With the world increasingly in turmoil, now more than ever, kids need books to escape in. Especially funny books. #kidlit #middlegrade #humor #funny #escapism #kidlitchat

Looking for a fun read to entertain your kids this month? Until March 7, STU AND THE SKETCHY TIME STOPS is 50% off at Smashwords. That's Stu for only $1.49! Find Stu here: www.smashwords.com/books/view/1... @smashwords.bsky.social #smashwords #ebookweek26 #ebooksale #stuandthesketchytimestops

Author/first page/cover - and yes, I slipped the cover into the author pic as well. Did you spy it? 👀 #stuandthesketchytimestops #kidlit #TheSketcherSeries #authorfirstpagecover #trend

To my friends in the USA and Canada, are your kids looking for a February long weekend read? STU AND THE SKETCHY TIME STOPS is on sale at Kobo (USA & Canada only), Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, Smashwords, and Indigo! Up to 67% off, but must end close of business February 18 ⏰️ #ebook #ebooksale

Thank you, Children's Chapter Books, for your support of my middle grade adventure, STU AND THE SKETCHY TIME STOPS, Book 1 in THE SKETCHER SERIES! Book 2 is out September 2026! If you love your middle grade with a science fantasy twist and a healthy dose of humor, I'd love for you to check Stu out!

I used to go to the #AusOpen every year. The last time I went...was the last time I will go for the foreseeable future. It's now less about the tennis, more about celebrities with no interest in the sport spruiking products & taking most of the good seats. www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01...

And so it ends. #StrangerThings #StrangerThings5finale www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlkK...

See 2025 out with a bookish bang! Last days to grab a bookish bargain! www.smashwords.com/books/view/1... #EOYSale25 @smashwords.bsky.social #SmashwordsEOYSale25

It's been a fun year for me and Stu. Thank you for all the support and have a wonderful Christmas! 🙏 💜 🎄 #stuandthesketchytimestops #book1 #thesketcherseries #middlegrade #grateful www.instagram.com/reel/DSi4jlt...

No prizes for guessing what my family will be watching the night before Christmas. 👇 What will you be watching? (And I hope you enjoy my son's jazzy rendition of this song.) 🎹 Have a Happy Christmas! 🎄 youtu.be/rMGXbedaa2E?... #howthegrinchstolechristmas #pianocover #grinch

When someone points out that "your orchid is as bent as your writing." 🤔 Life as a children's book author. #kidlitauthor #orchid #flowerpower

Looking for a fun read to entertain your kids this Christmas holiday season? Until January 1, STU AND THE SKETCHY TIME STOPS is 50% off at Smashwords. That's Stu for only $1.49! Find Stu here: www.smashwords.com/books/view/1... #smashwordseoysale #eoysale #ebooksale #stuandthesketchytimestops

My heart goes out to all those who lost their homes in the Koolewong bushfire today. Devastating. Like this phoenix-like flame and with community support behind them, I hope they rise from the ashes soon. 📷: Unknown

Lovely librarians, my multi award-listed middle grade novel, STU AND THE SKETCHY TIME STOPS is 30% off through December on CloudLibrary! A story of fun, friendship, and STEM, especially targeted to keep boys reading. You can check STU out on my website (link in bio) or on CloudLibrary Merry Xmas!

Took my daughter to see Wicked: Feel Good today, and we were the only two people in the cinema who didn't take selfies on our phones during the movie. I think we missed the memo on this.

My US and Canadian friends, are your kids looking for their next Thanksgiving weekend read? STU AND THE SKETCHY TIME STOPS is on sale at Kobo (USA & Canada only), Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, and Indigo! Up to 67% off, but must end close of business December 1. Find links to Stu in thread ⬇ 1/2

Squee! Thank you @rosdando.bsky.social for your support of STU AND THE SKETCHY TIME STOPS! 💜 "With its engaging narrator, unique concept, interesting characters, and funny dialogues, this book is the perfect fun read any middle grade would want." #StuandtheSketchyTimeStops #TheSketcherSeries

Come and say "Hi!" this Friday twilight at the Mary MacKillop Christmas Market at Kincumber South. I'll be sharing a stall with fellow middle grade author Fiona Lloyd, and it's the perfect time to grab some bookish Christmas gifts! And Santa will be there! Scan the QR code for more details. 🎄 🎅

Not much compares to the joy of sending out book orders for young readers for Christmas. 💜 Note to self: Christmas is starting earlier every year. Be prepared. Buy colourful wrapping paper in November. 🎁 #stuandthesketchytimestops #bookgift #thesketcherseries

When a reader gives you flowers. They match my book cover, don't you think? 🌸 🌼 #stuandthesketchytimestops #middlegrade #flowerpower #kidlit #kidlitchat

Librarians and educators, with Christmas zooming toward us – sorry, too soon to mention Christmas? – perhaps you’re already prepping for 2026. Maybe you're getting library & classroom reads lined up and you’re feeling great about the digital reading options available to patrons and students... 1/5

What a feeling, you know the one. When you write a book, edit a book, get editorial feedback on your book, rewrite the middle of your book...and send it out for more feedback. 1/2 #book2 #thesketcherseries #middlegrade #mg #middlegradeauthor #middlegradewriter #humor #adventure #sciencefantasy

Happy Halloween! 🎃 #stuandthesketchytimestops #book1 #thesketcherseries #middlegrade #kidlit #mg #humor #sciencefantasy #heist #adventure #bookquote #bookquotes #halloween #halloween2025 #loveozmg

I just finish a discussion about book formatting, and this comes up in my feed. Spooky! 👻 🧙‍♀️ Meme artist unknown. #halloween #halloween2025 #ghost #witch #writingmeme #halloweenmeme #bookformatting

A win, for now. Federal government rules out changing copyright law to give AI companies free rein. www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10...

