After all the contest prep, it’s hard to believe the agent and editor round starts Monday. Wahooo! I’m happy dancing for the finalists and can’t wait to cheer all of you on.
I’m sending hugs to those who need them. (((Hugs))) I know how hard it is be hopeful for a contest and not make it in. It was difficult whittling almost 1000 entries down to 50 finalists and 20 in the Illustration Showcase. You are so talented–your entries brought us so many laughs, new knowledge, and tons of joy.
We had to pass up some incredible entries. I’m so proud of each one of you for entering! We hope your manuscripts are way stronger between all the tips and making sure the first 70 words dazzle. It was an honor seeing that we were the first query for some of you. That’s a HUGE step forward and reason to celebrate.
Please find at least one sparkly goal to focus on. The PBChat mentorship? Spring Fling contest? Conferences, classes, a new critique group, paid critiques, diving into a shiny new manuscript…find what works best for you. Our PBParty Twitter chat about great PB events might help. Fingers crossed that a YES is around the corner.
I hope reading through the entries next week will help sharpen your writing and query skills even more. And that the incredible PBParty community will cheer you up and keep you moving forward. I have my word for each year on a sticky next to my laptop—so I see Sparkle plus past words Bloom, Believe (the year I signed with my agent) and Thrive. Fill your writing space with motivation, inspiration…and things that make you smile. Whenever I need a boost, I glance at the sticky notes around me.
I smile every time I see why all of you are winners on this Twitter thread. I hope you’ll keep those notes close and know that you are a winner…no matter what happens below.
What do you need to see next to your laptop or art studio?
*Honorable mentions will be shouted out after the showcase ends! It was exciting to see quite a few 2021 PBParty honorable mentions in the queries. Each time you polish up manuscripts and send new hope out, it could be a huge step closer to a YES.
And now, the moment you’ve been waiting for…
Here are the titles of the 2022 PBParty finalists!
Hairstory
When Harry Ate Sally
Visit from Harmony
Perhaps! A Book of Mistakes
The Great Shell Swap
There Are No Bad Guys in This Book
Norbert’s Bubble Trouble
Waves of Change
P. I. Goat: The Case of the Sticky Situation
Shoe Snatch
Di Fly
Saltriovenator: The Dinosaur Miracle Fossil
Tough Cookie
Saving Grecia: The Toucan Who Inspired the World
That Kitten Must Go
The Friendship Seeds
Sarang Saves the School
Big Dipper, Small World: Names Around the World for Seven Stars
When Sharks Fly
Small Animals, Big Dreams
Hairy Bigfoot Believes in Humans
Owl and Moon
Mighty Microbes
If My Hair Had a Voice
Louie’s Lightning
Ewenice and the Baa-rbershop
The Trouble with Teleporting
An unBEARable Christmas
Storybook Safety Inspector
Remembering Mami
All Aboard the Cuzco Train
Lyla’s Collection
Cinderelement
Toucan Tango
Coop Saves the Day
The Magic Pocket
Mixed-Up Challahs
This Empty Nest
Wild Moose Chase
Erasing Spaces
Guma
Oslo’s Fishy Feast
Arachnoshowbia
Annabelle, The Bossy Goat
Magnificent Messes
Old Tree
Dragon Dance
Never Count with A Crocodile
The Kitemaker
Following the Wall Home
Here are the titles from author/illustrators who will be featured in the Illustration Showcase (each will have a number and two illustrations in the showcase…editors and agents will request by number):
Snowy Day Saturday
Maddie’s Missing Tooth
Flipping Flapjack!
Quail Trail
Kamayan Love
Who Is a Scientist?
Superheroes Together
Newdusa
Ginkgo’s Bamboo Home
Emmy Lu Looks for Magic
The Problem with Pickles
The Possible Cat
Tiny House Dog
Leon Is Never Ever Happy
Effie’s Masterpiece
Squashed!
How To Grow a Dream
It Doesn’t Scare Me
The Feel of a Feather
Sleepy Ole Bo
Even though we don’t include names…you’re all welcome to shout out to the world which entry is yours. You can link to it once it’s up, too.
Please make sure people know comments on entries are only for the agents and editors (but we can all cheer for you on social media). Finalists who would like to reply to a request may comment, too.
Huge congrats, PBParty finalists! How are you going to celebrate?
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