The Prize: One critique of your fiction picture book manuscript (max 1000 words.) This auction ends Saturday, 7/25. 11:59PM EASTERN (this website runs on Central time, one hour behind Eastern! So make sure you are bidding based on EASTERN.)

Abigail Samoun

The Darer: Abigail Samoun is a project editor with Tricycle Press in Berkeley, California.  Abigail has edited board books, picture books, and middle-grade fiction. These include the 2003 Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) Golden Kite winner for best picture book text, George Hogglesberry: Grade School Alien by Sarah Wilson with illustrations by Chad Cameron and the 2004 New York Public Library Ezra Jack Keats award-winner, Yesterday I Had the Blues by Jeron Frame with illustrations by R. Gregory Christie. Abigail also edits the middle grade series Edgar & Ellen published by Simon & Schuster. Some other books Abigail has edited:King & King by Stern Nijland and Linda de Haan, Ten Little Elvi by Duffy Grooms and Laura Henson, illustrated by Dean Gorissen, Finklehopper Frog by Irene Livingston, illustrated by Brian Lies. The “Busy” board book series: Busy Monkeys, Busy Doggies, Busy Kitties, Busy Piggies, Busy Barnyard, and Busy Horsies; Urban Babies Wear Black (board book series).

Favorite recent children’s books: A Wreath for Emmett Till by Marilyn Nelson (published by Houghton-Mifflin)DeShawn Days by Tony Medina, illustrated by Greg Christie (Lee and Low Books)Mountain Dance by Thomas Locket (Harcourt)Jabberwocky by Lewis Carroll, illustrated by Stephane Jorisch (Kids Can Press)Invisible Enemies: Stories of Infectious Disease by Jeanete Farrell (FSG)Guinea Pig Scientists: Bold Self-Experimenters in Science and Medicine by Leslie Dendy and Mel Boring, with illustrations by C.B. Mordan  (Henry Holt)Freaky Green Eyes, by Joyce Carol Oates (Harper Collins)

“I had a chance to hear Abigail speak at an SCBWI conference this past spring. She is as witty, insightful and a caring cultivator of wonderful books for children.  Seriously, you should hear her stories of looking for the right lines for a picture book text. She’s pitch-perfect and I have no doubt she’ll be able to see right into the heart of your ms!”

The Dare: Place a minimum bid of $35 by leaving a comment, then outbid the highest bidder until you win! *All winners must take the solemn critiquee oath.*

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The Prize: First five-pages double-spaced manuscript critique of any fiction picture book (1000 words max.)

The Darer: Margaret O’Hair is the author of four rhyming picture books, so rhymers get on this one quick! She is the author of STAR BABY (Clarion), TWIN TO TWIN (McElderry/S&S), MY PUP (Cavendish), and MY KITTEN.

“Meg is a good writer friend of mine, and I love her fabulous ability to communicate so much with such little text. Meg knows how to use language and rhyme in a playful way to get those young children bouncing when reading the text! Baby Liu is one of her #1 customers. If you are writing a rhyming picture book, get Meg to help you whip your rhyme into shape. You won’t regret it.” – Cynthea Liu

My Pup

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Having once been a teacher, I’ve seen first-hand the positive impact reading has on teens. Books rule!

Jen Rofe

The Prize: One critique of a fiction picture book (1000 words max, double-spaced) or the first five pages of your fiction middle grade or young adult novel (double-spaced).

The Darer: Jennifer handles children’s fiction projects only, from picture books through young adult, and is particularly interested in literary, multicultural, offbeat, paranormal, and commercial-with-heart material. She enjoys magical-realism and reality-based fantasy; ghost stories (though not gore); stubborn characters who learn lessons the hard way; and unassuming heroes and underdogs.

The Dare: Place a minimum bid of $35 by leaving a comment, then outbid the highest bidder until you win! *All winners must take the solemn critiquee oath.*

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The Prize: One critique of your fiction picture book (max 1000 words).

