Lynne Marie has written a picture book titled, MOLDILOCKS AND THE THREE SCARES, published by Sterling. She has agreed to share a copy with one lucky winner and a half hour FB Video Consultation with another. All you have to do to get in the running is to leave a comment. Reblog, tweet, or talk about it on Facebook with a link and you will get additional chances to win. Just let me know the other things you do to share the good news, so I can put in the right amount of tickets in my basket for you.
Sharing on Facebook, Twitter, reblogging really helps spread the word for a new book. Thanks for helping Lynne Marie!
If you have signed up to follow my blog and it is delivered to you everyday, please let me know when you leave a comment and I will give you an extra ticket. Thanks!
BOOK DESCRIPTION:
A fun, shivery take on a favorite fairy tale!
ONE CHILLY NIGHT Papa Scare, Mama Scare and Baby Scare take a stroll to let their very hot Alpha-Bat Soup cool. But while they are out, a lonely little zombie named Moldilocks sleepwalks into their haunted house, eats their soup, breaks a chair…and maybe even answers the Scare family’s nightmares!
Though slightly spooky, this is also a sweet, poignant story about belonging – and being adopted into a new family that’s just right!
IN A HUGE HAUNTED HOUSE, with room enough for four, there lived three Scares:
Papa Scare, Mama Scare and Baby Scare.
One special night, the family returns home after a midnight walk in the graveyard only to find a little zombie named Moldilocks asleep in Baby Scare’s bed…
Forget Goldilocks and the three bears—MOLDILOCKS and the THREE SCARES are here, in a delightfully zombie-tastic new version of the popular story. Papa Scare (a monster), Mama Scare (a mummy), and Baby Scare (a vampire) live in a haunted house where they eat finger sandwiches and alpha-bat soup. One night, they go out to walk their dog (a bloodhound, of course) to let their soup cool down. While they’re away, in walks the zombie Moldilocks, looking for food, a chair, and a bed that’s just right. Kids will love this hauntingly funny story with its surprise ending!
BOOK JOURNEY:
I love wordplay – playing around with language and rhyming existing words to make them something else. While I do this often for fun and without being prompted, in this case, I did it in conjunction with brainstorming ideas for Storystorm (at the time PiBoIdMo). It obviously sprung from rhyming the Gold in Goldilocks with Mold. Of course, a character named Moldilocks could be none other than a Zombie! And the Scares (rhymes with Bears) would be monsters! But then, I needed a fresh spin on the tale, and I wasn’t quite sure what that was. So the idea sat, dead as a doornail. From time to time, I’d recall it, but it didn’t come to life.
Then one day – honestly one random day although it could have been a rainy day with lightning — all the parts fused together and took on a life of their own (much like Frankenstein’s monster).
Rather than be an intruder, as in the original tale, Moldilocks would be the answer to the Scare’s nightmares (as you can tell, I’m a fan of assonance and consonance, too). How? There would be something missing in each of their lives until she showed up. I still wanted to mix things up a bit, so I flipped monster roles as well. I assigned Papa Scare the role of homemaker/cook and had him prepare the Alpha-Bat Soup (instead of porridge) and I put Mama Scare to work in the lab. I added a bloodhound named Plasma because, well, honestly because I couldn’t resist, and also gave Moldilocks a little silent sidekick of a maggot-fly named Zombee. The only problem remaining was that my main character, Moldilocks lacked a true problem and motivation. I brainstormed possibilities and also integrated my own situation as an adopted child. And so she was alone and in search of home! When she smelled the warm soup that the Scares left to cool, it lured her in – it smelled like home, something she had longed for for a long, long time. Playing around with the details for the chairs and beds and integrating the puns was just – well, FUN!
In total, I did about 7 rounds of critiques with my critique groups (I’m a member of a few groups and like to get varied feedback) before I sent it out. This was pretty low, as I think I did 27 with Hedgehog Goes to Kindergarten, although I did only three with its sequel, Hedgehog’s 100th Day of School and 7 with The Star in the Christmas Play. However, it takes as many as it takes to get it right, and each round would have had anywhere from 3-7 people critiquing it. So there’s that…
I was an active member of Kid Lit College at the time Moldilocks came to life and I submitted it for a critique-and-chat. KLC director Jodell Sadler told me it would sell the first time she saw it. She even recommended the big pause in the book. Leslie Shumate of Little Brown did the critique and expressed an interest in taking it on, but just after she left publishing altogether. When that happens, with no one to bring the manuscript forward, the opportunity just dies.
