Sara Axelbaum (she/her)
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bysaraaxelbaum.bsky.social
Sara Axelbaum (she/her)
@bysaraaxelbaum.bsky.social
330 followers 670 following 220 posts
Aspiring published author of Middle Grade children's novels. Mom. Fan of inclusion and kindness. Doer of all the things. Lover of all the life.
Always tired. Never bored.
www.MythicalCreatureConservatory.com
Posts Replies Media Videos
bysaraaxelbaum.bsky.social
Jack Allen was pretty great at everything he tried, the problem was that he tried very few things. He was trapped in an endless loop of one thought: "What if something terrible happens?"...
But, what if something magical happened? Like saving mythical creatures from extinction. 🐉
#questpit #q #mg
Child's sketches of unicorn, Loch Ness monster, and phoenix trophies with stars to show they are magical.
January 31, 2026 at 6:45 PM
bysaraaxelbaum.bsky.social
THE MYTHICAL CREATURE CONSERVATORY is a #MG #F, co-imagined with my 10yo son. Like The Mysterious Benedict Society, it tests exceptional children for entry into a secret institution, set within an endangered magical world like Impossible Creatures, with nods to the Greeking Out podcast.
#Q #questpit
January 31, 2026 at 5:58 PM
bysaraaxelbaum.bsky.social
Mythical creatures are going extinct, & the only one who can save them is known as the biggest wimp in 5th grade. 10yo Jack must outsmart poachers, unite segregated worlds, & stop a collapsing ecosystem. He learns courage is not fearlessness, it’s being scared & still doing it. #Q #MG #F #questpit
"Jack's Journal": locked leather journal with stickers and items taped to it, including: Stickers ("dream big" in a smiling cloud, "you got this", a dragon, and a guitar), a kneeling boy in a red shirt, sunglasses, and a red streak in his long wavy brown hair, a piece of tape with the words "KEEP OUT", and a hand drawn dragon.
January 31, 2026 at 5:55 PM
bysaraaxelbaum.bsky.social
If you're here, let's meet! #scbwiNY26
January 17, 2026 at 1:03 PM
bysaraaxelbaum.bsky.social
Jack is based on my IRL son who was diagnosed with General Anxiety Disorder. His favorite coping mechanisms are woven through the book. Readers go on a magical adventure with their favorite mythical creatures, while learning to trust themselves & their own courage. #BluePit 📖 #MG #F #Q #OV #DIS #ND
January 13, 2026 at 6:40 PM
bysaraaxelbaum.bsky.social
10yo Jack’s anxiety is so bad that he can’t even make it through gym class without puking. So when the very existence of mythological creatures depends on him, he has to learn that bravery is not about being fearless; it’s about being scared and doing it anyway. #BluePit 📖 #MG #F #Q #OV #DIS #ND
Graphic of cork board with 9 images tacked to it with post-it notes shown that have hand written messages on them. 1st row: From left to right, the images are a magical old book in turquoise and yellows, a vibrantly colored (blue, purple, pink, red) landscape with trees and the setting sun, a meadow filled with colorful flowers with a setting sun. In the top left corner the notes says "Breathe", then "Choose calm", then "Do it scared". 2nd row: image of a colorful meadow in the foreground with a foggy building behind it, then a stone building with a tall central turret on a bright green field and a setting sun over water behind the building, then a purple, blue, and pink cloudy sunset. The notes say "what if it all works out?" And then "make it a great day" and "don't let anything get in your way." 3rd (bottom) row: a fire with rainbow flames, then a river in a green meadow with a tree and sunset in tht back with bright pink clouds in the sky, then a green hilly meadow with mountains in the background. All of the images have an ethereal feel somewhere between photography and art.
January 13, 2026 at 5:06 PM
bysaraaxelbaum.bsky.social
What happens when the survival of mythological creatures is in the hands of the most anxious kid in 5th grade? Can he stop poachers at the gates, unite segregated worlds, and save a collapsing ecosystem before multicultural legends are lost forever?
#BluePit 📖 #MG #F #Q #OV #DIS #ND
January 13, 2026 at 3:54 PM
bysaraaxelbaum.bsky.social
#hopepit : if you like a story about a misfit kid with a huge heart, combined with magical worlds and mythical creatures, with hopeful environmental and science-as-the-solution themes, plus tools to help with anxiety, this will be the book for you. Join me on my journey to get it published! #q #mg 🤞
Child's drawing. On the top are hand drawn letters the say "The Mythical Creature Conservatory" and they are colored from red to purple through the rainbow in ombre. Below that on the left is a pencil sketch of a phoenix soaring upwards. In the middle is a pencil drawing of a young boy in a uniform wearing a cross-body bag. To the right is a pencil drawing of a (rainbow) serpent curled around a bubble with a baby serpent in it.
November 9, 2025 at 11:40 PM
bysaraaxelbaum.bsky.social
I wrote this book for every anxious kid out there who needs to know that their empathy is a super power. And it all started with this kid. Hear it right from the source!
#hopepit #q #mg
November 9, 2025 at 10:16 PM
bysaraaxelbaum.bsky.social
In honor of #hopepit, my why:
At the beginning of 4th grade, Hudson came home from school and said that he didn’t really like writing. As someone who has written dozens of first chapters, opening scenes, and poem drafts over the years, I set out to show him just how amazing writing could be. #mg #q
