You write your first manuscript. Obviously, it’s crap! You realize you need to take your skills to the next level for a chance to beat the odds in this business. You invest in courses. You rewrite. You critique and get critiqued. You attend conferences. You learn about the business. You edit. You rewrite. You build your website and social media following. You join societies and writer’s groups. You rewrite. Finally, your manuscript is ready. You pour your heart and soul into submissions for a chance to stand out…tossing your line out just hoping and praying someone out there will love your work enough to bite. But what you don’t realize, is how many sharks are in the water!

In 2017, I wrote Boomer At Your Service. I was fortunate enough to win a writer’s contest through a popular and very useful online writing course. An editor liked my story enough to offer me a contract. I was on cloud nine! The feeling you get when you realize your thoughts and words will be brought to life in a children’s book for all to love is immeasurable. I couldn’t wait to get started. While I waited for my contract, I attended a SCBWI-NJ conference and during one of my critique sessions with a well-known agent in the business, she warned me about the “publisher.” She said, “Be careful. I’ve heard some shady things about that publisher.” I should have listened that very day. Why didn’t I?

I don’t think I valued myself enough. This is my first piece of advice. Believe in yourself and know your worth. I moved forward with the contract because I felt like I needed to get my foot in the door and pay my dues. It didn’t matter if I wasn’t getting an advance, I thought. My goal for the book was not to make a ton of money. (A laughable thought now, after a few years in the biz.) I just wanted to get my first book published because I thought maybe it would be easier to stand out in future submissions if I could point to an already-published piece of work. The agent I mentioned earlier, in that same meeting, also told me to be careful about who I work with because if my book sales are dismal, then that could be frowned upon when I submit my next manuscript. My second piece of advice is to listen to the well-respected veterans in the industry.

I should mention the “publisher” I am speaking of in this article is not a vanity press. She describes herself as a small traditional publisher and is listed as a PAL member through SCBWI. She works with over 100 authors and illustrators in our community. After the contract was signed and an illustrator hired, we got to work. “WE”, as in ME and the ILLUSTRATOR, who I must say is an absolute powerhouse creator who brought every ounce of my vision to life. I thank god for her every day. She is so incredibly talented and her illustrations of Boomer and all the visuals in the book are stunning. It was a key element to its success. She and I built a great rapport over the fact that we were now in charge of our own editing and art direction. Our editor was on a long vacation! We could not believe how unprofessional the whole process came to be. But, I just kept thinking, it’s ok because it’s my first book. The struggle will pay off, right? I should just feel lucky that someone believes in me, right? In a way, it was nice to have that much control in the creative process but I am fortunate to have the background to have been able to do it successfully. It’s not fair for those who would just be completely lost. I didn’t complain and we powered through. My third piece of advice is to listen to your gut. If you feel like the publisher is unprofessional, get out quick!

The book launched with the promise of marketing plans and support. Of course, the "publisher" didn’t do anything she said she would. I had to submit and pay for all my own industry reviews. Again, lucky for me, my background is in marketing and promotion, so I put my head down and worked my not-so-little fanny off, to market and sell my book. I knew the majority of this was going to fall on me. That wasn’t a surprise. What I didn’t realize was how short she would fall on her promises of support. I didn’t realize her print-on-demand business model would deter bookstores from actually buying books from Ingram because of the wholesale price discount not being deep enough. My fourth piece of advice is to run from any publisher with a print-on-demand model. You might as well self-publish your book at that point.

Not much time passed before I received the one and only “Best Seller” tag on her website. This was due to MY efforts and MY own money which I put into marketing the book. As well as the illustrator’s efforts too, of course. Paying my dues, right? Surely, with the “Best Seller” tag highlighted generously on her website, I was in for a nice royalty check. Does $43 sound good to you? I just spent $10,000 on all my marketing efforts so that was a big blow and pure disappointment. After a couple of incorrectly-reported royalty statements and having to chase after my royalty checks time and again, I started realizing what a sham the "publisher" really was. Other authors in this “publisher’s” scope started talking - that’s the beauty of social media. We were all connected and could uncover the consistent flaws in her business practices. Her explanations placed the blame on Ingram for incorrect reporting issues. That could make sense, one would think. But then, the numbers would at least match between my royalty statements and my illustrator’s statements. And, of course, they did not! You can start to formulate your own hypothesis at this point as to what was truly going on behind the scenes.

