News

Hello! Welcome to my annual post sharing the details of what I worked on in the past year, and my plans for the coming year. I do this for anyone interested in a deep dive, and as a way for me to keep track of everything that happens in my writing career. I really love to look back at things yearly because on a day to day basis I feel like I never get much done and am just kind of floundering. (I think it’s because most of the time I’m in the middle of projects, and there’s only a few days a year when I actually finish something.)

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Work Published in 2023

Super Pancake, with Abhi Alwar, Knopf

Super Pancake came out in February, and now the world has the epic superhero origin story it didn’t know it so desperately needed. And I got to meet Abhi in New York, we got to sign books at a bunch of incredible bookstores, and I learned how to make cute Super Pancake pancakes! I love writing in the world of Breakfast Town, and can’t wait for book two to come out in June (keeping reading for more about that…)!

Squished, with Michelle Mee Nutter, Graphix

Allergic readers rejoice, because Michelle and I published another warmhearted and relatable realistic fiction graphic novel this year–Squished! And we got to go on our very first book tour in March. Allergic had a fully online book release, so being able to share this experience with Michelle and connect with readers in person about Allergic and Squished was such a privilege. The schools and bookstores we visited and the booksellers and kids and educators we interacted with were incredible.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Michelle Mee Nutter (@buttersketch)

Michelle and I had a great conversation with Joe Shaw about Squished on Episode 246 of DTALKS Podcast:

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The Creative Writing Playbook, with Madeline Garcia, Andrews McMeel

My first activity book came out from Andrews McMeel, edited by Erinn Pascal and illustrated by Madeline Garcia. With writing, drawing, doodling, and comics activities, this playbook is perfect for creative kids! I actually have already made some videos (with coordinating free printables) that go along with the book (perfect for the classroom), but I haven’t posted them yet. (One of my goals for 2024!)

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2023 International and Foreign Language Editions

Nova: Aufbruch in die Wildnis, Germany, Karibu
illustrated by Kaja Kajfež and translated by Bettina Obrecht

Karibu in Germany published this lovely edition of HAVEN, renamed NOVA, and with a beautiful new cover and spot illustrations by Kaja Kajfež.

Allergisch, Germany, Graphix Loewe
translated by Cornelia Röser

Allergica, Italy, Editrice Il Castoro
translated Laura Bortoluzzi

Coincée, North American French edition, Scholastic Canada

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What I Worked on in 2023 (That Has Sold for Publication)

Big projects:

The Empty House, with Erin Kubo, Holiday House

I finished revising my YA graphic novel The Empty House, with help from editor Margaret Ferguson, and passed it along to the illustrator, Erin Kubo. I’ll be involved with some future edits as the art develops, but right now it is in Erin’s capable hands! I’m really excited to see the art. While you’re waiting, you can sign up for her super fun monthly Paper Surprise Sticker Club here. (My family loves the sticker club so much that we fight over the stickers.)

Ouch, with Michelle Mee Nutter, Graphix

Ouch is my and Michelle’s fourth graphic novel together! (After Allergic, Squished, and–out in 2025–Luna). This year I wrote the outline for Ouch, and to prepare for that, I took a research trip to the PNW, where Ouch is set. (It won’t come out until 2027, though, so be patient!)

Unannounced Projects

I think these will be announced fairly soon, and I can’t wait to share more. There will be a mix of picture books and graphic novel news!

Art notes and smaller remaining edits for:
Super Pancake and the Mini Muffin Mayhem (out in June 2024)
Luna (out in 2025)
The ABCs of Catching Zs (out in 2024)

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What I Worked on in 2023 (That Hasn’t Sold Yet)

-a Christmas picture book
-a kids’ comics short story collection
-a kids’ novel about a doll
-a very rough outline for an autumnal YA novel

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Surprise Good News in 2023

So grateful for all of these–thank you! I am particularly proud of the state awards, as they are typically kids’ choice.

SQUISHED
B&N most anticipated title
Instant National Indie Bestseller
National Indie Bestseller for 26 weeks
Three starred reviews
Good Housekeeping 2023 Kids’ Book Award

SUPER PANCAKE
Target Book Club pick
Book Riot’s February 2023 “Best New Children’s Books”
Evanston Public Library 101 Great Books for Kids

ALLERGIC
Hawai‘i Nēnē Award Winner
Rhode Island Book Award Winner
New Hampshire Great Stone Face Book Award Winner
Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award Winner
2024 Bluestem Award master list 
Oregon Battle of the Books selection
West Australian Young Readers’ Book Award

HAVEN: A SMALL CAT’S BIG ADVENTURE
Kansas NEA Reading Circle Recommended Titles List

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My Writing Plans for 2024

My biggest priorities this year will be to write and revise Ouch and do any work that the unannounced projects need.

