What a delight to hear @mccallhoylebooks.bsky.social interviewed on one of my favorite podcasts, Middle Grade Matters! Give it a listen: open.spotify.com/episode/4iji... #kidlit #middlegrade @shannonballoon.bsky.social

Love this contest! I'm already perusing the photos and cooking up some ideas. Entries are due by Oct 3. Happy writing, everybody! #fallwritingfrenzy #kidlit #contests #amwriting

Check out my entry into the Second Annual Kidlit Chuckle Challenge hosted by @aprilberrybooks.bsky.social! There's still time to enter if you want to give it a go 🙂 (And thanks to all of the wonderful organizers and judges! You are the best!) mandyfletcherwrites.com/2025/09/15/t...

The Chuckle Challenge Man, do I love kidlit writing contests. And I was delighted to discover a relatively new one! Run by the fabulous April Berry (anyone who runs a fun writing contest is absolutely fabulous in my book!) and guest judged by several authors I follow, the Second Annual Chuckle…

Anyone else entering this contest? I've been a bit preoccupied this month, but I think I might still give it a go.

So honored that my PB was among the LIKED in this contest! Fingers crossed it'll get more love as the results from the other agents and editors come in.

Two more months until this writing intensive! I cannot wait!! Be sure to reserve your seat soon!

One of my favorite @stephenking.bsky.social novels releases as a full length feature Friday AND @markhamillofficial.bsky.social is in the cast?! Worlds collide!! 🤯 Pre-ordering my ticket to The Long Walk now!

Just picked up our copy of @mccallhoylebooks.bsky.social's new release FOREVER RIPLEY. Cannot wait to dig into this!!! @scbwi.bsky.social @scbwi-sobreeze.bsky.social #kidlit #middlegrade

This makes me wish I could draw better... Illustrators, you don't want to miss this!

Query Update: September 2025 As summer comes to a close, I've nearly reached my goal of 100 queries. Woo-hoo! Here are the stats for September: Total queries sent: 92 queries sent (4 editors, 88 agents)Rejections/no reply: 69 Requests: 5 Sadly, I received a kind rejection this morning on the…

Inspired by this delightful graphic novel by @leilaboukarim.bsky.social, Violet and I made hummus just like Zips & Eeloo (but with fewer mishaps 🤣) What a fun read, and great idea for an activity for the kids. Now if only we could get our hands on some Zingerblitz... @stacysjensen.bsky.social

Be sure to check out this writing intensive we're hosting on November 8th in Decatur, GA. Registration is open now! More info here: www.scbwi.org/events/story... @scbwi-sobreeze.bsky.social @scbwi.bsky.social @scbwimidsouth.bsky.social

Interested in learning more about Kickstarter? Check out this informative webinar hosted by our talented IC Jime Wimmer! @prettylines.bsky.social @scbwi.bsky.social

I just reviewed my first book for the Historical Novel Society @histnovsoc.bsky.social and it is so rewarding to contribute to the writing community in this way. If you love reading and writing reviews, definitely check them out! #bookreview @scbwi.bsky.social historicalnovelsociety.org/

Finding Balance (Literally) Today I attended my first yoga class in almost three years. Pre-pandemic me would have scoffed at this. I've been practicing yoga regularly for about 20 years. I attended classes once a week. During the unfortunate Covid years, I switched to online classes before the…

Got a personalized rejection on a full from a big time editor with lots of great feedback! Making a plan for revisions and feeling equal parts accomplished and defeated. #amquerying #kidlit

Query update: August 2025 While I was relaxing on vacation, my inbox was busier than ever. Here are my current stats: Total queries sent: 82 queries sent (4 editors, 78 agents)Rejections/no reply: 60 (including one personalized!)Requests: 5 Eight form rejections landed in my inbox within days of…

My interview is up! This was my first time as a guest on a podcast, and Nancy was a wonderful interviewer...made me sound halfway intelligent 😂 Shout-outs to @scbwi.bsky.social and all my friends there who have helped me so much on this journey!

Query Update: July 2025 Summer is a notoriously quiet season in publishing. Agents and editors on long vacations let their query inboxes pile up. Which is honestly fine by me. I'm going to keep hitting "send" and face the deluge of rejections and (hopefully) requests in the fall and winter. Here…

When it comes to queries, I’m noticing an increase in everyone trying their best, this is a very hard industry, creating in these difficult times is challenging, and I’m very proud of you. ❤️

Finally started reading the new Hunger Games book - one chapter per night with my sixteen year old so we can experience it together (we've read all of them this way.) I suppose we could have bought the audio, but reading aloud to him while he's still at home with us brings me joy. ❤️❤️❤️

Yay! I cannot wait to read this!!

