I’m thrilled to feature Marietta Apollonio‘s amazing PBParty Success Story. It was so exciting to see the magic happen during PBParty…I’m still happy dancing. 🙂
SUCCESS STORY:
I got serious about writing and illustrating picture books in 2018, after my son turned 2, and I was a full-fledged, stay at home mom. For the 16 years prior to that, I was an art school graduate with a BFA in Illustration who only had spurts of illustrating. Some commissions here and there, some juried art shows, some sales at galleries, but not a whole lot of what I wanted to do when I graduated: picture books. I worked fun jobs to pay off student loans, rent, etc. Off and on I would write stories, most with inconsistent rhyme.
But in 2018 something just clicked. I felt like it was time. I went to a Whispering Pines writers retreat in New England, and doors opened. Meeting so many writers and illustrators at different parts of their journeys was amazing. I learned a lot from that experience and connected with some pretty wonderful people. Fast forward to 2021. I had critique groups under my belt, some submissions, lots of portfolio work, and a growing number of manuscripts. I paid for classes with Storyteller Academy on creating book dummies, working on light and shadow. I watched webinars on how to revise, and how to come up with ideas (some of my best ideas now come from my 5 year old). I began to pay attention.
I had heard of PBParty from my weekly critique group, the most supportive circle that has propelled me forward. At the end of 2020 I had submitted my book dummy, A Home for Jack, to agents, receiving some interest, but ultimately no takers. So there it was. I wondered if I should enter the PBParty contest with A Home for Jack. At 7:55pm the day that submissions were due, and 5 MINUTES before the deadline, the decision was made. Luckily my pitch and query were already done and polished, from previous submissions. I hit send, and put it out of my head, because how could I possibly be chosen out of the multitude of submissions?
The day the finalists were announced, I waited until the end of the day to check. Scrolling through the list, my story wasn’t there. UNTIL IT WAS. The very last finalist on the list of Author/Illustrators. WOW. Just WOW. Not fully comprehending what this really meant, I anxiously waited for the week that agents and editors would start to review. At first… nothing. Then, over the course of the week, 8 requests! I had jitters of excitement. A smattering of smiles. It was all beyond what I had let myself expect. There were so many amazing finalists. Creating a spreadsheet was helpful, so I could track who requested what, how to get it to them and when I sent it. I tailored my emails to each person, mentioning why I was sending it (requested via PBParty) and thanking them for the opportunity. From there I waited. That was the hardest part. The no’s came in. The request for more work and then a no, came in. Focusing on the fact that there was just this great opportunity on my plate, helped me to get past the no’s.
Then there was a YES! A request to get on a call. AND THEN, an agent loved the story, but it wasn’t quite right for her. BUT, would it be ok if she shared it with her agency, and I said YES. A day later I had an email from Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at the Andrea Brown Literary Agency asking if I would be interested in a virtual meeting. And again, I said YES. There was this incredible vibe from Jem. She’s got spunk and confidence. As soon as we got off our meeting, I decided to say YES, yet again. I had 3 offers of representation, but it was Jem that I clicked with immediately, and just knew. I listened to my gut. And my gut said “Say YES.” Not 10 minutes after our meeting, I sent her an email: “I really enjoyed our call and have a great feeling about this. Not sure if this is usual, but, I feel like I am ready to accept your offer — AND SUPER EXCITED ABOUT IT!” Three days after my forty-first birthday, I signed the paperwork to be a client of the Andrea Brown Literary Agency.
We sent A Home For Jack out on submission immediately, in total over 6 months to 25 publishers. There were a lot of no’s. Those were hard. Having not experienced being so close to publication, I had to remind myself that those NO’s are just opinions and preferences. People like what they like, don’t like what they don’t like, have full lists, or the work is just not quite right for their list. But finally there was some interest, and one request to acquire by Albert Whitman Publishing. We went with it. It was so hard keeping it all a secret. When the contract was signed I silently let my family and friends know, off of social media. When the Publisher’s Weekly announcement came out, there was some dancing, and lots of sharing.
