How to Get Your Book Published With a Small Press: Author Carol L. Pauer Guest Post and Rowley Peters and the Lumberjack Ghost Giveaway

Happy Monday Everyone! Today I’m excited to have author Carol L. Pauer here with a guest post to share the release of her MG Rowley Peters and the Lumberjack Ghost. It involves a mystery, which I always like, and I’m looking forward to reading it. 

Here’s a blurb from Amazon:

 

A campground full of ghosts?

When Rowley Peters goes camping with her family at Black Hawk State Park, she learns it's the site of mummy excavations, ghostly frog behavior, and the legendary lumberjack ghost Chicken McGee. Rowley never liked camping, but when her best friend, Huey, and her family join them she's stuck facing these spooky creatures. With frogs to follow, copper antiquities to learn about, and Chicken McGee's axe to dodge, Rowley and Huey realize there's something more dangerous at the campground than ghosts. Unfortunately, following the clues leads them in different temper-flaring directions. Solving the mystery of Chicken McGee might just be the only way to save their friendship.

 

Now here’s Carol! 

Six Steps I Used to Get My Book Published by Chicken Scratch Books 

“The End,” you write and excitedly dream of signing copies of your book at a filled-to-capacity author event. Wake up. Before your book-signing events, you need to get your work published. Often finding a publisher is more difficult than authoring a book. 

My latest middle-grade novel, Rowley Peters and the Lumberjack Ghost, was in the same position about three years ago. I was finished and wondering what to do next. I had indie-published three books and traditionally published two. Indie-publishing was an option but I had success finding two publishers for my other kids’ books, so I took the traditional path. 

Before setting out on my publishing journey, I mapped out a plan, one that I had used for the other two books. Many authors have their own paths to publication, but I’ve met many who don’t. This blog is for them and for anyone curious about how Chicken Scratch Books took on Rowley Peters and the Lumberjack Ghost. 

One: Join a professional writing group.

Years ago, an agent I followed on Twitter (X), tweeted that if you want to write for children, join SCBWI. I messaged him and asked what SCBWI meant. He replied, “Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.” I joined and it was what helped me get my first children’s book published. I learned where my original short story – Snoring Beauty – fit into the kidlit world. The story had to be converted into a proper page count for an early middle-grade book. This was something I had no knowledge of prior to joining SCBWI. I changed my 2,000-word short story Snoring Beauty to Isasnora Snores, a 30,000-word book. I also connected with other kitlit authors and figured out how to pitch my book. Writer’s Digest offers a list of professional groups to help get you started. (https://www.writersdigest.com/be-inspired/writing-organizations-for-writers-to-check-out)  

Another benefit to joining SCBWI was their free or low-cost classes. I attended one by Kiri Jorgensen, author and publisher of Chicken Scratch Books. I don’t recall the topic of the class but I liked her and her company. I began taking some courses from Chicken Scratch and learned more about writing middle-grade books. There was no guarantee that Chicken Scratch would publish my books but I learned a lot about middle-grade fiction and middle-grade readers. One thing that has stuck with me is that middle-grade readers are fussy readers. 

Two: Work with beta readers.

When you’re working on a book, beta readers or critique partners are those additional eyes to examine your work. They don’t edit your book but provide insights that may clarify your writing. It’s advisable to find readers in your genre. I once belonged to a local writing group. Most of the writers were poets and they didn’t grasp my fiction writing. It wasn’t helpful. Once I joined SCBWI, I was linked to beta reading groups in the genre I was writing in. Most of the groups offered great ways to improve my manuscripts. 

When working with beta readers, know that they do not have the final word on your book. Sometimes the feedback feels harsh or discouraging. Typically, I set the feedback aside for about a week and then return to it. My rule of thumb is if all the beta readers question something in my book, I need to clarify or remove it. If a beta reader wants you to change everything, you don’t have to do that (unless you think it’s a great idea). 

You may find beta readers through your professional writing group, like I did through SCBWI. You might also find them on Facebook. I have a writing friend who uses Fiverr to find beta readers. I tried that but it didn’t work for me. 

