Dark, magical stories about strong, magical girls for teens and former teens

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    • “Hear Her Howl”
    • “For Girls Who Walk Through Fire”
    • “A Beginner’s Guide to Resurrecting the Dead”
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  • About
  • Books
    • “Hear Her Howl”
    • “For Girls Who Walk Through Fire”
    • “A Beginner’s Guide to Resurrecting the Dead”
  • Book Clubs
  • Interviews
  • Visits
  • Events
  • Subscribe
  • Contact

Interviews

Eight Book Recommendations to Help You Own Your Wild (The Nerd Daily)
Embracing Her Inner Werewolf (The Santa Barbara Independent)
From Submission to Publication (The Author Burnout Cure podcast interview)
Focus Less on the Destination, and More on the Journey (Writer’s Digest)
You Too? Kim DeRose on Telling and Retelling Stories of Sexual Assault (Lit Hub)
We SHOULD Be Uncomfortable: The importance of addressing sexual assault in YA books, a guest post by Kim DeRose (Teen Librarian Toolbox)
Q&A: Kim DeRose, Author of ‘For Girls Who Walk Through Fire’ (The Nerd Daily)
A Reading List of Badass Covens (CrimeReads)
The Page 69 Test: Hear Her Howl
Authors Interviewing Characters: Women Writers, Women Books
The Page 69 Test: For Girls Who Walk Through Fire
My Book, The Movie: Kim DeRose
Interview w/ The Santa Barbara Independent (For Girls Who Walk Through Fire)
Interview with Authors Answer (For Girls Who Walk Through Fire)
Interview with Pine Reads Review (For Girls Who Walk Through Fire)
Interview with Jean Book Nerd
Interview with Campaign for the American Reader

Come hang with me on Instagram...

kimderosewrites

I write dark, magical books about strong, magical girls 🌈🩷💜💙 she/her | HEAR HER HOWL out now via @unionsqandco | FOR GIRLS WHO WALK THROUGH FIRE

Looking for your next audiobook? Good news! HEAR H Looking for your next audiobook? Good news! HEAR HER HOWL is an Audible July Monthly Deal and from 6/30-7/31 is only $7.99, which is such a good deal it’s basically free. Also, I cannot overstate what an amazing job narrator, Hayden Bishop, did. Do yourself a favor and get ready to get wild. #hearherhowl #audible #yabooks #bookstagram #audiobook
It’s been a while since I shared a wild soul who i It’s been a while since I shared a wild soul who inspires me, but as we enter the long, bright days of summer it felt like it was time! @mirandajuly is one of those artists who makes me feel more alive and fills my veins with the fizzy  excitement of what’s creatively possible. Her work and, frankly, mere presence make me want to go weirder and be bolder and do my own autonomous, instinctive, unselfconscious dance alone in my living room (both literally and metaphorically). She is never not fully herself, and because of that she never disappoints. ALL FOURS is pure genius: honest, hilarious, and so deeply insightful (as is all of her work) and if you haven’t read it, please run to your library right now. Thank you, Miranda. I’m so grateful and inspired to have your wild soul in this world.

#hearherhowl #staywild #mirandajuly #bookstagram #allfours
If you’re at ALA this weekend, make sure you stop If you’re at ALA this weekend, make sure you stop by the @unionsqandco booth to get some fun HEAR HER HOWL goodies! (Photo stolen/borrowed from the lovely @steefchin) #ala2026 #librariansofinstagram #hearherhowl
Putting this one on the grid because it’s by far t Putting this one on the grid because it’s by far the best rando NYC sign I’ve seen in a while and maybe even ever. Also, what kiiiiond of tattoos, my dude??? Give us details!!
My latest newsletter is out, and it’s all about ho My latest newsletter is out, and it’s all about how I’m doing fine...and yet not at all fine. Which I genuinely mean. Funny how both things can be true. You can read about it and subscribe at https://kimderose.substack.com/
When I don’t know how to feel - or when I feel too When I don’t know how to feel - or when I feel too much, or don’t know how to contain what I feel, or can’t fathom how to sort through it - I write. So, yesterday I wrote this.
We added a new member to our family: Stevie Harrin We added a new member to our family: Stevie Harrington Nicks. And just a week in, we already love her. Planning for a kitten while my mom was dying added such joy to my life, and Stevie arrived at the perfect time, just 11 days after my mom passed. Already, spending slow afternoons sitting and playing with her on the rug has been healing ❤️
We are two weeks out from our Outspoken panel cele We are two weeks out from our Outspoken panel celebrating the joyful resistance of queer YA stories (link to register in bio and here: https://bit.ly/outspokenv2) 

