Pennwriters 2013 Conference

May has been a busy month for me with the NESCBWI conference in Springfield, MA at the beginning of the month (read about it here) and the Pennwriters conference in Pittsburgh this past weekend. They are both FABULOUS conferences and if you’re looking to go to one, you should check them out. (Also, NOSCBWI in Cleveland in September is amazing! Read about it here.)

  NOSCBWI 2012                         NESCBWI 2013

Pennwriters 2011 was the first writing conference I ever attended and I’ll always be grateful because it sent me off on my writing road. When I think about what I’ve learned since then, I’m amazed.

I didn’t know many people who would be there this time (no massive twitter group like NESCBWI) except my super-duper-bestie and writer friend, Adrienne. But if you know me, you won’t be surprised to hear that by the end of the conference, I’d collected plenty of new writer friends. :) Hi Joy, Charli, Ronna, & Cathy! *waves* (Click on names throughout the post for twitter handles/blogs.)

This conference has so many opportunities for writers to learn, grow, and fine-tune their writing. There were a ton of great sessions and speeches, with presenters like the one and only Donald Maass, author Jonathan Maberry, guru Chuck Sambuchino, and the super-talented Heidi Ruby Miller. I learned SO much.

And if you’re looking to get your work in front of agents and editors, there are free pitch sessions, read & critique nights, and WIP sessions.

Keynote by Bobbi Carducci

There is such a friendly atmosphere at this Pennwriters event, with plenty of opportunities for writers to chat with other writers, speakers, agents, and editors and no matter where we were throughout the weekend, that’s what we were doing. At Friday’s dinner (which included Donald Maass’ inspiring keynote speech), author extraordinaire Jonathan Maberry sat next to us and entertained the table with his stories. At Saturday’s lunch (with an incredible speech from author Bobbi Carducci), agent Jordy Albert dined with us and then we had the great fortune to have Chuck Sambuchino join us. Not only is he super knowledgeable, but he’s also quite fun. We chatted with Becky Vinter outside (and heard her beautiful London accent), met Suzie Townsend at a read & critique session (such great notes!), got to hear Eddie Schneider speak at an agent panel, met author Bobbi Carducci at our area meeting, and learned so much from the very smart and enthusiastic Agent Uwe Stender at the luau. (Yes, I know I don’t need to capitalize agent, but this way it’s like he’s a secret agent for a top government agency- you know, just for fun.) 

Adrienne, me, Uwe, and Claudia 

We had already met Sandy, another writer from Buffalo, and then at our area meeting (which is everyone outside of PA), we met the super-sweet Claudia who is moving to Buffalo in August. And just like that we decided to start our own Buffalo Pennwriters group. One of my favorite moments of the weekend was when Claudia told us later that she called her husband and told him, “I already have friends in Buffalo!”

The weekend was amazing and what I find really incredible, is that even on top of all the great sessions and keynotes, it was the things we didn’t plan ahead for that were the most special. The new friendships we made, chatting with agents and presenters, meeting one of the sweetest couples ever, forming a new writer’s group, and of course, being inspired to write.

THANK YOU to Jess Williams and all the volunteers who made this such an awesome weekend.

Book signing

I’ve heard people ask if writer’s conferences are worth it. For me, ABSOLUTELY. But, they are what you make of them. If you go ready to learn and take advantage of all the opportunities they offer, you’ll come home so much farther along on the writing path in just a couple days.

A writer’s conference is like living in Writer’s Town for a few days. And being surrounded by like-minded people for the purpose of becoming better writers is something you just have to experience for yourself.

If you didn’t already start saving for a conference after my last post, get out that piggy bank. :)

NESCBWI 2013 Conference

If you followed the #nescbwi13 tweets, you might have noticed it was a fan-freaking-tastic conference. A few of the highlights . . .
(Click names to follow everyone on twitter or see their websites. No really, follow them all.)

Thursday: I had a long drive, so I got there a day early and finally got to meet the fabulous Jen in person! We talked all day, until after midnight- way past her bedtime.

