Today is the day THE COLLECTORS, Jacqueline West's haunting middle grade novel, hits the shelves. This is a story about what happens when our wildest wishes really do come true.

Van has always been an outsider. Most people don’t notice him. But he notices them. And he notices the small trinkets they drop, or lose, or throw away—that’s why his collection is full of treasures. Then one day, Van notices a girl stealing pennies from a fountain, and everything changes. He follows the girl, Pebble, and uncovers an underground world full of wishes and the people who collect them. Apparently not all wishes are good and even good wishes often have unintended consequences—and the Collectors have made it their duty to protect us. But they aren't the only ones who have their eyes on the world’s wishes—and they may not be the good guys, after all“A fast-paced and engrossing tale. Readers may not wish to leave this magical world.” --Kirkus“A brilliant fantasy adventure exploring the consequences of getting what you wish for.”--Booklist“Original, brave, and addictive. West has created creatures cuddly and terrifying and hilarious, and a protagonist you will love. This is a world you’re going to want to return to long after the book is done.” --Adam Gidwitz, award-winning author of A Tale Dark and Grimm“Magic and mystery lurk behind every shadow in this inventive, engrossing, and wonderfully strange adventure. In The Collectors, Jacqueline West gives readers a book to adore.”—Anne Ursu, author of The Real Boy"The Collectors has the whole package -- a brilliant premise, a compelling hero, and a crackling sense of humor. It’s everything a young reader could wish for!”—Jonathan Auxier, NYT Bestselling author of The Night Gardener “The Collectors is made out of dangerous and delightful magic.” - William Alexander, award-winning author of A Properly Unhaunted PlaceCongrats to Jacqueline! We can't wait for Book 2 in Fall 2019!

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Today I'm delighted to wish a happy pub day to a marvelous new picture book, MADE BY MAXINE, by Ruth Spiro! You'll recognize Ruth's name as the author of the BABY LOVES SCIENCE board books -- this is her newest project.

Meet Maxine, an inspiring young maker who knows that with enough effort and imagination (and mistakes), it's possible to invent anything.Maxine loves making new things from old things. She loves tinkering until she has solved a problem. She also loves her pet goldfish, Milton. So when it's time for her school's pet parade, she's determined to create something that will allow Milton to march with the other animals. Finally, after trying, trying, and trying again, she discovers just the right combination of recycled odds and ends to create a fun, functional – and absolutely fabulous – solution to her predicament.“A clever girl finds a way for her goldfish to participate in her class's pet parade…her ultimate creation adds more fun to the story, as do Spiro's many humorous asides and Hatam's joyful, expressive illustrations….Another worthy book for the girl-inventor shelf.” – Kirkus Reviews“[Maxine’s] plucky attitude prevails, for though she found a million ways to fail, it “meant she was getting closer to finding a way that would” work. Maxine succeeds and, along with Milton, they steal the show. This a great choice for fans of Andrea Beaty’s Ada Twist, Scientist and Jenny Offill’s 11 Experiments That Failed. VERDICT: A fun and uplifting picture book for all libraries that encourages children to engage with STEM concepts.” – School Library Journal[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKeBx71kNY0[/embed]You'll find MADE BY MAXINE at your local library or bookstore. Congrats and happiest of Pub Days to Ruth!

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#AskUpstart
July 31, 2018

I’m delighted to announce that Upstart Crow Literary will be hosting an #askagent session next Tuesday, Aug 7th from 1:00-2:00 pm EST. In preparation for that, here’s some helpful information about the session. Who’s participating? Danielle Chiotti, Susan Hawk, Alex Penfold, and Michael Stearns. For more information about each of us, please click the ABOUT link for our bios. What do you represent? Children's books of all kinds—young adult, middle grade, and picture books, as well as select cookbooks, adult fiction, and nonfiction. Again, more details and specifics in the About link. Are all four of you open to submissions right now? Danielle Chiotti and Susan Hawk are open. If you’d like to submit a query to one of us, please click the SUBMISSION link and check our feeds this week, as we'll be tweeting our current wishlists! Alex and Michael are currently closed.When you say #AskUpstart, what kind of questions do you mean? Any and all questions are welcome! Here are some examples:

