More sad news for kids and creators and the people who connect them. Hugs to all affected, which is everyone because every time something like this happens book access erodes a bit more… until we find a new way.

Awful. And ultimately the kids are the ones that are gonna hurt the most. Dial made fabulous books. This is a huge loss for the industry & society.

ttyl for real

Whenever my LA friends ask me what living for 10 years in NYC was like, I should just show them this

AI could never: Obi on Umby

I love my husband so much. Today he was out & saw a vegan hotdog, so he brought me one for dinner. (that's how I learned that apparently I’ve hidden for 8 years that I hate hotdogs. but I tried it anyway!) Turns out it was a great hotdog bc I absolutely hated it.

ICYMI, I quit my job and am in my freelance era 😌✌️I believe in compliment sandwiches, I love unions, and I hate genAI. Hire me for your kidlit editorial needs! 🔗 jamyangbooks.com

I've had this album on in the car today and I have to say it is an excellent album released last November by Spock's Beard. It encompasses everything a modern prog album should."complex and multilayered without being bewildering," 👏🏼❤️ #TheArchaeoptimist #spocksbeard #progrock

They're disinvesting in kidlit and laying off kidlit editors as we're headed into a recession, when we all know kid's books are recession-proof because kids always gotta read. Talk about shortsighted 🤷

(Clearly, this is my monthly "oh yeah, I forgot Bluesky exists" tirade)

Oh and also: Friendly reminder that AI doesn't do shit, it's not good at shit, and yes, people can tell when you use it. The reason why CEOs/middle leaders like it is because they're being sold it by tech companies that are close to bankrupt. OpenAI is in the red. They're not gonna flip their

On occasion I'll look at AI safety resources, but they're primarily made up of former AI people and tech gurus, and often have AI generated images or use AI generated texts for messaging (it's also how I found out one of my exes is very involved in that space, which was weird! Good for him though)

Layoff news really sucks. I don't have anything sage to offer but solidarity. If any affected PRH/S&S folx want to chat, I'm totally open. Personally, I was laid off from my editorial role last October, and honestly, it completely shocked me. While everyone always thinks it might happen in

PRH having a slew of layoffs just months after S&S did theirs is just so disheartening. It’s hard not to feel jaded. I feel so bad for all my editorial colleagues and for the fact that Dial BYFR has been completely shuttered. We need books. Children need books. And those editors deserved better.

Some of the big stuff I've been honored to have a small part of at PJ Library! Indie publishing friends, do you need production funds to make Jewish books happen? (I know you do!) Let's talk ;)

An experience I have all too often: Because my husband is from NJ, people assume that I'm from NJ too. Or NY. Or CA. I've lived in all those places, yes, but I'm a Florida gal through and through! It's most obvious when I'm talking about Miami Subs or Cuban food. Or Flanigan's.

Every time people ask me if I changed my name, I say, "yes, to Nick"

Taking a break from the Christmas collection to celebrate the return of the the Mighty @spocksbeard.com !!

Now spinning at Skylab: Spock’s Beard - The Archaeoptimist #NowPlaying #SpocksBeard #vinyl #MusicSky #NewMusic #NewMusic2025

As your book editor, I'm your storytelling therapist. New Substack post live! Check it out (or don't): substack.com/home/post/p-...

Hard to believe it's been 8 days since launch! I hope everyone that's checked out the book has enjoyed it.

The costumes, the noisemakers, the cookies -- Purim is a fantastic holiday for kids. But you may have noticed that the story itself has some pretty adult elements.

Artists! I am looking for a Jewish illustrator for a middle-grade project focusing on Jewish history, practice, and culture. If your style feels fun, MG-appropriate, and both editorial & narrative, please drop a link or DM! (And editor & agent friends, if you have someone to rec, it's appreciated!)

Paperbacks are the shit, just a whole world you can carry around in your pocket.

