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Madeline Reads (and Writes!) Kid Books @madelinesmoot.bsky.social · 24/11/2025

When your customer IS a ghost, you recommend something right up their alley: HOUSE SAPHIR by Marissa Meyer #kidlit #booktok Honest review of the book I bought, and I also read a free ARC from Feiwel & Friends & MPS.

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Madeline Reads (and Writes!) Kid Books @madelinesmoot.bsky.social · 27/05/2025

Writing Tip: Always have someone else read your draft for logical consistency. Make sure that explanations you needed didn't get cut or that details now contradict each other. And have someone else look. You already know everything. You aren't going to spot it yourself. #kidlit #amwriting

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Madeline Reads (and Writes!) Kid Books @madelinesmoot.bsky.social · 24/05/2025

After reviewing a friend’s query letter today, I feel it’s time for my periodic reminder: Don’t forget to tell the agent why your book is awesome. Because it is. There’s a reason why you think THIS is the story that should be published. Don’t be afraid to share it. #kidlit #amwriting #query

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Madeline Reads (and Writes!) Kid Books @madelinesmoot.bsky.social · 23/05/2025

It’s the weekend!! Finally. What’s everyone reading? I’ll go first: Cruel is the Light by Sophie Clark - an excoriated and a soldier form an uneasy alliance to fight the demon infestations. I cannot wait to start this. #kidlit #yalit #romantasy ARC courtesy of @randomhousekids.bsky.social

Cover of the book Cruel is the Light by Sophie Clark it’s a blue background with a light skinned woman warrior plunging a sword at a light skinned wounded man.

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Madeline Reads (and Writes!) Kid Books @madelinesmoot.bsky.social · 22/05/2025

Look what I found when I snuck downstairs on my way to lunch: a romcom for older tweens just starting to think about friendships that morph into something more! You can also kind of see some of the other great new arrivals. #kidlit #mgnovel

Green bookcase with shelves with out of focus books. In front is a hand holding the book The Wish Switch by Lynn Painter. It’s a yellow book with two light skinned kids in the front. A girl in pink pointing at a boy in blue with a blue hat.

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Madeline Reads (and Writes!) Kid Books @madelinesmoot.bsky.social · 20/05/2025

Today I was at the TX capitol telling anyone who would listen about the negative economic impact on small businesses (bookstores) some of the various library censorship bills are having. Because, even bills about libraries can have unintended consequences for bookstores.

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Madeline Reads (and Writes!) Kid Books @madelinesmoot.bsky.social · 18/05/2025

Today was a curl up in bed and read a good book cover to cover kind of day. THE HOUSE OF SAPHIR is an amazing retelling of Bluebeard in an ingenious way. Many thanks to MPS & @fiercereads.bsky.social for the free ARCs they sent us to read & share! The book comes out in Nov. #kidlit #yabooks

Copy of the ARC The House Saphir by Marissa Meyer in front of a bookcase full of books. Cover is a lot of blue with title in white and author name in gold.

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Madeline Reads (and Writes!) Kid Books @madelinesmoot.bsky.social · 16/05/2025

I love when authors post their Edelweiss because it makes it so much easier for me as an indie book buyer — but to make it even easier, mention your distributor in your post. Tracy's book is with Storytide, but I don't know off the top of my head which rep to talk to. (It's @harperkids.bsky.social)

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Madeline Reads (and Writes!) Kid Books @madelinesmoot.bsky.social · 16/05/2025

Quick editing tip: When editing, always make sure to check for logical consistency. Sometimes elements of old obsolete drafts get left in or new details keep other details from making sense. Don't let logical inconsistencies pull your reader from the story. #kidlit #kidliteditor

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Madeline Reads (and Writes!) Kid Books @madelinesmoot.bsky.social · 15/05/2025

Before turning in for the evening, just enough time left for a little reading courtesy of my PRH rep and @randomhousekids.bsky.social (I’m on ch 2 and already so invested in Gwen and her uncle and Pumpkin the dog.) #kidlit #mgnovel #ARC

Hand holding The Library of Unruly Treasures book by Jeanne Birdsall in front of stacks of books.

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Madeline Reads (and Writes!) Kid Books @madelinesmoot.bsky.social · 14/05/2025

Quick writing tip: Outline at some point in the process of writing -- either before or after the first draft. This can be a great way to check your work's overall pacing. *Today's tip inspired by last night's fantastic #kidlitchat on ... you guessed it. Pacing. #KidLit #AmWriting #WritingTips

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Madeline Reads (and Writes!) Kid Books @madelinesmoot.bsky.social · 14/05/2025

I have never really ever been able to read horror. I blame this book: In a Dark, Dark Room When the girl takes off the ribbon. You know what I'm talking about.

Original cover for In a Dark, Dark Room & other scary stories. Weird log cabin looking house with a yellow skeleton, pirate looking guy, girl carrying her head, and a ghost.