With Halloween creeping up on us, who doesn't like some spooky stuff in their reading? What would you do if you could stop time? #stuandthesketchytimestops #bookquote

My editing process. The Snoopy side of my brain kills those darlings, the Woodstock side won't let them go. 🙃 #book2 #thesketcherseries #middlegrade #middlegradeauthor #kidlit #kidlitauthor #humor #adventure #fantasy #sciencefantasy #editing #writerslife #writinglife #amrevising #amediting

What would you do if you could stop time? #stuandthesketchytimestops #thesketcherseries

Happy Love Your Bookshop Day and a big shout-out to my local (and favourite) bookshop, Bookface Erina, for its continual support! #lybd2025 #loveyourbookshop #loveyourbookshopday #loveyourbookshopday2025 #stuandthesketchytimestops #thesketcherseries #middlegrade #mg #kidlit #bookfaceerina

In my book, Stu and the Sketchy Time Stops, a sausage dog follows the family home and never leaves. When the below amazing true story broke earlier this year, I kept thinking, "What if it was the other way around? What if Stu's dog disappeared instead?" Like this one. www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10...

Oh, this is sad news indeed. www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/...

It's always exciting to see pics of your book in the wild, especially on the other side of the world! STU AND THE SKETCHY TIME STOPS has found his way to Marlow Library in the UK! TY @ianbrownlie.bsky.social for sharing this pic! 1/2

Today's newsletter is how snakes (toy, not real!) were a slithering surprise hit at my latest book event, last Sunday's Books and Beyond book market. I hope you enjoy! 🐍 rebeccajchaney.substack.com/p/sell-snakes #stuandthesketchytimestops #middlegrade #kidlit #kidlitnewsletter #bookmarketing

I had so much FUN at the first Books & Beyond event with #middlegrade author friend Fiona Lloyd (if there was a prize for the most chatty stall, we would have won it). 😜 Congrats to author friends @selinafenech.bsky.social and Vivienne Fraser for putting on this event. #stuandthesketchytimestops

No, I'm not trying to draw wonky eyes, but I do spy with my little eye... Stu! The thrill of seeing your book in bookstores never goes away. #StuandtheSketchyTimeStops #TheSketcherSeries #middlegrade #kidlit #kidlitchat

Come and say hello to fellow middle grade author, Fiona Lloyd, and me at next Sunday's Books and Beyond Book Market at Ourimbah on the NSW Central Coast! It will be fun! #booksandbeyond #bookmarket #meettheauthor #middlegrade #mg #kidlit #stuandthesketchytimestops #booksigning #middlegradeauthor

Did you know that 1 in 3 Australian children reach the end of their primary school years without the reading skills they need for life? This was just one of the statistics discussed at last night's insightful chat between Australian Children's Laureate 2024-2025, Sally Rippin (on left in pic), 1/4

Being in nature, whether that's out in my garden fighting weeds or taking a walk on the steep hills around my place that remind me I'm not as young (or fit) as I used to be! #kidlitchat

One of my favourite quotes in my middle grade speculative adventure, Stu and the Sketchy Time Stops. 💜 #stuandthesketchytimestops #book1 #thesketcherseries #bookquotes #bookquote #middlegrade #kidlit

Acclaimed Australian children's author, Morris Gleitzman, thinks being childish is exactly what we need right now, and I agree! www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...

Today's newsletter, the final in a trio about the Writing NSW Kids & YA Festival, includes chats about graphic & verse novels, comics & poetry, and how to create and maintain a thriving career in an everchanging industry. Enjoy! 💜 #kidlit #newsletter rebeccajchaney.substack.com/p/quirky-quo...

Oh, I missed a great #kidlitchat today! For what it's worth, I still haven't learned when to move on from projects. 😐 I'll be scrolling back through the #kidlit community's answers to this question for suggestions!

Today's newsletter is the second in a trio about this month's Writing NSW Kids and YA Festival in Sydney, including discussions on why series fiction is still a winner with kids, why Australian teens need Australia stories, and creating #kidlit communities. Enjoy! open.substack.com/pub/rebeccaj...

Middle grade books gave me the escape I needed from reality and I guess that child still lives within me. #kidlitchat

I love writing middle grade as this is the age of hope and discovery, where kids start to wonder about the world around them and where they fit in. For me personally, it was the age when my parents split and my world grew chaotic. A time where I grew up fast. #kidlitchat

How do you describe your book? I could describe my book, STU AND THE SKETCHY TIME STOPS, as a middle grade adventure about a 12-y-o boy who takes a chance on unlikely friendships while taking on time-stopping casino thieves, or... 1/4 #stuandthesketchytimestops #middlegrade #kidlit

My latest newsletter is the first of three about last weekend's Writing NSW Kids and YA Festival. The first newsletter covers the Keynote Address, with Jacqueline Harvey chatting to the 2024-25 Australian Children's Laureate, Sally Rippin. Read it here: open.substack.com/pub/rebeccaj... Enjoy! 💜

Sorry, I'm a little late to the chat today! I adored Silverborn, the fourth book in Jessica Townsend's Nevermoor series. I also met Jess recently, where she signed my copy and gave me the best hug! Fan girl moment! #kidlitchat

I had an awesome day yesterday at the Writing NSW Kids and YA Festival catching up with writer friends, making more book-mad friends - Eek! Too many to fit here! - and listening to amazing discussions on the Aussie kidlit industry, including one with Australian Children's Laureate, SallyRippon.

Just reading people's responses to this week's question reminds me I'm not alone in having these thoughts, and that also helps. #kidlitchat