Not your average farmer's market! More, please. A great way to end my Santa Fe sojourn.

When all else fails, look up.

Stories unbound. Who will continue to tell them? I will. Freedom to Write. Freedom to Read.

Authors who've used Between the Lines:Jodi Picoult, Meredith Spies, Lindsay Ward, Sarah R. Chapman, Kristo Iozef, me. Read Between the Lines: Jo Knowles, Rachel Carey, Charles Singleton; There's Teaching Between the Lines, You Between the Lines...hundreds of such titles. Research! Lesson learned.

Looking forward to sharing the stage with my Choctaw co-author, Stacy Wells, as we discuss our forthcoming picture book, Stronger Than, a Black Indigenous story illustrated by E.B. Lewis. This will be my third book with E.B.! The book, and the virtual event, are something to look forward to.

Thanks to Dr. Kimberly Gordon Biddle for this lovely interview posted on her blog, Jewel Noir. You've got to love that title! Enjoy. pinkpearlwriting.com/blog/

I was painting my house when the first tower was hit. No TV on, I was blissfully ignorant 'til my sister called babbling incoherently. I turned on the TV, never left the couch. That darkness came from without. Today's comes from within. Fearsome Lord, grant us the courage we need in these dark days.

There's no denying the healing power of nature. That's especially true when the topic is grief, whether grieving the loss of someone, or something. And who isn't grieving, these days?

Gorgeousness! I have poems in this collection in grand company: Maya Angelou Renee Watson Mari Evans Sonia Sanchez, Winsome Bingham Richard Wright Eloise Greenfield Amanda Gorman—just to name a few! Traci N. Todd done good! Illustrator Jade Orlando killed it! Out Sept. 30. Order now. You're welcome.

Wow. 23 years old, and still going strong! Worth every drop of blood, sweat, and tears.

Happy Grandparents Day!

Grandparent's Day is almost here but not all grandparents are blessed to have their grands within easy reach. How in the world are you going to connect? Illustrator Cathy Ann Johnson offers tips for reading & sharing A Cup of Quiet w/ your grandchildren, near or far! nikkigrimes.com/nikki-sounds...

Santa Fe on my mind. Can't wait to see you, again.

Annoying invite in my inbox, conf. of global women in publishing. Graphic: women sitting in a circle, one overweight & unprofessionally attired—Black. Absent from the speaker list: Andrea Pinkney, Denene Millner, Cheryl Hudson. Refused to give this my time. Instead, I wrote a kick-ass author's note.

Studying microscope parts, eyedroppers, cell multiplication, the nouns and verbs of research labs—Oh, the places I’ll go for a story!

I focus on giving away goodies at my book launches and usually forget to keep one for myself! For whatever reason, I set a few of these prints aside! I rushed to find a simple frame. Doesn't the print seem happy? From Lullaby for the King, art by Michelle Carlos, published by Beaming Books.

When I started out, the idea of my writing a novel in verse was laughed at. Today my list of favorite NIVs is too long for the conf. breakout session Kris George and I are planning. What joy! For that list, you'll have to be in the room where it happens! Charlotte Huck Children's Lit Festival 2026.

Since the cat is out of the proverbial bag, thought I'd share the cover of my forthcoming collection of yard sale stories about the things we hold dear, then let go, their history, heartache, joy, and the treasures they become for their new owners. Coming in March. www.amazon.com/Twice-Blesse...

These followed me home from Laguna Beach because, you know.

How much of my life would I get back if I got off the computer, altogether? Went back to using a typewriter, and communicating by phone and—wait for it—cards and letters? Sounds heavenly. But will I do it? There's got to be some middle ground. Signed, Searcher!

Is lack of engagement a thing on Bluesky, or am I just doing this wrong? Still trying to figure this out.

Poet Ipyani Lockert did double-duty at last night's poetry reading, taking time to photograph the event and nab a few videos, to boot! Here are a few of the former.

Choctaw author, Stacy Wells and I practicing hitting the road together! In March, it will be time to do it for real, to promote our first collab—Stronger Than, illustrated by E.B. Lewis, centering a character who is Black Choctaw. Can't wait to share it with you! Open for pre-order.

Drew Ward & I invite you to this eve's Mad St. Poetry Reading! Love reading our own poetry, but just as psyched to hear everyone else's. Join us for a juicy evening of poetry, truth, and inspiration for the journey! Lord knows, we need it. Madison St. Church 3991 Madison Street Riverside, CA 7pm

Art, music, walks on the beach, great food, and the company of my Choctaw co-author, Stacy Wells in Laguna Beach! Fun times squeezed into three days. It's not the number of hours, it's the quality of life you pour into them that counts.