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Madeline Reads (and Writes!) Kid Books @madelinesmoot.bsky.social · 14/05/2025

The spring book season is in full swing, and I've just started buying the fall books. So let's talk about some books I loved that you might have missed. A thread. (Links are not affiliate links, just the regular ones from Bookshop.org)

Green background with words Overlooked Books Spring 2025 in white. The 5 book covers from the following five linked posts are in the center. Books: In Between Places, Dino Poet, Weird Sad & Silent, The Queen's Spade, and Astrophysics for Supervillains

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scbwiatx.bsky.social @scbwiatx.bsky.social · 03/03/2025

Join us on Saturday for our FREE Monthly Meeting at @bookpeople.bsky.social! Author Meredith Davis will share Mentor Texts: Why You Need Them and How to Use Them! How does reading like a writer/illustrator change the way we consume a book? Find out! www.scbwi.org/events/month...

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Madeline Reads (and Writes!) Kid Books @madelinesmoot.bsky.social · 25/01/2025

My dryer was out all week and only got fixed yesterday. I’m on laundry load 7.

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Madeline Reads (and Writes!) Kid Books @madelinesmoot.bsky.social · 24/01/2025

Oh, look. It's me!!! I'm going to classes on writing for the educational market and work for hire projects. (I clearly have a mission to do work-for-hire/IP projects.) I'm going to take copious notes and share all I learn. Come learn it too! #kidlit #writing #scbwiatx

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Madeline Reads (and Writes!) Kid Books @madelinesmoot.bsky.social · 23/01/2025

Just finished this week’s newsletter for @scbwiatx.bsky.social — and there are so many really cool events planned for this year. And I can’t post it yet, but our IC made this gorgeous calendar of all of them. 😍

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Madeline Reads (and Writes!) Kid Books @madelinesmoot.bsky.social · 22/01/2025

Introduce yourself with One book 📖 One film 🎥 One album 💿 One show 📺 #booksky ⏰📚💙 #kidlit

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Madeline Reads (and Writes!) Kid Books @madelinesmoot.bsky.social · 21/01/2025

As promised, good books for the littlest readers to celebrate the life of Martin Luther King, Jr a thread: *Note: These are my personal recs. I don't speak for my employer. Also not affiliate links. Starting with my favorite illustrated I Have a Dream bookshop.org/p/books/i-ha...

bookshop.org

I Have a Dream [With CD (Audio)] a book by Martin Luther King and Kadir Nelson

From Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s daughter, Dr. Bernice A. King: "My father's dream continues to live on from generation to generation, and this beautiful and powerful illustrated edition of his worl...

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Madeline Reads (and Writes!) Kid Books @madelinesmoot.bsky.social · 20/01/2025

Morning! It's a cold, gloomy day here with kids home from school, so here are some books I would be reading if I could stay home curled up in bed. A thread: *Note: These are my personal recs. I don't speak for my employer. Also, these are not affiliate links. #kidlit #kidlitrecs

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Madeline Reads (and Writes!) Kid Books @madelinesmoot.bsky.social · 19/01/2025

So, what did I do this past year? Not write. Or edit. Or publish. I took the job of kids buyer for a large indie bookstore and now oversee a 4k sq ft kids section + schools department. It’s a big job! Huge learning curve! But now I’m back (I hope?) with so many books to share.

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Madeline Reads (and Writes!) Kid Books @madelinesmoot.bsky.social · 09/11/2023

I finally cracked 10k words on my #NaNoWriMo project, leaving only 5k words behind where I should be. LOL! Good thing this isn't actually a project with a contracted deadline of 30 days!

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Madeline Reads (and Writes!) Kid Books @madelinesmoot.bsky.social · 03/11/2023

I'm about 1 chapter behind where I want to be for my #NaNoWriMo WIP. Wonder how thrilled the guy I'm seeing (also a writer) is going to be when I propose a writing sprint for date night? Because nothing says romance like no talking and typing for a timed period. #writerlife

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Madeline Reads (and Writes!) Kid Books @madelinesmoot.bsky.social · 02/11/2023

Happy #NANOWRIMO day! How'd everyone do? I got just over 1700 words today, but it was little bits all day long. #writinglife #kidlit

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Madeline Reads (and Writes!) Kid Books @madelinesmoot.bsky.social · 29/10/2023

I got bit by a dog today. Not badly, but enough to necessitate a visit to the ER. 😳 How’s your day going?

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Madeline Reads (and Writes!) Kid Books @madelinesmoot.bsky.social · 27/10/2023

I decided (literally last night) that DOING #nanowrimo wasn't enough. I needed to host a prep night 10/30 and a bunch of writing get-togethers during November. (all FREE) So, if you want to join in, more info: madelinesmoot.com/nanoprep23 #authorlife #writing

madelinesmoot.com

2023 #NANOWRIMO Schedule and Events - Madeline Smoot

It's almost upon us …

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Madeline Reads (and Writes!) Kid Books @madelinesmoot.bsky.social · 26/10/2023

I have decided -- kind of on a whim -- to do #nanowrimo this year. I haven't done it since 2017, but I could use the motivation and public accountability. Who else is doing it? I'm the super creative @madelinesmoot on there. Let me know your name so we can be buddies!! #writing #authorlife

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Madeline Reads (and Writes!) Kid Books @madelinesmoot.bsky.social · 26/10/2023

Got a little stuck, so I only got about 1/2 a chapter instead of a whole one. I need to figure out a clue/red herring before I can go on. Time to spend quality time staring into space. #authorlife

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Madeline Reads (and Writes!) Kid Books @madelinesmoot.bsky.social · 26/10/2023

Prepped and ready to meet with my #author this afternoon. You know what that means … #writing time!! I'm going to try to get that next chapter done. Wish me luck.

