By Sharon Giltrow

We have all heard about ‘Dad Jokes’ but did you know there are ‘Mum Jokes’ too. Dads are often given credit for being the funny one in the family, but mums can be just as funny, if not funnier.  What makes ‘Mum Jokes’ especially funny is that they are often about… well about being a mum.

Here are a few ‘Mum Jokes’ that I love.

What do you call a small mum?
Minimum.
(Being 5 foot 2 I find this one particularly funny)
 
Daughter: “Mum, what’s it like to have the greatest daughter in the world?”
Mum: “I don’t know dear, ask your grandmother.”
 
What makes more noise than a child jumping on mummy’s bed?
Two children jumping on mummy’s bed!
 
And one that relates particular well to my new book GET READY, MAMA! and Mother’s Day…
 
Knock, knock.
Who’s there?
Omelet.
Omelet who?
Omelet Mummy sleep in today.

Here are some more hilarious books about mums, for mums, written by Aussie authors – some of whom are also mums.

And finally a gift for all the mums out there...my favourite ‘Mum Joke’

Knock, knock.
Who’s there?
Howard.
Howard who?
Howard you like breakfast in bed mummy?

Happy Mother's Day!!

See you in May, with another great Aussie book.

GIVEAWAY
This month the winner of the giveaway will have a chance to choose whichever book they would like.

1. Comment on this blog post
2. Share this blog post on social media
3. Follow Sharon on twitter
4. The winner will be announced on twitter on Monday 2nd May
   

BIO:
Sharon Giltrow grew up in South Australia, the youngest of eight children, surrounded by pet sheep and fields of barley. She now lives in Perth, Western Australia with her husband, two children and a tiny dog. Sharon has taught for all of her career. Previously a teacher of children who are hearing impaired and Deaf-Blind, she now teaches young children with Developmental Language Disorder. Her humorous debut PB, BEDTIME DADDY! released May 2020 through EK books. Sharon’s humorous follow up PB, GET READY, MAMA! Is due to be released through EK books in April, 2022. Her third and fourth PB, LET’S GO SHOPPING, GRANDMA! And LET’S GO TO THE BEACH, GRANDPA! are due to be released through Dixi Books in 2022 and 2023. SAMARA RUBIN AND THE UTILITY BELT, book one in Sharon’s early MG series – THE UTILITY BELT, will be released in 2022 through Clear Fork Publishing.  With book two TOBY KING AND THE UTILITY BELT to follow.
 
CONNECT:
https://www.instagram.com/sharongiltrow1/?hl=en
https://www.facebook.com/sharongiltrowwriter/
https://twitter.com/sharon_giltrow
https://www.sharongiltrowauthor.com/

​By Melissa Stoller
 
April 22 is Earth Day, a perfect time to reflect on how we can help care for our planet. And during this entire month, we can explore and find inspiration in every aspect of our world. Here are some tips to help celebrate Earth Day and find some story ideas along the way:

Find a spot in your corner of the world and explore. Perhaps in the woods, on a city street, or on a rambling path to the beach. Notice details and incorporate sensory images in a story arc.​  

1. Think about the Earth itself – the rocks, mountains, oceans, forests, deserts. Stare up at the sky and wonder about the solar system and beyond. Does anything about the earth’s topography, geology, or more inspire a story title or a few lines?

 

1. Do any issues affecting the Earth inspire further research and a possible story idea, such as ensuring safe drinking water, preserving the rainforests, or understanding climate change. Perhaps research the issues and the people who are change leaders in these fields. Jot down notes and any story sparks.

 
This month, enjoy our beautiful planet and gain inspiration from the wonder that surrounds us. Happy Earth Day!

