Francisca Staines
@franciscawrites.bsky.social
Author of MG & Picture Books • https://franciscastaines.com/
🇲🇽 All around book nerd with a weakness for mystery, fantasy, dogs & tacos.
Rep'd by @michelle4laughs.bsky.social @StormLiterary
🇲🇽 All around book nerd with a weakness for mystery, fantasy, dogs & tacos.
Rep'd by @michelle4laughs.bsky.social @StormLiterary
It's sunny, and the farmer is getting ready to sow white mustard in the field across from our house. I love white mustard, lovely living mulch.
#gardening #farmwork #wintercrops
#gardening #farmwork #wintercrops
November 4, 2025 at 2:34 PM
It's sunny, and the farmer is getting ready to sow white mustard in the field across from our house. I love white mustard, lovely living mulch.
#gardening #farmwork #wintercrops
#gardening #farmwork #wintercrops
I'm having a hard time deciding which one to read first.
Thoughts?
💙📚 #horror #spookyreads #booksky #diversebooks
Thoughts?
💙📚 #horror #spookyreads #booksky #diversebooks
October 29, 2025 at 4:00 PM
I'm having a hard time deciding which one to read first.
Thoughts?
💙📚 #horror #spookyreads #booksky #diversebooks
Thoughts?
💙📚 #horror #spookyreads #booksky #diversebooks
This is half of what I hope will become my naturalistic garden. The 340 little plants, I put in the ground this month. Each plant grown from seed. Mostly natives (or non-invasive naturalized) species. Only a beginning, but it took lots of effort (and time).
#Gardening #FallPlanting #Wildlifegarden
#Gardening #FallPlanting #Wildlifegarden
October 29, 2025 at 3:34 PM
This is half of what I hope will become my naturalistic garden. The 340 little plants, I put in the ground this month. Each plant grown from seed. Mostly natives (or non-invasive naturalized) species. Only a beginning, but it took lots of effort (and time).
#Gardening #FallPlanting #Wildlifegarden
#Gardening #FallPlanting #Wildlifegarden
A lovely sunny afternoon, going home.
October 15, 2025 at 1:41 PM
A lovely sunny afternoon, going home.
Reposted by Francisca Staines
Some of our recent guest narrators, reading poems by young creatives in Gaza:
Alana Hadid
Nada Tawhid
Paloma Faith
Amalia Holm
Katie Leung
All our stuff is free to listen to. Try our Palestinian audio poems and boost the play count to show young writers in Gaza some love 💚
bibliophone.com
Alana Hadid
Nada Tawhid
Paloma Faith
Amalia Holm
Katie Leung
All our stuff is free to listen to. Try our Palestinian audio poems and boost the play count to show young writers in Gaza some love 💚
bibliophone.com
October 15, 2025 at 8:06 AM
Some of our recent guest narrators, reading poems by young creatives in Gaza:
Alana Hadid
Nada Tawhid
Paloma Faith
Amalia Holm
Katie Leung
All our stuff is free to listen to. Try our Palestinian audio poems and boost the play count to show young writers in Gaza some love 💚
bibliophone.com
Alana Hadid
Nada Tawhid
Paloma Faith
Amalia Holm
Katie Leung
All our stuff is free to listen to. Try our Palestinian audio poems and boost the play count to show young writers in Gaza some love 💚
bibliophone.com
💙📚🌎 #kidlit
There is magic, and truth, and so much beauty in #kidlit
"If no one tell's the stories anymore, if no one learns the magic anymore, our ways will disappear from the world. Then all we'll have left is what other people think of us."
― Eden Royce, Root Magic
#BookSky 💙📚🌎 #childrensbooks #fantasy
"If no one tell's the stories anymore, if no one learns the magic anymore, our ways will disappear from the world. Then all we'll have left is what other people think of us."
― Eden Royce, Root Magic
#BookSky 💙📚🌎 #childrensbooks #fantasy
October 15, 2025 at 8:52 AM
💙📚🌎 #kidlit
Reposted by Francisca Staines
Did u know?Winter prep for our wildlife garden has turned towards our bee hotels.The greatest enemy of baby bees is damp,which causes mould & mite infestations.I take them into my summer house where it's cool & dry.All sorts of houses & materials for all sorts of different bees.Note the sign.🌿🌱🇬🇧🌱🪲🐝🌍
October 12, 2025 at 5:17 AM
Did u know?Winter prep for our wildlife garden has turned towards our bee hotels.The greatest enemy of baby bees is damp,which causes mould & mite infestations.I take them into my summer house where it's cool & dry.All sorts of houses & materials for all sorts of different bees.Note the sign.🌿🌱🇬🇧🌱🪲🐝🌍
Reposted by Francisca Staines
Favorite quotes from favorite books.
