I love making these video reviews but  I'm not sure how long I'll be able to keep doing them. This was a particularly busy week and then I got a bit sick so there are no video reviews this week. I do however have some exciting news. Click here to find out :)

Well I'm not going to give it away. Lots of tips and pointers in this video. On another note, Tara Lazar, who founded and runs Picture Book Idea Month (PiBoIdMo) which is a fabulous resource for picture book creators, decided to have a conversation instead of an interview with me for her blog. We mostly talk about my new venture of becoming a children's literary agent and her experiences of becoming a new author. We had a great time. So if you have a chance after you watch this video (and maybe even comment : ), head on over to www.taralazar.com where she is posting the interview. We got into it so much that it became a two-day post (but each section isn't too long) and we ended with some lovely opportunities for readers. Tara is the author of last week's picture book review in case you didn't put it together or don't know her. She is very lovely and some of what she shares will break your heart (but that might be on Tuesday). Hope you enjoy the video :)

Today's Mondays with Mira video review looks at The Monstore, a fun book about sibling conflicts.... and monsters.

Author, Tara Lazar, who founded Picture Book Idea Month and helped launch many children's book careers, partially based it on a true story and then added a whole lot of imagination. In the video I look at both the text and art to analyze what makes this fun book work and why it was picked up by a top publisher.

And while, I'm not normally a fan of art that  shows its computer-generated roots, I explain in the video why it works in this case. I hope you like it and purchase it both for yourself and to help support Tara :)

Some of you may get a déjà vu all over again with this video, but what with it being July 4th and my just having traveled through 5 hours worth of California, plus I didn't get a chance to make a new video, I decided to post it again. For some of you this may be completely new and for others it is definitely worth watching again because of the skillful way that Pam Muñoz Ryan uses rhyme with non-fiction story telling about.... California, and because of Rafael Lopez's stunning acrylic on wood illustrations. This video is an oldie but goodie.

Hullo all - I'm currently out of town and unable to post a video so I thought I'd let you know about where I am right now and what I'm up to in this exciting scoop.

Some big clues are in the pictures above. From left to right - sunset photo taken near Karen Grencik of Red Fox Literary's home by Foreword Literary agent Danielle M. Smith. Danielle and me and our needle-felted brooches from craft night at Karen's. Karen and I. Yes we are happy women and we are using a collaborative rather than competitive approach to life and business.

So in case you didn't guess, I'm off at "Agent School" with Karen. I drove the 5 plus hours and we have been working our tails off and also having lots of fun. My new agency is called Hummingbird Literary and is not open to submissions yet but has guidelines in the "Work in progress" website. The website will be in MUCH BETTER shape very soon after I return home and can access more of my software.

After nine students from the Picture Book Academy received 12 contracts in nine months, some from my connections, Karen told me that she thought I'd make a great agent and would teach me if I was interested. Talk about an amazing door opening and then walking through it - lots of fear and courage on my part, extraordinary generosity on Karen's part. I feel incredibly lucky. The text below is from the current About page followed by more photos :) This may change before I launch mid July.

About

Although new to agenting, Hummingbird Literary is being mentored by Karen Grencik and Abigail Samoun from Red Fox Literary, and Danielle Smith from Foreword Literary Agency.

Founder Mira Reisberg, is also the Director of the Picture Book Academy, which trains children's book writers and illustrators in in-depth courses. Mira has a doctorate in education with a focus on children’s literature and a 25-year history in children’s literature having worked as an award-winning illustrator, writer, editor, art director, designer and teacher/mentor. Mira is also known as the Picture Book Whisperer because of her editorial skills, her facility with art theory and art direction, and her innovative ideas. Mira has also mentored and taught people like major award-winners and best-sellers Yuyi Morales, Kahryn Otoshi, and Deborah Underwood.

Through her courses at the Picture Book Academy, where she interviewed many editors, her former position as an SCBWI Illustrator Coordinator, and her warm outgoing personality, Mira already has many wonderful editorial connections and looks forward to making many more.

Her mission is to successfully represent all age-levels to create wonderful books featuring Hummingbird authors and illustrators. The agency will have a limited number of clients so that Mira and her team can focus on building long-term careers and fruitful relationships.

The agency blog, The Hum, will feature articles, introductions, and other goodies from Hummingbird Literary clients. 

Mira currently has a support staff including English Literature graduate Molly O’Hagan; Marketing graduate Brooke Elliott; teacher, K-12 educational technologist, and Young Adult aficionado Marilaine deGuia, and UC Berkeley Art graduate Marguerite Kalhor.

To find out about Hummingbird Literary’s submissions guidelines on our "not really ready to be seen yet" website, click here.

Karen driving my car.  My happy "drawing with foot in the sand" drawing. Me at the Madonna Inn in all it's pinkly obsession.