Hard to overstate how bad this is. This would be *national legislation to aid book banning*. The time to call your reps and say you are against HR 7661 is NOW.

Need golden nuggets of escapism? We gotchu! Grab the ebook of our award-nominated anthology, SOWEST: DANGER AWAITS!, for just 99 cents! #AmReading #SINC #Mystery #CrimeFiction #ShortStories

Another beautiful purple Dutch iris and some cheerful yellow freesia flowers blooming. #PhoenixGarden

Another gorgeous sunny day with book lovers at Tucson Festival of Books! We hope you'll come by booth 426 and check out our literary wares. #TFOB #SINC #Mystery #CrimeFiction #AmReading

We've had a day to pull a few things together, so here's a thread some more targeted info opposing the potential national book ban just proposed in the House of Representatives.

Rewatched all of the original Daredevil and Defenders, so I could start on Born Again today. Had totally forgotten what happened in Echo, but remembered very quickly. Now, give me all the awesome fight scenes please!

Wishing I was at the Tucson Festival of Books today, but I decided I needed to binge-write this weekend instead. No, you do not see me on Bluesky. /waves wizard hand/

We've got some lovely purple phacelia crenulata and bright orange California poppies blooming right now. But we're gonna hit record 100 degree temps much of this next week, so all bets are off on what survives or thrives. I certainly won't be thriving in the unwanted early heat. #PhoenixGarden

Do you have a fantastic middle-grade fiction idea? The Jewell Parker Rhodes Fellowship for Emerging Voices awards a $10,000 grant to an unpublished or self-published writer creating works for children. Submissions are now open! ➡️ bit.ly/JPRfellowship

More Trouble in Tucson anthology is now available books2read.com/b/MoreTroubl... #SinC #MysteryWriters #BookSky

One week from today! Desert Sleuths will be at the Tucson Festival of Books and we hope to chat books with you. Stop by Booth 426 and say hi!

This dutch iris says, "Tulips?! You don't need no wimpy tulips. I'll take your 90 degree winter and thrive." #PhoenixGarden

Delighted to have my short story “Gone in the Night” included in the WTWA’s, Missing Presumed Dead. The anthology, curated by award-winning author, Sonja Dewing, includes eight gripping tales of women who disappear. Available for purchase at: www.amazon.com/dp/1957909404

Happy KidLit Postcard Day!✨ I’m Bear, a cartoonist and illustrator, and I’m looking for fun new projects. #kidlitartpostcardday #kidlitartpostcard #kidlitart #cartooning

Hi #kidlitartpostcard! Time to get the seedlings going and the garden ready for planting 🍃 I'm Victoria, an Argentinian illustrator based in France, and I'm available for new projects (PB, MG, covers & +). 🖥️ victoriamaderna.com ✉️ [email protected] Represented by @jenazantian.bsky.social

Time for another #kidlitartpostcard day post! I'm Meaghan, and I like to draw funny, expressive characters and stories that make readers laugh! Picturebooks, graphic novels, cover art Find my work here: draw.meaghanmcisaac.com Rep'd by @bradfordagents.bsky.social

Hi again #KidLitArtPostcard day! I'm not sure how I found time to draw & paint this month... It's a mystery (not unlike the situation in this illo! 🔍🐸) I'm repped by @vickyweberbooks.bsky.social See more work at mdashow-kidlitart.carrd.co #kidLitArt #library #mystery #childrensillustration

Hello, #kidlitartpostcard day! I adore bugs . . . on paper. Here are a couple of my favorites who'd love to tell you their story. I work traditionally in pencil and pen & ink, with watercolor and digital color. This piece is pen & ink with digital collage. bonnieadamson.com

Hello #KidLitArtPostcard day!! My name is Julian! I'm a queer 🏳️‍⚧️ picture book illustrator working in gouache and I would love to illustrate more cute picture books about weird little critters! I'm represented by Naomi Davis @bookendsliterary.bsky.social 🐛 julianplum.com 🌸 [email protected]

Top 10 Fave Marvel Characters (in no particular order) 1. Psylocke 2. Rogue 3. Gambit 4. Storm 5. Wolverine 6. Darkhawk 7. Spider-man 8. Yelena Belova 9. Kate Bishop 10. Agent Peggy Carter 11. Jessica Jones 12. Ms. Marvel (Kamala Kahn) 13. Black Widow (Natasha Romanoff)

Last weekend, I went to the Arizona Renaissance Festival. First time in ages. I still want all the swords.

Ugh. The tulips were growing slowly and now Phoenix is having a record breaking heatwave and unfortunately it's killing them before they can even bloom. #PhoenixGarden

As we head into March, putting out our first HEADS UP to potential artists: In 2024, we had amazing success offering PDF coloring sheets for $1. Since we know we have so many amazing artists out there, please consider designing something that would be fun to color in! Cheerful profanity welcome!

I'm celebrating (today, woohoo!!!) the launch of I'M BUSY, a new picture book written by @michaelianblack.bsky.social and illustrated by me, out today from @simonkids.bsky.social. #KidLitChat

Just finished writing the first draft of a ridiculous, funny, over the top picture book. I'm 😍 at the moment. I'm sure I'll see all the flaws later.

