

Tips and Thoughts from Author Lynne Marie
Our Owner and Administrator (as well as our Resident Guest Guru), Lynne Marie, shares her insights about children’s books, writing for children, and more! 1. What do you LOVE about children’s books? Oh, so much! I view books as rabbit holes filled with shared experiences of a variety of inaccessible or accessible things – whether they be mythological creatures, wonderful worlds, familiar or exotic places, wild animals, extinct creatures, fantastical occurrences, superheroes,


Introducing...Author/Illustrator Fred Koehler
NOTE FROM THE EDITOR: We are happy to have Fred Koehler as our January Rate Your Story Guest Guru. He will read and rate four (4) submissions from our Members. But whether or not you are a Member, don't miss this insightful interview. We are allowing everyone who reads and comments on this post to use the RYS22 code to get a discount at his new company, Ready Chapter 1! Please click on the links to buy Fred's books. And now, here's Fred! 1. What do you LOVE about children’s b

Cover Reveal: American Pie
This book, like so many others, has a long journey from oven to table. I cannot verify the exact November PiBoIdMo (StoryStorm) in which this was conceived because of a computer crash, but it was likely 2010 -- about 11 years ago. It wasn't a story that I had widely submitted, if at all, but it was one that my first Agent had chosen to focus on. Though that never came to pass, I appreciate her support of this story. Like many of my other sweet stories that I write then move a


Introducing, Vivian Kirkfield...Our Newest Judge
Sweet Vivian literally needs no introduction! She's known for being a helpful and encouraging person in the kid-lit community and renowned for her books! We're so grateful to have this former Rate Your Story Member back on the other side of the fence to share her expertise with you all! What brought you to children’s books? How long have you been writing? I’ve had a love affair with books all my life. Growing up, I loved scribbling poems and little stories. As a kindergarten


Introducing, Roxanne Troup...Our Newest Judge
We are pleased to Welcome Roxanne Troup to our talented group of Judges. Roxanne has unique experience in having successfully completed several work-for-hire projects (and a fiction book pending), but in having also been a Ghostwriter! What brought you to children’s books? How long have you been writing? I stumbled into the kid-lit field shortly after my last child was born. Though I studied to become an elementary teacher (and taught at the preschool level for several years)