Workshop Transcript: Q&A with Editor Heather Delabre - 10/11/05

Enjoy!

Log file opened: 10/11/05

*** Verla has set the topic on channel #kidlit to Workshop with Editor Heather Delabre here TONIGHT - Welcome!
Heather551: Hi, Verla...and everyone. :)
kdbrazil: heather?
kdbrazil: is it you?
Heather551: Yeppers
kdbrazil: :)
kdbrazil: heather is in the house!
jenn: yay!
Verla: Hi Heather! Welcome. Our illustrious Leader has arrived. I need to go dig up your bio and stuff, Heather. Back in a few minutes.
tgseale: Hi Heather
Lenzi: Hello!
LindaJoy: yeah--I had a fan letter from a KC Urban
Heather551: Hi, Tanya!
tgseale: :)
Verla: We only have one hour tonight, so I want things to move as quickly as possible.
Heather551: I'm ready whenever you are, Verla.
Verla: two minutes, Heather. I don't want to cheat people who get here on time....
Heather551: Ah! Excellent point, Verla. What's the "different and new" thing you're doing with tonight's chat?
Verla: I'm going to have you all post a question mark if you want to ask a question.
Verla: so get them typed and ready to post, folks...
*** Verla has set the topic on channel #kidlit to Workshop with Editor Heather Delabre IN PROGRESS - Welcome!
Cassandra_: here we go!
Heather551: Yay! :)
Verla: Welcome to our special Kidlit Workshop. We ask that you hold all personal chit-chat until the hour is up, but we encourage you to join the discussion in progress of the current topic.
Verla: First I'd like to Welcome Heather Delabre from Carus
Verla: who is our special speaker tonight
Heather551: Thank you, Verla. I'm happy to be here...in my fuzzy blue slippers. (What a great way to answer questions!) :)
Verla: she sent me her bio (which I LOVED, by the way, Heather...)
Verla: Here it is:
Verla: Heather Delabre very much dislikes boring, pretentious bios and is the editor of several publications for Carus Publishing. If you’re curious as to which ones, just ask her. (She doesn’t bite…well…not hard enough to leave teeth marks, anyway.)
Verla: Heather has no children—which most people find shocking for a children’s editor—and she finds it monumentally amusing when people ask, “How do you do your job if you don’t have kids?!” She does, however, have an aptly named cat, Chaos, whose favorite pastimes are wreaking havoc on Heather’s apartment and annoying the ghost who haunts it.
Verla: Would you like me to post the info on the magazines now, or later, Heather?
Heather551: Oh, you might as well get that business out of the way first, Verla.
Verla: Carus Publishing’s magazine titles, age ranges, and focuses:
Verla: Literary line: Babybug (ages 6 months to 2 years); Ladybug (2 to 6); Spider (6 to 9); Cricket (9 to 14); Cicada (14+)
Verla: Arts & Sciences line: Click (ages 3 to 7); Ask (7 to 10); Muse (10+)
Verla: Social Sciences line: Appleseeds (general social studies—ages 7 to 10); Cobblestone (American history—10+); Footsteps (African American history—10+); Calliope (World history—10+); Dig (Archaeology—10+); Faces (World cultures/geography—10+); Odyssey (Science—10+)
Verla: we might also want to put in the submission address info now, too, Heather?
Heather551: Sure thing, Verla!
Heather551: (Um...did I give it to you, or shoudl I type it in? Senility is setting in...I don't remember!) Verla: you didn't send it, Heather
Heather551: <---- looks a little sheepish
Heather551: Okey doke...
Verla: and while she's typing it in, I'll give you her "other/alternate bio"
Verla: (her alternate bio tells you even more about her and her mags)
Verla: Heather Delabre wears many hats at Carus Publishing: She is the editor of Spider magazine, a contributing editor for Cricket magazine, an editor for Cricket Books, and the editor (a.k.a. “The Slam-master”) of “The Slam,” Cicada magazine’s online poetry and microfiction forum for teens.
Heather551: submission address for bug magazines: 315 Fifth Street, Peru, IL 61354...
Heather551: the submissions guidelines can be found on our Web site at: http://www.cricketmag.com.
Heather551: Is that all we need, Verla?