BIO:
Melissa Stoller is the author of the chapter book series The Enchanted Snow Globe Collection - Return to Coney Island and the picture books Scarlet’s Magic Paintbrush; Ready, Set, GOrilla!; and Sadie’s Shabbat Stories. Planting Friendship: Peace, Salaam, Shalom (co-written with Callie Metler and Shirin Rahman, illustrated by Kate Talbot), released from Clear Fork Publishing in October, 2021. Melissa is a Blogger and Course Assistant for the Children’s Book Academy, a Rate Your Story judge, a Regional Ambassador for The Chapter Book Challenge, a volunteer with SCBWI/MetroNY, and a founding member of The Book Meshuggenahs. She also interviews authors on her blog, This Writing Life, and offers book tips and resources. In other chapters of her life, Melissa has worked as a lawyer, legal writing instructor, freelance writer and editor, and early childhood educator. She lives in New York City with her family, and enjoys theatre, museums, and Wordle! www.MelissaStoller.com 

CONNECT:  

https://www.MelissaStoller.com
https://www.MelissaStoller.com/blog 
http://www.facebook.com/MelissaStoller
http://www.twitter.com/melissastoller
www.instagram.com/Melissa_Stoller
www.pinterest.com/melissa_Stoller
https://www.TheBookMeshuggenahs.com

by Bryan Patrick Avery

Last year, I was asked to do a short presentation on writing mysteries for kids for the Mystery Writers of America (MWA). While I am an active member of MWA and I’ve written and sold multiple mysteries for both kids and adults I still thought this must be some mistake. 

Who would want to hear me talk about writing? What would I teach? Where would I start? Despite my misgivings, I said yes. I’m truly glad I did. Now, I tell everyone who will listen, pick a subject and go teach a writing class. Why? Three reasons.
​
#1 – You know more than you think you do. The first thing I did, after I said yes, was figure out what I wanted to talk about. There are endless approaches to writing. I settled on an overview of writing for children in general and then drilled into the specifics of writing mysteries for kids, including what’s acceptable (and what’s not), what guidelines to follow, and how to make your mystery appropriate for kids, not just an adult story with kids substituted in. Once I finished my first draft of the presentation, I was surprised at how much I actually know.

​#2 – It will make you a better writer. The SEE-DO-TEACH. model is a method for mastering a subject. It’s based on the idea that first you observe (SEE) in order to gain an understanding of the subject. Next, you practice (DO), honing your skills and deepening your understanding. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, you pass your knowledge to another (TEACH). By teaching another, you works towards mastering the subject yourself. I’ve found, as I’ve taught more and more workshops (to both kids and adults) it has reinforced my understanding of writing, helped me develop new writing tools, and made me a better, more confident writer.

#3 – You will have more opportunities to learn from others. I love a good writing workshop (who doesn’t?). Teaching a workshop is even better. My favorite part tends to be the question-and-answer period where I get to hear from attendees their thoughts and approaches. I even learn from questions or suggestions they have about my approach. Without fail, I always learn something when I am teaching.

I would encourage you to find a way to teach something you know about writing. There are plenty of opportunities to do. If you’re a member of a writing organization like the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators or Mystery Writers of America, volunteer to host a workshop for your local chapter. You can even do it yourself by using Instagram Live or Facebook. Get out there and share your knowledge with others. You won’t regret it.
​
That’s all for this month. Happy writing and have a magical month.

In 2003, I sold my picture book, Lester Fizz, Bubble-Gum Artist, to Dutton (Penguin) following a manuscript critique at the SCBWI Annual Conference. It was the first manuscript I ever submitted, and was acquired by the first editor who read it.

Wait! 

Before you begin launching rotten tomatoes at your computer screen, you should know that if the rest of my publishing journey had been this easy, I wouldn’t have much helpful advice to offer here. (And I do!)

Five years, three delayed publication dates and two illustrators later, my debut was finally published in the fall of 2008… Just in time for our economy, and the entire publishing industry, to take a nosedive. Two months later my editor left, leaving poor Lester Fizz an orphan. A Series of Unfortunate Events, indeed.

I continued to write and submit picture book manuscripts, receiving many “good” rejections, but no contracts. It was frustrating, but I was buoyed by the success I found through my freelance writing, placing articles in magazines including FamilyFun, CHILD and The Writer, as well as several Chicken Soup for the Soul books. Fortunately these markets paid, so I spent more time writing magazine articles and doing school visits, fitting in my picture book writing when I could.

