A Celebratory Critique Week Giveaway!

Since I've signed with Karen Grencik at Red Fox Literary, I'm in the mood to celebrate! It seems like the perfect time to do a critique week giveaway!

Okay, this may sound strange to some of you, but I love writing query and cover letters. They're an art form in themselves. I love figuring out my hook, contemplating why I am sending someone a manuscript, and perfecting the pitch. I've written and critiqued many a letter, and I've had some good results with letters of my own. Here's my cover letter for Bedtime Monster:

Dear Ms. Jeffers:

What kid wants to go to bed? Paul doesn't. When it's time for bed he turns into a real monster. But his parents understand, Dad used to be a little monster too--and he has the tail to prove it.

My picture book manuscript, Bedtime Monster, is an over-the-top story of a common occurrence--the bedtime tantrum. When Paul doesn't want to go to bed, his feelings become so monstrous that he physically changes into a monster. Paul's metamorphosis provides ample opportunity for artistic interpretation.

My chapter reader, Chocolate! A Library Adventure, is scheduled to be released this fall from Country Messenger Press. I am a librarian and member of SCBWI.

You will find Bedtime Monster attached. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,
Heather Burnell


Simple? Yes. Did I stress over it? Of course! These letters can take a lot of work to get just right, at least for me!

What is the difference between a query and a cover letter? Not much in my opinion. You cover the basics of hook, storyline, why you are asking them to read the manuscript, and who you are in both. In a query you're asking permission to send the story, in a cover letter you've sent it along with the letter. Slight differences in wording but nothing to stress over!

So, this critique week giveaway is for a query/cover letter! Here are a few guidelines:

• Your letter should be one page or less--which is standard.
• Any genre--yes, even my friends who write adult novels can participate!
• Entries are open up through Friday August 5th, 7 p.m., PST.
• I will do a draw Friday evening and announce the winner in the comment section of this post.
• Please leave me a way to contact you whether it is through your blog link, twitter, etc., or be sure to check back so I don't have to chase you down.
• The winner should email mail me the letter by Saturday, August 6th.
• I will finish the critique as soon as I possibly can, hopefully on Sunday.

Extras are fun, so one extra entry for each. (Please let me know in your comment):

• follow my blog
• become a fan of my Facebook page
• Tweet (just use @heatherayris in your tweet & I'll see it.)
• Post my contest on your blog
• Share in some other way and let me know :) 

To enter, just leave a comment on this post!

*disclaimer--I am not a picture book editor or agent, but I have done a lot of critiques! I will point out the things in your letter I see that can be improved and will give you an honest critique. I can promise nothing more than that.

My Big News!

As you may have figured by my lack of posting, my life has been a little hectic lately. Of course, just because it's hectic doesn't mean it's bad. There's just a lot going on! And I have news...I have an agent! I'm now represented by the fabulous Karen Grencik of Red Fox Literary! YAY!!!!!!

I fell in love with the idea of Red Fox Literary as soon as I discovered them via the Hen and Ink website. (Hen and Ink is Red Fox Literary's foreign rights representative. Bonus!) I saw Abigail Samoun speak at the SCBWI Western Washington conference a few years back, and was so impressed with her. Her knowledge of picture books was amazing. I figured if Abigail chose Karen to go into business with she must be great. I have to say, it was a pretty good assumption.

Karen was giving me great advice and working hard for me before we'd even signed the contract. She is so very nice, and does all the things I was hoping an agent would do for me. It doesn't feel to shabby to have an agent gush over how much she loves my book either. Karen offered me representation based on a picture book manuscript I sent her, which makes me so happy because picture books are what I really love to write. So, take heart picture book writers, it can happen!

That's my big news! I'm so happy to finally be able to share it!

This is Just a Test

My life seems to be experiencing a test of the Emergency Broadcast System.

I have so many things going on right now, I just can't seem to keep up! Of course, family comes first. Then writing. Those two responsibilities are demanding all of my time and attention right now. Plus the baby goat keeps escaping and jumping on the car! And our bees keep swarming and we have to chase the swarms down and capture them! And, well, you get the picture. I just keep telling myself that having so many demands on my time is only a test. (Insert annoying Emergency Broadcast System noise here!)

So, I'm going to have to postpone my Monster List post for now. I do have some news to share with you all soon so...

Betty Bunny Loves Chocolate Cake--and I Love Betty Bunny!

My friend Stella recommended a book she'd heard about at the SCBWI New Jersey conference. She said it was hilarious. So, of course, I had to check it out. I was not disappointed. BETTY BUNNY LOVES CHOCOLATE CAKE is laugh out loud funny!

Michael B. Kaplan wrote some amazing lines in this book. From beginning to end, I have laughed every time I've read BETTY BUNNY LOVES CHOCOLATE CAKE. And I've read it quite a few times. In the beginning Betty Bunny doesn't even know what chocolate cake is. The way she refuses the cake then falls in love with it is quite entertaining. When she announces her love of cake, her brothers and sisters have the greatest comebacks. Every scene in the book has some little joke in it that is bound to entertain.

One thing I definitely noticed about this story, besides it being so funny, is that each character in this book is well rounded and has their own personality. There's a lot going on in such a short amount of text. Stéphane Jorisch's illustrations are playful and add just the right touch of comedy. With the sweet story and fabulous use of humor, there's at least one agent who would love to find a picture book like it.

A question I tried to answer by reading the book to various children is, do they get the humor? Some of it seems more for the adults reading to the kids. We can see the way kids act and the caricature rings so true. I mean, I crack up when I read it, while my little one laughs at some of the jokes. Before reading the book my guy did not know what a handful was, even though he is one. But he knows now. Nothing wrong with learning a new word (and that you're a handful). For sure different jokes tickled different kids' funny bones. It's kind of like what you see in movies like CARS and THE INCREDIBLES. Jokes for the adults as well as the kids. I like that it's a picture book that will appeal to adult readers. Any way we can encourage adults to read to kids is a good thing!

BETTY BUNNY LOVES CHOCOLATE CAKE is written by Michael B. Kaplan, illustrated by Stéphane Jorisch, and published by Dial Books for Young Readers.