"Sanity is a valuable possession; I hoard it the way people once hoarded money. I save it, so I will have enough, when the time comes.”
― Margaret Atwood, The Handmaid’s Tale
💙📚 #BookSky
"Sanity is a valuable possession; I hoard it the way people once hoarded money. I save it, so I will have enough, when the time comes.”
― Margaret Atwood, The Handmaid’s Tale
💙📚 #BookSky
February 5, 2025 at 11:15 AM
Favorite quotes from favorite books.
"Sanity is a valuable possession; I hoard it the way people once hoarded money. I save it, so I will have enough, when the time comes.”
― Margaret Atwood, The Handmaid’s Tale
💙📚 #BookSky
"Sanity is a valuable possession; I hoard it the way people once hoarded money. I save it, so I will have enough, when the time comes.”
― Margaret Atwood, The Handmaid’s Tale
💙📚 #BookSky
Reposted by Francisca Staines
Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend.
May the winds of life take your papalote to new highs!
#papalotes #flyingonpaperwings #flyingkites #illustration
May the winds of life take your papalote to new highs!
#papalotes #flyingonpaperwings #flyingkites #illustration
June 7, 2025 at 12:07 PM
Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend.
May the winds of life take your papalote to new highs!
#papalotes #flyingonpaperwings #flyingkites #illustration
May the winds of life take your papalote to new highs!
#papalotes #flyingonpaperwings #flyingkites #illustration
Reposted by Francisca Staines
August 29, 2025 at 6:45 AM
Reposted by Francisca Staines
My latest cartoon for @newscientist.com
p.s. My new book of science cartoons 'Physics for Cats' is out this week. Details at www.tomgauld.com
p.s. My new book of science cartoons 'Physics for Cats' is out this week. Details at www.tomgauld.com
October 7, 2025 at 3:21 PM
My latest cartoon for @newscientist.com
p.s. My new book of science cartoons 'Physics for Cats' is out this week. Details at www.tomgauld.com
p.s. My new book of science cartoons 'Physics for Cats' is out this week. Details at www.tomgauld.com
Reposted by Francisca Staines
When #kidlit says what you needed to hear to face the day.
"Sometimes things happen and sometimes they're terrible and unfair. But they don't erase the awesome stuff. They don't erase the stuff we love."
―Jennifer Maschari, The Remarkable Journey of Charlie Price.
#booksky 💙📚 #MGbooks
"Sometimes things happen and sometimes they're terrible and unfair. But they don't erase the awesome stuff. They don't erase the stuff we love."
―Jennifer Maschari, The Remarkable Journey of Charlie Price.
#booksky 💙📚 #MGbooks
April 4, 2025 at 9:22 AM
Reposted by Francisca Staines
When #YA says, "hold my beer,"
"The things you name do grow in power, but others that are not ever whispered claw at one's heart anyway, rip it to shreds even if a syllable does not escape the lips."
― Silvia Moreno-Garcia, Gods of Jade and Shadow.
#kidlit #booksky #fantasy 💙📚
"The things you name do grow in power, but others that are not ever whispered claw at one's heart anyway, rip it to shreds even if a syllable does not escape the lips."
― Silvia Moreno-Garcia, Gods of Jade and Shadow.
#kidlit #booksky #fantasy 💙📚
April 18, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Reposted by Francisca Staines
Great reporting and writing about a terrible situation.
“Deportations like Sergio’s — to fixtures of the community — are making people think, ‘This could be me next, or my favorite place next, or somebody who I talk to every day.’”
wacobridge.org/2025/10/06/d...
“Deportations like Sergio’s — to fixtures of the community — are making people think, ‘This could be me next, or my favorite place next, or somebody who I talk to every day.’”
wacobridge.org/2025/10/06/d...
‘Why Sergio?’ Deportation ends 36-year dream for celebrated Waco chef and family - The Waco Bridge
Sergio Garcia and his wife, Sandra, spent 36 years building a reputation for regional Mexican cuisine in Waco. It ended when ICE came to call.
wacobridge.org
October 7, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Great reporting and writing about a terrible situation.
“Deportations like Sergio’s — to fixtures of the community — are making people think, ‘This could be me next, or my favorite place next, or somebody who I talk to every day.’”
wacobridge.org/2025/10/06/d...
“Deportations like Sergio’s — to fixtures of the community — are making people think, ‘This could be me next, or my favorite place next, or somebody who I talk to every day.’”
wacobridge.org/2025/10/06/d...
