I was just saying…

That I needed some writer friends to bounce my query letter off of. I’ve read all the online suggestions. I got my word count down. I sent it through a bot to correct spelling and punctuation, but this feels huge, like I need help!

Where can I find a writers group? Hmmm

Oh wait, silly me. Right under my nose!

You ARE ALL writers! Maybe you won’t care to read this

But we are a big group. Surely one or two may have some feedback for me. Here it is:

Dear Sandra,

I chose you because I trust your opinion and expertise. As an avid reader of everything, I usually agree with you. You know this business better than all of the agents I’ve researched. Plus, you practically live down the street and we both know ——.(my author friend)

Please allow me to introduce you to my latest project.

Query

‘Beatrix Butterfly’ is a bright and colorful picture book that tells the dynamic story of one easy-to-relate-to butterfly named Beatrix.

Her cycle of transformation from egg to caterpillar to butterfly is a true to life, scientific story that is also a metaphor for change. As we follow along, we are all encouraged to breathe with Beatrix as she patiently spends time in each phase.

A friendly introduction to conscious breathing, Beatrix has taught children as young as two, how to ‘Butterfly Breathe’.

I coined this term for a simple breath-to-movement exercise that I learned from a specialized yoga instructor.

Breathing and moving in this conscious way has been shown to calm the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. It has also been used to regulate neurological dysregulation caused by stress.

Beatrix is a butterfly with a mission. I believe that teaching children to take deep, slow, movement-connected breaths when they need to feel calm and confident, gives them a helpful tool to grow up with. My years teaching in different places around the world have convinced me that all children can benefit from this simple practice.

I painted the illustrations for ‘Beatrix Butterfly’ in acrylic. My style has a playful, abstract quality that children seem to be drawn to. Beatrix is a Holly Blue Butterfly. Caterpillars of this species are sometimes pink.

‘Beatrix Butterfly’ follows a self published book called ‘Peaceful Hearts’. Also conscious-breath themed, it explores breathing while feeling emotions, aiming to introduce the concept to teachers, parents and children.

Beatrix suggests that each phase of life is helpful for different reasons.‘Beatrix Butterfly’ has already been enjoyed by many children as I have meandered along this writing journey. Seeing a two year old do the exercise I included at the end of the book, made her parents smile. My theory that anyone can practice conscious breathing, and feel better in doing so, has rung true repeatedly. Parents and teachers have reported positive results from their breathing experiments with children following reading either or both of my picture books.

A third book is being written and illustrated. It will incorporate nature and gratitude into breath-work for a visually beautiful and calmingly enjoyable finale to the trilogy.