Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Arley Sorg

Kelly Van Sant @agentkellyvansant.bsky.social · 8h

I'm popping in to #DVPit and I'm so excited! If I like your pitch, I would love it if you could submit your materials here: querytracker.net/query/kellyv...

And there is no possible way for me to see everything, so if you think we'd be a good fit please do query me when I reopen generally on Nov 1

Query

querytracker.net

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Arley Sorg @arleysorg.bsky.social · 1d

I am sometimes hired or invited to speak - from academic settings to genre events to workshops and more -

Afterwards, there are always one or two things... ALWAYS!!! ...which cause me to shake my head at myself, and spend ~48 hours thinking about how badly I messed up & what I *should* have said!😭

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Reposted by Arley Sorg

DongWon Song @dongwon.bsky.social · 6d

Hello! I'm open to unsolicited submissions for the first time in ages...

Looking for: Adult Epic Fantasy and Horror only

Guidelines are here: www.dongwonsong.com/submission-g...

Submission Guidelines — DongWon Song

www.dongwonsong.com

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Arley Sorg @arleysorg.bsky.social · 2d

adding - don't assume that because your book came out with a major publisher, that they actually filed the copyright... take a moment to make sure.

Arley Sorg @arleysorg.bsky.social · 2d

authors - this is a good time to check and see if your books were registered for copyright.

publicrecords.copyright.gov

keep in mind that the responsibility varies by contract, sometimes the expectation is passed to the author.

if you pub in different names, it could be under a different name....

publicrecords.copyright.gov

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Arley Sorg @arleysorg.bsky.social · 2d

authors - this is a good time to check and see if your books were registered for copyright.

publicrecords.copyright.gov

keep in mind that the responsibility varies by contract, sometimes the expectation is passed to the author.

if you pub in different names, it could be under a different name....

publicrecords.copyright.gov

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Arley Sorg @arleysorg.bsky.social · 2d

Recent reviews include:

Where Are You Really From by Elaine Hsieh Chou from @penguinpress.bsky.social

Not Your Papi’s Utopia: Latinx Visions of Radical Hope by Matthew David Goodwin, Alex Hernandez, Sara Rivera, eds. from @mouthfeelpress.bsky.social

-& more!

www.lightspeedmagazine.com/reviews/

Reviews - Lightspeed Magazine

If you would like information about how to submit books for review, you may send review copies to editor John Joseph Adams at the mailing address your publicist should already have on file (either for...

www.lightspeedmagazine.com

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Arley Sorg @arleysorg.bsky.social · 2d

My latest @lightspeedmagazine.com review:

Signos: A Fiction Anthology of Filipino Supernatural by Tilde Acuña, John Bengan, Daryll Delgado, Amado Anthony G. Mendoza III, and Kristine Ong Muslim, eds.

pubbed by @radixcoop.bsky.social

TL;DR: Great book!

www.lightspeedmagazine.com/issues/oct-2...

Oct. 2025 (Issue 185) - Lightspeed Magazine

We have original science fiction by Osahon Ize-Iyamu (“O Mechfighter, O Starsinger”) and Megan Chee (“Everyone Hates the Auditor”). We also have two terrific flash pieces: “The Porniest Porn in Pornto...

www.lightspeedmagazine.com

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Arley Sorg @arleysorg.bsky.social · 6d

The October Locus includes my interview with Ken Liu! We chat about @sagapressbooks.bsky.social title All That We See or Seem & more!

My recent Locus interviews include Cadwell Turnbull & Yumei Kitasei, H.E. Edgmon, Akwaeke Emezi, and others!

locusmag.com/2025/10/issu...

Issue 777 Table of Contents, October 2025

The October 2025 issue of Locus magazine has interviews with Ken Liu and Daniel H. Wilson, and a spotlight on artist Cristina Bencina. Seattle Worldcon 2025 is covered with an extensive report and …

locusmag.com

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Arley Sorg @arleysorg.bsky.social · 7d

The latest Clareksworld includes my interview with Ken Liu & Rich Larson!!!

clarkesworldmagazine.com

ICYMI - I interviewed Rivers Solomon & Saga Press editor Amara Hoshijo over at Fantasy Magazine! PLUS World Fantasy Finalists! Shingai interviewed Eloghosa Osunde!

psychopomp.com/fantasy/issu...