If any of my finished but unsold projects sell, I will have revisions to do on those as well. (Fingers crossed!)

For a personal project (not sold) this year, I’m hoping to make headway on a kids’ Christmas graphic novel script that I’ve been brainstorming for quite some time. I don’t think I’ll get to the autumnal YA novel this year, but we’ll see if inspiration strikes. Maybe I’ll finally do NaNoWriMo?

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My 2024 Book Releases

Super Pancake and the Mini Muffin Mayhem, with Abhi Alwar, Knopf

This June 4th….

get ready….

for some mini…

muffin….

MAYHEM!!!

I can’t wait for book two of the Super Pancake series, available for pre-order now!

It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s a . . . pancake? The syrupy superhero of Breakfast Town, Peggy Pancake, is now up against her toughest, scariest obstacle yet: babysitting.

The ABCs of Catching Zs

I’m not totally sure on the release date yet, but I think this picture book is coming out fall 2024. I can reveal some for sure great news about it, however–the illustrator will be Jade Orlando! I’ve seen the sketches and am so excited about them.

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Connecting with me in 2024

• I’m still on Instagram.
• Sign up for my email newsletter (I send it two to four times a year).
• And fans of my Graphix/Scholastic books can write to me at:
  Megan Wagner Lloyd
  c/o Scholastic Inc.
  557 Broadway
  New York, NY 10012
• After a very busy first half of the year, I stopped doing most events and school visits for the second half of 2023. I’m still figuring out my approach to the new year, and will keep the events section of my website updated.
• I love stopping by bookstores! If you are a store near DC/Northern Virginia and would like me to stop by to sign stock, please get in touch.

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Wrapping up the Recap

If you’ve read this far, you’re pretty much approaching Super Pancake levels of heroism. Thank you for reading my books and sharing them with young readers!

Wishing you all the best,
Megan

Absolutely delighted to share that SQUISHED is out now and available to buy wherever books are sold!(Scholastic, Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Bookshop, or your local indie!) Can’t wait for all of you ALLERGIC readers out there to meet Avery and her family in SQUISHED!

: ) Megan

P.S. A little more about SQUISHED:

From the powerhouse duo behind the instant bestseller Allergic comes a spirited new graphic novel about finding your own space… especially when you’re in a family of nine!

Eleven-year-old Avery Lee loves living in Hickory Valley, Maryland. She loves her neighborhood, school, and the end-of-summer fair she always goes to with her two best friends. But she’s tired of feeling squished by her six siblings! They’re noisy and chaotic and the younger kids all love her a little too much. All Avery wants is her own room — her own space to be alone and make art. So she’s furious when Theo, her grumpy older brother, gets his own room instead, and her wild baby brother, Max, moves into the room she already shares with her clinging younger sister Pearl! Avery hatches a plan to finally get her own room, all while trying to get Max to sleep at night, navigating changes in her friendships, and working on an art entry for the fair. And when Avery finds out that her family might move across the country, things get even more complicated.

Megan Wagner Lloyd and Michelle Mee Nutter have once again teamed up to tell a funny, heartfelt, and charming story of family, friendship, and growing up.

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SUPER PANCAKE is available now everywhere books are sold! You can find to-buy links here, and you can add it to your Goodreads here!

I’m so happy to have this chance to entertain young readers with this very breakfast-y book full of humor and hijinks (and henchtoasts!). I know that Abhi and I had a ton of fun making it. Enjoy!

xo Megan

P.S. To those who are asking already (hooray!), Peggy, Luc, Professor Egg, and all of Breakfast Town will return next year in book two!

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Just like last year, I’m sharing the details of what I worked on in the past year, and my plans for the coming year, for everyone who enjoys both my work and a deep dive into this kind of thing.

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Work Published in 2022

• HAVEN: A SMALL CAT’S BIG ADVENTURE
  
  HAVEN came out in August in hardcover, e-book, and audiobook
  
  If you haven’t read it yet and think you would enjoy a cozy and heartfelt animal adventure story, definitely add HAVEN to your TBR! It’s a very quick read and would also make for a good read aloud (and the audiobook is a delightful listening experience!). Writing HAVEN was a labor of love, and it makes me so happy to see my little cat making her quiet way into readers’ hearts.

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• More editions of ALLERGIC: ALERGIA in Spain and ALÉRGICA and ALLERGIQUE in North America
  
  It’s such a joy to see ALLERGIC translated into other languages and reaching more readers.

