Melissa H. Mwai
@me-mwai.bsky.social
https://melissamwai.com/
Author, Illustrator, Podcaster | Rep'd by Jacqui Lipton at #TheTobiasLiteraryAgency
Out now: I CAN MAKE A FRIEND (Paw Prints, Apr ‘25)
#SCBWI | #PBCHATMentee | #ADHDwriter | #KDZPodcast
Author, Illustrator, Podcaster | Rep'd by Jacqui Lipton at #TheTobiasLiteraryAgency
Out now: I CAN MAKE A FRIEND (Paw Prints, Apr ‘25)
#SCBWI | #PBCHATMentee | #ADHDwriter | #KDZPodcast
Pinned
Melissa H. Mwai
@me-mwai.bsky.social
· Apr 8
It's My Book Birthday
I Can Make A Friend in out today!
bit.ly
Happy Book Birthday for I Can Make a Friend! My new book has stories about reals kids who changed their world through friendship. Check out my newsletter & video to learn more!
📙 bit.ly/FriendBookBi...
#ICanMakeaFriend #PawPrints #WonderLab #ChapterBooks #Nonfiction
📙 bit.ly/FriendBookBi...
#ICanMakeaFriend #PawPrints #WonderLab #ChapterBooks #Nonfiction
Check out these handpicked resources for writers, artists, and ADHD-friendly creatives. Let me know if you find them helpful!
open.substack.com/pub/melissam...
#writing #art #adhd
open.substack.com/pub/melissam...
#writing #art #adhd
Librarian Mode: Everything but Pumpkin Spice
Helpful Things for Writers, Artists, and Neurodivergent Thinkers [November Resource Roundup]
open.substack.com
November 19, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Check out these handpicked resources for writers, artists, and ADHD-friendly creatives. Let me know if you find them helpful!
open.substack.com/pub/melissam...
#writing #art #adhd
open.substack.com/pub/melissam...
#writing #art #adhd
Love it when poetry prompts me to make art!
Chilly November night
Cozy blanket season—
Time to hibernate.
#haiku #saturdayhaiku
Chilly November night
Cozy blanket season—
Time to hibernate.
#haiku #saturdayhaiku
November 16, 2025 at 11:21 PM
Love it when poetry prompts me to make art!
Chilly November night
Cozy blanket season—
Time to hibernate.
#haiku #saturdayhaiku
Chilly November night
Cozy blanket season—
Time to hibernate.
#haiku #saturdayhaiku
Reposted by Melissa H. Mwai
For querying writers: I did a critiques today for an SCBWI conf & got questions about what kind of books you can cite as comps, & I think it’s worth distinguishing between *pitching* comps and *selling* comps. A brief 🧵:
November 8, 2025 at 8:08 PM
For querying writers: I did a critiques today for an SCBWI conf & got questions about what kind of books you can cite as comps, & I think it’s worth distinguishing between *pitching* comps and *selling* comps. A brief 🧵:
The ending to this #haiku has been on my mind for a while. Happy to have taken a great photo to set the stage.
Ready? Set? Go!
Autumn trees cheer for runners—
shaking leafy poms!
#poetry #haikusaturday
Ready? Set? Go!
Autumn trees cheer for runners—
shaking leafy poms!
#poetry #haikusaturday
November 8, 2025 at 10:28 PM
The ending to this #haiku has been on my mind for a while. Happy to have taken a great photo to set the stage.
Ready? Set? Go!
Autumn trees cheer for runners—
shaking leafy poms!
#poetry #haikusaturday
Ready? Set? Go!
Autumn trees cheer for runners—
shaking leafy poms!
#poetry #haikusaturday
Just your reminder that clocks fall back this weekend in most of the U.S. at 2am on Sunday, November 2, 2025.
#daylightsavingtime #fallhumor #acornart
#daylightsavingtime #fallhumor #acornart
October 30, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Just your reminder that clocks fall back this weekend in most of the U.S. at 2am on Sunday, November 2, 2025.
#daylightsavingtime #fallhumor #acornart
#daylightsavingtime #fallhumor #acornart
This month’s newsletter gets weird…but in a creative way. Check out the writing/art prompts as well as links to resources & the Halloween-themed KidLit Deconstruction Podcast episode!
🔗 Newsletter: bit.ly/3Lbipdz
🔗 KDZ Linktree: linktr.ee/kdzpodcast
#kidlit #kidlitart #writing #art
🔗 Newsletter: bit.ly/3Lbipdz
🔗 KDZ Linktree: linktr.ee/kdzpodcast
#kidlit #kidlitart #writing #art
Growing Eyeballs, Making Monsters, & Creative Juxtaposition
Let's Get Weird [October 2025 Newsletter]
bit.ly
October 29, 2025 at 4:12 PM
This month’s newsletter gets weird…but in a creative way. Check out the writing/art prompts as well as links to resources & the Halloween-themed KidLit Deconstruction Podcast episode!
