I am HONORED to be an Honorable Mention and to see my name next to those of so many talented friends! Thank you @viviankirkfield.bsky.social, judges, and my stellar CPs for another great #50PreciousWords experience!

It's Friday the 13th (again)! What a lucky time to share my (un)lucky #13th Place win in this year's #Valentiny Writing Contest! Thank you to Susanna Leonard Hill for this charming contest and to @jilanne.bsky.social for your generous prize! 💚🏈 #kidlit #WritingCommunity

#kidlit people: how do you format an author-only graphic novel manuscript for kids? I would love any templates, samples, or resources!

I almost forgot to post the entry I wrote weeks ago. Don't be like me—share before it's too late!

When Miles misses the classic language milestones, he and Mama must find other ways to communicate or risk constant frustration and isolation. From gestures to echoes and beyond, they embark on a Gestalt language processing journey together. #QuestPit #PB #Q #ND

When Matty loses his mitten before the first big snow of the season, Mom lays down the law: both hands must be mittened or Matty will miss out on the fun. An unorthodox solution gets him out the door, but he’ll need to dig deep if he wants to enjoy the snow with just one mitten. #QuestPit #PB #Q

After Cinderella leaves her bestie in the dust to run off with “Prince Charming,” Pumpkin wants revenge. When the clock strikes midnight, so does she. Talk about A FRACTURED FAIRYTALE. #QuestPit #PB #WIP

When Leo thinks about starting kindergarten without his hero—big brother Troy, who leaves for college before the Big Day—he finds himself beset by nightmares. Troy comes to the rescue one last time, but Leo will have to find a way to face his fears on his own. #QuestPit #PB #Q

Ahhh!! I am completely delighted that my creepy little entry was a winner! Thank you, @lydialukidis.bsky.social and @kaitlynleann17.bsky.social for hosting, and an extra-special thank you to @professoraixa.bsky.social for selecting my entry! 🎃

What a fabulous, inclusive concept...and what beautiful art! 😍

When the garlic-loving, blood-hating Belladonna can no longer bear the weight of her secret double life, she must choose between a hunger strike (look out for hangry Belladonna!) and telling her friends the truth (perhaps losing them forever). #DVPit #PB #Q #HA

Literal Leigh’s diet has her feeling sluggish. Mom tells her she is what she eats, but Leigh doesn’t eat slugs! Still, she plows ahead with a new mantra: I am what I eat! When her solution is too literal, Leigh must find a middle ground or risk certain doom. #DVPit #Q #PB #ND #HA

Miles’s words have a mind of their own; try as he might, he cannot contain them. A gift from Mom and Dad might help Miles take control over his words...or the gift might take control over Miles. #DVPit #PB #Q #SEL #ND

Starting kindergarten w/o your hero is NOT for the faint of heart, but maybe if the hero gives you his shield–& a little bit of magic–you can stave off your fears and forge your own path. Fans of Bluey’s “Sleepytime” will love AND DRAGONS TO SLAY BEFORE I WAKE. #DVPit #Q #PB #rhyming

TIPTOE TINA, BALLERINA is ready for the spotlight! There are only two problems: (1) her family is too distracted to be a good audience and (2) her ballet slippers are missing. But Tina knows the show must go on... #DVpit #PB #Q #HA #rhyming

When Cyril the Coptic camel finds himself with a smell stuck in his nose, he must discover the source if he hopes to shake it loose. Heading up a caravan, Cyril leads his friends on an olfactory journey through the desert, past the Mediterranean Sea, and into the heart of Cairo. #DVPit #OWN #PB #Q

Bah! Humbug! Someone has stolen Christmas *again*, but it wasn't the Grinch this time. If the perp doesn't turn things around, someone REALLY unexpected might end up on the Naughty List. #DVPit #PB #HA #Q [in acquisitions, as start of #holiday series]

