.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
Hi, readers, writers, and aspiring authors of all sorts! I'm absolutely, positively THRILLED to be interviewing my friend and sister in all things spooky and seasonal, Lynne Marie, today. Lynne Marie has recently started working with The Little Press as an Acquiring Editor of Seasonal and Special Picture Books - so exciting! Want to know more about Lynne Marie's new role, what kind of books she's looking to acquire, PLUS want a chance to win one of four Ask-Me-Anything Sessions with her or one of four Rate Your Story Critique Speed Passes from her? Read On...
Q: Hi, Lynne Marie - as you know we’re in the midst of celebrating our Season’s Readings book event. But when I found out you were recently hired as a Seasonal Acquiring Editor for The Little Press, I wanted to celebrate with you and hear more about your recent news -how exciting!
Can you share more about your new role with us?
A: Yes! As everyone who knows me can vouch, especially YOU (Heather), I love holidays and just about any celebration – large or small! And, I have quite a passion for reading and writing holiday picture books. I actually have several published ones to my credit American Pie (4th of July), (Hedgehog Goes to Kindergarten (Back-to-School), Hedgehog’s 100th Day of School, Moldilocks and the Three Scares (Halloween tie-in), BroomMates: A Brewing Boundary Battle (Halloween tie-in), The Star in the Christmas Play, and more to come. And, I love editing! So you can imagine, the opportunity to edit holiday and special event picture books for the Little Press feels like a tailor-made dream come true!
Q: What made The Little Press a perfect fit for you? What made YOU say yes?
A: I have published with several publishing houses, and The Little Press was my absolutely favorite experience. I especially loved the creative exchanges between me and Michele – the publisher and that we had many passions in common. In addition, there is a wonderful team that works together with and shares/provides resources with the author to make the book the very best it can be. It’s a wonderful environment to be a part of.
Q: What types of books are you looking to acquire? Any open calls on the horizon (that we can keep our eyes peeled out for)?
A: I am looking for fresh and new takes on commercial and/or fairly common holidays, and also, marketable, kid-friendly special events to tie into.
But it is important to check out The Little Press backlist (and our imprints) and try to determine where our needs may lie. For example, we already have a Halloween book and another in the pike, so that wouldn’t be something we are looking for.
I currently don’t have any open calls. I am currently evaluating the needs of our publishing house with respect to holiday and special acquisitions and will start from there. If Michele agrees with my vision for upcoming projects, I will likely make an announcement then, unless I have someone in mind for the project.
And as the Editor and Agent Spotlight Feature Editor for Children’s Book Insider, I am certain an interview there (which will allow me to consider pitches), will be in my future.
Q: Very exciting - thanks for sharing! What is a good way to learn more about the types and caliber of books you are looking for?
A: As the Director for Rate Your Story (www.rateyourstory.org), I run a weekly Thursday 7:00 PM EST Mentor Text Talk Book Chat. While replays are only available to Rate Your Story Members, Non-Members can participate live. Updates are posted on the Rate Your Story forum for Members and HERE on Facebook for Non-Members. We spend an hour or so discussing books and what makes them work / not work – so I think it’s a great way to get to know my sensibilities. Reading the books I have written will provide clues, as will interviews like this one. I also do First Pages events from time to time and those can be very helpful as well. And of course, reading and being familiar with my books would be helpful too.
Q: For anyone looking to submit to you in the near future, what books can we read to get a good sense of what you love/what your tastes are?
A: I am not only looking for great, marketable, fun and funny, sweet and satisfying, kid-friendly ideas with a re-readability factor, and a holiday or event at its core, but stories that are well-written. If it’s not ready or close to being ready, don’t send it in, because then it will be a no, when it could have been a potential yes.
The New Kid Has Fleas by Ame Dyckman, and actually also, Wolfie the Bunny were so fun and unexpected. The Reindeer Remainders by Katey Howe was so clever and calculated (LOL) - read it to find out what I mean. I love A Plump and Perky Turkey by Theresa Bateman because of the way it integrates art. Jocelyn Watkinson’s The Three Canadian Pigs and Becky Sharnhorst’s This School Stinks are wonderful, too! Anyone who is interested in learning more about what I like and don’t like can follow me on Goodreads. I haven’t been good about making comments to justify my score, but I intend on being sure to comment in the new year.
This was SO informative. Thanks again for joining us - we had a blast connecting with you!
Q: Bonus question: What stocking stuffer (i.e. a Tip or a Treat) would you like to leave for our readers?
I'd like to leave both!
Tip: This would likely be considered coal by many, but when a writer comes into their own, they will see that I am right – don’t submit before you’re ready. It would be like uncorking fine wine before its time.
