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Kirsten W. Larson

New Craft Webinars Launch Feb 12. Register Today! + Picture Book Cover Reveal!

Published 11 months ago • 2 min read

Hello friends!

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Holiday highlights! I hope you had a lovely holiday season. We spent the holidays in Greece on the island of Crete, as well as Athens, Delphi, and the Peloponnese. I was able to squeeze in some last-minute research for my next picture book (still a big secret until an illustrator is assigned). I just sent revisions to my editor Monday and am hoping I can say more soon.

Big news! My next published picture book, THIS IS HOW YOU KNOW: How Science Happens, illustrated by Cornelia Li, from Little, Brown, hits shelves September 16, 2025. Here is the gorgeous cover!

​Read about this book's twisty journey here. I invite you to preorder the book (wherever books are sold) or add it to your "want to read" list on Goodreads. Either is a huge help.

New "Nonfiction Mini" webinars for 2025! Starting February 12 at 7:30 p.m. Eastern, I'm launching a series of low-cost webinars on a variety of nonfiction craft and business topics. The first webinar will be "Sifting Through Story Ideas: Six Essential Questions." It's $25 for non-members; just $10 if you are a member of my Reimagine Insiders Community. Learn more about the webinar and register here.​

This month's question: What do you want to know about the craft and business of writing nonfiction?

I have many ideas for my upcoming Nonfiction Mini Webinar series, but I am always eager to learn more about what you, as nonfiction writers and lovers, need. What are your struggles and barriers? What do you want to know more about? In other words, how can I help? Reply to this email, and let me know.

Winning Nutcracker. Thanks to all who voted in the December Nutcracker Smackdown. Darth Vader was the winner, and I am happy to report, all of the nutcrackers are safe and will be out on my mantle next year.

Read on for more news and offerings below. Until next month, happy writing and revising!
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Kirsten

Inside this newsletter:

  • Sign up for the next session of "Reimagine Your Writing" Workshop
  • Join me via IG Live to learn about Write. Submit. Support.
  • New Office Hours (and discounts) for the Reimagine Insiders Community; join us!
  • Next podcast drops Feb. 7 with Beth Anderson (plus get the January Katherine Roy transcript)
  • February 2025 "New in Nonfiction" List (139 titles)

Sign up for the next session of "Reimagine Your Writing" Workshop

Join me on IG Live to Learn about Write. Submit. Support

Not sure if Write. Submit. Support is for you? Join Susan Johnston Taylor and me as we go live from The Writing Barn's Instagram to discuss the program at noon Central on 1/30. Just follow The Writing Barn, and tap or click the profile icon at noon Central to join us. Learn more about W.S.S. here.​

New in the Reimagine Insiders Community

What is Reimagine Insiders? In short, a paid community (like a Patreon) that costs just $5 per month. New this year: Insiders members receive $15 off Nonfiction Mini webinars, AND we are holding monthly live office hours/group coaching once a month (which are recorded). In February, we'll be talking about first pages: what work they need to do, and how do we revise them for maximum reader engagement. Insiders are submitting samples of their first pages for us to discuss live. Sign up BEFORE February 7 to join our First Pages Office Hours on the 7th at 3 p.m. Eastern. Learn more here.​

Next podcast episode, plus transcript

Tune in for the next episode of the Nonfiction Kidlit Craft Conversations podcast (on Youtube as well as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, etc.) with Beth Anderson dropping February 7. Beth and I discuss pacing and balancing back story and context with a brisk plot.

​Get the full transcript for my January interview with author/illustrator Katherine Roy here​.​

New in Nonfiction

Roundup of February New Releases

Here's the latest roundup of the newest juvenile nonfiction books released by U.S. publishers. You'll find the full list of 139 books in Edelweiss by clicking the link below.

My books

Kirsten W. Larson

Let's Reimagine Nonfiction!

Think nonfiction kids' books are boring? Think again! I'm a writer, teacher, and writing coach dedicated to helping students reimagine their true stories, turning them into captivating reads. Subscribe to my newsletter for tips, new releases, and more.

Read more from Kirsten W. Larson
Kirsten and Nils Larson in front of the NASA X-59

Hello friends! First, a bit of fun family news. On Oct. 28th, my husband made the historic first flight of the X-59, a prototype experimental aircraft designed to test whether we can make future aircraft quieter so we can (someday) fly supersonic across the U.S. I got to sit next to the control room and hear and watch everything. It was so cool! Check out the NASA video below. Post flight! Attending educators conferences From left to right: In the Little, Brown book at NCTE, signing books for...

12 days ago • 3 min read
This is a picture of author Kirsten Larson with fans at the Barnes and Noble story time for THIS IS HOW YOU YOU KNOW

Hello friends! Behind the scenes: Society of Experimental Test Pilots banquet at Disney; with fabulous friends at my B&N event; visiting our older son for Parent's Weekend at UC San Diego. 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...

about 1 month ago • 4 min read
Kirsten reading her new book THIS IS HOW YOU KNOW to kids

Hello friends! Left to right: With fellow authors Dana Middleton and Nell Cross Beckerman; with young readers at story time at Once Upon a Time Bookstore in support of Science Saturday. As you have undoubtedly heard, my next picture book, This Is How You Know , illustrated by Cornelia Li, is out now from Little, Brown. I just hosted two events and have two more coming up. If you are local, I hope you'll join me. Signing and Storytime at Barnes & Noble - Palmdale at 11:30 a.m. October 4th....

2 months ago • 5 min read