Check it out! So grateful to have been awarded this scholarship in honour of such an inspirational #kidlit author, @kateywrites.bsky.social @boydsmills.bsky.social is truly a magical place and I can’t wait to go back this summer!

Congratulations to artist María J. Guarda. Her picture book, PALOMA FLIES AWAY has been nominated for the Carnegie Medal for Illustration! This beautiful book leaves a forever imprint @walkerbooksuk.bsky.social @carnegiemedals.bsky.social @stormliterary.bsky.social carnegies.co.uk/illustration...

#WritingCommunity Good critique groups are everything. First met these beautiful writers 3 yrs ago on zoom and despite living all over N America, they’ve become some of the people I love and trust most. It was so fun bringing them all to Canada for our own mini writers’ retreat!

Was working on my MS on the plane yesterday and the flight attendant did a double take when passing by and said, “Wait, are you writing a book? Are you an author?” And for the first time ever - with no excuses or apologies - I said yes and it felt great.

Not a bad place to find the end of a rainbow. #NiagaraFalls

When your critique partner BFF gets a six figure deal in the current MG market? You can’t help but be just a teensy bit proud ❤️ I am telling you friends, this book is going to be HUGE!

20 years of teaching in the books! You’d think I’d feel like I knew what I was doing at this point…

When 4/5 of your CP’s are on sub in the tumultuous MG market, your writing group zoom meetings easily become the most exciting part of your week.

When your agent braves the Disney crowds to meet for lunch in person. Thanks @essiewhite.bsky.social @stormliterary.bsky.social It was so lovely to connect!

While these girls spent the day at the pool training for the @canadaartisticswimming National Qualifier, I spent the day reading, writing, and wandering the beaches, parks, and harbours of Victoria. 😊

Completing 9000 words worth of report card comments this week counts as hitting my writing goals, right?

The sun sets on another year. Excited to see what 2025 will bring!

My writing group is the best. There’s so much vulnerability and trust involved in sharing and critiquing each other’s work, celebrating the wins, and weathering the losses. It’s a crazy industry, and I am so grateful that my writing besties are along every step of the way.

Having brilliant critique partners is the best. Yesterday, one of my CP’s got potentially VERY good news, and the rest of us bounced around like little kids until we were all able to jump on a zoom call and blubber about it. Everyone deserves to be supported like this.

i love you libraries i love you museums i love you botanical gardens i love you public parks i love you art galleries

Yep, it was worth the hype. #taylorswifterastour

Nothing brings neighbours together like commiserating about the weather while shovelling a foot of snow off your driveway.

It’s time for my ever-growing thread of tax write-offs for authors & illustrators to keep in mind as we head into year-end. ✨ Book-related travel ✨ New computer/equipment ✨ Internet / office space ✨ Paper, office stuff, packaging items, stamps ✨ Software like Word, Scrivener, Canva Pro etc.

Oh gosh. So many! Let’s see… Jason Reynolds Judy Blume Kristin Hannah Ruth Ware John Green

Pinned post time! Writer friends! Did you know I maintain a bundle of resources, to help you on your querying journey? 📝 20 query letters! 📚 6 book proposals! 🕵🏼‍♀️ Guides for finding agents! 🚀 A guide on writing IP! All free. Though I won’t say no to a coffee. ❤️ www.ericsmithrocks.com/perfect-pitch

Welcoming so many new voices to Bluesky this week! If you're just starting out, Starter Packs are a great way to find your communities here! Here's one for MG novelists - a list of folks to follow for writing life posts, craft tips, book recs, & more! go.bsky.app/F5Ru7T2

I am so excited to announce that I signed with the fabulous Essie White of Storm Literary. I love that Essie shares, not only my passion for children’s literature , but my passion for the kids themselves. I can’t wait to see what we put into the world!

Merry Christmas from the real life snow globe I woke up in today. ❄️☃️

Remember receiving the Sears Wishbook and circling all of the things you wanted for Christmas? My daughter just sent me a 25-page Google slides presentation, complete with color-coding based on levels of want, buy-here links, and a cost comparative analysis. 🙄

#WritingCommmunity Have you ever full-out bawled when writing an emotionally-charged scene before?? I mean, I’ve definitely cried while reading, but today I sobbed while writing. And now I need to binge eat some chocolate.

Planning on spending the day swapping out my summer clothes for winter clothes in preparation of the snow forecast for later this week. Thank you for the support on this day of mourning.

I’ve never been so thankful for a rejection. But today’s was in a jury summons for a child sexual abuse case. So glad I wasn’t chosen for this one.

And this is why I teach 4th grade. ❤️

Received another grant this week, this time $5500 from @artsedmonton. So grateful to be in Canada, where even if my books aren’t making money yet, grants can help me stay afloat and keep writing.

1000’s of pages critiqued 100’s of texts sent Dozens of meetings on zoom And one awesome writing retreat where we get to meet in person! Love my CP’s ❤️ @Shanna_Upchurch @daisyxmachina @JenniferLWrites

Just finished Marianne Cronin’s masterful 100 Years of Lenni and Margot. What an incredible tribute to inter-generational love and friendship. Couldn’t be a better read on the week of my 97–yr-old grandfather’s passing.