On Tuesday, Doe Boyle, Leslie Bulion and I spoke to a great group of aspiring children’s books writers about the mechanics of getting published (and the awesome opportunity provided by the Tassy Walden Awards for Connecticut writers).* We discussed cover letters, finding a critique group, researching publishing houses, the dos and don’ts of the submissions process. Ultimately thought, after almost two hours of questions and answers, our advice boiled down to this:

1. Write the very best stories you can write, then do everything in your power to make them better.

2. Never, ever, give up.

And that’s the secret.

* Special thanks go to the staff of the West Hartford Barnes & Noble who gave us this opportunity and were wonderful, from beginning to end!