Debut Author Guest Post: Isabelle Knight on Her Journey to Publication as a Teen and Enchantria: Guardian’s Heir Giveaway

 Happy Monday Everyone! Today I’m excited to have Isabelle Knight here to share about the last book in her debut middle-grade fantasy, Enchantria: The Last Hope. I really enjoy middle grade fantasy, and Isabel’s sounds like an action-packed story that I’m excited to read. 

Here’s a blurb from Goodreads: 

A spellbinding, middle-grade fantasy from debut author, Isabelle Knight. Perfect for fans of Gail Carson Levine and Deva Fagan, as well as readers of Wilderlore and the Starfell series.

In a land of magic, secrets, and stars, one girl must fulfill a prophecy and save them all.

Elena Ramirez’s mother vanished eleven years ago, leaving behind only a golden key that unlocks… absolutely nothing. Or so she thought. On her sixteenth birthday, Elena discovers the key holds a magical secret, and she’s pulled in through a portal into the kingdom of Enchantria.

But not all is as it seems. As an ancient prophecy unfolds, Elena is forced to become on of the guardians of the land and she and her friends will have to embark on a perilous quest to seek the Tribe – an ancient group of people who may not even exist. And if she fails Enchantria will fall to its greatest enemy – a sorceress of shadows and ravens who has waited centuries for her chance to rule.

Magic, mystery, and destiny collide in this thrilling middle grade adventure about courage, friendship, and belonging. 

Now here’s Isabelle! 

If you told me one year ago that I’d be writing this guest post, that I’d actually be able to call myself a published teen author, I’d laugh you right out of the room. My debut middle-grade fantasy, Enchantria: Guardian’s Heir, came out last summer, and now, the final book in the series, Enchantria: The Last Hope is soon going to be released into the world. And to be honest? All of this still feels like a dream – impossible, surreal, amazing, but also impossible. 

I started writing when I was ten years old. It was the summer of 2023 in June, I was a huge fan of the Warriors series by Erin Hunter, and yet I was bored. My family didn’t go on summer vacations or anything, and most of what I could do was just staring up at the ceiling, wondering what in the world was I supposed to do this summer. 

And then I had the wild idea to write a book. I really didn’t have much hope for this book. After all, I’d never finished a single story ever. I never got past Chapter Two, and I always, always lost interest in the story after that. 

But this idea wouldn’t leave me alone. It was the kind of idea that was just nagging at me, begging to be written. It was an idea I’d had for quite some time, an idea I tried to write out several times before, but had always failed to do. But hey, it was a very boring summer vacation and I was desperate for something to do. And even today, I still remember the day I dragged myself to my computer, looked at my dad, who was sitting across from me, and said, “I’m going to write a book.” 

And so, sometime during November 2023, I finished the first draft of Enchantria: Guardian’s Heir. 

It was surreal. 

I screamed. 

And it wasn’t easy at all – I cannot tell you how many times I had writer’s block and put off the project for weeks thinking, “Maybe I don’t want to be a writer after all…” 

But I finished. I powered through the messy middle and reached The End. 

And even then there was still work to do. Honestly, even then I didn’t really take writing seriously. I always just thought I’d write this one series to see how it goes and that would be it. 

But then in February of 2024, my dad bought be a craft book on writing – Writing Magic by Gail Carson Levine. And I think it was really that craft book that convinced me to keep going. Because the way Gail Carson Levine spoke about writing… She made it sound so fun. Full of freedom and endless possiblities. I could do anything in writing. I could create whatever worlds I wanted and whatever characters I wished. 

So I finally decided to drag myself to the computer to start revising book one in the series (while also working on the first draft of book two as well, and I learned that it’s ever so difficult to juggle two projects at once!). And then later in the summer, I completed all the revisions. Developmental revisions, line edits, copy edits, etc. 

And it was then that I really realized that this book was done. That this book was ready to be published and to go out into the world. I’d studied just about every craft book on writing ever, watched practically ever AuthorTube channel I could possibly find, and devoured whatever information on writing and publishing there was. 

And so on August 28, 2024, Enchantria: Guardian’s Heir was officially published. (Now do note that I’m an indie author, and the process is different if you’re traditional publishing with an agent, editor, and publishing house). 

Book two followed on October 5, 2024 and then book three on December 23, 2024. 

