Since I finished my draft today it was time to play Star Wars at @disneyparks.bsky.social Hollywood Studios! #maythe4thbewithyou #amwriting #writingcommunity

Finished the 1st draft of a MG thriller. It’s a little short but I have a few extra chapters that I think will get me up to my sweet spot of 30k words. Indie release for 2028. Now it’s time to work on some 2027 novels! Stay tuned! #amwriting #ampublishing #kidlit #writingcommunity

Took a #amwriting break this weekend for @dapperday.bsky.social at Disney World! I’m definitely an 80s baby. #DapperDay

Dracula, Wolfman, Frankenstein, The Bride, The Mummy, and Gill-man. A group of tweens stumble upon an ancient gem that grants them the power to turn into these monsters to protect it from an ancient sorcerer determined to reclaim it and take over the world.🧛🏼 #QuestPit #MG #Q #SF

Xmas Eve. Santa kidnapped. N Pole under alien occupation. All elves held hostage except timid, black nerd elf Elfin. He has less than 24 hours to free the elves & save Santa/Xmas before the aliens can use Santa’s magic & tech to take over the Earth. #WhoBetrayedSanta #QuestPit #MG #SF #OV #POC #Q🎅🏿👽

After spending time in the query trenches I decided to pivot and publish my book myself, under my own imprint. I created a Substack to chronicle my publishing journey. Follow me on this journey, its gonna be a heck of a ride! #writingcommunity #kidlit open.substack.com/pub/imadomyo...

DIE HARD x 24 at the N Pole with aliens! Aliens invade on Xmas Eve, kidnap Santa, and capture the elves. Shy Black nerd Elfin has 24 hours to rescue Santa and friends, defeat aliens, save Xmas and the Earth an uncover the conspiracy of who betrayed them to begin with. 🎅🏾👽 #PosterPit #MG #SF #Q #BIPOC

Xmas Eve. Santa kidnapped. N Pole under alien occupation. All elves held hostage except timid, Black nerd elf Elfin. He has less than 24 hours to free the elves & save Santa/Xmas before the aliens can use Santa’s magic & tech to take over the Earth. #WhoBetrayedSanta #PosterPit #MG #SF #BIPOC #Q🎅🏿👽

Why I refuse to give up. My son is a very reluctant reader. So I tested him. I had him read my manuscript but said a friend wrote it. So if an 8 yo can read this as a printed manuscript, in March, and feel this, I know I’m onto something. What keeps you going? #amwri̇ti̇ng #amquerying #kidlit

Fun fact about me. When I finish a manuscript I print it out and I put it in a Trapper Keeper and that’s where I reread and do my notes at. #amwri̇ti̇ng #amquerying #writingcommunity #kidlit

For me it starts with either a mash up or me wanting to remake something for kids. I think my ending first, then I map out the general stuff for each chapter. Once I have that mapped out I just go for it and let the words come out. #RevPitWaiting

I had this made hoping it would help people connect with Elfin more. It’s a pretty good representation of what I pictured in my head while I was writing. And Let’s Elfin Go isn’t just a cool saying, it’s going to be his catchphrase. I trademarked it because I believe in him that much! #RevPitWaiting

Even though I have a home office my job could be really stressful. And depressing. Not good creative energy. So I did this little setup in my bedroom. And since I write a lot of superhero type stuff I have an Apple playlist of various superhero themes/songs playing in the background. #RevPitWaiting

The most important secondary character in ALIENS HAVE KIDNAPPED CHRISTMAS is Catherine Claus, Santa’s wife. Named after my grandmother who was the sweetest woman you ever met. Never heard her raise her voice & she raised 13 kids in the same house. Who better to watch over 1000 elves! #RevPitWaiting

Hey #ChaosPit, welcome to #TheBlastVerse and ALIENS HAVE KIDNAPPED CHRISTMAS, an epic MG SF/Adventure from a guy that grew up on classic 80s films and tv! #writingcommunity #kidlit #amquerying #amwriting

