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Mermaid Writer @mermaidwriter.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

CICI WANTS TO DANCE: 39K-word #MG #CON Kind of Spark X Really Rubie X DWTS 2e autistic 10yo Cici hates touch but when she falls in love with ballroom dance, she must find a way to make partner dancing work for her or forever live with the ache of a dream unfulfilled. #DVpit #ND #lgbt #dis #OWN #CI

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Mermaid Writer @mermaidwriter.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

CICI WANTS TO DANCE: 39K-word #MG #CON the heart of Kind of Spark X the voice of Really Rubie X the flare of Dancing with the Stars Twice exceptional autistic 10yo Cici hates touch but longs to ballroom dance in spite of that. #DVpit #ND #lgbt #dis #CI #OWN

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Mermaid Writer @mermaidwriter.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Kind of Spark X Really Rubie X DWTS In CICI WANTS TO DANCE, 2e autistic 10-year-old Cici hates all forms of touch but when she falls in love with ballroom dancing, Cici must find a way to make partner dancing work for her or forever live with the ache of a dream unfulfilled. #DVpit #MG #CON 39K #ND

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Mermaid Writer @mermaidwriter.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Twice exceptional 10-year-old Cici hates all forms of touch, but when she falls in love with ballroom dancing, Cici must find a way to make partner dancing work for her or forever live with the ache of a dream unfulfilled. CICI WANTS TO DANCE 39K #MG #CON for fans of DWTS #DVpit #ND #OWN #lgbt

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Mermaid Writer @mermaidwriter.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

WET SHEETS (#PB, 350 words) Big-kid bedwetter Ari is used to waking up in a sea of shame, but at least, there’s no chance their friends will find out–until Ari’s bestie invites them to a slumber party. NUNU AND THE SEA (Kung, 2025) X BROKEN (Fang, 2025) + bedwetting #DVpit #ND #dis #LGBT #ci #NB

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Mermaid Writer @mermaidwriter.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

WET SHEETS (#PB, 350 words) NUNU AND THE SEA (Kung, 2025) X BROKEN (Fang, 2025) + bedwetting Big-kid bedwetter Ari is used to waking up in a sea of shame, but at least, there’s no chance their friends will find out–until Ari’s bestie invites them to a slumber party. #DVpit #ND #dis #LGBT #ci #NB

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Mermaid Writer @mermaidwriter.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

CICI WANTS TO DANCE (39K-word #MG #CON) combines the heart of A Kind of Spark, the voice of Really Rubie, and the flare of Dancing with the Stars. 2e autistic 10-year-old Cici hates all forms of touch but longs to ballroom dance in spite of that. #DVpit #ND #dis #OWN #lgbt #CI

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Mermaid Writer @mermaidwriter.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

NUNU AND THE SEA (Kung, 2025) X BROKEN (Fang, 2025) + bedwetting = WET SHEETS Big-kid bedwetter Ari is used to waking up in a sea of shame, but at least, there’s no chance their friends will find out–until Ari’s bestie invites them to a slumber party. #PB #DVpit #ND #dis #LGBT #ci #NB

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Mermaid Writer @mermaidwriter.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

A Kind of Spark X Really Rubie X Dancing with the Stars. In CICI WANTS TO DANCE (39K-word #mg #CON), 2e autistic 10-year-old Cici hates all forms of touch but longs to ballroom dance in spite of that. #DVpit #ND #dis #OWN #lgbt #CI

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Mermaid Writer @mermaidwriter.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Writing PB back matter is a mix of work and fun when the subject is a special interest! #amwriting #kidlit #picturebook #actuallyautistic #nd

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Mermaid Writer @mermaidwriter.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

If LGBTQ+ fiction is not a genre in and of itself, what is it? Do you have any advice for classifying the genre of an LGBTQ+ book when its queer elements butt heads with expected genre tropes? For context, I am working on a queerplatonic "romance." #askDV

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Mermaid Writer @mermaidwriter.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Happy to receive 1 request for my #MG from this year's #PitchDis. The query is out! We'll see how this pans out :) #kidlit #amquerying #dis #nd

