Eric Smith
@ericsmithrocks.bsky.social
🏠 Founder & Agent at Neighborhood Literary.
📚 Award-winning Author.
👴🏽 Perpetually Tired Dad.
Latest book: With or Without You (a Junior Library Guild selection!), out now!
🚪 https://www.neighborhoodliterary.com
📚 Award-winning Author.
👴🏽 Perpetually Tired Dad.
Latest book: With or Without You (a Junior Library Guild selection!), out now!
🚪 https://www.neighborhoodliterary.com
Pinned
Eric Smith
@ericsmithrocks.bsky.social
· Mar 18
Come on in. — Neighborhood Literary
Well, here we are. The news is out, the agency is open. Welcome. There’s a lot to potentially say in an introduction post. But I’ll try to keep it short and sweet. I’ve always been driven to make...
www.neighborhoodliterary.com
So excited to finally talk about Neighborhood Literary, an agency with an extra focus on taking care of our local writer communities.
🏠 The door is open.
🫖 The kettle is on.
✨ Come on in.
Good neighbors make good books. www.neighborhoodliterary.com/blog/come-on...
🏠 The door is open.
🫖 The kettle is on.
✨ Come on in.
Good neighbors make good books. www.neighborhoodliterary.com/blog/come-on...
So excited about this. 🥹
Watch tonight's @criticalrole.bsky.social for more on the just-announced Mighty Nein anthology. Respectfully, I'm having a blast writing a cozy adventure about everyone's favorite shopkeeper Pumat Sol (and Pumat Sol and Pumat Sol and Pumat Sol).
November 14, 2025 at 12:54 PM
So excited about this. 🥹
Reposted by Eric Smith
“TWC Live! Literary Agents on Publishing in a Time of Unrest” premieres TONIGHT at 7:00 p.m. ET! See @frecklywench.bsky.social, of Aevitas Creative Management, Danya Kukafka of Trellis Literary Management, and @ericsmithrocks.bsky.social of Neighborhood Literary on AWP’s YouTube channel.
TWC Live! Literary Agents on Publishing in a Time of Unrest
TWC Live! returns November 13, and this time literary agents will be expanding on June’s Big Conversation in the magazine: “Publishing in a Time of Unrest.”
www.awpwriter.org
November 13, 2025 at 5:07 PM
“TWC Live! Literary Agents on Publishing in a Time of Unrest” premieres TONIGHT at 7:00 p.m. ET! See @frecklywench.bsky.social, of Aevitas Creative Management, Danya Kukafka of Trellis Literary Management, and @ericsmithrocks.bsky.social of Neighborhood Literary on AWP’s YouTube channel.
Magic the Gathering novels in the mid 90s.
Hear me out.
There was a chunk of time when I wasn’t into books anymore as a kid, and then the Magic the Gathering novels brought me back in.
Anytime I see someone rag on media tie ins, I tell them how they can be such a gateway for reluctant readers. ❤️
Hear me out.
There was a chunk of time when I wasn’t into books anymore as a kid, and then the Magic the Gathering novels brought me back in.
Anytime I see someone rag on media tie ins, I tell them how they can be such a gateway for reluctant readers. ❤️
performative reading, lack of reading skills, nobody's reading anymore -- NO!
tell me about a book that changed you
for me? the *extremely* ahistorical novel, THE AGONY AND THE ECSTASY which I read at 13 and was like, "Oh, art can be *everything* to a maker, for good and bad"
tell me about a book that changed you
for me? the *extremely* ahistorical novel, THE AGONY AND THE ECSTASY which I read at 13 and was like, "Oh, art can be *everything* to a maker, for good and bad"
November 12, 2025 at 6:14 AM
Magic the Gathering novels in the mid 90s.
Hear me out.
There was a chunk of time when I wasn’t into books anymore as a kid, and then the Magic the Gathering novels brought me back in.
Anytime I see someone rag on media tie ins, I tell them how they can be such a gateway for reluctant readers. ❤️
Hear me out.
There was a chunk of time when I wasn’t into books anymore as a kid, and then the Magic the Gathering novels brought me back in.
Anytime I see someone rag on media tie ins, I tell them how they can be such a gateway for reluctant readers. ❤️
Reposted by Eric Smith
It's our book birthday! Kid Olympian: Winter is (adorably) illustrated by Allison Steinfeld. Thanks to my editor @jamteayang.bsky.social and to agent @ericsmithrocks.bsky.social for making this book happen!
