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It was the first day of school. Me and my mom, Lilly, had just moved from Florida to Georgia. I missed the ocean and my friends, and I would also miss our house. I would always have sleepovers over the weekends there, and we would go to the park with each other almost everyday. My mom made a big breakfast for my first day. She made eggs, toast, bacon, and hashbrowns. When I was done eating, I put my dish in the sink and went upstairs to change. I picked out some cute skinny jeans. When I put them on, they were too small, so I picked out some of my big light blue jeans that fit. Right as I was putting on my shirt my mom yelled, "Layla your bus is here." I quickly put on my shirt and my shoes and grabbed my book bag and I ran out the door. I saw my mom wave as the bus left our street. When I got on the bus, I looked around and wondered, where do I sit? While I was walking in the aisle, I saw this girl sitting by herself in seat 7. I wanted to make friends and not get bullied so I sat with her. I asked her what her name was and she said, "My name is Hope." I told her that my name was Layla. I asked her what book she was reading and she said, "I’m reading the new comics that just came out in the school library, this one is called Standing on the Moon." Right when I was about to ask her what grade she was in we got to the school. When I got out of the bus, Hope asked me what grade I was in and I said, "I am in 5th grade.'' Hope said, "Same. We should walk to class together. But wait, do you know if we're in the same class?” I said, "I don't even know my locker number or whose class I'm in." Hope took me to the school office. We walked to the office and we asked the principal what class I was in and she said, "What's your name?” I told her that my name was Layla Rose and she found my class. Hope was really hoping I would be in Mrs. Daisy's room with her, but when the principal told us that I was in Mrs. Brooks’ class Hope got kinda sad. Hope walked away and said, "I will see you at lunch Layla. I got to go to class." When Hope left I asked the principal what my locker number was and she said, "Layla your locker number is 36." I walked out knowing I would be alone today. I had no friends except Hope and I can't even see her until lunch. I was walking around the hall looking for locker 36 but then this girl put her foot out and tripped me as I was walking. Then she said, "Oops I didn't mean to." After that I got up and just walked away. I thought to myself, I knew this would happen because I would always get bullied. Every time I got bullied at my old school, my friends would stand up for me, but now I have no one. I found my locker and I put my backpack in it. I found Mrs. Brooks' class and I walked in with everyone looking at me. Mrs. Brooks said, "Hi, you must be Layla. We have been waiting for you." I saw my seat in the front of the classroom and I sat in it. The room was very colorful. It had rainbows all over and she had these pretty pink walls. She had a bunch of posters about learning and some about being yourself. I asked Mrs. Brooks if this was a math or a reading room. She said, "This is a math room where we are all kind." I started looking around until I saw the girl who tripped me. She was looking straight at me, so I asked Mrs. Brooks can I go to the restroom? She said, "Yes you can, Layla, just don't take too long. We have to get into another lesson before the bell rings." I ran out of the room to the restroom. I sat there for a few minutes until I decided to go back into the classroom and not be scared because I am the strong girl. The bell rang, so we walked into the lunch room. It was loud. When I looked to my right, I saw Hope waiting for me to sit next to her. The lunch choice was chicken sandwich or hotdog. I chose hotdog because at my old school me and my friends would always get hotdogs together. While I was thinking, Mrs. Brooks told me I was checking out. I wondered why my mother would check me out on my first day. I went back to the classroom and got my stuff and headed to the front office. I saw my mom, and she told me she had a surprise for me. I got in the car and we drove home. When we got there I was sad I got checked out on my first day. I asked her why she checked me out and she said, ''Just wait." Then I walked in the house and saw my besties. I ran to them. I gave them a warm hug and told them this is just what I needed. Amelia A. is 8 years old and in third grade. Her dream place to travel has to be Greece. She loves Christmas and Thanksgiving. Amelia loves any type of book!

Image Text Reads: One day I found a dog in the road. I named him Big Red because he had the most prittyiest red fur. I didn't have dog food but I did have cat food. When I found him he was smart but nobody knew where his home was. So I played fetch with Big Red and of course he tore my ball. I knew I couldn't keep him so I found a home for him. I'm sad to see him go but I hope he has a good new life. Olivia Hernandez is seven years old and enjoys being homeschooled with her older brother. She loves animals, reading graphic novels, playing violin, and recently performed in her first music recital. Her favorite snacks are gluten-free pretzels and string cheese.