Friday: Let’s see, there was lunch and running into the super sweet Quinlan Lee, volunteering at the registration desk, a couple great sessions, then dinner with a big table of twitter peeps and blue board friends. Then we met up with friends in the bar, including the endlessly entertaining agent Linda Epstein, bonding over some interesting conversation and of course, chocolate. We also got to briefly meet Lauren McLeod and Brooks Sherman. The stuff agent legends are made of, right? Stayed up until way past Jen’s bedtime. Again.

Saturday: Saturday started with breakfast, then more great sessions, lunch, more sessions, book signing, and then a dinner for the volunteers. All good. So good. (And btw, volunteering is a great way to help out and get more out of a conference.)

The keynote by Sharon Creech? Insightful. Heartfelt. Inspiring. She got not one, but TWO standing ovations. We would have stood up a third time if she came out for an encore. Grace Lin also shared her story and her beautiful illustrations. And can I just tell you about the line-up of amazing authors at this conference?! Erin Dionne. Linda Urban. Kate Messner. Hilary Weisman Graham. Jo Knowles. The list goes on.

Then we attended a panel with Brenda Reeves Sturgis, Emma Dryden, and Karen Grencik. From there we joined in the wine and cheese mingle and yup, there was plenty more chatting and laughing. Maybe a bit more laughing. It might have gone on for quite a while, actually. The famous Jennifer Laughran and fantabulous author Dawn Metcalf even joined us for a bit. But it didn’t end there, folks.

When you’re hanging out with such a great group of writers, you can’t just go to sleep. (Although a couple did sneak away. *clears throat* Ronni. *fake cough* Monica T.)

Kip and Minnesota Monica were kind enough to host a little after-party where there may or may not have been some toasting and jumping on the beds. I admit to nothing, except still being a kid at heart. And once again, poor Jen didn’t get to bed early, although she gave it a valiant effort.

Sunday: We sacrificed breakfast to sleep in a little, then there were more sessions, lunch, tearful goodbyes, and the last of the sessions. Finally, I hit the road, getting home in time to put the kids to bed. :)

So, who ARE these fabulous writers I speak of?
(clockwise from top left)

Jen M. I absolutely adore her. She is just as sweet, smart, and fun in real life!

Marcy Kate. We bonded because we’re both allergic to alcohol. Go figure. She’s also a brilliant writer.

Jennifer CE. She added quite a bit of laughter to our group.

Minnesota Monica. This is a lady with a contagious laugh and a sunny spirit.

Me. I’m smiling because, how could I not?

Taryn. She was the youngest of the group, yet so mature and TALENTED. Holy cow. Love her.

Kip. She is so full of goodness you can’t help wanting to be around her. Plus, everyone seemed to know her. “Oh, you know Kip? Yeah, me too.”

Ghenet. She is my curly-hair-twin who shares a love of photography. And so sweet.

Ronni. A fellow vegetarian with a smile that lights up a room.

Monica T. (not pictured) She’s a great lady who helped make the weekend one of the best. Obvs. For realz.

I met so many other great people, so please forgive me if I don’t list you here. I loved meeting you and I look forward to keeping in touch.

And of course, a HUGE thank you to Kris and Joyce for organizing such a wonderful event. Your hard work definitely paid off!

Start saving now, ladies and gents because #nescbwi14 will most certainly be a blast. Really. Get a piggy bank. Open a savings account. Put an envelope under the mattress. (It’s one of the best values you’ll find for a writing conference!) You’re going to want to be there. :)

In the words of Minnesota Monica, “It’s not goodbye, it’s ‘I’ll see you on twitter’.” 

Puddles

As a mother and a teacher, I try to remind myself to look at the world through the eyes of a child. While it’s easy to forget the simple things in the midst of our busy lives, it certainly can put things in perspective. Yesterday, as we pulled into the driveway after a big rainstorm had hit, my daughter asked if she could play in the puddles. I told her she could as soon as it stopped raining. A little while later, with a big smile on her face, she put on her rain boots and coat and told me she was ready.

A few things I thought of as I watched her play . . .

1. Don’t forget the silver linings. As we complain about the rainstorms of life, let’s not forget the opportunities that might arise from them.

2. Make new friends. A squiggly worm caused my daughter to ask, “What’s that?” When I told her, she replied, “He’s my friend.”

