Hi all!
I haven't done a teaser for a while and thought I'd post one today. If I'm not careful, I'll probably end up posting my whole book (just kidding . . . I know my chances for publication would be pretty much nil if I did that!). But seriously, I do so love the feedback from everyone. It's very encouraging!
Today I'm posting from TRAIN WATCH (yep, I'm still revising it, adding scenes here & there, etc.).
Here's the setup for the scene: Cleo, my protagonist, is on her way to the train station in Winston-Salem, NC, with her mother, brother, & grandfather, as well as the kind schoolteacher that she & her mother befriended at the previous station in Hamlet. (And just a reminder, the year is 1941)
Cleo looked up from her book, wondering why Mrs. Grissett was frowning so. Mama also noticed.
"Is there anything wrong, Mrs. Grissett?" Mama asked.
"Why, no dear, not especially. I was just thinking about your Cleo's big dreams is all." She tried to face Cleo but could only turn halfway as they jammed so tightly in the old Roadster. "It's a beautiful thing to realize such big dreams as yours, Cleo, but don't forget to look back every now and then. There are others dreaming right behind you."
"Yes, ma'am," Cleo said, heat rising to her cheeks.
Turning back to Mama, Mrs. Grissett continued, "You know, the young ones today don't realize that good, qualified Negro teachers are still needed down here, as well as up North.
Cleo dropped her chin and closed her book. She blinked back the tears that threatened to drop any second. Maybe she did read too much like Otis said. She really hadn't meant to sound so self-centered. And it wasn't that she had anything against working in the South--okay, she was against working in the fields--but it was just . . . just . . . that she knew, no felt, something bigger was in store for her in New York.
"Cleo! Cleo!"
Mama was shaking her shoulder so hard she thought her collarbone would come unhinged. How long had she been lost in thought? "Yes, Mama?"
"Didn't you hear me calling you, girl? What's wrong with you?"
"I'm fine, Mama. I was just thinking is all."
"Well, child, that's the saddest look of "fine" I've ever seen." Mama shook her head. "Cleo, this here's a mean, hard world. And I don't mean just here in the South. The North has its problems, too."
Well, that's it for today. Thanks so much for reading!
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Thankful Thoughts
Truly, this year, there is SO MUCH to be thankful for:
FAMILY
GOOD FRIENDS &
MY NEW WRITER/BLOGGING FRIENDS
GOOD HEALTH
EMPLOYMENT
GOD'S LOVE & PROTECTION
AND
INTERNET ACCESS (without which I could never have created this blog and met all of you, my writer friends)
Thank you all for following . . . see you next week!
Have a great THANKSGIVING DAY (& weekend)! :)
FAMILY
GOOD FRIENDS &
MY NEW WRITER/BLOGGING FRIENDS
GOOD HEALTH
EMPLOYMENT
GOD'S LOVE & PROTECTION
AND
INTERNET ACCESS (without which I could never have created this blog and met all of you, my writer friends)
Thank you all for following . . . see you next week!
Have a great THANKSGIVING DAY (& weekend)! :)
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
A little writing Inspiration . . .
Hi all!
I came across a few posts/articles over the last couple of weeks that I thought were SO INSPIRING, that I just had to share them with you, my writer friends.
1) From the Writers First Aid blog author Kristi Holl asks,"How Does Your Talent Grow?" Choose an attribute (one per week, she says) and watch your talent grow in the coming months! Love her list, don't you?
2) Novelist Alexander Chee, a graduate of my alma mater, wrote this inspiring essay for The Morning News, recounting his studies with Annie Dillard. After I read this, I could have kicked myself for not having signed up for her class (especially being an English major)! Ah, well . . . I am grateful still that he took the time to write of his experience in her class. I especially like the part where she told his class, "If you're doing your job, the reader feels what you felt. You don't have to tell the reader how to feel. No one likes to be told how to feel about something." And that's just one of the nuggets of writing wisdom she shared with the class . . . imagine a whole semester's worth! Like I said, I could kick myself . . .
3) Lastly I just wanted to share (and many of you have probably seen this already), posts from two newly agented writers on a timeline of their writing journey thus far:
From Shelli at Market My Words: What a difference a Year makes
and
From Caroline Starr Rose at Caroline by line: My agent: Michelle Humphrey of Sterling Lord Literistic
ALSO--I'm going back a few months here--just thought about the writing journey of Tess Hilmo, one of my first blogging friends, and wanted to include it here as well. It's wonderfully inspiring! (Tess is repped by Steven Chudney of The Chudney Agency.)
