Greetings from gloriously sunny Ross-on-Wye! 💗

White terrier mix dog staring in through window with a questioning expression. His fur around his neck and head is covered in fertilizer.

Flashback to three years ago, when my Lucas rolled in freshly spread fertilizer, then wondered why I wouldn't let him into the house.

#DogSky #DogsofBluesky #BestDoggos

I'm reading this right now. 😊

Happy Hanukkah YouTube video by Zohran Mamdani for NYC

It was such a joy to celebrate Hanukkah with Mandy, Kathryn and their son, Gideon. As Jewish New Yorkers across our city prepare to light candles and mark the seventh night today, I wish you and your families a Hanukkah full of light and love.

youtu.be/KIxAKyioXng

sidewalk chalk drawing of a small purple imp smiling and reaching out his arms from inside a glass jar, the lid of which is a utility cover set in the concrete

Don't let Eric's smile fool you; this jar has a lid for very good reasons.

It's horribly destructive. I know an author of a superbly fun adventure series, whose publisher paused the series before completion because of the mad political climate. His stories were rich with diverse characters, including a boy with two moms. The damage to kids and livelihoods is incalculable.

That's so enraging. I have read some fantastic middle grade with my son that had gay characters in them. So horrible and heartbreaking to see what's happening in this country.

Photo of a copy of 'Sky's End' book one by Marc J Gregson.

My son has just turned 14, so I thought it was time he branched out from his usual middle grade fantasy reading. So, after some recommendations from our wonderful local bookshop staff, his official first foray into YA fantasy is going to be this one! @mjgwrite.bsky.social

New Mr Poirot and Little Miss Marple books to be published Agatha Christie’s popular detectives feature in new Mr Men and Little Miss stories – Mischief on the Nile and Muddle at the Vicarage

Oh my! Will definitely have to get these. The Dr Who ones were fab. 😀www.theguardian.com/books/2025/oct/23/new-mr...
#Bluesky #books #kidlit

I've seen those too, and they couldn't deliver on time. I ended up ordering one of these. I can wear them on top of a hat if it's hot. 😁

Oh, I would love to wear one of those, but it will likely be too hot here in Los Angeles – in the 80's.

sidewalk chalk drawing of a wombat and a prairie dog in a hole with a shovel and a pickaxe. The prairie dog is singing joyfully as the wombat gives him side eye.

Wendell has calculated how many times he can hear “If I Had a Hammer” in one day, and Terry’s about to lose his tiny pickaxe.

(repost from September 2020, Ypsilanti MI)

Sidewalk chalk drawing of a yellow flower with several fallen petals being collected by a concerned hamster. The center of the flower is a utility cover.

Roland Zbigniew, Keeper of Lost Petals

It's bugged me, too. Perhaps he, himself, went by 'Epsteen', but remembering my German in school, it makes me twitch every time I hear it.

I was so amazed at how quick-witted the bee was, chancing that the best way to survive the big lizard was throw itself in the path of a giant. I was able to deposit it onto a flower, and couldn't see any obvious injuries that made it impossible to fly in the first place. Must have just been tired.

Arizona desert, 1996. I saw a bumble bee trying to outrun a lizard chasing it. I stepped forward, and immediately, the bee made a 90 degree turn and ran toward me. I grabbed a twig and put one end down to the ground. The bee grabbed hold of it and I lifted it to safety. I have never forgotten it.

poem   the calendar flipped with a gust of air and August was no longer there   in swept the song of spry September with its breezy back-to-school septimbre   Brian Bilston

September is here and I’m out and about again in various guises …

On 12th, it’s an evening of poetry and music with The Catenary Wires at the Ramsgate Music Hall. It’s our first gig together. There’s only 50 tickets left so grab them while you can.

Making a Masterpiece... with a Vintage Typewriter YouTube video by Great Big Story

This is the artist, James Cook. He’s an ordinary guy doing an unordinary thing.

youtu.be/_bqi2qY918M?...

This is going to affect translated editions of books too, which authors deserve their copies of.

Happy #Caturday,

Message in body of my email – 'Forget spending weeks writing — Ebook Writer AI lets you create a polished eBook in just 10–15 minutes. Simply enter your topic, and the tool will generate chapters, format the text, add images, and even include affiliate links. Why choose Ebook Writer AI? Fast: a complete eBook in minutes. Professional design, no skills required. Built-in monetization. Perfect for bloggers, coaches, marketers, and anyone who wants to sell knowledge through eBooks.'

I just got this junk email. No pun intended when I say, there aren't words. 😦
#amwriting #writingcommunity

Hi there, how is the best way to query an early reader chapter book series to agents? Should the query include the outlines for each book in the planned series, or just a sample of the manuscript, synopsis of that book if requested, and broader outline of the whole series?

I think this is one of my favorites I've seen of yours. So clever.

sidewalk chalk drawing of a green stalk-eyed alien wearing flippers and floating inside a jar of water, the lid of which is composed of a manhole cover

Fun Summer Fact: Sluggo's eyes double as flotation devices and he can breathe through his soul.

a chalk drawing of a small green monster and a flying pig playing tug-of-war with a white parking divider

a sidewalk chalk drawing of a small green alien and a flying pig making waffles using a street grate as the wafflemaker

a sidewalk chalk drawing of a small green alien and a flying pig busking with a cigar box ukulele and a tiny piano

a sidewalk chalk drawing of a small green alien and a flying pig looking excited to be at the Ann Arbor Summer Festival

In celebration of twelve (or more?) years of my underfoot friends showing up at the Ann Arbor Summer Festival, here's a few pics of them tearing up Ingalls Mall over the years – sometimes literally!

I hope to see them tonight (June 24) and June 29 at the Top of the Park! (Greenish fingers crossed)

Support Homepage The Trevor Project is a non-profit suicide prevention organization that provides 24/7 crisis support services, research, and advocacy for LGBTQ+ young people.

The Trevor Project is triple matching donations right now. They work to prevent suicide in LGBTQ youth and are a miraculous organization that Trump just cutoff from the national suicide hotline.

www.thetrevorproject.org

A brand new member of my backyard neighborhood. The smallest, squee of a baby ground squirrel I've seen yet.
#squirrels #critters #nature #california #bluesky

sidewalk chalk drawing of a small green alien riding in a low-flying rocket with his eyes protruding from the ship's windshield. The exhaust of the rocket is composed of flecks from a crushed piece of chalk

When flying, Sluggo loves to feel the wind in his eyes.

(collaboration with a thrown piece of chalk at the Ann Arbor Summer Festival, 2025)

Today, we delivered a global petition with 20,787 names on it.

20,787 people from all fifty states and around the world raised their voices for NASA.

Thank you for adding your name.
Thank you for taking a stand to Save NASA Science.

📸 1: NASA/Ben Smegelsky