At the Louisiana Book Festival, my panel with Xan Kaur, Trang Thanh Tran, and Kristen Illarmo got me excited about creating narratives that fearlessly dive into dark territories. Grateful for their complex stories, our nuanced conversation and a gorgeous embrace from a humongous magnolia tree.

After the book is published, writers get a new level of engagement with the work. We learn what holds resonance, and impact. It is always a joy to hear readers’ reflections and to gain the opportunity to deepen your own authorial perspective on the book. #normalcy #tempest #booktalk #reflections

Living means moving in and out of the shadow of death. In “Dreams of a Diplomatic Death” a man fights to control death, and then life teaches him a new path. It was a joy to write, and I am grateful for the gift of creativity. You can read the latest microfiction at substack.com/home/post/p-...

"The RSF of today is the Janjaweed of yesteryear, except this time armed to the teeth by the United Arab Emirates. In return, the UAE secures a foothold in a large, strategic, resource-rich country, and already receives the majority of gold mined in RSF-controlled areas." Dubai, y'all! #BlackSky

It was a pleasure talking about Tempest on the Black Book Talk radio show on KBOO FM. The hosts were deeply invested in the book and showed Tempest lots of literary love You can listen to the whole show at KBOO.fm. Note the show starts a few minutes into the recording. kboo.fm/media/129576...

As writers, we want the worlds we build to feel vibrant & plausible. It’s wonderful to be recognized for the character choices, thematic focus and worldbuiliding details. TY, @SchoolLibraryJournal for the close read & celebration of craft! @epicreads.bsky.social #tempest #craft #worldbuilding

🎵 why would Lockheed Martin build a ballroom..... 🎶 This is TikTok Premium ☺️

A New York prisoner accused corrections officers of assault and sexual abuse. State officials deemed his claims unfounded despite footage of the encounter.

Tens of thousands of people have tried to escape the Sudanese city of El Fasher since paramilitary fighters seized the city in Darfur from Sudan’s military more than a week ago. But only some people have made it to the nearest aid zone after surviving a massacre inside the city.

Sharing this heartbreaking news about Celeste Rita Baker (CW '19). Her warmth and voice, love and mentorship will be greatly missed.

Gearing up for my magic and imagination in YA panel at the Louisiana Book Festival. Looking forward to connecting with my fellow storytellers, world builders and dream weavers. See you at the @louisianabookfest #soecfic #ya #imagination #tempest

When Marti Dumas joined our family, she brought the creative writer count up to 3—me, my dad, and her! We'll be talking together on a podcast when I go back home for the Louisiana Book Festival. I love being a part of a creative family. #novelists #writersinthefamily #tempest #wildseedwitch

We all have comfort zones—sanctioned behavior that we approve of, that makes us feel safe and protected. However, safety and protection tends to follow the boundaries of what has worked in the past. The truth of expansion is that it is future leaning. meetingyourself.substack.com/p/the-self-r...

The settlement appears to be moving forward. Visit the site to see if your books were included… if so, you can file a claim. This is a landmark settlement, a small step toward protecting copyright. Onward, —K.

My first book was named co-winner of the 2012 James Tiptree Award. 13 years later, the award’s been renamed the Otherwise Award and I’m sitting on the jury. It’s been a long journey since that first book, and in some ways, I feel like I’m slowly writing my way back to where I began.

The microfiction continues. In this story, Benko encounters an unexpected vehicle for change. Jump in the river with Benko, and let the current carry you to a place where a new life may be possible. You can read the rest of The Limp Life in the River at flingingfiction.substack.com/publish/post....

Much of our everyday lives are spent with a fair amount of dissatisfaction with ourselves. It's unclear how much self-criticism is trained in us and how much is part of human design, but most of us find it impossible to embrace self-acceptance. meetingyourself.substack.com/p/the-self-r...

Excited to be headed back home to attend the Louisiana Book Festival this fall. This wonderful celebration of books takes place in Baton Rouge on November 1st. I look forward to attending and connecting with authors and readers about books. #tempest #louisianabookfestival

I am OBSESSED with process. I love exploring the how behind our creative acts. How are things built? How do you confront blockages? How do you develop your craft? How do you move through self-doubt?

As I have been reaching towards expansion, I have been wrestling with the fear of getting it wrong. I don’t want to fail, I don’t want to look silly, I don’t want to appear to be trying too hard. There have been so many times when I took actions simply so that I could not be seen as being wrong.

Not every story or book you write can be a banger, but that doesn't mean you stop writing because some had a better reception than others. Art is a journey discovering what makes you tick as a human. I see no point in calling done on writing unless you find something else you prefer doing.

YIKES!!!

Love this reflection of Tempest because both elements are important to the building of the story. The mystery is a driver but so is V’s evolution and her growing sense of self. TY @shelf-awareness.com for your sensitive and perceptive read of Tempest. —K. #tempest #selfdiscovery #danger #suspense

Compliments from readers and reviewers are great, but what's most valuable is when they focus on details that align with my intentions and efforts. I love knowing that all the wordsmithing and structuring and character building hit home. —K. #gold #worththesweat #gratitude #success #tempest #ya

For this month’s microfiction, a fun night leads to deep discovery when Thea recovers something she’s been living without for too long. Read Buried Beneath the Black at flingingfiction.substack.com/p/buried-ben... Leaning into the joy of creativity, —K. #storytelling #microfiction #substack

So lovely to get love notes with appreciation for the characters. Over the drafts, the characters in Tempest became quite real to me. Peep the pressure that comes with reader appreciation. “You are writing the next book, aren’t you?” lol. Yes, dear readers, I am! #tempest #ya #readerappreciation

Prompted by an email from my agency, I finally checked to see if my books were being used in the AI machine. I sent a letter to Meta via the Author’s Guild template (actionnetwork.org/letters/auth...). Participant in systems I did not choose and don't consent to. Sigh. #exhausted #ai #noconsent

The Fantastic Fiction at KGB series has raised $7K, enough for two years. THANK YOU TO ALL DONORS! We'd like to raise another $7K, for a total of four years. Can you reshare to make that happen? Details here: @datlow.bsky.social www.gofundme.com/f/fantastic-...

