This looks like Pokémon meets Animal Crossing…shut up and take my money! 😍

I just watched K-Pop Demon Hunters and enjoyed it way more than I thought I would! 😜😉😃

So…after spending several years contemplating going to grad school, I researched my options, degrees, and programs. I got accepted into my #1 choice, Hamline MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults!!!!! 🎉 If all goes well, I will start in January and I’m excited! (Also nervous and scared, lol!)

I spent a few days writing a query letter for one of my books and I’m decently pleased with my progress. Not sure I will actually query again anytime soon but it’s nice to keep thinking in that direction 😊

this iconic advertising copywriter named Kathy Hepinstall Parks died over the weekend and I wanted to share something from her website I thought Bluesky would like

I was accepted into a grad school program!!!!!! 🥹😄❤️ More details next week… 😉

Not sure who to credit this quote to but it hits true ❤️‍🩹

After putting up with pain in my foot so a few weeks, I finally went to the doctor and learned I have a stress fracture. He wants me to lay off exercise for at least 4-6 weeks, which is super irritating…but…it might translate into more writing if I make good use of my time 🤔

I have a writing project that I’ve been working on for over two years that I tinker with when I lack inspiration for anything else. I don’t ever plan to publish or let anyone else see, but it’s my go-to when I need reminding that writing makes me happy. It’s a useful project to have 😊

Current writing projects: •an essay and creative work for an application (more on this later if anything comes of it) •revising a YA sci-fi to maybe query •rewriting a MG historical fiction I wrote a few years ago into a novel in verse So yeah. I’m quiet on social media, but keeping busy-ish 😊✍🏻📝

My dog bit my face last night. I’ve got a few tiny scratches, nothing serious. And while I take full responsibility for putting my face too close to him and unintentionally setting him off, I’m still mad at him no matter how cute he is 😢

I attended a Two-Day MFA workshop given by four faculty members for Hamline’s MFAC and it was worth every penny I paid for it! 😊

I’m still alive! I’m still writing (but took a pause in querying for my mental health…in fact I’m considering other options…will discuss later if it becomes a thing) I’m going to try posting here more instead of the-place-formally-known-as-Twitter, because it’s a literal hellscape 😳

Finally heard back from my full request. It was a rejection. A form rejection on a full. I'm not going to comment because I get agents have lives but... *sigh*...it's just the sad last nail in that coffin. I'm already in the process of trying to decide what to query next

I sent my last query in January (even then, I was pretty much already done with it for this manuscript, the last real batch went out in November). All queries are now closed, either with no response or rejection. I only have one open full request left I still haven’t heard back from…

Excited to announce our 3rd annual MGHub Off-Social-Media pitching event for all ages of kidlit: PB / CB / MG / YA Click to learn more… #mglit #kidlit #pitch

My querying and writing is going absolutely nowhere. I have no intention of quitting, that would only make me more unhappy. What I really need is a writing critique group to join. My last group kinda died. Is there anyone out there in a group with room for another writer? I write MG and YA ☺️

Is it really a thing to use whole body deodorant instead of just…taking a shower? 🤔🤷🏼‍♀️

Update: Our truck was found. After some repairs and having to get new license plates, we got it back! A massively annoying experience, but it could have been worse 😬

I gave my MS to 3 beta readers in October. One of them finished the read and sent notes 😊👍🏻 The other 2 are silent, even after checking in and saying if they can’t do it’s, that’s fine, I’d just like to know, I won’t be mad. Nothing. Should I check in again and risk being annoying or just move on?