November 9, 2025 at 3:34 PM
bysaraaxelbaum.bsky.social
Agent Guide for The Mythical Creature Conservatory in four images for #QuestPit! #q #mg (full agent guide video pinned to my profile if you want to see more) #amquerying
Solid black square with white lettering. On top it looks like a search box with a magnifying glass. Inside the box is "tell me the hook." The white text on the box says "What happens when the only chance for the survival of mythical creatures is on the haves of the most anxious kid in 5th grade?" There are two small turquoise dragons around the text. Overall image: A black background with a ven diagram comparing titles using their cover images. Circles and writing are in white, with red text where they all join. At the very top it looks like a search engine box with an icon of a magnifying glass and inside the box it says "Mythical Creature Conservatory Comps." Below that is a Ven diagram showing the cover images of three comps: In the top circle is WITCHLINGS with "kindness and belonging" highlighted. That ven circle is merged with A TASTE OF MAGIC on the bottom left, with "found family" highlighted. In the ven circle for A TASTE OF MAGIC IS "craftiness and self-discovery." That ven circle is merged with GREEKING OUT (podcast) on the bottom right with "exploring identity" highlighted. In the GREEKING OUT circle is "globe-trotting mythology." This circle is shared back with WITCHLINGS with "magical creatures" highlighted as the common theme. In the middle of all three circles is "feel good warmth." This diagram highlights what these comps have in common with "The Mythical Creature Conservatory". At the very top it looks like a search engine box with an icon of a magnifying glass and inside the box it says "Mythical Creature Conservatory Comps." Below that is a Ven diagram showing the cover images of three comps: In the top circle is WITCHLINGS with "kindness and belonging" highlighted. That ven circle is merged with A TASTE OF MAGIC on the bottom left, with "found family" highlighted. In the ven circle for A TASTE OF MAGIC IS "craftiness and self-discovery." That ven circle is merged with GREEKING OUT (podcast) on the bottom right with "exploring identity" highlighted. In the GREEKING OUT circle is "globe-trotting mythology." This circle is shared back with WITCHLINGS with "magical creatures" highlighted as the common theme. In the middle of all three circles is "feel good warmth." This diagram highlights what these comps have in common with "The Mythical Creature Conservatory". Solid black square background. On top it looks like a search box with a magnifying glass. The text in the white box says "what’s there metadata?” Below that in white text it says “Middle-grade Fantasy” then “~58K words” then “Co-imagined with my 10yo son” Below that is a photo of a fair skinned boy with a patch of red hair in wavy brown hair. He's wearing a black shirt with blue short sleeves and dark blue shorts. He is holding his arms out to his left around a manuscript being held by his mom to the right. She is pointing at the manuscript and had curly brown hair. Her top is black with short sleeves and she's wearing jeans. They are in a back yard which is blured behind them Solid black square box with white lettering. At the top is a white search box with a magnifying glass. In the box it says "what about the kid?" Below that it says "Like the main character in the story, Hudson* thrives with anxiety and cares deeply about kindness to people and the planet. *and his mom He co-imagined this story with his mom to 'spread the word that differences are strengths.' Visit MythicalCreatureConservatory.com for more info" There a picture in the middle of a 10yo fair skinned boy with wavy brown hair to his ears. He's wearing a light blue shirt and holding a manuscript with the MCC shield on the front.
November 5, 2025 at 10:24 PM
bysaraaxelbaum.bsky.social
Written with an anxious kid, by an anxious former kid, for anxious kids, about an anxious kid who turns his empathy into his super power to save mythological creatures from extinction.
🐉Multicultural myths
🌱Hopeful Ecofiction
🧠Neurosparkly
🫶Empathy+Belonging
🧰Tools for anxiety
#QuestPit #MG #F #ND
Boy about age 10 holding a paper manuscript with a binder clip on it. Boy is wearing a light blue top and has brown, wavy hair that is down to his ears. He has light skin with freckles and hazel eyes. He's standing in front of a beige stucco wall. On top it says “Mythical Creature Conservatory." Below that it says "written by Sara Axelbaum with contributions and illustrations by Hudson Axelbaum." There is a shield that looks like a school emblem with a black silhouette of a Phoenix against a light grey background with a blue outline. Inside the Phoenix are the overlapping letters "MCC" Stylized in orange. There is a banner across the bottom in orange that says "Mythical Creature Conservatory". On the bottom in orange letters it says "Book 1: The Keepers."
November 5, 2025 at 3:32 PM
bysaraaxelbaum.bsky.social
Jack’s anxiety has kept him on the sidelines for his entire life, until the very things he is most self-conscious about get him recruited to the MCC, where he must save mythical creatures from extinction before poachers cause their stories to vanish forever. #QuestPit #MG #F #Q
Jack's mood board with inspirational quotes
November 5, 2025 at 3:18 PM
bysaraaxelbaum.bsky.social
WITCHLINGS and A TASTE OF MAGIC + globe-trotting mythology of NatGeo’s GREEKING OUT podcast