With a lack in any real distribution, any luck I had for sales which I could at least control, would come from events and school visits. So, I hit the pavement and booked my events. They were awesome and I felt reinvigorated by the children’s joy and love for my story. But then, Covid. UGH! All of my plans stalled, I had a baby, and before I knew it a couple of years passed. When I could start events again, I tried to order books from the “publisher”. But they never arrived on time for my events, which then made ME look unprofessional. This was happening to many of the other authors, as well. Where were our checks going??? We were paying for the books to be printed for our events but weren’t getting the books. I stopped chasing after my royalties because the effort wasn’t worth $26. I decided to just cut my losses. The entire experience just left me with a bitterness for the industry. And here’s the worst part, the deceit is still going on!

I decided I had to keep things status-quo because when I planned to submit to editors and agents, I could at least point to my previously published work. After all, that was the whole point of going through all of it. My fifth piece of advice is to know when to cut your losses and just move on. I decided to focus my efforts on my next projects. Having a wonderful critique group and support system in the industry is a good way to keep you motivated. But the injustice and thought that this person could make money off of my hard work started becoming a feeling I could no longer ignore.

She decided to launch a new website. It has been a “work-in-progress” for 2.5 years. In the meantime, there has not been a place for authors to direct consumers to buy their books because she also came up with a story about how she had to change her distributor and printer, at the same time her business website was completely broken. Authors are being misled and told their books are being worked on and will be live again in a month or two. Have I mentioned this has been going on for 2.5 years! Authors keep asking who the new distributor will be and answers never come. There have been “meetings” with absolutely no accountability taken for her mismanagement and the authors are just being talked around in circles. Her southern drawl can be hypnotizing. I too have been duped. But, I finally broke out from under the spell and requested the rights back to my book early last year. She was in breach of contract and she knew it.

Up to this point, I was always respectful and kind. There is a lot I can’t even mention in this article but the authors who are in her stratosphere know what I am talking about. You can’t stand up for yourself and what should be a professional way of conducting business because of the personal stories posted via social media by the “publisher”. It has become a pattern of behavior that could only be described as a syncronized rhythm of perfectly timed movements. Dun, dun…dun, dun. (Enter Jaws music here.) My sixth piece of advice is open your eyes and see what it right in front of you. This is a business. Lawyer up.

I mentioned I have been kind and respectful and never spoke out of turn until now. It was brought to my attention last night that she was selling my book on her website. This is months after I received my rights back. Her explanation? “An oversight.” Absolutely not, ma’am. One would have to post an image of me as an author, my book image, book blurb, price, hit post, etc. That's one massive oversight. (She has removed my book from her website since the time this article was written.)

So, here I am, with this amazing book that children adore. A lead character that is so precious and relatable who teaches many aspects of SEL. A completed book with the highest quality illustrations from a real creator, not AI. The book has rave reviews from both readers and professionals in the industry. I have my rights back and all the source files because of my relationship with its illustrator. But will any REAL publisher ever publish it again? Probably not because someone already sunk their teeth into it. If anyone has any advice to offer here, I welcome it, please.

There are many reasons why I haven’t spoken out publicly in the past. It’s the reason why so many can’t speak up. This is my cautionary tale, but like I mentioned at the beginning of this article, there are many sharks in this business. None of us want to be mauled or worse, drown our own professional careers. I have been afraid to speak out because I don’t want to be ostracized. But even more than that, I’ve made many author friends and I don’t want my personal story to hurt their hard work. So many are still under her spell and trust this person. We became trapped and that’s why it is a sin. And that’s why I am speaking up. If this can be prevented for others in the future, then it's worth it. My last piece of advice is a warning to all the newbie authors. Be careful and don’t swim in deep waters in the dark.

Today, I registered for a chance to win a manuscript critique from one of the industry's leading author, illustrators and agents. My debut picture book, Boomer At Your Service, is set to release NEXT WEEK. (AHHH!) I've been so busy with the promotion and marketing for Boomer, my queries have taken a backseat in the last couple of months. I know I need to keep putting myself and my work out there and a critique from any one of the thirty-five participants, would be a dream come true. My goal is finding an agent I love and who will also fall in love with my work. I hope if I win one of these critiques, I can be one step closer to attaining my goal. Wish me luck:)

This is a great opportunity. If you're a writer and you're looking for valuable feedback, then take a chance and register for #PBCritiqueFest today!  (​https://www.pbspotlight.com/pbcritiquefest)

​THE BROKEN BEES’ NEST
By Lydia Lukidis
Illustrated by André Ceolin
 
Did you know bees gobble honey when they smell smoke? When their bellies fill up, it’s hard for them to use their stingers. That’s why beekeepers use smoke before making any sudden movements. This is just one of the interesting bee facts your little ones can learn when reading THE BROKEN BEES’ NEST by Lydia Lukidis.
 

