Category Archives: KidLit Cares

KidLit Cares

Auction #12 – KidLit Cares: 30 Page Manuscript Critique from Author Rachele Alpine

Welcome to KidLit Cares, an online talent auction to benefit the Red Cross relief effort to help communities recover from Superstorm Sandy. KidLit Cares was started by the very awesome Kate Messner, but I’m taking over Round 2. Agents, editors, authors, illustrators and other generous people have donated various services to be auctioned off to the highest bidder, with donations being made directly to the Red Cross disaster relief fund. You can read more about KidLit Cares here.

Now, on to the auction!

Rachele Alpine is a high school teacher by day, a MFA fiction writing student by night and use any free time in between to write, write, write! Her debut novel CANARY is coming out August 2013. She blogs at: http://www.rachelealpine.com

Often when agents request a partial, they want to see your first 30 pages. I’m donating a critique of your first 30 pages to make sure your manuscript is query ready! This critique will include comments as I’m reading and feedback on the piece as a whole. *I will also fill in a CANARY swag pack of goodies.

Opening Bid: $30

*Note: Due to Thanksgiving, we have added an extra day to this auction. This auction closes at 10pm Eastern Standard Time on November 23. Any bids placed after that time will be void.

If you’d like to bid on this auction, check the current high bid and place a higher bid by leaving your name and bid amount in the comments, along with some way to contact you (email, FB or Twitter…I’m not fussy.) Winners will be notified when the auction ends and should be prepared to make an online donation to the Red Cross Disaster Relief fund in the amount of the high bid at that time.  After you’ve made your donation, you’ll forward your receipt to me, and I’ll put you in touch with the person who donated the service you won so that the two of you can work out the details about how and when.   All services will be provided at the convenience of both the person making the donation and the auction winner, but this should happen within three months of the auction’s end unless something else is agreed upon by both parties.

Good luck and thanks for your help!

Tip: if you’re bidding, you may want to subscribe to the follow-up comments, so you can get notice of future bids. Subscribe via RSS on the right. —>

KidLit Cares

Auction #11 – KidLit Cares: Skype Visit with Author Ame Dyckman

Welcome to KidLit Cares, an online talent auction to benefit the Red Cross relief effort to help communities recover from Superstorm Sandy. KidLit Cares was started by the very awesome Kate Messner, but I’m taking over Round 2. Agents, editors, authors, illustrators and other generous people have donated various services to be auctioned off to the highest bidder, with donations being made directly to the Red Cross disaster relief fund. You can read more about KidLit Cares here.

Now, on to the auction!

Ame Dyckman LOVES picture books.  Sometimes she’ll put them down long enough to write one of her own:

  • BOY + BOT, illustrated by Dan Yaccarino (Knopf; 2012)
  • TEA PARTY RULES, illustrated by K.G. Campbell (Viking; Fall, 2013)
  • WOLFIE AND DOT (working title), illustrator TBD (Little, Brown; TBD)

Ame lives in New Jersey with her family, pets (including a demanding-but-adorable squirrel) and books. Visit Ame at http://www.amedyckman.com or on Twitter (@AmeDyckman), where she Tweets “PB book reviews and random goofy thoughts.”

UP FOR BIDS:  a signed copy of BOY + BOT, a classroom Skype visit, BOY + BOT swag for the students, AND the students get to choose what color hair Ame will have on the day of our Skype visit!  ANY color they want!  (EEP!)

Opening Bid: $30

*Note: Due to Thanksgiving, we have added an extra day to this auction. This auction closes at 10pm Eastern Standard Time on November 23. Any bids placed after that time will be void.

If you’d like to bid on this auction, check the current high bid and place a higher bid by leaving your name and bid amount in the comments, along with some way to contact you (email, FB or Twitter…I’m not fussy.) Winners will be notified when the auction ends and should be prepared to make an online donation to the Red Cross Disaster Relief fund in the amount of the high bid at that time.  After you’ve made your donation, you’ll forward your receipt to me, and I’ll put you in touch with the person who donated the service you won so that the two of you can work out the details about how and when.   All services will be provided at the convenience of both the person making the donation and the auction winner, but this should happen within three months of the auction’s end unless something else is agreed upon by both parties.

Good luck and thanks for your help!

