I wrote about what it meant to carve out the time to braid for the MidAtlantic Horse Rescue's Thoroughbred Show this weekend! (And what it means to carve out the time to train a green horse, too!) www.chronofhorse.com/article/why-...

Today, the Baltimore Fishbowl published my thoughts on sharing my picture book, “Call Your Mother.” I talk about cherishing the mother figures in our lives, and being motherly to all, when we can. @familiusbooks.bsky.social

🎉 HAPPY PUB DAY 🎉 We're so excited to add these three titles to our Familius #bookshelf! 📚 "Superbloom" by Mark Lisk 📚 "100 First Words for Little Texans" by Christopher Robbins and illustrated by Gareth Williams 📚 "I'm a Baby" by Terry Pierce and illustrated by Volha Kaliaha #BookLaunch

In a great personal victory, I figured out how to spell onomatopoeia without looking it up today

Picture book writing tip: if you're using the word "things," can you swap it for something more specific? An editing client of mine just did this and I'm cracking up at her more specific replacement! This is a small change that can make a big difference.

Do you have your Mother's Day gifts yet? 💐 Because THIS book needs to be on your list! #MothersDay #GiftIdea #GiftsForMom #BooksForMom

Hidden in my overwhelming Monday inbox was some EXTREMELY exciting news from an editing client I'd last worked with...two years ago. That I can't even share details about yet. Y'all. This industry. Slower than molasses doesn't even come close. Hang in there!!

May I point you to my favorite list of small publishers that take unagented submissions of picture books? Huge thanks to Bitsy Kemper for maintaining this! bitsykemper.com/publishers/

Pssst I have a book that will make your mom or grandma cry (hopefully in a good way). Beautiful gift for Mother's Day! On sale with other great gifts via @familiusbooks.bsky.social: familius.com/gifts-for-mom/ Of course on Amazon: www.amazon.com/dp/1641709049 And many many indies!

I feel like this falls in the category of "don't read the reviews" but when an author friend unsubscribes from my email list and then adds me to theirs without an opt in...not gonna lie, I get salty!

I think the most important part of world building is having something to say about the real world. #kidlitchat

Just had a picture book editing client tell me "This book would be easier if it had not come to me in rhyme." UNIVERSAL TRUTH, ha

I feel like I've been yelling about the violations of human rights with this presidency but it does nothing to change anything. Those who thought this racist administration would only go after "illegal" or "criminal" immigrants were fooled. www.nytimes.com/2025/04/14/u...

Those of you who thought this racist administration would only go after "illegal" or "criminal" immigrants were downright fooled.

I wrote about how much I love shedding out horses for Chronicle of the Horse. Tissue warning: I do talk about the grief of losing my beloved horse and a lost dog *he sent* to cheer me up. Every now and then I step out from the kidlit world and write an essay! www.chronofhorse.com/article/conf...

Picture book query tip: Spoil the ending! So NOT: Will Little Sue save her project from disaster in time for the science fair? INSTEAD: Just in time, Little Sue realizes that if she uses different materials, she can still be ready in time for the science fair.

I am feeling really grateful for wonderful clients who send me wonderful books to work on!

But I think you need a paid subscription to see them sooooo lol

Thanks, Trump 🤯 www.thebaltimorebanner.com/economy/scie...

Writing a picture book query letter? I have a guide for them here! tracycgold.com/how-to-write... They are MUCH simpler and shorter than queries for novels.

Leaving line notes on picture books is so much fine. It's like "Would this be cuter?" "Awww!" "So funny!"

You know, it is wild how freelance life goes from "I don't have enough work and I'm going to run out of money" to "I have so much work I'll never be able to meet my deadlines" in about a blink of an eye

It's a really sad world where I have to tell a client that I'm only comfortable working on faith-based projects if those projects are inclusive/welcoming to all gender/racial identities. Religion has so much potential to do good in the world. But right now it is so often used to exclude and shame.

A lot of writers come to me asking for help editing their query letters. Yes, I can almost always find a way to make them better. But I also know lots of writers with great materials who are getting rejections in the current market. It is brutally competitive and there's an element of luck involved

Well this is kind of important. Just a little. @vanityfair.com www.vanityfair.com/news/story/t...

