Michael F. Stewart's Avatar

Michael F. Stewart

@openmike.bsky.social

Writes books for kids and young adults. VCFAWYCA, Canscaip, SCBWI, #kidlit, #canlit Latest: Seeking Draven, Red Deer Press, 2024 Next: Eat., Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 2025 And: Turn to Burn, Renaissance Press, 2025

487 Followers  |  307 Following  |  62 Posts  |  Joined: 18.10.2023  |  2.1082

Latest posts by openmike.bsky.social on Bluesky

Pretty sure Google thinks we're having another baby. Really I'm starting a new book ...
#worldbuilding #babynames

22.07.2025 15:50 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

"Oh, it is wonderful to have a giant’s strength. But it is tyrannous to use it like a giant." Shakespeare, Measure for Measure

07.04.2025 11:35 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
Firefighters rescue kayaker using bystander’s canoe near Billings Bridge Ottawa Fire Services says crews rescued a man after his kayak flipped over on the Rideau River using a bystander’s canoe in the area of Bank Street and Riverside Drive, north of Billings Bridge Thursd...

What do you think, peeps? Picture book about a canoe over it's lifetime? Nonfiction reader about inanimate heroes? Maybe it can be themed to counter disposable culture? Just spit balling here. Proud of our big yellow banana canoe!

www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/artic...

04.04.2025 12:30 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
Creator's Corner: Michael Stewart Michael Stewart is the multi award-winning author of dozens of books from illustrated chapter books and graphic novels with Rubicon Publishing (Savvas); to young adult, includingΒ Heart Sister, out thr...

Interview alert! The wonderful @spencerbmiller.bsky.social took some time to ask me a few questions about my most recent project and the @kidsbookcentre.bsky.social Book Week Tour. Check it out: bookcentre.ca/blogs/articl... #kidlit #mg #verse #digitalmedialiteracy

26.03.2025 15:54 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 4    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Presented to a group of grade fivers at the Chelsea Library today and, I gotta say, we're gonna be fine. These kids are great.
#FundLibraries #FundEducation #KidsAreOurFuture

26.03.2025 15:43 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
Interviews, Blog Parties & More (c) Caroline McPherson,Β  carolinemcphersonillustration.com

We LOVE when our clients get collaborative.

Check out this interview between children's book authors Dionna L. Mann and Michael F. Stewart, with included illustrations from Caroline McPherson all of whom are part of the @kellydhouse.bsky.social crew!

www.dionnalmann.com/interviews-b...

19.03.2025 17:30 β€” πŸ‘ 12    πŸ” 4    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

"Most dominant civilization"
Here is what was transcribed on one broken pillar:

"My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings;
Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal Wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away.”
Shelley

05.03.2025 12:21 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Thank you, Ginger, yes, reading a good book is precisely what I need today. :)

04.03.2025 16:43 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

I’ve been sidetrumped today, my mind trumbled and perplumped as to why. Ideas to cope?

04.03.2025 16:10 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

I am stunned that US National Park Service removed transgender and queer representation from its Stonewall monument site. A monument that stands for hard fought acceptance has now become one of intolerance, from pride to shame. Don't stand for it. Resist.

04.03.2025 12:53 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

I've paddled the Myakka and never have I ever had so many monsters directly under my kayak ...

20.02.2025 16:29 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Luckily I have 25% more love for y'all America. And I am here to consume all of our surplus maple syrup.

03.02.2025 14:45 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Editing verse feels a little like taking stones and dipping them in water so that I can discover how they truly look.

I'm also working on back cover copy for a YA urban fantasy and I think that less is more. As if, the longer the copy, the more reasons the reader has not to open the cover?

29.01.2025 15:10 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

I subsist on the praise of editors.
Thank you editors. πŸ’š

28.01.2025 21:27 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Congratulations, Cynthia! Woot!

28.01.2025 01:06 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

What do you do when you're waiting on not one but TWO sets of edits?
Well, I don't know what you do, but I
CLEAN!

24.01.2025 12:59 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

I'll be editing a book about conspiracies, twisted minds, and revolution today.
No reason.

20.01.2025 14:15 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Hello 2025~I’m back in the office and open to queries this week! #amquerying #kidlit #writers #illustrators, I’d love to see your #YA, #MG, narrative NF proposals, and #PBs. I’ve updated my #MSWL, but some particular things I’d love to see in my inbox:

06.01.2025 17:50 β€” πŸ‘ 76    πŸ” 16    πŸ’¬ 4    πŸ“Œ 0

Leaving this open a few more days
#querytip #writingcommunity

29.12.2024 16:24 β€” πŸ‘ 10    πŸ” 4    πŸ’¬ 4    πŸ“Œ 2

Hey, Katie, congrats! You've won a critique! Query letter or first 5 pages. :) Use it whenever optimal.

29.12.2024 21:23 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Hi, Shuba, thanks for your interest. You've won a critique! Query letter or first 5 pages, your call. :) Use it whenever you please.

29.12.2024 21:21 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Hey, Dani, thanks for the interest. You've won a critique! Query letter or first 5 pages, your call. :) Use it whenever you please.

29.12.2024 21:19 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
Mostly text - SPREAD THE JOY
Rosebud Authors & The Tobias Literary Agency
"How do you spell love," Piglet asked.
"You don't spell it, you feel it," answered Pooh

Day 12 - Critique from Kelly Dyksterhouse with a photo of her

Mostly text - SPREAD THE JOY Rosebud Authors & The Tobias Literary Agency "How do you spell love," Piglet asked. "You don't spell it, you feel it," answered Pooh Day 12 - Critique from Kelly Dyksterhouse with a photo of her

Join #RosebudAuthors & @thetobiasagency.bsky.social w/ our annual #SpreadTheJoy campaign. To win a query letter critique by @kellydhouse.bsky.social Follow go.bsky.app/Kvshpxt, comment below, and repost. Winners chosen at random.
(Day 12)

12.12.2024 13:20 β€” πŸ‘ 52    πŸ” 38    πŸ’¬ 32    πŸ“Œ 4

Hey freedom fighters, here's a campaign that looks worthy of our support.
www.gofundme.com/f/help-a-ded...

12.12.2024 17:34 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

I'm going on tour! Woot! Thanks for the opportunity, CCBC!

09.12.2024 20:01 β€” πŸ‘ 6    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Congrats! Fingers crossed for you, Dan!

04.12.2024 21:18 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

I'm on rewrites and am at the 'oh crap, I broke it' stage.
And there's still a lot more to break ...

04.12.2024 02:14 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

But we were having such a great conversation!

03.12.2024 12:26 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Writing with generative AI and putting your name on it feels like going to the store, choosing a greeting card you like, and telling everyone you wrote the poem inside.

26.11.2024 17:40 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

So that worked, thanks. Now she really gets me...

26.11.2024 14:53 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

@openmike is following 20 prominent accounts