Laekan Zea Kemp
@laekanzeakemp.bsky.social
Author of AN APPETITE FOR MIRACLES & OMEGA MORALES AND THE CURSE OF EL CUCUY. Pura Belpré Honoree. Chicana. Rep: Andrea Morrison at Writers House
Reposted by Laekan Zea Kemp
🎙💜✨ We're back for season 3 of The Paper Trail!
Ep. 26: Creative Resets (& Say Hello to Your Season 3 Round Table!)
The one where we reflect on a difficult 2025, discuss our hopes & goals for the year ahead & commit to fighting for our creative joy.
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...
Ep. 26: Creative Resets (& Say Hello to Your Season 3 Round Table!)
The one where we reflect on a difficult 2025, discuss our hopes & goals for the year ahead & commit to fighting for our creative joy.
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...
Episode 26: Creative Resets (and Say Hello to Your Season 3 Round Table!)
Podcast Episode · Paper Trail · 02/09/2026 · 59m
podcasts.apple.com
February 9, 2026 at 1:15 PM
🎙💜✨ We're back for season 3 of The Paper Trail!
Ep. 26: Creative Resets (& Say Hello to Your Season 3 Round Table!)
The one where we reflect on a difficult 2025, discuss our hopes & goals for the year ahead & commit to fighting for our creative joy.
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...
Ep. 26: Creative Resets (& Say Hello to Your Season 3 Round Table!)
The one where we reflect on a difficult 2025, discuss our hopes & goals for the year ahead & commit to fighting for our creative joy.
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...
🎙💜✨ We're back for season 3 of The Paper Trail!
Ep. 26: Creative Resets (& Say Hello to Your Season 3 Round Table!)
The one where we reflect on a difficult 2025, discuss our hopes & goals for the year ahead & commit to fighting for our creative joy.
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...
Ep. 26: Creative Resets (& Say Hello to Your Season 3 Round Table!)
The one where we reflect on a difficult 2025, discuss our hopes & goals for the year ahead & commit to fighting for our creative joy.
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...
Episode 26: Creative Resets (and Say Hello to Your Season 3 Round Table!)
Podcast Episode · Paper Trail · 02/09/2026 · 59m
podcasts.apple.com
February 9, 2026 at 1:15 PM
🎙💜✨ We're back for season 3 of The Paper Trail!
Ep. 26: Creative Resets (& Say Hello to Your Season 3 Round Table!)
The one where we reflect on a difficult 2025, discuss our hopes & goals for the year ahead & commit to fighting for our creative joy.
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...
Ep. 26: Creative Resets (& Say Hello to Your Season 3 Round Table!)
The one where we reflect on a difficult 2025, discuss our hopes & goals for the year ahead & commit to fighting for our creative joy.
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...
Reposted by Laekan Zea Kemp
Folks in MA, the number for the LUCE ICE Watch hotline is
☎️ 617-370-5023
5am-9pm, multiple languages. More info: www.lucemass.org
☎️ 617-370-5023
5am-9pm, multiple languages. More info: www.lucemass.org
January 16, 2026 at 5:19 PM
Folks in MA, the number for the LUCE ICE Watch hotline is
☎️ 617-370-5023
5am-9pm, multiple languages. More info: www.lucemass.org
☎️ 617-370-5023
5am-9pm, multiple languages. More info: www.lucemass.org
Reposted by Laekan Zea Kemp
Maine Immigrants Rights coalition needs multilingual telephone operators & people with reliable transportation for verification. They are holding trainings for both positions.
January 15, 2026 at 3:58 AM
Maine Immigrants Rights coalition needs multilingual telephone operators & people with reliable transportation for verification. They are holding trainings for both positions.
Reposted by Laekan Zea Kemp
With SNAP benefits going out late, nonprofits are begging for pet food donations to prevent desperate owners from surrendering their dogs and cats to animal shelters.
Families on SNAP worry about not just feeding themselves but also their pets
With SNAP benefits going out late, nonprofits are begging for pet food donations to prevent desperate owners from surrendering their dogs and cats to animal shelters.
bit.ly
November 8, 2025 at 4:00 PM
With SNAP benefits going out late, nonprofits are begging for pet food donations to prevent desperate owners from surrendering their dogs and cats to animal shelters.
