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…

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!

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

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!

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

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