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We love Fiction Potluck because the submissions are so much fun! Here are April's Fiction Potluck Finalists for the MG & YA Milestones challenge.
Look for the Finalist badge across social media to connect with these authors.
April Finalists
Emily Brown
Emily Brown is a teen author, poet, and singer/songwriter from Australia, and can often be found with her nose in a book, or writing her latest idea. She can also be found in Write the World Review, in Pure in Heart Stories, and on YouTube under the stage name Emmi Byrd.
Paula Brown
Paula Brown writes poetry, essays, and short fiction. Her work has appeared in Persimmon Tree, Tiny Seed Journal, Anthology Nature, Wising Up Press Adult Children Anthology, Adirondack Review, Whitefish Review, and South Dakota Magazine, among others. She lives in Tucson, Arizona with her husband and a pack of dachshunds.
J. C. Cole
Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, J. C. Cole spent most of his young adult life dearly holding on to the dying art and music scenes of Seattle, Washington. After finishing his degrees, he became a school teacher, focusing primarily on helping kids become better people. He met his beautiful wife and mother to their future two sons in the most unlikely of circumstances. They quickly married, and with nothing but two suitcases and the clothes on his back, flew to Amsterdam to be with her. It was there where he took on the project to write his first book "Beginnings." He has recently completed a short story anthology, an interactive children's book and an award winning novel. He is currently working on a historical fiction novel and a Science Fiction piece. Cole's writing has been published in several literary magazines to include, Vine Leaves Press, La Piccoletta Barca, Metaworker, the 50 Years of Hip-Hop Anthology, and Instant Noodles.
Find him on...
Amazon Authors: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0C3VV4SD4
Instagram: @JCColeBooks
Erin Jamieson
Erin Jamieson (she/her)’s writing has been published in over 100 literary magazines, including two Pushcart Prize nominations. Her poetry chapbook, Fairytales, was published by Bottlecap Press and her most recent chapbook, Remnants, came out in 2024. Her debut novel (Sky of Ashes, Land of Dreams) came out November 2023.
Twitter: @erin_simmer
Katie Kent
Katie Kent has been published in Youth Imagination, Breath and Shadow and Northern Gravy, amongst others, and in anthologies including The Trouble with Time Travel. She won second place in three Writing Magazine competitions, and first place in Fusilli Writing’s flash fiction competition. Her website is at www.katiekentwriter.com
C.R. Kiegle
C.R. Kiegle is an aspiring writer who likes to avoid editing her drafts by forcing herself to do math instead, having recently completed her undergraduate degree in computer science with a second major in literature. Beyond prose, she is (unfortunately) a theatre kid who enjoys writing and directing plays.
Adele Liles
Adele Liles has been a high school English teacher for 24 years. She’s a member of SCBWI, and her work has been published in the North Carolina Bards Poetry Anthology and accepted for publication in Wild Ink Publishing’s upcoming Tenpenny Dreadful’s Tales as Hard as Nails Horror Anthology. Her young adult novel, Among the Whisperings, debuts with Wild Ink in 2026. She lives with her husband and their “tiny panther" in Virginia, where she can be found working on her next YA contemporary novel or watching a ridiculous amount of reality TV. You can follow her on Twitter/X @Adele_Liles and Instagram @adeleliles_penandpageo forthcoming
Toshihisa Nikaido
Toshihisa Nikaido's career spans the realms of space development and video game design, contributing to beloved titles like Resident Evil, Pokémon, and The Legend of Zelda. His storytelling transcends mediums and has been recognized with shortlistings and honorable mentions in writing competitions. He seeks to share stories that resonate, entertain, and inspire curiosity.
S.E. Reed
S.E. Reed lives in the south and writes strange, haunting, real stories of people and places along old highways. Winner of the 2024 Florida Book Awards and the 2024 Paterson Prize for Books for Young People. Additionally, she's been nominated for a Pushcart Prize and won honorable mention twice in L. Ron Hubbard's Writers of the Future Contest. You can follow her on X @writingwithreed or www.writingwithreed.com.
Amber Sayer
Amber is not new to the world of writing, as she is a professional health and fitness writer from Westfield, MA, USA. However, she hasn't done any creative writing in over 20 years. As an autistic woman, Amber finds she is better able to communicate her thoughts and feelings through writing.
This quarter is officially sponsored by Duotrope; the first place winner of this quarter's challenge receives Duotrope service for free for two years
(valued at $100)!
Additionally, Amy will provide query package reviews to each of the top three spots this quarter. Best of luck!
Join us here on June 21 for Fiction Potluck Friday to read the winning pieces!
We're thrilled to host our amazing Guest Judge, Amy Nielsen!
Amy Nielsen spent twenty years as a youth librarian sharing her love of books with young readers. Daily immersion in story took root and she penned her YA debut, WORTH IT, behind her circulation desk. Amy is the proud parent to four humans, one pup, and has more grandpups than she can count. When she’s not reading or writing, Amy, her family, and at least two canine co-captains in mermaid life vests can be found boating the waters of Tampa Bay.