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Kelly Esparza

@kelwritesbooks2

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writer of mysteries for teens & adults 🔍 | freelance editor | sometimes a poet | EIC: @flarelitmag | rep: @madethisforlu @madwomanliterary

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🚨ANNOUNCEMENT🚨: I AM AGENTED AGAIN!! 🤩🎉 I am so happy to officially announce that I’m now represented by Alex Land (@madethisforlu) at Mad Woman Literary Agency (@madwomanliterary).

Alex seems like such an amazing person to work with, and I’m so excited to work with her on my YA and adult mysteries! 🔍 I had the honor of meeting her in person a few weeks ago when she came here for the Sacramento Book Festival, making the experience extra special!

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Thank you to my lovely querying discord group of friends who have uplifted me and stayed with me through all this. Thank you to my first writing group and bearing with me as I wrote with Sprinto a lot to finish my books😂 Thank you to anyone who boosted my work at pitch events or engaged with me through social media; your support is everything!

I wrote a “How I Got My Agent (Again)!” post on Substack, and it’s linked in my LinkTree and story! What a great way to end my birthday weekend!! 🎉🎂

#agented #publishingnews #celebrate by @kelwritesbooks2

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6 months ago

🚨‼️BIG ANNOUNCEMENT‼️🚨I am SO excited to share that earlier this year, I wrote a poetry chapbook about my experience with living with lupus, and it’s PUBLISHED today by small press @bottlecappress!

As someone who is chronically ill, I appreciate Bottlecap Press giving me the space to speak up about the harsh realities of living with a chronic illness while also offering hope in how it’s shaped me as a person.

Earlier this year, I started @flarelitmag to help showcase authors and artists who deal with chronic illnesses, disabilities, and mental health. It took off more and better than I ever imagined!

So, I am pleased that my words can also be published to spread awareness!

I hope to sell this chapbook to some bookstores and do book events! My book’s link to buy is in my linktree!

#books #chapbooks #poetrychapbooks #chronic #chronicpainawareness #chronicpain #chronicpainwarrior #chronicallyill #chronicillnesswarrior #chronicillnessawareness #chronicillness #lupus #sle #systemiclupuserythematosus #autoimmune #inflammatory #inflammation #bottlecappress #book #instapoets #writing #smallpress #writersofinstagram #writingcommunity #poetry #poetrycommunityofinstagram #poetrycommunity #poem #poems #bookclub by @kelwritesbooks2

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a year ago

I have a Ko-Fi (@kofi_button)! Ko-Fi helps creators earn an income for what they love to do. Think of it like a tip jar! I created one after creating @flarelitmag in case anyone wanted to support me as a chronically ill editor and creator! I also have an Etsy shop @designs.studio.by.kel where I sell my doodles and painting as unframed prints, stickers, and postcards! My shop is running a 25% off sale on everything through the end of July in honor of Disability Pride Month!

On my Ko-Fi, I also share links to my latest pieces of writing!

“Buying a coffee” is $5, and I will use this account as a way to make @flarelitmag better, my own medical co-pays/needs, and to produce more Etsy shop items!
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#kofi #kofibutton #buymeacoffee #litmageditor #etsy #etsyshop #etsyshopowner #etsysmallbusiness #postcard #unframedprint #sticker #bookish #booksbooksbooks #bookworm #bookish #chronic #chronicillnessawareness #chronicfatigue #chronicillness #lupuswarrior💜 #lupus #chronicpainwarrior #chronicillnesssupport #disabilty #disabilities #disabilitypridemonth #disabilityawareness by @kelwritesbooks2

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a year ago

Ahhh I got a signed copy and some beautiful merch of THE END OF US, a YA dystopian romance that I was on the street team for! 🤩 Thank you, @sandraproudman, for sending this to me! 💜

THE END OF US is out in the world! Go buy it! I reviewed this book in an earlier post ICYMI, and I loved this book—definitely one of my favorite reads this year! 📚 Support Latinx voices! 📣

#dystopian #newbookrelease #romance #booksbooksbooks by @kelwritesbooks2

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3 days ago

This YA thriller THE MURDER PARTY came out on Tuesday, and I DEVOURED it and finished this morning. So so good. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ @cindyrxhe does a really good job of making each chapter grab a hold of you, and I seriously could not put it down (I read every free moment I got). The concept intrigued me (and didn’t disappoint!), I loved the grief/anxiety explored through June’s POV, and the dynamic/chemistry of the main characters in relation to each other was so realistic for YA and so well done.

🔍I read Cindy’s last book, THIS IS WHERE WE DIE, and I also devoured that book! Each of Cindy’s books has such a magnetic pull to them that truly makes each story a page turner. As a mystery writer and reader myself, I always find Cindy’s books so fun and inspiring!

