Kelly Esparza

Cypress Mother by Marketa Dowling Content Warning: self-harm/cutting descriptions and some suicide discussion When you see the thin red line along Olivia’s wrist, she is reaching for the salad bowl. The cut brands her pale sk…

Love love love how my story Cypress Mother looks published in @flarelitmag.bsky.social . It came out yesterday, and I'm so pleased the editor @kellyesparza.bsky.social felt it was a good match for the issue. Congrats to all the other writers, too 👏💕🙏
flare-magazine.com/cypress-moth...

First issue of 2026 is out! Go read this amazing issue that features #disabled, #chronicallyill, #neurodivergent, and #mentalhealth stories and art!

Taking a break from writing the next novel looks like:

writing short stories, flash fiction, microfiction, poetry, and essays right and left and submitting to lit mags😂

so basically, I never actually stop writing.
#amwriting

It depends on the list😂 I'm on the cutoff, so some say I'm millennial; others say I'm Gen Z haha!

Buy Kelly Esparza a Coffee Become a supporter of Kelly Esparza today!

I'm coming across some very unexpected medical/necessity costs that are making me nervous. I'm open to for freelance edits: kellyesparza.com/editing-writ...

I've been struggling to work a lot due to my chronic illness, so life has felt hard lately.

Or I also have a Ko-Fi: ko-fi.com/kellyesparza

🔥✍️ Taking Submissions ✍️🔥

Flare Magazine is running the Strength In Stories Contest.
Theme: Disability as a Strength.

💰 Prizes up to $140
🗓 Deadline: March 1, 2026

🔗 horrortree.com/taking-submi...

From @flarelitmag.bsky.social
#WritingContest #CallForSubmissions #CreativeWriting

a young girl with a bloody nose is looking at the camera in a dark room . ALT: a young girl with a bloody nose is looking at the camera in a dark room .

Working until my lupus acts up by giving me a bad headache or my joints swelling is what I'd like to say is my version of Eleven from Stranger Things having a nosebleed after exerting herself😂

I’m officially open for queries from now through Feb 15th. I’m looking forward to seeing all the wonderful work you end my way! querymanager.com/ErnieChiara

Hello Writing Community! We are delighted to announce our Second Official Bluesky *** #MSWL Day *** February 26, 2026. 🎉🎉🎉

Agents + editors can post what they ✨wish✨ they had in their inboxes; writers can find their next best fit for querying.

Learn more: manuscriptwishlist.com/2025/01/the-...

Gotta love that #disabledrep! If you're looking for a picture book for kids that has disabled rep, we highly recommend pre-ordering @jlockettauthor1.bsky.social's new picture book!

My Life as an Asthmanaut: A Book about Asthma A Book about Asthma

Please consider adding Jake's book to Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/book/show/23...

You can pre-order the picture book here:

(6/6)

I hope others can connect with his book just as much as I did!

(5/🧵)

I love how the story unfolds, and the plot and disabled representation are both so important for kids. As a writer and reader who also lives with a chronic illness/disability, this book shares a special place in my heart.

(4/🧵)

I love how this book doesn't aim to "cure" the disabled character, but rather, the author shows that living with a disability is just ONE aspect of this character's life; the child still offers so much to the world WHILE he lives with a disability.

(3/🧵)

It ultimately lends itself to a strong message that even if one has a disability, it doesn't define them. Even with a disability, the main character can STILL succeed and dream big, and that's so lovely!

(2/🧵)

The illustrations are so fun and whimsical, which works/flows with the content of the book that showcases what it's like living with a disability as a child but maintaining a big imagination.

The review: 5 stars:
(1/🧵)

I absolutely loved this picture book! As a freelance editor myself, I often read a lot of picture books, and this was one of the best.

cover of Jake Lockett's picture book for the Disability Books for Kids series. My Life as an Asthmanaut by Jake Lockett and illustrated by Adriana Predoi. Two little boys are featured on the cover, one dressed as a superhero and the other as an astronaut.

This year, I decided to start doing book reviews on my socials. First up, @jlockettauthor1.bsky.social! I received an ARC of Jake’s picture book, MY LIFE AS AN ASTHMANAUT, that will be published by @freespiritbooks.bsky.social soon! Read the comments for the ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review!

YOU GUYS I just got a really super great email from @kellyesparza.bsky.social and @flarelitmag.bsky.social!!!

mood board for the adult paranormal/speculative murder mystery I am querying: what's pictured--snowy woods, woods, ghost, snowy cabin, blood, tree branches, footprints in snow, full moon with eerie sky

NOT QUITE DEAD YET x GLASS ONION but with ghosts

At her estranged sister's party, Abby Martinez doesn’t expect to get stabbed in the back, literally. Now she must solve her own murder before any of the other guests die and to pass on to the afterlife.

#questpit #A #MY #PR #S #F #Latinx #Q

snowy mountains background: An Agent's Guide to...Nearly Dead Already by Kelly Esparza, adult speculative/paranormal murder mystery complete at 72,000 words, previously agented, this book was a semi-finalist for the 2026 Tucson Festival of Books Literary Awards, Querying!

snowy mountain background: Pitch: When Abby Martinez is killed at a party, fate intertwines her soul with Wyatt, the only guest who can see and talk to her ghostly form. They must both solve her murder, but if they can't by midnight, Wyatt will die too and Abby will never pass on to the afterlife.

snowy mountains background: What Does My Book Have? disability rep, mental health rep, strong Latinx female protagonist, found family, romance, ghosts

snowy mountains background: Comps: Glass Onion movie poster and Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson (book cover)

GLASS ONION x NOT QUITE DEAD YET

When Abby is killed at a party, Fate connects her soul w/ Wyatt, the only guest who can see her as a ghost. They must both solve her murder, but if they can't by midnight, Wyatt will die too & Abby will never pass on to the afterlife.

#questpit #Q #A #MY #PR #S #F

Aw thanks so much, Jen! It was so much fun to add something speculative to this book!

Aw thanks! And yeah, we do!😄

Yeah! I've seriously seen it on quite a few! If I come across some again, I'll message you!

mood board for the adult paranormal/speculative murder mystery I am querying: what's pictured--snowy woods, woods, ghost, snowy cabin, blood, tree branches, footprints in snow, full moon with eerie sky

NOT QUITE DEAD YET x GLASS ONION but with ghosts

At her estranged sister's party, Abby Martinez doesn’t expect to get stabbed in the back, literally. Now she must solve her own murder before any of the other guests die and to pass on to the afterlife.

#questpit #A #MY #PR #S #F #Latinx #Q

Firefly Lane is such a good comp for this concept!

Moodboard clockwise from top left: silhouette of woman sitting on bed in darkened room; Sony Walkman with orange sponge headphones; hands clinking wineglasses over table; hands on top of each other in circle; cassette tape with the tape in a heart shape; scattered Polaroid pictures; woman lying head on man’s lap in field

Firefly Lane x Liane Moriarty
Disabled GenX Ellie reconnects with her college crush, but her friends suspect him in the unsolved disappearance of one of their group on graduation day. Ellie must risk her safety to learn the truth about her missing friend.
#QuestPit #Q #A #WF

Love this pitch and can’t wait to read someday!

Why Ellie is nostalgic for ‘90s college:
👩‍❤️‍👩BFF Brooke not missing
😘Crush Eric shyly smiled in computer lab
🎶Happiness = mixtape + Walkman
Today:
🤑Broke
☠️Divorced
💔Brooke missing
Now Eric is back & not shy! But hiding truth about Brooke…?👀
#QuestPit #Q #A #WF

This book better get picked up immediately because I want it! Such a cool concept!