Writing Irresistible Kidlit

Captivate the hearts and minds of young adult readers! Writing for young adult (YA) and middle grade (MG) audiences isn't just "kid's stuff" anymore--it's kidlit! The YA and MG book markets are healthier and more robust than ever, and that means the competition is fiercer, too. In Writing Irresistible Kidlit, literary agent Mary Kole shares her expertise on writing novels for young adult and middle grade readers and teaches you how to: • Recognize the differences between middle grade and young adult audiences and how it impacts your writing. • Tailor your manuscript's tone, length, and content to your readership. • Avoid common mistakes and cliches that are prevalent in YA and MG fiction, in respect to characters, story ideas, plot structure and more. • Develop themes and ideas in your novel that will strike emotional chords. Mary Kole's candid commentary and insightful observations, as well as a collection of book excerpts and personal insights from bestselling authors and editors who specialize in the children's book market, are invaluable tools for your kidlit career. If you want the skills, techniques, and know-how you need to craft memorable stories for teens and tweens, Writing Irresistible Kidlit can give them to you.

With over one million copies sold, this series of modern classics about the charming Penderwick family from National Book Award winner and New York Times bestseller Jeanne Birdsall is perfect for fans of Noel Streatfeild and Edward Eager. This summer the Penderwick sisters have a wonderful surprise: a holiday on the grounds of a beautiful estate called Arundel. Soon they are busy discovering the summertime magic of Arundel’s sprawling gardens, treasure-filled attic, tame rabbits, and the cook who makes the best gingerbread in Massachusetts. But the best discovery of all is Jeffrey Tifton, son of Arundel’s owner, who quickly proves to be the perfect companion for their adventures. The icy-hearted Mrs. Tifton is not as pleased with the Penderwicks as Jeffrey is, though, and warns the new friends to stay out of trouble. Which, of course, they will—won’t they? One thing’s for sure: it will be a summer the Penderwicks will never forget. Deliciously nostalgic and quaintly witty, this is a story as breezy and carefree as a summer day.

"My goodness! Such beauty and fine smells! Every imaginable flower from the entire year stood there in the most magnificent blossom. No picture book could be more colourful or gorgeous." "A little boy and a little girl live happily in a big city. The little boy's name is Kai, and the little girl's name is Gerda. But one day, Kai is kidnapped by the wicked Snow Queen and swept away to live for ever in her kingdom of ice. Follow Gerda as she travels through snow-filled fields and endless forests in order to find her beloved friend. From the city rooftops to the snows of Lapland, from the Northern Lights to the palace of the Snow Queen herself, a mesmerising world of icy journeys is waiting to be brought to life by your pen..." A gorgeous, beautifully designed coloring book: 30 unique and exquisite spreads, inspired by the classic fairy tale, of line drawings of winter landscapes, flower-filled meadows, crows, princesses, castles and reindeers, accompanied by quotes from Andersen's timeless tale.

Nowhere will you find a more comprehensive, current, and detailed writing skills course designed specifically for writing children and teen books, written by a children's and young adult author who is in the field today. WRITING FOR CHILDREN AND TEENS: A CRASH COURSE is a ten-step course that relays all the nitty-gritty details of the business, beginning with how to evaluate your book idea all the way to pitching your book to editors and agents. Within each step, you'll find clear and specific information covering topics such as the children's book market, manuscript format, commonly made mistakes and editing tips to beef up your writing skills, finding the right literary agent or children's book publisher, and professional submission etiquette. This book will even tell you what kind of paper you should use and exactly how you should write your email or letter pitches to editors and agents. Bonus materials include templates for all of your submission needs as well as examples of real-life editorial letters sent to authors from editors today. You will get a complete inside peak to the children's and YA fiction writing market for those who want to write picture books, easy readers, chapter books, and middle grade or young adult/teen novels.

What if trying to conform to a sick culture is making us sick? It's Not You, It's Everything is an incisive, impertinent, and witty inquiry into the anxious pursuit of happiness. Psychotherapist Eric Minton helps readers rethink everything we thought we knew about God, depression, and culture to find a radical okayness that will set us free.

This book examines the nineteenth-century practice of publishing fiction in serial form, and discusses its effect on the imaginative development of contemporary writers. in particular, it shows in detail how one novelist, Trollope, coped with writing novels that were going to be published as serials. Dr Hamer brings together current work on the subject in order to explain why serial publishing originated, how publishers and authors responded to it, and what technical and financial implications it had for them. Trollope is singled out for extended study because he was the only novelist who used serial form to construct his works, even when a publisher had not specified a format. His working methods are described and explained, using the evidence of his working papers and the manuscript of his first serial.

A delightful mixture of science fiction, utopian vision, and just plain crazy ideas, Your Flying Car Awaits is a hilarious and insightful compendium of the most outrageous and completely ridiculous predictions of the 20th Century. Award-winning journalist Paul Milo’s collection of “Robot Butlers, Lunar Vacations, and Other Dead-Wrong Predictions of the Twentieth Century” is true history on the lighter side, a must for fans of Ken Davis and his bestselling Don’t Know Much About® series as well as the popular Darwin Awards books. For an unforgettable journey back through the misguided scientific mindset of the previous century, climb aboard—Your Flying Car Awaits!

Zoe wonders what kind of day she will have as she prepares to get dressed on SaturdayNthe only day of the week on which she can decide for herself what to wear. Full color.