MariaK.

An illustration of a firefly character holding a lantern while a smaller firefly looks on in amazement. A kid with wings and a fire-inspired paper crown flies overhead with a moth in a night scene.

Hello! #KidLitArtPostcard! A firefly fest to celebrate the abundant fireflies in the garden this year!
angelamatteson.com
I’m represented by @jmcgowanbks.bsky.social @bookendsliterary.bsky.social

#kidlitart #kidlit #illustration #art #ChildrensBooks #picturebooks

News about @latinxpitch.bsky.social ! Spread the word! #booksky #kidlit

Excellent thread. 17 years ago, I had call #2 from an agent who'd asked for revisions. They told me (paraphrase) "I believe you will be published one day, but I can't sell this book. Some agents would sign you now just to prevent anyone else from signing you in the meantime, but I don't do that." +

30 Best Picture Books of 2025 (So Far) Are you wondering what children’s picture books to read or buy from 2025 so far? Here are my favorite picture books of 2025, both fiction...

My favorite picture books of the year so far. Which are your favorites? imaginationsoup.net/30-best-pict... #kidlit

For every publishing contract I've ever gotten, I've probably gotten 50 rejections.

I've sold books more than a decade after first pitching them.

The secret to "making it" in publishing is to NEVER STOP ASKING. Pitch every day and collect rejection letters like Pokemon.

✨TRANSPARENCY TIME✨

Buckle up!

Finally got paid for my IP gig. So, officially, I no longer have trad pub work. So, I'll break down my trad pub career from 2020-2025 ($ before agent fees):

MONEY STUFF:
Wrote 3 books (PB, MG, YA)
The PB and MG were IP.
YA had a $15K advance.
MG had $15K.

1/10

Yay Ryan!!! I know this has been a long time coming, so congratulations!!

“Give more energy and time to how you feel and what you want, and less time to what people think. We’ll never control how we’re perceived, but we’re likely to betray ourselves in the process of trying.” Brene Brown

Write for you! Start now.

#15minsprint #justwrite #kidlit

You can be proud of your writing *and* want it to be better. You can be excited to query *and* terrified of rejection. Writing is full of emotional contradictions. You’re allowed to feel them all.
#AmWriting #WritingLife

an illustration of a bird holding a stack of books with reading time written above it ALT: an illustration of a bird holding a stack of books with reading time written above it

Starting my hiatus from writing/querying 3 weeks before my due date and just reading for pleasure instead. It has been blissful☺️

#writingcommunity#kidlit

July 17th is Picture Book Palooza, a free virtual celebration of authors and artists from around the world! Register at slj.com

I will be in the For the Very Young session at 11:05 – 11:55 AM ET talking about LIGHTS AT NIGHT

#kidlit #canlit #picturebooks #librarian #PictureBookPalooza

After My Second Book Died on Submission, I Took These 4 Crucial Steps | Jane Friedman The publishing road is full of potholes and detours, even if you get a book deal. That’s why it’s important to find joy in the writing itself.

"You can’t control whether or not an agent signs you, or a publisher offers you a contract, or a reader buys your book, or your book wins an award. In this business, one of the only things you can control is the writing itself." —@evalangston.bsky.social

📣 KIDLIT WRITERS! Do you write for little ones ages 2–6? HIGH FIVE magazine is open for submissions!

✏️ Send up to 5 pieces (160 words max)
✏️ Deadline: July 14, 2025
✏️ Submission link for High Five: highlights.submittable.com/submit

#KidLit #WritingCommunity #WriteForKids

So excited about this free course from @sondrae.bsky.social—it is exactly what I need right now!

Claire, a mixed race woman holds a huge stack of middle grade books. Soni and the Life Drinkers Artezans: The Whispering World The Deadly Fates Vivi Conway and the Lost Hero by The Runaways The Line They Drew Through Us by People Like Stars Deep Dark The House at the Edge of the World Wolf Siren Vanya and the Wild Hunt The Storm Singer

In case you’ve missed some of the great middle grade books from diverse voices this year here’s a huge stack of my favourite ones!

Happy 4th, y’all!!! #writingcommmunity ✨

#booksky

A promotional graphic for a finalist in the SCBWI Crystal Kite Awards. Image Includes a book cover illustration of a wombat standing on a burned tree stump surrounded by other Australian animals. Title of book: An Accidental Hero: A Mostly True Wombat Story. Text announces that the book is listed as a finalist and voting in the Southwest Division ends July 19th. Headshots of both the author and the illustrator are in the corners.