For This Is Not A Small Voice:Poems by Black Poets, a collection by Traci N. Todd, the poem I wrote about a kid tackling book-bans includes a visit to Mahogany Books. Co-owner Ramunda Lark Young gets an early read! Fun! I love weaving real people & places into my stories. The book releases in Sept.

Recently a publisher coaxed me to consider collage for my next book cover. As you can see, I'm a collage artist, so the real fun was having someone explain to me what collage is! The lovely explainer and I had a good laugh! Excited to see what she comes up with. Collage is perfect for the content.

Often during a conference, workshop, or signing, an attendee will shyly slip me a poem, note or letter to be read later. I'll find it like buried treasure, the words inside making me laugh, cry, or think. This note from a recent encounter included the wonder-filled line "Your name in God's mouth."

POCs: if you agree to license rights to text from one of your books for say a text book, make sure your contract requires your approval with regard to the illustrations attached to your text. Otherwise your gag reflex may go into overdrive when you see how the illustrator represents your characters.

Not saying the boys aren't up for it, but the ladies are ready! Truth, wisdom, lyrical acrobatics, inspiration, fun! Mad St. Open Mic Poetry. Poets: Marilyn Dunn, Heidi Thomas, Moi, Romaine Washington Friday, August 22, 2025 7pm Mad Street Church 3991 Madison Street Riverside, CA 92504

An excerpt from Naomi Shihab Nye's poem, "Blood" in The United States of Poetry. When has Naomi's work ever resonated more?

Finally catching up on my reading which presents a problem. Good books give me ideas. I give in to the urge to write. It takes me a while to get back to reading. I maybe make it to the shore of a new chapter when another idea hits me, & the cycle begins again. Ah well! There are worse addictions.

The roster of poets for the Mad St. Open Mic Poetry Night is ramping up! Next on deck is Ipyani Lockert. It's getting good, folks! Date: Friday, August 22, 2025 Time: 7pm Place: Mad St. Church 3991 Madison Street Riverside, CA 92504

More open mic poetry, anyone? If you have an appetite for inspiration and truth telling, join us! What poets are on the roster? Me, of course. And Romaine Washington, for starters. Date: Friday, August 22, 2025 Time: 7pm Place: Mad St. Church 3991 Madison Street Riverside, CA 92504

George Ford! 99 years young! George, I'm so glad you're still in the mix. There's no one in the world quite like you! From the very beginning of his career, he taught that representation matters by modeling it. Still does! Children's Book Illustrator. Trailblazer. Know on whose shoulders you stand.

Looking through some old poetry collections from Broadside Press, and finding gold! There are so many ways to be wealthy. This is one of the ways I choose!

No words.

Like others I contemplate particular cause for thanks in the midst of a tear-drenched year. Care is the cause I find most easily a package for the heart too fragile to squeeze inside a box. A phone call brimming with laughter... A visit meticulously carved from the busyness of a friend's day...

Leaning with the wind I practice being tree-like waiting for fruit's yield rather than ripping up roots to go in search of new ground. Copyright 2025 by Nikki Grimes.

Sunshine after rain, Heaven's shorthand reminder that dark days are rimmed with light and hope eternal, reason enough to look up. Copyright 2025 Nikki Grimes.

...men nowadays try to wriggle out from under their blanket of guilt claiming innocence...or seeking to make "the system" culprit...If as evidenced you are hopelessly addicted...to the convenience of half-truths be bold. Admit that your tongue is permanently forked.. From "MY Word" by Nikki Grimes.

On an especially bad news day/news week/news month, I'm grateful for things that make me smile. Look around & find whatever makes you smile—a physical thing, a dream, a memory, or a line from a poem. Return to it as often as the need arises. If there was ever a time to nurture your soul, it's now.

Voices shatter in seeming silence & our ears bleed. We hear & care about every particular awful. We scream too resisting as we're able praying to bear U on the words/wings of God sharing slivers of joy to keep our hearts warm & beating on the long road that remains Copyright 2025 by Nikki Grimes.

Here's a link to Darin M. White, the artist who made the giant heart sculpture for me. In case you ever want a one-of-a-kind piece of art, especially one made of wood. maker-marketplace.com/m/68252/dari...

Never seen anything like this. Commissioned as a gift for me, created by Darin White, a phenomenal artist/sculptor. He burned words from Ordinary Hazards into the wood as part of the design. Wow! A giant heart by an artist with heart, from friends whose hearts are huge. I think I'll keep them!

You are my sunshine. It's the little things that help to keep us sane.

Evening joy!

Discovered this book about an Underground Railroad Cinderella at ALA. The title piqued my interest, plus it was illustrated by one of my favorite artists, Laura Freeman. Not only was the story lovely but the back matter held a surprise connection between this story and one of my own. Still smiling!