Abby Vail @AbbyVail Twitter profile

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Abby Vail

1 month

Hi #writingcommunity 👋🏻 I’m Abby. I write horror—whimsically spooky middle grade, bleak short stories and novellas, and most recently an adult horror novel centered around a female metal bassist like myself.

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

4 months

A word about kids & horror: Recently, my 4yo saw a Goosebumps episode & was very afraid of the dog with yellow eyes during the theme song, but then she kept asking me to replay it so she could see, over & over. She would shake a little, then say, “can we watch it again?” 🧵

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

2 years

Today a doctor routinely asked what my job is and I said, “Just a stay at home mom.” He stopped what he was doing & said, “Hey, don’t you ever say ‘just’ when someone asks you that. You brought three kids through a pandemic. It’s an important job.” And I almost cried on the spot.

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

4 months

I know it isn’t a huge deal to conquer the fear of seeing a dog with yellow glowing eyes, but to a 4yo, it kind of is. That’s how it starts. She faced her fear until it was defeated. The exposure was beneficial, & can eventually translate to real life scenarios. Dont hide, stand.

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

4 months

It was clear she enjoyed the feeling of being scared, so much so she requested it. Today, she asked to watch Goosebumps to see the scary dog again, but when the theme song was over, she turned to me and asked, “Why am I not even scared of that anymore?”

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

4 months

She was so disappointed, she had to stop herself from crying. I understood the disappointment from her perspective because the thrill was gone, though I can’t stop thinking about how I watched, in real time, “horror” make her stronger.

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

4 months

Kids typically know what they can handle when it comes to scary stories. Let them. #kidlit #HorrorCommunity

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

4 months

Since this got traction and I do have something somewhat relevant to promote, I’ll share a music video that premiered today, which I look pretty horrific in if you watch to the end 😈 Thanks fellow horror lovers 🖤

The Holtzmann Effect - I Don't Mind

From the Brand-new Album : "Hel"Shot by Novro Studios: https://www.instagram.com/novrostudios/SFX Makeup by Shanice Waddel: https://www.instagram.com/slwcrea...

www.youtube.com

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

4 months

To those recommending she watch Coraline: I am very much on that. Coraline is her middle name and this was her 1st birthday cake. She’s in good hands.

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

4 months

Someone at work called me over to tell me they think I have a stalker. But I’m happy to report I just have a loving father, who comes in to eat and chat with me every single shift I work (I’m a waitress). Have to say, I appreciated the person looking out for me though

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

3 years

Answering to the pain of rejection by sending more queries is a strength I don’t even understand as I demonstrate it. #amquerying

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

3 years

@OllyWrites At an open mic at a coffee shop. He was playing bass. I was there to play bass with my band. We didn’t speak that first day but I kept going to his shows & my band started booking shows w/ him. For a year we denied the connection was more than music, but we both knew all along.

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

2 years

Little bit of writing today. But it went like this:

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

3 years

My geologist’s cake 💚

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

3 years

I wanted to cry happy tears typing these words today. 🖤 I finished the 1st draft of my MG horror—my 4th MG—& I’m letting myself feel proud. I was down about my pub journey & wanted to prove to myself I had another story to tell. It poured out of me in 27 days. #writingcommunity

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

3 years

‘Twas the night before Pitmad and all through the void Not a pitch was unpracticed, no hope yet destroyed The hashtags were drafted on Tweetdeck with care In hopes that an agent would soon be there #writingcommunity

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

1 year

@ycsm1n I feel like I just watched a @chrisfluming skit

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

2 years

@AllisonRLau I was truly happy to hear it because I know it’s true, but sometimes I don’t KNOW it, you know? And he didn’t have to take the time to tell me. It’s the little things sometimes.

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

2 years

@LangstonKerman Not my ex mother in law saying Pantera Bread

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

3 years

Welp. Just woke from a dream that was: SQUID GAME x QUERYING My writing group & I desperately researched agents on MSWL like our lives depended on it...bc they did. One rejection = one death. Who would be left standing? So that’s how starting #amquerying is going for me 👀

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

3 years

Husband about my outfit: “I need to catch up to your fanciness level” Me: “I am wearing a black long sleeve shirt and leggings.” Him: “yeah, but it’s the WAY that you’re wearing it.”

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

2 years

Sometimes, the perfect notebook for your story makes revisions even better.

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

3 years

My 10yo signed up for a reading challenge yesterday. The librarian gave her a tote bag w/ challenge details inside and she took it to bed last night. She said, “Have you ever been so excited about something that you wanted to talk about it over & over? That’s me with this bag.”