SCBWI members! Wombat humbly requests your vote. An Accidental Hero: A Mostly True Wombat Story is a finalist in the Crystal Kite Awards: Southwest Division. Thank you!
www.scbwi.org/crystal-kite
Author: Laura Roettiger @ljrwritenow.bsky.social
Illustrator: Debbie Palen
Eifrig Publishing #scbwi

Query Update: July 2025

Summer is a notoriously quiet season in publishing. Agents and editors on long vacations let their query inboxes pile up. Which is honestly fine by me. I'm going to keep hitting "send" and face the deluge of rejections and (hopefully) requests in the fall and winter. Here…

Last day to enter!!

#kidlit#diversebooks#writingcommunity

Colorado friends, join me for this story time with several local authors! Register here: www.fcgov.com/gardens/read... @scbwirockymtn.bsky.social

One thing I miss about Twitter: the "who to follow" tab. It still feels hard to find people on Bluesky. So any #kidlit peeps out there? Respond to this thread so I can follow you.

Not sure if this makes me feel better or worse, but at least now I know I'm not alone😅

#writingcommunity#kidlit#querying

Mark Your Calendars #DVpit is returning October 8, 2025. The original pitch event for creators from marginalized communities. Now on Bluesky! Follow us at @dvpit.bsky.social for more updates

Agents and Editors participating in DVpit 2025 on Bluesky. Here is an initial list of some of the participating agents and editors Gallt & Zacker: Marietta Zacker Beth Phelan Linda Camacho Erin Casey Westin Sandra Proudman Saribel Pages Andrea Brown Literary: Kelly Sonnack Jemiscoe Chambers-Black Jennifer March Soloway Saritza Hernández Analía Cabello Paige Terlip Azantian Literary: Shelly Romero Carey Blankenship-Kramer Dystel, Goderich & Bourret: Michaela Whatnall Folio Literary: John Cusick Gelfman Schneider: Penelope Burns HG Literary: Wendi Gu Jill Grinberg Literary: Katelyn Detweiler Mad Woman Literary: Alex Brown Danielle Burby Chelsea Hensley Neighborhood Literary: Eric Smith Rebecca Podos New Leaf: Jo Volpe Suzie Townsend Sophia M. Ramos Trinica Sampson-Vera Jordan Hill Page Street Publishing Tamara Grasty Park, Fine & Brower: Pete Knapp Stuti Telidevara Root Literary: Melanie Figueroa Samantha Fabien Simon & Schuster: Rebecca Kuss Sourcebooks: Mikaela Luke Triada US: Brent Taylor Uwe Stender Ashley Reisinger Moe Ferrara Writers House: Alexandra Levick Andrea Morrison Follow us at #dvpit.bsky.social for more updates!

DVpit is officially coming back on October 8th, 2025 and we have over 50 agents and editors excited to participate. Follow this account for all announcements and check out dvpit.carrd.co for more details and information!

#dvpit #writersky #booksky #weneeddiversebooks

Literary Auction for Change Silent auction 'Literary Auction for Change' hosted online at 32auctions.

⚠️ Time to pull out your pocketbooks! I have FIVE spots available in my TWO HOUR virtual critique group for picture book authors (or author-illusrators). This is a great chance to get one-on-one care for your WIP. Please bid! Or share! Or both!
www.32auctions.com/organization...

PBParty Critique Train PBParty Critique Train open for passengers on… June 19 - 21 Check out the FAQ here Keep up to date with PBParty events (including the contest) on Facebook Congrats for writing a new PB! Please add your name and e-mail below. I’ll critique the 1st person who completes a draft. They’ll criti...

The #PBParty New Draft Challenge & Critique Train starts NOW & lasts all of June 19 – 21 EDT
🚂Write a new PB draft
🚂Shout 'DONE' on this post
🚂Add your name to the Critique Train Google doc: tinyurl.com/Critique...
🚂CELEBRATE! 🎉
🚂FAQ: tinyurl.com/Critique...
Good luck ✨✨

#BookSky

The picture book of the year!! Oh sure, they may look innocent but those fishies in the sea? They’re up to something. An absolutely hilarious explanation of a hidden underwater threat told by an unreliable narrator. (Fuse 8)

"Annoyingly FABULOUS Picture Books of 2025 (So Far)"
bit.ly/3HuIN03

I look forward to this conference every year! So much great information and I love the chance to reconnect with authors/illustrators from our beautiful area😍 #kidlit #coloradowriters #writingcommunity

a woman with curly hair wearing a white shirt with flowers on it Alt: a woman with curly hair wearing a white shirt with flowers on it

Nudging agents this week like:

#kidlit #amquerying