And now for the kidlit community's grooviest contest...Kidlit Vibes 2023! 

The challenge: Spin the "wheel of feels" and use the vibe given as a prompt for creating a kidlit story (12 years of age and younger), all in 125 words or less. The contest is open to both unagented and agented creators alike, and the entries are judged anonymously. 

Contest dates are May 12-14th, so there's still time to spin and create your own story. You can find more details at the link here and all the great prizes can be found here. 

Last year I landed on "longing," which was a great (and prize winning!) inspiration. This year I spun "cozy," which happens to be one of my favorite feelings. I hope you like this little taste of a kidlit cozy mystery. 

Thank you for reading! Let me know your thoughts in the comments - did you get a cozy vibe? Do you want to curl up with a cup of cocoa and a plate of cookies and find out whodunnit? 
​
p.s. Feel free to leave a link to your own entry, as I'd love to read yours, too. Good luck!

​​

by Carrie Karnes-Fannin
​(125 words)

Autumn rain pattered on the burrow’s window and sugar wafted into the air as they opened the old trunk. “Granny was Watson Woods’ best baker ever,” Blanche said. “I hope her recipes are in here.”

Max’s long ears flopped in his face while he rummaged inside. He held up some yellowed papers tied with twine. “Is this a cookbook?”

Blanche squinted as she made out the old-fashioned handwriting. “The Case...of...the...Pie Spy.”

“Detective notes?” Max clapped his paws together. “Ooh, delicious...let’s read them!”

“Now?”

“Pretty please?”
​
Blanche laughed. “Oh, who could say ‘no’ to that face?” 

Max settled against her shoulder with a contented sigh as Blanche began to read. “My latest creation was cooling on the windowsill when the stranger knocked...”
 
 

 Congratulations to all the winners and honorable mentions in this year's 50 Precious Words contest!

​This was an amazing outpouring of creative talent--756 entries!--as well as support and celebration by the kidlit community. (Check out the list here. ) A heartfelt thank you to Vivian Kirkfield and the rest of the judges for all the time and care they put into reading and making decisions, as well as the generous prize donors. 

​I'm pleased to say my entry MY BEST FRIEND IS GONE AND ALL I WANT TO DO IS CHEW THE FURNITURE is among the honorable mentions. My muse Bodhi is stoked at being a little bit famous. 

I'm thrilled to see my YA piece 'The Trouble with Chloe and Olivia' listed as an honorable mention! If you'd like to read my story, check it out here.

Read all about the finalists in PB, MG, and YA, as well as additional honorable mentions on Kailei Pew's blog here. 

I don't know how well I did with the story arc aspect.  But even so, I had fun with this little piece, which is a love letter to newer parents everywhere.

What do you think? Drop a note and let me know in the comments if you relate to this one.

Thanks for reading!

You
might not believe this
​right now...
 
You
might not feel it,
with my small, sticky hand flung
across your face, with just one hour left
to sleep.
 
You
might be pressed
to imagine this as you discover the two bites
I took from the very last piece
of double-chocolate
pie.
 
You
might not see it,
while you scrub those knee-high crayon marks 
from the bathroom wall.
 
You
might not believe this
right now,
but...

...I love you.