So odd how RIFs “to align our programs with the administration’s priorities and the appropriations available to the department” means directly contrary to those of our elected representatives in Congress
From 80+ staff nationwide to 1 in one year. It will be impossible for the department to accomplish the work required by law
@npr.org
HUD eliminated all but one (SES) staff member of the Office of Housing Counseling, an office statutorily created Congress
www.npr.org/2025/10/10/n...
A compilation of twenty-one 2025 middle grade book covers organized by colour, beginning with green, transitioning into blue and purple, and finally ending with pink and red. Books featured include Scaring and Daring, Another, Open Wide, Mystery James Digs Her Own Grave, The House Next Door, The Many Hauntings of the Manning Family, Broken Dolls, The Better To Eat You With, The Mystery At The Haunted Dance Hall, Phantom Academy, The Girl In The Walls, The Ghosts of Bitterfly Bay, The Labyrinth of Souls, Finder's Keepers, Welcome To The Ghost Show, Grin, I.R.L, Ride or Die, Gloam, Tales From Cabin 23: The Visitors and It's Watching.
🎃 55 Scary (and Not-So-Scary) 2025 Middle Grade Books To Get Readers In The Halloween Spirit 🎃
popgoesthereader.com/55-scary-and...
#BookSky #KidLit #MGLit
Ahhhh congrats!
Such great insights into what readers like to see in book reviews (here and on other socials)! I compiled them here
tracybadua.com/how-to-write...
(on my website because the idea of starting up another social media service/ long term blog 🤮)
Spooky Encounters, a guest post by Tracy Badua
Next time you’re worried you’re not as alone as you think, remember not all spooky encounters are what they seem. And you’ll maybe even get a fun story out of it.
teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2025/09/02/s... @tltkaren.bsky.social @tracybadua.bsky.social
Thank you!
I've been prodded into adding a "call to action" to my posts, so:
* buy/borrow my book(s) (retailer links at tracybadua.com/book/ghoul-s... )
* repost/share/tell at least one other reader about them today, and/or
*check all the reviews for your next bnb to make sure it's not haunted👻
My gratitude to the fab team at Storytide/ @harpercollins.bsky.social ,cover artist Lauren Dimaya, and @lookingglasslit.bsky.social for helping me get this book into young readers' hands!
GHOUL SUMMER is out today! 🎉
This middle grade cozy/spooky ghost story is my eighth published novel (in 3.25 years 🤯😫, so thank you for still following me online despite all this pestering)
What I've also noticed is that for some works, the publishers are filing so late/down-to-the-wire that the Effective Date of Registration falls outside of that 3-month period that affects your remedies, so THAT'S COOL
That’s good perspective for the vampire/dystopian/etc folks! #Kidlitchat
I’m of the “nothing is wasted” camp! There’s always growth from the experience, and hey, as long as you save it somewhere safe, you can always come back to it! #kidlitchat
❤️
GHOUL SUMMER book cover with surrounding text: haunted house pesky ghost from the distant past (rhe 1980s) FUNNY > SCARY(because the author is easily frightened) summer vibes grumpy main character who just wants to game all vacation cookie bakery gentrifiers unfinished business some light attempts at exorcism enemies to reluctant allies out September 2, 2025 STORYTIDE
Anyway buy GHOUL SUMMER, a kids book with ghosts and *surprise* heavy pro-union and anti-gentrification themes because that’s what happens when you let a (reluctantly)former federal policy attorney write this stuff
It is so weird to be promoting a book written from a place of hope and reliance on the strength of community when *waves at everything* shows us that plenty of people are okay being the villains of the story
Help, #reader friends!
When you’re casually checking out online book reviews to figure out what to buy/borrow, what info are you looking for?? What helps you decide what’s right for you?
Hey San Diego! Come out to @mystgalaxybooks tomorrow at 1pm to celebrate the launch of my Asian Sapphic Pirates of the Caribbean X House of the Dragon epic fantasy 🐉🙌🏽🏴☠️
I'll be talking Filipino fantasy, female rage and how healing doesn't look pretty with @tracybaduawrites
#Goodreads giveaway alert! 🚨📚
Enter for a chance to win 1 of 5 copies of my next middle grade book GHOUL SUMMER
www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sho...
Thank you! Lauren Dimaya did the art and it’s fantastic!
Great cover!
Trump administration officially ends "5 things" emails for federal employees
This exercise yielded no results or consequences and cost the federal government and American people millions of dollars in hours that employees could've spent in actual service
I’ve heard the same about weekends! Thanks!
#kidlit friends, I'm gearing up for the release of another middle grade book and I've been burned by very-low-attendance launch events before.
Any ideas on how to best celebrate this latest milestone? Best days/times/activities for middle grade events?
Panel Kids These Days with Shannon Messenger, Molly Ostertag, ND Stevenson. Sat 7/26/2025 1-2pm Room 25ABC. Signing Time Saturday PM - 03:30 PM AA06
Mysterious Galaxy Panel Kids These Days with Shannon Messenger, Molly Ostertag, ND Stevenson and Tracy Badua. Panel time Sat 7/26/2025 Room 25ABC 1-2pm. Signing Time Saturday PM - 03:30 PM AA06
#SanDiegoComicCon goers, come say hi on Saturday! I’ll be chatting with these *amazing* authors at 1, then signing after
#sdcc
Ok I hate that the name “AL” now looks like “AI,” which I am definitely not talking about
I will forever talk about my time in federal service the way Al Bundy talked about scoring four touchdowns in a single game
DC folks
There is an urgent need to care for babies and young children in our community whose parents have been detained, deported, or otherwise snatched by our government. St Paul’s episcopal church is serving as a collection point for money, formula, and diapers.
onrealm.org/StPaulsRockC...