Henry Winkler, Lin Oliver, and Theo Baker, popular chapter book collaborators. Henry and Lin collaborated on 17 books in the Hank Zipzer Series and now pen the Ghost Buddy series together. Lin and Theo are the creative duo behind the new Sound Bender series. And Lin has flown solo with her Who Shrunk Daniel Funk? series.

R.L. LaFevers, author of the 13 novels for young people, including the popular middle grade series Theodosia Throckmorton and Nathaniel Fludd Beastologist, and now the forthcoming His Fair Assassin YA trilogy.

Mark A. Clements, horror/suspense author, screenwriter, and prolific ghostwriter. All of his novels have been optioned for feature films.

Kathleen Krull, author of more than 60 books, especially picture books and biographies for young readers.

Cynthia Leitich Smith, bestselling YA gothic novelist, picture book writer, short story writer, and popular children’s lit blogger.

Nathan Bransford, top blogger and former literary agent-turned-author of the Jacob Wonderbar middle grade books.

Please join us!

Not one to take the easy path, eh? Try some tactics authors use when they have two protagonists with separate storylines for much of the book: 1) Give the characters equal screen time, with their chapters appearing in a regular sequence. 2) Keep the chapters short so readers won’t think you’ve abandoned a character for too long. 3) Transition out of one character’s chapter and into another with a common element. For example, end a chapter with Character A climbing onto a bus with resolve, and start the next chapter with Character B climbing down from her treehouse with resolve. This will create a sense of continuity. You don’t want readers feeling like you’re jumping from character to character.

Happy writing!
The Editor

Craft the first 2 paragraphs of your query letter as if your project had a single author. Pitch the hook for the collection and your interest in that particular editor/agent in the first paragraph, go into themes and topics of the collection in the second paragraph, then explain your co-authorship in the third paragraph: “This collection is a collaboration of Rosi X and Jane Doe. Rosi X is a published poet, with work appearing in [whatever]. Jane Doe is… We’ve each contributed half of the poems in the collection, and we plan to work together to support and promote this collection. Learn more about us at our websites [list sites].” Adapt that for your circumstances, of course. Both of you sign the letter.

Happy writing!
The Editor

It’s unlikely that the plot, themes, and characters you designed to sustain a novel-length story are a good fit for a chapter book. Chapter books are written for a very specific audience (6- to 10-year-olds transitioning from beginning readers, with a sophistication level far below typical MG fare) and are rarely one-off books like your single title would be. The chapter book market is dominated by series. Look to flesh out your scenes, and consider adding depth to your setting. But don’t pad for the sake of padding, as you may torpedo your pacing and tension. The Newbery Medal-winning The Midwife’s Apprentice is just 22,000 words. Sometimes a short novel is a short novel because it’s supposed to be.

Happy writing!
The Editor

How to Promote Your Children’s Books eBook Giveaway winner: Julie K.

For more chances to win How to Promote Your Children’s Books, visit other stops on Katie Davis’s blog tour:

• Feb 1 – E is for Book
• Feb 2 – Banana Peel Thursday
• Feb 3 – Creative Spaces
• Feb 6 - DearEditor.com
• Feb 7 – Writing With a Broken Tusk
• Feb 8 – Shutta Crum
• Feb 9 – McBookWords
• Feb 10 – Kerem Erkan
• Feb 16 – Elizabeth O. Dulemba
• Feb 17 – Fiction Notes
• March 1 – 12×12 in 2012
• March 2 – Christine Fonseca

Also, check out Katie’s podcast “Promoting Your Book” (with a guest appearance by The Editor). Episode description here: http://katiedavis.com/how-to-promote-your-book/. Or click here to hear it directly.