Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Jo Miles @jomiles.bsky.social · 12d

I'm so excited for this new market! Back it and support queer stories, authors, and artists!!! Cool rewards, too (including a story critique by me)

OTHERSIDE - Kickstarter is LIVE! @othersidespec.bsky.social · 13d

WE'RE LIVE! AND WE ARE SO EXCITED! Back now to support a new magazine of speculative fiction by 2SLGBTQIA+ authors and artists! Snag some amazing rewards, including discounted subscriptions! Support queer art! And help us SMASH DAY ONE!

www.kickstarter.com/projects/hyb...

OTHERSIDE Kickstarter art. Text says OTHERSIDE Kickstarter LIVE NOW! over our purple and banner art with the Wanderer, a small figure on floating rocks, on the right.

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Alex Shvartsman @alexshvartsman.bsky.social · 15d

For every pledge UFO10 receives today, our Chief Canine Officer Leia will get a treat. Who's in?

www.kickstarter.com/projects/ufo...

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Jo Miles @jomiles.bsky.social · 15d

I love that too, especially for its warmth. More about parenting than teaching, compared to Incandescent (so far), and that sort of school is delightful but would not scale up well!

Have you read the sequel? It's even queerer and angrier.

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Jo Miles @jomiles.bsky.social · 15d

I'm reading it right now, and loving it! Such a good idea to flip this genre around and show it from the teacher's perspective.

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Jo Miles @jomiles.bsky.social · 16d

This is such a lovely book. Do yourself a favor and go get it!

Beth Cato @bethcato.bsky.social · 16d

September is almost over! Last chance to get my new book, A House Between Sea and Sky, as an Amazon First Reads pick. Prime members can grab it for free; other people pay only $1.99! Full book release is Oct 1st in print, ebook, & audiobook.

amzn.to/4lb2R73
[promo link]

A book cover for A House Between Sea and Sky is central on a dark blue background. Arrows point from text blocks to the book, describing that it features the most anxious & lovable murder house you'll ever meet, that it's cozy fantasy with a literary feel, it is set in 1926 Carmel-by-the-Sea in California, and that it's a found family tale about a grieving woman, a secret-riven Hollywood star, & an abandoned witch's hut. Also, the novel includes book club discussion questions.

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Chris 🎃 DevPods.gg gamedev community @chrisdeleon.bsky.social · Aug 4

in a way aren't we all looking for more sink cheese where we found it yesterday

orange cat standing in sink. text on reddit title says: yesterday he found cheese in the sink so now he’s looking for more sink cheese tag: ✨Floofy Orange ✨ (i.redd.it)
submitted 7 hours ago by Melegie_ to r/OneOrangeBraincell subreddit
108 comments.

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Jo Miles @jomiles.bsky.social · 19d

And it's delightful!

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Jo Miles @jomiles.bsky.social · 19d

Hooray, it's Fat Bear Week! The most wonderful week of the year, aka the distraction we all need right now:

explore.org/fat-bear-week

Fat Bear Week 2025

explore.org

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Bilbo Yaga @bilboyaga.bsky.social · 21d

As we boycott vile companies, a reminder that many US public libraries offer:

1) Ebooks & audiobooks via the Libby app. Pro tip: use the “notify me” tag to request your library add books by trans, disabled, & BIPOC authors!

2) TV & film streaming via Kanopy

3) Language learning via Mango

💙📚 And:

Bilbo Yaga @bilboyaga.bsky.social · Jan 12

Want to read ethically by ditching Audible/Amazon, Spotify, &c? 💙📚

1. Your local library needs support & has free physical & audiobooks

2. Queer Liberation Library: free digital library for US LBGTQ folks

3. Libro.fm: Audible but pays indie bookshops

4. Bookshop.org: physical books from indies

Queer Liberation Library

Queer Liberation Library (QLL) is fighting to build a vibrant, flourishing queer future by connecting LGBTQ+ people with literature, information, and resources that celebrate the unique and empowering...

www.queerliberationlibrary.org

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Briar in Blue @auroraworeblue.bsky.social · 21d

You guys, so many Romance girlies are reading "On Tyranny" that they've broken the Goodreads recommendations algorithm. 10/10; no notes.
#romancelandia

A grainy screenshot of the sidebar of the desktop version of Goodreads. It says:

RECOMMENDATIONS:
Because you enjoyed A Wedding to Protect Her Fortune:
On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century by Timothy Snyder
A historian of fascism offers a guide for surviving and resisting America's turn towards authoritarianism. On November 9th, millions of Americans woke up to the impossible...

View all books similar to A Wedding to Protect Her Fortune

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🦇Miss Hell Batkeeper🦇 @mishellbaker.bsky.social · 21d

"But there's nothing I can do!"

1) There is always something you can do to make things better for yourself or someone else. You do not have to Solve National Government today.

2) Having bad feelings, even anger, isn't "doing something." Anger feels like righteous action but isn't.

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Jo Miles @jomiles.bsky.social · 22d

48 hours left and this Kickstarter still has $1800 to go! If you've got a few bucks to chip in, help bring this delightfully funny Jewish noir to the world!

Fighting demons with super soakers full of Manichewitz wine. What more do you need to know?

Andrew Hiller @andrewintheclouds.bsky.social · 22d

Two days left for the crowdfunder. Thanks to all the authors supported this book.
@megelison.bsky.social
@ph-low.com
@jolantru.bsky.social
@jomiles.bsky.social
@jenniferhudak.bsky.social
@effies.bsky.social

You're the best!
Click link to view or support!
www.kickstarter.com/projects/att...

