“Writing is perhaps the greatest of human inventions, binding together people who never knew each other, citizens of distant epochs. Books break the shackles of time. Books are proof that humans are capable of working magic." Carl Sagan

A peek at what's on tap this week! www.washingtonindependentreviewofbooks.com/features/a-l... #booksky

Finished my Lazy Gardener’s quilt! I used white fabric to create a stronger contrast. All the fabric is from the Flowerland series by Ruby Star Society. Husband is holding it up! 😂 #quiltsky #sewsky

Let this sink in. The President of the United States is now appealing a court order forcing him to feed starving children.

When people talk about the excesses of MeToo, they have to lie, because the reality is that there was no massive social reckoning forcing people to believe survivors or hold perpetrators accountable. In fact, there has been a significant backsliding and new punishments in rejection of MeToo

Watching RFK jr run away from someone collapsing feels like a harbinger of things to come

The 2026 CAAPP Book Prize is now open! The submission deadline is December 15th, 2025, and the winning manuscript will be published by AHP & receive a $3,000 prize. As always, submissions are free. This year's final judge is Ladan Osman.

Submit your pieces to @fiveminutelit.bsky.social so that I can read them alongside the rest of the team! #writersky #memoir #cnf #writing

THE OFFICIAL COVER REVEAL! Pre-order your copy so you'll be the first to get it: www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/804471...

I used to subscribe to many magazines/newspapers: Washington Post, The Atlantic, The New Yorker, etc. but I can’t financially juggle that anymore. To say nothing, of course, of the terrible writing and pro-corporate messaging coming from these outlets. #writersky #politics

We have a paperbark maple in our side yard. This time of year it’s especially gorgeous. I’d never seen one before we bought our house, but it’s my favorite part of our property! #gardensky #trees #autumn

Well, I guess they're about to find out just how their FA goes...

My 50-Word story won “Story of the Week.” It’s now a contender for “Story of the Month.” If you can head to the site and give it a like, I’d appreciate it! ♥️ #writersky #microlit #flashfiction

I rarely knit sweaters, but it’s been unseasonably cold in NC, so I’ve been working on a Cozy Classic Raglan in stash yarn by @theredpansy.com. 🧶 #knitsky #showusyourknits #garmentknitting

Had a little story called “Full Potential” published in Fifty-Word Story today. It was inspired by my great-grandmother. ♥️ #writersky #50wordstory #microstory #quiltsky

Wow, thank you @emhall47.bsky.social @necessaryfiction.com for the deep and careful reading and review! Also rare that a reviewer’s favorite story is also mine.

"The collection’s freshness stems from its remarkable playfulness." Thanks to Necessary Fiction and Emily Hall for this lovely review of Lauren D. Woods' (@ladiwoods.bsky.social) debut short story collection!

Thanks so much for publishing my review, @necessaryfiction.com! And thanks to @autumnhousepress.bsky.social: this was an exciting collection!

"Breath" by Swapna Sanchita in case you missed it

Courage is more exhilarating than fear, and in the long run, it is easier. We do not have to become heroes overnight. Just a step at a time, meeting each thing that comes up, seeing it is not as dreadful as it appeared, discovering we have the strength to stare it down. ~ Eleanor Roosevelt

s/o to everyone from working class backgrounds in the arts and entertainment who clawed their way to where they are without the benefit of family wealth, career experience, or connections

My favorite is places like The Atlantic claiming that the desire for the prize would make him into a good diplomat. People *really* do not understand how abusive people work. You can’t placate them; you can’t just inspire them to be good.

Autumnal bouquet to celebrate getting my Covid booster. I usually feel pretty rundown from the boosters, so I’m re-reading The Melancholy of Resistance in honor of this morning’s Nobel prize announcement! 🎉 #booksky #gardensky

"Encouragement" by Angela Lam, an artist and writer. She sells her artwork at Made Local Marketplace and teaches creative writing @gothamwriters.bsky.social. #encouragement #concussion #sofa #useless #mute #son #catalogue #paper #nevergiveup #determination #micromemoir

Can’t decide what to buy on Prime Day? Try: absolutely nothing, and then go support indie bookstores instead 📚

Today I am imagining a kinder and more loving world.

Oh, no, we lost Hyacinth!

A Match and Move shawl with yarn I naturally dyed. I used avocado pits, black hollyhock, and tango cosmos I grew from seed. A labor of love, truly! #knitsky #shawlknitters #naturaldye 🧶

Thanks, @fiveminutelit.bsky.social, for publishing my little memoir piece! #writersky #memoir #writing

When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. When the oligarchy gives you chaos and despair, make something with your scraps! Get ready to make your unique dream coat, to keep you warm and spectacular as you march in the streets.

Winding these beauties today. All yarn I naturally dyed myself. These range from cochineal, black hollyhock, tango cosmos and coreopsis 💕 🧶 #knitsky #yarn #naturaldye

"[Y]ou’ll swallow your death,” warns the father in Herta Müller’s novel The Land of Green Plums (trans. Michael Hofmann). A former SS officer in communist Romania, he “keeps the graveyards deep in his throat […]" lareviewofbooks.org/article/dark... An old essay feeling relevant somehow...

The country is basically three scams in a trenchcoat at this point.

"Deleted" by Katie Veltum, a licensed massage therapist in private practice in upstate New York, more micromemoirs at fiveminutelit.com

Knitting an Autumn Tales shawl. I dyed the yarn with black walnuts and it’s perfect for fall! #knitsky #showusyourknits #shawlknitting 🧶

Bought my copy a while ago. Buy yours today! 👻 #booksky #writersky #horrorsky

I was lucky to have three pieces come out in last issue. @cherrytreelit.bsky.social publishes some great pieces. Submit soon! ♥️

This is so messed up.

A free and democratic society cannot silence comedians because the President doesn’t like what they say. This is an attack on free speech and cannot be allowed to stand. All elected officials need to speak up and push back on this undemocratic act.

If we flew the American flag at half-mast for every murder of an American who deserved better, who deserved to be heard and respected and live in peace, we’d never raise the flag to its full height again.

Best pie. Coconut custard Best ice cream: Butter pecan Best donut: cinnamon sugar Best bar: Hello, Dolly! Bars Best cake: Italian cream cake Best cookie: lavender shortbread Best other: dark chocolate truffles

Well, I’ve read enough revolting quotes and seen enough hot takes in the news to last me a lifetime. I’m so sick of this country. Taking refuge in quilting tonight. Making something beautiful feels confrontational in the best way, given how bleak things feel. #quiltsky #sewing #sewsky

Ready for our close-up. Coming next month; pre-order at Bookshop & save a few bucks: bookshop.org/p/books/guar...

Got notice that the last academic book review I wrote before quitting crossed 2,000 downloads. Seemed as good as time as any to celebrate with zinnias from my garden. 🪴 #writersky #bookreview

⏰ISSUE 21.3 IS LIVE⏰ feat. Jason Allen, David Borofka, Gary Duehr, Edidiong Uzoma Essien, @hggilham.bsky.social, Aliza Haskal, Joi Haskins, @taralabovich.bsky.social, Patrick Meeds, John A. Nieves, Joey Wańczyk, & @severinwiggenhorn.bsky.social. Behold & be held: www.pacificareview.com

Thank you for reposting my review, @fitzcarraldoeds.bsky.social! Helen of Nowhere is one of the best books I’ve read in a long time. ♥️