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Sharon Baldwin

@sharonbaldwin.bsky.social

110 followers 350 following 53 posts

Author, publisher, designer, event producer, educator, catless child lady. Living in Australia's Blue Mountains, the unceded land of the Dharug and Gundungurra people.

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Sharon Baldwin @sharonbaldwin.bsky.social · Jan 31

If you're interested in supporting independent publishing in Australia several of us in the Blue Mountains have banded together and are distributing under Blue Mtns Books: www.bluemtnsbooks.com.au #australianpublishing #independentpublishing #indiepublishing #australianauthors

Sharon Baldwin @sharonbaldwin.bsky.social · 6d

Highly recommend taking breaks from querying. I've just started again on my upper YA novel after a 2 month break and feel like I can describe my work better after a bit of distance from it. Feeling optimistic! #amquerying #yaauthor

Sharon Baldwin @sharonbaldwin.bsky.social · Sep 3

When a high profile new book is announced with a near identical plot to the one you're querying, is it the kiss of death? Or an opportunity to jump onto a hot topic? Should I hold out hope or move on to the next manuscript? #amquerying

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Sharon Baldwin @sharonbaldwin.bsky.social · Aug 28

And yet so many children's publishers steer clear of rhyming texts. Yes, they're hard to do, but they are so wonderful when done well. (Also yes, all 3 of my published picture books rhyme. Translation rights be damned.) www.thebookseller.com/news/julia-d...

Julia Donaldson becomes first author to break the NielsenIQ BookScan 50-million-unit barrier

Julia Donaldson has increased her lead at the top of the all-time author volume chart, becoming the first writer to sell more than 50 million units through British bookshops since accurate records beg...

www.thebookseller.com

Sharon Baldwin @sharonbaldwin.bsky.social · Aug 12

Very proud to have my article on publishing in the Blue Mountains in the debut issue of MTNS MADE magazine. Plus a bonus review of my artsy kids book "What Is It?"

Sharon Baldwin @sharonbaldwin.bsky.social · Jul 25

My publishing company has a beautiful new book coming out soon: "Aunty's House" a story about kinship by two Aboriginal creators. Pre-order it here: loosepartspress.square.site/product/aunt...

Sharon Baldwin @sharonbaldwin.bsky.social · Jul 17

It's very easy to get down about publishing industry news, but this made my day when I learned about it! Kids literacy programming is my jam. Looking forward to seeing what comes of it. www.penguin.com.au/articles/501...

Penguin Children’s Bookseller Grant 2025

Learn more and apply for the Penguin Children’s Bookseller Grant – a $200,000 initiative designed to engage young readers.

www.penguin.com.au

Sharon Baldwin @sharonbaldwin.bsky.social · Jun 24

I designed our logo as well. Went through many W and M iterations and I liked how the letters worked together in this font, gave it a curvy/femme feel and can even see quotation marks in the negative space.

Sharon Baldwin @sharonbaldwin.bsky.social · Jun 24

A few months ago, two friends and I started a new group: Writing Mothers for anyone in the Blue Mtns area who identifies as a mum to come together to write and chat. It's been such a great space to commiserate, laugh and lift each other up: www.instagram.com/writingmothe...

Welcome back to Instagram. Sign in to check out what your friends, family & interests have been capturing & sharing around the world.

www.instagram.com

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Sharon Baldwin @sharonbaldwin.bsky.social · Jun 23

Until I have to talk about myself... 🙃

Sharon Baldwin @sharonbaldwin.bsky.social · Jun 23

I carried immense shame over flitting from project to project for many years until I realised how much my ADHD played into that. And while it's come at a financial sacrifice, ultimately it's been worth it for the creative peace of mind.

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Sharon Baldwin @sharonbaldwin.bsky.social · Jun 23

Sometimes I envy people who just went to college then got 9-5 jobs that they stuck with for years. My career is so all over the place it feels like an identity crisis every time I have to distill it down into a cover letter or bio. I'm getting better at embracing that though.

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Sharon Baldwin @sharonbaldwin.bsky.social · May 20

Please feel free to pay me for my design work though! sharonbaldwin.net/design/

DESIGN

I have designed over twenty books for Loose Parts Press, along with all of the company’s marketing materials including posters, postcards, flyers, social media graphics and more. I also creat…

sharonbaldwin.net

Sharon Baldwin @sharonbaldwin.bsky.social · May 20

LinkedIn sent me another alert for a job it thinks I'd be great at - an UNPAID graphic designer role at a publishing company.
I feel like I'm losing my mind.

