Laura Shovan
@laurashovan.bsky.social
(she/her) Poet, Educator, Middle Grade Author. Vermont College of Fine Arts WCYA faculty. WELCOME TO MONSTERVILLE is out now!
I'm so excited to host National Book Award finalist Hannah V. Sawyerr and award winning middle grade author Ronald L. Smith at Wilde Readings -- Howard County's longest running literary reading series.
Tuesday, 10/14 at Queen Takes Book independent bookstore in Columbia, Maryland. 7 pm
Tuesday, 10/14 at Queen Takes Book independent bookstore in Columbia, Maryland. 7 pm
October 7, 2025 at 4:02 PM
I'm so excited to host National Book Award finalist Hannah V. Sawyerr and award winning middle grade author Ronald L. Smith at Wilde Readings -- Howard County's longest running literary reading series.
Tuesday, 10/14 at Queen Takes Book independent bookstore in Columbia, Maryland. 7 pm
Tuesday, 10/14 at Queen Takes Book independent bookstore in Columbia, Maryland. 7 pm
It's been on my author bucket list to participate in the Chappaqua Children's Book Festival. I'm heading up to New York State to be part of this celebration of children's literature on Saturday.
I grew up just an hour away from Chappaqua -- in northern NJ. Can't wait to be back in the area!
I grew up just an hour away from Chappaqua -- in northern NJ. Can't wait to be back in the area!
September 25, 2025 at 4:24 PM
It's been on my author bucket list to participate in the Chappaqua Children's Book Festival. I'm heading up to New York State to be part of this celebration of children's literature on Saturday.
I grew up just an hour away from Chappaqua -- in northern NJ. Can't wait to be back in the area!
I grew up just an hour away from Chappaqua -- in northern NJ. Can't wait to be back in the area!
I'm excited to share that I'm leading a workshop at Writing and Illustrating for Young Readers' (WIFYR) Virtual Writing Intensive, September 18-20.
I'm thrilled to be joining this community.
My session is "What Happens Next: A Workshop on Story Questions."
www.wifyr.com/2025-writing...
I'm thrilled to be joining this community.
My session is "What Happens Next: A Workshop on Story Questions."
www.wifyr.com/2025-writing...
Virtual Writing Intensive 2025 | Writing And Illustra
www.wifyr.com
September 4, 2025 at 6:09 PM
I'm excited to share that I'm leading a workshop at Writing and Illustrating for Young Readers' (WIFYR) Virtual Writing Intensive, September 18-20.
I'm thrilled to be joining this community.
My session is "What Happens Next: A Workshop on Story Questions."
www.wifyr.com/2025-writing...
I'm thrilled to be joining this community.
My session is "What Happens Next: A Workshop on Story Questions."
www.wifyr.com/2025-writing...
Join us as we kick off Wilde Readings Season 10 with two phenomenal authors, Elizabeth Evitts Dickinson and Danuta Hinc.
The event is 7:00 p.m., Tuesday September 9th, at Queen Takes Book in Columbia Maryland. Open mic follows the reading.
#wildereadingseries #hocoarts
The event is 7:00 p.m., Tuesday September 9th, at Queen Takes Book in Columbia Maryland. Open mic follows the reading.
#wildereadingseries #hocoarts
September 3, 2025 at 9:29 PM
Join us as we kick off Wilde Readings Season 10 with two phenomenal authors, Elizabeth Evitts Dickinson and Danuta Hinc.
The event is 7:00 p.m., Tuesday September 9th, at Queen Takes Book in Columbia Maryland. Open mic follows the reading.
#wildereadingseries #hocoarts
The event is 7:00 p.m., Tuesday September 9th, at Queen Takes Book in Columbia Maryland. Open mic follows the reading.
#wildereadingseries #hocoarts
It's time to reserve your spot in my fall session of Poetry Techniques for the Verse Novelist! Send me a DM or visit my website for more information. www.laurashovan.com
September 2, 2025 at 10:54 PM
It's time to reserve your spot in my fall session of Poetry Techniques for the Verse Novelist! Send me a DM or visit my website for more information. www.laurashovan.com
I'm so excited for @cordeliajensen.bsky.social's MG verse novel! Check out her page to enter this book giveaway.
#kidlit crowd it’s another #giveaway Tuesday! Honored this week to share @laurashovan.bsky.social’s blurb for Lilac! Please like and comment to enter to win a copy of these #middlegrade #versenovels The Last Fifth Grade of Emerson Elementary and Lilac and the Switchback! @holiday-house.bsky.social
July 29, 2025 at 10:02 PM
I'm so excited for @cordeliajensen.bsky.social's MG verse novel! Check out her page to enter this book giveaway.