Elfin loves being one of Santa’s elves. He brings this level energy! ALIENS HAVE KIDNAPPED CHRISTMAS #RevPitWaiting

Not necessarily for RevPit but I entered a mentorship contest and even though I didn’t get selected and editor still liked my story and offered some help. That first draft was all over the place but her feedback really helped me make it better. #RevPitWaiting

This is the beginning of #TheBlastVerse. Elfin and ALIENS start things off, then we have The Monster Squad, and wrap with my superhero twin adventure. These are the core stories of Generation 1. I’m also working on a STEM thriller with a Zendaya/MJ style lead MC. #RevPitWaiting

Looking for Black editors, especially those with interest in MG sci-fi/adventure type stories. Please and thank you! #amwriting #amquerying #kidlit #writingcommunity

I’ve been following @claribelortega.com probably since her early pitching days. Her journey definitely is an inspiration. But I owe my writing career to Quentin Tarantino. Kill Bill changed my world. Makes you wonder how I go from that to writing #kidlit. Story for another day. #RevPitWaiting

Another in the wild writing sesh, this time in the Starlight Cafe at Magic Kingdom. 6000 words in two days. Up to chapter 6. Let’s see what I finish the week at. #amwriting #amquerying #kidlit #writingcommunity

This is my parents dog Coco. Fun fact. I had a dog at like age 6 that my parents seem to have forgotten. We moved and they gave my dog away. Traumatized me. Could have been my villain origin story. No dog after that. I go to college..they get a dog again. This like dog #3 now. He’s really annoying 🤣

Today’s outdoor writing was this cozy pavilion at Epcot. I saw the Coco show like 3 times while I was there. Got up to chapter 5. Good session though. Tomorrow I’m at MK. #amwriting #amquerying #kidlit #writingcommunity

I don’t have a playlist myself but this would be the kind of music Elfin would be listening to while he does his thing. I will say Christmas in Hollis by Run DMC is probably my all time favorite Christmas song #RevPitWaiting open.spotify.com/playlist/6yF...

As a kid I’d say it was either the Scary Stories to Tell After Dark or the Choose Your Own Adventure. But as an adult I admit it was the Twilight series. I loved seeing the differences between the books and movies. #RevPitWaiting

“Alright elves. With me. LET’S ELFIN GO!” Fun fact. This slogan was not in my original drafts. I added it after watching Deadpool and Wolverine. If you seen the movie you know the part. I believed in it so much I trademarked it. Kids WILL be shouting that one day! #RevPitWaiting

Updated my moodboard for ALIENS HAVE KIDNAPPED CHRISTMAS, a #MG #SF #BIPOC new holiday classic, and the entry to the world known as #TheSantaverse where plucky Black nerdy elf Elfin has 24 hours to save the N Pole from an alien invasion on Xmas Eve #LetsElfinGo #RevPitWaiting

What makes Elfin who he is? The hopeful spirit of Buddy the Elf mixed with the nerdiness/curiosity of Urkel. Sprinkle some everyday hero against all odds like John McClane, and finish with the loyalty to Santa of a Jack Bauer. Watch him grow from timid nerd to Xmas hero in 24 hours! #RevPitWaiting

Welcome to #TheSantaverse. My book, ALIENS HAVE KIDNAPPED CHRISTMAS, is a #MG #SF adventure starring Elfin, a nerdy Black elf. Imagine someone like Urkel has to save a kidnapped Santa from an alien invasion on Xmas Eve in 24 hours else Xmas and the Earth are lost. No pressure. #RevPitWaiting

I’m Elvin. I write MG SF/adventures with Black MCs. Father of an almost 10 yo son. Based in Orlando. Originally from MD. Total nerd. Avid theme park attendee. Lover of all things superhero. Top 10% AMC Stubs watcher. Not much of a reader most of my ideas come from TV and movies. #RevPitWaiting

