  No one is more surprised than me that it's halfway through summer (or, actually, where I am, it's two weeks into back to school time!). Time really flew! One minute we were adventuring through Ireland, where we climbed to the top of castles, crawled through caves, almost blew away with the wind at the Cliffs of Moher, chatted with puffins, hiked down, down, down to feel the splash of a momentous waterfall, filled our bellies with delicious food, and our hearts with forever memories. Then, I blinked, and suddenly it was time to walk to the bus stop. Alas, since it is back to school for my kids, I finally have my writing-during-regular-hours time back (mostly!). And, happily, that means that I finally get to write this blog post that I intended for the beginning of summer. Ohh time . . . where did you go? When I described our trip to Ireland above, notice that I immersed you in what we did through senses *other than seeing*, and yet, you were able to feel and see clearly, the scope of our trip. Funny how that works, right? When we take away one sense, it strengthens our other ones. Thus, we are able to experience more fully. So, let's apply that to our picture book writing. In a previous post, I DIG DEEPER INTO REVISION by asking questions to reveal and elevate your picture book manuscript. (see how to get the updated Revision Checklist straight to your inbox at the end of this post) In this one, I am going to zoom in on one question that is essential to maximizing the picture book format. Doing this one thing will allow your story to work on a level that is unique to the picture book format, and make it feel more like an experience, than a story. That is: How can you create descriptions that show us what we won't already see in the text? It's a question I ask myself during revision, and the one question that I ask the most of other writers when I critique or edit their work. Picture books have illustrations (unless it is THE BOOK WITH NO PICTURES by BJ Novak - an exception!) and the illustrations will show us, visually, what is happening in your story. Therefore, your job in the text, as the author, is to give us something more, or different, so that we can more fully and deeply experience this moment. Can you reveal more about the main character? like how Kelly DiPucchio describes Oona (from OONA, illustrated by Raissa Figeuroa), as "sweet . . . and a little bit salty, like the ocean where she lived. She was also brave and curious, like most treasure hunters." We can taste that ocean water, and the saltiness of Oona's personality through that clever character and story opening. Additionally, we now know that Oona is a treasure hunter, which is intriguing. We want to flip the page to find out more. Notice how the text does not tell us that Oona is a mermaid. We can *see* that in the illustration, and thus noting it in the text would be repetitive, and use up precious word economy!
Can you give us details we cannot see, but that add to the humor and context of how your character is feeling? like how Muon Thi Van does in CLEVER LITTLE WITCH, illustrated by Hyewon Yum, when we learn that "A baby brother will use your mouse as a flashlight and keep you awake for hours. I do not like Baby Phu one bit." This reveals more about why the sister would be annoyed, which helps us relate and empathize better, especially when she shares what she's thinking at the moment (an excellent detail that strengthens the character development, and shows us more about their relationship - these antics are occurring regularly!
Can you include dialogue that not only gives us the voice of the characters, but also the voice and feel of your story? like how Christy Mandin does in MILLIE FLEUR'S POISON GARDEN (one of my favorite new books!!) to help us understand how strong the townfolks' distate is for the main character's garden. "'It's odd," said a man in a rather common sport coat. "It's unruly!" said a lady in a stiffly starched dress. "Appalling!" bellowed Colonel Stick-in-the-Mud." How hilarious. What is delivered here is a strong sense of each character, and Christy uses this opportunity to give us details that squarely set up what kind of people these are - ones who wear "rather common sport coats, stiffly starched dresses, and turn their noses to things that don't fit in this idea of "perfect". And, Colonel Stick-in-the-Mud . . . could that be any more on the nose or funny of a name to give him??!
Perhaps there is an excellent refrain you could use, that would elevate the read-aloud-ability of your story, and also drive the plot forward? like how Loren Long uses onomatopeia to create a rhythmic refrain that keeps a consistent pattern, but differs in words depending on the characters entering the bus in THE YELLOW BUS. Or, like how Beatrice Alemagna's titular refrain drives her plot forward, reveals her character's feelings, and then, the way it is used at the end of the story leaves us smiling and smirking.
Finally, could you use a different sense--taste, smell, feel, or hearing, that can reveal something MORE about the character, or the plot? like in Maurice Sendak's brilliant last page of WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE, where the text is so perfect, and so revealing of how much Max's mother loves him, and how five little words can convey the feeling of home so well that he didn't even need (and didn't use) an illustration on this page to show that feeling. "and it was still hot."  Now it's your turn. Go back to your picture book work in progress. Where are the natural page turns in your story? Separate them through spaces, or with a physical line, or through numeric pagination. This is a part of your revision--not how you have to/are recommended to submit your manuscript. Then, go word by word, line by line through the text. As you do, imagine what the illustrations will be on this page of text (again, this is a revision practice. Do not write illustration notes unless they are necessary when you format your picture book text for submission!). Where are there redundancies in the text and art? (Strike the text). As you work to revise the text and improve it, ask yourself, How can I create descriptions that show us what we won't already see in the text? And then, dig in. Work your magic to elevate the non-visual descriptions. Can't you hear me clapping for you, cheering you on? Maybe you can't see that you're close to the finish line with this manuscript. But I can. "You can do it!" "You've got this!" **If you want the complete updated list of DIGGING DEEPER INTO REVISION: QUESTIONS TO REVEAL AND ELEVATE YOUR PICTURE BOOK MANUSCRIPT, then comment LIST below*, and I'll send it to your inbox.** *your email shows up only to me, not in the comments Happy Revising! -Katrina ✨  Katrina Moore is an author and former elementary educator. She holds a M.A. in Teaching and taught for thirteen years in Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, and New Jersey. She writes in Georgia, where her mission is to create books that children will hug for ages. She is the author of CHANG'E ON THE MOON, illustrated by Cornelia Li (HarperCollins, Sept. 3, 2024), and THE STAR IN YOU (Macmillan/Roaring Brook, Oct, 15, 2024), and the acclaimed and beloved picture books, HOPE IS A HOP, SOMETIMES LOVE (named a Bank Street College of Education's Best Books of the Year 2023), ONE HUG, GRANDPA GRUMPS (a Georgia 2023 Picture Book Award finalist), and its companion, GRUMPY NEW YEAR , as well as the forthcoming BIG JOB FOR LITTLE BABIES board book series, illustrated by Benson Shum (Abrams Appleseed, 2025). She is also the author of the humorous TEENY HOUDINI chapter book series, illustrated by Zoe Si, starring the magic-loving, mayhem-making Bessie Lee in TEENY HOUDINI: THE DISAPPEARING ACT, TEENY HOUDINI: THE SUPER SECRET VALENTINE, and TEENY HOUDINI: THE GIANT PANDA PLAN. TEENY HOUDINI: THE DISAPPEARING ACT is nominated for the 2025 Washington State Otter award, and GRANDPA GRUMPS is nominated for the 2025 Illinois State Monarch Award.
