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.

The Darer: As an agent, Kelly specializes in all types of children’s literature (picture books, middle grade, young adult, and graphic novels). In picture books and middle grade fiction, Kelly looks for a good sense of humor, stories that stretch a young reader’s imagination, and an authentic voice. In young adult, she appreciates literary voices and character-driven stories with heart. In non-fiction for children, she enjoys projects that inspire and stimulate the minds of our younger generations. At this time, Kelly is not accepting unsolicited submissions in adult fiction or adult non-fiction.

Some of the titles Kelly has represented include include: Steve Watkins’ DOWN SAND MOUNTAIN (Candlewick) and GOAT GIRL (Candlewick); Merrily Kutner’s ALPHABET MAGIC (Roaring Brook); Jin Pyn Lee’s THE ELEPHANT AND THE TREE (Running Press); Candace Ryan’s ANIMAL HOUSE (Walker); Heather Leigh’s HEY LITTLE BABY (S&S/Beach Lane Books); Neil Johnson & Joel Chin’s THE FALLING RAINDROP (Tricycle Press); and James Burks’ graphic novel GABBY AND GATOR (Yen Press)

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.

• Your choice of THREE autographed copies of any of the seven titles below.
• Each book also has an original Scott Magoon little drawing in it. *GASP*!  (You may specify your choices when the auction closes.)
  

  Ugly Fish

  

  Spoon

  

  The Luck of the Loch Ness Monster

  
  

  

  Mystery Ride

  

  Otto Grows Down

  

  Hugo & Miles in I've Painted Everything

  

  Rabbit & Squirrel

  
  

  • Spoon
  • Otto Grows Down
  • Mystery Ride
  • Luck of the Loch Ness Monster
  • *Rabbit and Squirrel
    
  • Hugo and Miles in I’ve Painted Everything
  • **Ugly Fish

• *Rabbit and Squirrel come with pins (one of Rabbit and one of Squirrel)
• **Ugly Fish comes with a pin as well!

The Darer: Scott Magoon currently works as the art director for Houghton Mifflin children’s books in Boston. His book illustration debut

Scott Magoon

swam on to the scene with the publication of Ugly Fish, written by Kara LaReau. Ugly Fish won the Bulletin of the Center of Children’s Books blue ribbon in 2006, and a Bilby award, an honor bestowed by Australia’s school children. In 2007, Hugo and Mile in I’ve Painted Everything and The Luck of the Loch Ness Monster were published and featured in the Society of Illustrators Original Art Show as well as its annual exhibition in New York. The Luck of the Loch Ness Monster was also selected as one of the NYPL’s 100 Books for Reading and Sharing for 2007. It was also selected as a finalist in the Texas Bluebonnet Award for 2008.  In 2008, Rabbit & Squirrel, a Tale of War and Peas and Scott’s own Mystery Ride! arrived in bookstores. Rabbit & Squirrel was selected as a Borders Original Voices pick. Mystery Ride!, Scott’s second authored book, is in stores now and is based on his adventures growing up in New Hampshire and Maine.

This year, Otto Grows Down by Michael Sussman made its debut, a time and space-bending tale, cautioning us to be careful of what we wish for. Also this year causing a stir is Spoon by Amy Krouse Rosental.  Spoon is about a little utensil who comes to know and love his own place in the universe. Spoon was selected as an IndieBound IndieNext list.

Scott thinks the best books for children take the ordinary, make it extraordinary and let them know “it’s all going to be ok. Now go to bed.” Scott currently lives in Massachusetts with his wife and two young sons.

The Dare: Place a minimum bid of $35 by leaving a comment, then outbid the highest bidder until you win!  Value: Priceless.

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

Receive a reminder before the auction closes.

• Your choice of THREE autographed copies of any of the seven titles below.
• Each book also has an original Scott Magoon little drawing in it. *GASP*!  (You may specify your choices when the auction closes.)
  

  Ugly Fish

  

  Spoon

  

  The Luck of the Loch Ness Monster

  
  

  

  Mystery Ride

  

  Otto Grows Down

  

  Hugo & Miles in I've Painted Everything

  

  Rabbit & Squirrel

  
  

  • Spoon
  • Otto Grows Down
  • Mystery Ride
  • Luck of the Loch Ness Monster
  • *Rabbit and Squirrel
    
  • Hugo and Miles in I’ve Painted Everything
  • **Ugly Fish

• *Rabbit and Squirrel come with pins (one of Rabbit and one of Squirrel)
• **Ugly Fish comes with a pin as well!

