Just sent out my newsletter with info about author events for the 2023/24 school year (tinyurl.com/book-connections) & shared some favorite recent books. I *devoured* THE DARK PLACE by Britney S. Lewis, though I don't usually read horror. What have you read lately that surprised you?

I have been trying to write these books. I keep being told they're "too young" for YA and should be "dialed down" to MG. But they're what I wanted as a mid-teen. A Manifesto in Support of Middle School Books, a guest post by Marcia Kochel teenlibrariantoolbox.com/202…

The drawing is a few years old, but no less relevant. Happy pride!

I shared this with a friend the other night, but I feel it bears talking about, so I’ll share it with you all, too. Burnout is a beast. Depression is a beast. Even with writing and stories being such an integral part of who I am, I hard a hard time writing for a while. 1/10

Sometimes, it’s rediscovering yourself. Take your time. Do what you need to do to be who you are. You’re worth it. 10/10

Win a copy of this adorable board book, with each spread showcasing the love between a caregiver and a child. To enter, RT by 5/3, US only. Tell me your favorite flavor for an extra entry! If your favorite is vanilla, you're disqualified (kidding...two of my kids love vanilla).

“Why should I bother testing for Covid? If I’m sick I’m sick. Knowing it’s Covid doesn’t change anything.” Actually - it does. If you know it’s Covid there are things you can & should be doing differently - despite what the CDC or other people want you to believe. A 🧵/1

My name is Kristin Song. On January 31, 2018, my son Ethan was shot in the head in his best friend's house. The father/gun owner stored 3 handguns and ammunition in a shoebox. Ethan's friend had been accessing the guns for over 6 months. At the hospital, the ER doctor slid down the wall, put his head in his hands, and whispered, "Your son is gone." At that instant, all I knew, loved and trusted was imploded into a million tiny pieces. I begged to say goodbye to my beautiful boy. I wanted to kiss his forehead, tell him how cherished he was, and tuck him in one last time. But the doctor begged me to remember Ethan as he was, you see, he was unrecognizable even to my eyes. The day before Thanksgiving in 2018, the prosecutor told me she would not charge the negligent gun owner, and if I wanted negligent gun owners to be held accountable, I would have to change the law. So I did. 6 months later, Connecticut passed Ethan's Law, which requires gun owners to secure their weapons if children can gain access. Then, I learned that so many states stood silent on this issue, so in 2019, I turned my attention to passing Ethan's Law nationally. I met with over 400 congressional offices, 130 of them Republican. In 2022, Ethan's Law was passed in the House of Representatives as part of the Safer Communities Act. Sadly, it was not picked up in the final package. When the Democrats lost the House of Representatives in 2023, I pivoted to passing safe gun storage laws in the States. As a result, Michigan, New Mexico, and Maryland passed safe storage laws. Currently, I am working with 5 states to pass Ethan's Law. I am emotionally and mentally exhausted, but I will not stop until there is a cultural shift in this country where it becomes second nature to secure your weapons around unsupervised children. If you believe in protecting children from gun violence, please follow and repost.

Adding because I'm getting a lot of comments & I wasn't cut out for this. I'm not saying adults can't or shouldn't read YA. Hell, I read books for even younger kids sometimes (because I write them, and it's good to read what you write). I'm just saying, remember they're for kids.

Your throat closes, sensing you are dying during #anaphylaxis NOT funny My son once pleaded w/ me to remove the arms strangling him during a #peanutallergy reaction @UberEats - if U "forget" you have a #foodallergy can literally DIE- NO JOKE #SuperBowl allergicliving.com/2024/02/0…

THE WINTERTON DECEPTION by @MsVerbose holidayhouse.com/site/pixel-… A twisty mystery, a totally dysfunctional family, a fortune at stake, spelling, secret passageways, literary love, and so much more. (3 Starred Reviews! A US Book Show Buzz Book, a Kirkus Most Anticipated of Fall!)

Well, if certain places are derisive of MG, I think it's time to boost some. These are all series. So love the first or love them all, and find the characters and worlds you want to keep coming back to!

AWESOME! There's an ARC #giveaway on @goodreads of @henakhanbooks's DRAWING DEENA - and you can enter right here: goodreads.com/giveaway/show/… Then, make sure to pick up a copy of the book when it releases in 2024! @simonteen @simonschuster @SimonBooks @SimonKIDS

Teachers, librarians, educators, parents, & readers! It’s a #MiddleGrade Monday #giveaway! I need to find these 10 sports books a new home! Follow, ❤️, and RT/QT or Comment Tag a friend to enter for a chance to add these great books 📚 to your collection! Winner selected 10/29.

At the @jonasbrothers concert 🎶 We’re sitting so close that I can get good shots of the stage even without zooming in at all. Imagine how exciting this will be when there are actually PERFORMERS on the stage!!

📚FLASH GIVEAWAY!📚 #HappyGrandparentsDay! Grandparent relationships play a joyful role in all of my #MG novels—I'd love to give away this set to celebrate the wonderful grandparents, lolos, & lolas out there! TO ENTER: RT ❤️ Follow. Extra entries, tag reader-friends! (US Only🙏)

Fall Writing Frenzy 2023 RULES, Images, and Information Click this link to get all the info: kaitlynleannsanchez.com/2023… #FallWritingFrenzy