Three: Hire a copy editor.

When you’ve done several rewrites and you feel ready to pitch, hire a copy editor. When you’re searching for an editor, be clear on your requirements. I hired an editor for my first indie-book not realizing she was a developmental editor. She tore the book apart in ways I didn’t really accept. It cost me $1,600. My current copy editor checks for grammar, spelling, and punctuation. She’ll do two rounds of edits. There’s nothing wrong with a developmental or copy editor – just know the difference and what you require. 

Four: Read submission guidelines carefully.

Every publisher has guidelines on their web pages outlining the procedures they wish authors to follow. They get inundated with queries daily. There have been instances where I submitted something only to get a reply that says, “I only accept…” Awkward. Not only that, but I might also have ruined future chances to pitch that publisher (though it has never stopped me before). You will greatly enhance your chances of securing a publisher if you simply follow the instructions. 

Five: Turn a no into a yes.

When I pitched Rowley to Chicken Scratch Books, I got a "No" with a list of reasons for the rejection. I wanted to say, “Thank you,” and crawl under a rock. Instead, I asked if I made some changes, would she look at it again? She agreed. I resubmitted and she offered me a contract. If it’s a firm no, then I usually move on but I certainly would pitch that publisher with a different book. 

Six: Respect the publisher.

Manners do count in this industry. I’ve been told by agents and publishers horror stories of rude writers. Yes, it’s challenging to find someone to pitch or publish your book, but don’t take your frustrations out on them. 

Also, once you sign with a publisher, work with the company’s revision requests and market your book. The best way to show your gratitude for the publisher taking a risk on your book is to do the revisions and market the book. 

These are the steps I took to get Rowley Peters and the Lumberjack Ghost published. They’re not all inclusive but they were the springboards to getting Chicken Scratch Books to offer me a contract. I hope you'll find them helpful in carving out your path to publication.  

Thanks for sharing all your advice, Carol. You can find Carol at: 

Website: www.clpaurauthor.com

Book links: 

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Rowley-Peters-Lumberjack-Ghost-Carol/dp/B0DZBGFY1W

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/rowley-peters-and-the-lumberjack-ghost-carol-l-paur/1147058847

Chicken Scratch Books: https://chickenscratchbooks.com/product/rowley-peters-and-the-lumberjack-ghost/

Podcast - 

YouTube Talking to Myself: https://youtu.be/9huZsby4oUM

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorclp?utm_source=qr&igsh=a3M1a2o0MmV6YTVq 

Giveaway Details 

Carol is generously offering a paperback of Rowley Peters and the Lumberjack Ghost for a giveaway. To enter, all you need to do is be a follower of my blog (via the follower gadget, email, or bloglovin’ on the right sidebar) and leave a comment by May 31st. If I do not have your email (I can no longer get it from your Google Profile), you must leave it in the comments to enter the contest. Please be sure I have your email address.

If you mention this contest on Twitter, Facebook, or other social media sites and/or follow me on Twitter or Bluesky or follow Carol on her social media sites, mention this in the comments, and I'll give you an extra entry for each. You must be 13 years old or older to enter. This book giveaway is U.S.

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday is hosted by Greg Pattridge. You can find the participating blogs on his blog.

Upcoming Interviews, Guest Posts, and Blog Hops

Wednesday, May 21st I have an agent spotlight interview with Isabel Lineberry and a query critique giveaway

Sunday, June 1st I’m participating in the Berry Good Giveaway Hop

Monday, June 2nd I have a guest post by authors Alichia Dow and Tracy Badhua and a giveaway of their MG Their Just Desserts

Wednesday, June 4th I have an interview with author Aaron Starmer and a giveaway of his YA Night Swimming and my IWSG post

Monday, June 9th I have an interview with author Nancy McCabe and a giveaway of her MG Fires Burning Underground

Wednesday, June 11th I have an agent spotlight interview with Mark O’Brien and a query critique giveaway

Monday, June 16th I’m participating in the Dad-o-Mite Giveaway Hop

Monday, June 23rd I have an interview with author Michael Spradlin and a giveaway of his MG Threat of the Spider

I hope to see you on Wednesday!

