Amy Watia
@amywatia.bsky.social
Middle Grade Children’s Writer | Non Practicing Librarian/Archivist | Mom of 3 | University of Michigan undergrad + MSI (AKA MLS) | Chicago Suburbs | #MGNarwhals Member of MG Hub | Yes, that’s me with the guy from Pretty In Pink & St. Elmo’s Fire!
Now that my oldest has left for college, we will finally know if he was the one opening the fridge with sticky fingers all these years. If the perpetrator was one of his younger siblings, they could stop now and it would be the perfect crime
August 18, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Now that my oldest has left for college, we will finally know if he was the one opening the fridge with sticky fingers all these years. If the perpetrator was one of his younger siblings, they could stop now and it would be the perfect crime
Reposted by Amy Watia
I’m all about haiku on this site, but I’m shamelessly going to drop this here because I’m pretty proud of it. 💜
May 14, 2025 at 4:02 PM
I’m all about haiku on this site, but I’m shamelessly going to drop this here because I’m pretty proud of it. 💜
Check out my friend & YA bestselling author Joelle Charbonneau’s video series on book banning! Please spread the word…
Link to main YouTube channel: m.youtube.com/@joellecharb...
Link to main YouTube channel: m.youtube.com/@joellecharb...
Why is fighting book bans so important? Welcome to Ep. 1 of BANNED! The History of Book Banning: Don't Be a Dictionary.
Please watch & share. You can't fight what you don't know and we need everyone to help win this fight. #books #booksky #unitedagainstbookbans
Please watch & share. You can't fight what you don't know and we need everyone to help win this fight. #books #booksky #unitedagainstbookbans
Banned! Don't be a Dictionary
YouTube video by Joelle Charbonneau
youtu.be
April 15, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Check out my friend & YA bestselling author Joelle Charbonneau’s video series on book banning! Please spread the word…
Link to main YouTube channel: m.youtube.com/@joellecharb...
Link to main YouTube channel: m.youtube.com/@joellecharb...
Reposted by Amy Watia
FOCUS GROUPS. Even, you know, talking to a random tween or two would be awesome. Or a librarian. What are publishers THINKING sometimes?
We have heard complaints from many school librarians about the covers of #MGlit. That’s why our 4th criteria for #youngteenlit is asking for no more cartoon or elementary covers on books for young teens.
#itstimeforyoungteenlit
#itstimeforyoungteenlit
Don’t get me started on covers! FFS our kids hate the cartoony covers so reach for YA that isn’t developmentally appropriate & likely to get us librarians into hot water but they don’t want to seem babyish and not cool
February 4, 2025 at 11:43 PM
FOCUS GROUPS. Even, you know, talking to a random tween or two would be awesome. Or a librarian. What are publishers THINKING sometimes?
Reposted by Amy Watia
To #MGLit authors and publishers--please read our argument for a new publishing category called Young Teen Lit, targeted at ages 12-15. #itstimeforyoungteenlit #youngteenlit
#tlsky #skybrarians #Edusky #kidlit
#tlsky #skybrarians #Edusky #kidlit
Move Over, Middle Grade: It’s Time for Young Teen Lit, a guest post by Christina Chatel and Marcia Kochel
teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2025/02/06/m... @tltkaren.bsky.social @youngteenlit.bsky.social
teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2025/02/06/m... @tltkaren.bsky.social @youngteenlit.bsky.social
Move Over, Middle Grade: It’s Time for Young Teen Lit, a guest post by Christina Chatel and Marcia Kochel
This story begins with two middle school librarians, miles and miles apart, who both feel passionately that what publishers call middle grade literature is not what their students need or want.
teenlibrariantoolbox.com
February 6, 2025 at 2:21 PM
To #MGLit authors and publishers--please read our argument for a new publishing category called Young Teen Lit, targeted at ages 12-15. #itstimeforyoungteenlit #youngteenlit
#tlsky #skybrarians #Edusky #kidlit
#tlsky #skybrarians #Edusky #kidlit
Today let’s remember how children’s literature can show kids that even when others tell them to look to a big-headed figure for the solution to problems, the power lies within themselves. Excerpt and illustration here is from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum, 1900
January 20, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Today let’s remember how children’s literature can show kids that even when others tell them to look to a big-headed figure for the solution to problems, the power lies within themselves. Excerpt and illustration here is from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum, 1900
Reposted by Amy Watia
The god of the Underworld’s daughter meets a lookalike in an angelic otherworld and hatches a devilish plan to switch places. When she learns the Underworld’s fate is in peril, she must choose between her newfound freedom and switching back.
