Guest Post: PB Rising Stars Mentors Announcement!

A guest post by Kailei Pew and Ebony Lynn Mudd

Here, we go…PB RISING STARS YEAR 3!

⭐⭐⭐

Thanks so much for hosting us again, Debbie! We l o v e d  announcing the PB Rising Stars Mentors on your blog last year and can’t believe it’s time to do it again! We’re back for year three of the PB Rising Stars program with a record number of mentors. 

But before we get to the big announcement, we want to let everyone know a little more about the growth our program has experienced this year. And with such new growth, we felt a need for a new look. Introducing the new PB Rising Stars logo!

This logo is really close to our hearts. Ebony is so skilled when it comes to design and as soon as she sent me this new logo, I knew she had nailed it once again. The PB Rising Stars program pairs experienced picture book creators that are knowledgeable about querying, revision strategies, agent calls, author-agent relationships, being on submission, book deals, and contract language, with the next generation of children’s book authors and illustrators for an immersive, custom-made mentorship experience that is more than just a critique. 

But even MORE than that, we exist to create a diverse space that reflects what publishing SHOULD look like – a diverse group of storytellers with diverse lived experiences. Our new logo embodies all of those things plus the joy of picture book creation!

Just like the logo, our program is truly one of a kind.

Our three-month picture book mentorship program pairs unagented AND agented authors, illustrators, and author-illustrators (who do NOT have an agent-represented traditional picture book deal) with experienced mentors for one-on-one development. 

Mentees will get to…..

Work one-on-one with a published, or soon-to-be-published, picture book creator!

Attend workshops from industry professionals!

….and build community! 

And because we purposefully do not include a showcase at the end of the mentorship, each pairing is able to focus on GROWTH over performance. And bonus?? We are a literal FAMILY. We host meetups, both virtual and in person, provide webinars, and are in constant contact through email and Discord groups. Plus, once you are a PB Rising Stars Mentee, ALWAYS a PB Rising Stars Mentee – you can’t get rid of us easily! We continue to cheer for you and uplift you in every way along this path even after the program technically “ends.”

💫SO WHAT DO YOU THINK, 

ARE YOU INTERESTED IN BECOMING A 2024 MENTEE?💫

🚨Mentee applications will be open March 18, 2024 – April 4, 2024. Applications close on April 4th at 11:59pm EASTERN TIME. Plan ahead and check those time zones!!🕙

Once you get your applications in, you will get a chance to flex your patience muscles! 

🚨The official Mentee, Runner-Up, and Honorable Mention announcements will take place May 23, 2024! Our announcement format will look different this year and won’t take place on X, formerly known as Twitter, so make sure you’re subscribed to our email list at pbrisingstars.com/subscribe so that you don’t miss out!

And now… for the reason you all came to this blog post! 

Announcing the 2024 PB Rising Stars Mentors!!!

We were absolutely blown away by the number of mentor applications this year and sadly, had to say “not this year” to over half of the applicants. But we did want to take a moment to thank every single person who applied. The generosity of the kidlit community is truly unmatched. We are so lucky to share this space with each of you.

So… How many mentors did we end up with???

Well… 

In 2022 we had 12… in 2023 we had 25… and this year… 

32 MENTORS! 🎉

That means we will have THIRTY TWO spots for future MENTEES! And if that doesn’t make us happy, then I don’t know what would!!! So, RUN, DON’T WALK, and watch the video below to see WHO THE 2024 PB RISING STARS MENTORS ARE!

🔥🔥🔥🔥 Is your jaw on the floor?! I MEAN…CAN YOU EVEN BELIEVE THAT GROUP??!!! 

So, how do you decide which mentors to apply to? 

• Look through each mentor profile thoroughly!
• Take note of their strengths!
• Read about what they are looking for and what they are not looking for!
• Think about what YOU need and hope to get from a mentorship.
• AND….if you’re still unsure which mentors will be a good fit (or if you just want to hang out and get to know us better), register to attend the MEET THE MENTORS event March 7th, 8:00-9:30 Eastern Time. This will be your chance to ask specific mentors questions and to know them even better! Click here to register!!! Spots are very limited.

If this sounds like the program for you, make sure to check out all of the mentee information on our website HERE to make sure you are eligible and get all of the details to apply. Make sure to take note of important dates and if you still have questions, you can check out the FAQ page HERE. And of course, if you still have questions after that, we are super accessible, and you can reach out to us anytime at pbrisingstars@gmail.com.

Now… let’s give it up for these 32 incredible mentors. What a gift it is to have these creators giving up their time and of themselves to help an up-and-coming creator along this path to publication. We can’t wait to see what year three brings us! For a full list of the 2024 Mentors, their wish lists, and more, make sure to visit our website at https://www.pbrisingstars.com/mentors. 

If you are ready to believe in yourself and apply this year, post the “I’M APPLYING” badge below all over social media with the #PBRisingStars hashtag so we can cheer you on!!!

www.pbrisingstars.com

Debbie, THANK YOU for all of your support, for using your amazing platform to help us spread the word, and for being such a force in the KidLit community!!

A guest post by Ebony Lynn Mudd and Kailei Pew.