Autumn is that time when things in the garden calm down (as in, there's much less to do), but things in the kitchen become hectic (as in, there's lots to process, cook, and preserved).
Love this time of the year!
#Gardening #Autumn2025 #GardenProduce
Love this time of the year!
#Gardening #Autumn2025 #GardenProduce
October 6, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Autumn is that time when things in the garden calm down (as in, there's much less to do), but things in the kitchen become hectic (as in, there's lots to process, cook, and preserved).
Love this time of the year!
#Gardening #Autumn2025 #GardenProduce
Love this time of the year!
#Gardening #Autumn2025 #GardenProduce
A favorite of mine, The Exorcist is the best kind of horror, a book that leads the reader into questioning their reality, forcing them into a new perspective.
"God never talks. But the devil keeps advertising, Father. The devil does a lot of commercials."
― William Peter Blatty, The Exorcist
💙📚
"God never talks. But the devil keeps advertising, Father. The devil does a lot of commercials."
― William Peter Blatty, The Exorcist
💙📚
October 6, 2025 at 6:06 AM
Reposted by Francisca Staines
I am just so fucking proud of her.
October 3, 2025 at 7:45 PM
I am just so fucking proud of her.
Diverse books open windows into the other's perspective, showing us how alike we actually are, that's why they're so important.
"Part of growing up, I think, is realizing that not everything your family does is normal or acceptable."
― XiXi Tian, This Place Is Still Beautiful
💙📚 #kidlit #YA
"Part of growing up, I think, is realizing that not everything your family does is normal or acceptable."
― XiXi Tian, This Place Is Still Beautiful
💙📚 #kidlit #YA
October 1, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Old, but still readable,
"They won't listen. Do you know why? Because they have certain fixed notions about the past. Any change would be blasphemy in their eyes, even if it were the truth. They don't want the truth; they want their traditions.”
― Isaac Asimov, Pebble in the Sky
#BookSky 💙📚 #scifi
"They won't listen. Do you know why? Because they have certain fixed notions about the past. Any change would be blasphemy in their eyes, even if it were the truth. They don't want the truth; they want their traditions.”
― Isaac Asimov, Pebble in the Sky
#BookSky 💙📚 #scifi
September 25, 2025 at 9:35 AM
A beautiful and spooky #MG to get ready for the season... I enjoyed very much.
"You don't waste October sunshine. Soon the old autumn sun would bed down in cloud blankets and there would be weeks of gray rain before it finally decided to snow."
― Katherine Arden, Small Spaces
#KidLit #MG #Horror
"You don't waste October sunshine. Soon the old autumn sun would bed down in cloud blankets and there would be weeks of gray rain before it finally decided to snow."
― Katherine Arden, Small Spaces
#KidLit #MG #Horror
September 25, 2025 at 9:19 AM
If you see this, quote with a flower
September 23, 2025 at 2:29 PM
If you see this, quote with a flower
September 23, 2025 at 12:32 PM
Reposted by Francisca Staines
A new entry from my #illustration learning journey. This time, a portray of our dogs who love to explore the hedge at the end of the garden, even climbing a few branches to get a better view.
#kidlitart #digitalart #cutedogs
#kidlitart #digitalart #cutedogs
March 6, 2025 at 9:46 PM
A new entry from my #illustration learning journey. This time, a portray of our dogs who love to explore the hedge at the end of the garden, even climbing a few branches to get a better view.
#kidlitart #digitalart #cutedogs
#kidlitart #digitalart #cutedogs
Tuesday's garden bounty.
Lots of apples, a few plums (collected most of them two weeks ago), tomatoes and tomatillos, and a few zucchinis. Not bad for a year I didn't plant anything and I've been collecting only from the old trees and quite some volunteer plants.
#Gardening
Lots of apples, a few plums (collected most of them two weeks ago), tomatoes and tomatillos, and a few zucchinis. Not bad for a year I didn't plant anything and I've been collecting only from the old trees and quite some volunteer plants.
#Gardening
September 17, 2025 at 7:08 AM
Tuesday's garden bounty.
Lots of apples, a few plums (collected most of them two weeks ago), tomatoes and tomatillos, and a few zucchinis. Not bad for a year I didn't plant anything and I've been collecting only from the old trees and quite some volunteer plants.
#Gardening
Lots of apples, a few plums (collected most of them two weeks ago), tomatoes and tomatillos, and a few zucchinis. Not bad for a year I didn't plant anything and I've been collecting only from the old trees and quite some volunteer plants.
#Gardening
September 12, 2025 at 8:45 AM