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Melissa Holbrook Pierson @perfectvehicle.bsky.social · 6d

Thanks for this info! I've got four.

Melissa Holbrook Pierson @perfectvehicle.bsky.social · 15d

In memoriam Claudia Cardinale. Reprising my appreciation of "The Leopard," in which she was perfection itself, for @lareviewofbooks.bsky.social

lareviewofbooks.org/article/pass...

Black-and-white glamour shot of the actress Claudia Cardinale in Luchino Visconti's movie "The Leopard"

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Melissa Holbrook Pierson @perfectvehicle.bsky.social · 20d

Rebecca Solnit commented that it sounded like it was written by Edith Wharton.

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Melissa Holbrook Pierson @perfectvehicle.bsky.social · 21d

Me three.

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Melissa Holbrook Pierson @perfectvehicle.bsky.social · 29d

Interesting. Every class I teach is on a subject I often struggle with myself. Come struggle with me?

An announcement for an online writing class: "Writer's Math: When to Add, When to Subtract." Full details at writersinthemountains.org

Melissa Holbrook Pierson @perfectvehicle.bsky.social · 29d

I'm glad you mentioned this. My first question was, Wait--my publisher holds the rights to the books of mine that are on the list, so they'll take the money, right?

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Melissa Holbrook Pierson @perfectvehicle.bsky.social · Sep 5

Can anyone answer for me: If an author's book is still in print or the rights have not reverted to the author, then does this mean the settlement monies go only to the publisher?

Tyler King @tyleraking.com · Sep 5

AUTHORS: AG has prepared a detailed explainer on the Anthropic settlement and how it affects us. Full details:

What Authors Need to Know About the $1.5 Billion Anthropic Settlement - The Authors Guild

Today, Anthropic agreed to pay $1.5 billion to settle claims that it downloaded pirated books to train its AI systems—the largest U.S. copyright settlement in history. The parties in Bartz v Anthropic...

authorsguild.org

Melissa Holbrook Pierson @perfectvehicle.bsky.social · Sep 3

Lots of parallels between your circumstances and mine! I anticipate going indie with my next book(s), after losing my mainstream publisher, then my agent. 2 thoughts occur: I believe indies are publishing the best lit right now, hands down; the bigger indies don't accept unagented mss. Bit of a fix.

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Melissa Holbrook Pierson @perfectvehicle.bsky.social · Sep 3

Looking at Kate Zambreno looking at a subject (which is looking!) was a heady experience.
@transitbooks.bsky.social

brooklynrail.org/2025/09/book...

Kate Zambreno’s Animal Stories | The Brooklyn Rail

Rare among contemporary writers, Kate Zambreno does not produce books that are “about” one subject, or even three or four. They are about themselves. As well as about an infinitude.

brooklynrail.org

Melissa Holbrook Pierson @perfectvehicle.bsky.social · Aug 28

But do you like to bite off the little tip, then the middle, and see if the different colors taste different?? That's the proper way.

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Melissa Holbrook Pierson @perfectvehicle.bsky.social · Aug 27

Clash Books is another!

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Melissa Holbrook Pierson @perfectvehicle.bsky.social · Aug 27

I was so happy to get the chance to write about @joannapocock.bsky.social‬ 's profound examination of America's ailing heartland. One more in my list of proofs that it is publishers like Soft Skull putting out the most daring and accomplished writing today.

Review | ‘Greyhound’ sees America changing through the bus windows

Joanna Pocock’s memoir is about her travels from Detroit to California in 2023, retracing a trip she had taken 17 years earlier.

wapo.st

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Melissa Holbrook Pierson @perfectvehicle.bsky.social · Aug 25

Got 2 this morning! There's a strange desperation afoot in the land of books . . .

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Melissa Holbrook Pierson @perfectvehicle.bsky.social · Aug 25

The ego fragility with this guy is mind-blowing. And his toadies stand around nodding their heads to his claims of being better at everything than anyone who ever lived. That this is what a once-serious govt has been reduced to has destroyed my understanding of reality.

Melissa Holbrook Pierson @perfectvehicle.bsky.social · Aug 1

This made me laugh out loud. There, that should take care of it! We'll live in the land of make-believe when he gets someone to fabricate better numbers. Hysterical.

This is a "breaking news" email from the Washington Post, saying Trump just fired the Bureau of Labor Statistics commissioner after it reported lower job numbers than he liked.

Melissa Holbrook Pierson @perfectvehicle.bsky.social · Jul 31

Incredibly powerful. Very glad it's out there in the world.

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Melissa Holbrook Pierson @perfectvehicle.bsky.social · Jul 24

I pretty much dropped out too . . . after writing a nasty letter telling them where they could stick their "generous" offer of financial aid + servitude as a TA. These developments rip the thin mask of Columbia's commitment to justice right the hay off.

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Melissa Holbrook Pierson @perfectvehicle.bsky.social · Jul 9

OMG these are great!

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Melissa Holbrook Pierson @perfectvehicle.bsky.social · Jul 7

Whew, thank goodness we're being kept safe from chamber music.
www.beaconjournal.com/story/news/l...

'Humiliating and traumatizing': Czech musician set to perform in Kent detained, sent home

A Czech musician and former Kent State student was scheduled to perform several U.S. concerts. Instead, he was detained in Detroit and denied entry.

www.beaconjournal.com

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Melissa Holbrook Pierson @perfectvehicle.bsky.social · Jul 3

"Data show the majority of Medicaid enrollees are working." Push back on these craven Republicans, journalists! Don't let them get away with this b.s.

www.kff.org/medicaid/iss...

Understanding the Intersection of Medicaid and Work: An Update | KFF

Amid renewed interest in Medicaid work requirements as part of a broader legislative package designed to significantly reduce federal Medicaid spending, KFF has updated its analysis of the work status...

www.kff.org

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Melissa Holbrook Pierson @perfectvehicle.bsky.social · Jun 26

. . . and the super rich. This is how you know someone's right: by the people he makes afraid.

Oliver Willis @owillis.bsky.social · Jun 26

mamdani's win has made the ny times, the washington post, fox news, trump, third way, and the democratic establishment very mad

excellent.

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Melissa Holbrook Pierson @perfectvehicle.bsky.social · Jun 26

This thread is psychic: exactly what I needed to hear right now. Thank you!

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Melissa Holbrook Pierson @perfectvehicle.bsky.social · Jun 20

He wishes with his whole shriveled heart chattel slavery still existed here so he could add it to his portfolio of businesses.

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Melissa Holbrook Pierson @perfectvehicle.bsky.social · Jun 18

Apparently it's an old Broadway bromide. Long time ago it was a thing with friends to add "I puked." We were young & stupid!

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Melissa Holbrook Pierson @perfectvehicle.bsky.social · Jun 17

I laughed, I cried

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