No #PBPitch Heart? Take Heart!

February 12, 2021February 12, 2021 / Becky B / Leave a comment

I participated in my first #PBPitch yesterday. And, no, I didn’t get a heart.

Here’s why that’s still okay:

I’m more confident about my queries. I honed the heck out my queries and synopses. If there was a chance that an agent would leave a heart on my pitch, I didn’t want anything standing in the way of sending off my work, especially myself! So in the weeks leading up to #PBPitch, I researched (and puzzled over) the differences between queries and synopses, realized I’d been mostly doing things incorrectly (!!), and worked at capturing the essence of my stories and providing the hook.
I met a lot of writers. The #WriterCommunity is not a consolation prize. It is a prize, no qualification about it! There are so many great people out there all working toward the same thing, and taking time to help each other along the way. I had a lovely time feeling and giving back the love.
I found agents open for queries. I do use QueryTracker, but seeing agents out in the wild yesterday was extremely helpful. Some agents took the time to pin a tweet saying that even if they didn’t ‘heart’ you, to query them anyway. That’s super cool.

If you did get a heart or hearts, congratulations! I hope your queries go all the way to publication.

If, like me, you didn’t get a heart this round, I hope you still found the experience useful, learned something, and met great people.

If we didn’t connect on Twitter, come find me!

Children’s Picture Book Sale!

November 25, 2020 / Becky B / Leave a comment

For a limited time, I’m offering signed copies of my award-winning children’s picture books. Order them right here: https://forms.gle/HUkHSWLamKe7KZF1A

First come, first served basis. I can only do US orders at this time.

First time visiting? My name is Becky Benishek, and my picture books can help the child or children in your life explore the world around them, enjoy whimsical adventures, learn about empathy, and feel good about the person they are.

This special is made possible by the 2020 Holiday Indie Book Festival where my books and many others, including book-related items and holiday cards, are on sale. Here’s the Facebook group where it’s all happening.

Dr. Guinea Pig George

A guinea pig named George lives in a house with a person named George, who is a doctor. But every time the phone rings and someone in the house says, “George, it’s for you,” guinea pig George thinks they mean him! Then one day, George is able to show what he can do during a very unexpected house call.

Dr. Guinea Pig George helps kids believe in themselves, even if their dreams seem out of reach.

Hush, Mouse!

A kitten named Mouse meows so much that she’s always being told to hush! Only Little Liz appreciates Mouse, because nobody really pays attention to what she has to say, either. Then one day, they prevent a crime, proving that even though they’re small, they’re worth being listened to!

Hush, Mouse! helps kids feel their voices are important, no matter their size.

What’s At the End of Your Nose?

Sidney Snail is so bored that he’s about to leave town in search of adventure. But when mysterious Old Samuel Snail convinces him to take one last look around, Sidney discovers he’s been missing amazing things all along.

With delightful black & white illustrations on matte paper, this book can also be used as a coloring book!

What’s At the End of Your Nose? helps kids realize that they don’t have to be bored–there’s a whole world waiting for them to discover, right in their own homes and backyards.

The Squeezor is Coming!

The Squeezor is a monster who just wants to give hugs: Great, big, wrap-his-arms-around-you-twice, squeezy hugs. The trouble is, he looks so scary, even other monsters run away! How can he get everyone to look past his appearance and be his friend? Join the Squeezor in Ghastly Gigapolis as he figures it out!

The Squeezor is Coming! helps kids learn not to judge based on appearances, and also that each of them has their own very special talents.

Bring a new friend home for the child or children in your life today!

NEW RELEASE! “Brandon Goes to Beijing (BĔIJĪNG北京)” by Eugenia Chu

August 20, 2019August 31, 2019 / Becky B / 1 Comment

BRANDON GOES TO BEIJING (BĔIJĪNG北京) by Eugenia Chu

New Release and FREE ebook on September 3, 2019!

Brandon Goes to Beijing (北京), a brand new chapter book by author Eugenia Chu, launches on TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2019! As a special bonus, the Kindle Ebook version will be FREE on Amazon that day, too!!! Please download this adorable book and if you like it, please leave a review to thank the author and her illustrator, Eliza Hsu Chen, for all their hard work!

About the story:

Brandon and his cousins are on a trip to visit their grandparents in Beijing, China. While bonding with family, practicing Chinese, touring historic sites and feasting on local dishes, Brandon thinks he sees a tiny panda. However, every time he gets close, the panda disappears! Is Brandon imagining this small creature, or is it real? Will Brandon find out before he has to fly back home?

Brandon Goes to Beijing (北京) is a multicultural, multi-generational chapter book. This book includes some Mandarin Chinese (Simplified) with Pinyin pronunciation, adding layers for those learning or interested in the Chinese language and culture.

Brandon Goes to Beijing (北京) follows Eugenia’s debut picture book, Brandon Makes Jiǎo Zi (餃子)(a story about a boy and his grandma who bond while making Chinese dumplings, called jiǎo zi (餃子).

About the Author:

Eugenia Chu is an attorney, turned stay-at-home mom, turned writer. She lives on a magical beach in Miami with her husband and son, Brandon, who is the inspiration for her stories. She enjoys reading, writing, traveling, yoga and drinking too much coffee. She has been a presenter at numerous schools, libraries and book festivals.

Inspiration:

When Brandon was very little, the author couldn’t find children’s storybooks to read to him which touched upon Chinese culture and which included some Chinese (Mandarin) words to teach and/or reinforce his Chinese vocabulary, so she started writing her own. Brandon Goes to Beijing (北京) is her second “Brandon” story and first children’s chapter book.