I’ve been on a library tear lately– I’m max’d out on my own county library card AND my account at Ian’s school library… I took Ian to his check-out limit yesterday… AND even checked out books on my husband’s school library account because I absolutely HAD to have these five books I saw yesterday! This is the problem with volunteering at the school “media center”– I just can’t say no! (Is there a 12-step program for kidlit lovers like me?)
This is my life about every two weeks now. So I have a plethora of picture books waiting to be read, just sitting there on the guest room bed. (For the record, the guest room is my reading room– it’s the only room in the house that is “complete,” meaning it’s decorated and furnished completely to my satisfaction. Can’t say that for any other room in the house… after seven years of living here! But one day, one day…)
Anyhoo, I did something exciting this week. Since I’ve been having the darndest time finding a local kidlit critique group (or even an online one), I have hired a professional to edit my work. 
Yes indeedy. This woman has a great resume– she’s been a literary agent at a large and well-known NYC shop and recently left there to head up the children’s book group at another NYC shop, AND she wrote a book that’s coming out next month– published by a large and well-known publisher– on writing kidlit! This lady knows her stuff and I’m excited that she is going to critique one of my manuscripts, as well as my 18 ideas for future picture books!
That same manuscript is also now in the hands of Southern Breeze, the SCBWI’s regional chapter for the south– they have it in their hot little hands to critique during next month’s fall conference in Birmingham, which of course I am attending. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again– I want to hear it all: The good, the bad AND the ugly. And I’m sure there will be ugly. But I don’t care… that’s how you grow– by first seeing and then acknowledging where you need help. I am so sure I need help. And once I get it– and apply lessons from it– I’ll embark on the next phase of this journey.
I am fastening my seat belt, ‘cuz I am SURE it’s going to be a bumpy ride…
Kid Lit Dish 
Very exciting! You are sure to learn so much, and it’s great to have some direction! Hope the critiques are brimming with praise and that you’ll end up with something ready to go out on submission! 🙂