Educators, reviewers, readers, friends, FOREVER RIPLEY is coming. How to Help: 1. Like, share, comment on posts 2. Ask public/school libraries to order a copy 3. Educators & reviewers, request a copy for review on Edelweiss or Netgalley & leave a review 4. Pre-0rder anywhere books are sold 🩷📖🐕🙏🏼

Just finished this delightful novel, What Fell from the Sky by @adriannacuevas.bsky.social! Fascinating history about a military exercise in the 1950s, and of course fun speculation about a lost little alien and her family. Highly recommend! #kidlit #writingcommunity #bookreview

Promo from my new Kickstarter coloring book! A fairy special thank you to Nicole Poole for her talented voice!🧚🩷 www.kickstarter.com/projects/wim... #scbwi #scbwiillustrator #fairy #kidlitart

Friends, it's a big day! Sent off a huge batch of query letters to agents and editors. Remaining cautiously optimistic that movies like Lilo & Stitch and the forthcoming Elio will give me a boost. Wish me luck! mandyfletcherwrites.com/2025/06/03/t... #amquerying #kidlit

Taking Another Plunge Into the Query Trenches Whew. Here we go again. I took a good long break from querying, just about a full year. In that time, I've revised with a mentor, cut 11,000 words, and revamped my query letter. I've also learned a lot more about the industry and made several…

Submitting Short Fiction Last year I started submitting my short fiction to literary magazines. Like the laborious task of querying a novel, this too involves patience, persistence, and perseverance. Oh, and rejections. Lots of rejections. Famously, this is how Stephen King got his start. He…

A big CONGRATS to all the winners and honorable mentions in this years #SpringFlingkidlit contest!!! ciaraoneal.weebly.com/spring-fling...

This is such a cool idea! I would totally love to read a short story while waiting for a train, bus, or plane... short-edition.com/en/p/short-s...

LORD OF THE FLIESxTHE ASH HOUSE 1920. the Manor House waits. soon, 8 children will arrive, and the 14-year-old master of the house will begin his games. how do you survive a puppet master when you’re his marionette? 🐊 revising through RevPit ‘25 🐊 #QuestPit #MG #H

🌊 THE BAD ONES X DREDGE 🌊 After an ancient curse is unleashed on their sleepy seaside town, six teens must find a way to break it. This YA Fantasy Horror features: 👥Dual POV 📜A Deadly Deal 😈Ravenous Monsters 🤫Secrets With Severe Consequences 💔Exes to Allies to [redacted] #QuestPit #Q #YA #F #H

ROSWELL JOHNSON SAVES THE WORLD x ELIO A sci-fi-obsessed seventh grader proves ADHD can save the world from alien domination. 🤖Pop culture sci-fi galore 🖖Star Trek-style cloaking ⏰A ticking clock 🏛️Caper in the White House 🤯A HUGE twist #questpit #MG #SF #Q #ND

When a 12y/o loner befriends an ancient scarecrow, they team up to teach his bullies a lesson. But with each escalating act of vengeance, Oggie’s own body bears the hatred, and 'Old Crow' reveals he is much more than a grinning farmyard prop. #questpit #AG #MG #H #ownvoices #OCD

✨ATLA X TUC✨ Three teenagers learn that a star from a centuries-old prophecy has blessed their souls. They now hold the fate of both the human and the magical realm hidden within it in their hands as the threat of war looms ✨Unique magic systems ✨Assassinations ✨Portals #questpit #MG #F #Q

All my #QuestPit posts in a single 🧵

ANIMORPHS x ELIO When neurodivergent 12yo Liam discovers aliens live on Earth, a rebel alien embroils him on a secret mission to reveal their existence. But when an ally betrays them, can Liam’s ADHD superpowers save his family from mind control? #questpit #MG #SF #Q

I’ll be keeping my eyes on #QuestPit today!! if I like your post and you’re actively querying, please send ⬇️ querytracker.net/query/3854

LILO AND STITCH x ROSWELL JOHNSON SAVES THE WORLD A sci-fi obsessed 12-yo boy and a rebel alien team up to thwart an invasion, but when a trusted ally betrays them, his hidden ADHD superpowers just might save his family—and the rest of the world—from alien mind-control. #questpit #MG #SF #Q

CABIN IN THE WOODS×JOHN DIES AT THE END×KNIVES OUT When their detective friend is murdered during their annual gaming retreat, 5 dads must use their years of #TTRPG experience—and puns—to solve the crime before they're all killed off like NPCs in a badly-written campaign. 🎲🥓 #QuestPit #A #H #MY #W

Gotta love a good ghost story!

ROSWELL JOHNSON SAVE THE WORLD x RESIDENT ALIEN Tween boy and an alien on a secret mission 👽 ADHD and pre-teen anxiety 💊 Pop culture sci-fi galore 📺 Star Trek-style cloaking 🫥 A ticking clock ⏰ Caper in the White House 🏛️ A HUGE twist 🤯 #questpit #MG #SF #Q

My favorite holiday...

Just finished this amazing mentorship program. If you're a writer looking to up their game, I highly recommend this. mandyfletcherwrites.com/2025/05/02/m... #writingcommunity #mentorship

This novel-in-verse spoke to me on so many levels. Many of my daughter's friends are of Indian descent, and this brought a whole world of understanding to us both. I will cherish this book and gift copies to our friends...with a box of tissues. @rajanilarocca.bsky.social @scbwi-sobreeze.bsky.social

Just finished The First State of Being with my daughter, and wow, it was everything I hoped it would be! Speculative MG at its finest!!I will cherish our autographed copy (even though it is missing that well-earned Newbery sticker!) @scbwi.bsky.social @erinentrada.bsky.social

Planning a conference is no easy feat. But the rewards of serving this wonderful writing community make it all worth it. @scbwi-sobreeze.bsky.social #writingcommunity mandyfletcherwrites.com/2025/04/21/s...

Thrilled to enter the PB & Kid picture book writing contest, judged by kids and hosted by @authorkelliebeggs.bsky.social. Thanks so much for the opportunity to share Sir Snacks-A-Lot with your students. I hope they enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. #kidlit #writingcommunity