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No results were found in critique chat category.Search all items.
Win a 30-minute call with Dhonielle Clayton, New York Times bestselling author and Cake and Electric Postcard Entertainment's President, to discuss the industry. Dhonielle will also provide a critique of the first 30 pages of your manuscript during your call!
Middle Grade or Young Adult only, please.
Dhonielle Clayton is a New York Times bestselling author of The Marvellers series, The Belles series, Shattered Midnight, co-author of Blackout, Whiteout, The Rumor Game, and of the Tiny Pretty Things duology, a Netflix original series. She is COO of the non-profit We Need Diverse Books, and President of Cake Creative and Electric Postcard Entertainment, IP story kitchens dedicated to diverse books for all ages.
Image: Headshot of Dhonielle Clayton
Win a manuscript critique of up to 50 pages (20,000 words) and 30-minute chat with Hena Khan, award-winning children's author.
Picture Book, Early Reader, or Middle Grade only, please.
Hena Khan is a groundbreaking and award-winning author of picture books and middle grade fiction. Her titles include Amina's Voice, More to the Story, Under My Hijab, and more.
Image: Headshot of Hena Khan, photo by Havar Espedal
Win a 30-minute phone or video chat with freelance children's and young adult editor Julie Scheina to discuss your picture book, middle grade, or YA query, and any other industry questions.
Picture Book, Middle Grade, or YA only, please.
Julie Scheina is a former senior editor at Little, Brown Books for Young Readers with over fifteen years of experience editing acclaimed and bestselling books for children and young adults. Julie has edited more than 200 titles across a variety of genres, from picture books and poetry collections to middle grade and young adult novels. Please visit www.juliescheina.com to learn more about Julie's work.
Image: Headshot of Julie Scheina
Win a 30-minute call with Terry Catasús Jennings, author of the Definitely Dominguita Chapter Book series to discuss a critique of the manuscript of your first book in a proposed series and steps for submission.
Early Reader or Middle Grade only, please.
Terry Catasús Jennings is the Cuban-American author of JLG selection The Little House of Hope, The Definitely Dominguita Chapter Book Series, and co-author of the biography in verse: Pauli Murray: The Life of a Pioneering Feminist and Civil Rights Activist. She supports the mission of WNDB and is delighted to be able to help out in this way.
Image: Headshot of Terry Catasús Jennings
Win a 30-minute call from picture book author Alyssa Reynoso-Morris, including a picture book critique (of 1000 words or less) if the winner would like!
Alyssa Reynoso-Morris is a queer afro Latinx Dominican and Puerto Rican author, wife, mother, and community organizer. During the day she works with community organizations, nonprofits and government officials to make the world a better place. Then she puts her writer's hat on to craft heartfelt stories about home, family food and the fun places she has been.
Image: Alyssa Reynoso-Morris headshot
Win a picture book critique and 30-minute chat with award-winning author Isabel Quintero.
Available within the United States only.
Isabel Quintero is an award-winning writer from the Inland Empire of Southern California. She has authored: Gabi, A Girl in Pieces (Cinco Puntos Press), Ugly Cat and Pablo (Scholastic, Inc.) and Ugly Cat and Pablo and the Missing Brother (Scholastic, Inc.), Photographic: The Life of Graciela Iturbide (Getty Publications), and My Papi Has a Motorcycle (Kokila). Her books have garnered many starred reviews, awards, and have been included in multiple best of lists. When she's not writing she enjoys hiking, laughing, and cooking with her partner and beautiful child.
Image: Headshot of Isabel Quintero
Win a 30-minute industry and creative call with Jill Shinderman. Jill will also provide a critique of a picture book manuscript during your call.
Picture Book or Early Reader only, please.
Jill Shinderman is interested in diverse perspectives, engaging stories, and contemporary narratives with funny, quirky, endearing, and compassionate characters. Bring on the stories filled with humor, heart and hope!
Image: Headshot of Jill Shinderman
Win a 30-minute call with Tori Kosara, Senior Editor at DK, to discuss:
Winner can ask questions about the industry, too!
Nonfiction Picture Book or Children's nonfiction only, please.
Tori Kosara is a senior editor at DK where she edits and writes award-winning and best-selling nonfiction books for children and young adults. Originally from New York, Tori now lives in East London, England with her family and a story-time-loving Labrador.
Image: Headshot of Tori Kosara
Win a 30-minute manuscript review with author/illustrator Pat Cummings for your picture book manuscript or portfolio.
