Celebrate Get Caught Reading Month with Jon Seymour & Tielmour Press! PLUS - PB Critique Giveaway!

Hi readers, writers, and book lovers of all kinds! Did you know that May is Get Caught Reading Month? It’s a celebration that encourages everyone to pick up a great book and get lost in its pages. What better way to celebrate than with publisher Jon Seymour and his exciting collection of books from Tielmour Press?

Come check out his interview, where he shares what he looks for in a manuscript, talks about his books, and gives a sneak peek at an upcoming picture book mentorship! Plus, want a chance to win his manuscript critique giveaway? Read on... 📖❤️

Q: Hi Jon! Thanks so much for joining us at #SeasonsOfKidLit.com! We're thrilled to feature you and hear all about the amazing work you're doing in the #kidlit realm. Can you share a little about yourself, your mission, and how you got started publishing books?

A: Thank you so much for having us! So we're Tielmour Press! We are a Canadian children's book publisher that focuses on making great books for children that have an impact on the world. One of our missions is to support reforestation whenever and wherever we can, more specifically, through book sales. Every book we sell. Supports reforestation, and with every hardcover book we sell, we plant a tree. We started back in late 2023 as we piloted a couple of picture books to see if we could make publishing on the traditional front possible, and things went well, and here we are!

Q: What are some of the recent titles on your list that we totally should get caught reading soon? 

A:  Some upcoming titles are ENOUGH TO SHARE by Mary Helen Berg and Sue Todd, TRICKSTERS, TAKERS, AND TEAM PLAYERS by Alisha Gabriel and Vivien Sarkany, and DUDES OF DISPOSAL by Brenna Jeanneret and Gabi Moraes.

Thanks -- we'll keep our eyes peeled for info about these upcoming books! PS, readers - Mary will also be joining us next month for a closer look at her book, ENOUGH TO SHARE! #StayTuned!

Q: We #kidlit authors would love to know what you look for in a children's book manuscript that you're considering publishing. Is it the voice, the hook, or something else? What makes you say “yes” to a manuscript?

A:  For us, the key factors are: a story that is based around nature/environment (to some extent), a story that has depth, and a story that has unique elements (maybe unique perspectives, unique experiences, etc..).

Q: What tips do you have for kidlit authors and illustrators who are looking to submit to you? And what’s currently on your wish list?

A:  The biggest tip from the query front is to get to the meat and potatoes as soon as possible. Lead with a strong pitch/synopsis of the story. When a query submission has too much 'fluff', isn't clear, or has to be re-read to parse out critical info, it's harder to understand the story's potential. From a manuscript perspective, pagination is a big plus—we want to experience the author's vision of the book. Side note: I refuse to give up on the em dash, just know this is not AI-generated hahah. Also, stories under 600 words are desirable—less is more with regard to word counts and picture books.

Thanks for sharing - this is great to know!

Q: So, we heard you have something SUPER EXCITING coming up - a PB Mentorship! Can you tell us more about your upcoming mentorship? What inspired you to offer this, and how can creators submit to be considered?

A: The mentorship idea is still in the works, and maybe it will take a few iterations to get right, but for now, we're thinking of working with an author over a given manuscript, to polish it and provide resources (including virtual meetings) to see if we can make it the best story possible. This will likely be a learning endeavour on both fronts (we've not had any mentorship programs in the past), but it should be a great experience regardless! More details to come!

OOOH - very cool! We can't wait to hear more.

Q: Would you like to leave a tip or a treat for our readers?

A: I'd love to leave a treat - a PB MS Critique (of 600 words or less) to one lucky reader!

WOW - Thanks so much for such a sweet treat! And thanks again for joining us - we appreciate it and loved getting to know more about you and your mission at Tielmour Press.

Giveaway Details: Readers, to enter to win a 600-word PB Critique, 1) share this post on social media and 2) leave a comment below to let us know you're interested. Also, check out their list and let us know which book of theirs your excited to get caught reading this month! You can see their titles, here.

Giveaway winners will be drawn and announced on or about 06/05!

About Tielmour Press

We are a Canadian independent publisher, and we like to make great children's books, and even better memories for readers and their families. But what we're really about is:

Changing the world—one book at a time.

It is well-known how impactful books can be for young minds, and when we publish new stories, we take that responsibility seriously. So, in addition to making excellent books, a portion of the proceeds from every book goes towards supporting organizations that help our natural environment!

Our books are also currently supporting local children's hospitals, children's reading programs, and organizations working towards reforestation efforts across Canada...

And we're just getting started! About Us | Tielmour Press

For more about Tielmour Press, check them out on IG at: @TielmourPress.

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