Issue 229

Clarkesworld Science Fiction and Fantasy Magazine and Podcast.

clarkesworldmagazine.com

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Arley Sorg @arleysorg.bsky.social · 8d

❤️‍🔥

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Arley Sorg @arleysorg.bsky.social · 8d

just continue to read diversely and to support a range of voices : )

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Arley Sorg @arleysorg.bsky.social · 8d

agreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

thank you for the reminder - I should actually be more committed to absence when I need it tbh

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Arley Sorg @arleysorg.bsky.social · 8d

I need time away from socials after some posts.

dehumanization leads to cruelty; it is a tactic of oppression.

for many, it's easier to assume they are "right" than to understand another's perspective or experience; to engage in intellectualism & avoid empathy.

try to be kind to each other y'all.

Arley Sorg @arleysorg.bsky.social · 21d

I posted some thoughts on Facebook which come out of very recent conversations, as well as my publishing industry observations, plus experiences at industry social events.

These posts are never easy to write, and even harder to actually put up, but... 🤷🏽

www.facebook.com/profile.php?...

facebook post beginning: some people would describe me as "white passing" but I have many stories about experiencing racism of different kinds, from very basic "othering" to being singled out in ways that white friends were not. in fact, my first few years at conventions, I experienced a lot of race based/skin color based "othering" - since those spaces were very predominantly white. it happens less often these days, but I still have a lot of gut reactions or preset expectations when entering a range of situations because of things that happened in my personal past.
my mother and sisters were all darker than me - I sometimes saw them experience worse, even more direct racism; or experience subtle racism in situations where the racism wasn't sent in my direction.
I'm not bringing this up out of any desire for sympathy - pls, I don't need anyone to say, "I'm sorry you went through that" or similar.
if you are not in some group (gay, Black, Latine, etc) it is very easy and even likely that you can live a long life without personally seeing these things, or being aware that they happen.
racism (and other ~isms & ~phobias) has been and still is a part of US culture; moreover, I have seen, personally witnessed, and been told about racist things that people have said or done in the publishing industry. all of this is to say: the playing field isn't level and fair. even if you personally do not see it or understand it, racism is a thing which happens in publishing, as well as throughout the US in general, in impactful and deliberate ways, as well as in small "unconscious" ways.
folks who "don't see color" enable systems, as well as bad actors in various positions of power, to continue to disadvantage Black authors, Indigenous authors, and many others. occasionally someone tries to point out these disparities (such as the BlackSpecFic Report) but it falls on each of us to make daily decisions about what we read...

continuation of Facebook post, beginning: even if you do not personally see racism in action, even if it hasn't touched your life in some meaningful or obvious way, it doesn't mean it isn't there; the people who are the targets of racism feel it - and it *really* doesn't feel good.
the consequences of racism (and similar) are often obvious to the people it affects, and having to explain these things to folks who are otherwise "friends" is always stressful and exhausting.
if you don't like BIPOC submissions or deliberately inviting people of color into positions or other similar initiatives - okay, cool; what are you doing instead to level the playing field, given that racism has a significant impact on everything from education opportunities, to job opportunities, to book publishing, and more?
the information is out there - you don't need me or the BlackSpecFic Report or anyone else to point out disparity: look through some Tables of Contents and pay attention; look at who gets what awards - look at different awards; look at who is invited to what programs, or who is even welcomed into which social circles. look at who gets supported by publishers, who gets signal boosted by folks with platforms. who gets solicited, put on panels or even what kinds of panels (who gets to talk about craft vs who is only put on panels about diversity), who gets to be a guest of honor, or gets to teach at a program.
again - I don't need anyone's sympathies or apologies or anything else - I need everyone to think hard on disparity, on the fact that disparity can exist whether or not you personally see or understand it, and on the ways that you can help change it, many of those ways as simple as looking for books by Black authors or signal boosting an awesome story by a Latine author or even just looking for a short fic piece by a trans author and giving it a read.
if you are an organizer of an event?...