Verla: Okay, I think that's it for right now, Heather
Verla: WELCOME, Heather! (you may all welcome her now)
Linda_Urba: hi Heather!
tgseale: *clap clap clap clap*
jenn: hi Heather, welcome!
Cassandra_: Welcome, Heather!
Kristy: thanks for joining us, Heather!
Heather551: Hi Linda, Tanya, Jenn, Cass, Kristy...
dlan: glad you agreed to join us
PamelaRoss: Welcome
Heather551: and everyone else!
JoanP: Welcome Heather :D
Verla: There's the info on the publications...
Lenzi: Oops--Welcome!
Verla: anyone who wants to ask a question, please post a ? in the chat room. I'll call on you to ask your questions. PLEASE only post ONE question mark for your question!
Verla: Okay... POST!
NOTE: People posted their ? so they could be called on. Those posts have been removed from this transcript in the interest of keeping it shorter for those who might care to print it out on their computers.
Verla: While they are posting, is there anything "generic" you would like to tell them, Heather?
Heather551: Hmm...generic...I need lots of manuscripts for Spider...
Verla: OH, that's good news, Heather!
Heather551: all genres: nonfiction, realistic fiction, fantasy, science fiction, folk tales, fairy tales, etc....everything!
Linda_Urba: I'd like to know a bit about what you know about your readers. I'm sure it is different for each mag, but in general, do your subscribers read your mags by themselves or with a parent? Do they seem to read straight through or pick through the magazine for the things they like? And how long does a magazine stay "active" for one of your readers? Do you know if they re-read? Do the mags stay around for weeks? Months? Years?

Heather551: We have a mix of subscribers for Spider, mainly because the age range is so broad. They're mostly beginning readers, but that can mean a variety of reading levels...
Heather551: From what the letters say, they don't read straight through...
Heather551: they read the "bug comics" at the bottoms of the pages first...
Heather551: and then jump around in the issue, reading whatever catches their eye first...
Heather551: Most subscribers seem to keep their issues around for a long, long time, with a decent percentage of them (according to our last survey) rereading each issue at least twice.
Heather551: Whew. :)
Linda_Urba: Thanks. That was interesting
Lenzi: I've read spooky stories in Spider, but realize there's a fine line for that age group when it comes to scary stuff. Would you describe that line?
Heather551: Ooooh. Tough question...
Heather551: We do have some issues with witches and goblins and vampires and stuff...
Heather551: but those stories are almost always humorous stories...
Heather551: we don't want to print anything that makes the supernatural appear to be too "real"...
Heather551: that would likely result in a bunch of kids having to sleep with the light on and a bunch of parents writing me nasty letters. :)
Verla: LOL Heather
NOTE: LOL = Laughing Out Loud
Cassandra_: Are certain topics overdone? What should we stay away from?
Heather551: Oh, Cass, the usual suspects: tree frogs, bears, house cats, and any stories that might have had their beginnings in the 1st writing assignment for ICL. :D
NOTE: :D = a sideways HUGE grin, ICL = the Institute of Children's Literature, a correspondence writing school for people who want to learn how to write (and market) stories for children
Cassandra_: LOL -no bunnies then?
Heather551: NO bunnies stealing pies off windowsills, please!
Cassandra_: Darn. Okay.
Cassandra_: ;)
Heather551: Chuckles
Heather551: How did I know you were going to ask that? ;)
Cassandra_: Smart editor. :)
Kay: When it comes to poetry do you prefer rhymed/unrhymed...short or long?
Heather551: Poetry for the younger age ranges--for Babybug, Ladybug, and Spider--almost always rhyme, but there are certainly some exceptions...
Heather551: If the image in a particular poem is striking, we don't always require rhyme...
Heather551: by the way, we use mostly rhyming poetry because...
Heather551: these kids are just beginning to read...
Heather551: and rhythm helps them do just that...
dlan: How do you select stories for the bug mags? They read as though they are themed issues yet the guidelines say they are not.
Heather551: We do issue planning once a year...
Verla: ONCE a year? Wow.
Heather551: I take out my file of already accepted and edited manuscripts...
Heather551: and take 3 days trying to piece them together into rough themes...
Heather551: I start with all seasonal/ month-specific stuff and then build...
Heather551: the themes around those...
Verla: ah ha... so you "sort of" have themes, in a generic kind of way.
