Free Fall Friday – Robin Newman & Leeza Hernandez

Robin Newman did a great interview with Leeza Hernandez. Don’t miss it. Here’s the link: http://robinnewmanbooks.wordpress.com/2014/02/14/leeza-hernandez-award-winning-illustrator-and-childrens-book-author/

CALL FOR ILLUSTRATIONS: Thank you to everyone would sent in an illustration last month. I still have a few in the folder that I plan to use, just looking for the right post, but I am running low, so please look to see if you have anything that you would like me to show off. I am looking for illustrations that would go well with the month or any illustration that might go with a writing or illustrating post. Same as always: At least 500 pixels wide, sent to kathy (dot) temean (at) gmail (dot) com, and include a blurb about you. Thanks!

Allison Moore Assistant Editor at Little, Brown Books for Young Readers will be February’s Guest Critiquer. Allison is currently an assistant editor at Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, and has worked there for about three and a half years. Prior to that, she interned at a variety of publishers, spent a year as a bookseller, and also worked at her hometown public library.

Right now, she is mainly focusing on picture books and other illustrated projects like novelty books, board books, and leveled readers, but she has also worked on a range of middle grade and YA and is very comfortable critiquing books at all levels.

She has spoke at conferences about the extra layers and themes that can help sell books, (ex. we can pitch books about love around Valentine’s Day, and books with educational layers can be well suited for Common Core), children’s book process from acquisition to publication, and the differences between literary vs. commercial writing. She was a mentee at Rutgers One-on-One last year. Allison is definitely someone to watch in the children’s book industry.

BELOW IS THE PICTURE PROMPT for anyone who would like a little inspiration for their first page.

The above illustration is February’s First Page Picture Prompt. It was illustrated by Michael Garland, who was featured on Illustrator Saturday on August 31, 2013.  Here is the link.

Here are the submission guidelines for Sending in a First Page.

To send in a First Page: Please attach your double spaced, 12 point font, 23 line first page to an e-mail and send it to: kathy(dot)temean(at)gmail(dot)com. Also cut and paste it into the body of the e-mail.

Put “February First Page Critique” or “February First Page Picture Prompt Critique” in the subject line. Make sure you have your name on the submission, a title, and indicate the genre.

You can only send in one first page each month. It can be the same first page each month or a different one. It can be a first page from a work in process or you can use the picture prompt to inspire a first page.

Please include your name, the title of the piece, and whether it is as picture book, middle grade, or young adult, etc. at the top.

Deadline for first Pages this month is February 21st. Results Posted on February 28th.

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy