Author: Halli Gomez

Halli Gomez writes for children and young adults and works at her independent bookstore. When no one is looking, she sock skates through the house and talks to dogs like they are human. When people are looking, she enjoys reading, outdoors, and breaking out of escape rooms with her family. She is represented by Deborah Warren of East West Literary Agency. Her debut young adult novel List of Ten (Sterling, 3/16/21) won the 2021 NC Young People's Literature Award. You can find Halli on Twitter or her website halligomez.com.
Conferences & writing retreats, Publishing & Promotion, SCBWI

It’s Never Too Early: Marketing for Published and Non-published Authors

This year we are surrounded, slammed, by political news, and unfortunately, there is no end in sight. Not even on November 4, 2020.  It got me thinking about those poor books being published later this year. Will their announcements get lost in the presidential candidate bickering? Will the book tweets disappear in the mass of berating tweets from—? How will readers hear the good news? … Continue reading It’s Never Too Early: Marketing for Published and Non-published Authors

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Book Awards, Book Recommendations, Diversity, Windows & Mirrors, Young Adult

The 2019 Cybils Awards Young Adult Finalists

I had the great pleasure of being of Cybils Awards round 2 judge for the third year. I got to read amazing books that I may not have had a chance to read and vote on the best with other judges. When I say that we, round 2 judges, had a hard time choosing the winner, I’m not lying. It was tough ya’ll!  The seven … Continue reading The 2019 Cybils Awards Young Adult Finalists

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Conferences & writing retreats, Creativity and Craft, Diversity, Writer's Life

Writing Neurodiverse Characters Responsibly

Who is ready for WriteOnCon? You know we are! For those who can’t wait until next week, I am going to give you a sneak peek into my presentation about neurodiversity. The entire presentation will be shown on Sunday, February 23, 2020, from 12:00 – 12:30 pm EST. Of course, if you get an extended ticket, you can view all events throughout March 22, 2020. … Continue reading Writing Neurodiverse Characters Responsibly

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Book Recommendations, Chapter Books, Middle Grade, Publishing & Promotion

Recommended: SHOWTIME SABOTAGE by Verity Weaver

Do you like to solve mysteries? Know an amateur detective? Need a series for reluctant readers? The What Happened Series is the answer. And SHOWTIME SABOTAGE is the perfect place to start.  Green Valley Middle School’s theater students knew their production of Pirates and Lost Boys was cursed. After months of snow days, chicken pox, and flaring rivalries, they have finally made it to opening … Continue reading Recommended: SHOWTIME SABOTAGE by Verity Weaver

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Creativity and Craft, Writer's Life

Jump Back into Writing With a Hop

Holy moly! A new year. A new decade. Both come with excitement, motivation, and promise. But they also come with stress. If you’re like most people, you didn’t get a lot of writing done during the holidays. Either you were enjoying a house filled with friends and family, filling someone else’s house with holiday cheer, or hanging out at home stuck in a sugar rush-crash-rush-crash … Continue reading Jump Back into Writing With a Hop

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Creativity and Craft, Writer's Life

Writing Homework: Watch TV

LEARNING ABOUT WRITING BY NOT WRITING. WHAT? I have a summer writing assignment for you but don’t worry, it won’t be graded and it’s something you can do with family and friends. It doesn’t even require pen, paper, or opening a Word document. But trust me, it will help your writing tremendously. Here’s what you need: A TV or computer, a comfortable chair, pillow and … Continue reading Writing Homework: Watch TV

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Conferences & writing retreats, Creativity and Craft, SCBWI, Writer's Life, Writing Retreat

Tales From an Introvert: My Experience at the SCBWI Winter Conference 2019

We’ve all heard that writers are introverts. Maybe it’s because we spend so much time working alone, or because we’re always in our heads thinking, developing, and writing stories.  Some writers know how to get out of their own minds and socialize when at conferences. Others do not.  I fall into the DO NOT category. But let me explain. Not only am I constantly writing … Continue reading Tales From an Introvert: My Experience at the SCBWI Winter Conference 2019

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Book Recommendations, Craft Books, Creativity and Craft, News, Publishing & Promotion, Writer's Life

Book Release! Emotion Thesaurus Second Edition

Hello! Today I’m helping authors Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi launch their new book, The Emotion Thesaurus (Second Edition)! You might know about The Emotion Thesaurus and even have it on your shelf. But chances are, you may not have known a second edition was in the works. Becca and Angela decided to keep it a surprise and only recently announced the book was releasing! So not only … Continue reading Book Release! Emotion Thesaurus Second Edition

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Book Recommendations, Middle Grade, Publishing & Promotion

Recommendation: Pink Hair and Other Terrible Ideas

Kids have so much going on in their lives today with school, grades, friends, and family, it’s hard to get through it all, especially for kids who keep their struggles to themselves. What I love about books is that they are friends, the kind who show kids they’re not alone. Pink Hair and Other Terrible Ideas, by Andrea Pyros, does that by tackling issues such as … Continue reading Recommendation: Pink Hair and Other Terrible Ideas

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Book Recommendations, Craft Books, Creativity and Craft, News, Publishing & Promotion, Writer's Life

Big News: New Thesaurus Revealed!

Have you ever held onto a secret you’ve been dying to share, and then finally…you can? For the last few weeks I’ve been helping Angela and Becca at Writers Helping Writers keep a BIG secret…what the next book in their thesaurus series will be. It might seem strange to not tell one’s readers what book you’re planning to release…unless you happen to write books on Show, … Continue reading Big News: New Thesaurus Revealed!

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Conferences & writing retreats, Creativity and Craft, Writer's Life

Ghosts, Haunts, and Haints: A Paranormal Writing Weekend

Do you believe in ghosts?
Do you love ghost stories?
Do you want to write ghost stories?
If you answered yes to these questions, then I dare you to visit the historic and haunted city of Charleston, South Carolina and ponder the ghostly stories inhabiting the shadowy corners of your mind. Continue reading Ghosts, Haunts, and Haints: A Paranormal Writing Weekend

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Author, Four on 400, Interviews, Middle Grade, Young Adult

Interview with Author Christine Grabowski Four on 400 Winner

Welcome Christine Grabowski, young adult author and Four on 400 contest winner! We are excited to share news of your debut young adult novel and learn about your path to publication. Let’s start with your novel. Tell us about Dickensen Academy.  Dickensen Academy is a young YA contemporary fantasy that bridges the gap between MG and YA. It is about a fourteen-year-old girl, Autumn, who … Continue reading Interview with Author Christine Grabowski Four on 400 Winner

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