Writer Spotlight: Wendy Booydegraaff

Young copier, SALAD PIE, the Michigan Triangle, Crowtoes Quarterly, and an audio book: author Wendy Booydegraaff

Charlie Barshaw coordinates our regular Writer Spotlight feature and interviews writers of SCBWI-MI. In this piece, meet author, poet, short form and non-fiction writer, and SCBWI Coordinator, Wendy Booydegraaff

MARVIN K. MOONEY, WILL YOU PLEASE GO NOW? A lesser-known Dr. Seuss title, was your first book, in that young author you copied the text in your own hand. Did you do your own illustrations when you made the book with your name on the cover?

I did! And they were beautiful in my memory. They differed from the original, non-plagiarized book. I used a lot of yellow. Ha! Perhaps copying is the first step in learning to write your own creative work?

I’m not an illustrator, though. Bryan Langdo made fabulous watercolor illustrations for Salad Pie, published in 2016. Ripple Grove Press sent me sketches early on and I was thrilled. At first, Maggie was wearing cute boots. In the final version she wore pink sneakers. I loved her when I created her with words, and I loved her more when Bryan brought her to life through illustration.



You call out three children’s book groups: SCBWI, Tara Lazar, and Kidlit 411. What’s your connection to each one?

Anytime someone asks me for advice on writing children’s literature, I point them in these three directions.

· SCBWI is the place where I met nearly all of my writer friends via meet-ups, conferences, or mentorships. These writer friendships have resulted in critique groups, social groups, and friendships. SCBWI is a connector.

· KidLit411 is an online resource and community founded by author Silvia Liu (who I met through an SCBWI mentorship program way back in 2014 when KidLit411 was just beginning) and Elaine Kiely Kearns who I haven’t met. KidLit411 is an entirely free resource with a searchable database of information. The affiliated Facebook group is a place to connect, ask questions, find critiques.

· Tara Lazar is a welcoming picture book writer with a popular blog that also has a wealth of information for free. Her expertise is in picture books. You can find prompts, craft advice, manuscript formatting templates, and also a community.

When my debut picture book Salad Pie came out, Tara Lazar was generous with her time and resources, posted a debut group notice for me on her site which had a huge following, sought me out to talk to me at a conference, and later a book festival, we both attended.

How did SALAD PIE, your picture book, come about?

SALAD PIE was inspired by my oldest daughter, while playing at the park. That’s where she said those words, “salad” and “pie” together, and I thought they sounded so unique and creative that I repeated them over and over on our walk home so I wouldn’t forget. Then she went for a nap and I started scribbling out the story.

I sketched out the action in a rough storyboard format (really rough) and wrote the text under each picture. Every time I went back to it, I still liked it, which was how I knew to keep working on it until it became a book.

You saved my Critique Carousel submissions two years in a row. I apologize for the extra work I caused you. I imagine you had to deal with more than one writer who sent too many pages, or made the synopsis way too long. Thanks for your service.

You’re welcome, Charlie! I love the Critique Carousel. Finding fabulous agents and editors is a highlight. And the people who submit work for critique are on the whole, a generous, kind, and respectful group. I enjoy the people, their questions, the organization of it. To set up an opportunity for professionals to sit with our work, to take time to comment on it is incredibly valuable.

You’ve got the Michigan chapter in the Haunted States anthology. It's your take on “The Michigan Triangle,” which, if it isn’t a thing, should be. Is this a legend you made up, or is there a coincidence of nautical events in the confluence of the Great Lakes? I see, upon further research, that indeed it’s the deepest part of the Great Lakes. And lots of nautical catastrophes. So, are you writing fiction or nonfiction?

The Michigan Triangle is a local legend, and is found in the deepest part of Lake Michigan, the points between Ludington, Benton Harbor, and Manitowoc, Wisconsin. Over 1500 shipwrecks have happened in that area.

My story is fictional, with the reality of all those shipwrecks adding to the horror element.

Big Sable Point Lighthouse—Haunted. Tell the story.

Big Sable Lighthouse in Ludington is said to be haunted by one of its keepers. Visitors report cigar smoke despite it being a no-smoking venue, and freshly baked bread despite no kitchen operating on site. Books hover in the air in the giftshop, shadows move.

When I visited, I didn’t experience those supernatural activities, but there was a definite eeriness to the place, especially at the tippy top when the otherworldly wind howled.