3. It’s okay to change your mind. After seeing the rest of the worms, most of whom hadn’t made it through the rain, my daughter said, “I don’t like worms. They’re scary.” I had to laugh, but I do agree with her.

4. Share the joy with others. Her brother had originally opted out of the puddle adventure, but when he saw how much fun she was having, he poked his head out the door and asked if he could play too. She welcomed him into the puddles with open arms and was sure to point out the icky worms all over the place.

Now, all of that being said, I’m ready to learn some lessons from sunshine and spring weather. ;)

It’s Brenda Drake’s Birthday- and Cover Reveal!!

The amazing Brenda Drake is always giving her time and effort to help other writers, but today we’re here for her!

Happy birthday, Brenda! To celebrate, we’re showing off the beautiful cover for her book Library Jumpers, which will release in February 2014!



Who’s excited? Leave a comment below for Brenda. :)

Plastic Polly by Jenny Lundquist!

Thank you to today’s guest blogger Stefanie Wass (see bio & pic below) and a BIG congrats to author Jenny Lundquist on her newest release!

The Top Five Reasons You Should Read Plastic Polly by Jenny Lundquist:

1. The Imperfect And Oh-So-Believable Main Character:

Polly, the second-most-popular girl at Winston Academy, hides her straight-A report cards, shops for the “right” clothes, and always agrees with her best friend Kelsey.

2. The Premise:

When a freak accident throws Polly into the spot of PlanMaster for a talent show between Winston Academy and its rival school, American River Charter, Polly needs to find her own voice, stand up for her beliefs, and prove to everyone that she doesn’t deserve her “Plastic Polly” nickname.

3. “True Confession” Chapter Titles, Which Give The Reader A Glimpse Into Polly’s Inner Thoughts:

True Confession: “I don’t even like Shattered Stars’ songs, but I buy their music anyway because everyone else likes them.”

4. Polly’s Growth:

At the beginning of the novel, Polly says, “Sometimes it (popularity) makes you choose one best friend over another. You keep your mouth shut, stick a fake smile on your face and pretend you don’t have any problems.”

Later, after surviving diva interference and backstabbing friends en route to organizing a successful talent show, Polly sees things differently:

“I know there may be a day in high school when Kelsey will seek popularity (again) and Alyssa will refuse to come along for the ride. But now I’m ready to find my path. No matter how bumpy and twisty that path is, I’m going to love it. Because it will be my own.”

5. The Message:

Pretending to be something you aren’t isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. In Polly’s own words: “It’s taken a while, but I’ve found my own voice. It may be totally off-key, but at least it’s real.”

***

Get Plastic Polly at Amazon or Barnes and Noble.
Like Jenny’s page on facebook.

***

Stefanie Wass is a member of the Northern Ohio chapter of SCBWI. A finalist in the 2012 National Association of Elementary School Principals Book of the Year Contest, her nonfiction credits include the LA Times, Christian Science Monitor, Seattle Times, The Writer, Cleveland Magazine, Akron Beacon Journal, This I Believe, Cup of Comfort, and Chicken Soup for the Soul. www.stefaniewass.com

GABRIEL STONE AND THE DIVINITY OF VALTA

The next stop on the blog tour is right here and today we have a fabulous interview with author Shannon Duffy. But first, lets find out about her book release from Month9Books!

Gabriel Stone and the Divinity of Valta is a magical, fast-paced story that takes readers on a journey they won’t soon forget. It has enough mystery, intrigue and wonder to keep readers up, lamp lit, and reading into the night.

Gabriel Stone is a twelve-year-old boy still reeling from the unsolved disappearance of his mother. With a dad who’s hard to relate to, and mounting pressures at school, Gabriel lets off steam by hiking in the place where his mother was last seen. There, Gabe and friends find a crystal that proves not only beautiful, but magical beyond their wildest dreams. Only, magic and beauty come with a price: in order to return home, they must save the dying world of Valta.

And now a few questions for Shannon . . .

Where did you get the idea for GABRIEL STONE AND THE DIVINITY OF VALTA? Was it a light bulb moment or did it slowly creep into your subconscious?