Join us in welcoming OLYMPIANS: WINTER by <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:4jp76gyapp3ckkplgwmar3sf" class="hover:underline text-blue-600 dark:text-sky-400 no-card-link" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-link="bsky-mention">@robinstevenson.bsky.social to the world! 👋🌎📙
This book tells the triumphant, relatable, and totally true childhood stories of a diverse group of international athletes!
Get your copy now!
https://www.quirkbooks.com/9781683693932/kid-olympians-winter/
This book tells the triumphant, relatable, and totally true childhood stories of a diverse group of international athletes!
Get your copy now!
https://www.quirkbooks.com/9781683693932/kid-olympians-winter/
November 11, 2025 at 5:55 PM
It's our book birthday! Kid Olympian: Winter is (adorably) illustrated by Allison Steinfeld. Thanks to my editor @jamteayang.bsky.social and to agent @ericsmithrocks.bsky.social for making this book happen!
Lots of folks on Threads are talking about the staggering amount of scammer emails from people pretending to be book clubs, reviewers, and more.
Seems like the endgame is eventually getting you to pay a good chunk of money for promotions and readers that likely don’t exist.
Be careful out there.
Seems like the endgame is eventually getting you to pay a good chunk of money for promotions and readers that likely don’t exist.
Be careful out there.
November 11, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Lots of folks on Threads are talking about the staggering amount of scammer emails from people pretending to be book clubs, reviewers, and more.
Seems like the endgame is eventually getting you to pay a good chunk of money for promotions and readers that likely don’t exist.
Be careful out there.
Seems like the endgame is eventually getting you to pay a good chunk of money for promotions and readers that likely don’t exist.
Be careful out there.
Reposted by Eric Smith
did you know that most independent booksellers do not get healthcare through their jobs and navigate insurance markets on their own? do you know most independent booksellers don't make a lot of money?
anyway for no particular reason here's a reminder to donate to BINC: bincfoundation.org
anyway for no particular reason here's a reminder to donate to BINC: bincfoundation.org
Home - Binc Foundation
The Book Industry Charitable (Binc) Foundation and Macmillan Publishers are proud to announce that applications are open for the Macmillan Booksellers
bincfoundation.org
November 10, 2025 at 11:49 AM
did you know that most independent booksellers do not get healthcare through their jobs and navigate insurance markets on their own? do you know most independent booksellers don't make a lot of money?
anyway for no particular reason here's a reminder to donate to BINC: bincfoundation.org
anyway for no particular reason here's a reminder to donate to BINC: bincfoundation.org
Great, cannot wait to wake up to fundraising emails with subject lines like “we’re not giving up!” asking me for $3 after completely letting us down.
November 10, 2025 at 4:46 AM
Great, cannot wait to wake up to fundraising emails with subject lines like “we’re not giving up!” asking me for $3 after completely letting us down.
❤️
I had two moments happen in the past week that helped me regain clarity on my author successes and efforts. Because publishing makes it really easy to feel in a void. Short thread:
1) For a proposal, @ericsmithrocks.bsky.social had me gather my career milestones/praise. It was eye opening to review
1) For a proposal, @ericsmithrocks.bsky.social had me gather my career milestones/praise. It was eye opening to review
November 10, 2025 at 2:48 AM
❤️
Reposted by Eric Smith
Okay, Ezra is confirming that he's hearing D senators are actually plotting to cave to Trump and end the shutdown WITHOUT any extension of the ACA, just a promise of a vote later down the line.
Call your senators, friends, NOW, and tell them NO DEAL without ACA funding!
Find them here: reps.fyi
Call your senators, friends, NOW, and tell them NO DEAL without ACA funding!
Find them here: reps.fyi
yep
November 9, 2025 at 9:49 PM
Okay, Ezra is confirming that he's hearing D senators are actually plotting to cave to Trump and end the shutdown WITHOUT any extension of the ACA, just a promise of a vote later down the line.
Call your senators, friends, NOW, and tell them NO DEAL without ACA funding!
Find them here: reps.fyi
Call your senators, friends, NOW, and tell them NO DEAL without ACA funding!
Find them here: reps.fyi
Reposted by Eric Smith
Literally every dem should be shouting from the rooftops that republicans are giving Americans two choices: die from starvation or from a lack of affordable healthcare.
USDA orders states to stop paying full SNAP benefits and "immediately undo" steps taken to issue them for November. Follow live updates.
https://cnn.it/47LOq3z
https://cnn.it/47LOq3z
November 9, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Literally every dem should be shouting from the rooftops that republicans are giving Americans two choices: die from starvation or from a lack of affordable healthcare.
