Students please post your 60 word bio and a 60 word pitch of your story not including the title, which needs to be included as well. Remember your pitch is like a hook where you want to entice the reader to want to know more about your story and should include a smidge of juicy info about the main character(s), what the problem or goal is (think high stakes if possible) and what might get in the way, ending with a curiosity or question.
In Gaby’s Gift, Gaby is an awkward twelve-year-old who speaks her mind and struggles to understand her twin sister and friends. When she learns her twin is ashamed of her because she has Asperger’s, Gaby retreats into herself. It takes Jorge, a retired playwright, to teach her social skills and how to convert her brutally honest speech into heartwarming prose.
MEMORIES OF A SILLY KID In the 1950s, 12 year old Maggie shares memories of life as a kid with a passion for horses, movies, cowboys, paper dolls, colored pencils, and travels with her cherry-pie-filling salesman dad. Motivated by an increasing awareness of her mother’s mental illness, Maggie’s journal of art-and-writing and salt-of-the-earth-83-year-old grandparents bring her through tragedy into hopeful-optimism.
Mary Jane Muir is an illustrator-author of two picture books with Scholastic. She is membership coordinator of Children’s Writers and Illustrators of British Columbia Canada. She won first place for her design to Hallmark-UNICEF’s card competition-2013. She served as a member of the Steering-Committee of Vancouver Children’s Literature Roundtable for twenty years. She presents art classes to children with Vancouver School Board’s Artist-In–Residence program and also with VANCOUVER-ART-STARTS.
Being Gandhi: Ten-year-old Vishnu, moves from Bangalore to Seattle. He is overweight and looks funny when he runs. His belly jiggles even when he walks. Vishnu struggles to fit in and discovers that music is his only refuge. He must find the courage to reveal his gift, so his family and friends can finally see him for the person he is.
As a child, Suma would express herself on the walls of her house. Now, she writes in books, laptops, bills, and paper napkins. Suma’s poetry chapbook was published by Finishing Line Press in 2008. She has a certificate in popular fiction from the University of Washington. She serves as Adcom member for SCBWI-Western Washington and is pursuing MFA in children’s literature at VCFA. She is represented by Serendipity Literary Agency.
“Creep School”: Keeton is a frustrated werewolf kid—born in his furry monster form, he can’t shift to either human or wolf. Plus, there’s his ADD, which makes school a torture chamber. Does a lunch-stealing were-pug hold the key to his transformation? Keeton will need his friends, vampire Victor and mad scientist Izzy, to help him capture it first!
Marci is a freelance illustrator, storyteller and teacher of workshops. She loves Hallowe'en, but can’t stand scary movies. She may have a phobia of spiders. Marci admits she has an addiction to books and coffee, particularly pumpkin spice. She is a member of SCBWI and lives in Alberta with her wife, two sons, and their were-pug Lily.
I'd love to see the first 10 pages of this!
But, 9-year-old Tulip is the beastliest. About to set sail to find her long-lost parents, Tulip’s world changes when three actual ferocious furry Beasties escape evil Dr. Calamari’s sideshow. Sacrificing her quest, Tulip embarks on a voyage to escape the relentless pursuit of Calamari, and deliver the Beasties home. What astonishing discoveries will be revealed in this three book series? After all, terrible things happen in threes.
Nora is determined to be a famous writer, but she can't get published. When her quirky Jello blog goes viral it seems like her big chance. But all her readers think she's a funky grandma, not a thirteen-year-old flunking algebra. If the truth comes out, Nora could lose her book deal, her best friend, and more.
When Afton Nelson inherited her grandma’s aluminum Jello molds, she started blogging about her family’s reaction to dishes like Layered Pear Cream Cheese Mold and Shrimp Aspic. Once she realized there was no cultivating a love for the jiggly stuff, she turned her writing talents to magazine articles, business writing and ghostwriting. A member of SCBWI, learn more about her at www.aftonnelson.com.
I’m thirteen, a future screenwriter and recovering from MV. MV is short for monster voice. It is a voice that tells me not to eat. MV is #boring. When I met Rachel, a runaway slave from the 19th century who showed up in my closet, everything changed. She is gone now, but I tame MV by writing our story.
Like the White Queen, a character dreamed up by Lewis Carroll, Deanne Bryce believes “It is a poor sort of memory that only works backwards.” Deanne flexes her forward working-memory to imagine a future for her characters. When she isn’t reading or writing, Deanne will surely be drinking Earl Gray tea and tweeting about food, stories and adventure at @DeeBryce.