Reposted by Laekan Zea Kemp
Season finale just dropped!
The one where we discuss publishers forfeiting their role as creators of culture, brainstorm ways to successfully promote a book these days & celebrate @authorhien.bsky.social debut novel Twin Tides!
open.spotify.com/episode/2ob2...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...
The one where we discuss publishers forfeiting their role as creators of culture, brainstorm ways to successfully promote a book these days & celebrate @authorhien.bsky.social debut novel Twin Tides!
open.spotify.com/episode/2ob2...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...
Episode 25: Nothing is Selling (or What Happened to the Tastemakers?)
open.spotify.com
November 4, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Season finale just dropped!
The one where we discuss publishers forfeiting their role as creators of culture, brainstorm ways to successfully promote a book these days & celebrate @authorhien.bsky.social debut novel Twin Tides!
open.spotify.com/episode/2ob2...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...
The one where we discuss publishers forfeiting their role as creators of culture, brainstorm ways to successfully promote a book these days & celebrate @authorhien.bsky.social debut novel Twin Tides!
open.spotify.com/episode/2ob2...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...
Season finale just dropped!
The one where we discuss publishers forfeiting their role as creators of culture, brainstorm ways to successfully promote a book these days & celebrate @authorhien.bsky.social debut novel Twin Tides!
open.spotify.com/episode/2ob2...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...
The one where we discuss publishers forfeiting their role as creators of culture, brainstorm ways to successfully promote a book these days & celebrate @authorhien.bsky.social debut novel Twin Tides!
open.spotify.com/episode/2ob2...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...
Episode 25: Nothing is Selling (or What Happened to the Tastemakers?)
open.spotify.com
November 4, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Season finale just dropped!
The one where we discuss publishers forfeiting their role as creators of culture, brainstorm ways to successfully promote a book these days & celebrate @authorhien.bsky.social debut novel Twin Tides!
open.spotify.com/episode/2ob2...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...
The one where we discuss publishers forfeiting their role as creators of culture, brainstorm ways to successfully promote a book these days & celebrate @authorhien.bsky.social debut novel Twin Tides!
open.spotify.com/episode/2ob2...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...
Reposted by Laekan Zea Kemp
With millions at risk of losing SNAP in the coming days, a reminder: hunger doesn't happen in isolation. When food assistance disappears, families use rent money to eat. Then come evictions and homelessness.
Housing, food, healthcare—it's all connected. Cut one thread and the whole thing unravels.
Housing, food, healthcare—it's all connected. Cut one thread and the whole thing unravels.
October 24, 2025 at 12:26 PM
With millions at risk of losing SNAP in the coming days, a reminder: hunger doesn't happen in isolation. When food assistance disappears, families use rent money to eat. Then come evictions and homelessness.
Housing, food, healthcare—it's all connected. Cut one thread and the whole thing unravels.
Housing, food, healthcare—it's all connected. Cut one thread and the whole thing unravels.
I have a book due Mon & here is how I get myself to write for long stretches on deadline
1. Turn on HGTV
2. Watch the first 10 min of the ep. so I can see the fugly house they're going to renovate
3. Press mute & do a 20-min sprint
4. Watch the last 10 min of the ep. to see the results
5. Repeat
1. Turn on HGTV
2. Watch the first 10 min of the ep. so I can see the fugly house they're going to renovate
3. Press mute & do a 20-min sprint
4. Watch the last 10 min of the ep. to see the results
5. Repeat
October 18, 2025 at 7:55 PM
I have a book due Mon & here is how I get myself to write for long stretches on deadline
1. Turn on HGTV
2. Watch the first 10 min of the ep. so I can see the fugly house they're going to renovate
3. Press mute & do a 20-min sprint
4. Watch the last 10 min of the ep. to see the results
5. Repeat
1. Turn on HGTV
2. Watch the first 10 min of the ep. so I can see the fugly house they're going to renovate
3. Press mute & do a 20-min sprint
4. Watch the last 10 min of the ep. to see the results
5. Repeat
⏰️🚨6 HOURS LEFT🚨⏰️
📚✨Please share✨📚
For the next 10 hours donations to my classroom library will be DOUBLED meaning I actually only need $141 in donations to be able to fully fund this project!
