Discover new books on Goodreads

See if your friends have read any of Kelly Carey's books

3521 ratings | 381 reviews | avg rating:3.37

Kelly’s Year In Books

Kelly’s 2025 Year in Books

Take a look at Kelly’s Year in Books, including some fun facts about their reading.

Go to Kelly’s 2025 Year in Books

Kelly Carey’s Followers (49)

Kelly’s Bookshelves

to-read (1094)
currently-reading (10)
read (3986)
did-not-finish (0)
adult-animals (3)
adult-fiction (358)
adult-fiction-abuse (41)
adult-fiction-adoption (3)
adult-fiction-aging (9)
adult-fiction-art (3)
See all bookshelves »

Kelly’s Friends (109)

Kristi

2,271 books | 17 friends

Julie Hedlund

8,197 books | 1,652 friends

Lynda

246 books | 773 friends

Elaine Day Neal

2,326 books | 55 friends

Charlotte Burlingame

356 books | 27 friends

Jessica S

394 books | 962 friends

Bonnilee Mackinnon

713 books | 68 friends

Kim S

788 books | 25 friends

More friends…

Kelly Carey

Goodreads Author

Born

in Newtown, The United States

Website

http://www.kcareywrites.com/

Twitter

KCareyWrites

Genre

Children's

Member Since

January 2014

edit data

Learn more
Ask the Author

To ask Kelly Carey questions, please sign up.

Popular Answered Questions

How do you deal with writer’s block?

Kelly Carey I find that one of the best ways to deal with writer’s block is to move on to a new project. Usually, if I can’t find the right way to revise a proble…moreI find that one of the best ways to deal with writer’s block is to move on to a new project. Usually, if I can’t find the right way to revise a problematic manuscript or tease the story out of a kernel of inspiration, it’s best to put that manuscript aside for a week or two and pick up a different one.

Of course this only works if you have some ideas and manuscripts on standby that can jump in during an emergency. That’s why I jot down ideas all the time. I’m always grateful to have those backup stories to work on. I pop ideas into a note on my phone the minute they come to me and then I transfer them over to a computer file titled “story ideas”. I love being able to lean into those files when I feel stuck.

Another great resource to fight through writer’s block is a critique group. If you really want to bust through a blocked moment with a manuscript and the thought of putting it aside for a few days seems tragic, I reach out to my critique partners for help. Often they offer up just the right piece of advice or ask the perfect question to reset a blocked moment.

And if none of this works – I call it a day and go grab a good book to read or go do laundry. There is always an abundance of both in my house!
(less)

flag

1 like · like
Comment

What’s your advice for aspiring writers?

Kelly Carey I actually run a one-day workshop for aspiring writers (you can find information about this workshop at www.kcareywrites.com) and I offer three main p…moreI actually run a one-day workshop for aspiring writers (you can find information about this workshop at www.kcareywrites.com) and I offer three main pieces of advice. They are write, find your squad and read. They may seem simple, but they are not.

So many folks get stuck at the “thinking about” phase of becoming a writer. To get over that hurdle aspiring writers need to build intention and structure around their writing. This can mean committing to writing at least twenty minutes a day or devoting a specific day a week to writing. I’m partial to Writing Wednesdays – it has that nice alliteration. Your writing dream needs a concrete plan and goals. For help with that check out www.24CarrotWriting.com – this is a goal setting blog I host with three fellow authors. It is full of good advice and help as you kick off your writing journey.

Then I tell folks to find your squad. So much of writing is a solo practice but it is also riddled with self-doubt and tough rejection. You’ll need a support group of like-minded writers to keep you on track. Search them out at SCBWI, at local writing groups like The Writers’ Loft in Sherborn, MA, or online – like through www.24CarrotWriting.com.

Finally, you will need to read in the genre you want to write in. So if you want to write picture books, read picture books. If you have a middle grade novel you want to write, read middle grade books. And you need to read the books not as a reader looking to be entertained, but you’ll want to approach the books like textbooks. Learn from the skill of the authors; dissect what works and doesn’t work and how the author crafted the story. And you’ll want to track what you read – I do this using my Goodreads library – so you have an idea of what is already in the market and how your manuscript can fit.

