JenFW #kidlit writer, puzzler
@jenfw.bsky.social
Children's Author / Puzzle Specialist
Author of 30+ #kidlit books, including fiction, text books, NF puzzle books, and comic books.
The Puzzler's Guides to Alaska, Oregon, and California: one part puzzle book + one part natural history guide.
Author of 30+ #kidlit books, including fiction, text books, NF puzzle books, and comic books.
The Puzzler's Guides to Alaska, Oregon, and California: one part puzzle book + one part natural history guide.
Come play! Alaska Book Week scavenger hunt/puzzle contest.
Randomly drawn winners will receive prizes. I'll send The Puzzler's Guide to Alaska to someone--maybe you?!
Find the pieces, solve the puzzle, submit your answer. Visit AlaskaBookWeek.org for instructions.
Randomly drawn winners will receive prizes. I'll send The Puzzler's Guide to Alaska to someone--maybe you?!
Find the pieces, solve the puzzle, submit your answer. Visit AlaskaBookWeek.org for instructions.
October 6, 2025 at 10:21 PM
Come play! Alaska Book Week scavenger hunt/puzzle contest.
Randomly drawn winners will receive prizes. I'll send The Puzzler's Guide to Alaska to someone--maybe you?!
Find the pieces, solve the puzzle, submit your answer. Visit AlaskaBookWeek.org for instructions.
Randomly drawn winners will receive prizes. I'll send The Puzzler's Guide to Alaska to someone--maybe you?!
Find the pieces, solve the puzzle, submit your answer. Visit AlaskaBookWeek.org for instructions.
Yeah. That's nice! #kidlitchat
It's so awesome when the piece is polished and you are just so in LOVE with it! #kidlitchat
May 28, 2025 at 1:45 AM
Yeah. That's nice! #kidlitchat
What are some things you create that aren't kidlit? How is it like the kidlit creative process?
I'm creating a garden. I guess maybe watching the garden grow is similar to watching a story take shape. #kidlitchat
I'm creating a garden. I guess maybe watching the garden grow is similar to watching a story take shape. #kidlitchat
May 28, 2025 at 1:43 AM
What are some things you create that aren't kidlit? How is it like the kidlit creative process?
I'm creating a garden. I guess maybe watching the garden grow is similar to watching a story take shape. #kidlitchat
I'm creating a garden. I guess maybe watching the garden grow is similar to watching a story take shape. #kidlitchat
I remember explaining the importance of a little white stitch in the eye of an embroidered animal. You're right: it gave the animal life!
The real best part of my creative process is when I put a dot in a circle a certain way and it becomes an eye, with life and expression. It is the best. #kidlitchat
May 28, 2025 at 1:26 AM
I remember explaining the importance of a little white stitch in the eye of an embroidered animal. You're right: it gave the animal life!
Count me in!
It feels like many of us here at #kidlitchat enjoy different parts of the process the most, so may I suggest we combine ourselves into one giant creative who loves EVERYTHING? We'll be unstoppable....
May 28, 2025 at 1:23 AM
Count me in!
