Azalea Dunn/A.Z. Dunsworth 🇯🇲 🇳🇬 🍉
@azaleadunn.bsky.social
Island girl 🌺 African princess 👑 Queer & proud 🏳️🌈 Writer of interracial/multicultural romance (as Azalea) & sci fi/fantasy (as A.Z.) http://books2read.com/u/38MPwV Currently based in Jamaica.
Bring back MMPB for kidlit! (and fix the royalties structure so authors can actually make money from pb)
jessamyn@librarian.bsky.social · 3h ago"...under the leadership of the Big Five and their equally hegemonic national retail partners, the flagship product favored by elite-facing bookstores in wealthy enclaves got cheaper, and the format with the proven mass potential got many times more expensive." 📚 jacobin.com/2026/10/book...
I remember when $100 dollars got me at least 11 books. I'm lucky to get four now.
jessamyn@librarian.bsky.social · 3h ago"...under the leadership of the Big Five and their equally hegemonic national retail partners, the flagship product favored by elite-facing bookstores in wealthy enclaves got cheaper, and the format with the proven mass potential got many times more expensive." 📚 jacobin.com/2026/10/book...
I had dozens and probably hundreds of $3 paperbacks on my shelf by age 12. I spent my allowance on them. I spent my birthday money on them. I spent babysitting and lawn-mowing money on them. Because they were only $3. Bring back cheap paperbacks!
jessamyn@librarian.bsky.social · 3h ago"...under the leadership of the Big Five and their equally hegemonic national retail partners, the flagship product favored by elite-facing bookstores in wealthy enclaves got cheaper, and the format with the proven mass potential got many times more expensive." 📚 jacobin.com/2026/10/book...
"...under the leadership of the Big Five and their equally hegemonic national retail partners, the flagship product favored by elite-facing bookstores in wealthy enclaves got cheaper, and the format with the proven mass potential got many times more expensive." 📚 jacobin.com/2026/10/book...
Publishers Killed the Paperback, Then Blamed Readers
In 1939, the 25-cent paperback made America a nation of readers, delivering thrillers, classics and Pulitzer-winning books. So why did the Big Five publishers just kill the mass market paperback?
jacobin.com
This is so important what Dan is doing because if women complain they'll be dismissed as shrieking harpies but when a man stands up, he's way more likely to be listened to. This is what is needed.
Liz Renzetti@lizrenzetti.bsky.social · 5h agoDan Levy doing what more men should do -- calling out Shane Gillis's misogyny. This is the top story on Variety right now, alongside a report on Russell Brand's rape trial beginning. In case we're still wondering why women are angry variety.com/2026/tv/news...
heya! im a disabled trans woman crowdfunding to dodge sketchy in person sex work that im afraid of paypal.me/briellebright buymeacoffee.com/briellebouquet #mutualaid #transcrowdfund #disabilitymutualaid
- RSF drone strikes reported in ElObeid, North Kordofan for the 2nd consecutive day. - RSF drone strike reported targeting hospital in Wad Al Mahi, Blue Nile State. #KeepEyesOnSudan
Today's quick update [Oct 11]: - At least 72 civilians killed in yesterday's airstrike on gold mine in River Nile State, w/allegations that Egyptian air force is responsible. - This is 2nd such airstrike on the mine this year; in June, 23 miners were killed. #KeepEyesOnSudan
I had a lot of faves but Motion City Soundtrack makes me so nostalgic for that era.
Sophia_Nyx 🐰@sophianyx.bsky.social · 19h agoName your fav band/artist when you were 18.
"Authors First gives authors full creative control, final-cut approval and fair compensation, using Al and other technology as production tools. For fans, it creates a 'watch the book' experience as the author imagined it and brought it to life." May you fail so badly that nobody tries again.
AK Faulkner ➡️ NYCC@ravenswordpress.com · yesterdayThis is news to some people, so I present to you: authorsfirst.com Peter F. Hamilton. Conn Iggulden. David W. Ball. R. A. Salvatore. All people who made a good living from writing.
We're starting with me, because of course. ICYMI, my Unusual Historicals post is up for October. 16 titles this past month for your browsing pleasure wendythesuperlibrarian.blogspot.com/2026/09/back... #RomBkBlog #Romancelandia
Back to School: Unusual Historicals for September 2026
A public librarian-written blog about romance novels, baseball, and other random natterings.
wendythesuperlibrarian.blogspot.com
This was Copenhagen yesterday. The European establishment's abysmal failure on Israel/Gasa is not shared by the European public. The gap between the two is untenable. The public will eventually prevail, but Europe's moral collapse will take years to repair.