Huge thanks to @wwph.bsky.social for highlighting my poem, "My Friend Wants to Talk About the War" at WWPH Writes today. www.washingtonwriters.org/2025/07/26/w...
WWPH WRITES ISSUE 102
www.washingtonwriters.org
July 27, 2025 at 8:15 PM
Huge thanks to @wwph.bsky.social for highlighting my poem, "My Friend Wants to Talk About the War" at WWPH Writes today. www.washingtonwriters.org/2025/07/26/w...
Reposted by Laura Shovan
The nine picture books cited in Mahmoud v. Taylor are not pornography. Nor are they obscene. "What is obscene is a Supreme Court decision that denies the basic humanity and equality of LGBTQIA+ people."
The Ugly Stereotype Beneath the Supreme Court Ruling on LGBTQIA+ Books
The nine picture books cited in Mahmoud v. Taylor are not pornography. Nor are they obscene. What is obscene is a Supreme Court decision that denies the basic humanity and equality of LGBTQIA+ people.
www.slj.com
July 19, 2025 at 11:22 AM
The nine picture books cited in Mahmoud v. Taylor are not pornography. Nor are they obscene. "What is obscene is a Supreme Court decision that denies the basic humanity and equality of LGBTQIA+ people."
New publication -- coming this fall! Thanks to Jona Colson and Caroline Bock at Washington Writers' Publishing House for another incredible anthology: America's Future.
Look for my poems "Demolition" and "The Botanist." "The Botanist" is a sci fi Golden Shovel, using the first line of "Ozymandias."
Look for my poems "Demolition" and "The Botanist." "The Botanist" is a sci fi Golden Shovel, using the first line of "Ozymandias."
June 17, 2025 at 6:26 PM
New publication -- coming this fall! Thanks to Jona Colson and Caroline Bock at Washington Writers' Publishing House for another incredible anthology: America's Future.
Look for my poems "Demolition" and "The Botanist." "The Botanist" is a sci fi Golden Shovel, using the first line of "Ozymandias."
Look for my poems "Demolition" and "The Botanist." "The Botanist" is a sci fi Golden Shovel, using the first line of "Ozymandias."
Tuesday is the grand finale of Wilde Readings Season 9. Our featured authors are poet Leona Sevick and Howard County Maryland's inaugural youth poet laureate, Mai-Anh Nguyen.
Hope to see you at @queentakesbook in Columbia, MD, 7 PM, Tuesday May 10th.
Hope to see you at @queentakesbook in Columbia, MD, 7 PM, Tuesday May 10th.
June 4, 2025 at 6:33 PM
Tuesday is the grand finale of Wilde Readings Season 9. Our featured authors are poet Leona Sevick and Howard County Maryland's inaugural youth poet laureate, Mai-Anh Nguyen.
Hope to see you at @queentakesbook in Columbia, MD, 7 PM, Tuesday May 10th.
Hope to see you at @queentakesbook in Columbia, MD, 7 PM, Tuesday May 10th.
Reposted by Laura Shovan
Last month at the Mahmoud v. Taylor #SCOTUS hearings, a bunch of us from @authorsabb.bsky.social gathered to support our children's right to read.
Photographer Mac Cosgrove-Davies took this photo with a 19th century tintype camera.
@laurashovan.bsky.social
Photographer Mac Cosgrove-Davies took this photo with a 19th century tintype camera.
@laurashovan.bsky.social
May 31, 2025 at 8:27 PM
Last month at the Mahmoud v. Taylor #SCOTUS hearings, a bunch of us from @authorsabb.bsky.social gathered to support our children's right to read.
Photographer Mac Cosgrove-Davies took this photo with a 19th century tintype camera.
@laurashovan.bsky.social
Photographer Mac Cosgrove-Davies took this photo with a 19th century tintype camera.
@laurashovan.bsky.social
I have a new website! www.laurashovan.com.
I can't say enough good things about the designer, Abby Feder. She understood exactly what I was looking for, but was also willing to have some fun with the site. www.abbyfeder.com
I can't say enough good things about the designer, Abby Feder. She understood exactly what I was looking for, but was also willing to have some fun with the site. www.abbyfeder.com
Laura Shovan | Poet, Author, & Educator
Explore Laura Shovan's award-winning poetry, books, and writing workshops for kids, teens, and adults.
www.laurashovan.com
May 30, 2025 at 12:56 PM
I have a new website! www.laurashovan.com.