Choose Your Own Adventure.

I grew up reading these books. They were written in the second person and had multiple endings to choose from. I wanted to write something similar as an adult. “The Michigan Triangle” story in The Haunted States of America was inspired by the Choose Your Own Adventure series: the tone, the point-of-view, the sense of danger.


You specialize in short pieces, accrued some honors for some of that writing. You write poetry, fiction, non-fiction. You’ve been published in obscure journals and blogs, like Crowtoes Quarterly (a mid-grade publication). How do you find so many opportunities to get published? Are these paying gigs, or free copies?

The short form suits me. The containment of it. The spare nature of it.

I read many literary journals, follow several newsletters, substacks, and authors who mention these literary spaces. Duotrope, CLMP (the Community of Literary Magazines and Presses), the Pushcart Prize anthology are a few more sources. Reading is the best (and most fun) way of figuring out where my work might fit.

Payment varies, depending on the magazine. I’ve been paid nothing but contributor copies and I’ve been paid as much as $600 for a piece.

I write, revise, share with critique partners, and if I still like it, or think it’s ready, I send it out. I have a lot of work that isn’t ready, that might never be sent to an editor for consideration. I do have many pieces published. I also have many, many rejections which are part of this literary life.

You have a lot, and I mean A LOT, of periodicals, quarterlies, and journals, anthologies listed on your website. Like Maudlin House, the Worcester Review, the Dribble Drabble Review, Not Very Quiet. Want to tell us about a few?

In May of 2024, my short fiction was selected for a scholarship to Looking Glass Writers' Conference in North Carolina where I workshopped my work along with 11 other fiction writers in three days of sessions with Jason Mott, National Book Award winner of Hell of a Book. What an event!

Wendy and Shanna Heath
at Schuler's in G.R.

The journals you mention are all literary magazines that have a small but steady circulation. These are the places that nominate pieces for the Pushcart prize and other anthologies. I like reading the work they publish—it’s cutting edge. Many writers have been first published in these small venues. And I’ve been lucky to have work published in these places, too.


Readers interested in my publications can see a comprehensive list here, some of which are available to read for free online.



Teaching? I see you’ve got a Master’s in some sort of education/literary area. What’s your specialty?

I have a Bachelor of Science in Special Education which qualified me to teach special education and first grade for several years. I also have a Master of Education and a graduate certificate in Children’s Literature. I love school.

What’s next for your body of work?
On March 4, 2025, an anthology edited by Randy Brown, Midwest Futures: Poems and MicroStories from Tomorrow’s Heartland will be released, with one of my poems “The Day the Trees Retaliate” included. I also have a few short fiction pieces coming out in literary magazines.

Also, The Haunted States of America came out in audio book. “The Michigan Triangle” is narrated by Jennifer Pickens. My family gathered to listen to her read my story. Wow, it felt surreal, hearing my words, knowing they were my words, but having them performed by a professional who added nuance, humour, and auditory depth.

The audio book

Please list any social media platforms you care to share:

www.wendybooydegraaff.com

@onlybooyskies.bsky.social

Dear Critique Carousel: Questions from Last Year to Help You Navigate This Year

by Wendy BooydeGraaff

 

We’ve introduced all 10 of our 2024 Critique Carousel Faculty, as well as the scholarship. Today, we have a list of questions from last year’s participants, the answers of which may be helpful to everyone.

 

Q: Dear Critique Carousel, I never received an email with a link to the critique that was scheduled for this morning at 8 a.m.  What am I to do?

A: The event is completely asynchronous. For some reason the system sends out a time, but there's no meeting. (We are trying to fix that glitch this year! But just in case…) It's solely a written critique and your manuscript will be critiqued with written comments only (unless you choose a Chad Beckerman critique) – no appointments, only deadlines!

~

Q: I submitted a manuscript last year to Agent M and have significantly revised that manuscript. Should I submit the same manuscript this year to Agent M? Or should I choose a different agent/professional?

A: I asked a couple seasoned SCBWI members and professionals this question and here are their answers:

★     If the writer is fine with receiving fewer notes on a revised manuscript, then send it to the same agent/editor. But keep in mind, people often do remember your story, so it does make it more difficult to give comprehensive feedback, especially if the writer has addressed the concerns in the first critique.

★     Remember that if you’ve already used the open submission period following the first critique, you may be limiting the amount of input this agent has on your piece.