  • Can I send you a book that’s incomplete?
  • Are you interested in books about [fill in the blank: Fantasy? History? Cheese? A fantastical history of cheese?]
  • How do I know that my manuscript is ready for submission?
  • Everyone says I need to find a writers group, but I’m not sure. What are the benefits?
  • Do advances come in one lump sum, or are they split up?
  • Do you like pie?
  • What’s your favorite kind of pie?
  • Can I send you pie?

As you can see, anything pertaining to writing, querying, working with an agent, or publishing is welcome. As is anything about PIE. Because we love pie! (And for the curious, the answers to those last three: yes; sour cherry; and tempting, but no thank you!). Any more advice? A couple pro-tips:

  • Be sure not to tweet your question until 1 pm on the nose, as we won’t be checking before that time.
  • Don’t hit send on your tweet until you’ve added the hashtag #AskUpstart. We’ll be searching for tweets with that tag, and may not see others.
  • You don’t need to tweet your question to an agent. If you include the hashtag, we’ll all see it, and one or more of us will reply.

That’s all, folks! We hope to see you next Tuesday, but even if you can't make it, we’re planning more #askUpstart sessions for the fall. For updates, please follow the hashtag #AskUpstart on Twitter.

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I'm over the moon to announce that Jacqueline West's stunningly spooky new YA, LAST THINGS, will be published in 2019 by Martha Mihalick at Greenwillow books.

You'll find it in your favorite bookstore in summer of 2019. You won't want to miss this one!Anders Thorson's band, Last Things, is on the verge of stardom. While Anders shines onstage, Thea Malcolm hides among the crowds, watching his every move. At first, Anders thinks she's just an obsessive fan, but Thea knows the truth about his talents: that Anders made a bargain with something dark and powerful, and the darkness is quickly closing in.Many congratulations to Jacqueline!

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Today I'm delighted to wish a happy pub day to a book that stole my heart from it's very first line, A STITCH IN TIME!

Donut is an eleven-year old geography buff who keeps her taxidermied mice hidden in her late mother’s hope chest. Her pops passed away, leaving her an orphan. Stuffy Aunt Agnes has moved in, bringing along her lumpy oatmeal, knitting, and a plan to drag Donut off to Boston forever.Donut stands to lose everything: her friends, her village, her home, the woods, and walks where the memories of her pops are stored up like the bread and butter pickles in canning jars on the shelf.While Donut dodges the ache of missing her pops, she and her best friend Tiny plan how to keep her where she belongs. When Aunt Agnes is not persuaded, Donut paddles away in her pops’ last invention, a folding tin boat. Holed up in a cabin on Dog Pond, Donut hopes Aunt Agnes will throw in the towel and leave Vermont without her. But Donut isn’t counting on a bear, a leaky boat, or an ache that won’t go away.A STITCH IN TIME is shot through with gorgeous, evocative language, and gets right to Donut’s heart – her hurt, her strength, her struggle to make sense of loss. She’s buoyed by her sense of humor, and this is a book that made me both cry and cackle with laughter. But perhaps what I love about it most is that it’s not just about loss, it’s about renewal.And look at the strong reviews and blurbs!"Taxidermy? What better journey to uncover the true stuff of character! A classic, indelible debut." ―Rita Williams-Garcia, author of the Newbery Honor novel One Crazy Summer"Heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time, Donut’s story is gritty, hopeful and ultimately all about the various ways that love shows up. I loved it.” ―Kathi Appelt, author of the Newbery Honor and National Book Award finalist novel The Underneath★ "Kalmar’s debut has an authentic voice that brings her protagonist vividly to life and lends her struggles with grief an immediacy that belies the 1927 setting. Donut is brassy and flawed but easy to love, especially in light of how much she values friendships and her growing self-awareness." ―Booklist, starred review★ "Kalmar introduces a delightfully intricate character in Donut, whose passions include bird taxidermy, memorizing tidbits from the atlas Pops gave her, and her friendships with affectingly portrayed Vermonters. The author leaves readers knowing that her insightful, articulate, and wry heroine will land―solidly―on her feet." ―Publishers Weekly, starred review"Kalmar transports readers into the woods of Vermont with her vivid descriptions. Readers will empathize with Donut’s heartache over the loss of her father and her fierce desire to resist change at all costs. A superb read-aloud, educators and readers will find much to discuss. VERDICT A solid piece of historical fiction, this novel is a recommended purchase for most libraries." ―School Library JournalYou'll find A STITCH IN TIME at your local library or bookstore. Congrats and happiest of Pub Days to Daphne!