Rare snow in southeast Texas ❄️

This book’s jacket unfolds into a poster that says, “Have a panic attack. You’ve earned it.” 😂😂😂😂

Finished reading the first book for the year and did NOT enjoy it. Hopefully this isn’t a sign for the rest of my reading this year. I mean, it can only go uphill from here, right? 🤔📚

After taking a writing break, I'm back at it today, revising my latest MG. I checked the state of my queries yesterday, looking for more agents, but my options are running thin so I may just wait to see how the outstanding queries turn out and then move on if I need to 😊🤞

I needed to hear this. My brain isn’t necessarily in trauma mode, but 2024 was rough mentally. I barely managed to read 40 books this year, which is significantly less than normal for me, and it’s okay! ❤️‍🩹

Being an author means having the audacity to believe you have something worth saying, the humility to take feedback & rewrite til you say it right, the vulnerability to put a piece of yourself into the world, & the toughness to weather the rejection that comes. - Why every author needs a therapist

Personal reflections on 2024: I got back out there are started querying again. Not much to show for it yet, but I’m trying and that’s what counts 💪🏻😊 I’m attempting to take control of my mental health by seeing a therapist regularly. This is, by far, my best accomplishment ❤️‍🩹

2024’s last slap in the face…our truck was stolen yesterday. Long story, but I’m just so done with this year and need a fresh start 😩

Looking for a new cute Christmas movie to enjoy? I recommend “That Christmas” on Netflix, it’s very sweet ❤️🎄

I need to read six books in December to meet my reading goal for the year…can I do it???? 🤓📚 It’s not the end of the world if I don’t get there, but it’s fun to try 😉

My husband caved and got an artificial Christmas tree this year, I’m shocked! But also pleased. It was on sale, looks nice, and wasn’t hard to put up. Also, it’s pre- lit and doesn’t shed needles. I don’t see a downside here… 😜😂🎄

At least it’s not an outright rejection but my brain keeps spinning this as, “Is my query in the maybe pile or did it get forgotten?” 😂🤔 #querying #kidlit

We have a Starter Pack of them! Next up is @holipit.bsky.social, on Dec 15th! go.bsky.app/UzNMwUV

WHAT? A graphic novel version of one of my favorite books ever??? Yes, please!!!! 😍

Since things are picking up here a bit, here’s my re-introduction: I’m a previously agented querying writer of MG and YA (sci-fi, fantasy, contemporary, and a random historical fiction). When I’m not writing I like photography, crochet, Legos, watching football, and singing 👋🏻🤓

It’s time for the Annual Goodreads Choice Awards and they again failed to recognize any book categories for kids except for YA 😢 Why do they hate kidlit readers and authors so much? Goodreads, please explain!

I’m going to try to be on here more…but also not leaving the “other place”. We’ll see how that goes. Anyway, sum up of my writing life. Querying is slow. Had a partial request that ended in rejection. Then this week was crap but I got a full request last night so there are still reasons to smile 😊

I officially started querying again this week! It’s rough out there for MG authors like myself, especially now, so please wish me luck because I’m going to need all of it I can get! 😊🤞🏻

I’m not here much but might try to do better. Writer update: I’ve been working on my query and synopsis and I’m getting close to start querying again (I ended up unagented at the beginning of the year). Slow progress is still progress! 😊👍🏻

How Teddy is staying warm in these below freezing temps 😂 (yes that’s a heating pad, yes it’s on, he loves it) 🐶❤️

Two more Lego flower/plant sets I built while I’m on a writing break 😍

Going through my finished MSs to see what, if any, could be queried: 1 will never see the light of day 😂 2 have been on sub 1 is a just finished rough draft 2 could possibly be queried with little revision 2 others could be queried after major revision 🤔

I got a writing idea inspiration at 12:30am last night, then I couldn’t sleep. As much as I really wanted to sleep, I’m so happy to be getting those “Ah hah!” moments at all, I’ll take them whenever and deal with the consequences later 😴❤️✍🏻📚 #amwriting #WritingCommmunity

I had to Google what those Stanley Cup things even were and why people are getting in line at 3am to buy them and…I still don’t get it? 🤷🏼‍♀️

I can finally talk about this publicly! The reason I am now unagented is because my agent left the business. There’s a little more to it for me on a personal level, but it doesn’t matter, she’s not an agent anymore, therefore I no longer have an agent. It happens 🤷🏼‍♀️ #amwriting

It’s Jan. 1st and that means I waste no time putting the Christmas decorations away. Is that weird or normal? (I don’t care either way, I’m gonna be me)

My reading accomplishments in 2023 📚😊👍🏻❤️

I loved putting the Lego orchid set together so much, I got the succulents to go with it. And I have another flower set on the way 😂❤️