Welcome back to the Pitch It To Me Challenge! We are thankful to all you WONDERful readers for stopping by to support a new round of creatives. These ladies have stepped up to the plate and forced me to work harder than ever to craft a punchy pitch. But first, let’s visit the results of the last challenge. Guest star Dr. Mira Reisberg hit a home run with her delightful pitch of author Patricia Saunders’ beautifully composed story. But if you know Mira, this is hardly a surprise. She’s a Rockstar! I’m grateful to both of them for joining us.
And speaking of gratitude (which there can’t be enough of during this challenging and uncertain time), I am pleased to have fellow 12×12’er Kaylynn Johnsen join us with her pitch for DON’T KICK THE DUCK, a humorous story with an unforgettable character. Kaylynn is a hard-working author waiting in excitement for her debut book to come out with AACP Publishing. A big congrats to Kaylynn!
To round out this challenge, I have one of the brightest stars in the Kidlit community joining us with a pitch to knock your socks off. It’s award-winning author NANCY CHURNIN! (Insert shouts of joy!) Nancy’s list of published works is phenomenal and continues to grow with each passing year. She is an expert word weaver, bringing us stories of people who have made our world a better place. And . . . she is one tough challenger!
As always, I’m including photos, links, and additional information about Kaylynn and Nancy below. Be sure to check out what they are up to, and support Nancy by ordering or requesting your library to purchase any of her lovely books (especially her two newest books, BEAUTIFUL SHADES OF BROWN, THE ART OF LAURA WHEELER WARING and FOR SPACIOUS SKIES: KATHERINE LEE BATES AND THE INSPIRATION FOR “AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL”).
And now for the challenge! Take a look at the three pitches in the voting box. They are in no particular order so you’ll never know whose is whose (the author’s, mine, or our special guest-star pitcher). Vote for your favorite, and if you are so inclined, leave a comment, too. We love hearing from our readers!
You have until June 1, 2020, to cast your vote. Please vote only once, but feel free to tell your friends about us and get them in on the action.
ABOUT KAYLYNN:
Some of my earliest memories involve storytelling. I remember laying under quilts with the silver needles flashing in and out, burning marshmallows around roaring fires, and sitting still as a mouse while the grown-ups spilled story after story into my thirsty ears. “Remember when” were, and still are, some of my favorite words.
I received an offer of publication from AACP Publishing for the first three books in the Lottie Series. I am pretty sure I did some awkwardly uncoordinated dance, and I use that word loosely, of joy. I look forward to sharing more and more stories with more and more people.
SOCIAL MEDIA:
Instagram (@kaylynnjohnsen), Twitter (@johnsen66k), Pinterest (@kaylynnjohnsen), Facebook (@kaylynnjohnsen), or Website (www.kaylynnjohnsen.com)
ABOUT NANCY:
Nancy Churnin is the award-winning author of eight picture book biographies with a ninth due in 2021. Beautiful Shades of Brown, The Art of Laura Wheeler Waring, is A Mighty Girl pick that will be featured at the 2020 Ruby Bridges Reading Festival at the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, Tenn. in May. The William Hoy Story, a Texas 2X2 pick, has been on multiple state reading lists. Manjhi Moves a Mountain is the winner of the 2018 South Asia Book Award and a Junior Library Guild selection. Martin & Anne, the Kindred Spirits of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Anne Frank is on the 2020 Notable Book for a Global Society list from the International Literacy Association. Irving Berlin, the Immigrant Boy Who Made America Sing is a 2019 Sydney Taylor and National Council for the Social Studies Notable. Nancy graduated cum laude from Harvard, has a masters from Columbia and lives in Plano, Texas with her husband, a dog named Dog and two cantankerous cats.
For Spacious Skies: Katherine Lee Bates and the Inspiration for “America the Beautiful”
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Interabang Books (located in Dallas, Texas!)
Beautiful Shades of Brown, The Art of Laura Wheeler Waring
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Interabang Books (located in Dallas, Texas!)
CLOSING REMARKS
I cannot thank everyone enough for contributing to this challenge. I always look forward to seeing what our readers like best and having the opportunity to offer fresh ideas with feedback to our brave pitchers. Here is a last round of applause for Dr. Mira Reisberg and Patricia Saunders for their support and super pitches! And best of luck to Kaylynn Johnsen and Nancy Churnin in this new round! Until next time . . .
The Wonder of Words 
Congrats to Nancy for her wonderful topic, Katherine Lee Bates–or KLB as her family called her. Nancy, I wrote Purple Mountain Majesties. Email me if you want a fun story to share that Katherine’s grand-nephew shared with me. BKYounger@gmail.com
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Whoops. I meant to write “Katharine.” I have a daughter, “Katherine,” and I get confused.
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