Anica Mrose Rissi
@anicarissi.bsky.social
Author of books for kids & teens 🌈 Fan of dogs & ice cream 💚 Faculty at VCFA WCYA
Most recent books: WISHING SEASON and HIDE AND DON'T SEEK
Up next: GIRL REFLECTED IN KNIFE (4/2026)
https://anicarissi.com/
newsletter: https://thisistheeavesdrop.com/
Most recent books: WISHING SEASON and HIDE AND DON'T SEEK
Up next: GIRL REFLECTED IN KNIFE (4/2026)
https://anicarissi.com/
newsletter: https://thisistheeavesdrop.com/
Pinned
Anica Mrose Rissi
@anicarissi.bsky.social
· Nov 15
Drank my tea. Called my reps. Now let's write some words.
Went to the local bookstore, got some cool gifts.
December 5, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Went to the local bookstore, got some cool gifts.
Reposted by Anica Mrose Rissi
Hi. I transcribe child forensic interviews
You know who doesn’t want kids to know the correct names for body parts? The predators that put those kids in a position to need child forensic interviews.
Those kids NEVER know the right words for their body parts and it is always a hinderance.
You know who doesn’t want kids to know the correct names for body parts? The predators that put those kids in a position to need child forensic interviews.
Those kids NEVER know the right words for their body parts and it is always a hinderance.
It’s okay to name butts. It's okay to laugh about them. It is developmentally appropriate and healthy for toddlers (let alone fifth graders) to name body parts. We all have bums. What is the fear here? 5/
December 3, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Hi. I transcribe child forensic interviews
You know who doesn’t want kids to know the correct names for body parts? The predators that put those kids in a position to need child forensic interviews.
Those kids NEVER know the right words for their body parts and it is always a hinderance.
You know who doesn’t want kids to know the correct names for body parts? The predators that put those kids in a position to need child forensic interviews.
Those kids NEVER know the right words for their body parts and it is always a hinderance.
Reposted by Anica Mrose Rissi
Reading old court transcripts and, I mean, whomst
December 3, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Reading old court transcripts and, I mean, whomst
Big plans for the day.
December 3, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Big plans for the day.
Reposted by Anica Mrose Rissi
Somewhere out there, some writer wants to do something with some conceptual or structural overlap with mine. The industry will treat my book as a test. Even if it is well-written, if it doesn't succeed, they will say there isn't a market for books like it and specifically, authors like me.
December 2, 2025 at 11:24 PM
Somewhere out there, some writer wants to do something with some conceptual or structural overlap with mine. The industry will treat my book as a test. Even if it is well-written, if it doesn't succeed, they will say there isn't a market for books like it and specifically, authors like me.
Okay, here’s what I think you should get for that person on your list—the one interested in history, romance, audacity, celebrity, the media, publishing, aviation, exploration, the Jazz Age, Great Depression, NYC, Boston, ambition, the creation of legends, and/or well-researched, well-told stories:
December 2, 2025 at 10:18 PM
Okay, here’s what I think you should get for that person on your list—the one interested in history, romance, audacity, celebrity, the media, publishing, aviation, exploration, the Jazz Age, Great Depression, NYC, Boston, ambition, the creation of legends, and/or well-researched, well-told stories:
Reposted by Anica Mrose Rissi
This cross-pollination IS how new ideas happen. EVERY field needs humanistic thinking, that's why they call PhDs "Doctors of Philosophy"
Alt text for those who need it. This is amazing.
December 2, 2025 at 11:38 AM
This cross-pollination IS how new ideas happen. EVERY field needs humanistic thinking, that's why they call PhDs "Doctors of Philosophy"
Reposted by Anica Mrose Rissi
“How are sales?”
What’s the worst question someone can ask after you tell them your profession? For linguists, it’s definitely “how many languages do you speak?”, but I’m curious what else is happening to the rest of y’all out there?!
December 1, 2025 at 8:12 PM
“How are sales?”
"Have you thought about making it into a movie?"
What’s the worst question someone can ask after you tell them your profession? For linguists, it’s definitely “how many languages do you speak?”, but I’m curious what else is happening to the rest of y’all out there?!
December 1, 2025 at 11:35 PM
"Have you thought about making it into a movie?"
Today I finished (this round of) a picture book revision that I've been thinking about and playing with, based on an editor's feedback, since January 2021.
I love making things. The figuring it out part feels SO GOOD once the pieces finally click into place.
Also: It takes the time it takes.
I love making things. The figuring it out part feels SO GOOD once the pieces finally click into place.
Also: It takes the time it takes.
December 1, 2025 at 11:05 PM
Today I finished (this round of) a picture book revision that I've been thinking about and playing with, based on an editor's feedback, since January 2021.
I love making things. The figuring it out part feels SO GOOD once the pieces finally click into place.
Also: It takes the time it takes.
I love making things. The figuring it out part feels SO GOOD once the pieces finally click into place.
Also: It takes the time it takes.
