Stephanie Cotela
@stephaniecotela.bsky.social
Art Historian & Author writing spooky mysteries for children & crime thrillers for adults. 👻📚 @scbwi_british_isles @mslexia & @thesocietyofauthors https://linktr.ee/stephaniecotela
Pinned
🎄 Coming soon… 🎄
Gossamer House is a spooky middle-grade adventure featuring a haunted house, creepy forest and an art heist! 🎁
Gossamer House is a spooky middle-grade adventure featuring a haunted house, creepy forest and an art heist! 🎁
Reposted by Stephanie Cotela
🎄 Coming soon… 🎄
Gossamer House is a spooky middle-grade adventure featuring a haunted house, creepy forest and an art heist! 🎁
Gossamer House is a spooky middle-grade adventure featuring a haunted house, creepy forest and an art heist! 🎁
November 8, 2025 at 9:53 PM
🎄 Coming soon… 🎄
Gossamer House is a spooky middle-grade adventure featuring a haunted house, creepy forest and an art heist! 🎁
Gossamer House is a spooky middle-grade adventure featuring a haunted house, creepy forest and an art heist! 🎁
🎄 Coming soon… 🎄
Gossamer House is a spooky middle-grade adventure featuring a haunted house, creepy forest and an art heist! 🎁
Gossamer House is a spooky middle-grade adventure featuring a haunted house, creepy forest and an art heist! 🎁
November 8, 2025 at 9:53 PM
🎄 Coming soon… 🎄
Gossamer House is a spooky middle-grade adventure featuring a haunted house, creepy forest and an art heist! 🎁
Gossamer House is a spooky middle-grade adventure featuring a haunted house, creepy forest and an art heist! 🎁
Did you know, you can read The Ghosts of Hawkthorn, in print AND online?? If you like spooky adventure stories, give it a go. All the cool cats are loving it! 🐾👻 #readforpleasure #kidslit #fiction #adventure #ghosts
October 12, 2025 at 1:41 AM
Did you know, you can read The Ghosts of Hawkthorn, in print AND online?? If you like spooky adventure stories, give it a go. All the cool cats are loving it! 🐾👻 #readforpleasure #kidslit #fiction #adventure #ghosts
No tricks, just a treat!
October 10, 2025 at 1:33 AM
No tricks, just a treat!
Reposted by Stephanie Cotela
I’m excited to share ‘The Shoe Creeper’ cover and key info!
In ‘The Shoe Creeper’ - a MG Horror with adventure and heart - a boy seeking control of his complicated life must uncover the link between his unwell grandmother and a fairy-tale monster that kidnaps children.
#books #reveal #kidlit
In ‘The Shoe Creeper’ - a MG Horror with adventure and heart - a boy seeking control of his complicated life must uncover the link between his unwell grandmother and a fairy-tale monster that kidnaps children.
#books #reveal #kidlit
September 2, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Reposted by Stephanie Cotela
I think I get a feeling/idea for a story, and that quickly develops. Soon the plot is taking shape and the characters are popping into my mind (and heart) so rapidly it’s hard to keep up. I don’t have a set approach yet. I like seeing how things happen naturally. #TheShoeCreeper #ukteenchat
October 7, 2025 at 7:39 PM
I think I get a feeling/idea for a story, and that quickly develops. Soon the plot is taking shape and the characters are popping into my mind (and heart) so rapidly it’s hard to keep up. I don’t have a set approach yet. I like seeing how things happen naturally. #TheShoeCreeper #ukteenchat
Reposted by Stephanie Cotela
I needed to ensure anyone who read Fyn Carter and expected more of the same was clear what to expect this time. #TheShoeCreeper still has fun and adventure, but it does have some darker moments too. I also needed to put thought into how dark was too dark to try and get the balance right #ukteenchat
3, What are the biggest challenges you faced in writing a middle-grade horror compared to the sci-fi adventure of Fyn Carter? @ianhcreates.bsky.social #ukteenchat #TheShoeCreeper
Elmo Let The Challenge Commence GIF
ALT: Elmo Let The Challenge Commence GIF
media.tenor.com
October 7, 2025 at 7:20 PM
I needed to ensure anyone who read Fyn Carter and expected more of the same was clear what to expect this time. #TheShoeCreeper still has fun and adventure, but it does have some darker moments too. I also needed to put thought into how dark was too dark to try and get the balance right #ukteenchat
Reposted by Stephanie Cotela
😂 It seems soooo good right now! #ukteenchat
October 7, 2025 at 7:07 PM
😂 It seems soooo good right now! #ukteenchat
Reposted by Stephanie Cotela
Sure! #TheShoeCreeper is an upper MG horror story based on the idea of an original folk tale about a monster that kidnaps and eats people, leaving behind a single shoe as a calling card. I came up with the idea after wondering why there are so many random shoes on the side of the road! #ukteenchat
