Author: Lee Brockman

As I reflect and enjoy what the last few weeks have amounted to…I need to thank my mentor and friend, Carmen Oliver. From the moment we met, you embraced me. You have been by my side over the years cheering me on, encouraging me, and helping me to hone my craft. Being your teacher assistant through the Writing Barn was an experience I will cherish forever. Carmen, you are a “friendtor” to me–a mentor who offers invaluable advice, wisdom, and guidance. But you are also my friend, who I cherish and love. Thank you.

As I celebrate this accomplishment, I need to acknowledge an incredible woman, writer, and mentor who has played a monumental role in helping me land my YES! Bethany Hegedus, you are an inspiration to SO many and for many years, you have believed in me, encouraged me, and shared my work with others. From the first PB class I took, to our private mentorship, offering me a TA role with the incredible Carmen Oliver, and now with the Verge…I thank you from the bottom of my heart for being YOU!

With a new year upon us, I wanted to take the time to write about my progress with the Verge program (Courage to Create community: The Writing Barn).

I am halfway through the program and going strong! I have shared pitches, read at Spotlight Salons, and participated in many events, such as Rejectable Roundtables and webinars from visiting faculty.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my time connecting with my advisory team. Christie Megill (agent advisor) has been an incredible support for me! Carter Hasegawa (editor advisor) and my author advisor, Carter Higgins have given me many insightful tips and ideas for moving forward with my body of work. I look forward to connecting with each of them again in the next coming months!

I have received requests to see more of my work from agents and editors and look forward to the upcoming Pitch n Play event which I will be participating in at the end of February!

From the feedback and positive thoughts, I do feel 2025 will be my year to land my dream agent! Thank you to my mentors, Bethany Hegedus and Carmen Oliver who have believed in me and my work throughout my journey.

What are your writing goals for the new year?

Last month, I took the leap! I signed up for the Verge with the Writing Barn in hopes of landing my YES! With a referral from Bethany Hegedus and Carmen Oliver on my side, I took a leap of faith! With the opportunity to work with an agent, editor, and author advisory team, plus multiple industry events, I knew this was what I needed to do to push my writing journey to the next level!

The next 12 months will test me…push me outside my comfort zone…challenge me to do the best I possibly can! I know my YES is coming…at arms length! I cannot wait to meet my agent….the one that will advocate for me and my work…it’s been a work in progress to get where I am today and I cannot wait to see what is in store for me.

To the Verge and beyond!

Today is the start of my forever dream come true! 😊 🎉 🎊

I took the leap after many, many years of chasing my dream of becoming a children’s book writer. I have met many incredible artists, attended workshops throughout North America, and taken many courses and workshops to develop my craft.

I am looking forward to what the next 12 months will bring. Thank you to everyone who has supported me along the way (even just a quick check in: “How is your writing going?”) Carmen Oliver my mentor extraordinaire!

Onwards…thank you Bethany Hegedus and the Writing Barn! I’m on the Verge of my YES!

Stay tuned…. And

As I prepare to send a submission to an agent that I really felt a strong connection with, I wonder if this might be my Christmas miracle? I have been honing my craft for many years and have stayed active in the industry–from being an active SCBWI member, 12×12 Gold Challenge member, and a part of the Courage to Create community. For the last three years, I have also been a TA for the Writing Barn, where I met my wonderful mentor, Carmen Oliver. Her and Bethany Hegedus have been the most wonderful mentors and friends to me. They have been my cheerleaders, never doubting me as a writer. They have both made agent introductions on my behalf, which I will forever be thankful for.

With all this being said, as we come close to the end of another year, I can’t help but feel, deep down in the depths of my being, that all of my hard-work, dedication, and unfaltering commitment, will soon pay off. As Carmen always says, “I can feel it in my bones!”

In 2023, I had some champagne rejections. I had one agent say to me (because the manuscript I pitched to her wasn’t a great fit but she LOVED my writing), “If you don’t have an agent by the New Year, please connect with me again.” As Bethany says, “A step in the direction of your YES!”

When I had my most recent one-on-one critique with an agent, I finished the time together really feeling a genuine connection. My fingers and toes are crossed as I put my work out there! Will it be a Christmas miracle? Here is hoping! Warmly, Lee

I am so excited to be participating in PBParty this year!

The hardest task…deciding what manuscript to share!

I have spent many years honing my craft…to attending workshops, taking courses, participating in private mentorship’s, and finally acting as a teacher assistance to the talented Carmen Oliver!

I have many writers rooting for me!

For my dreams to come true, I want nothing more than to have my work catch the attention of a special agent or editor.

My story, Together We Bloom, needs attention!

I hope it catches your eye! Good luck all PBparty participants!

Warmly;

Lee

This is my 4th session as TA to Carmen Oliver, through the Writing Barn.

I am blessed and thankful to be working with Carmen. She is a talented and honest mentor and writer, who believes in me and advocates for my work.

To take a look at Carmen’s work, please check out her website: carmenoliver.com

Happy Writing,

Lee

I am thrilled to be joining Carmen Oliver again as her TA for this incredible class on picture book craft. Previous attendees have gone on to sign with top agents with numerous book sales to their names! Class begins this Wednesday August 17th 8-10 EST and runs for 6 weeks!

For more information, visit the Writing Barn website at: the writing barn.com

Hope to see you!

Wow! Where has the time gone and what a few months it’s been! I can happily say, that even though we have been in and out of lockdown, I have managed to maintain faith, hope, and happiness. Part of this is thanks to the incredible writing community’s I am a part of. For the last 6 months, I have been a member of the Courage to Create community through the Writing Barn. The weekly check-ins help with keeping me on track and accountable. Once again, for my 4th year, I am a 12×12 Gold Member. I thoroughly enjoy the Facebook group, Forum, and opportunity to submit to an agent each month from Feb-Nov. I just submitted my first manuscript for 2021 to an incredibly talented agent and my hopes are high that she will like my submission. It’s always hard waiting and rejections never get easy. But what I have to keep reminding myself is that the industry is very subjective and it is one person’s opinion. My agent is out there and I have a good feeling that this year will be my year. I continue to work with Bethany Hegedus, which has been the experience of a lifetime. Bethany is so kind and supportive and just what I need to boost my moral. She is making agent introductions for me, which I know she wouldn’t do if she didn’t believe in me and my work.
Anyway, I hope your journey continues, too. Stay well and safe and I’ll be in touch soon. Thanks for stopping by.