When she is not writing, she is cooking without a recipe, painting outside the lines, adventuring, or snuggling up with her two kids, husband, pups, and of course, a cozy book. Connect with her on twitter @kmoorebooks or at www.katrinamoorebooks.com.
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  It’s honestly been so long since I’ve written a blog post that I had to remind myself how. How do I begin?! Like all writing, it simply requires starting (or re-starting). May this blog post about beginnings also be the beginning of more regularly posted tidbits of writing inspiration to you, dear writer. Thank you for hanging in there with me. I’m happy to reconnect with you! But this blog post is not just about starting again. (cue Taylor Swift’s “Begin Again,” and feel free to listen to it as an added muse to this blog post!) It’s about beginnings that beg us to read more. Ones that start strong, and force us to flip that page. Ones that compel us to keep going, even though it’s way past bedtime, or we’re in the middle of another book, or we had something else really important to do…but too bad for that (and yay for this book with the brilliant beginning!). How do we begin like that? I spent a good chunk of this year revising a middle grade project into a chapter book series. To do so successfully, I dug back into my chapter book notes that I collected while writing the Teeny Houdini chapter books. I found the notes reviving – reminding me of things I “knew” but wanted to refocus on. And, then, I found myself adding to my notes, and doing a few more studies on recent chapter books that fit the bill of beginning in a really strong way, and begging me to read them through to completion. My studies focused on chapter books, and that’s what I’ll share below. But, these insights can be applied to middle grade writing, and older novel writing, as well as picture books. For picture books, you’ll want to do the following in the first one to two spreads, as opposed to the first chapter. And you’d also be wise to Dig Deep into Revision, too! To start strong, and give the reader a sense of what’s to come, I found that each of the first chapters in these un-put-downable books included two very clear things: 1. We know who the main character is, and we feel connected to them! 2. We know the plot! A clear problem is presented, and we are now invested in it being solved. If you’ve been around the blog, or attended my writing workshops, or gotten a critique from me, you’ll know that I like to ask questions to get you thinking! So here are the questions we want answered in the beginning (first chapter, or first two spreads for picture book): Who is the main character? Why do we care about them? What is their problem/goal? Here are the answers revealed in the first chapters of the mentor texts I used during my latest chapter book revision for my current work-in-progress. (Yes, I also referred back to Teeny Houdini: The Disappearing Act, because aren’t we always learning from ourselves and improving, too?! Also…how’d I do it?...remind me!) DORY FANTASMAGORY by Abby Hanlon  Who is the main character? Why do we care about them?* Dory, aka Rascal. She’s the baby. She’s always annoying her family, and spends most of her time living and playing inside her own head. *If that’s not the most true-to-childhood experience ever, I don’t know what is. I immediately feel for her and totally relate! What is their problem/goal? Her older siblings, Luke and Violet, try to scare her, and it backfires on them. *This ignites Dory’s imagination and it’s so funny and joyful. We must keep reading to see how it continues! SKUNK AND BADGER by Amy Timberlake, with pictures by Jon Klassen  Who is the main character? Why do we care about them? Badger! He loves rocks and privacy and not being bothered. He takes his work very seriously. Skunk! He’s carefree and impulsive. And he’s Badger’s new roommate. *Oh, how can we not relate to these two, and also feel the tension of these opposite in temperament characters now being stuck together as roommates?! Whether you’re more Badger or more Skunk, we feel for each of the characters, and also connect with them! What is their problem/goal? How is Badger going to live with Skunk? How is Skunk moving in going to disrupt Badger’s way of life? *And, as I needed to know…is Badger going to be nice to him?! THE STORY OF GUMLUCK THE WIZARD by Adam Rex  Who is the main character? Why do we care about them? Gumluck! He is a little wizard with the biggest heart! He cares deeply about others, and especially about pleasing others. He’s hardworking, and well meaning, but not great at reading others, or the seeing things from their perspective. *I immediately wanted to hug him! I felt his big heart right away, and that reeled me in. And then his lack of awareness of what’s actually going on – I felt for him, and was invested in his growth and his journey! We also meet another character in chapter one who makes us laugh (you’ll have to check out the book to find out!), and we feel connected to because *they get it! Are they a little bitter? A little curmudgeonly? You bet…that makes them all the more relatable. And, what a great way to build tension from the start when these two characters meet each other in this first chapter. What is their problem/goal? It is revealed that Gumluck’s secret is that he wants “to be crowned Harvest Hero at the Harvest Dance”. *But this seems unlikely given that no one in his town seems to actually like him or appreciate him (not even his new “friend”). I needed to read on because I was so invested in him achieving his dream, and also so aware of how far of a goal that was from where he stood. How was it going to happen?!  Who is the main character? Why do we care about them? Bessie Lee – she’s not “Teeny Houdini” yet, but she is the teeniest in her first grade class, the teeniest in her family, full of zippy energy, and eager to make a BIG impression! *We’ve all felt tiny at one point or another—whether physically, or simply not important enough, or visible enough to be noticed. Her energy is fun, and we want to see how that is contained, or NOT in the pages to come! What is their problem/goal? She’s determined to win the school talent show so that she can finally feel big! * I’ve heard from so many readers who connect to Bessie’s feeling, and it’s not at all to do with their small stature. So we feel for her, and we want her to succeed! Now that I’ve given you some examples, I’m putting you to work! Go grab any two character driven picture books, chapter books, or novels. If you have them handy, or can easily check them out form the library (they are very popular and have many books in the series!), I’d suggest trying this out on MAGIC TREEHOUSE #1 DINOUSAURS BEFORE DARK by Mary Pope Osborne, or THE NEVER GIRLS: in a blink by Kiki Thorpe. Only read the first chapter (or first two spreads if it’s a picture book). What are the answers to the questions: Who is the main character? Why do we care about them? What is their problem/goal? Finally, it’s your turn! Go back to your Work-In-Progress. Only read the first chapter (or first intended spreads of your picture book). Who is the main character? Why do we care about them? What is their problem/goal? Does your beginning reveal this important information? Does it beg us to read on? If not, you can also restart. The magic, I believe, is always in revision. Bring us a beginning that we never want to end. Happy Writing! -Katrina ✨  Katrina Moore writes in Georgia. She holds a M.A. in Teaching and taught elementary school for thirteen years in Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, and New Jersey. Her mission is to create books that children will hug for ages. She is the author of the picture books, HOPE IS A HOP, illustrated by Melissa Iwai (Penguin/Dial, March 2023), SOMETIMES LOVE, illustrated by Joy Hwang Ruiz (Penguin/Dial, Summer 2022), ONE HUG, illustrated by Julia Woolf (HarperCollins/Tegen Books, Dec. 2019), GRANDPA GRUMPS, illustrated by Xindi Yan, and its companion, GRUMPY NEW YEAR (Little Bee Books, Dec, 2022), and the forthcoming CHANG;E ON THE MOON (HarperCollins, September '24), and THE STAR IN YOU (Macmillan/Roaring Brook, October '24). Her humorous TEENY HOUDINI chapter book series, illustrated by Zoe Si, star the magical, mischievous, mayhem-maker Bessie Lee. TEENY HOUDINI: THE DISAPPEARING ACT, TEENY HOUDINI: THE SUPER SECRET VALENTINE, and TEENY HOUDINI: THE GIANT PANDA PLAN are all available now (HarperCollins/Tegen Books).