"which doesn't mean that the books aren't good, only that the great machinery of merchandising didn't engage its gears in quite the right way" ♥️
November 30, 2025 at 4:58 PM
"which doesn't mean that the books aren't good, only that the great machinery of merchandising didn't engage its gears in quite the right way" ♥️
Introduce yourself with 5 animals you've seen in the wild:
* sloth
* squirrel
* another squirrel
* further squirrel
* really I've seen a lot of squirrels
* sloth
* squirrel
* another squirrel
* further squirrel
* really I've seen a lot of squirrels
Introduce yourself with 5 animals you’ve seen in the wild:
* mountain gorilla
* southern right whale
* northern right whale
* black bear
* lion
* mountain gorilla
* southern right whale
* northern right whale
* black bear
* lion
Introduce yourself with 5 animals you’ve seen in the wild:
• mountain lion
• falcon
• coyote
• black bear
• humpback whale
• mountain lion
• falcon
• coyote
• black bear
• humpback whale
November 29, 2025 at 2:50 AM
Introduce yourself with 5 animals you've seen in the wild:
* sloth
* squirrel
* another squirrel
* further squirrel
* really I've seen a lot of squirrels
* sloth
* squirrel
* another squirrel
* further squirrel
* really I've seen a lot of squirrels
Reposted by Anica Mrose Rissi
Literally buying one copy of a book at your local indie bookstore can mean the difference in whether they buy future books from that author.
November 24, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Literally buying one copy of a book at your local indie bookstore can mean the difference in whether they buy future books from that author.
Reposted by Anica Mrose Rissi
Most publishers (there are always exceptions) decide whether or not to buy a second book (or a third etc) based on how the previous book did. So when you pirate a book in most cases it’s less about the money you just stole from both author and publisher it’s about the future book you just killed.
November 25, 2025 at 11:29 PM
Most publishers (there are always exceptions) decide whether or not to buy a second book (or a third etc) based on how the previous book did. So when you pirate a book in most cases it’s less about the money you just stole from both author and publisher it’s about the future book you just killed.
Reposted by Anica Mrose Rissi
Related: I feel like a lot of the piracy vs buying discourse (🤢 that this is even a thing) gets framed as stealing money from individual authors vs. stealing from faceless corporate publishers when for most authors it’s about whether or not they’ll get to publish another book.
November 25, 2025 at 11:22 PM
Related: I feel like a lot of the piracy vs buying discourse (🤢 that this is even a thing) gets framed as stealing money from individual authors vs. stealing from faceless corporate publishers when for most authors it’s about whether or not they’ll get to publish another book.
Off-topic, but at today's elementary school visit I learned that 6-7 is now a thing with SECOND GRADERS.
November 22, 2025 at 2:44 AM
Off-topic, but at today's elementary school visit I learned that 6-7 is now a thing with SECOND GRADERS.
Today at my final school visit of the year, grades 3-5 did a dramatic reading of a spooky story & brainstormed ideas for scary stories about *not* usually scary things (pencils! unicorns!). K-2 invented a tale about a shark named Leo who is frightened of a cucumber (he's never seen that color green)
November 21, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Today at my final school visit of the year, grades 3-5 did a dramatic reading of a spooky story & brainstormed ideas for scary stories about *not* usually scary things (pencils! unicorns!). K-2 invented a tale about a shark named Leo who is frightened of a cucumber (he's never seen that color green)
November 20, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Reposted by Anica Mrose Rissi
I'm editing an anthology about unlikable characters and seeking work from younger writers, 15-21. If you know of one such writer who might want to submit their work for consideration, please share this call for submissions: audacity.substack.com/p/acquired-t...
Acquired Tastes: A Call for Submissions
For younger writers, ages 15-21
audacity.substack.com
November 19, 2025 at 8:23 PM
I'm editing an anthology about unlikable characters and seeking work from younger writers, 15-21. If you know of one such writer who might want to submit their work for consideration, please share this call for submissions: audacity.substack.com/p/acquired-t...
Reposted by Anica Mrose Rissi
What is a novel if not a maze? You, the author, its tormented minotaur. Plot is expensive and I see no need for it when there is enough pain to go around to begin with.
Okay, but does a novel actually need a plot?
November 19, 2025 at 8:37 PM
What is a novel if not a maze? You, the author, its tormented minotaur. Plot is expensive and I see no need for it when there is enough pain to go around to begin with.
Reposted by Anica Mrose Rissi
Well...yes.
But it doesn't have to be a GOOD one.
But it doesn't have to be a GOOD one.
Okay, but does a novel actually need a plot?
November 19, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Well...yes.
But it doesn't have to be a GOOD one.
But it doesn't have to be a GOOD one.
Okay, but does a novel actually need a plot?
November 19, 2025 at 8:15 PM
Okay, but does a novel actually need a plot?
Sometimes just opening the darn document and rereading counts as a good writing day.
November 16, 2025 at 12:08 AM
Sometimes just opening the darn document and rereading counts as a good writing day.
Reposted by Anica Mrose Rissi
One of my favorite things about NYC is that the entire fleet of NYC ferries was named by 2nd graders. I think about this every time my run takes me past the docks.
Anyway, there are people who went to work this morning aboard The Tooth Ferry and the Ocean Queen Rockstar.
Anyway, there are people who went to work this morning aboard The Tooth Ferry and the Ocean Queen Rockstar.
November 13, 2025 at 9:37 PM
One of my favorite things about NYC is that the entire fleet of NYC ferries was named by 2nd graders. I think about this every time my run takes me past the docks.
Anyway, there are people who went to work this morning aboard The Tooth Ferry and the Ocean Queen Rockstar.
Anyway, there are people who went to work this morning aboard The Tooth Ferry and the Ocean Queen Rockstar.
I've spent the past 11 days away from my dog, and tomorrow (after a 10-hour drive) I'll finally get to see him again. CAN'T WAIT.
November 11, 2025 at 10:18 PM
I've spent the past 11 days away from my dog, and tomorrow (after a 10-hour drive) I'll finally get to see him again. CAN'T WAIT.