Summer Dawn Laurie

The Darer: Summer began her story in the San Francisco Bay Area, graduating with an English degree from UC Berkeley. After an eye-opening stint as an account executive with an investor relations company, she set her sights on the world of book publishing. She began to gather steam down this path at Chronicle Books where she worked in both the marketing and editorial departments during her three-year tenure in the children’s division there. In 2000 she crossed the bay to join Tricycle Press, the children’s imprint of Ten Speed Press in Berkeley, California. As Senior Editor, Summer worked on over 50 books—picturebooks, board books, novels, activity books, fiction and non-fiction for young people up to age twelve. After seven years she has chosen yet another fork in the road and is now an independent editor, working to strengthen each and every word her clients write. Summer is also a children’s specialist at independent bookseller Books Inc. where she has started the “Wild Girls Mother-Daughter Book Club.” And just for the fun of it, Summer is a co-producer of Kidquake and a member of the board of the NCCBA (Northern California Children’s Booksellers’ Association).

The Dare: Place a minimum bid of $35 by leaving a comment, then outbid the highest bidder until you win!  Value: Priceless. *All winners must take the solemn critiquee oath.*

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The Prize: One critique of the first three chapters of reasonable length AND a query letter for your picture book, middle grade, or YA novel.

The Darer:

Stacy Whitman

Stacy Whitman specializes in fantasy and science fiction for children and young adults, and related genres. She spent more than three years as an editor for Mirrorstone, the children’s and young adult imprint of Wizards of the Coast in Seattle. She holds a master’s degree in children’s literature from Simmons College. Before that, she edited elementary school textbooks at Houghton Mifflin, interned at the Horn Book Magazine and Guide, and spent a brief stint working as a bookseller. Stacy edited such favorite fantasy titles for children and young adults as the highly acclaimed YA series Hallowmere, the middle grade fantasy adventure series that debuted with Red Dragon Codex, and The New York Times best-selling picture book A Practical Guide to Monsters.

Stacy provides all phases of editorial services to publishers, including developmental editing, line editing, copyediting, and proofreading. She also provides a critique service for writers and teaches occasional community seminars on writing science fiction and fantasy for children and young adults.

The Dare: Place a minimum bid of $30 by leaving a comment, then outbid the highest bidder until you win!  Value: Priceless or $50 if you go to Stacy directly, but remember THE CAUSE! *All winners must take the solemn critiquee oath.*

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Ammi-Joan Paquette

The Prize: One double-spaced manuscript critique of any picture book (five pages max.)

The Darer:  Ammi-Joan Paquette is known as a bit of globe-trotter. She spent much of her early years in France, then traveled throughout Europe and to Japan before settling down with her family just outside of Boston. The Tiptoe Guide to Tracking Fairies was inspired by a real-life fairy hunt she took with her two daughters one spring day. Although they didn’t meet any fairies face to face, they saw signs of them everywhere. This is her first picture book. Ammi-Joan is also an associate agent with Erin Murphy Literary Agency.  Learn more about Ammi-Joan Paquette.

“Joan’s Tiptoe Guide is such a charming and delightful text for young children. I have no doubt that Joan can help you strengthen the whimsy and charm of your picture book text to up that kid appeal that every picture book needs.” – Cynthea Liu

The Tiptoe Guide to Tracking Fairies

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The Prize: One critique of your picture book manuscript (1000 words max, double-spaced.)

The Darer: Alvina Ling, Senior Editor, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. Alvina acquires children’s books for all ages (baby-teen), with a particular interest in literary middle grade fiction and books with multicultural themes. She is interested in both genre (including science fiction, fantasy, and mystery) and contemporary fiction, and is a fan of beautiful and/or funky picture books with unique illustration styles, as well as trade nonfiction books. Some of her recent publications include the NY Times bestselling picture books Wabi Sabi by Mark Reibstein, illustrated by Ed Young and The Curious Garden by Peter Brown; Eggs by Jerry Spinelli; Edgar Award winner The Postcard by Tony Abbott; Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin; North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley; The Devouring by Simon Holt; and Freaks and Revelations by Davida Wills Hurwin. Before starting at Little, Brown in 1999, Alvina was a bookseller, an intern at Charlesbridge Publishing and The Horn Book, and has always been a life-long lover of children’s books.

