91 Submissions in 2023, My 25th year of subbing, and some successes!

 I joined SCBWI in 1998 so this marks my 25th year subbing stories. I had no sales for the past ten years, but this year was luckier. I submitted 91 times. A local paper printed seven of my poems, I had a poem in the British on-line magazine Dirigible Balloon, I sold a poem to Highlights, and I signed a contract for a rhyming picture book with Familius Publishing! Which goes to show--keep submitting. Don't quit!

Tuesday Kidlit Trivia for November 28, 2023

 For this author/illustrator, born in Michigan in 1949, drawing was just a way to relax after sculpting. But his curious illustrations in pencil made him famous, starting with his first book in 1985, which became a holiday classic. Another book was inspired by the thought, "What if kids were bored and found a board game..." and another sees the world from the perspective of ants. His most widely read book is The Polar Express and the creator is Chris Van Allsburg.

Tuesday Kidlit Trivia for November 21, 2023

 This Grand Junction, Colorado author is a retired teacher and mother of five. She's written early readers and edcational books, but her best-selling picture books feature a loveable turkey. Turkey Trouble came out in 2012, followed by 6 more, including Turkey Trick-or-Treat, Turkey's Eggcellent Easter, and her most recent, Turkey's Sandtastic Beach Day which came out in May of 2023. Happy Thanksgiving to Wendi Silvano!

Tuesday Kidlit Trivia for November 7, 2023

 When this author/illustrator moved from Honolulu to NYC hoping to become a children's book illustrator, he met: a) his future wife and b) an art director who told him his portfolio of sketches was so bad he should throw it away. He did, but then created a new collection of drawings that got him a contract with Dial Press for his first book in 1967--A Boy, A Dog and A Frog. It was wordless, as were his next several books. He went on to create over 300 books, including There's a Nightmare in My Closet and the Little Critter series. This is Mercer Mayer.