Kesia Lupo
@keslupo.bsky.social
Commissioning Editor at First Ink, Macmillan Children’s Books UK. Writer pub'd by Bloomsbury. Formerly literary agent and bookseller. 12 years in publishing!
If you write books or work in books, especially children's books, or if you are simply a lover of books, please please watch Storyville: The Librarians - for those of us in the UK, it's on BBC iPlayer. Moving, devastating, frightening, and inspiring.
October 11, 2025 at 7:27 PM
If you write books or work in books, especially children's books, or if you are simply a lover of books, please please watch Storyville: The Librarians - for those of us in the UK, it's on BBC iPlayer. Moving, devastating, frightening, and inspiring.
I had a delightful time reading these pages - you’re so welcome!
Honourable Mention for second place.
Thank you @write-mentor.bsky.social for all you do for our creative community and for the opportunities your amazing efforts bring to writers.
Thank you @keslupo.bsky.social for taking the time to read my work.
#WritingCommunity
Thank you @write-mentor.bsky.social for all you do for our creative community and for the opportunities your amazing efforts bring to writers.
Thank you @keslupo.bsky.social for taking the time to read my work.
#WritingCommunity
October 7, 2025 at 9:55 PM
I had a delightful time reading these pages - you’re so welcome!
Reposted by Kesia Lupo
Advice for my #amquerying peers:
“Query when you & your book are ready, & when the agents you want to query are open: to hell w/ the rest of it!”
(From former agent & editor @keslupo.bsky.social who is a gem to the #writingcommunity !) Full article here: kesialupo.substack.com/p/how-import...
“Query when you & your book are ready, & when the agents you want to query are open: to hell w/ the rest of it!”
(From former agent & editor @keslupo.bsky.social who is a gem to the #writingcommunity !) Full article here: kesialupo.substack.com/p/how-import...
September 22, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Advice for my #amquerying peers:
“Query when you & your book are ready, & when the agents you want to query are open: to hell w/ the rest of it!”
(From former agent & editor @keslupo.bsky.social who is a gem to the #writingcommunity !) Full article here: kesialupo.substack.com/p/how-import...
“Query when you & your book are ready, & when the agents you want to query are open: to hell w/ the rest of it!”
(From former agent & editor @keslupo.bsky.social who is a gem to the #writingcommunity !) Full article here: kesialupo.substack.com/p/how-import...
September 1st! Me waiting for the big exciting submissions to hit my inbox.
a black and white drawing of a cat with pink paws and the letters ecstasy on the bottom right corner
ALT: a black and white drawing of a cat with pink paws and the letters ecstasy on the bottom right corner
media.tenor.com
September 1, 2025 at 9:21 AM
September 1st! Me waiting for the big exciting submissions to hit my inbox.
New substack! Ever wondered what a commissioning editor does day to day? kesialupo.substack.com/p/a-day-in-t...
August 23, 2025 at 2:24 PM
New substack! Ever wondered what a commissioning editor does day to day? kesialupo.substack.com/p/a-day-in-t...
My latest newsletter is on whether agents actually read their queries - and includes the full breakdown how many of my clients came from the query pile, and how many from other sources, when I was agenting… open.substack.com/pub/kesialup...
August 3, 2025 at 10:31 AM
My latest newsletter is on whether agents actually read their queries - and includes the full breakdown how many of my clients came from the query pile, and how many from other sources, when I was agenting… open.substack.com/pub/kesialup...
So stoked for this! 👇👇👇
This upcoming YA/Crossover workshop with @keslupo.bsky.social is now open for non-member registration! Don't miss out on this terrific opportunity to get your opening pages critiqued, plus one-on-one live call time with Kesia. More info and registration: app.inkedvoices.com/event/worksh...
July 28, 2025 at 8:00 PM
So stoked for this! 👇👇👇
Reposted by Kesia Lupo
So you've had the Call with an agent and they've offered you representation - or perhaps you have more than one offer. What are a few things you should consider before making your decision? 🧵
June 30, 2025 at 2:42 PM
So you've had the Call with an agent and they've offered you representation - or perhaps you have more than one offer. What are a few things you should consider before making your decision? 🧵
Reposted by Kesia Lupo
We are thrilled to be welcoming @keslupo.bsky.social and Miloni Vora for these upcoming workshops. This is an excellent opportunity to get tip-top feedback from an in-house editor on your opening pages! Non-member registration opens soon! app.inkedvoices.com/events?types...
