Maike_illu
@maikeillu.bsky.social
Freelance kidlit illustrator, repped by the Bright Agency
www.maikeplenzke.com
www.maikeplenzke.com
Pinned
Maike_illu
@maikeillu.bsky.social
· Mar 6
Hi #KidLitArtPostcard day!
I'm a freelance illustrator for Middle grade books and covers!😊🌻
Portfolio: www.maikeplenzke.com
Rep'd by Alex Gehringer at Bright.
I'm a freelance illustrator for Middle grade books and covers!😊🌻
Portfolio: www.maikeplenzke.com
Rep'd by Alex Gehringer at Bright.
From all the middle grade covers I've done so far I (and therefore manuscripts I've read) Ally's "This Appearing house" is still one of my favorites. It's about experiencing cancer and grief as a kid and have that all packaged in a truly scary but emotional story.💛
The 2026 Summer Scares Middle Grade Fiction titles are:
Garlic and the Vampire by @breebird33.bsky.social
This Appearing House by @allymalinenko.bsky.social
It Came from the Trees by @allyoutthere.bsky.social
Garlic and the Vampire by @breebird33.bsky.social
This Appearing House by @allymalinenko.bsky.social
It Came from the Trees by @allyoutthere.bsky.social
February 13, 2026 at 2:35 PM
From all the middle grade covers I've done so far I (and therefore manuscripts I've read) Ally's "This Appearing house" is still one of my favorites. It's about experiencing cancer and grief as a kid and have that all packaged in a truly scary but emotional story.💛
On September 15th the first book of the Riley Dare Trilogy by MK England will release. A story about Escape rooms, D&D and Secret Agents, that I drew the cover for.😊
February 13, 2026 at 1:56 PM
On September 15th the first book of the Riley Dare Trilogy by MK England will release. A story about Escape rooms, D&D and Secret Agents, that I drew the cover for.😊
On March 3rd 2026 "ABBA" releases, a Little Golden Book I've worked on 2 years ago.
February 13, 2026 at 1:56 PM
On March 3rd 2026 "ABBA" releases, a Little Golden Book I've worked on 2 years ago.
This january The Little Golden Book Beatles Baby edition released, which shows the colors a bit more nicely than the original version because it’s printed on shiny cardboard. (I totally don’t know the correct term for that )
February 13, 2026 at 1:55 PM
This january The Little Golden Book Beatles Baby edition released, which shows the colors a bit more nicely than the original version because it’s printed on shiny cardboard. (I totally don’t know the correct term for that )
I drew a chapter for @joshtierney.bsky.social 's comic Warmblood which you can find here: warmbloodcomic.com
February 13, 2026 at 1:54 PM
I drew a chapter for @joshtierney.bsky.social 's comic Warmblood which you can find here: warmbloodcomic.com
I'm the worst at posting things I've done ( I don't know why)
so let's just do a few little updates right now:
The Ripple Effect by Rebecca Caprara released on February 18 2025, but I forgot to mention it here.
so let's just do a few little updates right now:
The Ripple Effect by Rebecca Caprara released on February 18 2025, but I forgot to mention it here.
February 13, 2026 at 1:53 PM
I'm the worst at posting things I've done ( I don't know why)
so let's just do a few little updates right now:
The Ripple Effect by Rebecca Caprara released on February 18 2025, but I forgot to mention it here.
so let's just do a few little updates right now:
The Ripple Effect by Rebecca Caprara released on February 18 2025, but I forgot to mention it here.
Reposted by Maike_illu
Called and spoke with Adobe customer support and the guy told me Adobe is discontinuing Animate because apparently the company can't think of any new features to add to the program and they feel it's gotten stale.
So they're just GETTING RID OF IT???
So they're just GETTING RID OF IT???
February 2, 2026 at 9:51 PM
Called and spoke with Adobe customer support and the guy told me Adobe is discontinuing Animate because apparently the company can't think of any new features to add to the program and they feel it's gotten stale.
So they're just GETTING RID OF IT???
So they're just GETTING RID OF IT???