 

 

Moms Rock Giveaway Hop

 

Happy Friday! Today I'm excited to participate in the Moms Rock Giveaway Hop hosted by MamatheFox and Mom Does Reviews. I hope you’re doing well. This is a happy time of year for me. The weather is beautiful, and everything is finally blooming. I planted my vegetables and flowers already. And I had a fun trip with my father-in-law to celebrate his birthday. Plus I celebrated Mother’s  Day with my daughter. It’s been a great start to the month.

Book of Your Choice or Amazon Gift Card 

I am offering a book of your choice that is $20 or less on Amazon. I’m looking forward to seeing what books everyone is looking forward to reading.  

If you don’t have a book you want, you can win a $10 Amazon Gift Card.

Giveaway Details

To enter, all you need to do is be a follower of my blog (via the follower gadget, email, or bloglovin’ on the right sidebar) and leave a comment by May 31st telling me whether you want a book, and if so, which one, or the Amazon gift card and your email address. Be sure to include your email address. If I do not have your email (I can no longer get it from your Google Profile), you must leave it in the comments to enter the contest. Please be sure I have your email address. 

If you mention this contest on Twitter, Facebook, or other social media sites and/or follow me on Twitter or Bluesky, mention this in the comments and I'll give you an extra entry for each. You must be 13 years old or older to enter. The book giveaway is U.S. only and the Amazon gift card giveaway is International.

Upcoming Interviews, Guest Posts, and Blog Hops

Monday, May 19th I have a guest post by author Carol L. Pauer and a giveaway of her MG Rowley Peters and the Lumberjack Ghost

Wednesday, May 21st I have an agent spotlight interview with Isabel Lineberry and a query critique giveaway

Sunday, June 1st I’m participating in the Berry Good Giveaway Hop

Wednesday, June 4th I have an interview with author Aaron Starmer and a giveaway of his YA Night Swimming and my IWSG post

Monday, June 2nd I have a guest post by authors Alichia Dow and Tracy Badhua and a giveaway of their MG Their Just Desserts

Monday, June 9th I have an interview with author Nancy McCabe and a giveaway of her MG Fires Burning Underground 

Wednesday, June 11th I have an agent spotlight interview with Mark O’Brien and a query critique giveaway

Monday, June 16th I’m participating in the Dad-o-Mite Giveaway Hop

Monday, June 23rd I have an interview with author Michael Spradlin and a giveaway of his MG Threat of the Spider

I hope to see you on Monday!

 And here are all the blogs participating in this blog hop: MamatheFox, Mom Does Reviews, and all participating blogs are not held responsible for sponsors who fail to fulfill their prize obligations.

 

Literary Agent Interview: Analía Cabello Interview and Query Critique Giveaway

Today I’m thrilled to have agent Analía Cabello here. She’s an associate agent at Andrea Brown Literary Agency. 

Hi­ Analía! Thanks so much for joining us. 

About Analía: 

1. Tell us how you became an agent, how long you’ve been one, and what you’ve been doing as an agent.

 

Hi Literary Rambles! Thanks so much for having me. J 

Well, it’s funny—I didn’t start out intending to become an agent, but as I’ve been reflecting on my career in publishing so far, my first experiences in the industry were at literary agencies! My initial goal was to become an editor. I’ve been a huge reader for my whole life but knew I’d rather support authors than be one myself, and I love editorial work—but I also knew most of those jobs were located on the East Coast, and I was based in California at the time. Literary agencies were some of the only parts of publishing who were offering remote internships at that time, and I was super lucky to have the opportunity to connect with great folks at a couple different agencies who taught me a ton. 

I did eventually move to the East Coast briefly for a short stint at Candlewick—where I gained invaluable experience and worked with a lot of wonderful, talented people—but I was homesick and wanted to be closer to my family in California. That’s how I ended up at ABLA in 2021 as Kelly Sonnack’s assistant, and the rest is history! I’ve been an associate agent since January of 2025, so I’m very much in a building phase. I’ve been reading a ton of queries, doing work behind-the-scenes with my clients to get their work ready for submission, and trying to introduce myself to the industry a bit. 

