Tag Archives: Readers

Merry Christmas!

Santa

This year has been rough for many. Most never thought they’d live to experience a pandemic, yet here they are still clenched in it’s jaws with relief just out of reach. Many won’t be gathering with family members to keep themselves and those they love safe. That’s perfectly okay. Christmas looks different this year. It will come and go like any other crazy 2020 day, and we will still love each other when it’s over.

Safe travels to anyone braving the gathering experience. I hope everyone has plenty of food to stuff their bellies and joy to fill their hearts. And if it’s within your power, remember those less fortunate. Christmas should be about giving and less about taking. Also, remember to call those you know are alone to check on them and remind them how much you care, and to see if they need anything.

I send prayers out to those whom are ill this Christmas and fighting diseases. May God touch you with his grace, heal you, and bless this day and every day for your future.

Christmas my not be super merry this year, but it’s still Christmas. Have a blessed day!

P.D. Pabst
Blogger and writer of MG/YA fiction.

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Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a designated time to remember what we are thankful for in life. For many, it’s having our health to spend time with family and friends while gorging on amazing meals until our stomach feels like it will explode. But there are others who might be joyful they survived a fatal illness to be here celebrating with people they love. Or maybe, there are those thrilled to still have a job, maybe paid a mortgage off, or even happy because they got that iPhone they’ve always wanted.

All of this still holds true amongst this horrible pandemic. We all want to get back to the way life was before this virus, but it sometimes feels like a fantasy with cases starting to soar this season. So, for those that are still having family gatherings, small or large, I pray you stay safe. Wear a mask when required, keep your distance, and taken cautioun before kissing on loved one. (I vote for elbow bumps to be the new kiss!)

As for me, I’d like to thank:

  • My family and friends who’ve supported me with my writing.
  • My readers. (Because without y’all, I’d have no reason to have a blog!)
  • All my critique partners, beta readers, and anyone who has ever glanced at a few pitches/pages/chapters and offered feedback (The list is SUPER long and I LOVE you guys!).
  • Contest hosts for supplying fabulous opportunities with agents and mentoring, and for selecting me at some point in the past for one thing or another. (For example: Brenda DrakeAuthoress, Micelle Hauck, and Jessa Russo.)
  • Slush readers. (I know your eyes cross and we don’t send enough chocolate!)
  • The creator’s of Preditors & EditorsWriter’s Beware  and Absolute Write Forums. (Trust me when I say they’ll save you from agent and publishing scams.)
  • And finally (but not last), to God for giving me the strength to get through each day, especially for 2020! (For numerous reasons, but especially my health.)

I’m sure there are many things and other people I may have forgotten, and ask forgiveness if I have. Everyone in my physical and virtual life are very important to me. Y’all give me strength to become the best me. And yes, you complete me! (Go ahead, grab a tissue.)

Whatever your reason for being thankful today, I wish you the Happiest of Thanksgivings!

XOXO

P.D. Pabst
Writer and blogger of MG/YA Fiction

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Santa

Wishing all my family, friends, wonderful critique partners, virtual friends, and readers of this blog a Merry Christmas! Safe travels to everyone going out of town. I hope everyone has plenty of food to stuff their bellies and joy to fill their hearts. And if it’s within your power, remember those less fortunate. Christmas should be about giving and less about taking.

Also, I send prayers out to those whom are ill this Christmas and fighting diseases. May God touch you with his grace, heal you, and bless this day and every day for your future.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

P.D. Pabst
Blogger and writer of MG/YA fiction.

Carina Press: New LGBTQ+ Imprint Submission Call

Carina PressCarina Press, a digital-first imprint of Harlequin, is accepting submissions for a new trope-based LGBTQ+ contemporary romance line called Carina Adores, which will launch in early 2020. This is huge news for the LGBTQ+ writing community, readers, and lovers of all things romance!

For complete details on the specific tropes they are looking for and how to submit, just click the pretty rainbow above! (Note: Carina Press did not rainbow their name, though maybe they should because it’s so pretty! I did this independently for easy access and so the submission link will stand out from the parent companies.)

As always, good luck!

P.D. Pabst
Blogger and writer of MG/YA fiction

25th Anniversary: Virginia Festival of the Book

 

The Virginia Festival of the Book brings readers and writers together for a five-day celebration of books, reading, literacy, and literary culture. The annual festival will be held March 20-24, 2019. Programs range from traditional author readings and book signings to children’s programs and hands-on workshops. All programs are open to the public and, with the exception of a few ticketed events, the majority of Festival programs are free to attend.

An abbreviated list of past participants includes Rick Atkinson, Edward Ayers, David Baldacci, Maureen Corrigan, Edwidge Danticat, Kate DiCamillo, Rita Dove, Alan Furst, John Grisham, Jan Karon, Jim Lehrer, Frances Mayes, Colum McCann, David McCullough, Alice McDermott, Katherine Paterson, Jon Scieszka, Lisa Scottoline, Pete Seeger, Karin Slaughter, Alexander McCall Smith, Lee Smith, Bryan Stevenson, Elizabeth Strout, Judith Viorst, and Charles Wright. For a current listing, go here.

As always, have fun and learn lots!

P.D. Pabst
Blogger and writer of MG/YA fiction.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Santa

Wishing all my family, friends, wonderful critique partners, virtual friends, and readers of this blog a Merry Christmas! Safe travels to everyone going out of town. I hope everyone has plenty of food to stuff their bellies and joy to fill their hearts. And if it’s within your power, remember those less fortunate. Christmas should be about giving and less about taking.