When she is not writing, she is cooking without a recipe, painting outside the lines, adventuring, or snuggling up with her two kids, husband, pups, and of course, a cozy book. Connect with her on twitter @kmoorebooks or at www.katrinamoorebooks.com. Katrina enjoys traveling near and far to visit schools and students, as well as teachers, librarians, and aspiring writers. For inquiries about speaking, presentations, workshops, panel participation, or school visits, please see the author visit page and contact her to schedule a visit!  Hello, hello! It's been a HOT minute. Seriously. HOT. I hope you've been able to stay cool. I've been escaping to the beach and pool whenever I can. I've also made it part of my summer morning routine to sit right by the air conditioning vent with a ginormous pile of picture books (and my daughter, and my son, and my two huge dogs) all on my lap. Okay, so it doesn't stay cool for long. But it's snug in the best way. It's no secret that in order to write well, you have to read a lot of books in the genre that you write in. It's also common (and very good) advice that if you are trying to submit new work for publication, then you should be reading new books, so that you are up to date on what the market looks like right now.* So for this post, I'm focusing my examples on books that have published within the last two years (including my newest picture book, SOMETIMES LOVE, which just published this month!) In addition to reading a lot this summer, I've critiqued a lot of picture book manuscripts (which, by the way, is another highly recommended, and stellar way to get better at writing your own manuscripts!). During these critiques, I found myself asking the same questions over and over again. In this post, I'll share some of these questions, and show you some recent picture books that answer these questions exceptionally well, to help you dig deeper into revising your own picture book manuscript. *More on marketability of picture books on this previous blog post. Is this the best title for this story?
How can you create a clearer cause-effect relationship between what the character wants, and what happens as a result of their attempts to reach that goal?  I'm going to use my TEENY HOUDINI chapter books as an example here, again. Because this question was the one I struggled with the most while plotting out each of the books. In order to move your story along in a clear, linear, way, this question needs to be considered. In TEENY HOUDINI: THE GIANT PANDA PLAN, Bessie meets a baby panda and realizes that pandas are in danger. So she crafts a plan to help save them, and rallies her first grade class to do the same. But, as a result, she competes with her classmates to come up with the best plan, and mayhem ensues. At the lowest point, she's the farthest from her goal of saving the pandas, and it's all a result of the trouble she (and her classmates) caused along the way. Your Turn: Can you clearly connect the events in your story? A causes B causes C? Does every scene have the same energy/intrigue and passion as the opening scene? Where do you purposefully change this? For what effect?  C: Abi Cushman, ANIMALS GO VROOM, Viking, 2021  In Abi Cushman's ANIMALS GO VROOM! we immediately are hooked and want to take part in this guessing game. But we're going to be surprised when we turn the page! This pattern continues (all while building and showing a narrative through the art) throughout the entire book. It's the perfect suspenseful set up, and it carries us through the whole way. Your Turn: Are you changing the energy level as you move from one scene to the next? For what effect? Is there something another character could do, or an opportunity that presents, that would really endear to the main character's strengths to show us their growth and/or consistency?  In LALA's WORDS by Gracey Zhang, Lala is, in my opinion, perfect. She doesn't need to change (but the grown up around her does!), so she doesn't. Instead, we get a really satisfying moment(s) in the story where there is change. And, it reinforces Lala's behavior, her strengths, and the fact that she is perfect just as she is. You'll have to get the book to see for yourself. (This one also has one of the best under the jacket cover reveals. I love it so much!) Your Turn: Is there such a moment in your story? Or does your character do the changing? (Why?) Note: one answer is not better than the other. But one answer might suit the story you are trying to tell better. Is there a refrain that might serve this story well?  C: Jyoti Rajan Gopal and Surpiya Kelkar, AMERICAN DESI, Little Brown Young Readers, 2022  c: Jyoti Rajan Gopal and Supriya Kelkar, AMERICAN DESI, Little Brown Young Readers, 2022 In Jyoti Rajan Gopal's AMERICAN DESI, illustrated by Supriya Kelkar, the main character asks a question, "Which is the color of me?" Throughout the story, she explores this question beautifully. Not all stories need a refrain. But, when a story has one that works so well to carry the movement forward, and remind us of the character's struggle/goal, it's so lovely. Look at how beautiful this book is, too! Your Turn: Would your story be enhanced with a refrain? Where are the places where you make us have to flip feverishly to find out what happens next?
In Matthew Forsythe's MINA, he does this immediately! The opening spread introduces us to Mina's lovable character, then leaves us hanging. "Mina lived in her own little world where nothing every bothered her. Except for one thing." We need to know, so we turn the page. And then...and then... he makes us wait five more page turns before he lets us know "the one thing." During those five page turns, we are introduced to dad, made to laugh, and the tension from that initial suspense builds and builds until we reach a very satisfying, and yet more suspenseful answer. This book--every part of it, is masterful. Your Turn: How are you keeping us on our toes? Where are you leaving us in suspense? What could go wrong for this character? What's the worst thing that could happen?  c: Katrina Moore and Joy Hwang Ruiz, SOMETIMES LOVE, Penguin/Dial, 2022  Such a cruel thing to do! Torture your main character? Why would we do that?! Well, because we want our books to reflect the lives of our readers. And sad/bad/terrible things happen to all of us. How can we show them that they are not alone? How can we bring them on a journey with our character? How can we bring the story to a close with a truly satisfying ending? In SOMETIMES LOVE, by me and Joy Hwang Ruiz, our main character has to say goodbye to her dog. It's devastating. But this terribly sad, lingered upon moment, does lead to a very happy ending (and, in fact, it's the ending I wish I could have given myself in real life! That's the power of our stories. We *do* get to write the ending). Your turn: Are you raising the stakes for your character? Are you making it terrible enough for them? Are you delivering a satisfying and surprising ending? Where can you switch it up on purpose? Can you give us a response we don't expect, and also break from an established pattern in a way that is really humorous?
