FAQ

 Writer's Links

BookBarn

View the BookBarn Guestbook



Sign the BookBarn Guestbook

Welcome to the new
 Children's Writers Marketplace. 

Please Bookmark this Page

Welcome to the NEW Children's Writers Marketplace!  

Due to Technical Problems with Margaret's Mail Server you may want to email her at mshauers@yahoo.com 
if you do not get a response from the
mshauers@kscable.com email address.

Either way, be patient and we will get to you 
as soon as possible.
We do appreciate your stopping by

For those who have just found this site, my name is Margaret Shauers. I have been active in many writing areas over the past 30+ years, but writing for children remains my best love. Over the past several years, I've been working in the activity book and game book areas. I also freelance children's short fiction and puzzles and do some adult material. The magazine market list I sell grew from my own writing card file. I now include nonfiction markets, as well. Information about ordering the full 350+ market list is given at the end of this column.

Hi, and thanks for all the support for the new site!  

Site owners: feel free to send me more links for children's writing areas. I will list any that don't have membership fees at least once. Those of ongoing use to writers will be considered for the permanent links. I'd appreciate getting links on your sites, as well.

Teenage Christian, P.O. Box 2227, Brentwood TN 37024-2227: Shana Curtis, Editor. This religious publication at least once used fiction of 1000 to 1800 words for teenagers. A recent rejection mentioned ONLY articles. Fiction was 1000 to 2000 words. They use articles of 500 to 1200 words. They pay $$15-25 on publication for 1st or reprint rights. They do not use puzzles. They don't have theme lists or guidelines. They are planning to go online in the near future and will be requesting to use already published material. Participating writers will be able to create their own ministry sites there.

The parenting magazine Offsping has folded after less than a year. The reason, the publisher muses, could be that it was "a little too New Yorky" for wide readership.

Entertainmenteen has folded. So has Superteen.

A possible new magazine for young women is being tested. If it flies, it will be called Friday, and will be under the McCall's publication line. At the same publisher, Rosies': The Magazine is also replacing Rosie's McCall's. Neither of these are specifically for children, but are for youngish women and use or will use child-related articles.

Editor Christina Ferrari will be leaving the highly successful Teen People, 1271 Sixth Avenue, New York NY 10020. Her replacement has not been named.

SeeSpotBooks.com is an e-publisher dedicated to the promotion of children's books, creative classes, professional columns and teacher, writers' and illustrators' resources in an electronic format. Our booklist contains exciting new works as well as some formerly unavailable out of print favorites by a variety of authors and illustrators as well as The SeeSpot Writers' Companions which give invaluable insights into their creative process becoming a "virtual author visit". SeeSpot Classes range from what to do with your ideas to marketing your completed manuscript to publishers. All classes are authored by people that are working in their field. Linda Zuckerman's Editor Column backs the marketing classes up with her information packed and often pointed helpful hints. Peggy Sharp, a nationally recognized leader of "What's New in Children's Books" is creating teacher support material for the books of SeeSpotBooks.com to further insure our books' usefulness in a classroom setting. At SeeSpotBooks.com we are there for the ebook reader, students, teachers, aspiring writers and illustrators and everyone else who loves and wants to be involved in children's literature. http://seespotbooks.com.

And this one was just interesting:

J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series about a boy wizard attending boarding school tops the list of most challenged books of 2000, as tracked by the American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF). The Potter books were first challenged in 1999, quickly rising to the top spot on the list that year.

Parents, mostly complaining about the books' alleged occult/Satanic/anti-family themes and violence, made up the majority of the 646 challenges in 2000.

The ALA's OIF defines a challenge as "a formal written complaint filed with a library or school about a book's content or appropriateness." But Harry's official numbers in 2000 are most likely only a fraction of the complaints against the Potter books. The OIF estimates that less than 25 percent of all challenges are actually reported.

