Rejections for my cartoons

From 1998-2003 and then in spurts since, I split my time between writing books and writing (plus drawing) single panel cartoons. 

Here are four of my favorite responses to submissions—two rejections, one acceptance, and one something else. This was back when things were done on paper, via postal mail.

 Punch was an influential, long-running humor 

magazine in the United Kingdom. In fact, it helped 

define “cartoon” to mean a humorous illustration.

This part of the last line of the letter is what sells it:
“To be honest, I don’t think you stand much chance.”

(I went on to license cartoons to Punch 

fairly regularly till it folded in 2002. I also

befriended this editor, Steve Way.)

 Not all Playboy cartoons have adult themes.

I tried unsuccessfully to sell to the magazine

for a while, then sent a note with samples to 

Playboy CEO Christie Hefner because she

and I both went to Brandeis University

(separated by 20 years). Again, the last

line is what made this a keeper.

A bit more than six months later...

(Different editor. First of several cartoons I licensed to HBR. The moral: as long as no one will get hurt, try whatever you want as many times as you want to.)

Children’s authors read reviews of their own books: the encore!

A month ago today, I posted videos of 53 kidlit authors/illustrators being good sports and reading aloud a particularly critical excerpt from a particularly harsh online review.

Those are episodes 1-3.

Turns out a lot of people agree that a bad review can equal a good laugh.

Thirty more authors have since enlisted in the cause.

Welcome to episodes 4-6.

All-new line-up! All-new beat downs!

(Disclaimer: We lurve kids, of course, but this is for teens and adults only.)

The cast (not in order of appearance, so that you will watch all three):

Kathi Appelt	David Lubar
Gene Barretta	Eric Luper
Michael Buckley	Maryann Macdonald
Shana Corey	Marissa Moss
Sharon Creech	Gae Polisner
Doreen Cronin	Nora Raleigh Baskin
Katie Davis	Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich
Sue Fliess	Dan Santat
Liz Garton Scanlon	Tammi Sauer
Chris Grabenstein	Judy Schachner
Alan Katz	Andrew Smith
Laurie Keller	Elizabeth Rose Stanton
Jarrett J. Krosoczka	David Ezra Stein
Tara Lazar	Deborah Underwood
Loren Long	Emma Walton Hamilton

episode 4

episode 5

episode 6

“If you’re going to be able to look back on something and laugh about it, you might as well laugh about it now.” —Marie Osmond

Children’s authors read reviews of their own books

A bad review can equal a good laugh.

Therefore, please enjoy episodes 1-3 of “Children’s Authors Read Online Reviews of Their Own Books.” (Disclaimer: We lurve kids, of course, but this is for teens and adults only.)

Why three instead of a single episode? Not because binge-viewing is the new normal but rather because I received more submissions than I could’ve hoped for: 53. (This includes not one, not two, but five kidlit couples, two of whom appear together on camera.) While I’m not proficient enough to know if formatting at a resolution of 720p (HD) is ideal, I do know that I should not post a 15-minute video.

The cast (not in order of appearance):

Tony Abbott	Katherine Marsh
Paul Acampora	Wendy Mass
Selina Alko	Meghan McCarthy
Tom Angleberger	Richard Michelson
Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen	Marc Tyler Nobleman
Mac Barnett	Erica Perl
Chris Barton	Susanna Reich
Cece Bell	Adam Rex
Samantha Berger	John Rocco
David Biedrzycki	Dave Roman
Lisa Brown	Adam Rubin
Peter Brown	Steve Sheinkin
Nick Bruel	Mark Shulman
Matthew Cordell	Lemony Snicket
Bruce Coville	Michael P. Spradlin
Sarah Darer Littman	Tanya Lee Stone
Drew Daywalt	Don Tate
Julia DeVillers	Matt Tavares
Marla Frazee	Chris Tebbetts
Gary Golio	Raina Telgemeier
Tad Hills	Terry Trueman
Daniel Kirk	Audrey Vernick
Jo Knowles	Melissa Walker
Michelle Knudsen	Hans Wilhelm
Gordon Korman	Lisa Yee
Jeff Mack	Jennifer Ziegler
Scott Magoon

The series (so far):

episode 1



episode 2



episode 3

 

2/6/14 addendum: episodes 4-6.

The backstory:

At a kidlit festival in September 2013, while a group of authors/illustrators talked shop after hours, an idea came to me: a variation on a poetry slam at which kidlit/YA authors read aloud their most critical or absurd user reviews (from Amazon or Good Reads) for comic relief/catharsis.

Then I discovered something similar: a recurring segment on Jimmy Kimmel Live! in which celebs read a mean tweet about themselves.

I find this entertaining and endearing.

The last two times I rounded up authors for non-regularly scheduled programming, the results were, respectively, hilarious and humbling.

This time, I put out a call for short videos of authors embracing the reality that not everyone likes every book.

This was not about reciprocating with mean-spiritedness. It’s simply a self-deprecating nod to a universal author experience that is already public anyway.