Scott Rothman does this expertly in ATTACK OF THE UNDERWEAR DRAGON, illustrated by Pete Oswald. He gives us three logical examples, followed by one that is unexpected, silly, and funny! "Cole had a lot ot learn. He learned how to sharpen Sir Percival's swords...spears...battle-axes...and knight pencils." It also makes us wonder, what does Sir Percival need all those knight pencils for? What are knight pencils? It's intriguing, but not distracting. Your turn: Where are you switching things up in your manuscript? Is there a way you can make this more surprising?  c: Rebecca Jordan-Glum, KITTY, Roaring Brook Press/Macmillan, 2022  Are you starting to sense a theme here? Surprises in the story hold our attention or re-engage us. Take a look at Rebecca Jordan-Glum's spread in KITTY to see how she does this. The text reads "so she grabbed the cat food and coaxed it back inside." This should give us relief. Whew. All is as it should be. Except that it's not! We see in the art that kitty has actually dashed outside, and a raccoon has come inside. Only Granny doesn't have her glasses on, so she can't tell that the wrong critter is in the house. Oh goodness. When I read this page to my six year old, his eyes grew huge. He covered his mouth to stifle a laugh, because he knew something that the main character did not. It was surprising, and so, so funny! And the start of major mayhem! Your turn: Where can you surprise us in your manuscript? What take away do you hope to leave the reader with?  Not all picture books need a message to impart! In fact, I would say that some of my favorite picture books do not have a strong, overt message. Rather, they leave me with a feeling, a wonder, a connection, a feeling of satisfaction. (I dive more deeply into satisfying endings here). So, then, if you're not hitting the reader over the head with a message, then what are you leaving them with? In Juana Martinez-Neal 's glorious book, ZONIA'S RAIN FOREST, we are introduced to Zonia, who we immediately love, her family, and her home, the rain forest. The rain forest calls to Zonia and we follow her as she ventures through it. By the end, we love her rain forest as much as she does. And so the last line of this manuscript is one that we feel. It's a call to action. It's powerful. Your turn: What's your last line? Is it delivering to your reader what you hope that it will? Overall, these questions have to do with intent and purpose. Why are you making this choice? What can you do on purpose to create the effect you want? What is it that you're really trying to do here? (By the way, these are also the same questions I end up asking myself while revising my picture book manuscripts). I hope this list of questions, as well as my Picture Book Revision Checklist, is helpful to you as you revise. **If you want the complete list of DIGGING DEEPER INTO PICTURE BOOK REVISION QUESTION, then make sure you're signed up for my (free) Writing Blog! I've sent/am sending the list to all Blog subscribers.** Do you have other questions you ask your manuscript/yourself often? What tried and true ways do you use to you improve your story when you know it needs something but feel stuck? Share in the comments below! Happy Writing! -Katrina ✨ P.S. *For those inquiring about manuscript critiques and editorial services, I offer a very limited amount, due to a full schedule. If interested, please use the form on my contact me page to reach out about availability and more.*  Katrina Moore writes in New Jersey. She holds a M.A. in Teaching and has been an elementary teacher for thirteen years. Her mission is to create books that children will hug for ages. She is the author of the picture books, SOMETIMES LOVE, a powerful and poetic exploration of love---from giving, to growing, to sometimes letting go, illustrated by Joy Hwang Ruiz (Penguin/Dial, Summer 2022), ONE HUG, illustrated by Julia Woolf (HarperCollins/Tegen Books, Dec. 2019), GRANDPA GRUMPS, illustrated by Xindi Yan, its forthcoming sequel, GRUMPY NEW YEAR (Little Bee Books, Dec. 13, 2022), the forthcoming HOPE IS A HOP illustrated by Melissa Iwai (Penguin/Dial, March, 2023), and more to come. Her humorous chapter books series, TEENY HOUDINI, illustrated by Zoe Si, star the magical, mischievous, mayhem-maker Bessie Lee. Books 1, 2, and 3 are all available now (HarperCollins/Tegen Books). When she is not writing or teaching, she is cooking without a recipe, painting outside the lines, or snuggling up with her two kids, husband, pups, and of course, a cozy book. Connect with her on twitter @kmoorebooks or at www.katrinamoorebooks.com.  Wow, it’s November. I’m not sure how that’s possible. On one hand, it still feels like 2020, and on the other, I could fill encyclopedias with how much has happened each month, day, and moment of this year. It’s been wonderfully busy—full of ups and downs, and all very dizzying. But...I’m finally readying myself to work on a big writing project that I set a goal to complete . . . LAST OCTOBER. Sigh. Was that a sigh and nod from you, too? Oh, good! I’m not alone. This, I know. In fact, if there’s one common thread among *everyone* these days, it’s probably that we need to give ourselves a little, or a lot, of grace. It’s okay. It’s okay. I keep reminding myself of this. Because in this time that I have not written THIS THING, I did write a handful of new somethings. Some of which are becoming books! Some of which are out *there* finding the perfect champion. Some of which were scribbles and scrabbles . . . and maybe, some day, something more. But now, it’s November. That’s two months before the new year. Next year is going to be busy-in-the-best-way for me. I have five books releasing in 2022—the three TEENY HOUDINI chapter books, and picture books, SOMETIMES LOVE, and GRUMPY NEW YEAR!!! So . . . I am setting a *new goal* for myself to start and finish THIS THING before the end of the year. (unofficially like the NaNoWriMo challenge, but I'm giving myself two months!) When I’m drafting, I purposefully do not read any books in the same genre/vein of what I am writing. I don’t want any voice except my own coming into the story. However, I *do* do some work beforehand to infuse myself with books that I love. Books that I’ve fallen head over heels for, whose essence I want to become infused into part of my subconscious so that it guides my writing in an intentional way. I make a point to choose a variety of books, from various authors, to study. What is it I’m studying? I’m seeking a tangible way to answer, What Makes Me Fall For A Book? And, after much research, it comes down to this: The author’s voice. What is a literary voice?! There are a lot of fancy and official definitions and resources to explain it*. To me, an author’s voice is their individual personality coming through their words. It’s distinct, palpable, feels alive, and yet, through their different stories, feels consistent. It’s the way *only they* can tell that story. It’s both full of them, and yet, fully open to become the reader’s story, too. Here are some notes for myself (and now, for you, too!) that I’ve taken from studying some of my favorite authors’ books:  Author: Kate DiCamillo What Captivates Me: characters are memorable, full of warmth and hope How? Use very specific, unique, quirky details Example: “Frank thought how mysterious the world was, how unexplainable and sometimes frightening. But to sit in the kitchen and read to someone he loved and to push back the darkness with a story—that was a wonderful thing.” - pg. 88, Franklin Endicott and the Third Key, Kate DiCamillo, Candlewick 2021
 Author: Tammi Sauer What Captivates Me: she creates extremely lovable characters that we want to be friends with; their struggles are very relatable and they have true to kid emotions Example: check out A LITTLE CHICKEN, illustrated by Dan Taylor, Sterling 2019 She shares Dot’s story in such a sweet, fun, pun-ny way that remind readers it’s okay to feel chicken, and when you need to, you’ll be brave. And what a perfect name for this adorable main character who feels too small to be brave!