My debut author-illustrator book, Jack the Library Cat (new title) is set to release spring of 2023, and I couldn’t be happier.
So, what have I learned from this whole 20+ year life experiment in attaining my dream? If it feels right, do it. Listen to your gut. Understand that a no, just leaves more room for the right YES. Getting down on yourself, your progress, is natural. BUT, don’t let that stuff clog up your brain. Feel it, and then move past it, AND GET BACK TO WORK. Nothing happens if you just sit around eating popsicles. Well, things happen, and popsicles are great, but it doesn’t get you from point A to point YES (was that cheesy? That was a little cheesy.) Figure out what works for you, when revising stories. More often I find myself going about my day, not in the studio or in front of the computer, but still actively figuring out issues with stories, how something should end, what I should take out, or leave in. It works… for me. Believe in yourself and do the work. Engage with other writers and illustrators. Learn from them. Find a core group you trust and can count on. Those are the people in the industry that will understand, lift you up when you are down, and celebrate the big and small wins. Oh, and make sure those pitches and queries are spot on BEFORE you send them out.
Connect with me!
IG: mar_illustrates
Twitter: mar_illustrates
QUERY
Dear AGENT,
As an author-illustrator I am excited to share A HOME FOR JACK, my 297-word picture book for ages 4-7. Comp titles include MADELINE FINN AND THE LIBRARY DOG and LIBRARY LION.
Stray cat Jack loves to sneak inside for storytime, but cats are not allowed in the library…and Ms. Fisher the librarian is NOT a cat person. But when a new boy moves to town and needs a reading buddy, an unlikely duo will do more than just sneak in for stories. Jack’s fuzzy tale gives shelter to acceptance, friendship, and finding a place to call home. Back matter includes information about library cats and the benefits of reading aloud to animals.
I am a freelance artist living in Harvard, Massachusetts with a BFA in illustration from Lesley University College of Art and Design. I am an active member of the SCBWI, Storyteller Academy, The Writers’ Loft, and a weekly writers critique group. In 2019 I was awarded the New England SCBWI Ann Barrow Illustration Scholarship, and in 2021 I was a PBParty Finalist.
In addition to A HOME FOR JACK, I also have other manuscripts available. My portfolio can be found at mariettaapollonio.com. I am active on Instagram via @mar_illustrates where I post drawings, sketches, and participate in monthly art challenges.
Attached please find my manuscript and book dummy, which includes two full color illustrations which represent final artwork.
Thank you for your time, and I look forward to hearing from you.
Thanks so much for all your incredibly helpful tips, for sharing your story…and letting people learn from this awesome query that won a spot in the 2021 PBParty Final Showcase, dazzled lots of agents and editors…and led to you signing with Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at the Andrea Brown Literary Agency. And now Jack will be out in the world in 2023. I can’t wait!!!
Check out these awesome sketches, illustrations in progress, and a collection of dummies for Jack! Marietta is SO talented. I love getting this behind-the-scenes glimpse at her work.
I hope you’ll congratulate Marietta below–and thank her for sharing such inspiring and helpful tips and her query that worked.
BIO:
Marietta Apollonio was born in Tarrytown, New York, and spent most of her childhood making mud pies, swinging on rope swings attached to questionable trees, dancing, and recreating her grandmother’s paintings. She moved to Boston, Massachusetts to earn her degree in illustration from The Art Institute of Boston (now Lesley University College of Art and Design), where she spent a considerable amount of time sketching at the Museum of Fine Arts, writing random essays in her notebook, and searching for the best cannoli. She creates all of her illustrations using multiple mediums including watercolor, color pencil, graphite, ink, and sometimes tea (accidentally). Marietta spends much of her time in her studio drawing and writing, in the backyard making mud pies with her son, hiking, gardening and trying to keep the squirrels from eating all of the peaches off the tree. She lives in central Massachusetts (though still very much a New Yorker) with her husband, son and husky.
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