Now, I must admit, I’m a huge scaredy-cat when it comes to bees. I’m not sure exactly when my fear began, but I do remember getting stung in my right hand as a young child. I probably swatted at the bee or got too close to a nest. I sure wish I had this book in hand back then to teach me how absolutely amazing bees really are. 
 
It’s not a secret. Our bee population is in a heap of trouble, reaching near extinction. We each have to do our part to save the bees because without them, our own existence will be in peril. With help from THE BROKEN BEES’ NEST, we can teach our children the important role these marvelous creatures play in our environment and also help them to overcome any fear they may harbor towards bees. (Like me!)
 
In this book, Arun and Keya, run into an active bees nest while they're out searching for the perfect tree for their new tree house. Little sister, Keya, is afraid but her brother Arun is there to help her through her fears every step of the way. When they realize the bees' nest is damaged, they reach out to Dr. Chen, the local beekeeper, for help. Together, they develop a plan to move the bees to a safe, new home. Keya overcomes her fears and there is something sweet in it for everyone too!

THE BROKEN BEES' NEST is a part of the Makers Make It Work series from Kane Press. The books are a collection of easy-to-read stories focused on problem solving and hands-on learning. Each book comes with an accompanying activity for young makers to try themselves. The series was developed to support the STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) initiative. How cool it that! ​To learn more about this series, please visit: ​http://kanepress.com/book-series/makers-make-it-work/

I’m delighted to offer this giveaway of the children’s picture book,
​I HEART ART, written by Mukta Chowdhary. I have the great pleasure of calling Mukta my friend. She inspired me to follow my dream of writing children’s books. We met as former colleagues at Fullscreen where we worked on some pretty amazing advertising campaigns reaching Gen Z and Millennial audiences. Our favorite campaign was an initiative to combat Teen Cyberbullying in partnership with AT&T. It was a very special time I hold dear to my heart because we were part of a campaign that made a real difference in kids’ lives. 
 
Mukta is an extraordinary person. She is the kind of person who radiates warmth and compassion the moment you meet her and it comes through in her writing. 
 

I HEART ART is a book that follows a little Indian girl, Muskan, as she attempts to draw a self-portrait. Just like the great artists of our past, like Salvador Dali, Frida Kalo, and Vincent Van Gogh, Muskan has a unique way with her brush skills. Just when she is about to give up, she realizes her art is special…just like her. 
 
Mukta, what inspired you to write I HEART ART?
Growing up as an Indian American, I didn't have any picture books with characters that looked like me. I was inspired to tell a story about a girl who loves art and who happens to be Indian. 
 
What is the most important thing you want readers to take away from reading your book?
I think the most important thing is to nurture your inner artist.  The story is really about the beauty of the process - whether it's art, music, science or writing - usually, you won't get it right the first time but that's okay because all those other drafts, failures, drawings are what leads you to your growth.
 
TRUTH! 
 
PLEASE CONTINUE TO FOLLOW MUSKAN ON HER JOURNEY….
https://www.instagram.com/littleaubergines/
https://www.facebook.com/littleaubergines/
 
AND….FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN A FREE COPY OF I HEART ART, FOLLOW ME ON FACEBOOK AND FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS ON THE FACEBOOK POST FOR A CHANCE TO WIN. 

Hello Friends. Happy New Year! It’s the beginning of 2019 and I jumped right back into the fray by taking another Children’s Book Academy picture book course. It’s only week one but I’ve already been inspired to look introspectively and I’ve realized something powerful about myself.  
 
Dr. Mira Reisberg, a lead teacher in the course, and my book’s editor/art director, often speaks about the immigrant experience. She encourages her students who have a unique background to embrace their culture and share their voices. Our homework assignment yesterday was to think about what type of genre or plot we are drawn to ourselves, and how it impacts our writing. Well, it got me thinking about my own childhood…
 
I’m a first generation Italian American. My parents were both born in Sicily. My father grew up in Argentina, went back to Italy as a teenager, and then finally settled in the U.S. While they were desperate to hang on to the Italian culture they held so dear in their hearts, I never felt the same. You see, I was told I was different than the other kids. I wasn’t allowed to do things “because I was Italian.” I wasn’t allowed to act a certain way “because I was Italian.” We didn’t do THAT “because WE were Italian.” This message, more times than I wished, made me feel like an outsider looking in. I’m sure I’m not the only first-generation American to feel this way. I imagine it must be a relatable sentiment for many. It’s probably why my two best friends growing up were a Haitian-American sensation and a Persian-born hurricane of a girl, one of the only Muslims in my school. We understood each other.
 