Little more insight into Elvin the author. Thanks to @pgcmls.bsky.social for laying a foundation for me as a kid that led me to writing today. #amwriting #amquerying #kidlit #writingcommunity

This guy’s story, ALIENS HAVE KIDNAPPED CHRISTMAS, has been submitted to #RevPit! We’ll see what happens! #LetsElfinGo #amwriting #amquerying #kidlit #writingcommunity

For those authors that self published how long start to finish did it take? From manuscript editing to physical book in hand? I’m curious. #amwriting #amquerying #kidlit #writingcommunity

Ventured out to Batuu to start working on my next WIP. Found a cozy corner here and just had a 2+ hour session. Got the first chapter draft done on a MG thriller with a Black female MC. It’s all about the pivot! #amwriting #amquerying #writingcommunity #kidlit

After a week of intensive querying I needed a break. This is our second year of float riding at the @universalorl.bsky.social Mardi Gras parade. Kids like him are why I do this. #amwriting #amquerying #writingcommunity #kidlit

Want to know the kinds of stories I love writing? Fun ones like this that get this kind of response! Me and my son approve. One day some kid will leave the Elfin's movie like this! #amquerying #amwriting #writingcommunity #kidlit

Busy week. When things aren’t going your way it’s time to pivot! I’ll just keep banging on doors til one opens. #amquerying #amwriting #WritingCommunity #kidlit

My boy Elfin is about to have the worst Christmas Eve since 1960. But there isn’t anywhere else he’d rather be that at the North Pole!

Exhausted. Got 7 queries out from leads on MSWL day. Also went back to an older WIP and realized I already had 18k words in a MG novel that might be more appealing for a debut novel. Might be time to pivot. #amwriting #amquerying #WritingCommunity #kidlit

First query of March out the door! #amwriting #amquerying #WritingCommunity #kidlit

Still on the agent hunt but getting some people watching and outdoor writing time in at my happy place. Where do yall do your “outside” writing at? #amwriting #amquerying #WritingCommunity #kidlit

Good morning, writers! I'm opening up for one day in celebration of #MSWL day. My Wish List is here: manuscriptwishlist.com/mswl-post/sh... Send me something to distract me from all of the horrors in the world right now. And share your cat photos if you'd like.

Dracula, Wolfman, Frankenstein, The Bride, The Mummy, and Gill-man. A group of tweens stumble upon an ancient gem that grants them the power to turn into these monsters to protect it from an ancient sorcerer determined to reclaim it and take over the world. 👻 🎃🧛🏼 #WSPit #MG #SF #Q #OWN #BIPOC

Xmas Eve. Santa kidnapped. N Pole under alien occupation. All elves held hostage except timid, black nerd elf Elfin. He has less than 24 hours to free the elves & save Santa/Xmas before the aliens can use Santa’s magic & tech to take over the Earth. #WhoBetrayedSanta #WSPit #MG #SF #OWN #BIPOC #Q🎅🏿👽

Starting my rewrite of my first book, codename Project BB, for the #100dayproject. Gonna take a 9k chapter book and see if I can make it like a 25-30k MG novel. #amwriting #amquerying #authorsofinstagram #writingcommunity #kidlit

It’s Friday and I sure need this weekend! How about you? Also where are my Ravenclaw authors? #amwriting #amquerying #writingcommunity #kidlit

Super Bowl Sunday I sent a query to an agent that was looking for my type of book. I just sent a query to one that is even more a fit. This might be the make or break one for me. Send prayers. Been a rough week! #amwriting #amquerying #WritingCommunity #kidlit

1/3 through my revision. Getting it in! #amwriting #amquerying #kidlit #WritingCommunity

Can my book be my Valentine? 🤣 #amquerying #amwriting #writingcommunity #kidlit #authorsofinstagram

Sad note: another rejection Happy note: 2 more chapters revised And 54 days before that email submission is considered a no No worries though. #amwriting #amquerying #kidlit #WritingCommunity