• A new edition of PAPER MICE: MUISJES VAN PAPIER from Boycott Books in the Netherlands
  
  I’m so delighted that PAPER MICE is now available in Dutch.

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What I Worked on in 2022 (that has sold for publication)

• LUNA

LUNA is my and Michelle Mee Nutter’s third graphic novel with Graphix (after ALLERGIC and this year’s SQUISHED). It won’t come out until 2025, but I’ve finished the bulk of my work with the script. Michelle is working on the characters now, and it will progress from there! I’m sure we’ll make some changes to the script as we go along, but the big part of my job is finished. This script was really a joy to write, and so wonderful to work on with our editor Cassandra. I really can’t wait to see Michelle’s art continue to develop.

• THE CREATIVE WRITING PLAYBOOK

I prepared the pitch for this in 2020, and finished planning, writing, and revising it (and got to see the art and design develop!) this year.  (This is the secret, unannounced project in last year’s post!)

• A SECRET PROJECT

 …that hasn’t been announced yet (but I think will be fairly soon!). I pushed back some of the other ideas I thought I might work on this year after this, to my surprise and delight, sold.

• Various smaller revisions, edits, and art notes

…for SQUISHED, SUPER PANCAKE, SUPER PANCAKE AND THE MINI MUFFIN MAYHEM (book two in the Super Pancake series!), and THE CREATIVE WRITING PLAYBOOK. I love how many rounds of notes and edits each book goes through (I also love getting the chance to see the illustrations at multiple stages). Each round catches so many mistakes. I know some misspellings and errors inevitably make it to print, but being careful and having so many people (me, illustrators, editors, copyeditors, designers) go through the manuscript at different stages and in different ways fixes so much.

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What I Worked on in 2022 (that hasn’t sold…yet!)

• I wrote a new chapter book, expanding what was originally a picture book manuscript. I actually wrote it by hand and drew all the pictures so that I could understand how I wanted the art to work (it’s meant to be heavily illustrated). But then I typed it up and turned my (very mediocre) drawings into art notes. The whole process was very fun and different for me. I’m not sure what’s going to happen with it next—we’ll see. For now, it’s marinating on the back burner. I think it might need some more work, or just shifting in one direction or another, but I’m not quite sure how to do that yet.

• And I revised a picture book manuscript. (Crossing my fingers for some good picture book news in 2023!)
  
• Usually I always want to write more, but in 2022 I struggled a bit with creating personal work in addition to my sold projects (aside from the two projects mentioned above). I just didn’t feel as creatively inspired as usual, and had to take some time to do things like catch up on other important life stuff, read more, binge watch Stranger Things :), etc.

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Surprise Good News in 2022

I try to focus on what I can control in writing, like word count, revising, finishing projects, etc. But I wanted to take a minute to celebrate some out-of-my-control and very much appreciated surprises from this year. Hooray!!

1. ALLERGIC was nominated for an Eisner!
2. ALLERGIC was nominated for a Rhode Island Book Award!
3. The secret unannounced project sold!
4. I got to go to Comic Con and meet Michelle at last!
5. HAVEN was chosen as a Junior Library Guild book!
6. HAVEN was selected for the Texas Bluebonnet Award Master List!

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My Writing Plans for 2023

• LUNA

Any remaining edits as Michelle works on the art.

• SUPER PANCAKE AND THE MINI MUFFIN MAYHEM (SP book #2)

Any remaining edits as Abhi works on the art.

• SECRET UNANNOUNCED PROJECT

Revise it!

• OUCH

OUCH is the fourth book Michelle and I are making together (after ALLERGIC, SQUISHED, and LUNA). While Michelle’s working on the art for LUNA, I’ll start working on OUCH a bit later this year and into 2024.

• ???

I want to get some work done on some personal (unsold) projects this year, but, although I have some ideas, I’m not totally sure where to start. I have a pretty big collection of partially-finished work, and I’m just not sure where inspiration will strike. Usually I have a bit more of a plan, but this year I guess it will be a surprise to see what else I’ve worked on by the end of the year! As I mentioned earlier, I didn’t feel as creatively inspired in my personal not-on-deadline work in 2022, so this year I’m hoping to really indulge myself creatively, and give myself permission to work on whatever I find the most fun and engaging in my free time.

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My 2023 Book Releases

I’ve never had more than one book release in a year before, so I’m excited, grateful, a bit overwhelmed (and still a bit surprised!) that I have three books coming out this year! I’m including pre-order links below for those that want to buy a copy (or all three!). If you are planning on buying, pre-ordering gives books an extra boost because it helps publishers and retailers know ahead of time that there’s excitement for the book.

