S. J. (Sam) Taylor

@jsamtaylorauthor.bsky.social

Author of fantasy steeped in folklore | Up Next: HELGA THE FAIR (Atheneum, Summer 2026) | Out Now: MADSI THE TRUE, BEING ACE, WE ARE THE FIRE (as Sam Taylor) | Repped by Sandra Proudman of Gallt Zacker Literary Agency | 🖤🩶🤍💜 www.sjtaylorbooks.com

There's a meme going round that begins: "Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you..." My challenge to you now, is to imagine how different your life might be if you'd never read them, and share _that_. These are the futures we're robbing from kids every time a book is banned.

Posted this to my Instagram yesterday; sharing here now: My open letter in response to the rising concerns of authors as we face the next US presidential administration and the Project 2025 policies tied to it. I’ll copy the text of the letter below.

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It’s time for my ever-growing thread of tax write-offs for authors & illustrators to keep in mind as we head into year-end. ✨ Book-related travel ✨ New computer/equipment ✨ Internet / office space ✨ Paper, office stuff, packaging items, stamps ✨ Software like Word, Scrivener, Canva Pro etc.

Book haul from #NCTE2024! MG: - Library Girl by Polly Horvath - A Song for You & I by K. O’Neill - Vanya and the Wild Hunt by Sangu Mandanna - The Storm Singer by Sawat Chadda - Family Week by Sarah Moon (queer MG!) YA: - Giddy Barber Explodes in 11 by Dina Havranek - Nahia by Emily Jones

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Fun so far at #ncte2024! Yesterday I got to sign copies of MADSI THE TRUE. Brought my author copies—this seemed a great opportunity to get them into the hands of teachers and librarians (along with the educators’ guide I’ve created). Brought 20 copies of each; they were gone in 24 minutes.🤯

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*waves* Hi friends, professional writer person here. Even for mid-list, mid-career authors, things are pretty bad right now. A lot of my colleagues are looking for day jobs & cutting back/quitting creative writing. Soooooo…I present: 3 free things you can do to help writer whose work you like.

Scene: About to read Little T a book Grandma sent, THE NIGHT BEFORE THE FIRST DAY OF FIRST GRADE Little T: I’m shy of this book. Me: Are you nervous about starting first grade next week? Little T: It’s… just… [points to the girl’s hand on the peanut butter] How is she keeping her hand clean??

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Little T: My work is playing! Me: And what’s my work? Me: [silently] Please, PLEASE don’t say dishes, laundry, cooking, or any other of those endless chores. Little T: Your work is writing books! Me: 😏 Me: Good answer.

Last night I dreamed I submitted my newest WIP for an editor manuscript consultation. The editor hated everything about it and gave me a 0.5% (like they were grading it, I guess?) I… might be anxious about some things I have coming up. 😅 (Also: the editor in my dream was NOT my current editor!)

As a general rule, if you need an onset after too much Online Bookworld Feelings, try talking about it from the beginning with non-Bookworld people. Ask them if they ever read Goodreads, or know what it is. Ask if they've ever read a trade review in their lives. How often they check an imprint name.