Alyson Foster
banner
estlin.bsky.social
Alyson Foster
@estlin.bsky.social
Novelist, editor, fiction addict. Author of GOD IS AN ASTRONAUT (film coming in 2025!) and HEART ATTACK WATCH. Opinions expressed here are my own, as far as I know.

https://god-is-an-astronaut.com
Reposted by Alyson Foster
You can still be sexy and mysterious AND in bed by 9:30 P.M. Don't believe us? Here's how it's done: newyorkercartoons.visitlink.me/01x2e3
December 21, 2025 at 12:20 AM
Reposted by Alyson Foster
"D.C. has a robust and exciting creative writing scene — which I wish I’d known when I first moved to the city," contributor Emily Blumberg writes.

Here's her guide to where to get started if you're interested in exploring local literary spaces:
Want to write? Here’s where to get started in D.C.
D.C. is a city full of creatives, but sometimes finding community takes a little research.
51st.news
December 18, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Reposted by Alyson Foster
December's books are wrapped and ready to head out to their new eight-year-old owners! When you sign up for our monthly kid book subscription, kids 0-10 get books matched to their age and interest. Ready to sign up a loved one? peoplesbooktakoma.com/growing/
December 18, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Reposted by Alyson Foster
Congrats to our amazing Sidra Collaborator co-founder Martin Tsang, who recently contributed to the catalog and audio tour for MoMA’s retrospective exhibition of the Cuban Chinese artist Wifredo Lam, “When I Don’t Sleep, I Dream” open now through April 11, 2026.

If you're in NYC, check it out!
December 18, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Reposted by Alyson Foster
You may be cool but are you Nathaniel Old’s sunglasses in 1837 cool? -
portrait by Jeptha Homer Wade, seen tonight at the Cleveland Museum of Art.
December 18, 2025 at 3:45 AM
Reposted by Alyson Foster
A story I found about Haiti:

In 1999, a group of Haitians were tired of political disorder and dreamed of a better life in the United States. So they built a small, 23-foot boat by hand using pine trees, scrap wood, and used nails. They called the boat "Believe in God."
December 18, 2025 at 2:43 AM
Reposted by Alyson Foster
Confession - I googled to see if the claims of the poem were true (I won't spoil it for you)

This, from Helen Mort's Division Street, is a moment of light balancing out the darker poems in the collection

She has a post on her substack about how the poem was written

#poetry
#poemoftheday
#spider
December 17, 2025 at 8:54 PM
Reposted by Alyson Foster
The Most Scathing Book Reviews of 2025. “Historians will study how bad this book is. English teachers will hold this book aloft at their students to remind them that literally anyone can write a book.” [lithub.com]
The Most Scathing Book Reviews of 2025
Pans, glorious pans. No end-of-year roundup would be complete without them. Among the books being driven into the woods by pitchfork-wielding villagers this year: Louis C.K.’s masturbatory debut no…
lithub.com
December 17, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Reposted by Alyson Foster
Hi friends, in case you missed it, I am offering some writing and editing services in the new year.

If you are feeling stuck on your academic writing project I might be able to help. ✨

halperta.com/categories/e...
Writing and Editing
Towards a better future for the humanities.
halperta.com
December 16, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Reposted by Alyson Foster
Just in time for gift-giving or finding that perfect read for the dark days of winter, Washington Unbound presents our list of winter book recommendations. Thanks to all who contributed!

www.washington-unbound.com/bookreviews/...
Washington Unbound’s 2025 Winter Booklist — Washington Unbound
It’s been a whirlwind year, and many of you are probably feeling a mixture of relief that it’s almost over and amazement that the end is so near. Here at Washington Unbound , we’re very grateful that...
www.washington-unbound.com
December 16, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Reposted by Alyson Foster
Willow species are being used to prevent the decimation of the Ohio River Basin. By incorporating willow, their aim is to minimize erosion while keeping its seven major tributaries as free of pollutants as possible.