Not only that but today is actually the LAST DAY this project can be funded period.
www.donorschoose.org/project/span...
For the next 10 hours donations to my classroom library will be DOUBLED meaning I actually only need $141 in donations to be able to fully fund this project!
Not only that but today is actually the LAST DAY this project can be funded period.
www.donorschoose.org/project/span...
Spanish Classroom Library for English Language Learners!, a project from Ms. Kemp
Help me give my students a Spanish language classroom library to support their native language literacy skills while they begin the process of learning English. I'm returning to the ESL (Englis...
www.donorschoose.org
October 17, 2025 at 9:30 PM
⏰️🚨6 HOURS LEFT🚨⏰️
Reposted by Laekan Zea Kemp
📚✨Please share✨📚
For the next 10 hours donations to my classroom library will be DOUBLED meaning I actually only need $141 in donations to be able to fully fund this project!
Not only that but today is actually the LAST DAY this project can be funded period.
www.donorschoose.org/project/span...
For the next 10 hours donations to my classroom library will be DOUBLED meaning I actually only need $141 in donations to be able to fully fund this project!
Not only that but today is actually the LAST DAY this project can be funded period.
www.donorschoose.org/project/span...
Spanish Classroom Library for English Language Learners!, a project from Ms. Kemp
Help me give my students a Spanish language classroom library to support their native language literacy skills while they begin the process of learning English. I'm returning to the ESL (Englis...
www.donorschoose.org
October 17, 2025 at 5:13 PM
📚✨Please share✨📚
For the next 10 hours donations to my classroom library will be DOUBLED meaning I actually only need $141 in donations to be able to fully fund this project!
Not only that but today is actually the LAST DAY this project can be funded period.
www.donorschoose.org/project/span...
For the next 10 hours donations to my classroom library will be DOUBLED meaning I actually only need $141 in donations to be able to fully fund this project!
Not only that but today is actually the LAST DAY this project can be funded period.
www.donorschoose.org/project/span...
📚✨Please share✨📚
For the next 10 hours donations to my classroom library will be DOUBLED meaning I actually only need $141 in donations to be able to fully fund this project!
Not only that but today is actually the LAST DAY this project can be funded period.
www.donorschoose.org/project/span...
For the next 10 hours donations to my classroom library will be DOUBLED meaning I actually only need $141 in donations to be able to fully fund this project!
Not only that but today is actually the LAST DAY this project can be funded period.
www.donorschoose.org/project/span...
Spanish Classroom Library for English Language Learners!, a project from Ms. Kemp
Help me give my students a Spanish language classroom library to support their native language literacy skills while they begin the process of learning English. I'm returning to the ESL (Englis...
www.donorschoose.org
October 17, 2025 at 5:13 PM
📚✨Please share✨📚
For the next 10 hours donations to my classroom library will be DOUBLED meaning I actually only need $141 in donations to be able to fully fund this project!
Not only that but today is actually the LAST DAY this project can be funded period.
www.donorschoose.org/project/span...
For the next 10 hours donations to my classroom library will be DOUBLED meaning I actually only need $141 in donations to be able to fully fund this project!
Not only that but today is actually the LAST DAY this project can be funded period.
www.donorschoose.org/project/span...
Reposted by Laekan Zea Kemp
My publisher’s been very patient. I’m not doing everything I said I’d do to promote this book (out in a few weeks) because I’m an organizer in a city under federal attack. My days are full and emotionally exhausting. Any help getting the word out means a lot. It's a book people need right now.
Read This When Things Fall Apart by Kelly Hayes | Pilsen Community Books
A bundle of letters to activists and organizers on the frontlines in catastrophic times from Let This Radicalize You co-author Kelly Hayes In social movements, some heartbreaks are all but inevitable.
www.pilsencommunitybooks.com
October 11, 2025 at 2:59 PM
My publisher’s been very patient. I’m not doing everything I said I’d do to promote this book (out in a few weeks) because I’m an organizer in a city under federal attack. My days are full and emotionally exhausting. Any help getting the word out means a lot. It's a book people need right now.