While striving to meet her athletic goal; becoming the co-captain of the Williams Middle School basketball team, Lee is overcome by a rush of unfamiliar feelings for two boys at school. In With Almost Perfect Form, twelve year old Lee, must learn how to face the realities of life changing around her as well as the changes within herself.
Noel Csermak is a lifelong learner, voracious reader and enjoys athletic pursuits of many different kinds. Noel is a member of SCBWI, participates actively online and has written several pre-published picture books. With Almost Perfect Form, is a novel idea that piqued her interest and pestered her regularly until the satisfying moment of having it written down.
“Shallow Waters” is a contemporary, middle-grade story. Stacey Thompson, 12, an elite swimmer in the making, can’t safeguard her mother’s Olympic Legacy when she sustains an injury. Her tight-knit swim friends start to abandon Stacey, as she’s no longer the Phenom. Stacey is puzzled as she struggles to find her authentic self, competitive spirit, and way back to the pool.
Wendy Tarantino is an adventure seeker, mother, and author who lives life like an onomatopoeia. The zoom of her pen scribbles over the crackle of her paper vigorously when characters pop into her head. Being selected to creative arts in the 3rd grade for most vivid imagination solidified her desire to write. She is an active member of the SCBWI along with her fellow creative beings.
When 12-year-old Lluba (a city girl) escapes from the Warsaw Ghetto, she pretends she’s Catholic – with no script for her new role. Innocent and naïve, she struggles to hide her true identity and fit into life in the Polish country village, becoming strong, decisive, and compassionate. Based on a true story, Masquerade focuses on resilience and survival rather than horror.
Yvona Fast was reading headlines at three and fluent in three languages at ten. Because she has a non-verbal LD, words are her world – don’t show her; tell her! Now the author of 3 books and over 100 magazine articles, she writes poems, weekly food columns (since 2004), recipes, essays, stories. She’s a member of SCBWI. More at www.wordsaremyworld.com .
669 Children - A True Story: When Nazi soldiers occupy Prague, Czechoslovakia in March, 1939, desperate Jewish parents, forced from their homes into refugee camps, fear for the well-being of their children. At great personal risk, English volunteers secretly arrange rescues for targeted adults. But 29-year old British stockbroker, Nicholas Winton, is determined to find a way to save the children.
Growing up, Charlotte Sheer’s passion for writing grew from her pen pal correspondence, poetry, and diary entries. Today, the stories she writes reflect her experience teaching English language arts, as well as participating in learning opportunities through membership in SCBWI, The Writer’s Loft, and Children’s Book Academy. One of her poems will be published in the 2016 Writer’s Loft Anthology.
Mechanically curious eleven year old co-protagonists, Dexter and Murphy, find mysterious vibrating antique keys at the Historical Museum, opening a door in the barn floor, leading to the 1870's. Using their key powers, they must convince Henry Ford to not abandon his dream inventing the Model T. Constant bickering hinders their mission in this Historical Fiction with series potential.
Bio - Karen's passion for art began in elementary school. Lifelong learning with Fine Arts Degree from Eastern Michigan University, SCBWI training, and Children's Book Academy courses, merge two creative forces. Karen is author/illustrator of 6 published books and illustrator of one. Her most recent publications with Youth Light Inc., about bullying in schools and self-harming, help hurting kids.
BFFs Ruby Midas and Kat Green are inseparable. But socially-awkward Ruby craves popularity. When she gains the the Ruby Touch, everyone she touches adores her and she lands the lead in the school play. But as her popularity skyrockets, she can no longer tell real friend from false. Ruby must reverse the Touch or lose her one true friend forever.
Reader. Writer. Coffee achiever. Gabi has called both Seattle and Austin home and has worked as an instructional designer, content developer, and teacher. Currently she lives in Oregon with her husband, two kids, one dog, and one dog-like cat. She is a member of SCBWI and holds an MA in English. Gabi blogs about writing for kids at https://writingtoconnect.wordpress.com.
That’s what 10-year-old, mixed race Annie’s mom calls their blended family, because like their different skin colors, no two spots are alike. Annie has two problems. Noah wants her help in reconnecting with his older brother. Both boys perished in a fire caused by Noah. Annie also wants to improve her relationship with her older step-brother, Blake, who is White.
A few years ago, as a stay-at-home mom completing her B.A. in General Studies, Rita took a YA literature class. The result was an “A,” and a rekindling of her childhood imagination. Rita improves her craft through membership in SCBWI and workshops. The manuscript for Animal Prints mirrors her own mixed-race family, which includes her cat, Gray Muffin.
Rita, please send the first 10 pages, cover and synopsis. Thank you.
