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Gita Ralleigh

@gitaralleigh.bsky.social

3.5K followers 5.7K following 980 posts

Writer/Poet/Lecturer/ex-doctor. Kids: The Destiny of Minou Moonshine 🐘 The Voyage of Sam Singh 🦜 @zephyrbooks.bsky.social Poetry: Siren 🧜🏽‍♀️ @brokensleepbooks.bsky.social A Terrible Thing 🧝🏽‍♀️ (Bad Betty Press) https://linktr.ee/gitaralleigh

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Gita Ralleigh @gitaralleigh.bsky.social · Aug 6

First post! I'm a poet, writer and ex-doctor born to Indian immigrant parents in London. More: gitaralleighauthor.wordpress.com
Here mostly to check in on the world without being sucked into a vortex of despair and to post my daily word count for accountability. ⌨️

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Reposted by Gita Ralleigh

Read A Little Poetry @readalittlepoem.bsky.social · 16h

Today’s poem is selected by Lena Khalaf Tuffaha as part of the 20th anniversary of Read A Little Poetry.

“The End of Exile” appeared in Customs by Solmaz Sharif, published by Graywolf Press, 2022. Shared here with deep gratitude.

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Reposted by Gita Ralleigh

Kyle Lukoff @kylelukoff.bsky.social · 10h

www.theguardian.com/books/2025/o...

‘They didn’t even read the book’: How children’s authors are being canceled over Palestine

Authors tell of book bans, cancellations and harassment – ‘they’re trying to disconnect us from our stories’

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Gita Ralleigh

eileen chengyin chow @chowleen.bsky.social · 1d

I, however,
Have such meagre power,

Clutching at a
Moment,

While you control
An hour.

But your hour is
A stone.

My moment is
A flower.

-Langston Hughes, "Poet to Bigot"
#everynightapoem As ever.

I have done so little
For you.
And you have do little
For me.
That we have good reason
Never to agree.

I, however,
Have such meagre power,
Clutching at a
Moment,
While you control
An hour.
But your hour is
A stone.
My moment is
A flower.
-Langston Hughes, "Poet to Bigot"

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Reposted by Gita Ralleigh

Brick Lane Bookshop @bricklanebookshop.bsky.social · 21h

📚 Wasafiri x Tagore’s Salon

Join us for Writing Through Pain: On Labour and Literature
with writers Dur e Aziz Amna & Farah Ali

Oct 15 | 7PM | Brick Lane Bookshop

A conversation on illness, survival, and the work of writing.
🎟️ buff.ly/aZDPuvd

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Gita Ralleigh @gitaralleigh.bsky.social · 23h

The industry - including publishing, bookselling, the educational and charitable sector - really needs to work harder.
Just 35 books (1.3%) featured south Asian main characters, while 12.5% of children in English nursery /primary schools have south Asian heritage
www.theguardian.com/books/2025/o...

‘Catastrophic decline’ in Black representation in children’s books

A report by charity Inclusive Books for Children found that of the 2,721 books surveyed, only 51 featured a Black main character, down by 21.5% since 2023

www.theguardian.com

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Gita Ralleigh @gitaralleigh.bsky.social · 1d

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/08/a...

MacArthur Foundation Announces 2025 ‘Genius Grant’ Winners

www.nytimes.com

Reposted by Gita Ralleigh

Alom Shaha @alomshaha.bsky.social · 1d

#kidlitUK #UKKidLit Children’ Books People! You might find this report on “Own Voice representation in the creation of UK children’s books” interesting / enraging. HT @clairelinney.bsky.social

Excluded Voices report

Is UK publishing diverse? Read the Excluded Voices report, our latest research into the number of Own Voice authors and illustrators creating children’s books.

www.inclusivebooksforchildren.org

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Gita Ralleigh @gitaralleigh.bsky.social · 1d

It’s wonderful-lucky kids!!

