Michelle Chen
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michellechn.bsky.social
Michelle Chen
@michellechn.bsky.social
Senior Editor at the Univ Press of Colorado (Utah State UP & U of Alaska Press) acquiring books in composition & rhetoric, folklore, & polar studies. Formerly at OUP (music), Palgrave (politics) & Bloomsbury (33 1/3). Based in Brooklyn. Opinions my own.
Normal person: "Sounds good."
Me, an over-thinker: "Wow no exclamation mark. So you hate me."
December 9, 2025 at 2:37 PM
No big deal or anything but we have two novels on this list **flips hair**
Just in time for the holidays, here are ADN reviewers’ favorite books of 2025
Top selections by Nancy Lord and David James include poetry, works of fiction, adventure stories, a Pulitzer-winning memoir and multiple books that interrogate the changing nature of the North.
www.adn.com
December 8, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Hey. Hey you there. Shop small presses (we have fiction & poetry too!) 🥰
As gift-giving season approaches, don't forget to check out our holiday sale, from now until end of year! Spread the joy of scholarship and use promo code HOLIDAY25

upcolorado.com/our-books
December 8, 2025 at 4:43 PM
**raises hand** and university presses that both foster and disseminate said research 🙏
Ready to start a movement that argues universities should spend money on their core functions, rather than flashy nonsense. Such as teaching and research for example.
December 8, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Movie you’ve watched more than six times with a gif. Hard mode: no Stars (Wars nor Trek), LOTR, or Marvel, Disney Animated or Pixar.
December 8, 2025 at 12:56 AM
"Well, I'm off to buy a tree from the communist tree co-op down the street!" might be the most Brooklyn thing I've ever said.
December 6, 2025 at 4:57 PM
A real life photo of all my late peer reviewers coming out of the woodwork before the holidays
December 5, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Everything about this article is spot on. University Presses are not a "bespoke ornament" but an integral part of the academic ecosystem. The claim that UPs "don't serve undergraduates" creates a (frankly head-scratching) false barrier between research & teaching--one informs the other & vice versa.
Why Close Bucknell University Press? (opinion)
Erosions of shared governance, narrow definitions of “student-centeredness” and a broader abandonment of a liberal arts ethos all lie behind the closure announcement.
www.insidehighered.com
December 4, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Pretty proud to be part of this tbh. I've always wanted to work at a small university press and this year I got to join the amazing staff at UPC!

It's kind of amazing what just 9 people can do together, if I say so myself. #smallpress #readUP
Better than Spotify. Presenting #wrapped — university press style.

All of you readers are what keep us going, so give yourselves a little pat on the back for us 🥰

#ReadUP #TeamUP
December 4, 2025 at 1:50 PM
My top listened to song in 2025 was "Hands Down" by Dashboard Confessional because apparently I'm in high school
December 4, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Reposted by Michelle Chen
We have some developmental edits
December 3, 2025 at 4:28 PM
PSA sometimes your dissertation is not a book but a series of journal articles my friend and there is nothing wrong with that
December 3, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Surprise surprise: my top two words were "book" and "books." What are y'all's?
This seems accurate.

My most-used words in 2025 were:

1. "lotr" (55×)
2. "book" (47×)
3. "lotreread" (41×)
4. "students" (39×)
5. "amreading" (34×)

See which words you used the most here: anisota.net/harvest
Anisota's Annual Bluesky Harvest 2025
A recap of your year on Bluesky. Discover patterns, connections, and insights from your journey in the ATmosphere.
anisota.net
December 3, 2025 at 1:18 AM
Reposted by Michelle Chen
We like bats and we cannot lie. #BlueskyWrapped

anisota.net/harvest
December 3, 2025 at 1:12 AM
"I love this weather," I insist, rubbing my red, sandpaper skin
December 2, 2025 at 11:23 PM
OK OK I know we all hate the corporatization of philanthropy etc. etc. but I can't help but to remind everyone this #givingtuesday that you can donate $$ to your favorite University Presses just as you can with any other nonprofit. So consider showing your local UP some love?
December 2, 2025 at 11:09 PM
Um my post holiday inbox is terrifying can I just hang out with ya'll here instead 😂 😭
December 1, 2025 at 12:44 PM
Some interesting stats from the @publisherswkly.bsky.social annual salary report (note that sizable gender wage gap)

www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/...
December 1, 2025 at 12:41 PM
Lapsed pianist here to remind you that the holidays are a great time to sit down at your instrument and remind yourself just how much you've forgotten due to the not practicing thing and then fall into a shame spiral
November 29, 2025 at 10:51 PM
Did I just put on a multi-episode Chinese drama for my mother to watch so that I could edit in peace? Why yes, yes I did. #adulting #reverseparenthood
November 25, 2025 at 3:47 PM
There should be a German word for the incredible weirdness that is doing your adult job from your childhood bedroom over the holidays
November 24, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Sometimes you get a real gem from the catsitter 😉
November 23, 2025 at 5:06 PM
There are *some* good things about Texas
November 22, 2025 at 5:47 PM
The way someone agreeing to take on a peer review will be the absolute highlight of my day (why yes I am mentally well why do you ask?)
Acquisitions editors might tell you that the most best part of the job is getting a really awesome proposal, but don't believe them for a second. The best part is getting people to agree to serve as peer reviewers. Saints, angels, heroes all.
November 21, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Friends with kids! Highly recommend this book about the passage of America's first anti-discrimination law. Friends with younger kids: don't feel left out because a picture book of Elizabeth Peratrovich is also ~in the works~

1st person to DM me gets a free copy bc happy #NativeHeritageMonth
How much do your kids know about the fight for Native rights in the US? Written for grades 6-12, FIGHTER IN VELVET GLOVES is a must-read biography of civil rights hero Elizabeth Peratrovich. A great gift book this #NativeHeritageMonth for the budding activist in your life 👀

tinyurl.com/4hztcutk
November 19, 2025 at 3:41 PM