So inspired and jazzed up after a lovely weekend communing with some fabulous fellow authors. Can't wait for our @desertsleuths.bsky.social WriteNow! Conference in September.

Do you have a favorite way to plot your story? Do you Save the Cat or take your Hero on a Journey?

Time to sign up for the Sonoran Writers Conference, an in-person event May 9, 2026 in Mesa, AZ. And there I am in the middle of the panel on doing research! Https://www.anthology.org/index.php/sonoran-writers-conference. @desertsleuths.bsky.social #writingcommunity

Just back from a successful classroom presentation of HOW TO BUILD AN INSECT. Second graders at Meridian Elementary are the best!!!

The cactuses are blooming. Can you tell the one that blooms at noon and the one that blooms overnight? #phoenixgarden #cactus

My short story was accepted by Level Best Books for their upcoming anthology CRIME BEFORE OUT TIME, expected September 2026. This story was fun to write and I'm glad it found a home. I might even consider revisiting the characters. #DesertSleuths #WritingCommunity #Authorsky #Amwriting

oin us to discover the Power of the 3-Act Structure with Claire-Dee Lim. Another free and virtual opportunity to learn about the craft of writing, coming Wednesday 4/15/2026 at 6:00 p.m. MST. Register for a link at desertsleuths.com #writingcommunity #writing #amwriting

The Ink & Agave Writing Retreat doesn't start for two weeks, but I've already learned a lot about the craft of #writing #picturebooks. kimtomsic.com/ink-agave/ Can't wait to attend!

youtube.com/shorts/KHvC8.... Being a presenter always brings fantastic surprises. This family had raised painted lady butterflies and decided to bring them by our booth for release.

It felt more like summer at the Spring Equinox celebration at Mesa Red Mountain Library. But we still had a lot of fun.

Another gorgeous sunny day with book lovers at Tucson Festival of Books! We hope you'll come by booth 426 and check out our literary wares. #TFOB #SINC #Mystery #CrimeFiction #AmReading

The Tucson Festival of Books is just wrapping up. What a wild and exciting time it was. Thanks to the Tucson chapter of @sincworldwide.bsky.social and @desertsleuths.bsky.social

Refreshing my science and nature blog today with a little spring cleaning. blog.growingwithscience.com/2026/03/bug-...

More Trouble in Tucson anthology is now available books2read.com/b/MoreTroubl... #SinC #MysteryWriters #BookSky

Amazing News! Our SoWest: Danger Awaits! Anthology is a Finalist for the 2026 Derringer Best Anthology Award. Congrats to all of our authors and editors on the nomination!

Learn how to write with audiobooks in mind!

My first Chinese calligraphy lesson with real ink. Such an amazing experience.

@desertsleuths.bsky.social SoWest: Danger Awaits! has been selected as a 2026 finalist for a Derringer award for best anthology. See The Short Mystery Fiction Society Blog for details. shortmystery.blogspot.com/2026/02/derr....

When you write for both children and adults, your TBR pile can be eclectic. #amwriting #mystery #reading

Meet my new neighbor. So friendly and already knows commands.

Want to learn more about writing short stories for anthologies? Join @desertsleuths.bsky.social on Wendesday 1/21/2026. Register for free at desertsleuths.com/

Now what's new for 2026: My short story "Payback" will be included in the Tucson Sisters in Crime's anthology coming out March 2026, MORE TROUBLE IN TUCSON. Enjoy mysteries? Get carried away to Tucson from the comfort of your own home. #mystery #reading #anthology @sincworldwide.bsky.social

Looking back on 2025 before moving ahead to 2026. So grateful to @desertsleuths.bsky.social for including my short story "A Killer Job" in their most recent anthology. If you enjoy reading mysteries, anthologies are a great way to meet new authors! #mystery #anthology #amreading

Need some short, snappy mystery and crime stories? Our anthology, How NOT to Survive the Holidays, is perfect for a comfy reading binge or just a fun bite between holiday activities. www.amazon.com/How-NOT-Surv...

Too many wonderful picture books, too little time to enjoy them all. Have you read any of these? #kidlit

Learned that the Prickly Pear Cactus's purple color is very specific pigments that also act like sunscreen, anti-freeze, and stop water loss. 💜🌵 Nature is cool. #kidlit #kidlitart #kidlitillustrator #illustration #illustrator #science #sciart #cacti

Day #17: 31 Days, 31 Lists - 2025 Unconventional Children's Books. Oh yeah, AI? Here are the books for kids that will crush your creations with their sheer unpredictability. #31Days31Lists #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2025/12/17/3...