Blackbirch Press, Inc., P.O. Box 3573, Woodbridge CT 06525. (203) 387-7525. E-mail: staff@blackbirch.com. Website: http://www.blackbirch.com. Acquisitions: Beverly Larson, editorial director. Established: 1990. Publishes hardcover and trade paperback originals. Publishes 70-90 titles/year. Receives 400 queries and 75 mss/year. 100% of books from unagented writers. Pays 4-8% royalty on net price or makes outright purchase. Offers $1,000-5,000 advance. Publishes book 1 year after acceptance of ms. Accepts simultaneous submissions. Replies only if interested. Manuscript guidelines free. "We cannot return submissions or send guidelines/replies without an enclosed SASE."

NONFICTION: Children's/juvenile: biography, illustrated books, reference. Subjects include animals, anthropology/archaeology, art/architecture, education, health/medicine, history, nature/environment, science, sports, travel, women's issues/studies. "No proposals for adult readers, please." Publishes in series - 6-8 books at a time. Query with SASE. No unsolicited mss or proposals. No phone calls. Cover letters and resumes are useful for identifying new authors. Reviews artwork/photos as part of ms. package. Send photocopies.

NEW & CHANGES:

Note from Margaret: I have a lot of changes this month--and a few new ones. Some changes are small, but I've tried to put at least most important changes I've found in so people can update market lists.

Teaching & Learning Company, 1204 Buchanan St., P O Box 10, Carthage IL 62321-0010: Jill Eckhardt, Managing Editor. Teaching & Learning Company publishes teacher resources (supplementary activity/idea books) for grades pre K-8. Currently emphasizing "more math for all grade levels, more primary science material." No picture books or story books. Pays on a royalty schedule. They have a catalog and guidelines available. Send SASE. E-Mail: customerservice@TeachingLearning.com. Website: www.TeachingLearning.com.

Pack-O-Fun, 2400 Devon, Suite 375, Des Plains IL 60018: Irene Mueller, Managing Editor. This arts and crafts publication is aimed at teachers, parents of home schoolers and group leaders (Scouts, Sunday school, etc.) They want inexpensive, quick projects, especially those that teach a new skill, use recyclables in creative ways, etc. Keep supplies under $3 and plan crafts that can be managed for entire groups. They have themes and deadlines; you can get a list for SASE. Submissions should include a photo of the completed project. Seldom uses fiction unless a craft (with instructions) is tied in with it. If your project is accepted, the original design or the item you made is required. Pay is negotiable for all rights. Website: http://www.craftideas.com.

Guideposts for Kids has gone to an online format only The website is http://www.guidepostsforkids.com/index.shtm. At this point they don't have guidelines at the site--and even Writer's Digest is trying to verify information. If any of you know more about the change and the new needs, please share. Thanks!

Jump, For Girls Who Dare to be Real, 21100 Irwin Street, Woodland Hills CA 91367: Jennifer Howell, Assistant to the Editor-in Chief. This teen magazine is for girls 14-19 and the theme is fitness. They are open to freelance submissions for their "Items" section. Features are open only to writers with significant experience and clips. Pays .50 to $1 word on publication for all rights. Email: letters@jumponline.com. Website: http://www.jumponline.com. The editorial offices have moved to NY, but this is still the address listed. The company may sell the title.

American Careers, 6701 West 64th Street, Overland Park KS 66202: Mary Pitchford, Editor. This magazine is currently planning issues for the 2001-2002 school year. Readers are students in middle school, junior and senior high school, and tech and vocational schools. They want queries and a writer's resume. Current high interests are articles about careers in information technology, telecommunications, new media, and transportation and logistics. Pays varying rates on publication. http://www.carcom.com.

There is an online site for greeting card writers. See it at http://www.greetingcardwriter.com.

Jeffrey Eisenberg is the new editor at Wrestling World, 233 Park Ave. S., New York NY 10003: Jeffrey Eisenberg, Editor. This monthly for professional wrestling fans is read by teens. Pay is $75-$125 for 1500-2500 words. E-Mail: sterlingsports@yahoo.com.

