Y'all, I attended this presentation Emily did at the AWC, and it was bonkers good. You don't want to miss it!

#50PreciousWords is one of my favorite contests 🙂 Thanks to @viviankirkfield.bsky.social and her intrepid crew for reading through 677 entries. Thrilled to make Honorable Mention again this year. And even more thrilled to see my CP @jenngauldingbooks.bsky.social at #12. Woohoo! #kidlit #amwriting

Don't miss out on this once-a-year event. You've got a few more hours to take the plunge and invest in your career. We hope to see you this weekend!! www.scbwi.org/events/south...

Kidlit creators, want to learn more about self-publishing? Check out this amazing session at the WIK 2026 Conference in Birmingham, AL, March 28! Less than a week to register! www.scbwi.org/events/south... #amwriting #amillustrating #SCBWI #kidlit #WIK26

Agented writers and illustrators, looking to pull back the curtain on the acquisitions process? Check out these amazing sessions at the WIK 2026 Conference in Birmingham, AL, March 28. Only one more week to register! www.scbwi.org/events/south... #amwriting #amillustrating #SCBWI #kidlit #WIK26

Published kidlit creators, need tips on how to promote your work? Check out these amazing sessions at the WIK 2026 Conference in Birmingham, AL, March 28. Register today! scbwi.org/events/south... #amillustrating #SCBWI #kidlit #WIK26

Take regular breaks away from the keyboard. HERE'S WHY.

Hoping for a little luck o' the Irish today as I hit "SUBMIT" for this very competitive picture book contest. Fingers and toes crossed that my spunky little hamster will worm his way into the top 50 Showcase. Finalists announced April 27! #PBParty #kidlit #amwriting #SCBWI

Picture book writers, are you looking to improve your craft? Check out these amazing sessions at the WIK 2026 Conference in Birmingham, AL! Don’t miss your chance to attend this in-person conference March 28. Register today: www.scbwi.org/events/south... #amwriting #SCBWI #kidlit #WIK26

PB Rising Stars PB Rising Stars is a mentorship program that my picture book friends have raved about for years. I've never felt strong enough as a PB writer to try for it... ...until now. Regretfully, this will be the first time--and the last time--I can enter. Intrepid founders Kailei Pew and…

Eek, I submitted my first mentee application for PB Rising Stars! Many more to follow, but this first one had me all nervous! 😬 #PBRisingStars #kidlit

Don't miss the chance to share your first page LIVE at our two First Pages Panels happening at WIK 2026 in Birmingham March 28! Submissions are due March 6. Register for the conference ASAP to get your invitation to submit! www.scbwi.org/events/south... #scbwi #kidlit

Great news! #Cellphoneitis is 5% off on paperback for a limited time! Order here --> a.co/d/00woTIOQ Cellphoneitis: A lighthearted children's story about learning to manage cellphone/screentime. A retweet would be sweet! (It's the perfect picture book to share with your followers!) #KidLit

Time for #50preciouswords! Thanks to @viviankirkfield.bsky.social and the wonderful judges and prize-donators for this year's contest. Here is my entry: viviankirkfield.com/2026/03/02/t...

Going to WIK 2026 and haven't booked your room? Be sure to take advantage of our conference discount at Aloft Hotel in Homewood. The offer has been extended to Thursday, February 26. Book today! www.scbwi.org/events/south... #SCBWI #WIK26 #amwriting #amillustrating

Published authors and illustrators, don't miss your chance to sell and autograph your books at WIK 2026. Conference attendees can sign up for a free table at this public event held at the Homewood Library on Friday, March 27. Deadline for the bookstore: FEBRUARY 23. www.scbwi.org/events/south...

Valentiny 2026 When Susanna Hill O'The Kid Lit Contests revealed that, in honor of Friday falling on the thirteenth, the theme for this year's Valentiny would be SUPERSTITIONS, I was stumped. I noodled on several ideas for a couple of weeks, but nothing sparked. And then, as so often happens, I…

So tickled to see Allie Millington win the Golden Kite for her MG novel Once For Yes. My daughter and I ADORED this book -- we laughed, we cried, we recommended to friends. Well deserved, Allie 🎉 @scbwi-sobreeze.bsky.social @scbwi.bsky.social

Check out our early intensives for the WIK 2026 conference!! www.scbwi.org/events/south...

One more week until Early Bird Pricing expires for WIK 2026! Register before midnight Thursday, February 12 to take advantage of our special rate: $195 members, $250 non-members. #scbwi #amwriting #amillustrating #kidlit www.scbwi.org/events/south...

Another conference success story!

Want a Valentine's gift that has fewer calories than chocolate and lasts WAY longer than flowers?? Check out this fun reminder to gift yourself an investment in your kidlit career! Join us for #WIK26 www.scbwi.org/events/south...