David Byrne created this website of great independent journalism. No pay wall.
The Beauty of Lining a River With Willow
Greener than concrete and cheaper than stone, willow trees are finding new purpose as a stabilizing force along the banks of Midwestern rivers.
reasonstobecheerful.world
December 15, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Reposted by Alyson Foster
My best books of the year list is up on Culture Studies. Yes, it’s paywalled, but yes, Anne Helen Petersen was able to pay me fairly in return. I’m really grateful for the opportunity to put my words in front of a community of readers. www.patreon.com/posts/very-b...
The Very Best Books of the Year (According to a Professional Book Reader) | Culture Study
Get more from Culture Study on Patreon
www.patreon.com
December 14, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Reposted by Alyson Foster
Louise Bourgeois, Maman, 1999 #WomensArt #ArtAdvent
December 15, 2025 at 6:15 AM
This year, Christmas shopping is getting done with ruthless efficiency…in keeping with the true spirit of the season.
December 14, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Reposted by Alyson Foster
I got to talk 100 Notable Small Press Books on the Lit Hub podcast this week!

We're trying hard to make 2026 happen, but we need a handful more reviewers. If you want to celebrate small presses & their authors, sign up here: tinyurl.com/100smallpress

lithub.com/its-best-of-...

#100smallpress
It’s Best-of Season on The Lit Hub Podcast
A weekly behind-the-scenes dive into everything interesting, dynamic, strange, and wonderful happening in literary culture—featuring Lit Hub staff, columnists, and special guests! Hosted by Drew Br…
lithub.com
December 12, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Reposted by Alyson Foster
"You think Hamilton wrote The Federalist Papers in Trebuchet MS? You think Lincoln cracked open the Notes app and tapped his way through The Gettysburg Address in effeminate little SF Pro? This country was built by serifs, and it will be built back by serifs."
Times New Roman Turns Right
“Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the Biden-era move to [Calibri] ‘wasteful,’ casting the return to Times New Roman as part of a push to stamp...
buff.ly
December 11, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Just found out today that an essay I wrote for NEH’s Humanities magazine got a notable essay mention from the 2025 Best American Essays editors.

Bittersweet news since DOGE murdered Humanities mag earlier this year and laid off all its amazing staff (and me).
December 10, 2025 at 8:31 PM
Adding this to my list of things to not listen to
Like I just don't think people want an AI podcast and I don't think an AI podcast can compete with a people podcast, like at all

The narcissists running the show are confused and think everyone else is a narcissist and thankfully no they aren't

digiday.com/media/the-wa...
The Washington Post debuts AI-personalized podcasts to hook younger listeners
The Washington Post used AI to build a pick-your-own-format news podcast, letting listeners choose the topics, hosts and duration.
digiday.com
December 10, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Reposted by Alyson Foster
Sometimes I read poems too quickly. This one deserves to be read slowly, to be read more than once, with attention paid to every word...

and 'we should be careful of each other, we should be kind while there is still time'

#poetry
#poemoftheday
December 9, 2025 at 10:36 PM
Reposted by Alyson Foster
Really digging my 1st issue of The Approach. Kinda of a social justice national alt-weekly. They do subscriptions!
The Approach
cargo.site
share.google
December 9, 2025 at 9:23 PM
Reposted by Alyson Foster
404 Media is making a print zine! About the surveillance technologies used by ICE. 16 pages, riso printed. Shipping early January. Features reworked versions of our best reporting and a few new things. We're very excited! And hope to do more if people like it:

www.404media.co/404-media-is...
404 Media Is Making a Zine
We are publishing a risograph-printed zine about the surveillance technologies used by ICE.
www.404media.co
December 8, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Reposted by Alyson Foster
Every once in while I look at the Goodreads reviews of ENDPAPERS. Today I found

"Biggest disappointment of 2025."

Get a copy now for the holidays! (If you get it from me, I'll sign it with a very disappointing signature!)
bookshop.org/p/books/endp...
Endpapers
Check out Endpapers - It's 2003, and artist Dawn Levit is stuck. A bookbinder who works at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, she spends all day repairing old books but hasn't created anything of her own...
bookshop.org
December 7, 2025 at 8:44 PM
I brought out my sewing machine for the first time in ages, and my 10yo was in awe of it.

Yes, child. It’s crazy. Once upon a time, people actually MADE things.
December 5, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Reposted by Alyson Foster
kind of obsessed with this custom binding for Moby dick by Susan and Chaim Ebanks at Exeter Bookbinders
December 4, 2025 at 2:05 PM