Turtle Magazine for Preschool Kids, 1100 Waterway Blvd., Box 567, Indianapolis IN 46206: Terry Harshman, Editor. This secular publication for preschoolers has a health angle & does not want anything without. They use fiction and nonfiction of 150-300 words and now lists that they pay up to .22 word on publication for all rights. Nonfiction is very simple science experience and healthy recipes. Website: http://www.turtlemag.com.

WHAT!, 108-93 Lombard Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 3B1 Canada: Leslie Malkin, Editor. This magazine is distributed to high school students across Canada. They use nonfiction, 675-2o00 words and pays $100-$300 (not to $500 as formerly listed) Canadian 30 days after publication for 1st NA rights. Target motivated young men and women. Email: l.malkin@m2ci.mb.ca.

MH-18, 400 S. 10th Street, Emmaus PA 18098: Jenny Everett, Editorial Assistant. This Rodale Press publication for 13 to 18 year old boys has changed to a quarterly. Mens health, sports, fitness, girls, gear, life. Now a quarterly. Uses nonfiction only to 2000 words. Pays $1 word for all rights on acceptance. Also uses fillers and short material. They have a website listed in the Writer's Market online pages, but it won't work for me. Does anyone have one that does?

Wonder Time, 6401 The Paseo, Kansas City MO 64131: Pamela Smits, Editor. This Church of the Nazarene publication uses fiction and nonfiction of 100-200 words for children 6 to 8. They pay $20 for 1st rights. All Church of the Nazarene publications are international so they ask that no stories concern purely US holidays. They use some puzzles, pay $3 to $15. They have a theme list. No longer open to any reprint material. Email: psmits@nazarene.org.

Chandler House Press has been making subsidy offers to people who submit.

Nature Friend Magazine, 26737 TR 421, Sugarcreek OH 44681: Marvin Wengard Editor. This religious magazine uses fiction of 200 to 1200 words for children 4 to 14. All stories must have a nature tie-in, but you can have animal characters. Articles are 300-1500 words; true stories (can be fictionalized), 300-1200 words. The magazine primarily goes to rural families who hold a literal view of creation. They do not use holiday stories. The pay is .05 word on publication for one-time rights. They use KJV puzzles.

Blender, 1040 Sixth Avenue, New York NY 10019: Andy Pemberton, Editor in Chief. This magazine will be published four times a year and will reflect the eclectic musical tastes of young adults, from dance and hip-hop to rock, alternative, and R&B.

It's almost summer and this publisher is looking for activity, travel and craft books for kids of ages 4 through 12. They are also interested in books for children about boating. Nonfiction only. Write for guidelines (SASE) and query with marketing analysis and resume. They don't accept unsolicited manuscripts. Pays on a royalty schedule. Marlor Press, 4304 Brigadoon Drive, St. Paul MN 551216.

Roaring Brook Press 2 Old New Milford Road, Brookfield CT 06804 is a new book line from Millbrook Press They will launch in spring 2002 with 15 titles. Deborah Brodie is the Executive Editor. Guidelines are not yet available and they ask writers to put them down to check with in six months. Unsolicited manuscripts will not be accepted.

Another new book line will be Wendy Lam Books, 1540 Broadway, New York NY 10036. Wendy Lamb will be the Publishing Director. Guidelines should be available in early summer. This list plans to publish 10 to 15 titles a year and will begin in spring 2002. It is an imprint of Random House so it's doubtful they will accept unsolicited material. Website: http://www.randomhouse.com.

Lockwood Films (London) Inc., 12569 Boston Dr., RR #41, London Ontario N6H 5L2, Canada: Nancy Johnson: President. Entertainment and general broadcast for kids 9-12 and family viewing. Works with 5-6 writers per year. Query with synopsis, resume, writing samples. They then send a proposal agreement which has to be signed before they read and consider material. Email: nancycjohnson@hotmail.com

The entire children's list of Gulf Publishing Company has been purchased by TaylorWilson Publishing. They will continue to market the existing children's books on their list, but will not be considering new material for children or young adults.

