Inspiration: Jack inspired this adorable story about a boy who
imagined wild adventures with the penguin he slept with every night.
The illustrations were done by Dave Needham, who did City Walks
with Kids: New York City—he’s brilliant.

Rejection: Chronicle said no, they already had a fanciful penguin
story (it was pretty incoherent) and I have no idea how to sell

a children’s book.

 

Inspiration: after knocking myself out trying to entertain youngsters in cars, I thought
an all-in-one set that would last one car trip was a necessity. The best part of this set was having pieces made of of colorform plastic that kids could use to decorate the windows and back seat.

Rejection: Klutz put out something similar.

 

 

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Inspiration: one night Jack mysteriously got an m&m stuck up his nose. While it was funny, conceptually, he was crying in pain. I was getting ready to head over to the emergency room, but Jon insisted, that eventually it would melt and come out. He shot some saline solution up the affected nostril. Minutes later, Jack blew—goopy chocolate and red pieces of candy shell came rushing out. It was a parenting moment that was both terrifying and hysterical. As I often do, I sent out an email chronicling the event and got many stories back about items shoved up nasal cavities. 

Rejection: while people thought it would be a hilarious website, no one saw it as a successful book.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inspiration: when Iz was born Jon had the adorable and brilliant idea of taking a photo of her once a week, in the same chair, so we’d have a weekly record of her first year. It was fabulous. We did the same for Jack and I thought an album, A Year of Me, with room for a little note each week, would be the perfect baby shower gift.

Rejection: no one else thought so and I just didn’t get it. This is the one project I most believed should be out there. It creates such special memories.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inspiration: I loved this project—it was a pantheon 
of goddesses that would work today. Goddesses like:

 

The Seven Sirens of Shopping 

Deal—siren of bargains 

Salvage—siren of flea markets 

Zenith—siren of the perfect fit 

Ideal—siren of exactly what you’re looking for 

Paraphernalia—siren of excessive accessories 

Strut—siren of shoes 

Bid—siren of eBay 

 

and some of their evil counterparts:

Calorie—diet crone, and her gal pal Tasti—fat free treat nymph 

Crepe—the crone of aging skin 

Bloat—PMS ogress 

Shrew—the catty, small-minded, back-stabbing crone 

Angst—sorceress of hand-wringing and worry 

Bicker—harpy of bad relationships 

Jiggle—cellulite sorceress 

Vice—harpy of bad habits 

 

Rejection: No one saw the brilliance.

 

 

Inspiration: man, would this have been fun. A deck of cards, each with a cocktail recipe and a knitting project inspired by the drink. It would have been a hoot to put together. I do host cocktail knitting every once in awhile.

Rejection: People thought the combo was a bit too tenuous. I completely disagreed but that doesn’t get me anywhere.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inspiration: this is nothing but trite advice:

knock on wood

less is more

think positive

start off on the right foot

take a deep breath

let it slide

chalk it up to experience

turn over a new leaf

lighten up

shoot for the stars

put your best foot forward . . . 

 

Rejection: People thought it was too trite. 
I think, in days like these, trite helps.

 

 

Inspiration: When she was in first grade, Izzy drew the most adorable, appealing monsters. We spent afternoons at French Roast, bowls of steaming hot chocolate in front of us, “interviewing” the monsters and putting together this book. It was precious. I thought a book by a 6 year old and her mom was a super cute twist.

 

Rejection: We were told there wasn’t enough of 
a story. I just had to laugh at that one.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inspiration: being an exhausted mother. My outrageously scathing and sarcastic friend Kathy and I took a behind-the-scenes look at the reality of motherhood. It was pretty damn brilliant/honest/hysterical.

 

Rejection: Yet again, I have no idea why this isn’t out in the world. We all need another voice for the exhaustion and frustration that this job very often brings.