And now I’m here. Sitting at my writing setup, writing this guest post. Book four is coming July 20, 2025. And then the series will be completed. It will be out there. In the hands of readers. And it feels like a dream. 

That’s not to say my journey ends here. Because there’s a lot of stuff that’s happened. Through all this, I’ve struggled so much with the crippling self-doubt that I can’t do this, that I can’t make it in the publishing industry as an indie author. That I’m not enough, both as a writer and as an indie author. I’ve struggled with internet trolls and all the people who’ve told me, “You need to follow these rules to write.” 

But if there’s anything that I’ve learned through all this is that this journey takes time. It takes patience. It takes determination. It takes sheer stubbornness, to drag yourself out of bed to write, even when that inner critic is screaming at me that I can’t write anything good. Sheer stubbornness to keep writing just because this is what I’ve been doing for close to two years now and I did NOT go through all those sleepless nights, listening to my characters chatter on in my head, scribbling down messy ideas in a tiny notebook just to give up. Through writing I’ve discovered so much about myself – my hopes, my dreams, my fears, and more.

 

Because the moment when you get to actually be able to hold your own book in your hands for the first time ever and to see your words on the page and to know that readers are finding and loving your book really makes it so worth it.

 

Thanks for sharing all your advice, Isabel! You can find Isabel at: 

To stay updated on all things writing and book related, you can find me on my blog: https://springfallschronicle.com/ 

Or my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@isabelleknightbooks 

Giveaway Details 

Isabelle is generously offering an ebook of Enchantria: Guardian’s Heir, the first book in the series for a giveaway. To enter, all you need to do is be a follower of my blog (via the follower gadget, email, or bloglovin’ on the right sidebar) and leave a comment by August 16th. If I do not have your email (I can no longer get it from your Google Profile), you must leave it in the comments to enter the contest. Please be sure I have your email address. 

If you mention this contest on Twitter, Facebook, or other social media sites and/or follow me on Twitter or Bluesky or follow Isabelle on her social media sites, mention this in the comments, and I'll give you an extra entry for each. You must be 13 years old or older to enter. This ebook giveaway is International. 

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday is hosted by Greg Pattridge. You can find the participating blogs on his blog. 

Upcoming Interviews, Guest Posts, and Blog Hops 

Wednesday, August 6th I have an interview with author Lillie Vale and a giveaway of her YA Hit Me With Your Best Charm 

Monday, August 11th I have an agent spotlight interview with Krista Van Dolzer and a query critique giveaway 

Saturday, August 16th I’m participating in the Old School Giveaway Hop 

Monday, August 18th I have an interview with debut author Ryan James Black and a giveaway of his MG The Dark Times of Nimble Nottingham 

Wednesday, August 20th I have an agent spotlight interview with Shelly Romero and a query critique giveaway 

Monday, August 25th I have an interview with author James Ponti and a giveaway of his MG Hurricane Heist 

I hope to see you on Wednesday!

 

Learning As You Go Through Your Author Career: Guest Post by Author Marzieh Abbas and Aarzu All Around Giveaway

 Happy Monday Everyone! Today I’m excited to have author Marzieh Abbas here to share a guest post to celebrate the release of her MG novel in verse Aarzu All Around. I haven’t read a book about Pakistani culture, and I’m excited to read her new book. 

Here’s a blurb from Goodreads:

 

A cricket-loving Pakistani girl stifled by patriarchal expectations disguises herself as a boy to get a job to pay her sister’s medical bills in this empowering middle grade novel-in-verse.

Living with her aunt and patriarchal uncle in Karachi, Pakistan, recently orphaned twelve-year-old Aarzu detests the way she and her younger sister get treated like extras and excluded from all the fun stuff. Aarzu dreams of playing cricket, just like her male cousins and the neighborhood boys in the streets, but her uncle will hear nothing of it. According to him, girls ought to master the art of making round rotis, not play sports.

When her sister requires urgent medical treatment but finances are tight, Aarzu decides to earn money herself. She hears of a part-time job at a bungalow near her school—but it’s only open to boys. Aarzu has no choice but to disguise herself as a turban-wearing boy to get the gig.

Now, Aarzu must find a way to balance school, work, chores, and secret cricket practices—all without burning out or getting caught by her uncle—or else her dreams of making the girls cricket team and her quest to save her sister will crumble around her. 