And when you register you’re automatically entered to win copies of books from ALL FIVE AUTHORS. Which means one lucky US based entrant will receive books from @sonidoreyes, @wintersjulian , @isa_sterling , @kimderosewrites , and @sorrynotbori . 

Registration is FREE and you can donate an amount of your choosing with all donations going to The Trevor Project. 

Hope to see you there!  #pride #giveaway #yabooks #queerya #bookstagram
We’re thrilled to announce v2 of Outspoken, a virt We’re thrilled to announce v2 of Outspoken, a virtual YA author panel - and this time it’s in celebration of Pride Month and queer YA stories (with all donations going to The Trevor Project @trevorproject ). Join YA authors @sorrynotbori , @isa_sterling, @wintersjulian , @kimderosewrites, and @sonidoreyes on 6/10 at 8pm ET/5:00pm PT (6/11 at 10am AUST for those of you in Australia!) to discuss the joyful resistance of queer YA stories. Because in an era of book banning, it’s time to be outspoken. Visit https://bit.ly/outspokenv2 or see link in bio to learn more and register. #bookstagram #pridemonth #bookpanel #yabooks #queerart
What people don’t always tell you about grief is s What people don’t always tell you about grief is sometimes it looks like a wearing a stained sweatshirt for five days straight and tunneling into your favorite blankets, but sometimes it looks like putting on red lipstick and your mom’s diamond earrings, the ones she got for her 25th anniversary but never ever wore - because on her final day on earth she deserves a celebratory send off. And sometimes it looks like gathering the next morning with the people who were at her side while she passed and having a seaside brunch, sharing stories while you all order the most comforting food on the menu you can find, belatedly realizing that the restaurant is, in fact, the last place she ever ate before she got sick. Smiling even though you’re heartbroken, because the day is gorgeous and you have one another and you’re all still alive. I share all of this not for pity, or to endorse seemingly keeping your shit together (believe me, my shit is not together) but because I really truly feel we need to normalize death, and we need to normalize grieving, in all the myriad ways grief can show up. #mementovivere
My mom, Sue Ann DeRose, passed away on Tuesday May My mom, Sue Ann DeRose, passed away on Tuesday May 12. Her death was peaceful in the end, which she deserved. And she was surrounded by loved ones, including both her children, which she also deserved. 

I have barely begun to process this past long year - traveling across country every month to see her, discussing difficulties and experiences that she’d never talked about, witnessing her go from despondent darkness last spring to stepping into a surprising badass version of herself as she entered hospice last fall (she nicely bossed people around, ate and watched whatever she wanted, ordered my father out of the room when he annoyed her, and nicknamed herself Mother Superior because she looooved that character in Hear Her Howl so much). I’ve also barely dipped into the well of deep anger I have that this even happened at all (because it didn’t have to - ladies, get your mammograms and don’t martyr yourselves, take care of yourselves), let alone the profound loss of my mom. 