Stupid. I almost fell for this. Put in my info and then realized it wasn't real when I saw a VAT tax. Ended up checking the email and lo and behold, not real. Ack. Didn't click enter, but some sites can capture key strokes, so just turned off my card, marked it as stolen, and ordered a new one. /c

ZOHRAN IS EATING HAMENTASCHEN I REPEAT: ZOHRAN IS EATING HAMENTASCHEN

ICYMI, a nationwide book ban bill has been introduced in the States, targeting LGBTQIA+ voices, especially trans voices. Call your reps about H.R. 7661 ☎️

this is the only thing I will accept for the pombon evolutions

Nick was interviewed on DrumTalkTV! Check it out here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0lu...

Taking to bluesky / social media to complain that @cheesecakefactory.bsky.social removed their impossible burger. We had 2 options as vegans, and you remove one on a historically hilariously long menu. And there's still no dairy-free cheesecake in the good year 2026. Boo.

Sorry to be MIA. Between some health stuff, getting married, and starting a new job, my email inbox is looking a little rough. Digging my way out though. :) Hope everyone is having a happy new year!

And then there's me....I make authors remove brand names/real celebrities lol esp if fiction

PORTFOLIO TIPS FOR ILLUSTRATORS I am an art director who has probably seen close to 1000 portfolios, many great, but many...not 😔 This is a doc I wrote featuring tips and tricks for how to make a better art portfolio site. Feel free to share with anyone who may find this useful <3 #art

🌿☀️ Wallace and Mossman will be back this summer …

Hi publishing folx! My new #MSWL is live! manuscriptwishlist.com/mswl-post/er...

Just when I thought no one read my blog :') Made my whole day! Also reposted the link to Substack! open.substack.com/pub/erinnpas...

Jewish families around the world filled their homes with light last week during Hanukkah, and the shamash (the helper candle) reminded us of the difference just one candle can make.

“Can’t believe NYC elected a Muslim as mayor.” In truth—a Black American Christian woman swearing in a Ugandan American Muslim of South Asian ethnicity as his Syrian American wife holds the Qurans he swears in on, all while standing on the steps of a subway station—is the most NYC thing imaginable.

Happy new year! We definitely did nothing cool or interesting!!

I don’t mean to sound extreme, but I don’t think we should have torture camps for people with criminal records either.

Two separate people have contacted me on Linkedin, both seniors at my alma mater, using AI-generated messages. Since it's for an editorial role, I asked them to kindly re-do their message to me and then I'd reply. I'm not trying to be an old fart about it, but part of the application is

I'm completely revamping my website (this is not the official launch or even a soft launch) and I have to ask: is this as funny as I think it is, or is it dumb? erinnpascal.my.canva.site (caveat this is veryyyyy under construction & not even migrated to my official domain yet)

What if Calvin and Hobbes doesn't need to be a movie? What if it's perfect the way it is? What if you respected the creator's wishes, which are apparently "leave me alone to do my woodcarving"? WHAT IF THAT. I will protect Calvin and Hobbes with my life, as they have been such a joyful part of it.

this is the most "Get a Job, Stay Away From Her" I've ever felt

Side note: Publishers are trying to scoot around AI clauses for Marketing and Design. I understand if it's unavoidable (i.e. if the book is for sale on Amazon and Amazon uses AI), but your metadata copy and Design can and should be AI-free.

Don't do this, y'all. Always have an agent/lawyer look at your contracts. Many do so as oneoffs without rep! They are there for you!

Okay, I'm gonna give y'all the best book marketing advice I have. Ready? Talk. To. People. This means both, go out into the world and actually *talk* to people about your book instead of waiting for an algorithm to do it for you & also, *find out what people actually like*.

I have responded to all queries from November (and in 2025)! 😊 Still working my way through requested manuscripts… I’ll still have some 2025 requests on my TBR list in 2026. 👩🏻‍💻 Revamping my query process and MSWL in 2026 too… keep an eye out! 👀

Also including Marketing and Design in that.

"Bask in this transcendant holiday book" says @fuse8.bsky.social at @slj.com about SLOW DOWN, SHOSHI! IT'S SHABBAT afuse8production.slj.com/2025/12/04/3...