Amy Watia

Now that my oldest has left for college, we will finally know if he was the one opening the fridge with sticky fingers all these years. If the perpetrator was one of his younger siblings, they could stop now and it would be the perfect crime

I’m all about haiku on this site, but I’m shamelessly going to drop this here because I’m pretty proud of it. 💜

Oh Jenny, I’m so happy to hear this. Congratulations!

Check out my friend & YA bestselling author Joelle Charbonneau’s video series on book banning! Please spread the word…
Link to main YouTube channel: m.youtube.com/@joellecharb...

FOCUS GROUPS. Even, you know, talking to a random tween or two would be awesome. Or a librarian. What are publishers THINKING sometimes?

To #MGLit authors and publishers--please read our argument for a new publishing category called Young Teen Lit, targeted at ages 12-15. #itstimeforyoungteenlit #youngteenlit
#tlsky #skybrarians #Edusky #kidlit

Illustration by William Wallace Denslow from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum, 1900

Excerpt from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum, 1900

Today let’s remember how children’s literature can show kids that even when others tell them to look to a big-headed figure for the solution to problems, the power lies within themselves. Excerpt and illustration here is from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum, 1900

The god of the Underworld’s daughter meets a lookalike in an angelic otherworld and hatches a devilish plan to switch places. When she learns the Underworld’s fate is in peril, she must choose between her newfound freedom and switching back.

Parent Trap X Wednesday

#MG #P2PPIT #W

I’ve read this and know that an agent will want to read it too!

The best books we read in 2024. inthemiddleofabook.com/2024/12/31/o...

10yo me also sank my teeth into the Bunnicula sequels, HOWLIDAY INN and THE CELERY STALKS AT MIDNIGHT. 🐰🥕

Check out my dear friend
Damara Allen’s book,
THE SKELETON FLUTE 💀🪈
Let’s keep the nightmare going until Christmas…
It would make a great gift!

Writers and librarians have been asking for a category between middle grade and YA for a long time. My 7th grader and her friends are all reading mystery/thriller YA because they’ve outgrown middle grade and they’re not into the romance much YA holds. They deserve books written for them.

I’m half Finnish on my dad’s side, & my family from the upper peninsula of Michigan has always made a braided sweet cardamom bread we called nisu. When I visited our relatives in Finland, they called it pulla. It’s the best, like challah but dense, sweet and cardamom-y (has eggs & milk in the dough)

Thank you for the advance notice that will allow ample time to place a bakery cake order (says the person who recently ate her entire birthday cake because her other four family members aren’t fond of chocolate s’mores cake!?!)

My firstborn has submitted his college applications…I would like to be included in this starter pack 😂😭

Here’s a great starter pack to find middle grade children’s writers who are active & supportive in the kidlit community, including some rising stars!

Thanks Christiana Doucette @doucette515.bsky.social for all you do, and for creating this starter pack & including me!

go.bsky.app/Eb3RAWX

Crow Toes Quarterly, The Cold Issue

The Reaper by Amy Watia. Illustration by H. Lee Messina

I’m here now and looking for old and new kidlit writer friends! I am a middle grade writer with one published story in Crow Toes Quarterly. I’ve taken a long break from querying agents (and from that old platform after it changed its name) while working on new manuscripts and ideas. Hi everyone!

Good thing you were right there when it happened!

Today I laid the foundation for the rest of the month. How about you, Dani?

I’m so sorry. Sending love.

Yes Christiana, I’ll keep your dad’s best outcome in my thoughts and intentions. Hope you’re holding up ok through this.

Writing prompt—an original painting I found at Goodwill today.
Am I the clown for not bringing him home with me?
I think he’ll appear in my dreams regardless.
Happy Halloween!

What?!? Orphan Island is my fave MG book and the ending keeps me wondering. Glad you had an awesome experience!

Hi! Andrew McCarthy is a writer too! I caught him when he came through on a book tour this spring. Same, never thought I’d get to meet an adolescent celebrity crush 🤗

Forgot the photo!

Abbie, this post speaks to me! I just finished eating some avocado toast while staring at the seedling my 12yo daughter is growing here in Chicago 🌱🥑

My daughter did the same back in 3rd grade with her best friend as co-author. I feel like we can bask in our childrens’ accomplishments with the knowledge that we inspired them…you know, take part of the credit 😂

Just arrived on the scene and am looking for all my #middlegrade writer friends! #MGNarwhals #MGLoveAndTogetherness #kidlit