Michelle Witte

don’t forget to destroy your clocks tonight, walk away from your mortgage, just start driving, you’re free

That’s what my doctor thought, but I’m also allergic to eggs though I didn’t know it at the time.

I’d recommend the opposite, because if you get brachial neuritis from a vaccine like I did 15 years ago, I’d have been screwed and unable to use your dominant arm for at least a year.

I'll be teaching a webinar on Saturday, April 11 at 11 a.m. CT on The Mechanics of Writing. To register or for more info, visit www.thewritingbarn.com

I'll be teaching a webinar on Sat., April 11 at 11 a.m. CT on The Mechanics of Writing, where I'll go over the basics of punctuation, dialogue mechanics, and self-editing that every writer should know, as well as examples of common mistakes I see in submissions. Register at www.thewritingbarn.com.

A fiery orange horse runs downhill through a forest of cool blues; the firelight brings out warm purples. The horse is a firebrand but has a gentle expression.

Happy #kidlitartpostcard day. I live in animal-centric #nonfiction, but every once and a while I go back to my #fantasy muses. Especially when it's any combination of incendiary equines. Happy #yearofthefirehorse. #kidlitart #illustration

Usually I'm like "Hoarding is too sad of a subject for me, please give me three books about bereavement instead" but this story pulled me in!

*accidentally reads the news* I have some ideas on things that could go into said dump truck…

It’s not that there are zero use cases for AI.

It’s that there are very, very few that justify the enormous expenditure of resources and rapacious exploitation of labor.

I always liked the way someone explained it to me years ago (though now I forget who), that luck is preparation plus timing. All we can do is make sure we’re prepared so when the right time does come along we can take advantage of it.

That is very nice. Brava!

I finally feel like I'm starting to catch up on things after being gone for several conferences this month and then getting a cold after (because of course). Not totally there yet, but I made a good dent in some of it today. Send good productivity vibes, if you have any to share!

Deal announcement: LITTLE SHOP OF HOARDERS By Piet Marino Imprint: Carolrhoda Lab Author of DOUGH BOY Piet Marino's LITTLE SHOP OF HOARDERS, in which a teen embarks on a school project to film his family's misadventures in cleaning their house of hoarded junk, resulting in unintended (and often humorous) consequences, to Amy Fitzgerald at Carolrhoda Lab, for publication in spring 2027, by Michelle Witte at Mansion Street Literary Management (world).

ICYMI yesterday, I posted a new deal for one of my incredible author. We’re so excited to be working with the brilliant @amyarielfitz.bsky.social at @lernerbooks.bsky.social. When I tell you the author has a way of making even serious subjects hilarious in an introspective way, I’m not kidding.

Honestly, it feels weird trying to celebrate little wins in publishing with everything terrible going on, but we must find joy however we can so we have the strength to keep pushing through the terrors. We all do what we can to make the world somewhat better than it was before.

Deal announcement: Amy Fitzgerald at Lerner/Carolrhoda Lab has acquired Little Shop of Hoarders, a YA novel by Piet Marino, in which a teen embarks on a school project to film his family's misadventures in cleaning their house of hoarded junk, resulting in unintended (and often hilarious) consequences. Publication is scheduled for spring 2027; Michelle Witte at Mansion Street Literary Management brokered the deal for world rights.

New deal! New deal!

Announcement just dropped in Publishers Weekly children's rights report this afternoon. I've never read a more insightful yet bitingly funny YA than this.

Hello, book people! I am the book content editor for Reactor Mag and I'm looking for 2026 sci-fi, fantasy, horror, romantasy, and speculative books coming out in the second half of the year! If you have an adult or YA SFF/H book out July-Dec (or publicist), share the link/info here!

If your response to my post about hating AI is to tell me to get over it or get with the times, it’s an automatic block. Sorry, I don’t make the rules.*

*Okay, maybe I do. But the rule is: Be a jerk, get blocked.

And before anyone tries to offer advice, I can't use any of the other options (I've already tried them all and they don't do what I need), mostly because I work in publishing and it's basically required to use Word for a lot of things.

I really wonder sometimes if Microsoft has a death wish and is intentionally trying to kill its business. I have a classic subscription so I can use the apps without AI, and yet it just forced AI into everything anyway and I can't figure out how to turn it off because it's not in settings. GAH.

Why is it that February feels like it’s a whole week shorter than the other months when it’s literally just two or three days difference?

But I’m still using that as the excuse for why I’m behind on everything (oh there just isn’t as much time to get everything done this month…)

I had been joking about a cold I've been trying to get over for a week that doesn't seem to want to go away, but that is fascinating about the word for depression being the same in both languages.

Junior Designer Job Description: NOTE: This role is based in New York City and encourages a minimum of two days per week in the SoHo office. Some roles or teams may require additional in-office attendance if the esse...

I am hiring a junior designer.

scholastic.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/Extern...

I'm currently closed to queries. Yesterday I was reposting some of my wishlist from Twitter as part of MSWL day before I delete all the posts from my old account. It'll probably be several months before I reopen again.

I'm currently closed to queries and it'll probably be several months before I reopen again. You can check my Query Tracker account to see when I do reopen: QueryTracker.net/query/michel...

I'm currently closed to queries. Yesterday I was reposting some of my wishlist from Twitter as part of MSWL day before I delete all the posts from my old account. It'll probably be several months before I reopen again.

Hello Friends! Welcome to #MSWL Day 2026! 🎉

This is our second ever #MSWL Day on Bluesky. We’re happy you’re here!

You can, as of TODAY, search Bluesky and ManuscriptWishList.com posts at once: manuscriptwishlist.com/smart-search. All posts are verified by a human who works in publishing. ☕

Okay, I need to jump off the computer for awhile, but I may repost some of my classic MSWL this weekend as I transition them from my Twitter account before I delete them from over there.

Thanks! Colds always seem to drag on, but thankfully this one hasn't been horrible.

I do like them, but as I noted earlier I'm currently closed to queries. I'm trying to repost some of my wishlist from Twitter as part of MSWL day before I delete all the posts from my old account. It'll probably be several months before I reopen again.

As always, I'm interested in finding projects from writers and illustrators who are part of traditionally marginalized groups. I especially love to see books that incorporate unique elements from their heritage. For every age group I represent, board book to YA. A forever #MSWL.

I would love to find more cozy fantasy for YA/MG, and just cozy books in general. When the world is a dumpster fire, sometimes we just need a little escape where there are still stakes and things to do, but in a way that doesn't cause massive anxiety. #MSWL