PamelaRoss: (sounds like trying to decide where to sit people at a party)
Heather551: on those 3 days every year, I consume more coffee than I'd thought was humanly possible...
Heather551: LOL. Yes, Verla...
Heather551: but the themes aren't pre-set. I mostly make it up as I go along.
JoanP: Hi Heather, I was wondering what are you looking for in the way of nonfiction?
Heather551: Well, no topics in particular, since we don't have pre-set themes...
Heather551: but I'm always looking for "hard science" articles...
Heather551: I usually receive animal life cycle/nature nonfiction...
Heather551: but I'd love to see more like these accepted articles:...
Heather551: tears and how they help your body...
Heather551: the origin of the moon...
Heather551: etc...
Heather551: something different than the usual "the platypus is born, it breeds, it eats, and then it dies" sort of thing.
tgseale: to what percentage of mss do you all respond positively?
Heather551: Eek...
tgseale: (ducking and running?)
Verla: LOL.. you are killing her, tg.
Heather551: Tanya, Tanya...
Heather551: I'm gonna get you back for that one on the 5th ;)
tgseale: just curious.
Heather551: Out of all the unsoliciteds...
Heather551: I'd say that approximately 2 percent are accepted...
Verla: Hey, that's not a bad percentage!
AlmaFuller: what kind of rights do the bug mags buy now?
Heather551: All rights, Alma.
AlmaFuller: thanks
Verla: Any exceptions to that, Heather?
Heather551: We have a list of the folks we call our VIP authors...
Heather551: these are authors who have consistently and regularly submitted stellar work...
Heather551: we do make some exceptions for these people.
Verla: Thanks, Heather
jenn: Is it acceptable to submit more than one poem (or in the case of Babybug) more than one article at a time?
Heather551: Sure, jenn...
Heather551: for poetry and/or Babybug "stories," 5 per submission is fine...
Heather551: but no more than that, please...
Heather551: reading a stack of 40 poems from one person at the same time tends to make me a little crabby. :)
jenn: thank you, Heather!
jenn: lol
PamelaRoss: Have any of your regulars and/or favorites come out of the Delabre Slush Pile? Thanks- Pamela
Heather551: I'm not quite sure what you mean, Pamela....a good number of the stories printed in Spider comes directly from the slush pile. Is that what you mean?
PamelaRoss: I suppose I mean are you soliciting more work from your regulars or are you just as excited to find a new voice?
PamelaRoss: And did any of the regulars emerge from your slush?
Heather551: Oh, I'm absolutely excited to find a new voice. I'm constantly on the look out for new authors. That's why I love conferences so much, too...
Heather551: I get to meet these new folks face to face...
Heather551: almost all of the VIPs came from the slush pile at one time or another, Pamela...
Heather551: A few were already big names when they came to us...
Heather551: for instance, I don't think I'd ever have the guts to offer Lloyd Alexander an all rights contract. :)
Verla: LOL, Heather
PamelaRoss: Thank you! Understood!
Kristy: Heather, what types of articles about world cultures appeal to you?
Heather551: We're always looking for good articles about different cultures, Kristy...
Heather551: check out the May 2005 issue...
Heather551: there's a really cool story about The Festival of Flowers in El Salvador and then there's a nonfiction pairing about the festival...
Heather551: we just want to make sure that the information presented isn't too didactic.
Kristy: thanks, Heather! :)
Heather551: PS--an article about a Capoeira class for kids would rock, Kristy!
Anne_Marie: Kay had to go so I'm asking her question. What kind of documentation do you like with nonfiction subs? Are a variety of books/periodicals sufficient or do you prefer expert interviews?
Heather551: We require a diversified bibliography, Anne Marie...
Heather551: Primary sources are the best, of course, but they're not always available...
Heather551: a mix of OFFICIAL Web sites, journals, newspaper articles, books, etc. is always great...
Heather551: but my best nonfiction authors always have at least one interview.
Lenzi: You mentioned kids getting scared when they thought spooky things seemed too real. When my husband mentioned the robot on Mars, my seven-year-old screamed, "You mean robots are REAL?!?" How difficult is it to find appropriate fantasy stories that don't freak kids out? (I don't see too many in SPIDER that aren't humorous.)
