Sue Bradford Edwards lives in St. Louis, Missouri with one husband, two cats, and somewhere over three dozen fish.

Sue uses her background in history and anthropology for a variety of projects, including horse breed profiles. She is concerned with broadening the viewpoint of her readers, encouraging them to look at the world in different ways.

Sue has had a successful year in the magazine market. Her rebus, The Flying Contest, was in the March, 1996 LADYBUG. Four nonfiction pieces appeared in YOUNG EQUESTRIAN MAGAZINE: The Tennessee Walking Horse (July/August); The American Quarter Horse (September/October); The Noble Thoroughbred (November/December); and a profile of author Marguerite Henry, The Mole Meadow Menagerie (November/December). Sue feels the magazine market is the best place for new writers to begin publishing since magazines buy more than do book publishers.

A member of the Society for Children's Book Writers and Illustrators since 1991, Sue is now on the Missouri Steering Committee for the Society, working on special events and conferences. She is also the editor for for MO. SCRIBBLES, the newsletter for SCBWI-Missouri Region.

In addition to writing for children, Sue is also a historical researcher and writes on a variety of non-fiction topics for adults. Her article,THE IMPERIAL EAST MEETS THE DEMOCRATIC WEST: The Chinese at the St. Louis World's Fair appeared in the Fall 1996 issue of GATEWAY HERITAGE.

Manuscripts available to interested editors upon request. Email the author for information.

Have you ever seen a horse with long curly hair? If not, you need to find out about the AMERICAN BASHKIR CURLY. See Sue's upcoming breed profile in YOUNG EQUESTRIAN.

Sue has sold multiple breed profiles to YOUNG EQUESTRIAN MAGAZINE (buys first North American serial rights). See the Sandbaggers Hot Links to find out more about this magazine.

Three friends and three kites on a breezy spring day. The perfect recipe for THE FLYING CONTEST. But, who can fly the highest?

First rights sold to LADYBUG. Pop-up book manuscript currently submitted to publisher.

What color foal will you get when you breed a black mare with a white stallion? How come you don't always get a palomino foal from two palomino parents? The answers to these and other questions about the genetics of horse coat color in a future issue of YOUNG EQUESTRIAN MAGAZINE.

See the Sandbaggers Hot Links to find out more about YOUNG EQUESTRIAN MAGAZINE.

How do media and current economic events influence our perspectives? At the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair, the Chinese Delegation found out how. The welcome they received and their treatment here varied greatly within the delegation. How did this happen when THE IMPERIAL EAST MEETS THE DEMOCRATIC WEST?

Article in the Fall, 1996 issue of GATEWAY HERITAGE, the journal of the Missouri Historical Society.

When Grandfather moves in, Matthew Kao's world changes over night. He's no longer the family artist, replaced by his Grandfather, a calligrapher. Can he prove himself to his family? What will happen when he begins to work with INK AND PAPER?

Contemporary picture book manuscript. Manuscript currently submitted to publisher.

What are your plans this summer? Are you looking for equestrian activities? If you find yourself in the area, plan a visit to the KENTUCKY HORSE PARK. Or, you could attend one of several residential HORSE CAMPS in either the U.S. or Canada.

These travel articles have appeared in YOUNG EQUESTRIAN MAGAZINE (buys first North American serial rights). Additional travel articles are planned for future issues. See the Sandbaggers Hot Links to find out more about this magazine.

The animals have a beautiful but very crowded home. Whenever Grandfather Buzzard stretches his wings, look out! Someone is going to get stepped on. The animals solve their problem by making themselves a new home from ONE BALL OF MUD.

Retelling of a Cherokee creation myth in easy reader format. Manuscript currently submitted to publisher.

One day, the king asks his children what they want to inherit when he dies. One son chooses the throne and the other the treasury. When the princess asks for the garden, the disappointed king banishes her. His sons receive their inheritance, but things don't go as planned. What becomes of THE PRINCESS IN THE GARDEN?

Original folktale manuscript currently entered in a contest.

Kim is facing an unwanted peanut butter sandwich when she and Grandma hear PEEP! PEEP! The bird they rescue from the fireplace is too weak to be released. What to do now?

Contemporary easy reader manuscript currently submitted to publisher.

The winner in Saturday's race will bring home a racing bike. The winner must RIDE THE BEST RACE. Lucas is sure he can do it. Almost sure, anyway. When another rider has an accident, will Lucas tell the truth if it means he won't get to race? He must decide what it means to be a real racer and to what extent he will go to win.

Contemporary chapter book currently entered in a contest.

David wants to play baseball more than anything. He has one chance to get on his older brother's team. They've dared him to steal from the Chinese delegation to the 1904 World's Fair. He has to get foods listed in a newspaper article. WORMS AND MOLDY EGGS would be best. David hates the idea of stealing. How far is he willing to go to play ball?

Historic easy reader based on an actual, inacurate newspaper article. Manuscript currently submitted to publisher.

Three year-old Billy Bingham loves Grandma's house. He's sure he'll love spending the night there too. But, then something scary happens. Will he still love being at GRANDMA'S HOUSE?

Contemporary toddler picture book manuscript. Manuscript currently submitted to publisher.

Everything is ready for Dad's birthday. Jared is just waiting for Dad to get home. But, then the twins eat JARED'S SECRET, the gift he made for his father. What will he do now?

Contemporary easy reader manuscript. Manuscript currently submitted to publisher.

WRITE WHAT YOU KNOW AND STRETCH A LITTLE

by Sue Bradford Edwards

Most writers have heard this advice: write about what you know. I would add, "Don't be afraid to explore new territory."

I'm not saying, ignore what you know. Many of my sales relate closely to my history background. They aren't all in the areas I studied in college, but they are related.

At a local library critique group meeting, Tammy Duncan announced her new position as managing editor of YOUNG EQUESTRIAN and welcomed our submissions. Fascinated with horses, I knew something about them but had no hands-on experience. How would what I knew allow me to take advantage of this opportunity?

As a young reader, I devoured every horse book I could find, including the works of Marguerite Henry. At the meeting, I approached Tammy about writing a profile of this author. She agreed and I had my foot in the door.

Later that night, I read a copy of the magazine with a breed profile on the Peruvian Paso. It may have been in an equestrian magazine, but it looked like history to me! After querying Tammy, I wrote profiles on the Tennessee Walking Horse, the Thoroughbred, the American Quarter Horse, the Rocky Mountain Horse and the American Bashkir Curly. I may not have been an equestrian, but this historian knows how to research.

While developing a background in horses, I demonstrated my willingness to stretch. When someone was needed for an article on horse camps, I got the call. The same thing happened when she needed a side bar on horse manure and was interested in an article on the genetics of coat color.

So, my advice is to take what you know and use it to gain new expertise. Although personal contact with the editor is a plus, it can't replace the ability to use what you know in a new way.

Now, how to parlay this new expertise into a book contract . . .

Menu bar for less-than-compatible browsers
| Home | Starring | SAMM | Feature Presentation | Book Review | On-Line Bookstore |Hot Links | Endnotes |