About the Agency: 

2. Share a bit about your agency and what it offers to its authors.

The Andrea Brown Literary Agency is a mid-sized agency specializing in both kidlit and adult literature. It was founded in California over 40 years ago, and we now have agents in all different parts of the country. You can read more about the agency on our website and see more from us on Instagram and Bluesky. Our agents are so talented, hardworking, kind, and collaborative, and are excellent advocates for all ABLA clients. I’m so grateful to have joined them and to call them my colleagues! 

What She’s Looking For: 

3. What age groups do you represent—picture books, MG, and/or YA? What genres do you represent and what are you looking for in submissions for these genres?

I’m looking for anything from picture books through YA. In picture books, I’m particularly wanting narrative-driven stories featuring human characters. For novels, I’m primarily looking for contemporary stories with literary-leaning writing. I love characters who feel in-between in any sense (identity, friend groups, transitional period of life, etc.); stories of self-discovery and character growth; explorations of sibling relationships and intergenerational families; and stories from creators whose voices have been traditionally underrepresented in the industry. In illustrators, I look for art that I’d want to live in: pieces that are rich in texture, detail, and narrative, with joyful characters and color palettes that pop. 

4.  Is there anything you would be especially excited to seeing in the genres you are interested in?

Give me all the sapphic romances, please! I would love something with the vibes of Bend It Like Beckham or Ice Princess but queer. I also appreciate ensemble stories with high stakes (like The Bear or Vampires Vs. The Bronx). And I love the gorgeous, dreamy feel of Makoto Shinkai’s recent movies. I would love to see something with those vibes. 

What She Isn’t Looking For: 

5. What types of submissions are you not interested in?

I am typically not the right agent for the following types of projects:

·       Science fiction and most fantasy (particularly high fantasy and portal fantasy)

·       Graphic novels and nonfiction

·       Stories where trauma is part of the primary conflict (particularly trauma around coming out)

·       Rhyming picture book texts

·       Picture book texts about anthropomorphic animals

·       Novels told from the perspective of an animal 

Agent Philosophy: 

6. What is your philosophy as an agent both in terms of the authors you want to work with and the books you want to represent?

It's important to me that I’m connecting with the submitted manuscript and have a vision for how to help the creator bring it to readers. I’ve read gorgeous texts that, after much deliberation, I’ve ultimately decided that I wouldn’t be the right agent to work on them, even though I would absolutely grab them off the shelf in the future. (And, trust me, this is always a disappointing realization!) I also have a conversation with prospective clients about their other works and/or future career goals. If an author submits a YA contemporary to me, for example, but also aspires to write high fantasy novels, I’m probably not the best agent for them, even if I really love their YA contemporary manuscript. Ultimately, this is a partnership, and I want to make sure that I’ll be the best partner for a prospective client and their work! 

Editorial Agent: 

7. Are you an editorial agent? If so, what is your process like when you’re working with your authors before submitting to editors?

I do consider myself an editorial agent. I love the editorial process—there’s something so rewarding about digging into a manuscript and getting to work alongside the author to identify where the story is already singing and where it can be strengthened to give it the best chance once it’s in an editor’s inbox. The exact process varies from project to project but I generally aim to do revisions in two phases: tackling developmental edits, which can take a couple rounds depending on the project, and then a light line edit to polish everything up before going out. 

Query Methods and Submission Guidelines: (Always verify before submitting) 

8. How should authors query you and what do you want to see with the query letter?

Please query me via QueryTracker! The materials will vary based on the type of submission; for illustrators, for example, I’d like to see either a portfolio uploaded or linked, in addition to a website link. For picture book texts, just paste your manuscript into the form where instructed. For novels, I’d like to see the first 20 pages of your manuscript in addition to a synopsis. (These instructions should also be present in the query form at the link.) 

