Josh Monken
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joshmonkwords.bsky.social
Josh Monken
@joshmonkwords.bsky.social
410 followers 450 following 71 posts
Writer, talker, asker, curiouser. #VerseShow #kidlit podcast with @brennajeanneret. Family man w/2 girls, he/him. http://linktr.ee/VerseShow
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joshmonkwords.bsky.social
Reviewing this BEAUTY of a book, Island Storm, for the episode of the podcast that comes out tomorrow. So impressed with everything about it. Color and light, mottled painting style, but really the way it’s less about navigating a storm and more about sibling love and independence and exploration. ❤️
August 18, 2025 at 1:56 PM
Reposted by Josh Monken
katievenit.bsky.social
I'm agog! FORTS is one of @usatoday.com's bestselling #picturebooks this week!

Thank you to all the indie bookstores who believe in this book and have been sharing it with their customers. ❤️💙📚

#kidlit

www.usatoday.com/booklist/gen...
The cover of the picture book FORTS, showing a girl and her cat sitting in a cozy treehouse.
August 14, 2025 at 11:12 PM
joshmonkwords.bsky.social
@asiqueira.bsky.social’s and my agent @joycesweeney.bsky.social feature big in this one! Another example of their amazing support and sensitivity for their clients.

Ana is amazing. Go listen!
August 8, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Reposted by Josh Monken
brennajeanneret.bsky.social
Happy #VerseShow #kidlit #podcast day! Today @joshmonkwords.bsky.social and I chat with @asiqueira.bsky.social!!

jmonken.podbean.com/e/ana-siquei...
Ana Siqueira La Valiente! | You May Contribute A Verse
Ana Siqueira is a beacon of dedication and inspiration! Her latest books VERA LA VALIENTE and STICKY HERMANA come out in August and October 2025, respectively, and both are equally wonderful.   This e...
jmonken.podbean.com
August 5, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Reposted by Josh Monken
brennajeanneret.bsky.social
#kidlitmegafeed It's Tuesday and that means a new #podcast Verse Show episode with your hosts me and @joshmonkwords.bsky.social and special guest @kidlitjennaj.bsky.social!!

jmonken.podbean.com/e/jenna-elys...
Jenna Elyse Johnson's Kidlit Joy | You May Contribute A Verse
It's Brenna, Jenna, and Josh. Oh my. Jenna Johnson joins us today for discussion of her debut books EVERY BODY MOVE! (out in September 2025, and a singalong!) and I SPARK LIKE LIGHTNING (out in winter...
jmonken.podbean.com
July 8, 2025 at 3:09 PM
Reposted by Josh Monken
judycampbellsmith.bsky.social
So great to be on the Verse Show podcast and chat with @brennajeanneret.bsky.social and @joshmonkwords.bsky.social - check it out! Thank you for having me! 🍦🙌🏾🎉
April 15, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Reposted by Josh Monken
brennajeanneret.bsky.social
#kidlitmegafeed New Verse Show #podcast today! @joshmonkwords.bsky.social and I chat with @carriefinison.bsky.social about rhyme, her newest book Pigs Dig A Road and she even shares part of the story that got her agent AND the query letter!

jmonken.podbean.com/e/carrie-fin...
Carrie Finison’s Origin Story Or How She Got Her Powers | You May Contribute A Verse
Today’s guest is picture book author Carrie Finison make sure to check out her newest release, Pigs Dig A Road illustrated by Brian Biggs to see her incredible rhyming skills in action! We chat about ...
jmonken.podbean.com
April 1, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Reposted by Josh Monken
literaticat.bsky.social
Ask the Agent Question of the Day: What do people mean when they talk about their "Dream Agent"? I've just been querying agents who seem reputable and who do my kind of book -- should I know MORE about them?

My answer: www.tumblr.com/literaticat/...
@literaticat · Ask the Agent:
When people say they want to get their “dream agent” what do you think they are talking about? Are they basing this off of what that agent presents on social media and they think they would be great?…
www.tumblr.com
March 11, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Reposted by Josh Monken
chiaracolombi.com
Anyone else know of PB agents who ask for multiple manuscripts in your initial query? Add them to the thread! And check out the podcast to hear why @brennajeanneret.bsky.social, @joshmonkwords.bsky.social, and I think this should be the industry norm. 👀
January 12, 2025 at 5:46 AM
Reposted by Josh Monken
haloteachlearn.bsky.social
Loved this ep of #VerseShow & had to comment that the agent I signed with asks for PB queries with multiple MSs!! I think I sent her 3 stories when I queried. Makes SO much sense.
@brennajeanneret.sky.social
@joshmonkwords.bsky.social
@chiaracolombi.com

#kidlit

www.podbean.com/ew/pb-jsr94-...
Chiara Colombi Can’t Stop Herself
Today’s guest is Chiara Colombi, author of Rocket Ship, Solo Trip and the follow-up Rocket Beams, Lunar Dreams both illustrated by Scott Magoon. We chat about marketing your debut, being your own advo...
www.podbean.com
January 11, 2025 at 10:54 PM
Reposted by Josh Monken
kirkreedstrom.bsky.social
This was such a fun conversation! Thanks for having me, @brennajeanneret.bsky.social and @joshmonkwords.bsky.social!
December 17, 2024 at 10:22 PM
Reposted by Josh Monken
brennajeanneret.bsky.social
#kidlitmegafeed First Verse Show of 2025 is up! @joshmonkwords.bsky.social and I had the chance to chat with @chiaracolombi.com about her book Rocket Ship, Solo Trip illustrated by the amazing Scott Magoon, marketing and we reinvented the query process!

