Hello dear friends! Today we have one of my favorite posts…a book cover reveal. And it’s especially meaningful to me because this story was a #50PreciousWords prize winner in 2023. Read on to find out exactly how this happened – author Lindsey Hobson stopped by to chat with us. PLUS, I’m also attaching the flyer for #50PreciousWordsforKids because today is the first day of Children’s Book Week – and as always, I’m inviting parents and teachers to email me their children’s stories which will be posted on my blog for Mother’s Day next Sunday.
But for now, let’s welcome Lindsey!

LINDSEY: Hi, Vivian! Thank you for having me on your blog to talk about my upcoming picture book, Dark Skies, which releases 10/14/25 from The Little Press. I am especially grateful to be here talking about this book because in 2023, I was honored to be a 50 Precious Words finalist and chose a submission opportunity to The Little Press with this manuscript in mind. I was offered a contract shortly after and it has truly been an amazing experience.

Dark Skies is a multi-layered story about family, memory loss, and the magic of the stars. It is beautifully illustrated by Makenzie McCarthy and includes backmatter about Dark Sky Parks, which if you’re not familiar with, are protected areas where you can view the wonder of the night sky without interference from light pollution.

Did you know that due to light pollution, only a few dozen stars are visible in the city sky? Being from a rural area myself, I have always been fortunate to have a clear view of the night sky, but after reading about light pollution and the dark sky initiative, I knew there was a story there. Originally, my main character moved from the country to the city but after some critiques and feedback, decided it would be better written from the perspective of a young girl from the city who has never witnessed the wonder of the stars. Once I made that change, everything fell into place, and I was able to add another layer with a stargazing grandparent who begins having trouble remembering the names of the stars, and ultimately my main character’s name as well.

The Little Press has partnered with One Little Earth and together they will be producing and donating nature-themed children’s books to underserved school libraries and youth literacy nonprofits. I am so proud that my book will be among those donated.

Thank you for having me!

We were thrilled to hear the story behind the story, dear Lindsey! And so excited for this book that launches in the fall. What a great thing Little Press is doing to put more books in the hands of children who need them. And now, without further ado…here is the beautiful COVER of DARK SKIES:

What a beautiful cover! I love the intergenerational characters…and the deep blue totally puts me in the right mood for a book entitled Dark Skies!

For more information about Lindsey…and illustrator Makenzie McCarthy and their books:

BIO/SOCIALS:

Lindsey is an award-winning author from Southwest Missouri, where she lives with her husband and daughter. Although she enjoys writing for all ages, she believes children’s books contain a special kind of magic. Lindsey has published two picture books a middle-grade novel, and her work has appeared in Highlights! magazine (Jan. 2024). She is a member of the SCBWI and is the secretary of her local writer’s guild. 

Lindsey has never quite outgrown the thrill of reading under the covers at night, and hopes to share her love of stories with the next generation of kids who read past their bedtime.

Instagram: @lindseyhobson.author

Blueksy: @lindseyhobson

MAKENZIE’S BIO/SOCIALS:

Makenzie McCarthy is an illustrator and author from California, now based in Portland, Oregon. A graduate of the University of Hawaii at Manoa, she combines her love of storytelling and education to create books that address social issues and celebrate diversity. When she’s not drawing or writing, Makenzie enjoys nature, time with her cat Sirius, and working toward her master’s degree in elementary education. You can learn more about her at www.makenziemccarthyillustrations.com.

Instagram: @makenzie_mccarthy

PRE-ORDER LINKS:
https://bookshop.org/a/12317/9781956378351

And as promised, here is the flyer for the #50PreciousWordsforKids Writing Challenge…please pass this along to any parents and teachers that you know. They can email the stories to: viviankirkfield@gmail.com.This writing challenge is a great way to encourage young folks to tap into their natural storyteller hearts. And each child who writes a story will receive a Certificate of Participation that can be downloaded, printed out, and personalized.

Happy Cinco de Mayo, everyone. Let’s celebrate the art of storytelling this week!