“The PBChat mentorship was a game-changer for me as a writer, which started with the application itself. Justin’s carefully thought out questions really made me reflect on what I wanted to accomplish as a writer and helped me define what I want to reflect in my stories. Working with my mentor, Hannah Holt, gave me confidence in myself as a writer. She encouraged me to try out new things and elevate my manuscript so that it was submission ready. A month after the mentorship ended, I signed with my agent Nicole Geiger and we went on to sell my pb bio Paka Paka con la Papa; Alberto Salas Plays Potato Hide-and-Seek with art by Juana Martinez-Neal.”

 

Sara Fajardo, 2019 PBChat Mentee to Hannah Holt

“I was selected as a mentee of Cori Doerrfeld with the manuscript that’s now known as LOU. Cori chose 3 mentees so I felt like I got an extra bonus of a critique group that’s still ongoing with Angela Krans and DK Ryland. I signed with my agent, Adria Goetz in November 2019, and in May 2020 announced a two-book deal with HarperCollins. The first book, LOU, comes out Summer 2022.”

 

Breanna Carzoo, 2019 PBChat Mentee to Cori Doerrfeld

“Once the showcase was live, I received six requests for the full manuscript. One of those requests was from agent Natalie Lakosil. We arranged a phone call a little while after the showcase. I had spoken with another agent, but after speaking with Natalie, I felt like we clicked and I knew that she would be invested in developing my career as an author and not just selling one book. I signed with her right before Christmas! A few weeks later, we sent THE NOTEBOOK KEEPER out on submission . . . . In a miracle, it went to auction, meaning several houses were ready to make an offer. We ultimately went with Ann Kelley at Schwartz and Wade, an imprint of Random House”

 

Stephen Briseño, 2019 PBChat Mentee to Patricia Valdez

“I applied to Lori Degman in both the 2019 and 2020 seasons of the PBChat mentorship program. In 2019, I was not selected but was provided with a critique from Shannon Stocker (a different manuscript). After having such a successful experience with Shannon, I had her review my manuscript which I then used to apply for the 2020 season. Applying again, this time ONLY to Lori, I was luckily selected!! Lori helped whip my manuscript into shape to get ready for the PBChat Showcase. And on the last day of the showcase, I got a request from Sarah Rockett of Sleeping Bear Press! And now my debut picture book THE THREE CANADIAN PIGS: A HOCKEY STORY will be published on August 15, 2022. Kind of an incredible journey that I owe completely to PBChat and my wonderful mentor, Lori Degman – thank you Justin! “

 

Jocelyn Watkinson, 2020 PBChat Mentee to Lori Degman

“I was selected into the PBChat Mentorship program by author and former Editorial Director of Little Brown BFYR, Christian Trimmer, who is now VP, MTV Books. It was a dream to work with Christian. He taught me so much about writing and the publishing industry. At the showcase I got multiple requests, from agents and editors. Ultimately I signed with an agent outside of this process, but my book MOLLY’S TUXEDO, was sold to one of the showcase requestors, Charlie Ilgunas with Little Bee Books. It will be illustrated by the incredible Gillian Reid and publication is set for Summer, 2023. I thank Justin for his tireless work on PBChat, and for all the careers he has helped launch. I’m now represented by Zoe Sandler of ICM Partners.”

 

Vicki Johnson, 2020 PBChat Mentee to Christian Trimmer

“My agenting story began with the PBChat Mentorship program. This opportunity lead me to my incredible agent Katherine Wessbecher, who I connected with during the Mentorship Showcase. I will be forever grateful to Justin and the PBChat community!”

 

Angela Pham Krans, 2019 PBChat Mentee to Cori Doerrfeld 

“”THE LOUD LIBRARIAN was chosen in 2020 for a #PBChat mentorship with Lindsay Leslie and was offered a book deal with Reka Simonsen at Atheneum, one of the editors who participated. I also signed with my agent, Alyssa Eisner Henkin, at this time.
To say I am profoundly grateful to you and Lindsay is a major understatement. You are dream-makers.

 

Jenna Beatrice, 2020 PBChat Mentee to Lindsay Leslie

“My 2019 mentorship with Jill Esbaum was instrumental to my writing growth. The work we did during the mentorship eventually led to multiple offers of representation, and later, offers of publication. Jill and I continue to stay in touch with life updates and happy or not-so-happy book news, and she has continued to support and guide me in each new phase of my journey. I have also joined her blog, Picture Book Builders, where I get to talk about the new picture books my kindergartners love.”

 

Sara Ackerman, 2019 PBChat Mentee to Jill Esbaum

“My mentor was Andrea Wang. We worked on several PBs, including I WANT TO BE BIG and WE STAND TALL. The former is how I landed publishing with Page Street Kids, and the latter was the story that helped me get my representation–Christa Heschke @ Mcintosh & Otis, who saw me through PB CHAT.”

 

Tiffany Golden, 2020 PBChat Mentee to Andrea Wang

“Through the magic of my 2019 #PBChat mentorship with Pam Calvert, plus the 2021 #PBParty Showcase (where I placed as a top 50 finalist out of over 1000 entries), I’m now represented by Alyssa Eisner Henkin. My debut picture book, TRICKY CHOPSTICKS, is slated for publication by Atheneum/Simon & Schuster in Spring 2024.”