I so love reading about a writer's journey . . . it gives me so much hope to think that if they can do it, I can, too!
So here's to all of us on the writing journey . . . be INSPIRED!
Happy Thanksgiving! :)
I came across a few posts/articles over the last couple of weeks that I thought were SO INSPIRING, that I just had to share them with you, my writer friends.
1) From the Writers First Aid blog author Kristi Holl asks,"How Does Your Talent Grow?" Choose an attribute (one per week, she says) and watch your talent grow in the coming months! Love her list, don't you?
2) Novelist Alexander Chee, a graduate of my alma mater, wrote this inspiring essay for The Morning News, recounting his studies with Annie Dillard. After I read this, I could have kicked myself for not having signed up for her class (especially being an English major)! Ah, well . . . I am grateful still that he took the time to write of his experience in her class. I especially like the part where she told his class, "If you're doing your job, the reader feels what you felt. You don't have to tell the reader how to feel. No one likes to be told how to feel about something." And that's just one of the nuggets of writing wisdom she shared with the class . . . imagine a whole semester's worth! Like I said, I could kick myself . . .
3) Lastly I just wanted to share (and many of you have probably seen this already), posts from two newly agented writers on a timeline of their writing journey thus far:
From Shelli at Market My Words: What a difference a Year makes
and
From Caroline Starr Rose at Caroline by line: My agent: Michelle Humphrey of Sterling Lord Literistic
ALSO--I'm going back a few months here--just thought about the writing journey of Tess Hilmo, one of my first blogging friends, and wanted to include it here as well. It's wonderfully inspiring! (Tess is repped by Steven Chudney of The Chudney Agency.)
I so love reading about a writer's journey . . . it gives me so much hope to think that if they can do it, I can, too!
So here's to all of us on the writing journey . . . be INSPIRED!
Happy Thanksgiving! :)
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Wonderfully Wednesday :)
Hi all!
Okay, I know this was supposed to be Monday's post, but since Monday and Tuesday have both come and gone, I'm posting it today on this wonderful Wednesday, or "hump day" as most of us working-class folks call it.
It’s so funny how addictive blogging is! When I often stop for a few days or a week or so and I get a little more writing done, I soon get antsy & start really missing the interaction with other like-minded writers/bloggers like yourselves. I think maybe it’s because having this blog (and also just plain perusing the blogosphere!) kind of fills the need to talk to, commiserate with, and rejoice with other writers—a need that is basically not fulfilled at home or work. Anyone else feel this way?
Okay, now that I’ve jabbered on long enough, here’s a couple of links that you may, or may not have seen around the blogosphere. At any rate, I hope they can be of some help on your writing journey! Enjoy! :)
1) First up, some agent info:
Last Thursday, for those who missed it, aspiring author Casey McCormick shone the Agent Spotlight on Barry Goldblatt of Barry Goldblatt Literary.
Going back a little further, on October 22, the Agent Spotlight shone on Sara Megibow of Nelson Literary Agency, LLC. These spotlights are so helpful and informative . . . Thanks, Casey!
ALSO!! Click here to find out Casey’s very latest agent news!
2) I came across this article the other day at School Library Journal. I'm sure many of you are already aware of these blogs, but librarian Elizabeth Bird drew up this list of ten of the best blogs for folks (like us!) who are interested in kids' lit. She also shares how she came to start her own blog, A Fuse #8 Production.
3) Anyone interested about querying with a series? Check out this post by Mary Kole, Associate Agent at the Andrea Brown Literary Agency. Wonderful advice!
And also while you're at her blog, if you're considering writing in multiple genres (I know I am!), click here to see what encouraging things she has to say on that issue.
4) Newly-contracted (Yay!!) historical fiction author, Jody Hedlund touched on this issue of multiple genres yesterday in her post, "Does Platform Really Help an Unpublished Writer?"
This thought-provoking post and the multitude of comments that followed will benefit ALL
writers, I believe. Check it out! :)
And while you're there, be sure to check out this post by Jody on the elements of her manuscript that really landed her her book contract. It's so inspiring, as well as informative! Thanks, Jody!
5) Next up, Jody's agent, Rachelle Gardner of WordServe Literary shares all you ever wanted to know about BACKSTORY--what it is, what it is NOT, & when to use it. As always, this is another great post by Rachelle that was both timely & enlightening . . . and it made me want to immediately take a fine-tooth comb through my manuscript!
