“At a time when everything feels meaningless, and when the powers that be want your life to feel that way, you have to imbue your life with meaning.” - James Factora

Peaceful morning at the neighborhood river.

“In the most basic way, writing is about opening yourself to another person’s mind.” - Katie Kitamura

Snowball and azalea blooming season in Georgia USA. #FlowerReport #BloomScrolling

Hug your dragon tight 🌻

How the Word Is Passed (Adapted for Young Readers) will be out September 2nd and is now available for pre-order. Can’t wait for you all to read it. Shout out to teachers. This is for y’all. www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/clint...

#NationalLibraryWeek kicks off today! It’s a time to celebrate the places that welcome everyone, spark curiosity, and strengthen our communities. This week, take a moment to discover—or rediscover—what makes your library special. What draws you to the library? ilovelibraries.org/national-lib...

Sipping iced coffee and fleshing out beats for this week's scene list. Hope to hit another draft milestone by the end of the month. At the juicy meat of the plot that has moments and reveals that I've been looking forward to writing.

I’m currently editing something I wrote almost a decade ago. It needs a lot of work, but I’m so proud of how much I’ve grown as a writer and how I’m able to see the upward trajectory of my skill. Remember that striving to grow in your craft is never a waste. The results are always worth it.

Signs of Spring on my afternoon walk.

Writing a novel during these times is very difficult but I hit a major milestone today and I'm so proud of all my hard work. This book keeps dragging me but I'm gonna keep pushing until I'm done.

[Just a cup of sunshine]

"We are a creative, disruptive people who have never accepted silence." In this op-ed, @raquelwillis.com offers advice to trans kids on resisting discriminatory times and calls on the strength and resolve of trans trailblazers throughout history. ⤵️

Interested in judging for the next cycle of the Ignyte Awards? Applications to join our longlist judge cohort are now open thru Feb 14. No prior experience as a judge is required, but we do need you to be well-read and familiar with what we do. ignyteawards.fiyahlitmag.com/wanna-judge/

the thing is, trans folks have always been here. we’ve shaped culture, told stories that changed the world and lived authentically in the face of unimaginable challenges. and no amount of fearmongering from a man who likely couldn’t even define “nonbinary” is going to erase us.

I wrote this thread last year during one of the worst periods in my life, and it helps me when the urge to worry and doomscroll for hours is particularly powerful

Snow is rolling thru again tonight so I thought I would be able to go pick my library holds but my branch has already closed early. Alas.

Did your child lose their book collection in the Los Angeles fires? Are you a teacher at a school that lost its library or your classroom library? Whether you need one book or a whole library, we can replace your books. 📚 Everyone else, please boost this post so we can connect with those in need. 🙏

I love this quote. I became a writer because I was a reader first: “With all I am, I love reading. I think of writing as an extension of the reading, a kind of call and response.” - R.O. Kwon

My reading goal this year is 100 books. So far I've read LIFE CEREMONY by Sayaka Murata and a reread of THICK by Tressie McMillan Cottom. Currently reading GUIDE ME HOME by Attica Locke. Reading books inspires my own work and I love when I get that "writer itch" to create after finishing a banger.

flames don’t flicker forever and moths are born to be burned - "Poem (For EMA)," Nikki Giovanni

"Poem (For EMA)" is one of my favorite Nikki Giovanni poems. I have so many favorites. I met her in 2002 before I started writing my own words. She was such an inspiration. She will be missed. Rest in Peace.

It’s my favorite time of year: Eating dessert for breakfast season.

One of my favorite reads of the year.

You know what would **really** disrupt the publishing industry? Fair contracts and decent pay for authors. No AI training without the creator’s consent. Artists and translators on the cover. No NDAs for ghostwriters.

Today is making cornbread for the dressing day. With that White Lily flour and 40 year old seasoned black skillet of course.

What I want from horror is not to be frightened or grossed out or disturbed. I want to feel haunted. I want to feel the yearning that only comes with a death that will not leave your side. I want the regretful desire to unknow a secret that I worked hard to learn.

Mini tree is now up in the office! Instant mood booster.

I said this in a reply to someone else, but someone else needs to hear this: You are a real person doing real work to make real art. Don’t forget.

Books We Love returns with 350+ new titles handpicked by NPR staff and trusted critics. Find 12 years of recommendations all in one place — that's nearly 4,000 great reads.

Today is a baking day! Apple pie and spiced bundt cake. The house is going to smell AMAZING.

if you need a reminder of what came out this year: readjumpscares.com/2024-new-hor...

Yes, please. Use the library to read if you can’t afford to buy. Please don’t pirate books. And to emphasize—authors CAN benefit from libraries.

THIS COVER. Out Aug 19,2025! www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/737414...

Just painting pink

Listen y’all @okokno.bsky.social put her whole foot into her Gothic debut MIDNIGHT ROOMS.

I *could* start my first writing session of the day but now it’s lunchtime so…gotta eat. 🙃

Francesca Zappia is one of my favorite authors and I love how she breaks down the process of how long it takes to write her books. Y’all there are graphs and spreadsheets! #writingcommunity open.substack.com/pub/francesc...

Made a mini bouquet from the flowers I bought last week. Still in my pink era so having this pop of color in my office makes me happy.

Sending love, whenever you are

I read this last night and it was a banger.

As an author, one thing I always try to do is give accolades when working with junior-level publishing professionals. They work very hard and when they do a good job, I want their management team to know.

Here’s the cover for They Bloom at Night, my horror novel about a queer teen living on a coastal town taken over by red algae and contending with the monsters in the water—and itching at her skin. It’s like Annihilation meets Speak. Coming 3/4/25! bookshop.org/p/books/they...

Put a dash of spite in my morning coffee. Perfect fuel.

So happy I can finally turn on my little heater in my office. Brewing some tea and then plan to review some plot notes for the novel.

We only have 18 so far. So, if you see horror podcast accounts on here that meet the criteria please shout them out. If you host one and are building your page, let us know when it is ready! 👀👀👀 go.bsky.app/8bTJrU

There’s nothing like pretty collard greens.

I'm so happy to see my beloved #FlowerReport pics again. Thank y'all for blessing the TL.