Heather551: It's extremely difficult, Lenzi, which is precisely why you don't see many fantasy stories in Spider that are "serious"...
Heather551: it's a very delicate balance...
Heather551: for instance, we printed a pretty funny story about a duppy...
Heather551: which is what native Caribbean people call ghosts...
Heather551: several kids wrote in saying they absolutely loved it...
Heather551: several parents wrote in saying they absolutely loved that their kids learned about another culture in such a cool way...
Heather551: and one parent wrote in to say that her six-year-old had to sleep with the light on for 2 weeks because she was so distressed at the thought of ghosts being real.
Lenzi: Thanks. It sounds dificult to master
Heather551: Unfortunately, it is, Lenzi. Sigh.
Linda_Urba: Do you know what percentage of Spider readers are boys? Does this come into play when you are selecting articles and stories for publication?
Heather551: Approximately 70 percent of our readership is comprised of girls, and 30 percent is boys...
Heather551: But this isn't an issue we take into consideration, to be honest...
Heather551: We try to ensure a healthy gender (and ethnicity) balance in each issue...
Heather551: I do admit that we sometimes shy away from "overly girly" stories like flower girl stories and the like...
Heather551: this is because statistically girls will read what they consider "boy" stories, but boys are far less likely to read what they consider "girl" stories.
Linda_Urba: thanks
Cassandra_: I have yet to get my hands on a somewhat recent copy of Cicada. How "edgy" will Cicada go? (Language, etc.)
Heather551: The general rule for Cicada is no major violence and no graphic sex scenes...
Heather551: an occasional curse word is fine, too, within reason...
Heather551: for instance, you will NEVER see the word F*** in Cicada magazine...
Heather551: but the topics are fairly open...
Heather551: I will tell you that the Cicada editors are tired of seeing...
Heather551: stories about eating disorders and dead/dying relatives and cancer stories....
Cassandra_: Thanks. :)
Cassandra_: (no bunnies, no f-word. grumble)
Heather551: LOL
Cassandra_: ;)
lindsey: if someone does send multiple poems/stories, does it have any affect on the selection process (meaning will you still accept one if the other four are awful. Not that I plan on sending four awful stories. Ok, I'll shut up now)
Heather551: First, I'd like to say that we like to receive only ONE story/article per submission...
Heather551: it's the poetry and the Babybug stuff we don't mind seeing five of...
Heather551: but, yes, Lindsey...
Heather551: I've certainly accepted one poem out of five. We evaluate each work as a separate entity.
lindsey: thank you Heather
tgseale: I'd like to explore the humor issue a bit more. It seems most of the humor published is a bit quiet/subtle. Would you consider something a little more silly/over-the-top?
Heather551: We've definitely printed extremely silly stuff in the past, Tanya...
Heather551: but most slapstick comedy is just that: slapstick...
Heather551: It's rather difficult to find extremely silly stories that are well-developed and have fully fleshed out characters...
tgseale: drunk bunnies? would that work?
Heather551: I would LOVE to see a story about drunk bunnies!...
Cassandra_: LOL!!!
Heather551: It wouldn't get published, but that's something that would definitely cheer up any work day. :)
tgseale: hee hee j/k of course. i'll be in trouble w/ verla if i don't stop now
Heather551: Pssst...Verla.
Verla: Yes, Heather?
Heather551: If you give me a 2 minute break, I'll give you another half hour. Whaddya say?
Verla: You got it... right, gang?
Cassandra_: Who-hoo!!!!
jenn: you bet!
Anne_Marie: woo hoo
JoanP: I'll hold my question!
JoanP: :D
dlan: I'll wait!
Heather551: All righty. I'll be right back.
tgseale: yeppers
Cassandra_: LOL, Joan
JoanP: ;)
Lenzi: Make it quick!
Linda_Urba: This is really great, Verla.
Verla: you can post your question as soon as she comes back, Joan.
Verla: She's really doing a GREAT job, isn't she, Linda? (Of course, you folks are asking really GOOD questions, too.)
Linda_Urba: Now I'm all excited about trying my hand at magazine stuff
PamelaRoss: Verla, you have the best guests. I don't know how you do it.