Alice loves to wander down The Rabbit Hole with Dad in search of treasure. When a new treasure gives her the power to hold the past in her hands, she creates a nature-inspired time machine in THE SNAKESKIN SYCAMORE. #DVPit #PB

#DVPit #Q Fahrenheit 451 x Extra Yarn. As beloved literary characters disappear into THE DUMP, the bookish narrator struggles to navigate an increasingly dreary landscape. When it all becomes too much to bear, he ventures in after them to uncover a vibrant surprise. #BannedBooksWeek #PB #dystopian

Because I cannot be the only — Fan of Emily — I must Invite You all to meet — This growing Family: BECAUSE I CANNOT SPEAK MYSELF Explores the Fetal scene — From prenatal gymnastics to A Babe’s inaug’ral scream! #UnhingedPit #PB #Q #humor

Life goal: Write a ban-worthy book. Strategy: Write a #dystopian #pb about book banning Humble brag: An agent has already declined representation, saying "[a dystopian picture book] is not a good idea." One step closer to my goal! #UnhingedPit #Q

Everyone knows MUTE Miles*—I also call him CHATTERBOX, all those chemicals—got a bad deal with the Tylenol. Horrible. But now they're saying BLAISE, THE DINOSORTA had autism, too, before Tylenol was invented? FAKE NEWS PEOPLE!!! #unhingedpit #pb #q *STILL WATERS (pb)

MUTE Miles has to gesture with his tiny hands because MEDICATION Mama couldn't stop popping pills. SAD!! I've said it before—and I've said it so well and so beautifully, no doctor has said it like I have—taking Tylenol is not good. #UnhingedPit #pb #q #nd

If your tastes for verse skew a little more free Forgive me THIS CHRISTMAS, I MUST SAY may be just the dish you need. #UnhingedPit #PB #Q #humor

Should you prefer heroic tales Of sweet fraternal feats, AND DRAGONS TO SLAY BEFORE I WAKE Your scrutiny entreats. #UnhingedPit #PB #Q

TIPTOE TINA, BALLERINA #UnhingedPit #PB #Q

Sweet agents who dabble in rhyme, I beg but a beat of your time. My instinct for meter Just couldn’t be sweeter: Delectable, scrumptious, sublime! #UnhingedPit #PB #Q

Question for my #PB #kidlit people: Would anyone be interested in a critique service that caters specifically to rhyming manuscripts? It seems like many critique services focus on non-rhyming stories, and I LOVE working in rhyme.

as an older teen I took stock of myself, recognized my dorkiness and looks far outweighed any charisma, and decided my main activity of acting was never going to be it for me professionally and I’d better stick with the writing I’d always done quietly on my own THE BETRAYAL OF THE SOCIAL MEDIA AGE

When garlic-loving, blood-hating vampire Belladonna can no longer bear the weight of her secret double life, she must choose between a hunger strike (look out for hangry Belladonna!) and telling her friends the truth (perhaps losing them forever). #QuestPit #PB #Q #HA #ND

As Cyril walked through Egypt land, Suddenly he froze When something struck his nasal gland… What’s stuck in his nose? And his friends said, “Cyril Camel, Sneezing up storms of sand, Tell us, tell us: What’s stuck in your nose?” Coptic culture #QuestPit #OWN #HA #Q #PB

Bah! Humbug! Someone has stolen Christmas *again*, but it wasn't the Grinch this time. If the perp doesn't turn things around, someone REALLY unexpected might end up on the Naughty List. #QuestPit #PB #HA #Q [in acquisitions, as start of #holiday series]

Miles is frustrated not to be meeting milestones, and Mama worries as she watches Miles melt down in the face of his frustrations…but that is NOT their story. They learn early on to run their own race, celebrating wins on Miles’ schedule and in Miles’ style. #QuestPit #Q #PB #ND

Some very good news for your Monday! The right to read won BIG in Texas on Saturday. Thank you & congratulations to Frank & everyone else who made this happen!

