From: Mary Louise Sanchez <marylouisesanchez_3_at_msn.com>
Date: Fri, 08 Feb 2013 12:04:32 -0700

I have been following these discussions for the month closely because I am one up-and-coming Latina children's writer. My goal since starting this writing journey eight years ago has been to someday win the Pura Belpre Award, so I hope it's around for many years. I've submitted to Lee and Low Publishing for their New Voices Award in the past and while I received a nice letter from them, I didn't win an award, and know now that I wasn't ready for publishing at the time. I believe I may be ready now and so does SCBWI.

I'm a retired elementary teacher/librarian and just returned from the winter 2013 SCBWI (Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators) where I was one of three recipients of their inaugural On-the-Verge Emerging Voice grant to help underrepresented cultures and their authors get published. Part of the grant is to match us to editors, agents, and publishers.

I write from my personal and authentic Hispanic experience. The story I submitted to SCBWI is middle grade historical fiction set in New Mexico and Wyoming during the Great Depression.

If all goes well, my many stories have great possibilities of getting published and I would hope my librarian collegues would purchase them for ALL children. A good story is for everyone!

Thank you for opening this discussion.

Mary Louise Sanchez marylouisesanchez_3_at_msn.com
Received on Fri 08 Feb 2013 12:04:32 PM CST