Tip: if you’re bidding, you may want to subscribe to the follow-up comments, so you can get notice of future bids. Subscribe via RSS on the right. —>

KidLit Cares

Auction #10 – KidLit Cares: Manuscript Critique and Call with Author Melinda Metz

Welcome to KidLit Cares, an online talent auction to benefit the Red Cross relief effort to help communities recover from Superstorm Sandy. KidLit Cares was started by the very awesome Kate Messner, but I’m taking over Round 2. Agents, editors, authors, illustrators and other generous people have donated various services to be auctioned off to the highest bidder, with donations being made directly to the Red Cross disaster relief fund. You can read more about KidLit Cares here.

Now, on to the auction!

Melinda Metz is the author of over 60 books for teens and middle-grade readers, including the Roswell High series (basis for the TV show Roswell), and the Echoes series. With oft-time writing partner, Laura J. Burns, she is the author of the Edgar-nominated Wright & Wong middle-grade mystery series, and the YA vampire books CRAVE and SACRIFICE. They were also on the writing staff of Roswell and 1-800-Missing. Before she made the leap into writing, Melinda was an editor, first at Berkley Publishing, then at Parachute Publishing.

From Melinda: “I’ll read your middle-grade or YA manuscript, then call you to give you my critique, answer questions, and/or brainstorm. Don’t have a manuscript yet? I’ll be happy to call and answer your writing and publishing questions, and brainstorm with you to help you come up with or refine a project. Or we can just talk about Roswell 😉 45 min call.”

Opening Bid: $30

*Note: Due to Thanksgiving, we have added an extra day to this auction. This auction closes at 10pm Eastern Standard Time on November 23. Any bids placed after that time will be void.

If you’d like to bid on this auction, check the current high bid and place a higher bid by leaving your name and bid amount in the comments, along with some way to contact you (email, FB or Twitter…I’m not fussy.) Winners will be notified when the auction ends and should be prepared to make an online donation to the Red Cross Disaster Relief fund in the amount of the high bid at that time.  After you’ve made your donation, you’ll forward your receipt to me, and I’ll put you in touch with the person who donated the service you won so that the two of you can work out the details about how and when.   All services will be provided at the convenience of both the person making the donation and the auction winner, but this should happen within three months of the auction’s end unless something else is agreed upon by both parties.

Good luck and thanks for your help!

Tip: if you’re bidding, you may want to subscribe to the follow-up comments, so you can get notice of future bids. Subscribe via RSS on the right. —>

KidLit Cares

Auction #9 – KidLit Cares: Original Art from Author/Illustrator Tad Hills

Welcome to KidLit Cares, an online talent auction to benefit the Red Cross relief effort to help communities recover from Superstorm Sandy. KidLit Cares was started by the very awesome Kate Messner, but I’m taking over Round 2. Agents, editors, authors, illustrators and other generous people have donated various services to be auctioned off to the highest bidder, with donations being made directly to the Red Cross disaster relief fund. You can read more about KidLit Cares here.

Now, on to the auction!

Tad Hills is the author and illustrator of the highly acclaimed and New York Times bestselling picture books How Rocket Learned to Read, Duck & Goose, and Duck, Duck, Goose. His board books include the ALA-ALSC Notable Children’s Book What’s Up, Duck?; Duck & Goose, It’s Time for Christmas!, and, most recently, Duck & Goose, Here Comes the Easter Bunny! Tad lives in Brooklyn with his wife, their two children, and a dog named Rocket, who has not learned how to read or write—yet.

Tad will create a piece of original art for the winner of this auction. The art will feature characters from the #1 New York Times bestseller ROCKET WRITES A STORY.

Opening Bid: $30

*Note: Due to Thanksgiving, we have added an extra day to this auction. This auction closes at 10pm Eastern Standard Time on November 23. Any bids placed after that time will be void.

If you’d like to bid on this auction, check the current high bid and place a higher bid by leaving your name and bid amount in the comments, along with some way to contact you (email, FB or Twitter…I’m not fussy.) Winners will be notified when the auction ends and should be prepared to make an online donation to the Red Cross Disaster Relief fund in the amount of the high bid at that time.  After you’ve made your donation, you’ll forward your receipt to me, and I’ll put you in touch with the person who donated the service you won so that the two of you can work out the details about how and when.   All services will be provided at the convenience of both the person making the donation and the auction winner, but this should happen within three months of the auction’s end unless something else is agreed upon by both parties.

