What’s this Substack all about?
Hi! I’m Nicole M. Hewitt, a middle grade author debuting with Feiwel & Friends in winter 2025. I’m in the publication process with my fantasy novel-in-verse, THE SONG OF ORPHAN’S GARDEN, and I thought it would be fun to share my journey toward having that real, live book in my hands with all of you. (Okay, the book won’t actually be alive. Probably. Or maybe it will be? It is a fantasy, after all.)
Tales of a Middle Grade Debut Author
The process of publishing is such a mystery to most of us, and I plan to let everyone get a peek behind the curtain. I’ll be taking you with me in real time as I navigate the year leading up to my debut, and I’ll also shed light on some of the steps that got me here.
My experience has been unique (no two publishing paths are alike!) and I don’t even pretend to know everything that’s still in store for me. I hope you’ll come along with me as I navigate the ups and downs of the publishing world!
Why subscribe?
If you’re at all curious about the publishing process or if you just like to hear other people’s publishing experiences, this is the place for you! You’ll probably also see some cute pictures of my pups. Here’s one to get you started. (Digit definitely thinks I should be playing with him at all times. No reading allowed!)
About The Song of Orphan’s Garden
The PW announcement pretty much says it all (ignore the fact that the title has changed - that’s one thing I’ll be sharing about
About Me
I first had visions of a writing career when I won the third-grade Young Authors competition at my school. I went on to write and direct many a backyard production–making sure to cast as many of my neighborhood friends as possible so their parents would be forced to attend and I would have a large audience to view my achievements.
I kept writing throughout high school and college, where I was an acting major but took writing classes as well. I wrote a short play that was chosen to be performed at a showcase, attended mostly by my peers and their parents. (College students’ parents are a big step up from the neighborhood kids’ parents, right?)
After college, I somehow ended up working at a software company as a business analyst, where I wrote stacks and stacks of technical documentation and lamented the loss of my creativity.
When my kids were born, I decided to stay home with them, and eventually ended up homeschooling two of the three (I learned quickly that every child is unique, and each of my three children have ended up on different schooling paths). I rediscovered my love of books and writing when I started my blog, Feed Your Fiction Addiction. And I was able to stretch my creative muscles even more when I taught acting, language arts, and writing at a large homeschool co-op for six years. When I couldn’t find plays that worked perfectly for my acting classes, I wrote them. This time I had a whole co-op’s worth of parents forced to watch my productions!
In addition to writing, I now also work as a bookseller, where I get to spend all day telling people about books I love.
Find Me Elsewhere
Check out my Linktree!
