Double Feature: Trick or Treat with Editor Lynne Marie! Plus, Pitch a MS to her!

Hi, readers, writers, and Halloween-fanatics, too! We're starting the festivities with a BANG this year. Please enjoy our Double Feature with #SeasonsOfKidLit's own, Lynne Marie.

Lynne Marie is back on our blog sharing some BroomMates-themed news. Any guess what it might be? As Seasonal Editor at The Little Press, she's offering enchanting treats including critiques and a special offer for querying authors.

If you have a seasonal-themed manuscript, she’d love for you to pitch it below in the comments. She’ll be selecting one or more for a closer look.

Want to learn Lynne’s big news and enter to fill your goodie bags with treats? Read on… if you dare. 🌙🧹

Q: Hi, Lynne! Thanks AS ALWAYS for offering to join and share your current projects and infinite editorial wisdom with #SeasonsOfKidLit. I’m thrilled you could join our Annual Trick-or-Treat Event (i.e. our fav event of the year)! So, for everyone who’s new here and might be tuning in for the first time, can you share more about yourself, your background in editing, and your love for spooky/seasonal books?

A: As to my editing background, I draw upon twenty-five plus years of studying the craft of children’s literature both in college and continuing education, experience as a developmental editor and mentor at www.thepicturebookmechanic.com and www.rateyourstory.org, as well as internships at three literary agencies, and working as an editor at two small presses, including my current position as acquiring editor of seasonal and special acquisitions at www.littlepresspublishing.com. 

My adoptive mother told me that adoptees in particular seem to have a fascination with Halloween because they struggle with identity and get to be whatever they choose on this day. I’m not sure if this is true, but whatever the reason, I have always been enchanted by this fun and fabulous celebration. And even as a child, I loved spooky books and movies. I think the first and foremost example of this would be the book and movie version of The Wizard of Oz, which not only embraces spooky characters, but features an orphaned main character. And then there’s the tv series The Munsters and The Addams Family, and The Witch Next Door book series by Norman Bridwell, to name a few more. 

As to me, I’m very lucky to be able to spend each day embracing the joys and challenges of childhood as my day job! 

Q: Let’s talk Broommates for a second: that was wickedly-wonderful success! From awards to multiple print runs, it had a fantastic year. Can you give us a breakdown of all the accolades and accomplishments it’s had? 

A: Just in time for the Halloween season, BroomMates is in its third printing! We truly hope to keep these spooky sisters flying off the shelves. We have enjoyed a wonderful response to the book, including being chosen as an Anna Dewdney (Llama Llama) Read Together Award Honor book, a Northern Lights Book Award winner in the holiday category, and a Children’s Book Council favorite of Librarians, Teachers, and Kids! 

Q: So…I’m hoping you can share some exciting news with us today. Can you talk about a Broommates sequel? 

A: It hasn’t been fully announced yet, but I am happy to share that Tombmates, written by me and transposed into rhyme with my partner in rhyme, Brenda Reeves Sturgis, is scheduled for Fall 2027! This book, as you know, was actually the predecessor to BroomMates! I’m so grateful that both books will be brought to life! This one has even more layers than the first. Brenda and I have been friends since 2005 and have always wanted to have books together, so this is a dream come true for us! 

P.S. readers, to me this is the prequel because I read this adorable book years ago (before BroomMates) and was spellbound ever since. You're in for a real treat!

Q: Can you share any art for this or is it too early? 

A: The contract was just signed, so it’s a bit early, but of course, I am very excited

about this book! As you mentioned it was written first. One of the things that I love about it is that it was inspired by reading a book about King Tut and I wove some of those facts into the story, hopefully in a fun way!  

Q: What’s currently on your MSWL? What kind of books are you itching to read? What’s not the best fit for your list right now? 

Right now as of this Interview, we are closed. However, we are taking submissions from participants in Girl Power Hour (October 11th - so be sure to sign up) and any other special submission opportunities that arise. https://girlpowerhour.weebly.com/

But what I am / we are looking for is fresh and new stories about the larger holidays, those that have special event tie-ins (like outer space and sharks) and also stories that celebrate Italian culture for our Ciao imprint.  

Q: How excited are you about Rate Your Story? Any news to share?

A: I am super excited about the New Rate Your Story because it is no longer JUST a feedback and rating service, but a community, and a place for opportunity! We offer wonderful workshops on craft, professional series workshops with acquiring editors and acquiring agents, and more! Our Membership is open for Members on October 15, 2025 and for Non-Members on October 31st, 2025! It is a limited Membership (we put a cap on it) so first come, first-served. And we invite Members in (once paid) to mine our archives for Crafty Webinars, Mentor Text Talks, End of Year opportunities, and MORE! Do check us out www.rateyourstory.org/become-a-member 

Q: BONUS: What’s both your favorite and least favorite candy? What would you be thrilled to receive in your candy bag, and what would you desperately try to trade?

