Author | Lightnews

Susan Lautenslager @slautenslager.bsky.social · 5d

Thank you!

Susan Lautenslager @slautenslager.bsky.social · 5d

Ooo, this sound so intriguing!

Starla Rajavuori @srajavuori.bsky.social · 5d

12-year-old Anu's terrified of the dark and sees ghosts—which is a problem when Arctic Finland’s polar night lasts for weeks and a child-hunting folk monster awakens. Her buried shamanic heritage might help—if she can face the darkness.

CITY OF GHOSTS X 30 DAYS OF NIGHT
#GhostPit #MG #H #Q 👻

Snow covered cabins at night under the polar lights.

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Reposted by Susan Lautenslager

Jen 🧡 is Querying @brisolyn.bsky.social · 5d

Gorgon and Gallows 🧪🕯️👀

Poppy Gorgon and Gemma Gallows are perfectly normal twelve-year-olds who assist their fathers in a perfectly normal family candle shop.... except the candle shop is a cover for a dark artifact business hiding a powerful secret. #GhostPit #MG #F #Q

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Reposted by Susan Lautenslager

Mia A. @bookowlmoon.bsky.social · 5d

#ghostpit #MG #Q #PN #M

Ghost Conductor

When 12yo Scout moves into an old mansion with his dad, he’s finally able to look forward to a new beginning after losing his mom. But the ghost girl stalking him has other plans. Now, he must race to help her before whatever is chasing her comes for him.

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Reposted by Susan Lautenslager

🇨🇦Suzanne’s MG HAUNTED VOYAGE is out on 4 fulls+2 R&R’s!👻 @suzelsonauthor.bsky.social · 5d

#GhostPit #MG #Q #PN #MM #H

CITY OF GHOSTS V GOOSEBUMPS

👩‍👧Sibling rivalry
💘First crush
🪦Psychic tweens
👀Restless ghosts
🚪Disappearing doors
😱Haunted corridors
🛳️Family cruise ship vacay

a painting of a pirate ship with the name erkan yure on the bottom

ALT: a painting of a pirate ship with the name erkan yure on the bottom

media.tenor.com

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Reposted by Susan Lautenslager

J.J. Phillips | #SCBWI #KidLit @jjphillipsyo.bsky.social · 5d

Hunted for his meteorite wand, twelve-year-old Catch must master spell-hacked spycraft to stop the Acolytes from enslaving the Guardian Spirits and seizing the Minerals of Power.

#GhostPit #F #MG #Q #AmQuerying #AmWriting #SCBWI #KidLit

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Susan Lautenslager @slautenslager.bsky.social · 5d

WOOLERS
When her parents take temporary jobs at a remote living history museum, 13-year-old Effie is thrilled about skipping the start of eighth grade—until she discovers the museum’s actors aren’t living at all, and she must save her family from becoming permanent exhibits. #GhostPit #Q #MG #PNH

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Reposted by Susan Lautenslager

Jen 🧡 is Querying @brisolyn.bsky.social · 5d

Gorgon and Gallows #MG #F #Q 74K

Poppy Gorgon discovers a mysterious quill that is rumored to communicate with the dead and is left wondering how much she is willing to risk for the chance to have one final conversation with her recently deceased father. #GhostPit

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Susan Lautenslager @slautenslager.bsky.social · 5d

WOOLERS
When her parents take temporary jobs at a remote living history museum, 13-year-old Effie is thrilled about skipping the start of eighth grade—until she discovers the museum’s actors aren’t living at all, and she must save her family from becoming permanent exhibits. #GhostPit #Q #MG #PN #H

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Susan Lautenslager @slautenslager.bsky.social · 9d

The Top 3 Scary Movies www.nytimes.com/video/podcas...

Suspense vs. Dread …..

Video: The Top 3 Scary Movies

Wesley Morris, and Eric Hynes, a film curator, talk about what elements make a horror movie great on this week’s episode of “Cannonball.”

www.nytimes.com

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Susan Lautenslager @slautenslager.bsky.social · 22d

Thank you, @katemessner.com!

