Jessica Spotswood
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jessicaspotswood.bsky.social
Jessica Spotswood
@jessicaspotswood.bsky.social
Author & library worker. Next: The Harrow Home for Wayward Girls (Holt, Fall 2026). Also: Born Wicked, A Tyranny of Petticoats, Great or Nothing. 📚
Pinned
I’m not here very often, but I did want to make sure I announced my TENTH book! I can’t wait to share HARROW with the world.
Reposted by Jessica Spotswood
Horrific murder of two Israeli embassy staffers in the middle of DC. This kind of violence is illegal, immoral, inexcusable and of course - if the chant of ‘free Palestine’ by the alleged shooter is true - solves nothing and helps zero Palestinians.
Two Israeli embassy staff shot dead near Washington DC Jewish museum
Police said a suspect was in custody after the shooting near the Capital Jewish Museum
www.theguardian.com
May 22, 2025 at 12:08 PM
I’m not here very often, but I did want to make sure I announced my TENTH book! I can’t wait to share HARROW with the world.
May 6, 2025 at 5:15 PM
“JessCon” would be at the beach, and involve copious amounts of tea and beach fries and seafood and ice cream, and we’d read and write and nap and take walks along the water. Maybe a bonfire or two.
what could your bluesky-con be about that could draw 200 people

“darthcon” would have dogs to pet and fried potato dishes to sample
i think that if i organized a “Bouiecon” where people got together and, i don’t know, talked breakfast cereals and the constitution, i could get more than 200 people to show up
April 19, 2025 at 2:22 AM
Reposted by Jessica Spotswood
It's hard to explain to people outside this fight that Texas is currently trying to ban kids from using public libraries... but they are; it's passed out of committee, and it's going to a floor vote.

🚨If you know ANYONE in Texas it's time for them to call their reps and demand NO ON HB3225🚨
Bad. Despite the voucher debate, the Tx State Affairs committee met and voted FOR HB3225. This bill would require public libraries to have age restrictions and cordone off parts of the library as inaccessible to teens. @amlibraryassoc.bsky.social @penamerica.bsky.social @everylibrary.bsky.social
April 17, 2025 at 2:40 AM
Reposted by Jessica Spotswood
Hey: If you made it through the week, and you tried to do some things to help other people — large or small — where you could, and you need to hear it, I’m here to tell you thank you. Get some rest. Figure out today, then figure out tomorrow.
February 22, 2025 at 1:08 AM
Reposted by Jessica Spotswood
Hey all.

I've been vague about this, but I'm now going to be blunt.

I understand that some of you may not look at me the same, but I want to be forthright, and maybe, speaking up will help others too.

I experienced domestic violence on Saturday at the hands of an ex.
Hey all, I have a specific request this AM.

There's an urgent situation involving this (which Martha references in the original description), and the total needs to be doubled.

Martha's OOO so I don't want to bother her to change the amount, but I'm asking for your help.

gofund.me/505857f2
Donate to Back Jess's Path to a Fresh Start in DC, organized by Martha Brockenbrough
You might know Jess Huang as Celeste Pewter—the tireless educator on how … Martha Brockenbrough needs your support for Back Jess's Path to a Fresh Start in DC
gofund.me
February 18, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Reposted by Jessica Spotswood
Here's the paid ad that WaPo was set to run and then pulled under political pressure. I agree with this sentiment (see firemusk.org), so I'm gonna go ahead and post it here.

NO ONE ELECTED ELON MUSK, who is operating illegally under a cloak of secrecy to destroy the government.
February 17, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Reposted by Jessica Spotswood
looking back, AOL had it right. 30 hours of internet per month was the right amount.
February 13, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Reposted by Jessica Spotswood
Here's a source on that statement from the AP about being refused entrance to an EO signing ceremony because the AP continues to use 'Gulf of Mexico.' This is a clear free speech violation.