Parent Trap X Wednesday
#MG #P2PPIT #W
Parent Trap X Wednesday
#MG #P2PPIT #W
January 17, 2025 at 3:07 PM
I’ve read this and know that an agent will want to read it too!
January 17, 2025 at 5:56 PM
I’ve read this and know that an agent will want to read it too!
Reposted by Amy Watia
The best books we read in 2024. inthemiddleofabook.com/2024/12/31/o...
January 13, 2025 at 11:05 PM
The best books we read in 2024. inthemiddleofabook.com/2024/12/31/o...
Check out my dear friend
Damara Allen’s book,
THE SKELETON FLUTE 💀🪈
Let’s keep the nightmare going until Christmas…
It would make a great gift!
Damara Allen’s book,
THE SKELETON FLUTE 💀🪈
Let’s keep the nightmare going until Christmas…
It would make a great gift!
Just because Halloween is over, doesn't mean you have to stop reading spooky books! If you're looking for a fun, spooky, heartfelt MG read, luck up my debut novel The Skeleton Flute ❤️
November 20, 2024 at 2:43 PM
Check out my dear friend
Damara Allen’s book,
THE SKELETON FLUTE 💀🪈
Let’s keep the nightmare going until Christmas…
It would make a great gift!
Damara Allen’s book,
THE SKELETON FLUTE 💀🪈
Let’s keep the nightmare going until Christmas…
It would make a great gift!
Writers and librarians have been asking for a category between middle grade and YA for a long time. My 7th grader and her friends are all reading mystery/thriller YA because they’ve outgrown middle grade and they’re not into the romance much YA holds. They deserve books written for them.
#youngteenlit #itstimeforyoungteenlit #mglit #tlsky
#Publishers, we are asking for a new category of literature that falls in between middle grade and young adult. Middle schoolers need Young Teen Lit and librarians are eager to purchase! #youngteenlit should have the following 5 elements (1/6)
#Publishers, we are asking for a new category of literature that falls in between middle grade and young adult. Middle schoolers need Young Teen Lit and librarians are eager to purchase! #youngteenlit should have the following 5 elements (1/6)
November 20, 2024 at 1:51 PM
Writers and librarians have been asking for a category between middle grade and YA for a long time. My 7th grader and her friends are all reading mystery/thriller YA because they’ve outgrown middle grade and they’re not into the romance much YA holds. They deserve books written for them.
Here’s a great starter pack to find middle grade children’s writers who are active & supportive in the kidlit community, including some rising stars!
Thanks Christiana Doucette @doucette515.bsky.social for all you do, and for creating this starter pack & including me!
go.bsky.app/Eb3RAWX
Thanks Christiana Doucette @doucette515.bsky.social for all you do, and for creating this starter pack & including me!
go.bsky.app/Eb3RAWX
November 18, 2024 at 2:49 PM
Here’s a great starter pack to find middle grade children’s writers who are active & supportive in the kidlit community, including some rising stars!
Thanks Christiana Doucette @doucette515.bsky.social for all you do, and for creating this starter pack & including me!
go.bsky.app/Eb3RAWX
Thanks Christiana Doucette @doucette515.bsky.social for all you do, and for creating this starter pack & including me!
go.bsky.app/Eb3RAWX
I’m here now and looking for old and new kidlit writer friends! I am a middle grade writer with one published story in Crow Toes Quarterly. I’ve taken a long break from querying agents (and from that old platform after it changed its name) while working on new manuscripts and ideas. Hi everyone!
November 11, 2024 at 2:42 PM
I’m here now and looking for old and new kidlit writer friends! I am a middle grade writer with one published story in Crow Toes Quarterly. I’ve taken a long break from querying agents (and from that old platform after it changed its name) while working on new manuscripts and ideas. Hi everyone!
Writing prompt—an original painting I found at Goodwill today.
Am I the clown for not bringing him home with me?
I think he’ll appear in my dreams regardless.
Happy Halloween!
Am I the clown for not bringing him home with me?
I think he’ll appear in my dreams regardless.
Happy Halloween!
October 30, 2023 at 8:47 PM
Writing prompt—an original painting I found at Goodwill today.
Am I the clown for not bringing him home with me?
I think he’ll appear in my dreams regardless.
Happy Halloween!
Am I the clown for not bringing him home with me?
I think he’ll appear in my dreams regardless.
Happy Halloween!
Just arrived on the scene and am looking for all my #middlegrade writer friends! #MGNarwhals #MGLoveAndTogetherness #kidlit
September 29, 2023 at 12:59 PM
Just arrived on the scene and am looking for all my #middlegrade writer friends! #MGNarwhals #MGLoveAndTogetherness #kidlit