Anxiety-ridden Jack must outsmart poachers, unite legendary worlds, and prevent an ecosystem from collapsing to save mythological creatures before they go extinct.

#DVpit #MG #F #MH #ND #CI #DIS #OWN
Overall image: A black background with a ven diagram comparing titles using their cover images. Circles and writing are in white, with red text where they all join. At the very top it looks like a search engine box with an icon of a magnifying glass and inside the box it says "Mythical Creature Conservatory Comps." Below that is a Ven diagram showing the cover images of three comps: In the top circle is WITCHLINGS with "kindness and belonging" highlighted. That ven circle is merged with A TASTE OF MAGIC on the bottom left, with "found family" highlighted. In the ven circle for A TASTE OF MAGIC IS "craftiness and self-discovery." That ven circle is merged with GREEKING OUT (podcast) on the bottom right with "exploring identity" highlighted. In the GREEKING OUT circle is "globe-trotting mythology." This circle is shared back with WITCHLINGS with "magical creatures" highlighted as the common theme. In the middle of all three circles is "feel good warmth." This diagram highlights what these comps have in common with "The Mythical Creature Conservatory". At the very top it looks like a search engine box with an icon of a magnifying glass and inside the box it says "Mythical Creature Conservatory Comps." Below that is a Ven diagram showing the cover images of three comps: In the top circle is WITCHLINGS with "kindness and belonging" highlighted. That ven circle is merged with A TASTE OF MAGIC on the bottom left, with "found family" highlighted. In the ven circle for A TASTE OF MAGIC IS "craftiness and self-discovery." That ven circle is merged with GREEKING OUT (podcast) on the bottom right with "exploring identity" highlighted. In the GREEKING OUT circle is "globe-trotting mythology." This circle is shared back with WITCHLINGS with "magical creatures" highlighted as the common theme. In the middle of all three circles is "feel good warmth." This diagram highlights what these comps have in common with "The Mythical Creature Conservatory".
October 8, 2025 at 9:50 PM
bysaraaxelbaum.bsky.social
#DVParty Day 5: Story's playlist.