Treat: I am happy to offer four twenty-minute ask me anything sessions or micro-critiques to four writers or authors. I will also offer four Speedpasses. To be considered, let us know if you currently have a holiday story, as well as the title, and tell us which prize you prefer, as well as where you shared our post. And be sure to use #SeasonsOfKidlit and tag me and Heather.
I have always enjoyed helping writers and authors pave their path to publication / further publications and I am so grateful to be in a position where I can go all the way with making someone’s dreams of becoming published come true! Thanks for celebrating with me!
WOWZERS! Thanks SO much for the super-sweet treats!
Giveaway Details: Readers, to enter to win one of these AMAZING giveaways, 1) share this post on social media and 2) leave a comment below to thank Lynne Marie for stopping by - and let us know which stocking stuffer you're interested in, too! Holiday and book-themed pictures and GIFs are always welcomed and appreciated.
BONUS: Those who leave a comment on and share all posts on social media, tagging Heather Macht and Lynne Marie, will be eligible to win their choice of either (1) of (3) SpeedPasses from RYS or critiques from Heather or Lynne Marie.
Heather Macht Tags: X: @AuthorHMacht, IG/Threads: @heatherauthormacht, Bluesky: @authorhmacht.bsky.social
Lynne Marie Tags: X: @Literally_Lynne, IG/Threads: @literally.lynne.marie, Bluesky: @
Giveaway winners will be drawn on or about 12/15!
Books will be shipped in the US only.
About Lynne Marie:
Lynne Marie is the award-winning author of Hedgehog Goes to Kindergarten -- art by Anne Kennedy (Scholastic 2011), Hedgehog's 100th Day of School -- art by Lorna Hussey (Scholastic 2017), The Star of the Christmas Play -- art by Lorna Hussey (Beaming Books 2018), Moldilocks and the 3 Scares -- art by David Rodriguez Lorenzo (Sterling / Scholastic 2019) and Let’s Eat! Mealtime Around the World -- art by Parwinder Singh (Beaming Books 2019), The Three Little Pigs and the Rocket Project and The Three Little Pigs and the Rocket Project Coloring Book -- art by Wendy Fedan (Mac and Cheese Press 2022), The Palace Rat -- art by Eva Santana (Yeehoo Press 2023), BroomMates: A Brewing Boundary Battle co-written with Brenda Reeves Sturgis – art by Nico Ecenarro (The Little Press 2024) and Henny Penny’s Weather Worries and more, forthcoming.
She’s an Editor at The Little Press, the Director of RateYourStory.org, a Mentor at ThePictureBookMechanic.com, the Creator of March On With Mentor Texts (www.rateyourstory.org/march-on) and Mentor Text Talk, a Co-Host of #SeasonsOfKidLit (www.seasonsofkidlit.com) and a Feature Columnist at Children’s Book Insider (www.writeforkids.org).
When she’s not traveling the world in search of story ideas, she lives in her hometown with her high school sweetheart, a Schipperke named Anakin and a Mini Pinscher named Marlowe Charlotte. Visit her at www.LiterallyLynneMarie.com.
For more about Lynne Marie, check out the below links:
AUTHOR WEBSITE:
LYNNE MARIE ON FACEBOOK:
LYNNE MARIE ON TWITTER: @Literally_Lynne
ON INSTAGRAM:
ON GOODREADS:
ON BLUESKY:
ON THREADS:
To purchase Lynne Marie's books on Amazon, or to leave a review for them, click here.
What a wonderful place for you at The Little Press! I'm a fan of their many cute books. I would love a Speed Pass. Thanks for sharing holiday cheer! I have several holiday stories, I'm quite excited about my latest, "Jingles' Lost Bells" a Christmas horse story with Santa and a little history of the beloved holiday song.
Congratulations again, Lynne Marie. It's very apparent how excited you are about your new position as acquiring editor of seasonal stories for The Little Press! I know from working with you at RYS that you are an excellent editor! I have a couple of Valentine's Day stories that I'm going to polish up! Best of luck in your new position! For the giveaway, I'd love either the micro critique or the ask me anything session! I shared on (X).
I just posted and it says I’m unknown. So trying to figure out what’s wrong. Congratulations Lynne in your new position. I wrote a Christmas picture book titled The Christmas Mystery. I’d love a critique. I’ll post on Facebook & BlueSky
Congratulations on your new position. I'd be interested in the micro critique ,and possibly the Speed Pass, though I'm assuming you'd have to be an RYS member and I am not. I shared on X @mohan_shuba. My holiday story, GANESHA CREATION (A story of sensory touch sensitivity) is about Ganesh Chaturthi, a Hindu holiday.
Thanks for the advice! I'd love the mico critique or Speed Pass if selected. I have a Christmas story called Bad Guy Bash.