★     Getting another professional’s opinion on the same piece you submitted to someone else last year could be a very good idea, and help you see the ways industry professionals vary. So, I’d recommend choosing a different agent/editor. Or sending a different manuscript to the same agent/editor.

~

Q: Do we get to query the agent after the carousel is completed? Is that part of the carousel deal? And, if so, is the agent obligated to respond to our query as part of the carousel program?

A: Yes, all of the agents and editors are open to a special query session for six months after the Carousel to the person they critiqued.

While many of the agents and editors will respond kindly due to the mention of Critique Carousel participation, and most do, some agents have a policy of not responding if they aren't offering representation due to time constraints and the sheer volume of queries they receive. Likewise, some of the editors don’t always respond due to sheer volume of submissions.

Unless an agent or editor has requested additional materials (another picture book, a full novel manuscript, additional portfolio items), we don’t advise following up on a conference/event submission. Take any personal response you do receive as encouragement and use that momentum to seek more opportunities.

~

Q: I just wanted to follow up as I submitted to Editor X two months ago and have not yet received a response.

A: Agents and editors may take up to six months to respond, so give it a little more time. Summer, ALA, and other conferences all can cause delays. I know it's tough to wait, but try submitting elsewhere, and then start on another project. 

~

Q: When I registered for the event, I was sure Agent P wanted fiction picture books, but now I see it’s not listed on Agent P’s query manager. What should I do?

A: Agents open and close to specific types of work, based on what they acquire for their list. Sometimes something they were interested in at the time of planning for the event changes. You may still submit your manuscript/art to Agent P with the special link and mentioning the SCBWI-MI Critique Carousel, however, if you have polished, query-ready work that more closely matches their wishes, you may opt to do that.

~

Q: The agent who critiqued my work loved it! But now I see she/he doesn’t represent the genre I submitted. What should I do? Do I query anyways?

A: You can always draft a nice letter thanking the agent for their great critique and asking if they’d consider representing your work. Be aware, however, that often if an agent is very interested in representing your work, they will ask you to submit when you are ready right there in their critique notes. The good news is if one professional loves your work, it’s likely there are others that will, as well. Submit widely! (After revising, of course).

~

Q: My agent gave me a lovely critique, and I followed all of their suggestions in my revision. I submitted my materials to them during the six-month window but haven’t heard back from them. How do I follow up?

 

A: Don’t! Don’t follow up, that is. Unless you’ve had a request for more materials or the agent has specific guidelines on their website saying otherwise, it’s best to wait patiently and send your work to a few other agents at the same time.

~

Q: I revised and submitted my manuscript to the agent who critiqued my work. Her special query manager link stated, "Please note ALL submissions receive a response. Please do not consider no response a pass."  I am wondering what that actually means?  Will she respond in about 6 months from when my manuscript was returned to me?

A: Many agents say if they don't respond, it's a pass. Please don't inquire. However, the agent you queried responds to every query received. So, she'll respond.

I don't know how soon she will respond, but three months is not uncommon. Nor is four months, five months, or longer. The six-month window the Critique Carousel gave is for you to submit is regarding your work–you have six months after critiques are returned to revise and submit during the special window the agent/editor agreed to stay open to participants. Many agents and editors close to submissions, so this is very special to have them stay open to Critique Carousel participants.

There is not a window in which the agent will respond unless they explicitly state that window. My best advice is to send your work elsewhere (simultaneous submission) and start working on a new work-in-progress.

~

And that’s always my advice: Keep working on something new. Focus on the work and make it the best it can be.

I’ll see you all virtually at the Critique Carousel on September 17! Check out all the previous Mitten posts for more details and watch your inbox. Thank you, The Mitten, for hosting these Critique Carousel posts.

 

Wendy BooydeGraaff is the Critique Carousel Coordinator for 2024. She is the author of a  picture book, Salad Pie (Ripple Grove Press/Chicago Review Press), and the Michigan story contributor in the SCBWI-edited Haunted States of America anthology, out NOW! (Godwin Books/Henry Holt, available here or wherever you buy books). She also writes poetry, short fiction, and creative nonfiction for adults. Read more at wendybooydegraaff.com 

 

Our Final Critique Carousel Sneak-Peek! by Wendy BooydeGraaff

 

In previous posts, we introduced Sarah Proudman, agent at Galt & Zacker, Jennifer Thompson, Associate Editor at Scholastic, and Laura Gruszka, junior agent at Writers House, Katie Heit, Senior Editor at Scholastic, Chelsea Hensley, associate agent at kt literary, Chad Beckerman, agent at CAT (who will be providing pre-recorded video critiques!), and Leah Moss, associate literary agent at Steven Literary We also announced the scholarship for a picture book creator from a demographic, experience, or community who has been historically mis- or under-represented in publishing. Recap details are at the bottom of this post.