1, Could you tell us a little bit about your new book, The Shoe Creeper, please? @ianhcreates.bsky.social #ukteenchat #TheShoeCreeper
a closet with lots of shoes and dresses
ALT: a closet with lots of shoes and dresses
media.tenor.com
October 7, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Sure! #TheShoeCreeper is an upper MG horror story based on the idea of an original folk tale about a monster that kidnaps and eats people, leaving behind a single shoe as a calling card. I came up with the idea after wondering why there are so many random shoes on the side of the road! #ukteenchat
Reposted by Stephanie Cotela
For #TheShoeCreeper I wanted to set it in real time in a real place so researched times of sunrise, sunset, high tide, low tide, moon visibility, school terms etc. I also did a walking tour of the key locations in the book (in Seaton) at the same seasonal time to pick up extra details. #ukteenchat
2, Did you need to do any research for The Shoe Creeper? @ianhcreates.bsky.social #ukteenchat
a cat is playing with an apple laptop with the words research time written below it
ALT: a cat is playing with an apple laptop with the words research time written below it
media.tenor.com
October 7, 2025 at 7:15 PM
For #TheShoeCreeper I wanted to set it in real time in a real place so researched times of sunrise, sunset, high tide, low tide, moon visibility, school terms etc. I also did a walking tour of the key locations in the book (in Seaton) at the same seasonal time to pick up extra details. #ukteenchat
Reposted by Stephanie Cotela
Seaton is a town I love, and some of my favourite people live there. With its location in Devon on the south coast of England, it felt like a nice place to explore in writing. I also like the feeling of the people I know there seeing the place through different eyes 👀 #ukteenchat #TheShoeCreeper
4, Why did you choose to set The Shoe Creeper in Seaton? @ianhcreates.bsky.social #ukteenchat #TheShoeCreeper
waves crashing on a sandy beach with trees in the distance
ALT: waves crashing on a sandy beach with trees in the distance
media.tenor.com
October 7, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Seaton is a town I love, and some of my favourite people live there. With its location in Devon on the south coast of England, it felt like a nice place to explore in writing. I also like the feeling of the people I know there seeing the place through different eyes 👀 #ukteenchat #TheShoeCreeper
Reposted by Stephanie Cotela
Now realising some of favourite spooky tropes (graveyards, a stormy night, and foggy areas) are not in the book 😂 I do like a spooky forest, the threat of the unknown, and a connection to the past. You can definitely expect those (and some atmospheric weather) in #TheShoeCreeper 👟🎃📖 #ukteenchat
October 7, 2025 at 7:34 PM
Now realising some of favourite spooky tropes (graveyards, a stormy night, and foggy areas) are not in the book 😂 I do like a spooky forest, the threat of the unknown, and a connection to the past. You can definitely expect those (and some atmospheric weather) in #TheShoeCreeper 👟🎃📖 #ukteenchat
Reposted by Stephanie Cotela
Next #ukteenchat will be on Tues 7th October 8-9pm BST with the fabulous @ianhcreates.bsky.social - who will be chatting all about his new spooky MG - The Shoe Creeper 👟 All welcome to cone along and join in the chat 🙂
#TheShoeCreeper #writingcommunity #writerslife #kidlit
#TheShoeCreeper #writingcommunity #writerslife #kidlit
September 30, 2025 at 8:22 PM
Reposted by Stephanie Cotela
Next #ukteenchat will be on Tues 7th October 8-9pm BST with the fabulous @ianhcreates.bsky.social - who will be chatting all about his new spooky MG - The Shoe Creeper 👟 All welcome to cone along and join in the chat 🙂
#TheShoeCreeper #writingcommunity #writerslife #kidlit
#TheShoeCreeper #writingcommunity #writerslife #kidlit
September 30, 2025 at 8:09 PM
Next #ukteenchat will be on Tues 7th October 8-9pm BST with the fabulous @ianhcreates.bsky.social - who will be chatting all about his new spooky MG - The Shoe Creeper 👟 All welcome to cone along and join in the chat 🙂
#TheShoeCreeper #writingcommunity #writerslife #kidlit
#TheShoeCreeper #writingcommunity #writerslife #kidlit
My next spooky middle-grade adventure is coming soon. Stay tuned…
September 30, 2025 at 5:34 PM
My next spooky middle-grade adventure is coming soon. Stay tuned…
Reposted by Stephanie Cotela
Great news!
JSTOR now have a free account with an Independent Researcher category. You can access 100 documents per month
www.jstor.org/action/showL...
JSTOR now have a free account with an Independent Researcher category. You can access 100 documents per month
www.jstor.org/action/showL...
September 29, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Great news!
