In 2020 they had a serious non payment issues with a number of authors. As authors and agents came forward with these stories, information about other questionable practices came to light. You can read all about these issues here. In 2021 Publishers Weekly published a follow up article, where some of the issues are addressed and resolved. We only continue to list them because they do seem to be putting the work in, but I would still approach them with caution.

Albert Whitman & Company has been around since 1919. I grew up reading a series the best-known series that they have published The Boxcar Children. Over the past few years they have started to focus on publishing a larger number of books each year.

They publish middle grade fiction, picture books, and young adult novels. They consider proposals and unsolicited manuscripts in all of these categories. They publish fiction and non-fiction picture books.

Albert Whitman & Company handles their own distribution and sales to the trade, school, and library markets. They are now focusing more on the trade aspect. They have a new Young Adult Book imprint that has done well so far.

All submissions should be made via email. Although under certain circumstances they will review materials sent through the postal mail. These materials include self-published books and unusual formats that cannot be sent electronically. But you must query them through email first.

If you have not heard from them in six months assume that your work is rejected. If they are interested in seeing more of your manuscript they will respond within six months.

Follow their submission guidelines carefully. They have specific guidelines for each of the categories they publish. To read them in full visit their web page here.

If you want to learn even more about them, there is an interesting article up at the American Booksellers Association Website. Some of the information in this review was learned from that article

They are interested in work that explores mental health in all of its dimensions—physical, emotional, and spiritual—from both personal and societal vantage points.

The Perch features work by new and established writers from the Yale community and around the world. To get a sense of what they publish, you can read past issues online.

Since 2013, The Perch has been published annually online, with a small print run.  Right now through May 15, 2017, they are seeking submissions for their fourth edition. For this issue, they are especially interested in international voices.

Poets may submit up to three poems, 80 lines or fewer each. Fiction and nonfiction authors may submit one essay, work of narrative nonfiction, piece of flash fiction, or short story, 5,000 words or fewer. All submissions should be blind; authors should include identifying information only in their cover letter. Additionally, authors should follow HIPAA privacy guidelines when identifying others by name in their work.

The Perch accepts submissions online, but not via post or email. They accept simultaneous submissions, but ask that authors immediately withdraw work published elsewhere. They do not accept previously published work.

If you would like to learn more or submit to The Perch, please visit their website at https://theperch.submittable.com/submit.

For most of my married life, my primary job was to be an at-home mother. I played with my kids and managed our household, working on my writing at night and in the quiet crevices of my days. My first novel, Grey Stone, was written like this. And then, last year, the youngest of my four children went off to school

For the first time in thirteen years I had a solid six-hour stretch in which to write. And it almost killed me. I hadn’t realized how active caring for my children and doing simple housekeeping work (aka picking up the same mess seventy times) had kept me. As a full-time writer, I still exercised in the morning, but I found that my legs got jittery and achy from sitting for long stretches. My eyes would even hurt and throb from staring at the screen when I had a big project. I felt sluggish, yet tight most of the time. Something needed to change.

Below are a few of the things I began to do to feel like my body and mind could work better together instead of getting in each other’s way (and in the way of productive writing).

1. Move your body first thing in the morning. Even if you’re not a morning exerciser. Even if it’s just five minutes of yoga, a walk to the bus stop with your kids, a quick ten-minute bike ride, or a minute of jumping jacks. Moving in the morning gets the heart pumping and the blood moving to the brain (which can be pretty useful to your writing). It also gives your metabolism a boost that is helpful throughout the day.
2. Try to exercise for real for thirty to sixty minutes a day. Find something active you like to do and do it. It doesn’t matter when. Just do it. You’ll feel better. Mind and body will both thank you.
3. Take a walk when you feel jittery or stumped (you can even do this in rain or snow if you plan for the weather). Every artist benefits from some fresh air and a little time to let the mind wander or feed his muse. Also, during a simple walk you don’t have to get sweaty or change into special exercise clothes.
4. Stretch every couple of hours. You probably want to choose a few stretches that you can do to counter some of the effects of sitting at a desk. Then do them every time you take a bathroom break (or get stumped, or feel those legs jittering). Pinterest and YouTube are full of suggestions and 5-10 minute workouts. You don’t even have to think. Just open YouTube, type in “5-minute stretches for legs (or shoulders or desk dwellers),” then do the workout. Done.
5. Do a few stretches right before bed. We’re talking five minutes. But it will feel good and help you sleep.

Tips for Multi-Tasking:

1. Use the exercise bike, treadmill, or Stairmaster while reading. Even if it’s not intense exercise, it keeps you moving.
2. Sit on the floor and stretch your legs out while you edit (or if you draft by hand). This isn’t intense yoga-type stretching. It’s just a different position to work and a release for all those sitting-at-your-desk muscles and tension.
3. Bike to the library or your favorite nook to write.
4. Keep a small weight by your desk that you lift overhead or use to do a few simple exercises as you read at your desk; or use it to stretch your shoulders every so often.
5. Use a yoga ball instead of a chair at the desk. It’s a small change, but it makes a difference. The yoga ball is supposed to be good for your core. Even more than that, I notice that my legs ache less when using a yoga ball than when I sit on a standard chair.

Since I started letting my body move in a way that benefits my mind, I’ve found that I feel better, my writing life has improved, and I’ve been able to work more efficiently.