🔗 Newsletter: bit.ly/3Lbipdz
🔗 KDZ Linktree: linktr.ee/kdzpodcast
#kidlit #kidlitart #writing #art
🔗 Newsletter: bit.ly/3Lbipdz
🔗 KDZ Linktree: linktr.ee/kdzpodcast
#kidlit #kidlitart #writing #art
That ghost IS THE BEST! Art 🔥 👻 #kidlitchat
I just recently read Aggie and the Ghost - wonderful. Matthew Forsythe is a genius imho. #kidlitchat
www.goodreads.com/book/show/22...
www.goodreads.com/book/show/22...
Aggie and the Ghost
From Matthew Forsythe, the creator of the acclaimed and…
www.goodreads.com
October 29, 2025 at 2:30 AM
That ghost IS THE BEST! Art 🔥 👻 #kidlitchat
Reposted by Melissa H. Mwai
Looking to connect with others in the #kidlit space? Set aside Tuesdays at 9pm eastern and join #kidlitchat
Every Tuesday, including this very one, there's a #kidlitchat here on Bluesky at 9PM Eastern/6PM Pacific. It's an hour of chatting with #kidlit folk (many of whom are also dessert folk, too, I must add), and this week it's gonna be more exciting than the World Series! Err. Or at least fun. Join us!
October 28, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Looking to connect with others in the #kidlit space? Set aside Tuesdays at 9pm eastern and join #kidlitchat
Mwahaha….bringing in the #writing tips for #kidlit horror in ep 8 of our podcast.
In 7 minutes, we chat about fearsome foes, balancing horror intensity, fear, & sensory details.
(Unfortunately, we couldn’t talk about “killing your darlings” since revision is hard to see in published books.) 💀
In 7 minutes, we chat about fearsome foes, balancing horror intensity, fear, & sensory details.
(Unfortunately, we couldn’t talk about “killing your darlings” since revision is hard to see in published books.) 💀
Do you love the darker side of kidlit? ✍️
If so, check out Episode 8, Tools for Gripping Horror! 🛠️
The episode sneakily appears on Apple Podcasts a few days early.
It's not a trick 👻 but there are plenty of treats in this episode!
linktr.ee/kdzpodcast
#KidLit #KDZPodcast #WritingCommunity
If so, check out Episode 8, Tools for Gripping Horror! 🛠️
The episode sneakily appears on Apple Podcasts a few days early.
It's not a trick 👻 but there are plenty of treats in this episode!
linktr.ee/kdzpodcast
#KidLit #KDZPodcast #WritingCommunity
October 28, 2025 at 12:38 AM
Hey #kidlit #kidlitart friends, Storyteller Academy’s hosting a neat spooky art workshop next week. Check it out!
bit.ly/4o5lavF
bit.ly/4o5lavF
October 23, 2025 at 2:57 AM
Hey #kidlit #kidlitart friends, Storyteller Academy’s hosting a neat spooky art workshop next week. Check it out!
bit.ly/4o5lavF
bit.ly/4o5lavF
Reposted by Melissa H. Mwai
For those who do care about what's happening in the world, but who sometimes need an #Uplift:
bsky.app/profile/debb...
Hand-curated by yours truly. Criteria unapologetically subjective, but esp: word nerds • acts of kindness • quirky • obscure interest deep-dives • alt-text
bsky.app/profile/debb...
Hand-curated by yours truly. Criteria unapologetically subjective, but esp: word nerds • acts of kindness • quirky • obscure interest deep-dives • alt-text
October 15, 2025 at 12:03 PM
For those who do care about what's happening in the world, but who sometimes need an #Uplift:
bsky.app/profile/debb...
Hand-curated by yours truly. Criteria unapologetically subjective, but esp: word nerds • acts of kindness • quirky • obscure interest deep-dives • alt-text
bsky.app/profile/debb...
Hand-curated by yours truly. Criteria unapologetically subjective, but esp: word nerds • acts of kindness • quirky • obscure interest deep-dives • alt-text
Adding to my TBR!
Kids have a lot of questions, and some adults may find them silly. Astronaut toileting, nose picking, frozen cave people, snoring, underwear. Over 200 questions answered in a cheeky yet scientific manner. A glossary, index, and subject listing make it perfect for classroom use.
#kidlit
📚👍🏼
#kidlit
📚👍🏼
October 22, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Adding to my TBR!
Reposted by Melissa H. Mwai
I mistyped #kidlitchat as #kidlitcat, so if any illustrators want to draw a Kidlit Cat for me, that would be great.
October 22, 2025 at 2:01 AM
I mistyped #kidlitchat as #kidlitcat, so if any illustrators want to draw a Kidlit Cat for me, that would be great.