Rachelle's blog is such a treasure trove of writing and publishing information, and not just for those who write for the inspirational/Christian market, but for ALL writers . . . so go check it out, if you haven't already!
6) Back on the children's editorial front, new kidlit blogger & aspiring author Sheri Rosen shares what she learned from Jessica Garrison, an editor at Dial Books for Young Readers, at a recent Editor's Day conference. As always, Sheri took fabulous notes, sharing Jessica's editorial insights as well as what Jessica's looking for now.
And guess what, folks? Sheri says she has SIX more pages to post! Whoo-Hoo! Thanks, Sheri! :)
7) Time to PAY IT FORWARD
Aspiring author Colleen Rowan Rosinski of the Writer Girl blog has graciously posted bio information and genre preferences of a multitude of editors & agents (over 50, at least!) that attended last month's Rutgers One-on-One Conference in New Brunswick, NJ.
Talk about a wealth of information! Folks, having attended this conference myself last year, I would get right on this & print it out ASAP, or at least bookmark it. I've only posted the link for her first post (there are TEN posts altogether) because I figure you all can go on from there.
If you haven't gone to this conference, and live in the Northeast (or are just plain curious), I think you (children's writers only, that is) should give it a try at least once. You're accepted based on a short synopsis & writing sample of 3 pages (for a MG or YA) or whole manuscript for picture book. Granted it's kind of competitive--only 70-75 "mentees" are chosen out of @200-300 applicants--I think it's still worth a shot because not only do you get to hear a mixed panel of editors, agents, or industry professionals, and 2 guest speakers, you're matched up for approximately 45 minutes for a one-on-one consultation with either an editor, agent, or published author.
I was paired with Shauna Fay, now an assistant editor at G.P. Putnam's Books for Young Readers. She was a tremendous help, suggesting a few different directions my manuscript could take plot-wise. She invited me to submit a couple of chapters when I was ready but, *sigh*, me being ever the procrastinator, have yet to send it on. I wonder if I'll ever stop revising . . . it seems like there's always something new to add or delete! Anyone else have this problem? Maybe I better go reread Jody Hedlund's post . . . :)
8) And on an endnote, Publishers Weekly has posted their Best Children's Books of 2009 . . . I'm currently reading When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead but it seems like there could have been a couple more middle grade titles added to this list . . . what do you think?
Well, as Porky Pig (believe it or not, my kids do NOT know who this is! Of course, they grew up on "Barney" . . .) would say: "Th-th-th-that's all folks!"
Till next time . . .
Happy Writing!
Okay, I know this was supposed to be Monday's post, but since Monday and Tuesday have both come and gone, I'm posting it today on this wonderful Wednesday, or "hump day" as most of us working-class folks call it.
It’s so funny how addictive blogging is! When I often stop for a few days or a week or so and I get a little more writing done, I soon get antsy & start really missing the interaction with other like-minded writers/bloggers like yourselves. I think maybe it’s because having this blog (and also just plain perusing the blogosphere!) kind of fills the need to talk to, commiserate with, and rejoice with other writers—a need that is basically not fulfilled at home or work. Anyone else feel this way?
Okay, now that I’ve jabbered on long enough, here’s a couple of links that you may, or may not have seen around the blogosphere. At any rate, I hope they can be of some help on your writing journey! Enjoy! :)
1) First up, some agent info:
Last Thursday, for those who missed it, aspiring author Casey McCormick shone the Agent Spotlight on Barry Goldblatt of Barry Goldblatt Literary.
Going back a little further, on October 22, the Agent Spotlight shone on Sara Megibow of Nelson Literary Agency, LLC. These spotlights are so helpful and informative . . . Thanks, Casey!
ALSO!! Click here to find out Casey’s very latest agent news!
2) I came across this article the other day at School Library Journal. I'm sure many of you are already aware of these blogs, but librarian Elizabeth Bird drew up this list of ten of the best blogs for folks (like us!) who are interested in kids' lit. She also shares how she came to start her own blog, A Fuse #8 Production.
3) Anyone interested about querying with a series? Check out this post by Mary Kole, Associate Agent at the Andrea Brown Literary Agency. Wonderful advice!
And also while you're at her blog, if you're considering writing in multiple genres (I know I am!), click here to see what encouraging things she has to say on that issue.
4) Newly-contracted (Yay!!) historical fiction author, Jody Hedlund touched on this issue of multiple genres yesterday in her post, "Does Platform Really Help an Unpublished Writer?"
