My book signing at Joseph-Beth Booksellers

WRITE A KILLER QUERY LETTER Do you dream of being a published writer, meeting your audience, and doing a book signing?   Most of us know the path to publication is not easy.  It is usually predicated by signing with an agent.  That means you have to get the attention of an agent, and one way to do that is to write a killer query letter.   Let's dive in to writing that impressive query:          The Five Parts of a query letter    Greeting: use the first and last name of the agent. Personalization: show why you've chosen this agent. (Maybe you like one of her client's books or your manuscript is a good match for her manuscript wish list.) Opening:  hook the agent: give title, genre, word count, and a brief, compelling description of the story that sets your book apart from others.   Book description:  Give a  brief summary of the story (often about 4–8 sentences) that introduces the main character, their goal or problem, the central conflict, and the stakes. Provide a sense of the plot and voice without revealing the ending or major twists.       Picture books are often shorter—sometimes only a few sentences—because the manuscript itself is short. The description should highlight the character, the emotional journey, the problem, and what makes the story unique. If you’re an illustrator, explain how the text and art work together to show emotion, character, and information beyond words.       Middle grade and YA are usually closer to a short jacket-style description, focusing on the protagonist, their age, the inciting incident, what they want, what stands in their way, and what happens if they fail. Avoid giving a chapter-by-chapter summary, a list of themes, or a full synopsis.  But do include the protagonist’s name, age (when relevant), what they want, what stands in their way, and why the reader will care. Comp titles:  Comp titles are recent books (published in the last 3 years) that are similar to your manuscript in some meaningful way. Choose two or three titles that show similar themes and tone. Avoid using blockbuster titles. For illustrators, use comps that reflect the story, audience and sometimes the visual style.   Comp titles are books you can point to and say, “Readers who enjoyed this book may also enjoy mine.” They are not copies of your story—they are examples of where your book belongs on the bookstore shelf. MY BOOK has the imaginative world-building of (Title, publishing company, date) with the emotional depth of (Title, publishing company, date).  Give your book in caps and the comps in italics along with the publishing company and publishing year in paratheses.   Bio: Write in first person.  Include relevant writing credentials and awards, publishing history, professional experience, portfolio information, or personal background that connects to the book.   Show why your background, experience, or perspective gives you authority or a meaningful connection to the story.  If you have no publishing credits, share relevant experience or simply state that this is your debut work. Closing:                                                                                                                                                    Thank the agent for their time and consideration. Include your name and contact information if it is not already provided in the query form or email signature. (Many agents receive queries through forms like Query Manager, where contact information is collected separately.) Keep the closing brief and professional. Here are a few suggestions: Keep your query short, about 400 words.   Follow the submission guidelines—don't query the agent if she's closed.   Read your query out loud and have someone read your query to check for mistakes. Agent Adria Goetz suggests: Please be dogged. Please be strategically stubborn. Don't spend too much time or energy being frustrated about the agents you haven't heard back from yet, or the doors that have been closed.  Focus on what's next:  the next query you're going to send, the next story you're going to write, the next step forward you're going to take.  Wishing you all the best as you query and move forward on the path to publication.  ✌ and ♥

 

 

 

ODDS AND ENDS FOR THE JOURNEY 

blog post by Regina Montana

About 16 years ago I went to a presentation given by Julia Cameron, author of The Artist’s Way. Ever since that day I knew I wanted to write for children. 

 

I didn’t know where to begin, but somehow I learned the ropes. I took classes, joined different online groups like CBI (Children’s Book Insider) and SCBWI (Society for Children's Book Writers and Illustrators) and tried to find a critique group. I met with different people, but I was never able to find the perfect support group.

After I began writing, I was lucky enough to find Randi’s online magazine called Kids

Imagination Train. She was very supportive of some of my poems and light-hearted fare, so I

was thrilled. She taught me the value of being willing to edit and accept changes which I found

essential.

 

I started a website on WordPress. It included inspiring quotations from authors as well as writing tips from Anne Lamott's book Bird by Bird and Natalie Goldberg's Writing Down the Bones. I 've also showcased some of my picture book stories, short essays, and poems.  

So what inspires me to write? Where do my ideas for stories come from? Just about everywhere. You just have to have an open mind and pay attention.

One day as I was assisting my daughter at her school’s class picnic, I saw a boy put down his ice cream cone to join a baseball game. In that split second a squirrel scampered down the tree, grabbed the cone and hightailed it back up for the treat of his life. I knew I had a poem to write. 

Sometimes you have to take a break from writing. Some people say if you pursue another artistic venue, it will strengthen the creative endeavor you are presently engaged in. I never thought I could draw. Then one day I discovered a book by Danny Gregory called How to Draw without Talent. I decided to try my hand at it and voila! I was so happy to realize I could actually draw.  

My husband would come home at night and say, “Did you paint anything today?” 

