Blog | Ishta Mercurio

Cover Collection 4: Pre-Caldecott edition! THE ANTLERED SHIP, by Dashka Slater, illustrated by The F

Welcome to Cover Collection, my (mostly) weekly blog series in which I take a closer look at my favorite book covers and talk about what...

Ishta Mercurio

Jan 22, 20184 min read

Cover Collection 3: AMERICAN STREET, by Ibi Zoboi; cover by Natalie C. Sousa and Elaine Damasco

Welcome to Cover Collection, my (mostly) weekly blog series in which I take a closer look at incredible book covers and what makes them...

Ishta Mercurio

Jan 15, 20183 min read

Happy Halloween, from My House to Yours

Happy Halloween, everybody. May you all find your Precious in your trick-or-treat bags tonight. #Halloween #LOTR

Ishta Mercurio

Oct 31, 20171 min read

Cover Collection, Week 2: WHEN WE WERE ALONE, Illustrated by Julie Flett

Welcome to Cover Collection, my weekly blog series in which I highlight covers that I love and break down what makes them work. This...

Ishta Mercurio

Oct 30, 20173 min read

Promises, Promises

So, if you can see what I did to that shelf of books in the photo, you know what this post is going to be about. One of the things...

Ishta Mercurio

Oct 27, 20174 min read

Cover Collection, 1: Counting on Katherine, illustrated by Dow Phumiruk

Of all the elements of a book, the cover is arguably one of the most critical when it comes to attracting and engaging your readers. A...

Ishta Mercurio

Oct 25, 20173 min read

An Actual Handbook for Real Mortals

I don't know why authors keep having to defend the necessity of craft within our profession. I mean, I'm not going to say anything new...

Ishta Mercurio

Oct 18, 20172 min read

Amazing Creators, Part I

As those of you who follow me on Twitter may already know, I've been working on my house all week. Okay, let's be real: I've been working...

Ishta Mercurio

Oct 6, 20172 min read

SMALL WORLD, Big News!!!

So, um, I have some news. When this announcement went out some months back, I was so caught up in the whirlwind of congratulations and...

Ishta Mercurio

Sep 18, 20172 min read

Got Questions About Querying?

Hmmmmm... I was thrilled to be asked to write a guest post for SCBWI Canada East on how to know when you're ready to query. Hop on over...

Ishta Mercurio

Feb 14, 20171 min read

Thus Beginneth the Month of Cute Animals

It's February. It is still winter, both literally and figuratively. And I haven't been around much, and won't be around much for a couple...

Ishta Mercurio

Feb 1, 20171 min read

On the Inauguration of a Demagogue

That quote is from Alexander Hamilton's paper, The Farmer Refuted, published on February 23, 1775, in response to Samuel Seabury's...

Ishta Mercurio

Jan 20, 20174 min read

Monthly Haiku: January

I've been working on a secret project (Yay! Secret project!), and contemplating the new year, and thinking about snow. I decided to sum...

Ishta Mercurio

Jan 17, 20171 min read

Praying for Time: RIP, George Michael

I didn't expect my first post of the year to be a memorial post, but, well. A superstar dies on Christmas, and that's pretty much what...

Ishta Mercurio

Jan 4, 20174 min read

Ta-Daaaaa!

So, hey! Welcome to my new blog, in my new online place. Take a look around, click some links, maybe order a book. Make yourself at home....

Ishta Mercurio

Sep 30, 20161 min read