THE ADVENTURES OF BUZZ AND BLACKBEARD

When Buzz, the curious bee, accidentally gets trapped on Blackbeard’s pirate ship, he expects nothing but trouble. But when he proves that he is a useful member of the crew, what he finds instead is the unlikeliest of friendships and the adventure he’s been looking for. 

Sales Hooks: SEL, Pirates, Beach, Treasure, Ocean, Series Potential, TV + Film Adaptation, Bees, Environment, Lore 
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Hole in the Market: Unlikely Friendship, Unique Voice / Perspective

​PB Bio: MEL FISHER AND THE TALE OF THE ATOCHA TREASURE

Dive into History! In 1622, Spain’s treasure ship, Nuestra Senora de Atocha, set sail with 40 tons of gold, jewels, silver, and emeralds—only to sink in a hurricane. 
300 years later, Mel Fisher's relentless pursuit led to a $400M discovery. 
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"Today's the day!" He said every day on his quest to find the treasure. And guess what?! The hunt for the lost Atocha treasure still continues today!

Divers off the coast of Florida are uncovering treasure today.
Who will find the remaining treasure - could it be you?

Sales Hooks: Treasure, Pirates, History, Current Events, Ocean, World Records, Modern Day Treasure Hunt, SEL, Maritime Law, Scuba Diving, Wreck Recovery, Underwater archaeology, TV and Film Adaptation, Series Potential, Toy market, swag market, the ideas are swirling! 

Hole in the Market: Unique Voice / Perspective, This story MUST be told to kids! 

MOON BEACH RISING - MIDDLE GRADE 

A remote barrier island, a hunt for a lost diary, and the arrival of the legendary Super Blood Blue Moon. When sisters discover their connection to Queen Gill of Fig Island, they rush to save their island home from the relentless force of erosion

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NORA AND THE MARSH GNOMES 

For fans of the brave character in The Knight Owl (Christy Ottaviano Books, 2022), and the powerful language that enhances our connection with nature in Outside In (Clarion Books, 2020), Nora and the Marsh Gnomes is a lyrical celebration of our environment, bravery, and friendship. Amidst a thunderous rumble, most of the marsh gnomes sheltered, but Nora, a particularly curious gnome, felt a spark of excitement and donned her miniature-sized gear in search of the sun.

Where the Crawdads Sing x Honey I shrunk the Kids

Sales Hooks: SEL, Friendship, Environment, Lyrical, Series Potential, Fantasy, STEM

Hole in the Market: Unique Setting, unique perspective 

BEACH SENSES

A nonfiction picture book that takes readers on a multi-sensory adventure along the shoreline where they witness the magic of dawn and dusk, feel the warmth of the sand between their toes, and hear the rhythmic crash of the waves. But amidst the sensory delight, they also observe the subtle yet profound changes occurring in the landscape.
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Sales Hooks: SEL, Climate, Environment, Ocean, STEAM 

Hole in the Market: Unique Voice / Perspective, #OWN story

Authors Note:I am almost fully blind in my left eye and while my visual perspective on life is different, I believe my senses are stronger and almost like a super power. I am a retired boat captain and scuba diving instructor who feels the most alive when in nature and near the ocean. My senses surge while in a coastal setting, and I’d like to share that experience for children and adults to enjoy.

​GUARDIANS OF THE REEF

A climate fiction picture book with a strong commercial and high-concept STEM hook that illuminates the power of even the youngest voices.

In their beloved underwater world, sisters Sadie and Josie are shocked to witness the tragic transformation of a once vibrant reef into a haunting graveyard of coral skeletons, a phenomenon called coral bleaching. Fueled by their profound love for marine life and our oceans, the sisters embark on a courageous mission to raise awareness within their community about the alarming consequences of warming oceans. As they strive to inspire change and adopt sustainable practices, the girls race against time to save the endangered Coral Gardens from the brink of demise.