I made a new zoo. It has 2 bald eagles and it has 1 dolphin and 1 shark. It only has 3 kinds of animals because it just opened yesterday at 4:00. A kid came to the zoo when it opened because he was like, “what, a new zoo? I will just go to it.” The zookeeper said, “I can bring one of the bald eagles into the petting cage because you are the only person here.” He got to touch the eagle and it felt good. Chandler is 5 and loves food and animals. His favorite animal is a zorse.

photograph of kids wearing backpacks walking side-by-side, via Wix Media 1 As a new year starts And old one disappears Not a new beginning Just a new aspect Ups and downs, it’s a new year Another chance to persevere Look back in the past Time really flies by fast 2 New beginnings A new place No one likes change It seems so strange As the time flies To your old self, say good-bye Anaya Chougule is 12 years old and studying in 7th grade. She likes to read and write poems. She enjoys swimming, playing badminton, and exploring beaches.

Summer is a season that everyone loves. When it goes away, it's fall and most people don't like it. But to me, winter is a new beginning. The best part of winter is you can have snowball fights with your friends, cousins, or siblings. You can even eat snowballs! You can also ice skate on frozen lakes. You can make a snowman with a scarf, a hat, some rocks, and a carrot. Last but not least, you can add two sticks for arms. During the winter, you can get presents from Santa and family. You get presents from Santa because winter is when Jesus was born and that's when Christmas is. When you get presents from family is when they choose to do Christmas, like the 24th, 23rd, or on Christmas day. Winter is the season when it snows. Also, that's when the bugs go away. "Yay!" That means no more bug bites. You can also play outside in the snow. That means more snowball fights with family or friends. The worst part about winter is that you could get a cold or your favorite plant dies, and you have to wait till next spring to see it again. Also, you can't see your friends when it snows really hard. If you play outside, you need to wear gloves, a hat, a scarf, and a jacket. People love the summer, but to me, winter is a new beginning. Jordan W. is 8 years old and in third grade. His favorite food is a hot dog. His favorite book is Junie B. Jones. His favorite movie is Christmas Vacation. He loves to paint. If he could travel anywhere around the world, he would go to Florida.

Once upon a time, the poet and his friend packed all necessary things to go to the river. The poet took a compass, watch, sweater, some snacks in his bag. Now the next morning they woke up at 7:00am, and eat breakfast. Then they go. They think why not start to be brave. They stopped fearing. If a crocodile comes, they had a plan how to fight with the crocodile. The poet and his friend went to the river by car. On the way, they saw bridges, trees, deer, bison, foxes, and many more animals. Nature was very green and beautiful. They reached at 9:30am. When they reached it was very cloudy and cold. They saw many boats lined at the river for tourists. The names of the boats were Serendipity, Liberty, Gale, Amazonite, Noah. The colours were blue, green, yellow, red, and purple. They went to the boat named Liberty. The colour was red. For one hour the poet and his friend were fishing and boating. When they were boating, they saw nature, colourful birds and the greenery around. They were trying to catch a fish and mistakenly they awakened a sleeping crocodile. Aaaaaaa! They were afraid at first. Its eyes were red and angry. But the poet said, “Let us be brave. We will not be afraid.” Now the poet’s friend remembered. So they danced like mad. After some time, their dance bored the crocodile. But the boat overturned and they swam to safety because they have no fear. And they thanked God for saving their life. After that they reached home at 12:30pm. They were thinking now we must eat the fishes, that will be our lunch. They fried all the fishes, ate some salad too and then, on the hammocks under the tree, read books for two hours. When it was evening, it was very cold, they went inside the house and discussed how was the day. They thought we were not afraid this time, we were brave. So they were happy. Saket Pattanik is 8 years old. He loves to play with toy cars. Saket loves to travel, he plans to visit Dubai sometime soon. Saket's stories, "Trip to the Nature" and Adventure to Space have previously appeared on the Little Thoughts Press blog.

