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leewind.bsky.social
Lee Wind
@leewind.bsky.social
1.9K followers 650 following 410 posts
Author, Blogger, Make the World a Better Placer (he/him). Out to empower Queer Youth and their allies. Out now: BANANA MENORAH (picture book on creativity + 2 Dad family) and THE GENDER BINARY IS A BIG LIE (nonfiction ages 11+)
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leewind.bsky.social
Earlier this month I was in NYC, in a location from my upcoming A DIFFERENT KIND OF ENEMY, the sequel in my gay teen action adventure romance series that's an homage & critique of James Bond movies. #kidlit #queerjoy #ya
January 26, 2026 at 4:19 PM
leewind.bsky.social
I'm also going to do more walks where I focus on puzzling out story issues! (photo from my walk this morning) 2/2
photo of path along jetty showing beach, a distant lifeguard tower, the ocean, mountains, and dramatic sky with clouds above (from my walk this morning in Los Angeles)
December 31, 2025 at 5:03 PM
leewind.bsky.social
Amidst everything, this profile piece coming out is kind of cool. Glad I got to talk about #kidlit and fighting for the #freedomtoread voyagela.com/interview/hi...
screenshot of the profile of Lee Wind in Voyage LA, with the headline: Hidden Gems: Meet Lee Wind of Independent Book Publishers Association, and a photo of me (Lee) and a young reader holding up a copy of BANANA MENORAH, my latest picture book.
December 16, 2025 at 7:37 PM
leewind.bsky.social
Life inspires art inspires life... my #kidlit reality this Hanukkah, exactly 28 years from the moment of original 'oh gosh, we don't have a menorah' inspiration: lighting a Banana Menorah holding a copy of my new picture book, BANANA MENORAH! (and a fun behind-the-scenes pic, too)
Lee Wind holding a copy of the picture book BANANA MENORAH standing behind a tray holding a peeled banana, with two candles sticking out of it - a real life banana menorah. (driedles decorate the counter) Lee's husband Mark takes the first photo (we see the scene twice, once through his raised camera phone)
December 16, 2025 at 3:10 PM
leewind.bsky.social
#KidLitLaunches BANANA MENORAH celebrates creativity, a two dad family, and Hanukkah... feeling grateful I get to create #kidlit that would have changed my life if I read it as a kiddo!
November 7, 2025 at 2:49 PM
leewind.bsky.social
Banana Menorah Launch Day! (And 8 ways to use a banana as a menorah!) Tip: You don't blow out Hanukkah candles, you just let them dance and enjoy the lights. Illustrated by Karl West, published by Apples & Honey Press.
#lgbtq #kidlit #hanukkah #chanukah #launchday #bookbirthday
November 4, 2025 at 3:55 PM
leewind.bsky.social
Banana Menorah Countdown: 1 day to go! Today I share about my picture book coming out TOMORROW… illustrated by Karl West and published by Apples & Honey Press BANANA MENORAH has four wonderful trade reviews, with Kirkus calling it “A Hanukkah tale sure to ignite kids’ creativity.” #lgbtq #kidlit
November 3, 2025 at 4:11 PM
leewind.bsky.social
Banana Menorah Countdown: 2 days to go! Today, my third picture book, illustrated by Kelly Mangan and published by Cardinal Rule Press: LIKE THAT ELEANOR. Kirkus gave it a Starred Review and it was blurbed by Eleanor Roosevelt’s great-granddaughter! #lgbtq #kidlit #allies
November 2, 2025 at 8:45 PM
leewind.bsky.social
Banana Menorah Countdown: 3 days to go! My second picture book: illustrated by @jietingchenart and published by @reycraft LOVE OF THE HALF-EATEN PEACH. It was an Lambda Literary Award Finalist and was called “stunning” by School Library Journal. #lgbtq #kidlit #lgbthistory
November 1, 2025 at 7:10 PM
leewind.bsky.social
Banana Menorah Countdown: 4 days to go! Today, another nonfiction book for readers 11 and up, THE GENDER BINARY IS A BIG LIE, published by @lernerbooks.bsky.social. A SCBWI Golden Kite Award Finalist + Starred Kirkus Review. #lgbtq #kidlit #nonfiction #lgbthistory
October 31, 2025 at 5:19 PM
leewind.bsky.social
Banana Menorah Countdown: 5 days to go! Today, my second YA novel (and start of a series), A DIFFERENT KIND OF BRAVE, published by Interlude Press/Duet/Chicago Review Press. It’s a gay teen action adventure romance, that Kirkus Reviews called “Thrilling. Positively thrilling.” #lgbtq #kidlit #ya
October 31, 2025 at 12:40 AM
leewind.bsky.social
Banana Menorah Countdown: 6 days to go! Today, my first picture book, RED AND GREEN AND BLUE AND WHITE, illustrated by @paulozelinsky.com published by @levinequerido.bsky.social The NYT called it “Beautiful… It’s a message the world can use, throughout the year.” #kidlit #socialjustice
October 29, 2025 at 7:14 PM
leewind.bsky.social
Banana Menorah Countdown: 7 days to go!