Oh, yes, rhyming is great fun! I'm not so comfortable editing other people's rhymes, though. #kidlitchat
I love trying to puzzle out a rhyme. Drafting rhyme is great but sometimes it's even more fun when a couple of lines aren't working and you have to brainstorm how to say the same idea with different rhyming words. I even love editing other people's rhyme! #kidlitchat
May 28, 2025 at 1:17 AM
Oh, yes, rhyming is great fun! I'm not so comfortable editing other people's rhymes, though. #kidlitchat
Isn't it interesting how the creative process is so much the same for all of us? We all have the same moments no matter how many different ways we arrive at them. #kidlitchat
May 28, 2025 at 1:16 AM
Isn't it interesting how the creative process is so much the same for all of us? We all have the same moments no matter how many different ways we arrive at them. #kidlitchat
Oooo. Yes. Good one! #kidlitchat
Sometimes I have an idea that I struggle with but have an epiphany that turns it into a story, and that is always really satisfying. #kidlitchat
May 28, 2025 at 1:15 AM
Oooo. Yes. Good one! #kidlitchat
Agreed. I love a good flow. They never fail to surprise me. #kidlitchat
My favorite part is when characters take over the story and lead it someplace I didn't expect. I used to struggle with this because I wanted to be a plotter so badly, but now I embrace the choas. #kidlitchat
May 28, 2025 at 1:13 AM
Agreed. I love a good flow. They never fail to surprise me. #kidlitchat
Oh. Yeah. I wasn't even thinking about this part. #kidlitchat
Ugh! Self-promotion and marketing! The worst! #Kidlitchat
May 28, 2025 at 1:11 AM
Oh. Yeah. I wasn't even thinking about this part. #kidlitchat
My favorite part is the blank page. So much possibility! The hardest part is working through a zillion revisions--especially when reconciling contrasting opinions. #kidlitchat
TOPIC: What's your favorite part of the creative process? And what part is the hardest for you to work through? #kidlitchat
May 28, 2025 at 1:08 AM
My favorite part is the blank page. So much possibility! The hardest part is working through a zillion revisions--especially when reconciling contrasting opinions. #kidlitchat
Aside from the moving thread, look at this gorgeous journal. I love journaling while I travel. Sigh. My journals look nothing like this. And while they never will, I'll bet I can do a bit better than I usually do, and this makes me want to try. Thanks, Mirka! #kidlit
Here are 2 more travel diary pgs. My favorite from this spread was the Residenz palace in Munich. Munich definitely goes on my list of places to revisit one day. I have actually already visited Dachau and Salzburg previously, so they were more familiar.
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#traveljournal #kidlit #travelillustration
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#traveljournal #kidlit #travelillustration
April 22, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Aside from the moving thread, look at this gorgeous journal. I love journaling while I travel. Sigh. My journals look nothing like this. And while they never will, I'll bet I can do a bit better than I usually do, and this makes me want to try. Thanks, Mirka! #kidlit
Cheers to authors in DC representing us all! #kidlit #thankyou!
#AABB #readfreelyreadwidely
P. S. I want rainbow lipstick, please.
#AABB #readfreelyreadwidely
P. S. I want rainbow lipstick, please.
April 22, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Cheers to authors in DC representing us all! #kidlit #thankyou!
#AABB #readfreelyreadwidely
P. S. I want rainbow lipstick, please.
#AABB #readfreelyreadwidely
P. S. I want rainbow lipstick, please.
Am I connected to any programmers, coders, or app-developers here? If I am, would you be willing to email or chat with me about interactive puzzles? Thanks!
April 19, 2025 at 8:22 PM
Am I connected to any programmers, coders, or app-developers here? If I am, would you be willing to email or chat with me about interactive puzzles? Thanks!
Sure, #KidsLoveNonfiction. So do I! Michelle, this looks great! Cheers to you!
Preorder signed copies of #JellyfishScientist through @eightcousinsbooks 🔗in bio for details. On sale April 22! #WomenInStem #STEMinist #KidsLoveNonfiction #SteamTeamBooks #MarineScience #OceanScience #nonfiction #STEAM #STEM
April 16, 2025 at 10:11 PM
Sure, #KidsLoveNonfiction. So do I! Michelle, this looks great! Cheers to you!
Sure, #KidsLoveNonfiction. So do I! Michelle, this looks great! Cheers to you!
Preorder signed copies of #JellyfishScientist through @eightcousinsbooks 🔗in bio for details. On sale April 22! #WomenInStem #STEMinist #KidsLoveNonfiction #SteamTeamBooks #MarineScience #OceanScience #nonfiction #STEAM #STEM
April 16, 2025 at 10:11 PM
Sure, #KidsLoveNonfiction. So do I! Michelle, this looks great! Cheers to you!