Gita Ralleigh @gitaralleigh.bsky.social · 1d

A true classic!! 🖤

Betsy Bird @fuse8.bsky.social · 3d

Today we are discussing our fourth abecedarian picture book on the @fuse8nkate.bsky.social podcast and our second Gorey. This is a "cult classic" picture book, best beloved by older children who read it and felt like they were getting away with something. 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2025/10/06/f...

Fuse 8 n’ Kate: The Gashlycrumb Tinies by Edward Gorey

Today we are discussing our fourth abecedarian picture book on the podcast and our second Gorey. This is a

afuse8production.slj.com

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Gita Ralleigh @gitaralleigh.bsky.social · 1d

Beautiful poetry post today from
@brokensleepbooks.bsky.social
#ukpoets #poetrysky

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Reposted by Gita Ralleigh

#DVpit - Diverse Voices Pitch @dvpit.bsky.social · 2d

TOMORROW (Oct 8th) is #DVpit! Any unagented Marginalized writer or artist seeking out representation is invited to participate from 8AM - 8PM ET!
Please make sure you review our rules & guidelines before the event: dvpit.carrd.co#faq

#writersky #booksky #artistsky #weneeddiversebooks

#DVPit Rules
-#DVpit (Diverse Voices Pitch) is a Bluesky event for marginalized creators that have been historically underrepresented in publishing to pitch their work to agents & editors
-Post your pitch on Bluesky on Wednesday, Oct 8, 2025
between 8AM ET - 8PM ET
-Only post once per hour (6 max pitches per project)
-Must have a polished, query ready manuscript or art portfolio.
-Pitch must include the #DVpit hashtag (illustrators pitching their art must use the #DVArt hashtag)
-A like from an agent = a query request
-A repost from an editor = interest in submission once you've signed with an agent
-A like from an editor = editor who takes unagented submissions
-Please do not like or repost a pitch if you are not an agent or an editor. Support other creators by replying to their pitch or
quote-reposting their pitches
-Visit dvpit.carrd.co for more detailed guidelines.

#DVpit 2025 has 70+ Agents & Editors committed to participate & boost marginalized creators from the following literary agencies and publishers:
Andrea Brown Lit
Ash Literary
Azantian Literary Agency
Dystel, Goderich & Bourret
Folio Literary Management
Gallt & Zacker Literary
Gelfman Schneider Literary
Hachette
Grand Central Publishing
Little Brown Books for Young Readers
Harper Collins
Harlequin
Hanover Square
HG Literary
Inked in Gray Press
Jill Grinberg Literary
Jean V. Naggar Literary Agency
Macmillan
Feiwel & Friends
Farrar, Straus & Giroux
Roaring Brook Press
Saturday books
Wednesday books
Mad Woman Literary
Neighborhood Literary
New Leaf Literary & Media
Open Book Literary
Page Street Publishing
Park, Fine & Brower
Penguin Random House
Ballantine
Berkley
Delacorte
Labyrinth Road
Penguin Workshop
Viking
Root Literary
Simon & Schuster
Aladdin
Atheneum
Atria
McElderry
Sheldon Fogelman Agency
Sourcebooks
Stonefruit Studio
Triada US
Writers House
Zando

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Gita Ralleigh @gitaralleigh.bsky.social · 1d

Also this old time banger:

youtu.be/9kFvprbvd9I?...

SOHO ROAD UTTE - SARDARA GILL - OFFICIAL VIDEO

YouTube video by Moviebox Record Label

youtu.be

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Gita Ralleigh @gitaralleigh.bsky.social · 1d

Full paen to Soho Road here:

www.bbc.co.uk/birmingham/c...

