The Weekly 411 (11/30/18)

Nov. 30, 2018 vol. 48

The Weekly 411 gathers all the links added to Kidlit411 each week. To receive this post by email, sign up for our email updates. Are you on Facebook? Join our Kidlit411 group for conversations & camaraderie. This week's illustration is by Terry Runyan.

KIDLIT NEWS

New agent alert: Alexandra Levick of Writers House is building her list from PB to YA

Kokila, Penguin Books' new imprint centering stories from the margins is accepting un-agented manuscripts (PB, MG, YA) until Dec. 1.

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT

We are excited to feature picture book author Tim McCanna! Tim has four picture books out this year: BITTY BOT'S BIG BEACH GETAWAY, illustrated by Tad Carpenter (Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books); JACK B. NINJA, illustrated by Stephen Savage (Orchard Books); BOING! A VERY NOISY ABC, illustrated by Jorge Martin (Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books); and SO MANY SOUNDS, illustrated by Andy J. Miller (Harry N. Abrams). Enter to win one of his books. Four winners will be chosen!

ILLUSTRATOR GIVEAWAY

This week we have a special giveaway of two books from illustrator Mary Reaves Uhles. Enter to win a copy of A TUBA CHRISTMAS, by Helen L. Wilbur (Sleeping Bear Press) and a board book version of THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS IN TENNESSEE, by Alice Faye Duncan (Sterling Children's Books). The Rafflecopter Widget is below.

A TUBA CHRISTMAS: With a family that loves music as much as hers does, it was only a matter of time before it was Ava's turn to pick out an instrument. Ava gets her wish to play the tuba, but it isn't as easy as it seems.

THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS IN TENNESSEE (board book edition): When Carly visits her cousin Teddy in Tennessee for Christmas, she discovers how amazing it is. She hikes the Great Smoky Mountains, dances to bluegrass music, tastes Nashville’s famous hot chicken, and meets more than one Elvis Presley. Every day, Teddy gives her a special Tennessee gift.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

For Writers

How to Raise the Stakes in Your Novel

Conferences, Workshops, and Retreats

Jan. 7, 10, 11 Inked Voices First Pages Events Join an intimate, online workshop that includes written feedback from a literary agent, peer exchange and critique, and the opportunity to discuss your manuscript live with the agent in the post-critiques call. Groups are capped at 8 for novels, and 10 for picture books.

Picture Books with Natascha Morris, Bookends Literary. Starts January 7th. Apply for a free spot for a writer from a diverse background.

Middle Grade First 15 Pages with Stephanie Fretwell-Hill, Red Fox Literary. Starts January 11th. Apply for a free spot for a writer from a diverse background.

Young Adult Science Fiction and Fantasy First 15 Pages with Eric Smith, P.S. Literary. Starts January 10th. Apply for a free spot for a writer from a diverse background.

Query Letters

The Biggest Mistake Writers Make in Their Query Letters

Submissions: Agents & Editors

Tip Time: Talking to Agents on the Phone (with an offer)

Switching Literary Agents: Two Agents Offer Advice

Exclusive Requests from Literary Agents--What Are They and How do They Work?

Re-Querying Redux

Young Adult

Complexity in YA

Marketing & Creating a Platform

Pointers from Two Publicity and Marketing Experts

Inspirational Things

Pep Talk from Min Jin Lee

Nonfiction

7 Mistakes First-Time Nonfiction Authors Make

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