I have so many things to say about this experience and yet no clear words to use quite yet. So for now I will just say that as complicated as our relationship could be - and it was - I loved her so very much. And I’m already missing her.
Visiting the cemetery is our Mother’s Day traditio Visiting the cemetery is our Mother’s Day tradition, and one I love. Though it has another level of meaning this year since I know it’s the last one I’ll have with my mom still alive. Sending lots of love to anyone feeling lots of feels today. Or any day really. ❤️
@florenceandthemachine did not disappoint. Attendi @florenceandthemachine did not disappoint. Attending this concert was like entering the dark and sexy haunted dreamscape of a vengeful goddess and her coven of sapphic witches. No notes. #florenceandthemachine #witchywoman
I’m so thrilled that HEAR HER HOWL was featured in I’m so thrilled that HEAR HER HOWL was featured in School Library Journal’s list of 11 recommended feminist YA and middle grade books - and with such amazing company, including @nikita_gill’s Hekate (which I LOVED), as well as the awesome @hannsawyerr’s Truth Is. And thank you so much @sljournal ! It means so much to have this book seen and celebrated.
My current read and one of my favorite authors. I’ My current read and one of my favorite authors. I’ve loved everything I’ve read by @notoriousdrtib and barely 30 pages in I know this is no exception. Do yourself a favor and grab one (or all) of her books. #authorsofinstagram #books
When life is hard sometimes you just need to head When life is hard sometimes you just need to head to your local indie bookstore and get yourself a new book. And I know I’ll devour and love this one. Thanks @communitybookstore and @misss_read #authorsofinstagram #booksbooksbooks
Librarians, you all have been such amazing champio Librarians, you all have been such amazing champions of Hear Her Howl, and I’m so incredibly grateful for the work you all do every day connecting teens with stories that make them feel seen.

If your teen book club, classroom, or library program is reading Hear Her Howl (or For Girls Who Walk Through Fire), and/or you’re seeking a YA author for programming, I would love to join you for a FREE virtual author visit.

I’m happy to drop in for a short Q&A with readers, talk about the writing process, or discuss the themes in the book — from speculative storytelling to feminism, identity, and queer representation in YA.

These conversations with teen readers are honestly one of my favorite parts of being an author. Librarians and educators can DM me here or visit www.kimderose.com/book-clubs if you’d like to set something up.

Most importantly, thank you for everything you do for readers. Now more than ever we need you and your amazing work.

#yalibrarian #librarylove #librariansofinstagram #yabooks #hearherhowl
Never let it be said that I don’t put effort into Never let it be said that I don’t put effort into Valentine’s Day. #forgirlswhowalkthroughfire #valentines #bookstagram #booksta #witchbooks
Thank you so much to @kirkus_reviews and @laura.si Thank you so much to @kirkus_reviews and @laura.simeon  for selecting HEAR HER HOWL as one of 6 new YA books to help empower teens in 2026! Lord knows we ALL need a little reminder of our power right about now. My hope is that this book gives readers both a fun escape and a fiery, empowering reminder that they can (and deserve to) escape their cages and own their wild 🐺 #hearherhowl #yabooks #feministbooks #kirkusreviews #bookstagram
With all that’s going on in the world right now, I With all that’s going on in the world right now, I’m so incredibly honored that HEAR HER HOWL was included amongst the amazing stories selected for the 2026 Rise: A Feminist Book Project List. 

“This year, the committee placed a heavy emphasis on solidarity. We looked for stories that remind us of the power found in community and collective support.”

Stories matter. Art matters. Using our voices however we can matters. I do not take being a YA author lightly - it’s a deep privilege to create books for teens (and former teens) that remind us of our individual and collective power, our innate wisdom and wild, and the fact that we don’t have to accept the (white supremacist patriarchal misogynistic heteronormative) narratives that have been handed down to us, that we can create new and better stories. And yes, sometimes that story involves girls becoming wolves. 

Thank you so much @americanlibraryassociation and the Feminist Book Project committee. And congratulations to all of the other honorees! Find and read their books - and visit your local libraries!

For more information and to see the full list visit: https://www.ala.org/srrt/2026-rise-feminist-book-project-list

@unionsqandco @kathygreenlit 

#hearherhowl #librarians #ala #youngadultbooks #feministbooks
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© 2026 Kim DeRose
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