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heatherraybooks.bsky.social
Heather Ray
@heatherraybooks.bsky.social
460 followers 930 following 210 posts
KidLit Writer. Expert at finding wonder. My child says I'm too curious. Sports fan.
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Reposted by Heather Ray
bookjockeyalex.bsky.social
Reminder from your resident high school lubrarian: if you plan to do a Banned Books Week display and programming, prioritize living marginalized authors. Use this time to help those who need it the most.
October 6, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Reposted by Heather Ray
sailorrooscout.bsky.social
GUYS. The comment period for this ends in THREE DAYS. PLEASE if you have even a little bit of time, submit a comment here: www.regulations.gov/commenton/FD...

Let them know EVERYONE should be able to get COVID vaccines. They BACK DOWN when WE PUSH BACK. www.statnews.com/2025/05/20/f...
FDA will limit Covid vaccines to people over 65 or at high risk of serious illness, leaders say
The FDA announced it will limit access to Covid-19 vaccines going forward to people 65 and older and others at high risk of serious illness
www.statnews.com
May 20, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Reposted by Heather Ray
studiojjk.bsky.social
An honest conversation because I know so many want to know but are too polite to ask.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkpY...
Truth About Earning Money from Books 📕 JJK's Vlog
YouTube video by Driven Dreamer 💭 Jarrett J. Krosoczka
www.youtube.com
April 15, 2025 at 4:13 PM
heatherraybooks.bsky.social
Over-heard reaction while grocery shopping:
Toddler, pointing to chips: "Easter bunny?"
Mom: "Chips" with a big smile on her face.

This is why kids are the best!
April 14, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Reposted by Heather Ray
bachynski.bsky.social
Here is the top comment on this article: “You are advising responsible honest people who have worked hard, saved all their lives… to scale down their retirement dreams because a one person has decided to destroy the US economy. Why not write an article about how to get rid of the real problem?”
How to Protect Your Retirement Savings Now as Markets Plunge
If you’re within five years of retiring, either before or after, you’re at your most vulnerable financially. Here are steps to weather the volatility.
www.nytimes.com
April 4, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Reposted by Heather Ray
jesskeatingbooks.bsky.social
Amidst the memes, it would be great if people took a beat to learn about a very unique and important place and its inhabitants… 🐧

#themoreyouknow🌈
April 3, 2025 at 3:45 PM
heatherraybooks.bsky.social
I didn't start writing seriously until 2014. For those of you around before then, how was publishing impacted during and after the 2008 crash? I have my assumptions, but you know what they say about assuming.
April 3, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Reposted by Heather Ray
pbspree.bsky.social
Plight of the Pelican publishes today! 🥳✨

Written by @jstremer.bsky.social illustrated by @gordywright.bsky.social and published by Holiday House books.

HAPPY BOOK BIRTHDAY!
April 1, 2025 at 2:09 PM
heatherraybooks.bsky.social
The content of Sen. Cory Booker’s speech is impressive. Also, as a middle aged mom, I’m in awe that he hasn’t used the bathroom since yesterday. Get this man a red Gatorade and some PopCorners when he’s done!!
April 1, 2025 at 2:41 PM
heatherraybooks.bsky.social
Hi Publishing. Just want to draw your attention to this report on the economic power of women's sports. www.espn.com/wnba/story/_...
More record growth for women's sports revenue
Women's sports are projected to earn $2.35 billion globally in 2025, a 25% increase from 2024, according to a new report by consulting giant Deloitte.
www.espn.com
March 31, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Reposted by Heather Ray
authorsguild.org
Is your book on the LibGen list? Let us know.
theatlantic.com The Atlantic @theatlantic.com · Mar 20
Meta considered licensing books to train AI—but opted instead to pirate LibGen, a database that currently contains more than 7.5 million books and 81 million research papers, Alex Reisner writes.
The Unbelievable Scale of AI’s Pirated-Books Problem
Meta pirated millions of books to train its AI. Search through them here.
www.theatlantic.com
March 20, 2025 at 5:15 PM
heatherraybooks.bsky.social
If you know an agent who loves sports and reps picture books, let me know. I have a sporty baby girl PB. Women's sports is experiencing astronomic growth in both audience numbers and $$. Sarah gives the details in the thread below.
sarahspain.com Sarah Spain ✨ @sarahspain.com · Mar 11
A couple personal experiences & anecdotes from friends lately have reminded me just how necessary it is to continue to share the data behind the meteoric growth in women's sports. It's a no-brainer for anyone in the space: getting involved in women's sports is a massive economic opportunity…
March 12, 2025 at 2:15 PM
heatherraybooks.bsky.social
I read INSIDE THE PARK by @andreawillwrite.bsky.social tonight in one sitting! Oh my goodness-what a riveting middle grade. If you have a sports fan in the home, place this one in their hands.
February 6, 2025 at 1:01 AM
heatherraybooks.bsky.social
PB Party 2025 entry ✅

Good luck to all the entrants! 🍀
February 3, 2025 at 4:47 PM
heatherraybooks.bsky.social
The news is making me ragey and I'm having a really hard time writing.
January 30, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Reposted by Heather Ray
indyfromspace.bsky.social
PSA
mikeachim.bsky.social Mike Sowden @mikeachim.bsky.social · Jan 27
In 2014 Dutch scientists left a hamster wheel outside, to see if wild animals would use it like their domesticated counterparts.