PYRAMIDS AND PI: Mara, founder of the Adventure Mathletes, giddily blows her savings on a summer Geometry class in Cairo-- once everyone sees her awesome travel footage, her club HAS to grow (Current Members: 1). But after being grounded for cheating, Mara's only hope of seeing Cairo is sneaking out with her annoyingly cute tutor, Cyrus, risking her entire trip.
Andrea, a bizarre combo of Texan/Seattlelite/Idahoan, read slush for Wendy Sherman Associates and interned for the scariest mathletes around (chemists at the University of Texas). She's currently pursuing a degree in Geoscience. Some of this story was literally written in a taxi in Cairo traffic.
Yes do send me more!
It’s Sister, Sister meets Shake it Up when identical twins switch places to prove hairism is the racism of the 70s.
Told by Camille Marconi –who is cool, cruel and nobody’s fool – the action begins with Camille busting her sister Mavis for secretly entering a model search for straight haired girls, though she wears an Afro. When Mavis' attempt to infiltrate the audition fails, she ropes Camille into a dare, insisting that their different hair is the mane attraction at their new junior high. The duo switch places to test the theory, but when the dare is exposed, the girls discover that what’s really important is not their hair but their family affair.
Faith Knight is a former journalist, sand blaster and seamstress who dreams of sewing up her career writing children’s books. She was bitten by the bookish bug when she self-published an advice book in 2009. Her most recent work was a cookbook that won the African American Literary Award in 2013. She’s also got good genes, being the cousin of famed children’s book author Virginia Hamilton. Visit her at faithknight.net.
Twelve-year-old Princess Mariana is determined to restore hope to her suffering people after a devastating earthquake. She must confront the sinister squid and villainous underlord who’ve taken her kingdom’s treasured merpearl. Mariana sets out with three friends to seek the treasure she once despised, a pearl that represents hope for her people’s survival and one that will ultimately transform her.
Kelley Adam is a full-time mom and former middle school science teacher who loved turning mousetraps into fun experiments to enthrall her students. When she wasn’t wearing her classes’ six-foot boa constrictor, she dreamed of creating imaginative stories for middle school kids. Kelley holds a B.S. in Nutrition, and an M.S. in Home Economics. She lives in Northern California.
Noelle Campbell, 12, has a secret. Her grandmother — her only family — has dementia. As Gramma’s condition deteriorates, Noelle worries if discovered, Gramma will be sent to a home and Noelle foster-care. When her worst fears are realized, Noelle comes up with a plan — but can she go through with it? Until the Fun Wears Off is a contemporary, middle-grade story.
Wendy’s a professional writer, SCBWI-member and children’s book author. After a heart-breaking day with her mother (who recently died with dementia), she first heard Noelle: “Sometimes I wanna put her in the car and drive. Drive until the fun wears off…and if it’s over a cliff…well…maybe it’s a better place…for both of us." Writing this is helping Wendy heal.
This humorous adventure features bullied sixth grader Knight Academy megaflop Dennis, whom Mrs. Goodwyn encourages, Dr. Rone mentors, Foggle-nogger befriends, Sir Ambrose saves, and the witch double-crosses. When Rone vanishes, athletically challenged acrophobic Dennis must find him and the King’s stolen Book of Spells before Horrick deciphers it. Another failure dooms the kingdom and Dennis’s only chance of going home.
Desperately optimistic, Jeff Hopkins stopped teaching in that odd place called Middle School after his students taught him everything he needed. When he’s not chauffeuring his children, Jeff enjoys 80s music, bemoans homework’s existence, and tends his backyard pond. He derives a manic pleasure from reprimanding his characters via the keyboard. His friends and fellow SCBWI members find him tolerable.
When their mother is accused of stealing an award winning chocolate recipe, and melts into a deep depression, list-lover Claire and science-geek Lucas must recreate the secret family recipe and prove her innocence. Guided by the mysterious World Chocolate Master, they travel back through chocolate history searching for the bittersweet ingredients to make their family whole.
Beth Graubart is a chocoholic. In between nibbling on dark, milk and white confections, she teaches elementary school, creates treasure hunts through San Francisco, and attends numerous SCBWI events. Although she would love to travel back in time like her characters, and meet chocolate makers of the past, she is satisfied with trips to France, Belgium, and Ghirardelli Square.
Antoinette, the 7th grade’s “presidential candidate you can trust,” is pretty, poised, and popular. According to the new girl, Crystal, she’s also a phony. Previously her childhood friend, Crystal knows that Antoinette is hiding being African American. To keep her campaign and friendships intact, Antoinette dances delicately between lying and withholding the truth.
