Once the hard work of writing is done, there is the challenge of finding a publisher. When you find the right home for your book and get a publication date then another kind of work begins. Your book will become one of many.

The United States has recorded its highest annual measles cases in 33 years. The milestone marks a public health reversal in defeating a highly contagious, vaccine-preventable disease as the anti-vaccine movement gains strength.

I’m so happy that Beware the Tall Grass is a @ugapress bestseller. Its every writer’s dream to find their readers.

Good morning 🫡

The suggestion that Kristi Noem, a white woman, is the "delicate, beautiful, tiny" victim after a Latino man is physically dragged out of a room fits into the admin's pretext of criminality it attaches to people who are not white. Like Rep. LaMonica McIver.

An advance look at “On Parade,” David Plunkert’s cover for next week's issue. #NewYorkerCovers

Louisville! Come see Kentucky authors and get signed books at the new Louisville edition of the @kentuckybookfestival on Saturday, June 14 in paristownky . I’ll be there, too, so say hello!

Upcoming events!

Today! Have lunch with us. It's FREE but you you have to sign up below for the link. @kganderson.bsky.social @ellenbirkettmorris.bsky.social @tonjakjohnson.bsky.social @sarahday.org @ravenbelas.co @authorterribruce.bsky.social @swsworlds.bsky.social www.eventbrite.com/o/strong-wom...

I hope you can make it!

I can’t wait to return to the community center where I played as a kid to do this! Join us for a conversation with local author Ellen Birkett Morris as we explore her novel Beware the Tall Grass. 📅 June 14 🕑 2:00 PM 📍 Douglass Community Center RSVP at tinyurl.com/rsvpford8

**3 DAYS** until FREE readings from #SpecFic authors. Event is FREE but you must pre-register. @kganderson.bsky.social @ellenbirkettmorris.bsky.social @tonjakjohnson.bsky.social @sarahday.org @ravenbelas.co @authorterribruce.bsky.social @swsworlds.bsky.social www.eventbrite.com/o/strong-wom...

I can’t wait to join this great group.

Check out this upcoming LIVE, Virtual (via Zoom) event featuring #womenauthors and #nonbinaryauthors of #sciencefictionbook #fantasybooks and #horrorbooks. It's fast, it's fun, and it's always amazing. You're sure to find at least one new author to love www.eventbrite.com/o/strong-wom...

Bought a pint of small, deep blueberries and ate them in the car as we passed green fields, our hands purpling. “It will be hard to return to real life,” I said. “This is real life,” Fred said. Link to my essay “Once Removed” in comments.

I am beyond happy to learn that Beware the Tall Grass earned an honorable mention from the Eric Hoffer Awards. “The theme of past lives is interwoven in mysterious and clever ways. . . The crushing realities of time and memory infuse this unusual family saga with a fresh approach.”

6 authors, 8 minutes each - come find your next favorite #SpecFic #Books by #womenauthors & #nonbinaryauthors #SciFi, #Fantasy, #Horror @kganderson.bsky.social @ellenbirkettmorris.bsky.social @tonjakjohnson.bsky.social @sarahday.org @ravenbelas.co **Free** Tickets www.eventbrite.com/o/strong-wom...

I’m thrilled that Beware the Tall Grass is among these titles! Support small press books.

Mourning the passing of this humble, compassionate man.

Mission Impossible: “One item on the new Kennedy Center team’s agenda: figuring out how to have Mr. Trump on site without getting booed.” www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics...

Incredible Kentucky Author Forum with Colm Toibin.

I am happy to share my advice for young writers.

"When institutions that would normally compete or stay in their lane realize that they rise and fall together. That’s what collective action is. And that’s why it’s so dangerous to autocrats." open.substack.com/pub/protectd...

Federal agents have been filmed wearing masks while making arrests in public. When is it legal for police and the public to conceal their faces in an age of digital facial recognition and doxxing?

I’m a small press author who never dreamed my tv talk show trivia segment that mentioned my book would end up like this.

More guests: @rubenwrites.bsky.social, @postcardsfrmv.bsky.social, @andrewporter01.bsky.social, & @jasondashbailey.com, @literapynyc.bsky.social, @ellenbirkettmorris.bsky.social

This is a test post. I get so few responses here I may need to drop the platform. What an honor to present Grit and Grace: Stories of Resilience Across Time with Tim Wendel and James Grady, moderated by Bill Geroux at the Virginia Festival of the Book. A note: I picked that chair.

Happy book birthday, Beware the Tall Grass! #bookthreads

America was given a choice between a lawless, amoral monster and a qualified, intelligent, joyful woman of color—and it chose the monster. We need to reckon with the reality of what that says about so many of us here. johnpavlovitz.substack.com/p/america-ch...

belong

I am so happy to share a look into my writing life and healing journey on Cynthia Newberry Martin's lovely substack How We Spend Our Days. howwespendourdays.substack.com/p/how-we-spe...

I am thrilled to be presenting at the Virginia Festival of the Book. Grit and Grace: Stories of Resilience Across Time 10:00 AM-11:00 AM Location: The Vault | Free James Grady, Ellen Birkett Morris, and Tim Wendel write about strength and compassion amidst challenge and conflict

I’m excited to return to my alma mater to talk about Character as a Driver for Plot from 1:45pm-2:45pm.

Horrifying

Never forgive. Never forget. www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...

WTF?

"working to swiftly rectify the situation..." www.nbcnews.com/politics/dog...

As it turns out, right-wingers only believe in free speech if they agree with what you have to say. Otherwise, they want to silence you. www.usatoday.com/story/opinio...

"The focus of Christian right isn’t on the defense of liberty; it’s on the accumulation of power. And it is using that power to impose its will." In other words, the evangelical right isn't Christian; it is simply power-hungry. Jesus wept. www.nytimes.com/2025/02/13/o...

when the encyclopedia hates you

Dear fellow Kentuckians, The president you elected by a 30-point margin is allowing the world's richest man to plunder the public treasury. When your checks stop coming, remember that your Republican senators just approved an attorney general to make sure they all get away with it.

Here are the options on the table (which are not mutually exclusive): 1. House Dems bring articles of impeachment* 2. Senate Dems play constitutional hardball and obstruct everything 3. State AGs litigate (and prosecute) everything they can 4. Citizens march en mass

Thanks @hfr.bsky.social and @boverby.bsky.social!

I’m giving away 10 copies of my book PINEVILLE TRACE. Enter by Feb. 28 for a chance to win! Please spread the word and share this. Here is the @goodreads giveaway link: www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/404691-pineville-trace #giveaway #free #win #book #goodreads #debutnovel #freebooks 💙📚

The full review of Beware the Tall Grass with gratitude to Sam Chang for selecting my novel, Allen Gee for his editing, support and encouragement, CSU Press and UGA Press for getting the book out into the world, and the Jordan family for their support of writers! booklife.com/booklife-rev...

Thanks to @hfr.bsky.social and author @boverby.bsky.social for this insightful review of Beware the Tall Grass. @csupress heavyfeatherreview.org/category/rev...

I Have Not Considered Consequences, is up for pre-order! Out with Autumn House Press, April 2025 - Flash fiction, short stories, bears. 🐻 “Such brightness and humor in these stories—they made me laugh and each one moved with its own joyful rhythm." —Aimee Bender bookshop.org/p/books/i-ha...