3418 ratings | 359 reviews | avg rating:3.36

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 (47)

Kelly’s Bookshelves

to-read (1010)
currently-reading (8)
read (3885)
adult-animals (3)
adult-fiction (322)
adult-fiction-abuse (34)
adult-fiction-adoption (2)
adult-fiction-aging (8)
adult-fiction-art (3)
adult-fiction-civil-war (2)
See all bookshelves »

Kelly’s Friends (109)

Cynthia Mackey

557 books | 234 friends

Carrie Finison

628 books | 141 friends

Kim S

719 books | 25 friends

Aurora

1,073 books | 43 friends

Jessica S

455 books | 963 friends

Sheri Poe-Pape

107 books | 2,832 friends

Kristi

2,068 books | 17 friends

Julie Hedlund

7,477 books | 1,653 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: 4.46 · 96 ratings · 46 reviews · 1 distinct work

How Long Is Forever?
by

Kelly Carey (Goodreads Author),

Qing Zhuang (Illustrator)

4.46 avg rating — 96 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

The Rose Bargain (The Rose Bargain, #1)

by Sasha Peyton Smith (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading, ya

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

1 hour, 2 min ago

Kelly Carey is currently reading

The Magnificent Ruins

by Nayantara Roy (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

Mar 09, 2026 06:18AM

Kelly Carey is currently reading

My Friends

by Fredrik Backman (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

Feb 17, 2026 05:51AM

rss
Kelly’s Recent Updates

Kelly Carey is currently reading The Rose Bargain (The Rose Bargain, #1) by Sasha Peyton Smith (Goodreads Author) Goodreads Choice Awards Nominee in Readers' Favorite Young Adult Fantasy & Sci-Fi	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
1 hour, 2 min ago · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Rose Bargain by Sasha Peyton Smith. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Rose Bargain by Sasha Peyton Smith <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Kelly Carey rated a book it was amazing A Bird Will Soar by Alison Green Myers (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
1 hour, 3 min ago · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of A Bird Will Soar by Alison Green Myers. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — A Bird Will Soar by Alison Green Myers <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Kelly Carey wants to read Lake Effect by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney (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, 41 min ago · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Lake Effect by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Lake Effect by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Kelly Carey wants to read Spy Sisters Versus Snake Ten-Fangs (Spy Sisters, #1) by Alan Markham	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, 58 min ago · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Spy Sisters Versus Snake Ten-Fangs by Alan Markham. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Spy Sisters Versus Snake Ten-Fangs by Alan Markham <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Kelly Carey entered a giveaway Shards of Silence by Brian Lee Young 5 copies available, ends on March 30, 2026 Enter to win »
6 hours, 24 min ago · like · see giveaway
Kelly Carey wants to read Shards of Silence by Brian Lee Young	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
6 hours, 25 min ago · like
Kelly Carey wants to read No Way Never Sisters by Chantel Acevedo (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
Mar 09, 2026 06:34AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of No Way Never Sisters by Chantel Acevedo. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — No Way Never Sisters by Chantel Acevedo <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Kelly Carey wants to read King of Nothing by Nathanael Lessore	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
Mar 09, 2026 06:32AM · like
Kelly Carey wants to read Villa Coco by Andrew Sean Greer	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
Mar 09, 2026 06:26AM · like
Kelly Carey started reading The Magnificent Ruins by Nayantara Roy (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
Mar 09, 2026 06:18AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Magnificent Ruins by Nayantara Roy. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Magnificent Ruins by Nayantara Roy <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">