How this happened is kinda strange. I honestly didn't really think about it at first. It was like the story was just there. I didn't think about if I wanted to write MG or YA, or what genre, etc. I just thought I'd like to write a story for my son Gabriel and this was the story that fell onto the page. I thought about more of the plotting as I went along of course, but the initial concept was just there.

Are any details or experiences in the book based on your own life?

Yes! The falls portrayed in the book play a significant role. When I was about 13/14, my cousin Brenda and I discovered those very falls hidden in the woods. We used to go to her cabin in the country and would go hiking. After we found those falls, we'd often go back. And just this past summer, my husband, my cousin, and I took my son Gabriel back there and searched the woods to find them. Best part? After trekking through the woods and finding Beachy Cove Falls, my son found a triangular rock like the Divinity! Unfortunately, it didn't glow and wasn't magical in itself, but hey, it was a pretty magical experience.

What was the road to publication like for this book?

Honestly, long and hard. Gabriel Stone and the Divinity of Valta was the very first novel I wrote. That being said, there was A LOT of editing involved. I hired freelance editors to help--which is awesome because it was like hiring personal coaches. Then finding an agent and onward to the long journey to find a publisher who would love my story as much as I do. Month9Books did, and I love them for it!

Can you describe how it felt to see the final cover for the first time?

This is so hard to describe--but it made me cry the happiest tears ever. Seriously. When I wrote the story, I didn't know if it would ever reach publication. So seeing your story come to life with a cover is surreal, incredible, and as magical as anything I wrote in my story. It especially means so much to me because like I said, I wrote this book for my son Gabriel. Now he can always have this book.

Any special plans for your book release day? Cartwheels? Cupcakes? Constantly refreshing the Amazon & Barnes & Noble pages displaying your book?

No special plans. (by the way, I'm writing this post on release day). But I have a giant grin on my face and a heart full of gratitude. I hope the readers enjoy it! But now you have me thinking. *Plots to send hubby for celebratory cupcakes.*

What is one piece of advice you'd give to aspiring writers?

Don't give up! If you love writing, keep doing it. Read. And if you're able, hire a good freelance editor. They can really help guide you. You can learn so much. Find a couple of good critique partners and remember to be patient. This last one is tough. The publishing industry is super slow, but hang in there!

***

Find it on Goodreads, follow Shannon on twitter, or head on over to her website. :)

Find out more about Month9Books here.

Visit the other blog tour spots-

February 17-Starting the Next Chapter

February 18-Bookshelf Banter

February 19-Mad Musings of Mastermind

February 20-Moosubi Reviews

February 21-Writer’s Alley

February 22-Jeanz Book Read N Review

Pitch Wars- MG Alternates Showcase!

Alternates Showcase!

The agent round for PITCH WARS brought to you by Brenda Drake is happening now over at the YAMisfits blog. Hop over there and follow them and view the agent round January 23-24 pitches. The talented panel of agented/published authors, industry interns, and editors have worked for over a month with their teammates to help get their pitches and manuscripts ready for some fabulous agents. To view the teams go here, and for a list of the awesome participating agents go here.

ALTERNATES SHOWCASE! As a special reward for waiting in the wings, we are putting the alternates on a few host blogs and inviting agents to stop by and make requests. ALL AGENTS ARE WELCOMED TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS EVENT.

Here are the blogs hosting the alternates' pitches:

Adult: Summer Heacock's blog

MIDDLE GRADE:  Deanna Romito's blog

YOUNG ADULT: Brenda Drake's blog

YOUNG ADULT: Kimberly P. Chase's blog

YOUNG ADULT:  Monica B.W.'s blog

TWITTER PITCH PARTY! For those of you who didn't make it into Pitch Wars, there will be a twitter pitch party on the hashtag #PitMad on January 25 from 8AM to 8PM EST. So get your twitter pitches ready and make sure to include the hashtag in your 140 character count. The rules are: be polite, any genre can be pitched, and pitch each time you see an agent on the hashtag (pitch continuously throughout the day). ALL AGENTS ARE WELCOMED TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS EVENT.

Scroll down to view the pitches!

(Comments welcome on this post, but please only agent comments on the alternates' entry posts!)