Making a playlist for this book was one of my favorite activities!
It follows the emotions of the story arc and ends with songs I like to write to (the Wingspan soundtrack), because they are magically calming.

open.spotify.com/playlist/3n4...

#booksky #writersky
Screenshot of the first half of "The Mythical Creature Conservatory Playlist." To the left is the emblem of the Mythical Creature Conservatory, which is a shield with a blue outline. The silhouette of a phoenix pokes out of the outline of the shield with orange letters "MCC" stylized so they lay over each other in a logo. There is an orange banner across the bottom of the phoenix, overlapping the bottom of the shield, that says Mythical Creature Conservatory. The subheading says "The first few songs are from the soundtracks I listen to while writing (all instrumental). The second part of the playlist is the playlist I envision my main character (and my son) listening to." The playlist below that is: Fireflies by Owl City A Million Dreams (Reprise) from the Greatest Showman soundtrack Break Ground by Blue October Rain (Boldly in the Pretend) from the Bluey soundtrack Sun by Sleeping At Last Rainbow by Kacey Musgraves On My Way- From "Brother Bear" Soundtrack by Phil Collins Life's What you Make It by Graham Colton We're Going to be Friends by The White Stripes We're All In This Together by the High School Musical Cast Continuation from the last screenshot of the second half of "The Mythical Creature Conservatory Playlist." The playlist below that is: Count on Me by Bruno Mars Try Everything by Shakira Brave by Sara Bareilles BIGGER by Beyoncé This is Me by Keala Settle from The Greatest Showman Hall of Fame (feat. will.i.am) by The Script Starting to Fly (Original Wingspan Video Game Soundtrack) by Paweł Górniak My Realm (Original Wingspan Video Game Soundtrack) by Paweł Górniak My Rising Sun Realm (Wingspan Video Game Asian Expansion Soundtrack) by Paweł Górniak
October 6, 2025 at 1:07 PM
bysaraaxelbaum.bsky.social
#DVparty Day 4: your story as a meme

Had to bring in some classics.

#WriterSky #mg #middlegrade #anxiety #BookSky
October 5, 2025 at 6:23 PM
bysaraaxelbaum.bsky.social
#DVparty Day 4: your story as a gif

Main character Jack brings a lot of anxious baggage wherever he goes, but he tries to come into every situation with a cautiously hopeful smile.

#WriterSky #mg #middlegrade #anxiety #BookSky
October 5, 2025 at 3:00 PM
bysaraaxelbaum.bsky.social
#DVparty Day 4: your story as a meme

Moo Deng is super cute, but not even close to as adorable as baby dragons playing like puppies.

#WriterSky #mg #middlegrade
Moo Deng the viral baby hippo with his mouth gaping open, looking a bit angry/upset. Text on bottom of image reads: "POV: You just found out you aren't as cute as the baby dragons at the MCC"
October 5, 2025 at 2:56 PM
bysaraaxelbaum.bsky.social
#DVparty Day 4: Opening lines

The Mythical Creature Conservatory begins with a very bewildered Jack and a collision with a baby dragon. Jack still isn't sure if this can possibly be real, nor if it's a place he could possibly belong.