The Darer: Scott Magoon currently works as the art director for Houghton Mifflin children’s books in Boston. His book illustration debut

Scott Magoon

swam on to the scene with the publication of Ugly Fish, written by Kara LaReau. Ugly Fish won the Bulletin of the Center of Children’s Books blue ribbon in 2006, and a Bilby award, an honor bestowed by Australia’s school children. In 2007, Hugo and Mile in I’ve Painted Everything and The Luck of the Loch Ness Monster were published and featured in the Society of Illustrators Original Art Show as well as its annual exhibition in New York. The Luck of the Loch Ness Monster was also selected as one of the NYPL’s 100 Books for Reading and Sharing for 2007. It was also selected as a finalist in the Texas Bluebonnet Award for 2008.  In 2008, Rabbit & Squirrel, a Tale of War and Peas and Scott’s own Mystery Ride! arrived in bookstores. Rabbit & Squirrel was selected as a Borders Original Voices pick. Mystery Ride!, Scott’s second authored book, is in stores now and is based on his adventures growing up in New Hampshire and Maine.

This year, Otto Grows Down by Michael Sussman made its debut, a time and space-bending tale, cautioning us to be careful of what we wish for. Also this year causing a stir is Spoon by Amy Krouse Rosental.  Spoon is about a little utensil who comes to know and love his own place in the universe. Spoon was selected as an IndieBound IndieNext list.

Scott thinks the best books for children take the ordinary, make it extraordinary and let them know “it’s all going to be ok. Now go to bed.” Scott currently lives in Massachusetts with his wife and two young sons.

The Dare: Place a minimum bid of $35 by leaving a comment, then outbid the highest bidder until you win!  Value: Priceless.

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

Receive a reminder before the auction closes.

Bubble Homes and Fish Farts (the book)

• A copy of Bubble Homes & Fish Farts, autographed by both writer Fiona Bayrock and illustrator Carolyn Conahan.

• A dozen invitation cards, (6″ X 4″) featuring 3 different illustrations from the book (see below) , PLUS …
• Signed prints of the same gorgeous llustrations, (roughly 10″ x 8″) to frame and keep!

Print 1

Print 2

Print 3

• Plus: Coloring pages! Directions for very silly bubble-using-creature hats! Directions to make splendid bubble-makers from house-hold objects! Recipes for super-duper bubble solutions! And last but not least: tips and tricks and bubble facts, for bubble party success! WOWOWOW!  Throw your kiddo a bubble party right now, while you enjoy the art!

The Dare: Place a minimum bid of $35 by leaving a comment, then outbid the highest bidder until you win!  Value: Priceless.

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

Receive a reminder before the auction closes.

Lara Zielin

The Prize: A critique of the first three chapters of your young adult novel (30 double-spaced pages max), which includes one full chapter of line-edits and directional suggestions for the rest.

The Darer: Lara Zielin’s roots are in Wisconsin, and she’s proud to call herself both a cheese head and a Packer fan. All her books take place in the Midwest, including her debut novel, DONUT DAYS. During the day, when she’s not imagining she’s the superhero Cheese Woman (with a yellow, sparkly cape in a wedge shape) Lara works as the editor for an alumni magazine at the University of Michigan. Find out more about Lara at www.larawrites.com

About DONUT DAYS (Putnam)

Donut Days

DONUT DAYS’ main character, Emma, has a lot going on. Her best friend’s not speaking to her, a boy she’s known all her life is suddenly smokin’ hot, she’s at a camp-out for the opening of a donut shop, and oh yes — her evangelical pastor parents may lose their church. And that’s just this weekend. Suddenly, sixteen-year-old Emma has to make some serious choices: creationism or evolution, faith or freedom, Harley bikers or Frodo wannabes, and of course, cruller or glazed.

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.*

*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 the first three chapters of your young adult novel (30 double-spaced pages max), which includes one full chapter of line edits and directional suggestions for the rest. Woah!

Leigh Brescia

The Darer: Leigh Brescia grew up in North Carolina, spending most of her days playing in the woods behind her home and imagining she was a princess. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in English Communication from Mount Olive College and her Master’s degree from Fort Hays State University. As an undergraduate, she worked in the Office of Public Affairs, where she wrote press releases and feature articles for the local newspapers and campus magazines. She currently teaches online English composition courses for three universities, including an online “Writing Novels for Young Adults” course for UC Irvine.

About ONE WISH (WestSide Books)

One Wish

Overweight Wrenn Scott desperately wants to be popular and snag a hot boyfriend. Living with her single mom and younger sister, Karly, she lands a lead role in the high school musical, her voice for once overshadowing her weight. Pushing to get thinner by opening night, Wrenn’s waistline shrinks as she learns all the wrong ways to lose weight from a new “it-girl” friend in the show. Meanwhile, her mom is falling for Phil, “a balding Channel 8 News-nerd”; her sister is wrapped up in her own share of middle school drama, and Wrenn’s best friend has fallen for a guy she met online—but hasn’t even seen yet! Topping it off, geeky stage manager Steven has a crush on her. But Wrenn doesn’t want to be seen with him—she’s holding out for a trophy boyfriend whom everyone will envy. By opening night, the old Wrenn has almost disappeared. After a crisis reveals her weight-loss tricks, Wrenn realizes there are much more important things than being thin, popular, or even dating a hunk.

