From The Mixed Up Files

Hello, and welcome back to STEM Tuesday’s Writing Tips and Resources. I’m Stephanie. The intersection of trees and writing is a well-traversed one. I’ve been meaning to write about it for years, to really analyze the motif across children’s literature. Trees are symbolic of many nouns… people, places, things, and ideas. At least for me, trees invoke feelings of magic, wonder, stability, and safety. I feel confident in surmising the same is true of others; otherwise, why are they so prevalent in these writings? As an English major, Sigmund Freud captured my attention because of...

To kick off the new year, I polled the busy members of From The Mixed-Up Files of Middle-Grade Authors to share their bookish goals for 2026, whether for reading, writing, or something else. Here’s what they said:  “I’d like to stretch my writerly wings and attempt something out of my wheelhouse, like a picture book or chapter-book series. It’s time to shake off the cobwebs in 2026!” — Melissa Roske “Instead of reading and writing more, more, more, I want to engage with books in an intentional and thoughtful way.” — Jennifer Kraar “I’d like to finish the second draft...

  Happy 2026 Mixed-Up Files readers! We have some exciting new middle-grade books coming out this January. Here are just a few on them!   Gumshoe by Brenna Thummler In the hot, gossipy town of Stony Lonesome, shy eleven-year old Willa interacts with others the only way that feels right...

Hello, and welcome back to STEM Tuesday’s Writing Tips and Resources. I’m Stephanie. The intersection of trees and writing is a well-traversed one. I’ve been meaning to write about it for years, to really analyze the motif across children’s literature. Trees are symbolic of many nouns… people, places, things, and...

In today’s Author Spotlight, Jo Hackl chats with award-winning author John Claude Bemis about his new graphic novel, Rodeo Hawkins & the Daughters of Mayhem.  John Claude Bemis is the author of seven middle-grade novels, and a picture book. A former elementary school teacher, John earned his Master’s of Education...

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and I’m not talking about the holiday season. It’s almost time for the American Library Association’s (ALA) annual youth media awards! Held on Monday, January 26th, 2026, the youth media awards include the most prestigious awards for children’s literature, including the John...

Author Interview – Leslie Vedder I’m so excited to be able to introduce you to author Leslie Vedder today. Leslie is a YA author who has written a beautiful Middle grade fantasy duo, and today we will be discussing the second book, THE NOWHERE BEAST, coming out February 10th, 2026...

Don’t wait for a writing community to show up. Create one. Invite, seek and you will find. Turn off your phone. Read. Read. Read. Did I say read? Live in gratitude If you are not where you want to be that’s okay. It means you know what you want. Even...