Rebecca J. Gomez

Much of my writing time is actually spent meandering around the garden while drafting rhyming lines in my head.

Digital painting shows a variety of animals gathered around the words "wild summer" while listening to an elephant read a story.

I'm a long time kidlit author, now author-illustrator working with a mix of analog and digital media. Though I sometimes do purely digital work, I love drawing with paper and pen or making block prints by hand, then painting digitally. Seeking representation! #kidlitartpostcard

How a dragon helped me learn novel writing Time spent writing a book is never wasted

A manuscript about a lonely dragon, though never published, played a key role in my growth as a writer.

The words "not currently open to queries" might be worse than "this manuscript is not for us." Certainly more frustrating, anyway!

I am hoping to finish a book dummy this week! At least the rough phase of it. So close!

Looks like a fun book!

I learned that if I let my dog Lucy lie on my bed while I brush her teeth, she doesn't resist me. This bodes well for her future dental health! 😁

There are few things better than when a parent lets you know that her daughter loves your book and takes it with her everywhere she goes. This is the book 👇

I spent some time writing in my notebook while seated in the dappled shade this morning, ahead of the extreme heat we're supposed to get. Now I've retreated into the office, and writing on the computer just doesn't feel the same!

You know you have to buy a book when you've already read it and want to keep it for yourself instead of returning it to the library.

Aw, sorry to hear. I hope you feel better soon!

Book cover for The Snow Fell Three Graves Deep, a historical fiction novel in verse by Allan Wolf. The cover shows a group of pioneers in a snowy wood surrounding a campfire.

I stayed up entirely too late (1:30 a.m.) last night because I could not stop reading this book. If you like novels in verse, historical fiction, and writing that grips you and crushes your heart, then this book is for you.

Haven't been around because I've been busy doing other stuff.

Use it for what purpose?

It's been a year since @bethspencer.bsky.social created the first #HIBadge and inspired so many of us to do the same.

Interesting! I may give this a try!

It takes time to find people you want to follow, and even more time for people to follow you, and it can be discouraging for people new to the platform (like me) to see little or no engagement in the beginning.

I see an elephant.

Two novels in verse that I read and enjoyed recently. In each one, music is a consistent thread, and the stories have more in common than you might think at first glance. One is MG fantasy and the other YA historical fiction. @sharigreen.bsky.social @nicolemhewitt.bsky.social

Thanks for making me aware of this!

I'm not available for this chat on Tuesday evenings, so I'll answer this morning! For me, the best part and the hardest part of the creative process are the same, and that's writing rhyme that flows like silk! #kidlitchat

The #Kidlit industry can be agonizingly slow, but better a slow yes than a no. I got confirmation that a PB manuscript that I revised and resubmitted is still under consideration, so I'm holding out hope! Trying not to think about it too much, though.

My issue is that I probably will learn everything about the skill and then abandon it completely. Though I did start to learn knitting and gave up, maybe because I've been crocheting for years.

It looks like a big fish/whale. Others are seeing a kangaroo, but I could only see that after trying really hard and looking at it sideways.

My to-do list today is whatever was on my to-do list for yesterday because I didn't get any of it done. Plus laundry.

I went to visit my family in Minnesota last week, and one of the highlights of the trip was watching my 77yo dad find the "perfect" climbing tree, and proceed to climb it.

Sometimes planned writing time turns into unplanned grandma time with cinnamon rolls, train sets, and bubbles.

But I like to! And you can't make me stop.

That chocolate chip cookie pie sounds mighty important to me!

Or a mug with chocolates and the local indie gift card! If you can afford it.