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1/31/2023 0 Comments

Two New Books Coming in 2023!

I'm so pleased to announce that two new stories are joining the Phaea Crede Book family in 2023! 

La Gata Jet (No Es Una Gata) - March 2023, Barefoot Books
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¡Jet ya está disponible en español! That is just a google translation, but the Spanish      language version of Jet the Cat was lovingly translated with a few new surprises for this new group of readers. Preorder a signed copy of La Gata Jet (No Es Una Gata) from Word on The Street.


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Stitch Crashes Disney - May 2023, Disney Books

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​Catch Stitch before he crashes your favorite Disney movies inside this interactive picture book!
The Galactic Federation needs your help! Experiment 626, also known as Stitch, is causing all sorts of trouble, and it is your job to catch him. See Stitch cause a splash in the world of The Little Mermaid, get into some pixie dust with the cast of Peter Pan, visit Tiana’s Palace from The Princess and the Frog, and more! Will you be able to stop Stitch before he messes up everything? Preorder a signed copy of Stitch Crashes Disney from Word on the Street.

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11/17/2022 0 Comments

Discover your inner food-based super hero!

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8/24/2022 0 Comments

Announcing a Pre-Order Pizza Party Contest

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Win a pizza delivery for pre-ordering Super Pizza & Kid Kale!

To celebrate my upcoming comic-style picture book Super Pizza & Kid Kale (Viking Books, Sept 27), I am following in the footsteps of Pizza Hut and rewarding reading with pizza. 

Just by pre-ordering a copy of Super Pizza & Kid Kale, one lucky winner will get a pizza delivery compliments of me.* 

How it Works:

🍕 One Entry: Pre-order Super Pizza & Kid Kale anywhere (like Bookshop.org, Target, Penguin Canada, or your local indie bookstore!)

🍕🍕Two Entries: Pre-order a signed copy from my preferred indie bookstore Word on the Street. Add an order note for personalization!

🍕🍕🍕 Plus, Three Bonus Entries!!! Donate to Pizza For Ukraine


To enter you MUST either post your receipts in the comments, DM me on twitter, or email me) 

*Not-So-Small-Print
  • $40 USD limit
  • USA and Canada residents only
  • If you don’t like pizza, we will find an alternative food
  • Contest ends Sept 26, 2022
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3/15/2022 0 Comments

Jet the Cat (Is a Coloring Sheet!)

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jet_the_cat__is_a_coloring_sheet_.pdf
File Size: 262 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

I'm so excited to share this gorgeous coloring page from one of my favorite Jet spreads. I hope you and the kids in your life enjoy adding some colors to Jet and her friends! Use the Download File link to get your copy and start coloring!
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1/22/2022 2 Comments

Don't Be Like Me! Some Mistakes I Made on My Publishing Journey.

                                      
                           
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My second picture book Super Pizza & Kid Kale comes out this year! Reflecting on the upcoming release of this goofy story about friendship and food puns allowed me to see how far I’ve come in my writing journey. And by that, I mean how many mistakes I made in the beginning! While I think mistakes are a natural part of creative lives, I do want to save pre-published authors some time with a little advice. The advice is DON’T BE LIKE ME!
 
Here are a few ways you can avoid some heartbreak on your own publishing adventures:   
 
DON’T Write Just One Story
 
Like many pre-published authors, I thought had an idea for a unique picture book. My goal was simply to get that one book published and then be a literary star. But I learned quickly just one book wouldn’t cut it. First of all, the book just wasn’t that good. My page count was wrong, my rhyming was forced, and the whole manuscript was flat. But how could it be good? I hadn’t learned how to write a good picture book yet! The only way to get good at writing picture books is to write a lot of picture books and be prepared to throw away most of them. Second, most literary agents want clients with multiple polished stories so they can represent you – not just your book.  
 
DON’T Rely on Your Childhood Favorites
 
Corduroy by Don Freeman. The Funny Little Woman by Arlene Mosel. Little Fur Family by Margaret Wise Brown. These were some of my favorite picture books and my only reference for what makes a good story. The problem? They all came out 50+ years ago! Picture books have changed—and will continue to change! Knowing what kind of books are being published right now is a critical step to writing a marketable book. Challenge yourself to read as many books from the past five years as possible—50 a month if you can. Study the language, the pace, the themes, the humor, the heart. Take what you like and apply it to your writing.
 