Now it’s your turn. What makes you fall for a book? How can you capture those tangible elements and infuse them into your own writing voice? I’m rooting for you. Maybe yours will be the next book that I fall for!
Happy Writing! -Katrina ✨ *More Resources For You: How To Get Six Pack by Tammi Sauer “You need to feed your muse and writing ability.” - Tammi Sauer https://taralazar.com/2018/09/26/how-to-get-a-six-pack-by-tammi-sauer-plus-a-giveaway/ Six Golden Rules for Writing Middle Grade: “See through their eyes, not yours.” -Erin Entrada Kelly https://www.writersdigest.com/write-better-fiction/6-golden-rules-of-writing-middle-grade How and When to Develop a Voice: https://literaryterms.net/when-and-how-to-develop-a-voice/
When she is not writing or teaching, she is cooking without a recipe, painting outside the lines, or snuggling up with her two kids, husband, pups, and of course, a cozy book. Connect with her on twitter @kmoorebooks or at www.katrinamoorebooks.com.
Hello, writers! Happy 2021! I’m writing this blog post from the same house I’ve quarantined in for the majority of 2020, in the same home-office, in the same chair . . . yet something feels different. Despite it being below freezing, I’ve got the windows cracked open. The air drifting in is cold. But it’s also crisp, cathartic, and new. It’s full of possibilities. That’s what a new year promises . . . possibility. A blank page to be filled with anything. Personally, I’m hoping to flesh out a new middle grade idea that I’ve collected bits and pieces for in 2020. Through the darkest days of the year (and there were many, unfortunately), I found myself needing to write. I had so much to let out, and my notebook was the safest place to release these raw and honest feelings. In these dark moments, I wrote and wrote and wrote. Not much made sense. Not much tied together. But I wrote and wrote my way back to joy, however fleeting it was. And I captured the joy of each day. I wrote down those moments, too, to remind myself to focus on the light. To let the light guide me. And it did. One of these cathartic writings morphed into a picture book manuscript that will be published by Dial/Penguin in 2023 (stay tuned for more soon!). So when I look back to 2020, despite the many tragedies of the year, and in some ways, because of some of them, there was much joy, some magic, and so much love. That’s what I’m hoping to capture in this next middle grade project, now that I’m in the proper headspace to start writing it . . . joy, and magic, and love. As I begin to draft this new novel, I’ve pulled out a checklist that I made for myself, something I’ve named CHAPTER 1 & 2 CHECK. It’s a checklist I’ve made after studying many of my favorite middle grade novels, including THE TIGER RISING by Kate DiCamillo and HELLO, UNIVERSE by Erin Entrada Kelly. When I “study” a novel, I re-read the book as a writer…looking for those literary devices that make the writing wonderful. To do this, I’ll type out the first chapter or two of the book (or the scene I’m studying). Then, I’ll make notes on my typed version of the text (because I can’t bear to mark up the beautiful book!). Finally, I’ll re-read the notes I marked, write out the revelations I made, and turn it into a checklist question to use when I revise my own writing.  A revelation I had after studying the first paragraph in THE TIGER RISING by Kate DiCamillo was that “we get a sense of who the main character is, we’re intrigued, and it’s hooking us!” all within the first few sentences.  And a note I wrote down after studying chapter one of HELLO, UNIVERSE by Erin Entrada Kelly was that “by paragraph one, we know who, where, a sense of why, and we’re intrigued to know the details.” If you haven’t studied books in the genre you’re writing, I’d highly recommend it. I do this frequently and with a wide range of books within the genres I write in-- picture books, chapter books, and middle grade. It’s the best way I’ve learned what works. And reading and studying widely, and taking notes on my notes, allows me enough space from the mentor text to then apply what I need specifically for my own writing. So, without further ado, here’s my CHAPTER 1 & 2 Checklist. I hope it’s helpful to you! (If you're looking for my picture book revision checklist, it's here!) Of course, nothing will be more powerful than studying mentor books yourself, and making your own checklist. But here’s mine to supplement yours: CHAPTER 1 & 2 CHECKLIST: By Katrina Moore
I have an “Every Chapter Checklist” that I’ve compiled as well. I’ll share that in a later post (make sure you’re subscribed to the blog so you don’t miss it!). As we begin this new year, I wish you endless possibility and a notebook full of magic. A blank page to be filled with anything. What will you fill yours with? Happy Writing & Revising! Katrina ✨  Katrina Moore writes in New Jersey. She holds a M.A. in Teaching and has been an elementary teacher for eleven years. Her mission is to create books that children will hug for ages. She is the author of the picture books, ONE HUG, illustrated by Julia Woolf (HarperCollins/Tegen Books, Dec. 2019), GRANDPA GRUMPS, illustrated by Xindi Yan (Little Bee Books, April 2020), and the forthcoming SOMETIMES LOVE, a powerful and poetic exploration of love---from giving, to growing, to sometimes letting go, illustrated by Joy Hwang Ruiz (Penguin/Dial, Summer 2022). Her humorous chapter books series, TEENY HOUDINI, illustrated by Zoe Si, star the magical, mischievous, mayhem-maker Bessie Lee. Books 1 and 2 will publish Winter 2022 (HarperCollins/Tegen Books).