The Dare: Place a minimum bid of $35 by leaving a comment, then outbid the highest bidder until you win!  Value: Priceless. *All winners must take the solemn critiquee oath.*

*Did you bid on this auction? Don’t forget to enter our drawings for fabulous giveaways.*

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The Prize: One critique of your picture book manuscript (1000 words max.) or the first five double-spaced pages of your fiction middle grade or young adult novel.

The Darer: Alvina Ling, Senior Editor, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. Alvina acquires children’s books for all ages (baby-teen), with a particular interest in literary middle grade fiction and books with multicultural themes. She is interested in both genre (including science fiction, fantasy, and mystery) and contemporary fiction, and is a fan of beautiful and/or funky picture books with unique illustration styles, as well as trade nonfiction books. Some of her recent publications include the NY Times bestselling picture books Wabi Sabi by Mark Reibstein, illustrated by Ed Young and The Curious Garden by Peter Brown; Eggs by Jerry Spinelli; Edgar Award winner The Postcard by Tony Abbott; Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin; North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley; The Devouring by Simon Holt; and Freaks and Revelations by Davida Wills Hurwin. Before starting at Little, Brown in 1999, Alvina was a bookseller, an intern at Charlesbridge Publishing and The Horn Book, and has always been a life-long lover of children’s books.

The Dare: Place a minimum bid of $35 by leaving a comment, then outbid the highest bidder until you win!  Value: Priceless. *All winners must take the solemn critiquee oath.*

*Did you bid on this auction? Don’t forget to enter our drawings for fabulous giveaways.*

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The Prize: One critique of your fiction picture book (1000 words max.) or the first five double-spaced pages of your fiction middle grade or young adult novel.

Tracey Adams

The Darer: Tracey Adams, along with husband Josh Adams, co-founded Adams Literary in 2004 and has been exclusively representing children’s book authors and artists for over 10 years. Before becoming an agent, she spent years working in the editorial and marketing departments of publishing houses, including Margaret K. McElderry Books and Greenwillow Books. Tracey is a member of the AAR and the SCBWI.

Our clients’ work spans every age and every genre—from picture books to middle-grade and young adult fiction, from historical novels and fantasy to books that tackle important contemporary issues. While we give every submission its due consideration, we must admit a fondness for middle-grade and young adult novels with memorable characters and a unique voice. We don’t typically handle textbooks, novelty, craft, how-to or coloring books—and we don’t handle any adult works.

We represent Cynthia Lord, Margaret Peterson Haddix, Jenny Nimmo, Alan Katz, Coleen Paratore, Adrienne Vrettos, Geraldine McCaughrean, among others.

The Dare: Place a minimum bid of $35 by leaving a comment, then outbid the highest bidder until you win!  Value: Priceless. *All winners must take the solemn critiquee oath.*

*Did you bid on this auction? Don’t forget to enter our drawings for fabulous giveaways.*

Receive a reminder before the auction closes.

The Prize: One critique of your fiction picture book (max 1000 words).

Summer Dawn Laurie

The Darer: Summer began her story in the San Francisco Bay Area, graduating with an English degree from UC Berkeley. After an eye-opening stint as an account executive with an investor relations company, she set her sights on the world of book publishing. She began to gather steam down this path at Chronicle Books where she worked in both the marketing and editorial departments during her three-year tenure in the children’s division there. In 2000 she crossed the bay to join Tricycle Press, the children’s imprint of Ten Speed Press in Berkeley, California. As Senior Editor, Summer worked on over 50 books—picturebooks, board books, novels, activity books, fiction and non-fiction for young people up to age twelve. After seven years she has chosen yet another fork in the road and is now an independent editor, working to strengthen each and every word her clients write. Summer is also a children’s specialist at independent bookseller Books Inc. where she has started the “Wild Girls Mother-Daughter Book Club.” And just for the fun of it, Summer is a co-producer of Kidquake and a member of the board of the NCCBA (Northern California Children’s Booksellers’ Association).

The Dare: Place a minimum bid of $35 by leaving a comment, then outbid the highest bidder until you win!  Value: Priceless. *All winners must take the solemn critiquee oath.*

*Did you bid on this auction? Don’t forget to enter our drawings for fabulous giveaways.*

Receive a reminder before the auction closes.