MY APOLOGIES FOR SKIPPING THE APRIL ISSUE. After three months on a respirator, my aunt chose to be disconnected on March 28^th. I'd been with her as much as the 100+ mile travel would allow and then we had the funeral, plus I'm in charge of her estate. I also caught a beastly cold that mutated into a severe respiratory infection. I am on the mend now, though, and hopefully, the April column will be my one "missing link." Thanks to all who like the column enough to email and ask where it was.

FROM MY MAIL:

Georgia is interested in starting a children's writers group in the NW part of Denver CO. She'd also like to know if anyone is interested in an online critique group or combination from this area. You can email her direct at cccpines@yahoo.com.

W.O.W. (Wild Outdoor World), 44 N Last Chance Gulch Suites 16-20, P.O. Box 1329, Helena MT 59624: Carolyn Underwood, Editorial Director. This bimonthly nature magazine uses realistic projects 8-12 year olds can do to help the environment. 600-850 words. They also use conservation-oriented games and activities, plus fiction (outdoor, adventure) to 800 words. The area covered is Montana, North Dakota, Colorado, Michigan and Nevada--working for distribution in New England. Pays $100 to $300 30-60 days after publication for one-time rights. Email: wowgirl@quest.net .

FROM THE KIDS HALL OF FAME:

Hello,

Thank you so much for continually including The Kids Hall of Fame in the Children's Writers Marketplace. We truly appreciate it and have found it to be very helpful. We are always delighted with the wealth of useful information you provide :)

If it's not too much of a problem, would you please delete the line of our entry that reads, "Pay is $100."

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Thanks in advance.

Respectfully,

Victoria Nesnick

Founder & Publisher

The Kids Hall of Fame Executive Offices

Three Ibsen Court - Dix Hills, NY 11746

Tel: 1 (631) 242-9105 and 1 (718) 526-9624

Fax: 1 (631) 242-8101

Visit: www.TheKidsHallofFame.com.

FROM THE CRICKET BOOK GROUP:

Dear Ms. Shauers:

Thank you so much for featuring Cricket Books on your website. I wonder whether you would like to update the information? Cricket Books is temporarily suspending consideration of unsolicited manuscripts. Because of an increase in the number of submissions, we find ourselves unable to handle the volume. The announcement has been posted on our website on the Cricket Books Submission Guidelines page. We will continue to read manuscripts that have already been received, and we will continue to solicit work from agents and from our book and magazine authors and from anyone whose work interests us. Submissions to the magazines will continue as usual. For details, please look at the website announcement. If you have questions, feel free to ask.

The announcement:

Thanks very much for your help.

Yours,

Carol Saller, Editor

Cricket Books

332 S. Michigan Ave., Suite 1100

Chicago IL 60604

312-939-1500 (ext. 37)

csaller@caruspub.com

The Cobblestone group magazine guidelines & theme lists are at http://www.cobblestonepub.com/pages/writersguidelines.html

Click, 332 South Michigan Avenue, Suite 1100, Chicago IL 60604: Meg Moss, Interim Editor, John Grandits, Art Director: This follow-up of MUSE is for 3-7 year olds. They want nonfiction, heavy with illustrations, about natural, physical, or social sciences, the arts, technology, math, and history--and fiction if the goal is to address a question about the world. Length to 600 words, and they pay .25 a word, on publication. Guidelines are at: http://www.cricketmag.com/pages_content.asp?page_id=23

Children's Magic Window, PO Box 390, Perham MN 56573: Mike Hoffman, Production Director. This bimonthly is for 6-12 year olds and is both educational and entertaining. Health, history, nutrition, animals, more: both fiction and features. Some fillers. Uses 2 page craft and other columns. They avoid topics including sex, drugs, alcohol and violence. They use 400-1000 words and pay $0-$400 for all rights on publication.

Way to go, Sudipta Bardhan! Sudipta's just made two sales to Hopscotch, two sales to Highlights, has completed a contracted children's book about chemotherapy for Lucent Books, and has received a contract on a science experiment book! She has also sold to Fun for Kidz and Wee Ones.

and to Shirley Ramaley who just had an acceptance from Guide. Shirley wrote: "This time I wrote in the cover letter that it was a true story (it was) and happened to me when I was a child. So they are buying but nothing can be fictionalized at all. Also, they said the check would come within a couple of weeks, and since they buy One Time Rights, I can, someday after it's published, sell it again." (I've also found that explaining any variances from the true story can sometimes be acceptable if you explain why you made them.)

and to Chita Sounder who writes:

Hi,

I am happy to bring you some wonderful news from my world of writing and more writing.

My latest e-picture-book "Dancing in the rain" is available free (for members) at www.childrenzbooks.com . Become a member today and get more than 50 books free of cost, for download and print.

