Meet Our June Guest Guru Lynne Marie
- rateyourstoryweb
- 6 minutes ago
- 8 min read
This month, we're excited to have multi-published, award-winning picture book author, Rate Your Story Director and The Little Press Publishing Editor Lynne Marie return as our Guest Guru.
Up to four 2026 Members will have the opportunity to get a feedback and rating from her. Members can request Lynne Marie as a Guru from Judy, Admin Assistant and In-box Coordinator (RateYourStory@gmail.com), and if there are available spots and your manuscript seems like a good fit, you will receive the benefit.
Lynne Marie will let the writer know if she is interested in seeing a revision on any of these manuscripts.
What did you want to be when you grew up?
The CEO of a fictional company I made up when I was about 7 or 8 called The Idea Factory. This company would accept requests for ideas on just about anything and everything. Which connects to my High School dream of becoming an owner/editor for a magazine which I wanted to call Everything! It was inspired by sitting next to Gloria Steinham (owner / editor of MS magazine) on a plane AND the Barbara Streisand song from A Star Is Born, which came out at the same time (Memories. . .).
Life has twists and turns and we don't always achieve our exact childhood dreams. But although my EXACT original intentions were not realized, I am an editor for a small press, and in many ways I share ideas there and through my work with The Picture Book Mechanic and Rate Your Story, and even as an Author! So I believe I got pretty darn close in achieving those dreams.
What were your hobbies growing up?
Devouring books, drawing and coloring, sewing, puzzles and games and arts and crafts. I possibly had/have undiagnosed ADHD so I was always doing something or another or even two things at once! But regarding crafts, I was a Girl Scout and my mom was the Leader for some time, so I lived for when the Pack-o-Fun craft magazine would come out and I could tell her which ones I wanted to do with our Troop. Coincidentally, my first kidlit sales were craft activities sold to Highlights for Children! Unfortunately, there are now much fewer magazine markets to break into, but at the time in was a great pre-cursor to learning storytelling and becoming a book author.
Additionally, because I was adopted (and didn't know my culture), while this was not a hobby per se, I was fascinated by people, places and things from around the world. This ties into my 2nd book with Beaming Books (2019) above.
What was an activity you enjoyed as a child, and why?
Hopscotch (any variation), Jumprope (any variation), and many, many games, including Monopoly, Battleship, Life, Chinese Checkers, Checkers, Backgammon, Chess, Sorry, Parcheesi, and MORE! At the age of 8 I discovered mysteries and loved 5 minute mysteries, as well as chapter books and novels. I couldn't sit still very well and these things kept my overactive brain occupied. I also loved drawing and coloring in coloring books as this would calm me.
What was your favorite book as a child? Why?
My mother worked at the library and, even after she didn't she knew the librarians, and would drop us off in the children's room, where I would sit with a stack of books. I've mentioned a favorite before, so to mix it up, I'll name some others: Charlotte's Web, Lyle Lyle Crocodile, Clifford the Big Red Dog, Madeline, Curious George, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Ferdinand, Where the Wild Things Are, and Amelia Bedelia -- these were all the rage when I was a child and surprisingly became classics! I wasn't a fan of the Dr. Seuss books except for The Grinch Who Stole Christmas and The Cat in the Hat -- too much repetition and too much silliness for me in the others. I like a story that moves forward and makes some sense, even if it is supposed to be silly. However as far as judging my tastes by the classics, it wouldn't work for today's market. I will be sharing books I love on You Tube,
so if you want to get to know more about what I like, follow my channel: https://www.youtube.com/@literally_lynne_marie. COMING SOON!
Share a childhood experience and how it inspired one of your books.
Being in a Christmas Pageant with my friend Dorothea inspired The Star in the Christmas Play, although it roamed far from the original experience (which is actually very sad) and became just the book it should be. While Dorothea will always be the inspiration, instead of mourning, the book celebrates Christmas and gives hope for finding where you fit in the world.
I'm not a fan of manuscripts that clearly stick close to the author's personal experience. These are easy to spot and often speak more to the author than the reader.
Henny Penny was, in part, inspired by my mother who always shared animal predictions with
us when we were young. It was also, surprisingly, inspired by my college study of The History of the Salem Witch Trials.
You can learn more about that in my Interview by Linda Frank of The Writer's Dream here: Writer's Dream interviews Author Lynne Marie
6. What is your current profession / role in your company?
Besides my role as an author, Director of Rate Your Story and the Picture Book Mechanic, I am an acquiring Editor at The Little Press. I'm happy to announce that my position has expanded, and I am now editing books for a variety of their imprints! I love holiday books but I am always a fan of a great story, so now I'm not as limited in what I acquire. Recent acquisitions involve such fun topics -- I can't wait to announce what I'm working on!
I'm also a chat host at Mentor Text Talk. More information on that can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2705342229746385/
Please share a little bit about your latest book.
Zeus and the Titanic Pet Problem (art by Wendy Carrick Haddinger, formerly Fedan) draws from my love and study of mythology (in college and continuing). It's another dead manuscript that was resurrected after many years of hell and high water, when I was looking for another project to do with Wendy for Mac and Cheese Press. She brought the characters to life in such a mythic way! And I love the takeaway that sometimes the mightiest things are the smallest things and that sometimes, the things we are looking for are right under our noses.
