An Occasionally Challenging Journey With a Happy Outcome: How Cliff Burke Landed an Agent, Book Deals & Accolades for His Middle Grade Novels

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An Occasionally Challenging Journey With a Happy Outcome: How Cliff Burke Landed an Agent, Book Deals & Accolades for His Middle Grade Novels

I’m delighted to share my interview with author Cliff Burke. Cliff and I worked together on a partial manuscript critique of his middle grade novel An Occasionally Happy Family back in 2018. Since then he landed an agent, two book deals with Clarion Books (now a division of HarperCollins), and he has several more projects in the pipeline.

What’s inspiring about Cliff’s story is that he “did not have any connections or real understanding of how the agenting process worked,” as he explained. So he took a methodical approach when sending out query letters, and it worked! Learn about Cliff's publishing journey here.

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Magical Allies: How Debbie Black Found the Perfect Small Press for Her Middle Grade Series SARA AND THE GHOST CLOTHES

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Magical Allies: How Debbie Black Found the Perfect Small Press for Her Middle Grade Series SARA AND THE GHOST CLOTHES

For my most recent author Q&A, I interviewed author Debbie Black. Debbie and I worked together on a full manuscript critique last year, and this past January, Coalesce Publishing released her middle grade novel DEETJEN’S CLOSET, the first in the SARA AND THE GHOST CLOTHES series. I’m delighted to be working with Debbie again this fall on McMENAMIN’S CLOSET, the next book in the series, which will also be published by Coalesce. Learn about the magic in Debbie’s novel—and that of her writing community—below.

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At the Heart of It All: How J.C. Cervantes Honored Her Writing Spirit and Became a Bestselling Author

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At the Heart of It All: How J.C. Cervantes Honored Her Writing Spirit and Became a Bestselling Author

J.C. Cervantes and I first crossed paths 10 years ago, when she had already published a middle grade novel but was looking to move her writing career forward. We worked together on a few different partial manuscripts that didn’t quite find a home—but then, in 2017, she landed a book deal with Rick Riordan Presents. Today, Jen is the New York Times bestselling author of several middle grade and YA books. Learn about her amazing journey here.

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That Thing About Author & Illustrator Supriya Kelkar: Persistence!

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That Thing About Author & Illustrator Supriya Kelkar: Persistence!

For my latest author Q&A, I interviewed Supriya Kelkar. I worked with Supriya on her middle grade novel AHIMSA back in 2015, when she had yet to land an agent or publish, but Supriya is now the author of nine children's books, with three more forthcoming! Learn about her inspiring road to publication here.

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When You Believe in Magic: How Lorraine Hawley Wrote, Pitched & Published CURIOUS WORLD OF DANDY-LION

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When You Believe in Magic: How Lorraine Hawley Wrote, Pitched & Published CURIOUS WORLD OF DANDY-LION

For my latest author Q&A, I interviewed Lorraine Hawley. Back in 2018, I worked with Lorraine on a full manuscript critique, and this past fall, her middle grade novel CURIOUS WORLD OF DANDY-LION was released by Lawley Publishing. Learn about Lorraine’s inspiration for this novel, how she landed an agent for her next two books, and what’s given her hope and kept her dreaming through her remarkable—perhaps magical—journey.

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