036 - Miranda Paul has a Secret...

### A trade secret, that is... Earlier this year, agent and author Miranda Paul gave a webinar called Trade Secrets: Ways to Make Your Picture Book Idea More Commercial. In this podcast episode, we dive into a few topics not covered in the webinar. (You can now get this outstanding webinar for 25% off! Click here.) **Here's what you'll discover in this episode:**  - What information you should pay attention to in those Publishers Weekly announcements - What to consider when you notice a trend - Why you should follow agents on social media - A current gap in the market - Why a universal theme is so important - How your book can still be commercial—even if it's not high concept - Topics that kids need in picture books - What makes a book commercial - What is Miranda looking for in submissions (when she opens for submissions again)   **Books mentioned in this episode:**  - Blobfish Throws a Party by Miranda Paul and Maggie Caton - I Am Not Happy by Caroline L. Perry and Sydney Hanson - So You Want to Be a Fossil by Anna Monders and Ryan Middaugh (coming in 2027) - Make Your Mark: The Empowering True Story of the First Known Black Female Tattoo Artist by Jacci Gresham, Sherry Fellores, and David Wilkerson - Not Like Every Other Day by Stephanie V.W. Lucianovic and Gabrielle Grimard - Zombie and Brain are Friends by Stephanie V.W. Lucianovic and Laan Cham - One Plastic Bag: Isatou Ceesay and the Recycling Women of the Gambia by Miranda Paul and Elizabeth Zunon - Kaleidoscope of Hope: How Butterfly Life Cycles Reflect Our World by Miranda Paul and Hari and Deepti   **Links mentioned in this episode:** - Miranda Paul's Trade Secrets: Ways to Make Your Picture Book Idea More Commercial for 25% off!   If you enjoy the podcast, please like, subscribe, and review so other kidlit writers can find us! Have questions for us or ideas for future episodes? Leave us a quick voicemail here. Thank you for listening!