9.  Do you have any specific dislikes in query letters or the first pages submitted to you?

Not necessarily! Of course, a polished query letter definitely helps make a good first impression, but we’re all human and mistakes aren’t the end of the world. I will also say that if your query materials are externally linked (for example, a link to a portfolio/website), please check your links, check your share settings, and make sure agents will be able to access your work! Broken links, links to locked website portfolio pages (without passwords included in the query letter), or links to file-sharing platforms (like Google drive/docs) that don’t allow folks to view unless they expressly have permission can be tough. 

Response Time: 

10. What’s your response time to queries and requests for more pages of a manuscript?

I make it a point to respond to every query in my query box, but my response time varies greatly and depends on when something is received and what else I have going on. Sometimes I answer a query the day it lands in my inbox because I happen to be in there already; sometimes it takes a bit longer. And sometimes I hold on to things for longer because I’m still making a decision, of course! 

Self-Published and Small Press Authors: 

11.  Are you open to representing authors who have self-published or been published by smaller presses? What advice do you have for them if they want to try to find an agent to represent them?

When I’m considering a client, the most important thing to me is whether I’m connecting with their work; I don’t see things like being self-published or previously published by smaller presses as a deterrent at all, as long as you’re querying with new, unpublished work. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend doing anything differently in your query process; just be honest and up-front about this when you’re querying. One of the really cool things about this industry is all the various paths people have taken on their journey; this is just another type of path!

Clients: 

12. Who are some of the authors you represent?

I currently represent about a dozen super cool, super talented creators. They range from picture book authors to MG authors to illustrators, and I’m so thrilled they’ve trusted me with their work. You can see more about them here. 

Interviews and Guest Posts: 

13. Please share the links to any interviews, guest posts, and podcasts you think would be helpful to writers interested in querying you.

None yet, but keep an eye on my website—I hope to be adding some links in the coming months! 

Update on 5/23/2025:

Agent of the Month at Writing and Illustrating Part 1, Part 2 (5/2025)

Links and Contact Info: 

14. Please share how writers should contact you to submit a query and your links on the Web.

I only accept queries via QueryTracker. You can see more about what I’m looking for on my website and my ABLA page. I’m also on Bluesky and Instagram. (I’m not super active in either place yet, but I’m trying to get better about it!) 

Additional Advice: 

15. Is there any other advice you’d like to share with aspiring authors that we haven’t covered?

Find community—writing/creating and querying can feel isolating, and it can be helpful to connect with other folks who are on this journey. But also—easier said than done, I know—try to avoid the comparison game. Everyone’s path looks different. Keep writing, keep revising, get connected, find critique partners, and remember that it just takes one yes. J 

Thanks for sharing all your advice, Analía.

Giveaway Details 

­Analía is generously offering a query critique to one lucky winner. To enter, all you need to do is be a follower (via the follower gadget, email, or bloglovin’ on the right sidebar) and leave a comment through May 24th. If you do not want to enter the contest, that’s okay. Just let me know in the comments. If I do not have your email (I can no longer get it from your Google Profile), you must leave it in the comments to enter the contest. Please be sure I have your email address.

If you follow me on Twitter or mention this contest on Twitter, Facebook, or your blog, mention this in the comments and I'll give you an extra entry. This is an international giveaway. 

Have any experience with this agent? See something that needs updating? Please leave a comment or email me at natalieiaguirre7@gmail.com 

Note: These agent profiles and interviews presently focus on agents who accept children's fiction. Please take the time to verify anything you might use here before querying an agent. The information found here is subject to change.

Upcoming Interviews, Guest Posts, and Blog Hops

Friday, May 16th I’m participating in the Moms Rock Giveaway Hop

Monday, May 19th I have a guest post by author Carol L. Pauer and a giveaway of her MG Rowley Peters and the Lumberjack Ghost

Wednesday, May 21st I have an agent spotlight interview with Isabel Lineberry and a query critique giveaway

Sunday, June 1st I’m participating in the Berry Good Giveaway Hop

Wednesday, June 4th I have an interview with author Aaron Starmer and a giveaway of his YA Night Swimming and my IWSG post

Monday, June 9th I have an interview with author Nancy McCabe and a giveaway of her MG Fires Burning Underground 

Wednesday, June 11th I have an agent spotlight interview with Mark O’Brien and a query critique giveaway

Monday, June 16th I’m participating in the Dad-o-Mite Giveaway Hop

Monday, June 23rd I have an interview with author Michael Spradlin and a giveaway of his MG Threat of the Spider

I hope to see you on Friday!