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Mermaid Writer @mermaidwriter.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Made a great typo when talking about authentic autistic experiences today: autentic (AUTistic + authENTIC) I may have to make this a real word! #actuallyautistic #ND #dis #dysgraphia #amwriting

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Mermaid Writer @mermaidwriter.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Wrote my first PB draft in a while today. It is full of color and sparkle! 💎💎💎#picturebooks #kidlit #amwriting

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#PitchDis @pitchdis.com · 08/09/2026

🎉🎉🎉The #PitchDis pitch form is open! 🎉🎉🎉 Remember - there's no benefit to being the first (or last) to enter, so take your time. The form will automatically close September 10 at 8pm EDT. GOOD LUCK!!! forms.gle/F8kHEmZYvdYE...

forms.gle

#PitchDis Pitch Form

Please enter the following information to participate in #PitchDis 2026! Your pitch will be displayed to editors and agents exactly as it is entered, so make sure you have entered it correctly. No…

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Mermaid Writer @mermaidwriter.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

Excited for #DVpit! I just scheduled all my pitches for the #mg with Buffer 😃 #amquerying #kidlit

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Mermaid Writer @mermaidwriter.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

Sent out my first batch of queries. Then found a typo on page 3. 😂 It was small enough that none of my beta readers caught it, but it still meant I had to edit 4 different files. #amquerying #kidlit #writingcommunity #mg

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Mermaid Writer @mermaidwriter.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

I resolved all the comments in my novel! I think... Can't understand why "original content deleted" counts as an open comment. Deleting should count as resolving. #amwriting #kidlit #writingcommunity

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Picture books, eh! @picturebookseh.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

Please join us!

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Stefanie Molina-Santos @agentstefanie.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Excited for this :) Join me this Wednesday! You'll get a solid action plan for what to do next depending on what kinds of responses you're receiving, and we'll take a peek at what makes an R&R vs. an offer.

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Mermaid Writer @mermaidwriter.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

Completely revised my #mg intro after some feedback from a beta reader. And I LOVE it. Nothing like an honest critique to inspire greatness. #amrevising #amwriting #kidlit #writingcommunity

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Mermaid Writer @mermaidwriter.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

What I loved about THE EXTRAORDINARY ORBIT OF ALEX RAMIREZ: ⭐ LatinX neurodivergent rep ⭐ The poetry! ⭐ Spanish words intertwined with English ⭐ familia connection ⭐ Masterful page layout and rhythm ⭐ Seeing inside the SC experience bit.ly/4wsWYaK #kidlit #bookreview #nd #mg

Book cover for THE EXTRAORDINARY ORBIT OF ALEX RAMIREZ by Jasminne Paulino, which shows a Latino boy in a NASA T-shirt sitting in a science classroom.

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Mermaid Writer @mermaidwriter.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

Done with nearly all my revision, and yet I am now contemplating changing the name of an important character. 😅 #amwriting #kidlit #mg #writingcommunity

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Mermaid Writer @mermaidwriter.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

I'm autistic child mask-querading as an adult. 😉 #actuallyautistic #nd

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Mermaid Writer @mermaidwriter.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

My new definition of a PB climax: the moment the reader goes WOAH It can be a good woah or a bad woah, but there should be a woah. Or wow or aww or some other emotion-filled exclamation. #kidlit #amwriting #picturebook #writingcommunity

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Mermaid Writer @mermaidwriter.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

Started my official revision this week. Though I was already revising while drafting. #amwriting #mg #kidlit #writingcommunity

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Mermaid Writer @mermaidwriter.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

LOVED A Kind of Spark by @ellemcnicoll.bsky.social. Sweet, beautiful, authentic. But not afraid to address hard topics like ableism, systemic injustice, and college burnout. I adore these characters! #actuallyautistic #kidlit #mg #nd #bookreview

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SCBWI New Mexico @scbwi-nm.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

Craft Webinar: #Illustrating with Both Sides of Your Brain June 9, 6:30 p.m. MDT Zoom Join author-illustrator Marker Snyder to learn how to tap into both your logical and creative sides to unlock the full range of your artistic potential. $12 members www.scbwi.org/events/maste... #writing #kidlit

scbwi.org

SCBWI-NM Craft Webinar: Master Class in Characterization with Kat Chen (Jade Lee)

Not the typical fill-out-this-character-sheet class! Explore Core Wounds, Key Strengths as they come from Trauma, Verbs, and Imagery Sets. You’ll finish with over a dozen different directions to explo...