 

Sylvia Chen, 2020 PBChat Mentee to Pam Calvert

“My PBChat mentorship with Cori Doerrfeld was the catalyst and confidence boost I needed to kick my author/illustrator journey into gear. It also led me to meeting my amazing critique group and friends Angela Pham Krans and Breanna Carzoo. Being an author is a long and hard journey – wins along the way and good people to share the journey with are so critical. I signed with my agent, Kaitlyn Sanchez in 2020 and recently signed a deal with Page Street Kids for my debut picture book: Giraffe is Too Tall for This Book (coming Fall 2023)!”

 

DK Ryland, 2019 PBChat Mentee to Cori Doerrfeld

“The PBChat mentorship was amazing. Vivian not only helped me polish up my work to make it submission-ready, but she also built up my confidence that prepared me for the next steps of my KidLit journey. I had quite a few requests from the showcase, but ultimately, I received an offer from another publisher. I am “over the moon” excited to see MOON TREE published this fall by Reycraft Books!”

Carolyn Bennett Fraiser, 2020 PBChat Mentee to Vivian Kirkfield

Young Vo, 2020 PBChat Mentee to Hatem Aly

“From your showcase, I had three agents request the full manuscript and I received personal positive feedback from an editor. That gave me confidence to query other agents, especially one I was particularly interested in. I submitted that story in December and signed with the “one” in January! {We have multiple stories on submission}.”

 

Pam Vaughan, 2019 PBChat Mentee to Tara Lazar

“Successfully signed with agent Clelia Gore of Martin Literary Management as a direct result of the #PBChat Showcase. My manuscript that was honed with mentor Julie Falatko just went out on submission to some dream editors last week, so all fingers are crossed from here on out.”

 

Dorson Plourde, 2019 PBChat Mentee to Julie Falatko

“The PBChat Mentorship Showcase was the cherry on top and led to me being represented by my agent, Andrea Walker!”

 

Ryan Roberts, 2019 PBChat Mentee to Lindsay Leslie

“During the December PBChat Showcase I had one agent and one publishing company show interest.  I also queried a few others as well.  By mid -January I had secured my literary agent, Erica Christensen!”

 

Heather Jenkins, 2019 PBChat Mentee to Patricia Valdez

“As a result of PBChat, Kelly Conroy has poems appearing in three anthologies and signed with her dream agent, Sarah Stephens at Red Fox Literary.”

 

Kelly Conroy, 2019 PBChat Mentee to Lori Degman

“”In the summer ​of 2019, Lori Degman chose me as one of her three #PBChat Mentees. Lori is an all-around amazing person (now good friend) and at the end of the 3-month-long mentorship, she very generously offered to ask a few of the editors with whom she’d worked if they’d be willing to look at a submission from me. One of those editors was Sarah Rockett at Sleeping Bear Press. In December, with Lori’s blessing and encouragement, I sent off my favorite manuscript at the time. Sarah passed on that one, but said: “It’s really well done and I love your writing and rhythm” and invited me to send others her way. I sent two more, which she ultimately passed on as well. But then, a few months later, I sent her a fourth manuscript — and it stuck! Brainstorm! my debut picture book, hits bookshelves this summer — on July 15, 2022! Since selling Brainstorm! I sold another rhyming picture book, “I Will Always Be…” to HarperCollins (through a conference submission) and then found and partnered with my amazing agent, Kaitlyn Sanchez, to sell THREE more rhyming picture books, which have yet to be announced. I am beyond grateful to Lori and Justin for the opportunity to participate in the inaugural year of the #PBChat mentorship program!”

 

Rebecca Gardyn Levington, 2019 PBChat Mentee to Lori Degman

“Lori helped me with an R&R I had received from an editor prior to the mentorship. Having her experienced eye was instrumental in helping me feel confident in my manuscript— which was ultimately purchased! Since the mentorship I have sold another book to the same publisher, Apples & Honey Press. LARRY’S LATKES and SHARK-BOT SHALOM will both be released in Fall 2021. Lori also helped me revise another manuscript which caught the eye of an agent in the #PBChat pitch showcase. I am now represented by that agent: Joyce Sweeney, from The Seymour Agency.”

 

Jenna Waldman, 2019 PBChat Mentee to Lori Degman

“I was thrilled to sign with the wonderful Allison Remcheck from Stimola Literary just a few days after the showcase and I’m looking forward to announcing some exciting news soon!”

 

Nadine Presley, 2021 PBChat Mentee to Joanna Ho

“In January 2020 I had offers of representation from two agents, and ultimately signed with Natalie Lakosil of Bradford Literary Agency!”

 

Helen Ishmurzin, 2019 PBChat Mentee to Vivian Kirkfield

“I entered the 2020 We Need Diverse Books (WNDB) Mentorship Program contest and was marked as a finalist, which provided an amazing opportunity to submit to an additional network of agents and publishers interested in seeing work from finalists. Even though I didn’t win a mentorship for this particular program, I am sure the 2019 PBChat mentorship helped for the work I submitted for the application to be designated as a finalist.”