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

3 years

@glenntstephens @OllyWrites Well we named our daughter Kit, as in drum kit, and the oldest plays the snare drum in band class. Bassists need good drummers, you know 😛

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

4 months

This purse is more of a need than a want. How many odd looks might I receive? Even if I rarely wear it, I just feel like it NEEDS to be mine.

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

4 years

Happy to reveal our writer’s group logo! #MGpies It was so much fun to collaborate with @oakenspirit and take input from the whole group!

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

3 years

We got the baby Christmas PJs that came with mini matching ones for her panda bear and watching her tote him around like this is all I needed to get through the rest of December.

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

2 years

One of my new favorite things my 2yo does is reach her arms to be picked up & when I do, she gives me a squeeze and says, “I gotchu, Mom.” As if she’s the one picking me up. And she’s simply correct. Because her saying she “has me” picks my mood right up

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

2 years

And the story wall grows ✋🏽🌸🌼

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

2 years

I added a rat to her shoulder. 🐇🐀

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

2 years

@laurenspieller This is encouraging to me as a querying writer because it affirms that years spent writing, revising, & re-writing with new craft knowledge all exercise the same muscles that will be put to good use when getting an agent & editor. Just reminds me that nothing is wasted.

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

4 months

Since I’ve gained a bunch of followers… Hello 👋🏻 I write horror stories— some spooky stuff for kids, some dark stuff for adults. I play bass in a couple bands & have done so for 16 years on/off. Overall, I live to create. This is me in a nutshell 🥜 #HorrorCommunity #kidlit

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

2 years

My son waddled with his heavy backpack up the driveway because he wanted extra hugs before the bus came & I almost broke then and there. My heart hurts, and it’s angry.

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

3 years

Finished product

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

2 years

Saturday night

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

1 year

A true story: When I was a fresh 17, I googled my name. A grave came up. Abby E. Vail. My middle initial is also E. This person died in the state I live at age 17 and 6 months. The gravestone reads, “There is but a step betwixt me and death.”

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

2 years

This strong girl is 11 today, born June 11, 2011. Her favorite number. She’s having an art party with a “decorate your own cupcake” station 🎉🎨 She is very special to me.

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

3 years

Yesterday my kids built a snowman & the top two tiers fell off So they turned the bum into this little guy & named him Mr. Tot because he’s shaped like a tater tot. And every time I look out the window & see stubby Mr. Tot, nose to the sky, I smile. He rules.

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

3 years

Apparently I joined Twitter one year ago today. I did it in search of a writing community and wow did I find one. Super thankful for all the writerly friends I’ve made and for all the things I’ve learned about achieving my publishing goal #MyTwitterAnniversary

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

2 years

She needs a bigger bike. But I just love her.

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

11 months

My pumpkin this year 🎃

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

2 years

@ElanaRoth @SWekstein I did not query you because I know you don't like scary stuff, but I still appreciate this thread because the frustration is real in every sense of querying.

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

3 years

I was picking up some stray legos in my son’s room today and saw this bin in the middle of the room. A “bin for lopstrs” ??? I was unaware we needed this

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

2 years

My pantser heart was nervous at a point in my WIP where I needed a big reveal, but did not know what. I finally made myself sit down and vomited a monologue, and wouldn’t ya know, my villain knew exactly what he was revealing. I just had to get out of the way. That freaks me out.

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

3 years

My daughter came downstairs with clothing stuffed in her hood to look like me. I think she nailed it 🤣

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

3 years

-revamped my opening pages ✔️ 🍓 -trimmed my query ✔️🐙 -prepped Twitter pitches ✔️🍓 -my dear little green-haired activist is ready to take on #Pitmad ✔️🐙 #amquerying #MG #writingcommunity

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

3 years

When I came home from errands, my husband was excited to show me something. He made the characters of my stories as Super Smash Brothers characters and set them in the worlds closest to mine. He’s sitting here fighting them against enemies just like the ones I wrote for them 😭

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

2 years

@tiffanytweets80 I have vivid memories of being alone with my mom when the doorbell rang and her rushing me to the top of the steps, peeking out the octagon window to see when they’ve left.

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

4 years

My husband proposed to me while showing me a painting he had made of the exact positioning of the starry night sky on the night he spilled his love for me in a parking lot & we started dating. The ring is a mold of 2 bass strings, the A & G for our initials (we both play bass).

