The thing IS actually, there are so many incredible books that do serve children, speak to children, are exciting for children to read -- but those books die the death of invisibility. The industry doesn't give them material marketing/publicity support, and gatekeepers don't find them.

Ope, long-winded hot take about Mac Barnett comin' through 🧵

Friends, sometimes silly men say silly things. And sometimes, those silly things are also hurtful things, or damaging things, or things that disrupt the important and caring work that we all set out to do every single day. So it goes. But in the meantime, I have a message for children's authors:

Thank you to Tracey Baptiste for stating the issue with that 94.7 percent quote so clearly and eloquently. Required reading for the kidlit community. www.instagram.com/p/DX9_kJ-oFS...

What makes a book 'good’—and who gets to decide? (Link in first reply.)

Today's spam promises to book "1,000s of meetings a month" for me. My friend, you could not make a worse pitch if you tried.

This is both evil and boring.

Me after being left behind by AI:

Arthur recommends Mossflower by Brian Jacques. (The cats are the good guys, right?!) 😉🐱🐭🗡️⚔️

A purely capitalistic reason I believe AI won’t take over publishing is that it’s built on a workforce of smart people who accept lower salaries in exchange for work they are passionate about. If they wanted to work for Sauron, they’d go into a better paying field.

There are only two types of cats in this world: Samwise and Sméagol/Gollum. Sorry, I don’t make the rules.

Lots of AI/writing posts going around. Let this one be the one you read today. (and follow & hire @juliescheina.com for your editorial needs!)

Thank you, @sarahlapolla.com! The recommendation goes both ways!!

"What chafes the most (figuratively—physical chafing is also something I’ve left in the past) are the responses from the very people I thought would be most supportive. Some of my old running friends now claim I’m not actually a runner, but simply a ‘driver.’"

"The more books that are rushed to market, the more opportunities there will be for similar situations to occur—with publishers, authors, and readers all paying the costs. And in an industry already fraught with inequity, publishers risk diminishing the very elements that should set them apart."

This Post Is Not About Running: Why Coral Hart and Andy Weir Are Wrong About AI (Link in first reply.)

Trading short-term gains for long-term pain? What the SHY GIRL cancellation reveals about publishing. (Link in first reply.)

Glad to see Colonial Williamsburg is finally safe for witches.

How far can a wish take you? In MY LUCKY STAR, Ella and Little Feat share big dreams--and a fantastical adventure that takes them far from their home, testing their bravery and belief. Congratulations to author Cheryl Olsten and illustrator Paolo d'Altan on this beautiful book, out April 2!

Do you have a fantastic middle-grade fiction idea? The Jewell Parker Rhodes Fellowship for Emerging Voices awards a $10,000 grant to an unpublished or self-published writer creating works for children. Submissions are now open! ➡️ bit.ly/JPRfellowship

My amazing agent, @literaticat.bsky.social is doing a live Q&A on March 25! Come join the fun and get to know Jenn! Cost is $20 and proceeds will be used to finance a scholarship to the R(ev)ise and Shine! Residency next fall, thanks to Jenn's generosity. Join us! www.eventbrite.com/e/rs-present...

I am highly confident that no one should pay an editor who uses AI for developmental edits. If your editor isn’t confident they can handle the “heavy lifting of analysis,” find yourself a new editor.

Calling all bird lovers! Don't miss this special picture book all about the dawn chorus and the unique morning songs of different bird species, by Carmela Lavigna Coyle and illustrated by Bonnie Kelso. This book may just inspire you to wake up early enough to witness your own dawn chorus!

DOG AT THE OLYMPICS FULL COMPETITION HIGHLIGHTS

Registration is open for my upcoming query letter webinar! If you register and submit a query letter by February 7, your query might be selected for live feedback from me during the webinar. Link to register in first comment.

The Publishing for Minnesota auction launches this week to support groups providing legal aid, emergency assistance, food, and community resources to those in urgent need. www.32auctions.com/publishingfo...