Really this is amazing.
October 22, 2025 at 2:43 AM
Really this is amazing.
This month’s resource roundup has a dash writing advice, a sprinkle of arts, and with a cozy spiced side of neuro-friendly sensory suggestions.
open.substack.com/pub/melissam...
#kidlit #kidlitart #adhdwriter
open.substack.com/pub/melissam...
#kidlit #kidlitart #adhdwriter
Librarian Mode: For the Spooky, Fall Season
Good Stuff for Writers, Artists, & Neurodivergent Thinkers [October Resource Roundup]
open.substack.com
October 21, 2025 at 1:17 AM
This month’s resource roundup has a dash writing advice, a sprinkle of arts, and with a cozy spiced side of neuro-friendly sensory suggestions.
open.substack.com/pub/melissam...
#kidlit #kidlitart #adhdwriter
open.substack.com/pub/melissam...
#kidlit #kidlitart #adhdwriter
I worked with @teabowart.bsky.social on Gnomes & Ungnomes. He’s a fantastic artist & art director! Check out his kickstarter for this sci-fi fantasy graphic novel for middle grade.
kck.st/4mGqGmQ
kck.st/4mGqGmQ
LUNA LILY and the LUNAR PARK - Issue One
A Sci-Fi Fantasy middle-grade Graphic Novel About Family, Friendship, and Finding Your Power!
kck.st
October 17, 2025 at 7:53 PM
I worked with @teabowart.bsky.social on Gnomes & Ungnomes. He’s a fantastic artist & art director! Check out his kickstarter for this sci-fi fantasy graphic novel for middle grade.
kck.st/4mGqGmQ
kck.st/4mGqGmQ
Reposted by Melissa H. Mwai
Back when I was a new, carefree writer and didn't know any of the rules, I wrote a synopsis that would have been a fabulous book. Everyone said so. The problem [you may know where this is going] it had only a slight resemblance to the actual manuscript. 😂
#kidlitchat
#kidlitchat
October 8, 2025 at 1:50 AM
Back when I was a new, carefree writer and didn't know any of the rules, I wrote a synopsis that would have been a fabulous book. Everyone said so. The problem [you may know where this is going] it had only a slight resemblance to the actual manuscript. 😂
#kidlitchat
#kidlitchat
Reposted by Melissa H. Mwai
Don’t forget about the upcoming contest - The Fall Writing Frenzy kidlit and YA writing contest hosted by author Lydia Lukidis and agent/author Kaitlyn Leann Sanchez. #KidLitChat
October 1, 2025 at 2:06 AM
Don’t forget about the upcoming contest - The Fall Writing Frenzy kidlit and YA writing contest hosted by author Lydia Lukidis and agent/author Kaitlyn Leann Sanchez. #KidLitChat
Ahhh, I own a few of my childhood favs!
✅What do you call a dumb bunny? By Marc Brown (owned)
✅The Eleventh Hour By Graeme Base (owned)
✅Poems by Emily Dickinson
✅ An Encyclopedia all about King Arthur
I write NF, poetry, & enjoy drawing bunnies…so bonus pts! #kidlitchat
✅What do you call a dumb bunny? By Marc Brown (owned)
✅The Eleventh Hour By Graeme Base (owned)
✅Poems by Emily Dickinson
✅ An Encyclopedia all about King Arthur
I write NF, poetry, & enjoy drawing bunnies…so bonus pts! #kidlitchat
October 1, 2025 at 3:09 AM
Ahhh, I own a few of my childhood favs!
✅What do you call a dumb bunny? By Marc Brown (owned)
✅The Eleventh Hour By Graeme Base (owned)
✅Poems by Emily Dickinson
✅ An Encyclopedia all about King Arthur
I write NF, poetry, & enjoy drawing bunnies…so bonus pts! #kidlitchat
✅What do you call a dumb bunny? By Marc Brown (owned)
✅The Eleventh Hour By Graeme Base (owned)
✅Poems by Emily Dickinson
✅ An Encyclopedia all about King Arthur
I write NF, poetry, & enjoy drawing bunnies…so bonus pts! #kidlitchat
Hola friends, do you have 7 minutes?
The KDZ crew had a blast discussion writing tools for nonfiction in this month’s episode of the #kidlitdeconstructionzone podcast. Check out our shorter ep, show notes, & resources!
youtu.be/izuaAZHBgtU?...
@kdzpodcast.bsky.social
#kidlit #kidlitchat
The KDZ crew had a blast discussion writing tools for nonfiction in this month’s episode of the #kidlitdeconstructionzone podcast. Check out our shorter ep, show notes, & resources!
youtu.be/izuaAZHBgtU?...
