Hurray for Tara Lazar!  Tara's first book is out!  It's called The Monstore, and I bought it for my granddaughter Olivia.  My favorite monster is the one with the long neck.  I would name him Buck Nekkid, and I would hope that his lofty view would help me to find my glasses.

Tara's picture book writing challenge really got me going in November--she had us come up with a new pb idea each of the 30 days. PiBoIdMo is still benefitting me this year as I complete Julie Hedlund's 12x12 challenge, writing and submitting a picture book manuscript to an agent each month.

Best Rejection Ever!

This came from Erzsi Deak, the June 12x12 agent.  So specific and encouraging!  Now I'll have to write another Squid-Eye Sally story...

From

• submissions@henandink.com  

To

• Deborah Williams

 

Dear Deborah, 

Many thanks for sending SQUID-EYE SALLY'S PIRATE PRESENTS. You've got a great character in Squid-Eye Sally! That said, while the story is entertaining, there's room to increase the tension and make us really worry about the crew, and for sure, Sally. At the moment, the primary joy is coming from the fun language, rather than from the actual story being told. Part of this is that the payoff could be stronger (IMHO!). Do you have other Squid-Eye Sally stories in your holey sock that you might want to explore? At the moment I have at least one girl pirate book on board, but if you could come up with an even stronger story -- with that unexpected inevtiable ending -- I'd be happy to see what's happening with Squid-Eye Sally in the future. 

Thanks, again, for sending your work to Hen&ink. 

Sincerely, 

Erzsi