It's January and I just got some news about us possibly moving away from our current home in Canton, Georgia. I'm anxious about the new changes there will be if we do move. When I asked her if we were really moving my mom said, "It all depends on if Daddy gets the job he wants that's an hour and a half away." Now it's February. My parents told me that we are moving because Daddy did get the job he was hoping for. We're moving away from Canton. I'm happy for him, though I don't want to move. Mommy and Daddy help me pack. I cry because of us moving an hour and a half away. I'm not ready to move away from my friends and family. We visit our new house a few times. They're still working on building it. It's March now. On moving day, I go to my friend Cami's house, and my little sister, Lexi, goes to our Grandma and Papa's house. The only reason I was with my friend and Lexi went with Grandma and Papa was because it was Cami’s birthday. The next day Grandma, Papa, and Lexi pick me up. Grandma and Papa bring us to our new home in Carrollton. An hour and a half later when we get there, Mommy tells us, "Aunt Tiffany, Uncle Ted, and Kinsey are coming over to help celebrate our move and we have neighbors right outside our backyard about your ages. One of them is Annibelle, and she is 4 like Lexi. The other one is Haddy, and she is 7, a year younger than you." I was 8 at the time. "Wow!" Lexi and I both say in excitement. I realize that I'm going to have a new school and new friends, and I'm happy about it. There's so many new things and new beginnings to this part of my life. I'm excited for these great new beginnings. Abby D. is 9 years old and in 3rd grade. She loves to read all kinds of books. Right now, she's really liking the Percy Jackson series. She loves school! When she's not at school, Abby likes to do art and write stories. Sometimes, she'll take time to read on the weekends.

I took the biggest bite out of my pizza. The melted cheese sticks to the roof of my mouth. I scrape it off with my tongue, with disgust. I continued to eat when I heard footsteps coming from another room. I look at the entrance to the kitchen and my dad slides in the room. He walked toward me and my brother with a mischievous smile. He opens his mouth to speak and the words jump out of his mouth so fast my mind can barely comprehend. “Would you two like to go look for a dog?'' I jumped out of my chair so fast I might have broken the world record for highest jump. I was so excited I could barely get words to come out of my mouth. “YES! YES! YES!'' I ran to the car with no doubt I would find the dog of my dreams today. A pug. Yes, a pug. I had been annoying my parents so much about a pug. I took out library books, drew pictures and wrote pleading notes almost daily. Finally my hard work paid off. I am going to find the pug of my dreams. We arrived at the place of my dreams, the place I've been dreaming of going to since I was 3. I ran into the shelter, ignoring all of the workers, and running to the first door I saw. I whipped open the door hoping millions of adorable little puppy faces would be waiting for me. I stood there frozen. I almost pee my pants with excitement. There in front of me was the cutest pug ever. My family and I take the pug into an area where we can play, pet, and have fun with the puppy before making a decision to take it home. I play with the pug for a few minutes and the most surprising thing happens. I don't love it. I mean, yes I love it, I love all dogs, but I knew at that moment, this dog wasn’t MY dog. We put the pug back, and I sadly walked out the door. But that's not the end. I turn around to see a box full of dachshunds. I never really cared for them, but I had looked into the box out of curiosity. I saw three dachshunds jumping, wanting me to pet them. Then I saw one little dog sitting in the corner. His adorable, big brown eyes stared at me. His tongue hung out of his mouth and it almost looked like he was smiling. I put my arms out and his short, little legs strolled over to me. He curled into me, laying his head over my elbow. And that's when it hit me. That was my dog. Not the dog I’ve been dreaming about forever, but this perfect puppy was my forever puppy. Keira Legge is in 6th grade and loves writing. Keira recently joined the literary club at school, as she loves reading and writing so much. She has had two other writing pieces published in previous editions, and looks forward to the different themes each time. This story is based on the real experience of how she came to find her perfect puppy and welcoming him into our family. Keira's stories have appeared in previous issues of Little Thoughts Press. You can read about her writing process, favorite books, and more in this past interview.

Underneath the crape myrtle tree… Deer curled up to take a break, her tummy was full and round. She knew it was almost time to meet her special surprise. With her nose pointed toward the sky, she shook morning dew from her head. Her leaf-shaped ears hung wide and flat, showed she was calm and ready. Steady, focused, with a peaceful breath, she gave a gentle push. In the soft grass, upon taking in new light, Deer spotted her baby fawn. Underneath the crape myrtle tree… Deer and Baby say hello bathing in kisses and new beginnings. Dylan Hernandez is nine years old and is enjoying his first year of homeschool with his younger sister. His favorite books are the I Survived series. When he’s not reading or playing piano, he loves to draw and create art. He was the 2021 PTA Reflections recipient of the overall award for excellence with his Save The Sea Turtles art project. Steena Hernandez lives in San Antonio with her family and a beta fish, Mr. Bubbles. This year, she is enjoying the rewarding endeavor of homeschooling her two children. When night falls and all is quiet, she finds time to write. She holds a BFA from Texas Tech University, and is an active member of SCBWI, Julie Hedland’s 12x12 Picture Book Challenge, and was a 2022 Las Musas Hermana.