#mg #middlegrade #writersky #own #nd #dragons
October 4, 2025 at 4:39 PM
bysaraaxelbaum.bsky.social
Hi Journal. This is weird. My school counselor told me to do this. She says it will help with my anxiety. I have no idea how writing boring stuff and recording my dreams is gonna help with that. This is just how I am.

(See thread below for more entries)
#DVparty #MG #MiddleGrade #BookSky #WriterSky
Image is of a locked journal made to look like it has stickers and pictures taped to the front. On the top it says "Jack's Journal" Below that is a sticker that says "DREAM BIG" in red in a pink cloud with a smiley face. To the right of that is a photo of a smiling boy with brown shaggy hair and a red patch near his bangs. He is crouching down with one hand on the ground and the other arm on his bent knee. He is wearing white sunglasses, a red shirt, red shorts, and red shoes. He is on a pebble beach. The photo is made to look like it is taped on with masking tape. To the right of the photo is a sticker that says "YOU GOT THIS" in white letters with a red outline. Below that is the words "KEEP OUT" written in a red font that looks like handwriting. It is made to look like it is on a big piece of masking tape. Just below that is a sticker of a red Asian dragon that is made to look a little worn. (to the right of the sticker is a brown lock) Below that is a pencil-line drawing of a Chinese dragon, facing to the right, with its wings spread. This appears to be taped on with masking tape on the top and bottom as well. To the right of that is a red electric guitar sticker.
October 3, 2025 at 8:14 PM
bysaraaxelbaum.bsky.social
MC intro for #DVparty:
10yo Jack has spent his life on the sidelines, excluded for his anxiety and fears. He doesn’t feel like he belongs in school, nor does he think he has what it takes to be a Keeper at the Mythical Creature Conservatory, where kids must save mythical creatures from extinction.
Child's sketch as if it were drawn by the main character, Jack. At the top is open drawn text "The Mythical Creature Conservatory" colored in an ombre rainbow from red on the left to purple on the right. Below that is a pencil drawing of a phoenix on the left, a freckle-faced boy in the center wearing a uniform and a bag slung over his shoulder, and a rainbow serpent on the right cradling a baby rainbow serpent in a bubble. All of the picture drawings are black and white.
October 3, 2025 at 7:14 PM
bysaraaxelbaum.bsky.social
#DVparty Day 1: Art- MC Jack is based on real-life Hudson, my 10yo who THRIVES with anxiety (as do I). In the novel, Jack sketches the creatures and the Mythical Creature Conservatory in his sketchbook, and Hudson did the sketches himself IRL. Here is a sampling of Hudson's art!
#mg #MH #ND #OWN
Pencil sketches by Hudson Axelbaum (age 10) in an open sketchbook. Left page top to bottom are sketches of hologram trophies: unicorn (labeled "Land"), Loch Ness monster (labeled "Water"), and phoenix (labeled "Air"). All three have stars to show a hint of magic. On the right hand page, there are mythological creatures with labels of features and informational notes. On the top of the page it is titled with "Kinnari (Female = Kinnara) (Hindu, Buddhist, Jain)." The top of the figure is a pencil drawing of a light skinned human with long dark hair and a starry breast plate) labeled "Part Human". The bottom of the figure is a pencil drawing of the bottom half of a bird with feathered legs and tail and large taloned feet) labeled "Part Bird."To the left of the figure is a pie graph showing 2/3 "bird" and 1/3 "human". On the bottom half of the page there is a figure labeled "Jengu" with "(African)" below. Next to that it says "(Plural = Miengu)". The sketch is of a dark skinned and haired human on top with a very long, spotted fish tail sweeping off to the right. The top is labeled "basically an African mermaid" and there is a line pointing to the tail labeled "Tail for swimming".
October 2, 2025 at 4:32 PM