Sharon Baldwin @sharonbaldwin.bsky.social · Mar 13

Today I sent my 50th agent query. It's where I told myself I was going to stop. More than 50 seemed delusional. But then you always wonder, what if #51 is the one who says 'yes.' #amquerying

Sharon Baldwin @sharonbaldwin.bsky.social · Mar 6

Loved the 'maybe pile' episode. (And as a querying author I would love to know if I ended up there. Will take any nuggets of encouragement I can! Lol)

Sharon Baldwin @sharonbaldwin.bsky.social · Mar 5

I mean, so much for 'hope' in my last tweet, I guess...

Sharon Baldwin @sharonbaldwin.bsky.social · Mar 5

“The industry is in such serious shit at the moment … what with the takeover of Text and Affirm, it’s just the tip of the iceberg. I spoke to [a publishing colleague] and he said to me, ‘You know, we’re dead. You know, it’s just going down the toilet.’”
www.theguardian.com/books/2025/m...

‘Sign our own death warrant’: Australian writers angry after Melbourne publisher asks them to sign AI agreements

Authors asked to allow Black Inc to use their work for ‘training, testing, validation and the deployment of a machine learning’ system

www.theguardian.com

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Sharon Baldwin @sharonbaldwin.bsky.social · Mar 5

When the world feels as fucked as it does, continuing to make books, create content for and educate kids feels like an act of both hope and resistance.

Sharon Baldwin @sharonbaldwin.bsky.social · Mar 2

The latest picture book I've designed and published is now available for pre-sales! Order your copy here: www.bluemtnsbooks.com.au/product/my-i...

My Incredible Extra Ordinary Chickens | Blue Mtns Books

Available for Pre-Order for April 2025 arrival!They may look like ordinary chickens, but Esther, Iris, Pearl, Dot and Florence are anything but. Incorporating fantastic fowl facts, this delightful sto...

www.bluemtnsbooks.com.au

Sharon Baldwin @sharonbaldwin.bsky.social · Feb 25

Tourist on my train speaking Italian on the phone. Oh boy, I though, I can put my Duolingo skills to test! But this lady did not order one salad or appetiser or describe anyone as a tall father or a shy girlfriend. I feel cheated!

Sharon Baldwin @sharonbaldwin.bsky.social · Feb 20

I've got a couple new publishing projects in the works I'm very excited about. Have had my head down in book design mode and can't wait to share. New creative projects are a life raft in the ocean of rejection. 😂🌊

Sharon Baldwin @sharonbaldwin.bsky.social · Feb 17

"All I want is to write my books, buy other authors’ books, and enjoy art. So please, I’m begging you, don’t make me use Facebook, Instagram or Twitter just to see or buy your books and art." #indiepublishing

Ansela Corsino @anselacorsino.com · Feb 17

BLOG: What we're no longer doing in 2025, as indie authors

anselacorsino.com/publishing/i...

What we're no longer doing in 2025, as indie authors

All I want is to write my books, buy other authors' books, and enjoy art. So please, I'm begging you, don't make me use Facebook, Instagram or Twitter just to see or buy your books and art. These are ...

anselacorsino.com

Sharon Baldwin @sharonbaldwin.bsky.social · Feb 13

One of the criteria is "Extensive contacts in the performing and/or literary arts industries locally and
internationally." Ma'am, if I had that I wouldn't need to apply for a minimum wage job at age 43.

Sharon Baldwin @sharonbaldwin.bsky.social · Feb 13

Description for a job paying $50K/year (AUD - that's $31K USD and less than I was making 12 years ago) has 12 selection criteria and wants you to provide 2 "case studies" for each. You want me to write a dissertation for a job paying barely above minimum wage?

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Sharon Baldwin @sharonbaldwin.bsky.social · Feb 13

If Trump is calling you a "very fine man" you might not be on the right side of history 🤔 Something to consider in the next election. Luckily in Australia we don't have a two-party system. #auspol www.sbs.com.au/news/article...

'Very fine man': Trump's praise for Albanese as he considers Australian tariff exemptions

US President Donald Trump has described Prime Minister Anthony Albanese as a "fine man" following a call regarding Australia's trade relationship with the US.