so exciting to see both Eelgrass Bog AND Bitterfly Bay on the back cover of The Week Jr magazine!! alongside some other fabulous Penguin Young Readers titles!!!

autumn bog <3

Making time for reading is not always in the cards, but this past week, I've made it a priority. Now about halfway through The Curse of Eelgrass Bog - @maryaverling.bsky.social - and having a hard time putting it down to do the essentials. Like grocery shopping... #SlowReadersClub

Great list of #spooky #mg books! Love seeing books by fellow @spookymiddlegrade.bsky.social authors @allyoutthere.bsky.social @dwgillespie.bsky.social Delilah Dawson & @maryaverling.bsky.social Thank you @popgoesthereader.bsky.social #kidlit

apparently they comped THE BURN BEAST to "MG ONLY THE GOOD INDIANS meets a horror version of THE MOSSHEART'S PROMISE" at launch and I'm living for it!!!

Spooktastic <3

So much fun at the Spooktastic Bookfair yesterday!!!! Thanks to @alyssaalessi.bsky.social! What a great event! Loved seeing my MG horror fam @lorasenf.bsky.social @lorienlawrence.bsky.social @maryaverling.bsky.social

also if anyone comes to Spooktastic this weekend and asks nicely I will 100000% show you 🤩

BURN BEAST cover artist is working at a breakneck pace omg because we have COLOUR OPTIONS AND STOPPP THESE ARE ALL TOO GOOD I AM GOING TO BURST

🎃 55 Scary (and Not-So-Scary) 2025 Middle Grade Books To Get Readers In The Halloween Spirit 🎃 popgoesthereader.com/55-scary-and... #BookSky #KidLit #MGLit

okay but the new hardcover (library copy!) i'm reading right now retails at $41.99 CAD and um yes since when did books cost that much

updated BURN BEAST cover sketch has landed and all i have to say is EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE 🥹😱

Happening next Saturday!!! I'll be in Framingham MA for Spooktastic, alongside many many other wonderful horror authors!! Hope to see you there!!

Check out our September newsletter here : open.substack.com/pub/hwauk/p/... Newton talks to @edenroyce.bsky.social and Mary Averling- trust us when we say you don’t want to miss out on those interviews, whether you’re a reader, writer, and/or fan! They know their craft! #UKhorror #horror #books

tbh whenever I'm given cover sketches I should be allowed 4-8 business days to simply Sit & Stare. How am I supposed to do ANYTHING ELSE in these conditions??

ahhhh BURN BEAST cover sketches have arrived!!! and they're all so good!!! deciding is impossible but ahhhh!!!!

If you are a published Canadian author or illustrator and opposed to book bans, you might want to join the newly formed Canadian Authors and Illustrators Against Book Bans (CAIABB). Here's the links to our sign up page, Instagram and more: linktr.ee/caiabb

lol why didn't anyone tell me??

someone needs to adopt this earless cat or so help me

Promo is a weird thing in the in-between. Months/years after release, I'm never sure what to say aside from PLEASE BUY MY BOOKS ♡ so ... yes. As spooky season approaches, please consider supporting my strange, dark little middle grade stories!!

SENT MY AGENT THE NEXT DRAFT OF MY VERSE NOVEL. CRIED. YES WE HAVE LOTS OF FEELINGS OVER HERE. CARRY ON.

Last day for this, friends! Support a great cause and get feedback on your work!!

One week til classes start, and I just moved into my new office 🥰 Still pinching myself that I get to teach creative writing at a university!!

my partner just interviewed for a dream job that would mean we both get to move to a dream place, so we are gathering all the good luck that you can spare!! 🙏🦄

And here are 12 fabulous, inclusive middle grade fantasy books that take place outside of school, but we’ll allow it. (Hey, the dismissal bell has to ring sometime. 😉) What I love about all 30 of the books in this thread is the way they include *every* kid in fantasy adventures!

Yesterday I had the immense delight of seeing my name on a friend's *stunning* cover reveal and it made me realize how lucky I've been to blurb so many excellent books over the past year. Getting to scream about books before they've been released is one of the coolest parts of being an author <3

just a little PSA that my website is currently down! got some big bills + tuition imminently due so I haven't been able to renew my domain, but hopefully I can get it up again soon <3 until then, my email is [email protected] if you need to contact me! or DMs, as always!

the coolest thing about being a middle grade author will always be hearing how kids were "starstruck" to interact with me :')

I'm donating a query + 5pg critique to the #WeThePeople summer fundraiser, with benefits going to #kidlitforceasefire and trans and immigrant rights <3 There are SO many incredible items for grabs, so make sure to check it out before August 27: www.32auctions.com/organization...

oooh bluesky I forgot to tell you all but we've chosen BURN BEAST's cover artist and ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

THE BURN BEAST is officially off to copyedits!! 🔥🌲

after lots of strategy talk with my wonderful agent, we are officially drafting something NEW and different and exciting!! whether or not I can pull it off remains to be seen lol but still!! onward!!

THE BURN BEAST line edits sent back to my editor!! And yes this book still makes me cry!!! Let's get angsty and fight demons in 2026!!!

Hey Bluesky! Excited to announce that I'll be returning to Spooktastic Festival this September!! www.instagram.com/p/DM-LBU0gJls/

update: she likes it!!! says it's "delicious"!!

just sent my agent a pitch for something I am SO VERY JAZZED ABOUT please cross your fingers for me!!!

some adorable BITTERFLY BAY feedback from kid readers in the Winnipeg Free Press!! www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-lif...

publicly announcing that imposter syndrome is kicking my ass right now and I'm mad about it 😤

BURN BEAST line edits in my inbox!!!!

Bluesky!! Help me choose my new author headshot???

We’ve got stories that reflect the rainbow. 🌈 Our Rainbow Reads list for kids and teens celebrates identity, inclusion, and being true to yourself. Find something joyful, thoughtful, or affirming to read this Pride! buff.ly/XxQnaMG

Today on the blog I talk fear and @maryaverling.bsky.social THE GHOSTS OF BITTERFLY BAY. A fantastic middle grade horror! kathleenpalm.wordpress.com/2025/07/07/f... 📚🩸

They clearly have awesome people doing the buying because I spied so many of my friends! There were several books from @adriannacuevas.bsky.social, @maryaverling.bsky.social and @lorasenf.bsky.social on the shelves!

Horror folks, what are some of your favourite short stories? Finalizing my syllabus, and I want to make sure I'm not missing any hidden gems!

I have my classroom assignment for the horror course I'm teaching at uni next semester, and it's really sinking in that I get to run my very own creative writing class! like!!! 🤗

plus EELGRASS BOG has a really pretty cover! so y'know please consider picking up a copy from your local indie or requesting from a library? queer MG needs your support <3 (and also this book has Shrunken Jim. Shrunken Jim is cool.)

also apropos of nothing THE CURSE OF EELGRASS BOG is gay and my upcoming middle grade THE BURN BEAST is even gayer so respectfully you can pry queer books for kids from my cold, dead hands. you don't get to 'opt out' of acknowledging someone's existence just because they're different from you.

Thrilled to see THE GHOSTS OF BITTERFLY BAY on the Winnipeg Free Press's summer reading list for their kids' book club!! 🥳🍁 www.winnipegfreepress.com/kids-book-club

Our statement in response to the Supreme Court ruling in Mahmoud v Taylor. Image thread with alt text. 1/4

next round of BURN BEAST developmental edits have been sent back to my editor!!!! and guess what!!! despite reading it a million billion times, I still love this book and cannot WAIT to share it with you in 2026!!!!