Author and/or illustrator of over 40 books, Pat Cummings teaches at Pratt Institute and Parsons and holds an annual Children's Book Boot Camp that introduces writers and illustrators to top editors, art directors and agents. Her recent books include Trace, a middle grade novel and the picture book, Where is Mommy?
Image: Headshot of Pat Cummings
Win a line-by-line critique of a non-fiction picture book or the first five pages of a non-fiction middle grade or young adult manuscript-plus a 30-minute call with Sibert-winner Cynthia Levinson.
Picture Book, Early Reader, Middle Grade, YA, or Nonfiction only, please.
Cynthia Levinson writes nonfiction for young readers, ages 5 and up, that focuses on social justice. Cynthia's books have won numerous awards, including the Sibert Medal, the Carter G. Woodson, Crystal Kite and Golden Kite Honor awards.
Image: Headshot of Cynthia Levinson, photo by Sam Bond Photography
Win a 30-minute call with Mónica Mancillas, author to discuss craft, querying, and publishing. Mónica will also provide a critique of your Picture Book manuscript or the first 10 pages of your Middle Grade manuscript.
Picture Book or Middle Grade only, please.
Mónica Mancillas is a musician and educator who authors picture books and Middle Grade fiction and non-fiction. She holds a B.A. in Anthropology from the University of California at Berkeley. Her books include Mariana and Her Familia (Balzer + Bray), The Worry Balloon (Roaring Brook Press, 2023), How to Speak In Spanglish (Penguin Workshop, 2023), and Viva! (Chronicle, 2024).
Image: Headshot of Mónica Mancillas
Win a 50-page manuscript evaluation and 30-minute strategy session with Book Coach Julie Artz to discuss your manuscript, pitching, next steps, or any questions you have about the industry.
Middle Grade, YA, Adult, or Memoir only, please.
Julie Artz spent her young life sneaking into wardrobes searching for Narnia. When people started to think that was creepy, she went in search of other ways to go on mystical adventures. Now she finds those long-sought doors to magical story worlds in her work as an author, editor, and book coach. An active member of the writing community, she has volunteered for SCBWI, TeenPit, and Pitch Wars and is a member of EFA, the Authors Guild, and AWP. A social and environmental justice minded story geek, Julie lives in an enchanted forest outside of Redmond, Washington, with her husband, two strong-willed teenagers, and a trio of naughty furry familiars.
Image: Headshot of Julie Artz
Win a 30-minute video call with YA and MG author, H.E. Edgmon, for feedback on your query letter and first 20 pages, and behind-the-scenes insights on navigating the publishing industry from an Indigenous, trans, and disabled perspective.
Middle Grade or YA only, please.
H.E. Edgmon (he/they) is a questionable influence, a dog person, and an author of books both irreverent and radicalizing. His stories imagine Indigenous worlds and center queer kids saving each other. His highly acclaimed THE WITCH KING duology is out now.
Image: Headshot of H.E. Edgmon
Win a 20-page manuscript critique (or a full-length picture book critique) followed by a 30-minute video chat with Elizabeth Lee, Editor at Penguin Workshop, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers.
Picture Book, Early Reader, Middle Grade, or YA only, please.
Elizabeth Lee is an editor at Penguin Workshop who is most excited about "hopeful-but-makes-you-cry" middle grade and young adult novels as well as select picture books. Some of her recent and forthcoming acquisitions include She Sang for India by Suma Subramaniam and Shreya Gupta, Lei and the Fire Goddess by Malia Maunakea, and Home in a Lunchbox by Cherry Mo. When she is not editing, Elizabeth is an author under the pen name, E.L. Shen (The Comeback - January 2021 and The Queens of New York - June 2023).
Image: Headshot of Elizabeth Lee
Win an AMA call with children's author Thushanthi Ponweera, to chat specifically about novels in verse. Thushanthi will also provide a critique of your query and first 30-pages during your call!
Middle grade or young adult verse novels only please.
Thushanthi Ponweera is an author and poet from Sri Lanka and a former WNDB Mentee. Her middle-grade verse novel I am Kavi is forthcoming from Holiday House in Fall 2023 and her picture book The Rainbow Bangles illustrated by Maithili Joshi comes out in Summer 2024 from Simon & Schuster BFYR. Her writing reflects the frustration she feels at the inequality and injustice she sees around her and the deep love she feels for her island home.
Image: Headshot of Thushanthi Ponweera, photo by Sanjeewa Weerasinghe
Win a 30-minute call, which will included a critique of your query and first 25 pages of your manuscript, with Tiffany Shelton, Editor and Manager / Acquisitions Outreach at St. Martin's Publishing Group.