A photograph of Little Thoughts Press Issue Four: Autumnatopoeia with a sneak peek of the poem "The Pipe Dragon" by Linda Middleton. A white page with black text. Linda Middleton writes poetry for children and is passionate about inspiring them to write their own in her workshops. She is delighted that some of her poems have found beautiful homes, including in The Caterpillar and The Dirigible Balloon. Linda enjoys supporting children and teaching RE in a primary school in a leafy corner of England. In her spare time when she is not writing, she can be found wood wandering, wildlife watching, beach strolling and ice cream tasting. You can connect with Linda through her Twitter account @LindaMid7 Little Thoughts Press: Your poem, "The Pipe Dragon" is a unique and fun approach to the Autumnatopoeia theme, taking something rather mundane, a radiator heating up, and making it fantastical. Conversely, "Autumn Songs" is very observational, noting the many sounds of autumn, down to the quiet plops of falling acorns. Do you tend to gravitate more toward the imaginary and fantastical when writing for children, or toward more natural, observational depictions of the world, and why? Linda Middleton: This is a tricky question because I find enormous delight in both. Allowing my imagination to lead takes me to a world of all sorts of magic and mystery and it can be such an absorbing diversion from the real world. Asking yourself ‘What if?’ is like whizzing down a rainbow slide and not knowing where you will end up. On the other hand, my heart has been nurtured by the natural world ever since I played beneath the sprawling oak at the bottom of my childhood garden. Immersing myself in the wonders of nature and then drawing upon observations and experiences for my poetry comes naturally. Creating Autumn Songs was like popping together a musical jigsaw of sounds and I am delighted that it has been loved by the children it has been shared with. Little Thoughts Press: Issue 4: Autumnatopoeia celebrates the sounds of the fall season. What is your favorite onomatopoeia? And what is your favorite thing about autumn? Linda Middleton: I simply LOVE, LOVE, LOVE onomatopoeia and was so thrilled to have two poems selected for the Little Thoughts Press Autumnatopoeia issue. My favourite onomatopoeia is the swishing rustle of welly-booting through carpets of glorious autumn leaves. Autumn is one of my favourite seasons to embrace. Blue-splashed skies above the trees celebrating fall with their swirling, twirling carnival parade of blazing colour and that profound, earthly whispering sense of change rolling in with the sun-pearled mist never fail to excite. Little Thoughts Press: What initially drew you to writing kid-lit and what do you find most challenging and rewarding about writing for a young audience? Linda Middleton: Growing up hand in hand with children’s literature and being a grown-up with a little bit of child still cartwheeling in my heart has drawn me to writing kid-lit. I love my role as a Higher Level Teaching Assistant and working with children has inspired me further. Seeing the smile on the face of a child who finds themselves in one of my poems or simply enjoys the picture it paints is the most rewarding part. Little Thoughts Press: Which kid-lit authors and books were your favorites growing up? Linda Middleton: I was a devoted reader as a youngster and remember a tower of adventure and mystery books beside my bed. I waltzed and whirled through fairy tales and fables and fell head over heels in love with Edith Brill’s The Golden Bird, gloriously enriched by Jan Pienkowski’s stunning silhouettes and swirls of colour. I found myself in the character of Babka with her love for the forest and her friends the birds. Roald Dahl is another favourite author and I especially enjoyed the heartwarming relationship between Danny and his father in Danny the Champion of the World. I immersed myself in the fantasy of the tiny people in Mary Norton’s The Borrowers and never tired of exploring Narnia in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis. And as for Michael Bond’s friendly Paddington Bear, well he simply felt like part of the family. Little Thoughts Press: And what about today? Any kid-lit writers you love and want to shout out? Linda Middleton: I found it impossible to step out of the adventure unfolding in Hannah Gold’s moving tale in her dazzling debut novel, The Last Bear, and I am looking forward to the sequel, Finding Bear, released later this year. Lost Magic, The Very Best of Brian Moses, is definitely a firm favourite of mine with its wonderful mix of humorous, haunting and thoughtful poems. Debra Bertulis’ beautiful debut poetry collection Where Do Wishes Go? instantly became a book for keeps for me and one that I would have cherished as a child. I’m also looking forward to the exciting debut collection from Sarah Ziman, as I have always enjoyed her clever zingy poems. Little Thoughts Press: What advice would you give to young writers? Linda Middleton: Keep your eyes open to spot the extraordinary in the ordinary − you’ll be surprised where this can take you! Capture magic from the whisper of a seashell to the rainbow shine of a bubble and stash it away like treasure in the boxes of your brain and the pages of your notebook. Whistle to your ideas and they will reappear like the rainbow array on an artist’s palette to help you paint your beautiful poems. Oh, and most importantly, have fun with your creative writing! Little Thoughts Press: Is there anything else you wish I had asked? Any upcoming projects, publications, or other news you'd like to share? Linda Middleton: My brightest poetry highlight of 2022 was having a poem chosen by the wonderful Jonathan Humble for The Dirigible Balloon anthology, Chasing Clouds, and to be part of the official book launch. The marshmallows on my hot chocolate were the complimentary words of Steve Whitaker, Literary Editor of The Yorkshire Times, in his book review: The fulsome and animated richness of nature in ‘Spring’s Magic Wings’ by Linda Middleton, encourages close observation of the natural world, as it performs a service to ecology in a wider universe of ignorance and neglect. The simple wonder of Middleton’s achingly musical lyricism is entirely consonant with the spring-like freshness of juvenile experience: ‘Leaves are unfurling, silk threads are whirling − Caterpillar trapeze!’.