The Ripped Bodice

@TheRippedBodice

4 years

I enjoyed reading about your IRL YA moments and would now like to hear about the time your life most resembled a 💘romance novel💘 please and thank you

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

3 years

Just wrote a scene that made me fight back my own tears and I feel like I’ve unlocked the next level or something. Did I do it? Am I a real writer now? #writingcommunity

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

11 months

Wrote this up quickly this morning because it’s how I’m feeling and, well, my soul doesn’t spill on a schedule. #writingcommunity

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

2 years

Not that I’m leaving here until I absolutely have no other choice, but I made an Instagram account specific to writing if you’d like to find me there also. @ abbyvailwrites

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

3 years

Guess who’s starting off the year w/ a shiny new MG Horror idea 💡👻 It’s me 👀 I’m going to be querying soon and desperately need to inject my passion into a different story for the duration to stay hopeful. Feeling excited to lose myself in possibilities. #writingcommunity

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

3 years

This manta ray, shark, and general ocean critter obsessed girl is 2 today! 🎉 Getting to (safely) take her to the aquarium by daddy’s work for her birthday so she can see the creatures she loves in person has my heart FILLED with joy. 💙 She is all tired out from the experience

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

2 years

Pro tip: Poke a hook through your concert tickets (or even movie stubs) and hang those memories on the tree. My husband and I have been doing this with shows we went to together and I love it.

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

2 months

At the lake I said I forgot to bring a floaty for the littlest, and my 10 year old son said, “My floaty is Mom’s heart. It carries me.” 😭😭😭 I was not ready for him to be so adorably poetic.

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

2 years

Having the worst week I’ve had in a long time, but I’m really enjoying Me(Moth) right now. And next up is my very anticipated read, The Clackity. I’m also revising my NIV. So, trying to make the best of a crumby situation. Happy to have these.

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

3 years

Hi, I’m Abby. I write middle grade fantasy for kids who grapple with having different views from their parents. Sometimes there’s whimsy, sometimes there’s spook, sometimes there’s angst, and usually there’s art, but mostly—there are puns.

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

3 years

What a great night of celebration with the #MGpies 🎉🖤 I’m proud of every one of these people!

Dr. Allison Lau

@AllisonRLau

3 years

Tonight we had a #pieparty for our #MGpies ! We have so much writerly news to celebrate! #WritingCommunity @doucette515 @RWeberWrites @sarakapadia @AbbyVail @oakenspirit @DariaPipkin @KristiWrite @NeddaLewers @BarisNoel @jo_ann_sanchez @aaron_j_cole @meowdemeow

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

2 years

The 11yo and I made mini donuts for tomorrow and we may or may not have already eaten a handful 👀

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

2 years

Thinking about a complete rewrite of my very first manuscript. What a daunting thought. But I think it deserves to benefit from my growth.

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

2 years

31 today 🎈

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

3 years

@authorjesspayne Hi! I’m Abby, mom of 3. I write Middle Grade fantasy. My tip: listen to everything that come out of those kid’s mouths. I’ve gotten chapter titles from my son just walking through the kitchen spewing 7 year old genius. They don’t have to know they’re helping to help!

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

3 years

Really needed a distraction from querying today. But this very much fits the aesthetic of my manuscript and is now next to my writing desk. #amquerying

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

3 years

Just surpassed the halfway point in my WIP! 🎉 #WritingCommunity

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

1 year

Tomorrow evening, I’m signing the adoption papers for a new pup. We have a place all set up and it feels like Christmas Eve. 🐾

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

2 years

I don’t know what you want from me if not Peter Rabbit in a moth cloak

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

3 years

I may or may not have paused my third WIP to start a whole new middle grade WIP because my heart belongs there and I can’t help it. #writingcommunity

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

3 months

I love them so much, but my incredible fear of rabies would prevent me from ever doing this ☹️

Figen

@TheFigen_

3 months

The effort of a person who healed a bat he found injured and raised it by taking care of it like a baby ...

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

3 years

It’s the anniversary of the day I took my first real breath and found my home.

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

3 years

Here to report that today’s bad start topped yesterday’s. A moment of silence for my kid’s dignity as the dog bolted out the door & tried to... GET ON THE BUS. She barked at the bus driver from the bus steps & yes, the school kids stared as I scrambled barefoot to stop her. 🙏🏼

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

3 years

Sweet baby Frisbee is HOME! 🖤

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

2 months

Every time I see this I feel like saying it, so now I’m going to. Hi, I’m Abby & I have 6 middle grade manuscripts all below 50k. I write short, but I also write big concept. Ready for action.