In the fall of 2010, I found inspiration for a board book series in the pages of The New York Times. “Picture Books No Longer a Staple for Children” (www.nytimes.com/2010/10/08/us/08picture.html) was a controversial article that made the rounds in the publishing community and sparked an idea for me. I spent the next year researching my topic and writing, and in 2011 began submitting a proposal for a series I originally called Baby Loves Quantum Physics. Due to the unique nature of the series, my proposal package included research on the market and competition, along with manuscripts for three titles. 

First I submitted to a few agents, then directly to editors. While I received a surprising number of “good” rejections, many expressed hesitation to take a chance on the offbeat concept. There wasn’t anything else out in the market as a basis for comparison.

Through 2012 and into 2013, I continued submitting my proposal to a small, targeted list of editors. I was also submitting other picture book manuscripts, doing school visits, writing magazine articles and essays, and teaching a writing class. (In addition to some part time employment and taking care of my family!) One day, feeling my creativity was being crushed by the stress of multiple deadlines, I had my “Aha” moment – I realized I’d been spreading my efforts so thinly among various projects that I wasn’t excelling at any of them. I had some serious thinking to do.

In my heart, I wanted to be a Children’s Book Author.

In my head, I began formulating a plan to make it happen.

I’d assumed that having my first picture book published would open doors for me but really, it hadn’t changed a thing. I decided that I could best accomplish my career goals with the help of an agent, so I could focus on writing and hand off the submissions and other business to a professional. I started collecting articles, interviews, and information about those who might be a good fit for me and my work. 

As I read about the agents, I learned they would expect to see not one, but several submission-ready manuscripts. I also realized that my favorite manuscripts had already made the rounds to a long list of editors, so an agent wouldn’t be interested in taking them on. If an agent agreed to represent me she’d want new, fresh manuscripts to submit.

​In the fall of 2013, I created a road map:  I would not submit any manuscripts or commit to any school visits for an entire year. Instead, I would focus all my available writing time on creating a brand-new “body of work.” Then, when I had five new picture book manuscripts ready, I would begin querying agents. 

This new mindset turned out to be liberating; I was free to create and experiment with my work, without the pressure of researching editors, writing cover letters, or worrying about receiving rejections. I became so productive that when I read Jane Yolen’s announcement about her inaugural Picture Book Boot Camp in March, 2014 I decided to reward myself and apply. To my amazement and delight, I was accepted – I’d be staying in Jane’s home with the opportunity to submit two manuscripts for her to critique and discuss with me when I arrived! 

A few days before I was scheduled to leave, I received an email from Alyssa Pusey at Charlesbridge, one of the editors to whom I’d submitted the Baby Loves series proposal nine months earlier. Assuming it was a rejection, and not wanting to spoil my good mood, I didn’t open it. I didn’t open it the next day, either. The message sat in my inbox for nearly a week. 

When I finally opened the message, it wasn’t what I expected. Alyssa asked if the series was still available, as she wanted to share it at an acquisitions meeting. Good news, but this had happened before so I wasn’t getting my hopes up. I continued to polish my manuscripts, and contently proceeded with my plan. 

But the Universe had other ideas for me. A few weeks later, Alyssa followed up with news that she would be making an offer on my series!

I’m a fan of Deepak Chopra’s Seven Spiritual Laws of Success, in which he states that “good luck” occurs when preparedness meets opportunity. This was my opportunity and fortunately, I was prepared.

I pulled out that folder of agent information and sent emails to my top six choices, letting them know I had an offer pending. Four replied almost immediately, requesting the series proposal as well as any other available manuscripts. Of course, having spent the previous ten months in serious writing mode, I had quite a few ready to go. By the end of the next week I had three offers of representation, and ultimately signed with Susan Hawk of Upstart Crow Literary.

Giveaway

For a chance to win a copy of one Baby Loves Science book of your choice (U.S. mailing addresses only) or a picture book critique (up to 500 words):

​

• Comment on this blog post
• Share this blog post on social media, tagging @ruthspiro
• Follow Ruth on Instagram and Twitter
• Winner will be announced on Twitter on April 18

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