I can't say enough good things about the designer, Abby Feder. She understood exactly what I was looking for, but was also willing to have some fun with the site. www.abbyfeder.com
I can't say enough good things about the designer, Abby Feder. She understood exactly what I was looking for, but was also willing to have some fun with the site. www.abbyfeder.com
The May issue of my newsletter for readers and writers is out now!
This time, it's all about prompts. Do you love or loathe writing prompts? What's one of the best writing prompts that you've ever worked with?
Want to subscribe? Send me a DM.
This time, it's all about prompts. Do you love or loathe writing prompts? What's one of the best writing prompts that you've ever worked with?
Want to subscribe? Send me a DM.
May 12, 2025 at 7:46 PM
The May issue of my newsletter for readers and writers is out now!
This time, it's all about prompts. Do you love or loathe writing prompts? What's one of the best writing prompts that you've ever worked with?
Want to subscribe? Send me a DM.
This time, it's all about prompts. Do you love or loathe writing prompts? What's one of the best writing prompts that you've ever worked with?
Want to subscribe? Send me a DM.
Wilde Readings' May event is going to be 🔥🔥🔥!
Join us May 13, 7 pm at Queen Takes Book as we host Derrick Weston Brown and Carla du Pree.
If you'd like to feature at a future Wilde Readings, we encourage you to attend an event, meet the hosts, and read at our open mic.
Join us May 13, 7 pm at Queen Takes Book as we host Derrick Weston Brown and Carla du Pree.
If you'd like to feature at a future Wilde Readings, we encourage you to attend an event, meet the hosts, and read at our open mic.
May 10, 2025 at 12:39 AM
Wilde Readings' May event is going to be 🔥🔥🔥!
Join us May 13, 7 pm at Queen Takes Book as we host Derrick Weston Brown and Carla du Pree.
If you'd like to feature at a future Wilde Readings, we encourage you to attend an event, meet the hosts, and read at our open mic.
Join us May 13, 7 pm at Queen Takes Book as we host Derrick Weston Brown and Carla du Pree.
If you'd like to feature at a future Wilde Readings, we encourage you to attend an event, meet the hosts, and read at our open mic.
See you Saturday, May 10, Books In Bloom -- Columbia MD.
I'm performing at Spilled Milk: A Storytelling Event About Motherhood.
A diverse lineup of storytellers shares unfiltered experiences—beautiful, messy, heartbreaking, and hilarious.
Free registration cultureandquill.com/spilled-milk/
I'm performing at Spilled Milk: A Storytelling Event About Motherhood.
A diverse lineup of storytellers shares unfiltered experiences—beautiful, messy, heartbreaking, and hilarious.
Free registration cultureandquill.com/spilled-milk/
May 7, 2025 at 9:05 PM
See you Saturday, May 10, Books In Bloom -- Columbia MD.
I'm performing at Spilled Milk: A Storytelling Event About Motherhood.
A diverse lineup of storytellers shares unfiltered experiences—beautiful, messy, heartbreaking, and hilarious.
Free registration cultureandquill.com/spilled-milk/
I'm performing at Spilled Milk: A Storytelling Event About Motherhood.
A diverse lineup of storytellers shares unfiltered experiences—beautiful, messy, heartbreaking, and hilarious.
Free registration cultureandquill.com/spilled-milk/
Our summer verse novel course (online at The Highlights Foundation ) is filling up! Four sessions with me, Meg Eden Kuyatt , and Hannah V. Sawyerr will focus on how to use poetic form to tell your best possible story.
Registration is open. www.highlightsfoundation.org/workshop/int...
Registration is open. www.highlightsfoundation.org/workshop/int...
Intro to Novels in Verse: Drafting and Deepening Your Story - Highlights Foundation
www.highlightsfoundation.org
May 5, 2025 at 6:47 PM
Our summer verse novel course (online at The Highlights Foundation ) is filling up! Four sessions with me, Meg Eden Kuyatt , and Hannah V. Sawyerr will focus on how to use poetic form to tell your best possible story.
Registration is open. www.highlightsfoundation.org/workshop/int...
Registration is open. www.highlightsfoundation.org/workshop/int...
Help me raise money for a scholarship to The Highlights Foundation.
No bids so far on my 30 minute "Ask Me Anything." I'd love this to go to a classroom teacher (or be gifted to a classroom teacher) so students can do an "Ask the Author Anything" with me.