Dancing in the rain is a delightful modern fairy-tale about Rightsay the angel who loves to fib. Illustrated beautifully by Candace Hardy, Dancing in the Rain shows how Mr. Peacock cures Rightsay of his fibbing habits in just one dancing lesson.

Want to know what books to buy for your children, nephews and nieces? Read my recommendations at the Reviewer's corner and buy your books at www.acmabooks.com.

And, there is more good news. My web-site has moved to a new location and looks snazzier (courtesy my best supporter and sister Kavitha). Please visit http://chitrasoundar.netfirms.com and read the latest about me.

Hang on, my first e-picture-book "Bananas for Christmas" is still available on the web-stands at www.storyplus.com. If you don't have a copy yet, grab one today, for just USD 1.5. Singapore residents can find my print book "Whacky Jokes" at all major bookstores in Singapore at the Comics section or the Local Books section or from http://www.asiapacbooks.com/product.asp?pid=459 .

CHECK OUT my classes for children's short story writers:

http://universalclass.com/arts/creativewriting/classes/2371.htm

and http://universalclass.com/arts/creativewriting/classes/3499.htm

Check out Pia Laura's (and her dad's) site at www.piaspage.com. It features her work--and offers stories in English, Spanish and German!

Shirley sent this site for those who want to make your own biography:

http://www.bedfordstmartins.com/online/cite5.html

Shirley also sent the following site for a free bibliography: http://www.easybib.com/

and Shirley set this news about Obilo: "Hi, I read your message from Kathy about Oblio. I think this was from my Internet friend, Katy. She's been able to email Oblio now and I've never had any problems. They tentatively accepted one of mine and explained that they are getting geared up for more of their books, but it will be a few months before we know more."

Shirley has been so helpful this month. She wrote that Aileen Sox is accepting true stories (they probably can be fictionalized) for Primary Treasure again. (Aileen prefers email attachment submissions to ailsox@pacificpress.com . Guidelines given in the kids' section at: http://www.pacificpress.com/writers/index.htm)

Lily also wrote about Obilo: "This is in response to a readers question. The last contact I had with David and Sandie from Oblio productions was on Feb. 7, 2003 through their e-mail. They said they believed they could use two of my works (e-mail of July 27, 2002) but their last e-mail they said, 'Thanks for your patience. At this point we are hoping to go through the stories we have for continuing schedule ASAP. I'll keep in touch. Thanks, Sandie.' It's been a long while but sometimes production takes a long time."

Sue tells us that Millbrook Press is accepting only agented material. They are still listed in some directories as accepting freelance.

From Mary:

Chirp, Chickadee & Owl only accept submissions and inquiries through the mail to Canada. A $2 International money order or IPC must accompany manuscripts. ScienceWorld no longer accepts unsolicited submissions.

Mary also sends the guidelines and theme lists for the Canadian group. I don't have room for it all but the themes follow:

OWL Magazine Proposed Themes

From Marie, an update and writing needs from Ask:

Ask, Arts and Sciences for Kids. 332 S Michigan Ave, Ste 1100, Chicago IL

60604 (312) 939-1500. Fax 312-939-8150. E-mail: ask@caruspub.com Website: www.caruspub.com <http://www.caruspub.com> . AA Director: Karen Kohn. Bimonthly magazine. Estab. 2002. "Ask encourages children between the ages of 7 and 10 to inquire about the world around them. Nonfiction articles, poetry, activities, and reprints from trade books will be considered for publication."

Fiction: Middle readers: adventure, animal, contemporary.

Nonfiction: Young readers, middle readers: animal, arts/crafts, biography, careers, games/puzzles, geography, health, history, humorous, interview/profile, math, multicultural, nature/environment, problem-solving, science, social issues, sports. Buys 30-40 mss/year. Average word length: 250-900. Byline given.

Poetry: Reviews poetry.

How to Contact/Writers: Nonfiction: Query. Responds to queries in 6 weeks; mss in 3 months. Will consider electronic submission via disk or modem, previously published work.

Marie also writes that Science Weekly's authors must be within the Greater D.C., Virginia, Maryland area.

And Marie really was helpful this month! Here's one that I simply missed in one of the usual market guides:

Hullabaloo, 954 Gayley Ave, Los Angeles CA 90024: Deidre Cutter, Editor. This magazine features a different country each issue. Fiction of 800-1500 words, nonfiction of 450-700 and 50-200 words. Poetry to 16 lines. Pay is from .15 word up. Will consider reprints. See more details at www.hallabaloomagazine.com.

Check the Write4Kids home page or Jon's ezine for information about the latest Boot Camps!

Does anyone have a current address for Current Science? The one I have came back marked, "Not deliverable as addressed."

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. (most now available at http://www.odsys.net/bookbarn/Childmkt_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.

Hi, Sue.

I think I'd at least write this assistant editor, explain the situation and ask her opinion. It sounds as if there is some interest there. Just don't be too surprised if they are closed--so many publishers and magazines are closing down to freelance material.