 

Sylvia Chen, 2019 PBChat Mentee to Pam Calvert

“Earlier in the year I had received a pass from an agent because her PB text-only client list was too full. But when she saw my entry in the PBChat showcase, her interest was rekindled and she offered rep!”

 

Nicole Sharkey, 2019 PBChat Mentee to Julie Falatko

“I signed with agent Lynnette Novak of The Seymour Agency at the end of 2019. She added me to her client list shortly after reading the three stories I worked on with my mentor.”

 

Hannah Lapehn, 2019 PBChat Mentee to Jill Esbaum

“Received an R&R on February 26th and signed a contract with Joyce Sweeney with the Seymour Agency April 3rd”

 

Matt Tesoriero, 2019 PBChat Mentee to Jorge and Megan Lacera

“I am not agented (yet) but the mentorship helped me get an R and R, hooked me up with an incredible critique group, and I went on to write a new manuscript that landed me a finalist spot in PBParty… I feel like I’m getting close (fingers crossed)”

 

DK Ryland, 2019 PBChat Mentee to Cori Doerrfeld

“I got my agent through pbchat 2020… Savannah Brooks at Jennifer De Chiara. I have a deal announcement coming soon. Hopefully. We’ve been negotiating since October and we’re at the tail end of edits. It’s a collab project. There is no doubt, if I didn’t have an agent this deal would not be in the works.”

 

Stacy Wells, 2020 PBChat Mentee to Hallee Adelman

“My mentor Anitra Rowe Schulte encouraged me to apply for a Walter Grant from We Need Diverse Books, and I was selected! I’m using the grant to attend a lot of great writing workshops. My fellow PBChat mentees have also been an incredible resource – and a wonderful critique group, too. With their help, I’m polishing a set of manuscripts to send to an agent who expressed interest in my work during the PBChat Showcase.”

 

Adriana White, 2021 PBChat Mentee to Anitra Rowe Schulte

“From the beginning of the mentorship, Elisa knew I would succeed, and she told me so. Her guidance throughout the mentorship helped me polish not just one story, but write three new ones! These four stories ultimately lead me to my dream agent, Charlotte Wenger, who I signed with in November. I cannot thank Elisa enough for her support, and Justin for organizing this life-changing mentorship!”

 

Danielle Sharkan, 2021 PBChat Mentee to Elisa Boxer

“I received interest from three agents and one editor during the PBChat Mentorship Showcase.

I signed with my awesome agent, Elisa Houot, in January.”

 

Heidi Yates, 2021 PBChat Mentee to Josh Funk

“As a Spanish author/illustrator, the PBChat Mentorship was an invaluable opportunity to move towards my goals – learning, finding an agent, and fitting my work in the US publishing market. This mentorship completely changed my 2020 scenario and my career. Worked hard, learned, and ended up with a new dummy that sparked the interest of 10+ agents and editors on December’s Showcase.

As a direct result, I had two offers of representation and signed in January 2021 with agent Christa Heschke of McIntosh & Otis Literary Agent. I have a few projects on submission, and we’re excited about future projects.

I encourage every writer or illustrator to apply for this mentorship. Thanks, Justin for your generosity and effort on make these connections possible.”

 

Maribel Castells, 2020 PBChat Mentee to Daniel Wiseman

“The mentorship allowed me to hone and grow my skills as an author-illustrator, and now I’m represented by Alexandra Weiss at Azantian Literary Agency.”

 

Emily Rosenthal, 2021 PBChat Mentee to Daniel Wiseman

 “I was a 2020 PBChat mentee.  A critique partner shared the link a day or so before the submission deadline. I applied and am ever so grateful to be chosen as a mentee.

You have the opportunity to partner with an industry professional for feedback to strengthen your manuscript, participate in an agent/editor showcase, and take the journey with other amazing souls. Our 2020 group is connected to this day. We support and cheer each other. These are lasting relationships.

Justin Colon puts his heart and soul into this program. There is so much more, even after the mentorship and showcase ends. His dedication and compassion shine through in all he does.

PBChat literally helps launch careers. My debut PB, releasing March 2023, is a direct result of this wonderful program.”

 

Melissa Stiveson, 2020 PBChat Mentee to Annemarie Riley Guerton

“I’ve recently secured an agent, Natascha Morris at The Tobias Literary Agency. The first manuscript we will be subbing is the manuscript I worked on most intensively during my mentorship! Also, I secured my position as Acquisitions Editor at Cardinal Rule Press thanks to connections made through my mentorship.”

 

Adam Blackman, 2019 PBChat Mentee to Megan and Jorge Lacera

“The piece I worked on during the PBCHAT mentorship with Megan and Jorge Lacera was part of the submission package that helped me secure representation with the brilliant Jacqui Lipton at Ravenquill Literary. Megan and Jorge have be superb support to me throughout the mentorship and beyond. They really helped me craft a story I am proud of and is the first one I decided to sub. Patiently waiting for that next yes.”

 

Melissa Mwai 2020 PBChat Mentee to Megan and Jorge Lacera