Peter Taylor

Kids' & craft books' author—"Fun fiction, fascinating facts, & helpful how-to". Ecologist, calligrapher, past SCBWI Coordinator. My agent's retired #amquerying

[Peter Taylor @PeterTayl]

THE GIANT BOOK OF SMALL THINGS: a self-illustrated #MG #YA compendium of tiny objects kids' parents, grandparents or ancestors may have owned. It includes world record holders for the smallest of their kind. How many people lost an Indian ¼tara coin, 4mm diameter? #AmQuerying

[The Last Homely House @AHomelyHouse]

This is a WW1 soldier's diary he wrote on cigarette rolling paper. The value of hand-writing your stories and experiences cannot be overstated. These things endure and are passed on; they don't disappear forever when a server crashes. This is why I so much want young people to be writing and crafting stories and journals; these things become invaluable heirlooms over time that our descendants will bless us for taking the time to make. These are acts of love for ourselves and for those we will never even meet.

[Peter Taylor @PeterTayl]

#MG #NF THE GIANT BOOK OF SMALL THINGS...kids' parents, grandparents and ancestors may have owned or used.

**Proposal and sample section's text completed.**

#W Photographing objects

Victorian scraps to cut and paste in a scrapbook...hard for a child/anyone! #QuestPit

[Peter Taylor @PeterTayl]

#MG #NF THE GIANT BOOK OF SMALL THINGS...kids' parents, grandparents and ancestors may have owned or used.

**Proposal and sample section's text complete.**

#W Photographing objects, some against my handmade paper.
Right: The world's smallest banknotes.

#QuestPit

[Peter Taylor @PeterTayl]

An agent asks for a selection of both stories & jpegs:
How many do I send?
What res?
What size of all files?
Is 5, 150 dpi, 20x30cm with 2 images on each & a description OK?
Thanks!
I do borders, calligraphy, #nonfiction—no PBs #LiteraryAgent #amquerying #SCBWI #KidLitArt

[Peter Taylor @PeterTayl]

@FawaShah That's so clever. Love it!

[Peter Taylor @PeterTayl]

@FawaShah Brisbane - Sydney for cheaper flight - Heathrow. Change planes - Paris...fell asleep in the lounge and missed my connection to Bologna. Easily swap to the next flight...luggage arrived the next day. Bologna has two Novotels. Make sure you tell the taxi driver which one you want!!

[Peter Taylor @PeterTayl]

@FawaShah I went to Bologna CBF and SCBWI Symposium on the way to my Aunt's 90th birthday in England. LBF on the way home.
If money was no object, and I wasn't nearing 80, I would definitely go again, especially as a non-fiction writer.
Carrying stuff home was a problem 😀.

[Peter Taylor @PeterTayl]

@vickyweberbooks I asked an editor for social media friendship. They accepted & offered 1/3 of a MG book—'choose from our list of topics'. Then they wanted a calligraphy book—my ideas and expertise. I was glad I had an agent (now retired #amquerying)—they've created 15 spin-off books from it.

[Peter Taylor @PeterTayl]

I use traditional media, hoping to inspire children (and adults) to read, write, experiment, and be creative.

I'd love to work on a devotional. or book of verse, or....

https://t.co/CZ5TtNVL3g

Also #amquerying. My last agent for 10 years has retired. #KidLitArtPostcard

[Peter Taylor @PeterTayl]

@Coffee_Is_love @vickyweberbooks My agent for 10 yrs retired 5 yrs ago. The editor of a major publisher requested submission of a story after a paid appraisal of chapters at a SCBWI conference—I'm tempted to send it, but I know agents like to be in a deal from the start, & the benefit. Sigh... No, not easy!!

[Peter Taylor @PeterTayl]

@vickyweberbooks Love the social away from home at conferences, & getting known.

I’ve learned the most from paid appraisals from publishers’ editors at them, & chats. One resulted in a contract.
It possibly helped that I could say that a famed illustrator, also there, was willing & AVAILABLE.

[Peter Taylor @PeterTayl]

@LitAgentKatieM WHEN I VISIT GRANDMA & GRANDAD #PB. Normal swing, dance, read, hide +, but wearying grandparents are 'different': Hell’s Angels, rock musicians, aliens... Universality of shared love.
Lachlan Creagh, illustrator of 10 Robert Irwin books, & more, will happily illustrate mine, too.

[Peter Taylor @PeterTayl]

Fantastic opportunity this weekend for creators seeking literary agent representation...

Thanks, Katie!!

[Katie Monson- closed to queries @LitAgentKatieM]

How about we do a pop- up pitch party!!

I will post my wishlist tomorrow morning!

I’ll leave the post up for the weekend and any that I like you will DM me for a QM link to submit!

Like, comment and share if you are excited!!
#queryingauthors #writingcommunity

[Peter Taylor @PeterTayl]

@JCSangOfficial My most-used resource: 'Master Lists for Writers' Gold Edn. by Bryn Donovan. And the earlier edn. that included 'adult-only'. Must be hard copy for convenience. (I also have the ebook.)

[Peter Taylor @PeterTayl]

Can I call myself an author/illustrator when I only illustrate my non-fiction and how-to books for kids, not #PB stories—I do write #MG & PBs. Is it pointless querying #LitAgents that want author/illustrators? What should I call myself instead?

#Illustration #kidlitartpostcard

[Peter Taylor @PeterTayl]

@betareader100 Thanks for liking my cut and torn paper illustrations. They are potentially for a picture book, but I'd be happy for a publisher to choose someone else and a different style.

[Peter Taylor @PeterTayl]

MRS. MOODY THE GOOSE's precious eggs are broken. Who did it? She’s so cross & cranky, the foxes are frightened & can only say ‘Yelp, yelp!’. She’s so angry & agitated, the pigs are petrified & can only say 'Oink, oink!'... But Mr. Moody knows. Lift the flap!
#QuestPit $PB

[Peter Taylor @PeterTayl]

@vickyweberbooks Acquiring Big 5 editor at a dinner: "What are you working on?"
"I'm experimenting, pouring paint to see what happens—just for me and just for fun."
"Yesssssss!!!"
"And you, any special projects?"
"Getting back to playing viola."

...What shall I write on the black one?

[Peter Taylor @PeterTayl]

This New Year card is in my grandmother's scrapbook album - probably printed in about 1900. The Victorians had weird taste! Hopefully it will be included in the 'Book of Small Things' I'm compiling.

I hope 2026 will be more normal for you, with lots to enjoy.
#NewYear