It’s been two years since my debut picture book, A DUPATTA IS…, was published by Feiwel & Friends, Macmillan. I have since had the pleasure of birthing five more picture book babies and two board book babies. And this July, my debut novel, Aarzu All Around, a novel in verse, comes out with Simon & Schuster. I’ve also written eighteen books in the Nadia & Nadir early reader series and about twelve books for various publishers in the educational  market. I’m also learning to illustrate and maybe someday I’ll make the art to go with my words *fingers crossed*. Over the years I’ve learnt a thing or two about the publishing industry and my own process that I would love to share with fellow creators. 

Now here’s Marzieh!

Learning As You Go Through Your Author Career

1.     Write Across Genres: The publishing industry is slow (from writing to revising, and then even once a manuscript is acquired to the time the book releases). The main advice I got at the start of my career was to start work on my next manuscript. But with limiting option clauses and the slow pace of the industry, it became apparent that selling more work in the picture book market was going to take a while. That’s when I began working on longer form manuscripts and reading and writing across several genres. 

2.     Lean on Street Teams: In case you aren’t familiar with the term (I wasn’t when I started off), a street team is a group of enthusiastic supporters—often volunteers or superfans—who help promote a book, product, event, or artist, usually at the grassroots level. In the publishing world, a street team typically:

o   Spreads the word about a new book through social media, word of mouth, or local events

o   Posts early reviews on platforms like Goodreads, Amazon, or blogs

o   Shares promotional materials like graphics, giveaways, or bookmarks

o   Creates buzz before and after launch day

I’m part of Kidlit Works, PB Pros, and PBSpree and each street team feels like one big happy family where everyone hypes each other up and helps promote every new title that releases.

3.              Go with your gut: When I was writing Aarzu All Around, I got a lot of feedback from writers and editors about a book that centered around cricket, the sport. Since it isn't a very popular sport in the U.S. they wondered if the book would have mass appeal. I wanted to write about a girl passionate about sports (especially a one I knew well and which is slowly but surely making its way into the US)  and my own experience growing up in Pakistan. I persevered and, after a load of rejections, we found the right home for Aarzu and her love for cricket and I can’t wait to see what readers think!

4.              Feel free to step away from critique groups that aren’t serving you: over the years, I’ve found the best way to share my work is with CPs whom I choose intentionally, rather than larger critique groups. There are some fellow writers who write lyrically and I prefer them for my more poetic pieces. There are some writer friends who are great with humor, and I prefer them for my funny stories and so on. I sometimes reach out on FB groups like KIDLIT Manuscript Swap when I need a fresh pair of eyes on my work. I also always share a pitch and ask anyone I’m swapping manuscripts with to share a pitch, too. I need to make sure I’m the right person to be critiquing a story and the person critiquing my story is interested in, and feels confident/ interested in my submitted subject matter.

5.              In your writing, be specific, but universal: that sounds contradictory... 

Let me explain: all my books are about my culture, Pakistan, and my faith, Islam. This is what I know, and this is what I love, and because of that, I’m able to give others a peek into very specific spaces and experiences I’ve had. In my book, Awe-samosas!, Noor, the main character, wants to recreate her grandma’s scrumptious samosas, but runs into all kinds of problems. The problems are super specific and so is the solution– it isn’t something I could’ve come up with if I wasn’t hands-on in the kitchen, and an experimental chef, like Noor, myself. That’s how I can imbue the text with sensory details and draw the reader in. And where’s the universality in that, you ask? Well, Noor has a burning desire to achieve something, she’s over-zealous and excited, but runs into all sorts of problems. She needs to come up with a Plan-B because she’s running short on time. She needs to improvise and rise above self-doubt. Haven’t we all run into similar situations at some point in time? Similarly, in Aarzu All Around, I chose to go with a game that isn’t widely understood by Americans, but I made sure to explain terms in context. The universality lies in Aarzu’s love for sports, that makes it relatable to many middle schoolers.  