Reposted by Maike_illu
People already working hard to prove how perfect Alex Pretti was. To show he didn't "deserve" to be killed. But it's a trap folks. You're only feeding into a dynamic where people who are considered lesser get no protection. You don't have to be an Alex Pretti to deserve to live.
January 24, 2026 at 8:17 PM
People already working hard to prove how perfect Alex Pretti was. To show he didn't "deserve" to be killed. But it's a trap folks. You're only feeding into a dynamic where people who are considered lesser get no protection. You don't have to be an Alex Pretti to deserve to live.
Reposted by Maike_illu
You have to read this. Firsthand affidavit from one of the women who was there and recording the video. She talks about how Alex Pretti was directing traffic when she arrived. She watched him be killed in front of her. She's afraid to go home, worried she'll be arrested.
January 25, 2026 at 1:15 AM
You have to read this. Firsthand affidavit from one of the women who was there and recording the video. She talks about how Alex Pretti was directing traffic when she arrived. She watched him be killed in front of her. She's afraid to go home, worried she'll be arrested.
It's wild to me that you have to pay that much money per year for MAYA and you can't even export playblasts as anything other than avi with outdated codecs and can't import reference as a video file in windows. Blender still has some annoying things, but at least you can do that easily.🙃
October 26, 2025 at 7:01 PM
It's wild to me that you have to pay that much money per year for MAYA and you can't even export playblasts as anything other than avi with outdated codecs and can't import reference as a video file in windows. Blender still has some annoying things, but at least you can do that easily.🙃
Happy book birthday to Broken Dolls! I was honored to draw the jacket illustration for Ally's third book and because AD David pretty much gives me free rein I took the chance to also illustrate Ally's author pic again, hehe. 👻
September 30, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Happy book birthday to Broken Dolls! I was honored to draw the jacket illustration for Ally's third book and because AD David pretty much gives me free rein I took the chance to also illustrate Ally's author pic again, hehe. 👻
Reposted by Maike_illu
"A.i." doesn't empower anyone. It strips them of belief in themselves and the power of their own minds and hands and abilities and stories.
EVERY KID CAN DRAW. EVERY KID CAN TELL STORIES AND MAKE COMICS.
Fuck "A.i." for telling kids lies and making them less-than.
EVERY KID CAN DRAW. EVERY KID CAN TELL STORIES AND MAKE COMICS.
Fuck "A.i." for telling kids lies and making them less-than.
August 7, 2025 at 5:46 PM
"A.i." doesn't empower anyone. It strips them of belief in themselves and the power of their own minds and hands and abilities and stories.
EVERY KID CAN DRAW. EVERY KID CAN TELL STORIES AND MAKE COMICS.
Fuck "A.i." for telling kids lies and making them less-than.
EVERY KID CAN DRAW. EVERY KID CAN TELL STORIES AND MAKE COMICS.
Fuck "A.i." for telling kids lies and making them less-than.
Reposted by Maike_illu
Loved this Kirkus Review of Broken Dolls “The climax gives young readers a blood-free taste of body horror, and a final stinger keeps the chills alive.”
www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews...
www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews...
BROKEN DOLLS | Kirkus Reviews
Grieving sisters are hunted by haunted dolls.
www.kirkusreviews.com
July 20, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Loved this Kirkus Review of Broken Dolls “The climax gives young readers a blood-free taste of body horror, and a final stinger keeps the chills alive.”
www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews...
www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews...
Reposted by Maike_illu
If you’re looking for a very talented and professional illustrator/colorist check out Adrian‘s portfolio! Comes highly recommended!
Anyway, if you hear about any illustration/comics/art jobs, please let me know. Here's my portfolio: illustratoren-organisation.de/portfolio/ad...
Adrian vom Baur - Illustratoren Organisation e.V.
illustratoren-organisation.de
July 22, 2025 at 10:28 AM
If you’re looking for a very talented and professional illustrator/colorist check out Adrian‘s portfolio! Comes highly recommended!