SchoolLibraryJournal

@sljournal

2 months

An Open Letter to Middle Grade Authors and Publishers Regarding Book Length, a guest post by School Librarian and Media Specialist Christina Chatel Teen Librarian Toolbox

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

1 year

Every now and again, I love a thing I made. 🕷️💚🕸️

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

1 year

It’s balloon day. Here’s to 32 🥂

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

5 months

Book Mail! @TenebrousPress 🖤

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

4 years

@authorjesspayne @SajnaAbdul I’m Abby and I write spooky middle grade with both humor and heart. I have two fulls out, one being with my “dream agent.” I still have to pinch myself about that request, and hope I can keep myself together while waiting to hear back. Nervous and excited!

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

3 years

Pandemic date night is my husband saying, “I’ll play a video game and you can write but only if you bring your computer in here and stay next to me.” 🥰

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

1 year

I adore that my 3yo calls gloves “hand hats” and they will be hand hats from now until the end of time. Thank you.

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

2 years

11yo surprised me by painting a pumpkin themed as one of my books 😭 I’m sure fan mail from kids someday will be an amazing feeling, but right now fan pumpkins from my own kids are pretty stinking great

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

3 years

What a feeling when one of the sweetest people you’ve ever met is one you made! He’s also one reason any of the characters in my books play video games. He’s 8 today! 🎉

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

2 years

I just want to celebrate that I unexpectedly get to dress up tonight because what are we doing if not squeezing the life out of every little joy left

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

2 years

My now 3yo fought sleep for as long as she could last night to hold off her birthday. As her eyes grew heavier she kept saying, “No three.” But still, time came in the night like a thief and made my girl another year older.

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

2 years

Going through the “I’m not gonna straighten my hair anymore” phase again.

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

3 months

So far my birthday consisted of reading Rosemary’s Baby in peace & quiet before anyone woke, listening to an episode of @TalkScaredPod , dropping my art off at a spooky coffee shop for a showing, & being gifted a Babadook. Now off to an orchard. I am one lucky 33 year old.

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

2 years

Nothing brightens up a day like unexpected mail from @AllisonRLau , whom I will be getting to meet IN PERSON in just a few weeks! 🥰 This adorable card has earned a spot on my writing desk

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

3 years

My son was so happy to see this praying mantis today.

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

2 years

I may have gotten 4 rejections today, but I also reached 10k in my novel-in-verse WIP. Take that.

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

10 months

Joining in on the rejection blackout poem thing.

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

2 years

Whenever I hear a loud thump in my house I just yell, WAS THAT MY FAVORITE MUG? Because historically, it has been. To the point where I once found duplicates in the basement & realized when one breaks I’m treated like a child with a secretly-swapped-out goldfish.

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

3 years

Look at this absolute goof

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

2 years

My daughter wanted us to paint trees together after dinner and I’m glad we did. We chose our colors by closing our eyes and pointing to the palette.

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

3 years

One of the (fun) challenges of writing horror is having to come up with 173726 different ways to say “I’m scared.” #writingcommunity

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

3 years

The writers were nestled with insomnia in bed While visions of publishing danced in their heads

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

3 years

One of my favorite things about having split dye hair is mushing both colors together.

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

4 months

As a kid I adored Thorn, and now I realize I grew up to be her. #hexgirls #scoobydoo

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

3 years

CAN I YELL ABOUT HOW MUCH I LOVE MY NEW CHARACTERS #WritingCommunity

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

2 years

Reading my MS aloud with my 10yo has been one of my favorite experiences, maybe ever. We finished last night. She stopped me with guesses, questions that were SO smart, & statements that made me feel like she really GOT it. I’m both reassured & motivated to get it to more kids 🖤

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

2 years

Serious question: As an author, do you find it off-brand or annoying when I share drawings and murals? I try to keep all the parts of me separate, but they do overlap. Is stuff like this relevant enough to be here? Do you care? Is Twitter broken? #kidlit #writingcommunity

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

2 years

Played my first gig in years tonight and can confirm it’s one of my favorite things to do in life. I have missed the stage.

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Abby Vail

@AbbyVail

3 years

@JEngelMattern I love how consistently we have our Zoom meets & how active our chat is! I’m never made to feel that my questions are stupid, we are quick to celebrate, & quick to give words of encouragement. Plus, the group has had a big hand in the improvement of my craft. #MGpies

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