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Mermaid Writer @mermaidwriter.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

PB revision done and within normal word count. Woohoo! #amwriting #kidlit #picturebook

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Mermaid Writer @mermaidwriter.bsky.social · 30/05/2026

Just finished WHO I WAS WITH HER by @nitatyndall.com. This is now one of my favorite books ever! Love the characters, the writing, the emotion, EVERYTHING. Thanks for the recommendation @ericsmithrocks.bsky.social #kidlit #lgbtq #queerbooks #ya #bookreview

Book cover for WHO I WAS WITH HER by Nita Tyndall, showing a blond White girl in sports gear and a lime green scrunchie with a dark female figure behind her.

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Mermaid Writer @mermaidwriter.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

A great article for anyone who prefers internal conflict to external. #amwriting #writingcommunity authorspublish.com/writing-stak...

authorspublish.com

» Writing Stakes Without Raising the Volume

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Kate Messner @katemessner.com · 19/05/2026

Check out this amazing list of summer reads from @slj.com! Thrilled to see @karinayanglaser.bsky.social's THE KIDS IN MRS. Z'S CLASS: POPPY SONG BAKES A WAY included here! @littlebrownyr.bsky.social www.schoollibraryjournal.com/story/we-are...

schoollibraryjournal.com

We Are Kid Lit Collective Announces the 2026 Summer Reading List

Now in its 12th year, the We Are Kid Lit Collective’s annual Summer Reading List features works by and about BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color).

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Authors Against Book Bans @authorsabb.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

Hey New York! It can be easy to think book bans aren't a big deal in a Blue State so we pulled together some information from PEN America for you. Keep pushing on your Right to Read legislation.

docs.google.com

NY book challenges 2021-25

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Mermaid Writer @mermaidwriter.bsky.social · 16/05/2026

Draft one is DONE! Finished typing just in time to see a beautiful sunset 😀 #amwriting #kidlit #mg

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Mermaid Writer @mermaidwriter.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

Apparently, I am a robot. The reCAPTCHAs are not willing to confirm my humanity today. #spinningwheelofdoom

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Mermaid Writer @mermaidwriter.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

So excited to be chosen as a @pbrisingstars.bsky.social Honorable Mention. Special thanks to the critique partner who congratulated me before I even knew! #kidlit #goodnews

Badge with orange planet reads 2026 PB RISING STARS HONORABLE MENTION.

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Eija Sumner @eijasumner.bsky.social · 10/05/2026

I read Mac Barnett’s book, and wrote a v lengthy blog post on book bans, living in a red state, and a dive into the development of my own picture book that juxtaposes a didactic narrative voice with a playful one— like how do get from experimental idea to book, and who gets to write that? #kidlit

eijasumner.com

Mac Barnett’s Make Believe, Book Bans, Mermaids, and Didacticism and Play - Eija Sumner

We are already in a totalitarian experience of children’s literature, just not quite the one Mac Barnett wrote about in […]

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Mermaid Writer @mermaidwriter.bsky.social · 09/05/2026

Today's natural high: following my MC through tens of thousands of words and finally writing her achieving her goal! #amwriting #kidlit #mg

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Mermaid Writer @mermaidwriter.bsky.social · 03/05/2026

Took today to arrange the poems in my chapbook. I thought my page range was in the sweet spot until I realized every publisher has a different sweet spot! #amwriting #poetry #actuallyautistic

Multicolor neon index cards spread out. Writing is visible on the top and bottom card: "Dear Neurotypical World" and "To My Younger Self."

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Mermaid Writer @mermaidwriter.bsky.social · 01/05/2026

35,000+ words into the MG and speeding toward the finish line! #amwriting #kidlit #middlegrade #writingcommunity

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