Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Lee Wind @leewind.bsky.social · 21h

#kidlit peeps - how about we avoid saying "celebrate" #bannedbooksweek and instead say "observe" -- censorship is really not something to celebrate. I am open to changing the name to #freedomtoread week, though -- and then I'm all about the celebration! www.wearestrongerthancensorship.org

1 2

Lee Wind @leewind.bsky.social · 21h

sounds great! just ordered it from my local library - thanks!

Reposted by Lee Wind

#DVpit - Diverse Voices Pitch @dvpit.bsky.social · 22h

If your hashtag searching is not working for #DVpit we created a feed for the hashtag. Please always try to search the hashtag first, but this feed includes all posts under the hashtag as well. We will update during the day as we learn more from bsky bsky.app/profile/did:...

#DVpit - Diverse Voices Pitch @dvpit.bsky.social · 23h

#DVpit 2025 has officially begun!
Today, Oct 8, 2025 from 8AM-8PM ET marginalized creators seeking out representation can pitch their completed manuscripts & portfolios to participating Agents & Editors!
Don't forget to use #DVpit in your posts!
Pls read rules before participating: dvpit.carrd.co

#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.

4 76 110

Lee Wind @leewind.bsky.social · 2d

#kidlit peeps - want to help go on the offense against book banning this #bannedbooksweek ? Check out this interview I did with @wordsandmoney.bsky.social www.wordsandmoney.com/in-conversat...

In Conversation: Author and Freedom to Read Advocate Lee Wind

Ahead of Banned Books Week 2025, we caught up with the award-winning author and co-founder of We Are Stronger Than Censorship to talk about why advocates must continue to find innovative ways to fight...

www.wordsandmoney.com

4 3

Lee Wind @leewind.bsky.social · 5d

Julian Eltinge was a famous female impersonator in the 1910s-1920s. Join me & Queer activists @yesterqueers and @angelsareintersex
for an in-person event in L.A. on Oct 6 "Hollywood, Gender Boxes, and Beyond." Part of the circa Queer Histories festival. #kidlit www.circafestival.org/event/madame...

Madame Behave (1925): Hollywood, Gender Boxes, and Beyond - Circa

Join us for a special screening of the black and white silent movie (with music) Madame Behave (55 min), a 1925 film starring Julian Eltinge presenting back and forth as a man and as a woman, followed...

www.circafestival.org

Lee Wind @leewind.bsky.social · 8d

#kidlitchat going back to my favorites is really interesting to figure out what I loved so much about them. The amount of world-building accomplished by the chapter-opening quotes from 'historical' sources (for the people and worlds in the novel) in DUNE is impressive and inspiring...

1 7

Lee Wind @leewind.bsky.social · 8d

and as for inspiration, yes- just last week I looked at the prologue in Dragonquest to see how she handled catching readers up in the middle of a series! (re: my own YA sequel for A Different Kind of Brave)

Lee Wind @leewind.bsky.social · 8d

#kidlitchat Favorites: Fantasy: Anne McCaffrey's Pern books like Dragon Quest, Science fiction: Dune by Frank Herbert... don't write either category, but maybe someday...

kidlitchat @kidlitchat.bsky.social · 8d

TOPIC: What were your own favorite books from childhood? (Extra points if they're in the same genre you create now.) Do you ever revisit them for inspiration? #kidlitchat

1 4

Lee Wind @leewind.bsky.social · 12d

yikes! thanks for the heads-up. the latest scams I'm seeing are clearly AI-written praise of one of my #kidlit books followed by a pitch to pay them to market my book, and that they don't have a website because their successes speak for themselves... my consistent reply: *delete*

1

Lee Wind @leewind.bsky.social · 15d

yeah, I think of @annelamott saying in Bird by Bird that lighthouse don't run all over an island looking for boats to save. They just stand there and shine. That's a metaphor that really helps me as I think of each book as another light on in my lighthouse...

Kim Baccellia @ixtumea.bsky.social · 15d

Know not everyone will like or love your work and that’s ok. Not everyone will. #kidlitchat

5

Lee Wind @leewind.bsky.social · 19d

"cats don't ask for permission, and neither should you." preach!

1

Lee Wind @leewind.bsky.social · 21d

#kidlit peeps: Join the offense against #bookbans! #wearestrongerthancensorship buys and donates 2 books to offest every 1 book challenge. We've already offset 1,250 book challenges, and together we can do more! Here's our Sep update: www.wearestrongerthancensorship.org/strongernews... #freadom

a group of editors from Technic Editorial wearing their "Strong Like An Editor" shirts that each included a $16 donation so We Are Stronger Than Censorship could buy and donate two books to offset every one book challenge.