ALT D-1: The Lost Figurehead

NAME:  Samantha Farkas
MENTOR:  Deanna Romito
TITLE:  THE LOST FIGUREHEAD
GENRE:  MG Adventure
WORD COUNT:  56,000

PITCH: 

Tough-talking twelve-year-old Finn Rackham figures he can handle anything, even pirates.  But these aren't the treasure-hunting rapscallions he expects; they're time travelers, and they just commandeered a ferry in New York Harbor.

FIRST 250 WORDS:

Trust Finn Rackham to make a mess of things.

Not that he regretted it.  Not that it was even his fault, really.  What was he supposed to do?  Bobby Leland, the pompous brat, had opened that big ugly mouth of his, and Finn had reacted accordingly: with a few well-aimed punches, straight to the jaw.  Sure showed him who was “good-for-nothing,” all right.

“—ungrateful twerp.  We take you in and this is how you thank us.  Disgusting!”

From the driver's side, Mr. Leland was still yelling, but Finn wasn't listening.  Instead he stared out the window.  There wasn't much to see: it was late, and this part of Brooklyn was dark.

“I should have known.  That's what you get when good, law-abiding citizens try to clean up the streets.  No wonder the jails are overcrowded.  There's no helping you people, is there?”

All right, so maybe he was listening.  Finn balled his hands into fists.  Shut up, shut up, shut up.

The car jerked to a stop in front of a little brick building.  Mr. Leland leapt out, moving awfully fast for a man his size, and threw open the passenger door.  Finn tried to duck under his arm, but Mr. Leland caught him by the ear, only to drag him up the path to St. Magnus's Home for Children.

“I can walk.  Geez.”  Finn pulled away, darting inside before Mr. Leland could give him a shove.

ALT D-2: The Transparents

NAME: Vicki Tremper
MENTOR: Deanna Romito
TITLE: The Transparents
GENRE: MG Magical Mystery
WORD COUNT: 37,000

PITCH:

When eleven-year-old Daniel’s sneeze ignites his invisibility, he accepts the role of super sleuth to clear his annoyingly popular brother in a string of burglaries. But there’s a dark family secret even Daniel can’t see.

FIRST 250 WORDS:

Sometimes I wish I could disappear like my hero, Houdini. You know, get myself out of dangerous situations and tight spots. Today is one of those days.

I’m slumped down so low, my nose practically touches my desk. I try to mentally convince Ms. Lopez I’m not here and to pick someone else.

You do not see me. You will walk right past me. I am not the volunteer you seek.

Her piercing black eyes pin me to my spot. Don’t get me wrong. Normally, I like Ms. Lopez’s eyes. Normally, I love when she says my name. Just not when she’s looking for volunteers.

A sneeze begins to build in my nose, which would be the absolute worst. Ms. Lopez needs to forget my existence until she finds her victim—I mean, volunteer. She won’t be able to ignore me if I sneeze. I might as well stand up and wave my arms around.

I’m not here. I’m a speck of dust in the corner of your vision. Choose someone else.

I really don’t want to solve the math problem she wrote on the whiteboard. I’m okay at math. Just like I’m okay at English, and okay at Social Studies, and okay at Science. Which is better than being sucky at Gym.

If only I were more like Houdini. They’d call me Daniel-dini. Or Daniel-ini. Or something. He could escape any situation, thrill a crowd, and stroll into and out of danger without messing a single strand of hair.

ALT D-3: Dorkboy

NAME: Nicola Call
MENTOR: Jennifer Malone
TITLE: DORKBOY
GENRE: MG contemporary
WORD COUNT: 56,000 words

PITCH:

DorkBoy’s given himself the Ultimate Makeover.  He’s now The Boss.  Epic. Until his pain-in-the-butt little brother trashes the head-jock’s skateboard and infects him with Pinworm Plague.  This demands a plot of Machiavellian genius.  Game on.

FIRST 250 WORDS:

Today: Sixth Grade Graduation. And I’m not gonna let the door hit my butt on the way out.

Tomorrow: Junior High Orientation Day. Where I’m going to reinvent myself. Like, the Ultimate Extreme Makeover.