 

Today, we introduce our EIGHTH critique faculty... Drumroll...

Shulokhana Khan!

Shulokhana Khan is on the 0-8 team at Scholastic with a primary focus on picture books and board books. Open to books for all age ranges, she is particularly interested in books with strong voices that are funny, empowering, dark, or touching, with special interest in the variety of BIPOC experiences. She is trying to expand her roster of funny books in the picture book genre, and for upper-grade and YA, has a special interest in speculative fiction, queer fiction, zombies (that function as an allegory for our socio-political climate), pirates (heavily anti-colonial bent is very welcome!), lesser known fairy tales eg. Donkey Skin, King Thrushbeard, and The Six Swans, and settings which are not primarily American or Euro-centric.

For the 2024 Critique Carousel, Shulokhana Khan will be critiquing the following:

• Picture book fiction 
• Picture book nonfiction 
• Picture book dummy

 

You guessed it, there’s more!

 Cue drumroll... we have another editor to introduce... our NINTH faculty member...

 

Michael Green!

While at Philomel Books (Penguin Random House), Michael Green rose to the positions of President and Publisher, overseeing a period of tremendous growth. He edited 30 New York Times best sellers in that span, including The Day the Crayons Quit; Travel Team; Ranger's Apprentice; and Salt to the Sea. After founding his own company, GreenHouse Editorial, Michael was recently lured back to publishing with the opportunity to build a children's book list from scratch for the indie publisher, Marble Press.

Marble Press books can be found here.

For the 2024 Critique Carousel, Michael will be critiquing:

• Picture book fiction
• Picture book nonfiction
• Picture book dummy
• Chapter book
• Middle grade fiction
• Graphic novels fiction or nonfiction
• Novel-in-verse
• Portfolio review

 

Today is a big day! We are revealing the TENTH and final faculty member for our 2024 Critique Carousel event!

 

Eileen Rothschild!

Eileen Rothschild, Executive Editor St. Martin's Publishing Group, VP, Associate Publisher Wednesday Books, says: 

“I started my publishing career at Macmillan in 2007 working on math and chemistry textbooks. Since then, I have held roles in sales and marketing with the ultimate goal of finding an audience for fantastic and unique voices. I fell in love with the excitement of reading a special new voice for the first time and have found my true passion in editorial. As an Executive Editor I use the skills learned in my various roles to help create lasting careers.

“I gravitate toward commercial stories with a fabulous hook and a captivating voice. I am always on the lookout for the type of read that stays with you long after you finish the last page. The one that makes you fall in love, cry and jump for joy. Maybe even all at once! My list includes New York Times bestsellers Fable by Adrienne Young, The Gilded Wolves Series by Roshani Chokshi, What the River Knows by Isabel Ibanez, Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross and You’ve Reached Sam by Dustin Thao.”

Eileen will be donating the proceeds from her critiques to the SCBWI-Michigan BIPOC Scholarship fund.  Thank you, Eileen!

For the 2024 Critique Carousel, Eileen will be critiquing:

• YA fiction
• YA nonfiction
• Novel-in-verse

 ******

 For those that need a recap:

 The Critique Carousel is a virtual SCBWI-MI event for members to receive a written* critique from an acquiring agent or editor.

 *except for those who receive a video critique from Chad Beckerman J

Registration will open September 17, 2024, and will close October 1, 2024. Manuscripts and portfolios will be due at midnight on October 1, 2024.

 

Scholarship information:

 

Katie Heit, Senior Editor at Scholastic, has generously donated one critique to be offered to a picture book creator from a demographic, experience, or community who has been historically mis- or under-represented in publishing.*

 

This scholarship is open now, via this form!

 

The rules:

•       You must be a picture book creator with a work-in-progress, either a manuscript of fiction, nonfiction, or a picture book dummy
•        You must be a SCBWI-MI member. If you aren’t, now is a good time to join.
•        You can enter only once.
•        Entry ends on Thursday, September 12 at 7PM EDT. 

