Wanna write a children’s book? Know someone who does? Seems like just about every person who reads aloud to a little kid considers, “Gee, maybe I could write one of these someday.”
Hanni and me at the University of Illinois quad.
If you’re one of those people, here’s your chance to find out how it’s done! On Wednesday I’m doing a presentation in Champaign, IL along with two other authors about the nuts and bolts of writing and publishing books for children.We chose this particular Wednesday afternoon because it happens to be one of those shortened days at Champaign schools (they get out at noon) and we thought a lot of teachers and staff members might want to come. Hanni and I will spend Wednesday morning visiting our great nephew Kieran’s classroom at Westview Elementary in Champaign, then off to Jane Addams Bookshop for the afternoon presentation.
The two authors I’m appearing with are a bit more accomplished than I am when it comes to writing for children. Alice B. McGinty has had 40, count them, 40, fiction and non-fiction children’s books published. Her latest, Darwin, is illustrated by Mary Azarian, Caldecott Medal winner for Snowflake Bently. Sara Latta has had dozens of children’s books about science and medicine published. The Good, the Bad, the Slimy: The Secret Life of Microbes and Lava Scientist: Careers on the Edge of Volcanoes are two of my favorite titles.
I see my role Wednesday as representing the person who doesn’t see children’s book writing as a career, maybe, but has an idea for a story they think might sell. I’ll talk about how I thought through my idea, wrote a rough draft, revised the rough draft, researched the market to figure out where to send it out, revised the rough draft, piled up rejection letters, revised the rough draft and finally, finally found a publisher.
I guess what I’m saying here is that Alice and Sarah have a lot more experience (and many more books published!) than I do, so they’ll be able to speak more on making a career of writing children’s books, working with agents and/or different publishers, that sort of thing. We’ll make a good team, I’m sure of that! We’ll all be available afterwards, too, to sign books for anyone interested. If you live anywhere near Champaign, I hope you’ll come:
May 12 (Wednesday), 1 p.m.
Jane Addams Bookshop
How to Get a Children’s Book Published
Panel discussion with fellow children’s book authors Alice McGinty and Sara Latta
208 North Neil Street
Champaign, IL 61820-4013
217.356.2555
www.janeaddamsbooks.com
You really had to revise your book that many times?
Beth, thanks so much for the shout-out and kind words about Alice and I. I can’t speak for Alice, but I’d be willing to bet that, book for book, Safe and Sound has had a greater impact on kids than any one of mine. So, you are da bomb, my friend. Can’t wait to see you next week!
Sara
Aw, Sara, you are sweet to say that, but everyone knows that a book called “Safe & Sound” is totally trumped by one like “The Good, the Bad and the Slimey.”
I, too, am looking forward to Jane Addams Bookshop next week –we’ll have fun! .
And about all those revisions, Bob, you’d be surprised! My book started as a story about a Seeing Eye dog who didn’t like his job, didn’t like the fact that other dogs got to play Frisbee in the park but he had to work, other dogs got to lift their leg at any tree they passed but he had to wait until his owner took his harness off and said it was okay to go. At the end of the story the dog realizes he is a big help to his owner, plus he gets special privileges (gets to go inside restaurants, etc.) and so decides life is good. Working title of that one was “Long Time, No Pee” – a sequel to my memoir “Long Time, No See.”
No one was interested.
Changed it to a story about a woman and her Seeing Eye dog Wags, working title: Wags Goes to Work. One publisher was interested and asked if I could change it so that the woman had a kid, called that kid Michael and wrote him into the story, publisher didn’t like it, said thanks but no thanks.
Blue Marlin, the savvy publisher that had the wisdom to give me an offer, liked the idea of a book about the bond between a blind person and their Seeing Eye dog but said the story had to be about *me* and my dog *Hanni*. “Hanni and Beth: Safe & Sound” was born, but trust me: that manuscript went into many, many revisions before it finally was published!
I’d be really interested in going to your talk next week. Pity I live thousands of miles away!
I liked the original idea for the book, but I like ‘safe and sound’ too of course.
Jen
There may be many authors more experienced than you are, Beth – but I can’t think of a children’s book that has moved me more than Safe and Sound.
Wow. What a sweet comment! Thanks for the encouragement — Hanni and i are off to NJ today, if they like us there as much as you do, we’ll be golden (excuse the retriever pun…)
Leave a Response