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CHILDREN'S WRITERS MARKETPLACE
DECEMBER 2001
Welcome to the Children's Writers Marketplace at its new location! Applause goes to Children's Book Insider for hosting it! For those who weren't readers at Inkspot or later at my own site, my name is Margaret Shauers. I have been active in many writing areas over the past 30+ years, but writing for children remains my best love. Over the past several years, I've been working in the activity book and game book areas. I also freelance children's short fiction and puzzles and do some adult material. The magazine market list I sell grew from my own writing card file. I now include nonfiction markets, as well. Information about ordering the full 350+ market list is given at the end of this column.
You can email me at mshauers@kscable.com.
FROM MY MAIL:
MH-18 has folded.
Annemarie Iverson is the new Editor-in-Chief at Seventeen, 850 Third Avenue, New York NY 10022. "Key" to breaking in here is with the "Who to Know" or "Quiz" sections. The online edition carries original material not in the print copy. Website: www.seventeen.com.
YM, 15 E. 26th Street, New York, NY 100010 has a new Editor-in-Chief, too, but I've received two different names--Christina Kelley and Annemarie Iverson, whom I was told is at Seventeen. Anyone know for sure? The Contact editor remains Senior Editor Chandra Czape. Website www.ym.com.
Youth Update, St. Anthony Messenger Press, 1615 Republic St., Cincinnati OH 45210 1298 has some new submission requests. Editor Carol Ann Morrow asks writers to first query or send an outline. Always identify yourself on the envelope! When making a submission, don't use a lot of stamps, but have your envelope weighed and the postage neatly affixed. Email: CarolAnn@americancatholic.org. Website: www.AmericanCatholic.org.
(NOTE from Margaret--I have a hunch you'll have better luck getting manuscripts opened in editorial offices today if you follow this editor's requests at all markets!)
Daughters, P.O. Box 3280, Duluth MN 55803 has been purchased by Dads and Daughters and is now published by contract with New Moon Publishing. This is a newsletter for parents of girls 10-16. Sections open to freelance submissions are "Mothering Journey" and "Fathering Journey", and an essay, "Consider This." Email queries to editor@daughters.com. Website: www.daughters.com.
Boyd Mills Press has a new manuscript coordinator: Kate Yerkes. The address remains Boyds Mills Press, 815 Church Street, Honesdale PA. 18431.
www.StoryPlus.com features original children's stories in a variety of formats. Jean Chalopin, writer and producer of Inspector Gadget and 1800 half-hour episodes of children's programming founded this Network. Stories that prove popular on the website will be targeted for further development (traditional print and TV). www.Scribum.com is the publishing arm of the StoryPlus Network. Application for writers and illustrators is free of charge and Scribum members receive royalties based on global sales of their work regardless of format or media in which it appears. Visit www.Scribum.com to apply.
NEW & CHANGES:
I found a new address for Yes Mag: 3968 Long Gun Pl., Victoria, BC V8N 3A9, CANADA. This magazine promotes science to the 8-14 age group. They want fun, imaginative, well-researched articles with a focus on science and scientists of interest to Canadians. Each issue contains features, departments, and a theme section. Freelancers find the non-thematic sections more open. Guidelines are available at the website. Query with a detailed article idea and outline. Accepts email submissions. Pay is .15 word (Canadian) on publication for one-time print rights. Website: www.yesmag.bc.ca.
Kid Planet, 490 Highway 33, Englishtown NJ 07726: Fred Melillo, Editor. This monthly is aimed at ages 8-12. They cover toys, the Internet, video games, television, and movies. They have a "Teacher's Tips" section. They pay varying rates for 1st rights. Email queries and requests for guidelines to the editor at kidplanetmag@yahoo.com.
Elizabeth Lindstrom is editor at Odyssey, 30 Grove Street, Ste C, Peterborough NH 02348. Part of the Cobblestone group, this is an astronomy/space science magazine for ages 10-16. They want articles using primary research and particularly want interviews with scientists focusing on current research. Each issue has a theme. Check their web page. In addition, they like supplemental nonfiction and activities, such as science fair projects. They also use short fiction. Pay is .20 to .25 word for all rights. http://www.cobblestonepub.com.
Spellbound, P.O. Box 2248, Schiller Park IL 60176: Rachel Henderson Moon, Fiction Editor. This fantasy quarterly for ages 9-12 has new themes. They use short stories, poetry, games, recipes, fun facts and riddles. Pay is $5 and two contributor's copies for 1st world rights.
Upcoming themes are: wizards, deadline February 15, for the summer 2002 issue; things that go bump in the night, deadline May 15, fall issue; coyote and other tricksters, deadline August 15, winter issue; the little people, deadline November 15, spring 2003 issue; dragons, deadline February 15, 2003, for summer 2003 issue. Email submissions only. Guidelines available online. Email: spellbound@eggplant-productions.com. Website: http://www.eggplant-productions.com.