PamelaRoss: (well, like attracts like) {}
Verla: Hey, they email ME and ask to come here, Pamela. Guess the word's gotten around that you folks ask really good questions and are very intelligent and smart and great writers.... (and illustrators)
Cassandra_: I like the ? format, kia
Linda_Urba: me too
Linda_Urba: much better than having to type "no question"
Cassandra_: it makes it easier to ask a question when you have something meaningful
tgseale: i do too. usually all the good questions are gone by the time we get to the "t"
Heather551: Okay! Thanks, folks. I'm ready for your question, Joan.
jenn: wow! you're fast!
Linda_Urba: speedy!
Verla: very fast!
Heather551: :)
JoanP: cool! ok here goes.... :D
JoanP: Did I see correctly above that you also receive submissions for Cricket books? If so, what kinds of books are you most interested in and/or open to publishing?
Heather551: We actually have a moratorium in effect for Cricket Books right now...
Heather551: but we do accept submissions from authors we've met at conferences/speaking engagements...
Heather551: and I think this could technically be considered one of those...
Heather551: But please know that we no longer consider picture books or YA books for our line...
Heather551: we've narrowed the focus to beginning reader and mid-grade novels.
Verla: Since this transcript will be posted, Heather, I'd recommend that you only accept submissions from people who were actually here in the chat room.
Heather551: Oh! Yes! Precisely, Verla.
Heather551: <--- wonders how huge the can of worms she almost opened actually is.
Heather551: Whew.
Verla: So anyone who reads this transcript but wasn't actually in the room, will not be allowed to submit. (That means you need to ask a question, quickly, so you will have your name in the transcript if you want to submit...)
PamelaRoss: (prepare for ? marks)
PamelaRoss: <g>
els: errr... uhhh... (will that work, Verla?)
JoanP: (or laugh!)
Verla: Yes, els. That will work, too. (In other words, be sure to talk!)
Verla: (if you've asked one question, you are already in here.)
NOTE: Unless you were physically present at this workshop and your name is listed in this transcript, you may not submit to Heather.
Wanda: Heather, about how long do the articles have to be word wise.
Heather551: For Spider, we prefer that articles be between 600 and 800 words...
Heather551: but each magazine has its own word limit. Check out our submissions guidelines on the Web site for details.
Wanda: thanks heather:)
Wanda: can you give me the website please?
Heather551: http://www.cricketmag.com
Kristy: are good pictures a plus to include with a non-fiction piece, Heather?
Heather551: "Good" is the operative word there, Kristy...
Heather551: but there's no guarantee that they'd be used for publication...
Heather551: sometimes nonfiction subjects are so difficult to get a visual of that photos will help an editor see what the big deal really might be...
Heather551: for instance, I didn't really understand why a big cave with big crystals in it was all that fascinating until I saw the author's photos of this particular cave. Cool stuff!
Kristy: thanks heather
AlmaFuller: Back to Cricket books - Beginning readers meaning easy readers, chapter books or both? (some editors have classified it differently)
Heather551: Chapter books. (Sorry. I should have specified.)
AlmaFuller: It's okay.
AlmaFuller: series or singles?
Heather551: As a general rule, I'd never try to pitch a series before an editor has shown interest in my work. (just FYI)
NOTE: FYI = For Your Information
JoanP: When it comes to book submissions, do similar rules apply as far as no ghost stories/realistic portrayed fantasy, etc.? Or is that a different ball of wax (so to speak ;))? Any particular genres you find yourself drawn to?
Heather551: Magazine topics and book topics are entirely different...
Heather551: the difference is that the magazine comes to the kid's house every month...
Heather551: and that kid has no real power over the contents of it...
Heather551: but a kid can choose to buy a book, knowing exactly what it's about.
Heather551: There's no particular genre...
Heather551: that I'm intensely interested in. I love 'em all. :)
Wanda: ?
JoanP: cool, thanks :)
PamelaRoss: Heather--Do the Carus family magazines sell more at the newstand or do you have a large, reliable, loyal subscriber base? Does this affect what you purchase or is a kid a kid? <g>
Heather551: We have a large, reliable, loyal subscriber base...
Heather551: they usually "migrate" from one magazine to the other as they get older...
Heather551: and this doesn't affect what we purchase...
Heather551: what it does affect is the images we choose for our covers.
Lenzi: How many mid-grades (and specifically hf) are typically on the Cricket Books list each year?
Heather551: There are usually 4 or 5 mid-grades on each list...