Sales Hooks: Ocean Activist, STEAM, CliFi, Coral Reefs, Series Potential, Environment, Sisters, Coral Bleaching, Global Warming

Hole in the Market: Unique Voice / Perspective, #OWN story

LUNA THE SQUID WITCH 

Luna, a quirky squid with a peculiar secret, throws a party to embrace her true witchy nature. But when her sorcery secret suddenly slips from her grasp in a swirl of magical mayhem, Luna's friends celebrate her uniqueness and ask for more magic.

EQUATOR CHAOS

​​Everything went topsy-turvy when they crossed the equator. 
The cranky crew turned into giggling goofballs, 
the current flowed backward,
and I, Leprechaun, made my grand entrance… 
"Top o' the morning, me hearties!" I teased, expecting to dodge traps. 
But Captain corrected me, "It's Easter, lad." 
What?! 
Me heart sank like a cannonball.
I missed St. Patrick’s Day!?
Not on MY watch!
With a little green glitter, 
the ship's barrels…
POOF!
Hello, pots of gold!
Placing clues for me mates to hunt – for treasure, of course, not eggs…
 I lit the lanterns with glowing green lights.
But then…
we got caught in that strange, swirly current,
crossed the equator again,
     and… 
the Easter Bunny appeared.
"Leprechaun?!"
I hollered, "Ahoy, me matey!”
Grabbing the confused Bunny,
I led us in a jig. 
Swirling around, we recrossed the equator.
And then, we heard it – 
“Ho, ho, ho!”
“Not again!” 
...and the chaos continued.

THE SCUBA PLUNGE

My entry for #50preciouswords aims to capture the exhilarating experience of THE SCUBA PLUNGE, inviting everyone to share in its wonder.

Please enjoy this thrilling moment brought to you by me, a retired scuba diving instructor, who would like to bring the magic of the ocean directly to the laps of readers everywhere. 

First book in my EXPERIENCE SERIES: TINY MOMENTS IN A BIG WORLD. 

Sales Hooks: Environment, Lyrical, Series Potential, Ocean, Scuba 

Hole in the Market: Unique Setting, unique voice
Author is a retired PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer (MSDT) ​

NOVEMBER CHARLIE 

Unlock the secret code of the sea with NOVEMBER CHARLIE, a #NF introductory ABC book to the phonetic alphabet & explore exciting nautical nomenclature that unveils the beauty of boat life beneath the blue sky

Sales Hooks: Environment, NF, Series Potential, Ocean, Maritime, Phonetic Alphabet, ABC, Board book potential 

Hole in the Market: Unique perspective, unique voice
*Author is a retired 200 ton yachtmaster Sailing Captain 

12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS UNDER THE SEA

The 12 Days of Christmas- with an under-the-sea twist!

A clownfish receives marvelously mysterious gifts from the sea:
5 big black pearls,
4 manta rays,
3 conch shells...

transforming his anemone into a vibrant wonderland filled with friends and cheer ​

CHIP AND DRIP

When an unexpected rain shower threatens to ruin his day, Chip's lucky charms can't save him. But a chance encounter with Drip, a talking raindrop, takes him on a magical journey through the water cycle. Explore various STEM fun facts on evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and more as Chip and Drip explore the incredible journey of a raindrop.

PLUG INTO NATURE 

A gentle introduction to screen time awareness that results in the magic of connecting with nature. When Ava comes from New York to visit her cousin Lexi, who lives on a remote island, her tablet runs out of battery. Lexi, determined to show Ava the wonders of the island, leads her on an adventure filled with shell collecting, creative headband-making, and the discovery of the island's enchanting beauty, proving that sometimes, the best experiences are found offline.

THE TASTE BUD KNIGHTS

For readers and fans of the culinary adventure in The Foodie Flamingo (Running Press, 2021), and the anthropomorphic characters of The Great Caper (Book 5 of the Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast Series, Dial Books 2022),

​The Taste Bud Knights is a fun and quirky story about the way the five basic taste buds -- sweet, salty, bitter, sour, umami --- join forces and dare double dare their host Burt to try new foods.

RED

RED, a bouncy ball, sets off on a grand adventure to find a life that doesn’t make her feel so JUMBLY inside. Through a series of comical attempts to be anything but herself, Red realizes jumbly might be just fine.