A photograph of Little Thoughts Press Issue Four: Autumnatopoeia with a sneak peek of the poem "Autumn Tradition" by Jay Brazeau. A blue page with white text. Jay Brazeau is an emerging Ottawa-based poet who resides on the outer edge of imagination – a world where cats sport houndstooth jackets, chickens sell eggs and a pigeon’s pockets are packed with popcorn. His poems have appeared in various anthologies, The Caterpillar Magazine, online at Tyger Tyger, and The Dirigible Balloon as well as in the public art project WHAT YOU’D NEVER EXPECT A BEAR TO WEAR (and Other Ironic Outfits). Little Thoughts Press: Tell us about your What You'd Never Expect A Bear to Wear public art project. What inspired this idea, and based on your own clothing preferences, what animal do you think you'd be? Jay Brazeau: Think about a tortoise in a tracksuit, a cat in a houndstooth jacket, or a deer in hunting gear. WHAT YOU’D NEVER EXPECT A BEAR TO WEAR (and Other Ironic Outfits) is a collection of 17 poems featuring animals in, if not always ironic, certainly awkward outfits. Poems (and artwork by the enormously talented Meaghan Smith) were printed on 5x7 cards and released (one per week) in parks and playgrounds around my neighborhood. Its intent was to connect with kids in a low-tech and accessible way. I have no idea if it was successful. Of course, Instagram provided a high-tech platform too…as does the website www.ironicoutfits.com. I’ve always considered myself to be a sparrow – the unassumingly nervous kind that picks up crumbs under a café table. So, I suppose my ironic outfit would be a splendid, velvet dinner jacket. Oooh, la, la! Little Thoughts Press: Issue 4: Autumnatopoeia celebrates the sounds of the fall season. What is your favorite onomatopoeia? And what is your favorite thing about autumn? Jay Brazeau: My favorite onomatopoeia is that sad plunger-on-the-trumpet sound – Bwaa, Waaa, Waaaaaa! You know, the sound you hear in your head when your ice cream cone lands on the ground? Autumn is the harbinger of winter – which is severe where I live. I’m not fond of it. So, as soon as September hits, all I hear is Bwaa, Waaa, Waaaaaa! But I do dig the opportunity to put on a sweater. Little Thoughts Press: What initially drew you to writing kid-lit and what do you find most challenging and rewarding about writing for a young audience? Jay Brazeau: People are intended to connect with each other. There are many means to connect. My goal has always been to connect using humour. Writing poetry for children is a tool to use humour to (hopefully) connect with people of ALL ages. The most challenging aspect for me (since I have no kids, nor do I teach them) is to know what interests them. My answer is to channel my own childish nature (which is embarrassingly easy for me to access) and write about what interests me. Little Thoughts Press: Which kid-lit authors and books were your favorites growing up? Jay Brazeau: Like many, I grew up on Shel Silverstein – his poetry AND his music. As I got older I thought, “How did the same guy write all these funny, innocent poems, yet lyrics to songs that only adults should enjoy?” But that was Shel’s brilliance – he used many mediums (art, music, poetry and prose – experimenting and pushing boundaries) to connect with people of ALL ages – and always in his own way. Little Thoughts Press: And what about today? Any kid-lit writers you love and want to shout out? Jay Brazeau: Those that know me well are tired of me talking about Calef Brown, whose off-the-wall style of writing (and illustration) has me hooked. I’d love to live in that guy’s world for even five minutes. Little Thoughts Press: What advice would you give to young writers? Jay Brazeau: Read Calef Brown. Little Thoughts Press: Is there anything else you wish I had asked? Any upcoming projects, publications, or other news you'd like to share? Jay Brazeau: Gosh, I have NO NEWS. There’s literally nothing to look forward to. Although maybe someday I’ll do something noteworthy with a ukulele. Stay tuned! But be patient. And kind.