Bids close on April 30. Let's do this!
No bids so far on my 30 minute "Ask Me Anything." I'd love this to go to a classroom teacher (or be gifted to a classroom teacher) so students can do an "Ask the Author Anything" with me.
Bids close on April 30. Let's do this!
30 Minute Virtual AMA with Laura Shovan - Neurodiverse Kidlit Collective
30 Minute Virtual Ask Me Anything with middle grade author and poet Laura Shovan Laura Shovan is a novelist, educator, and Pushcart Prize-nominated poet. Her work appears in journals and anthologies...
ndkidlit.org
April 28, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Help me raise money for a scholarship to The Highlights Foundation.
No bids so far on my 30 minute "Ask Me Anything." I'd love this to go to a classroom teacher (or be gifted to a classroom teacher) so students can do an "Ask the Author Anything" with me.
Bids close on April 30. Let's do this!
No bids so far on my 30 minute "Ask Me Anything." I'd love this to go to a classroom teacher (or be gifted to a classroom teacher) so students can do an "Ask the Author Anything" with me.
Bids close on April 30. Let's do this!
The Neurodiverse Kidlit collective is holding its first auction! There are lots of great things on offer. If you buy or win one of the items, the money will go to a neurodiverse creative scholarship fund at The Highlights Foundation.
Auction closes April 30.
www.ndkidlit.org/fundraising-auction/
Auction closes April 30.
www.ndkidlit.org/fundraising-auction/
April 22, 2025 at 9:35 PM
The Neurodiverse Kidlit collective is holding its first auction! There are lots of great things on offer. If you buy or win one of the items, the money will go to a neurodiverse creative scholarship fund at The Highlights Foundation.
Auction closes April 30.
www.ndkidlit.org/fundraising-auction/
Auction closes April 30.
www.ndkidlit.org/fundraising-auction/
Supreme Court rally with Authors Against Book Bans!
April 22, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Supreme Court rally with Authors Against Book Bans!
Reposted by Laura Shovan
Inclusive Education.
Today, the Supreme Court hears oral arguments in Mahmoud v. Taylor.
In light of recent decisions, I am so concerned about what an unfavorable ruling will mean for LGBTQ+ students.
Here is the position of the American Psychological Association.
www.apa.org/about/office...
Today, the Supreme Court hears oral arguments in Mahmoud v. Taylor.
In light of recent decisions, I am so concerned about what an unfavorable ruling will mean for LGBTQ+ students.
Here is the position of the American Psychological Association.
www.apa.org/about/office...
www.apa.org
April 22, 2025 at 10:06 AM
Inclusive Education.
Today, the Supreme Court hears oral arguments in Mahmoud v. Taylor.
In light of recent decisions, I am so concerned about what an unfavorable ruling will mean for LGBTQ+ students.
Here is the position of the American Psychological Association.
www.apa.org/about/office...
Today, the Supreme Court hears oral arguments in Mahmoud v. Taylor.
In light of recent decisions, I am so concerned about what an unfavorable ruling will mean for LGBTQ+ students.
Here is the position of the American Psychological Association.
www.apa.org/about/office...
Reposted by Laura Shovan
Censorship in Schools.
Next week, the Supreme Court of the United States will hear oral arguments in Mahmoud v. Taylor.
Please take a few moments to learn a little about this important case.
Thank you to @glaad.bsky.social for putting together this Fact Sheet.
glaad.org/fact-sheet-m...
Next week, the Supreme Court of the United States will hear oral arguments in Mahmoud v. Taylor.
Please take a few moments to learn a little about this important case.
Thank you to @glaad.bsky.social for putting together this Fact Sheet.
glaad.org/fact-sheet-m...
Fact Sheet: Mahmoud v. Taylor, the U.S. Supreme Court Case About Banning LGBTQ-inclusive Books | GLAAD
The Supreme Court of the United States is scheduled to hear oral arguments in Mahmoud v. Taylor on Tuesday, April 22, 2025. Mahmoud v. Taylor is about a small number of LGBTQ-inclusive children’s book...
glaad.org
April 19, 2025 at 10:29 AM
Censorship in Schools.
Next week, the Supreme Court of the United States will hear oral arguments in Mahmoud v. Taylor.
Please take a few moments to learn a little about this important case.
Thank you to @glaad.bsky.social for putting together this Fact Sheet.
glaad.org/fact-sheet-m...
Next week, the Supreme Court of the United States will hear oral arguments in Mahmoud v. Taylor.