Praise for Hornytown Chutzpah poster

Meg Ellison: Wonderfully fun! Hornytown Chutzpah swaps out Virgil for a mouthy private dick. A visceral underworldly tale, and an unforgettable voice.

Joyce Chng: A detective goes to Hell. Literally. What a wild romp! I really enjoyed Hiller's novella, right down to the very potent chicken soup. For people who love noir, detective stories, and the occasional Pit stop, this is for you.

P.H. Low: With verve, razor-sharp wit, and plenty of heart, Hornytown Chutzpah peels back the layers of hell (well, its DC-adjacent outpost) to expose the messy foibles of humanity. Timely, compulsively readable, and just plain fun.

Effie Seiberg: This book is super fun. Take one part noir, one part Red Hots candy, and one part Bubbe's chicken soup, you get the the delightfully meshugana romp that is Hornytown Chutzpah.

Jennifer Hudak: This glossary is fantastic. I love it!

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Jo Miles @jomiles.bsky.social · 23d

Brilliant.

Stand Up for Science! @standupforscience.bsky.social · 25d

You asked for it! We delivered Quack-O-Grams to our members of Congress urging them to #ImpeachRFK, and get that Quack out of office!

There's still time for you to get in on this fluffy, feathery action: Send your own duck at zurl.co/W1ZnB and keep the momentum going! 🦆

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Merc Fenn Wolfmoor @mercwolfmoor.bsky.social · 24d

Triscuit presents: mixed toe beans!

Triscuit is a brown and gray tabby cat with white feet, sprawled on the coffee table, presenting and outstretched footie that has mostly black and one pink toe beans

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Barack Obama @barackobama.bsky.social · 24d

After years of complaining about cancel culture, the current administration has taken it to a new and dangerous level by routinely threatening regulatory action against media companies unless they muzzle or fire reporters and commentators it doesn’t like.

Let’s be clear about what happened to Jimmy Kimmel

Trump’s most brazen attack on free speech yet.

www.yahoo.com

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Jo Miles @jomiles.bsky.social · 24d

Website and email list!!!!!

Give that reader who loved your work a place to find more.

Angela Liu @angelaliu.bsky.social · 24d

In case anyone else feels like they're screaming into a void about their work these days, please remember there are countless readers who aren't on social media who have probably read + loved your work without ever saying a word.

(Another reason why having a website is so important.)

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Elana Levin @levin.bsky.social · 24d

As #Andor said — (meme via @getfree-mvmt.bsky.social )

“Remember that. And know this, the day will come when all these skirmishes and battles, these moments of defiance will have flooded the banks of the Empires's authority and then there will be one too many.
One single thing will break the siege.” Words from Andor on a star filled field above an still from the tv show of the two Galactic Senate tech staffers who kept Mon Monthma from being assassinated because they claimed they didn’t know how to unlock the door . Great example of everyday people being heroes.

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Jo Miles @jomiles.bsky.social · 24d

I really mean it when I say come say hi. I love meeting folks, readers and writers both. Socially awkward introverts unite!

And if you're a fan of the Gifted of Brennex books, tell me you want to join the Cooperative, and I'll give you an official membership card. 😉

Jo Miles @jomiles.bsky.social · 24d

I'll be at Capclave this weekend! Come say hi if you see me!

My schedule:

A Wizard’s Place (Sat 1pm)
Mass Autographing (Sat 7pm) - selling and signing books!
Alternative Roads to Hero’s Journey (Sun 12pm)
Is SF Political? (Sun 2pm)

capclave.org/capclave25/

Capclave 2025 - Capclave 2025

September 19-21, 2025 Capclave is a small relaxed literary convention with a program that usually focuses on the short fiction form. Our Guests of Honor and other notable authors, editors, artists, an...

capclave.org

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Jo Miles @jomiles.bsky.social · 25d

Nor does making blanket statements in strong language mean they're right.

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Jo Miles @jomiles.bsky.social · 25d

Totally agree that resistance is dangerous! That's why I wish I was seeing more nuanced discussion of how to weigh the risks and less calling people stupid if they make a different personal choice about this particular risk.

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Jo Miles @jomiles.bsky.social · 25d

I agree with you, though I think this isn't a NEW tactic at all, and that's the problem. At least among orgs I've worked with, it's a tactic as old as digital organizing.

But in our current context, it's taken on new implications, and the tactics and messaging haven't caught up.

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Gwen Snyder is undead @gwensnyder.bsky.social · 25d

I don't envy mass mobilization orgs trying to thread this needle right now, listbuilding is important for mobilization and continued engagement with your base.

And with mainstream social media the way it is, it is VERY hard to estimate turnout for an upcoming action

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Jo Miles @jomiles.bsky.social · 25d

Genuine question to people saying "nonprofits don't need your email":

How do you think orgs SHOULD follow up and engage people who attend protests or take actions? How should they inform people about future protests, if not email?

If you say "social media," I cannot take you seriously.

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Jo Miles @jomiles.bsky.social · 25d

Part of the point of mass resistance (of which protest is just one part!) is that they can't "go after" everyone involved. They can't arrest literally millions of protesters. We make each other safer when we do this en masse.

Make choices for yourself, but don't call other people's bravery "stupid"

Frank Humungus @frankhumungus.bsky.social · 25d

Another cartoonishly bad Will Stancil take to add to the list 🙄.
Just show up to the protest. Do not put your name on a list for these ghouls openly stating their intent to go after anything remotely left and treat protest as a crime. Are you stupid?

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