Teacher Ideas Press, P.O. Box 6633, Englewood CO 80155-6633: Jan Adam, Acquisitions. This educational book publisher uses instructional resources, K-to-12 activity titles and books for children and young adults. Interests include biography, history, and story collections. Guidelines are at the website. They are very specific so be sure to follow each request! Website: www.lu.com/manu.html.
Any comic book writer/artists? Marvel Comics is at 10 E. 40th Street, New York NY 10016. Joe Queseda, Editor-in-Chief, is in charge of Marvel Comics. Nancy Dakesian, Managing Editor, oversees Marvel Knights. Stuart Moore, Senior Editor, is in charge of Max Comics. They publish 650 titles a year. They currently appeal to 12-30 year old males, but would like to expand to include both older and younger ages. They pay on a per page work for hire basis or creator-owned which is contracted. Website: www.marvel.com.
Rochelle Gloege, Senior Editor, is the Acquisitions Editor for children's and youth material at Bethany House. The address is 11400 Hampshire Ave. S., Minneapolis MN 55438. This House specializes in books that communicate Biblical truth and assist people in both spiritual and practical areas of life. They do not consider proposals by telephone or email, but will consider one-page queries faxed to (952) 992-1304 and directed to Young/Adult/Children. Queries of interest should receive replies within 4-6 weeks. They are looking for juvenile and young adult fiction, children's fiction series for ages 8-12 and Bethany Backyard for ages 6-12. Send SASE for guidelines. Website: www.bethanyhouse.com.
Greenhaven Press now is called Greenhaven Press/Lucent Books. The address is P.O. Box 289009, San Diego CA 92198-9009. Scott Barbour, Managing Editor, also is in charge of acquisitions. This book publisher puts out hard and softcover educational supplementary materials and (nontrade) nonfiction anthologies on contemporary issues, literary criticism and history for high school and college readers. Currently emphasizing history and historical topics and social-issue anthologies.
Random House for Young Readers is now at 1540 Broadway, New York NY 10036.
Chirp, 49 Front St., E. 2nd Floor, Toronto Ontario M5E 1B3 Canada: Angela Keenlyside, Editor. This magazine is for children ages 2-6. Each issue contains puzzles, games, rhymes (to 8 lines), crafts and stories on animals, nature, letters, numbers. Freelance fiction to 250 words and puzzles are needed. Pays $50-$300 on acceptance for all rights.
Owl, 49 Front St., E. 2nd Floor, Toronto Ontario M5E 1B3 Canada: Marybeth Leatherdale, Editor. This magazine is for 8-14 year-olds. They have an environmental slant. Does not want talking animals and uses only a small amount of fiction, 500-1000 words. Does use nonfiction, puzzles and activities. Emil: bayard@owl.on.ca. Website: www.owlkids.com.
Chickadee probably has moved, too, but my last information was that they are no longer interested in freelance material.
Fox Kids has moved to Peter Green Design/Fox Kids Network, 127 S. Brand Blvd., Suite 330, Glendale CA 91204. Scott Russell is still the Articles Editor.
HELP!!!!!
Geary needs information about The Place in the Woods Publishers. Although several of his stories have been accepted there, he has not heard from them in a year. I've not dealt with this publisher myself so I don't know anything. Anyone out there with more news?
CONTESTS:
Writer's Digest has a contest going for the best self-published book of the past few years. $1,500 cash and promotion in Publisher's Weekly and Writer's Digest, plus marketing advice from self-publishing guru Dan Poynter. In addition, WD will endorse and submit 10 copies of the Grand Prize-winning book to major review houses such as the New York Times and The Washington Post. There is a separate category for Children's and Young Adult books. And hurry! Postmark deadline is December 14, 2001. For more details go to http://writersdigest.com/catalog/contest_frame.html. There are a number of other contests listed at this site.
Cunningham Commission for Youth Theatre (formerly Cunningham Prize for Playwriting), The Theatre School, DePaul University, 2135 N. Kenmore, Chicago IL 60614. Contact: Lara Goetsch. This is an annual contest "to recognize and encourage the writing of dramatic works for young audiences that affirm the centrality of religion, broadly defined, and the human quest for meaning, truth and community." Open to Chicago residents, defined as within 100 miles of the Loop. Prize is $5,000. Deadline is October 1. Email: lgoetsch@depaul.edu. I had a url for this, but can't get it to work so try the email if you are interested.