Wendy BooydeGraaff is the Critique Carousel Coordinator for 2024. She is the author of a  picture book, Salad Pie (Ripple Grove Press/Chicago Review Press), and the Michigan story contributor in the SCBWI-edited Haunted States of America anthology, out NOW! (Godwin Books/Henry Holt, available here or wherever you buy books). She also writes poetry, short fiction, and creative nonfiction for adults. Read more at wendybooydegraaff.com 

 

 

Introducing the Critique Carousel Agents and Editors: Chelsea Hensley, Chad Beckerman, Leah Moss

The Critique Carousel will be back this fall for another spin! To prepare our SCBWI-MI members for this fun, asynchronous, virtual event, we are giving a sneak-peek into the faculty for the event. These ten professionals will be profiled here on The Mitten for you to research, learn, and find out as much as possible before registration.

  

In previous posts, we introduced Sarah Proudman, agent at Galt & Zacker, Jennifer Thompson, Associate Editor at Scholastic, and Laura Gruszka, junior agent at Writers House, and Katie Heit, Senior Editor at Scholastic. We also announced the scholarship for a picture book creator from a demographic, experience, or community who has been historically mis- or under-represented in publishing. Recap details are at the bottom of this post.

Today, we introduce our FIFTH critique faculty member. . . Drumroll. . .

Chelsea Hensley!

Chelsea Hensley is an associate agent at kt literary where she represents a varied list of clients writing across ages and genres and a few who are also illustrating. She began her agenting career in 2020 at kt literary and continues to build a list that reflects her own diverse tastes, from the lushest of fantasies to the tensest thrillers, steamy, hilarious rom-coms to smart sci-fi, lyrical picture books to plucky middle grade, and imaginative, innovative horror to intelligent, deeply researched nonfiction. In all areas, Chelsea enjoys bold work from ambitious creators who share her unrelenting drive to succeed in a challenging industry. Chelsea is a Capricorn from St. Louis, where she lives with a pair of very cute, though very chaotic, dogs. She enjoys D&D, Golden Girls, women’s soccer, chocolate chip cookies, and Airtable. She is a member of the AALA and serves on the board of the 501©3 nonprofit, Literary Agents of Change, which is committed to the diversification of the publishing industry in general and the agenting profession in particular. She also serves as co-director of Communications and Fundraising Committees.

Chelsea’s client list can be found here and her Manuscript Wish List can be found here.

For the 2024 Critique Carousel, Chelsea will be critiquing: 

 

·        Picture book fiction

·        Picture book nonfiction

·        Middle grade fiction

·        Middle grade nonfiction

·        YA fiction

·        YA nonfiction

 

But wait! There’s more!

Cue drumroll. . . we have another agent to introduce. . . our SIXTH faculty member...

 

Chad Beckerman!

Chad Beckerman (he/him), Agent, brings over 20 years of illustration and design experience to the CAT Agency. After studying illustration as an undergrad at RISD, Chad went on to be a Designer at Scholastic, a Senior Designer at Greenwillow Books, and then became the Creative Director at ABRAMS Kids and Comic Arts, where he spent 13 years overseeing the design of 250 books a year – from picture books, to novels, to graphic novels, and art and entertainment books. Chad is behind the aesthetic for over forty New York Times bestselling and award-winning books including the blockbuster Diary of a Wimpy Kid series by Jeff Kinney, the Caldecott honor and Coretta Scott King Award winning Trombone Story, illustrated by Brian Collier, and the Newbery Medal honor books El Deafo, and Heart of the Samurai. He brings this unique view of children's books to his growing roster of illustrators.

For the 2024 Critique Carousel, Chad Beckerman will be critiquing:

• Picture book dummy 
• Graphic novels fiction or nonfiction 
• Portfolio review

And a special note, Chad will be giving recorded video critiques. Yes, you read that correctly! Chad will be responding not with a written critique, but with a zoom recording of his review of the materials. Again, this is in place of the  written reviews. This way, Chad can also look at your website and socials to see how you are communicating to art directors, editors, and agents with your work selections. 

 

And Surprise! We have a SEVENTH faculty member to introduce. Trumpet intro. . . (or no, harp music. . . )

 

Leah Moss!

