Hello, my friends, who I hope will still be my friends by the end of this post.
I’ve been putting off making this announcement. . .
At first I was just really hoping I could figure out some way to make everything work.
Where there’s a will, there’s a way, right?
But apparently, it seems. not always. . .
And then I didn’t announce partly because we’ve been so busy with other posts, and partly because I’m feeling bad about what I have to say.
But I’ve had a lot of folks asking about guidelines already, as well as a lot of wonderful, generous people offering prizes, which I SO appreciate, and I figure the time has come.
So, here it is.
Much as I love running them, I am, unfortunately, not going to be able to run the Halloweensie and Holiday Contests this year.
I’m so sorry.
After 15 consecutive years, October is not going to be the same without Halloweensie, I know.
I also know this is the 2nd year in a row I’ve had to miss the Holiday Contest. Sheesh! What is the world coming to?
You can make me wear the poop costume for Halloween, and put coal in my stocking if that helps!
But I’ve got family stuff happening and I’m afraid I’m simply not going to have the time required to manage the contests. And I don’t want to end up doing everything badly because I’m trying to do too much.
I’m hoping I’ll be able to run Valentiny in February and make it a little extra special somehow to make it up to you.
My sincere apologies for this interruption to our regularly scheduled programming. Hopefully we’ll get right back to normal for Halloweensie 2027!
Thank you for your understanding. I appreciate it. ❤️
No need to apologize, Susanna! Life gets in the way sometimes and you do so much for the kidlit community! Take a well-deserved break. I hope all is well with your family!!!
You are the best, and you are allowed breaks. We are not owed holiday contests. I’m always so glad to see humans prioritizing their sanity. Be well, and thank you for all the ways you inspire and create community among writers! 💜
Came her to say the same thing as @SWENSONSCRIBBLES! Thank you for all that you do for the writing community!
Family and your mental health always come first. Thank you for all you do for kidlit, Susanna! Take care, Sam
Samantha Cora Christian Haas
Susanna! Your Halloweensie contest has been an an amazing inspiration, as is your decision to do what makes sense for you and your family! So very thankful to you! Xo Mona
Totally understandable! You and family come first—not even questionable! And you know we’d never make you wear a poop costume! However we are rethinking the coal thing.🤣
You deserve a break, Susanna…I’ve said that for years! Your contests are the best but people can wait for the next one. Enjoy your family time! 💕
Gosh, has it really been 15 years?! I’d say a break is well-deserved and overdue. No need to feel guilty. Family is important and should definitely come first. 💕
Susanna, you do so much for the picture-book community. Wishing you all the best with your family and sending a big hug of gratitude!
Susanna, no apologies necessary. That you’ve run these contests for 15 years is an amazing gift to our community. Family comes first. Always. Wishing you & your family well!
There’s no way we can fully appreciate how much work you are doing behind the scenes, but it must be a TON! You’ve done such an amazing job running these contests, and we all appreciate you so much.
You are doing what is most important. Family is always first. I appreciate all you do and how much I learn from it all. Thank you. Enjoy time with your family.
Susanna, we will miss it but fully understand your decision. You have been so generous with your time, support, and effort. Family first!
Just take care of yourself and your family! No need to apologize or feel bad!
No need for apologies! The contests are fun, but not if they come at the expense of your family or your mental health. Take all the time you need.
As you can guess, I’m sorry for anything stressful or sad that may be happening but also happy that you are taking the time to be with and concentrate on family. Love you so much, dear Susanna.
No apologies necessary. Family is always first. I hope everything is going well.
Family always comes first.
Thank you for all the work you put into these contests as I absolutely love them, but I’m also glad you’re putting yourself first and taking a step back!
Once again..issues leaving comments … But here is my response… apology not necessary! Family comes first! Appreciate all you do for us all the time. Hope all the family issues are happy ones. Many blessings to you and yours
Susanna, family comes first, hands down! No need to feel bad about it. You put in so much time and energy into the writing world and I know I speak for many of us here in your community when I say we appreciate you so much. I hope all is well with you and your family. Now we have more time to plan for the Valentiny contest!❤️😊
Completely understand! A key to navigating life and careers successfully is realizing what we can and can’t do. Congrats to you for doing this.