Good luck and thanks for your help!

Tip: if you’re bidding, you may want to subscribe to the follow-up comments, so you can get notice of future bids. Subscribe via RSS on the right. —>

KidLit Cares

Auction #8 – KidLit Cares: Skype Visit with Author R.J. Palacio

Welcome to KidLit Cares, an online talent auction to benefit the Red Cross relief effort to help communities recover from Superstorm Sandy. KidLit Cares was started by the very awesome Kate Messner, but I’m taking over Round 2. Agents, editors, authors, illustrators and other generous people have donated various services to be auctioned off to the highest bidder, with donations being made directly to the Red Cross disaster relief fund. You can read more about KidLit Cares here.

Now, on to the auction!

From R.J. Palacio’s website: “I live in NYC with my husband, two sons, and two dogs. For many years, I was an art director and book jacket designer, designing covers for countless well-known and not so well-known writers in every genre of fiction and nonfiction. I always wanted to write, though. I kept waiting for the perfect time in my life to start writing, but after more than twenty years of designing book jackets for other people, I realized that the perfect time would never really present itself. It’s never the perfect time to start writing a book. So I decided to just go for it. Wonder is my first novel. And no, I didn’t design the cover, but I sure do love it.”

The winner of this auction will receive a 45 minute Skype visit.

Opening Bid: $30

*Note: Due to Thanksgiving, we have added an extra day to this auction. This auction closes at 10pm Eastern Standard Time on November 23. Any bids placed after that time will be void.

If you’d like to bid on this auction, check the current high bid and place a higher bid by leaving your name and bid amount in the comments, along with some way to contact you (email, FB or Twitter…I’m not fussy.) Winners will be notified when the auction ends and should be prepared to make an online donation to the Red Cross Disaster Relief fund in the amount of the high bid at that time.  After you’ve made your donation, you’ll forward your receipt to me, and I’ll put you in touch with the person who donated the service you won so that the two of you can work out the details about how and when.   All services will be provided at the convenience of both the person making the donation and the auction winner, but this should happen within three months of the auction’s end unless something else is agreed upon by both parties.

Good luck and thanks for your help!

Tip: if you’re bidding, you may want to subscribe to the follow-up comments, so you can get notice of future bids. Subscribe via RSS on the right. —>

KidLit Cares

Auction #7 – KidLit Cares: Picture Book Critique and Signed Book From Author and Former Editor Susan Hood

Welcome to KidLit Cares, an online talent auction to benefit the Red Cross relief effort to help communities recover from Superstorm Sandy. KidLit Cares was started by the very awesome Kate Messner, but I’m taking over Round 2. Agents, editors, authors, illustrators and other generous people have donated various services to be auctioned off to the highest bidder, with donations being made directly to the Red Cross disaster relief fund. You can read more about KidLit Cares here.

Now, on to the auction!

Susan is the author of three brand-new picture books out this fall. Before launching a full-time writing career, Susan was the Children’s Content Director of Nick Jr. Magazine, where she edited original stories by the winners of the Caldecott Medal, the Coretta Scott King Book Award and the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award. Before that, Susan was a children’s book editor at Sesame Workshop, and a children’s magazine editor at Scholastic and Instructor Magazine for early childhood educators. See more information at http://www.susanhoodbooks.com

Susan will provide a written critique of a 32 page picture book and a free signed copy of one of her new picture books out this fall.

Opening Bid: $30

*Note: Due to Thanksgiving, we have added an extra day to this auction. This auction closes at 10pm Eastern Standard Time on November 23. Any bids placed after that time will be void.

If you’d like to bid on this auction, check the current high bid and place a higher bid by leaving your name and bid amount in the comments, along with some way to contact you (email, FB or Twitter…I’m not fussy.) Winners will be notified when the auction ends and should be prepared to make an online donation to the Red Cross Disaster Relief fund in the amount of the high bid at that time.  After you’ve made your donation, you’ll forward your receipt to me, and I’ll put you in touch with the person who donated the service you won so that the two of you can work out the details about how and when.   All services will be provided at the convenience of both the person making the donation and the auction winner, but this should happen within three months of the auction’s end unless something else is agreed upon by both parties.

Good luck and thanks for your help!

