Categories
Top wishes right now
Reminder: do NOT send attachments! Include your board or picture book text, or first three pages of a longer work, in the body of your email. If you are an author/illustrator include a link to your dummy or portfolio.
Top of my list for picture books: kid-focused, character-based stories (beginning, middle, end plot, rather than a "list" form or an unnamed narrator). Humor a plus. Warmth, heart essential.
I'd like a picture book series with a spunky, quirky, lovable main character. Board book series from the baby's pov can be tough sells, but parent or narrator pov good.
I see loads of stories about dogs and cats - but how about a kid who adores horses? Or gerbils? Parakeets? Turtles? (I've had both parakeets and turtles as pets, and can testify as to their appeal and story potential ...).
Again, HUMOR! Send me the funny stuff! Can't emphasize this enough. (Can do without the poop and fart categories, though)
Just to be sure you're paying attention! - Character-based stories with emotional depth, and stories with a full arc (beginning, middle, end) are very welcome.
For middle grade, I'd like to see a contemporary novel in which the protagonist experiences a growing awareness of global or other societal issues as they dovetail with his or her own life.
Historical fiction is a somewhat narrow market, but I do love it.
I also truly love mg fantasy and magical realism (high fantasy as well as elements of magic or alternate realities woven in with the ordinary and recognizable world).
And here's what I'd rather not see:
-- Meta pov (breaking the fourth wall, directly addressing the reader. I.e. "hi, I'm Jeremy and I ...")
-- Grandparent stories are really hard to sell (even though I often like them)
-- I get lots of stories presented as picture book texts that really are short stories best suited to a children's magazine
-- Too many novels lack energetic, sparkling language and lose me on the first page. Too many also include the mc's haircolor, age and other details that shouldn't be there (look at recently published books for models, whatever your genre or audience age range)
-- Picture books written in rhyming couplets (see article on this website) (I see so, so many of these and almost always the word choices aren't kid-friendly or realistic as the author searches for rhymes more than for a strong story)
See "Always Seeking" article for lots more detail. "CONTACT" for submission guidelines. Remember: do NOT send attachments. They will be deleted without being read. - (Owing to the number of submissions I receive, I am able only to respond to those that may be a potential fit).