Think about it: 500 words is the length of a pb manuscript. If you write pbs, this might be fun for you. I LOVE IT! And I got an "honorable mention" last year, despite drawing a genre that is well out of my bailiwick. Fast, fun 500-word fiction! #kidlit #ornot #NYCMidnight
nycmidnight.com/500
nycmidnight.com/500
500-word Fiction Challenge — nycmidnight
The 500-word Fiction Challenge is an international creative writing competition that challenges participants to create short stories based on genre, action, and object assignments in 48 hours.
nycmidnight.com
April 16, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Think about it: 500 words is the length of a pb manuscript. If you write pbs, this might be fun for you. I LOVE IT! And I got an "honorable mention" last year, despite drawing a genre that is well out of my bailiwick. Fast, fun 500-word fiction! #kidlit #ornot #NYCMidnight
nycmidnight.com/500
nycmidnight.com/500
Oh, wow! That's wildly interesting! And adorable. #kidlitchat
I raised a fallen squirrel from pinky to release one year. I haven't written about it yet but maybe one day.
April 9, 2025 at 1:57 AM
Oh, wow! That's wildly interesting! And adorable. #kidlitchat
Okay, everyone: What's your favorite wildlife encounter ever? Where? What animal? What happened? Did you write about it? I want to know! #kidlitchat
I get a lot of creative energy from encountering creatures. I got to take a walk on the beach last week and had this dolphin swim up to take a peek at me. #kidlitchat
April 9, 2025 at 1:49 AM
Okay, everyone: What's your favorite wildlife encounter ever? Where? What animal? What happened? Did you write about it? I want to know! #kidlitchat
What a super-fun family activity and Insta theme! I'll go find you there. Hmmm. Maybe you should cross-post to here??? #kidlitchat
I run a wild instagram account where I talk about children's books by staging scenes with dolls. Every week, my family brainstorms ideas, builds furniture, sets, and props. Handle there is also @mypbjam #kidlitchat
April 9, 2025 at 1:33 AM
What a super-fun family activity and Insta theme! I'll go find you there. Hmmm. Maybe you should cross-post to here??? #kidlitchat
These are outstanding! #kidlitchat
#KidLitChat I love making miniatures. Though it’s been a month or two since I last took time to add to the tiny library.
Tiny books created during Christmas movie watching. #Miniature #books
April 9, 2025 at 1:28 AM
These are outstanding! #kidlitchat
I AGREE! It IS all related! And putting a book together is definitely like baking--there's always magic or a curse in the oven.
Baking isn't technically "career-related," but I think of my writing in terms of putting together a delicious recipe. And I've been really enjoying creating/sharing recipes that tie in with the books I'm reading. It's ALL related somehow! #KidLitChat #KidLitConfections vbartles.com/kidlitconfec...
Veronica Bartles: #KidLitConfections Recipes
vbartles.com
April 9, 2025 at 1:13 AM
I AGREE! It IS all related! And putting a book together is definitely like baking--there's always magic or a curse in the oven.
I think it was Katherine Patterson who said something like "the things that take me away from writing [kids] are the things that give me something to write about." That stuck with me. #kidlitchat
My daughter fuels my creativity for sure. Just everything about raising this tiny, spunky, incredible, challenging, smart, adorable little human gives me a million ideas for things to write or draw. Ironically, she also makes it hard to have the time to do anything with those ideas. 😂 #kidlitchat
April 9, 2025 at 1:11 AM
I think it was Katherine Patterson who said something like "the things that take me away from writing [kids] are the things that give me something to write about." That stuck with me. #kidlitchat
Travel, wildlife watching, gardening, crafting. My mind ventures into neat places when I'm doing these things. #kidlitchat
TOPIC: April showers . . . etc. etc. What non-career-related hobbies/pursuits/obsessions make your creativity flower? How does what you admire or find fascinating leave its mark on your writing or art? #kidlitchat
April 9, 2025 at 1:05 AM
Travel, wildlife watching, gardening, crafting. My mind ventures into neat places when I'm doing these things. #kidlitchat
If I were anywhere near any of these places, I'd be there. Psst, Grace, when you come to Alaska, may I please be the "in conversation with" person? #kidlit #goseeGrace #sayhitoLisaforme
Hi all! I’m going on book tour! Pls come see me and spread the word! gracelin.com/news-events/
April 6, 2025 at 7:21 PM
If I were anywhere near any of these places, I'd be there. Psst, Grace, when you come to Alaska, may I please be the "in conversation with" person? #kidlit #goseeGrace #sayhitoLisaforme