One of my first mentors was Kent Brown, who is now editor emeritus of Highlights for Children magazine. When we worked closely together, Kent was the editor-in-chief of the Highlights-owned publisher, Boyds Mills press, which published my first book,  Poems That Sing To You in 1992.

Kent used to reiterate: "Michael, remember, we are selling you as much as we are selling the book."

One of the first things a that publisher is going to look for is your "self" in the material. That self is your writer's voice.

In writing, voice can be defined as the writer's awareness and effective use of such elements as diction, tone, syntax, unity, coherence and audience to create a clear and distinct "personality of the writer," which emerges as a reader interacts with the text.

I have been very fortunate to have guides including Idaho State Journal managing editor Ian Fennell, JHub editor Kate Carpenter, and JHub regular mbogo, who repeatedly remind me of the importance of writer's voice in my work.

Where are you coming from? Who are you? Why do your ideas and experiences matter? How do they matter at this time?

With so many books published every day, how can readers "feel" your distinct contribution to the body of literature? This is one of the first things that an aquisitions editor from a publishing house is going to ask.

For example: "I see that this is a very good manuscript for a book about Idaho History, but why are we hearing it from YOU?"

Remember, the single greatest gift that you have to offer as  a writer is ... yourself.

-- Michael