The Latest Updates on The Purple Crayon...


Just saw a listserv post by The Purple Crayon's Harold Underdown. Here's what's new on his wonderfully useful website which include something like 300 articles and other materials providing information and guidance about writing, illustrating, agents, trends and more.

• A book review of Minders of Make-Believe by Leonard Marcus "one of the most engrossing books I've read in a long time--a fascinating history of American children's publishing," says Harold.

• A book reivew of 2009 CWIM, edited by yours truly, which Harold calls "an essential market guide. "

• Who's Moving Where updates (editors moving houses, leaving the business, or starting new jobs).

You can always visits Harold's What's New Page to see what's been added to the Purple Crayon. (Why not bookmark it!)

Upcoming Market Books Bookstore Events...

To celebrate the recent release of the 2009 editions of our Market Books, I, along with editors Robert Brewer and Chuck Sambuchino, will be appearing at two local bookstores to discuss writing and publishing with aspiring authors. Here's the scoop:

• Wednesday August 20 (tomorrow) at 7 p.m. we'll be at Joseph-Beth Booksellers in Rookwood Pavilion.

• Wednesday Aug 27 at 7 p.m. we'll be at Books & Co. @ The Greene.

Robert, Chuck and I (with the help of our three assistants) produce 10 Market Books annually, including CWIM, Novel & Short Story Writer's Market, Poet's Market, Writer's Market, Guide to Literary Agents, and the upcoming brand new Screenwriter's & Playwrights Market. We can answer any writing- or publishing-related question you throw our way covering any genre, fiction or nonfiction, children's or adult, agent and queries, etc. (Don't we sound smart!)

If you live in the Cincinnati or Dayton area, we'd love to meet you. (We'll have free beer and free cupcakes. Just kidding. Come anyway.)

Call for Debut Authors for the 2010 CWIM...


The 2009 CWIM is now in the stores, so I'm beginning to work on my lineup for the 2010 edition--which means I'm looking for a few debut authors and/or illustrators to feature in my annual First Books article!

Picking my lineup for First Books is one of the most enjoyable parts of my job. It's so much fun to hear from first-timers--and so hard to choose just four or five. (I often come up with a theme based on the types of replies I've gotten, which helps me narrow it down. First Books in the 2009 CWIM, for example, features all debut picture books.)

If you are interested in being featured in First Books, here are the rules and guidelines:

1. Email me at alice.pope@fwpubs.com, subject line "First Books."
2. Tell me about your debut book including the title, publisher, genre and approximate publication date.
3. The book must be available in some form by November (so it can be read before you're interviewed).
4. A cover image must be available by January 2009 (because I don't want to feature a book without showing the cover).
5. Please include links to your website or blog if you have one.
   
6. No self-published books please.
7. Tell me something fun/interesting/exciting/unusual/inspiring about you/your book/your path to publication.
8. E-mails must be received by August 8th. (I'll begin reading through them when I get back from the SCBWI conference.)
   
9. I'll be in touch with those I've chosen by the third full week of August; otherwise you likely will not hear from me--I simply don't have time to contact everyone, although I wish I could. (I may acknowledge receipt of emails, however, depending on how busy I am and/or how much I do or do not feel like doing other work.)
   
10. Debut authors not chosen to be featured in First Books could be chosen as Debut Authors of the Month, featured in my CWIM newsletter and blog throughout the year.

How Could I Forget to Mention This?....


I've been so happy to not be fretting over my blog being locked that I forgot this important little happening: the 2009 CWIM is now available! And it's a beaut, if I do say so myself: more articles and interviews than ever; a First Books featuring all picture book authors and illustrators; interviews with Sherman Alexie, Katherine Applegate, Scott Westerfeld, Jay Asher and lots more; a roundtable with Coretta Scott King Award winners; articles by Kirby Larson, Cecil Castellucci, Kathleen Duey, Allyn Johnston, Andrew Karre, Cynthia Leitich Smith, Lisa Wheeler and so many other fantastic contributors on myriad topic. And of course info on hundreds of books pubs, mags, agents, conferences, contests, and other useful stuff. I'm very excited!

If you're a contributor (if you wrote an article or were interviewed) I'll be sending every wonderful one of you a copy very soon. So don't go out and buy one. (Unless you want to share then with your writer and illustrator friends. Then be my guest.)

If you're an SCBWI Regional Advisor or Assistant RA (anywhere in the world) I'll be sending you a copy as I have the past several years. It's the least I can do to thank you for your volunteer awesomeness. (Note to self: request address list from Sally at SCBWI tomorrow.)

In the very near future I'll be offering some excerpts here on my blog (when I'm not whipping myself into a frenzy of excitement over attending the SCBWI conference) so stay tuned.