The Naughty List

This article is an awfully good reminder of what NOT to do when writing for kids. Thank you Margaret Meachem for keeping us scribes on the Nice list this year :) 

https://www.writermag.com/improve-your-writing/writing-for-young-readers/childrens-book-mistakes/

Ho-Ho-Holiday Writing Prompt

I love all the holidays that arise this time of year. From Hanukkah to Kwanza - there's just a cool buzzy energy happening all around. In my house it's ye olde Christmas time, which means Santa lists. So I was inspired to create this holly, jolly writing prompt. Try writing a wish list for Santa from an unusual (so, NOT a kid) perspective. Maybe Bubbles the family fish wants new shiny pebbles for his bowl. Maybe Principal MacManus wants ear plugs and pencils. Maybe a small children's author from Florida wants donuts and a nap....

Clever Query

Thank the heavens I have an agent - and an amazing one at that. (Hugs Miss Kathleen. And also Jazz Hands!)  But recently I was thinking about that whole process of querying and well, it inspired me to post about querying. Sooo... you may be thinking .... What is a query? Why do I need to write one? What should be in a query? How many fonts should I use? All excellent questions my writer buds! And all questions that can be answered in this awesome article by Australian kidlit author Jo Hart. Check it out: https://johartauthor.com/2016/03/05/how-to-write-a-picture-book-query/

Oh and the answer is one. One font. One normal non-weird font, OK?

Catherine in a Castle

Did you know that, once upon a time, I lived in England? Canterbury to be exact. I wish I could say I lived in a painting-filled castle among precious artifacts. That would make my Art History degree make more sense. But alas I lived in a converted former chicken coop so close to the road that the furniture shook when cars zoomed by. I would find feathers everywhere (and mean  EVERYWHERE). So why am I telling you this? Because I'm working on a book about feathers. Obviously. Inspiration is all around - even in memories of old stinky former chicken coops. 

A Classic

Writing Picture Books by Ann Paul Whitford (ISBN #1582975566)

'nuff said. 

The Learning Cove

A big warm and fuzzy thank you to Rhi Forker and The Learning Cove. Your students are absolutely the cutest little readers :)! #mindyourmonsters #harborbound #lucylovessherman #authorvisit

YOGASAURUS & REX

Why yes, I do have news to share. Thank you for asking.

Calling all yogis - and non-yogis - there's a new dino on the rock! I'm thrilled to announce the sale of my latest picture book, YOGASAURUS & REX. When a new dino moves in, Rex reacts, well, let's just say poorly. Especially when his rough and tumble friends betray him for butterfly pose. If you've ever fallen over in tree position, this one's for you.

Thank you and Namaste to my wonder-agent, Kathleen Rushall and the wonderful folks at Sounds True Publishing.

#Yogasaurus #picturebookannouncement #publishersmarketplace #bigheart #tinyarms #trexdoesNOTlikeyoga #PB

What A Character!

One of the best parts about writing for kids is that you basically get to create your own friends. Oh sure, we technically call them things like main character, protagonist, and so on. But I think off the people (or animals, or monsters...) that I write about as my buddies. Sometimes I fling them of swing sets or attack them with Zombies. But I'm sure they understand. For more on creating good characters, check out this great article: 

https://www.darcypattison.com/writing/picture-books/options-for-picture-book-characters/

Back to School Books

Sounds of rumbly busses and clanging school bells fill the air and my mind turns to ... books! Well, okay, my mind is always on books. But in August I am drawn to "back to school" books. I read them to my kids. I see them selling on PM. I love them. And here's an awesome list of some truly great examples of the genre: 

https://www.weareteachers.com/14-perfect-picture-books-for-the-first-weeks-of-school/

Cruisin' Into Tally

Excited for this upcoming book store event! 

Thank you MIDTOWN READER. 

Book Review - The Laughing Place

The awesome folks at The Laughing Place just released a nice review of my latest book - HARBOR BOUND. (And as a shameless Disney-addict, this means a TON to me!!) If you would like to "sea" it, please sail on over to this link: 

https://www.laughingplace.com/w/articles/2019/07/17/childrens-book-review-harbor-bound/

6 Questions

Recently Patrick Matthew interviewed me about being a children's author. His format is a fun and breezy 6 questions. 6 really GOOD questions! You can read more by clicking on the link below: 

https://www.pat-matthews.com/stories/2019/07/16/6-questions-with-catherine-bailey/?fbclid=IwAR0xfQ_iJkMUQgZIz29g3k8hpKQsPX-aQ-Zgzcy6GS5V0YIcfV8qc1dJ1MY

And thank you Patrick :)  

Back to Nature

I've been researching picture book publishers who focus on nature (specifically animal / NF) themes and decided to share the spoils of my investigation. You're welcome! I will update the list as I find more (and more and hopefully even more and ... you get it.) 

Dawn Publishing: https://dawnpub.com/submission-guidelines/

Pelican Publishing: https://pelicanpub.com/viewer.php?region=92

Persnickety Press & Cornell Lab Publishing: https://cornelllabpgstore.com/submissions/

Hustle Bustle Bugs - YAY!!!

Thank you to my wonder agent, Kathleen Rushall, and Disney * Hyperion for making this hustling bustling book happen! And thanks also to my oldest daughter Allison for stockpiling insects in our home, my car, her lunch box... - inspiring for sure.

RYS Blog Post

Thank you to the folks at Rate Your Story for inviting me to be a guest blogger on their wonderful website. (And for interviewing me for their newsletter!). RYS is a great resource for writers in search of a critique service. You can read the post (which is all about assembling a #bookcrew) by clicking here:

https://www.rateyourstory.org/…/2019/06/04/ALL-HANDS-ON-DECK

#harborbound #lucylovessherman #llsb #rys