Book love for Infinite Constellations! Through this anthology, Khadijah Queen and I gathered a wonderful breadth of voices, experiences and awarenesses. It was a joy to spotlight culture and identity. @fictioncollective2.bsky.social #anthology #culture #identity #speculation #ownvoices #multiplicity

If you’ve been waiting for the right time to get your copy of Tempest, perhaps your moment has arrived. Barnes and Noble is having a 50% off sale on many hardcovers, including Tempest. If you don’t have your book yet, now may be the time! @epicreads.bsky.social @barnesandnoble.com #ya #booksale

Bookstores create delicious universes where readers can be introduced to many reading adventures. Just learned that the anthology I co-edited with Khadijah Queen, Infinite Constellations, is a bookstore bestseller at @blacksburg_books! Tickled and grateful. #bestseller #bookstores #anthology

So thrilled that Tempest is continue to blow through readers’ lives. Thanks to @pastemagazine for including it on their list of unorthodox summer reads. I hope many more readers get caught up in Tempest’s storms. Onward, —K. #tempest #ya #summerreads #newrelease #elementalpowers

I’m back in the tumble of microfiction. “Beyond the Edge Lies the Verge” combines a dusty road, a cliff cave and an ancient dragon. Go to flingingfiction.substack.com/p/beyond-the... to read this month’s microfiction. On the journey, —K. #road #lake #microfictions #cliff #dragon #flingingfiction

This beautiful description of Tempest reminds me that any quality we have as writers—or as artists in general—can be read as a flaw or gift. Tempest holds both the intimate story of a teen’s coming of age and a big, bold conspiracy saga. It’s not either/or. As my mama likes to say, it’s both/and.

Friday night at Community Book Center was a wonderful New Orleans launch for the book. We talked plots, we discussed character, we talked about New Orleans, and the books deeper themes. My family came out in full force to support and I met some new readers too. #writinglife #booklaunch #newrelease

My nephew was frustrated while trying to make an audio recording sound crisp, but the audio was just a sketch, an example of his work. He’d soon be recording on professional equipment—this sample audio didn’t need to be perfect, it just needed to point the way for the direction he was going in.

As writers we don’t always have the distance to recognize the full scope of the stories we tell, so I love hearing what readers take away from my books. I appreciate this reader's reflections on Tempest—and I salute their tender teenage self. #newrelease #tempest #ya #teens #identity #growth #powers

Saturday afternoon, (7/19) I’ll be hanging out at the Writers Desk @bluecypressbooks.bsky.social. Come by and get your book signed, talk about writing or just say hello to support the hometown celebration of Tempest. #nolalife #nola #tempest #ya #urbanfantasy #elementalpowers

Excited to be in New Orleans to celebrate Tempest. The bookstore featured in the book is patterned after the previous location of Community Book Center on Ursulines in Treme. Hope to see some friendly faces in the house on Friday evening. #booklaunch #newrelease #newnovel #ya #nola #writinglife

When you can’t make it to all the bookstores to sign books, your signatures have to fly without you. Fun fact: My grandfather walked from rural Louisiana to New Orleans to establish a family. Love to all our ancestors who made the necessary moves for our futures #tempest #ya #neworleans #fiction

The main character Veronique travels through many waters, both shallow and deep, to find her purpose and her fight. Warrior vibes may not come overnight, but whenever they arrive, they're right on time! #findyourvoice @epicreads.bsky.social @harperstacks.bsky.social #ya #tempest #fiction #specfic

Thrilled that Tempest is getting so much love. Thank you @shelf-awareness.com for honoring Tempest as one of the Best Books of the Week. I hope this lovely recap helps Tempest find its way to book lovers everywhere. #tempest #ya #explore #newrelease #newbooks #neworleans #fiction #specfic #windpower

A horrific dystopia.

I don’t think anyone is prepared for what they just did w/ ICE. This is not a simple budget increase. It is an explosion - making ICE bigger than the FBI, US Bureau of Prisons, DEA,& others combined. It is setting up to make what’s happening now look like child’s play. And people are disappearing.

"So much of fantasy is big bold secondary worlds, but here's a summery Southern Gothic with a relatable family dynamic at the center." Thank you @locusmag.bsky.social for sharing your view on Tempest and honoring its intimate family connections.

The last time a DSA-backed upstart overthrew an establishment Democrat in a NY mayoral primary, what happened next wasn't pretty. India Walton has some hard-won advice for Zohran Mamdani about what to expect, and how to handle it: hellgatenyc.com/india-walton...

Just minutes into the first meeting of scientific advisers appointed by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., it was clear that the skeptical panelists intended to upend longstanding vaccine recommendations in the US, particularly those pertaining to children. www.nytimes.com/2025/06/25/h...

Having Tempest emerge into the world makes me feel grateful, joyful, and hopeful. Had a fantastic conversation with @ibizoboi about YA, New Orleans, family, and fantasy. May this book go out and do good work in the world! Onward! @harperstacks.bsky.social #tempest #ya #teen #nola #windpower

We're having a heat wave, it's Election Day for a fierce mayoral race, & the world's in meltdown—so it’s an excellent day for a book launch, no? As the elders say, this is the day the Lord has given us. So I'm headed off to @booksofwonder.bsky.social to celebrate Tempest with @ibizoboi.bsky.social