most of what follows in the story is made up, but there are moments, emotions, lessons learned, etc. that are drawn from my experiences throughout my lifetime of living with a chronic illness and figuring out how to partner with medical professionals and advocate for myself.

I remember fabulous YA author Sonya Sones (who blurbed Cursed!) once saying that one of the great things about writing YA is that you can have your characters make the same mistakes you made but figure out better solutions and/or end up making better choices than you did. You can clean up your past and hopefully provide more agency for your teen readers. I condensed a lot of what I've learned about living a life like mine with some modicum of grace into the six month timeframe of the book. Hopefully the book can speed up the process for readers who are dealing with similar circumstances (which I feel can be broadened to include any situation that hinders self-acceptance).

Lee: As a writer with a disability, what do you think the industry can/should do to be more inclusive, equitable, and accessible?

Karol: One of the toughest parts of disability advocacy is how incredibly varied the folks huddled under the disability umbrella are. There simply is no singular way to address the needs, preferences, experiences and sensibilities of all people living with disabilities. Likewise, stories featuring disabled characters are going to be—or should be—of every stripe and color. I think for too long, the narrative for disabled characters has been sorely limited. That's thankfully beginning to change, with #ownvoices disability books—where the author has the same disability or medical condition as the book's protagonist—really moving the needle in terms of authenticity and variety.

The kid lit industry has been a frontrunner in the charge for more inclusion and representation of underrepresented groups, both on the page and "behind the pen." Amazing progress has been made. Still, disability isn't nearly as present in the diversity discussion as some other groups, with physical disability garnering less attention than neurodiversity (a blanket term referring to variations in the human brain). But—as I've seen in a snarky meme—inclusion isn't pie! There aren't a limited number of slices. The We Need Diverse Books website gives an incredibly far-reaching definition of disability and I encourage all people involved in the children's literature industry to check it out and keep it in mind whenever discussions of diversity come up.

Lee: For readers, here's that We Need Diverse Book's definition of diversity:
We Need Diverse Books: Our definition of diversity: We recognize all diverse experiences, including (but not limited to) LGBTQIA, Native, people of color, gender diversity, people with disabilities*, and ethnic, cultural, and religious minorities.

*We subscribe to a broad definition of disability, which includes but is not limited to physical, sensory, cognitive, intellectual, or developmental disabilities, chronic conditions, and mental illnesses (this may also include addiction). Furthermore, we subscribe to a social model of disability, which presents disability as created by barriers in the social environment, due to lack of equal access, stereotyping, and other forms of marginalization.
Okay, Karol, that totally makes me want to ask: can you shout out to some great disability books out there?

Karol: Interestingly, three that come to mind immediately all feature deaf characters - Cece Bell 's terrific #ownvoices graphic novel memoir, El Deafo; the amazing Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick and 2018 Schneider Family Book Award winner, You're Welcome, Universe by Whitney Gardner.

The Schneider Family Book Award is among the awards given annually by the ALA and honors books that embody the artistic expression of disability experiences for child and adolescent audiences. Their list of previous winners is a great place to start for anyone looking to learn and read more about disability, as is the website Disability in Kidlit.

I can also report that there are a number of 2019 debut novelists who've written books featuring characters with disabilities. This is definitely heartening! In particular, YA fantasy We Rule the Night by Claire Eliza Bartlett completely blew me away. The book features a protagonist who's an amputee--and also training to be a fighter pilot. Bartlett handles the character beautifully and the whole book is an incredible thrill ride!

Lee: Any plans to write more books featuring characters with disabilities?

Karol: Yes actually! I'm in the early stages of a young middle grade novel that has a feline main character. But the human main character is young girl who uses a wheelchair. There's also another cat character who's been declawed--which many people don't realize is akin to amputation. This book is not #ownvoices because I'm not a regular wheelchair-user myself (or an amputee), but I liked the idea of including these characters because they exist in the world and should exist in books too! While the disabilities aren't a main focus in the story, they do resonate within the book's themes.

Lee: Thank you so much Karol! And congratulations on your debut!

You can find out more about Karol Ruth Silverstein and "Cursed" at her website here.

 Illustrate and Write On,
Lee
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Tuesday, November 24, 2015

The Wall Street Journal Writes About Debut Novel Advances For Over A Million Dollars

"There is no science to it, or even art. It's a business of hunches." 

-Agent Bill Clegg, an agent whose September literary debut, "Did You Ever Have a Family," sold for seven figures in a two-book deal, as quoted in Betting Big on Literary Newcomers: The publishing industry's hunt for the next blockbuster has given rise to an elite new club: the million-dollar literary debut.


Citing nine literary debut novels that will be released between 2014 and 2016 with "advances reported at $1 million or more," what sounds like a trend in the article by Jennifer Maloney is a mix of wish-fulfillment...

"The lack of a sales track record is one of the factors that makes debut authors most appealing, publishers say, because there is no hard data to dampen expectations. "You can pin all your hopes and dreams and fantasies on a debut novel," said Eric Simonoff, an agent known for negotiating seven-figure advances.

and cautionary tale...