DON’T Try to Skip to the Head of the Line
 
I am going to be vulnerable, yet brave for a moment. After I had drafted my first book, I decided it was so good that I needed an agent ASAP. I looked up other authors who had written similar books and wrote them for advice about how to do just that. Every single author wrote me back (!!!) and, weirdly, did NOT offer to introduce me to their agents (!!!) But they all gave me the gift of incredible advice which boiled down to: DO THE WORK! Read more books, write more stories, get more feedback, get involved with organizations like the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), and work on your craft.
 
DON’T Forget Kid Lit Is a Business
 
Publishing seems glamorous, mysterious, and maybe a little magical. We all want to be plucked from obscurity and finally recognized as the geniuses we are. But at the end of the day, publishing is a business. Skills like writing a professional query letter, shrugging your shoulders at rejection, and taking tough feedback with grace will get you much further in this industry than being a difficult “genius.” Yes, you still need a well written, polished story – but this is a business of persistence, not luck. Act like a pro and you will eventually be a pro.
 
Some Other Don’ts
 
The four previous examples were all personal game changers, but here are a few bonus lessons that helped me on my way:

  • Don’t go it alone. Writers need feedback from other writers to make their stories better. Join or form a critique group with other kid lit folks and watch you skills level up every time you meet.

  • Don’t force yourself to rhyme. If you don’t have a passion for rhyme, skip it this time. Editors won’t mind. They might call you kind! (I’m so sorry.)

  • Don’t try to find an illustrator. Your publisher will match your words with the best artist. (Note: this only applies to authors, not author/illustrators!)

  • Don’t give up. If you keep challenging yourself to level up your craft, get involved with the kid lit world, and find fun in your process, you will be an author someday. 
 
And One Do:
 
  • Do Reach Out! If you want advice about anything kid lit, please shoot me an email. I’d love to talk to you. phaeacrede@gmail.com
 
Super Pizza & Kid Kale (Viking Books, Sept 2022) is available for pre-order now.
Jet the Cat (Is Not a Cat) (Barefoot Books, June 2021) is available everywhere.
2 Comments

10/15/2021 0 Comments

Introducing Super Pizza and Kid Kale!

Aneeka Kalia at Viking has acquired world rights to Super Pizza and Kid Kale by Phaea Crede (l.), illustrated by Zach Smith. In this comic-style picture book, best friends Super Pizza and Kid Kale are delicious do-gooders dedicated to helping humans, but when Super Pizza's popularity goes to their crust, it leaves their veggie pal feeling rotten. Publication is scheduled for fall 2022; Moe Ferrara at BookEnds Literary represented the author, and Steven Malk at Writers House represented the illustrator.Picture
My newest book was just announced! The story of Super Pizza and Kid Kale was one I thought might be too weird to ever sell, and I'm incredibly grateful that Viking Books and my incredible editor Aneeka like things weird! The art by Zach Smith is perfectly bizarre, and we can't wait to share more about SP and KK as soon as possible. Stay tuned for more. 
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5/31/2021 0 Comments

Jet the Cat (Is Not a Cat) is available now

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After a long delay, Jet the Cat (Is Not a Cat) is now available at stores near you! 
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1/14/2021 0 Comments

Get a Sneak Peek into Jet's World

Jet the cat smiles at a cat, goat, mouse and squirrel. Caption reads: Our picture book Jet the Cat (Is Not a Cat) comes out in May, 2021. Here's a sneak peek into how this very special book was created!
Barefoot Books recently created an awesome blog post all about Jet the cat! Check it out to learn about why I was inspired to write the story and watch illustrator Terry Runyan as she creates Jet's unique design.
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12/17/2020 0 Comments

JET THE CAT Cover Reveal!

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MEOW! It’s cover reveal day! So grateful for the incredible Tara Lazar for helping me introduce my debut JET THE CAT (IS NOT A CAT) to the world! Cover & illustrations by Terry Runyan. What do you think???? Check out the whole interview here!

Plus, JET is now available for preorder! 

Bookshop.org
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Or just mark it “Want to Read” on Goodreads!


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9/11/2020 0 Comments

Meet Me on Twitter!

Meet Phaea Crede (@PhaeaCrede)!

Phaea Crede loves writing silly picture books for silly kids. JET THE CAT (IS NOT A CAT) (@BarefootBooks) is about a cat ridiculed for her love of swimming (b/c *real* cats hate water). So Jet sets out to discover what she is & where she belongs. pic.twitter.com/ipX7FafBfd

— 21 for the Books (@21fortheBooks) September 11, 2020
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