• SUPER PANCAKE, with Abhi Alwar
  
  It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s a… pancake? Here is a delightfully clever and endearingly funny graphic novel about a pancake named Peggy, who accidentally develops superhero abilities and must defend her home of Breakfast Town.
  
  Out February 14th, and available for pre-order now.

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• SQUISHED, with Michelle Mee Nutter
  
  From the powerhouse duo behind the instant bestseller Allergic comes a spirited new graphic novel about finding your own space… especially when you’re in a family of nine!
  
  Out March 7th and available for pre-order now from Scholastic, Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Bookshop, or your local indie.

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• THE CREATIVE WRITING PLAYBOOK, with Madeline Garcia
  
  A SUPER FUN guided activity book for kids that inspires creativity!
  
  Out June 13th and available for pre-order now from Barnes & Noble, Amazon, or your local indie.

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• Lastly, I think some more international editions of ALLERGIC are coming out this year, but I’m not sure which one(s) and when, yet!

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Connecting with me in 2023

• I’m still on Instagram.
  
• Sign up for my email newsletter (I send it two to four times a year).
  
• Fans of my Graphix/Scholastic books can write to me at:
  
  Megan Wagner Lloyd
  c/o Scholastic Inc.
  557 Broadway
  New York, NY 10012
  
• I answer questions on Goodreads.
  
• I will be doing quite a few events for my upcoming book releases. Keep an eye on the events tab of my website for more info to come, soon!

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Wrapping up the Recap

Thanks for following along, and, as always, for supporting and reading my books throughout the year! I hope they have brought you and the kids in your lives a little bit of happiness along the way.

Wishing you all the best,
Megan

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P.S. Here’s my full future publication schedule, current as of this posting, for those of you that enjoy seeing the chronological plan:

2023

Feb 14: SUPER PANCAKE, with Abhi Alwar (Knopf)
Mar 7: SQUISHED, with Michelle Mee Nutter (Graphix)
Jun 13: THE CREATIVE WRITING PLAYBOOK, with Madeline Garcia (Andrews McMeel)

2024
SUPER PANCAKE AND THE MINI MUFFIN MAYHEM, with Abhi Alwar (Knopf)

2025
LUNA, with Michelle Mee Nutter (Graphix)

2026
secret unannounced project  

2027
OUCH, with Michelle Mee Nutter (Graphix)

TBD (hoping to have more news about this in next year’s post!)
THE ABCs OF CATCHING Zzzs, illustrator TBD (Chronicle)

HAVEN: A SMALL CAT’S BIG ADVENTURE is out today from Candlewick Press! Hooray!

It’s available in hardcover, ebook, and audiobook. Happy reading!

For more about my inspiration for writing HAVEN, read below.

I thought it would be fun to share what I worked on in 2021 and my plans for 2022. I love hearing this kind of stuff from other writers, so this is for those you that also enjoy a deep dive into the details.

Work Published in 2021

1. ALLERGIC, with Michelle Mee Nutter

Thank you to everyone who watched and participated in our launch events, and to everyone who has read, reviewed, and recommended ALLERGIC. It was on the Indie’s Bestsellers List for months, and just popped up again on there again for the first two weeks of 2022!

A few ALLERGIC links:

-One of many places to buy a copy
-One of many places to buy the audiobook
-An essay I wrote about the inspiration behind ALLERGIC: “What My Allergies Taught Me About Resiliency”
-A bonus ALLERGIC minicomic: “How to Be a Friend to Animals (When You’re Allergic!)”

2. “A Sweet Spring Strawberry Day,” illustrated by Tatjana Mai-Wyss

I also had one other small publishing experience this year: a little short story about going strawberry picking in June’s Ladybug magazine called “A Sweet Spring Strawberry Day.”

What I Worked On in 2021 (that has sold for publication)

1. SQUISHED

SQUISHED is my and Michelle’s next (standalone) graphic novel together and will be out in 2023. In 2020 I finished the final-ish draft of the script for SQUISHED, and then this year I worked with our editor Cassandra and Michelle to revise the text as Michelle drew sketches and sketch revisions. Michelle has now moved onto the inking stage—very exciting! I will have more updates about SQUISHED as we get closer to the release date.

2. LUNA

After finishing the greater part of my work with SQUISHED (I will still be part of double checking and revising the text in small ways up until the book is finished), I began working on my and Michelle’s third graphic novel together, LUNA (another standalone). This is still in early stages, but I’m very happy with how it’s developing so far, and have been really enjoying working on it.

