10.  In a tent at night with a flashlight and your best friend.
9.  At the beach while sharing a sandwich with a seagull.
8.  Sitting under – or in – a tree at the park.
7.  On a train…preferably the POLAR EXPRESS.
6.  In a hot air balloon.
5.  While waiting in line to get a book signed by a famous author.
4.  In a time machine set for your favorite period in history.
3.  20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.
2.  In a car wearing your favorite hat while driving through the PHANTOM TOLLBOOTH.
1.  In a castle dressed as a prince or princess while riding atop a horse.

As a freelance writer and children’s book author, Darlene’s stories have appeared in CICADA, CRICKET, and other magazines. She is also the author of  the forthcoming historical MG novel Wheels of Change (2014). As a teacher and speech therapist working with Preschool and Kindergarten aged children, Darlene has many opportunities for story ideas. You can find Darlene online at 
http://www.darlenebeckjacobson.com
 and on Twitter as @dustbunnymaven.

Texas Winters are Funny
Words by Karona Drummond Tune: My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean
Texas winters are funny.
Some days there’s snow and there’s ice.
Texas winters are funny.
Some days they’re sunny and nice!

Chorus: Texas, Texas, What funny winters we have, we have,
Texas, Texas, What funny winters we have!

Texas winters are funny.
Listen to the weather reports.
One day you might need your jacket.
The next day you’ll be wearing your shorts!

Repeat chorus.

Case in point: My husband and I got married in February. Guess what? An ice storm was our uninvited guest! Three weeks later, I attended a friend’s wedding held at the exact chapel as ours. It was 90 degrees! Go figure.

Stay warm, y’all!

Darlene Beck-Jacobson’s THE CARRIAGE MAKER’S DAUGHTER, set in the early 1900s in Washington, DC, racial intolerance, social change and sweeping progress create a turbulent stage for a twelve-year old, who prefers Papa’s carriage barn and the symphony of the blacksmith’s hammer to the proper expectations of females, and finds the strength to defend what she believes in when her comfortable way of life is threatened by racist neighbors, pitched as reminiscent of Little House on the Prairie, the girl to Marissa Moss at Creston Books, in a nice deal, for publication in Fall 2014, by Liza Fleissig at Liza Royce Agency (World English).

Gayle Krause’s YA Historical Romance, “The Storyteller’s Daughter” is the lead story in the Timeless Anthology, released this month from Pugalicious Press. It’s a mash-up of Scherazade, Aladdin and the real ancient Iranian Queen Homay. Love stories that transcend time. From a thousand years ago to the unknown future, Timeless will show how love is timeless. This anthology of love stories contains “The Storyteller’s Daughter” by Gayle C. Krause, “And The Nightingale Sang” by Kip Wilson, “A Light Of Victory” by Jennifer Carson, “The Angel Of The Bastille” by J.R. Sparlin, “Stella’s Hero” by Kristine Carlson Asselin & Ansha Kotyk, “In This Moment” by D. E. Atwood, and “It Lies Beneath” by Magda Knight.  Congratulations, Gayle!

Kristin Ostby has joined Simon & Schuster for Young Readers as editor. She was most recently a senior editor for Albert Whitman.

Longtime president and publisher of Viking Children’s Books Regina Hayes will relinquish that position and serve as editor-at-large, just as she celebrates her thirtieth anniversary at Penguin. Writers House agent Ken Wright will take over as vp and publisher of Viking Children’s on August 27, reporting to Penguin Children’s president Don Weisberg.

Keating Literary and Brick House are “formalizing what has been organically emerging over the past few years as a strong alliance” between the two and joining together to form Union Literary. Trena Keating and Sally Wofford-Girand are joined by Brick House senior agent Jenni Ferrari-Adler and newly promoted agent Kezia Toth under the new banner.

Kathy tomorrow,

Kathy

How I Landed an Agent

By

Darlene Beck Jacobson

Last June I attended my first NJSCBWI Conference in Princeton. I knew it would be an opportunity to connect with fellow writers, editors and maybe even agents. Rather than just “dipping my toes” into the weekend with a peer critique and one face to face with an editor, I dove in head first and decided to pitch  my manuscripts as often as I could.

