Meet the Mastermind: Michele McAvoy of The Little Press

Rate Your Story is kicking off a new Professional Series of Mentored Critique Groups, which are optional, upcharge experiences with Authors, Agents and Editors. In general, each event includes a round of peer critiques, time for revisions, and then a resubmission deadline for feedback from the Mastermind. Once critiques are returned, writers will attend a pre-schedule Zoom Session to ask questions about the critique / revisions (10 - 15 Mins). At the conclusion, there will be a short session for a general group Q & A. If with an Editor or Agent, these will also include an exclusive submission opportunity following the event.

This option is currently available to Rate Your Story Members only. To become a member, go to www.rateyourstory.com/become-a-member. If you become or are already a Member, we have one spot available for The Little Press for January, and one spot available for February. So please look for further information in our Kidlit Creative Forum, or DM me there.

But whether or not you are one of our Members, you can get to know more about Michele McAvoy and The Little Press (and what genre she is currently open for) below. Enjoy the Interview!

Describe yourself as a child. What did you like / dislike? I was a quiet sensitive kid. I enjoyed reading Garfield comics and drawing Garfields. I did puzzles and made bracelets.  I always had an entrepreneurial spirit. I would sell my friendship bracelets on the playground at school.  I didn’t play sports but I danced.  I trained in tap, jazz, and ballet, and formally danced through college.

What types of things did you read / write as a child? Share a favorite. As a kid I loved to read comics. I used to read the comic strips in the Sunday paper, like Marmaduke and Family Circle. My family lived in the West Village of NYC.  When we would visit a family friend on Sundays for macaroni, they would take us to the nearby candy store I would also buy a Dennis the Menace comic book (while my brother would buy tiny firecrackers). On one of those weekends, I remember my uncle taking us to the Barnes & Noble on 6th Avenue and allowing us each to pick out one book. I would get lost in the stacks and lose all track of time. I remember getting “Are You There God, It’s Me Margaret” and loving it. I also read many of the Nancy Drew and Choose your own Adventure books. 

[Note: Click on any title to buy the books.]

What steered your path to become a children’s book author? I started to write for children after my son was born.  I was always a writer -- as an attorney, all I did was write. But I hadn’t written creatively in quite some time.  My first children’s book was written to teach my young son (now 14) about my dad (his grandpa), who had passed before he was born. I wrote “My Superhero Grandpa” and from there, my love for children’s stories blossomed.  

What do you love most about the profession of children’s book author? It’s hard to pick one thing. For me being a writer is more than just a profession. It’s therapeutic.  I’m a better person when I’m able to write. It allows me to escape, imagine, create worlds and characters and people. It’s truly amazing what a story can do both for the writer and for the reader.

What made you decide to become a publisher? There are so many different reasons and facets as to why I publish. Becoming a publisher was a natural progression for me. It wasn’t like one day I said “I’m going to be a publisher” but that one day I realized, “look, I’m a publisher.”  lol I feel like a publisher is a role that I was meant to have.  All of my education and training has led me to this place where I get to combine my legal and business brain with my creative brain with social skills.  

What do you love most about being a publisher? I love making other people’s publishing dreams come true.  I love sending out offers for publication to a debut author or illustrator, because I know the pure joy that comes with that first book deal.  It’s a big deal and I love being able to give that gift to aspiring writers. 

What types of books are you looking to acquire?  What age group do you generally publish for? What do you want to read about? What don’t you want to read about? Explain your thoughts about Wish Lists.

The Little Press publishes picture books through YA.

For picture books, we are particularly interested in environment and nature stories for our collaboration with One Little Earth, humorous picture books with commercial and series potential, modern holiday stories with a fun twist and Christian/faith-filled stories for our Bless this Press imprint. 

Right now, we are opening for Middle-Grade and YA.  For middle-grade, I tend to gravitate towards contemporary and historical fiction, but good writing is good writing. I typically know right away if a story is for me. Sometimes the concept is amazing but the writing isn’t there. We are too small of a house to take on a project that requires a lot of editing in terms of craft.  I’m open to reviewing anything that is well-written.  I will say the same thing for YA.  Except I would love a fairy-tale or folktale remake/twist for YA. 

What aspects of craft do you look for in a prospective manuscript? What is most important to you? If we’re talking about picture books, it’s very important to me that the writer understands the space. It’s slightly bothersome when you get a submission that is well over 500 words, or just not in line with the market.  That’s not to say that there isn’t room for different/ edgy, but you can tell when someone doesn’t put in the time and do their homework. Being a children’s book author isn’t just about “I have an idea and I want to be published.” You can tell the manuscripts that respect the space and those that don’t put in the work and think anyone can write a picture book. It’s simply not true. 

What is a common issue with the submissions you receive?  I would say the most common is too many words and telling where the illustrations can take up that space in the story. 

Please share a Submission or Revision tip with our Members. Please take some time in your library and bookstore to read and review recent picture book titles. This will allow you to understand what is marketable now and what kids like to read now. Storybooks are great, but mostly, those are things of the past. Picture books pack a bigger creative punch (meaning combining text with illustration with illustrated font). Take the time to learn the space and look at your manuscript through that lens. 

Ask Yourself a Question that you Wish I had asked you. I don’t have a question BUT I do want to end this with: If the barrage of book deals and celebrations by others brings you down, don’t read them.  It’s ok and natural to feel envious or jealous of these when you are in the trenches just trying to get some attention. You’re not a bad person for feeling this way, you’re human.  On the flip side, be proud of and celebrate your wins. If you are published by a small press or if you get a magazine placement, that is amazing and quite the accomplishment.  Everyone has their own unique journey.  I have to remind myself of this as well.  Embrace your journey. 

Bonus: Share a fun fact about YOU! I was an advanced degree belt in Tae Kwon Do as a kid. 

Michele McAvoy is an inspirational speaker, an award-winning children’s book author from New Jersey, and a children’s book publisher. As a child, she read Judy Blume and drew Garfield comics. For her 10th birthday, she asked for a pink typewriter. Michele always loved the smell of new books. Now all grown-up (typewriters near obsolete) she loves bringing joy to children through her own stories. Michele’s books are uplifting and colorful and are meant to help children navigate through the natural bumps and curves of life. Michele currently has four published picture book titles with two more on the way! Her titles include Buckingham Gets A New Shell (Pigman Books), multi-award winning Cookie & Milk (Cardinal Rule Press), The Gorilla Picked Me! (The Little Press), the award-winning My Superhero Grandpa (The Little Press), Willa the Werewolf (The Little Press), and Toby Undone (Clear Fork 2024). Michele’s books are sold at bookstores across the country as well as online. Pick up a copy! You can find Michele on social media @michele_mcavoy (Twitter) and @michelemcavoy (Instagram).