Leah Nova Moss is an associate literary agent at Steven Literary who strives to bring beautiful and unique stories to market. When she isn't being a professional bookworm, Leah can probably be found playing her harp or tending to her Stardew Valley farm. She lives in the Chicagoland area of Illinois. 

Leah’s Manuscript Wish List can be found here.

 For the 2024 Critique Carousel, Leah will be critiquing:

·        Middle grade fiction 

·        YA fiction

·        Graphic novels fiction or nonfiction 

·        Novels-in-verse

  

There you are, lovely hard-working SCBWI-Michigan members: three agents ready to receive your work at the 2024 Critique Carousel. Stay tuned for the remaining three faculty members to be introduced in August!

 

******

 

For those that need a recap:

 

Introducing the Critique Carousel Agents and Editors: Katie Heit by Wendy BooydeGraaff

The Critique Carousel will be back this fall for another spin! To prepare our SCBWI-MI members for this fun, asynchronous, virtual event, we are giving a sneak-peek into the faculty for the event. These ten professionals will be profiled, one at a time, for you to research, learn, and find out as much as possible before registration.

What is the Critique Carousel, you ask?

And here’s the answer:

The Critique Carousel is a virtual SCBWI-MI event for members to receive a written* critique from an acquiring agent or editor. Participants will select a kidlit agent or editor that represents their genre (science fiction, fantasy, etc.) or age category (picture books, middle grade, young adult). Agents will have a month to read submissions and provide the critique on our standard SCBWI Gold Form. 

 

After the event and after revising their work, participants will have the opportunity to submit to their critiquing agent/editor for a period of six months. This does not guarantee representation or acquisition, but presents another opportunity.

 

*written critique—stay tuned! Most faculty will be providing written critiques. But this year, there will be ONE agent who does things a little differently. You’ll have to wait to find out who!

 

Dates: Registration will open September 17, 2024, and will close October 1, 2024. Manuscripts and portfolios will be due at midnight on October 1, 2024.

 

Information on past Critique Carousels can be found here and here. Updated information and the registration website will be posted when we have it. And, this year, we will have a stellar lineup of faculty.

So far, we've introduced Sarah Proudman, agent at Galt & Zacker, Jennifer Thompson, Associate Editor at Scholastic, and Laura Gruszka, junior agent at Writers House.

Today, we introduce our FOURTH critique faculty member. . . Drumroll. . .

 

Katie Heit!

Katie Heit is a senior editor at Scholastic working on picture books and early readers. She primarily edits nonfiction, with select fiction titles. She works with many amazing authors, including Charles R. Smith Jr., Dean Robbins, Adriana Hernández Bergstrom, Jyoti Rajan Gopal, and Nell Cross Beckerman. She is drawn to books that approach nonfiction in a kid-friendly way, and is especially on the lookout for nature and STEAM topics.

For the 2024 Critique Carousel, Katie will be critiquing: 

•  Picture book fiction
• Picture book nonfiction
• Picture book dummy

To get to know Katie Heit’s wishlist better, check out this interview, and to see some of the books she’s edited, look on her Twitter feed. Look up the authors mentioned in her bio above and find out what books they’ve published. Read them!

But wait! There’s more!

Katie has generously donated one critique to be offered to a picture book creator from a demographic, experience, or community who has been historically mis- or under-represented in publishing.*

This scholarship is open now, via this form!

The rules:

• You must be a picture book creator with a work-in-progress, either a manuscript of fiction, nonfiction, or a picture book dummy
• You must be a SCBWI-MI member. If you aren’t, now is a good time to join
• You can enter only once
• Entry ends on Thursday, September 12 at 7PM EDT

 

One scholarship will be awarded via email to the lucky picture book creator, and directions about how to upload your materials will be given then.

But, we are all winners with this wonderful opportunity to have Katie on our faculty. Thank you, Katie! And thank you, SCBWI-Michigan members for your creativity, your imagination, and your persistence on this writing journey.

*We recognize all diverse experiences, including (but not limited to) LGBTQIA, Native, people of color, gender diversity, people with disabilities, and ethnic, cultural, and religious minorities. We subscribe to a broad definition of disability, which includes but is not limited to physical, sensory, cognitive, intellectual, or developmental disabilities, chronic conditions, and mental illnesses (this may also include addiction). Furthermore, we subscribe to a social model of disability, which presents disability as created by barriers in the social environment, due to lack of equal access, stereotyping, and other forms of marginalization (with thanks to We Need Diverse Books for the language used here).

