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johnberkowitz.bsky.social
Husband, father, designer, #MG author of WISH UPON A CURSE and EDISON SKROOLUSE AND THE JUNKYARD BODYGUARD. Three-time RevPit runner-up. “Sodomy non sapiens” #kidlit #historicfantasy #amquerying
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Hey guys! I just typed "The End" on my #MG Elf Punk manuscript for Edison Skrooluse and the Junkyard Bodyguard (42K words)! Post-apocalyptic, inventor-kid in an orphanage full of fae refugees, builds a 7-foot robot that comes to life.... OK, who wants to read it? #KidLit #STEM #MGBookChat

Thank you, Hanna! I am deeply grateful to have been chosen out of all the wonderful mss you received this year. It means a great deal to me that you enjoyed my book enough to select it for this honor. If you have any comments on what you read, I would love to read them.

Just dropping in to share that I finished writing the finale to Act III of my middle grade elf-punk fantasy. Big milestone for me, and couldn't be more excited. Now I just need to figure out how to wrap up this bumbitch and put a bow on it. #amwriting #WriteSky #MG #WIP

10yo Edison Skrooluse wishes just ONE of his inventions would work so he can defend his orphanage. When his 7-foot robot comes to life, they resist the Anti-Fae League who demand all fae-born leave Earth to the humans. CHITTY-CHITTY BANG-BANG + BUMBLEBEE #QuestPit #W #MG #SFF

13yo Clio doesn’t believe in fairytales until she & her BFF awaken in 1508 Ireland. Caught between the faerie queen & her wicked ambition, only Clio can prevent the curse that will destroy her family. But she must choose between saving her BFF & going home. #QuestPit #Q #MG #HF #SFF

A gentle reminder to all #amquerying authors that #mswl is reserved for agents and editors only. Please don't pitch your book there. Thanks and best wishes for success!

As a white middle class cis male, I don’t really have a unique voice, but as a closeted Liberal in a deep red state, I experience a definite feeling of being an “other,” while watching library books get banned and LGBTQ+ people get threatened. My #MG #WIP is an attempt to capture some of that angst.

I meant to hit the 25,000 word mark on my #WIP before midnight last night, but I missed by a handful of words. So I’m starting the new year with that milestone. That’s just as good, right? #WriteSky

My last book was originally going to be the sequel to my previous book, but since that ms never got any traction with agents, I decided to change it up to be a standalone. Making those necessary changes and creating a fresh cast of characters made it so much better than it would have been. #WriteSky

Just a random post to anyone who will listen that I am incredibly lucky to have found my CP. She is insightful and intuitive, and it is pure joy when she gets me. Thank you, @leah-holler-writes.bsky.social #WriteSky, #amwriting, #WIP

What's happening with #MSWL? How is the feed empty?

#TimeTravelAuthors D19 Happiest character 13yo Clio went back in time to prevent her family's curse, and the Faerie Queen is trying to stop her. Clio's not having a good time. But her BFF Mary was turned into a 4-inch pixie and now she can fly! Mary's living her best life. #MG #amquerying #WriteSky

#TimeTravelAuthors D17 "A sentence you love from your story." Clio’s breath caught as her very great grandmother’s Sidhe beauty slowly evaporated and drifted down like tears. Picking just ONE SENTANCE out of an entire novel is HARD. #MG #WriteSky #amquerying

#TimeTravelAuthors D15 "What year does your story start in?" Undefined present day. It could be any time between 2020 and the next 5-10 years. But by midway through chapter two, my two MC's are lost in 1508, in the North of Ireland. #MG #WriteSky #anquerying

#TimeTravelAuthors D13 Bad Timing As soon as the door closed behind them, Clio spun on Shaylee, “Is he kidding?! We were gone for three days? It was like a couple of hours!” “I told you, Clíodhna, time moves more quickly on Earth." "Wait. It's Sunday already?" "Obviously." #MG #amquerying #WriteSky

#TimeTravelAuthors D11: "Device" “She abandoned me, Mary. Officially, with paperwork and everything! I just...I wish there was no such thing as the stupid O’Neill curse!” There was the sound of two faint pops, like bubbles bursting. Where the girls had been sitting, the gold coin spun in place. #MG

#TimeTravelAuthors Day 9: Celebrations Maeve's blue lips curled into a mirthless sneer. She gripped Clio’s neck in her frigid fingers and pinned her against the wall. “Well, well,” she sang. “Clíodhna, Queen of the Summer Court, in the flesh. I guess the only one having a lucky day is me!” #MG

#TimeTavelAuthors Day 7: "Joy" “You mean you would be my mother and father? Basically, the king and queen of Ireland? And Eden-duff-carrick would be my home?” Parents who loved her and wanted her in their lives? With her own room in the biggest castle in all of Ireland? “Aye. All that and more.” #MG

#TimeTravelAuthors Day 5: Something Sparkly The thing glinted in the sun as it spun, then landed with a thud at Clio’s feet. She bent and picked up a small gold coin with a clover stamped into one side. “A wish?” “Right ye are.” The leprechaun sniffed. “Best ye save that for somethin’ special.” #MG

#TimeTravelAuthors Day 3: Time Travel on purpose or accidentally? Clio O'Neill most definitely went back in time by accident, when she angrily wished her family's curse never existed while holding a coin of leprechaun gold. She was also holding her best friend's hand... #amquerying #writeSky #MG

#TimeTravelAuthors I JUST found out about this, so I'm playing catch-up. Day 1: 13yo Clio doesn’t believe in fairytales until she & her BFF awaken in 1508 Ireland. Only Clio can prevent the curse that will destroy her family. But she must choose between saving her BFF & going home. #amquerying #MG

Ahhhhh. Just finally put a period on a chapter that has been torturing me: “Every hero was once just an ordinary person who made a hard choice, Edison. And every single one of them started out as a little kid like you.” And I broke 24,000 words at the same time. Sleep, now. #amwriting #writesky

I’ve FINALLY muscled through a section where my MC gets a pep talk that just refused to be written. But NOW I’m delighted to write the parable that explains why sometimes huge things come in small packages. Can’t wait to put this troublesome chapter to rest. Otherwise loving my #MG #elfpunk #WIP

Why didn’t anyone tell me?!

The cover mockup I made to inspire my #WIP. 10yo Edison wishes just ONE of his inventions would work so he can defend his orphanage. When his robot comes to life, they resist the Anti-Fae League who demands all his fae friends go back where they came from and leave Earth to the humans. #amwriting