For this, I’m going to wax nostalgic and recall my childhood. Keepers would be Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, Blow Pops. Circus Peanuts. Ice Cube Chocolate Bites. Laffy Taffy (Banana mostly). M & Ms. Nestles. Razzles. Red Hots. Swedish Fish. Twizzlers. 

Possible keepers, depending on what possible trades were available, are: Mounds. Almond Joys. Candy Cigarettes. Charleston Chew. Charms. Chuckles (keep red and black, trade others). Bazooka Bubble Gum. Dum Dums. Good N’ Plenty. JujyFruits.  Life Savers. Lik-M-Sticks. Mallo Cups. Mounds. Three Musketeers. 

Trades would be just about anything else, with varying values. For example, Reese’s would be worth trading two snack-size candy bars. For me, there were many candies on the trade list: 5th Avenue Bar. 100,000 Dollar Bars. Baby Ruth. Bit-O-Honey. Butterfingers. Clark Bars. Kit Kats. Kraft Caramels. Malted Milk Balls. Mary Janes. Milk Duds. Necco Wafers. Nestles Crunch. Pay Days. Peanut Chews. Pixy Stix. Rootbeer Barrels. Starburst. Smarties. Sugar Daddies. Sweet Tarts. Tootsie Pops. Tootsie Rolls. Twix. Wax Bottles. Wax Lips.  I didn’t like caramel, honey, malt, peanuts, rice crispies, tarts or wafers and these had no value to me! 

Trading bars and coming up with a value system for them was such a fun memory from my childhood! I hope others enjoy remembering these treats, too! 

I hope you’re not sorry you asked - I had so much fun remembering! Any readers who remember a candy I forgot and post in the comments will be in a drawing for a sweet treat from me! 

Ha, love this! Now I'm ready to dig into my Halloween candy bag. ;)

Would you like to leave a Trick or a Treat for our readers?

Trick: When you find the comps for your story (and this should be done in the beginning, not just when submitting), don’t just evaluate what is different, but what is BETTER. And work to elevate the writing and storytelling. Your submission should be a cut above what’s already out there, as well as a fresh and new idea or approach. 

Treat: I've brought the following goodies along with me today.

1. Skip-the-Slush. Have a seasonal manuscript you think would be perfect for my list? Pitch me below! At least one lucky winner will get a Skip-the-Slush pass for me to review their submission, despite our being closed. 

2. (3) Three lucky winners will get their choice of a RYS Speedpass or one-half hour Ask Me Anything session on Zoom with me. 

WOAH! Talk about some terror-iffic treats! Thanks so much for joining us today and for giving us a sneak peek of the next book in the works. We can't wait to check it out!

Giveaway Details: Readers, to enter Lynne Marie's giveaway, 1) leave a comment below to thank her for stopping by and 2) either pitch her a seasonal MS below OR if there's another treat of hers you'd like, let us know what it is below.

Please Note: Books/giveaways will be shipped in the U.S. only.

*Special Reminder: Those who like, leave a comment on, and share all posts will be entered into a drawing and be eligible to win:

• One (1) of five (5) Rate Your Story Speed Passes perfect for quick MS feedback, provided by Editor Lynne Marie & Author Heather Macht and/or

• A Query Critique from Agent  Lynnette Novak with The Seymour Agency 

Winners will be drawn and announced on or about 10/22.

About Lynne Marie:

Lynne Marie is the author of several books, including The Star of the Christmas Play (Beaming Books 2018 & 2023), Moldilocks and the 3 Scares, (Sterling/Scholastic 2019), Let’s Eat! Mealtime Around the World (Beaming Books 2019), The Three Little Pigs and the Rocket Project (Mac and Cheese Press 2022), The Three Little Pigs and the Rocket Project Coloring Book (Mac and Cheese Press 2022), The Palace Rat (Yeehoo Press, 2023), Broommates: A Brewing Boundary Battle (The Little Press, 2024) and more, forthcoming. She’s the Owner and Administrator of RateYourStory.org, ThePictureBookMechanic.com, and a Travel Agent.

To keep up to date on TombMates and BroomMates news, check out the below links:

Lynne Marie

Twitter/X: @Literally_Lynne

Instagram: @literally.lynne.marie

Facebook: Lynne Marie 

Website: literallylynnemarie.com 

Amazon (for book reviews and purchases): Amazon.com: Lynne Marie: books, biography, latest update

Brenda Sturgis

Website: brendareevessturgis.com 

Nico Ecenarro

Instagram: @nicoecenarro

Website: nicoecenarro.com 

The Little Press

Twitter/X: @little_press

Instagram: @littlepresspublishing

Website: littlepresspublishing.com/bookstore 

---