(And I'd note that the AP was founded as an indie  media cooperative, so maybe...support indie news.)
AP statement on Oval Office access | The Associated Press
The Associated Press issued this statement on Tuesday from Executive Editor Julie Pace: As a global news organization, The Associated Press informs
www.ap.org
February 11, 2025 at 9:35 PM
Reposted by Jessica Spotswood
I’ve launched a new fundraiser for ongoing support now that the purpose of our original fundraiser to “prepare” to be homeless is technically complete. This months update includes health concerns and continuing costs of poverty. gofund.me/c0cc5aa2 ♥️ Please share.
Donate to Ongoing Support for Homeless Family, organized by Mariah Lily Meade
Last April, I made a fundraiser called “Preparing to Become Homeless Again.” Aft… Mariah Lily Meade needs your support for Ongoing Support for Homeless Family
gofund.me
February 10, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Reposted by Jessica Spotswood
This publisher's choice to brand books with warning labels exists in the context of the worst book banning emergency ever. Bigots who don't read and are hostile to libraries want labels like these on all books, circumventing the professional judgment of teachers and librarians.

This is bad.
Oh look, they’ve even included their content label on their launch announcement so we can see how fucked up their attitude in this moment is! This won’t prevent librarians from buying or endanger librarians and educators in our hostile book banning environment at all!
February 10, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Reposted by Jessica Spotswood
Oh look, they’ve even included their content label on their launch announcement so we can see how fucked up their attitude in this moment is! This won’t prevent librarians from buying or endanger librarians and educators in our hostile book banning environment at all!
February 10, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Reposted by Jessica Spotswood
Sending out some love on #kidlitartpostcard day 💌

Hoping these paper boats make it over to agents, editors, art directors, or publishers who are looking for picture book illustrators. Open for rep and ready to sail away with #kidlit projects! #kidlitart #kidlitartist

www.rebeccasinclairstudio.com
February 6, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Reposted by Jessica Spotswood
It’s #kidlitartpostcard day! I am an author-illustrator who loves illustrating heART of childhood. I am represented by Kristen Terrette. #kidlit #kidlitart
February 6, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Reposted by Jessica Spotswood
I am doing one kid-lit-art for each month of the year ✨
Here is (late) January ❄️🙀
.
#kidlitart #picturebooks #KidLitArtPostcard @sandraproudman.bsky.social @galltzacker.bsky.social
February 4, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Reposted by Jessica Spotswood
Hi! #kidlitartpostcard

I'm Cat, a Kid Lit Illustrator, available for new projects.

🎨 Portfolio catarinaoliveirastudio.com
💼 Agent @thet2agency.bsky.social

#kidlit #illustration #art #kidlitart
February 6, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Reposted by Jessica Spotswood
Hello #kidlitartpostcard! I am Charlene Chua & I illustrate books for kids.

Portfolio - charlenechua.com
Agent - Tracy Marchini, BookEnds Literary

#kidlitart #art
February 6, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Reposted by Jessica Spotswood
USAID matters. I've often disagreed with their strategy and choices, but their work saves more lives than any philanthropy can. It's a rounding error in the federal budget, and one of the best things we do as a country. To see it destroyed overnight by one unelected man is an unmitigated horror.
February 3, 2025 at 10:15 PM
Reposted by Jessica Spotswood
I honestly believe our most powerful position in a toxic time that feeds on cynicism, apathy,& despair is to genuinely care and act for a better world.

Cynicism is our enemy. We should check it, incl. on the left. It’s not intellectually superior. It’s the virus they’re trying to infect us with. NO
January 31, 2025 at 7:04 PM
Reposted by Jessica Spotswood
Big news. Bookshop.org is now offering eBooks!

Bookshop is a big online consortium of indie bookstores. You shop like Amazon, but all the profits go to indies! There's no need to shop-- or to sell your books-- through Amazon again. I've used it for a couple years now.

Erase Bezos from your biz!
Bookshop: Buy books online. Support local bookstores.
An online bookstore that financially supports local independent bookstores and gives back to the book community.
bookshop.org
January 28, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Reposted by Jessica Spotswood
It’s #ALAYMA day! Good day to remind you #kidlit writers that, while awards are lovely, they are by definition, limited to just a handful of books. I promise you, whether your book is “big” with awards or not, it is someone’s very special treasure — and that’s because you wrote it. Keep writing! 💙
January 27, 2025 at 2:40 PM
Reposted by Jessica Spotswood
Stop letting unfunny men tell you there’s something wrong with you for not getting their “jokes”. Stop fake laughing. Let their reality reflect the truth of how fundamentally they misunderstand humor. Neuter their ability to use “it was a joke” for emotional cover. Make them see nobody laugh.
January 25, 2025 at 3:56 PM