Please take a few moments to learn a little about this important case.
Thank you to @glaad.bsky.social for putting together this Fact Sheet.
glaad.org/fact-sheet-m...
I'm thrilled to share that I am now represented by @literarylesliez.bsky.social at Open Book Literary!
Can't wait to dig in and get to work on new projects together.
Can't wait to dig in and get to work on new projects together.
April 18, 2025 at 6:58 PM
I'm thrilled to share that I am now represented by @literarylesliez.bsky.social at Open Book Literary!
Can't wait to dig in and get to work on new projects together.
Can't wait to dig in and get to work on new projects together.
How cool is this? The lovely MG author Heather Murphy Capps read poems from my book Welcome to Monsterville on Spokane Public Radio!
Take a listen and happy Poetry Month! www.spokanepublicradio.org/show/poetry-...
Take a listen and happy Poetry Month! www.spokanepublicradio.org/show/poetry-...
Heather Murphy Capps reads "The Monster of Costavablink” and "Birthdays” by Laura Shovan
Heather Murphy Capps reads poems by Laura Shovan
www.spokanepublicradio.org
April 14, 2025 at 7:38 PM
How cool is this? The lovely MG author Heather Murphy Capps read poems from my book Welcome to Monsterville on Spokane Public Radio!
Take a listen and happy Poetry Month! www.spokanepublicradio.org/show/poetry-...
Take a listen and happy Poetry Month! www.spokanepublicradio.org/show/poetry-...
Spotted at the Bologna Book Fair!
Thanks to @pjlibrary.org for featuring A Place at the Table, by me and Saadia Faruqi. It's so great to see that our book about cross-cultural friendship continues to speak to young readers.
Thanks Sandra Feder for snapping the photos!
@harperkids.bsky.social
Thanks to @pjlibrary.org for featuring A Place at the Table, by me and Saadia Faruqi. It's so great to see that our book about cross-cultural friendship continues to speak to young readers.
Thanks Sandra Feder for snapping the photos!
@harperkids.bsky.social
April 8, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Spotted at the Bologna Book Fair!
Thanks to @pjlibrary.org for featuring A Place at the Table, by me and Saadia Faruqi. It's so great to see that our book about cross-cultural friendship continues to speak to young readers.
Thanks Sandra Feder for snapping the photos!
@harperkids.bsky.social
Thanks to @pjlibrary.org for featuring A Place at the Table, by me and Saadia Faruqi. It's so great to see that our book about cross-cultural friendship continues to speak to young readers.
Thanks Sandra Feder for snapping the photos!
@harperkids.bsky.social
Reposted by Laura Shovan
❓ Fundraising Auction spotlight:
@laurashovan.bsky.social is offering a 30-min virtual AMA!
Auction is live 4/15-4/30. All proceeds fund our #neurodiverse #kidlit Scholarship at @highlightsfound.bsky.social
👀 Preview Auction:
champ.ly/xSRrqf-V
<a href="/hashtag/autismsupport" class="hover:underline text-blue-600 dark:text-sky-400 no-card-link">#autismsupport #adhdsupport #writingcommunity
@laurashovan.bsky.social is offering a 30-min virtual AMA!
Auction is live 4/15-4/30. All proceeds fund our #neurodiverse #kidlit Scholarship at @highlightsfound.bsky.social
👀 Preview Auction:
champ.ly/xSRrqf-V
<a href="/hashtag/autismsupport" class="hover:underline text-blue-600 dark:text-sky-400 no-card-link">#autismsupport #adhdsupport #writingcommunity
April 5, 2025 at 9:33 PM
❓ Fundraising Auction spotlight:
@laurashovan.bsky.social is offering a 30-min virtual AMA!
Auction is live 4/15-4/30. All proceeds fund our #neurodiverse #kidlit Scholarship at @highlightsfound.bsky.social
👀 Preview Auction:
champ.ly/xSRrqf-V
<a href="/hashtag/autismsupport" class="hover:underline text-blue-600 dark:text-sky-400 no-card-link">#autismsupport #adhdsupport #writingcommunity
@laurashovan.bsky.social is offering a 30-min virtual AMA!
Auction is live 4/15-4/30. All proceeds fund our #neurodiverse #kidlit Scholarship at @highlightsfound.bsky.social
👀 Preview Auction:
champ.ly/xSRrqf-V
<a href="/hashtag/autismsupport" class="hover:underline text-blue-600 dark:text-sky-400 no-card-link">#autismsupport #adhdsupport #writingcommunity