How to Get Your Second Book Ready for Publication by Author Leah Stecher and A Field Guide to Broken Promises

 Happy Monday Everyone! Today I’m excited to have Leah Stecher back to share about getting her second MG, A Field Guide to Broken Promises, ready for publication. Leah shared another guest post when her debut MG, The Things We Missed, was released in 2024. Her new book deals with some issues many middle graders must deal with, and I’m looking forward to reading it. 

Here's a blurb from the book’s jacket:

 

When Evie Steinberg’s family moves right before seventh grade, she promises her dad that she’ll make sure everything goes perfectly. Maybe if she keeps her promise, he’ll finally forgive her for accidentally ruining the biggest moment of his cryptozoology career last spring.​

Perfect means taking care of her little sister, fitting in at her new school, and never complaining or causing problems. Perfect definitely doesn’t mean being bullied by a girl who’s turning the whole school against her and failing math class. 

Evie needs to fix her life before anyone finds out she’s struggling. When she uses her cryptozoologist skills to figure out the real reason her bully decided to target her, Evie realizes that she holds the key to fixing everything. She just needs proof. But how far is Evie willing to go to reveal the truth?​

This tender and imaginative middle grade novel combines a fast plot and reluctant reader appeal with explorations of perfectionism, people-pleasing, and bullying. 

Now here’s Leah! 

My second middle grade novel—A FIELD GUIDE TO BROKEN PROMISES (Bloomsbury)—published last week, on May 6, 2025. You can pick up a copy today at a bookstore near you (and I hope you do!). This was almost exactly a year after my debut novel, THE THINGS WE MISS, published on May 7, 2024. In some ways, the experiences of getting each book ready for publication were very similar: they both went through the same developmental and production steps, the same series of cover sketches with the same artist, the same lengthy back and forths about titles. But in some key ways, publishing FIELD GUIDE was both logistically and emotionally a whole different ballgame. 

Logistically, I had a deadline before I even started drafting the book. Bloomsbury had purchased THE THINGS WE MISS in a two-book deal, with a then-unnamed second book to publish a year after my debut. I owed my editor a first draft of that second book in Fall 2023, before THE THINGS WE MISSED even came out. We sent FIELD GUIDE into copyedits in July 2024, so I essentially spent the months leading up to and right after the publication of my debut in revisions and line edits. Sometimes it felt like a nice distraction from the publishing comparison game, and from that empty feeling you get after pub date. But most of the time, it was really hard. 

Start to finish, writing A FIELD GUIDE TO BROKEN PROMISES took less time than THE THINGS WE MISS—which I labored over for years before submitting to editors—but boy did it somehow take a whole lot more energy. 

Here are a few things I learned: 

Your editor isn’t going to hate you. It was hard to send my editor a draft that I considered messy and unfinished. I asked for an extension on the first draft of FIELD GUIDE and delayed hitting send for as long as I could. The truth was, the last book my editor saw had been polished to a shine for submission, and I was afraid she would be shocked by the differences in quality between the two. I was convinced she would think “oh, I’ve been hoodwinked! This person can’t actually write at all.” And it turns out that I really, really care what my editor thinks of me. Hitting send was ultimately a terrifying act of faith in the collaborative editorial process. (Spoiler: it turned out fine.) 

First drafts will become final drafts, eventually. I spent a lot of time with my debut novel, THE THINGS WE MISS, during the months before and after publication… which was the same period of time when I was throwing clumsy, half-finished ideas at the wall to see what stuck for FIELD GUIDE. Interacting with both books at the same time made it extra tough to have grace for those messy early drafts—the gap between first draft and final book honestly felt insurmountable. I drafted and deleted several emails to my agent asking her what would happen if we pulled the book. Without a deadline and a contract holding my feet to the proverbial fire, I absolutely would have given up on FIELD GUIDE.