My first nonfiction book was NO WAY, THEY WERE GAY? published by Zest Books @lernerbooks.bsky.social - it would have changed my life had I read it as an 11 year old. And yes, it changed my life writing it, too. #lgbtq #kidlit #nonfiction #lgbthistory
October 28, 2025 at 2:58 PM
leewind.bsky.social
Banana Menorah Countdown: 8 days to go!
Today, my first YA novel, QUEER AS A FIVE-DOLLAR BILL. Crowdfunded via @kickstarter.com and we donated over 900 copies (with help from @bravetrails.bsky.social) to empower Queer and allied teens! #lgbtq #kidlit #ya
October 27, 2025 at 4:04 PM
leewind.bsky.social
A thought and Question for #letfreedomread day and #nationalcomingoutday - There's no such thing as a silent ally. So how are you helping make our world a safer place for #lgbtq+ & #bipoc & everyone to be their authentic selves? My answer is writing #kidlit
October 11, 2025 at 4:43 PM
leewind.bsky.social
forgot to add the graphic where I'm oddly glowing...
October 9, 2025 at 4:41 PM
leewind.bsky.social
#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.
September 17, 2025 at 11:40 PM
leewind.bsky.social
Hi #kidlit peeps, a sneak peek at upcoming holiday joy! #grateful
September 2, 2025 at 3:51 PM
leewind.bsky.social
This #kidlit adventure continues -- "Love of the Half-Eaten Peach" (Jieting Chen's & my epic gay love story inspired by real gay history) is a finalist for the Lambda Literary Award! @lambdaliterary.org #grateful #excited Check out all the amazing finalists here: lambdaliterary.org/2025/07/anno...
Screenshots from the announcement page on Lambda Literary's website: "Announcing the Finalists for the 37th Annual Lambda Literary Awards" with the "LGBTQ+ Children's Books" Category, showing five books: Glenn Burke, Game Changer; Harper Becomes a Big Sister; Jacob's Missing Book; Just Us; and my own "Love of the Half-Eaten Peach" // Lee Wind, Illustrated by Jieting Chen, Reycraft. Also pictured is the Lambda Literary logo and the cover of "Love of the Half-Eaten Peach" Detail of one of the illustrations from "Love of the Half-Eaten Peach"
July 30, 2025 at 4:11 PM
leewind.bsky.social
#kidlit tip: airplane trips are my new writing retreats. Yesterday's flight home = 5 hours of uninterrupted brainstorming and drafting for my work in progress. Except for when I used the bathroom and wondered, have people really flushed teddy bears down the toilet before? The horror of it...
photo of a sign on the interior lid of the airplane toilet, "Trash it Don't Flush It' with a red circle with a line through it showing a person throwing out forbidden-to-flush items... including a teddy bear!