Your contests are truly something to look forward to,Susanna, but we can carry on. Thank you for all you do for the writing community. Please take care of yourself and your family.
These are wonderful contests but not as important as you taking care of yourself and your family. All the best to you!
I’m so glad you’re taking the time to put your needs first and look after family, Susanna. You don’t owe us anything! We are just so grateful for this wonderful community. Sending energy and thanks
We’re still friends at the end of your post!! 🙂 Relax and enjoy your time with family – no regrets. Thankful for you, your encouraging and informative posts, and contests. I’ll start thinking LOVE-ly thoughts for the next contest.
No worries! Your upcoming contests will certainly be missed, but I’m glad that you’re making space for what you need to do. Wishing you and your family the best. Thanks for all you do!
We understand! Take care of your family with no worries. We can wait for next time. Take care! Wishing you and your family the best!
No need to apologize. Family comes first, and I admire you for prioritizing them over a competition.
You amazing Susanna!! No need to apologize! We appreciate all the hard work that goes into everything you do! Family always come first!!!
No apologies necessary. You’ve given us all so much joy from past contests that it will carry us for a while. (I’ve already stuck my critique group with a Halloween story!) Take care of yourself and your family, and thank you!
The balancing act struggle is real…family is the most important thing. Wishing you all the best.
You’ve been running these contests faithfully for years. Glad you are taking a break to care for yourself and your family. Wishing you lots of rest and peace in this season.
Of course we understand. You have been truly amazing to do it for as long as you have. We will miss it and miss you, but hope that you are able to relax (don’t worry about us) and take care of yourself and family. Wishing you all the very best holiday season EVER! Hugs.
No worries at all. Family first, ALWAYS.
Family stuff >> well, everything else!
We’ll be fine.
Oh Susanna, you do SO much for SO many – no apologies needed at all!! Family is everything. ❤️
Hugs to you, Susanna! You do so much for the Picture Book Community~Thank You. Do what works for you. Live changes and we all must go with the flow. Hope all is well.
Thank you for all the amazing time and energy you put into the KidLit community, Susanna! You’re amazing!! Focus on your family now, and I look forward to Valentiny ❤
No worries, Susanna. I was anticipating some really unpleasant news. Please take care of yourself & your loved ones. Anyone who thinks otherwise can go put on a dunce cap and sit in the corner of a room, LOL. Thanks for being so concerned about us! 🙂
Oh, Susannah, I know it breaks your heart, but you have to do what’s best for you and your family. We will survive! Hugs to you! Now go find your prettiest princess costume and wear it proudly!
You do so much for the picture community, Susanna, which has not gone unnoticed. There is absolutely no need to apologize. Time to focus on the family stuff happening. Wishing you all the best.
Susanna,
I came here to say what everyone else is saying. Along with how grateful I know we all are for everything you do!!!
We all feel your pain, dear Susanna. And we all TOTALLY understand! You were my first mentor…and your contests were a huge part of the foundation of my writing journey. And 15 years later…YES, 15 years…you are STILL a beacon of light for me…and for the rest of the kid lit community…whether or not you host a contest.
Sending hugs and love always!
Silly girl! No apologies. We are so grateful for all you have done for all of us, and all you still do just be being you. Please take care of yourself. Family is always first. Sending big hugs!
Hello Susanna, I get it. Wishing you peace, love, and strength as you work through this time.This too shall pass and we will see you
Sending hugs as you deal with family.
I’m impressed you do for the kid lit community. I understand the problems of trying to do too much. Sending thanks and hugs.
A poop costume! –certainly not!!! We are so lucky to receive these great gifts from you every year. Take a load off, Santa!
Susanna, this is the problem when you have done something so well for such a long time! Give yourself permission! It’s okay to step away and let other contests take over the fall landscape and offer one each year and maybe even that one will end up being taken over by someone else too if you want to do other things. You are amazing and wonderful and no one thinks you should wear a bad costume. 🤗
You’re so kind, Laura, thank you ❤ I would do the contests this year if I could – I love to do them – and I do plan to get back to them – at least Halloweensie. Holiday, I think, is always a little problematical not just for me but for everyone because it's such a busy time of year. But I appreciate you not wanting to make me wear the poop costume 🙂