As a socially awkward girl who typically found herself being one of few African Americans in the schools she attended, Ashley found her voice through writing. Today, teaching writing to college students allows her to share this feeling of empowerment. She is also a course designer, SCBWI member, and master of the fine art of sleep typing.
Losing first place in the Taekwondo competition was heartbreaking for 12-year-old Mo - especially losing to a bigger, stronger boy. But when she discovers that her great-great-great grandmother was the creator of the powerful Wing Chun martial arts, she learns the ancient form and regains her confidence - just in time to audition for a major movie role … against her nemesis.
Angie’s experience as a female black belt in Taekwondo and as a first generation Chinese-Canadian influenced this story. When she is not writing for herself, she is writing stories for Peekapak, an education technology startup. Peekapak’s stories are used in over 9,000 classrooms across the US. Angie is a member of SCBWI and has completed continuing education writing courses at Stanford University and at the Children’s Book Academy.
Angie I'd love to see more. Thank you.
When Kat, twelve, learns she’s inherited supernatural Gifts from her Druid ancestors, she agrees to journey with elderly Miss Lilly—a Cavnor, or Guardian--to a mysterious refuge deep in the Florida Everglades. Animals are dying at an unnatural rate, and Kat must develop her powers to save the creatures from an ancient evil force threatening them with extinction.
Born and raised on the fringe of the Florida Everglades, I chased gators in canoes, befriended snakes and lizards, and raised a pet sparrow. Now wife, Mom, former nurse, Hurricane Andrew alumnus, SCBWI member, and baker of legendary rum cake, I converse with my parrots while writing the stories swirling in my head since childhood.
Tinkerer Darrin is helping his grandparents tame their overgrown yard and recycle mountains of clutter. Except more is going on. His cookie-making Grandma is a computer genius - inventor of the Nana-Net cyberspace, and his mischievous Uncle Dean is stuck-somewhere in time. When Darrin is sucked through Grandma’s cloud into the past, can a twelve-year-olds resourcefulness bring them both back?
Kay writes. As a Civil Engineer administrative assistant she writes every day. At home, on a rural Nevada farm, Kay puts the technical writing aside and writes for herself. She has earned degrees in Civil Engineering, Architectural Drafting, and Literature and is a member of the SCBWI, and a frequent participant in several of Mira Reisberg’s adventures.
1933, Los Angeles is the home of eleven year old Isabel (Bean) Rosario. Repatriation - Sweeps.
These are words Bean hears constantly from Mama whose fuming demeanor rules the house.
market camp of immigrant farmers in Northern California. Bean is forced to rise and be brave.
novel stirs up passion about her culture of Mexican Americans and history in Los Angeles, 1933.
Yvette, I'd be very interested in seeing more.
Leila, please send me your email address at Yvette.r.pompa@gmail.com. I'm excited to and more and chat. Thank you!!!
Best friends Sara and Clara put their sixth-grade Programming Club skills to the test when a mysterious Quandary app takes them to Boston at the time of the American Revolution. They decipher a message that will set a major historical event in motion, but only if they can convince Paul Revere to make his famous midnight ride.
Julie Dillemuth writes picture books and middle grade novels, and has a PhD in spatial cognition geography. She loves all kinds of science, has a passion for the past, and will only get her characters into scrapes if they can get themselves out again. She lives on the central coast of California. Learn more at www.juliedillemuth.com.
Dominic lives with his grandma in Thurmond, WV. Population: 5. His best friends are two ghosts: Homer – who died on the Underground Railroad, Charlotte – 11-year-old casualty of Spanish Influenza – and an aloof cat Mr. Ashley. Billionaire Jamison Dosh wants to level the town and build an all-inclusive ‘Appalachian’ resort. With the help of his friends, can Dominic save Thurmond? Or is it destined to become another West Virginia ghost town?
Erin has spent her whole life trying to find magic in the Appalachian Mountains. Then one day she did: by writing down the stories in her head. She lives with her husband and three kids in Wild and Wonderful West Virginia. She is currently working on her MFA in Children’s Literature at Hollins Univeristy. You can find her on Facebook or follow her on Twitter (@eedistefano).
Synopsis: Helen has always wanted to be a mortician, just like her Grandpop. She practices by hosting funerals in the backyard for dead birds and assorted roadkill. But when Pops’ emergency gallbladder surgery puts him on bedrest, Helen takes charge and enlists her two new friends and her therapy dog Ruthie to ensure Mrs. McKinley has the best funeral service ever.