I realize now how my childhood impacts my writing today. I tend to write stories with main characters who feels like they are different and don’t fit in. Ultimately, they learn the important lesson that being different is what makes us special…it’s what sets us apart. This is the message I want to tell and it is what continues to creep its way on to my pages. I can’t wait to share my next story with all of you soon. It carries on this valuable lesson through a girl who SHINES, no matter what stands in her way. I love her! 
 
Lastly, I do want to say, that growing up in an Italian household did have its perks. For example, while all the kids were teasing me for eating Nutella sandwiches for lunch, before anyone in this country knew what Nutella was, I was in on the delicious, delectable secret. So there. Eat your hearts out! 

 This week, I had the great fortune of meeting Janice Wolfe, canine expert and founder of Merlin’s KIDS. It is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing individually trained service dogs to those in need. Merlin’s KIDS transforms the lives of dogs by rescuing them from shelters, training them and giving them a very meaningful purpose to their lives. These special dogs in turn help transform the lives of the children they serve with a lifelong commitment to friendship and the specialized task they perform. 
 
My debut picture book Boomer, At Your Service will be released in 2019. It is a story about a lovable dog who doesn’t quite make it as a service dog. He wants nothing more than to find a family to serve and on his journey, he learns while he doesn’t have all the traits required to be a service dog…he excels as a therapy dog because Boomer is great at making children laugh. 
 
It’s a heartfelt story with a deeper meaning. Boomer doesn’t fit in with the rest of his classmates. He is a little different. But what makes Boomer unique, is also what makes him perfect for his family. He eventually finds his true purpose in life. 
 
I suppose this story parallels my own. I’ve spent over 15 wonderful years climbing the ladder in the world of advertising, but it was time to try something new. I now know, my true calling in life is to be a picture book author. I want to make children smile with my stories…just like Boomer. I want to make a larger impact.
 
Therefore, I want Boomer, At Your Service to serve a higher purpose. That’s why meeting Janice Wolfe has been such a blessing. I’m committing myself to supporting Merlin’s KIDS by raising awareness for its mission and will help raise funds to support the incredible work they're doing. We have some ideas brewing and I’m so excited to reveal them all soon.
 
In the meantime, I hope my post has inspired you to take an action today. Here’s how you can help…
 
How Can You Help?
Help Merlin’s KIDS rescue and rehabilitate shelter dogs and change their lives by training them to become service dogs. Each dog requires 18 months of training and the costs incurred average $30,000 per dog. Help today by making a monetary donation or volunteer your time. There are a variety of ways to help Merlin’s KIDS continue their mission and you can choose the path that is right for you. Please visit http://www.merlinskids.org/donate to learn how you can support this incredible organization.

I want to scream it from the mountaintops! I know it has been a while since my last post. I've been pretty busy these last few months. I went back to work full-time as the Executive Director, Ad Solutions for a major entertainment company. I knew it would be short-lived, as I was temporarily covering for an old colleague who went out on maternity leave. The last 16 weeks have flown by and while I was working 45+ hour weeks, I was still trying my best to bring my stories to print. And now, (just as though my Blog's title was a premonition) with one door closing... another one opens.

I am so incredibly delighted and honored to announce that I've signed a contract with Clear Fork Publishing (Spork Imprint) for my debut book, coming in 2019. "Boomer At Your Service" will be joining these beautifully written and illustrated picture books by talented, award-winning Authors & Illustrators. I'm proud to be joining the Clear Fork family. More to come folks. 2019 is going to be a BOOMING year!!

First, I want to say THANK YOU to author, Anne Renaud, for sharing your wonderful picture book with me. It was a pleasure reading it and I am thrilled to give my review.

(You can buy your own copy here or ask for it at your local library)
 
So let's get started. Whether you’re looking for a book based on historical events or one that will teach your child an important life lesson, this picture book is for you. This story is about the real-life Anna Swan, who was a giant in stature and in human spirit. Anna grew up in Nova Scotia, and by the time she was four years old, she was already taller than her mother. TRUTH! She became a local celebrity, but also endured being teased by her peers. Anna’s heart and sense of adventure were as big as she was, and she dreamed of traveling the world. Ms. Swan’s wishes came true when she was discovered by P.T. Barnum. He invited her to New York City to become part of his world-renowned Circus performance. Anna became a star! She embarked on many travels to faraway lands and even dined with the Queen of England! But her happiest times were spent with her husband in their home of Seville, Ohio.  

Can you even imagine knowing this woman and talking to her about the life she led? What an inspiration!