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.*

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

Receive a reminder before the auction closes.

Elie Wiesel said: “Words can sometimes, in moments of grace, attain the quality of deeds.”

The gift of words can never be underestimated.

The Prize: A full manuscript critique of your middle grade novel (244 pages double-spaced maximum.) HELLO!

Jennifer Cervantes

The Darer:  Jennifer was born and raised in San Diego, CA. but spent many summers in New Mexico as a child. She didn’t think there was much to do there so she made up lots of adventures and read countless books to pass the time. Somehow, she found her way back to New Mexico (temporarily) to attend college and then she met a great guy, which lead her to make New Mexico her home (permanently). She lives with her husband, and three daughters (who are great at giving their opinions) spending much of her time writing, teaching English at the university, enjoying sunsets, and eating chile fresh from the family farm.

Jennifer is inspired by her daughters Alex, Bella, and Jules, their silly friends, amazing stories, and real issues concerning kids who need hope and a place to call home. Through her books she wants to inspire children to read, to dream, and to hope.

Her first novel, TORTILLA SUN will be published by Chronicle in spring 2010. She is currently working on her second novel, REMEMBER ME BLUE.

About Tortilla Sun

Tortilla Sun is a tender, magical story about 12 year old Izzy Roybal who is sent to spend the summer in her nana’s New Mexico village where she is soon caught up in the foreign world of her own culture, from patron saints and soulful food to the curious and magical blessings Nana gives her tortillas. In Nana’s village she meets Mateo, the adventurous, treasure seeking thirteen year old boy who lives on the other side of the bolted door in Izzy’s bedroom and six year old Maggie, who is raising her cat, Frida, as a dog and sees marshmallow ghosts float out windows.

When the wind begins to whisper to Izzy, she is soon led on an adventure to learn about her father’s mysterious death, who she really is, and to connect the hidden pieces of her past.

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.*

*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 the first three chapters of your fiction young adult novel (30 double-spaced pages max.) Line-edit of your first chapter and directional suggestions for the rest. WOW!

Tara Kelly

The Darer: Tara Kelly is a Jill of all trades–a YA author, one-girl band, web/graphic designer, video editor and photographer. She lives in Bellingham, Washington with her ten guitars, supercool bf, and a fluffy cat named Maestro. Her debut YA novel, HARMONIC FEEDBACK, will be released in Spring 2010 with Henry Holt Books for Young Readers.

About HARMONIC FEEDBACK

Doctors have pinned 16-year-old Drea Horvath with everything from ADHD to Asperger’s Syndrome. She has an obsession with sound design, a tendency to blurt out whatever she’s thinking, and a problem making friends, but likes to think of this as following her own rhythm in a confusing world.

Drea is hesitant to befriend purple-haired Naomi Quinn, her teenage neighbor with a kamikaze personality. But Naomi is the first person to treat her like she isn’t a world class dork. Then there’s Justin Rocca, the sexy and persistent boy in her film class. If she’s learned anything from her mom, it’s that boys are trouble.

When Drea discovers Naomi’s love for drums and Justin’s piano prodigy status, the three form a trip-hop band and a friendship that will challenge everything Drea thought she knew about herself and the world around her.

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.*

*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 full manuscript critique of your young adult novel (max 244 double-spaced pages).

The Darer: Rhonda Stapleton started writing a few years ago to appease the voices in her head. She has a Master’s degree in English and a Bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing. In the twelve minutes of free time she has each day, Rhonda enjoys reading, photography, writing poetry, singing in the shower (and in the car, at work, or basically anywhere that provides oxygen), drinking chai tea, and playing on the Internet (AKA, connecting to the “mother ship”).

Rhonda lives in northeast Ohio with her two kids, her manpanion, and their lazy dog. Stupid Cupid is her debut young adult novel, and is the first book in a trilogy. Visit her website at rhondastapleton.com.

About Stupid Cupid (The 1st in a 3-book trilogy with Simon Pulse)

Stupid Cupid

Felicity’s no ordinary teen matchmaker…she’s a cupid!

Felicity Walker believes in true love. That’s why she applies for a gig at the matchmaking company Cupid’s Hollow. But when Felicity gets the job, she learns that she isn’t just a matchmaker…she’s a cupid! (There’s more than one of them, you know.)

Armed with a hot pink, tricked-out PDA infused with the latest in cupid magic (love arrows shot through email), Felicity works to meet her quota of successful matches. But when she bends the rules of cupidity by matching her best friend Maya with three different boys at once, disaster strikes. Felicity needs to come up with a plan to set it all right, pronto, before she gets fired…and before Maya ends up with her heart split in three.

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.*

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

Receive a reminder before the auction closes.