Kate Messner @katemessner.com · 22d

If you want more of the real-deal stories, check out HISTORY SMASHERS: CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS AND THE TAINO PEOPLE, which I co-authored with Taino elder & scholar Dr. José Barreiro. (and the rest of the series, too!)
bookshop.org/p/books/hist...

History Smashers: Christopher Columbus and the Taino People

Check out History Smashers: Christopher Columbus and the Taino People - <b>Myths! Lies! Secrets! Uncover the hidden truth about Christopher Columbus, and learn all about the Taino people. Perfect for ...

bookshop.org

Reposted by Susan Lautenslager

The 24/7s @kidlit247s.bsky.social · 23d

Good #writing advice, @kellydhouse.bsky.social!

Kelly Dyksterhouse @kellydhouse.bsky.social · 24d

Many #writers get stuck because they mentally treat their #roughdraft like a more finished draft. Let go of that. It’s called a ROUGH draft for a reason. Give yourself permission to write poorly, explore the story, go down rabbit holes. There will be time to perfect the story later.

#writinglife

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Susan Lautenslager @slautenslager.bsky.social · 27d

Thinking outside the box re: comps …

Brian Kirby @boringstorybook.com · 28d

I think people get way too far into the weeds in picking comps that fit plot and theme exactly. Going more broad and picking a vibe is probably the best bet. #kidlitchat

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Reposted by Susan Lautenslager

Kelly Mangan (She/Her) 🏳️‍🌈💖💜💙 @kellyamangan.bsky.social · 28d

Librarians, booksellers, & educators— when you talk about banned books, please focus on the thousands of CONTEMPORARY books that are being banned right now.

For example….
#BannedBooksWeek

Book cover: last night at the telegraph club

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Reposted by Susan Lautenslager

Kwame Mbalia @kwamembalia.bsky.social · 28d

Naps for the people. Also my new book is out today. Both are important to me 😌.

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Susan Lautenslager @slautenslager.bsky.social · Sep 11

www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/...

Spooky Middle Grade Still Sells

With editors looking for shorter, more plot-driven middle grade projects these days, agents have seen an uptick in the horror genre for younger readers.

www.publishersweekly.com

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Susan Lautenslager @slautenslager.bsky.social · Jul 6

www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/...

Horror Offers Young Readers Safe Spaces in Scary Times

Taylor Hunsberger, a children’s librarian at the East Flatbush branch of the Brooklyn Public Library, reflects on the ways that horror stories provide children with a vital testing ground to face thei...

www.publishersweekly.com

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Susan Lautenslager @slautenslager.bsky.social · Apr 14

Congrats to my amazing critique buddy!

Susan Lautenslager @slautenslager.bsky.social · Apr 14

Thank you so very much for this opportunity! 🙏 I am deeply grateful and appreciative of every editor’s hard work.

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Susan Lautenslager @slautenslager.bsky.social · Apr 12

Many, many thanks to all the editors for sharing such valuable feedback. 🙏 This is my first #RevPit, and I’ve been amazed by the level of support and encouragement from editors and authors alike! It’s been a great experience! #10Queries #RevPitTeasers

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Susan Lautenslager @slautenslager.bsky.social · Apr 11

Wow, thank you, Nicole! 🙏 New knowledge to dig into.

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Susan Lautenslager @slautenslager.bsky.social · Apr 11

Word hippo is great! #RevPit

Jeni Chappelle @jenichappelle.bsky.social · Apr 11

My favorite thesaurus is wordhippo.com and not just because the hippo is cute. It has helped me so many times when I'm feeling stabby because there's a specific word I'm looking for and it's right on the tip of my tongue but I can't quite remember. Anyway. It's good. Go there. #RevPit #10Queries

WordHippo!

Thesaurus and word tools for your creative needs. Find the word you're looking for!

wordhippo.com

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Susan Lautenslager @slautenslager.bsky.social · Apr 11

Thank you so much, Allison! 🙏 This is very helpful.

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Susan Lautenslager @slautenslager.bsky.social · Apr 7

Me too! That choreo is 🔥

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Susan Lautenslager @slautenslager.bsky.social · Apr 7

Nice playlist! Addicted to Ten’s Stunner right now. 🥰

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