Gil Marsh now has its very own Facebook page!

School Library Journal reviewed Gil Marsh and had some nice things to say.

If the strange names, the story of male friendship, and mythological quest sound familiar, it’s because Bauer is retelling the epic of Gilgamesh, supposedly the oldest story every written. This contemporary version is loosely based on the legend, with names, places, and elements throughout that echo the original. The novel is plot-driven and retains a mythlike quality. A worthy addition.

Thank you SLJ!

(Click on the poster to get a larger size.)

For those of you who have joined Goodreads, I have posted a giveaway. Anyone indicating an interest between now and February 28, 2012 will have a chance to receive one of two signed hardcover copies of GIL MARSH. There's more information here.

Good luck!

Drop in and say hello!

In 2001, word got around of a new children's book contest: the Tassy Walden Awards, New Voices in Children's Literature. It was juried by reputable agents and editors from large publishing houses, and winners were given a small cash prize. Why not, I thought.

My manuscript for a young adult novel came in as a finalist. I submitted a middle grade novel the following year, and that also came in as a finalist. Two years later I submitted a third novel, and that one didn't even place.

Now you'd think that would have soured me—three novels, three rejections. But it didn’t.

See, coming in as a finalist meant that the agents and editors who read my manuscripts thought they had promise. The criteria they were using was whether the submissions were of a professional quality. Winners were the best of the bunch—and some years they decided not to chose any winners because no one reached a high enough standard for the category. That I had placed two years in a row meant that I should keep going. That I didn’t place two years later meant I needed to put more work into what I was doing.

And more work is what I did. The result: one of the manuscripts that came in as a finalist became No Castles Here. The one that didn’t place at all became Come Fall. Both have received starred reviews, and I have a third novel ready for release in February, 2012.

The Tassy contest does something many contests don’t: it makes you step up to a publishable level. Winning doesn’t guarantee that what you write will be published, but submitting forces you to reach a professional standard. That is no small thing.

The 12th annual Tassy Walden Awards: New Voices in Children's Literature is now open for submissions. The competition is open to unpublished Connecticut writers and illustrators. This year has five submission categories: picture book (text only), illustrated picture book, children's book illustrator's portfolio, middle grade novel, and young adult/teen novel. The deadline for submissions is February 3, 2012.

For more information, an entry form, and the schedule for upcoming free workshops (these last are still being scheduled and will take place in another month or so) visit the Shoreline Arts Alliance website.

And for those of you wanting to write or illustrate books for young readers who happen to live in Connecticut—submit.

I’ll be at the Southwestern Connecticut Youth Book Expo at the Shelton Courtyard Marriott, 780 Bridgeport Avenue in Shelton, CT on Saturday October 15 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., along with 23 other children’s book authors and illustrators.

For more information about the event, the participants and the schedule, please visit the SWCT Youth Book Expo website.

Come by and say hello!