Week of July 15, 2012: How I Got My
First Picture Book Deal
Monday, July 16: Aimee Reid—A Swimming Pool
and an Agent
Aimee Reid
Little Grey—Summer 2013
Random House
There
are many moments I remember along my path to publishing my first picture
book.
Moment One:
Setting:
my daughter's room
Time:
bedtime
She
says, “Mommy, when I grow up and you grow down . . .” She went on to describe
her plans for us should our roles be reversed. This could be the premise for a picture book, I thought.
Moment Two:
Setting:
SCBWI Canada East Retreat in Golden Lake, Ontario
Time:
Fall 2010
I
attend my first SCBWI event and read aloud a rhymed manuscript for a picture
book based on my daughter's bedtime words. Emboldened by kind comments, I begin
to submit to publishers. Although the piece garners praise, it does not sell.
Moment Three:
Setting:
My room at the Hyatt Century Plaza in Los Angeles, California
Time:
August 2011, One day before the Summer SCBWI Conference begins
I
wake up with a new story—a twist on the earlier, rhymed version—fairly writing
itself in my head. I grab for paper and a pen and scribble down words until the
rush of ideas slows. Now the book is a conversation between a mama and her
child. I sense they are animals, but what
kind?
Moment Four:
Setting:
The pool at the Hyatt Century Plaza in Los Angeles, California
Time:
The same morning as above!
As
my fingers flutter through the water, I am hit by a realization: the characters
are elephants! I race back to my room to write and write and write.
Moment Five:
Setting:
Patio outside the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza in Los Angeles, California
Time:
Monday of the Summer 2011 SCBWI Conference in LA
Rob
Sanders and I chat over lunch after meeting each other in Leonard Marcus’ intensive on writing non-narrative picture books. “There’s a conference in
Miami in January,” he says. “We always have good picture book tracks.” I look
around at the palm trees. I think of sleet and snow. This Canadian girl is
interested. “Miami in January?” I answer. “Now you’re talkin’ my language.”
Moment Six:
Setting:
Pool at the Sheraton in Miami, Florida
Time:
After the SCBWI Florida Winter Conference, January 2012
I
am swimming. Once again, the water is rippling through my fingers as I review
the fantastic conference. Jill Corcoran, agent extraordinaire, walks onto the
patio. She's waiting for her plane. We get to talking, and she asks about the
critiques I had.
Jill
realizes I may be the writer whom an editor had mentioned. She asks to see my
manuscript. I retrieve it from my room, and over dinner Jill offers
representation. (Read Jill’s version of the event here: http://jillcorcoran.blogspot.ca/search?q=aimee+reid.)
Moment Seven:
Setting:
My home office
Time:
Two months after meeting Jill
An
email appears in my inbox with a little red exclamation mark beside it: “OFFER
FROM RANDOM HOUSE!!!” And so begins my relationship with my incredible editor,
Jennifer Arena, of Random House.
Meditation on the Moments:
When
Rob asked me to write this piece, I realized there was a great deal to this
story but most of it doesn’t have the driving action you might be hoping for.
In truth, these moments are highlights in a long stretch of keyboard-typing and
staring-out-the-window-brainstorming time. My story unfolded slowly as I
steadily learned my craft.
I
think even this condensed version of my path to my first picture book contract
offers some wisdom, though—besides swim in the pool at SCBWI events!
First,
go to SCBWI events. Connect with talented and generous people like Rob Sanders.
Learn. Listen. Revise. Write more.
Second,
you never know where inspiration will tap on your shoulder, and it can happen
in the most ordinary or unlikely places.
Third,
you never know when the next friendly face will belong to someone who loves
your work and has the power to publish it.
Finally,
you can’t plot for the turning points. You can’t will the high points into
existence. But you can be ready. You can read. You can connect. You can write
and rewrite. You can show up for all the moments in between. They are what make
the highlight moments sparkle like the water in a sunlit pool!
13 comments:
What a wonderful, encouraging story! I love the notion that you can't will the high points into existence, but you can be ready by showing up for all the moments in between. Thanks for sharing, Rob and Aimee
Thanks for sharing! Wonderful and inspiring :)
Thanks for sharing. Congrats! Jill is amazing, isn't she?
Such good advice. I love this blogpost. Way to go, Aimee!
I remember reading this account on Jill's blog. It's fun reading the story behind the story from Aimee's point of view. An inspiring post. Thanks!
This post is just the inspiration I needed this morning. Congratulations!
SCBWI functions like a guild, I think. I love their conferences--both as an attendee and as a speaker. They have raised the bar,improved children's books and enhanced each writers' learning curve...in every way.
So true, Kathleen. And we get to meet wonderful authors like you!
Lori Ann, I wholeheartedly agree.
Thanks, everyone, for the comments. Isn't Rob's blog terrific? I'm glad to have met many of you and hope to meet the rest sometime soon!
Augusta, I clearly remember your book talk at SCBWI Miami in January. So much of it rang true. Thanks for cheering me on as I cheer on Glory Be!
Thanks for sharing, Aimee!!! I loved hearing the play by play (and the pool by pool :-)Posts like this one are such an encouragement!
Thank you, my little Canadian friend. So glad our paths crossed in LA and that we are critique pals!
Rob
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