How Putting Together a Picture Book Is Like Managing a Baseball Team
When I was a kid, I was passionate about two things: baseball and reading. There were summers where I barely missed a Phillies game on the radio. I either watched … Continue reading
Being Ready for Unexpected Opportunities — Crashing a VIP Party
Will you be ready if a big moment suddenly drops in your lap? Last week, it was announced that the most famous John Briggs in kidlit sold Holiday House, the … Continue reading
Getting Your Book Published: Labor, Luck or Kismet?
Every time somebody says, “Things happen for a reason,” I say, “Yeah, but it doesn’t have to be a good reason.” I’m not exactly a believer in what you’d call … Continue reading
Creating Your Book’s Title
Have you ever read The Last Man in Europe? How about Fiesta or Trimalchio? Or First Impressions? How about Something That Happened? I bet you have. Those are the original … Continue reading
The Personal Rejection: The Backhanded Compliment of Publishing
Sometimes editors love your book but still can’t publish it. There are two types of rejection letters – the dreaded form letter and the personal rejection letter. The former is … Continue reading
Are You Invested in Your Book?
When you finish writing your book, few people will doubt you’re committed to your writing. You’ve spent months or years putting it on paper, and hopefully poured your heart into … Continue reading
Publishing Isn’t Struggling for the Reasons You Think It Is
Can the publishing model really be defended? A few weeks ago The New York Times ran an article that said the publishing business is struggling because it fails to take … Continue reading