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Madeline Reads (and Writes!) Kid Books @madelinesmoot.bsky.social · 25/10/2023

Ok. 1 chapter down. 5 more to go before the end of the month. (Estimated) #authorlife

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Madeline Reads (and Writes!) Kid Books @madelinesmoot.bsky.social · 25/10/2023

This past week has been a little trying, but it’s time to get back into #writing. I have 7 days to write the last 6 chapters of my mystery so I can start fresh with a new project on 11/1 for #nanowrimo and the holiday season. Let’s do this.

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Madeline Reads (and Writes!) Kid Books @madelinesmoot.bsky.social · 13/10/2023

I'm setting up and getting ready for my webinar in last than an hour. Eeeek! Wish me luck.

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Madeline Reads (and Writes!) Kid Books @madelinesmoot.bsky.social · 11/10/2023

I'm doing a webinar tomorrow (FREE!) all about #kidlit submissions. Naturally, I've been thinking a lot about the #queryletter -- let's discuss it, shall we? Presenting: THE FOUR QUESTION QUERY LETTER (a thread or whatever they are called here) 1/?

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Madeline Reads (and Writes!) Kid Books @madelinesmoot.bsky.social · 08/10/2023

Before I start my #writing, time to look at this week’s stats: this was by far my most productive writing week all year. I got nearly twice as much written this week as in the whole month of sept. No idea where this productivity is coming from, but let’s see if I can keep going!

An orange line graph labeled Daily Word Count with the dates in October on the x axis.

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Madeline Reads (and Writes!) Kid Books @madelinesmoot.bsky.social · 07/10/2023

An article worth reading no matter what stage you’re at in your #author career.

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Madeline Reads (and Writes!) Kid Books @madelinesmoot.bsky.social · 07/10/2023

I know there are some Austin events that coordinate with this today. BookPeople has at least one...

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Debbie Ridpath Ohi @debbieohi.com · 07/10/2023

I encourage you to browse posts tagged with #LetFreedomRead for lots of info, event reports & resources! #LetFreedomRead #FreedomToRead #BannedBooksWeek

Illustration of girl looking down at her book, open on the kitchen table. Beside is a cereal bowl with real pieces of cereal floating up, some with wings and tails. Text floating above reads "Let Freedom Read"

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Madeline Reads (and Writes!) Kid Books @madelinesmoot.bsky.social · 07/10/2023

It's Saturday! Obviously a day for thinking about #writing the perfect #queryletter. I'm doing a workshop about them on Thursday, so query letters and one page synopsis and manuscript excerpts are on my mind. What is everyone else thinking about on this lovely fall day?

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Madeline Reads (and Writes!) Kid Books @madelinesmoot.bsky.social · 07/10/2023

I liked the premise behind an anthology submission call, so I decided to give it a try. I wrote the short story tonight. And folks, I love this character and the world. I have so much other stuff I need to be #writing and yet I want to go do this instead. #firstworldwriterproblem #authorlife

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Madeline Reads (and Writes!) Kid Books @madelinesmoot.bsky.social · 06/10/2023

Over the last few days between #writing about query letters and #writing about one page synopsis, I crocheted a scarf and pillbox hat for a stuffed animal. Why? 🤷🏻‍♀️ No idea. But on the plus side, I’ve now finished writing about a complete #kidlit novel query. #authorlife #weirdauthorlife #amediting

A panda stuffed animal in a blue crocheted scarf and blue crocheted pillbox hat in front of gold swirls and grey background.

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Madeline Reads (and Writes!) Kid Books @madelinesmoot.bsky.social · 04/10/2023

Morning! I don’t have any meetings today. So you know what that means… Writing day! Write all the words day. All of them. I shall start with the section I’m working on about the one page synopsis in your query. It’s riveting stuff.

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Madeline Reads (and Writes!) Kid Books @madelinesmoot.bsky.social · 02/10/2023

Ok, remember how I decided I need to write an entire Submissions/Querying guidebook? Yeah, so that's turned into a bigger undertaking than I thought… I have the intro written and I've started detailing the parts of a query letter with examples. That's something. But there is still so much to go.

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Chris Barton @bartography.bsky.social · 01/10/2023

Texas authors of picture books, middle grade, YA & more: Time to submit your 2023 publications for the Texas Institute of Letters literary contests — & also to be a good friend & let your fellow Texas writers (or writers of Texas-related books) know! texasinstituteofletters.org/literary-awa...

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