Dramatists can find a Christian market at Lillenas Publishing, P.O. Box 419527, Kansas City MO 64141. They specialize in plays and dramatic resource materials for Christian schools and churches. Drama Editor is Kimberly Messer. She'd like to see more recitations, sketches and short plays for elementary through high school students. This publisher does like to see complete manuscripts--and also needs cast list, prop lists and scene descriptions. Pays a flat fee. Get their guidelines by emailing a request to drama@lillenas.com.

Meadowbrook Press, 5451 Smetana Drive, Minnetonka MN 55343 is a family-oriented press which specializes in parenting books, party books, humorous quote books, humorous children's poetry books, children's activity books and juvenile fiction (7-12). Currently emphasizing parenting and party books. De-emphasizing joke, quote books, and adult poetry. They want queries--do not accept unsolicited material. They also are planning some sort of anthology. Website: www.meadowbrookpress.com.

Country Kids, 250 Post Road East, Westport CT 06880: Molly Dorozenski, Managing Editor. Published for farm kids in Connecticut, Massachusetts and New York. This publication does not use fiction. This magazine is more for parents than children, but may use some children's material. Pay is up to $100 for assigned articles of 800-2000 words. They prefer queries. They will use reprints. Email: countrykids@ctcentral.com.

Sesame Street Parents will cease publication in April 2001.

Sesame Street Magazine will continue, but it does not consider freelance material.

Campus Live, 465 Gundersen Drive, Carol Stream IL 60188: Amber Penney, Assistant Editor. This Christian magazine for high school and early college students uses articles, 750 to 2500 words, and fiction, 1000-2000 words. Pays .15 to .20 word on acceptance for 1st and one-time rights; $50 for reprints. Occasionally accepts reprints. Best way to break in is with 1st person experiences or as-told-to 1st person stories. Get theme info and DO query. This is not a beginner's market. Email: clmag@campuslife.com. Website: http://www.campuslife.net.

Live, 1445 Boonville Ave., Springfield MO 65802: Paul W. Smith, Senior Editor. This religious publication for teens and adults uses fiction of 500 to 2000 words and pays .07 to .10 word on acceptance for 1st or reprint rights. Email: rl-live@gph.org. Website: http://www.radiantlife.org.

Young & Alive, 4444 South 52nd Street, Box 6097, Lincoln NE 68506: Gaylena Gibson, Editor. This religious publication has a 16 to 20 year-old blind and visually impaired readership. They use articles and true story type fiction of 200 to 1400 words and pay .04 to .05 word for one-time rights. Most interested in stories about young people overcoming obstacles through faith and determination. They use puzzles, but they must be those people with limited eyesight can complete.

The Conqueror, 8855 Dunn Rd., Hazelwood MO 63042-2299: Travis Miller, Editor. This is a religious publication for United Pentecostal teens, ages 12-21. They use articles and fiction of 250-1250 words and pay $15 - $30 for 1st or 2nd rights on publication. They have cut the # of issues they publish so use less material. They used to use puzzles, KJV. Email: youth@upci.org. Website: http://www.upci.org/youth.

Seventeen, 850-3rd Street, New York NY 10022: Contact: Tamara Glenny, Deputy Editor, Darcy Jacobs, Senior Editor. This secular publication uses 800-2500 word (literary) fiction for girls 13 to 21; articles to 2500 words by adults. (Wants items of 1200 words by writers 21 year or younger only.). They pay $500 to $2000 for fiction to 3000 words, $1 word or more for nonfiction, on acceptance. They buy one-time rights from adults; may now take the same rights from teens. The slant is toward older girls. They like a cover letter, listing credits. E-mail: thespin@aol.com. Website: http://www.seventeen.com.

