Getting to Know August's Guest Guru
This month's Guest Guru is Author Heather Macht, a multi-published author, as well as a long-time Rate Your Story Judge and also on the RYS Admin Team! She's agented by Lynnette Novak of the The Seymour Agency. This year, she joined the Editorial Team and Advisory Board at Clear Fork Media, where she works on books for both Spork and Dancing Flamingo Press.
1. What do you LOVE about children’s books?
I love how so much emotion, humor, and range is packed in each page, and how a heartwarming story is put together in 500 words or less.
2. What brought you to children’s books?
I remember being in elementary school and having kid-lit authors give a presentation on stage, reading their books to an entire auditorium of kids, and being in awe. I knew I wanted to do that -- to write picture books and share them with kids one day.
3. This year, you joined Clear Fork Publishing as a Junior Editor. What can you tell us about the submission process?
One thing I've learned is editors really put a lot of thought into each submission received, and especially every manuscript that makes its way to the acquisitions board. It's not something we take lightly or rush through; it's something we heavily consider and discuss as a team. This also has been eye-opening on why it takes so long to hear back from publishers.
4. Can you share any behind-the-scenes knowledge you've learned?
You know the rejections we receive that sometimes don't make sense? I've really gotten a good glimpse of what some of them mean:
It's not right for our small list = It has great potential but doesn't quite fit with our upcoming plans for the year.
We have another book that's too similar = We don't want our authors or titles competing with each other. We want to put our focus on the project we've already acquired so we can properly support our authors.
Revise and Resubmit = We see so much potential in this! Listen to and carefully consider our comments. We look forward to seeing it again.
If you receive any comment or feedback from an editor = Editors are super busy! Yet, they took the time to give you feedback. Be excited, they're trying to help your manuscript shine for future submissions because they see potential.
5. What does sending rejections feel like from the editor's side?
It's not easy giving out rejections. Especially for well-written stories that just aren't a match for our list. Just know it's not fun for us either!
6. Please share a submission tip with our Members.
Definitely read submission guidelines before sending us your manuscript. Make sure what you're sending is what we're looking for (and sent to the right editor).
7. Please share a revision Tip for our Members.
I'm a huge fan of reading/recording your story on audio, then playing it back to see how it sounds. This has helped me immensely with my own writing and sometimes gives you a completely different perspective (and points out where revisions are needed).
8. Name a subject you would like to see in your in-box.
I'm SUCH a sucker for monster books. I always take a special interest in them.
9. Anything else you'd like to share?
It takes time and hard work to pave the road to success. Remember, you may toil and sweat, but it will be worth it in the end. Hard work pays off!
10. Share a fun fact about YOU!
I keep up on dinosaur news and new dino-discoveries for fun. :)
For more about Heather...
Website: Home | Author Heather Macht
BIO: Heather Macht's always had a niche for storytelling. Ever since she was a young girl, she'd spend her free time writing imaginative stories for friends and family.
In the third grade, Macht recalls often getting scolded for turning her English and Science class' writing assignments into creative stories. Even though her teachers often frowned at her "unnecessary" imagination, her classmates enjoyed and encouraged her writings.
As an adult, her passion for writing and her imagination has grown and taken off. Macht is the author of The Ant Farm Escape! (Pelican, 2019), Rex the...We-Don't-Know (Pelican, 2020) and You May Just Be a Dinosaur (Pelican, 2015).
Macht has a degree in Fine Arts, her other passion, is a volunteer judge for Rate Your Story, and is also an active member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. As of 2021, Macht joined the Clear Fork Publishing Team as a Junior Editor.
She's happily married and currently resides in Florida. When she's not writing, Macht enjoys painting, reading poetry, watching scary movies, and spending time with her husband and children.
Heather Macht is proudly repped by Lynnette Novak at The Seymour Agency! For more, visit The Seymour Agency.
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