I've launched a new limited-run podcast. Liberating Lit brings to listeners the advocacy origin stories of the people who have been defending the right to read and championing literature, with the goal to inspire new advocates and refill the cups of those feeling depleted.

Hmmm. Seems legit. Too bad it’s for a different FE Howard.

Rough Draft vs Final Draft

NYC, if you, like me, are grieving Dolly and want to commit an act of service in her honor, might I suggest volunteering with Reading Partners? 💗 readingpartners.org/get-involved...

I usually just sigh and give up about words the 🐝 doesn’t accept, but how is MUNTIN not OK? 🤓😠

Listen to Kelly and her doctors. Get the test; take care of yourself; do not believe in your own exceptionalism when it comes to health. The world needs you.

Kelly Barnhill@kellybarnhill.bsky.social · last mo.

🧵 So my darlings, here's a little story about the importance of preventative health. Spoiler: I'm fine. I'm going to be just fine. I mean. Most likely. But one thing I know for absolutely certain, if I had delayed taking action by a year, or even six months, this would be a VASTLY different story.

When Amy Gash and I collected the quotations in BELIEVE IN THE WORLD: WISDOM FOR GROWN-UPS FROM CHILDREN'S BOOKS, we began with the category "Kindness," and we opened with these words from ARISTOTLE AND DANTE DISCOVER THE SECRETS OF THE UNIVERSE, by Benjamin Alire Sáenz. RIP

Preeti Chhibber@runwithskizzers.bsky.social · 2mo ago

i am honestly distraught "To be careful with people and with words was a rare and beautiful thing." RIP to one of the greats.

There is a lot to say about the Nolan Odyssey movie. But one point that I think has not been emphasized enough is: this is a film about living in LA, as Nolan, my erstwhile British compatriot and age mate, has done for years. I gather it’s a strange place.

Hey! Workman Kids is hiring for a senior designer position. If you know anyone who might be interested, please pass the word along? We have a fun team and a bunch of awesome picture books coming up to work on . . . jobs.jobvite.com/hachette-int...

Hachette Book Group is looking for Senior Designer, Workman Publishing, Children's.

Hachette Book Group is looking for Senior Designer, Workman Publishing, Children's. Learn more or Jobvite a friend.

jobs.jobvite.com

The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), and the children’s book world, is saddened by the news that author, mentor and friend, Jane Yolen, has died. She was 87 and her loss cannot be measured. Please find the full obituary here: www.scbwi.org/remembering-...

A love letter(space) to my book friends…

Joshua J. Friedman@joshuajfriedman.com · 4mo ago

Some of us have the sweatshirt

Can someone explain what this ad is supposed to mean and how anyone in a position to approve it ever thought it was a good idea? @mayor.nyc.gov @council.nyc.gov @cndelarosa.bsky.social

We need more young artists affected by policing/criminalization to apply for this grant. They could get up to $2500 to work on an art project! The deadline is Monday; please spread the word!

Stevie Wilson DIY Young Artists Residency — Interrupting Criminalization

interruptingcriminalization.com

Zero. Sympathy. They did this to themselves. Oh, and also? There definitely is an easy answer.

An incredible opportunity for MG #Kidlit writers: author @jewellparkerrhodes.bsky.social has established a $10,000 fellowship for emerging voices. Deadline 4/17. www.hachettebookgroup.com/landing-page...

Jewell Parker Rhodes Fellowship for Emerging Voices

Submissions are Now Open February 25, 2026 – April 17, 2026 Enter Below The Jewell Parker Rhodes Fellowship for Emerging Voices will award an annual $10,000 grant to an unpublished or self-pu…

hachettebookgroup.com

Featuring my new book: PLANT THIS, NOT THAT: OVER 200 NATIVE PLANT SWAPS FOR A MORE SUSTAINABLE, POLLINATOR-FRIENDLY GARDEN

Wild Ones@wildonesnatives.bsky.social · 6mo ago

🌿Check out this great article from The New York Times: “How to Grow a Mainly Native Garden.” We’re honored to see Wild Ones mentioned as a resource for regional native plant garden designs and guidance from local chapters. 📰 Read more: www.nytimes.com/2026/03/17/r...

Literary analysis of the day, from the summary judgment dismissing a YA lit plagiarism case, as reported in @publisherslunch.bsky.social : "Hot, sexy, dangerous boys—central to virtually all young adult romance novels—cannot be copyrighted," the court notes.

So happy to speak with Margaret Roach on her "A Way to Garden" podcast about PLANT THIS, NOT THAT: OVER 200 NATIVE PLANT SWAPS FOR A MORE SUSTAINABLE, POLLINATOR-FRIENDLY GARDEN awaytogarden.com/plant-this-n...