At the 2016 SCBWI FL Conference in Miami, I had submitted another favorite manuscript of mine for critique, THE DINO STORE (still available). This time, the wonderful Meredith Mundy at that time of Sterling Children’s Books, was my critiquer. At the onset of the critique, she revealed, “I really loved THE DINO STORE, but we have nine other dinosaur books, so if I took yours on, it would only be competing with those. So what else do you have?” I pitched her Moldilocks first (since it had just died at Little Brown), as well as a few others. She asked to see the manuscripts, three at a time. I sent them out right away. After that, there was along of waiting and wondering (and waiting and wondering and waiting and wondering – you get the idea), but eventually she MADE AN OFFER! The entire process from conference to contract was January, 2016 to October, 2017, with the book’s release date being today, August 6, 2019! And it was worth EVERY moment of the wait. I am so thankful to Meredith Mundy, my Agent — Deborah Warren, Eliza Berkowitz, Ardi Alspatch, and David Rodriguez Lorenzo, as well as Jodell Sadler and the many members of my fabulous critique groups who were part of and who helped me breathe life into Moldilocks and were with me on this journey.
Here’s the Book Trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCnKNTlCej0
Lynne Marie is the author of Hedgehog Goes to Kindergarten – illustrated by Anne Kennedy (Scholastic, 2011), Hedgehog’s 100th Day of School – illustrated by Lorna Hussey (Scholastic, January 2017), The Star of the Christmas Play — illustrated by Lorna Hussey (Beaming Books, 10/16/2018), Moldilocks and the 3 Scares — illustrated by David Rodriguez Lorenzo (Sterling, 2019) and her first non-fiction picture book, Let’s Eat! Mealtime Around the World — illustrated by Parwinder Singh (Beaming Books, 2019) and more forthcoming. Her stories, poems, folk tales and crafts have appeared in many magazine markets, including Family Fun, Highlights, High Five, Spider, Baby Bug and more. She was a first-round panelist for the 2016 and 2017 Cybils Picture Book Awards. In addition, she’s an on-staff writer for Jon and Laura Bard’s Children’s Book Insider and a book reviewer.
When she’s not cruising around the world, she lives on a lake in South Florida with her family, a Schipperke named Anakin and several resident water birds. She’s represented by Deborah Warren of East West Literary Agency. You can learn more about her at www.LiterallyLynneMarie.com.
She lives on a lake in South Florida with her husband and two children.
VISIT THE AUTHOR:
CHECK OUT MY AUTHOR WEBSITE: http://www.LiterallyLynneMarie.com
CHECK OUT MY CRITIQUE WEBSITE: http://www.thepicturebookmechanic.com
ON AMAZON.COM: https://www.amazon.com/Lynne-Marie/e/B0065SF8EO/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1
ON FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/WordsandPictures.by.LynneMarie
MY AUTHOR FACEBOOK PAGE: Children’s Author Lynne Marie https://www.facebook.com/LiterallyLynneMarie/
ON INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/pictures.by.pixel.pixie/
ON TWITTER: @Literally_Lynne
VISIT MY BLOGS:
My Word Playground (Writing and Reading for Children) https://literallylynnemarie.blogspot.com/
My World Playground (My Travel Blog *NEW*) https://myworldplaygrounds.blogspot.com/
MY YOU TUBE CHANNEL: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAcYhJhh8xjx_sf7YaRweqQ
Lynne Marie, thank you for sharing your book and journey with us. It looks like a must have fun Halloween picture book that kids and their parents will love.
Talk tomorrow,
Kathy
Looks like fun. Terrific illustrations.
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By: Nancy Payette on August 6, 2019
at 1:39 am
What a fun twist on a story we all know and love.
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By: authorlaurablog on August 6, 2019
at 8:01 am
Congratulations, Lynne Marie! The book could not be more adorable!
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By: rnewman504 on August 6, 2019
at 8:59 am
This looks like so much fun! I can’t wait to see it.
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By: David McMullin on August 6, 2019
at 11:35 am
What a “stand out” picture book! Awesome job:) Thank you for all the wonderful and heartfelt advice from your presentation at the PB Palooza:)
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By: Sheri Delgado-Preston on August 6, 2019
at 12:02 pm
What a brilliant retelling of a classic! Can’t wait to read this one! I am sharing on FB, tweeting and reblogging! Congratulations, Lynne Marie!