June 27, 2025 at 2:32 PM
We are thrilled to be welcoming @keslupo.bsky.social and Miloni Vora for these upcoming workshops. This is an excellent opportunity to get tip-top feedback from an in-house editor on your opening pages! Non-member registration opens soon! app.inkedvoices.com/events?types...
My big news got announced in @thebookseller.com this morning! I’m so thrilled to be joining @macmillankidsuk.bsky.social on 7th July as Commissioning Editor. 🧵
June 25, 2025 at 6:44 PM
My big news got announced in @thebookseller.com this morning! I’m so thrilled to be joining @macmillankidsuk.bsky.social on 7th July as Commissioning Editor. 🧵
Reposted by Kesia Lupo
Ah, comp titles. The bane of many authors' query letters - they're tricky to choose and what if there isn't anything out there like your book anyway? What if that's the whole point? Buckle up, more @keslupo.bsky.social advice incoming. 🧵
June 23, 2025 at 9:40 PM
Ah, comp titles. The bane of many authors' query letters - they're tricky to choose and what if there isn't anything out there like your book anyway? What if that's the whole point? Buckle up, more @keslupo.bsky.social advice incoming. 🧵
Reposted by Kesia Lupo
Receiving critiques of your writing (from critique partners, editors, or even reviewers) is an essential part of being a writer - but they can be tough pills to swallow. As someone who has both given and received a lot of tough feedback, @keslupo.bsky.social offers 4 tips. 🧵
May 17, 2025 at 2:25 AM
Receiving critiques of your writing (from critique partners, editors, or even reviewers) is an essential part of being a writer - but they can be tough pills to swallow. As someone who has both given and received a lot of tough feedback, @keslupo.bsky.social offers 4 tips. 🧵
Reposted by Kesia Lupo
More people are writing - and writing with serious dreams of publication - than EVER before. It's tough to stand out with these kinds of numbers in mind, and agents have to make fast decisions! Here are 4 tips from @keslupo.bsky.social on how to avoid a quick no. 🧵
May 14, 2025 at 7:07 AM
More people are writing - and writing with serious dreams of publication - than EVER before. It's tough to stand out with these kinds of numbers in mind, and agents have to make fast decisions! Here are 4 tips from @keslupo.bsky.social on how to avoid a quick no. 🧵
Reposted by Kesia Lupo
IF YOU HAVEN’T READ IT
DO YOURSELF A FAVOR!
DO YOURSELF A FAVOR!
May 12, 2025 at 12:04 PM
IF YOU HAVEN’T READ IT
DO YOURSELF A FAVOR!
DO YOURSELF A FAVOR!
Reposted by Kesia Lupo
Hi new followers! We're a writing conference organization run by long-time industry insiders & bringing together writers, agents and even editors in person and online. Plus, agent @keslupo.bsky.social runs our socials, so stay tuned for proper publishing insights.
a man is riding a segway in an office with the words welcome aboard below him
ALT: a man is riding a segway in an office with the words welcome aboard below him
media.tenor.com
May 12, 2025 at 7:31 AM
Hi new followers! We're a writing conference organization run by long-time industry insiders & bringing together writers, agents and even editors in person and online. Plus, agent @keslupo.bsky.social runs our socials, so stay tuned for proper publishing insights.
Reposted by Kesia Lupo
Delighted to say that I’m at Folkestone Book Festival later this year. Friday 14/11, 10-1 for a workshop based on my bestselling book, The Alchemy @renardpress.bsky.social Limited places: programme & tickets go live next month. @keslupo.bsky.social
www.creativefolkestone.org.uk/folkestone-b...
www.creativefolkestone.org.uk/folkestone-b...
Folkestone Book Festival - Creative Folkestone
www.creativefolkestone.org.uk
May 7, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Delighted to say that I’m at Folkestone Book Festival later this year. Friday 14/11, 10-1 for a workshop based on my bestselling book, The Alchemy @renardpress.bsky.social Limited places: programme & tickets go live next month. @keslupo.bsky.social
www.creativefolkestone.org.uk/folkestone-b...
www.creativefolkestone.org.uk/folkestone-b...
