Looking forward to seeing it! Thanks!

two women are running in a room with the words so exited written on the bottom ALT: two women are running in a room with the words so exited written on the bottom

I won a critique with Charlie Griffin! He is such a talented author and I am excited to have him look at my work. @mindyalyseweiss.bsky.social @cbgriffin.bsky.social #PBParty

Unbelievably cool!

⭐️Announcing 40 INCREDIBLE MENTORS! ⭐️

Just look at some of the books from our 2026 mentors!! Miss the big announcement? Follow the link to kidlit 411 to see the news!
.

www.kidlit411.com/2026/01/the-...

How are you feeling?
.
#picturebook #pbrisingstars #kidlitillustration #kidlit #amwriting

PB authors & author-illos! Got a cultural story that would be GREAT but could use the help of one of our mentors? Check these mentors out!

APPLY TODAY: www.pbrisingstars.com/mentors

#kidlit #kidlitmegafeed #kidlitcommunity #kidlitart #kidlitartchat #kidlitpostcard #kidlitartpostcard #pbrisingstars

PRESENTING: the 2025 PB RISING STARS mentees, runners up, and honorable mentions! 🤩🤩🤩

We’re thrilled to work with our 28 new mentees, and we’re so proud of our RUs and HMs.

CONGRATS TO ALL!
⭐️⭐️⭐️

2025 MENTEES: @literarydesiree.bsky.social @cbgriffin.bsky.social @maureenstraka.bsky.social @domantics.bsky.social @nikkiacebooks.bsky.social @shsinnett.bsky.social @carolynsauer.bsky.social @pecrosby.bsky.social @brookebaum.bsky.social @realjackiegm.bsky.social

I’m looking forward to seeing this one!

The cover of FORTS by Katie Venit and Kenard Pak features a girl sitting in a tree house surrounded by cozy autumn scenery. A quote from the starred review from Kirkus reads "A childhood essential transformed into poetic beauty." The caption says: "Releases July 29, 2025. Available for preorder everywhere."

BEYOND thrilled! Kirkus has given @kenardpak.bsky.social's and my book, FORTS, a starred review!
shorturl.at/eujzR

Coming out with Viking Children's in July. 😁😁

#picturebooks #kidlit

I read this recently! Super fun!

Ivan Taurisano's MSWL. He's donating a Winner's Choice of a Rhyming Picture Book Critique, a Non-Rhyming Picture Book Critique, a Commercial Picture Book Critique, or an Above the Slushpile submission as part of the Spring Fling Writing Contest.

Borrowing this from Hoopla right this minute.

I'm thrilled that my work was selected for a second year in a row to be included in the PBParty 2025 showcase, an annual contest to help connect unagented writers & author/illustrators with agents & editors. I'm one of 55 finalists out of over 1000 entries. Thank you to the amazing judges!

Through kites and chaos, love and rivalry, siblings will find their way out—Kai Po Che. @thesusankam.bsky.social

Music in the Gallery (with Sinuhé Vega Negrin) —January 29th, 5:30 PM at the Art and History Centers of Maitland — FREE EVENT. A truly unique and fascinating event will feature premières of works by 8 composers from the Central Florida Composers’ Forum on Wednesday, January 29th, starting at 5:30 PM as part of the &#…

Music in the Gallery (with Sinuhé Vega Negrin) —January 29 at the Art and History Centers of Maitland — FREE EVENT. Artist's talk at 6 pm, Music at 7. cfcomposers.org/music-in-the...

Diary of a Sidekick (25K words) maps the dynamic of Holmes & Watson onto Sheila and her skeptical bestie Janie. A quest to explain spooky bats and puzzling decorations tests their friendship and pushes Janie out of her self-doubting shadow. The first draft is done!
#BluePit 📖 #W #MG #Q

I've been saving this Wordle Screenshot since August!
#storystorm2025 @taralazar.bsky.social

Still, you have music inside. My path was the other way around. I chose music over creative writing but circled back to writing later in life.

Not at all, but it may become more common, sadly.

I received comments from new folks like yours, so that's a win. Right before I left, I participated in an X Pitch. I received two likes from the same agent, but she has since quit agenting. I've received a few requests and won a couple of contests, so everything feels headed in the right direction.

It's such a classic-style melody. Are you able to notate it? I love the process video. It's like watching a graceful dance in its own way.

Oh, THIS. What a fantastic, grabby pitch. Good luck with this, it sounds great.

OOH, as a 14-year resident of hurricane-prone Florida and the recent batch of tornados spawned by Hurricane Milton, this seems timely, necessary, and filled with possibility. Fingers crossed for this!

Same. I haven't really been participating much here, but the kidlit community is always so warm. I deleted my X account a month or so ago. It's been a nice energy from fellow writers today. I'm going to try to start the habit of coming here and connecting.

I LOVE this premise. Best wishes with it!!

Mayham! I love this. Best wishes for its success!

As a musician, this sounds like a great read. Best wishes for it!

This sounds super charming and fun. Fingers crossed for you!

Thanks, Alex. Did you have any nibbles today?

Thanks for that — to be clear, it's an Adobe stock image. It was the closest thing I could find of a porcupine trying to look intimidating, which my MC has to be (but she's nice, and polite... perhaps too polite)!