Biography: Rachel Smoka-Richardson holds an MFA in writing for children and young adults from the Vermont College of Fine Arts. She received a Minnesota State Arts Board Artist Initiative Grant to work on Ruthie Superstar. Rachel is a member of SCBWI and a two-time judge for the Minnesota Book Awards. She loves reading, traveling, and cuddling her two sweet rescue dogs.
Would like to see more.
Twelve year old Maggie becomes increasingly aware that her Mom’s mental illness is impacting the family. Maggie travels with her cherry-pie-filling-salesman dad, writes a lie, makes her family the talk of the block, grieves over loss of her mother, worries about Children’s Aid taking over and fails in school. Through art, kindness and love Maggie finds new life and hope.
Mary Jane Muir, an illustrator since the age of four when she sneaked into an unpainted house with her buddies Collin and Freddie to paint a kitchen red, has managed to stay pretty much under the radar. She belongs to CWILL BC, gives illustration-book talks, makes art with Vancouver School Board elementary children and draws goofy stuff with her grandson.
Friends Cade, Nacho, and Arizona discover a small round silver disc in a church parking lot. A magnifying glass reveals it’s a spaceship from Mars! Researching Cade’s comic book collection, they realize that their quiet town, Sunny Valley, has been invaded by Killer Zombies! How will they save Sunny Valley and still finish their Math homework?
Leah Leonard completed her first book of 300 poems in second grade and gifted it to her favorite teacher. She loves to read, write, and eat chocolate. She is very quiet and admires people who are outgoing. Her jobs include teaching third grade, working as a child therapist, and seeking intergalactic truths. She is 95.2% sure Killer Zombies exist.
Twelve-year-old Finny Doon prefers horse time over little sister Olivia time. During an Irish vacation, Olivia inadvertently frees the ghostly Wild Hunt from imprisonment, a death sentence for Olivia. Horrified, Finny challenges the Wild Hunt to a race. If she wins, Olivia lives, if she loses, both girls will become ghost riders for eternity!
Kitty Donohoe grew up in an Irish pioneer Yosemite house burglarized by bears. She listened to elders spinning Irish tales of magic and horses by the fireside, imagining images in the flames. Kitty holds a BA, Master’s, and elementary teaching credential from UCLA, along with Reading and Writing Workshop training from Columbia University. Her passion is teaching her students how to read.
SEND ME A POSTCARD: 11-year old Isabel Bloom’s life changes forever when she opens a book of old photographs and finds herself traveling through time to San Francisco 1906. After befriending another 11-year old girl and her family, Isabel she’s realizes there’s a big earthquake headed their way and she may be the only one who can help her new friends avoid disaster.
Sara O'Hearn has created more than 50 games, books, apps and websites for children. Her love of stories and books blossomed as a child who regularly moved houses and schools, inevitably needing to find new friends. She feels lucky to spend her time thinking of how to engage and entertain kids of all ages.
A nerdy Black boy feels inferior. A forbidden book makes Poindexter powerful. Does his grandmother's magic quilt and his grandfather's gold shoes help him to find his way back? Uncle's African statues and Auntie's magic star help to unlock a mystery. Poindexter gains self esteem.
African American from New York City. Member of SCBWI. Writes plays in poetry, rap and rhyme for inner-city kids. Winner of numerous grants and awards. POETRY OUT LOUD competition judge. Teaching artist affiliated with POETS & WRITERS. GIRLS WRITE NOW mentor. Aspiring illustrator bursting with stories for kids of color.
Can you send the first 10 pages and short synopsis?
Endicott runs his family candy shop in seaside Barnacle, Massachusetts. His life gets shaken up when he hires Hero, the new boy in town, and they strike up an unexpected partnership. Together, they make the summer the wackiest one ever by creating a sensational new candy that has the magic power to transform the world around them, by changing minds.
Twelve year old sleight-of-hand prodigy, Marilyn Jackson, is not only the only African-American magician at the Mysteries of Magic Symposium but also the youngest. When The Great Waldini falls to his death in an apparent accident, Marilyn uncovers that Waldini’s death wasn’t an accident at all. With a list of suspects who are masters of misdirection, can Marilyn find the killer before she becomes the next victim?
About Bryan: At the ripe old age of 7, Bryan Patrick Avery discovered his destiny after receiving a children’s magic set and his first Bobbsey Twins Mystery book. A published poet and author, Bryan is African-American, a member of SCBWI, and the Society of American Magicians. He delights in making mysterious stories appear out of thin air.
I'd love to see the first 10 pages!
Please send more. Sounds really interesting.
Bryan, I'd like to see more.