[mrh Posts: 4,826 Status: Offline www.marciahoehne.com]

I checked in with SCBWI a couple of weeks ago. It's my understanding that the remaining entries are in the hands of the publisher

Ah. Then you're at the mercy of the publisher, so to speak, and SCBWI has no further control over what happens (or doesn't).

[Debbie Vilardi Posts: 7,070 Status: Offline Language is so cool!]

Good luck to all still in the running.

[meredith-flory Posts: 1 Status: Offline I love kids' books!]

Several of you mentioned "checking in" or getting rejections, etc... Is there a particular person to do so with or a list of long/shortlisted somewhere or should we assume no news is good news? I haven't heard anything, but it's possible I suppose something went into SPAM and I didn't see it., but magazines are starting to look for October content, so while I'm happy to wait, also if I did miss a rejection I might want to send it elsewhere.

[kathleen-lovell Posts: 17 Status: Offline I love kids' books!]

Hi Meredith,
I think many of us are wondering the same thing..."Did my rejection go to spam and I missed it?"
It seems that a few people have heard back about some details, but many have not heard a thing back and are are still wondering and waiting about the timeline...
We are all hoping the best!  GOOD LUCK for New Mexico!

[amaris-castillo Posts: 5 Status: Offline I love kids' books!]

I have been wondering about this as well. I haven't heard anything but did hear from SCBWI months ago that a decision was going to come soon and that the publisher was doing its second review. Good luck to everyone!

[michael-toledano Posts: 8 Status: Offline I love kids' books!]

I tried emailing and calling SCBWI to ask for a status update and so far haven't heard anything... Anyone else having more luck?

[Christine D. Page Posts: 5 Status: Offline]

Hi,

Has anyone heard anything about this contest?  If the winners have been chosen, I’d consider submitting my story somewhere else for Halloween. Thank you! Christine Page

[kathleen-lovell Posts: 17 Status: Offline I love kids' books!]

I do not believe that anyone knows what phase this contest is in or when we might know.
Hope for the best!

[natalie-cohn Posts: 6 Status: Offline I love kids' books!]

Just curious if anyone’s getting rejections or maybe there just waiting to tell the winners they won and no one else?  I thought they were aiming towards this October to publish but maybe not because it’s almost the middle of July.

[michael-toledano Posts: 8 Status: Offline I love kids' books!]

Hey everyone,

I actually decided to email customer service at Macmillan just to ask if there is a timeline and I was told that I should check back with SCBWI because it is part of their submission process... I'm guessing this was just a customer service rep who may not have had the full picture, but oh well. Just thought I'd share.

[kathleen-lovell Posts: 17 Status: Offline I love kids' books!]

Thanks for your efforts Michael!
Hoping for the best for everyone.
We should support and celebrate virtually when this is decided.

[rachel-menard Posts: 1 Status: Offline I love kids' books!]

August 10th and I still haven't heard anything. Does anyone else have a new update? I hope this means I'm still in the running. *Fingers Crossed*

[alison-thayer Posts: 22 Status: Offline Middle Grade Fiction Author]

I sent an email today to the SCBWI contact email that I have for the contest (i.e. the person who contacted me in Feb), asking for an update on the timeframe/status of this contest. I'll report back if I get a response. I'm wondering if there's going to be a publication at this point.

[daniel-barlekamp Posts: 1 Status: Offline I love kids' books!]

Hi all,

Last week I also emailed the SCBWI person who had been listed as the contact for this contest, but I haven't heard back. Ditto on wondering whether this publication is still happening.

Dan

[alison-thayer Posts: 22 Status: Offline Middle Grade Fiction Author]

I got an email back, but it’s not particularly helpful:
“I’m afraid I don’t have any news on this yet. We are waiting to hear back from the publisher. We’ll let you know once we have more news.”

