Friday, September 16, 2016

News Blast

photo by Mark Morgan

I interrupt this blog post for an important announcement!
Recently my agent, Sandy Fergusen Fuller, of Alp Arts Company, contacted me.
She has sold my picture book, The Bunny Poets to Tannya Derby, publisher at MacLaren-Cochrane. The book will be released in the fall of 2017!
What, you say? I didn’t know she wrote picture books. I was inspired to write the book on a whim after attending a poetry reading at the St. Helena Library. The audience sat facing a podium and a wall of floor to ceiling windows with a vineyard view. While the poet read, I found myself distracted by a bunny wandering among the vines.
This is the only detail I will reveal about the book. More details will come later when we are closer to the release date. And, if I tell you everything now you won’t buy the book will you?
For those of you who did not know, I had tried (unsuccessfully) to sell another picture book on my own before seeking an agent. I found Sandy through the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). Sandy, an agent who writes picture books herself, helps authors develop their ideas if needed. Luckily, she liked the concept of that first book and helped me by offering to agent it.
In the meantime, I had studied a bit myself about picture books, and am also lucky enough to have a critique group for support. When my bunny book concept came along I sent it to her. So, I’m hopping up and down here with the news.
Thank you Tannya Derby! And thank you Sandy Fuller!
Now back to my regular series programming!
For newcomers to my blog, I’d like to explain what it is about. My husband and I have raised two sons. Our eldest son, Chase, was diagnosed with mild autism. This has affected our family in many ways. My stories reflect our struggles, but also celebrate our successes. Chase is now a sensitive, thoughtful, and kind man. He is honest, hardworking, and physically fit.
My intention is to collect all of these stories and combine them into a book. Ultimately, I am hoping to help parents and caregivers see that once they get through the struggles of raising a child like Chase with a disability they will come to realize its gift.

6 comments:

Karen said...

Every home should have a copy.

patsyann@sonic.net said...

Congratulations on your recent success, Barbara.
You have worked hard and deserve all the good things that come your way.

barb bits said...

You're right, Karen. Every home should have a copy! I like the sound of that. Thanks!

barb bits said...

Thanks, Patsy. This is definitely a good thing!

barb bits said...

An email comment:

Congratulations again. I love that you shared how your daydreaming or “careful observation” of that bunny morphed into a book. I had the opportunity to scroll down and look at your blog as a whole and it looks darn good. I had forgotten that a blog a month was one of your 2016 writing goals. Good job on all you have done.
Marilyn

barb bits said...

Thanks, Marilyn. You made my day! I'm so glad you looked at the blog as the whole picture. I hope to add one or two more posts by the end of the year. It's been an important story for me to tell.