Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Sara Ryan @ryansara.bsky.social · 7d

I often tell students working on their first comic scripts to try a short story with characters and/or settings they already know well; that's what I did with "Me and Edith Head," the story @stevelieberart.bsky.social discusses in this thread.

Steve Lieber: NYCC K-19 @stevelieberart.bsky.social · 7d

THREAD: Today's the anniversary of a comic I drew &
@ryansara.bsky.social wrote that had a big impact on our careers. In 2001 Sara published their first novel. It did really well. Cicada, a YA lit magazine, invited Sara to write something for them. Then they learned Sara's married to me.(cont)

The cover of Empress of the World by Sara Ryan. It's a photograph in warm reds and gold, a closeup of two girls' hands, entwined.

1 10

Reposted by Sara Ryan

Kelly Barnhill @kellybarnhill.bsky.social · 14d

Dear My Phone, My Computer, My Apps, My Electronic Devices, and so forth:

Please stop asking me if I want to enable AI. Or use your janky AI tool. Or load my documents or pictures with a bunch of useless, off-putting, earth-killing AI junk. I don't want it. I SAID I don't want it. Stop offering.

16 180 790

Reposted by Sara Ryan

Anica Mrose Rissi @anicarissi.bsky.social · 17d

Thanks to everyone who already signed up for The Eavesdrop! We'll pick our giveaway winner at the end of October, so if you hit subscribe now (free!) you can still be entered to win a signed bk from each of us. We'll only step into your inbox once a season. www.thisistheeavesdrop.com/issue-1-begi...

Beginnings: an Eavesdrop conversation.
Book stack showing Anna-Marie McLemore's Flawless Girls, Anica Mrose Rissi's Wishing Season, Emily X.R. Pan's An Arrow to the Moon, Nova Ren Suma's Wake the Wild Creatures, and Sara Ryan's Mountain Upside Down.

1

Reposted by Sara Ryan

Anica Mrose Rissi @anicarissi.bsky.social · 17d

Happy fall! The first issue of The Eavesdrop is now live. 🌱 This season, we're talking about Beginnings--everything from fears & joys to momentum & logistics. We discuss the hows and whys of writing, including: How do you know for sure that the beginning of a novel is right? Or right enough for now?

Issue 1: Beginnings

A quarterly conversation about process and craft with authors Anna-Marie McLemore, Emily X.R. Pan, Anica Mrose Rissi, Sara Ryan, and Nova Ren Suma.

www.thisistheeavesdrop.com

1 2 2

Reposted by Sara Ryan

Prisonculture @prisonculture.bsky.social · 19d

"Unpersecuted, unjailed, unharassed writers are trouble for the ignorant bully, the sly racist, and the predators feeding off the world’s resources."
inthesetimes.com/article/toni...

Toni Morrison on Fascism and Censorship

In this reprint of "Peril" and "Racism and Fascism," Toni Morrison warns of the creative depths of fascism's reach.

inthesetimes.com

1 53 130

Reposted by Sara Ryan

Anne Mo 😷 @toughestfrail.com · 20d

The purpose of a boycott is not to hit 'em in their pockets. That's just the instant emotional hit of it.

The purpose of a boycott is to find ways every day to live your values. Draw lines in the sand, and hold them.

It's good practice.

2 6

Sara Ryan @ryansara.bsky.social · 20d

I'm making a newsletter with my friends @exrpan.bsky.social, @novarensuma.bsky.social, @anicarissi.bsky.social & Anna-Marie McLemore! It's called The Eavesdrop. It's free, quarterly, on Ghost. Our first issue comes out on the autumn equinox, and you can subscribe here: thisistheeavesdrop.com

Welcome to The Eavesdrop

A quarterly conversation in your inbox with authors Anna-Marie McLemore, Emily X.R. Pan, Anica Mrose Rissi, Sara Ryan, and Nova Ren Suma

thisistheeavesdrop.com

2 7

Reposted by Sara Ryan

Nova Ren Suma @novarensuma.bsky.social · 22d

Ever wanted to eavesdrop on a conversation with five writers? @anicarissi.bsky.social @ryansara.bsky.social @exrpan.bsky.social, Anna-Marie McLemore, & I are launching a new newsletter so you can do just that! Subscribe to get our first issue on Monday! www.thisistheeavesdrop.com/about/

5 7

Sara Ryan @ryansara.bsky.social · 23d

Hi! What @anicarissi.bsky.social said! Very excited to be making this with Anna-Marie McLemore & @exrpan.bsky.social & @novarensuma.bsky.social & Anica!

Anica Mrose Rissi @anicarissi.bsky.social · 23d

I've been making something fun with friends, and our first issue drops on September 22. If you're interested in craft, process, and the creative life, I hope you'll subscribe! (It's free.) Find us at thisistheeavesdrop.com. Here's the pitch: 🧵

2 4

Sara Ryan @ryansara.bsky.social · 23d

I've been doing data entry regularly for www.equalrightsoregon.com -- a concrete volunteer task in support of an initiative I *really* want to succeed.

Equal Rights for All

www.equalrightsoregon.com

4

Reposted by Sara Ryan

Tressie McMillan Cottom @tressiemcphd.bsky.social · 27d

Must read

www.bostonreview.net/articles/a-g...

A General Air of Anxiety - Boston Review

The Red Scare targeted my father. He taught me the meaning of resistance.

www.bostonreview.net

4 180 470

Sara Ryan @ryansara.bsky.social · 25d

Was the shop dog in residence?