This thought-provoking post and the multitude of comments that followed will benefit ALL
writers, I believe. Check it out! :)
And while you're there, be sure to check out this post by Jody on the elements of her manuscript that really landed her her book contract. It's so inspiring, as well as informative! Thanks, Jody!
5) Next up, Jody's agent, Rachelle Gardner of WordServe Literary shares all you ever wanted to know about BACKSTORY--what it is, what it is NOT, & when to use it. As always, this is another great post by Rachelle that was both timely & enlightening . . . and it made me want to immediately take a fine-tooth comb through my manuscript!
Rachelle's blog is such a treasure trove of writing and publishing information, and not just for those who write for the inspirational/Christian market, but for ALL writers . . . so go check it out, if you haven't already!
6) Back on the children's editorial front, new kidlit blogger & aspiring author Sheri Rosen shares what she learned from Jessica Garrison, an editor at Dial Books for Young Readers, at a recent Editor's Day conference. As always, Sheri took fabulous notes, sharing Jessica's editorial insights as well as what Jessica's looking for now.
And guess what, folks? Sheri says she has SIX more pages to post! Whoo-Hoo! Thanks, Sheri! :)
7) Time to PAY IT FORWARD
Aspiring author Colleen Rowan Rosinski of the Writer Girl blog has graciously posted bio information and genre preferences of a multitude of editors & agents (over 50, at least!) that attended last month's Rutgers One-on-One Conference in New Brunswick, NJ.
Talk about a wealth of information! Folks, having attended this conference myself last year, I would get right on this & print it out ASAP, or at least bookmark it. I've only posted the link for her first post (there are TEN posts altogether) because I figure you all can go on from there.
If you haven't gone to this conference, and live in the Northeast (or are just plain curious), I think you (children's writers only, that is) should give it a try at least once. You're accepted based on a short synopsis & writing sample of 3 pages (for a MG or YA) or whole manuscript for picture book. Granted it's kind of competitive--only 70-75 "mentees" are chosen out of @200-300 applicants--I think it's still worth a shot because not only do you get to hear a mixed panel of editors, agents, or industry professionals, and 2 guest speakers, you're matched up for approximately 45 minutes for a one-on-one consultation with either an editor, agent, or published author.
I was paired with Shauna Fay, now an assistant editor at G.P. Putnam's Books for Young Readers. She was a tremendous help, suggesting a few different directions my manuscript could take plot-wise. She invited me to submit a couple of chapters when I was ready but, *sigh*, me being ever the procrastinator, have yet to send it on. I wonder if I'll ever stop revising . . . it seems like there's always something new to add or delete! Anyone else have this problem? Maybe I better go reread Jody Hedlund's post . . . :)
8) And on an endnote, Publishers Weekly has posted their Best Children's Books of 2009 . . . I'm currently reading When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead but it seems like there could have been a couple more middle grade titles added to this list . . . what do you think?
Well, as Porky Pig (believe it or not, my kids do NOT know who this is! Of course, they grew up on "Barney" . . .) would say: "Th-th-th-that's all folks!"
Till next time . . .
Happy Writing!
Monday, October 19, 2009
Sad day in Children's Lit
I don't know if anyone's heard about this yet, but I just read on Elizabeth Bluemle's Shelftalker blog that children's and young adult author, Norma Fox Mazer has passed away. You can read Elizabeth's tribute here.
I know Ms. Mazer will be sorely missed in children's litearture. I remember her as one of the first YA authors I read as a pre-teen, around the age of 11 or 12, I guess. She was an amazing author, to say the least. Among my favorite titles by her were (and I know this is going back aways): The solid gold kid, Taking Terri Mueller, and When she was good.
I know Ms. Mazer will be sorely missed in children's litearture. I remember her as one of the first YA authors I read as a pre-teen, around the age of 11 or 12, I guess. She was an amazing author, to say the least. Among my favorite titles by her were (and I know this is going back aways): The solid gold kid, Taking Terri Mueller, and When she was good.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Fabulous Friday Links :)
Hi folks!
Hope all is going well with everyone. Haven't posted much news lately (not that there hasn't been lots in the last month or two!), so I thought I'd offer up a few links/posts that you may or may not have discovered. Hope they help!
) The National Book Award Finalists have been announced! As reported by Publishers Weekly, the nominees in the Young People's Literature category are:
Deborah Heiligman, Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith (Henry Holt)
Phillip Hoose, Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice (Farrar, Straus and Giroux)
Davd Small, Stitches (W.W. Norton & Co.)