6.              Don’t be stingy with your knowledge: It’s honestly so tough to break into the publishing industry and it doesn’t get any easier with every book you publish, but what truly brings me joy, during all the waiting, is sharing all I have learned along the way and helping fellow authors polish their work and get it ready for querying agents and editors. I’ve conducted several writing workshops and delivered writing webinars through The Writing Barn and the 12x12 forum and also offer classes through my own website. I’ve also served as a mentor for three years through the PB Rising Stars mentorship program (my first mentee is now agented and soon-to-be-published) and have been critiquing and mentoring aspiring authors through a newly launched service via my website (https://marziehabbas.com/critiques/)

Thanks for all your advice, Marzieh! You can find Marzieh at:

Buy Links:

Aarzu All Around: 

https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Aarzu-All-Around/Marzieh-Abbas/9781665970419  

Marzieh’s Board Book Series:

https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Marzieh-Abbas/227834565 

The Camel Library, A True Story from Pakistan:

https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250322029/thecamellibraryatruestoryfrompakistan/  

Henna Is…

https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250862662/hennais/

A Dupatta Is…

https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250820945/adupattais/  

Awe-samosas!

https://www.harpercollins.com/products/awe-samosas-marzieh-abbas  

Yasmeen Lari, Green Architect

https://www.harpercollins.com/products/yasmeen-lari-green-architect-marzieh-abbas?variant=41472750616610  

Marzieh’s Socials: 

Website: www.marziehabbas.com 

IG: https://www.instagram.com/marziehabbas_author/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/marziehabbas

GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19824634.Marzieh_Abbas_Marzieh_A_Ali

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/marziehabbas.bsky.social

Twitter: https://x.com/MarziehAbbas 

Giveaway Details 

Marzieh’s publisher is generously offering an ARC of Aarzu All Around for a giveaway. To enter, all you need to do is be a follower of my blog (via the follower gadget, email, or bloglovin’ on the right sidebar) and leave a comment by August 9th. If I do not have your email (I can no longer get it from your Google Profile), you must leave it in the comments to enter the contest. Please be sure I have your email address. 

If you mention this contest on Twitter, Facebook, or other social media sites and/or follow me on Twitter or Bluesky or follow Marzieh on her social media sites, mention this in the comments, and I'll give you an extra entry for each. You must be 13 years old or older to enter. This ARDC giveaway is U.S. and Canada.

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday is hosted by Greg Pattridge. You can find the participating blogs on his blog.

Upcoming Interviews, Guest Posts, and Blog Hops

Wednesday, July 30th I have an agent spotlight interview with Taj McCoy and a query critique giveaway 

Friday, August 1st I’m participating in the Apple a Day Giveaway Hop 

Monday, August 4th I have a guest post by debut author Isabel Knight and a giveaway of the first book in her Enchantria series 

Wednesday, August 6th I have an interview with author Lillie Vale and a giveaway of her YA Hit Me With Your Best Charm 

Monday, August 11th I have an agent spotlight interview with Krista Van Dolzer and a query critique giveaway 

Saturday, August 16th I’m participating in the Old School Giveaway Hop 

Monday, August 18th I have an interview with debut author Ryan James Black and a giveaway of his MG The Dark Times of Nimble Nottingham 

Wednesday, August 20th I have an agent spotlight interview with Shelly Romero and a query critique giveaway 

Monday, August 25th I have an interview with author James Ponti and a giveaway of his MG Hurricane Heist 

I hope to see you on Wednesday!

 

When “Diverse” Is Who You Are: Guest Post by Tracy Badua and Alechia Dow and Their Just Desserts Giveaway

Happy Monday Everyone! Today I’m excited to have Tracy Badua and Alechia Dow here to share about their MG Their Just Desserts, book #2 in The Cookie Crumbles series. I already read the book, which I really enjoyed. I loved the baking, the mystery to be solved, and Laila and Lucy, the main characters. I also like that this book can be read as a standalone. 

Here’s a blurb from Goodreads: 

Perfect for fans of The Great British Baking Show and Clue, this enchanting and rollicking follow-up to The Cookie Crumbles follows two best friends caught up in a twisty mystery when jewels go missing at a high-stakes baking competition.

Baker extraordinaire Laila Thomas and budding journalist Lucy Flores are living it up at the top of the junior high food chain as eighth graders. But between busy schedules and kinda-boyfriends, these two best friends haven’t gotten to hang out as much. So, when Jaden, an ex-competition rival, begs the duo to step back into the world of cooking competitions and crime—the answer is yes.

Jaden is His father is accused of stealing prized jewels on the set of an amateur kids’ holiday baking show. The plan is for Laila to smash the competition while Lucy investigates behind the scenes—but their half-baked plan gets turned totally upside down when Lucy ends up in front of the cameras instead.