It's still amazing to me that A FIELD GUIDE TO BROKEN PROMISES somehow became a final, polished book. I can hold it in my hands as physical proof that messy first drafts will become final manuscripts, if you don’t give up on them. 

There is no perfect version of your story. My preferred drafting process is lengthy, involving many, many drafts and plenty of time away from the story to let things marinate and let the best ideas bubble to the top. Condensing that timeline to meet my deadlines was tough. I doubted my own voice constantly and doubted every choice I made, because I didn’t have the time to let those choices breath. I was constantly worried that I was making narrative mistakes and ruining my story.

But writing A FIELD GUIDE TO BROKEN PROMISES really reenforced for me that there is no platonic ideal of your book floating out there on the horizon, waiting for you to grab it. That is, there are no narrative mistakes. Any choice can be a good choice, if you commit to it. There are an infinite number of possible versions of this exact book and so many of those possible versions would have also been fantastic. I know this, because I explored several dozens of those alternative versions during my revisions! My main character in FIELD GUIDE, Evie, holds herself to extremely high standards, and has internalized the idea that anything less than perfect is a failure. In many ways, this was an idea I had to unlearn right alongside her. Mentally putting aside the idea that there is only one “perfect” version of any given story is what let me finally put down the pen.  

Of course, writing down these “lessons” as though I’ve internalized them is nonsense. I’m in the middle of another project and somehow FIELD GUIDE—the book that I thought was the messy evidence that I’m a terrible writer who will never accomplish anything every again—is now the finished book that I’m comparing my new messy first drafts too! 

There’s probably a lesson in that, too… 

LINKS:

Leahstecherbooks.com

IG: @l.stech 

AUTHOR BIO: Leah Stecher is the critically acclaimed author of The Things We Miss (Bloomsbury, May 2024) which was an ALSC Notable Children's Book and a 2024 Shelf Awareness Best Book of the Year, and A Field Guide to Broken Promises (Bloomsbury, May 2025). She was born and raised in Southern California and currently lives in coastal Maine.  

Giveaway Details

Leah’s publisher is generously offering a hardback of A Field Guide to Broken Promises for a giveaway. To enter, all you need to do is be a follower of my blog (via the follower gadget, email, or bloglovin’ on the right sidebar) and leave a comment by May 24th. If I do not have your email (I can no longer get it from your Google Profile), you must leave it in the comments to enter the contest. Please be sure I have your email address.

If you mention this contest on Twitter, Facebook, or other social media sites and/or follow me on Twitter or follow Leah on her social media sites, mention this in the comments, and I'll give you an extra entry for each. You must be 13 years old or older to enter. This book giveaway is U.S. and Canada.

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday is hosted by Greg Pattridge. You can find the participating blogs on his blog.

Upcoming Interviews, Guest Posts, and Blog Hops

Wednesday, May 14th I have an agent spotlight interview with Analía Cabello and a query critique giveaway

Friday, May 16th I’m participating in the Moms Rock Giveaway Hop

Monday, May 19th I have a guest post by author Carol L. Pauer and a giveaway of her MG Rowley Peters and the Lumberjack Ghost

Wednesday, May 21st I have an agent spotlight interview with Isabel Lineberry and a query critique giveaway

Sunday, June 1st I’m participating in the Berry Good Giveaway Hop

Wednesday, June 4th I have an interview with author Aaron Starmer and a giveaway of his YA Night Swimming and my IWSG post

Monday, June 9th I have an interview with author Nancy McCabe and a giveaway of her MG Fires Burning Underground 

Wednesday, June 11th I have an agent spotlight interview with Mark O’Brien and a query critique giveaway

Monday, June 16th I’m participating in the Dad-o-Mite Giveaway Hop

Monday, June 23rd I have an interview with author Michael Spradlin and a giveaway of his MG Threat of the Spider

I hope to see you on Wednesday!