Look, I am not a big fan of AI illustrations. But until AI can get the number of fingers on a hand correct consistently, I don't think we have to worry too much. I mean, if you're gonna use AI, at least count the fingers.

A lot of new rhyming picture book writers are concerned with the syllable count of their lines. Who is out there teaching this? While counting syllables can be a helpful tool, what's most important is the rhythm: the pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables.

I am such an adult, I had two pb and js and a bunch of chicken nuggets for lunch...

For writers looking for critique partners, Susan Dennard has a blog post right now where you can meet critique partners in the comments! stdennard.substack.com/p/the-great-...

I prioritize my repeat clients and they get a faster turnaround but uh what happens if a month is...ALL repeat clients...what do I edit first? Will I have to make them wait? EEK!?

#picturebook tip on *metaphors*: I love a good metaphor. BUT PBs are for kids from age 4-8. Those kids CAN get metaphors. But they can also get super confused by them. Kids can be very literal. Be picky about your metaphors. Make sure they're easy to understand and try not to use too many!

Soooo if your husband clearly has not bought your FIL a bday gift despite several reminders…do you just let it ride bc it’s not your job? Or feel so guilty you just take over? I feel like most women do the latter but that’s not a fair division of emotional labor. (Nor is having to remind!!)

Today is not a horse barn day which means I have more time for working and cleaning... But will be actually spending that time looking at pictures of horses...

Is more coffee going to help me stay awake or just make my stomach upset...stay tuned to find out...

I am listening to “The Dream Hotel” by Laila Lalami and reading about Mahmoud Khalil. This book is way too freaking real. It’s a great, prescient read. It’s terrifying. And it’s a “Read with Jenna (Bush)” pick. I see a political stance in that pick and I like it. @prhaudio.bsky.social

In 1943 the US government made an antifascist film called "Don't Be a Sucker" in which we see a college professor in Germany removed from his classroom by government officials who do not approve of what he's teaching about race. youtu.be/vGAqYNFQdZ4?...

I am going to go further. If you still support Trump, you have been duped by a Russian agent.

If you still support Trump, you are on the wrong side of history. www.reuters.com/world/us/tru...

Coping mechanisms. Heated blanket, Bobo, Stardew Valley, and Suits. Normally I’m working or doing kid bed time this time of night but having a hard time sticking to the plan in the fall of democracy.

Lately I've been talking about how writing a great book isn't a guarantee that you will be traditionally published. There are many, many great books that get rejected because of bad luck or timing or because they don't seem like they'll make the publisher enough money for whatever reason.

Just saying that, like many people, we can’t afford to sell our Tesla (bought well before the election!!!) but we CAN afford an anti-Elon bumper sticker from Etsy! We tanked the price of Teslas! Yay! Vote with our dollars! But uh now we’re stuck with ours.

I don’t understand why Trump is requiring federal workers to come into the office but also…trying to sell federal buildings? I feel like I’m living inside a Dali painting. Make it make sense.

1. Get needed things to people. We can be a lifeline. Food, housing assistance, medical funds. Donate to those in need through either money, time, or skill. - Help with community food banks - Offer clothing repair - Donate to GoFundMes - Drive for nonprofits - Be generous with childcare offers

Is someone going around telling writers to full justify their manuscripts? Left justify, please! The shifting letters make my head hurt as an editor!

My writer friends, making changes to your work based on feedback is an emotionally vulnerable, BRAVE thing to do. The more you like the work, the harder and braver it is. Stay strong and give yourself a pat on the back for putting in the work. (Yes, I'm talking to myself.)

Please, if you’re Jewish and visibly white, don’t go around saying you’re not white as it pertains to privilege. Saying this as a half-Jew.

When I finish a task and there are only 30 mins left before I pick up my kid I swear my brain just like turns into a jellyfish? I don't have enough time to finish anything! (This is also why I hate days that are booked with meetings and appointments. I become a useless blob in between.)

I'm in a bad mood so I'm going to go argue politics with strangers on the internet. Hmm, why am I still in a bad mood?! IMAGINE!

This scrum of pot-bellied, sunken-chested betas trying to bully an all-black clad badass Eastern European wasteland survivor while dressed like Men’s Wearhouse mannequins is peak cinema.