Margaret

Hi, Terry. I'm sorry I am so late answering your email. I have been sick.

If it's not entirely too late, I suggest you begin at your local public library. They are sure to have numerous books available. If they don't go to www.writersdigest.com. Check the books they have for sale. Don't buy them for a school project, but have your library try to get one or more of them for you on inter-library loan.

Thank you for writing

Margaret

Dear Marvin:

Even authors who do decide to self-publish should not pay $6,000 for it. In fact, I'd definitely recommend searching for more publishers through the publishers who pay you instead of the reverse. I have a hunch that Disney is very hard to hit, although anything is worth a try.

Please see the information I gave the schoolgirl above. Read as much about publishing as you can. Then make sure you check Books in Print and get catalogs (some are online) from publishers you are interested in. Does your book fit into what they normally publish? Make sure it isn't too much the same as something they have in print at the moment. Then read as many actual books by the chosen publishers as you can find. You may find you'll want to rewrite to more closely match their lines.

Best of luck to you. Writing is a profession and takes awhile to master. I think it's worth the effort! Best of luck to you and your children.

Margaret

I am a student of the Institute of Children's Literature. I recently wrote a 200-word non-fiction piece for a Pre-K contest and I didn't get any award. My first experience. Anyway, after I got over my disappointment, I brushed myself off and thumbed through the list of other contests in the book, "Children's Writer Guide to 2003." In the book is a contest called "No Noun-Sense Contests." I figured that I would try to submit to them but when I tried their website, I couldn't bring it up. It is listed as www.nonounsense.com <http://www.nonounsense.com> Can any one help me with this? Also, I thought that my story might be better as a book with pictures. But I don't draw. I don't want to give up yet.

Hi, Sarah.

Sarah--I don't have the link either, but I'll ask in the column. (HELP! Doesn't anyone know?)

You don't need to draw your own pictures. However picture books are much harder to sell than short stories.

And don't just do contests. Submit your work to magazines, too.

Margaret

Dear Shirley:

My market lists give some of these--and so do column listings if I know the information. Careful study of the big market directories usually gives this information, too.

Actually, children's magazines in the religious area are the best bet for reprint rights. Some do buy all rights--like Bible Pathways and a few others. A few (The Friend and Pockets, to mention two) buy all rights, but will release rights either after publication or after a year (respectively in that order). The Friend requests a tag line, which does limit resale, but I have made some. It's not like having a new story, but it's certainly worth the effort of finding the ones that buy reprint material and sending out work as it gets published. No labor to speak of and you can make extra money.

Pockets, incidentally, is open to using reprint material. They don't use a lot, but one of my Christmas story reprints was accepted there a couple of years ago.

Good luck at "mining the gold" from your own files!

Margaret

Dear MiMi':

Published authors do have fewer problems getting published than new writers. It does happen--we all were unpublished once. Right now, the economic situation is harming sales for everyone, but most of us still get some things published.

The only advise I have is that, even in good times, it sometimes takes courage and patience and perseverance before the new writer "breaks in." I do know that a great many talented writers never become published, thought, because they grow discouraged and give up.

Keep submitting!

Margaret

Hi, Sally.

I think I'd query as for nonfiction first, but just explain in the query that it is fiction based on fact. A few children's publications prefer just to see the manuscript (check one of the larger market directories for that). For those, give the information in a cover letter. I don't usually use cover letters for fiction, but for something like this, I would.

Margaret

Hi, Sharon:

Good to hear from you. You don't have to be a student to write to me!

Well, 10% is pretty low for an agent today. And some agents do have some upfront costs. If it's $10 for one contract handling, plus 10%, that's not bad. I'll turn this open for column discussion, too, and we'll see. (HELP!)

Margaret

Hi, Shirley.

That's pretty well true with Discovery Trails--and I never count them off until I've had the actual return of a manuscript. I've had similar experiences. Sometimes manuscripts come back immediately; sometimes it takes 3 or so months so I let it go a bit longer.

Yes, do let Shine Brightly know it will be published, but if they are eventually interested in reprint rights, you'll be happy to submit. They do have themes so it might not fit then--but I think DT pays a bit better anyway (and much sooner, I know).

Margaret

MAY TIP: Summertime approaches--and kids look for ways to earn pocket cash. Good topics for stories and articles, too, especially if you can come up with something fresher than the curbside lemonade stand. One of my grandsons does mow lawns, a pretty traditional job, but he's come up with some novel ways of advertising his services. Another grandson collects aluminum cans and sells them--and searches for more than family donations in safe, but unusual places. A friend's daughter offers plant water/feeding services to vacationing neighbors and friends. Her father has a greenhouse so this is easier for her than some, but I think will still be a good source for a story if structured well. If nothing else--be creative. How would you earn spending money if you were a kid today?