Enter to Win a First 5 Pages & Query Letter Critique!

Today's the day! KICK! JUMP! CHOP! THE ADVENTURES OF THE NINJABREAD MAN is out from Sterling Children's Books! Here's the back cover blurb: When sparring gets stale, Sensei whips up a new challenge--the Ninjabread Man. The mouthwatering martial artist may be fresh from the oven but his skills are sweet, spicy, and sure to bring some kick to the dojo.

The book is illustrated with cut paper illustration created by an artist team known as Bomboland. I want to show you more! You can look inside the book on Amazon if you like.

So, what can I do to celebrate?

Ninjas Read is doing a Twitter giveaway. It ends at 10pm so if you're on Twitter jump on over and retweet this real quick:
https://twitter.com/NinjasRead/status/916027694051135488

I shared my query letter for THE NINJABREAD MAN on the Sub It Club blog. Plus my agent Sean McCarthy and I talk about why it worked! So, if you're writing a query letter go take a look at Sean's insights.

Here on my blog I'm doing a critique giveaway because, why not? I want to do something! Yes, I specialize in picture books but I've written and edited in all sorts of genres so, writers of all genres are welcome to enter.
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Kick! Jump! Chop! The Adventures of the Ninjabread Man

Well, here's something amazing. I've been going about life, writing, taking care of my kids, growing and shipping garlic, administrating Sub it Club... I've also got a new job as a Branch Librarian which is super fun. And now, all of a sudden I realize that I have a book coming out very soon. It's funny how fast it has come up. It's time I showed you lovely readers of my oft neglected blog my book cover! 

This is a glimpse of the awesome YA section.
I'm still working on ordering more books to fill in the shelves!

It's red! I love red. Red is actually the accent color in my library. (My library. Hee hee! It belongs to everyone. I am just there the most.) We have these big comfy red chairs to sit and read in. They are amazing.

Anyway, back to the book! The illustrations are cut paper, which gives it a kickin' look (if you ask me). They were created by Bomboland. an illustration studio in Italy that has done tons of amazing work. Check it out! I love the way the ninjabread man is kicking right through the M. High-ya! And the dot on the i is a throwing star--cookie style of course.

The book is a retelling of the classic Gingerbread Man story, with a ninja twist. Here's the description from the publisher:

CRUNCH! CRUMBLE! CRACK! Cookie attack!
Get ready to crumble! Filled with high-spirited hijinks, Kick! Chop! Jump! brings a whole new spice level to the fun, familiar tale of the “Gingerbread Man.” When sparring in his dojo gets stale, Sensei bakes the ultimate fighting partner: the Ninjabread Man! One by one, all the masters battle the Ninjabread Man to see who can gobble him up. But when Fox snatches the crafty cookie, who can save him then? With its punny text and gorgeous cut-paper art, this tasty tale is perfect for kids who love action, adventure, and cookies!

KICK! JUMP! CHOP! THE ADVENTURES OF THE NINJABREAD MAN is set to release on October 10th, 2017 and is available now for preorder. I am so excited!

Me, in PW? aka I HAVE NEWS!!! YIPPEE!!!!!!!!!

Publisher's Weekly -- it's the place to go to read about book deals. It can be so fun to read, and to see the people I know from around the web getting book deals. For me, it's inspiring to read about what children's books will be coming out in the future. The Publisher's Weekly Rights Report helps me see what types of books are selling and who the agents and publishers involved are. Reading the weekly report is another good way to get to know the publishing world. Of course, when you really want a book deal it can perhaps be not as fun to read becuase you wonder if you are ever going to see yourself listed there, but it helps to remember that if you are a writer you have to be in it for the long haul.

For me, it has finally happened. My book deal is listed in the Publisher's Weekly Rights Report! It is amazing to see myself there. I have wanted to have a book announcement for so long in general. Of course, I have known about my book deal but seeing it there announced to the kidlit book world makes it feel all new and exciting again. If you don't want to follow the link I will show you here:

I am super excited about this book. It's punny. It involves cookies, and ninjas. Stuff I love! My agent really helped encourage me to write even better than I thought I could. Zaneta Jung and the team at Sterling Publishing are so enthusiastic and supportive. The cut paper illustration style that Bomboland does are fresh and fun. I cannot wait to see how it all turns out!