As you may or may not recall, I wrote a childrens’ novel last summer and submitted it to a literary agent. It’s a short grade school novel I’d place in the light fantasy/horror genre, and I wove some Christian themes into it. After being on the fence about it for six months, the agent finally decided not to represent me. While he said it was highly enjoyable, he didn’t feel deeply enough connected to the writing to represent it. I’d like to see if I can improve it before I send it to the next agent so it hopefully won’t get stuck on the fence again. Basically, I’m looking for some more test readers to provide me with some additional feedback. Being aimed at a grade school audience, it’s not long. Each of my kids made it through in a single sitting between dinner and bedtime.
If I had to describe the book in a single sentence, this would be it: A particularly naughty little girl discovers she can travel to a dream world where anything is possible but finds something lurking there that is even naughtier than she, a nameless, ageless fiend that wishes to consume her and all those she holds dear.
If anyone would be willing to lend me a hand by reading it over and brutalizing it up a bit, I’d appreciate it. Or if you have grade school kids who could read it over and let me know if they find any parts dumb and/or boring, that works too. Just drop me a note in the comments if you’d be willing help, and I can whisk you a copy.
Thank you.
I’ll give it a once-over.
We’d love to read it!
Is shopping by agent the usual way, instead of sending it straight to a publisher? What does the Evil Space Princess (Sarah A. Hoyt), the International Lord of Hate (Larry Correia), or the mob at the Mad Genius Club recommend?
“… a nameless, ageless fiend that wishes to consume her and all those she holds dear.”
No thanks – I read enough about Hillary on the web.
I’d love to read what you have!
Get my email from Harvey and send it. My future ex-wife is a children’s lit major. I’ll see if I can get her to give it a once over.
It sounds like a story about feeding your demon.
Have you tried Liberty Island?
I’d be willing. I’ve probably never advanced much further than the target maturity level, anyway.
@7 I looked at Liberty Island’s submission requirements, and my book didn’t really fit within the scope of the genres they expressed an interest in. I dropped them a line anyway to see if they would be willing to consider children’s lit, and I haven’t heard back.
Wow, that was a few more volunteers than I was expecting, which is good. I haven’t read it myself for 6 months, so I’m going to give it a once over myself and then I’ll send you off review copies. Thank you.
I’d love to see it. I read a lot of children’s and young adult stuff while my daughter was growing up, and I still check out some of the more interesting authors.
Not sure about my literary skill but the premise sounds interesting. I can give it my Armenian Theology once over.
I’ll be glad to run it by my crack team of curtain climbing crumb factories.
EdthePastor — What’s the difference between Armenian Theology and Arimian Theology?
I have a third grader who would love to help you out.
All volunteers, I sent off the copies to the e-mail linked to you here at IMAO comments. If you didn’t receive it or want it e-mailed elsewhere, let me know.