Guess it’s time to read her first book—PERFECT LITTLE MONSTERS and look forward to her adult debut NO ONE ELSE IN HERE (out May 18, 2027)! 🔪

🔍If you’re looking for a thriller that’ll immediately grip you and hold your undivided attention, this book is a MUST read! 📖📚

#bookworm #bookstagram #yathriller #themurderparty by @kelwritesbooks2

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4 days ago

Since it’s getting nearer to this anthology’s release date, here are some facts about me as an author! ICYMI, my creative nonfiction essay is getting published on Oct. 20th! Learn more about it below and in each slide:

Never Too Young is a charity anthology, edited and compiled by A.M. Tyson and Olivia J. Bennett, featuring 27 poems and essays on what it means to be chronically ill as a young person. 💜

It features:

Olivia J. Bennett (@olivia.j.creates)
Kaleigh Schmidt (@kaleighmschmidt)
Devin Araneta (@thedearlydiary)
Kelly Esparza (me!)
Jordan Corley
Maya Jeanne (@maya.jeanne)
Alysha Everwood (@chronicles.of.a.bookworm)
Savannah Hernandez
Meg McBain (@marymegdalen)
ZiAr (@ziartistic)
Lily March
Mattie Paige (@authormattiepaige)
A.M. Tyson (@am.tyson.writes)
Makena Metz (@makenametz)
Marissa Anne (@misstablescraps)
Mary K. Gowdy (@marykgowdy)
Marwa Hussain (@inkpotandpages)
Brittney Kristina (@brittney.kristina)

All proceeds from the sale of this anthology will be donated directly to the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund.

Available Oct. 20, 2026 🦌🍄💜

Pre-order an e-copy here: https://a.co/d/08phN4Mm

NOTE: In Never Too Young, its creators, editors, and featured authors are not endorsed by, directly affiliated with, or sponsored by the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund.

#anthology #personalessay #spoonie #chronicillnessawareness by @kelwritesbooks2

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8 days ago

Happy Friday! 🎉 My fantasy short story, “The Great Saint,” has been published today by @bdg.lit for their “embers and ink” fall issue! 🔥🖋️ I’ll share a link in my story, but it’s also linked on my website under Selected Publications! ✨

I’m really excited about this one because it’s a little different from what I typically write. But as always, I do love to challenge myself to write out of my comfort zone sometimes. It’s written like a legend! 📖 I wrote this short story in early 2026, and it has since gone through a few drafts. I couldn’t be more proud of how it eventually turned out and that it finally found a home with Belladonna’s Garden!

I’ve wanted to submit to this publication for a while but never had any ideas, so it’s perfect! Happy my piece is one of eight stories published total in this round! ✨💜

#litmags #folklorestories #fantasy #shortstory by @kelwritesbooks2

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10 days ago

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13 days ago

excited to announce I have a hybrid piece getting published soon by @cope_magazine (it’s my second hybrid piece to be published—ever and is a mix of prose poetry and creative nonfiction) titled “Measuring Pain.” 🔥🥄

it’s entirely based on my own reflection on pain, how I cope in each “level” of pain, and it depicts just how much pain people who deal with chronic illness go through and what we put up with on a daily basis🔥

stay tuned for November🥰🤩

#litmags #copemagazine #chronicillnessawareness #chronicpainwarrior by @kelwritesbooks2

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19 days ago

We are thrilled to welcome Kelly Esparza to Belladonna’s Garden! Her upcoming piece will be featured in our next issue. Stay tuned!
Our Fall 2026 issue drops in October! 🖤

#LitMag #LiteraryMagazine #WriterSpotlight #AuthorBio by @kelwritesbooks2

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24 days ago

Today, @redrosethorns journal published my mental health poem, “a dedication to fidget rings.” Thank you, editor-in-chief Kirsty Anne, for publishing my words again! 💜🌹

While the timing of this publication wasn’t intended (but it works), it’s still #suicidepreventionmonth and thus, a month where we strive to spread more awareness about mental health! As a writer, in addition to trying to write on subjects like chronic illness, mental health rep—whether it’s in my books, short stories, creative nonfiction, or poetry—is deeply important to me, and I hope my pieces help to break the stigma! I believe emotions and mental health are some of the best ways to explore the human experience.

Hope you enjoy! ⭕️

#mentalhealthmatters #poetry #publication by @kelwritesbooks2

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24 days ago

It’s cover reveal time for the chronic illness anthology I’m a part of! 🥁

A while ago, I mentioned my personal essay, “Fighting for Your Life,” was getting published, and this is the anthology: Never Too Young.

Edit: this was NOT created with AI (instagram is just being dumb and quite frankly, rude!).

About the Anthology:

Never Too Young is a charity anthology, edited and compiled by A.M. Tyson and Olivia J. Bennett, featuring 27 poems and essays on what it means to be chronically ill as a young person.

It features:

Olivia J. Bennett (@olivia.j.creates)
Kaleigh Schmidt (@kaleighmschmidt)
Devin Araneta (@thedearlydiary)
Kelly Esparza (aka me lol)
Jordan Corley
Maya Jeanne (@maya.jeanne)
Alysha Everwood (@chronicles.of.a.bookworm)
Savannah Hernandez
Meg McBain
ZiAr (@ziartistic)
Lily March
Mattie Paige (@authormattiepaige)
A.M. Tyson (@am.tyson.writes)
Makena Metz (@makenametz)
Marissa Anne (@misstablescraps)
Mary K. Gowdy (@marykgowdy)
Marwa Hussain (@inkpotandpages)
Brittney Kristina (@brittney.kristina)

Available Oct. 20, 2026 🎉

Pre-order an e-copy here: https://a.co/d/08phN4Mm

or via the 🔗 in my bio (see my Linktree)

#chronicillnessawareness #chronicillnesswarrior #charityanthology #personalessay by @kelwritesbooks2

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a month ago