Our neighbor joked that it's now a street mural of a black hole. The eternal suck.
Kids book author and kids book editor Check out some of my books! Acorn Was a Little Wild (S&S), Besos for Baby (Little Brown), GIVE (Knopf), Marta! Big and Small (Roaring Brook) agent: Stephanie Fretwell-Hill, Red Fox jenarenabooks.com
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Our neighbor joked that it's now a street mural of a black hole. The eternal suck.
🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
Right? Publishers should consider doing this more often.
Me, if you still need help this winter! My husband will have a Fulbright in Dublin, and I'll be there with him, missing my dog.
$3 pints? Which Winn-Dixie?
I wish there were another option! "Written by" sounds like the publisher gave the author the idea and the author just wrote it up, which sure, sometimes happen (IP), but doesn't credit the author with the idea.
Oh, I didn't realize you meant breed diversity as in full-bred dogs. I was thinking mixed breeds, which technically doodles are.
At the shelters!
What?!?
He ate the peacock in Rivercrest Park.
I had to explain that Creepy Pair of Underwear is a fantastic picture book by Aaron Reynolds and @peterbrownstudio.com. He was relieved.
I got this box in the mail and my husband was concerned. He knew it probably was the MerryMaker plush for Acorn Was a Little Wild, but calling it "creepy pair of underwear"? He thought that was to discourage porch pirates. 😂 Luckily there were acorns inside!
Yay, Lynn!
Grownups, if you are envious of kids Summer Reading contests and are motivated by PRIZES, join me on the @nationalbook.bsky.social ‘s Summer Reading Adventure! www.nationalbook.org/adventure/
My best advice for writers? Read like a writer. When you love a book, read it again & pay attention to how the author made you love it. What is it about their writing that makes you love the main character (or despise the villain!) or feel so much suspense that you can't wait to turn the page?
Allen Lane’s @penguinpress.bsky.social published its first ten paperbacks ninety years ago today. In 1935, @theguardian.com gave the series a thumb’s up: “The type is clear; the boards stout enough to stand the wear and tear of pocket or haversack. The enterprise deserves a warm welcome.” #BookSky
I was very excited to see the Best Dog and Best Cat categories under "PEOPLE," but disappointed neither of our dogs were listed. Because clearly Sirsha and Jelly are the best!
I love that!
This is so not important at all, but I've been wondering, why are red hearts black on BlueSky? ❤️❤️ Other hearts retain their color. 💙 💚 🧡 Broken hearts stay red. 💔 (I thought it was me, but I just saw someone else's post with the same thing.)
I just wanted to work with books. Total dream job!
Writers often focus on outcomes well outside their control, ranging from landing an agent to winning a literary prize or writing a bestseller. @amylbernstein.bsky.social looks at how to avoid a cycle of disappointment and failure by focusing on perseverance of effort instead.
I've thought about it a lot since I saw it at Tampa Theater earlier this year. What a crazy thing!
It was so nice to meet you in person!
Happy birthday!!!
ALA in Philly was a blast! I saw old friends, made new friends, and reconnected with colleagues from all different parts of my publishing life. Plus I came home with some great books to read! 📚📚📚
I hope someday to write a picture book good enough to earn a review as awesomely enthusiastic and unconventional as these from @fuse8.bsky.social. My TBR list just tripled! afuse8production.slj.com/2025/06/04/a...
I love that The Cat Who Saved Books includes a note from the cover illustrator. I've never seen that before! It seems like a great idea in light of all the AI generated art we've been seeing.
Happy anniversary! I really wish I could have been at your wedding!
USA Today's 10 Best Indie Bookstores as voted on by readers. 📚📚📚 This is like a TBR list for traveling! 10best.usatoday.com/awards/best-...
I can't fall asleep without reading first. That's my only saving grace. And vacation is the best!
My hair stylist told me yesterday that she read 140 books last year. Wow, I love that! I consider myself a big reader and I read 50 last year.
Also if they can't write their own query, they may not be writing their own manuscript and then the manuscript can't be copyrighted.
Yeeeeeessss!
Another great quote from Lorne: The Man Who Invented Saturday Night Live, written by Susan Morrison: "One of Michaels's core teachings . . . is telling people to spread credit around. Credit, he likes to say, is the easiest thing to give away." 💙
A quote from Lorne: The Man Who Invented Saturday Night Live: "Copyrights, [Paul] Simon told him, are like children; they'll take care of you in your old age, in the form of passive royalty income." 🤞📚
I second all of these! 💙
Congratulations!!
Manuscript calling to you from the grave? Get ready for #KidlitZombieWeek 2025. Just two more weeks until all of the blog post-discussion-& great #prizes fun kicks off! For the official rules: sites.google.com/view/kidlit-... #WriterSky #Kidlit #WritingCommunity
717?
This might be the absolute greatest reply we have ever received. Thank you, Cookie Monster 📕🍪💙
Right? I'm so excited! 😊
Seriously! So much work and all to be eaten.