When she is not writing or teaching, she is cooking without a recipe, painting outside the lines, or snuggling up with her two kids, husband, pups, and of course, a cozy book. Connect with her on twitter @kmoorebooks or at www.katrinamoorebooks.com. Raise your hand if you’re feeling incredibly productive with your writing goals right now . . . Don’t be shy . . . No one? No one? No wonder . . . we are still smack dab in the middle of a global pandemic [heavy sigh]. Know this . . . you are NOT alone! See all those hands raised [there are no hands raised]. . . that’s how many people’s writing is thriving right now. If you’ve been following my writing journey (thank you!) you may be thinking . . . but you *JUST* had two different book deals announced “smack dab in the middle of a global pandemic [eye roll] ” and, you are not wrong. I’m so excited about the announcements for SOMETIMES LOVE & another picture book, and the TEENY HOUDINI Chapter Books announcements! But, remember, that in order to announce a book deal with an author and an illustrator, it requires both to receive, review, sign, and return the contracts. And when the project is acquired first with text only, and then an illustrator is chosen by the publisher, it can take a bit of time. Teeny Houdini was acquired last July, so it took almost a year before we were ready to announce it. Sometimes Love’s announcement happened a bit quicker. It was acquired late January 2020, and we were able to announce it six months later. So . . . all this is to say that the deals began pre-pandemic, and happened to announce during it. I’ll share more about both upcoming projects in the months to come. But let’s get back on track! We were talking about being unproductive with our writing---feeling like we’re smack dab stuck in the middle of goop.  Photo credit: Wildlife Alliance So how do we get UNSTUCK? On July 16th, I had the great pleasure of joining my friend, author Josh Funk, on his new Instagram Live Show: Funk & Friends. We talked about books, the inspiration behind them, and he asked me to share some writing tips on getting unstuck. Check out the episode to listen to our fun conversation. After the show, I realized I had much more to share about ways to get unstuck, which I will finally . . . without further ado! Disclaimer: I cannot promise that any one of these tips will work for you. I’d suggest trying out a few (or all) and seeing what sticks, er, unsticks! Personally, I use a variety of these and often discover new ways that work through experimentation and play. Here we go . . . GETTING OUT OF THE GOOP:
The key here is to make sure they're different (one you're starting and one you're refining, or different genres, structures, etc.) so you can approach each with fresh eyes. Also, this way, your writing for one project doesn’t bleed into the other, leading to two projects that are too similar. *I elaborate on this in my chat with Josh on Funk & Friends around the 22 min. mark*
-No censoring -No erasing JUST KEEP GOING
And again, because it’s worth repeating...know that you are not alone. We are all in the ucky mucky goop together.  Photo Credit: Thailand Department of National Parks (courtesy of https://healthyhappynews.com/rangers-help-free-6-baby-elephants-trapped-in-thailands-mud-hole/) And we can help each other to get unstuck, and back into a writing groove, together.  Photo Credit: Thailand Department of National Parks
Wait, what about the first elephant?! Well . . . here’s what happened (as is convenient for the purpose of this blog post 😎). Baby Elephant found that the way out was not by staring at the slippery wall it couldn’t climb, but by turning around, and finding a new way out.  TA-DA! I hope these tips help you see a way out of the goop. One foot at a time. And lots of self care. I’m wishing you some writing magic, too. I’ll talk about voice in the next blog post: What it is, how to hone yours, and exemplary examples of voice in children’s literature. Make sure you’re signed up for the blog (see sidebar) so you don’t miss the post. I also tweet new #writingtips as they come to me. So if you’re not already, connect with me on twitter to get fresh tips every now and then. Happy Writing!✨ -Katrina  Katrina Moore writes in New Jersey. She holds a M.A. in Teaching and has been an elementary teacher for ten years. Her mission is to create books that children will hug for ages. She is the author of the picture books, ONE HUG, illustrated by Julia Woolf (HarperCollins/Tegen Books, Dec. 2019), GRANDPA GRUMPS, illustrated by Xindi Yan (Little Bee Books, April 2020), and the forthcoming SOMETIMES LOVE, a powerful and poetic exploration of love---from giving, to growing, to sometimes letting go, illustrated by Joy Hwang Ruiz (Penguin/Dial, Summer 2022). Her humorous chapter books series, TEENY HOUDINI, illustrated by Zoe Si, star the magical, mischievous, mayhem-maker Bessie Lee. Books 1 and 2 will publish Winter 2022 (HarperCollins/Tegen Books).
When she is not writing or teaching, she is cooking without a recipe, painting outside the lines, or snuggling up with her two kids, husband, pups, and of course, a cozy book. Connect with her on twitter @kmoorebooks or at www.katrinamoorebooks.com.  Hello, Writers! While most of my writing posts are craft-based, this one is going to address the other side of the coin that makes a writer successful...being a reader. Are you being a responsible reader? Are you respecting the reader you're writing for? From the moment children are born, they are amazing humans. They take in the world, make sense of it, and act accordingly. From the moment they are born. Therefore, as the writers for children, the readers of books to children, the buyers of books for children, the grown ups raising and shaping today's children (who will become tomorrow's grown ups), we hold a grave responsibility---whether we want to, or not. Every book we choose, read, buy, and hand to a child teaches them something more about the world (even the funny and absurd ones). We should be choosing books that children will love, yes. It's okay (and great!) to share the ones we loved growing up, too. We want them to become readers, so picking books that will engage them is essential! However, we also need to consciously and considerately think about the books we choose. For example, the first novel I read aloud to my second grade class this year was by one of my favorite authors of all time, Roald Dahl. We read JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH. But...that book was written in 1961. There is language that is not appropriate, that just wasn't "deemed" inappropriate in 1961. When I read these phrases and words, I make sure to pause, and explain that to the students. "This is not okay to say. It's never okay to say, but sixty years ago, they didn't think about it like that. It's great that we've learned since then and can read this now and know that it's not okay." Sometimes, it's a small conversation that we have, and sometimes, it's just something important to note, and then keep reading. So what questions should be we asking? Here are some that I think about when selecting stories to share: What might a child take away from this book? What perspective have I shown? Whose story have I shared? Whose story is missing from this narrative? Am I sharing books that reflect this child's experiences? Am I sharing a range of voices, experiences, and perspectives? As we know, it's important for there to be enough literature to both reflect all children's experiences, and provide windows into experiences they are unfamiliar to. Am I respecting the child's intelligence--their ability to absorb and comprehend complex information? Am I giving them access to literature that will build empathy? Am I allowing them to ask questions? Or, am I guarding them because I don't know the answers? Remember, from the moment children are born, they are amazing humans. They take in the world, make sense of it, and act accordingly. I am not suggesting exposing children to content or writing that is not age-appropriate. But I do believe that *how* you have a conversation about a tough topic is important. It's okay to not have the answers. In fact, it helps children understand that we are still learning, too. And empowers them. I've been surprised and impressed by the deep conversations I've had with first graders, second graders, and my own kindergartener and preschooler. When I read NOT QUITE SNOW WHITE, written by Ashley Franklin and illustrated by Ebony Glenn, to my second grade class in the beginning of the year, I did not present it as an alternate Snow White book. The little information I gave before reading was, "this is a book I love. I'm excited to read it to you and hear what you think," which is how I present most books that I read to children. Afterwards, a second grader raises their hand and says, "the words the other kids said are mean. That's not nice. I'm glad Tameika got to be Snow White because anyone should be able to be Snow White." A six year old said that. And it lead to a wonderfully deep conversation about race, confidence, and treating each other with respect.