(I would love to get the band back together at BEA or ALA to “perform” this for a live audience, maybe as some kind of fundraiser.)

As Rosey Grier sang, it’s all right to cry. But, as my kind compatriots have demonstrated, it’s sure fun to laugh afterward.

2/6/14 addendum: episodes 4-6.

The latest on my picture book “Thirty Minutes Over Oregon”

The quest continues for a publisher for my nonfiction picture book manuscript about a man who flies—but not with a cape. (As was typical for WWII pilots.)

What also continues: praise for that manuscript, called Thirty Minutes Over Oregon (which may be retitled Thirty Minutes Over America).

courtesy of Julia Sarcone-Roach

My determination to bring this story to a wide audience was already sky-high but comments like the following fuel it even more:

“It’s so, so cool, and so moving. In a way, it reminds me of the mega-bestseller Unbroken—but for picture-book readers!” — editor, major publisher

“It’s touching and speaks nicely about ideas of nationalism and patriotism (both here and abroad), and multiculturalism, all in a really interesting way.” — editor, another major publisher

“I am blown sideways, gobsmacked, dumbfounded. What an extraordinarily moving story. It simply must be told. I can’t believe it hasn’t been picked up—that is a travesty! And I love how Marc promotes/pitches it on his blog; why, it’s heroic! His passion for the story is palpable—contagious even. He is a gifted storyteller. This tale zigs, it zags and then…whoosh, it dives and hits!” — writer

“The best argument for continuing to write children’s nonfiction I’ve heard.” — Julie Winterbottom, former Nickelodeon Magazine editor

“The story about World War II, Thirty Minutes Over Oregon, has to be published. I am amazed that the story exists and we don’t know about it. That’s what I mean, his passion is contagious.” — Michelle Haseltine, middle school teacher

collected after my keynote at the Nevada Reading Week Conference (though Thirty Minutes Over Oregon took up maybe 5 or 6 minutes out of an hourlong presentation, it got more feedback than anything else I discussed):

“Very interesting—this is great history no one knows about. I hope it will be published soon.”

“I am interested in Thirty Minutes Over Oregon. Hopefully it will be published.”

“Want to read Thirty Minutes Over Oregon.”

“Especially poignant was the publishing process story of the Japanese [pilot] who bombed Oregon.”

“The Japanese bomber story was amazing.”

“Hope the Oregon book goes public.”

“Loved his story about Thirty Minutes Over Oregon and hope it gets published.”

“Interesting Oregon bombing story!”

“The sad story of a great story not yet finding a publisher.”

This was not specifically about Thirty Minutes Over Oregon but is relevant:

“I loved your book [Bill the Boy Wonder: The Secret Co-Creator of Batman], and your #nerdybookclub post. The more middle grade nonfiction picture books, the better.” — Adam Shaffer ‏@MrShafferTMCE

Boys of Steel: The Creators of Superman is about persistence.  

Bill the Boy Wonder: The Secret Co-Creator of Batman is about integrity.  

Thirty Minutes Over Oregon is about redemption, and that’s a theme I can’t recall seeing in picture book nonfiction.

Will it take flight in 2013?

Picture book experiment: "Brain Burps" interview

After learning of the unusual and quite possibly unprecedented picture book experiment I ran on my blog, tireless author/social media maven Katie Davis kindly interviewed me for her popular podcast Brain Burps.

• What did I (nervously) ask seven well-known kidlit artists to do for me?
• Why did I do it?
• What has the response been from others in children’s publishing?

For those answers and more (but not so much more that it will eat up your whole day), click here.

Here is the Permalink to the interview.

Here is the story that it's about:

Kevin O’Malley

To review the show on iTunes:

1. Open iTunes store.
2. Search “Brain Burps.”
3. Click on the podcast (and if you feel like copying and pasting, do same for the podcast app after).
4. You will see the list of episodes. Scroll past them (not in them) to bottom of page where it says "REVIEW THIS SHOW."
5. Follow instructions from there.

Thank you Katie.

Thank you listeners.

Thank you everyone else who has helped spread the word about my experiment. Please keep sending me your feedback!

Stand by your man(uscript)

Recently I posted an unprecedented experiment on this blog.

I publicly pitched a nonfiction picture book manuscript I've written but so far failed to sell. To show that the project is viable, I incorporated multiple "selling points":

• mock covers for it designed by professional illustrators of children's books
• mock covers for it designed by kids from the book's target audience
• examples of how I promote relentlessly, even books that are years old
• praise from editors who rejected it

Tim Bush

Coby, age 10, IL

In doing so, I was fortunate to pick up another compelling selling point: enthusiastic reactions from others in or affected by publishing. This means the experiment has generated support from lots of people in the know: kids (my audience), librarians and booksellers (my allies), parents (part of my market), and kidlit authors and artists (my colleagues).