YA or Adult only, please.
Critique will be delivered by the end of January / early February.
Tiffany Shelton is an editor at St. Martin's Publishing Group acquiring adult and young adult fiction across genres. She typically gravitates towards voice-driven narratives with dynamic storytelling, immersive worlds, and characters to love (or love to hate).
Image: Headshot of Tiffany Shelton
Win a critique of your middle grade or young adult query AND a 30-minute call with Molly Ker Hawn of the Bent Agency!
Molly Ker Hawn represents a host of bestselling and award-winning children's and YA authors including Dhonielle Clayton, Hilary McKay, Angie Thomas and more.
Image: Headshot of Molly Ker Hawn
Win a 30-minute call with Alex Aceves, associate editor at Holiday House Publishing, to ask all your burning questions about the industry! Alex will also provide a critique of your query and first 20 pages during your call.
Alex Aceves (she/her) is a Latine writer and editor originally from Mexico City and currently based in Brooklyn. She works as an associate editor at Holiday House Publishing, where she oversees the expansion of the Holiday House Spanish language publishing program while also acquiring YA and middle grade for the English language list.
Image: Headshot of Alex Aceves
Win a 30-minute call with author Meera Trehan to discuss the industry, craft issues, or any other writing-related questions you may have. Meera will also provide a critique of your query during your call.
Picture Book, Early Reader, Middle Grade, or Young Adult only, please.
Meera Trehan is the author of The View From the Very Best House in Town, an Amazon Editor's Pick and Junior Library Guild Selection. Her second middle grade novel will be released in 2024.
Image: Headshot of Meera Trehan
Win a 30-minute call with Annette Pollert-Morgan, Executive Editor at Sourcebooks Fire and Young Readers, to discuss the first 25 pages of your YA manuscript (fiction or nonfiction) and the industry.
Young Adult only, please.
Annette Pollert-Morgan, executive editor at Sourcebooks Fire and Young Readers, acquires young adult and middle-grade fiction (across genres), as well as the occasional nonfiction project and memoir. She loves working with debut authors to launch new voices and is particularly drawn to narratives that create-and validate-the teen experience in all its diversity. Annette has edited 13 NYT bestsellers, including novels by Marieke Nijkamp and Natasha Preston.
Image: Headshot of Annette Pollert-Morgan
Win a written query critique and phone call with Marissa to discuss query and any other project or industry related questions.
Adult only, please.
Marissa Higgins is a lesbian journalist. Her debut novel, The Wives, is forthcoming with Catapult Books in 2024. Her work has appeared in Best American Food Writing 2018, NPR, Salon, Slate, Washington Post, Atlantic, and elsewhere.
Image: Marissa Higgins headshot
Win a critique of the first 20 pages of your manuscript from Shelly Romero is the Lead Editor at Cake Creative & Electric Postcard Entertainment. Critique will be given over a 30-minute phone call where you may also ask Shelly general questions about the publishing industry.
Middle Grade, Young Adult, or Adult only, please.
Shelly Romero (she/her) is the Lead Editor at Cake Creative & Electric Postcard Entertainment where she creates, develops, and edits a diverse list of middle-grade to adult projects.
Image: Headshot photo of Shelly Romero
Win a 30-minute call with Michelle Lee, Assistant Editor at Dial Books for Young Readers to talk about the first 50 pages of your manuscript or picture book manuscript and any industry questions you might have.
Picture Book, Middle Grade, or Young Adult only, please.
Michelle Lee (she/her) received her M.F.A. in Writing for Children and Young Adults from the New School before joining Dial in 2019 and is a junior mentor with the Representation Matters Mentorship Program. In addition to editing her own titles, she assists Kate Harrison and Lauri Hornik.
Image: Headshot of Michelle Lee
Win a 30-minute call with Mina Hamedi, an agent at Janklow & Nesbit to discuss your query letter and any industry questions!
Mina Hamedi grew up in Istanbul, Turkey before moving to New York in 2010. She received her BA in Nonfiction and Global Identity from NYU's Gallatin School and an MFA in Creative Nonfiction from Columbia University. She joined Janklow & Nesbit in 2018 where she supports co-founder Lynn Nesbit is building her list of adult literary fiction and experimental nonfiction.
Image: Headshot of Mina Hamedi
Win a 30-minute phone or video call with Roma Panganiban, literary agent/assistant at Janklow & Nesbit, to discuss your query (written critique provided in advance of the call) and any questions you might have about the querying process, agent/author relationships, agent/editor relationships, or anything else about the publishing industry in general.