Reposted by Maike_illu
work for hire is fucking insidious, maybe one of the worst "industry norms" we have. If you're getting treated like disney owns your ass they should have to pay your medical bills and recognize unions too
The "work for hire"/freelance set-up of comics work is not great for most creators, in terms of long-term benefit. This is one reason (among others) to actively support creator-owned comics when you can, alongside the work you may enjoy from Marvel/DC/etc.
Watching comic writers/artists beg for money for medical bills, while their creations reap billions, has been quite eye-opening.
July 17, 2025 at 5:53 PM
work for hire is fucking insidious, maybe one of the worst "industry norms" we have. If you're getting treated like disney owns your ass they should have to pay your medical bills and recognize unions too
Reposted by Maike_illu
If you're a traditionally-published middle grade author with a MG book being published between now and December 2025 that has LGBTQIA+ representation, please tell me about it! I'm making a 2025 masterlist and want to make sure I'm not leaving anything or anyone out! 💖 #BookSky #MGLit #KidLit
July 3, 2025 at 4:06 PM
I went through my folders of personal art (most of it I don't share anymore) but I found this one I liked. A little b&w illu I did in my free time of a scene in The Whisperwicks 1, which I illustrated the french book cover for.
July 8, 2025 at 4:33 PM
I went through my folders of personal art (most of it I don't share anymore) but I found this one I liked. A little b&w illu I did in my free time of a scene in The Whisperwicks 1, which I illustrated the french book cover for.
Reposted by Maike_illu
Folks, when you are hiring an artist for a commercial project try not to think about the cost as a total price but break it down into weekly pay for potentially a month or two. All of a sudden their quote of 2K or whatever aint much for 6 weeks of work.
We all got bills to pay unfortunately.
We all got bills to pay unfortunately.
July 3, 2025 at 12:09 PM
Folks, when you are hiring an artist for a commercial project try not to think about the cost as a total price but break it down into weekly pay for potentially a month or two. All of a sudden their quote of 2K or whatever aint much for 6 weeks of work.
We all got bills to pay unfortunately.
We all got bills to pay unfortunately.
Reposted by Maike_illu
IT'S JUNETEENTH! There is still so much fucking work to do in this country to clean up the blood it was built on and so many reparations owed.
One of the small ways we can help is actively seeking out, hiring, supporting and buying from Black artists.
bsky.app/starter-pack...
One of the small ways we can help is actively seeking out, hiring, supporting and buying from Black artists.
bsky.app/starter-pack...
June 19, 2025 at 6:05 PM
IT'S JUNETEENTH! There is still so much fucking work to do in this country to clean up the blood it was built on and so many reparations owed.
One of the small ways we can help is actively seeking out, hiring, supporting and buying from Black artists.
bsky.app/starter-pack...
One of the small ways we can help is actively seeking out, hiring, supporting and buying from Black artists.
bsky.app/starter-pack...
Reposted by Maike_illu
Good morning friends. This kid is spot on 👏🏼💙
June 11, 2025 at 10:11 AM
Good morning friends. This kid is spot on 👏🏼💙
Reposted by Maike_illu
As a heads up:
A story in three parts. Watch out for this from topetegu dot Bluesky dot social. No doubt they got hacked. It’s a known scam.
A story in three parts. Watch out for this from topetegu dot Bluesky dot social. No doubt they got hacked. It’s a known scam.
May 17, 2025 at 8:34 PM
As a heads up:
A story in three parts. Watch out for this from topetegu dot Bluesky dot social. No doubt they got hacked. It’s a known scam.
A story in three parts. Watch out for this from topetegu dot Bluesky dot social. No doubt they got hacked. It’s a known scam.
Reposted by Maike_illu
Respectfully. If I see any generative AI in a videogame even if it's just one asset, well acclaimed or just getting kickstarted, then unfortunately no, they're not getting my time or my money.
Solidarity with creatives means maintaining that integrity no matter what.
Our work is not a freeforall
Solidarity with creatives means maintaining that integrity no matter what.
Our work is not a freeforall
May 14, 2025 at 3:09 AM
Respectfully. If I see any generative AI in a videogame even if it's just one asset, well acclaimed or just getting kickstarted, then unfortunately no, they're not getting my time or my money.
Solidarity with creatives means maintaining that integrity no matter what.
