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artgardner.bsky.social
illustrator/storyteller, psychotherapist, mom and maker of magic! 🏳️‍🌈& ND www.melissagardnerart.com Rep’d by @sandraproudman.bsky.social @galltzacker.bsky.social #kidlit #kidlitart #illustrator
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Rosarium Publishing is open to submissions for their PLANET BLACK JOY anthology. We’re looking for spec-fic stories between 3-7k words about joy and pleasure by women and nonbinary folk who identify as Black, African, or Afro-descendent. Deadline is July 1. rosariumpublishing.com/planet-black...

I hesitate to give interviews about book banning as I feel that other authors have been much more targeted (in super scary ways) than I and are more deserving of sympathy & protection. But I thought, I would try to explain the pain “soft banning” also causes: www.themarysue.com/the-receptio...

American Library Association Establishes Public Supporter Program

21 Picture Books about African-American Female Musicians buff.ly/3HnniJv via @pragmaticmom #ReadYourWorld #WomensHistoryMonth #musicians #picturebooks

A good thing to do if you are flailing a bit right now (as who is not??) is to get in touch with your own values, the things that you find life affirming and necessary in the world. Read some inspiring works about things you value - labor solidarity, scientific achievement, social justice.

eleven more days of black history month, which means eleven more days that this query form will be open! querytracker.net/query/seraph... #blackhistorymonth #blacksky #blackwriters #writingcommunity

Storytellers will be the ones to see us through this. Stories help us remember where we come from and what we’ve been through. They inspire us to imagine new and better futures. A love of storytelling fosters empathy, compassion, and curiosity.

Just saw both these posts back to back. #kidlit peeps know that kids’ books/libraries are political, ethical & historical battlegrounds. If it’s unclear which side I’m on, I’ll say that kids’ books should represent ALL kids, families, imaginings and histories bc that’s free speech and equality!

I’m putting together a team lol….no but for real I’m gathering a few black authors together to work on an anthology about a magical hair salon. I have 4 writers now but would love 6 (8 if i can write the barber or nail tech). This is an unpaid passion project, but feel free to DM for details.

This was a fun read!

Hey a heads up that #pbchat book club is discussing a classic tomorrow. #kidlitchat briankirbystudio.com/658-2/

SO excited to share that a poem I submit to @flaremagazine.bsky.social called “My Friend, My Warrior, My OCD” will be published in the upcoming issue “Love to the Mind and Body” 🤗 A huge thank you to @kellyesparza.bsky.social for the work she’s doing with this magazine! 💜💜 #writingcommunity

It’s Tuesday… which means it’s #kidlitchat day here on Bluesky (at 9pm Eastern/6pm Pacific). Come spend an hour with your #kidlit community. Limber up your fingers. Bring dessert (leftovers always okay!). Or lurk, if you want. The real point is that I hope you join us!

Calling agents seeking (human) #KidLitArt talent! Do browse this thread of art samples from #KidLit illustrators who are actively seeking representation: debbieohi.link/illustrators... To others: Pls help boost, esp if you have agents following you? It's a tough time for freelance illustrators.

If you're an author, you can join @authorsabb.bsky.social more info here: www.authorsagainstbookbans.com

Adding our bi picture book into the mix. THE BI BOOK, with gorgeous illustrations by Cynthia Alonso, comes out 5.20.25 from Knopf BFYR. Visibility is so important! Thanks for taking a look! 🩷💜💙 www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-bi-boo... #thebibook #picturebook #kidlit #kidlitart #queerkidlit

Congratulations!

Just remembered #kidlitartpostcard is this Thursday! I’ll be browsing them all per usual. Our all time record on Bluesky was 341 postcards. Can we beat it?