A Narrow Escape And how this writer uses AI

My latest newsletter is viewable online: "A Narrow Escape" and "How This Writer Uses AI."

Maddie's Ghost

At Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/1VcQ9wQ...

By Carol Fisher Saller. "Irresistible"- PW Booklife, "A fine mystery"-Kirkus, 2024 Midland Authors Award for Children's Fiction. At Spotify and Audible. Read by Audio-winner Piper Goodeve.

In Audio! Maddie's Ghost, an award-winning mystery for children 8-12.
www.audible.com/pd/Maddies-G...

Free on Kindle - Today Only! Wed., Jan. 7, 2026. Offer ends at 11:59 PST. THE BRIDGE DANCERS, by Carol Fisher Saller. Winner, Carl Sandburg Award for Children's Literature. “A complex picture book for readers young and old.” —School Library Journal. “Transports readers to another time and place . . . a good choice for reading aloud.” —Booklist

Free on Kindle - Today Only! An award-winning book for readers 6-10. THE BRIDGE DANCERS, by yours truly.
Wed., Jan. 7, 2026, offer ends at 11:59 PST.
www.amazon.com/Bridge-Dance...

The Character Who Got Away Plus: Did AI Write This Book Review?

My latest at Substack: carolsaller.substack.com/publish/post...

Book cover of Maddie's Ghost, by Carol Fisher Saller. Midland Authors Award for Children's Fiction 2024.

Need a smart, spooky read for Halloween for a reader aged 8-12?
“An irresistible narrative, rich with exciting clues.” — Editor’s Pick, Publishers Weekly Booklife.
Winner, 2024 Midland Authors Award for Children's Fiction

Tomorrow! If you're in Chicago this weekend, stop by for coffee, cookies, and time-travel to celebrate the launch of THE TIME-JINX TWINS (ages 8-12). 57th St. Books, Sat., Oct. 18, 1:00-2:00 pm.

5-Day Giveaway! My young adult novel EDDIE'S WAR is FREE on Kindle for 5 days, today through Thurs., Oct. 2, 2025, 11:59 PM PDT.
www.amazon.com/Eddies-War-C...

And only 20 more to go!

Kindle edition of Subversive Copy Editor showing as #1 in Amazon best sellers in Editing, Writing, and Reference.

My book THE SUBVERSIVE COPY EDITOR should be dated by now (2009, 2nd ed. 2016). But it just keeps going!
www.amazon.com/Subversive-C...

Wordl results (not revealing the guesses), where I solved in 4 steps, and Wordl fails to solve.

Whoa - I've never seen this before!

Suki Wessling @babblery.substack.com is the kind of interviewer who gets stuff out of you that you wouldn't normally say and then makes you look good.
(Now also available at @prx.org Public Radio Exchange.)

It's tonight! Part 1 of the official launch of THE TIME-JINX TWINS! I'll be signing books and speaking briefly about the challenges of writing time-travel fiction. (Part 2 will follow in Chicago.) Join me at THE LITERARY BOOKBAR 122 Neil St, Champaign IL 61820 6:00-7:00 PM I hope to see you there!

It's tonight! Part 1 of the official launch of THE TIME-JINX TWINS! I'll be signing books and speaking briefly about the challenges of writing time-travel fiction. (Part 2 will follow in Chicago.) Join me at
THE LITERARY BOOKBAR
122 Neil St, Champaign IL 61820
6:00-7:00 PM
I hope to see you there!

UI alum publishes new novel ‘The Time-Jinx Twins,’ explores limits of children’s fiction - The Daily Illini When Carol Fisher Saller graduated from the University, she had no idea there was a career in writing children’s books waiting in her future.

I'm returning to my alma mater the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana this week to launch my new middle-grade novel, "The Time-Jinx Twins." Thanks to the Daily Illini for this lovely profile! Wed. April 30 at 6 PM, The Literary Bookbar, 122 N. Neil St.
#UIUC #timetravel #kidlit #middlegrade

Suki Wessling is a canny interviewer who likes to dig deep. The results are more revealing than usual! Listen now at the link below or at KSQD radio on April 28 at 6-7 pm PT.