So much love to my Quirk crew. Proud of my pals there who fought so hard. ❤️
A final update from Quirk Books Union ✊💔 Devastated that, in the three months since we unionized, management never met the union at the bargaining table -- and now the remaining four union members have all been laid off.
November 9, 2025 at 9:44 PM
So much love to my Quirk crew. Proud of my pals there who fought so hard. ❤️
Reposted by Eric Smith
So, we broke into your house and stole all your stuff, please give us money.
“OpenAI is getting ready to run hat in hand to the taxpayer for subsidies.” After losing more than $13 billion this year, OpenAI officials are angling for a bailout. From @ryanlcooper.com:
trib.al/CUazMCQ
trib.al/CUazMCQ
OpenAI Is Maneuvering for a Government Bailout - The American Prospect
For artificial intelligence to ever pencil out, some truly enormous revenue streams will be required. And if you need trillions of dollars for data centers forever, there’s only one entity to turn to: Uncle Sam.
trib.al
November 8, 2025 at 10:06 PM
So, we broke into your house and stole all your stuff, please give us money.
At a conference today, so my annual reminder…
If you’ve booked time to chat with agents or editors, keep your pitch quick. You want to leave a lot of that time for asking questions, getting information, gathering recommendations.
Make sure it’s a conversation. You’ll get way more out of it.
If you’ve booked time to chat with agents or editors, keep your pitch quick. You want to leave a lot of that time for asking questions, getting information, gathering recommendations.
Make sure it’s a conversation. You’ll get way more out of it.
November 8, 2025 at 4:28 PM
At a conference today, so my annual reminder…
If you’ve booked time to chat with agents or editors, keep your pitch quick. You want to leave a lot of that time for asking questions, getting information, gathering recommendations.
Make sure it’s a conversation. You’ll get way more out of it.
If you’ve booked time to chat with agents or editors, keep your pitch quick. You want to leave a lot of that time for asking questions, getting information, gathering recommendations.
Make sure it’s a conversation. You’ll get way more out of it.
If you’re baking and using brown sugar, and some of it shakes out in small clumps, here’s my go-to kitchen pro tip…
You eat them.
They’re little treats.
You deserve it.
You eat them.
They’re little treats.
You deserve it.
November 7, 2025 at 11:16 PM
If you’re baking and using brown sugar, and some of it shakes out in small clumps, here’s my go-to kitchen pro tip…
You eat them.
They’re little treats.
You deserve it.
You eat them.
They’re little treats.
You deserve it.
This week two clients got “the call” and we’re ending the week wrangling up their contracts.
I know publishing feels harder than ever lately, but good things are still happening, and great books are still being scooped up.
Hang in there. ❤️
I know publishing feels harder than ever lately, but good things are still happening, and great books are still being scooped up.
Hang in there. ❤️
November 7, 2025 at 1:16 PM
This week two clients got “the call” and we’re ending the week wrangling up their contracts.
I know publishing feels harder than ever lately, but good things are still happening, and great books are still being scooped up.
Hang in there. ❤️
I know publishing feels harder than ever lately, but good things are still happening, and great books are still being scooped up.
Hang in there. ❤️
We’re firmly entering “passing on stuff at the end of the year that’s been in inboxes for months” season and friends, don’t let it get you down.
It’s almost never a reflection of you, but of the exhaustive workload folks are juggling.
Keep going.
It’s almost never a reflection of you, but of the exhaustive workload folks are juggling.
Keep going.
November 5, 2025 at 9:30 PM
We’re firmly entering “passing on stuff at the end of the year that’s been in inboxes for months” season and friends, don’t let it get you down.
It’s almost never a reflection of you, but of the exhaustive workload folks are juggling.
Keep going.
It’s almost never a reflection of you, but of the exhaustive workload folks are juggling.
Keep going.
Reposted by Eric Smith
I've basically switched to getting my political news about America from The Guardian (I contrasted their headlines with the NYT for a week and felt so much more informed by The Guardian.) A good overview of wins last night here: www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Democrats set historic records on election night. Here are six of the firsts they accomplished
From Virginia’s first female governor to New York’s first Muslim mayor, elections Tuesday secured trailblazing wins
www.theguardian.com
November 5, 2025 at 2:34 PM
I've basically switched to getting my political news about America from The Guardian (I contrasted their headlines with the NYT for a week and felt so much more informed by The Guardian.) A good overview of wins last night here: www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Reposted by Eric Smith
Fuck yeah
BREAKING: Pennsylvania voters approve to retain three state Supreme Court justices, NBC News projects, preserving Democrats’ 5-2 majority on the state’s high court.
