Discover how Rebecca Weber writes magical middle-grade adventures that celebrate neurodivergence, helping kids see their differences as strengths.
What:
The Painter’s Butterfly is a story about a foster child who finds a magical easel that brings paintings to life. I addressed heavy themes, like grief and belonging, but also infused magic into the story to counterbalance the heaviness. My second finished manuscript, Rose and Thorn, is a fantasy book about a servant girl in a medieval world who can talk telepathically to birds. I’ve always had a fascination for the art of falconry and the research for this book was so much fun! My third novel, Loophole, (Artemesia Publishing/Kinkajou Press) follows an eleven-year-old girl diagnosed with anxiety and OCD as she enters middle school.
I’m excited to share Maybelline’s story with the world because it features authentic neurodiversity representation. My fourth manuscript (or WIP) is an origin story for the crocodile from Peter Pan, so it’s another foray into fantasy. There are more ideas in the pipeline too, but with a two-year-old daughter constantly on the go, my writing time lately is extremely limited!
Why:
My happy place is writing middle grade manuscripts, and so far, I’ve written both fantasy and contemporary stories. As an anxious, introverted child, I wrote a lot of poetry and relied heavily on books as a source of escape and comfort. Most of what I create nowadays is what I would have liked to read when I was a kid.
I also write to create connections between human beings so that others feel less alone. It’s really easy to get caught up in division, especially now, so reading about emotions or situations that could be personal to us helps to bridge the gap. I have a degree in elementary education, and I taught preschool for close to a decade, so I’ve always had a fondness for helping kids grow and learn. Writing children’s stories allows me to “talk” to kids I’ve never met before and give them some hope if they’re in a dark place. Children are capable of such depth, and they hold the future in their hands. I consider it a true privilege to write children’s books.
Since taking on writing as a professional career, I started an online literary magazine for kids called Lit Kids Magazine. We publish quarterly issues featuring writing, art, and photography from children ages 5 to 13. In high school, I was still extremely reserved, but I participated in the school literary magazine and it fueled a real passion in me that wasn’t there before. The magazine also helped me come out of my shell and express myself. My dream with Lit Kids is to spotlight talented young creatives in a safe space so they realize how important they are.
My newest book Loophole, set to release on March 25th, gives me another opportunity to help support kids. I was labeled the “overly sensitive kid” when I was growing up, when in reality, I actually dealt with undiagnosed anxiety. Loophole features real techniques from professional therapy for assessing and addressing anxiety, as well as an easy-to-understand list of coping strategies kids can try in their everyday lives.
How:
As a mother and an author, my child’s naptime is my best friend. When the house is quiet for those two hours, I have a chance to sit at my computer and figure out what tasks to accomplish. I do a lot of beta reading for other writers, so I’m often critiquing an unpublished manuscript. Sometimes I do clerical work for the online literary magazine. If I’m lucky and I have time to write, I’ll often re-read the previous chapter of my WIP to get back into a headspace for it. I like to play relaxing, instrumental music to get myself in the writing mood too.
During the pandemic (when I wrote my first novel), I considered myself a pure pantser, as in I wanted to write completely off the cuff (no outline necessary). I’ve since evolved into a partial plotter. Usually, I write an outline of key events for a WIP, things I know have to happen for the characters to grow. I’ll keep the events in a Google doc and shift them around every now and again. I like how there’s still an air of mystery as to how the story will progress, but I’ve got mile markers to keep me on track.
My best advice to anyone wanting to get into writing: do what works for you. Give different approaches a try. You never know what you’ll like the most. I thought I would hate outlines, but I can honestly say I’m reformed. That being said, every manuscript is different. Sometimes you have to go in blind and let the characters take the lead. Besides, you can always edit at a later date. Don’t let fear keep you from chasing that story.
Loophole
Maybelline’s Anxiety Rules:
– Neatness matters
– Avoid boys
– No talking
Eleven-year-old “Maybe” hasn’t spoken in the five years since Mama left.
When she learns the public library may close, breaking her own rules
could be the only way to save her safe haven, and her last link to Mama.
Bio:
Rebecca is a Midwestern girl with a lifelong passion for books! She spends most of her time nurturing her baby girl and two Boston Terrier fur-babies and flipping houses with her realtor husband. It took fifteen years to find the courage to craft her first novel, The Painter’s Butterfly, but now she’s never letting her feather pen go! While she misses teaching preschool-aged children their ABC’s, Rebecca is thrilled to have the chance to reach middle graders worldwide with her fantastical stories. Loophole is her second published novel.
Links:
Website
Lit Kids Magazine
Twitter/X
Bluesky
Facebook
Instagram
TikTok
Thank you for visiting.
Linda K. Sienkiewicz is a writer, poet, and artist
Books: In the Context of Love | Gordy and the Ghost Crab | Sleepwalker
New novel, Love and Other Incurable Ailments, coming fall 2026 from Regal House Publishing
Connect with Linda on social media: LinkTree