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By: darlenebeckjacobson on August 6, 2019
at 12:14 pm
Reblogged this on Darlene Beck-Jacobson.
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By: darlenebeckjacobson on August 6, 2019
at 12:16 pm
Ohhh…so clever! (and I am a Kathleen ‘follower) 🙂
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By: Donna Gwinnell Lambo-Weidner on August 6, 2019
at 12:27 pm
I love all of Lynne Marie;s work, she truly understands what engages children. I look forward to reading this gem! I’ll promote this on FB and Twitter 🙂
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By: Lydia Lukidis on August 6, 2019
at 12:32 pm
I LOVE this book. It’s such a brilliant retelling of the story. =)
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By: jenabenton on August 6, 2019
at 12:34 pm
Congratulations, Lynne! Really enjoyed reading about your book’s journey – as an adoptive parent, I especially loved the adoption angle that gave your plot the heartwarming hook you needed to move your story beyond the classic tale. Best of luck from a fellow Sterling author!
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By: Janet Lawler on August 6, 2019
at 12:36 pm
My wife love Halloween all year round. It’s always time for a fun scare at our house. Thanks for the chance to win this cute book.
I tweeted a link to this post: https://twitter.com/carlrscott/status/1158783766690553861, and pinned an image on Pinterest with a link as well: https://www.pinterest.com.mx/pin/336573772151632328/.
I follow your blog daily by email: crs(at)codedivasites(dot)com
Thanks again, have a great day!!
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By: carlrscott on August 6, 2019
at 12:58 pm
huge congrats! This looks like so much fun!
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By: bjleepoet on August 6, 2019
at 1:09 pm
Congratulations Lynne! Enjoyed your retelling and how you included your own experience. It’s really special. I shared on Twitter.
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By: Ashley Congdon (@AshleyCCongdon) on August 6, 2019
at 1:12 pm
What a delightful idea! Can’t wait to read this!
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By: Amy Duchene on August 6, 2019
at 1:39 pm
YAY! I can’t wait until my copy arrives!!!!
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By: Katie Frawley on August 6, 2019
at 1:47 pm
I was able to hear Lynne Marie read this book on the Children’s Book Academy’s PB Palooza and LOVE it! It’s such a great idea and a mentor text for one of my manuscripts. I’m subscribed to your blog, Kathy, and I shared on Twitter. 🙂
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By: Jolene Ballard Gutiérrez on August 6, 2019
at 2:02 pm
Congratulations. Pre-ordered for my friend who just had her second set of twins 🙂
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By: Debra Getts on August 6, 2019
at 2:17 pm
Loved the story of the journey from idea to publication – Best of the luck with Moldilocks and the Three Scares, Lynne!
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By: Patricia Finnegan on August 6, 2019
at 2:39 pm
Love the play by play of bringing the story to life, Lynne. I’m a fan! Plan to share this with my third graders once school starts!
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By: Amy Benoit on August 6, 2019
at 3:02 pm
Yes! Looking forward to reading this one! Glad to see those StoryStorm ideas blossoming in the world!
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By: Jilanne Hoffmann on August 6, 2019
at 3:06 pm
Make that amywritespbs@gmail.com (I accidentally added an extra ‘s’ in my last reply).
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By: Amy Benoit on August 6, 2019
at 3:07 pm
What a great story, and story behind the story! Happy sales to you!
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By: Rinda Beach on August 6, 2019
at 3:40 pm
This sounds like such rain book! Good luck with it!
Also reposted to facebook and Twitter.
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By: Nancy Riley on August 6, 2019
at 4:02 pm
Thanks, Kathy for another wonderful interview. Congratulations, Lynne! MOLDILOCKS AND THE THREE SCARES sound adorable. Looking forward to reading it. Shared on Twitter
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By: Tracey Brown on August 6, 2019
at 4:05 pm
Congratulations, Lynne! I love all the clever wordplay. Alpha-bat soup and a bloodhound named Plasma, HA!
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By: Mary Worley on August 6, 2019
at 4:13 pm
Congratulations Lynne! What a fun spin on a classic and the word play sounds fantastic.