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Gita Ralleigh @gitaralleigh.bsky.social · 1d

Handsworth wakes / But Handsworth never sleeps … With deep roots rooted everywhere / All of us who know this place / Can claim it as our private space … We’re one people and Handsworth proud … This is a place for everyone.
Benjamin Zephaniah

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

I know the real Handsworth – it’s a far better place than Robert Jenrick’s toxic vision of Britain | Nazia Parveen

The shadow justice secretary complained of a lack of integration in an area that has shown, time and time again, that it is for everyone, says Nazia Parveen, an assistant managing editor at the Guardi...

www.theguardian.com

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Gita Ralleigh @gitaralleigh.bsky.social · 1d

If you loved @poetclare.bsky.social wonderful ‘The Untameables’ you’ll be blown away by ‘The Othernauts’ a rollicking ride through Greek mythology!
Coming next year from Piccadilly Press and sure to be a Herculean hit!!
#kidlituk #ukkidlit

The Untameables by Clare Pollard (The Emma Press) & a proof copy of The Othernauts by the same author.

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Reposted by Gita Ralleigh

D Franklin @dlibris.bsky.social · 1d

I see the industry had a serious bout of backsliding last year, always disappointing
www.thebookseller.com/news/report-...

Report reveals 'stark inequalities' and 'precipitous decline' in representation in children's publishing

Literacy charity Inclusive Books for Children has published its annual Excluded Voices report, revealing 'stark inequalities' in UK children’s publishing.

www.thebookseller.com

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Reposted by Gita Ralleigh

Bookshop.org @bookshop.org · 2d

Can’t decide what to buy on Prime Day?

Try: absolutely nothing, and then go support indie bookstores instead 📚

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Gita Ralleigh @gitaralleigh.bsky.social · 2d

The @nytimes.com interviewed more than 700 people in Gaza over the past two years. Their stories are here:

www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

We Tried to Reach Gazans We Interviewed Over Two Years of War. Here’s What Happened to Them. (Gift Article)

We kept wondering: Did they find their missing relatives? Were they even still alive?

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by Gita Ralleigh

Mark Faulkner @markfaulkner24.bsky.social · 4d

Recommended viewing: Storyville: The Librarians, BBC4, Tuesday, 7 October. Explores how librarians across the US are risking their safety to defend free speech as book bans and censorship threaten democracy from within. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

BBC Four - Storyville, The Librarians

Documentary about the US librarians who are risking their safety to defend free speech.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Reposted by Gita Ralleigh

Darren Chetty @darrenchetty.bsky.social · 6d

Delighted to be included. Read the full @booktrust.org.uk list here:

www.booktrust.org.uk/book-recomme...

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Gita Ralleigh @gitaralleigh.bsky.social · 3d

Good to see The Verb back with guests including @imtiazdharker.bsky.social
#ukpoets #poetrysky
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

The Verb - The Verb from Contains Strong Language in Bradford - BBC Sounds

Ian McMillan presents The Verb from Contains Strong Language in Bradford.

www.bbc.co.uk

Gita Ralleigh @gitaralleigh.bsky.social · 4d

This was such a wonderful discussion- a must listen for all involved in #kidlituk #ukkidlit ! #Storyshaped

Professor Karen Sands-O’Connor @ksandsoconnor.bsky.social · 6d

shows.acast.com/storyshaped
Excited to see that the Storyshaped episode with @darrenchetty.bsky.social is available for everyone to hear now!

Storyshaped

A podcast about the power of stories to shape lives and change the world.

shows.acast.com

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Reposted by Gita Ralleigh

The Yale Review @yalereview.bsky.social · 7d

"Is there even such a thing as land? Fragmentation is our anthem."

— Robin Coste Lewis, “’She Held A Dove Whose Tail Survives’: Self-Portrait as the Acropolis"

yalereview.org

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Reposted by Gita Ralleigh

The Guardian @theguardian.com · 4d

‘The president is unhinged’: Trump’s online behavior grows increasingly odd

The US president’s recent behavior is strange to many, from reposting a false AI video of himself to confusing comments during press conferences

www.theguardian.com

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Gita Ralleigh @gitaralleigh.bsky.social · 4d

Tickets are going fast for this amazing day of deep dives into history in a #kidlituk context with star speakers including @balirai.bsky.social @catherinejohnson.bsky.social and THE @michaelrosenyes.bsky.social !!
@ibbyuk.bsky.social #whosehistory

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