I'm having a great time getting my bedtime story ready for the ICL contest. @lamortensen.bsky.social, does the rule excluding illustrations also prohibit art notes?

I am beyond delighted to be included in the #50PreciousWords Winner's Circle! Thank you to @viviankirkfield.bsky.social and the judges, and a huge shout out to the many familiar names among the winners and HMs! Most of all, immense gratitude to my boy, who inspired my precious words.🩵

When treasure-hunting Alice discovers her first snakeskin, she finds herself inspired to search for a new kind of treasure: time. With Dad's help, Alice finds a way to hold time in her hands in THE SNAKESKIN SYCAMORE. #LuckyPit #PopUpPitA #PB

🔥Fahrenheit 451 x Extra Yarn🔥 THE DUMP is a dystopian picture book. Speculative. Fiction. The headlines below are real. Recent. Threatening. It's time to stand up for books. No one comes back from the dump. #LuckyPit #PopUpPitA #PB

Fahrenheit 451 x Extra Yarn. As beloved literary characters disappear into THE DUMP, the bookish narrator struggles to navigate an increasingly dreary landscape. When it all becomes too much to bear, he ventures in after them to uncover a vibrant surprise. #QuestPit #PB #Q

"'Because we're dismissing kids,' he said. 'And if we think that children's books are anything less than real literature, it's because we think kids are something less than real people. If we believe they're real people, then they deserve good art.'" #kidlit ❤️ www.npr.org/2025/02/06/n...

Hey #writingcommunity friends! As the host of #YouDeservepIt I’ll be boosting as many pitches I can today from here and the @youdeservepit.bsky.social account! If you want a boost please let me know below!! Cheering ✨LOUDLY✨for all of you! (& please feel free to boost my pinned post if willing 🤗)

What do these books all have in common? A history of being BANNED. In my #dystopian #pb THE DUMP, characters who have been banished never return. As the once Technicolor world fades to gray, the bookish MC decides the time has come to take action. #P2Ppit #q #contemporary

This Is Not My Hat meets How the Grinch Stole Christmas in THIS CHRISTMAS, I MUST SAY, the very unmerry confession of a badly behaved reveler. #P2Ppit #pb #q #humor

Starting kindergarten without your hero is NOT for the faint of heart, but maybe if the hero gives you his shield – and a little bit of magic– you can stave off your fears and forge your own path. Fans of Bluey’s “Sleepytime” will love AND DRAGONS TO SLAY BEFORE I WAKE. #P2Ppit #pb #q #rhyme

With any luck, by next year I'll be working with an agent... But for now let me say, Without hope or agenda, Just because it's Christmas... (And at Christmas you tell the truth) My Christmas PB is perfect And my wasted talent will press on Until I look like this... Merry Christmas, kidlit community!

Hey, #PB people! Would anyone be up for a little manuscript ranking swap? It could include notes or stick to rankings only. I'd love some input as I decide what to prioritize when I start querying again in the new year. 😊 #kidlitmegafeed

Saw someone upbraiding someone else for having a hobby while the world is on fire, and, my friends: 1. The world is ever on fire, this is today's conflagration; 2. If you don't find time for rest and joy the fire will consume you; 3. Don't let people shame you for being an entire human.

❌Fleeing from asteroids ❌Roaring in the choir ❌Snacking on sushi & steg tartare Blaise just doesn't fit in with the other dinosaurs...until a restorative nap turns transformative and changes everything. Can Blaise learn to navigate these changes without losing his friends? #HoliPit #PB #humor #SEL

Matty has two hands and only one mitten. He can’t build a snowman, make an angel, or throw a snowball, but with enough ingenuity, he just may revolutionize the snow day formula. The Snowy Day meets Journey in MATTY’S MITTEN. #HoliPit #pb #humor

Belladonna hates blood and loves garlic, which makes her something of an odd duck in the vampire community. Growing weary of pretending to be something she's not, Belladonna must choose between going hangry and potentially losing her friends. #HoliPit #PB #humor