MOWMT Day #30: Heather Macht Forges Another Chapter
During last year’s MOWMT, I was thrilled to announce a new book deal - my first early reader 6-book chapter book series! The Woodlot Monster Mysteries came out in January 2023. It was seriously a dream come true because first…#monstersrule, obviously. And second, so does #girlpower! Finley and Eva, the main characters in the series, solve mysteries and help the monsters in their town by baking them cupcakes, caring for them when they’re sick, and sharing books with them. It was such a fun project to work on altogether.
To my surprise, I got a yes on a new chapter book series. I’m absolutely thrilled to announce my second 6-book chapter book series: The Mutant Critter Sitter, coming out in Spring, 2024!
Book Blurb: Chloe’s summer was supposed to be filled with skateboarding, hanging out with friends, and staying up late every single night watching scary movies and eating pizza. But, after a trip to the skatepark left her skateboard broken in two, her entire summer was ruined. Now, her dad is forcing her to work all summer so she can buy a new one - what a bummer!
After a morning of searching for jobs, she finds an unusual ad that turns her summer upside down. Somehow, she said yes to being a critter sitter for a not-so-mad gene-splicing scientist’s crazy creations. One thing’s for sure, whether it’s being chased by a giant Mean-us Flytrap named Bob, bathing an electric seal, caring for pea monkeys, rounding up a swarm of drawfish, helping tame a cattlesnake, or walking a fluffy pet pali-gator, Chloe’s summer is filled with extraordinary and unexpected adventures.
Featuring strong girl leads, and focusing on responsibility, creativity, imagination, and science-filled fun, The Mutant Critter Sitter is perfect for young, adventurous readers!
My new series differs from The Woodlot Monster Mysteries in a big way: word count. Where Woodlot’s books are four chapters long and only approx 1,000 words a piece, the Critter Sitter’s books are 10 chapters long and are approx 7,500 words a piece. BTW, I did the math. That’s the equivalent of 90 picture books! https://media.giphy.com/media/37Fsl1eFxbhtu/giphy.gif
Going from 500 words to 7,500 words per book can be challenging. So, I read a lot of chapter books as mentor texts to help me switch gears. If you’re considering switching gears, too, I’d highly suggest checking out these series.
The Graveyard Diaries (also with ABDO Publishing). This series follows a group of friends who all live next to graveyards in their town. As you would expect, they find monsters around every corner. What I love most about this series is that each character keeps a diary that can be viewed throughout the story. This part was hugely helpful as a mentor text for me.
In The Mutant Critter Sitter, my main character, Chloe, keeps a summer/science-themed journal. Each chapter starts with an entry in her journal. That entry is her defining a word in a fun way that will be used throughout the chapter. I’d definitely suggest checking out The Graveyard Diaries if you’re looking to do something similar.
Desmond Cole Ghost Patrol Little Simon (Simon and Schuster).
I recommended this series last year and am recommending it again. Seriously, if you are looking to write funny chapter books - read this! I love the humor in this series, the pacing, and of course the interactions they have with the different monsters/ghosts. What’s not to love about a ghost riding a bike?
The Bad Guys - OK. Hear me out. I know this is more of a graphic novel series. But I also love the humor, the pacing, and personally selected this for the personification of the animal characters. Plus, since my son loves these! I happen to have the series handy. ;)
In the Critter Sitter series, Chloe interacts with a bunch of different lab-created critters. One of the main characters is Bob, a three-headed Mean-us Flytrap, who is scary when he’s first created. However, he ends up being Chloe’s friend and helps her on different assignments. Where he doesn’t talk (and only communicates through grunts, purrs, shrieks, and gestures) reading The Bad Guys was perfect for seeing how to relay different animals’ behaviors and characteristics in a fun way. I also like how the characters are technically considered bad (my character was perceived this way at first, too). If you are writing about funny animal characters, this is a good series to check out!
I’ve said this before, but will say it again: for this age range, your writing should be fun. It should also flow effortlessly. If your chapter book feels too forced after reading over it, try again, and again, until you have the approval of your awesome CPs. Pacing and humor, along with unique characters are key for this age group! I hope this feedback helps! Good luck, chapter book writers.
Bonus tip: Make sure to plug your text into a readability calculator to make sure your writing isn’t too young or too old for your intended audience. It needs to be just right. ;)
Giveaway: I’d love to critique a non-rhyming PB MS or the first two chapters of a chapter book as a thank-you for reading along with me.
BIO: Heather Macht, is the author of The Mutant Critter Sitter, a six-book chapter book series featuring #girlpower, responsibility, spliced mutant creations, and science-filled fun! (ABDO, 2023), The Woodlot Monster Mysteries, a six-book chapter book series featuring less-common monsters and promoting #girlpower, problem solving, and teamwork (ABDO, 2023), & more! She is also the creator and co-host of #SeasonsOfKidLit.com, focusing on celebrating seasonal and holiday-themed children’s books. Macht’s an active member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, is a volunteer judge for Rate Your Story, and lives with her family in sunny and mosquito-y Florida. In her spare time, she dwells in poetry and picture books, and enjoys watching scary movies and eating spicy food.
For more, visit www.heathermacht.com
Twitter: @AuthorHMacht
Instagram: @HeatherAuthorMacht
Website: www.heathermacht.com
Blog: www.seasonsofkidlit.com
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