Juli Beck (Picture Book)

Author: Juli Beck (@juli_writes)

Age Range: Picture Book

Agent: Hannah VanVels, Belcastro Agency

The Query Letters:

Dear Hannah,

Congrats on your new position at Belcastro! I’m so happy you enjoyed my 100 word humorous picture book, COW GOES KAZOO, and requested that I resubmit it to you. Based on your MSWL, I feel like we have a lot of similar interests!

In COW GOES KAZOO, an overeager cow disrupts an animal sounds picture book to play the kazoo. Given enough persistence, she conducts her own udderly delightful symphony of sound. With an educational background in speech-language pathology, I wrote COW GOES KAZOO to entertain and engage children with foundational vocabulary, sounds, and sentence structure. 

Recently, my entry MATZO MEAL was named a winner in the Spring Fling Kid Lit contest run by agent Kaitlyn Sanchez and author Ciara O’Neal. In addition, my #OwnVoices picture book, [TITLE REDACTED], received a like from [EDITOR NAME REDACTED] during #DVPit, though I am hoping to have agent representation before submitting.

Thank you for your consideration, and I look forward to hearing from you!

REPLY: Submission request for more manuscripts; agent then declined to offer representation

Hi Hannah,

Thank you for requesting my 400-word picture book MAYA'S MATZO MEAL through #PBPitch.

For Passover, Maya gets sugar-coated rotten reviews from the ultimate food critics — her family. When matzo meal turns to matzo mess, she learns that a true chef’s talent can shine even in the toughest moments. MAYA’S MATZO MEAL is an LGBT+, Jewish LITTLE CHEF meets MASTER CHEF JR. It is inspired by my experiences as a queer Jew who comes from a family of both culinary adventurers and picky eaters, all at the same seder table.

Since I last queried you, I had a wonderful opportunity to be mentored by Rob Sanders through the 2020 #PBChat mentorship program. I've also begun working full time as a copywriter for a health and science branding agency in San Diego, CA. Previously, I worked as a Speech-Language Pathologist and continue to maintain my license with an emphasis on continuing education in literacy development. I am an active member of SCBWI and 12x12PB.

Thank you for always lifting up diverse voices in kid lit and for being accessible, supportive, and informative on Twitter. I hope you are safe and well!

REPLY: submission request for more manuscripts; offer of representation!