After an excellent weekend as Author Sara at the Chicago-North Romance Writers' Spring Fling, it's time to sell some mochi in the sweet shop.
BTW, Book Dragon ❤️s mochi.
#writerlife #authorlife #bookdragon #mochi #japanesesweets
I know! Chandra is a genius.
Also, thank you for confirming that though bull sharks can swim in fresh water and sometimes travel up the Mississippi River, they CANNOT make it all the way up to Lake Michigan. Whew. Though that would make an excellent horror book, which I would definitely NOT be reading. 🦈😱
#writerscommunity
It will help you get your mind wrapped around the topic quickly, learn any specialized terms, and keep you from falling into the research abyss online.
Thanks for the great advice, Chandra!
Chandra Blumberg had the best tip for authors who want to write what they DON'T know. Go to the children's section of your local library and checkout upper elementary school nonfiction books on the topic.
#writingtipsandtricks #Writingcommunity #romancewriter #cnsf26 @chicagonorthrw.bsky.social
Whether the Spring Fling book fair* on Saturday afternoon is your first or hundredth book signing event, let's upgrade and fine-tune your boothing skills. Your perfect readers are looking for you!
🌸Sat. 4/18/26
🌸3:30-5:30 pm
🌸The Royal Sonesta--Chicago Downtown (on Wacker Drive).
Hey, Spring Fling Authorpreneur! See you tomorrow (Fri. 4/17/26 at 8:30 a.m.) for my 2-hour master class 7 WAYS YOU ARE LEAVING MONEY ON THE TABLE AT BOOK SIGNINGS.
#Author #Writingcommunity #romancebooks #readerevent #chicago @chicagonorthrw.bsky.social
P.S. I 100% agree with your crystal ball theory that novellas will be the next big trend. Especially as MG and YA readers (who are wanting shorter and shorter books) age up into adult books.
#agents #romancewriter #yabooks #authorlife #publishing
Tonight, the @chicagonorthrw.bsky.social put super agent @ericsmithrocks.bsky.social in the hot seat to answer all our burning publishing industry questions. Thank you, Eric!
#agents #romancewriter #yabooks #authorlife #publishing
My blog post about this very widespread scam, which arrives out of the blue in the form of a highly flattering (AI-generated) email writerbeware.blog/2026/03/27/w...
Related, for my group: I didn't make up Betts's "cultivated collection." This is part of my son's BTS/Stray Kids doodah collection. Art inspired by life.
Plus a chance for questions/clarification? I shared a little bit of Kyuubi's story today. Everybody's work was so different that it was a great mental workout. See you again next year, kid lit peeps.
#scbwi #writingcraft #writingcommunity #authorlife #kidlit
Thanks for a fun, educational day, SCBWI-IL. Editor Hannah Hill (Delacorte) was the leader of our 7-person writer group. We all shared loglines & the 1st page of our WIP. Where else can you get live feedback on your WIP?
#scbwi #writingcraft #writingcommunity #authorlife #kidlit @scbwi.bsky.social
Kyuubi and Chicago's sakura say, "Hey, girl, heeeey!"🌸🌸🌸
Now is the perfect time to take stock & evaluate Q1's authorpreneurial endeavors. Are you on track to complete your 2026 goals, or do you need a course correction? Use my 2026 Q1 Authorpreneur Assessment to launch you into Q2 with focus and actionable steps at: tanabatawishes.com
#writingcommunity
🧐 Wait, Sara. You live in Illinois and belong to SCBWI-IL. How do you get to go to Arizona events? Easy. You check the box on your SCBWI membership page. I also belong to SCBWI-Japan. You can attend events all over the world.
#scbwi #kidlit #writerscommunity #yabooks #authors
Kyuubi and I enjoyed learning how to find international publishing markets this morning. Thanks, co-RA Tanja Bauerle & the awesome SCBWI-AZ team for putting on this thought-provoking webinar. It won't be easy, but at least I know how to start now.
#scbwi #kidlit #writerscommunity #yabooks #authors
chicago north romance writers program and business meeting. an open q&a with Eric Smith of Neighborhood Literary Mon April 13,2 026, 2026 7pm CST online
Our next meeting: Mon April 13, 2026 with Eric Smith!
Eric is an award-winning Young Adult author and literary agent living in Philadelphia. He’s worked with NYT bestselling and critically acclaimed authors across genres and categories.
Request a guest link here: www.chicagonorthromancewriters.com
Thank you. I moved to IL in late 2022 and was completely blown away by the libraries here. It was actually another IL young adult author who I met thru a library signing who encouraged me to apply for the contest.
chicago north romance writers spring fling conference 2026 april 16-18 2026 sherry thomas brenda Jackson Adriana herrera
the last chapter chicago a romance bookstore is the onsite bookseller for spring fling writers conference 2026
The last day to register for our writers conference is April 7!
We have a virtual option if you can't make it to Chicago!
Don't miss out on 40+ workshops on writing craft, book marketing, and author life programs! #writersky #authorsky #romancewriter
www.accelevents.com/e/chicago-no...
Want me to work with the teen writers at your school or library? Reach out! Especially if you live in Chicagoland.
Thank you to Ms. Thurlwell, Ms. Cavender, Ms. Ryan, Mr. Evans, and the whole GCHS faculty and staff for putting on such an amazing event year after year. We appreciate all the extra work you do to support the next generation of creators.
#authorlife #gchsww #writerscommunity #grayslake #teaching
Psst...It's that time of year again, "Ramily" creators! Thank you for having me, Grayslake Central HS (IL). I enjoyed sharing some writing craft w you and hearing your flash fiction stories. A big 🫶 to the creators who told me about the novels, screenplays, and D&D campaigns they've been working on.
Thank you Illinois libraries for making BREATHE a finalist for this year's award. It means the world to me. 🫶 Are you an indie/hybrid author too living in Illinois? The next award cycle is about to begin.
#writerscommunity #authorlife #indiebooks #historicalfiction #library
Want me to work with your school's aspiring authors*?
Give me a call. Also, emails work just as well. 😀
*6th through 12th grades
Because these teens were locked in and excited to participate, we were able to bump up my workshop to a Creative Writing 101 level.
#writingcommunity #schoolvisit #authorlife #yabooks #creativewriter
Thanks for inviting me back for your Lit Fest, Tinley Park High School. I enjoyed working with your talented teens today. Kudos to Ms. Yunker and the TPHS team who put this event together. Your community is lucky to have you.
#writingcommunity #schoolvisit #authorlife #yabooks #creativewriter
Thank you so much. 😊
Thanks so much, Carolina!
techniques to help you stand out in a crowded marketplace and become the go-to author in your writing community. Join us!
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