July 29, 2025 at 2:43 PM
leewind.bsky.social
1st time #kidlit author goal achieved - I know it's not a stadium or a big venue, but still "SOLD OUT" feels like a big deal! Here's to two great presentations at the Eleanor Roosevelt Center today #allyship #gratitude
Children's Book Event with Author Lee Wind (that's me!) at the Eleanor Roosevelt Center registration page with "SOLD OUT!" circled in purple
July 27, 2025 at 10:15 AM
leewind.bsky.social
#kidlit peeps: Join the offense against book bans! WE ARE STRONGER THAN CENSORSHIP has purchased and donated 2,000 books to offset 1,000 book challenges so far! Help us do more... Every t-shirt includes a $16 donation to buy 2 books to offset 1 book challenge. www.bonfire.com/store/we-are...
STRONG LIKE AN AUTHOR sweatshirt - one of dozens of designs and colors that help fight book banning by including a donation of $16 to buy and donate 2 books to offset 1 book challenge. WE ARE STRONGER THAN CENSORSHIP tank top - one of dozens of designs and colors that help fight book banning by including a donation of $16 to buy and donate 2 books to offset 1 book challenge. STRONG LIKE A READER t-shirt - one of dozens of designs and colors that help fight book banning by including a donation of $16 to buy and donate 2 books to offset 1 book challenge.
July 26, 2025 at 4:03 PM
leewind.bsky.social
Today's highlight? Planning this Sunday's family and children #kidlit event at the Eleanor Roosevelt Center in NY with Eleanor Roosevelt's great-granddaughter, Anna Eleanor Fierst! We'll be reading "Like That Eleanor," chatting about #Allyship and empathy, & getting a tour! ervk.org/childrens-bo...
Summer beach and sky graphic with text: The Eleanor Roosevelt Center's Children's Book Event - Sunday July 27, 2025 - FREE EVENT! - Two sessions! 10-11:30am | 2-3:30pm, plus the cover of "Like That Eleanor"
July 23, 2025 at 3:30 PM
leewind.bsky.social
Librarian and #kidlit friends at #alaac25 -- here's some fun options for your Sunday (and mine!) Hope to see you... #thereisnosuchthingasasilentally
Librarian Friends! hope to see you... [ALA Annual conference and exhibition 2025 logo] Sunday Panels and Presentations: 9:30am, "Uplifting young readers through empowering stories" with Alicia McKenzie and Dr. Audrey Barbakoff, Diversity stage #2411; 11:30am "Landing your book in libraries: metadata, marketing, and tools for success" with Andrea Fleck-Nisbet of IBPA Pop Top Stage #2453; 1:45pm "Indie Book Bingo! Discover Amazing Titles for Adults and Kids" with guest authors and publishers (Book Buzz Stage #138). Also includes a pride progress rainbow and Lee Wind's author photo and the cover of "Like That Eleanor" Additional info: Monday signing 10am IBPA booth #1547; Say 'hi' Fri-Mon IBPA Booth #1547
June 29, 2025 at 11:33 AM
leewind.bsky.social
Librarians are the best! #kidlit friends at #alaac25 please say hello!
My schedule of events: Friday: I’ll be moderating a morning panel at the Library Insights Summit for author publishers and then having a lunchtime keynote discussion with Sarah and Ian Hoffman whose book is included in the current SCOTUS case. Saturday: I’ll be signing copies of Like That Eleanor at the IPG booth 1pm Eastern. Sunday: I’ll be moderating a panel on the diversity stage at 9:30am; co-presenting at the PopTop Stage about Indie Publishing and Libraries at 11:30am; and hosting the Book Buzz Indie Book Bingo game at 1:45pm. And on Monday at 10am I’ll be signing copies of Like That Eleanor at the IBPA booth, where I should be the rest of the time! excerpt from the starred kirkus review of LIKE THAT ELEANOR: An ideal guide for readers of any age to learn how to be an ally—“one way each of us can help make our world more fair.”
June 27, 2025 at 11:15 AM