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Melissa Iwai

  • Work
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    • Christmas
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Jami Gigot ©

Jami Gigot ©

Writing with the Stars

December 5, 2017

At the beginning of this year, Denis and I had the pleasure of participating in Tara Luebbe's mentoring program for people interested in writing and illustrating for children's books, Writing for the Stars. Megan Bryant, the author of My Snow Globe, which came out last year, introduced us to Tara. 

cover_My Snow Globe Melissa Iwai 2016 copy.jpg

When Tara was wanting to break into the kidlit world in 2014, she was doing all the right things: Going to SCBWI conferences; meeting people; educating herself on the industry, etc. But she says that she realized that what she needed --the missing link, was a mentor. She was fortunate to meet Stacy McAnulty, who agreed to mentor her. They worked together for six months, and soon after, Tara got an agent and sold her first books.

She wanted to pay it forward to other people who were also trying to break in-- but in a bigger way. So she created the contest, Writing with the Stars.

Denis and I worked with Cassandra Federman, whom I know you will all be seeing a lot of in the future. We loved her story which she submitted with her application. She was a great mentee -- so open to constructive criticism, highly enthusiastic and very hard working. We helped her polish her manuscript, and got to know her along the way via our Skype mentoring sessions and social media. 

We were SO SO thrilled when she submitted her manuscript to a handful of agents this fall and received an immediate positive response. She had the wonderful dilemma of trying to choose between several who were interested. She signed with Jenna Pocius of Red Fox Literary a couple of months ago.. I know we will be seeing her manuscript as a book in the future. :)

To enter the Writing with the Stars contest, and find out more about it, visit Tara's site. There is a new group of mentors and some repeats from last year like Denis and me. The application window is January 8, 2018 to January 13, 2018, midnight EST.

Good luck! :) 

← Let's Talk Diversity at the New York Public LibraryDouble Book Launch at Books of Wonder →
Ran into FOuR friends from high school randomly yesterday, ending with my friends Cathy and Greg Borgard  their dog at my Alma mater! We got a private tour of the amazing aquarium housed there!! It was built long after we graduated, but the lunch courtyard looked exactly the same as it did in the 80s. Haha 
#cabrillohighschool #cabrilloaquarium
Ran into FOuR friends from high school randomly yesterday, ending with my friends Cathy and Greg Borgard their dog at my Alma mater! We got a private tour of the amazing aquarium housed there!! It was built long after we graduated, but the lunch courtyard looked exactly the same as it did in the 80s. Haha #cabrillohighschool #cabrilloaquarium
Happy Valentine's Day! 
#dogs #art #painting #famouscouples #dogart #dogillustration
Happy Valentine's Day! #dogs #art #painting #famouscouples #dogart #dogillustration
Hey folks! In Lompoc, my home town, now! We'll be at The Bookstore on North H tomorrow from 1-4……! #bookevent #bookillustration #kidlit #middlegrade #childrensbooks #middlegradefiction #picturebooks
Hey folks! In Lompoc, my home town, now! We'll be at The Bookstore on North H tomorrow from 1-4……! #bookevent #bookillustration #kidlit #middlegrade #childrensbooks #middlegradefiction #picturebooks
Got to meet @caseykrimmel of the @arthivecollective at Powell's during our book event there on Monday! And look, another Hive nember @terrikasuba 's @blue_q tea towel! 
#teatowels #illustration #powellsbooks
Got to meet @caseykrimmel of the @arthivecollective at Powell's during our book event there on Monday! And look, another Hive nember @terrikasuba 's @blue_q tea towel! #teatowels #illustration #powellsbooks
Saw this pupper waiting outside for their owner. Did anyone know what breed? Our Nikki would love to play. I thought maybe it was a Labradoodle... So fluffy like a teddy bear. 😍

#dailypaint #dailydog #indiaink ##painting
Saw this pupper waiting outside for their owner. Did anyone know what breed? Our Nikki would love to play. I thought maybe it was a Labradoodle... So fluffy like a teddy bear. 😍 #dailypaint #dailydog #indiaink ##painting
Poor pupper has to wear the come of shame because she has an irritation in her hind paw and keeps licking it. #sadpuppy #shibapuppy #coneofshamesucks #dailypaint #dogsofbrooklyn #watercolorsketch #watercolordog
Poor pupper has to wear the come of shame because she has an irritation in her hind paw and keeps licking it. #sadpuppy #shibapuppy #coneofshamesucks #dailypaint #dogsofbrooklyn #watercolorsketch #watercolordog
Nikki napping and letting mom work today. 😍😍😍 #fetalpig 
#shibalove #shibes #watercolorsketch #ink #naptime #dailypaint #dogsofbrooklyn #dailyart
Nikki napping and letting mom work today. 😍😍😍 #fetalpig #shibalove #shibes #watercolorsketch #ink #naptime #dailypaint #dogsofbrooklyn #dailyart
Sad Nikki. There's no snow outside, but the booties are required because of the caustic salt sprinkled everywhere! 
#winterwoes #shibapuppy #watercolor #pawzboots #ink #sadpuppy
Sad Nikki. There's no snow outside, but the booties are required because of the caustic salt sprinkled everywhere! #winterwoes #shibapuppy #watercolor #pawzboots #ink #sadpuppy
Sketching at #dekalbmarkethall in downtown Brooklyn yesterday with @mcswiss ! Great foodie place. 😊 So fun to sketch and chat and eat good food with friends. ♥️ #brooklynpeople #watercolor #sketching #drawing #sketchbook
Sketching at #dekalbmarkethall in downtown Brooklyn yesterday with @mcswiss ! Great foodie place. 😊 So fun to sketch and chat and eat good food with friends. ♥️ #brooklynpeople #watercolor #sketching #drawing #sketchbook
I always love seeing owners and dogs who match. 🐶🐾
#dailypaint #dogsofbrooklyn #watercolorart #dailysketch #dailyart
I always love seeing owners and dogs who match. 🐶🐾 #dailypaint #dogsofbrooklyn #watercolorart #dailysketch #dailyart
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The Hungry Artist

A blog about healthy eating and cooking with kids.


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