When I showed him what I was working on, he thought they were great. I often show my sketches to my grandkids to teach them they can do this, too and that we all have hidden talents waiting to be discovered.

Years ago I attended my first SCBWI conference in New York City and heard Jane Yolen speak. I bought her book Take Joy and would like to share some of her advice. Although it was published in 2006, its wisdom is still relevant today. 

One passage, from Chapter 5, "The Alphabetics of Story," under the section "Z is for Zero," especially resonates with me. Yolen reminds writers to have zero expectations—to stop dreaming about awards, bestseller lists, television appearances, or constantly checking sales rankings. 

Don’t dream of winning a Pulitzer, making a thou on your first book (or thirty-first) book. Don’t write any acceptance speeches for the three N’s: Nebula, Newberry and National Book Award. Don’t plan your outfit for the Oprah show or practice crossing your legs while talking to Katie Couric. Don’t expect to find your books piled high at Borders or in the window at Barnes and Noble. Don’t search Amazon.com for your numbers. 

Instead, she encourages us to focus on the work itself. I think she's right.

It isn't the writing that makes writers miserable. It's the constant emphasis on publication and recognition.

We all have the ability to create. We simply have to look inward and discover what sparks our imagination. Julia Cameron reminds us that creativity is part of who we are as human beings. Too often, we're afraid of failure, and we allow negativity to influence our decisions.

When we begin a creative journey, we need to nourish that creative spirit every day—whether by taking a solitary walk, visiting a museum, listening to music, or walking along a beach.

Then write the damn story.

Nothing else matters. 

www.reginamontana.wordpress.com.

 

                                                                                                                                                          photo: Pyschotherapy.net 

Dear Followers,

As I navigate the loss of my dad, 

I will be temporarily putting The Maggie Project on hold.

In the meantime, please reach out. 

Let me know what topics you'd like me to cover 

or if you'd like to write a guest blog.

✌ and ♥

Randi 

CREATING THROUGH CHRONIC PAIN

Dear followers:  

This quarter, I'd like to share a young women's story about resilience.  Whether you are a writer or an artist, we are all creators.  May her journey inspire you.   

Hello art-loving friends! 

I’m Jess and I’ve been playing with art since I was maybe five or six years old. I graduated with a Bachelors of Fine Arts from Concordia in Montreal. Unfortunately only a couple years after graduation in 2016, I developed a rare migraine condition—a headache/migraine hit me out of the blue one day and never went away. It's there I wake up, when I am asleep…always.  

It’s safe to say I lived many years in a cave of darkness with audiobooks as my best friends, especially since the diagnoses took so long. Finally in year four I was diagnosed as NDPH called New Daily Persistent Headaches. And while there’s no known cure, one medication brought the pain levels to an actual functioning degree, most days that is, and usually only for a few hours. 

 

I slowly started creating little crafts to pass the time as well as to distract myself. I often would make greeting cards for friends and family and started scanning them early on as a way to preserve them. Soon I had enough designs to risk getting them printed locally and Chronically Clever began!   

I find when I get inspired by a new creation, I can set aside my pain for a little while and just get lost. Though the migraine may come back with a vengeance, it’s always worth the reprieve. I love working with watercolours, pencil crayons and ink mostly, as it gives me the most control and I love how the colours pop and blend perfectly.

While I may have started this journey with greeting cards, I’ve gone on to create stickers, magnets, bookmarks, and more. 

Since my diagnosis, I have been passed to three other neurologists and tried 19 different common migraine medications with no positive results, but through my art as therapy I stay positive and keep trying new treatments!

My love of art is endless, but unfortunately due to my unpredictable pain levels it has taken me many years to find a way to be here creating again and it is therefore a very slow labor of love. 

I hope you find your own art therapy whether through music, the written word, physical expression or the art of creation like myself. It is such a rewarding way to heal yourself. 

Thank you for visiting.

https://chronicallyclever.ca/

@chronicallyclever

✌ and ♥

                                                                                                                                           Photo: https://gnhusa.org

 ESSENTIAL WRITER'S RESOURCES 

I hear you—publishing for kids is f*cking hard.  And navigating the world of querying can be confusing as all get-out.  So, where do you turn when you want to find agents open to queries?  What contests can you enter to get your work in front of agents?  

I've compiled some resources that may help you along your writing journey, whether it's finding publishers and agents and/or entering contests.  

