Win a 50-page written critique from award-winning author Ellen Oh!

Middle Grade or Young Adult genre only.

Ellen Oh is a writer of children's books. Some of her books have won awards from organizations and people who are not related to her. She used to be a lawyer and an adjunct college instructor before realizing that it was all very boring and she enjoyed writing books much more. She is the author of the middle grade novels Finding Junie Kim, The Dragon Egg Princess, and The Spirit Hunters trilogy (Spirit Hunters, Island of Monsters, and Something Wicked), and the YA fantasy trilogy The Prophecy Series (Prophecy, Warrior, and King). She is the editor of the middle grade anthology Flying Lessons and Other Stories, and the YA anthology A Thousand Beginnings and Endings. Ellen is also a founding member of We Need Diverse Books (WNDB), a non-profit organization dedicated to increasing diversity in children's literature.

Photo Description: Headshot of Ellen Oh

Copyright Susie James Photography

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 45-minute social media critique + AMA call with JoAnn! She'll not only assess your social media to offer personalized advice on how to play to your strengths and build your personal brand, but she'll also answer any other questions you have about professional websites, establishing yourself online, and (perhaps most importantly) how to stay engaged without burning out. She's managed and grown We Need Diverse Books' online presence since 2017, and can offer accessibility tips, graphic design hacks, habits to avoid, insights into algorithmic flows and SEO, and more!

JoAnn Yao is the Social Media Manager for We Need Diverse Books. She holds a B.S. in Computational Media from the Georgia Institute of Technology and a M.A. in TV, Radio, & Film from Syracuse University. She has worn many hats throughout the course of her career, including researcher for the American Film Institute, script reader and TV Lit assistant in Hollywood, webmaster, online narrative game designer, video editor, and New Frontiers comic anthology writer.

Image: Headshot of JoAnn Yao

Win a written critique from Janine Le, founder and agent at Janine Le Literary Agency. Janine will review a picture book manuscript or dummy, graphic novel proposal, or the first three chapters and synopsis of a middle grade or young adult novel and provide written feedback.

Picture Book, Early Reader, Middle Grade, or YA only, please.

Janine Le launched Janine Le Literary Agency in 2022, where she represents authors and illustrators of books for children and young adults. She previously worked at Sheldon Fogelman Agency, interned at Sterling Lord Literistic, and completed NYU's Summer Publishing Institute.

Image: Headshot of Janine Le

Win a picture book critique from Jess Hernandez, author of First Day of Unicorn School.

Picture Book or Early Reader only, please.

Jess Hernandez has spent her grown-up life working with kids and books-as a teacher, a youth librarian, a freelance developmental editor, and a children's author. Her debut book, First Day of Unicorn School, illustrated by Mariano Epelbaum, came out in 2021 from Capstone and she has two other unannounced books under contract. Jess lives in a very small, very LOUD house in Washington with her husband, their three children, a puppy, and some rather terrifying rabbits.

Image: Headshot of Jess Hernandez

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 written picture book manuscript critique with Vicki Johnson, 2023 debut picture book author. Vicki will review your manuscript, line by line, and offer feedback via email, with one follow-up opportunity to answer questions.

Vicki Johnson's debut picture book is Molly's Tuxedo (Little Bee Books, June 27, 2023), illustrated by the incredible Gillian Reid. Vicki is a 2022 Lambda Literary Fellow, a 2020 #PBChat mentee, a first-gen Smith grad, and an MFA student in Writing for Children & Young Adults at Vermont College of Fine Arts, with a Picture Book Intensive semester certificate.

Image: Headshot of Vicki Johnson

Author Liz Garton Scanlon offers a picture book critique including line edits, margin notes, and a big picture revision letter. (Manuscript should be 600 words or less unless it's nonfiction, please.)

Picture Book only, please.

Liz Garton Scanlon is a poet and the author of picture books, chapter books, and middle grade novels. She serves on the faculty of the Vermont College of Fine Arts and lives in Austin, Texas.

Image: Headshot of Liz Garton Scanlon, photo by Elizabeth-McGuire

Win a picture book manuscript critique with graphic novelist and illustrator Nidhi Chanani.

Picture Book only, please.

Nidhi Chanani is a freelance illustrator, cartoonist and writer. You can find her on twitter and IG @nidhiart or visit her website everydayloveart.com

Image: Headshot of Nidhi Chanani

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 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 query critique and 30-minute Zoom (or phone call, your choice) with debut YA author Jen St. Jude. Ask me anything!

Young Adult only, please.

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 30-60 minute call with Doan Buu, Associate Art Director at Scholastic under the Cartwheel and Orchard imprints. During the call Doan will review your portfolio and field any questions you may have about your work and the publishing industry.

Picture Book or Early Reader only, please.

Doan Buu has worked as professional designer for over 20 years, ranging from online to on-air to print media. Hailing from Cleveland, Ohio, based in Brooklyn, New York, he is always on the look for new and exciting work.

Image: Headshot of Doan Buu

Win a critique of your query and first 5 pages written by Suzie Townsend, Literary Agent at New Leaf Literary & Media. Suzie will get in and make suggestions directly in your query and pages and provide a written critique.

Middle Grade, YA, or Adult only, please.

Suzie Townsend represents all brands of children's and adult fiction. She loves women's fiction, narrative non-fiction, memoir, and debut fiction. On the children's side, she is interested in select YA and MG. Suzie loves strong characters and voice-driven stories that break out of the typical tropes of their genres, and she's always looking for unique new voices in stories.

Image: Headshot of Suzie Townsend

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