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By: Mary Warth on August 6, 2019
at 4:32 pm
So cute! I heard you speak at PB Palooza!! Thanks for your informative presentation.
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By: bookthreader on August 6, 2019
at 5:01 pm
Looks and sounds fantastic! I would love to share this with my students.
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By: Nadya Abu-Rish on August 6, 2019
at 5:48 pm
Congrats! This sounds so fun! Can’t wait to read it! Also I shared on twitter 😉
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By: RebeccaTheWriter on August 6, 2019
at 5:49 pm
Just placed an order for it! Can’t wait to get my copy in the mail!! Thanks so much for sharing your journey – you are a gift to the kidlit community!
LikeLiked by 1 person
By: Charlotte Offsay on August 6, 2019
at 6:20 pm
A perfectly pun-ny book! Many congratulations…we need more word play and fun in our lives.
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By: Linda Mitchell on August 6, 2019
at 7:17 pm
I can’t wait to read this one. What a clever concept for a picture book!
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By: rosihollinbeck on August 6, 2019
at 7:50 pm
Thank you for sharing this wonderful book and all the intricacies of getting it published. What an inspiring accomplishment. Also posting on facebook.
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By: PJ Taub on August 6, 2019
at 8:36 pm
Congrats to Lynne Marie – this is a spooktacular story! Love the trailer, too! Retweeting this and hope to win!
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By: doreenrobinson on August 6, 2019
at 8:52 pm
Love your idea that you came up with this book and I know my kids would love it!
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By: nataliecohn0258 on August 6, 2019
at 11:24 pm
This is such a great spin on a classic fairytale! Can’t wait to get my own copy.
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By: Sandy Perlic on August 7, 2019
at 12:48 am
Moldilocks and the Three Scares is so clever! I appreciate the story behind the book and can’t wait to read and share it!
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By: claireannette1 on August 7, 2019
at 1:08 am
Kathy and Lynne,
You are both so amazing! Wonderful writers and always supporting other writers! Thanks for this great interview. My favorite part “Then one day – honestly one random day although it could have been a rainy day with lightning — all the parts fused together and took on a life of their own (much like Frankenstein’s monster).” Haha, such great humor and well written; it definitely got a chuckle from me😁
I’ll be requesting this from our local library and of course, I subscribe to yoir blog, Kathy—always fantastic information. I’ll share in Twitter and Facebook too. Lynne, this is going to be such wonderful hit!
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By: Kaitlyn Leann Sanchez on August 7, 2019
at 6:42 am
What a darling book! And I will share on Facebook and Twitter…RIGHT NOW!
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By: kathydoherty1 on August 7, 2019
at 7:16 am
Lynne, this is an adorable book. Thank you for sharing your gift and experience with other writers. I really enjoyed your video chat for Children’s Book Academy. And you critiqued my story on 12×12, thanks! You’ve been so helpful!
I’m sharing on Facebook and Twitter! And I’d better subscribe to this blog, too. Thanks, Kathy!
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By: Kim Larson on August 7, 2019
at 9:16 am
Congrats, Lynne! I tweeted this post as well.
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By: Susan Johnston on August 7, 2019
at 10:48 am
Such a clever concept, Lynne! I’m really looking forward to reading this! Congratulations!
I shared on twitter @jkspburg and I subscribe to Kathy’s blog.
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By: Judy Sobanski (@jkspburg) on August 7, 2019
at 11:26 pm
Enjoyed the interviews, and love what I’m seeing in the book. So fun! I want to win it!!!! Anyway, I already follow the blog, but I did share on Twitter.
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By: Alayne Kay Christian on August 8, 2019
at 6:39 pm
So adorable! Can’t wait to read this. Congratulations!
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By: Angie on August 10, 2019
at 2:42 pm
Congrats! What a cute story idea. And I LOVE the illustrations! Looking forward to reading it in its entirety. I have posted about the contest on FB (Michelle Donny Kennedy)
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By: Michelle K on August 15, 2019
at 7:00 pm
Thank you for this inspiring and informative post! Best wishes with your book. Kids will love it!
Thank you for the opportunity of the video consultation!
I have also subscribed to this blog.
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By: Mia Geiger on August 27, 2019
at 5:30 pm
I have one copy and plan on buying more. Kids will adore this book. It’s such a great twist and I love how you changed it.
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By: Marcia Nass on September 3, 2019
at 11:35 am