A photograph of Little Thoughts Press Issue Four: Autumnatopoeia with a sneak peek of the poem "Weather's Trick, Witch's Treat" by Abby N. Wooldridge. A white page with black text. Abby N. Wooldridge is a pediatric speech-language pathologist, wife, and mother of two incredible kids. She loves reading and writing and has dreamed of being an author her entire life. Her first poem was published on April Fool’s Day (no joke!) in Imperfect II: Poems About Perspective, an Anthology for Middle Schoolers. Connect with Abby on Twitter @ANWBooks, or visit her website to see more of her work at abbywooldridge.com. Little Thoughts Press: In addition to writing, you work as a pediatric speech-language pathologist. That is so cool! In what ways does working with children in this capacity influence or inform the way in which you write for kids? Abby N. Wooldridge: I love working with kids! They help me see the world in a new way, and they teach me things every day. I've definitely gotten a lot of picture book ideas from the kids I've worked with, too! I talk to a lot of them about having a growth mindset and not giving up. The path to publication is full of rejections, but I hope to use my journey to show kids that they can achieve their goals if they don't give up. Little Thoughts Press: Issue 4: Autumnatopoeia celebrates the sounds of the fall season. What is your favorite onomatopoeia? And what is your favorite thing about autumn? Abby N. Wooldridge: I LOVE the Autumnatopoeia issue because it combines two things I love: onomatopoeia and fall! I love hay rides, apple cider, sweater weather, and pumpkin patches. The way the dark clouds contrast with the bright blue sky and the changing colors of the leaves. The crisp cool air. The smells of the season. But my favorite thing about fall is that magical feeling in the air: the promise of new possibilities. My favorite onomatopoeia is "crackle." I love leaves that crunch and crackle under my feet, bonfires that crackle and pop, and sweet treats that crinkle and crackle when they're opened. It's cozy and exciting all at the same time. Little Thoughts Press: What initially drew you to writing kid-lit and what do you find most challenging and rewarding about writing for a young audience? Abby N. Wooldridge: I never went anywhere without a book in my hands growing up, and I've always wanted to be an author. One of my favorite memories that made me realize it was time to pursue my dream happened a few years into my career as a speech pathologist. I asked the little boy I was working with what he wanted to be when he grew up. He told me and then said, "What do you want to be when you grow up, Miss Abby?" "An author," I said, without missing a beat. I want to write books that help kids love reading as much as I do. The rejections along the way have definitely been a challenge, but reading my work to a child who loves it makes it all worthwhile. Little Thoughts Press: Which kid-lit authors and books were your favorites growing up? Abby N. Wooldridge: I loved Judy Blume, Joan Lowery Nixon, Lois Duncan, and Beverly Cleary. Little Thoughts Press: And what about today? Any kid-lit writers you love and want to shout out? Abby N. Wooldridge: I have loved being a part of the kid-lit community. There are so many amazing creators out there, and I have learned so much from all of them. I've loved being a part of 12x12, Haiku communities, critique trains, Twitter chats, and writing contests. One of the coolest things ever is being able to read my critique partners' stories before they are published. I cannot wait for their books to be out in the world! Little Thoughts Press: What advice would you give to young writers? Abby N. Wooldridge: Read and write as much as you can. Draw--even if you think you're bad at it. Silence your inner critic. Focus on fun. Share your work with friends who love to read and write, and celebrate your progress. Little Thoughts Press: Is there anything else you wish I had asked? Any upcoming projects, publications, or other news you'd like to share? Abby N. Wooldridge: No new publishing news to share right now, but I do have several submissions out and continue to be hopeful. I also recently won an honorable mention in the humor category of Susanna Leonard Hill's holiday villain contest. I was super excited about that! In terms of other things to share, I would say one of the best lessons I've learned is to share my writing with others. I've written so many stories that have never seen the light of day because of the fear that they're not good enough, but finding critique partners to trade work with has been a game changer. I learn so much from them, and they challenge me to be a better writer. In case it inspires anyone else who's on the fence about sharing their work, here's the verse that inspired me: Farmers who wait for perfect weather never plant. If they watch every cloud, they never harvest. --Ecclesiastes 11:4