I spent weeks perfecting my “elevator pitch” for a PB titled VULTURE’S PARTY, and for a Middle Grade Historical titled, THE CARRIAGE MAKER’S DAUGHTER (TCMD). I practiced the pitches out loud until I had them memorized. I signed up for the five minute Pitch Session and actually tried both of them out with Stephen Barbara. He asked to see the PB and eventually passed on it.

The best pitching opportunity turned out to be the Friday evening Meet and Greet. Sure it was an opportunity to relax and mingle with peers. It was also the perfect time to “take the plunge” and get myself out there. So, I mingled, chatted and talked to anyone I made eye contact with. When an editor or agent asked the question “WHAT DO YOU WRITE?”, I let loose with one of my pitches, depending on whether the agent or editor was looking for PB’s or MG’s. Before the evening was over, I had 3 requests for the PB and 3 for the MG novel.

One of those agents – Ginger Harris from the Liza Royce Agency – asked for the first 30 pages and synopsis of TCMD. I sent it out before the month was over.

Then I waited. And waited. You know what that’s like. When it seemed like a reasonable wait time of nearly 3 months, I asked Kathy if it was okay to contact the agent and ask for an update. She said yes. I sent an e-mail and waited.  And waited.   Still no response.

I asked Kathy what to do. She called Liza Fleissig, the other agent from the Royce Agency. Liza and Ginger never received the manuscript and asked me to send it again. I did. After a couple days, Liza asked for the complete manuscript. I sent that. Then, I got an e-mail that said. “Call me at your earliest convenience.”!!!

I did. Liza LOVED TCMD and made me an offer of representation over the phone. We are now in the process of finding a home for the story.

So…don’t be afraid to take a leap into the abyss and out of your comfort zone. Remember the saying…”Nothing ventured, nothing gained.” Perfect your pitch and try it out. You never know what might happen if you do!

http://www.darlenebeckjacobson.com

Thank you Darlene for sharing your journey with us.  Good Luck!

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy

Teachers and parents will find crafts, recipes and activities using a multi-sensory approach for children of all ages. As a Speech Therapist, I used many of the activities in my therapy sessions to stimulate language, creativity and imagination. Most can be completed using everyday materials found around the house. Directions are clear and simple and allow children to complete the activity with some degree of independence. I’ll try to include photos of the finished product as a guide when needed. (When adult supervision is required, I will mention that up front to ensure the safety of all.)

While the crafts and activities are fun for children of all ages, they work very well with students who have special needs. The activities encourage the use of sight, sound, touch, taste and smell and many follow the core curriculum standards for Science, Social Studies, Math and Language Arts. Most importantly, however, They’re fun!

I welcome feedback. Please let me know which activities are most appealing to you and your child. And, if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask.

Remember: “It’s never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.”

This week we had a lot of success stories. It shows that working on your craft and coming out to writing and illustrating events clearly play a role in future successes.

I know everyone will be happy to hear a few success stories.

Sladjana Vasic won the September 2011 e-Book Cover Design Award, for a Nonfiction e-book.

I could not find a picture of Beth Ferry, but Beth has a big feather in her hat. She signed with agent Elena Mechlin at Pippin Properties for her Stick and Stone story – a direct result of attending our June conference.

Here is Tara Lazar with her Agent Ammi-Joan Paquette. If you attended the 2011 June Conference you most likely met Ammi-Joan. Tara sold her first book, THE MONSTORE, at the end of last year. Now Ammi-Joan at Erin Murphy Literary Agency has sold Tara Lazar’s second book, I THOUGHT THIS WAS A BEAR BOOK to Alyson Heller at Aladdin.

  
  
Darlene Beck-Jacobson signed with agent Liza Flessig at the Royce Agency for her historcial novel – a direct result of attending our June conference.

Jody Staton’s story won her a spot in the “Writers at Camden” Community Workshop in conjunction with Rutger’s University.

Congratulations everyone! Something good is waiting for the rest of you reading this – I just know it!

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy