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

Search

About
Books
Book Clubs
Interviews
Visits
Events
Subscribe
Contact

About
Books
Book Clubs
Interviews
Visits
Events
Subscribe
Contact

Subscribe

Come hang with me on Instagram...

kimderosewrites

YA Author | Ragey Feminist Weird Girl Stories | Essays on Grief, Life & Creativity | Grief Coach & Death Doula in training | Newsletter in bio 🌈🩷💜💙

Some thoughts on grief and time travel and being s

Some thoughts on grief and time travel and being stuck in an emotional time loop. You can read the full essay at kimderose.substack.com #grief #mementomori

David Bowie just might be the patron saint of Wild

David Bowie just might be the patron saint of Wild Souls. Gender bending and ever-changing, wholly original and always himself.

And the way Bowie inhabited new alter egos at every turn - Ziggy Stardust, Aladdin Sane, The Thin White Duke - allowed him to remain mysterious. You knew Bowie - his sound, his vision, his kaleidoscope of artistry - but did you know him? Maybe you only knew what he wanted you to know, which makes me respect him all the more.

David Bowie’s death felt like losing something vital, as if from that moment on we were living in a world with one less color.

When I saw the David Bowie Is exhibit, walking through his artistic history moved me, but what brought me to tears was the end: an enormous darkened room, floor-to-ceiling screens streaming his concert footage. It was like stumbling through a portal into a Bowie show, the empty mannequins donning his costumes a stark reminder
that there would never be another him.

Thank you for always staying wild, David Bowie. For howling to all us artists and outsiders and weirdos so we might be brave enough to howl back. #davidbowie #staywild #yabooks

Hey there, I’m Kim. If you’re new here, I’m so gla

Hey there, I’m Kim. If you’re new here, I’m so glad you found me.

I’m a YA author and write ragey feminist weird girl stories for teens and former teens—I’ve always loooved girls who refuse to conform to the world’s expectations.

Lately, I’ve also been writing essays about grief. This past year, I walked my mom toward her death. I’m just beginning to metabolize that intense journey, and writing helps me process & find words for how it’s changed me.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been drawn to questions about death. Which is why I’m a Grief Coach and Death Doula in training.

But what I always come back to is this: yes, death is certain but what’s most important is that we fully live.

Which is why I immerse myself in the things that most inspire me: music, films, books, artists, outsiders, and wild souls. (Also, my kitten, Stevie Nicks)

If any of that sounds like your corner of the internet...
I’m so glad you’re here. I hope you’ll stick around.

And if you’re interested in my longer essays, you’ll find them in my newsletter at kimderose.substack.com

#YAAuthor #AmWriting #Grief #staywild

Thoughts on grief and offerings and the loss of th

Thoughts on grief and offerings and the loss of this soulful artist and trying to make sense of the incomprehensible fact of death. You can read more at Kimderose.substack.com #glenhansard #mementomori #mementovivere

Does your summer need a discussion of death and gr

Does your summer need a discussion of death and grief!? Well I’m here to serve. You can read my latest newsletter at https://kimderose.substack.com/

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

Follow on Instagram

© 2026 Kim DeRose

Back to top