'plant this, not that': swapping in more natives, with elise howard

YOU’VE SEEN and heard the list of no-no plants that were showy longtime nursery and garden standards, but have proven invasive and need to go. Yes, we can yank out the barberry and butterfly bush

awaytogarden.com

One was a rambling man who made machines that were used in glass factories. (My dad lived at least 10 places, including KS, OK, & CA, by the time he was 14 & we had had lots of paperweights around the house.) The other was a moonshiner who had 10 kids and multiple, um, adventures with the law.

Sarah Archer@sarcher.bsky.social · 7mo ago

Whether or not you’re running for Congress and trying to seem rugged (and you probably should run, because, look who’s out there) what did your grandpas do for a living?

Thrilled to celebrate pub date for my new book, Plant This, Not That: Over 200 Native Plant Swaps for a More Sustainable, Pollinator-Friendly Garden. Buy it from your favorite bookseller! #nativeplants #gardening www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/elise...

Plant This, Not That

A comprehensive guide to creating a native plant garden anywhere in the contiguous United States, with an easy-to-follow, "this, not that" format. "A timely,...

hachettebookgroup.com

Call your reps about this. Every time a book ban has been overturned or shut down, it's because the vast majority of people who believe in the freedom to read spoke up. Find your reps' info at reps.fyi.

kelly jensen@heykellyjensen.bsky.social · 7mo ago

Following the lies and hatred targeting trans folks during the State of the Union Address, numerous republican House representatives introduced a bill that would create A NATIONWIDE BOOK BAN. Here's what it is and what to do: bookriot.com/hr7661-book-...

More great work on the ever-increasing threat of book bans and censorship from our own federal government from @heykellyjensen.bsky.social. TL; DR: The house is on fire. Call your reps, especially if they are inclined to support anti-LGBTQ and censorship laws. bookriot.com/hr7661-book-...

A Nationwide Book Ban Bill Has Been Introduced in the House of Representatives

Hours after the State of the Union address, House republicans introduced legislation banning LGBTQ+ books from public schools nationwide.

bookriot.com

Following the lies and hatred targeting trans folks during the State of the Union Address, numerous republican House representatives introduced a bill that would create A NATIONWIDE BOOK BAN. Here's what it is and what to do: bookriot.com/hr7661-book-...

A Nationwide Book Ban Bill Has Been Introduced in the House of Representatives

Hours after the State of the Union address, House republicans introduced legislation banning LGBTQ+ books from public schools nationwide.

bookriot.com

1/ ProPublica collected handwritten letters in mid-January from children held at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center, the same facility where 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos was taken. Hundreds of kids are still detained. We’ll let the children’s words speak for themselves. 🧵

I'll be live with Sabrina Baeta of PEN America for a Red, Wine and Blue event 2/19. We're talking the trends in book censorship and where/how you can get involved in pushing back right now. Register for the free event here --> go.redwine.blue/0219tt-bookr...

Want to learn how to recognize and fight the latest tactics in book banning? Sign up here!

Book bans aren’t slowing down — they’re evolving with a sneakier strategy that often flies under the radar. Join us as we discuss the newest trends and tactics driving today’s book bans and how commun...

go.redwine.blue

Grant Guidelines for Libraries and Museums Take “Chilling” Political Turn Under Trump Thank GOD some other outlets are finally talking about this. www.propublica.org/article/inst...

Grant Guidelines for Libraries and Museums Take “Chilling” Political Turn Under Trump

Former Institute of Museum and Library Services leaders from both political parties expressed concern that the new funding guidelines could encourage a more constrained or distorted view of American h...

propublica.org

Reminder than instead of Amazon, you can use bookshop.org, instead of Kindle you can use Kobo, and instead of Audible, you can use Libro.fm. And if you are lucky enough to have a local indie bookstore, please shop there!

As much as I hate this news, it fills my heart somehow to see reports beginning "Home Alone actress...," "Schitt's Creek actress...," "Beetlejuice actress...," "Best in Show actress..." Weren't we lucky to have had her among us? www.tmz.com/2026/01/30/c...

Catherine O'Hara Dead at 71

Catherine O'Hara -- famous for her work in "Schitt's Creek," "Home Alone," and "Best In Show" -- is dead ... TMZ has learned.

tmz.com

This is an amazing opportunity!

Martha Mihalick@marthamihalick.bsky.social · 8mo ago

Hey friends! Would you like to hash out world building details for your next manuscript with me and bestselling author Rae Carson? You can bid on just that in this auction to help raise funds for orgs in MN! www.32auctions.com/organization...

Hey friends! Would you like to hash out world building details for your next manuscript with me and bestselling author Rae Carson? You can bid on just that in this auction to help raise funds for orgs in MN! www.32auctions.com/organization...