New York SCBWI conference 2026 Once again, coincidences abounded at the Annual SCBWI Winter conference. Last year, it was a chance encounter with my friend's editor Wendy Loggia from Delacorte. (Incidentally, I ran into her again at the VIP party, and we talked about how excited we both are for…

DON'T MISS the Southern Breeze Writing for Kids Conference in Birmingham, AL, March 27-28! We met some of the faculty in NY last weekend (Rachel, Matt, Sasha, and Ritu), and they are excited to meet YOU! Register now: www.scbwi.org/events/south... @scbwi-sobreeze.bsky.social

Made it to McNally Jackson, @mrschureads.bsky.social. I was not disappointed! 😁 I especially love how they shelve middle grade into upper and lower. Wish all stores could do this. And don't get me started on the pens!!!

What a delight to meet @mrschureads.bsky.social at SCBWI NY 2026! I was just listening to his podcast interview with @shannonballoon.bsky.social on her Middle Grade Matters podcast that very same day! Felt like fate 😁 @scbwi.bsky.social @scbwi-sobreeze.bsky.social

I'm off to the Big Apple tomorrow with the Southern Breeze team...so excited! If you're planning on going, let me know and we'll look for you! @scbwi.bsky.social @scbwi-sobreeze.bsky.social #kidlit

You Can’t Win If You Don’t Enter One thing I've learned on this writing journey is how important it is to put your work out there. This can mean querying agents (or in most cases, querying ENDLESSLY), but it can also mean entering contests and submitting short stories for publication. Sure, with…

Halloweensie 2025 I'm a little late this year posting, but I wanted to share my honorable-mention-winning entry for Susanna Hill's Halloweensie 2025 contest. I've really been leaning into humor, and while I didn't make the finalists this year, I got a ton of support from amused readers. Raspberry…

I am Published!! That's right, folks, I can consider myself a bonafide author now. My short story CHOOSE YOUR OWN FRIGHT has been published in an anthology! The anthology is called "Where the Mountains Speak" and is the first publication from Gilmer Arts, a non-profit creative arts organization…

#Halloweensie finalists are here!! And while my story didn't make the cut this year, I recognized a couple of entries from my oh-so-super-talented kidlit writing friends. Please vote for your favorite (and spread the word) by November 18 at 5PM Eastern. susannahill.com/2025/11/16/t...

Help me get to 600 followers and I will do a FREE random picture book critique giveaway (prose OR rhyme! 550 words or less). #KidLit #AmWriting #SCBWI #12x12

TEACHERS AND LIBRARIANS—do you live in Southern Arizona, and want me to visit your school before Winter Break? This would be a FREE VISIT, if certain conditions are met. Email me for details at [email protected]

Tickled to read this fun interview with my friend and critique partner @stacysjensen.bsky.social about her debut picture book BEFORE I LIVED HERE. I got a sneak peek, and it is such a wonderful book! #kidlit #SCBWI @scbwi-sobreeze.bsky.social susannahill.com/2025/10/28/t...

Atlanta Writers Conference 2025 I came...I saw...I won! Here I am with old friends and new at the Atlanta Writers Conference a couple of weeks ago. Those with certificates in hand were lucky enough to impress the agents and editors with their pitches or opening pages. I pitched my picture book…

Look who I spied at my daughter's book fair today! @lydialukidis.bsky.social, loved this book! Poetic AND full of interesting facts 🙂 Adding it to our collection... #kidlit #bookfair

Our Story Sculpting Writing Workshop is happening THIS SATURDAY at the Decatur Library. If you haven't registered and want to improve your PB and novel-writing skills, don't miss it! Learn more here: www.scbwi.org/events/story... @scbwi-sobreeze.bsky.social

Well look at that, BLAME SATAN for the win! So honored to have made it into the winners circle this year. Thanks to @kaitlynleann17.bsky.social @lydialukidis.bsky.social @professoraixa.bsky.social for their hard work judging the contest. #FallWritingFrenzy >>

This year's Halloween pumpkin celebrates my daughter's favorite book this year. (And mine when I was her age!) #kidlit #halloween

So many hilarious and spooky entries in this year's #Halloweensie!! I encourage you to read them all, but I will shamelessly link to mine first 😅 There's still time to enter, deadline is 11:59 PM on Halloween night. susannahill.com/2025/10/29/t...

Anyone headed to the Atlanta Writers conference tomorrow? @atlantawritersclub.bsky.social @scbwi.bsky.social @scbwi-sobreeze.bsky.social

I love this time of year...fall leaves, pumpkin spice, and the thrill of entering #Halloweensie! Deadline is midnight on Halloween...if you dare...BWAH-HAH-HAH-HAH-HA!!!! susannahill.com/2025/10/11/i...

Interested in learning the ins and outs of children's publishing from local authors and illustrators? Come check out this free in-person Q&A in November 15 at the Sharon Forks Library in Cumming, GA. www.forsythpl.org/event/14661946 @scbwi-sobreeze.bsky.social #kidlit

Fall Writing Frenzy 2025 Thanks to organizers Kaitlyn Sanchez and Lydia Lukidis for hosting the annual Fall Writing Frenzy again this year. I was fortunate enough to garner an Honorable Mention for my entry last year, and I'm hoping I will fare as well this year. Entries are due by midnight…

How about that? DO NOT TRUST THIS BOUNCY HOUSE is a Chuckle Challenge Champion! Happy to have brought the funny for this contest and looking forward to entering again next year! #kidlitchucklechallenge

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…