This is an extra-special Success Story today, because Gabriele Davis was a 2020 PBParty finalist, received TONS of requests and offers, became my agent-sister…and is now a PBParty 2021 Judge. Wahooooo!
You can find Gabriele on her website and on Twitter. You definitely want to follow her–she’ll tweet tips and teasers while going through the PBParty entries.
Here’s Gabriele!
Four years ago, I got serious about writing fiction. Again. I’d been serious before. But back then, supportive online writing groups did not exist. There was no #kidlit, no #writingcommunity, no 12×12 Facebook page. When I had near-successes, I didn’t know what to think. I didn’t know that near-successes mean: keep going. I saw them as near-misses, failures that signaled: this dream is not meant to be. I set my fiction writing aside.
But the dream refused to die.
After my first grandchild was born, I dove back in. I took courses and attended conferences, workshops and webinars. I embraced online critique groups and tinkered with social media. By 2019, I was gaining traction. I got an encouraging rejection, won a 10 minute “ask anything” call with an agent, and was selected for the Kidlit Nation Picture Book Mentorship. It was motivating.
These near-successes led me to an important decision: In 2020, I would go ALL OUT — respond to every critique giveaway, enter every Twitter pitch event, sub to as many contests as possible, enroll in the Gold membership in Julie Hedlund’s 12×12 Picture Book Challenge, and query with abandon.
With zero expectations and loads of insecurity, I set off on my journey.
I’d never even heard of PBParty. It hit my radar in February, just after a demoralizing PBPitch experience. I didn’t think I had a chance against the other 500+ entries, but remembering my 2020 mantra, I crossed my fingers, sent in the book of my heart (PEACHES), and waited.
PEACHES has a long history. I wrote it for my dad, who grew up on an orchard-filled Virginia farm and had a lifelong love of peach cobbler. Originally, it was an 1,800 word prose story. Years later, I trimmed off 600 words. Still too long for today’s market, I reworked it again after taking Renee LaTulippe’s Lyrical Language Lab. This time I took a lyrical approach and reduced the word count by half. Guided by my Kidlit Nation mentor, I then polished and buffed the manuscript until it was ready for submission.
Over the next few days I read Mindy and Michelle’s writing tips and advice on Twitter while convincing myself that my entry didn’t make the cut. I began to feel deflated. I almost didn’t bother to read the list of finalists.
But, of course, I did.
When I saw my name, I was stunned. Speechless. And overjoyed. I basked in that feeling for a full minute.
Then terror set in: OMG, I’m a finalist! That means I’ll be in the showcase. What if no one likes my entry? My self-doubt (the result of so many unanswered queries) emboldened my inner critic: They made a mistake. What makes you think you can write?
But an early comment, (a compliment and request to see the full manuscript) helped me relax. When another request appeared, and then another… I was stunned and overjoyed again. After the sixth request, Mindy reached out to say that Secret Agent 1616 wanted to see the manuscript…
Whoa! Mind. Blown. After so much radio silence during the traditional query process, I could not believe that my entry was getting this kind of attention. I tried not to hyperventilate.
Continued interest, combined with Mindy’s cheerleading emails, ratcheted up my excitement.
By the end of the showcase, I had fourteen agent requests and one editor request. Of the fourteen agents, seven asked to see more work. Of those, four offered representation.
A few weeks later, I signed with Secret Agent 1616, Joyce Sweeney. She had me at “breathtaking,” the word she used to describe my entry. After all, that’s what we hunger for, isn’t it? And that’s what we deserve—an agent who falls passionately in love with our work. She also had a clear vision for my career and was optimistic and enthusiastic. I knew I would be in capable hands.
A couple months later, Joyce sent PEACHES out into the world. A few months after that, it sold to Russ Busse at Abrams. It is scheduled for a 2022 release.
All because I took a chance.
Here’s what I learned from this experience:
Don’t let fear stop you. Ever. Take the chance. You never know where it might lead.
Study the queries that got requests. I read through as many of the successful 2019 PBParty queries as possible and modeled my own query on those that resonated.
Stop assuming the worst. Unless an agent specifically tells us (which they rarely do), we have NO IDEA why they’ve passed on our work. It very well could be for encouraging reasons. Here are comments from a few agents who passed after hearing of my offer of representation.
- You’re a wonderful writer, and each manuscript is beautifully written and packed with emotion.
- You are such a gifted writer but I’m going to pass as there are just too many thematic overlaps with work of my other clients
- I’ve had the chance to read your manuscript, and I think it’s a fun story with strong writing and nice humor.
It’s unlikely I would have heard back from these agents at all had I sent traditional queries. And this is certainly not what I imagined they were thinking.
Never give up. You’ll always wonder what might have happened if you’d only stuck with it. Even now, I wonder where my writing life would be if not for my 20+ year gap.
Critique Partners are essential. Yes, they help you hone your manuscript. But more essentially, they support and encourage you on your writing journey. They’re your safe place — where you vent when you hit the inevitable bumps and where you celebrate the small and the momentous successes.
Write for the joy of it. When I stopped worrying about getting published, I felt lighter. Less anxious. Writing for the pure love of language freed me up to be daring. And the ideas flowed.
PBParty was a wild and wonderful ride. I am forever grateful to Mindy and Michelle for hosting it. It changed my life. And I hope it changes yours.
Wishing you a fun and fulfilling journey.
MY PBPARTY QUERY LETTER
Dear Michelle and Mindy,
Tempted to give up when mishaps stall her efforts to assume a treasured family tradition, a young African American girl perseveres, bringing joy and solace to her family. A lyrical, intergenerational story, combining themes of SARAH’S SONG by Rosie J. Pova and the contemporary classic THE INVISIBLE STRING by Patrice Karst.
PEACHES (580 words, K-3) was inspired by my own father’s life-long love of peach cobbler. It honors the life he lived on an orchard-filled Virginia farm and celebrates how those we love live on in us.
I have written stories and articles for children’s magazines and educational publications and am a language arts tutor at a junior boarding school. I actively participate in SCBWI, StoryStorm, ReFoReMo, and Julie Hedlund’s 12×12 Picture Book Challenge. I have also completed Renee LaTulippe’s Lyrical Language Lab. In August, I was selected as winner of Kidlit Nation’s Picture Book Mentorship for diverse voices.
Per your submission requirements, I have pasted the first 50-60 words below. Thanks for taking the time to consider my work.
Kind Regards,
Gabriele
Wow! Thanks for sharing your amazing Success Story with everyone, Gabriele. I teared up reading this. You are such an inspiration. I absolutely LOVE your tips–and your query will be a huge help to so many writers!
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