Hello friends!

First, a huge thank you for all the outpouring of support for This Is How You Know, illustrated by Cornelia Li. It was such a joy to see so many friends at my Barnes & Noble Story Time (center) as well as my LA County Library event where we made oobleck and did other STEAM activities. From the bottom of my heart, thanks for showing up for me and this book!

Also big thanks for all of you who reviewed on Amazon, Goodreads, and other platforms. They make a huge difference. (If you haven't reviewed yet, please do!) I am happy to report that we finally received a glowing professional review from Kirkus Reviews (see below).

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Writing Updates

With beta readers: Telling It True: Writing Nonfiction for Children (craft book). My November goal is to revise this book, get it into copyediting, and finalize the glossary and appendices. It is a "prequel" to Reimagining Your Nonfiction Picture Book, covering the full gamut of nonfiction for kids including magazines and work for hire.

Going to my agent: I'm almost done with edits to my rom-com spy thriller for grown ups, which I'll send to my agent next month to see what she thinks. Fingers crossed! Also, I'm considering writing a novella based in the same world. It might be a fun Reedsy Novel Sprint challenge for November, aka the new NaNoWriMo.

Still mulling: A new nonfiction project idea. Though it might be a card or board game for all ages? I'm reading up on game design as I brainstorm.

Strengths for Writers. As I've worked through some writing and business decisions over the past couple of months I decided to take the Clifton Strengths for Writers course. Gallup's Clifton Strengths is a much more nuanced personality test than, say, Meyers Briggs. I'm a Learner, which means I always need to learn (and share) new things. My other top five are Achiever (goals! getting stuff done!), Relator (small groups vs. strangers), Focus (one project at a time; big blocks of time), and Discipline (structure and routine). This will surprise no one who knows me. I've found this process supportive as I pivot into new areas of writing.

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Things I'm Loving Right Now

• The Diplomat (Season 3) on Netflix. Think House of Cards but abroad as Keri Russell encounters constant intrigue as the U.S. ambassador to England.
• Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman mashes up D&D and a to- the-death game show like Hunger Games in a new-to-me genre, LitRPG. I dare you not fall in love with Princess Donut, the talking cat.
• & Juliet (the musical). We caught the last day of the run at the San Diego Civic Theatre. It's meta -- Shakespeare and his wife rewrite Romeo & Juliet as if Juliet lived. And it has a great score packed with hits from Brittany Spears, Backstreet Boys, and others. So fun!

In this issue:

• New Inked Voices Cohort: Apply by Nov. 2
• Next Class: When Facts Become Fiction (Informational Fiction), Nov. 18
• NCTE Roundtable: "Activating Future Dreams with STEM Books," Nov. 21 at 12:30 p.m. (Denver Convention Center)
• Reimagine Insiders Office Hours (paid community) – Nov. 14 at 3 p.m. ET on "Writing Tough Topics"
• Upcoming Podcast Episodes: Marzieh Abbas and Valerie Bolling on "Writing All the Things" (Nov. 7)
• November 2025 New in Nonfiction list

Happy writing and revising!

Kirsten

New Inked Voices Cohort starts January

Inked Voices Member applications open until November 2, 2025 at 7:00 PM

Work with author Kirsten Larson and a small group of peers to revise your nonfiction picture book manuscript. Writers will engage deeply with their own work and that of their peers through workshopping, revision, and craft discussion. Learn more and apply at Inked Voices.

Next Webinar: When Facts Become Fiction ($25)

Is your manuscript true...but not entirely?

Many of us find ourselves caught between fact and fiction. We want to tell a true story—but what if the research record has gaps? What if we need dialogue to bring a scene alive? Or create a fictional narrator to make the science sparkle? When and how do we pivot from nonfiction to informational fiction (which some also call creative nonfiction)?

In this practical, 60-minute webinar, we'll navigate the fine line between nonfiction and informational fiction so you can decide which form best serves your story and your readers. Learn more and sign up here.

Meet Me at NCTE

Teaching STEM Skills Through Great Books? Yes, Please!

What if you could help students build curiosity, creativity, and resilience while reading amazing STEM books? Join five talented authors and author-educators who'll show you exactly how to do it. This isn't a sit-and-listen session—it's a fast-paced roundtable where you'll rotate through hands-on activities and walk away with lessons you can use on Monday morning. Learn more.

October Insider Office Hours (Paid Community): Writing Tough Topics

How do we write tough topics for kids? Join us for our November 14 session (3 p.m Eastern), where we discuss how to handle tragedy, nuance, and complex scientific concepts. Writing a tough topic? Bring a spread or sample of your work to share, and we'll discuss. Read about the community and benefits here.

Upcoming podcast episode

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This month I chat with Marzieh Abbas and Valerie Bolling, two authors who write across genre and age category. Learn their tips and tricks for "Writing All the Things."

Tune into the Nonfiction Kidlit Craft Conversations podcast (on Youtube as well as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, etc.) Are you enjoying the podcast?

• Please rate and review on Apple podcasts
• Or like and subscribe on YouTube
• Click here to get transcripts
• And support the podcast by buying from the Bookshop.

Prefer to read your content? I post summaries after each episode airs on my blog.

New in Nonfiction

My books

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