Today I'm pleased to present a guest post from Dee Romito! Ms. Romito is the author of multiple Middle Grade books, including the upcoming Postcards from Venice, which releases May 29th. Here's the guest post! And be sure to read all the way to the bottom of the post, because Ms. Romito is giving away one of her books!
When I first started writing middle grade stories, I was also reading a lot of middle grade books. Because if there’s one thing writers hear over and over again, it’s to read within your category and genre. That’s how you see what’s out there and learn how it’s done. For me, that meant middle grade contemporary—maybe with a little bit of magic.
One of my favorite books during that time was Seeing Cinderella, by Jenny Lundquist. It’s about a girl who gets a pair of glasses with magic powers and can read people’s thoughts. Cool, right? That was the kind of book I wanted to write, and someday, I wanted to have one of those adorable Aladdin Mix covers. She even sent me an advanced copy of her next book with an encouraging note. I still have that note. (Thank you, Jenny!)
As I moved along on my publishing journey, I met a writer in the slush pile of a contest and we became critique partners and friends. Not too long after, she got her first book deal. At Your Service, by Jen Malone is about Chloe, who lives in a fancy hotel in New York City, and is appointed the official junior concierge. She’s in charge of whatever the kid-guests might need. And she’s doing great, until she loses a princess! That was the kind of book I wanted to write, and someday, I wanted to have one of those adorable Aladdin Mix covers. (Can you guess where this is going?)
Well as it turns out, I did get one of those adorable Aladdin Mix covers. My first book, The BFF Bucket List, came out in 2016 from Simon & Schuster. And that cover had my name on it. In a fitting, full-circle twist, my editor was the same one who had worked on Seeing Cinderella.
So for those of you on that publishing rollercoaster, keep writing, reading, and pushing toward that goal. And for the readers out there, we’re doing our best to write books you’ll love. Thank you for all of your support!
(Psst … Postcards from Venice, the companion/sequel to The BFF Bucket List comes out May 29!)
Love this! The Aladdin Mix books are always fun! And thank you to Ms. Romito for participating in this event! :)
Author bio: Dee Romito is an author and former elementary school teacher. Her middle grade books include The BFF Bucket List, No Place Like Home, Postcards from Venice, and co-authored Best.Night.Ever (Aladdin/S&S). Her debut picture book, Pies from Nowhere: How Georgia Gilmore Sustained the Montgomery Bus Boycott (Little Bee Books) releases in November 2018. She blogs about writing at WriteforApples.com and is Co-Advisor of Buffalo-Niagara Children’s Writers and Illustrators. While she does her best to be a grown-up most of the time, giggling with her BFFs is still one of her all-time favorite things. You can visit her website at DeeRomito.com.
Here are a few links:
Now the giveaway! :)
Information and Rules:
Giveaway runs between May 26th through June 3rd.
Enter using the rafflecopter below.
There will be one winner!
Afterward I will contact the winner to get the information for the author, the winner will have 48 hours to reply.
If the winner does not reply within 48 hours, I will draw a new winner.
The author is the one responisible to get the prize to the winner.
US and Canada only
No cheating!
And good luck! :)
These books sound fun and I love to read middle grade fiction as it boosts my own ideas and writing skills.
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