As the investigation and competition heat up, Lucy and Laila’s bond is put to the ultimate test. Can they solve this bakeoff mystery, or will they—and their friendship—crack under pressure? 

Now here’s Tracy and Alechia!

 
When “Diverse” is Who You Are

By Tracy Badua and Alechia Dow

 At a time when diversity has become divisive, it’s hard not to internalize not only the perception of the public, but the doubts of your talent and art. As two authors who come from different communities and cultures––Alechia is Black American, Tracy is Filipino American– we’re not entirely new to criticism. We are, though, new to justifying why we get to write stories. That’s daunting. So let’s reflect briefly on what this term means to us, our stories, and readers.  

What makes a book “diverse?” 

Alechia: Diverse is such a big, loaded term, especially right now. I’ll admit that I’ve been conflicted about it in the past because it reduces us and our work to ‘other’, a variant of the control… But I digress, a book is considered diverse because it features typically marginalized characters written by marginalized authors. 

Tracy: And what’s been encouraging about today’s book landscape is that the range of stories feels so much wider and inclusive: so many readers can see themselves as main characters in their own adventures. But it’s truly unfortunate that the descriptor “diverse” has been weaponized the way it is. “Diverse” should be a door, not a separator or a slur. 

What are some of the ways you’d consider TCC/TJD diverse?

Alechia: If I apply diversity as marginalized representation, then I would say that as we’re authors who have written our identities into these characters and other marginalizations---queer, Black, Asian, people who speak different languages, come from different cultures––our stories represent the world as we know and see it. We just made it a little goofy, a lot more food-tastic, and let our kiddos solve crimes. 

Tracy: Alechia makes a great point about writing our identities into these characters. Lucy is Filipino American like me, and though this book isn’t about her exploring that identity, her experiences do shape her thoughts and actions (like with the desserts she decides to bake).

Overall, we think these characters and their adventures will entertain and resonate with readers of all backgrounds. Who doesn’t love some good old-fashioned mystery and deliciously described baked goods? 

Why is it important for you to have representation of those identities in the story? 

Alechia: Because we normalize our existence and the existence of others. Because stories should explore and expand empathy, and because we want kids to feel seen. 

Tracy: I like to remind folks that books aren’t just about seeing yourself represented; it’s about having others see you too. Plus, because cultural and ethnic groups can vary so widely themselves, it’s vital to show the breadth of experiences so that representation goes over and above stereotypes.  

What would you say to young readers who share that identity?

Alechia: We see you. We’re here for you. We’re proud to write for you and we want you to know that you matter. 

Tracy: And please don’t let others (or even yourself) tell you otherwise. 

Thanks for all your advice, Tracy and Alechia! You can find them at: 

Websites:

Alechia: https://www.alechiadow.com/
Tracy: https://tracybadua.com/

Social media:
Tracy: @tracybaduawrites
https://www.instagram.com/tracybaduawrites?igsh=ZzN1NmYxYmp2dnk1
https://www.threads.net/@tracybaduawrites?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==
Alechia: @alechiadow
https://www.instagram.com/alechiadow?igsh=M3piODQzcHJodmVo&utm_source=qr
https://www.threads.net/@alechiadow?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

Buy links: 
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/their-just-desserts-tracy-badua/1146170608?ean=9780063254633
Bookshop Org
https://bookshop.org/p/books/their-just-desserts-alechia-dow/22122090?ean=9780063254633&next=t 

Giveaway Details 

Tracy and Alechia are generously offering a hardback of Their Just Desserts for a giveaway. This book giveaway is U.S. and Europe. To enter, all you need to do is be a follower of my blog (via the follower gadget, email, or bloglovin’ on the right sidebar) and leave a comment by June 14th. Please mention if you’re from Europe in your comment. If I do not have your email (I can no longer get it from your Google Profile), you must leave it in the comments to enter the contest. Please be sure I have your email address. 

If you mention this contest on Twitter, Facebook, or other social media sites and/or follow me on Twitter or Bluesky or follow Tracy or Alichia on their social media sites, mention this in the comments, and I'll give you an extra entry for each. You must be 13 years old or older to enter. This book giveaway is U.S. and Europe. 

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday is hosted by Greg Pattridge. You can find the participating blogs on his blog. 