I’m gonna be so cool, nobody will recognize me. Plan A, the makeover. Plan B, the new nickname. A cool skateboarding nickname, to be precise. Tomorrow is going to be The First Day of the Rest of my Life.

Ten minutes, and sixth grade will be over. Thank God.

Some of the kids are laughing. Maybe the principal actually said something funny. Cosmic.

Bam! Someone’s yearbook hits the back of my head.

“DorkBoy – look!” My best friend, Sarjit, shoves me in the back and points at the window.

The kids are hanging over one another to look. Everyone’s laughing now, including the parents at the back.

At the podium, the principal gives up talking. Nobody’s listening, anyway.

The girls at the front start shrieking. “O.M.G! It’s
Cromwell McCleary’s little brother!”

It is my brother.

At the window.

With a pickle up his nose.

There’s a clatter at the back of the room as my mom runs out the door.

Hysterical screams erupt again. The girls are shrieking, the boys fist-bumping and laughing. My brother has reappeared, this time with two pickles. One protruding from each nostril. I pick up my yearbook, shove it into my backpack, and leave. Nobody even notices.

They’re all too busy watching Pickle-Boy dancing his pickle dance outside the window.

ALT D-4: The Last Boy at St. Edith’s

NAME: Lee Gjertsen Malone
MENTOR: Jennifer Malone
TITLE: THE LAST BOY AT ST. EDITH’S
GENRE: MG Contemporary
WORD COUNT: 38,000

PITCH:

Twelve-year-old Jeremy faces his worst nightmare when he’s left as the only boy at St. Edith's school. Getting expelled through a series of escalating pranks seems like the perfect solution ­until everything goes
horribly awry.

FIRST 250 WORDS:

“See that house over there?” Claudia whispered to Jeremy. The two seventh graders were standing on a street Jeremy had never been down before. It was chilly and the sky was dark, but the streetlamps cut paths of light through the gloom. Some of the houses were already decorated for Halloween.

”Sure,” Jeremy said, peering into the dimness. This part of Lower Falls was nicer than his neighborhood, with ranch houses and small colonials set close
together on quarter-acre plots. The houses were well cared-for, and people paid a lot of attention to their gardens.

”See the gnome?” Claudia asked.

”The what?”

“The lawn gnome, Jeremy, the little man,” she said impatiently.

He could almost make out a little statue in the shadow of the front hedges. He nodded. “Okay, what about it?”

“Do I have to spell every thing out for you?” she said. “We’re going to take it. Come on.”

Claudia began walking slowly down the sidewalk in front of the house with her head down like she was looking for something on the ground. Then she
darted across the lawn, grabbed the ceramic creature under one arm, ran back to the street and tossed it into the back of her brother Ian’s Jeep, idling
by the curb. He had reluctantly agreed to be their driver for this clandestine mission.

”Now your turn,” she said.

Jeremy wasn’t sure what the point of all this was, but if he knew Claudia, there definitely was one.

ALT D-5: Gilded

Name: Jenilyn Collings
Mentor: Heidi Schulz
Title: GILDED
Genre: MG Science Fiction
Word Count:  55,000

PITCH:

When twelve princesses run away and accidentally rip a hole into hyperspace, Zuku, engineering genius and the Emperor’s son, is their only hope. Unfortunately, he’s also the reason they ran away in the first place.

FIRST 250 WORDS:

Zuku turned the magnetron over in his hands, thinking hard. If his calculations were correct, it would only take a little tweaking and the teleporter could transmit living objects, not just inanimate ones. It would revolutionize travel and—

The door to his room slid open.

Zuku set the magnetron down and pressed the heels of his hands to his temples. “Doesn’t anyone remember how to use a door chime anymore?”

“Marzuku.”

Zuku’s annoyance fled, replaced by a cold sense of being caught by a quasar. He spun around and rose to his feet. “Father.” His voice cracked.

The Sovereign Emperor of the Unified Planetary Empire folded his arms and his public mask shifted into a frown. “What do you think you are doing?”

Zuku gestured at the table behind him and muttered something about a teleporter.