Looking forward to watching the #ALAYMA this morning and cheering for my colleagues! And like always - I'm sharing my poem "What Happened to Your Book Today." A reminder of why we make books for young readers. ❤️https://katemessner.com/what-happened-to-your-book-today-a-poem-for-after-the-ala-awards/

When I told my daughter that one of her favorite books of the year had been recognized by the ALA Youth Media Awards today, the first thing she said was, "Yay!!" The second thing was, "Did [other favorite book] win, too?" So, kidlit creators: (1/3) #ALAyma

Thrilled to hold these two beautiful @picnicheist.bsky.social books in my hands! Check out MONKEY’S SWEET SURPRISE before Lunar New Year and MILO’S MOONLIGHT MISSION before the next clear night. Congratulations to @ediblewords.bsky.social, Bonnie Lui, Kathleen M. Blasi, and Petronela Dostalova!

Happy New Year! Here’s to a year full of new adventures! 🌌🌕⭐️☁️📖 (Thank you @steveemond.bsky.social for the beautiful artwork!)

Querying in 2026? Join me for this query workshop! Link in first reply.

One of my favorite new movies has some great takeaways on character development, shared by one of my favorite freelance editors! @juliescheina.com

More on lessons that novelists and story writers can learn from playwrights and screenwriters www.doctorsyntax.net/2025/03/the-...

I often advise fiction writers to see how screenwriters do things.* Good movies, no matter how “pop” they are, are all worth studying—even KPop Demon Hunters *E.g. see post linked in my next skeet

+ A bonus hot take: Rumi/Jinu have the (IMO more satisfying) character arc Elsa could have had if Frozen had stuck a little closer to its Snow Queen roots. In this essay I will…

I'm sharing three takeaways from KPop Demon Hunters that you can apply to your work (bonus points if you listen to the soundtrack while doing so!). (Link in first reply.)

MG authors, this PW article is worth a read! www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/...

Another week, another 19 reasons why libraries are awesome.

Congratulations to Jo Beckett-King on her MG debut, THE HOUSE OF FOUND OBJECTS! Perfect for readers who love mysteries, Paris, prickly friendships, and solving puzzles hand-in-hand with characters. Kirkus says, “Codebreakers and mystery fans will want to read this fun adventure, tout de suite.”

What's that about using AI for "just for research" again?

Can Aye 👀 absentmindedly reach to remove a stray hair from its neck while driving, only to discover it’s not a hair, it’s giant flying insect? I don’t think so. (I didn’t crash the car. Please clap.)

Please tell me again how "smart" gen AI is when I receive AI software pitches that claim 1) skilled editors only live in cities like London and New York (!); 2) that this leaves writers living elsewhere (?!) without access to skilled editing; and 3) this is why genAI editing is necessary (!?!?). 1/2

Here are 30+ fiction and nonfiction titles to help you understand the power, importance, and history of protest. From the Civil Rights Movement to Stonewall to Indigenous sovereignty and beyond, let these stories empower you and those in your community!

If you think picture books are just for young kids, you’re missing out! (With bonus library haul photobomb!)

Me to my husband whenever I make a TikTok: “Okay I’ll show you, but first you have to watch these 3-5 videos so you understand the genre.”

Team #bringabook & #alwaysbereading. (Sources say Cloud Puppy: Game On! is great!)

One moment you're telling your child, "Say thank you, sweetie," and the next they're shouting "THANK YOU, SWEETIE!!!!" at top volume to a friend at a crowded Dave & Buster's and from then on you feel a zing of happiness every time you hear someone say "sweetie" in the wild.

Kidlit publishing has the best people. 🚕❤️📚Had such a great time in NYC and at the US Book Show seeing friends old and new!

If you’ve ever thought about asking ChatGPT for feedback on any piece of writing, read this first:

If you're wondering why people in publishing are speaking up against AI, take a look at the sponsors for next week's U.S. Book Show. I count at least half a dozen companies paying for the chance to pitch their AI services to publishers, literary agencies, and other publishing professionals. (thread)