Starting in a month!
A brand new Novel Accountability Group - let us NAG you and may this be the year you finaly write. That. Book.
bit.ly/4kGUm2V
#amwriting #booksky #novelwriting
On 27 September 2025 at Pianofabriek we are celebrating our second anniversary by having an Open Day: a day full of literary games, writing activities and bookish exchanges. Here is a glimpse of the atmosphere from last year.
Join us: bit.ly/4049MG9
Excited to see these very talented poets tonight at Pianofabiek in Brussels! 😊
Historically I'm sure the weather played a role, and also the fact that we were part of Sweden and then Russia, so Finnish books were very much part of nationalism after independence. But also the government has always done a lot to promote reading it has continued to be important.
In Finland children start school at 7 and we have always been big readers, although numbers are declining (smartphones...). But reading is also easy because words are pronounced exactly as they are written, so once you know the alphabet you can read. That's harder for other countries to copy...
I want to give a special thanks to Bente, whose talent for extracting belly rubs from writers is truly remarkable 😊❤️
I had a rabbit as a kid who roamed free in my bedroom. But we didn't know about litter training. No internet for information back in the 80's. My mum would sweep the droppings and use them to fertilise the house plants. And those efficient rabbit teeth means I played with amputee Barbie dolls 😂
Can't wait to read book 2! Book 1 was one of my favourites last year!
Nr 1 drives me crazy 😤. What happened to headphones? They seem to be quickly going extinct...
This is still my favourite story from the past few weeks🥰. It's not all lost yet. Sometimes beavers come to the rescue! ❤️ 🦫🦫🦫
www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/beaver-dam-czech-republic
If you love middle grade fantasy, you need to join us next Tuesday night when local author Leslie Vedder will be here to celebrate her new book, "The Labyrinth of Souls"! She'll be in conversation with Olivia Chadha for this special FREE event - VedderBBS.eventbrite.com
The Story Godmother logo of an open book with magical sparkles. ~#WinterWritingCheer Middle Grade Publishers Panel. Hachette & Walker Books. Mon 24th February 7pm
Excited to offer this opportunity for those of you who write for children. Come and hear editors and commissioning editors talk about middle grade books, and ask them your questions! Tickets only £10. All going to Alzheimer's Research UK. Pls spread the word!
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/fundraisin...
Can't find the bookshops I wanted to recommend on Bluesky 😕. The closest I got was the Bluesky account of the founder of the wonderful Librebook in Brussels, a bookstore that sells books in several European languages: @ant-librebook.bsky.social
Just finished this crossword during a(nother) bout of insomnia. What a pleasure to work through a puzzle perfectly tailored to my expertise, and a fun way to test my bookworm credentials 😊📚📚📚
I've updated my Starter Pack of #KidLit and #YAlit agents who work with trade publishers:
go.bsky.app/U2tLvGj
If I'm missing anyone, please let me know!
One of the saddest truths I have come to know is that the most talented, caring and beautiful souls I know are filled with constant, mind-churning self-doubt, self-loathing, and Imposter Syndrome… while the heinous bullies sleep like babies, wake up refreshed, look in the mirror, and see perfection.
Will he ever stop? I guess not. We'll have to listen to this for another four years 😭
Photo of German shepherd dog staring wistfully into the camera.
I survived 2024 with my sanity, not quite intact but hanging in there 😅. At least now I know there isn't much 2025 can throw at me that I can't take. I only wish I could go into the new year with my Loki beside me. Will miss him always 💔. Happy New Year to everyone! Let's hope it is a kind one!
If you want inclusive books I can recommend the Aru Shah books by Roshani Chokshi, the Amari books by BB Alston, the Aliya books by Laila Rifaat (race/nationality), the Kiki Kallira books by Sangu Mandanna (race & anxiety), Cosima the Unfortunate books by Laura Noakes (disability).
I read a lot of more recent MG fantasy and some fun series are Nevermoor by Jessica Townsend, Eerie-on-the-sea by Thomas Taylor and the Brightstorm adventures by Vashti Hardy. I suggest those because they are all about found family. No expert on fostering but I was thinking that might fit.
Photo of the tops of two trees against a blue sky. The tree on the left has orange leaves while the one on the right is bare.
Autumn greets winter. 🍂❄️
A picture of a book cover with the title Spark at the top, featuring a dragon, a girl and lots of lightning. The cover is unfortunately slightly discoloured on the edge turning the picture blue instead of purple. The name of the author Sarah Beth Durst is at the bottom.
Spark by @sarahbethdurst.bsky.social is a great middle grade read for shy and quiet kids. It's about finding the courage to speak up about what is right. And there is a great relationship between a girl and her dragon! ❤️
Highly recommended! 📚👍
#MGlit
What kind of middle grade are you reading? 😯
Only managed to read one of these. But the one I read, The Curse of Eelgrass Bog by @maryaverling.bsky.social, was brilliant! Hurrah for great middle grade books! 🎉
I'm writing a MG book in 3rd person present tense. But 1st person present is much more common. I originally tried with 1st person but couldn't get the voice to sound child-like enough (it's my first MG book). 3rd person gave just enough distance that my slightly too adult voice worked.
An open notebook and pen by a window showing snowy ground.
Had a lovely time at the SCBWI Benelux retreat this weekend. It was inspiring to listen to writers talk about their ideas and seeing illustrators create amazing art. Going on retreats might be my favourite part of being a writer. Can I become a professional retreater? 😅
#writer #kidlit
Completely agree with you. Although can't see the post you were responding to. It is blocked... Middle grade is a wonderful genre, with great characters, imaginative plots and a lot of heart. I read many genres, including literary fiction, and unlike the others MG rarely disappoints.
Snowy view from my hotel window.
It's been a hectic couple of weeks. So I'm happy I've escaped it all for the SCBWI Benelux retreat in Spa (yes, it's where spas originated, in case you were wondering). Writing, wellness and walks in the woods. And of course best of all, exchanging with other children's writers 😊 ❄️📝
#SCBWI #KidLit
I read the Wayfarer series this summer and keep holding off on reading the Monk and Robot books just to make sure that I have something good and comforting waiting for me in the future. Although these times really do call for some Becky Chambers.
Hi 👋 Your upcoming book sounds great! 😊