1

Reposted by Sara Ryan

Maggie Tokuda-Hall @maggietokudahall.bsky.social · 29d

Do it. Alex gives fair and good reviews, and unlike many, understands the cultural context of marginalized imagination.

Alex Brown 🇵🇸 (they/them) @bookjockeyalex.bsky.social · Sep 9

Are you a marginalized author (or the editor/agent/publicist of one) who has a trad pub YA or adult SFF/H book coming out Sept 2025 - March 2026? This book critic wants to know about it! Small press strongly encouraged.
bookjockeyalex.com/contact/

Contact

I’m currently open to sensitivity/authenticity reading. Please see the full list of what I cover and rates. In your email below, please include a description of the work, the estimated word c…

bookjockeyalex.com

2 16 38

Reposted by Sara Ryan

skellyton bones jensen @heykellyjensen.bsky.social · Sep 9

It's a long read, but it's really necessary. The folks who've been supporting this library–one that already survived one shuttering–have been incredible at documenting this.

bookriot.com/josephine-co...

Why Would a County Evict Its Public Library Over $1?: Behind The Push to Decimate A Josephine County (OR) Library

How a small group of far-right ideologues have tried to decimate Josephine County Library over the course of the last several years–and $1.

bookriot.com

1 6 22

Reposted by Sara Ryan

skellyton bones jensen @heykellyjensen.bsky.social · Sep 9

Please, please read this story. It's in a "good" "blue" state, and it is a textbook example of how libraries are being cleverly defunded by far-right ideologues. West's disgusting emails here are an attempt at authoritarianism playing out here and at other public libraries nationally.

2 4 19

Reposted by Sara Ryan

skellyton bones jensen @heykellyjensen.bsky.social · Sep 9

Why would a county evict a library over $1 a year?

Because a small group of far-right sycophants is so full of bigotry and hatred toward a diverse community that they'll do anything to defund this Oregon public library.

A long, necessary read about libraries today.

bookriot.com/josephine-co...

Why Would a County Evict Its Public Library Over $1?: Behind The Push to Decimate A Josephine County (OR) Library

How a small group of far-right ideologues have tried to decimate Josephine County Library over the course of the last several years–and $1.

bookriot.com

4 65 110

Reposted by Sara Ryan

Steve Lieber: NYCC K-19 @stevelieberart.bsky.social · Sep 8

@comicsbeat.bsky.social has the scoop on new work from Carla Speed McNeil! McNeil is easily one of my favorite comics artists, and I couldn’t be more excited.

@carlaspeedmcneil.bsky.social www.comicsbeat.com/carla-speed-...

Carla Speed McNeil's new comic: Settlers of the Storm Worlds

Carla Speed McNeil has their first new comic in quite a while, Settlers of the Storm Worlds, debuting at SPX this weekend.

www.comicsbeat.com

2 20 66

Reposted by Sara Ryan

skellyton bones jensen @heykellyjensen.bsky.social · Sep 6

Maybe one of the most ridiculous new products from the anti-library, book ban crowd.

skellyton bones jensen @heykellyjensen.bsky.social · Sep 6

Who is Lori the Librarian, new idol of the book banners? She's a superhero who defaces little free libraries and "takes down" librarians and educators.

But *what* is she? A PragerU-like animation by a couple who have been campaigning against DEI for years.

buttondown.com/wellsourced/...

Who Is Lori the Librarian, The New Idol of The Book Banners?

Book banners have created a new superhero for their campaign. Her powers? Bigotry, cruelty, and vandalism.

buttondown.com

5 24 51

Sara Ryan @ryansara.bsky.social · Sep 6

"first yacht"

2

Sara Ryan @ryansara.bsky.social · Aug 21

+1

2

Sara Ryan @ryansara.bsky.social · Aug 14

Hi, just a heads up that I'm not the Sara Ryan who's the co-author you're citing; that Sara Ryan might have a different Bluesky handle.

1

Sara Ryan @ryansara.bsky.social · Aug 5

Would love to see the characters from We Could Be So Good and You Should Be So Lucky in an ongoing series, especially if the Lesbian Pals (tm) also got significant screentime.

1 2

Sara Ryan @ryansara.bsky.social · Aug 4

In Portland it's Priuses. (Prii?)

1 1

Reposted by Sara Ryan

Mombian @mombian.bsky.social · Aug 2

Starting tonight, 8/2, 8pm ET: A national day of action in support of queer children’s books & the children who read them! Watch part of the 24-hour read aloud, sign up to read during the Zoom, or attend in-person events at bookstores & other venues. #BookSky #QueerKidLit mombian.com/2025/07/22/r...

National Day of Action Read Out Loud. Saturday Aug 2. Join us for a 24 hour read aloud of queer kids books. Image: Kids reading books and soaring through rainbow-filled sky.

1 6 20

Sara Ryan @ryansara.bsky.social · Aug 2

Read OUT Loud, a 24 hour civic action uniting libraries, bookstores, and readers of all ages to celebrate queer kids books and push back against the tidal wave of book bans, is today/tomorrow! I'll be reading from MOUNTAIN UPSIDE DOWN at 5:30 Pacific! Register to watch: linktr.ee/ReadOUTLoud4...

ReadOUTLoud4Ever | Instagram | Linktree

National Day of Action in Support of Queer Kids Books - Saturday Aug 2 to Sunday Aug 3

linktr.ee

3 7