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Kathleen Rooney

@kathleenmrooney.bsky.social

1.4K followers 430 following 1.5K posts

Poet / novelist / essayist in Chicago Professor at DePaul University & Editor at Rose Metal Press Writings: https://kathleenrooney.com/ Typewritings: http://poemswhileyouwait.tumblr.com Leaf Town: https://www.upress.umn.edu/9781517917371/leaf-town-forever/

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Kathleen Rooney @kathleenmrooney.bsky.social · Jun 29

My sister Beth Rooney & I have co-written our first children’s book, Leaf Town Forever. Illustrated by the brilliant Betsy Bowen, it's coming out with the marvelous @uminnpress.bsky.social & is available for pre-order now. Add to cart! www.upress.umn.edu/978151791737...

Leaf Town Forever

The true story of a Midwestern “town” created with leaves, sticks, and children’s imaginations Leaf Town suddenly springs up. One day the clearing outs...

www.upress.umn.edu

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Kathleen Rooney @kathleenmrooney.bsky.social · 9h

Oh hi

Reposted by Kathleen Rooney

Olúfẹ́mi O. Táíwò @olufemiotaiwo.bsky.social · Feb 6

attempting to describe the vibes of the moment. have yet to do better than: "imagine watching a documentary reenacting the burning of the Library of Alexandria set to the soundtrack of 'Yakety Sax'"

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Kathleen Rooney @kathleenmrooney.bsky.social · 1d

Update: this book is so good that I’m going to teach it in my Writing the Body class winter quarter!

Kathleen Rooney @kathleenmrooney.bsky.social · 1d

"Moby"
a typewriter poem
by Emma Hospelhorn
from Grayslake Author Fest!
poemswhileyouwait.tumblr.com/post/7971111...

poemswhileyouwait

"Moby" by Emma Hospelhorn -- Grayslake Author Fest, 6.21.25

poemswhileyouwait.tumblr.com

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Kathleen Rooney @kathleenmrooney.bsky.social · 1d

Got a flight today and am excited to read this book in the airport and on the plane.

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Kathleen Rooney @kathleenmrooney.bsky.social · 2d

"The children Fiona, Rose, & Lucinda, are Leaf Town Forever’s main characters & Leaf Town’s architects. Paco, the cardinal, is there with them the whole way. Was he there when the real Leaf Town was built too?" Thanks to Christine Sneed for this interview! christinesneed.substack.com/p/inside-the...

Inside the World of Leaf Town Forever: Kathleen Rooney on Her New Children's Book

A book that took root from a real leaf town created by Oak Park, IL schoolchildren in the fall of 2020

christinesneed.substack.com

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Kathleen Rooney @kathleenmrooney.bsky.social · 2d

"Love"
a typewriter poem
by Sofia Bellafiore
from Secret World Books
poemswhileyouwait.tumblr.com/post/7970226...

poemswhileyouwait

"Love!" by Sofia Bellafiore -- Secret World Books, 8.24.25

poemswhileyouwait.tumblr.com

Kathleen Rooney @kathleenmrooney.bsky.social · 3d

Exactly!

Kathleen Rooney @kathleenmrooney.bsky.social · 3d

I found 5 errors! A satisfying amount!

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Kathleen Rooney @kathleenmrooney.bsky.social · 3d

Huge thanks to the wonderful @jedlie.bsky.social, host of the Reading With Your Kids podcast, for having @bethrooney.bsky.social & me on to talk about LEAF TOWN FOREVER from @uminnpress.bsky.social! podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/l...

Leaf Town Forever

Podcast Episode · Reading With Your Kids Podcast · 10/07/2025 · 56m

podcasts.apple.com

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Kathleen Rooney @kathleenmrooney.bsky.social · 3d

It's a beautiful fall morning. I have pumpkin spice coffee from Trader Joe's in my mug and first pass pages of MAN OVERBOARD! to proof. Being a writer. It's nice!