Kids VT is a magazine for parents in Vermont. The address I found looks like it has a typo in it, but they have a website that contains writer's guidelines--and they prefer email submissions. http://www.discoverburlington.com/kidsvt/. They sound as if they are open to out of area submissions. They don't respond to material they don't use. (QUESTION: How do others handle this? I usually decide they won't use it if I haven't heard in six months. And many publications don't mind if someone else buys it, too, but some do. So????)

School Arts Magazine, 50 Portland St., Worcester MA 01608-9959: Eldon Katter, Editor. This monthly (Sept. through May) serves the arts and craft education profession, K-12, higher education and museum education programs written by and for art teachers. They really want good photos illustrating the art lessons and material and prefer these are actual art projects used with actual students. They also require finished examples of the artwork. Articles of 600-1400 words. Pay is $30 to $150. Website: http://www.davis-art.com.

Frank Schaffer Publications Family of Companies, 23740 Hawthorne Blvd., Torrance CA 90505 has a number of book imprints, as well as several magazines. All are aimed at parents and teachers of children PreK through grade 12. Check them out at http://www.frankschaffer.com/. E-Mail: FSPEditor@aol.com

Muse, 332 S. Michigan, Suite 1100, Chicago IL 60604: Diana Lutz, Editor. (Unsolicited to: Muse Submissions Editor, The Cricket Magazine Group, P.O. Box 300, Peru IL 61354.) This publication is a collaboration of the Smithsonian and Cricket magazines. It is aimed at 6-14 year olds and will carry educational, fun type materials. Write for guidelines. Query first with resume and clips. They want articles 1000 to 2500 words on important concepts of science and technology as they relate to areas of practical knowledge. Pay is .50 word for all rights (assigned material; .25 for noncommissioned.). Commissioned work must be submitted with bibliography and Mac-compatible disk. Email: muse@caruspub.com. Website: http://www.musemag.com

Discovery Trails, 1445 Boonville Ave., Springfield MO 65802: Sindra S. Zinn, Editor. This Assembly of God publication is for children, ages 10 to 12. There are new lengths and pay. They now pay .07 to .10 word on acceptance for fiction to 1000(they use some shorter), and articles to 500 words, on acceptance. They buy 1st or reprint rights and often hold material for later consideration--but let you know they are doing so right after submission. They use NIV puzzles, pay $5 to $7.50 Also use interactive activities, Bits & Bytes of Quirky Facts, crafts, how-to articles, recipes. Email: discoverytrails@gph.org. Website: http://www.radiantlife.org.

Aim Magazine, P. O. Box 1174, Maywood IL 60153-8172: Dr. Myron Apilado. This publication is for high school and college teachers and some adults. Material of social significance. 15% of material is aimed at juvenile audience--and is written by young people, as well. Uses fiction to 4000 words, nonfiction to 2,000. Pays $15-$25 on publication. Email: ruthone@earthlink.net. Website: http://www.aimmagazine.org.

College Bound, 2071 Clove Road, Suite 206, Staten Island NY 10304: Gina LaGuardia, Articles editor. College students write this magazine for high school juniors and seniors. Nonfiction 400-1100 words. Pays $25-$100 on publication for varying rights. Email: editorial@cbnet.com. Email: editorial@collegebound.net. Website: http://www.collegebound.net.

Soccer Jr., 27 Unquowa Road, Fairfield CT 064305015 (203) 259-5766. Fax: (203-256-1119Jill Schoff, Associate Editor. This secular publication uses fiction and nonfiction of 800-2000 words, with soccer themes only. 8-14. They also use soccer related puzzles. Pays $50-$600 on acceptance for first rights. Email: ischoff@soccerjr.com. Website: http://www.soccerjr.com.

U.S. Kids, 1100 Waterway Boulevard, Indianapolis IN 46202: Daniel Lee, Editor. This secular, health interest publication uses articles and fiction of 400 to 800 words for children 6-8. Fiction with a real-world focus; no fantasy. Poetry to 32 lines. Pays to .25 word for ALL rights (on publication). Website: http://www.cbhi.org/.