Tip: if you’re bidding, you may want to subscribe to the follow-up comments, so you can get notice of future bids. Subscribe via RSS on the right. —>

KidLit Cares

Auction #6 – KidLit Cares: 5 page Manuscript Critique and Phone Call from Agent Michelle Wolfson

Welcome to KidLit Cares, an online talent auction to benefit the Red Cross relief effort to help communities recover from Superstorm Sandy. KidLit Cares was started by the very awesome Kate Messner, but I’m taking over Round 2. Agents, editors, authors, illustrators and other generous people have donated various services to be auctioned off to the highest bidder, with donations being made directly to the Red Cross disaster relief fund. You can read more about KidLit Cares here.

Now, on to the auction!

Michelle Wolfson formed Wolfson Literary Agency in 2007 and is actively seeking authors of commercial fiction and non-fiction. She is drawn to well written material with strong interesting characters. For more information, please visit her website at www.wolfsonliterary.com

The winner of this auction will receive 5 page manuscript critique and a follow up 20 minute phone call.

Opening Bid: $30

*Note: Due to Thanksgiving, we have added an extra day to this auction. This auction closes at 10pm Eastern Standard Time on November 23. Any bids placed after that time will be void.

If you’d like to bid on this auction, check the current high bid and place a higher bid by leaving your name and bid amount in the comments, along with some way to contact you (email, FB or Twitter…I’m not fussy.) Winners will be notified when the auction ends and should be prepared to make an online donation to the Red Cross Disaster Relief fund in the amount of the high bid at that time.  After you’ve made your donation, you’ll forward your receipt to me, and I’ll put you in touch with the person who donated the service you won so that the two of you can work out the details about how and when.   All services will be provided at the convenience of both the person making the donation and the auction winner, but this should happen within three months of the auction’s end unless something else is agreed upon by both parties.

Good luck and thanks for your help!

Tip: if you’re bidding, you may want to subscribe to the follow-up comments, so you can get notice of future bids. Subscribe via RSS on the right. —>

KidLit Cares

Auction #5 – KidLit Cares: Skype Visit, Signed Books, Named Character from Barry Lyga

Welcome to KidLit Cares, an online talent auction to benefit the Red Cross relief effort to help communities recover from Superstorm Sandy. KidLit Cares was started by the very awesome Kate Messner, but I’m taking over Round 2. Agents, editors, authors, illustrators and other generous people have donated various services to be auctioned off to the highest bidder, with donations being made directly to the Red Cross disaster relief fund. You can read more about KidLit Cares here.

Now, on to the auction!

Barry Lyga is the author of many critically acclaimed novels for young adults and middle-grade readers, including his debut, The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy & Goth Girl. His latest series is I Hunt Killers. Visit him online at http://barrylyga.com.

You are bidding on a package containing three segments: First of all, you’ll win an hour-long Skype visit for your school/classroom, library, local bookstore, or other organization of your choice. Second, you’ll get a box of at least five signed books (signed to whomever you choose, in case you want to give them away to people). Third, you will get to have either a victim or a cop (your option) named after you in the third book in the I HUNT KILLERS series!

Opening Bid: $30

*Note: Due to Thanksgiving, we have added an extra day to this auction. This auction closes at 10pm Eastern Standard Time on November 23. Any bids placed after that time will be void.

If you’d like to bid on this auction, check the current high bid and place a higher bid by leaving your name and bid amount in the comments, along with some way to contact you (email, FB or Twitter…I’m not fussy.) Winners will be notified when the auction ends and should be prepared to make an online donation to the Red Cross Disaster Relief fund in the amount of the high bid at that time.  After you’ve made your donation, you’ll forward your receipt to me, and I’ll put you in touch with the person who donated the service you won so that the two of you can work out the details about how and when.   All services will be provided at the convenience of both the person making the donation and the auction winner, but this should happen within three months of the auction’s end unless something else is agreed upon by both parties.

Good luck and thanks for your help!

Tip: if you’re bidding, you may want to subscribe to the follow-up comments, so you can get notice of future bids. Subscribe via RSS on the right. —>

KidLit Cares

Auction #4 – KidLit Cares: Manuscript Critique & Call with Publishing Director Wendy Lamb

Welcome to KidLit Cares, an online talent auction to benefit the Red Cross relief effort to help communities recover from Superstorm Sandy. KidLit Cares was started by the very awesome Kate Messner, but I’m taking over Round 2. Agents, editors, authors, illustrators and other generous people have donated various services to be auctioned off to the highest bidder, with donations being made directly to the Red Cross disaster relief fund. You can read more about KidLit Cares here.