Hi friends 👋🏾 back in need of help for a Sudani refugee family struggling w/this month’s rent. Total is $550, I have $150 left over from previous donations, so need ur help covering $350! Every little bit helps 😭 paypal.me/bsonblast Ven/Cash: BSonblast #KeepEyesOnSudan #mutualaid
Update: thanks to your immense generosity, we are just $65 away from our goal! 😭🙌🏾 13 people giving $5 and we’re done! Pls help 😭 #KeepEyesOnSudan #mutualaid
BSonblast@bsonblast.bsky.social · 2d agoHi friends 👋🏾 back in need of help for a Sudani refugee family struggling w/this month’s rent. Total is $550, I have $150 left over from previous donations, so need ur help covering $350! Every little bit helps 😭 paypal.me/bsonblast Ven/Cash: BSonblast #KeepEyesOnSudan #mutualaid
The Israeli army has bulldozed over 1.6 million olive trees in Gaza since the beginning of the genocide in 2023, threatening the livelihood and heritage of olive farming communities, and the survival of a centuries-old Palestinian cultural tradition. mondoweiss.net/2026/10/afte...
After three years of genocide, Gaza’s olive harvest is going extinct
The Israeli army has bulldozed over 1.6 million olive trees in Gaza since the beginning of the genocide in 2023, threatening the livelihood and heritage of olive farming communities, and the survival…
mondoweiss.net
Victoria Strauss is of course _the_ resource for this but literally just saying to whoever "hey, you don't know who I am, but I just got a contract from [magazine] and I don't know if this part is normal" is socially fine. We may or may not be able to answer but we can point you to people who will.
apropos of previous thread by John Wiswell: writers have a lot of solidarity when it comes to contracts. if you are a new writer and you think something might be hinky about your contract, it is completely fine to ask other professional writers even (especially) if you don't know us.
Also #Booksky please support Boozhoo Books on @binderybooks.bsky.social! There’s even a free follow level. Find your nearest Native-owned bookstore to support at the link below. Many are on @bookshop.org and/or @libro.fm www.tcikh.org/blog-seedsto...
Indigenous Owned Bookstores — Traditional Center for Indigenous Knowledge and Healing
As we share a variety of Indigenous written books throughout the year, we are excited to share this compiled list of Indigenous owned bookstores across the United States and Canada, as well as online ...
tcikh.org
Hey #booksky! This Indigenous Peoples Day I’m asking if you’re an #NDNGirlsBookclub supporter, because you should be. ndngirlsbookclub.org
NDN Girls Book Club
ndngirlsbookclub.org
@csvanw.bsky.social (Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women) is fundraising specifically around Domestic Violence this month. #MMIWG2S+ is an on going crisis and a key component to the *on going* invisibilized genocide of Indigenous Peoples in the Americas. bsky.app/profile/csva...
Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women@csvanw.bsky.social · 5d agoDVAM Day of Giving Thursday, October 22, 2026 Join CSVANW for #GiveForDV, a national day of giving during Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Help raise awareness, support survivors, and strengthen efforts to end domestic violence. Donate: https://ow.ly/RUGR50ZRchg #GiveForDV #DVAM2026
As Indigenous People’s Day approaches I want to lovingly offer the practice that those of us who are salaried & get holidays off donate at least a portion of that paid day of day’s wages to the communities & causes we’re meant to be centering on i.e. Indigenous People’s Day and Juneteenth.
Yes, join us! Also... 👋🏾 Hey #WritingCommunity! Please boost so more writers see this 🙏🏾 bsky.app/profile/writ...
Writing the Other (@writingtheother.com)
Get to know your protagonist & other important characters better in this live workshop w/ @nisishawl.bsky.social & @ktempestbradford.com. Dig into character background & relationships via writing exercises & real-time feedback. 📅 Oct 31 & Nov 1 🕘 9:30-4pm P 💰 $175 Scholarships 👍🏾 champ.ly/IN06b9vH
bsky.app
Interlude 3: Searching for better markets to submit your short fiction? Try the Submissions Grinder at Diabolical Plots! It's an amazing tool.
The Submission Grinder
thegrinder.diabolicalplots.com
Asimov's social media put out this statement. You may notice professional authors don't buy it. It's just cover to take more rights, which has been a trend with MRM.
Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine@asimovssfmag.bsky.social · 3d agoFrom our publisher:
This week's firestorm around MRM kicked off when it became apparent they were trying to grab the rights to cover art by the beloved and excellent artist John Picacio. It's important to stipulate that John is *already* super generous with his rights! Many other artists who do zine covers are, too.
John Picacio@johnpicacio.bsky.social · 3d agoI own copyright on the vast majority of cover art I’ve created. And yes, I own the right to make prints of that art. But even when fans demand I make prints upon book release, I don’t do it @ that time. Why? Because I want the author and publisher to make $$$$$. But those art rights remain mine.