When I read Kevin Maillard and Juana Martinez-Neal's FRY BREAD, to my kindergarten daughter and preschool son, they poured over each gorgeous illustration. My kindergartener pointed out that "their family members look all different, like in our family." When we read the lyrical and powerful words about how fry bread was made from the few ingredients given to the people after they were forced to move, my daughter wanted to know more. So we read the beautiful back matter. She asked tough questions. My preschooler said, "That's not fair. That's not nice." And I said, he was right. We talked about how it's important we remember that it happened, so that we do better now. It was a tough conversation, but I'm thankful for that beautiful book for opening us up to the conversation in a way that was accessible to my young children.  Here's my online review of FRY BREAD: "Read FRY BREAD to my second grade students. They loved it (me too!). What a powerful, important, beautiful book this is! It affirms Native people's lives and shows the loving, thriving, diverse community of Native Nations. Through lyrical text, stunning art, and thoughtful, honest back matter, this book shares an authentic, ownvoice perspective of history that is important for all children to know. It led to thoughtful discussion and so many wonderful questions. I highly recommend this for every early childhood and elementary classroom. And for families everywhere. Also, we all want fry bread, now!" Here are some more books that I've personally shared with students and my own young children. They're books that have sparked special and meaningful conversations. They're books that are among our favorites. What I've previously posted about HONEYSMOKE: "This is a tender and heartwarming book about a girl discovering her own color. She draws inspiration from mom and dad to come up with a color that’s all her own. I love the message presented here of finding your own color to express yourself. Readers, young and old, will be inspired to find their own color after reading this book. The illustrations are beautifully rendered---vibrant yet soft, bold yet gentle. As the parent of bi-racial children, I’m so glad this book is in the world and on our bookshelf. It’s one we’ll enjoy together, again and again!" What I've previously posted about HANDS UP: "HANDS UP is full of warmth and energy. It spins a phrase that has a negative connotation into one that is empowering and joyful. This book is a powerful celebration of the different ways we put our hands up---in happiness, in helping, in hope. Highly recommend!" What I've previously posted about THE OLDEST STUDENT: "THE OLDEST STUDENT is the incredibly inspiring and true story of Mary Walker. She learned to read at age 116! This book is beautifully written, capturing the perseverance, independence, and grit of the nation’s oldest student. Breathtaking illustrations. My second graders loved this—it sparked rich conversations and ignited excellent questions. This book belongs on every bookshelf!" Here's another great list: 31 Books To Support Conversations On Race, Racism, and Resistance, here: (there is some overlap and I haven't personally read all of these books, but I plan to!) https://blog.usejournal.com/31-childrens-books-to-support-conversations-on-race-racism-and-resistance-9dbabc28360e One of my favorite independent bookstores, Red Balloon Bookshop, St. Paul, MN, curated an amazing list of books, too. Check it out & purchase books here: https://www.redballoonbookshop.com/black-lives-matter?fbclid=IwAR0O5V6AVkRo4I7ua0A5-7ZG2My6CYkZ0ea6JPCrGqnT_XEpq6tPieQgVfs Literacy Activist and Librarian Edi Campbell shares a phenomenal list of books for children on this matter, too: https://crazyquiltedi.blog/2020/06/03/books-for-black-children/ You may also want to check out this list of own-voice books, organized by age group, by PenguinRandomHouse: https://storage.googleapis.com/classroom-portal-production/uploads/2020/06/5ff1a5e0-k12-black-creators-booklist.pdf HarperCollins Children's also shared a great thread of books by Black creators from the youngest reader through middle grade: https://twitter.com/HarperChildrens/status/1268225844134232069?s=20 Reading inclusive, own-voice literature is not something that should be done during a designated month only, or in the aftermath of a tragedy. The way to raise empathetic humans, to lay a strong foundation today as we grow tomorrow's adults, is to make this a regular, all-the-time practice. As an important gatekeeper---a teacher, a parent, an author, a gift-giver, a book-reader, a human, it's important that I stay informed, educated, and keep the child-reader's needs at the center of every book choice I do (and don't) make. The inclusive books I share are part of my daily read-alouds in my classroom. In my house, they are prominent on the shelves with other favorite books. They're not in a "multicultural" bin or stashed away. These are books we read because we love the story, the language, the illustrations. We want to reread them again and again, because they are great books. So...let's reflect: What questions are you asking young readers? What questions are you allowing them to ask you? What access are you giving them to content that will enrich and enlighten their view of themselves and of others? When we center, and give access to books that represent underrepresented voices (but equally as important and much needed voices), we are slowly, but strongly, brick by brick, home by home, heart by heart, child by child, building a better world, And, hopefully, these children we're shaping---they'll take in the world, make sense of it, and act accordingly. (Please note: this is only a tiny fraction of the own-voice picture books I love. Please add more own-voice picture books that *you* love and recommend in the comments. I want to continue to grow my list.) Let's build a better world together 🌍💜 -Katrina  Katrina Moore writes in New Jersey. She holds a M.A. in Teaching and has been an elementary teacher for ten years. Her mission is to create books that children will hug for ages. ONE HUG, illustrated by Julia Woolf, is a lyrical celebration of the different ways that hugs bring people together (HarperCollins/Tegen Books, Dec. 2019). GRANDPA GRUMPS, illustrated by Xindi Yan, is a humorous and heartfelt story featuring Daisy, and how she connects with her Chinese grandfather across cultures and generations (Little Bee Books, April 2020). Her humorous chapter books series, TEENY HOUDINI, illustrated by Zoe Si, stars the magical, mischievous, mayhem-maker Bessie Lee. Books 1 and 2 will publish Winter 2022 (HarperCollins/Tegen Books). More to-be-announced books are on the way!