Also, I send prayers out to those whom are ill this Christmas and fighting diseases. May God touch you with his grace, heal you, and bless this day and every day for your future.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

P.D. Pabst
Blogger and writer of MG/YA fiction.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving 2014

Thanksgiving is a designated time to remember what we are thankful for in life. For many, it’s having our health to spend time with family and friends while gorging on amazing meals until our stomach feels like it will explode. But there are others who might be joyful they survived a fatal illness to be here celebrating with people they love. Or maybe, there are those thrilled to still have a job, maybe paid off a mortgage, or even happy because they got that iPhone they’ve always wanted.

As for me, I’d like to thank:

  • My family and friends who’ve supported me with my writing. I LOVE you guys!
  • My daughter and grandson for bringing me joy in my life with their adventurous spirit.
  • My readers. (Because without y’all, I’d have no reason to have a blog!)
  • All my past and current critique partners (especially Diana DeBolt Johnson, Kathleen S. Allen. and G.Z Schmidt!). This includes anyone who has ever glanced at a few pitches/pages/chapters and offered feedback (the list is long).
  • Contest hosts for supplying fabulous opportunities with agents and mentoring, and for those who selected me at some point in the past, for one thing or another. (For example: Brenda Drake, Authoress (Jillian Boehme), and Michelle Hauck.)
  • The mentors that participated in contests. Your feedback was completely awesome!
  • All slush readers (agents, editors, mentors, etc.) are the bomb. We don’t send enough chocolate, and I apologize!
  • The creator’s of Preditors & Editors (linky still down), Writer’s Beware , Absolute Write Forums, Publishers Marketplace, QueryTracker and Manuscript Wish List. (I use them often.)
  • All the authors that allowed me to participate in their book releases or cover reveals!
  • For all the ARCs I received, because FREE BOOKS before they’re published is AWESOME!
  • I have a job and I adore working with all my coworkers!
  • And finally (but not last), to God for giving me the strength to get through each day.

I’m sure there are many things and other people I may have forgotten, and ask forgiveness if I have. Everyone in my physical and virtual life are very important to me. Y’all give me strength to become the best me. Thank you for being a part of my life!

Whatever your reason for being thankful today, I wish you the happiest of Thanksgivings!

XOXO

P.D. Pabst
Blogger and writer of MG/YA fiction.

 

@WriteOnCon Campaign for 2019 Conference (Critiques, Agent Calls, Sensitivity Reads, Publishing Chats and more!)

 

WriteOnCon.png

WriteOnCon is an online conference for kidlit writers and illustrators to teach, learn, and mingle. You do not have to be published to attend, nor do you have to leave your house! And if you think I’ve been sitting on my laptop waiting for the campaign to start, YOU ARE RIGHT! The campaign often has very affordable critiques and I WANT IN!

During the campaign, writers can purchase critiques of their queries, partial pages, or full manuscripts from NYT Best Selling Authors, publishing editors, or literary agents. Authors can also opt to purchase a sensitivity read of their manuscript. Writers can even purchase calls from a couple of literary agents to discuss the publishing industry. Some of the participants of the crits or chats include:

All purchases appear to include conference registration and entry into a raffle to win a critique, book ARC, or a phone call from an agent! (There will be multiple winners.) And of course, you can purchase only the conference if not interested in any of the critiques. The prices are:

  • General Admission: $1
  • Full Conference Admission: $5
  • Extended Admission: $10
  • Time Traveler Admission $15

No, you’re not reading those numbers wrong! This will be the cheapest conference you will ever attend that will be packed with hundreds and hundreds of dollars worth of information from the comforts of your home! What else could you ask for? For complete information of what the tiered admissions cover and to search through critiques you might want to purchase, go to the campaign page. The crowdfunding will end on December 6, 2018. so hurry if you want to purchase a critique. They’re going fast.

As for the conference, it’ll be February 8th – 10th, 2019. Mark your calendars and I hope to see you there, uh, virtually of course!

P.D. Pabst
Blogger and writer of MG/YA fiction.

Adult Fiction Interns Needed for The Bent Agency

The Bent Agency

The Bent Agency is looking for adult fiction interns. This is a great way to learn more about an agent’s work and decision-making process. Past interns have been writers for adults, adult librarians, elementary school teachers, MFA students, and passionate readers. This is an unpaid internship which will require a ten hour per week commitment and you do NOT have to live in New York.

They’re looking for someone who enjoys books by authors such as:

– Megan Miranda
– Tana French
– Eleanor Brown
– Jacqueline Sheehan
– Maria Semple
– Gillian Flynn
– Lori Roy
– Lori Nelson Spielman
– Anne Taylor
– Jane Austen
– Kristin Hannah
– Rosamund Lupton
– Kate Atkinson
– Jade Chang

They’ve had this posted for two days, so don’t delay if you’re interested. The candidates pile up super fast and the submission window could close soon. For complete details, go here. As always, good luck!

P.D. Pabst
Blogger and writer of MG/YA fiction.

Skylark Literary Middle Grade Competition

 

Skylark-Logo-CMYK

Great news! Skylark Literary Agency has put together a competition for fiction manuscripts geared toward young readers of ages 8-12. (Non-fiction is not accepted.) They are looking for outstanding new stories with strong characters. Submissions must be from unagented and unpublished writers.

The Guest Judges

Kirsty Stansfield, Head of Fiction, Nosy Crow

Lucy Pearse, Senior Editor, Macmillan Children’s Books

Charlotte Eyre, Children’s Editor, The Bookseller

The Prize

The prize will be a one-to-one editorial critique of your finished manuscript by phone, or in person (locations allowing), with Joanna and/or Amber. They will suggest ways in which you could polish and perfect your novel to improve its chances of representation and publication, and seek to answer any queries you may have about the children’s publishing industry in general.

The Deadline!

The deadline for competition entries is December 24, 2018. So CLICK HERE for how to enter together with the full terms and conditions.

As always, good luck!

P.D. Pabst
Blogger and writer of MG/YA fiction