Junior Baseball, P.O. Box 9099, Canoga Par CA 91039: Dave Destler, Editor. This is a bimonthly magazine for youth baseball players, 7 to 17, their parents, coaches and associate organizations. They want nonfiction of 500-1500 words: how-tos, interview/profile with major league players (on assignment only), leagues and tournaments, industry and parents. Pays $50 to $100 on publication for all rights. Email: dave@juniorbaseball.com. Website: http://www.juniorbaseball.com.

Sharing the Victory, 8701 Leeds Rd., Kansas City MO 64129: David Smale, Editor. This Christian publication for coaches and teen athletes uses articles of 500 to 1000 words and pays $100-$200 on publication for 1st rights. Reviews poetry of 50-75 words. Also considers reprints and pays 50% regular rates. Email: stv@fca.org. Website: http://www.fca.org.

Sports Illustrated for Kids, Time & Life Building, 1271 Sixth Avenue, New York NY 10020: Neil Cohen, Managing Editor. Contact: Editorial Administrator. This sports magazine is aimed at children 8-13. They use nonfiction of 100-1500 words. Pays $75-$1000 on acceptance for ALL rights. They have a 16 page bimonthly section, Girls and Sports Extra--and want writers. Website: http://www.sikids.com.

YOU REQUESTED:

I receive frequent requests for markets that use material from young writers. As I've stated in the past, many magazines for children and teens do use reader material. One I just came across a request from is New Moon, P.O. Box 3620, Duluth MN 55803: Deb Mylin, Managing Editor. This secular publication for girls 8 to 14 has a feminist slant. They want essays and articles from girls that relate to their themes! Email: girl@newmoon.org. Website: http://www.newmoon.org. They also use material from adults and are currently looking for articles about less-well known women who have been successful in life.

Another publication, one accepting material only from teens is Merylyn's Pen, 4 King St., East Greenwich RI 02818: Stephen Hammond, project coordinator. This annual publishes fiction, essays and poems by America's teen writers, age 11-19 exclusively. 100-5000 words. Pays $20 up. E-Mail: merlynspen@aol.com. Website: www.merlynspen.com.

Still another frequent question is about self-publishing--which I know little about. There now is a magazine about the topic, and quite a bit online: http://www.bookmarketingprofits.com/. They pay if you wish to contribute, too.

I came across a reference to a magazine I don't have listed. It's 16 Magazine. Does anyone have the address and information? And how about a magazine called BOP? I could use this information also. Thanks!

Mary Warren is looking for copies of one of her early-published works: "The City That Forgot About Christmas." This was published in 1968 by Concordia Publishing House. If you have a copy you are willing to sell, please email her at Mwar702@aol.com.

CONTESTS:

Writers of Westerns, Young Adult novels, and religious fiction are invited to enter a competition celebrating all three categories. Prizes totaling $24,000 are offered, $8,000 in each category. Deadline for the 250-word submissions is August 1, 2001. Entries are limited to 500 in each section, so contestants are advised to enter early before contests are filled. Rules, entry fees, and topics are available at http://www.novel.to. Or, send a legal-size SASE to: Showcase Rules, 652 Treece Gulch, Stevensville, MT 59870. This contest is sponsored by A Rocky Mountain Fiction Showcase, a project of Collaborations Press, Stevensville MT.

Contact: Jim Cotton, 652 Treece Gulch, Stevensville MT 59870. Email: rockymount@novel.to.

Collaborations is a small press devoted as is its project - A Rocky Mountain Fiction Showcase - to literature of the North American West. Traditional westerns, Novels of the West, Western Americana, Young Adult novels, and aviation and adventure novels are principal interests. It is not a vanity or subsidy publisher but is committed to the unpublished and aspiring novelist or helping the writer self-publish. Publisher Jim Cotton is a former magazine editor and a writer of western and young adult works. Cotton also hosts A Ranching Boy's Life at http://www.ranchingboy.to.