Upcoming Interviews, Guest Posts, and Blog Hops 

Wednesday, June 4th I have an interview with author Aaron Starmer and a giveaway of his YA Night Swimming and my IWSG post 

Monday, June 9th I have an interview with author Nancy McCabe and a giveaway of her MG Fires Burning Underground 

Wednesday, June 11th I have an agent spotlight interview with Mark O’Brien and a query critique giveaway 

Monday, June 16th I’m participating in the Dad-o-Mite Giveaway Hop 

Monday, June 23rd I have an interview with author Michael Spradlin and a giveaway of his MG Threat of the Spider 

I hope to see you on Wednesday!

 

How to Get Your Book Published With a Small Press: Author Carol L. Pauer Guest Post and Rowley Peters and the Lumberjack Ghost Giveaway

Happy Monday Everyone! Today I’m excited to have author Carol L. Pauer here with a guest post to share the release of her MG Rowley Peters and the Lumberjack Ghost. It involves a mystery, which I always like, and I’m looking forward to reading it. 

Here’s a blurb from Amazon:

 

A campground full of ghosts?

When Rowley Peters goes camping with her family at Black Hawk State Park, she learns it's the site of mummy excavations, ghostly frog behavior, and the legendary lumberjack ghost Chicken McGee. Rowley never liked camping, but when her best friend, Huey, and her family join them she's stuck facing these spooky creatures. With frogs to follow, copper antiquities to learn about, and Chicken McGee's axe to dodge, Rowley and Huey realize there's something more dangerous at the campground than ghosts. Unfortunately, following the clues leads them in different temper-flaring directions. Solving the mystery of Chicken McGee might just be the only way to save their friendship.

 

Now here’s Carol! 

Six Steps I Used to Get My Book Published by Chicken Scratch Books 

“The End,” you write and excitedly dream of signing copies of your book at a filled-to-capacity author event. Wake up. Before your book-signing events, you need to get your work published. Often finding a publisher is more difficult than authoring a book. 

My latest middle-grade novel, Rowley Peters and the Lumberjack Ghost, was in the same position about three years ago. I was finished and wondering what to do next. I had indie-published three books and traditionally published two. Indie-publishing was an option but I had success finding two publishers for my other kids’ books, so I took the traditional path. 

Before setting out on my publishing journey, I mapped out a plan, one that I had used for the other two books. Many authors have their own paths to publication, but I’ve met many who don’t. This blog is for them and for anyone curious about how Chicken Scratch Books took on Rowley Peters and the Lumberjack Ghost. 

One: Join a professional writing group.

Years ago, an agent I followed on Twitter (X), tweeted that if you want to write for children, join SCBWI. I messaged him and asked what SCBWI meant. He replied, “Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.” I joined and it was what helped me get my first children’s book published. I learned where my original short story – Snoring Beauty – fit into the kidlit world. The story had to be converted into a proper page count for an early middle-grade book. This was something I had no knowledge of prior to joining SCBWI. I changed my 2,000-word short story Snoring Beauty to Isasnora Snores, a 30,000-word book. I also connected with other kitlit authors and figured out how to pitch my book. Writer’s Digest offers a list of professional groups to help get you started. (https://www.writersdigest.com/be-inspired/writing-organizations-for-writers-to-check-out)  

Another benefit to joining SCBWI was their free or low-cost classes. I attended one by Kiri Jorgensen, author and publisher of Chicken Scratch Books. I don’t recall the topic of the class but I liked her and her company. I began taking some courses from Chicken Scratch and learned more about writing middle-grade books. There was no guarantee that Chicken Scratch would publish my books but I learned a lot about middle-grade fiction and middle-grade readers. One thing that has stuck with me is that middle-grade readers are fussy readers. 

Two: Work with beta readers.

When you’re working on a book, beta readers or critique partners are those additional eyes to examine your work. They don’t edit your book but provide insights that may clarify your writing. It’s advisable to find readers in your genre. I once belonged to a local writing group. Most of the writers were poets and they didn’t grasp my fiction writing. It wasn’t helpful. Once I joined SCBWI, I was linked to beta reading groups in the genre I was writing in. Most of the groups offered great ways to improve my manuscripts. 

When working with beta readers, know that they do not have the final word on your book. Sometimes the feedback feels harsh or discouraging. Typically, I set the feedback aside for about a week and then return to it. My rule of thumb is if all the beta readers question something in my book, I need to clarify or remove it. If a beta reader wants you to change everything, you don’t have to do that (unless you think it’s a great idea). 