Laini Taylor, Lips Touch: Three Times (Arthur A. Levine Books/Scholastic)
Rita Williams-Garcia, Jumped (HarperTeen)
Congratulations to all!
Click here to see the complete list of nominees
Beth Fleisher, Barry Goldblatt Literary
Brenda Bowen, Sanford J. Greenburger Associates, Inc.
Eddie Schneider, JABberwocky Literary Agency
Joe Monti, Barry Goldblatt Literary
Merrilee Heifetz, Senior VP, Writers House
Rosemary Stimola, Stimola Literary Studio, LLC
Bill Contardi, Brandt and Hochman Literary Agents, Inc.
3) In the mood for a contest or two?
New Associate Agent Mary Kole, of the Andrea Brown Literary Agency is running a QUERY Contest at Kidlit.com. The query must be for a finished children's book manuscript (YA, MG, or picture book) and must be under 500 words. It must be either pasted in the comments field (she explains how on her blog) or emailed to her by October 31st at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time.
The prize? --- A critique of the first 30 pages of your manuscript
GOOD LUCK!
For the next contest, hop on over to new blogger and aspiring author Sheri Rosen's blog, The Worries and Triumphs of an Unpublished Author. Sheri's giving away a FREE, SIGNED COPY of Michael Grant's GONE. What do you have to do? Become a follower of her blog and/or refer someone to her blog. That's it! Click here for more info on this contest. Oh yes, it ends on December 1st!
AND, while you're there, check out her notes from a talk given by AnnMarie Harris, series editor at Scholastic Trade Paperback, at an Editor's Day event sponsored by the Orange County chapter of SCBWI. AnnMarie's topic: middle grade paperback series for boys & girls. Sheri took some awesome notes, folks!
Also (yeah, she's got more!), for all you aspiring historical fiction writers (myself included), be sure to check out Sheri's Editor's Day Part 2 post on a very interesting talk by Alexandria LaFayette, winner of the 2005 Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction for her novel, Worth.
4) Ooooh, just remembered! Debut author Cynthia Jaynes Omololu is giving away postcards, bookmarks, & business cards celebrating her YA novel, Dirty Little Secrets (Walker, February 2010). Check it out here!
She also recently published a delightful, multicultural picture book entitled When It's Six O'Clock in San Francisco (Clarion).
5) Want the last word on Word Count for Novels and Children's Books? Peep this definitive post by Guide to Literary Agents' blog editor Chuck Sambuchino.
Hope all is going well with everyone. Haven't posted much news lately (not that there hasn't been lots in the last month or two!), so I thought I'd offer up a few links/posts that you may or may not have discovered. Hope they help!
) The National Book Award Finalists have been announced! As reported by Publishers Weekly, the nominees in the Young People's Literature category are:
Deborah Heiligman, Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith (Henry Holt)
Phillip Hoose, Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice (Farrar, Straus and Giroux)
Davd Small, Stitches (W.W. Norton & Co.)
Laini Taylor, Lips Touch: Three Times (Arthur A. Levine Books/Scholastic)
Rita Williams-Garcia, Jumped (HarperTeen)
Congratulations to all!
Click here to see the complete list of nominees
I've got JUMPED in my to-be-read pile . . . just wondering, has anyone read any of the others (in the Young People's category)?
2) Yesterday, Casey McCormick over at Literary Rambles, shone the Agent Spotlight on Michael Stearns of Upstart Crow Literary.
And in case you missed it, here are a few more that were "spotlighted" these past few weeks:
Beth Fleisher, Barry Goldblatt Literary
Brenda Bowen, Sanford J. Greenburger Associates, Inc.
Eddie Schneider, JABberwocky Literary Agency
Joe Monti, Barry Goldblatt Literary
Merrilee Heifetz, Senior VP, Writers House
Rosemary Stimola, Stimola Literary Studio, LLC
Bill Contardi, Brandt and Hochman Literary Agents, Inc.
3) In the mood for a contest or two?
New Associate Agent Mary Kole, of the Andrea Brown Literary Agency is running a QUERY Contest at Kidlit.com. The query must be for a finished children's book manuscript (YA, MG, or picture book) and must be under 500 words. It must be either pasted in the comments field (she explains how on her blog) or emailed to her by October 31st at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time.
The prize? --- A critique of the first 30 pages of your manuscript
GOOD LUCK!
