Tuesday Kid Lit Trivia for November 2, 2021

 Annemarie Johansen, a Danish girl, helps hide her best friend in this book by Lowry which won the 1990 Newbery Medal. Name the book. Answer--Number the Stars.

Tuesday Kid Lit Trivia October 26, 2021

 A book by this husband and wife team begins in dim, blue light conducive to sleeping, and ends in bright, colorful sunshine. Name the author and illustrator of this book. Answer: Don and Audry Wood. The book in question is The Napping House.

Tuesday Kid Lit Trivia, Oct. 19, 2021

 This illustrator's cozy portraits of a darkening bedroom with green walls, a red rug and striped curtains won't win any interior design awards, but kids find the pictures comforting. The illustrator is Clement Hurd, most famous for his pictures for Goodnight Moon and also for The Runaway Bunny, both by Margaret Wise Brown. 

Tuesday Kid Lit Trivia, Oct. 12, 2021

  Welcome to the first edition of Tuseday Kid Lit Trivia! This week's question is: A California author was in his 60's when he wrote a novel, based on a true story, about a girl who spent 18 years alone on an island, eventually befriending the wild dog that killed her brother. What color appears in the title?

And the answer is: Blue. The book is "Island of the Blue Dolphins" by Scott O'Dell.

Old friend, possibly new writing work

    Jim and I had a gorgeous trip to New Mexico, riding the Cumbres & Toltec historic steam train through the brilliant fall colors. We drove home and the next day I got together with a writing friend I met 10 years ago at Highlights Chautauqua, Linda Rose Zajac, out here visiting Aspen with her husband. Her latest book is Robo-Motion--which shows how robots can be designed to mimic animal movements. She does work for hire, and, coinidentally, I had just recieved an e-mail from my agent while I was out of town, asking her clients if they'd be interested in work for hire! After talking to Linda I decided to give it a try. We'll see what happens!

We Have Collaboration!

 My agent wants to pair my Chihuly story with an illustrator, and she found a wonderful one in Seattle who knows Chihuly's work well! Signed the collaboration agreement tonight. Sample art should be ready by Sept. 7, so then the story can go on submission. Meanwhile, a publisher is interested in my dinosaur board books for their 2024 collection. I'll be 73 then...glad I have my Caldecoots group, celebrating writers over 60!

Persistence

   Going over my stats today. From 2011-2016, I sold 26 pieces to magazines--most of them to Highlights. 

2017--44 submissions, NO SALES

2018--Jan. to May--27 submissions, NO SALES. Signed with agent in May, she sent out 42 submissions. NO SALES. We amicably parted ways in November.

2019--46 submissions, NO SALES

2020--74 submissions, NO SALES

2021--Jan. to March 23 submissions, NO SALES, interest in three projects.  March 30--SIGNED WITH MY AGENT!