6 12

Lee Wind @leewind.bsky.social · 21d

#kidlit peeps - if you're not up on the shenanigans of book banners, see this @publisherswkly.bsky.social article: www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/... #freadom #wearestrongerthancensorship #bookbanning 1/2

Book Banners Are Everywhere. These Lawyers Are Playing Offense.

Restrictions to reading materials are taking a toll on communities nationwide. These lawyers are helping librarians, teachers, and others fight back.

www.publishersweekly.com

1 1

Lee Wind @leewind.bsky.social · 22d

Sounds fun and fascinating -- and it's from Apples and Honey press, who are great! (They're publishing my picture book, BANANA MENORAH, this Nov)

Nancy Hudgins @nancyhudgins.com · 22d

🎈Happy Book Birthday🎈 to THE PIRATE RABBI, by David Sherrin, illus. by @barbaradilorenzo.bsky.social! The MC, a rabbi, who had always wanted to be a pirate, finally gets his chance. Based on a true story. Cool art! #PB #kidlit

The cover art shows a pirate and his dog standing on the prow of a pirate ship. The background is a cloudy medium blue sky. Beneath is the ocean, depicted by a swath of turquoise blue on top and shadings down to deep blue at the bottom. The ship is sailing from left to right and takes up two-thirds of the cover in a triangular image. The title is in dark blue in the upper right hand portion across the sky. The author's and illustrator's names are in black print on the foresail. The pirate is wearing brown boots, tan breeches to the knee, a white shirt and scarf and mid-length blue jacket. The dog is tan.

1 4

Lee Wind @leewind.bsky.social · 23d

cool #kidlit opportunity! (And the way it works, rule-wise, is clever)

#DVpit - Diverse Voices Pitch @dvpit.bsky.social · 23d

Less than a month until #DVpit, a pitch event for marginalized creators looking to find an agent & get traditionally published! Here's a reminder of the rules!
For more guidelines & info go to dvpit.carrd.co
See you all at DVpit on October 8th, 2025!
#writersky #booksky

#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.
Your pitch must include the #DVpit hashtag (illustrators pitching their art must use #DVArt)
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.

2 4

Lee Wind @leewind.bsky.social · 24d

true!

Shannon Hale @shannonhale.bsky.social · 24d

When you read a book and love it and then take the time to post a review online, it means SO MUCH to the writers. Thank you.

2

Lee Wind @leewind.bsky.social · 26d

sounds great - congrats!

Lee Wind @leewind.bsky.social · 27d

Here's the link to the article: www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/...

Q & A with Brian Lies

Caldecott Honoree Brian Lies's new picture book, 'Cat Nap,' is a romp through art history.

www.publishersweekly.com

1 2 4

Lee Wind @leewind.bsky.social · 27d

#kidlit inspiration on passionately creating: “You start with curiosity—being curious enough to make you try and do it badly. And then you think, ‘That was kind of fun to do.’ Interest builds interest, which gradually builds skills, and at some point it clicks...” - @brianlies.bsky.social in PW

1 3

Lee Wind @leewind.bsky.social · 28d

intrigued (and slightly frightened)... and mostly really concerned about the ethics of AI tools... but I'm working on staying open minded so I signed up

1 2

Lee Wind @leewind.bsky.social · 29d

aww, thanks Terri! hope you and yours are well

1 1

Lee Wind @leewind.bsky.social · 29d

Slightly diminish a book

Oh, the Places You'll Stay!

Troy Wilson @troystory.bsky.social · 29d

Slightly diminish a book

Where the Mild Things Are

Lia Pas @liapas.bsky.social · Sep 8

Slightly diminish a book

Wuthering Middles

1 5

Lee Wind @leewind.bsky.social · 29d

hey, fantastic news! Make sure to go for a walk along the stream -- super pretty there. I'm sure you'll be inspired... cheering you on!

1 1

Lee Wind @leewind.bsky.social · 29d

Happy with this article on THE THREE MYTHS OF BOOK BANNING technicaeditorial.com/the-three-my... #kidlit #grateful #freedomtoread Thanks to the nice folks at Technica Editorial (new partners in We Are Stronger Than Censorship) for the opportunity!

The Three Myths of Book Banning - Technica Editorial Services

Discover the three biggest myths about book banning in the USA—and the truths behind them. Guest Editor Lee Wind exposes how censorship harms

technicaeditorial.com

1 4

Lee Wind @leewind.bsky.social · Sep 8

Slightly diminish a book (mostly #kidlit edition)

Is Your Step-Mama a Llama?

The Prada Bag Princess

A Wrinkle Free Time

The I'm Just A Little Snacky Games

Bonus: The Jingle of Patroclus

1