Brace for a freeze!

The Time -Jinx Twins by Carol Fisher Saller | BookLife Long-separated identical twins Ellie and Kat are practically strangers when they accidentally launch themselves into the past with their inventor mother’s half-finished time machine. A truce is ...

"Clever" "Captivating" "Endearing"!
Thank you, @publisherswkly.bsky.social Booklife for a lovely review of THE TIME-JINX TWINS:
booklife.com/project/the-...
#NetGalley #middlegrade #timetravel #twins #kidlit

Beautiful! I had to enlarge t to see that it wasn’t real flowers.

Second MG novel I've read this week that had "unphased" for "unfazed." Makes me wonder what I'm overlooking in my own MS...

8 Hard Truths About Self-Publishing Children’s Books By Carol Fisher Saller

"8 Hard Truths About Self-Publishing Children’s Books" - my article for Prairie Wind, Fall 2024.

Listeners in these countries are eligible to redeem the codes: Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, United Kingdom, United States.

Fifty winners chosen by a randomizer. Giveaway closes at 11:59 pm CT on Friday, February 14, 2025. Winners will be contacted as expeditiously as possible! I won't use the email addresses for any other purpose.

I’m showing my love to children's librarians this year by giving away 50 free downloads of my middle-grade mystery, Maddie’s Ghost! Enter or share with YOUR favorite children’s librarian:
forms.gle/RiewSjFrPDgH...
(Small print in first 2 comments)
#Edusky, #Skybrarian #SchoolLibrarian #kidlit

Special kinds of word-people love the style and grammar quizzes at CMOS. Now they've all been updated so you can test your knowledge of the new 18th edition!

Cartoon bear wearing a construction hat and vest walking with pen, pencil, and paintbrush across a background sketch of the LA skyline with palm trees. Handwritten text surrounding the image says: "Kid Lit for Los Angeles" Typed text is the same info in post. There is a photo of the item contributor. Typed text says, Kidlit Auction Open Now!

About Kidlit For Los Angeles We are a group of kidlit creators who have been heartbroken by the apocalyptic scenes in Los Angeles. We are raising desperately needed funds for wildfire relief efforts in the impacted communities. Logos for: California Community Foundation, California Community Foundation, Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation, Animal Wellness Foundation Fire Relief Fund.

How does the auction work? Donations are listed on our auction page. Bid on items here: www.32auctions.com/kidlitforlosangeles Winners will show proof of donation to one of the auction’s four charities as payment for their item(s). These receipts will be reviewed, and winners will be connected with donors after verification. The auction is January 20th (9am PST) through January 28th (8pm PST).

How Can I Help? Follow us here and on IG @kidlitforlosangeles. We’re sharing some of the amazing donations of signed books, school visits, art, critiques, and AMAs from award-winning and NYT bestselling authors & illustrators, agents, and editors. Bid high and bid often! There are items from donors like Peter Brown, Suzanne Collins, Leigh Bardugo, Amanda Gorman, Kate DiCamillo, Jeff Kinney, Tui

We are a group of #kidlit creators who have been heartbroken by the devastating scenes in Los Angeles. We are raising desperately-needed funds for wildfire relief efforts with an auction taking place Jan 20th - Jan 28th.

Please share: www.32auctions.com/organiza...

Logo by @sydhanson.bsky.social

Thanks to @scbwi.bsky.social (ChicagoSouthside network) and 57th St Books for Sunday’s program on school visits! We all learned a ton - the whole point of @SCBWI (Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators).

Sara Shacter, me, Bibi Belford, Shirin Shamsi.
#kidlit #authorvisits

"You have a new book? Do I get a free copy?" Yes, I believe I actually said that once or twice, although not recently.

"You have a new book? Do I get a free copy?"

Authors from 12 Midwestern states: Did you release an excellent book last year? Submit your book to the Society of Midland Authors annual book award contest. Fee is $35, top prize in each category wins $750.
midlandauthors.org/how-to-submit/

Duolingo owl is saying “You made 1093 mistakes this year!”

And that was only in Duolingo!