The 2002 Highlights for Children fiction contest has been announced. The theme for the contest is stories about today's kids. Entries should be unpublished works of fiction for ages 6-13. Stories for beginning readers should not exceed 500 words; those for older children can be up to 900 words. Stories should meet Highlights editorial guidelines. Three manuscripts will be awarded $1000 and published in the magazine. Winners will also receive a pewter bowl or attendance at the Highlights Foundation Writers Workshop. Entries must be postmarked between January 1, 2002 and February 28, 2002. Winners will be announced in June. For complete contest details and entry form, send SASE to Highlights for Children Fiction Contest, 803 Church Street, Honesdale PA 18431.
LETTERS:
Note to letter writers: Thank you for your emails. I read them all and I try to answer as many varied questions as possible. I also have a backlog so it can take time. If I don't use your letter in the column within two months, it's for one of the following reasons. (A.) I've answered a very similar question in the past. Please check the FAQ section and the archives. (B.) I no longer publish letters where I must do more than very minor grammar and spelling corrections. This includes the many letters I get where no capitalization is used. Editing letters takes too much time–and such letters hardly indicate a serious commitment to writing. Believe me, editors never take poorly constructed writing seriously! (C.) I do not critique writing and no longer respond to emails requesting such services.
THIS MONTH I've had a rash of letters requesting the name of THE literary agent for them. Wow! The author/agent thing is very personal, and sorry guys, you really just have to "shop" for the one who meets your needs at the same time you meet his or hers. I highly recommend the book "2002 Guide to Literary Agents" put out by Writer's Digest. And this, like actual market directories, is a book you'll do better to buy brand new and not used. Information changes too fast. Best of luck to all of you who wrote for information about agents. For general information about finding an agent, check the online WD ( www.writersdigest.com) for articles on the subject. They had guidelines (reprinted from the magazine) not long ago. For actual names, address, phone #'s and the like, get the book.
Hello,
I am a new children's book author, and I have two questions that I cannot seem to get answered.
1. I would like to submit my work to a literary agent. However, I keep reading that I need to send a SASE. May I inquire as to what a SASE is?
- Is it necessary to have a literary agent in order to send a finished work to a publisher? I was informed that this is the case.
I am in desperate need of answers, and I would deeply appreciate a response.
Thank you,
Amarie
Dear Amarie:
You'll find part of the agent answer above, but your real questions must be ones other new writers have also!
First, SASE stands for self-addressed, stamped envelope. You can neatly fold the same size envelope--or just send the postage amount (in stamps) if it's a large enough manuscript to require box mailing--with the postage attached. Make sure it's sufficient, and do take into consideration that both publishers and agents can be slow. There is another postage hike coming up. It wouldn't hurt to include a bit extra.
Agents are a Catch-22 situation for new authors. The best ones want writers with proven track records. Writers can't get proven track records without sales. But no, it is not vital to have an agent, particularly with children's fiction. You bypass a chance at some of the larger publishing firms if you don't have an agent, though. And new writers have landed good agents--often by attending a large writers conference top agents attend and attracting attention there.
If you decide to market your own early work, buy a new 2002 Children's Writer's and Illustrators Market. Read the listings closely. Publishing houses closed to non-agented material mention it in their listings. Get submission guidelines from the others and start your manuscript(s) going around.
Always remember--rejections are part of writing! Dr. Suess' Mulberry Street was rejected many, many times. Hang in there, and best of luck!
Margaret
Margaret:
Currently I'm putting together a book of children's poetry. Could you please recommend a publishing company that might be interested in something like this? The book is full of bedtime poems and they target ages one through six. Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.
Charles
Hi, Charles.
As with agents, every writer has to find the publisher who fits his/her book. Because not a lot of rhymed children's books are being done, I'd begin at the library on this one. Ask a children's librarian if there are books of this type in stock. Also check Books in Print at the library. This should lead you to a few publishers who do, indeed, publish children's poetry. Then go on to the new Children's Writers & Illustrator's Market directory for addresses and contact names. Get guidelines and, when available, catalogs. Often these can be found online, but sometimes you need to send SASE for them. Follow the directions on how each publisher wishes material presented--and best of luck!
Margaret
Dear Ms. Shauers:
I am interested in writing rebuses. Can you please give me some tips on this genre? Do certain subjects work better for these stories than others? Are there publications that are more apt to publish a rebus from a new writer? Is there a way to tell if what you've written works as a rebus? I finished my first one, but I'm not sure it's publishable.
Thank you for your feedback.
Sincerely,
Rebecca
Dear Rebecca:
Actually, I think a rebus would be a good way to break into any one of many children's magazines since not many writers construct/write them. Obviously, the story should be very short and be highly adaptable to the same words being repeated throughout the story. That probably is more important than subject matter--which should meet the interest of children (obviously a must with all children's fiction, not just the rebus). The story should also be a real story with a beginning, a middle, and an end. Simplified, yes, but there should be some actual story change/climax.