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Kathleen Rooney @kathleenmrooney.bsky.social · 3d

"Love"
a typewriter poem
by @awolfson.bsky.social
from Secret World Books!
poemswhileyouwait.tumblr.com/post/7969319...

poemswhileyouwait

"Love" by Aaron Wolfson -- Secret World Books, 8.24.25

poemswhileyouwait.tumblr.com

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Reposted by Kathleen Rooney

Rose Metal Press @rosemetalpress.bsky.social · 3d

Congrats to Naomi Cohn on The Braille Encyclopedia being a finalist in the Last Syllable book awards! And to cofounder @kathleenmrooney.bsky.social as well on her novel making the list!

Last Syllable: A Longform Literary Journal @lastsyllablelit.bsky.social · 5d

Congratulations to our Book Award finalists!!

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Kathleen Rooney @kathleenmrooney.bsky.social · 4d

Add to cart!

Rose Metal Press @rosemetalpress.bsky.social · 4d

FIT INTO ME: A Novel: A Memoir by Molly Gaudry is now available for preordering! The book releases on 12/9. Reserve your copy now with free shipping with the code here: icont.ac/518tw

FIT INTO ME by Molly Gaudry Now Available for Preorder

icont.ac

Kathleen Rooney @kathleenmrooney.bsky.social · 4d

We do! Our picture book comes out on October 14! I will send you an email.

Kathleen Rooney @kathleenmrooney.bsky.social · 4d

"Have You Ever Seen a Whale"
a typewriter poem
by Lizzie Bourne
from Argyle Night Market:
poemswhileyouwait.tumblr.com/post/7968409...

poemswhileyouwait

"Have You Ever Seen a Whale" by Lizzie Bourne -- Argyle Night Market, 8.14.25

poemswhileyouwait.tumblr.com

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Kathleen Rooney @kathleenmrooney.bsky.social · 5d

Sweaters !!!

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Kathleen Rooney @kathleenmrooney.bsky.social · 5d

☔️

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Kathleen Rooney @kathleenmrooney.bsky.social · 5d

It was such a thrill to have to put on my galoshes to go outside today and to use my umbrella as an umbrella and not a parasol.

Fall weather, finally!

Rain!

I love it!

Kathleen Rooney @kathleenmrooney.bsky.social · 5d

"Big City To"
a typewriter poem
by Shane Zimmer
from Randolph Street Market:
poemswhileyouwait.tumblr.com/post/7967502...

poemswhileyouwait

"Big City To" by Shane Zimmer -- Randolph Street Market, 9.27.25

poemswhileyouwait.tumblr.com

Reposted by Kathleen Rooney

Monster Dan Kelly @mrdankelly.bsky.social · 5d

If you haven't read this selection of short pieces by local/non-local authors about the banned books they read as kids, you're missing out! Words from @kathleenmrooney.bsky.social @bobcalhoun.bsky.social @semibold.bsky.social @dkossy.bsky.social, me, and others!

thirdcoastreview.com/lit/2025/10/...

Banned Books Week: Writers Recall the "Forbidden" Books of Their Youth | Third Coast Review

It’s Banned Books Week, and while it’s not a week to celebrate, per se, it’s one to faithfully observe.

thirdcoastreview.com

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Kathleen Rooney @kathleenmrooney.bsky.social · 6d

Thanks to @mrdankelly.bsky.social for inviting me to contribute to this @thirdcoastrvw.bsky.social feature for Banned Books Week where "Writers Recall the 'Forbidden' Books of Their Youth"--I recall the Anastasia series by Lois Lowry. Check them all out here! thirdcoastreview.com/lit/2025/10/...

Banned Books Week: Writers Recall the "Forbidden" Books of Their Youth | Third Coast Review

It’s Banned Books Week, and while it’s not a week to celebrate, per se, it’s one to faithfully observe.

thirdcoastreview.com

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Kathleen Rooney @kathleenmrooney.bsky.social · 6d

It just rained a little bit -- after not raining in forever and ever -- in Chicago and it smells like heaven.

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Kathleen Rooney @kathleenmrooney.bsky.social · 6d

"Fairies are Bugs"
a typewriter poem
by Sara Zalek
from the @msichicago.bsky.social
poemswhileyouwait.tumblr.com/post/7966580...

poemswhileyouwait

"Fairies are bugs?" by Sara Zalek -- Museum of Science & Industry, 9.13.25

poemswhileyouwait.tumblr.com

Kathleen Rooney @kathleenmrooney.bsky.social · 7d

Yep