Adult genres only, please.
Since 2019, Roma Panganiban has closely assisted three agents at Janklow & Nesbit whose lists span both children's and adult markets, fiction and nonfiction, genre and literary. She is now signing clients in all of the above, with a particular affinity for character-driven literary fiction featuring underrepresented perspectives.
Image: Headshot of Roma Panganiban
Win a 50-minute Zoom chat with YA author/songwriter Mimi Cross. Send the first 3 chapters of your novel-in-progress, your query letter, and/or your synopsis in advance of the conversation, and Mimi will give you tips to make one or more of them stronger. Or, she'll give you a songwriting lesson! Winner's choice.
Born in Toronto, Canada, Mimi Cross is an author, songwriter, and arts educator who grew up in New Jersey by the beach. She received a Bachelor of Music from Ithaca College, where she worked on the college newspaper and became editor of the literary arts magazine, and an MA from New York University. Mimi lives with her son and a Siberian cat nicknamed The Dark Knight. Her first two novels are Before Goodbye and Shining Sea.
Image: Headshot of Mimi Cross
Win a query critique and 30-minute chat with Sarah Dass, YA author of Where the Rhythm Takes You and the upcoming When the Vibe Is Right. Sarah will discuss the query critique, and chat about writing and the industry.
Sarah Dass was born in Trinidad but has lived in Tobago since she was two years old. A graduate of University College London, she works as an office administrator by day and writes stories about the Caribbean by night. Sarah's debut novel, Where the Rhythm Takes You, was inspired by her childhood, spent in a seaside hotel.
Image: Headshot of Sarah Dass
Win a query critique and 30-minute Zoom (or phone call, your choice) with debut YA author Jen St. Jude. Ask me anything!
Jen St. Jude is the author of If Tomorrow Doesn't Come (Bloomsbury US, PRH UK, May 2023).
Image: Headshot of Jen St. Jude
Win a 30-minute call with Rebecca Friedman, agent and founder of Rebecca Friedman Literary. Rebecca will critique your query and first 50 pages and answer any industry questions you have.
Rebecca Friedman began her career at Greenburger Associates. From there, she worked at Sterling Lord Literistic and the Hill Nadell Agency, before starting her own agency in 2013. She is a graduate of Barnard College. Rebecca is interested in commercial and literary fiction with a focus on literary novels of suspense, women's fiction, and young adult, as well as journalistic non-fiction and memoir. Most of all, she is looking for great stories told in strong voices. She is especially interested in underrepresented stories by BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ writers.
Win a 30-minute call with Bloomsbury editor and romance author Camille Kellogg to discuss your query, the industry, and your goals. Camille will also provide a critique of your query and first 20 pages during your call!
Camille Kellogg is an editor at Bloomsbury Children's Books, where she acquires middle grade and young adult books. She previously worked at HarperCollins and Macmillan. She is also the author of the upcoming adult rom-com Just As You Are (PRH 2023).
Image: Headshot of Camille Kellogg
Win a 30-minute Zoom video chat with author/illustrator Debbie Ridpath Ohi during which Debbie will provide a critique of website or online portfolio, with your goals in mind (upcoming book launch, looking for work, etc.) and offer tips on how to improve your social media to help achieve those goals.
Debbie Ridpath Ohi is an award-winning author and illustrator who has worked with Simon & Schuster, Random House, HarperCollins and others. Her illustrations appear in books by Judy Blume, Michael Ian Black, and Linda Sue Park, among others. You can find out more about Debbie and her work at DebbieOhi.com.
Image: Headshot of Debbie Ridpath Ohi
Win a 30-minute call with Joanna Volpe, New Leaf Literary & Media's President and Literary Agent to discuss the industry. Joanna will also provide a critique of your query and first 20 pages during your call!
Joanna Volpe is the founder of New Leaf Literary & Media, an all service literary management firm. While her list of books is eclectic, her focus is consistent on client brand and career building.
Image: A headshot of Joanna Volpe.
Receive a 30-minute call with author Alison Green Myers to discuss your submission of up to 20 pages of your Middle Grade novel and query letter. The winner will be asked to submit a cover letter (apart from the query letter) with specific questions for Alison to attend to during the call.
Middle Grade, Novel in verse only, please.
Alison Green Myers is a writer and educator. She is the program director at the Highlights Foundation and the author of the 2022 Schneider Family Award winning A BIRD WILL SOAR (Dutton).
Image description: Headshot of Alison Green Myers
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