John Berkowitz is querying 🪤

Thank you! Just got your letter and I feel so validated. Going to start querying very soon. Thanks for the kind words and encouragement. It means everything.

a man in a white shirt is sitting in front of a microphone with a gold star above him ALT: a man in a white shirt is sitting in front of a microphone with a gold star above him

Just waiting for confirmation of how awesome my pages are.
(In my dreams....)

Do agents typically close for the holidays, meaning it is better to skip December, or should we query anyway?

I just entered #RevPit #10Queries. Enter now for a chance to win free feedback on your query and 1st 5 pages.

Totally worth it. Do. It.

I'll be pitching:

10yo Edison Skrooluse is just a kid with no magic, a broken robot, and a workshop full of failed inventions. But when the Anti-Fae League targets his fae friends with hate and lies, he’ll risk everything to prove one thing:
Different doesn’t mean dangerous.
#MG #STEM #F #RevPit

You want to read this book. You NEED to read this book. So full of supernatural and historic goodness.

Thank you, Kara. Emailing it now to your attention, per the instructions on your submissions page.

Sending now. Should I reference this skeet in my query letter?

Totally worth it. Got my ARC yesterday and I'm on chapter 10. It was difficult to put it down long enough to write this recommendation. You want to read this book. You NEED to read this book....
#Goodreads #booksky #BookReview #booklover #writingcommunity

Got my ARC today; diving in tonight (sorry, WIP).

I just put in my request on Netgalley. Can't wait to dig in.

I still have my original first edition copies of volumes 1-7. Still waiting for the movie....

People have been doing that here in Idaho. Thing is, the MAGAt-infested GOP passed a law that states only Republicans can vote for Republicans in primaries, AND only if they've been a Registered Republican for over 1 year.

13yo Clio doesn’t believe in fairytales until she & her BFF awaken in 1508 Ireland. Caught between the faerie queen & her wicked ambition, only Clio can prevent the curse that will destroy her own family. But she must choose between saving her BFF & going home. #PitchFPP #MG #HF #FT

Tell us about this book. Is it kidlit or adult?

Pre-order THIS HOUSE WILL FEED for 25% off at Barnes & Noble July 8-11 with promo code PREORDER25. (Cover of This House Will Feed by Maria Tureaud nestled in the backdrop of The Burren, that's been edited to match the colors of the cover: pinks, purples, and dusky cyan.

It's that time, frens! From July 8-11, 2025, Barnes & Noble are running 25% off all hardcover pre-orders for premium/rewards members, so now is the time to get your copy of THIS HOUSE WILL FEED. Use promo code: PREORDER25 #newbooks #writingcommunity @barnesandnoble.com #booksky

Currently editing

When 10yo Edison’s fae orphanage is attacked by the Anti-Fae League, he builds defenses from junk. But this isn’t just about gadgets, it’s about standing up to fear, lies, hatred, and a world that says fae kids don’t belong.
He’s not magic. But he’s not backing down.
#MG #STEM #F

Been there. Still there. My last book got over 100 rejections & only 1 request. Several workshops, before and after a professional editor. It's a great book. But I grok it's just not the right time for it. So I wrote another, and I'm getting ready to send it to my editor. We'll both win, you'll see.

I will. Should I wait until July?

Thank you. Would a middle grade historic fantasy be anywhere on your list? For example, the post of mine you liked, with the cover mock-up?

Hey guys! I just typed "The End" on my #MG Elf Punk manuscript for Edison Skrooluse and the Junkyard Bodyguard (42K words)! Post-apocalyptic, inventor-kid in an orphanage full of fae refugees, builds a 7-foot robot that comes to life....

OK, who wants to read it?
#KidLit #STEM #MGBookChat

Thank you, Hanna! I am deeply grateful to have been chosen out of all the wonderful mss you received this year. It means a great deal to me that you enjoyed my book enough to select it for this honor.

If you have any comments on what you read, I would love to read them.

Clio & Mary are adoptive sisters & BFFs:

13yo Clio doesn’t believe in fairytales until she & her BFF awaken in 1508 Ireland. Caught between the faerie queen & her wicked ambition, only Clio can prevent the curse that will destroy her family. But she must choose between saving her BFF & going home.

Just dropping in to share that I finished writing the finale to Act III of my middle grade elf-punk fantasy. Big milestone for me, and couldn't be more excited.

Now I just need to figure out how to wrap up this bumbitch and put a bow on it.

#amwriting #WriteSky #MG #WIP

Submitted to you! Hope you like it.

Submitted to you! Hope you like it.

Submitted to you! Hope you like it.

10yo Edison Skrooluse wishes just ONE of his inventions would work so he can defend his orphanage. When his 7-foot robot comes to life, they resist the Anti-Fae League who demand all fae-born leave Earth to the humans. CHITTY-CHITTY BANG-BANG + BUMBLEBEE #QuestPit #W #MG #SFF

13yo Clio doesn’t believe in fairytales until she & her BFF awaken in 1508 Ireland. Caught between the faerie queen & her wicked ambition, only Clio can prevent the curse that will destroy her family. But she must choose between saving her BFF & going home. #QuestPit #Q #MG #HF #SFF