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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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Alom Shaha @alomshaha.bsky.social · 13h

#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 · 4h

It’s wonderful-lucky kids!!

Gita Ralleigh @gitaralleigh.bsky.social · 12h

A true classic!! 🖤

Betsy Bird @fuse8.bsky.social · 2d

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 · 12h

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

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#DVpit - Diverse Voices Pitch @dvpit.bsky.social · 1d

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 · 14h

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 · 14h

Full paen to Soho Road here:

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

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Gita Ralleigh @gitaralleigh.bsky.social · 14h

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 · 15h

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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D Franklin @dlibris.bsky.social · 16h

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 · 1d

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 · 1d

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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Mark Faulkner @markfaulkner24.bsky.social · 3d

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 · 5d

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 · 2d

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 · 2d

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

Professor Karen Sands-O’Connor @ksandsoconnor.bsky.social · 5d

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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The Yale Review @yalereview.bsky.social · 6d

"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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The Guardian @theguardian.com · 3d

‘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 · 3d

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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Gita Ralleigh @gitaralleigh.bsky.social · 6d

Enjoying sharing this wonderful D& D poem and writing play-themed poems with schools today!!
#NationalPoetryDay #poetsinschools
@poetrysociety.org.uk
poems.poetrysociety.org.uk/poems/the-gr...

https://poems.poetrysociety.org.uk/poems/the-great-thing-about-dungeons-and-dragons-i-tell-my-friend-is-you-can-be-anything-you-imagine/

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The Poetry Society @handle.invalid · 9d

🌳 Calling all young poets: new writing challenge alert!

We’re teaming up with @nationaltrust to ask you to write poems about entanglement of people and landscape, throughout history and beyond…

Find prompts and enter: bit.ly/YPN-NatTrust

Colorful collage-style promotional poster with layered torn paper, photos of fields, stone bridges, and countryside. Text reads:
"Prizes include publication, poetry books & performance opportunities.
Entry is free – you can submit as many poems as you like!
Free online workshop on Saturday 8 November to help you get inspired.
Find prompts & enter at bit.ly/YPN-NatTrust."

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Shivanee Ramlochan @novelniche.bsky.social · 5d

Happy Eighth Birthday, Everyone Knows I Am a Haunting!

I love you. You saved me. You kept me dangerous. You remind me to be wild.

#EveryoneKnowsIAmaHaunting

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Gita Ralleigh @gitaralleigh.bsky.social · 5d

“In a fully platform-based world, everything shrinks to the status of behaviours and patterns; meaning, intention and explanation become irrelevant.”

www.theguardian.com/news/2025/oc...

A critique of pure stupidity: understanding Trump 2.0

If the first term of Donald Trump provoked anxiety over the fate of objective knowledge, the second has led to claims we live in a world-historical age of stupid, accelerated by big tech. But might th...

www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Gita Ralleigh

Lawrence Schimel @lawrenceschimel.bsky.social · 6d

FYI for #kidlituk!
Dream job open at @booktrust.org.uk for Book Selection and Purchasing Coordinator:

tbooktrust.ciphr-irecruit.com/Applicants/v...

Book Selection and Purchasing Coordinator

BookTrust is the UK’s largest children’s reading charity. We know that children who read are happier, healthier, more empathetic, and more creative. They also do better at school.

tbooktrust.ciphr-irecruit.com

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Out-Spoken Press @outspokenpress.bsky.social · 5d

Are you a writer of Arab heritage with a poetry MS?

Check out this opportunity open to writers in English located anywhere - win $2000, US & UK publication

Deadline: 15 Oct
Send your MS, share widely >> noemipress.submittable.com

Are you a writer of Arab heritage with a poetry manuscript?
DEADLINE EXTENDED - ENTER BY 15 OCTOBER
$2000 PRIZE
plus
US PUBLICATION
with Noemi Press
and
UK PUBLICATION with Out-Spoken Press
NOEMI
{
GUEST JUDGE:
Farid Matuk
SERIES EDITORS:
Fady Joudah, Hayan Charara
OUT SPOKEN PRESS
Etel Adnan Poetry Prize
For a first or second book by a writer of Arab heritage
NOEMIPRESS.SUBMITTABLE.COM

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