 

  

Wendy BooydeGraaff is the Critique Carousel Coordinator for 2024. She is the author of a  picture book, Salad Pie (Ripple Grove Press/Chicago Review Press), and the Michigan story contributor in the forthcoming Haunted States of America anthology, out July 9, 2024 (Godwin Books, pre-order here!). She also writes poetry, short fiction, and creative nonfiction for adults. Find out more at wendybooydegraaff.com 

 

  

Introducing the Critique Carousel Agents and Editors: Jennifer Thompson & Laura Gruszka by Wendy BooydeGraaff

The Critique Carousel will be back this fall for another spin! To prepare our SCBWI-MI members for this fun, asynchronous, virtual event, we are giving a sneak-peek into the faculty for the event. These ten professionals will be profiled, one at a time, for you to research, learn, and find out as much as possible before registration.

 

What is the Critique Carousel, you ask?

And here’s the answer:

 

The Critique Carousel is a virtual SCBWI-MI event for members to receive a written* critique from an acquiring agent or editor. Participants will select a kidlit agent or editor that represents their genre (science fiction, fantasy, etc.) or age category (picture books, middle grade, young adult). Agents will have a month to read submissions and provide the critique on our standard SCBWI Gold Form. 

 

After the event and after revising their work, participants will have the opportunity to submit to their critiquing agent/editor for a period of six months. This does not guarantee representation or acquisition, but presents another opportunity.

 

*written critique—stay tuned! Most faculty will be providing written critiques. But this year, there will be ONE agent who does things a little differently. You’ll have to wait to find out who!

 

Dates: Registration will open September 17, 2024, and will close October 1, 2024. Manuscripts and portfolios will be due at midnight on October 1, 2024.

 

Information on past Critique Carousels can be found here and here. Updated information and the registration website will be posted when we have it. And, this year, we will have a stellar lineup of faculty.

Last time we introduced Sarah Proudman, agent at Galt & Zacker.

Today, we introduce our SECOND critique faculty. . . Drumroll. . .

 

Jennifer Thompson, Associate Editor at Scholastic!

She says:

“Born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, I left home for college to attend Penn State where I was an English major and Psychology minor. After meeting a literary agent in London during my summer abroad internship junior year I decided a career in publishing was for me. After graduating from Penn State, I went to Pace University and received my masters in Publishing. After working and interning in many areas of publishing I finally found my way to Scholastic. Some of my favorite activities include reading, traveling, going to music festivals and museums, and watching many, many shows/movies. Some of my day to day duties, not including the constant administrative work, are reading submissions, working on copy edits, and shaping & researching future projects.”

Jennifer’s SCBWI member page can be found here.

For the 2024 Critique Carousel, Jennifer will be critiquing the following: 

• Picture book fiction
• Picture book dummy
• Middle grade fiction
• YA fiction
• Novel-in-verse

 

But wait! This is a DOUBLE HEADER! As in. . . drumroll for the second time. . .

 

We are also introducing our THIRD Critique Carousel faculty member, Laura Gruszka!

 

Laura Gruszka (she/they) is a junior agent at Writers House, representing children's books and select adult fiction.

Laura’s manuscript wishlist can be found here.

For the 2024 Critique Carousel, Laura will be critiquing:

• Picture book dummy
• Chapter book 
• Middle grade fiction 
• YA fiction 
• Graphic novels fiction or nonfiction
• Portfolio review

We are excited to pass along Jennifer and Laura’s wonderful critiques to you, our hard-working SCBWI members, this fall.

Now is the time to do your research on these agents and editor, find their social media, their LinkedIn profiles, their sales on Publishers Weekly, so you’ll be ready when registration rolls around (September 17)!

Keep writing, creating, polishing those manuscripts and illustrations (SCBWI-MI's summer camp can help), so when the Critique Carousel spins around, you’ll be ready to hop on!

 

Wendy BooydeGraaff is the Critique Carousel Coordinator for 2024. She is the author of a  picture book, Salad Pie (Ripple Grove Press/Chicago Review Press), and the Michigan story contributor in the forthcoming Haunted States of America anthology, out July 9, 2024 (Godwin Books). She also writes poetry, short fiction, and creative nonfiction for adults. Find out more at wendybooydegraaff.com