JSTOR now have a free account with an Independent Researcher category. You can access 100 documents per month
www.jstor.org/action/showL...
JSTOR now have a free account with an Independent Researcher category. You can access 100 documents per month
www.jstor.org/action/showL...
Reposted by Stephanie Cotela
Last night, at Goldsmiths University of London, we launched my book that introduces students (or anyone else) to the study of Children's Literature:
@GoldUnivMACL
@GoldsmithsUoL
@GoldUnivMACL
@GoldsmithsUoL
September 27, 2025 at 6:00 AM
Last night, at Goldsmiths University of London, we launched my book that introduces students (or anyone else) to the study of Children's Literature:
@GoldUnivMACL
@GoldsmithsUoL
@GoldUnivMACL
@GoldsmithsUoL
A little nudge to draw you to my website where you’ll find * author updates & news, * Writing tips, * Book reviews * A free newsletter subscription, and an online shop featuring books and book swag! 📚🥳 stephaniecotela.com
September 29, 2025 at 12:23 AM
A little nudge to draw you to my website where you’ll find * author updates & news, * Writing tips, * Book reviews * A free newsletter subscription, and an online shop featuring books and book swag! 📚🥳 stephaniecotela.com
If you’re in the area, stop by and say hi! 👋🏼
September 9, 2025 at 10:02 AM
If you’re in the area, stop by and say hi! 👋🏼
Reposted by Stephanie Cotela
I'm so honored to be a guest on the Women, Books & More podcast! Thanks @irenerawlings.bsky.social for having me! www.iheart.com/podcast/1323... #kidlit #picturebooks #kidlitart
Let's write a picture book---Julie Hedlund tells us how - The Women Books & More’s Podcast | iHeart
<p style='font-weight: 400;'>Maybe you want to write a book. A children’s book. A children’s picture book.</p> <p style='font-weight: 400;'>Maybe about a wee hedgehog who wants to be a ballerina.</p> ...
www.iheart.com
September 8, 2025 at 11:24 PM
I'm so honored to be a guest on the Women, Books & More podcast! Thanks @irenerawlings.bsky.social for having me! www.iheart.com/podcast/1323... #kidlit #picturebooks #kidlitart
Reposted by Stephanie Cotela
I’ll do a proper video to say thanks and more soon, but thanks so much for the initial support and excitement for ‘The Shoe Creeper’! I am really looking forward to sharing it in 22 days! 👟🎃📖
#kidlit #theshoecreeper #kindle #newbook #books #bookstagram #halloween
#kidlit #theshoecreeper #kindle #newbook #books #bookstagram #halloween
September 3, 2025 at 5:01 PM
I’ll do a proper video to say thanks and more soon, but thanks so much for the initial support and excitement for ‘The Shoe Creeper’! I am really looking forward to sharing it in 22 days! 👟🎃📖
#kidlit #theshoecreeper #kindle #newbook #books #bookstagram #halloween
#kidlit #theshoecreeper #kindle #newbook #books #bookstagram #halloween
Reposted by Stephanie Cotela
Spooky, cosy season has arrived, am I right?!
uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-...
#LGBTQ #KidLit #BookSky #PrimaryEduSky
uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-...
#LGBTQ #KidLit #BookSky #PrimaryEduSky
September 3, 2025 at 8:37 AM
Spooky, cosy season has arrived, am I right?!
uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-...
#LGBTQ #KidLit #BookSky #PrimaryEduSky
uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-...
#LGBTQ #KidLit #BookSky #PrimaryEduSky
Reposted by Stephanie Cotela
go grab my fantasy novel in the big indie sale!! 🎉
it's 400+ pages and features protective siblings and an unexpectedly caring vampire and demon. 🥹
universal: mybook.to/D3rL5
itch.io: rebecca-crunden.itch.io/the-wish-and...
book sale link: indiebook.sale
it's 400+ pages and features protective siblings and an unexpectedly caring vampire and demon. 🥹
universal: mybook.to/D3rL5
itch.io: rebecca-crunden.itch.io/the-wish-and...
book sale link: indiebook.sale
August 25, 2025 at 12:07 PM
go grab my fantasy novel in the big indie sale!! 🎉
it's 400+ pages and features protective siblings and an unexpectedly caring vampire and demon. 🥹
universal: mybook.to/D3rL5
itch.io: rebecca-crunden.itch.io/the-wish-and...
book sale link: indiebook.sale
it's 400+ pages and features protective siblings and an unexpectedly caring vampire and demon. 🥹
universal: mybook.to/D3rL5
itch.io: rebecca-crunden.itch.io/the-wish-and...
book sale link: indiebook.sale
New trailer for The Ghosts of Hawkthorn. 🥳
July 31, 2025 at 12:52 AM
New trailer for The Ghosts of Hawkthorn. 🥳