Reposted by Laekan Zea Kemp
Texting with another YA author friend this morning about the rough state of the market, and our consensus was, publishing keeps looking for the next Hunger Games, but they wouldn’t acquire the original if it were in their inboxes today
October 9, 2025 at 6:35 PM
Texting with another YA author friend this morning about the rough state of the market, and our consensus was, publishing keeps looking for the next Hunger Games, but they wouldn’t acquire the original if it were in their inboxes today
Reposted by Laekan Zea Kemp
hey @theonion.com what's up with this unwarranted attack on me, personally 😭
Woman Tends To Do Best Creative Thinking When Backed Into Corner With Livelihood At Stake https://theonion.com/woman-tends-to-do-best-creative-thinking-when-backed-in-1851338274/
October 9, 2025 at 6:25 PM
hey @theonion.com what's up with this unwarranted attack on me, personally 😭
Reposted by Laekan Zea Kemp
✨💜✨NEW EPISODE✨💜✨
The one where we celebrate the release of The Silenced, discuss book banning efforts in Texas, and question whether the U.S. publishing industry can survive this dystopian hellscape.
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/p...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/1ggW...
The one where we celebrate the release of The Silenced, discuss book banning efforts in Texas, and question whether the U.S. publishing industry can survive this dystopian hellscape.
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/p...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/1ggW...
Spotify – Web Player
open.spotify.com
October 6, 2025 at 11:56 AM
✨💜✨NEW EPISODE✨💜✨
The one where we celebrate the release of The Silenced, discuss book banning efforts in Texas, and question whether the U.S. publishing industry can survive this dystopian hellscape.
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/p...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/1ggW...
The one where we celebrate the release of The Silenced, discuss book banning efforts in Texas, and question whether the U.S. publishing industry can survive this dystopian hellscape.
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/p...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/1ggW...
Reposted by Laekan Zea Kemp
I see pieces like this a lot, often w/ a spin of lamenting cultural degeneration, but reading is a LABOR issue, it’s declined because so many people are working overtime or two jobs & employers expect after hours work. France has Earth’s highest reading rate b/c long lunch breaks & labor protections
October 7, 2025 at 12:25 AM
I see pieces like this a lot, often w/ a spin of lamenting cultural degeneration, but reading is a LABOR issue, it’s declined because so many people are working overtime or two jobs & employers expect after hours work. France has Earth’s highest reading rate b/c long lunch breaks & labor protections
Reposted by Laekan Zea Kemp
It's banned books week and so I'm legally obligated to bully you, a person who has ever had their name on a book, into joining @authorsabb.bsky.social.
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
We fight the source of book bans with calls to action, partnership w everyone in the game, and offer training.
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
We fight the source of book bans with calls to action, partnership w everyone in the game, and offer training.
AABB Author Sign-Up Form
Hello! We're Authors Against Book Bans, a group of authors who’ve come together to protect and promote the freedom to read on both the national and local levels. We’re creating a network of authors to...
docs.google.com
October 7, 2025 at 2:56 AM
It's banned books week and so I'm legally obligated to bully you, a person who has ever had their name on a book, into joining @authorsabb.bsky.social.
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
We fight the source of book bans with calls to action, partnership w everyone in the game, and offer training.
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
We fight the source of book bans with calls to action, partnership w everyone in the game, and offer training.
Reposted by Laekan Zea Kemp
$41 million: The amount of money we’ve raised for indie bookstores since 2020.
$0: The amount of money Amazon has raised for indie bookstores since 1994.
$0: The amount of money Amazon has raised for indie bookstores since 1994.
October 7, 2025 at 8:05 PM
$41 million: The amount of money we’ve raised for indie bookstores since 2020.
$0: The amount of money Amazon has raised for indie bookstores since 1994.
$0: The amount of money Amazon has raised for indie bookstores since 1994.
✨💜✨NEW EPISODE✨💜✨
The one where we celebrate the release of The Silenced, discuss book banning efforts in Texas, and question whether the U.S. publishing industry can survive this dystopian hellscape.
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/p...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/1ggW...
The one where we celebrate the release of The Silenced, discuss book banning efforts in Texas, and question whether the U.S. publishing industry can survive this dystopian hellscape.