The answer: hell yes! 734 visits from wild mice - plus rats, shrews, slugs ("running" being subjective here) & even frogs and snails.

The apparent reason: fun. Just fun.
Chart showing instances of wild animals using a hamster wheel left out in the wild, with visits dominated by wild mice, followed by slugs, rats, shrews and a few frogs and snails.
January 27, 2025 at 9:31 PM
heatherraybooks.bsky.social
YES!!!!!!
January 27, 2025 at 4:21 PM
heatherraybooks.bsky.social
YAY!!!!!
pwkidsbookshelf.bsky.social Children's Bookshelf @pwkidsbookshelf.bsky.social · Jan 27
The Theodor Seuss Geisel Award for most distinguished beginning reader books goes to VACATION by Ame Dyckman, illus. by Mark Teague #ALAyma
January 27, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Reposted by Heather Ray
manuscriptwishlist.bsky.social
Hello Writing Community! We are delighted to announce our First Official Bluesky *** #MSWL Day *** February 12, 2025. 🎉🎉🎉

Agents + editors can post what they ✨wish✨ they had in their inboxes; writers can find their next best fit for querying.

Learn more here: manuscriptwishlist.com/the-next-off...
The Next Official #MSWL Day: February 12, 2025 – The Official Manuscript Wish List Website
manuscriptwishlist.com
January 16, 2025 at 6:52 PM
Reposted by Heather Ray
juliejenkinsnp.bsky.social
This response from @sbearbergman.bsky.social to @hildur.bsky.social’s post has changed my week— it is so wholesome, and human, and so the energy we all need right now. And Kerstin Langenberger, the naturalist who posted “I am on my way with the necessary equipment”? This woman is the hero we need.
My feed today on BlueSky included a post from Icelandic writer Hildur Knútsdóttir, who saw the original exchange on a Reykjavik Facebook page - someone posted to say that it appeared a cygnet was frozen to the ice and dying. As people worried online about how or whether it would be possible to help, naturalist Kerstin Langerberger replied to the post, saying: “I am on my way with the necessary equipment.” Langenberger brought a friend, some thermoses of warm water, and a surfboard in case the ice failed - the necessary equipment - and thawed then freed the baby swan, which promptly flew off. There are a number of things I appreciate about this story, but it’s Langenberger’s statement that resonates for me. That is what I aspire to, to see injury or difficulty or something gone to trouble and decide: I am on my way with the necessary equipment. But also, to hold on to the understanding that sometimes the necessary equipment is the resolve to try and a friend who will help, and that sometimes I *am* the necessary equipment - the friend who shows up to make myself useful under the direction of an expert. There are a lot of moments these days that I find it very, very hard to do the next thing, or indeed to do anything. The world is so, so difficult. I often feel useless or overwhelmed or exhausted or just really fucking sad. But I am going to try starting the days by saying, with all the starch that I imagine a naturalist willing to chance the ice in darkness to save a baby bird might possess: I am on my way with the necessary equipment.
December 10, 2024 at 2:19 PM
heatherraybooks.bsky.social
Alicia Lozano's article sparked quite the conversation during breakfast this morning about the long, old, tired trope of kids, violence, and multi-media. 🙄
December 10, 2024 at 5:27 PM
heatherraybooks.bsky.social
This is also my 11yo with Wings of Fire. 🙃
wildrumpusbooktore.bsky.social Wild Rumpus Books @wildrumpusbooktore.bsky.social · Dec 3
me explaining all of the Warrior Cats arcs
Charlie from It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia looking manic while standing in front of a wall covered in papers and writing
December 3, 2024 at 10:19 PM
heatherraybooks.bsky.social
Dang. Alyssa Naeher should not have this many touches, #USWNT! C'mon, get it to the other side of the field.
December 3, 2024 at 8:03 PM
Reposted by Heather Ray
grubreport.bsky.social
OMG this Book + Present pairing is SO amazing! @cpark.bsky.social @carolhinz.bsky.social @dcarnito.bsky.social @lernerbooks.bsky.social

www.aimeesatterlee.com/post/2024-bo...
The picture book TOUCH THE SKIES which features a boy swinging with sheer joy on a swing amidst amazing colors by the illustrator is paired with an LED light up swing
December 3, 2024 at 12:13 AM
Reposted by Heather Ray
jeffsharlet.bsky.social
Some say, "Harris tried naming fascism, didn't work." Disagree. Biden had put it on table, she pivoted to "weird." Then, too little, too late. We need to say, "Fascism is soldiers in yr streets. It's concentration camps. It's massive corruption, paranoia, snitch lines, public punishment."
jeffsharlet.bsky.social Jeff Sharlet @jeffsharlet.bsky.social · Nov 22
Of course I’m glad Gaetz went down, & my fingers are crossed that Hegseth will follow—nobody as Christian nationalist as him has ever been this close to power. But I’m troubled that the only way to stop them is via their alleged sex crimes. Fascism is apparently not a problem.
November 23, 2024 at 9:11 PM