Love this idea for growing new picture books and am going to start a group to do the same thing. Right now I am doing this–intense, but fun. Keeps you listening and looking with picture book eyes  and ears all the time, even when you sleep. Seriously.

I am so doing THIS!

HERE be the details!

Just a reminder to head over to Jean Reidy’s website this week! There is lots of Purpley Partying going on for the release of her book, TOO PURPLEY And, a chance to win a picture book critique AND, today, a chat with Erin Murphy at 2 P.M. Mountain Standard….

Check it out!

Children’s Author and Freelance writer Jean Reidy’s Home Page.

I had the great pleasure of being interviewed by Heather for her series “The Unread”. Thanks Heather!

Yay for Fuse #8 and Video Sundays! If not for them, I would not have seen this. David Wiesner is brilliance. Love his work, I do.

TOO PURPLEY! ONLINE OPEN HOUSE
When: 1/25-1/31, 2010
Where: www.jeanreidy.com
Who: Anyone who loves children’s books
What: Party favors, Door prizes, games, videos and more!!
Teachers/Librarians – win a 30 minute Skype author visit or The Grand Prize TOO PURPLEY! Package.
Authors – win a Picture Book Peek Critique

This looks like it is going to be fun, fun, fun…!

This post by Michael Stearns of Upstart Crow Literary solidified why I would love to have an agent. I know for picture books in particular it can be easier to find a publishing house and editor. But, what he had to say about working with one of his clients on her picture book, gave me the why of why I want an agent for mine. That back of forth work of perfecting the story. Working with someone who can help make sure you are sending the publisher your best. It’s been through your critique group, they’ve given you the thumbs up, the extra sets of eyes-you’ve revised, let it rest, practice told it to the imaginary kids in your house, storyboarded, revised it again, rested it and so on and so on. You think you maybe/hopefully have a winner…but it still needs that last bit of help to bring it to it’s full potential.

Having an agent (so, now I realize an editorial agent is for me) who takes you to the next level, pushes the manuscript to shine so it can make it in this tough market (which is not, imo, writing to the market, but rather recognizing it’s a rough world out there and you have to be one of the best) is a good good thing and worth working for. Tough to do? Yep. But, after reading what he had to say it’s what I want.

The post also encouraged me to really focus/think about how I want to debut (heh, how’s that for positive thinking)-picture books? with my middle grade novel? my YA novel?  I keep going back and forth, forth and back. The truth of it is when it comes to a body of work, picture books is what I have. Some are probably not so good, some, pretty good and some great and hopefully a few wows in the pile, the kind that could make it in the current market.

In other words, my long winded way of saying a great post for picture book writers seeking representation-and even if you aren’t, still well worth the read for the insight into the market.