Here's the link to the MerryMakers store: merrymakersinc.com/products/aco...
I'm still in shock that this is happening! MerryMakers is making a plush toy of the Acorn from Acorn Was a Little Wild! They captured Jessica Gibson's art perfectly. MerryMakers sent me a prototype--it's the cutest little nut ever! 🌱🌳📗😍
Ah, thanks for the explanation!
Really nice post, but what is "dinner with Kevin"?!
😂 This is so on target and dishy (looking at you B&B with the Disney Influencer mom). I laughed out loud at Holiday House.
I got an amazing batch of mail for Acorn Was a Little Wild from students in Maryland yesterday. Most were very complimentary. And then there's this one. . . . 😂 Is there any way to read this that's not throwing shade?
Thank you! 😊
This is wonderful news! Sarah is so smart and talented and I know she'll continue to bring amazing books to print!
Thank you!!
Thank you!!
Wow! I'm blown away--K-2 students in Louisiana chose Acorn Was a Little Wild as their favorite book for 2024-2025! What an incredible honor. Thank you so much, you wild little acorns! 🎉🎉🎉 library.la.gov/services/for...
ha!
Are you getting ideas about transforming your whole block now?
Nice!
Vote for your favorite independent bookstore in this readers' poll--so many great ones to choose from! 10best.usatoday.com/awards/best-...
I don't think enough people who are using AI to write books realize this.
There's no intelligence in artificial intelligence.
Deal!
😂
Me too!!
I've never even thought about that one--it just spells itself for me. Isn't it interesting how we all have our personal bugbears?
I try to avoid that one at all costs!
Just once I want to spell "rhythm" correctly on my first try. Ditto "silhouette."
Also the "Tampa Zoo" where the characters statues were located was featured in the movie Goodfellas (though I don't think they actually filmed the scene there).
Two more fun facts. Richard Gonzmart owns the Columbia, the oldest continuously operated restaurant in Florida and the oldest Spanish restaurant in the U.S.
Here's a in-depth story of their rediscovery. www.tampapix.com/savingfairyl...
I don't feel there's much to represent Florida, so let me contribute the storybook characters at Ulele, an upscale restaurant on Tampa's Riverwalk. www.atlasobscura.com/places/ulele
I relate so hard to John Wick.
Any time someone tries to give me a dog book because "you love dogs!", my first question is "does the dog die?"
A Chicago Pope implies the existence of an MLA Pope and APA Pope
Thank you! We go to the best bookstores together!
Good to know, thanks!
Thanks! I'm pretty sure they're legal here in Florida.
What? Seriously?! That would be awesome!
Just registered! What I really want is a rain barrel . . . and some rain to fill it. 🌧️☔
SKWERL
They always roll out in the trunk and hide.
Congratulations!
Independent Bookstore Day Spotlights Children's Books buff.ly/er1OciH
I like the way you think!
My sister gave me a necklace with a crystal that's supposed to encourage my creativity . . . and I broke it. I broke the creativity crystal. This seems bad?
A Jane Austen cartoon for @theguardian.com
This is how Tampa celebrates Independent Bookstore Day! Since they're waiting for their bricks-and-mortar location to be completed, BookEnds Ybor set up in a rum distillery. There were even special literary cocktails, like Hemingway Margaritas. Yo ho ho! ☠️🦜🍹📚
Arbor Day just snuck up on me this year. I'm going to head to a nursery and try to find a new tree to plant! 🌱🌳🌴 If you're looking for free tree-related activities to do with kids, check out the educators' guide for Acorn Was a Little Wild. www.jenarenabooks.com/whats-new/20...
I needed to write about something that’s giving me hope, so I wrote about Independent Bookstore Day which is this Saturday. lithub.com/something-go...
I haven't been there yet!
Can't wait! Here are some of my local indies in the Tampa Bay area: BookEnds Ybor (Tampa), Tombolo (St. Pete), and Portkey Books (Safety Harbor). If you're in the area, check them out! 📚📗📚
Hmm, possibly? I haven't received an email through them since April 10 and I usually get several a week. I've been wondering what was going on.
Happy Earth Day! Go say hello to a bee and hug a tree!
At the Eric Carle Museum until November 9! I hope I can make it up there this summer. 😊
Thank you!
Eleven days, seriously?! What a great ROI.
Tampa Zoo!
They have a couple at the Tampa Zoo. They are HUGE birds!
I'm so excited to share the cover of Abrazos for Baby, a companion to Besos for Baby and Sonrisas for Baby! How lucky am I to be paired with Blanca Gomez for this series? Her art is perfection! Abrazos means hugs in Spanish, and to me, this book feels like the biggest, best hug.
Unsolicited writing advice, no. 96: Nothing you write is ever wasted. It’s all part of your training. That’s why you should never feel bad about the work you cut, or the hours you spend on work that stays unpublished. Every part of the process makes you a stronger writer.
Thanks for sharing this!