I cannot remember exactly when, but the Children's Writer had an excellent article about the rebus a couple of years ago. If your library takes this publication, perhaps you can find a copy. (Can anyone else remember the date on this issue?)
Most of the magazines that use material for beginning readers use the rebus. Highlights for Children, Humpty Dumpty, Child Life and Focus on the Family Clubhouse Jr. are a few I can think of offhand. I'm sure other magazines also use them.
The only way to learn if it is publishable is to prepare a copy and send it off! Best of luck with it!
Margaret
Hello!
I just found your site, and I think it's wonderful! I'm a full time teacher, who writes, so I don't have much time to explore the resources of the web.
I've self-published 2 chapter books through 1stBooks. Both are outdoor adventure stories involving 2 strong female characters and they were written for a target audience of Gr. 3-6. The response has been excellent. Although 1st Books did a great job with the cover and format (you can see it on their website or Amazon.com, etc.) I'd obviously like the stories to be picked up by a known publishing group, such as Scholastic or Troll. Should I send them the books as books, or send manuscripts when querying them? What's the best way to present my work? I appreciate any ideas you have about this--thanks!
Rhonda
Hi, Rhonda.
I have never self-published so I really don't know the proper procedure. I know they will want to see a finished book since it is published. Personally, I think I'd send along a manuscript copy, too--and make sure you let them know you're open to changing the book to meet their needs. Page limits, etc. vary at different publishers. And part of being accepted by a major publisher usually involves rewriting. So it could come up. I would also go in, armed with hopefully impressive sales records. They won't expect a self-published book to have done as well as a house item, but they will want to see a good track record.
Anyone out there who's had success in getting a self-published book accepted by a major publisher? I know there are many authors who have the same questions Rhonda does!
Good luck with moving your books along to even more readers!
Margaret
Dear Margaret:
I have confirmed that Ellen Stein is no longer at HarperCollins although the receptionist at HC could not tell me where she has gone. When asked about a replacement, I was transferred to Tara Weikum's voice mail. I doubt that Weikum is Stein's replacement since previous info. indicates that Weikum edits MG and YA novels, where Stein was a PB editor. Can you shed light on the Stein dilemma?
Also, I have been told that Amy Novesky is no longer at Chronicle. I called the Chronicle office and the phone was answered with a recorded message. I wonder the same things about Novesky: where has she gone? Who is her replacement at Chronicle?
You have connections in the "biz" while I have none. I was hoping you might be able to find out what's up with Stein/HC and Novesky/Chronicle.
Thanks for your help!
Donna B.
Dear Donna:
I have no connections--honest. I have no idea where these two editors have gone. Writers Digest Online lists Kate Morgan Jackson as Editor-in-Chief at HarperCollins Children's Books. Editorial directors Alix Reid, Robert Warren and Phoebe Yeh are the Acquisitions Editors. The Imprints people run as follows: Joanna Colter Books (Joanna Colter, editorial director); Laura Geringer Books (Laura Geringer, editorial director); Greenwillow Books (Susan Hirschman, senior vice president and publisher; Virgina Duncan, executive editor); Harper Festival (Emily Brenner, editorial director; Avon; Harper Tempest (Elise Howard, vice president publisher); Harper Trophy (Stephen Fraser, editorial director).
The information on Chronicle Books for Children lists all the following as acquisitions people: Victoria Rock, director of Children's Books; Beth Weber, Managing Editor; Jennifer Vetter, Editor; Susan Pearson, Editor-at-Large; Samantha Dilday, Editorial assistant.
Readers--if you know where Stein/HC and Novesky/Chronicle have relocated, please share! Thanks.
Margaret
DECEMBER TIP: In December, make sure all of your summer material is in the mail. New writing and/or queries? Fall, winter. Most publishers buy from six months to a year ahead of publishing dates. A few actually published in 18 months, but that again catches the six-month material.
HAVE A SAFE & HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON!
Click here to view November's Children's Writers Marketplace
TO ORDER my complete 350+ Children's Writers magazine market list (paying markets ONLY; approx. 1/3 are Christian markets): send $4.50 for an email copy; $7.75 ($8.75 outside US) for print snail mail copy. If you cannot send funds drawn on an actual U.S.bank, please check if your country is eligible for PayPal (link below) or send an International Money order. PayPal is also acceptable from the U.S. and shipment will be same or next day. Please allow 7-10 days for snail mail; up to a month outside US. This list is updated whenever I get new information and is seldom exactly the same two days in a row. Margaret Shauers, 1411 12th Street, Great Bend KS 67530 USA.
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