You may find beta readers through your professional writing group, like I did through SCBWI. You might also find them on Facebook. I have a writing friend who uses Fiverr to find beta readers. I tried that but it didn’t work for me. 

Three: Hire a copy editor.

When you’ve done several rewrites and you feel ready to pitch, hire a copy editor. When you’re searching for an editor, be clear on your requirements. I hired an editor for my first indie-book not realizing she was a developmental editor. She tore the book apart in ways I didn’t really accept. It cost me $1,600. My current copy editor checks for grammar, spelling, and punctuation. She’ll do two rounds of edits. There’s nothing wrong with a developmental or copy editor – just know the difference and what you require. 

Four: Read submission guidelines carefully.

Every publisher has guidelines on their web pages outlining the procedures they wish authors to follow. They get inundated with queries daily. There have been instances where I submitted something only to get a reply that says, “I only accept…” Awkward. Not only that, but I might also have ruined future chances to pitch that publisher (though it has never stopped me before). You will greatly enhance your chances of securing a publisher if you simply follow the instructions. 

Five: Turn a no into a yes.

When I pitched Rowley to Chicken Scratch Books, I got a "No" with a list of reasons for the rejection. I wanted to say, “Thank you,” and crawl under a rock. Instead, I asked if I made some changes, would she look at it again? She agreed. I resubmitted and she offered me a contract. If it’s a firm no, then I usually move on but I certainly would pitch that publisher with a different book. 

Six: Respect the publisher.

Manners do count in this industry. I’ve been told by agents and publishers horror stories of rude writers. Yes, it’s challenging to find someone to pitch or publish your book, but don’t take your frustrations out on them. 

Also, once you sign with a publisher, work with the company’s revision requests and market your book. The best way to show your gratitude for the publisher taking a risk on your book is to do the revisions and market the book. 

These are the steps I took to get Rowley Peters and the Lumberjack Ghost published. They’re not all inclusive but they were the springboards to getting Chicken Scratch Books to offer me a contract. I hope you'll find them helpful in carving out your path to publication.  

Thanks for sharing all your advice, Carol. You can find Carol at: 

Website: www.clpaurauthor.com

Book links: 

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Rowley-Peters-Lumberjack-Ghost-Carol/dp/B0DZBGFY1W

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/rowley-peters-and-the-lumberjack-ghost-carol-l-paur/1147058847

Chicken Scratch Books: https://chickenscratchbooks.com/product/rowley-peters-and-the-lumberjack-ghost/

Podcast - 

YouTube Talking to Myself: https://youtu.be/9huZsby4oUM

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorclp?utm_source=qr&igsh=a3M1a2o0MmV6YTVq 

Giveaway Details 

Carol is generously offering a paperback of Rowley Peters and the Lumberjack Ghost for a giveaway. To enter, all you need to do is be a follower of my blog (via the follower gadget, email, or bloglovin’ on the right sidebar) and leave a comment by May 31st. If I do not have your email (I can no longer get it from your Google Profile), you must leave it in the comments to enter the contest. Please be sure I have your email address.

If you mention this contest on Twitter, Facebook, or other social media sites and/or follow me on Twitter or Bluesky or follow Carol on her social media sites, mention this in the comments, and I'll give you an extra entry for each. You must be 13 years old or older to enter. This book giveaway is U.S.

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday is hosted by Greg Pattridge. You can find the participating blogs on his blog.

Upcoming Interviews, Guest Posts, and Blog Hops

Wednesday, May 21st I have an agent spotlight interview with Isabel Lineberry and a query critique giveaway

Sunday, June 1st I’m participating in the Berry Good Giveaway Hop

Monday, June 2nd I have a guest post by authors Alichia Dow and Tracy Badhua and a giveaway of their MG Their Just Desserts

Wednesday, June 4th I have an interview with author Aaron Starmer and a giveaway of his YA Night Swimming and my IWSG post

Monday, June 9th I have an interview with author Nancy McCabe and a giveaway of her MG Fires Burning Underground

Wednesday, June 11th I have an agent spotlight interview with Mark O’Brien and a query critique giveaway

Monday, June 16th I’m participating in the Dad-o-Mite Giveaway Hop

Monday, June 23rd I have an interview with author Michael Spradlin and a giveaway of his MG Threat of the Spider

I hope to see you on Wednesday!