@kdzpodcast.bsky.social
#kidlit #kidlitchat
Tools for Dynamic Nonfiction (KidLit Writing Tips)
YouTube video by The KidLit Deconstruction Zone Podcast
youtu.be
September 30, 2025 at 10:50 PM
Hola friends, do you have 7 minutes?
The KDZ crew had a blast discussion writing tools for nonfiction in this month’s episode of the #kidlitdeconstructionzone podcast. Check out our shorter ep, show notes, & resources!
youtu.be/izuaAZHBgtU?...
@kdzpodcast.bsky.social
#kidlit #kidlitchat
The KDZ crew had a blast discussion writing tools for nonfiction in this month’s episode of the #kidlitdeconstructionzone podcast. Check out our shorter ep, show notes, & resources!
youtu.be/izuaAZHBgtU?...
@kdzpodcast.bsky.social
#kidlit #kidlitchat
Hey all! A quick update from the @kdzpodcast.bsky.social crew on episodes moving forward.
youtu.be/Kh7wtN75ExE?...
Next up…Episode 7 on Nonfiction drops 9/30!
youtu.be/Kh7wtN75ExE?...
Next up…Episode 7 on Nonfiction drops 9/30!
KDZ Crew Footnote: Season 1 Update
YouTube video by The KidLit Deconstruction Zone Podcast
youtu.be
September 28, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Hey all! A quick update from the @kdzpodcast.bsky.social crew on episodes moving forward.
youtu.be/Kh7wtN75ExE?...
Next up…Episode 7 on Nonfiction drops 9/30!
youtu.be/Kh7wtN75ExE?...
Next up…Episode 7 on Nonfiction drops 9/30!
We visited the Maryland Renaissance faire yesterday…there’s something magical about everyday people intentionally celebrating the medieval times, mythology, and stories together! Not surprisingly, I captured the moment with a #haiku.
#saturdayhaiku #MarylandRenaissanceFestival #MDRenFest
#saturdayhaiku #MarylandRenaissanceFestival #MDRenFest
September 28, 2025 at 1:16 PM
We visited the Maryland Renaissance faire yesterday…there’s something magical about everyday people intentionally celebrating the medieval times, mythology, and stories together! Not surprisingly, I captured the moment with a #haiku.
#saturdayhaiku #MarylandRenaissanceFestival #MDRenFest
#saturdayhaiku #MarylandRenaissanceFestival #MDRenFest
Hi @jimbenton.bsky.social! My middle schooler and I relate to these panels so much.
Catwad has been a big hit with my 4th grader, too! We’ve been reading it nightly!
It‘s exactly the type of absurd humor that I would’ve keyed into at 11 as a Ren & Stimpy kid. Love it!
Catwad has been a big hit with my 4th grader, too! We’ve been reading it nightly!
It‘s exactly the type of absurd humor that I would’ve keyed into at 11 as a Ren & Stimpy kid. Love it!
September 24, 2025 at 11:39 PM
Hi @jimbenton.bsky.social! My middle schooler and I relate to these panels so much.
Catwad has been a big hit with my 4th grader, too! We’ve been reading it nightly!
It‘s exactly the type of absurd humor that I would’ve keyed into at 11 as a Ren & Stimpy kid. Love it!
Catwad has been a big hit with my 4th grader, too! We’ve been reading it nightly!
It‘s exactly the type of absurd humor that I would’ve keyed into at 11 as a Ren & Stimpy kid. Love it!
Reposted by Melissa H. Mwai
Advice I'd give my younger self:
Instead of obsessing about things you can't control and second-guessing yourself, focus on what you CAN control. Be kind to yourself. Find ways to create a safe mental space where you can convince yourself (even temporarily) that you are a good writer. 😁
#KidLitChat
Instead of obsessing about things you can't control and second-guessing yourself, focus on what you CAN control. Be kind to yourself. Find ways to create a safe mental space where you can convince yourself (even temporarily) that you are a good writer. 😁
#KidLitChat
September 24, 2025 at 1:33 AM
Advice I'd give my younger self:
Instead of obsessing about things you can't control and second-guessing yourself, focus on what you CAN control. Be kind to yourself. Find ways to create a safe mental space where you can convince yourself (even temporarily) that you are a good writer. 😁
#KidLitChat
Instead of obsessing about things you can't control and second-guessing yourself, focus on what you CAN control. Be kind to yourself. Find ways to create a safe mental space where you can convince yourself (even temporarily) that you are a good writer. 😁
#KidLitChat
I met this lovely silver lab pup named Miko. I knew she’d inspire photos & poetry. 💜 #haikusaturday #haiku #doglover #dogs
September 20, 2025 at 4:54 PM
I met this lovely silver lab pup named Miko. I knew she’d inspire photos & poetry. 💜 #haikusaturday #haiku #doglover #dogs