Month: April 2009

The contest in Books and Writers Community is up and running and it is so interesting to read the submissions and Ann Featherstone’s responses.

You don’t have to join to read the various threads. Here’s a link to the posts.

Anything that begins with BP is a blue pencil submission for Ann Featherstone. Anything that begins with AF is a question.

We just got back from San Francisco. While there, we had a most amazing dinner at Fleur de Lys. For dessert, I had one of their signature treats, called the FleurBurger, which is lightly spiced chocolate ganache (hamburger pattie) , home-made Beignet (the bun), cherry flavoured mousse (the milk shake) and frozen fennel ice cream Pomme Frites.

Here’s an article from Quill & Quire online.

We’re celebrating our third anniversary this month!

 

Ann Featherstone, longtime editor with Fitzhenry & Whiteside and formerly with Orca, will be the guess editor on Compuserve’s Books and Writers Community forum for two weeks, starting April 13. In the first week, she’ll answer questions. In the second week, she’ll give virtual blue pencil sessions to a number of submissions. Here’s what she’ll give feedback on:

The first page of a children’s or YA novel, or the first page of a picture book text
or
A query letter
or
A pitch

She will select from those submitted, not necessarily the best, but the ones that exemplify something in particular. She will also select the three best submissions and award prizes to those three.

Second and third prize will be an editorial critique of an entire first chapter and outline. First prize will be that too, plus a phone conversation with Ann so that she can go into more depth with her comments.

In order to participate, go here.

You will have to sign up, but it’s free. Once you get there, scroll down to the YA/Children’s section for complete instructions.