From Cynthea Liu’s website find out about the “Take the Dare: Show You Care” Auction. Some great critiques offered! Auctions extended until July 8.

Picture Book Category (Prizes related to Lower Elementary School Reading Levels)

• Critique from Senior Editor Alvina Ling, Little, Brown
• Critique from Agent Tracey Adams, Adams Literary
• PB Critique from Freelance Editor Summer Dawn Laurie
• Critique from Associate Editor Martha Mihalick, Greenwillow Books, HarperCollins
• PB or 5 Page Novel Critique from Editor Kristin Daly, Balzer & Bray, HarperCollins
• PB Critique from Editor Andrea Welch, Beach Lane Books, Simon & Schuster
• Critique from Author Kate Messner (Contemp Realistic)
• Critique from Author Jean Reidy
• Critique from Agent Jennifer Mattson, Andrea Brown Literary Agency
• Author Marketing Consulting Services Package from Shelli Johannes-Wells
• PB Critique from Agent Jennifer Rofe, Andrea Brown Literary Agency
• PB Critique from Author J.C. Phillipps
• PB Critique from Author Tammi Sauer
• PB Critique from Author Kristy Dempsey
• PB Critique from Author and Agent Ammi-Joan Paquette
• 5 Page Critique from Author Brenda Ferber (Contemp Realistic)
• PB Critique from Cynthea Liu

For about a year and some change, we’ve been subscribed to the Children’s Book Insider – The Newsletter for Children’s Writers. When we started it was found on Write4Kids.com, but it has since become part of CBIClubhouse.com. The multiple page newsletter has been a great source of inspiration with tons of information, tips, publisher info, and news. I highly recommend it and when you sign up today you also become part of the CBI Clubhouse community, but I”ll leave that for another post

The other day I sent a picture book manuscript to Barbara Kanninen for her “brutally honest” critique service. Barbara is a children’s author and has published a book — A Story with Pictures — to help aspiring authors. I should get my results critique by July 8. Initial correspondence with Barbara was quick and easy and her fees are very reasonable. I found Barbara’s critique service from Verla Kay’s message boards. Other authors posted that they were very happy with her. I can’t wait to see her thoughts.

Here is a sample picture book manuscript to share. I’ve attached a Sample Picture Book Manuscript in both PDF form for visual reference and a Word document for actually editing, but be sure to change all references of it being a sample.

Verla’s message boards have been an incredible resource lately. I have used  them to: check on article, picture book and cover letter formats, get insider info on publishers, discover workshops and instructors and the list goes on and on and on!

Thanks for stopping by Writing Picture Books. When we find great resources we’ll post them … so check back often OR subscribe to our blog.