When she is not writing or teaching, she is cooking without a recipe, painting outside the lines, or snuggling up with her two kids, husband, pups, and of course, a cozy book. Connect with her on twitter @kmoorebooks or at www.katrinamoorebooks.com.  It's the end of the year (and the end of a decade). For me, this is a time of reflection. It's actually something I do at the end/beginning of each month, and then, again, at the end of the year as a whole. Throughout the year, I have ongoing lists in my journal. I title a page for each, and then add to it throughout the year. This year, my page titles included: -New Writing: -Submission Ready: -Revised: -Major Highlights: Of course, there's the rest of my journal for musings, learnings, sketches, early drafts, revision notes, outlines, etc. After reviewing each of my lists at the end of the year, and going through my journals, I make a new list for the new year: GOALS. (I'll come back to goals in a later post!) I was proud to fill (and overflow) each of these pages this year. In fact, my major highlights page was bursting this year. Some Major Highlights This Year:-Trusting my gut & seeking new representation. Knowing what I need and want in a professional agent-author relationship. -Taking it seriously & staying grounded (and true to myself) when receiving multiple offers of representation. Taking my time to be thoughtful and ask potential agents and myself the hard questions. -Signing with the perfect-for-me agent & agency! Later, meeting my agent (on the east coast) and celebrating hopefully-soon-to-be-announced news, meeting Writers House agents on the west coast in person, and touring the west coast office!
-All the moments along ONE HUG's journey to becoming a real book in the world, on the shelves for readers. What a long journey it's been! This year I got to celebrate this book in it's various stages!
-Connecting with others as an author! Presenting at my first SCBWI conference, and attending and signing books at my first nErDCamp!
-Of course, connections made are the best, biggest highlights of the year. I chatted about this during a twitter #PBCHAT with my New In Nineteen Debut Group. Also, this group of creators debuted AMAZING books this year. Check them out if you haven't already! https://newin19.weebly.com/our-books.html  -And last, but certainly NOT least, ONE HUG debuted in the last month of this year, and I've been overflowing with joy and gratitude!    -So honored to have guest posted and been interviewed all over online! I share more on my writing journey, how ONE HUG came to be, what I hope it will do for readers, and some other fun traditions and tidbits! Check some of ONE HUG's online appearances here:
 Whew! What a year it's been! I've filled four notebooks, sold books in a new genre, and began writing in another genre! While the major milestones are definitely worth celebrating, it's also worthwhile (and important) to celebrate each moment that brings you to that milestone. Every moment that pushes you forward, and up, and along on your journey. It's been a year of new beginnings, branching out, and what's been most challenging, but also most important to my overall health and well-being, a year of balancing. As a mother to two young children and two high-energy dogs, a teacher, and a wife, I'm most proud that I've been able to balance it all and find the time to nurture my passion---my writing. I've grown in craft and curiosity. And I'm excited for what's to come in the new year (I'll write up a goals post to share in the New Year). For now, I'm wrapping up the year by spending New Year's Eve with my family. We're playing, partying, and not planning much of anything else! What are you most proud of this year? How are you wrapping up 2019?
Check out my Featured Author Post on the 12x12 Blog! I share more about my writing journey and how to take your career into your own hands: 
So here's a letter to you about why I wrote this book, what I hope it will do, and who I think it's for (Spoiler alert--it's for you.) Dear Reader, When I set out to write One Hug, I wanted to celebrate how powerful and transformative one connection could be—how one hug connects us uniquely, yet universally. At its heart—it’s about one hug connecting us in ways that sometimes words cannot. Like the overwhelming joy that one feels when reunited with their far-away family after a long separation. Or that comforting hug from a sibling that soothes us more than a thousand “it’s okays” ever could. I also wrote this book to give a voice and stage to the little Chinese-American girl in me who never saw herself accurately represented in the media. Growing up, none of the characters I knew were Chinese. Not on TV. Not in books. The few stories featuring Asian-American characters were issue-driven books surrounding race and identity. I never felt like being Chinese-American was my singular identity, but the media made it seem so. This book shows the more accurate version of myself and others. Like the characters in One Hug, my cultural identity influences my life, but it’s not my whole story. Upon first read, this book is a fun, rhythmic, easy read aloud that’s perfect for bedtime—celebrating summer nights, simple pleasures, and the people we love. And yet, when we dig deeper, asking, “Who are these characters? What are they doing? Why are they celebrating?” children, as astute as they are, will notice a cross-cultural family dinner, an immigrant family reunion, and three generations of a family. I hope it’s a book that all children will cozy up with—anyone who needs some love, and also those who love to hug! Hugs and Love, Katrina Moore  Ready to pre-order?! Available here https://www.harpercollins.com/9780062849540/one-hug/ and here https://www.amazon.com/One-Hug-Katrina-Moore/dp/0062849549 and wherever books are sold! Want to know more about the book? Click here: https://www.katrinamoorebooks.com/one-hug.html
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AuthorKatrina Moore is an author and former elementary educator. She writes in Georgia. where her mission is to create books that children will hug for ages. She's the author of ONE HUG, GRANDPA GRUMPS, SOMETIMES LOVE, GRUMPY NEW YEAR, HOPE IS A HOP, and the forthcoming CHANG'E ON THE MOON (HarperCollins, 2024), and THE STAR IN YOU. (RBP/Macmillan, 2024), as well as the humorous TEENY HOUDINI chapter book series, starring the magic-loving, mischief-making Bessie Lee, and more. Connect with her on twitter! Freelance EditorKatrina has professionally critiqued over hundreds of picture book manuscripts at writing conferences she has presented at, through her work as a council member, mentor, and presenter for the Rutgers One-on-One-Plus conference, as a Critique Ninja, and through her freelance editing services. Her editorial work and services, attention to detail, and ability to bring manuscripts to the “next level” have been highly praised by editors, agents, published authors, and those receiving critiques. For more details, and to inquire about rates, contact Katrina.
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