[lrzajac Posts: 88 Status: Offline I write science as a story, sprinkled with art]

The pandemic has delayed so many books, mine included, so it wouldn't surprise me if the book release date has been pushed back. I think that's more likely than a cancellation. You also never know what's going on with editors. A key person could have covid, a death in the family . . .

[alison-thayer Posts: 22 Status: Offline Middle Grade Fiction Author]

The pandemic has delayed so many books, mine included, so it wouldn't surprise me if the book release date has been pushed back. I think that's more likely than a cancellation. You also never know what's going on with editors. A key person could have covid, a death in the family . . .

Hopefully it’s just a delay and I sure hope it’s not due to anybody’s personal troubles/tragedies. I just think the professional thing to do would be to let applicants know something, even if that something is that publication, and thus selection, has been delayed, instead of radio silence for more than six months. But that’s the publishing industry, I guess.

[amaris-castillo Posts: 5 Status: Offline I love kids' books!]

Hi all! I was able to have a publicist contact I know connect me with someone from Godwin Books. I asked the staffer if I can relay a message and was told to please let you all know that the authors of the selected stories will be notified by the end of the year. Hope this helps!

[kathleen-lovell Posts: 17 Status: Offline I love kids' books!]

That is really helpful to know the wait time.
Will those NOT selected be notified at the same time?

[marlaina-cockcroft Posts: 4 Status: Offline I love kids' books!]

Thanks for finding that out, Amaris!

[Dyani Posts: 9 Status: Offline I love kids' books!]

Hi all! I was able to have a publicist contact I know connect me with someone from Godwin Books. I asked the staffer if I can relay a message and was told to please let you all know that the authors of the selected stories will be notified by the end of the year. Hope this helps!

Thank you for sharing this with us!

[natalie-cohn Posts: 6 Status: Offline I love kids' books!]

Ok, I emailed someone through McMillian and they forwarded my email to someone in charger of the book. This is what they said:

Hi, Natalie! I'm Rachel Murray of Godwin Books - it's so nice to e-meet you, and deepest apologies for the long delay in our response to your story for the Haunted States collection!

This year has been a bit of a whirlwind, and so it's taken us longer than we'd hoped to evaluate our wonderful submissions. We're still in the process of choosing the stories that will be featured in the collection (right now, our plan for publication is Spring 2023, in time for the Halloween season), but as soon as we're done, we'll notify each person whose work is selected. That will be before the end of the year.

[melissa-haylock Posts: 39 Status: Offline]

Thank you for the update!

[stephen-costanza Posts: 5 Status: Offline I love kids' books!]

Thank you for the update, Natalie!

[mary-broussard Posts: 2 Status: Offline I love kids' books!]

Hi. Have they announced who has been selected for the haunted short story writing publications? I have not received a rejection email or an acceptance email. Just curious.
Mary Beth Broussard
















? I have not gotten a rejection email or an acceptance email. Just curious.
Mary Beth Broussard

[Debbie Vilardi Posts: 7,070 Status: Offline Language is so cool!]

Hi. Have they announced who has been selected for the haunted short story writing publications? I have not received a rejection email or an acceptance email. Just curious.
Mary Beth Broussard
















? I have not gotten a rejection email or an acceptance email. Just curious.
Mary Beth Broussard

Mary, there are some helpful comments above in the thread. They've pushed the book back to next year and have not made final decisions yet. Read more above.

[mary-broussard Posts: 2 Status: Offline I love kids' books!]

Thanks for the update.
Mary Beth Broussard

[heather-morris1 Posts: 5 Status: Offline I love kids' books!]

These updates are fantastic! Thank you all!

[kathleen-lovell Posts: 17 Status: Offline I love kids' books!]

Happy Holidays!
Hope you are all well.
Perhaps we will get an update soon.

[amaris-castillo Posts: 5 Status: Offline I love kids' books!]

Hello,

Has anyone heard back from the publisher about their submissions? Happy Holidays, everyone!

Best,

Amaris