It's a rainy Saturday night in Phoenix, perfect for a little crime reading! Pick up one of our captivating short story anthologies, including our brand new release, SOWEST: DANGER AWAITS! www.amazon.com/dp/B07M7B3LVN #SinC #Mystery #CrimeFiction #ReadersOfBluesky

Grateful for my morning walking partners. (One is taking the photo.) Hope you are having a relaxing weekend.

🆕 on #LitLinks Combine literature, chemistry, and art through natural dye project in this lesson that reveals how acids and bases change colors. Perfect for #STEM learning, eco-friendly crafts 🎨 www.patriciamnewman.com?p=13111 #MITKidsPress #edusky @Robertagibson.bsky.social

Exploring natural dyes is a wonderful way to combine chemistry, art and literature in your lessons. See @patricianewman.bsky.social LitLinks blog for details www.patriciamnewman.com/litlinks-how... #STEAM #kidlit #Dyes

Revise your nonfiction picture book with me in a small-group Inked Voices workshop! @inkedvoices.bsky.social  🗓️ Jan 7–Mar 22, 2026 Apply by Nov 2, 2025 Two rounds of critique plus  craft discussion. 🔗 https://app.inkedvoices.com/event/workshop/458 #KidLit #NonfictionPB #WritingCommunity #PictureBook

Are all those webinar replays you have meaning to watch stacking up like books on your TBR pile? How many hours of watching do you have? Let's spend a day watching the replays. Come back and report if you find anything inspiring. I may delete a few, too.

Have you visited #LitLinks recently? A great place to find out about new children's books AND get activity suggestions to accompany them. It's win-win! #kidlit #STEM

Psst! I am opening up to unagented children's book submissions *just for the month of October*! This is an exciting experiment. The email to send submissions to is [email protected]. You can find out about what I'm looking for at www.manuscriptwishlist.com/mswl-post/me...

Signing the anthology this Friday! Come and see us.

Next Friday, Sept 19, Editor Melissa Rechter of Crooked Lane Books & Alcove Press is taking zoom pitches at the WriteNOW! Conference. Let's take a closer look at her manuscript wishlist. #DSWN #AmWriting #AmQuerying #WritingCommunity

Can you believe this line up? Register Now! for the WriteNow! conference next weekend September 20, 2025. All the details at desertsleuths.com #writingcommunity #writingconference

I so admire each of these authors!! Honored to be sitting (virtually) with them. @djledford.bsky.social @robyngigl.bsky.social @alexsegura.bsky.social @desertsleuths.bsky.social

Yep, the books won't be there on time so the @desertsleuths.bsky.social SoWest: Danger Awaits! anthology launch party is postponed. You can still pre-order the books on Amazon

Don't miss this sneak peek at an ingenious & stunning #STEM PB introduction to the flight of birds and discover your own way to soar. www.mariacmarshall.com/single-post/... Olga Ptashnik @ebyrbooks.bsky.social #PPBF #kidlit #birds

Writing short stories is the best because you can be part of something big, in this case the newest @desertsleuths.bsky.social anthology SoWest: Danger Awaits! Kindle version available for pre-order on Amazon, physical copy available September 19, 2025. amzn.to/45DsnMH Register at desertsleuths.com

More amazing guests for the 2025 WriteNOW! Conference. Authors Deborah J Ledford, Robyn Gigl, D.M. Rowell, & Alex Segura discuss "Doing Justice to Characters Unlike Yourself". #AmWriting #MysteryWriters #CrimeWriters #ThrillerWriters #WritingCommunity #DSWN25

Writers: Another free opportunity to learn more about craft. Wednesday August 20, 2025. Sorry it is late notice, so go register at desertsleuths.com right now! Villains are always the hardest to write! #writingcommunity

Our newest anthology launches September 19, 2025 at the Poisoned Pen bookstore @poisonedpen.bsky.social 6-4:30 p.m. MST Check it out for 25 new mystery and suspense short stories from @desertsleuths.bsky.social

#writingcommunity #writingconference Looking to hone those writing skills? Want to develop a sense of community? Need inspiration? Now is the time to register for the 2025 Desert Sleuth's WriteNow! Conference. Open to all! Virtual. desertsleuths.com/writenow-2025/

Rain lilies bloom after a rain, just for a short time. But these little bees always manage to find them. #bees

Ever wanted to write a prison story? Get the details at tomorrow's Desert Sleuths meeting. Register at desertsleuths.com #writingcommunity

Yes! Nonfiction at its best.

Discover @colleenpaeff.bsky.social 's exquisitely illustrated, lyrical, informational biography of a self-taught naturalist who became a preeminent expert on fireflies. www.mariacmarshall.com/single-post/... Ji-Hyuk Kim Margaret K. McElderry Books #kidlit #biography #picturebook