Agents: 

Manuscript Wishlist: https://www.manuscriptwishlist.com/  where agents and editors reveal the genres, topics, and writing styles what they want to find in their inboxes

MS Wishlist:  https://mswishlist.com/ provides information, tools, insights, and agent manuscript wishlist topics

Querytracker:  https://querytracker.net/ where authors can find agents and discover their query reply rate, their response time and have the opportunity to submit a query on a Query Manager form

Bitsy Kemper: https://bitsykemper.com/publishers/ posts a list of over 100 children's book publishers 

Published...and other forms of insanity:  https://publishedtodeath.blogspot.com/ a website that lists agents seeking clients, calls for submissions, contests, writing conferences and more 

SCBWI (requires membership):  https://www.scbwi.org/ a membership organization dedicated to children's book creators that offers newsletters and podcasts, awards and grants, and a directory of agents  

 Literary Rambles: http://www.literaryrambles.com/ spotlights children's book authors, agents, and publishing 

Reedsy (you must sign in):  https://reedsy.com/marketplace/search?service=editing&subservices=6  Meet world-class publishing professionals; Browse profiles and collaborate on projects. 

Contests: 

Mindy Weiss PB Party: https://mindyalyseweiss.com/2025-pbparty-annual-contest/

Kaitlyn Sanchez Spring Fling and Fall Writing Frenzy https://kaitlynleannsanchez.com/contests/

Vivian Kirkfield: 50 Precious Words https://viviankirkfield.com/category/50preciouswords-writing-contest/      

Susanna Hill Writing Contests:  https://susannahill.com/for-writers/contests/ 

Whether you're querying or entering a contest, think about your submission objectively.  Is your (fictional) picture book under 500 words?*  Does the plot flow?  Does you manuscript have voice, you know, that special quality that sets the tone for the piece when read aloud?  Does your story stand out and have the potential to be marketable?  This requires balancing what we want to write about with the publishers' needs. 

Finding a publisher is exhausting.  We are constantly searching for agents to query, who accept text-only manuscripts while competing with celebrities, well-established authors, and writers who have referrals.  So, what can you do?  Be unique—write the story that only you can write.  Then peruse agents wish lists.  Does your story match an  agent's interest?  Agents will give your manuscript serious consideration if you write about something they are hoping to find in their in-boxes.

As for contests, learn about what kinds of stories the judges enjoy.  Do they like witty, funny stories?  Are they partial to pieces that embrace diversity?  You might be able to find this information if judges have a blog or website or even on the contest home page.  You can also look at previous contest winners to get a clue about the winning writing styles—are they humorous, lyrical, rhyming, or magical?  If you can create a story in a winning writing style and center it on a topic that judges prefer, you will have a better chance than most to win a prize in a contest. 

Writing for children has never been harder.  You've got to do your homework to prepare for querying and entering contests.  Use the links posted above to help you get started.  I'm rooting for you and wishing you the very best on your writing journey!  

*The word count may vary depending on the contest.  Always check the guidelines to find out the acceptable number of words permitted.

                                                                                                           Photo 11 Credit: Freepik via Alexdon24

 2025 Fall Writing Frenzy

SUKKOT: A HOLIDAY OF LOVE AND JOY

“Ava, you’re our little artist,” says Bubbie.

“A regular Picasso,” says Zayda.  

Papa gives me high fives.

“Your decorations are going to be grand,” says Mama. “We know you’ll fill up the sukkah.”

 

I’m not sure I can. We’re celebrating Sukkot tonight!

 

I start painting six-pointed stars while my family brings baskets of apples.  

Mmmm...the sukkah hut smells like an orchard.

 

We’ll dip the apples in honey—like we do on the Jewish New Year. But for Sukkot, we’ll shake the lemony etrog and a leafy lulav bouquet.

 

Neighbors Mr. Sanchez, Mrs. Ahmad and L’tisha notice me working. 

“¿Qué pasa?” asks Mr. Sanchez.

“I’m decorating the sukkah for Sukkot. Does it look empty to you?” 

 

They say, “Es perfecto.” “It’s lovely.” “It rocks.”  

But I can tell something is missing.

 

My neighbors hug me goodbye. Right away, I know what the sukkah needs.

I paint three invitations: 

one green like Mr. Sanchez’s vest,  

one blue like Mrs. Ahmad’s hijab, 

one purple like L’tisha’s braids.

 

It’s sunset.

My family gathers to eat in the sukkah.

But the hut looks empty to me.

Then Papa says, “Shalom, neighbors!”

 

The sukkah fills up with love and joy…

 

and nothing is missing at all.

Thank you for reading! 

A huge shoutout to the hosts and judges for this contest: 

Kaitlyn Sanchez (@kaitlynleann17.bsky.social), 

Lydia Lukidis (@lydialukidis.bsky.social), and 

Aixa Pérez-Prado (@professoraixa.bsky.social). 

Thank you also to all of the generous donors.

Who's going to enter Kaitlyn Sanchez's Fall Writing Frenzy contest? I AM!

Briefly, you compose a children's story up to 200 words

inspired by an image with the chance to win a great prize!

Here's the scoop:

https://lydialukidis.wordpress.com/fallwritingfrenzy-2025-rules/

@kaitlynleann17.bsky.social

@lydialukidis.bsky.social