“Because bookshops make everything better, don’t they? The smell of them, the silence of them, the sense of possibility that each and every one of the books they house promises. A great book has the power to change your way of looking at the world.”

#SchoolLibraries #FreedomToRead

#speechwriting Excerpt: “May we all keep speaking—and listening—with intention, with integrity, and with the belief that truth, however contested, is still worth fighting for” #PublicSpeaking #AwardCeremony

"It’s safe to say this assault on the press over the past year has probably been the most aggressive that we’ve seen in modern times," said Tim Richardson, program director for journalism and disinformation at PEN America. abcnews.go.com/Business/wir...

"lawlessness on the streets fuels a more general sense of disorder and anxiety about the state of the city: Speeding, red light violations, and sidewalk parking are not only illegal but antisocial."

Good to read: “much stiffer penalties for recidivist speeders & red light runners" - new DOT commissioner Flynn

After President Donald Trump used the word "retarded" recently, social media posts including the term tripled, fueling a trend that has disability advocates on edge. #disabilities #rword

I kept seeing people use the word samizdat to refer to the Canadian sourcing of the 60 Minutes report on CECOT pulled by Bari Weiss. Here's the definition from Merriam-Webster:

“Take away our ability to speak, and we can still think, reason, form beliefs, fall in love, and move about the world; our range of what we can experience and think about remains vast. But take away language from a large language model, and you are left with literally nothing at all.”

⬇️⬇️⬇️ #SchoolLibrarians @drtlovesbooks.bsky.social @cynthiayoderauthor.bsky.social

Excerpt: "Even when most of the class can hear and understand the teacher, dyslexic students with normal hearing may hear the teacher speaking but be unable to distinguish the teacher’s words from the background noise" #SchoolLibraries #classrooms #disabilities

This year’s FISH List is live. Unlike traditional rankings, the FISH List champions independent publications. It’s a nifty resource for authors and readers alike 📝

Good choice, Merriam-Webster.

Glad to be a member

Delighted to work with @englishpen.bsky.social & @irishpen.bsky.social on this year's PEN Heaney Prize. Congrats to Tom Paulin, winner of the 2025 award for Namanlagh @faberbooks.bsky.social. The prize was presented at @nlireland.bsky.social on Monday evening: www.rte.ie/culture/2025...

Essential reading for authors

Authors eligible to participate in the Anthropic settlement should be receiving email or paper notices in the coming weeks from the settlement administrator. The @authorsguild.org offers instructions on what to do next authorsguild.org/news/anthrop...

I looked this quote up this morning and was surprised to see it was Tolkien - sometimes what I remember & don’t remember perplexes me.

A beautiful piece ⬇️⬇️⬇️ @cynthiayoderauthor.bsky.social @robincogan.bsky.social @drtlovesbooks.bsky.social @elaineblackman.bsky.social @chaptersbookstore.bsky.social

Excerpt: “And if the general public gets more savvy about identifying AI prose, it could have all sorts of interesting consequences” #writing #speechwriting #editing

In the richest city in the richest country on the planet, the thing we can’t afford is to forget those who are left hungry.

If you're planning on shopping during black Friday or cyber Monday, why not consider supporting artists, writers, creators? Buy a book, purchase an indie video game, commission an art piece, gift someone a Patreon. Your support means everything.

Excerpt: “Curious about the role of the literary agent? … This is a free, accessible, online panel focused on the agent-author relationship and strategic career development in publishing” @cynthiayoderauthor.bsky.social @chaptersbookstore.bsky.social @irishpen.bsky.social @authorsguild.org

#editing #writing

Proud to be an Authors Guild member #bookstores #libraries @cynthiayoderauthor.bsky.social @drtlovesbooks.bsky.social @elaineblackman.bsky.social

Keep learning (no travel required) #editors #writers #freelancing

Our autumn newsletter has just arrived on #LinkedIn. Catch up on the newest stories, highlights, and updates from your National Library: www.linkedin.com/pulse/your-n...

Join Judy Allen Dodson and me for a virtual Friday program centering banned and challenged picture books. RSVP here: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F... It's in support of the national Fall of Freedom initiative & hosted by the Raleigh-Durham chapter of @authorsguild.org. Please tune in and share.

From Book Riot, a handy primer to the latest “parental rights” websites leading the charge to ban books from school libraries. Knowledge is power!

This is real. Our govt is Tweeting like a 14 year old and calling Americans imbecilic morons. We worry about children being bullied but this is the example set by the U.S. GOVERNMENT. This is so shameful. I’m embarrassed for any of you that think this is okay or make excuses for it.

How to finish writing your novel? One word at a time… plus some other tips and tricks

Join Tiffany Vakilian at the Nov. 20 webcast for a blend of professional wisdom and a touch of humor addressing our ever-changing editing world and learning how to navigate it. Webcasts are included in membership. 📅 Register now. tinyurl.com/3famt5z7

#editors #authors Keep learning

Here’s how one author with 450 Instagram followers and no agent landed a Big Five book deal

It’s not enough to simply thank our veterans for their service. Millions of them rely on SNAP and the ACA. Many struggle with PTSD and worry about access to mental health services. Today, on Veterans Day, let’s renew our commitment to keep fighting for those who fought for us.

This is leadership. Happy Veterans Day.

Veterans Day 2025 anntelnaes.substack.com/p/veterans-day

2026 school board elections are coming. Find your election date. Learn about the candidates. Show up and vote.

Excerpt: “By the end of last year, the country had installed 887 gigawatts of solar-power capacity—close to double Europe’s and America’s combined total”

From our friends over at @404media.co, a look at the closure of Baker & Taylor and the ripple effect it’s been having on libraries:

Want to hear a scary story? It’s about an author who didn’t register their copyright and had no recourse when someone infringed on their work!! ☠️

“Roughly half of frontline warehouse workers at Amazon are having trouble making ends meet, a new report shows. … Fifty-three percent of workers said they experienced food insecurity in the previous three months, while 48% said they had trouble covering rent or housing costs over the same time”

Can’t attend in person? Participate virtually #editors #proofreaders #writers

"The librarian is a seeker and keeper of truth, and that makes her a dangerous figure in the eyes of those who fear the fullest, most comprehensive, and most uncomfortable truths emerging."

#books #writers "Tom Dunne was a young editor at St Martin's Press in 1975 when he agreed to publish HOW TO ADVERTISE. The manuscript had been turned down by 16 other publishers, then Tom said yes. It's still in print 40 yrs, 3 editions, 160,000 copies later" (Jane Maas, my mentor at WRG ad agency)

Incredible news from a coalition of seven charitable organizations led by the Mellon Foundation—this is going to benefit so many authors.

#editors #writers No matter where you live, you can participate in this conference 🌏🌍🌎