Marlaina Cockcroft

New story announcement

Write what you know. It's good advice but so easy to misinterpret. Taken to the illogical extreme, writers wouldn't be allowed to write anything beyond their own lived experiences, and that would kill a lot of good writing. You can create whole worlds with a decent amount of…

I got this acceptance on New Year's Eve, which was a cool way to end the year. Happy* reading!

*Note: This might not be the right word.

An announcement, and a message

I had the call for submissions up on my screen when my 16-year-old walked in and said excitedly, "Is that an Odyssey anthology?" Like any standard fantasy nerd, my 16-year-old is having a Greek mythology phase. Mine started in grade school (Clash of the Titans!). My…

Myths, Gods & Immortals | Contents Announcement | Odysseus We’re excited to present the list of stories featured in our new Odysseus book! Selected from open submissions, eighteen tales by modern authors retell Odysseus’ life and journey, imagining alternativ...

So excited to announce I have a story in this Flame Tree anthology! Stay tuned for my Greek-mythology horror tale:

blog.flametreepublishing.com/fantasy-goth...

Superpowered in Delaware

Getting short fiction published can feel like it's all in your head. You get an emailed acceptance, you get emailed a contract and edits. Getting your copy of the anthology or magazine (or the publication link) is proof that the acceptance was real and your name is in…

The cover for the superhero anthology WHERE LEGENDS WALK (depicting five superheroes of varying designs standing before a cityscape) is laid over a background of multihued Kirby krackle. Text reads as follows: "Launch Party November 15 6pm EST Captain Blue Hen Comics"

🎉 LAUNCH PARTY ANNOUNCEMENT! 🎉

Come join us at @captainbluehen.bsky.social on November 15th at 6pm EST to celebrate the release of our latest anthology: WHERE LEGENDS WALK! You can grab a copy of the book early, meet some of the authors, and help support our fabulous local comic shop!

Back online briefly to share this! Can't wait to see my copy!

Writing in these times

I check the news every day. Several times a day. Yes, I am perpetually frustrated and outraged. No, it's not great for my mental health. (Or for the actual physical health and safety of so many other people. Worry about them, not me.) At the end of the day, at the end of the…

My latest article for @slj.com:

I love this essay and I love having a story in this anthology.

Things are changing

There's change for the bad, and for the good. And sometimes both. The worst part of losing a pet is having to make the decision. I kept hoping Theo would die peacefully in her sleep, but even as she lost her appetite and her ability to walk, she kept hanging on until we brought…

Please admire Jennifer Marang's cover for this superhero anthology I'm featured in. Then check out the Kickstarter!

www.kickstarter.com/projects/odd...

Students Love Literacy Food Truck Program Arkansas library media specialist Chelsey Smith has kids combine food truck fun with their favorite books, resulting in projects like a Captain Underpants-themed truck with

My latest article for @slj.com:

www.slj.com/story/Studen...

My second-place-winning story in On the Premises magazine is up! onthepremises.com/issues/issue...

Despite the storm

We were in the Poconos recently on a family trip. Rain was threatening, and thunder rolled across the lake. My son and I sat on the balcony of our hotel room, casually chatting, while the thunder got louder and the rain poured down and lightning flashed around us. A strange…

Excited to announce my story "Her Mother, Reflected" won 2nd place in the On the Premises short story contest! Look for the issue on 6/15.

Starting over, again

One of the hardest parts about baking—bread, biscuits, cookies, whatever—is trying not to overmix the dough. Knowing when the ingredients have more or less come together and that you haven't whisked, mixed or kneaded them into stiffness, because otherwise the dough won't hold…

What About the Little Guys? “Banned” Books from the Authors’ Perspective — The Headlight Review Many think that for an author, getting their book banned is a badge of honor. That their sales will skyrocket with the free publicity. But this is only true for “celebrity” authors, or authors who are...

Authors talk about their experiences having their books banned. www.theheadlightreview.com/highbeams/ba...

“The Library of Congress is by its very mission nonpartisan. Throughout its history it has served the pursuit of knowledge by and on behalf of all Americans. For a president to break this sacred trust is a bridge too far.”
—Mary Rasenberger, CEO of the Authors Guild

authorsguild.org/news/ag-cond...

Love this poem!

Getting neurodiversity wrong

I put our Passover Seder together in a hurry last weekend* because we were on a college campus for most of it, attending an accepted students' weekend for our son. Our autistic son. I don't talk about my kids much online, because they're entitled to their privacy. But…

Majority of attempts to ban books in US come from organised groups, not parents Last year 72% of demands to censor books were initiated by pressure groups and government entities; with just 16% of ban attempts made by parents

Majority of attempts to ban books in U.S. come from organized groups, not parents.

Drawn to the Library, National Library Week. April 6-12, 2025. Colorful cartoon illustration of young people at the library drawing, sewing, reading together, and asking the librarian a question.

#NationalLibraryWeek kicks off today! It’s a time to celebrate the places that welcome everyone, spark curiosity, and strengthen our communities.

This week, take a moment to discover—or rediscover—what makes your library special.

What draws you to the library?
ilovelibraries.org/national-lib...

Happy National School Librarian Day! We ❤️ school librarians! Sending heartfelt thanks today and every day for inspiring kiddos to be readers, thinkers, and dreamers!

📚 #NationalSchoolLibrarianDay #kidlit #EduSky #Skybrarian

How Will the IMLS Cuts Impact Your Library? SLJ wants to share the stories of how the loss of funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services will impact your library and community.

How Will the IMLS Cuts Impact Your Library?

SLJ wants to share the stories of how the loss of funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services—including Laura Bush Foundation grants —will impact your library and community.

www.slj.com/story/newsfe...

Just the words

Sometimes I think it's the pen. My favorite for a while was a white pen that said Walt Disney Resorts on it in gold. The pen always wrote smoothly. I'd never run out of words. (It was probably just a white Bic pen in fancy clothes, but I liked to pretend otherwise.) Sometimes I…

Support member @as-king.bsky.social AND the rights of libraries, readers, & writers by showing up for the event in Hershey, PA. We keep each other safe by showing up.

Lawsuit Filed Over LGBTQ+ Book Censorship in South Carolina's Greenville County Public Libraries Library patrons in Greenville, South Carolina, have sued the county over library policies restricting and banning LGBTQ+ materials.

Library patrons in Greenville, South Carolina, with help from the ACLU and ACLU of SC, have sued the county over library policies restricting and banning LGBTQ+ materials.

bookriot.com/greenville-s...

My latest article for Real Estate NJ:

re-nj.com/pickleball-u...

Texas bill threatens jail time for teaching books like “The Catcher in the Rye” It's a pretty "crummy" situation, as Holden Caulfield might say.

Lawmakers in Texas are seeking to impose harsh criminal penalties on school librarians and teachers who provide award-winning works of literature to students

www.motherjones.com/politics/202...