Reposted by Kesia Lupo
Here are 3 things agents are looking for in your query package... (according to our personal agent guru,
@keslupo.bsky.social) 🧵
@keslupo.bsky.social) 🧵
a checklist with three check marks and a pencil on it
ALT: a checklist with three check marks and a pencil on it
media.tenor.com
May 7, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Here are 3 things agents are looking for in your query package... (according to our personal agent guru,
@keslupo.bsky.social) 🧵
@keslupo.bsky.social) 🧵
Reposted by Kesia Lupo
This is without doubt the best article I've ever read about how to write the dreaded synopsis. It includes an example and details on why it works. Even with all the spoilers, I need to read this book! Thank you @keslupo.bsky.social
open.substack.com/pub/kesialup...
open.substack.com/pub/kesialup...
How to write a good synopsis
with a real-life example by yours truly!
open.substack.com
May 5, 2025 at 4:42 PM
This is without doubt the best article I've ever read about how to write the dreaded synopsis. It includes an example and details on why it works. Even with all the spoilers, I need to read this book! Thank you @keslupo.bsky.social
open.substack.com/pub/kesialup...
open.substack.com/pub/kesialup...
I LOVE reading about writers’ querying journeys - no two writers follow the same path. Even so, Jill (who is one of my clients) offers a lot of wisdom here around how to maximize your chances when you’re querying agents. (Spoiler: organization and perseverence are key!)
New on Substack: On the one-year anniversary of signing with my literary agent (hi @keslupo.bsky.social!), I reflect on what I did wrong and what I did right in my querying process. jillcaddell.substack.com/p/a-year-ago...
A year ago, I got my literary agent
A breakdown of what I did wrong, and what I did right
jillcaddell.substack.com
May 5, 2025 at 4:53 AM
I LOVE reading about writers’ querying journeys - no two writers follow the same path. Even so, Jill (who is one of my clients) offers a lot of wisdom here around how to maximize your chances when you’re querying agents. (Spoiler: organization and perseverence are key!)
Yesterday was my 2-year agenting anniversary. It was also the day I received notification that my first commission payment is coming through. (This isn't because I didn't sell anything else before, but because for the first 14 months I was on a salary!) Special moment!
a penguin standing next to a baby penguin
ALT: a penguin standing next to a baby penguin
media.tenor.com
May 2, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Yesterday was my 2-year agenting anniversary. It was also the day I received notification that my first commission payment is coming through. (This isn't because I didn't sell anything else before, but because for the first 14 months I was on a salary!) Special moment!
My latest Substack lifts the curtain on my current query inbox and answers the question: Why I haven't responded to your query yet? open.substack.com/pub/kesialup...
April 25, 2025 at 10:01 PM
My latest Substack lifts the curtain on my current query inbox and answers the question: Why I haven't responded to your query yet? open.substack.com/pub/kesialup...
Reposted by Kesia Lupo
Anyone here suffering from writers' block? We all get stuck sometimes, but if you're beginning to feel like you can't get unstuck, it's time to shake things up. Here are five tips from @keslupo.bsky.social to get things moving again.
April 25, 2025 at 6:50 AM
Anyone here suffering from writers' block? We all get stuck sometimes, but if you're beginning to feel like you can't get unstuck, it's time to shake things up. Here are five tips from @keslupo.bsky.social to get things moving again.
Reposted by Kesia Lupo
Writers: are you plotters, pantsers, or plantsers? We need to know. (More info in thread!)
April 24, 2025 at 6:37 AM
Writers: are you plotters, pantsers, or plantsers? We need to know. (More info in thread!)
I'm so excited that this category is officially being recognized!
Today The Bookseller announces the launch of the New Adult Book Prize (@newadultprize.bsky.social), an award which celebrates one of the fastest growing areas of fiction publishing that is powered by one of the most enthusiastic cohort of readers 👇#BookSky
The Bookseller launches the New Adult Book Prize to celebrate one of the fastest growing areas of fiction
www.thebookseller.com
April 23, 2025 at 3:04 PM
I'm so excited that this category is officially being recognized!
What the actual fuck.
April 18, 2025 at 6:24 AM
What the actual fuck.