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Let's all raise a glass and welcome DRINKING LIKE LADIES to the world! This book features 75 delicious cocktail recipesdedicated tothe proposition that a woman’s place is behind the bar. . . or in front of it. . . or really any place she pleases.

Acclaimed bartenders Kirsten Amann and Misty Kalkofen have scoured the globecollecting recipes--often from equally acclaimed female bartenders--pairing each tipple with a toast to a trailblazing lady. From gin to whiskey, tequila to punch,Drinking Like Ladieshas a twist and a toast for every tippler, whatever your base spirit.Congratulations, Kirsten and Misty!

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Today I'm delighted to wish a happy pub day to two books that couldn't be more different, or more wonderful!WHISPER OF THE TIDE follows Sarah's debut novel, SONG OF THE CURRENT, out last June.

Caro and Markos have settled into a routine: Wake up, eat breakfast, and try to figure out who might attempt to assassinate Markos today . . . so the currents aren't exactly calm. Markos is in constant danger, and his claim to the throne is shaky without the support of an army. When a powerful Archon offers Markos the military might he needs in exchange for marrying his daughter, Caro and Markos must decide which is more important: their love for each other or the fate of Akhaia.

Rich with shipwrecks, lost treasure, old and new enemies, dark magic, and breathtaking romance, Sarah Tolcser weaves another epic story about chasing your fate and charting your own course."Caro's adventures and struggles to change her fate will leave readers on the edges of their seats. . . . A thrilling sequel." - Kirkus Reviews"A tale of figuring out what it means to have a destiny and what it means to follow your heart." - School Library Journal"Shipwrecks, sea chases, political intrigue, assassins, and treasure hunts are all part of the mix in this deftly paced sequel to Song of the Current. Focused on adventure, this has just enough romance to appeal to a wide range of tastes." - Booklist"As in Song of the Current, Tolcser deftly weaves together romance, family, and politics, with a swashbuckling adventure full of twists and turns, narrated in Caro’s distinctive and forceful voice." - BCCBNow we move to the other end of the spectrum, to a book for the very youngest readers, BABY LOVES CODING!

Baby has so many trains -- there's the blue, yellow and green choo-choos. But where is the red one? Can Baby think like a coder to fix her train? Accurate enough to satisfy an expert, yet simple enough for baby, this clever board book showcases the use of logic, sequence, and patterns to solve problems.The goal of the Baby Loves Science books is to introduce STEM topics in a developmentally appropriate way. As a precursor to learning programming languages and syntax, Baby Loves Coding presents the concepts of sequencing, problem solving, cause and effect, and thinking step-by-step. Practicing these skills early creates a solid foundation for reading, writing, math and eventually, programming. Beautiful, visually stimulating illustrations complement age-appropriate language to encourage baby's sense of wonder. Parents and caregivers may learn a thing or two, as well!You'll find WHISPER OF THE TIDE and BABY LOVES CODING at your local library or bookstore. Congrats and happiest of Pub Days to Sarah and Ruth!

