Tweens Read was established in 2011 to connect tweens with authors and celebrate literacy and a love of reading.

Please read all of the following information before submitting a book to Tweens Read:

Participating in Tweens Read as a featured author is by invitation only. Authors who are invited to participate will be featured in a solo, moderated or panel session; Tweens Read does not feature authors for book signings only.

What do I need to do for my book to be considered?

To be considered as a featured author for Tweens Read:

• Are you represented by one of the major publishing houses?

  • Please have your publicist submit you for consideration.

• Send or have your publicist send as much of the following as possible:

  • Include full contact information for author and publicist if applicable

  • Two copies of a finished book, galley/ARC, or manuscript you wish to be considered; electronic submissions will not be considered

  • A list of honors, previously published titles

  • Information about your ability to fund your own lodging and travel to Houston if your publisher is not covering the cost

• Your completed submission packet must be postmarked on or before April 15 2022.

Send your submission packet to:

Tweens Read Author Submissions

Attn: Cathy Berner

Blue Willow Bookshop

14532 Memorial Drive

Houston TX 77079

Please bear in mind:

• There is no fee for submissions.

• Meeting the criteria for consideration does not guarantee an invitation to participate in Tweens Read as a featured author.

• Books submitted for consideration will not be returned, and authors will receive neither feedback nor critique of submitted works.

What types of books are considered?

• Fiction — middle grade, any genre

• Nonfiction — history, biography, memoir, essays, and narrative nonfiction geared toward a middle grade

• Poetry (no chapbooks)

What types of books are not considered?

Tweens Read focuses on connecting TWEENS with authors; therefore

• books outside of the middle grade age range or

• on the topics of self-improvement, how-to books, or

• books strictly of primary academic or religious interest will not be considered.

• No booklets of any genre will be considered.

What if I'm a self-published or self-printed author?

Self-published titles will only be considered if:

• The title is bound.

• Printed copies can be available for our bookseller (Blue Willow Bookshop) to sell.

The consideration for self-published titles that meet the above criteria will be the same as traditionally published books, outlined above. Tweens Read will not accept self-published titles that exist only in eBook format.  

What happens when a book is selected?

• We typically begin issuing invitations to participate in Tweens Read as a featured author by mid-May until the roster is full.

• We will ask authors who are invited to participate to provide materials for inclusion in the Tweens Read program and on the website.

• We do not provide monetary compensation for participation.

• As we are unable to notify individuals who are not selected, we post an announcement on the festival website when all submissions have been considered and invitations have been sent.