The Emperor stepped forward and looked at the pieces strewn about. “Is that by any chance the very expensive, top-of-the-line teleporter I gave you as a birthday gift? The one you begged for and promised you wouldn’t break?”

Zuku swallowed and nodded.

“I see. And I suppose this destruction of property explains why you’ve been unable to come down, and to your thirteenth birthday celebration, no less.”

Zuku smacked his forehead. “Blast it all. I completely forgot.”

The Emperor’s eyebrows lifted. “You forgot that you were officially a man now? Not exactly a good beginning, my son.”

ALT D-6 : Phoebe Fogg and the Lost Library

Name: Gayleen Rabakukk
Mentor: Heidi Schultz
Title: PHOEBE FOGG AND THE LOST LIBRARY
Genre: MG Steampunk
Word count: 35,000

PITCH:

When eleven-year-old Phoebe Fogg stows away on her father's airship expedition to discover the Lost Library of Alexandria, she comes face to face with a villain who has sinister plans for the Library's secrets.

FIRST 250 WORDS:

Phoebe ran her fingers over the dusty shelves, searching for excitement. She’d finished the latest edition of The Strand and it would be weeks before the next one made it across the Atlantic. She had instructed Minnick, the butler, to fetch her the instant the magazine arrived by post, instead of including it with the mail presented to Aunt Catherine. Phoebe hoped he would comply, instead of “forgetting” again. Were the gears and springs spinning inside his head capable of forgetting?

Phoebe returned her attention to the bookshelf. Surely H.G. Wells would write another novel soon. Her hand lingered on Around the World in 80 Days, but she’d read it again just last month. Better to explore new territory.

A dark leather volume caught her eye and Phoebe pulled the book out to look at its cover. She recognized the design from the sign outside the Lodge Hall: an open compass positioned atop a carpenters’ square ruler turned on at angle like the letter v. Her fingers tingled as she touched the embossed surface of the famous Freemason symbol and wondered about the secrets hidden within the pages.

How had she missed this before? In the year since she’d come to Aunt Catherine’s Boston townhome, she had scoured the drawing room shelves hundreds of times. She smoothed her pesky petticoats, sat on the floor, and carefully opened the cover. Phoebe gasped at the inscription on the fly leaf: Personal Journal of Benjamin Franklin.

ALT D-7: Toenail Pie

NAME: Marianne Sheldon
MENTOR: Krista Van Dolzer
TITLE: Toenail Pie
GENRE: MG Contemporary Fantasy
WORD COUNT: 52,000

PITCH: 

Semi-orphaned Oliver’s plot for revenge against his housekeeper goes awry, transforming her into a powerful demon. Now, to save his father and sister’s lives, Oliver must find the courage to battle Mrs. Grimm alone.

FIRST 250 WORDS:

Claire’s good mood bugged Oliver. He leaned in the kitchen doorway, sneering as she pulled ingredients from cupboards. When she didn’t notice, he made a scoffing noise. He still got no reaction, so Oliver sauntered to the table. He picked up a small plastic container and gave it a shake.

“Give me that!” Claire grabbed for the container, but Oliver held it out of her reach as he peeled off the lid.

Toenail clippings. Lots of them. Tiny, translucent crescents mingled with thick, yellowed fragments.

“Jeez, Claire. You got a real collection going.” Impressed in spite of himself, Oliver handed her the container.

She resealed it and pressed it to her chest.

“You do know this is crazy. Right?” he said.

Eleven-year-old Claire sniffed and pushed up her glasses. Behind them her green eyes glowered.

“If she catches on and tells Dad, you’re toast.”

“I don’t care.”  Her tone was defiant.

“Well, I do. Cuz he’s gonna blame me, you know.” Oliver scratched his thumbnail against a lump of old food on the table. “He always does,” he muttered.

“I won’t tell him you knew.”

“He’ll say I should’ve known. Anyway, that’s not the point.” Oliver tried to sound reasonable. “You can’t do this. It’s probably against the law. You might make her sick. You could get us all, even Dad, in big trouble.”

Claire’s expression darkened. She picked at a scraggly eyebrow.

Oliver grabbed her hand. “You gotta stop that habit, Claire. People think you’re weird enough already.”