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I’m delighted to wish this marvelous, funny book and it's author, Paul Acampora, the very happiest of book birthdays!

Ellie Magari just learned that her mother is dead. Perhaps that would be sad if Ellie had ever met the woman. Exactly who was Ellie's mom? Does it even matter that she's gone? Perhaps a dead mom can still help Ellie figure out what it means to be a girl in the world today. Either way, Ellie wouldn't mind a role model beyond her master chef Dad.Fueled by the bighearted sounds of '80s rock and roll, plus large doses of Cyndi Lauper's girl-power joy, Confusion Is Nothing New is about friendship, family mysteries, and the perfect pizza. It's also about fathers and daughters and girls who understand that it's good to make things, but breaking things is okay too. In fact, sometimes breaking things is required.Read on for our excellent reviews!"Ellie’s quest to determine who her mother really was, helped along by those who knew her, reads like a light mystery and drives the story forward. Yet it’s the dry wit of Acampora’s characters—including Ellie’s principal, the wise and wisecracking Sister Stephanie—and the love of ’80s music permeating every scene that give this story its rhythm and soul." — Publishers Weekly"Two things make the novel enjoyable...: the many idiosyncratic characters who bring the story to life and the irrepressible humor, which is unexpected, often droll, and sometimes laugh-aloud funny. A satisfying novel of loss, change, and renewal."—Booklist"Filled with references to 80s pop music, Acampora's fast-paced and entertaining novel will satisfy lovers of family stories that have a touch of mystery." —School Library JournalPlease find CONFUSION IS NOTHING NEW at your library or local bookstore. Congrats and happiest of Pub Days to Paul — stop by his site, here and here, to say hello!

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Today I'm delighted to celebrate, Upstart Crow Literary client, Stephanie Ledyard's marvelous picture book debut, Pie is for Sharing. Editor extraordinaire, Neal Porter & I did a joint picture book intensive at The Writing Barn where we met Stephanie and fell in love with her work. Since Pie *is* for sharing, we happily both signed on to work with Stephanie on this lovely and lyrical manuscript. Illustrator, Jason Chin's radiant illustrations bring the sense of community and inclusivity to life in a way that feels as satisfying as a slice of homemade pie. But you don't have to take my word for it, this book has garnered FOUR starred reviews!★"This idyllic, joyously inclusive picture book takes an ordinary concept—sharing— and makes it extraordinary." —Horn Book★"A quiet story about sharing becomes a festive Fourth of July picnic for a big, extended multicultural family in this subtle and joyful picture book." —Bulletin Center for Children's Books★"Ledyard movingly gets to the heart of sharing and community in her succinct text, which encompasses not only concrete things to share but also broader notions, such as sharing a tree with a bird, or time with friends...The best part, though, is the positive, inclusive representation of a loving community sharing a celebration, fun, and, of course, pie." —Booklist★A delectable, festive celebration of pluralistic community...An aspirational vision in which inclusivity is as American as (apple) pie."—KirkusBravo Stephanie and Jason! Pick up your copy of Pie is for Sharing wherever you love to buy books!

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I am so delighted to wish Upstart Crow Literary client, Cate Berry, a very happy pub day for her debut picture book, Penguin & Tiny Shrimp Don't Do Bedtime! This book is a pure joy to read and hear. In fact, when I first heard Cate read an earlier version aloud at a picture book intensive weekend at the Writing Barn, I *HAD* to sign her as my client.I mean...come on...watch this...

If you're local to Texas you can catch Cate at a bunch of upcoming events. If you're not Texas local (or can't wait to score your own copy of the book that Publishers Weekly called a "a buoyantly subversive anti bedtime tale" and Kirkus said is "a definite do for bedtime" pick up a copy wherever you love to shop for books! Congratulations, Cate!

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