May 15th is the deadline to enter your work in Writer's Digest's annual writing competition. More than $25,000 in prizes and 1,001 winners in all. For a complete list of prizes, an entry form and the rules, send an e-mail with "Guidelines" in the subject line to writing-competition@fwpubs.com or visit http://www.writersdigest.com/information.asp?SelfPromo.

Want to win a FREE autographed copy of Peter Bowerman's book, 'The Well-Fed Writer: Financial Self-Sufficiency As a Freelance Writer in Six Months or Less'? Just go to http://www.writersmanual.com/page1004.html.

Pam Calvert sent some great new opportunities for e-publishing. Her letter, with the information, is below. Thanks, Pam!

I'm working for two e-publishers now--Kidszip (which has gotten corporate sponsorship--YEA! and should be up in a few months, hopefully) and http://www.Scribum.com. Scribum has the guy who created DIC and Inspector Gadget working for them as a writer (Jean Francois Poulin) and one of their editors used to be a writer for Disney. You might want to mention them on your site. They are looking for new writers. They want to do exactly what Kidszip wants to do--that is publish a children's anthology online and have the stories at a low price. They are very professional and brutal with editing, so I imagine the quality of stories will be very good. They also want screenwriters--you have to send them a resume before you are accepted to submit.

I also have another company, SeaSky-Jumpstarters (http://www.seasky-jumpstarters.bigstep.com. ), that is a children's print book publisher based out of Singapore, which is calling for manuscripts. They want to see my novel and it is exciting since they only take Asian-Pacific rights. I live in Guam and that is where I am! They do not want to see picture books though. Just YA and midgrades only. Their word count is 35,000 words because of their page layout, so this needs to be put in--they don't mention it in their guidelines. They give a 10% royalty rate and 3,000 first run printing. They will print more after they see how the book sells. They will sell to libraries and bookstores in Singapore first and then branch out.

And still another letter from Pam Calvert (thank you so much for ALL the market info, Pam!):

"I am writing an article (on spec) for Children's Writer and these new anthologies will be in it plus another one--Storydog.com. Storydog is different in that they pay writers $200 per 3,000-4,000 word story and it will be a work for hire situation in a series format--a little different. The editor is Rebecca Trissler at btrissler@sprynet.com . Authors may query her for their writer's guidelines. http://www.storydog.com.

Kimberly Baldwin Radford passed on the word that Virtue Magazine is defunct. So is Shoofly. Kimberly also was nice enough to include this tip for using my market list:

" One of the selling points of your market list is that one can search it and create a personalized database from the market info. I use the highlight feature of Word to color-code key words in the markets based on topics I am likely to submit under." (I'll use the color-code tip myself, Kimberly! Thanks!)

FELLOWSHIP:

Walt Disney Studios has a fellowship program which offers a $34,000 salary for one year beginning January 1, 2002. They will give up to eight positions to promising film and television writers. The deadline for applications is June1-22, 2001. Information and application form available on the Internet at http://www.abcnewtalent.disney.com/.

Some of the Inkspot columns and forums can be found at http://www.writers-bbs.com/members/joyceb/Inkspot_experi/Page_1x.html.

Go to http://writersbbs.com/inkspot/threads.cgi?forum=childbegin for the Writing for Children forum.

Another page link to some of these is at http://www.writersbbs.com/inkspot/.

Don't forget the main The Writer's BBS. They are providing space for these ongoing columns and discussion groups--and offer a great deal on their own, including chat rooms. http://www.writersbbs.com/.

Moira Allen, the former Managing Editor at Inkspot has a new site. The general site is http://www.writing-world.com/. She has a really good children's section, too! Check it out at http://www.writing-world.com/children/index.html.

The Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators is at http://www.scbwi.org/.

