I’m thrilled to feature Ellen Leventhal today to share an incredible PBParty Success Story. I love celebrating with everyone and am still happy dancing. Huge thanks to Ellen for sharing the query that led to her signing with agent Mary Cummings and selling her amazing book…A FLOOD OF KINDNESS. Wahooo!
You can find Ellen on her website, Twitter, IG, and Facebook.
Here’s Ellen:
As I was scrolling Facebook one day in 2019, I came across something called PBParty. Hmm. I hadn’t heard of this contest before, and it looked interesting. However, I knew I would never have the nerve to enter, so I kept scrolling. But like an earworm, the idea of this contest wouldn’t leave my head. I had a few stories that I thought were submission-ready, including one that was particularly close to my heart, but should I enter? Did I have the nerve to send Mindy and Michelle the first fifty words of my “heart story”? Was it good enough? Will they laugh even though it isn’t a humorous book? And what would happen if they DID like it and posted it for all to see? EEK! But determination outweighed my fear, so I took a deep breath (and maybe a few sips of wine) and sent in my first fifty words.
I was proud of myself for putting it out there, but I didn’t give it much thought after that, knowing it wouldn’t go anywhere. However, a friend mentioned that she was in the finals, so after I congratulated her, I decided to check. What a surprise! Not only was I in the finals, but I had about five editors/agents comment and ask for the whole manuscript. Although all were kind, only one, Mary Cummings from the Betsy Amster Literary, liked it enough to pursue.
Mary suggested some tweaks, and of course, I was more than happy to do them. She signed me in April 2019 for my story A FLOOD OF KINDNESS, and it releases from WorthyKids/Hachette Book Group this April. Mary was wonderful to work with, and I am grateful to her as well as to Michelle Hauck and Mindy Alyse Weiss for hosting this contest. And, of course, I am thankful for everyone at WorthyKids who have shepherded this story to publication.
Entering PBParty was one of the best things I’ve ever done in my writing life. Was it scary? Yes! But is every submission scary? Yes! So, don’t be afraid to rip that band-aid off and go for it! It will only hurt for a few seconds, and you will be glad you did it! You may want to have a few pieces of chocolate nearby, though. It’s always helpful.
Some helpful hints on the road to publication:
- Make sure you have critique partners who believe in you and root for you. But if they tell you everything you write is perfect and submission-ready, that’s not helpful, and you won’t grow. A good critique partner is honest, constructive, yet kind. Don’t put up with mean. Life is too short.
- READ, READ, READ! (Especially in your genre)
- Understand that revision is part of the process. I often think of my work as a lump of clay that with work will morph into a piece of art. (After a lot of work!)
- And of course, enter contests! 😊
Thank you so much for these helpful hints, Ellen! With PBParty contest entries due on March 1, 2021, your tips and query will be a huge help. Thanks for sharing them!
Here’s Ellen’s query to Mary after the PBParty request:
Dear Ms. Cummings:
Thank you for your comment on The PBParty site and for the opportunity to send you my manuscript.
When the river jumps its banks and forces itself into Charlotte’s house, her world turns upside down. As she attempts to navigate life at the shelter, Charlotte thinks only of her loss until she is given something that helps her understand the healing power of kindness. Charlotte passes on a small act of kindness, and only then does she realize that she is no longer devastated but that her heart is flooded with hope.
Although A FLOOD OF KINDNESS is a fiction story, it is based upon fact. Having gone through three floods in less than three years, I feel uniquely qualified to tell this story. I also taught many children who had been displaced by floodwaters and were struggling to see the world through hopeful eyes again.
There are other books on floods; however, none like this manuscript. H IS FOR HARVEY by Julie Beasley is told in rhyme and relates only to Hurricane Harvey. FLOOD by Alvaro Villa is a wordless book. My story, A FLOOD OF KINDNESS, is unique in that it is told from a young girl’s point of view using lyrical, but age-appropriate language, and the focus is on the main character’s emotions and her journey towards healing.
I am the co-author of DON’T EAT THE BLUEBONNETS (Clear Fork Publishing/ Spork imprint, 2017), a 2017 Mighty Girls Books pick, and the author of LOLA CAN’T LEAP (Clear Fork Publishing/Spork imprint, 2018). I am an active member of SCBWI as well as a member of Julie Hedlund’s 12×12 Picture Book Challenge. I frequently present at schools and have been featured on both radio and TV. I am on Facebook, Twitter (@EllenLwrites), and Instagram (EllenL411).
Along with my writing career, I am an educator. I have taught for many years and currently teach part-time during the school year and teach in a creative writing camp in the summer. I have other manuscripts upon request.
Thank you for your time. I am looking forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Ellen Leventhal
There’s so much I LOVE about this query–Ellen’s sample and query caught my attention right away. Michelle and I knew it had to be a finalist! I’d love to know what stands out to you the most! For me:
*The query blurb is enticing
*Her personal connection creates extra emotion and understanding of what her main character goes through.
*Brilliant use of comps! Instead of just naming them, Ellen showed how two different comps have something in common with her book–and clearly displays what makes her book stand out.
I could go on and on…but would love to know your thoughts in the comments.
Please congratulate Ellen! I can’t wait to celebrate the launch of A FLOOD OF KINDNESS with a contest and giveaway. 🙂
Until then…here’s a sneak peek of Ellen’s book–plus some pictures of the flood that inspired the story. I teared up seeing this! I became the PBParty co-host in 2019 and this is the first finalist from that year that I’ve seen in book form. Goosebumps! Chills! So many emotions. I can’t wait to hold this amazing book in my hands in April.
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