Heather551: and there's no specific number of historical fiction books...
Heather551: if we find a great historical fiction...fabulous! But if we don't, we don't go out looking for one to fill a hole.
Lenzi: Thanks.
jenn: (non-writing question...) What opportunities do the Carus magazines offer to illustrators? How should artwork samples be submitted?
Verla: oh, GREAT question, Jenn
jenn: ty
NOTE: ty = thank you
Heather551: The illustration guidelines appear near the end of the submissions guidelines on our Web site...
Heather551: but in general, this is how we do it...
Heather551: we keep illustrators whose work we're interested in on file...
Heather551: then, when it's time to select an illustrator for a particular poem or story...
Heather551: the art director chooses a bunch of illustrators whose style matches the one I request for that poem or story.
Heather551: And...
Heather551: you won't find a better "showcase" for illustrations on the children's mag market than our publications...
Heather551: the paper quality is fantastic, which means the illustrations look all the better.
jenn: thank you very much, Heather!
Wanda: I write solo, as well as with my mother and sister in law under a diffrent pen name. SInce i was here, can i submit stories we have written together? or only things i have done solo?
Heather551: You can submit stories you've written together, Wanda. No problem.
Wanda: wow! thanks, you just made my week!
Heather551: Glad to be of service. :)
Lenzi: I love reading the letterbox in SPIDER and CRICKET. How much of what readers suggest gets considered for issue stories?
Heather551: Well, I'll admit that we take story suggestions from Cricket readers much more seriously than Spider readers...
Heather551: this is because Spider readers are still at that very egocentric age, meaning they know only what's in their immediate lives...
Heather551: for instance...
Heather551: I read one letter today from a girl (can't remember her age) that said something like...
Heather551: I have a gray kitten named Kitty. Please put in a story about a gray kitten named Kitty....
Lenzi: Hehe! That's cute!
Heather551: Does that make sense?
Lenzi: Certainly.
Heather551: Good!
lindsey: i missed your bio at the beginning so this might have already been stated but I'm interested to know how you got into Mag Editing. Unless that is too long of a question...
Heather551: Actually, I knew I wanted to be an editor before I went to college...
Heather551: so I chose my college studies carefully...
Heather551: I interned with Carus during the summer between my junior and senior years...
Heather551: and then they called in spring of my senior year to offer me a job. (Thank goodness! Do you have any idea how hard it is to find a job when you're an English major?!)
lindsey: a bet a lot of us know how that feels!
AlmaFuller: I do...
PamelaRoss: So sorry to talk so much. {} Is it just me or is the cricketmag.com link not working at the moment? I tried to open the site a number of times while we were here in chat but I'm not connecting. Don't stop the chat now. I just wanted to let you know.. For Later. {}
Heather551: I didn't make it a link. Sorry! Here it is: http://www.cricketmag.com
Cassandra_: do any of the mags recycle stories/poetry in later issues?
Heather551: We do, Cassandra...
Heather551: after my once-a-year issue planning, I usually have some holes to fill...
Heather551: so I'll reprint something from the very, very early days of Spider or old issues of Cricket...
Heather551: but we normally won't reprint something that's younger than one decade old.
Cassandra_: do the authors/illus get paid again
Heather551: That depends on the contract, Cass.
Cassandra_: Thanks. :)
Cassandra_: (I suppose you weren't all-rights, then)
Heather551: Yeah--
Heather551: the stuff from the early days isn't under all-rights contracts...
Heather551: so yes, in those particular situations, those author do get a reprint fee.
Lenzi: Who are your favorite reads, Heather?
Heather551: Oooh...children's or adult authors?
Lenzi: Both
Heather551: I'm on an E.L. Doctorow kick right now. I can't get enough of the guy...
Heather551: and I adore Philip Pullman. The guy's a genius...
Heather551: but I have SO many favorites! I can't seem to nail down just a few.
Lenzi: mmmmm--pullman. Thanks!
kimmar: how do you accept photographs? what format?
Verla: Ooooh, very good question, kimmar!
Heather551: I honestly don't remember how the art department chooses to receive photo submissions...but I believe all that is on our submissions guidelines, too.
Kay: you said you needed lots of manuscripts for Spider...are you pretty full on the others right now?