Among those reactions:

• Fuse #8 (School Library Journal blog)
• Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast
• 100 Scope Notes
• I.N.K. (Interesting Nonfiction for Kids)
• The Happy Accident
• Children's Book Guild of Washington, D.C.
  
• Donna Bowman Bratton (writer)
  
• April Henry (New York Times bestselling author)
  
• Brain Burps About Books podcast (with Katie Davis; episode #65)
• The Children's War
  
• Meghan McCarthy (picture book author/illustrator)
  
• Keri Collins (educator)
  
• Sheryl McFarlane (author)
• Julia Sarcone-Roach (picture book author/illustrator)
  
• Plus, my post inspired the 10/4/11 topic of the weekly Twitter @kidlitchat (an hourlong conversation among numerous kidlit pros): "What do you do with a manuscript you know is good but hasn't sold?"

Upcoming coverage (check back for direct links):

• Nonfiction Detectives

Selected feedback from the above and beyond:

• "I think it's brilliant! He’s probably a pioneer, and we'll see a lot more books being offered this way. I love it."—Valerie Hobbs, author
• "Now THAT is clever self-marketing."—Betsy Bird, Fuse #8
• "The post is visually compelling, the story he tells is compelling, and the story the book tells is compelling. It's a trifecta. ... Don't you want this manuscript to get published? I find that I do, both for the story itself and for Marc's passion."—Greg Pincus, The Happy Accident
• "I really love what you did. Amazing, and BRAVE."—editor, major publisher
  
• "I must say, I love your style. ... when I saw this [post], I was really excited. I think it’s a great way to get people excited. I can’t tell you how cool it is to see the positive energy here. ... you’re one heck of a promoter, and an even better author."—editor, another major publisher
  
• "I love it. ... I would like to read that book, and I very much admire Marc's persistence in his attempts to see it get published. I would pick up that book without hesitation. I find particularly effective the covers that include 'and the Japanese Pilot Who Came Back to Apologize' in the sub-title. That, I think, is a sub-title that grabs the attention of readers."—Julie Danielson, Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast
• "Of course, I would definitely purchase this book for my library, and when it does see the light of day (note that I say 'when' rather than 'if'), I'm sure others will do the same. You truly have a gift for conveying historical information in a way that tells a story and draws in your readers."—Kristen Monroe, Denver librarian
• "This sounds like a compelling story, and we would be proud to carry it in the store, as would most independent bookstores, I feel certain. Keep us posted—we love good nonfiction!"—Trish Brown, bookseller, Hooray For Books!, Alexandria, VA
• "I so hope this one gets published! I also thank you for your courage in presenting the idea this way and seeking less traditional ways to get it the attention it obviously deserves."—Julie Hedlund, author
• "This is just the kind of book I'd offer as a gift to the young readers in my family. The history, human interest, and cultural aspects are a powerful combination and would make an exciting read. I hope he finds a way to get this one out. I've already written down the title in my 'To Buy' list."—C. Lee McKenzie, author
• "Yes, yes, and yes on adding to a library collection and, honestly, what a great book to take into a MG (even YA, frankly) book club. The conversations we could have. ... I can't help but say this is brilliant and gives great food for thought for each of us to spread our wings outside the box—be fearless."—Deb A. Marshall, educator
• "[My son] is a pretty good reader [with] little interest in fiction. But it’s hard to find short, well-written, and [illustrated] nonfiction. [This] whole thing is a very smart and aggressive idea; you’re basically creating a groundswell of supporters to [encourage] a publisher into taking on your book. Great use of social media. And it’s almost like you’re crowdsourcing the cover. Clever. I think anyone in any industry appreciates that it’s a dog-eat-dog world and kudos to the people that can think of ways to rise above the noise, and execute."—Darren Sapper, parent of a second grader
• "I am now totally engrossed in this Thirty Minutes Over Oregon saga."—Karen Morgenstern, Los Angeles librarian
• "Ingenious"—Keri Collins, educator
• "Marc Nobleman is smart. Really really smart. He’s figured out a way to use social media to bring attention to an 'unbook'..."—Sheryl McFarlane, author
• "I hope this works and we will get to see Thirty Minutes Over Oregon in print!"—Laura Given, Minnesota library media specialist
• "Would I add this book to my collection? Without hesitation! ... [I]t seems to me that there are several niches this book fits."—Linda Williams, Connecticut librarian
• "We would certainly buy this one."—Jane Drabkin, Virginia librarian
• "Yes—this story would definitely find a home here."—Marie Girolomo, Connecticut media specialist
• "This saga, book, and true story are fascinating. Illustrate the rest (let the kids do it), publish it yourself, and get it out to teachers and librarians. I'd buy a copy and I'd bet other teachers and libraries in my district would too."—Stacy Barnett Mozer, SCBWI New England Critique Group Coordinator/teacher
• "Not only would I enthusiastically buy a copy for our elementary school library, but I would love a second copy for my 97-year-old father!"—Gail, Los Angeles librarian
  

Thank you to those who have supported this project. I hope to post an update soon.