Now, on to the auction!

Wendy Lamb is the publishing director of Wendy Lamb Books at Random House, and publishes middle grade and YA novels. She edited the Newbery Medal books BUD, NOT BUDDY by Christopher Paul Curtis and WHEN YOU REACH ME by Rebecca Stead, as well as the Printz Award winner, HOW I LIVE NOW by Meg Rosoff.

Wendy will read 3 chapters and a synopsis of a middle grade or YA novel, provide 2-3 pages of editorial comments, and a 15-minute follow-up call to discuss comments. Winning bidder to send chapters and synopsis after December 15 and Wendy will respond in early January.

Opening Bid: $30

*Note: Due to Thanksgiving, we have added an extra day to this auction. This auction closes at 10pm Eastern Standard Time on November 23. Any bids placed after that time will be void.

If you’d like to bid on this auction, check the current high bid and place a higher bid by leaving your name and bid amount in the comments, along with some way to contact you (email, FB or Twitter…I’m not fussy.) Winners will be notified when the auction ends and should be prepared to make an online donation to the Red Cross Disaster Relief fund in the amount of the high bid at that time.  After you’ve made your donation, you’ll forward your receipt to me, and I’ll put you in touch with the person who donated the service you won so that the two of you can work out the details about how and when.   All services will be provided at the convenience of both the person making the donation and the auction winner, but this should happen within three months of the auction’s end unless something else is agreed upon by both parties.

Good luck and thanks for your help!

Tip: if you’re bidding, you may want to subscribe to the follow-up comments, so you can get notice of future bids. Subscribe via RSS on the right. —>

KidLit Cares

Auction #3 – KidLit Cares: Book Club Pack/Skype Visit with Lisa Schroeder

Welcome to KidLit Cares, an online talent auction to benefit the Red Cross relief effort to help communities recover from Superstorm Sandy. KidLit Cares was started by the very awesome Kate Messner, but I’m taking over Round 2. Agents, editors, authors, illustrators and other generous people have donated various services to be auctioned off to the highest bidder, with donations being made directly to the Red Cross disaster relief fund. You can read more about KidLit Cares here.

Now, on to the auction!

Lisa Schroederis the author of multiple books for kids and teens. Her most recent middle grade novel is SPRINKLES AND SECRETS, and her most recent YA novel is THE DAY BEFORE, a YALSA quick pick for reluctant teen readers.

From VOYA: “Schroeder has done a wonderful job of creating teenage characters from a variety of backgrounds and using those backstories to influence their actions.  This novel is ripe for use in a classroom or a book club; discussion points include: healthy relationships, poetry as expression, relationship boundaries, and more.  Readers looking for a realistic teen read saturated in emotion will love Falling For You.”

Lisa is offering a 30 minute Q&A Skype visit for a school, library or book club and ten *signed* copies of her upcoming young adult novel, FALLING FOR YOU (coming 1/1/2013) to share with your students or book club members. FALLING FOR YOU is appropriate for teens ages 13+ (8th grade and up). Because the book is not released until January, copies will not be shipped until then and the Skype session will be scheduled for late winter or early spring.

Opening Bid: $30

*Note: Due to Thanksgiving, we have added an extra day to this auction. This auction closes at 10pm Eastern Standard Time on November 23. Any bids placed after that time will be void.

If you’d like to bid on this auction, check the current high bid and place a higher bid by leaving your name and bid amount in the comments, along with some way to contact you (email, FB or Twitter…I’m not fussy.) Winners will be notified when the auction ends and should be prepared to make an online donation to the Red Cross Disaster Relief fund in the amount of the high bid at that time.  After you’ve made your donation, you’ll forward your receipt to me, and I’ll put you in touch with the person who donated the service you won so that the two of you can work out the details about how and when.   All services will be provided at the convenience of both the person making the donation and the auction winner, but this should happen within three months of the auction’s end unless something else is agreed upon by both parties.

Good luck and thanks for your help!

Tip: if you’re bidding, you may want to subscribe to the follow-up comments, so you can get notice of future bids. Subscribe via RSS on the right. —>