Heather551: Ladybug and Babybug are pretty full right now...
Heather551: but Paula Morrow is still accepting stellar pieces...
Kay: thank you
Heather551: Spider, Cricket, and Cicada could definitely use some material to beef up the files.
Verla: Paula is still accepting stellar pieces for which mag?
Heather551: Both Ladybug and Babybug. But just be forewarned that the competition for those mags has drastically increased due to the full files.
Verla: okay.
Verla: Thank you SOOOOOOO much, Heather!
Verla: this has been a GREAT workshop!
AlmaFuller: Thanks Heather!
Heather551: Thank YOU, Verla!
Heather551: I had fun. :)
jenn: thank you, Heather!
Wanda: thanks heather!
Verla: We can't tell you how much we appreciate you coming here tonight and sharing so much with us!
tgseale: *standing ovation* thanks Heather!
Cassandra_: thank you Heather!!!
Kristy: Thanks Heather
Lenzi: So interesting--Thanks!
Cassandra_: you are fabulous!!!
Anne_Marie: Thank you, Heather--what a great workshop!
dystar: thank you
Kay: thank you Heather!!!
dlan: That was great fun! Thank you!!
Heather551: Oooh! My first standing ovation! Thanks, Tanya. :)
PamelaRoss: You were fabulous.
ShirleyH: Thank you Heather
els: thank you Heather
Kristy: *CLAP*CLAP*CLAP*
Wanda: amazzing;)
Verla: (be sure to say thanks, now, so she will have your name in the transcript, folks...so you can submit to her!)
Kristy: BRAVOOOO
Cassandra_: Stunning!!
Wanda: outstanding!
jenn: lol, verla
tgseale: wunnerful wunnerful wunnerful
Cassandra_: And you don't look a thing like Avi.
kimmar: thanks!
Kay: LOL
PamelaRoss: And who will be the first brave soul to send in a drunken rabbit tale? <g>
NOTE: <g> = grin
Heather551: Thank you, everyone. And especially to Kristy and Cassandra and Tanya. LOL!
Kay: I still want to know about that ghost
Kristy: Incrivel, parabens, nossa editora favorita
tgseale: I'm on it, pamela! :)
Kay: a drunken rabbit ghost
Heather551: Thanks, Cass! That was way too funny!
Cassandra_: :D
Verla: I have a rabbit tale, Heather. It's called BeBop Bunny's Dreadlocks...
dlan: Kay LOL
Verla: It's in rhyme, of course.
Kristy: We've drawn you over to the dark side now Heather, you must visit again
jenn: omg, verla! lol
Verla: for real, jenn
jenn: lmao
Wanda: lol
Heather551: Of course I will, Kristy. But probably when you least expect it. Mwa ha ha!
tgseale: glug glug glug
sascha: Is it too late to ask a question?
Kristy: Verla have you sent it out?
Cassandra_: ARe you getting your bunny drunk, T?
Wanda: i have a comment lol
Heather551: Thanks again, everyone, and I'm looking forward to the drunken bunny stories. :)
tgseale: boing boing boing
Heather551: Good night, friends.
Kristy: night heather!
Cassandra_: night, Heather!!
Verla: It's been rejected, Kristy. more than once
tgseale: g'night heather. thanks again
dystar: hare of the dog?
PamelaRoss: Who's Spiking the Carrot Juice? <gg>
Cassandra_: Besitos!
Wanda: night Heather
jenn: have a wonderful evening
Lenzi: Good-night!
Kay: good night
*** Signoff: Heather551 (Quit: Bye bye)
Kay: wow, that was good
Verla: I quit sending it out years ago. Maybe I should send it to Heather? LOL. She could at least laugh about it
Kristy: fun
dlan: Thanks, Verla - that was great!
sascha: oops looks like I came in too late. Oh well. Good night
jenn: Have a good night all! see ya on the blue board!
tgseale: night all
Kristy: all you gotta do is get that dreadlocked bunny drunk
dystar: night all
Verla: night all!
els: night dy
Lenzi: I loved this, Verla (It was my first on-line workshop) Good-night all!
PamelaRoss: Or maybe I'm just a drunk bunny
PamelaRoss: <g>
*** Verla has set the topic on channel #kidlit to Writers & lllustrators of Children's Literature Meet Here Nightly - Welcome!