Our work is not a freeforall
Solidarity with creatives means maintaining that integrity no matter what.
Our work is not a freeforall
Reposted by Maike_illu
IT'S DONE!
Do you use CSP or Photoshop?
If you use CSP here's the thing!
If you use Photoshop, Let me know I'll send you the File
Do you use CSP or Photoshop?
If you use CSP here's the thing!
If you use Photoshop, Let me know I'll send you the File
April 4, 2025 at 1:25 PM
IT'S DONE!
Do you use CSP or Photoshop?
If you use CSP here's the thing!
If you use Photoshop, Let me know I'll send you the File
Do you use CSP or Photoshop?
If you use CSP here's the thing!
If you use Photoshop, Let me know I'll send you the File
Reposted by Maike_illu
Scam "literary agency" Envision Literary Agency is impersonating Penguin Random House with fake publishing offers, via the email below, using the fake email address acquisitions@penguinrandomhouse-prh.com 🧵1/8
![This is Mike Guzman, Contract Specialist at Penguin Random House.
Penguin Random House is looking for new book titles to be published this year. We are the second-largest consumer book publisher in the world. Headquartered in New York, we have publishing operations in 17 countries. With two hundred years of history and more than 120 branded imprints around the world.
At Penguin Random House, authors and their work are the center of everything we do. We are proud to provide authors with unprecedented editorial excellence, marketing reach, long-standing connections with booksellers, and industry-leading insight into reader and consumer behavior. Consistently at the forefront of innovation and technological advancement, Penguin Random House also uses digital technology to create unique reading experiences and expand the reach of our authors.
I am reaching out to you to let you know that we received a preliminary endorsement of your book, [redacted] from a literary agent named Pamela Morrison, and we are pleased to accept the submission. Before we can proceed with the acquisition process, we kindly request your assistance in processing a Separation of Book Rights Order to ensure that the rights of your work are properly assigned.
As we move forward with the potential publication of your book, it is essential for both parties to have a clear understanding of the ownership and rights associated with the work. The Separation of Book Rights Order will formalize the transfer of rights to our publishing company, outlining the terms and conditions of the agreement in a legally binding document.
This step is necessary to protect the interests of both yourself as the author and our publishing company, ensuring that the rights to your creative work are secured and that all parties involved are in agreement regarding the terms of the acquisition.
Once the Separation of Book Rights Order has been processed, we can proceed with the acquisition process and work towards bringi…](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:uy6mloyr37qtcdml3bq6a6o4/bafkreigk4kljy2iahfpjxjurwzpnj2zbcopt73hqcrwzeqxrm2w4yxwle4@jpeg)
April 5, 2025 at 11:49 PM
Scam "literary agency" Envision Literary Agency is impersonating Penguin Random House with fake publishing offers, via the email below, using the fake email address acquisitions@penguinrandomhouse-prh.com 🧵1/8
Reposted by Maike_illu
IF YOU FOUND YOUR NOVEL IN THE LIBGEN DATABASE, YOU MAY BE A CLASS MEMBER FOR THE KADREY ET AL V. META PLATFORMS CLASS ACTION
Law firms you can contact if you're a potential class member:
Joseph Saveri Law Firm, LLP (415) 500-6800
Mathew Butterick (323) 968-2632 mb@buttericklaw.com
Law firms you can contact if you're a potential class member:
Joseph Saveri Law Firm, LLP (415) 500-6800
Mathew Butterick (323) 968-2632 mb@buttericklaw.com
March 20, 2025 at 7:29 PM
IF YOU FOUND YOUR NOVEL IN THE LIBGEN DATABASE, YOU MAY BE A CLASS MEMBER FOR THE KADREY ET AL V. META PLATFORMS CLASS ACTION
Law firms you can contact if you're a potential class member:
Joseph Saveri Law Firm, LLP (415) 500-6800
Mathew Butterick (323) 968-2632 mb@buttericklaw.com
Law firms you can contact if you're a potential class member:
Joseph Saveri Law Firm, LLP (415) 500-6800
Mathew Butterick (323) 968-2632 mb@buttericklaw.com