For the next contest, hop on over to new blogger and aspiring author Sheri Rosen's blog, The Worries and Triumphs of an Unpublished Author. Sheri's giving away a FREE, SIGNED COPY of Michael Grant's GONE. What do you have to do? Become a follower of her blog and/or refer someone to her blog. That's it! Click here for more info on this contest. Oh yes, it ends on December 1st!
AND, while you're there, check out her notes from a talk given by AnnMarie Harris, series editor at Scholastic Trade Paperback, at an Editor's Day event sponsored by the Orange County chapter of SCBWI. AnnMarie's topic: middle grade paperback series for boys & girls. Sheri took some awesome notes, folks!
Also (yeah, she's got more!), for all you aspiring historical fiction writers (myself included), be sure to check out Sheri's Editor's Day Part 2 post on a very interesting talk by Alexandria LaFayette, winner of the 2005 Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction for her novel, Worth.
4) Ooooh, just remembered! Debut author Cynthia Jaynes Omololu is giving away postcards, bookmarks, & business cards celebrating her YA novel, Dirty Little Secrets (Walker, February 2010). Check it out here!
She also recently published a delightful, multicultural picture book entitled When It's Six O'Clock in San Francisco (Clarion).
5) Want the last word on Word Count for Novels and Children's Books? Peep this definitive post by Guide to Literary Agents' blog editor Chuck Sambuchino.
6) Are vampires on their way out? Check out this article on the presumed rise (or fall, depending on the story) of angels posted last month on the Publishers Weekly website!
7) Lastly, for those debut authors coming out with books in the next year or two, and even for us aspiring authors, you may want to take heed of these New Rules for Authors courtesy of Stet!, the Backspace writers' blog. I guess it's never too early to start planning . . . :)
And for a cozier, more personal take, Kristin Tubb, author of Autumn Winifred Oliver Does Things Different (Delacorte) shared, earlier this week on her blog, Do Things Different, what she's learned in her first year as a published author.
Happy Writing!
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Teaser Tuesday
Hi everyone!
Well, I'm back with another "teaser" today but it's not from my middle-grade work-in-progress. No, this time it's a very brief snippet from one of 2 picture books that I'm working on. It's about a young duckling who, while out on a stroll with his family, gets separated from them as he tries to chase a rabbit.
From LITTLE DUCK DEVIN:
CR-U-N-N-N-CH! CR-U-N-N-N-CH! CR-U-N-N-N-CH!
Last in line behind his brothers and sisters, Little Duck Devin turned to see . . . a rabbit, munching on a carrot. It hopped right past him and his family. Little Duck Devin flew fast behind it.
WHOMP!
Little Duck Devin rubbed his beak. Where DID that rabbit go?
YIKES! What was THAT he heard? Oh! It was just his stomach grumbling! He waddled on until he came to . . .
WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH! A highway!
Little Duck Devin waddled and hopped, first this way, then that. But the cars and trucks zoomed right on by.
Would he ever see Mama and Molly and Holly and Tevin again?
I welcome any criticisms/suggestions/feedback as picture books are NOT my strong suit but I love the challenge of writing them anyway.
Thanks for reading, guys! :)
**Oh yes, if anyone's interested in reading the whole thing (about 5 pages), you are more than welcome. I'll swap you for another PB or a 1st chapter of your MG. Just shoot me an email! :)
Well, I'm back with another "teaser" today but it's not from my middle-grade work-in-progress. No, this time it's a very brief snippet from one of 2 picture books that I'm working on. It's about a young duckling who, while out on a stroll with his family, gets separated from them as he tries to chase a rabbit.
From LITTLE DUCK DEVIN:
CR-U-N-N-N-CH! CR-U-N-N-N-CH! CR-U-N-N-N-CH!
Last in line behind his brothers and sisters, Little Duck Devin turned to see . . . a rabbit, munching on a carrot. It hopped right past him and his family. Little Duck Devin flew fast behind it.
WHOMP!
Little Duck Devin rubbed his beak. Where DID that rabbit go?
YIKES! What was THAT he heard? Oh! It was just his stomach grumbling! He waddled on until he came to . . .
WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH! A highway!
Little Duck Devin waddled and hopped, first this way, then that. But the cars and trucks zoomed right on by.
Would he ever see Mama and Molly and Holly and Tevin again?
I welcome any criticisms/suggestions/feedback as picture books are NOT my strong suit but I love the challenge of writing them anyway.
Thanks for reading, guys! :)
**Oh yes, if anyone's interested in reading the whole thing (about 5 pages), you are more than welcome. I'll swap you for another PB or a 1st chapter of your MG. Just shoot me an email! :)
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