I’m thrilled that PBParty finalist Heather Gallagher, is our Crit Master for this PBParty New Draft Challenge & Critique Train. Heather has lots of helpful tips and and awesome news to share. Wahoooooo!
Heather will critique a picture book manuscript for the first passenger to write a new PB draft and add their name to the Google doc. This train starts NOW and runs through March 21 Eastern. *Remember: You must write the entire first draft during this challenge for it to count. It’s okay to flesh out the plot ahead of time.
Tip: You don’t need to share your new draft for the critique. You can send whichever picture book you’d like feedback on the most–which could be your PBParty entry.
In this challenge, everyone is a winner! First of all, you’ll have a shiny new draft (or two). Wahooooo! When you complete the challenge and hop on the Critique Train Google doc, you’ll receive a critique from the passenger above you and give one to the passenger below you. Many writers have told me they’ve met trusted critique partners they continue to work with, which makes me SO happy!
Check out the Critique Train FAQ here.
Scroll down for a generous critique giveaway for a picture book or MG everyone can enter, even if you don’t hop on the PBParty Critique Train.
Here’s Heather!
My story is one of perseverance! It’s something we can never have enough of in this industry. My first picture book, Happy Pants – Why is Mummy so sad? was based on my experience of postnatal depression. It’s about a little boy trying to ‘solve’ the problem of his Mum’s depression. I wanted to show kids that it wasn’t their fault and that things would improve with time. The book was published in 2014 with Wombat Books here in Australia and was a recommended title in the Australian Family Therapists literary awards.
In 2019, my second picture book Scaredy Cat – based on my anxious dog was published with New Frontier Publishing.
Then, in 2022, I was a finalist in #PBParty! It was stupendously exciting and I thought my career was about to take off! Spoiler – I had two agents request more work and a publisher interested but nothing came of it. I’m afraid, that in spite of the wonderful success stories, this is also the harsh reality of what can happen. Later in 2022, I signed with an Australian agent based on the manuscript that won the #PBParty competition. That manuscript still hasn’t sold but I’ve rewritten it as a graphic novel – watch this space.
My first agent and I amicably parted ways in late 2023 and I’ve been dipping my toes in and out of the query trenches since then. In 2025, I was a #PBParty Honorable Mention and I’ve thrown my hat in again this year. In February, my debut middle grade, My Brother the Orangutan, was published with US publisher Stag Beetle Books. It’s probably worth mentioning that I have four traditionally published children’s books and all of them were picked up off the slush pile or treasure chest if you prefer! So, I’m currently in the midst of launching my middle grade – it’s for kids 8-plus about a boy who swaps bodies with an orangutan – and continuing to work on my craft.
While my ‘big break’ remains somewhat elusive, I’m living the life of a children’s author. I’m currently working as a writer-in-residence in disadvantaged schools and as a story-time presenter at my local library. I have been successful in obtaining widespread publicity for my middle grade novel and I’m continuing to write in practically all ages across children’s lit. As Whitney put it, the children are our future and I’m so incredibly proud to write for them and work with them.
TIPS
My biggest tip would be to notice what you notice. I tend to take notice of funny sayings – after someone complained about a frog in their throat, I wrote a story about a girl who literally coughed up a frog. When my anxious dog ran away from me at the beach one day, I accused him of being a Scaredy Cat – and that was the lightning strike of inspiration for my picture book. My kids are too old for picture books now but I love noticing what the kids I work with are interested in and talk about and that inspires a lot of my writing too.
My other tip comes from my journalism background and that’s to be concise. With picture books, especially when revising, I wonder about what words or passages are necessary. Now that I read to pre-schoolers for a living, I appreciate that less is definitely more when it comes to picture books. By working out where your page turns might be, you can figure out how many words you might have on a page. Ideally, you don’t want more than three sentences.
Wow, thanks for sharing all those helpful tips and your inspiring PBParty journey, Heather. I’m happy dancing for all your published books. Wahooooooo!
Heather Gallagher is an Australian children’s author, book reviewer and award-winning journalist. Her picture book Happy Pants (Wombat Books, 2014) was a recommended title in the Australian Family Therapist’s awards for children’s literature. Her latest picture book Scaredy Cat (New Frontier Publishing, 2019) is based on her anxious dog, Pip. Scaredy Cat and Ferret on the Loose (a chapter book also published with New Frontier) were released in the UK in 2019. Her debut middle-grade My Brother the Orangutan released this February.
Heather lives by the sea with her family and three cranky chickens.
Find out more about Heather: Website | Instagram | X
I know this is a #PBtrain but my debut MG has just hit the shelves and I’d be super appreciative for any love thrown its way. It’s a funny Freaky Friday style story about a boy who swaps bodies with an orangutan. Listing it as a Want to Read on Goodreads or requesting it at your local library or putting it on your wishlist HERE– every little bit of support helps!
Pssst – Mindy here with a link to all of Heather’s books on Goodreads, in case you’d like to mark them Want to Read (and if you read and love any, a review would be very welcome). You’ll also receive extra entries to win a critique from her on the RafflePress below. 🙂
SAVE THE DATE!
The next New Draft Challenge & Critique Train will be… April 16 – 18 Eastern!
Want to win a critique of one picture book or a synopsis & first 5 pages of an MG?
Enter Heather’s generous giveaway by 3/22/26.
The winner will be displayed below and connected with Heather via e-mail.
Good luck!
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