Pennsylvania voters retain three state Supreme Court justices, preserving Democrats' 5-2 majority
NBC News projects the incumbents survived an up-or-down vote to keep their seats on the battleground state’s high court.
nbcnews.to
November 5, 2025 at 1:52 AM
Fuck yeah
Was in NYC all day for work (hey, go Mamdani!) and made it home to Philly late.
And it’s not too late to hit the polls, friends. Let’s go. 💪🏽
And it’s not too late to hit the polls, friends. Let’s go. 💪🏽
November 4, 2025 at 11:57 PM
Was in NYC all day for work (hey, go Mamdani!) and made it home to Philly late.
And it’s not too late to hit the polls, friends. Let’s go. 💪🏽
And it’s not too late to hit the polls, friends. Let’s go. 💪🏽
Reposted by Eric Smith
The next TWC Live! event premieres November 13. Three agents—@frecklywench.bsky.social, Danya Kukafka, and @ericsmithrocks.bsky.social—will discuss how publishing is responding, or not responding, to social, political, and economic changes in America.
TWC Live! Literary Agents on Publishing in a Time of Unrest
TWC Live! returns November 13, and this time literary agents will be expanding on June’s Big Conversation in the magazine: “Publishing in a Time of Unrest.”
www.awpwriter.org
November 4, 2025 at 6:00 PM
The next TWC Live! event premieres November 13. Three agents—@frecklywench.bsky.social, Danya Kukafka, and @ericsmithrocks.bsky.social—will discuss how publishing is responding, or not responding, to social, political, and economic changes in America.
Never stop striving, my friends. Keep pushing the goal posts.
For example, anytime there’s a place it doesn’t seem like poop could get to, my children prove me wrong.
For example, anytime there’s a place it doesn’t seem like poop could get to, my children prove me wrong.
November 2, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Never stop striving, my friends. Keep pushing the goal posts.
For example, anytime there’s a place it doesn’t seem like poop could get to, my children prove me wrong.
For example, anytime there’s a place it doesn’t seem like poop could get to, my children prove me wrong.
Reposted by Eric Smith
My sixth and final Kid Legends book is out in 10 days! Thanks to fabulous agent @ericsmithrocks.bsky.social and my great editors at Quirk- Jhanteigh, Alex and @jamteayang.bsky.social - I so enjoyed working with you on these books. Hoping this new one will find its way to lots of young readers!
11/11/25 — KID OLYMPIANS: WINTER by @robinstevenson.bsky.social with illustration by Allison Steinfeld
The latest in the Kid Legends illustrated biography series shares relatable stories from the childhoods of a diverse group of international athletes.
www.quirkbooks.com/978168369393...
The latest in the Kid Legends illustrated biography series shares relatable stories from the childhoods of a diverse group of international athletes.
www.quirkbooks.com/978168369393...
Kid Olympians: Winter
Triumphant, relatable, and totally true biographies tell the childhood stories of a diverse group of international athletes who have captured the world’s a...
www.quirkbooks.com
November 2, 2025 at 4:26 AM
My sixth and final Kid Legends book is out in 10 days! Thanks to fabulous agent @ericsmithrocks.bsky.social and my great editors at Quirk- Jhanteigh, Alex and @jamteayang.bsky.social - I so enjoyed working with you on these books. Hoping this new one will find its way to lots of young readers!
Writer pals, as we venture into “best of” list season, remember to focus on your other accomplishments.
That new draft, the books you’ve read to hone your craft…
Maybe the new thing you’re doing outside of writing (these are so important!)
Zero in on what you can control, and keep your head up. ❤️
That new draft, the books you’ve read to hone your craft…
Maybe the new thing you’re doing outside of writing (these are so important!)
Zero in on what you can control, and keep your head up. ❤️
November 1, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Writer pals, as we venture into “best of” list season, remember to focus on your other accomplishments.
That new draft, the books you’ve read to hone your craft…
Maybe the new thing you’re doing outside of writing (these are so important!)
Zero in on what you can control, and keep your head up. ❤️
That new draft, the books you’ve read to hone your craft…
Maybe the new thing you’re doing outside of writing (these are so important!)
Zero in on what you can control, and keep your head up. ❤️
Update? Had to refill the bench twice. 250 books gone in just a few hours. A perfect night. ❤️
October 31, 2025 at 11:39 PM
Update? Had to refill the bench twice. 250 books gone in just a few hours. A perfect night. ❤️