So good luck on your writing journey!
(less)

flag

1 like · like
Comment

See all 9 answers from Kelly Carey…

Combine Editions
Kelly Carey’s books

Average rating: 4.44 · 101 ratings · 48 reviews · 1 distinct work • Similar authors

How Long Is Forever?
by

Kelly Carey (Goodreads Author),

Qing Zhuang (Illustrator)

4.44 avg rating — 101 ratings — published 2020 — 3 editions

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

* Note: these are all the books on Goodreads for this author. To add more, click here.

1 post
Kelly Carey's Blog

The Unibrow Revision Strategy

A few years ago, an editor asked me to flip a Christmas themed story centered on gift giving to fit with a February issue of the magazine. The story was titled “The Gingerbread Shop”. I thought she was insane. Then I decided she was mean. Then I was just really mad. How do you take what is clearly a December Christmas story and rework it to fit in a February issue?

While I am never happy when an e Read more of this blog post »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on January 29, 2019 13:54 • Tags: revision, writing

Kelly is Currently Reading

Kelly Carey is currently reading

Nell O'Dell Hates Quests (The Golden Crossroads #1)

by Emily B. Martin

bookshelves: currently-reading, middle-grade

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

5 hours, 24 min ago

Kelly Carey is currently reading

Such Great Heights

by Rajani LaRocca (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Aug 24, 2026 09:30PM

Kelly Carey is currently reading

Mad Mabel

by Sally Hepworth (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading, adult-fiction

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Aug 17, 2026 08:34AM

rss
Kelly’s Recent Updates

Kelly Carey started reading Nell O'Dell Hates Quests (The Golden Crossroads #1) by Emily B. Martin	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
5 hours, 24 min ago · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Nell O'Dell Hates Quests by Emily B. Martin. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Nell O'Dell Hates Quests by Emily B. Martin <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Kelly Carey rated a book it was amazing Pippa Park Raises Her Game by Erin Yun (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
5 hours, 26 min ago · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Pippa Park Raises Her Game by Erin Yun. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Pippa Park Raises Her Game by Erin Yun <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Kelly Carey rated a book it was ok Life: A Love Story by Elizabeth Berg	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
5 hours, 27 min ago · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Life by Elizabeth Berg. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Life by Elizabeth Berg <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Kelly Carey wants to read The Stager by Matthew Aquilone	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Sep 04, 2026 03:45AM · like
Kelly Carey entered a giveaway Anger Is Only a Shadow by Elizabeth Acevedo (Goodreads Author) 5 copies available, ends on September 14, 2026 Enter to win »
Aug 27, 2026 05:28AM · like · see giveaway
Kelly Carey wants to read You: The Story: A Writer's Guide to Craft Through Memory by Ruta Sepetys (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Aug 27, 2026 05:20AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of You by Ruta Sepetys. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — You by Ruta Sepetys <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Kelly Carey rated a book it was amazing Westerly: A Novel by Susan Donovan Bernhard (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Aug 26, 2026 06:18PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Westerly by Susan Donovan Bernhard. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Westerly by Susan Donovan Bernhard <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Kelly Carey started reading Life: A Love Story by Elizabeth Berg	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Aug 26, 2026 01:51PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Life by Elizabeth Berg. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Life by Elizabeth Berg <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Kelly Carey rated a book it was amazing Lady Tremaine by Rachel Hochhauser (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
A fantastic reimagining of Cinderella where the “wicked” stepmother may be the true heroine. When her husband's death leaves the family penniless, Lady Tremaine is forced to manage a crumbling estate and keep herself and her three daughters afloat. W ...more
Aug 26, 2026 08:30AM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Lady Tremaine by Rachel Hochhauser. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Lady Tremaine by Rachel Hochhauser <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Kelly Carey rated a book it was amazing Heiress of Nowhere by Stacey Lee (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
A surprise inheritance, a murder mystery, and a remote seaside setting swirling with superstitions and secrets make this suspenseful story a page turner. Lucy Nowhere was taken in by a wealthy and eccentric shipbuilder when she washed up in canoe on ...more
Aug 26, 2026 08:28AM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Heiress of Nowhere by Stacey Lee. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Heiress of Nowhere by Stacey Lee <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">