Lisa Billa

Promotional image for the SCBWI Summer Virtual Conference 2025, taking place online from July 31 to August 3. The text highlights the Portfolio Showcase, which is open to the public, and includes a registration link at scbwi.org. The illustration by Liz Brizzi shows diverse children engaged in creative activities with famous landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and Golden Gate Bridge in the background.

Wow, so much wonderful art! Now open for public viewing: SCBWI Summer 2025 Portfolio Showcase - www.scbwi.org/submissions/... #scbwisummer25 #KidLit #SCBWI @scbwi.bsky.social

Pls show your support for *human* artists by boosting? It's a challenging time for illustrators to find work. Thank you! 🩷

It's been tough to combine creativity with any awareness of current events. Unplugging, or time with nature/pets, sometimes helps.

Thank you, Annette! I'm super excited for this issue!

Congratulations, Annette! Can't wait for this issue!

Wow! Fantastic! Parks vacations are the greatest! Our kids look back on the 3,000-mile National Park trips (US and Canada) as among our best decisions. Writing will bounce back, and routines may be overrated. :)

Getting caught up with a great week of posts- thanks for helping to revive some abandoned manuscripts!

Thank you, Susan!

ripe apricots on a branch in the sun

at the library
golden harvest
ripe for picking

or

outside
the library
sweet harvest

Feel free to add a version!

Next to our library is a community orchard where local residents may pick. Just decades ago, orchards covered much of the area, but now only a few are left.

#haiku #haikuSaturday

Beautiful! I enjoy the mood you create.

Here's a version:

skimming the surface
a quick green spark--
hawkpond dragonfly

or

skimming the surface
a small green spark--
hawkpond dragonfly

Congratulations! Can't wait to see this!

There's still time to enter the #PBSummit 2025 TICKET GIVEAWAY!
Just share our reveal posts with your writer friends on social media and tell us about it at:

www.picturebooksummi...

Enter today! Ends 6/9/25.

#amwriting #picturebook #kidlit #PBSummit #booksky

I can feel this scene. Beautiful poem and image!

Susan, I love this! Also, I just sent a "bioluminescent" nonet to Little Thoughts. :)

I enjoy the wavelike repetition of sounds-"whooshing shimmering"- and the sense of motion. You might try something like

shimmering splash
bioluminescent waves
blue on blue on blue

but I like your opening more!

It's ba-ack.
Dunh, dunh, DUNH!

Hey, #KidLit #WritingCommunity! #kidlitzombieweek hosted by @kaitlynleann17.bsky.social & Co has moved right here to BlueSky.

Check it out:
sites.google.com/view/kidlit-...

#WIP #PB #MG #YA #kidlitart

Full in the Sky Haiku by Diana Raab, Lisa Billa, Laila B, Kelly Sargent, and Joanna Ashwell

Happy to be part of Haiku Girl Summer! Thanks, Allyson Whipple! @teatimehaiku.bsky.social #haiku
haikugirlsummer.substack.com/p/full-in-th...

It's a BIG day at Picture Book Summit as we reveal the theme of this year's online #writingconference for #picturebook creators. Join us on Oct 4, 2025, for:

BIG, BOLD, & BRAVE: SUPERCHARGE YOUR PICTURE BOOKS!

Early Bird registration begins 6/12!
#amwriting #kidlit #PBSummit #booksky

Thanks, Candace! I just pulled a fun moose manuscript out of the drawer.

"Look outward look up" is beautiful advice! ❤️

Thank you, Susan! I haven't been coming up with much haiku lately but your words gave me a great start.

this spring's birds have fledged--
fallen feather petals
caught in light rain

or

spring fledglings gone--
fallen feather petals
beneath light rain

Thanks for this inspiration, @andrewssusanm.bsky.social !

#haikuSaturday #haiku

Happy Book Birthday: PLIGHT OF THE PELICAN: How Science Saved a Species YES! YES! YES! It’s time to sing Happy Birthday to another beautiful new book! And this book has a VERY SPECIAL back story…this book was an Honorable Mention in the 2022 #50PreciousWord…

Happy Book Birthday to PLIGHT OF THE PELICAN written by Jessica Stremer, illus by Gordy Wright, published by Holiday House. THIS BOOK WAS A #50PreciousWrods Honorable Mention in 2022! And now it's a real book! A gorgeous Book. Read all about how Jessica did it!! viviankirkfield.com/2025/04/01/h...

To celebrate Poetry Month, I suggest the anthology IF I COULD CHOOSE A BEST DAY: POEMS OF POSSIBILITY.

If you'd like to hear a few of us read & discuss our work, join us for a FREE @highlightsfound.bsky.social Gather on April 1. Learn more here:
www.highlightsfoundation.org/workshop/fre...

Wonderful photos- it looks like an amazing trip! Thanks for sharing!

What a great idea!

Two fun, informal events:
#HaikuSaturday, all day Saturday, anyone can post haiku, brainchild of @andrewssusanm, lovely community
#LimerickSunday, every Sunday, anyone can post limericks, fun community

#50PreciousWords UPDATE! Toadstool Bookshop in Keene NH says there are only 25 books in the pile for the literacy nonprofit we are supporting this year, but we had 585 contest entries. Books are the best vehicle to spread the message of #kindness & #equality. toadbooks.com/store/2 (603) 352-8815.

Thank you, Susan! I'm ready for spring, though not summer yet!

Lovely, Susan! I've rearranged some of your words- I especially like "unfurl" for a spring image. Happy spring, it seems!

daffodils unfurl
to jasmine perfume--
spring emerging

#haikuSaturday

I got to read drafts of some brilliant tiny stories that will appear in the #50PreciousWords contest! (and hopefully grow up to become picture books)

So exciting! Look at all the amazing prizes! Who's getting ready? #kidlit #writingcommunity #PB #poetry

A beautiful 2-part poem, Susan! I love the falling line, and also the joyful irises.