jmonken.podbean.com/e/chiara-col...
Chiara Colombi Can’t Stop Herself | You May Contribute A Verse
Today’s guest is Chiara Colombi, author of Rocket Ship, Solo Trip and the follow-up Rocket Beams, Lunar Dreams both illustrated by Scott Magoon. We chat about marketing your debut, being your own advo...
jmonken.podbean.com
January 7, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Reposted by Josh Monken
sharonkorzelius.bsky.social
Look what came in the mail!!! So excited to share this awesome #PB!! Thanks @joshmonkwords.bsky.social
The #kidlit #WritingCommunity is truly THE BEST
January 1, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Reposted by Josh Monken
ckwritesbooks.bsky.social
Thank you, @joshmonkwords.bsky.social, for sharing this amazing PB by @neighkid.bsky.social with illos by Gabi Moraes. 5 Stars on Goodreads and what an awesome book!!! Snatch it up, peeps!
December 15, 2024 at 4:31 PM
joshmonkwords.bsky.social
Up until yesterday I don’t think I met a single #kidlit person in real life, not even @brennajeanneret.bsky.social. Finally got a chance to meet @jesstownes.bsky.social when we chatted about bookstores and shelving and marketing. But now back to my less awkward screen-based cave #KidlitMegaFeed
December 6, 2024 at 6:07 PM
Reposted by Josh Monken
brennajeanneret.bsky.social
New Verse Show #kidlit #podcast is live! This week @joshmonkwords.bsky.social and I chat with @phaeacrede.bsky.social about pizza dresses, being weird and coming soon OH, DEER and PRINCESS BATTLE ROYALE

jmonken.podbean.com/e/beep-bop-b...
Beep, Bop, Boop It’s Phaea Crede | You May Contribute A Verse
Team Versy is Brenna Jeanneret, children’s lit author, mother, rock climber, outdoors person, and podcaster, Josh Monken, children’s lit author, father, science communicator, and podcaster Jon Seymour...
jmonken.podbean.com
December 3, 2024 at 5:08 PM
joshmonkwords.bsky.social
It’s only called Black Friday if it comes from the Bentonville region of Arkansas.

Otherwise it’s just ✨ sparkling capitalism ✨
November 26, 2024 at 10:01 PM
Reposted by Josh Monken
brennajeanneret.bsky.social
Good morning, #kidlitmegafeed! New Verse Show #kidlit #podcast is up! Today @joshmonkwords.bsky.social and I chat to author Kat Chen about her super prolific career spanning romance novels to board books, oh my!

jmonken.podbean.com/e/everything...
Everything but the Kat Chen Sink! | You May Contribute A Verse
A yoga instructor's guide to demon hunting? Not this time. It's Kat Chen and her Play with Me series! A hoot indeed. Thank you to Joyce Sweeney for hooking up this conversation and - in the intervenin...
jmonken.podbean.com
November 19, 2024 at 3:19 PM
Reposted by Josh Monken
justincolonbooks.bsky.social
Been playin' around with the idea of bringing the PBChat weekly chats back temporarily (under the hashtag, #kidlithive) while the Bluesky #kidlit community grows. Anyone interested?
November 19, 2024 at 7:00 PM
Reposted by Josh Monken
sharonkorzelius.bsky.social
Listened to this awesome episode today!! Loads of great #kidlit info! #VerseShow @brennajeanneret.bsky.social @joshmonkwords.bsky.social
October 24, 2024 at 12:58 AM
Reposted by Josh Monken
brennajeanneret.bsky.social
#kidlit #WritingCommunity With the election upon us
@joshmonkwords.bsky.social and I are STOKED to bring you this chat with Martha Brockenbrough!!

jmonken.podbean.com/e/kidlit-for...
Kidlit for Kamala! with Martha Brockenbrough | You May Contribute A Verse
Bedrooms, bathrooms, and bookshelves. All other people's places we should be staying out of unless invited. Especially if you're a fascist. Martha Brockenbrough is here! Talking Kidlit for Kamala, con...
jmonken.podbean.com
September 24, 2024 at 6:02 PM
Reposted by Josh Monken
chiaracolombi.com
I absolutely love You May Contribute a Verse with @brennajeanneret.bsky.social and @joshmonkwords.bsky.social. Kidlit creators sharing their journeys with so many helpful insights along the way thanks to the wonderful hosts' questions.
September 4, 2024 at 4:22 AM
joshmonkwords.bsky.social
Very happy to announce that I am now repped by @joycesweeney.bsky.social of The Seymour Agency.

They are a passionate advocate for children’s literature, a powerful writing partner, a really great agent, and most importantly an absolute blast to talk to.

Can’t wait to make books together. #kidlit
August 23, 2024 at 4:20 PM
Reposted by Josh Monken
brennajeanneret.bsky.social
Big thank you to everyone out there who is still listening and tuning in, we couldn't do this without you ❤️
August 20, 2024 at 5:30 PM
Reposted by Josh Monken
brennajeanneret.bsky.social
#kidlit #writingcommunity New Verse Show #podcast featuring @stephlupohenson.bsky.social and her newly released #picturebook NO SCHOOL MY RULES published with @tielmourpress.bsky.social!!

@joshmonkwords.bsky.social
@jseymour.bsky.social

jmonken.podbean.com/e/like-a-goo...
Like A Good Neighbor, Stay Over There with Steph Henson | You May Contribute A Verse
Our guest Steph Henson is great! As summer wanes and the school year waxes, we catch up with Steph on her recent release No School, My Rules with Tielmour Press!   -------   DON’T MISS AN EPISODE! Sig...
jmonken.podbean.com
August 20, 2024 at 5:28 PM