Please share a little bit about an upcoming book.
A Slice of America (art by Dea Lenihan), formerly American Pie. This is another manuscript that was dead and had been through hell and high water. My first illustrator quit and my friend Dea Lenihan was nice enough to step in. We worked collaboratively to switch up the characters so that it felt new. Then, upon publication, there was an issue with the colors. Soon after, the publisher went off the grid. Years passed and we decided to bring the story back to life. I'm so glad we did -- the characters are wonderful and so sweet. It's a great book to celebrate 4th of July (and friendship) with little one and it even has a fun no-bake activity!
What is a common issue in submissions that you review?
Many of the submissions I receive as an Editor at The Little Press are just not ready. The beginning often won't hook a reader, characters are often underdeveloped, the pacing is off, there's no motivation or stakes, the attempts aren't compelling, there's no failure or character / plot arc, and the resolution isn't satisfying. Submissions often have one or more and often all of those shortcomings, unfortunately. The good news is that these things are fixable with learning craft, reading and practicing.
What is a suggestion that you have to fix those issues?
Without going into each one specifically, I am a strong advocate of learning one's craft. But as far as pacing, I am a supporter of pagination as a tool. Pagination helps focus on so many things, one at a time. Does your first page hook the reader? Is there a smooth transition from the first spread to the second spread, etc.? Are there strong page turns?
Is there compelling text to inspire the illustrator on each spread? Are there too few spreads, too little spreads?
Please share a Submission tip with our Members.
Absolutely don't submit until ready and the story and characters are fully-developed. If your story isn't up to par then it could be a "no" when the same story would have merited a "yes" at a later time when it is developed. Also, the more writers submit work that isn't ready, the more publishing houses close fully or accept agented only. We have seen this happening over the years and it has just gone from bad to worse. So learn your craft and when you're ready, take advantage of exclusive submission opportunities to fasttrack.
Please share a Revision Tip for our Members.
Give your manuscript a rest. Work on something else. You really need FRESH EYES to be able to review your manuscript objectively. Also, take your manuscript in a different direction and then compare it to the original and see if it's better or worse. Sometimes, the original is just a start and you'll need to let it go so you can make a splash with your story.
Name subjects you would like to read about, or, if you are an Editor or an Agent, see in your in-box. I still love holidays and STEM, humor and fun. But I would also love to see manuscripts related to Italian heritage from Italian Americans. If there's a great one, I'll recommend it to Michele for CiaoKidlit.org. We have great news that we are now a non-profit and we are looking for new members to join us! Be sure to check out the link!
Name subjects you would not like to read about, or, if you are an Editor or an Agent, see in your in-box. Anything that's an adult POV or sensibility and not very kid-friendly.
Also is there anything in particular you want or don't want to give rating and
feedback on? Since we are all about picture books, just about anything is fine. The topics should be kid-friendly and geared to the target age group.
Share a fun fact about YOU!
A Slice of America / formerly American Pie was inspired by a 4th of July gathering that we had at our former beach house. My sister-in-law made a pie for the celebration. It wasn't an apple pie, as expected, but a pie with strawberries, blueberries and whipped cream. I said, "You should call it American Pie!" And that title stuck with me and then one day, bloomed into an idea, and then a story. It evolved into a sweet little tale that celebrates food and friendship.
But a fun fact about me is that I love the colors red, white and blue. I used different tones of these colors to decorate my living room and dining room, which is something along the lines of modern x rustic farm. I love farm animals, so figurines and milk jugs, etc. are scattered about.
Lynne Marie is the multi-published, award-winning author of picture books, including three with Scholastic, The Star of the Christmas Play (Beaming Books 2018), Moldilocks and the 3 Scares (Sterling / Scholastic 2019), Let’s Eat! Mealtime Around the World (Beaming Books 2019), The Three Little Pigs and the Rocket Project (Mac and Cheese Press 2022), The Palace Rat (Yeehoo Press 2023), Henny Penny’s Weather Worries (Mac and Cheese Press, 2025), Zeus and the Titanic Pet Problem (2025), A Slice of America (June 2026) and more, forthcoming.
Lynne Marie's recent book, BroomMates: A Brewing Boundary Battle (The Little Press 2024), is an honor book for the 2025 Anna Dewdney Read Together Award, has been awarded a 2025 CBC Favorite in K - 2 from Teachers, Kids and Librarians, as well as a winner in the Holiday Category of the 2024 Northern Lights Book Awards.
She’s an Editor at The Little Press, an Editor at Reedsy.com, Director of RateYourStory.org, Mentor at ThePictureBookMechanic.com, Creator of March On With Mentor Texts (www.rateyourstory.org/march-on) and Mentor Text Talk, Co-Host of #SeasonsOfKidLit (www.seasonsofkidlit.com) and a Columnist at Children’s Book Insider (https://writeforkids.online/). Visit her at www.LiterallyLynneMarie.com.
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