This month I learned from the following books that there are a LOT of animals that glow: Mysterious Glowing Mammals: An Unexpected Discovery Sparks a Scientific Investigation by Maria Parrott-Ryan This book tells the story of scientific discovery. I love how it shows the twists and turns that scientists follow when they’re exploring a topic.   Animals That Glow: Fireflies and Glowworms by Joyce Markovics This book highlights a few animals that glow on land, specifically fireflies and glowworms. Animals That Glow: Octopuses and Squid by Joyce Marko ..read more

We are thrilled to welcome Jim Averbeck to the Agent Spotlight on The Mixed-up Files of Middle Grade Authors today. Jim Averbeck is NEW to agenting as of his September announcement, but definitely not to #kidlit. He is looking to represent picture book author/illustrators as well as middle grade and YA authors. The first client to join him was the NYT #1 bestselling, critically acclaimed author Ellen Hopkins. We are excited to hear all about his new venture with East/West Literary Agency.    Welcome Jim. Are you ready for some questions? ED: Your #kidlit resume includes so many “chap ..read more

Ever wonder about fireflies or glowing ocean waves? Scientists are discovering just how many plants and animals use biofluorescence, bioluminescence, and ultra-violet light and how we might use these phenomena in the future.   Mysterious Glowing Mammals: An Unexpected Discovery Sparks a  Scientific Investigation by Maria Parrott-Ryan When a forest ecologist took an ultraviolet flashlight outside one night, he discovered something unexpected – a flying squirrel that glowed bright pink! The squirrel wasn’t making its own light using chemicals. Instead, it absorbed UV light and released ..read more

I’m thrilled to welcome Andrews McMeel Kids editor Hannah Kimber to the Mixed-Up Files. She is the proud cat mom of Gordo, Kiko, and Pickle. She is also my editor for HART & SOULS. I am so grateful she could tear herself away from her work and her fur babies long enough to share her wisdom and publishing insights.  Let’s do this!  (Meow)  Lisa: Hi, Hannah! Please tell us a bit about Andrews McMeel Kids. Hannah: Andrews McMeel is known in the publishing world for its high quality webcomic collections, poetry, and of course a handful of middle grade bestsellers like Big Nate ..read more

By Faran Fagen Acclaimed author Matt De La Pena’s newest picture book, Home, is coming out in March. However, his little-kept secret is that he’s working on his first middle grade novel in many years that comes out in 2026. Matt zoomed in with the Mixed-Up-Files to tell us about his dive into middle grade amid the release of his latest picture book and other adventures. Q: Where did your travels take you just before this interview? A: Well, I just visited the Galapagos Islands on family vacation. Just before that, however, I was in author mode at the Juvenile Detention Center in Fresno, Califo ..read more

Today, we’re thrilled to welcome New York Times bestselling author Michael P. Spradlin to the Mixed-Up Files! Michael, who happens to be one of the most prolific authors on Earth–he’s written dozens of books for children, teens, and adults–is here to talk about his latest MG novel, Rise of the Spider, the first of a planned six-book series set in pre-World War II Germany. The novel, praised by Kirkus as “[A] fast-moving, stirring tale….Clear of stance and cogent of theme,” is out now from Margaret K. McElderry Books. And now, without further ado… Interview with Michael P. Spradlin MR: Welcome ..read more

Welcome to STEM Tuesday: Author Interview, a repeating feature for the last Tuesday of every month. Go Science-Tech-Engineering-Math! Today we’re interviewing Sarah Aronson, author of the award winning book: Just Like Rube Goldberg.  The book is a fascinating look at the journey of a trained engineer who decides to take a job at a newspaper instead. His drawings of ridiculous inventions doing simple tasks became so popular, people use them as a starting point for creating their own “Goldberg” inventions. “Aronson notes that Goldberg ‘drew comics to make us look closer’; fittingly, this th ..read more

Concerned about books bans? Unsure how best to support schools and libraries in providing books to readers? The organizers behind the annual Banned Books Week (September 22-28, 2024) provides helpful ways to get involved, whether you’re an author, illustrator, publishing professional, teacher, librarian, parent, caregiver, or other concerned citizen.  Here are five ways to help. 1. Celebrate Let Freedom Read Day  The team behind Banned Books Week asks that we all do one thing to keep books in the hands of readers on September 28, 2024. To celebrate Let Freedom Read Day, you could: Re ..read more

It is my extreme pleasure to welcome Alexandra Alessandri to the Mixed Up Files today. Alexandra Alessandri Alexandra Alessandri is the award-winning author of several books for children, including Isabel and Her Colores go to School, The Enchanted Life of Valentina Mejía, and Lupita’s Hurricane Palomitas. The daughter of Colombian immigrants, she is also an educator and a poet. She lives in Florida with her husband and son and today, she’s here to tell us about her latest book GROW UP, LUCY ZAPATA. About the Book and Characters: Luchy and Cami’s friendship is central to the story. W ..read more

In today’s Author Spotlight, Jo Hackl chats with USA Bestselling author Amalie Jahn about her new middle-grade novel, Team Canteen (Pixel+Ink).  Amalie is the recipient of the Literary Classics Seal of Approval and the Readers’ Favorite Gold Medal for her debut YA novel, THE CLAY LION. Her first YA contemporary, THE NEXT TO LAST MISTAKE, won the prestigious IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award in 2020. She is a contributing blogger with the Huffington Post and Southern Writers Magazine. A TED speaker, human rights advocate, and active promoter of kindness, she lives with her husband, two children ..read more