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Arley Sorg @arleysorg.bsky.social · 13d

VERY excited to have Jabari aka @goblinprincete.bsky.social on the Fantasy team! This is the first cover they've curated for Fantasy Magazine @fantasymagazine.bsky.social and it's stunning! Check out their art: goblinprincete.com

The cover for Fantasy Issue 98! A brown-haired, light-skinned figure kneels next to a giant golden bird, tending to an arrow wound. The cover is awash in autumnal shades of orange, cream, and brown.

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Reposted by Arley Sorg

Fantasy Magazine @fantasymagazine.bsky.social · 15d

it's here!!✨

ISSUE 98

out NOW in full for subscribers

and check out the free roll-out here (and hit that subscribe button if you'd like to read the full issue now): psychopomp.com/fantasy/issu...

Fantasy Magazine - issue 98 | Psychopomp

Fantasy Magazine Issue 98 features work by: Eleanor Ball, Christian Emecheta, Sunwoo Jeong, Mateo Perez Lara, Tracie McBride, Eleanna Castroianni

psychopomp.com

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Arley Sorg @arleysorg.bsky.social · 15d

VERY happy to announce that I now represent Lesley Wheeler aka @lesleymwheeler.bsky.social - a poet who writes speculative fiction with a wonderful literary flair and distinctive voice! I *can't wait* for the world to get to read her fiction!

arleysorg.com/the-team-

lesleywheeler.org

LESLEY WHEELER

lesleywheeler.org

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Arley Sorg @arleysorg.bsky.social · 21d

I posted some thoughts on Facebook which come out of very recent conversations, as well as my publishing industry observations, plus experiences at industry social events.

These posts are never easy to write, and even harder to actually put up, but... 🤷🏽

www.facebook.com/profile.php?...

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Arley Sorg @arleysorg.bsky.social · 22d

Most of you will have no idea what I'm talking about BUT:

Sparks Camp Season 3 is such a LOVELY vibe!

I appreciate the way Miss Mela Habijan engages with things that come up! She gives the show so much, creating a potential far greater than many shows.

www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...

Sparks Camp Season 3 | Full Episodes | ABS-CBN YouTube Originals - YouTube

Sparks Camp returns for its most romantic season yet—set in a brand-new mountainside camp where every view is breathtaking and every connection could be life...

www.youtube.com

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Beneath Ceaseless Skies Magazine @bcsmagazine.bsky.social · 22d

Strange Horizons is IMO the grandparent of indie online SFF zines. Started IIRC by young writers w no pro publishing experience, online, free to read, paying good rates. Later a 501c3 nonprofit. I would not have known I could start BCS w/o their example. And still fresh & current. Happy Birthday SH!

Strange Horizons @strangehorizons.bsky.social · 22d

Strange Horizons published our first issue 25 years ago this month! 🎉

Thank you to everyone who has ever read, shared, submitted, donated! We wouldn't be here without you and we hope you'll continue to support us into the future!

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Arley Sorg @arleysorg.bsky.social · 22d

founded by Mary Anne Mohanraj, who was writing SFF as well as erotica at the time (iirc)

isfdb.org/cgi-bin/ea.c...

maryannemohanraj.com/about/biogra...

Summary Bibliography: Mary Anne Mohanraj

isfdb.org

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Lambda Literary @lambdaliterary.org · 22d

Open for submissions for the 2026 Lammy Awards, through November 21st! 📚 #LammyAwards #Lammys2026

Pink background with multiple book images. The text states: Submit your work for the 2026 Lammy Awards (pls). We're in our 38th year of celebrating outstanding achievements in LGBTQ+ literature. Join us today! Submissions open 9.15.2025-11.21.2025.

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Arley Sorg @arleysorg.bsky.social · 23d

look y'all

130 in the House & 27 in Senate voted to keep Segregation in place

depending on your age/family location, they may have repped your grandparents, or parents.

so: not really that long ago

we can't underestimate the evil that is anti-Black racism is in the US - nor its long term effects