Tales from the Rushmore Kid

What Parents and Educators want in a Book - Barbara Jean Hicks

What Buyers Want in a Children’s Book:
The Parent/Librarian/Teacher Perspective

from the collected notes of children's author
Barbara Jean Hicks

As children’s writers, our stories need to appeal to several audiences. We’ve looked at the needs of the Child Audience and the Publisher Audience over the last four weeks. Today we look at the needs of the parents and librarians who purchase our books. Thanks to the staff at The Secret Garden Children’s Bookstore in Ballard (Seattle), Washington; Amy Walter, Selection Librarian, Children's and YA Materials, Seattle Public Library; and Kevin Wood, ELL Teacher, Seattle Public Schools, for their input.

Cute, A Guide to All Things Adorable - Bart King

Every time I go to a family gathering, the first question I hear when I come in is, "Did you bring us a new Bart King book?"  It has become a sort of family parlor game to read out loud from Bart's books.

Bart King can write a funny book about almost anything. When his publishing house sent me his new book, Cute: A Guide to All Things Adorable, I wondered how he could make such a girly thing funny. He didn't disappoint. My family thought it was a scream, the boys and girls alike. From puppies to babies, Bart King found the humor in it all. The back cover copy asks:  Is being cute a super-power? Why are bullfrogs cute? Is pink actually a boy's color? Where is the world capital of cuteness?  What animals are in the Cuteness Hall of Fame?  Buy the book and find out!

What Kids Want in a Book - part 2 - Barbara Jean Hicks

What Kids Want in a Book:
A Psychological Perspective, Part 2

from the teaching files of children's author
Barbara Jean Hicks

In preparation for a workshop I once offered at a writer’s conference, I interviewed a private practice child psychologist who uses bibliotherapy in her practice. Here’s her take on what characteristics a book must have to appeal to kids on a deep psychological level and draw them to a story over and over again. Notice the similarities to Bruno Bettelheim’s list of essential qualities a story must have in order to both hold a child’s attention and enrich her life. (Check out last Friday’s post if you missed it.)

Margret O'Hair - Writing Tip of the Day

Author Margret O'Hair is one of my Summer Conference buddies that I've enjoyed over the years. It is a long road to traditional publishing, and Margret gives a helpful Writing Tip of the Day to ease the journey.

What Kids Want in a Book - part one - Barbara Jean Hicks

What Kids Want in a Book:
A Psychological Perspective, Part 1

from the teaching files of children's author
Barbara Jean Hicks

As children’s writers, our stories need to appeal to several audiences: children, first and foremost; publishers, who can get our stories to market and hope to make a profit by doing so; and parents and librarians, who have purchasing power and can get our stories into the hands of readers. Let’s start today with the Child Audience, which seems to me the most important!

I’ve always been intrigued with the work of Bruno Bettelheim (1903-1990), and started with him in my search to understand what it is, from a psychological perspective, that kids want from a book. 

Editor Steve Meltzer - Picture Book Tip of the Day.

Boy, do I love my editor, Steve Meltzer. Not only is he fun to work with, he is game for blog interviews. I recently saw him for a meeting at Dutton, and while the other publishers and editors scampered away when I brought out the video camera, he gladly sat down and gave me a bang-up tip.  I give you my editor, Steve Meltzer.

Panning for Gold with Barbara Jean Hicks – Agent Marcia Wernick

from the collected notes of Barbara Jean Hicks

To agent or not to agent? Sometimes it feels like harder work finding an agent than finding a publisher, so my temptation has been to submit without an agent. In the current market, however, with fewer and fewer publishers accepting submissions over the transom, an agent seems more and more necessary to publishing success.

When I first heard agent Marcia Wernick speak at an SCBWI conference in Seattle in 2004, she was associated with the Sheldon Fogelman Agency in New York City. In January 2011, she founded the Wernick and Pratt Agency with long-time colleague Linda Pratt.

Jo S. Kittinger - Writing Tip of the Day

Jo S. Kittinger is an amazing author an exceptional RA and cheerleader for the SCBWI. I saw her in New York this year for the SCBWI Winter Conference. Her new picture book, The House On Dirty Third Street, has just been released, so I asked Jo to give us a Writing Tip of the Day. Here's what she had to say:

Look for the heart of your story. Readers want to connect with emotion. They want to feel something when they read your book. I seldom remember characters' names or plot details, even in books I've loved. But I always remember the way a good book made me feel.

Marketing Nuggets part 2 - Barbara Jean Hicks

from the collected notes of Barbara Jean Hicks

Here are a few more nuggets from “Marketing for Authors,” a roundtable moderated by Kelly Milner Halls and Esther Hershenhorn at my first ever SCBWI Summer Conference…

From Kelly: Contact your local newspaper’s “Features” editor and help him fill a gap by writing an article about your book.

From Esther: Use an e-mail footer under your signature that lists all your books and all the things you do.

From Michelle Parker-Rock: Offer to write a short, simple column for an SCBWI region’s website and/or newsletter. Give yourself a nice, meaty byline and “About the Author” profile.