3. SUPER PANCAKE

In 2020 I wrote the script for my and Abhi Alwar’s new graphic novel project, SUPER PANCAKE. And then this year I worked with our editor Rotem to revise the text now that Abhi has drawn the sketches.

4. SUPER PANCAKE AND THE MINI MUFFIN MAYHEM

I wrote and revised the script for book two, SUPER PANCAKE AND THE MINI MUFFIN MAYHEM. I can’t wait for everyone to read these super silly books.

5. HAVEN: A SMALL CAT’S BIG ADVENTURE

I finished the bulk of my work on HAVEN in 2020, but I did spend time in 2021 with copyediting and proofreading. And got to be part of the excitement of seeing the cover develop! We also went through a title change. Originally it was going to be called HAVEN: THE STORY OF A CAT, but I love how HAVEN: A SMALL CAT’S BIG ADVENTURE communicates so much more of the scope of the story to readers.

What I Worked on in 2021 (that hasn’t sold…yet!)

(More info to come if these projects sell…)

1. Finished putting together a YA graphic novel pitch (with a super talented illustrator–wish us luck!). [2023 edit: this was THE EMPTY HOUSE]

2. Wrote/wrote and revised four picture book manuscripts.

3. Started two middle grade novels. One is in pretty rough shape, but I’m seeing a little more potential in the other one.

Writing Plans for 2022

I need to finish up:

1. SQUISHED—any remaining revisions as Michelle finishes the art.

2. SUPER PANCAKE—any remaining revisions as Abhi finishes the art.

3. SUPER PANCAKE AND THE MINI MUFFIN MAYHEM—a few remaining script changes
and then any revisions as the art develops.

And then the projects that will be my focus this year:

1. LUNA—I need to finish writing and revising. I’m really happy and feel very lucky that I get to work on this story. It feels very “me” in a way I can’t quite explain.

2. A secret project that hasn’t been announced yet. I’m looking forward to sharing more about this! [2023 edit: This was THE CREATIVE WRITING PLAYBOOK]

3. A new middle grade novel about a doll with starry-eyed dreams—I’m hoping to finish the rough draft and possibly get to revising as well.

4. A fantasy novel for adults—this project is one of my long-term goals. I’m hoping to make some amount of progress—even just a little—on it this year.

(And of course I will rearrange these priorities a bit if one of my other projects sells :)

My 2022 Book Releases

On to the most exciting part of being an author—book releases!

1. HAVEN: A SMALL CAT’S BIG ADVENTURE

The big author event of 2022 for me will be the publication of HAVEN: A SMALL CAT’S BIG ADVENTURE with Candlewick. I’m absolutely thrilled to share this story, and I’ll be sharing the cover and doing some ARC giveaways soon! It comes out in August, and I can’t wait for you all to read Haven’s story. (HAVEN is already available for pre-order!)

2. ALÉRGICA

The North American Spanish edition of ALLERGIC will also be releasing in August 2022! I’m really excited this version will be available for young readers. (Also available for pre-order!)

Where You Can Find Me in 2022

February 5, 2021, 11 AM EST: I’ll be part of the All About Graphic Novels webinar panel through MD/DE/WV SCBWI—register here

Instagram: I haven’t been on here as much lately, because it wasn’t bringing me as much joy, but I still pop in occasionally, and I always post any big news. You can find me @meganwagnerlloyd

Newsletter: You can sign up here. I send it about 2-4 times a year.

HAVEN events: TBA! As always, I will post these on my website and on Instagram

Wrapping up the Recap

If you’ve read this far, I’m truly impressed. Thank you for following along on my writing journey and supporting my books.

Wishing you all the best <3

Megan

P.S. Here’s my full future publication schedule, current as of this posting, for those of you that enjoy seeing the chronological plan:

2022, August
HAVEN: A SMALL CAT’S BIG ADVENTURE (Candlewick)
ALÉRGICA, with Michelle Mee Nutter (Graphix)

2023
SQUISHED, with Michelle Mee Nutter (Graphix)
SUPER PANCAKE, with Abhi Alwar (Knopf)
unannounced project

2024
SUPER PANCAKE AND THE MINI MUFFIN MAYHEM, with Abhi Alwar (Knopf)

2025
LUNA, with Michelle Mee Nutter (Graphix)

2026
(Nothing scheduled yet!)

2027
OUCH, with Michelle Mee Nutter (Graphix)

TBD
THE ABCs OF CATCHING Zzzs, illustrator TBD (Chronicle)