Barb Odanaka has a fun and useful site for both skateboarders and children's writers, SkateboardMom.com at http://skateboardmom.homestead.com/home.html.

Talia Seven sent me info on two of her sites for tag writing:

Tag You're It Talk -- http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/tagyoureittalk.

Come join other writers in tag writing. Our 60+ writing members have found that tag writing helps a great deal with writer's block as well as providing a quick outlet for creative thoughts. Please come join up, new minds are always welcome.

Tag You're It -- http://www.tagyoureit.f2s.com.

Tag You're It Members have developed this site to let everyone read what they've written. Come read about us, our ongoing stories, our finished stories, and the club rules and FAQ. Find out if you're interested in joining us.

Krista, the Managing Editor of WritersManual.com sent the following. They even have a contest going right now!

WritersManual.com brings you the best of tips, techniques, writing resources, informative articles, and more help you induce, improve, and promote your writing career. http://www.writersmanual.com/.

The New England SCBWI has a web page. Their spring conference is listed there--and a lot of other useful information! http://members.aol.com/nescbwi/blogger.html.

"The Little Old Lady from Alameda (still 18 in spirit), Marty Smith, has a history site I think you'll find wonderful when launching research projects! It's History Research Online. Thanks for sharing this, Marty! HTTP://members.aol.com/historyresearch.

Marty gives this tip for using her pages:

For example, you would look up Indians under North America, mummies and Egypt under Ancient and Classical, airplanes under Military History, comics under Pop Culture, fairy tales under World Religions and Folklore, etc.

Debbie Powell Smith and DeAnn Hasquet have a great site to showcase their books and encourage child readers! Check it out at http://www.childhoodfriends.com/.

NOTE TO LETTER WRITERS: Thank you for your emails. I read them all and I try to answer as many varied questions as possible. I also have a backlog so it can take time. If I don't use your letter in the column within two months, it's for one of the following reasons. (A.) I've answered a very similar question in the past. Please check the FAQ section and the archives. (B.) I no longer publish letters where I must do more than very minor grammar and spelling corrections. This includes the many letters I get where no capitalization is used. Editing letters takes too much time-and such letters hardly indicate a serious commitment to writing. Believe me, editors never take poorly constructed writing seriously! (C.) I do not critique writing and no longer respond to emails requesting such services.

L.R.

Dear L.R.:

Yes, the first royalty statement often is a shock--and is about when most writers learn that they need to find out whether they will be paid on list price, wholesale price or some other configuration. And to realize that publishing books only makes a few people wealthy. Most authors who make a living at it do it from sales of several books. And at least in the children's area, books are kept on most lists for longer than one or two seasons.

I'm throwing your request open to readers. Have any of you managed to get national interviews? Please share your secrets! I know that many writers of the glitzy or sexy, large romances hire publicists just for this and other promotional purposes. Writers for children usually just don't make enough to interest these people (even if we could afford them.)

Don't discount the value of local interviews. Even regional demands for your books will gain publisher attention if there is significant interest shown. And if you visit friends or relatives in other areas, plan ahead and try to get signings, radio and TV interview and the like in other areas. Attend book fairs. Offer to do readings at schools.

With one published book behind you (even if it doesn't make you rich), you should be able to get an agent. Check them out carefully before choosing one. They probably can get you better deals on contracts than you can get for yourself.

Best of luck! Margaret

Geary

Dear Geary: I think you mean this one: Africa World Press, 11-D Princess road, Lawrenceville NJ 08648: Kassahun Checole, Publisher. This publisher produces and distributes third world books. Children's books are primarily about Africa and African-American subjects. They use fiction and nonfiction for all ages, but mostly publish picture books and early chapter books. They also use folktales and poetry collections. Book catalog available for 9x12 SASE with $1.02 postage.

Good luck with it! Margaret

If a magazine or book publisher has an email address, write and ask if guidelines (and sometimes even theme lists and catalogs) are available through email. More and more editors are happy to send them this way. Saves a bundle on postage when they do!