Susan Lautenslager
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slautenslager.bsky.social
Susan Lautenslager
@slautenslager.bsky.social
She/her. Writing middle grade fiction. 🌱 On the lookout for the spooky, weird, and wonderful. Happiest hiking in the woods. Works in progress:
https://sites.google.com/view/susan-lautenslager?usp=sharing
Ooo, this sound so intriguing!
12-year-old Anu's terrified of the dark and sees ghosts—which is a problem when Arctic Finland’s polar night lasts for weeks and a child-hunting folk monster awakens. Her buried shamanic heritage might help—if she can face the darkness.

CITY OF GHOSTS X 30 DAYS OF NIGHT
#GhostPit #MG #H #Q 👻
October 30, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Reposted by Susan Lautenslager
Gorgon and Gallows 🧪🕯️👀

Poppy Gorgon and Gemma Gallows are perfectly normal twelve-year-olds who assist their fathers in a perfectly normal family candle shop.... except the candle shop is a cover for a dark artifact business hiding a powerful secret. #GhostPit #MG #F #Q
October 30, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Reposted by Susan Lautenslager
#ghostpit #MG #Q #PN #M

Ghost Conductor

When 12yo Scout moves into an old mansion with his dad, he’s finally able to look forward to a new beginning after losing his mom. But the ghost girl stalking him has other plans. Now, he must race to help her before whatever is chasing her comes for him.
October 30, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Reposted by Susan Lautenslager
#GhostPit #MG #Q #PN #MM #H

CITY OF GHOSTS V GOOSEBUMPS

👩‍👧Sibling rivalry
💘First crush
🪦Psychic tweens
👀Restless ghosts
🚪Disappearing doors
😱Haunted corridors
🛳️Family cruise ship vacay
a painting of a pirate ship with the name erkan yure on the bottom
ALT: a painting of a pirate ship with the name erkan yure on the bottom
media.tenor.com
October 30, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Reposted by Susan Lautenslager
Hunted for his meteorite wand, twelve-year-old Catch must master spell-hacked spycraft to stop the Acolytes from enslaving the Guardian Spirits and seizing the Minerals of Power.

#GhostPit #F #MG #Q #AmQuerying #AmWriting #SCBWI #KidLit
October 30, 2025 at 5:01 PM
WOOLERS
When her parents take temporary jobs at a remote living history museum, 13-year-old Effie is thrilled about skipping the start of eighth grade—until she discovers the museum’s actors aren’t living at all, and she must save her family from becoming permanent exhibits. #GhostPit #Q #MG #PNH
October 30, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Reposted by Susan Lautenslager
Gorgon and Gallows #MG #F #Q 74K

Poppy Gorgon discovers a mysterious quill that is rumored to communicate with the dead and is left wondering how much she is willing to risk for the chance to have one final conversation with her recently deceased father. #GhostPit
October 30, 2025 at 11:28 AM
WOOLERS
When her parents take temporary jobs at a remote living history museum, 13-year-old Effie is thrilled about skipping the start of eighth grade—until she discovers the museum’s actors aren’t living at all, and she must save her family from becoming permanent exhibits. #GhostPit #Q #MG #PN #H
October 30, 2025 at 10:32 AM
Thank you, @katemessner.com!
If you want more of the real-deal stories, check out HISTORY SMASHERS: CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS AND THE TAINO PEOPLE, which I co-authored with Taino elder & scholar Dr. José Barreiro. (and the rest of the series, too!)
bookshop.org/p/books/hist...
History Smashers: Christopher Columbus and the Taino People
Check out History Smashers: Christopher Columbus and the Taino People - <b>Myths! Lies! Secrets! Uncover the hidden truth about Christopher Columbus, and learn all about the Taino people. Perfect for ...
bookshop.org
October 13, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Reposted by Susan Lautenslager
Many #writers get stuck because they mentally treat their #roughdraft like a more finished draft. Let go of that. It’s called a ROUGH draft for a reason. Give yourself permission to write poorly, explore the story, go down rabbit holes. There will be time to perfect the story later.

#writinglife
October 12, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Thinking outside the box re: comps …
I think people get way too far into the weeds in picking comps that fit plot and theme exactly. Going more broad and picking a vibe is probably the best bet. #kidlitchat
October 8, 2025 at 10:41 AM
Reposted by Susan Lautenslager
Librarians, booksellers, & educators— when you talk about banned books, please focus on the thousands of CONTEMPORARY books that are being banned right now.

For example….
#BannedBooksWeek
October 7, 2025 at 10:47 AM
Reposted by Susan Lautenslager
Naps for the people. Also my new book is out today. Both are important to me 😌.
October 7, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Many, many thanks to all the editors for sharing such valuable feedback. 🙏 This is my first #RevPit, and I’ve been amazed by the level of support and encouragement from editors and authors alike! It’s been a great experience! #10Queries #RevPitTeasers
April 12, 2025 at 11:47 AM
Word hippo is great! #RevPit
My favorite thesaurus is wordhippo.com and not just because the hippo is cute. It has helped me so many times when I'm feeling stabby because there's a specific word I'm looking for and it's right on the tip of my tongue but I can't quite remember. Anyway. It's good. Go there. #RevPit #10Queries
WordHippo!
Thesaurus and word tools for your creative needs. Find the word you're looking for!
wordhippo.com
April 11, 2025 at 1:53 PM
Reposted by Susan Lautenslager
SAVE YOUR LIBRARY! Your library is more than just books—it’s the heart of your community—a place of learning, discovery, and connection for all ages. But now, it’s at risk. A recent executive order issued by President Trump takes away vital funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
March 19, 2025 at 2:40 AM
Reposted by Susan Lautenslager
Movers and shakers behind five newish imprints are aiming to turn the tide on sales in the middle grade category.
Turning the Tide on Middle Grade Books
Movers and shakers behind five newish imprints are aiming to turn the tide on sales in the middle grade category.
www.publishersweekly.com
March 17, 2025 at 3:21 PM
The fun continues? #RevPitWaiting? I didn't know! Love being part of #RevPit this year!
March 16, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Excited to be submitting WOOLERS to #RevPit this year! Good luck, everyone, and thank you, editors!
March 16, 2025 at 12:13 AM