A little swirl clip of my Oolong girl who is currently basking in delight at @wowxwow_art in their current group show, Impermanence. I don’t know how she came out so pretty. She’s an absolute star ⭐️ . . . #art #teacuplovers #whimsy #whimsical #sculpture

We're partnering w/ @anthologyaz.bsky.social & #TucsonSistersinCrime for the Sonoran Writers Conference. If you're a member of Desert Sleuths or Tucson SinC & interested in being an in-person presenter, moderator, or panelist, please connect w/ us at desertsleuths.com/sleuths-on-t... by Sat, Feb 28.

Please read the entire thread from the beginning because it is the story of how we thought we were getting scammed and instead met Marie, Hero for the Ages. But if you want to skip to the good part: help us buy Marie a ton of red cards, because we know she's gonna use them VERY WELL.

And a reminder that everyone can request whistles. We send out 100 to church groups and classrooms and people who just want to give them to their neighbors. And we'll send out 18,000 to Marie! 💓

Go Canada! 🏒🇨🇦

BREAKING: The Department of Education has ended its directive that attempted to restrict diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in schools nationwide. This is a victory for academic freedom and education equity.

Ooooh, yes please!

I am not a pickle person, beyond sweet gherkins. But fried pickles are ACCEPTABLE.

And one story from the SoWest: Danger Awaits! Anthology has been nominated for the Derringer Award for Best Short Story (up to 4k words). "Hard Times" by Meg Dobson Congrats & best of luck, Desert Sleuths!

And... "A Killer Job" by Roberta Gibson "Echoes of the Past" by Anna Dalhaimer Bartkowski "In Plain Sight" by Lisa Harkrader "The Dark Side of Bright Angel" by Karen Odden @robertagibson.bsky.social @annabartkowski.bsky.social @lisaharkrader.bsky.social @karenodden.bsky.social

Eight stories from the SoWest: Danger Awaits! Anthology have also been nominated for the Derringer Award for Best Long Story (4k-8k words). "Ariana" by Jay Kinney "Come Hell or High Water" by Claire A Murray "Herman Pines and Archie" by Bill Butler "The Bride Wore Blood" by Wendy Harrison ...

Amazing News! Our SoWest: Danger Awaits! Anthology is a Finalist for the 2026 Derringer Best Anthology Award. Congrats to all of our authors and editors on the nomination!

Hi all! I’m Jo and I’m an author and illustrator of picture books. I love creating stories and art with whimsy and heart. I’m rep’d by @swekstein.bsky.social and my website is jorenfro.com #kidlitartpostcard

Happy #KidLitArtPostcard Day! I love making creepy cartoony illustrations and comics loaded with storytelling.

Iiiiiiiiit's another #kidlitartpostcard day! I' m Meaghan, a Canadian author and illustrator of #kidlit and I love to draw comics and picture books with funny stories and lots of expression! To see more of my work: draw.meaghanmcisaac.com Represented by @bradfordagents.bsky.social

The Impermanence show at @wowxwow_art opens tomorrow! I’m so proud of this piece and the gravity defying tea swirl. I really struggled trying to execute it. Glad I did! ☕️ #art #scuplture #tea #whimsy #whimsyart

Happy #kidlitartpostcard day! To see more of my work, including dummy books, please contact my agent @christaheschke.bsky.social #illustrator #pb

Hello #kidlitartpostcard ! I am Charlene Chua & I illustrate for kids. 🌟Interested in new book projects + other kids-related projects 🌟 Portfolio - charlenechua.com#kidlitartpostcardRep' by Tracy Marchini Literary #kidlitart #kidlit #illustration

Because it's my birthday, you have to repost my art. 🎂 (I don't make the rules, that's just the way it is on Bluesky!) #kidLitArt #kidLit #illustration #art #birthday

You, too, can pick up your very own copy of this AWARD-NOMINATED(!) anthology, filled with 25 delicious snack-sized mystery and crime stories! www.amazon.com/SoWest-Siste...

This is very exciting! I was one of the editors for the SOWEST: DANGER AWAITS! Anthology and now it's a Finalist for the 2026 Derringer Award for Best Anthology. Woohoo!! Congrats to @desertsleuths.bsky.social and all finalists!

Desert Sleuths is so proud and excited to announce that our SoWest: Danger Awaits! Anthology is a Finalist for the 2026 Best Anthology Derringer Award. Congrats to all of our authors and editors on the nomination. shortmystery.blogspot.com/2026/02/derr...

The tulips are coming! #PhoenixGarden

Once in a lifetime opportunity for an aspiring picture book author! Want your pb to be considered at Sourcebooks executive editor Manlove's editorial meeting? Melissa & I are offering a critique & Skip-the-Slush-Pile pass in the Publishing for Minnesota fundraiser! www.32auctions.com/organization...

If you were hoping to take your picture book career to the next level, I’m offering a ***6-month mentorship!*** www.32auctions.com/organization...