"...if the book doesn't turn a profit, the relationship between the author and publisher can sour. And those disappointing sales figures are available for any other publisher to peruse when the author tries to sell her next novel. "That is a scarlet letter that you don't get out from under," literary agent Luke Janklow said.
And while it's good for the nine authors (and their agents) -- so long as the book is deemed a success -- it's certainly open to discussion if this is good for other book creators and the industry as a whole.

As Morgan Entrekin, publisher at the independent house Grove Atlantic put it, "It's not that they're betting on the wrong writer, it's that the bet's too big."


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Thursday, October 1, 2015

Success: What Counts? – A Guest Post By Claudia Harrington

Author and SCBWI Regional Advisor Emeritus Claudia Harrington


In our commercial world, it’s hard NOT to think of success in terms of something flashy, but for me, success comes in small bites.

Success isn’t just having a blockbuster so you can be invited to keynote at the summer conference. It’s made up of all of those little moments of growth, when you feel your head expand and you work through the challenge of translating it onto the page.

My first success came at my Dad’s funeral. I’d been asked to give a eulogy, and I started with this: “I told you I was sick – that’s what my dad always said he wanted on his tombstone.” It got an enormous laugh. The way I felt when my words made people laugh was a huge motivator, and a huge success.

My next (and first published) success came after reading a call for submissions in SCBWI’s Bulletin – one of my poems was included in what became a “Best Pick” picture book anthology from Philomel.

Flash forward over these past years… There have been so many close calls, where editors loved my work and either revised with me sans contract (success!), or championed my manuscript at acquisitions meetings (success!)

After each near miss I got back on the horse, but those moments helped me grow as a writer, and were absolutely successes. One editor, in fact, said “Why, oh why, didn’t I see this sooner?” when she got back from a long leave only to find my manuscript in her slush pile. Although that time Sales & Marketing didn’t agree, her comment was still a wonderful success – it kept me going.

Being L.A.’s SCBWI Regional Advisor for eleven years helped me to grow so much faster and deeper than I otherwise might have. It gifted me with relationships with wonderfully talented writers, agents and editors in our field, and the opportunity to pick their brains and listen to their talks on craft. I’ve also always taken advantage of available conferences and critiques, knowing that I could be one comment away from what helps me take a manuscript from almost-working to glorious. Usually I get that nugget, and my manuscripts have gotten better and better over the years.

Every draft has made me a better writer (success!)

Every book has made me a better writer (success!)

Every critique, from an editor, agent or fellow writer, stretched me and made my work better (success!)

When I submitted a manuscript for critique to a conference a few years ago, my manuscript ‘met’ my current agent, and it was pretty much love at first sight. (success!) My agent asked me if I wanted to pitch to an educational publisher who had approached her about a 6 picture book series. Because I work in a lot of genres, but felt weakest in picture books, how did I answer? With a resounding YES! I worked my butt off on the proposal, learning as I went (success!), and ended up writing a sample book in the process, which they loved. (success!) That led to being awarded the contract, (success!) and those 6 books just came out September 1st! (success!)

I feel as if I’m building on my 22 years of success as I now plan my debut book series launch party, and look forward to many more successes, big and small, in the future.

What I’ve learned is to cherish all the successes, and that my SCBWI family will cheer me on every step of the way (huge success!)

Here's another one of Claudia's "success!" moments...



More about Claudia:

 Claudia Harrington launched her writing career in kindergarten with a poem called Scab On Her Head. Five-year-old literary passion eventually blossomed into poetic publication, including a piece in I Invited A Dragon To Dinner & Other Poems To Make You Laugh Out Loud (Philomel), a CBC Best Pick. Claudia soon found the SCBWI, a recharging station of kindred spirits, going on to lead the LA chapter as Regional Advisor for eleven years. She was recently honored with a nomination for their prestigious Sue Alexander Most Promising Manuscript Award. 

 By day, Claudia sells homes in Los Angeles. By night, she conjures the writing spirits in hopes of a few juicy literary morsels. In her former life, she could be seen in commercials, film and television, thanks to her theatre degree from Northwestern University. She’s played everything from a woman giving birth in front of a young Bradley Whitford to a sex-starved magazine editor on The Young & The Restless to Mark Harmon’s nurse in an indie film. Despite the acting work, she remains grateful to her mother for forcing typing school on her so she’d have “something to fall back on” – novel revisions are brutal in longhand. 

 When she’s not writing, Claudia juggles her wild and wacky assortment of kids, husband (singular) and a standard poodle who eats underwear. Check out her blog, home to bite-size bursts of inspiration from gems in the children’s book industry, at ClaudiaHarrington.blogspot.com
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Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Tina Nichols Coury's Road To Her Debut Picture Book

I chatted with debut picture book author Tina Nichols Coury about her journey from the idea and starting to work on her story to having "Hanging Off Jefferson's Nose: Growing Up On Mount Rushmore" in her hands (and in stores!)

Here's what she said...



Tina's Debut Picture Book, Illustrated by Sally Wern Comport


Congratulations, Tina!

And thanks for the reminder that perseverance and hard work pay off!

 Illustrate and Write On,
Lee

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