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/p...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/1ggW...
Spotify – Web Player
open.spotify.com
October 6, 2025 at 11:56 AM
✨💜✨NEW EPISODE✨💜✨
The one where we celebrate the release of The Silenced, discuss book banning efforts in Texas, and question whether the U.S. publishing industry can survive this dystopian hellscape.
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/p...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/1ggW...
The one where we celebrate the release of The Silenced, discuss book banning efforts in Texas, and question whether the U.S. publishing industry can survive this dystopian hellscape.
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/p...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/1ggW...
Reposted by Laekan Zea Kemp
Here's some amazing news... READING RAINBOW is back and @mychal3ts.bsky.social is the new host!
Congrats, Mychal!
bookriot.com/new-host-of-...
Congrats, Mychal!
bookriot.com/new-host-of-...
Meet the New Host of Reading Rainbow: Mychal the Librarian
After 20 years, Reading Rainbow is back! The new host is Mychal the Librarian, who has been spreading library joy online for years.
bookriot.com
September 29, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Here's some amazing news... READING RAINBOW is back and @mychal3ts.bsky.social is the new host!
Congrats, Mychal!
bookriot.com/new-host-of-...
Congrats, Mychal!
bookriot.com/new-host-of-...
Reposted by Laekan Zea Kemp
If this week had you mad and taking action against censorship, might I recommend finding a way to join the fight against book bans?
Readers: uniteagainstbookbans.org/take-action/
Authors: @authorsabb.bsky.social
Readers: uniteagainstbookbans.org/take-action/
Authors: @authorsabb.bsky.social
September 22, 2025 at 8:57 PM
If this week had you mad and taking action against censorship, might I recommend finding a way to join the fight against book bans?
Readers: uniteagainstbookbans.org/take-action/
Authors: @authorsabb.bsky.social
Readers: uniteagainstbookbans.org/take-action/
Authors: @authorsabb.bsky.social
Reposted by Laekan Zea Kemp
✨💜✨NEW EPISODE✨💜✨
The one where we discuss the grief that comes with seeing behind the proverbial publishing curtain, using your day job as a way to stay hungry & how to be a publishing anti w/author Sami Ellis.
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/p...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/4nk8...
The one where we discuss the grief that comes with seeing behind the proverbial publishing curtain, using your day job as a way to stay hungry & how to be a publishing anti w/author Sami Ellis.
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/p...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/4nk8...
Paper Trail
Books Podcast · Updated Monthly · A monthly writing and publishing podcast featuring a rotating roundtable of children's book authors.
podcasts.apple.com
September 8, 2025 at 12:02 PM
✨💜✨NEW EPISODE✨💜✨
The one where we discuss the grief that comes with seeing behind the proverbial publishing curtain, using your day job as a way to stay hungry & how to be a publishing anti w/author Sami Ellis.
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/p...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/4nk8...
The one where we discuss the grief that comes with seeing behind the proverbial publishing curtain, using your day job as a way to stay hungry & how to be a publishing anti w/author Sami Ellis.
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/p...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/4nk8...
✨💜✨NEW EPISODE✨💜✨
The one where we discuss the grief that comes with seeing behind the proverbial publishing curtain, using your day job as a way to stay hungry & how to be a publishing anti w/author Sami Ellis.
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/p...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/4nk8...
The one where we discuss the grief that comes with seeing behind the proverbial publishing curtain, using your day job as a way to stay hungry & how to be a publishing anti w/author Sami Ellis.
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/p...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/4nk8...
Paper Trail
Books Podcast · Updated Monthly · A monthly writing and publishing podcast featuring a rotating roundtable of children's book authors.
podcasts.apple.com
September 8, 2025 at 12:02 PM
✨💜✨NEW EPISODE✨💜✨
The one where we discuss the grief that comes with seeing behind the proverbial publishing curtain, using your day job as a way to stay hungry & how to be a publishing anti w/author Sami Ellis.
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/p...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/4nk8...
The one where we discuss the grief that comes with seeing behind the proverbial publishing curtain, using your day job as a way to stay hungry & how to be a publishing anti w/author Sami Ellis.
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/p...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/4nk8...
Reposted by Laekan Zea Kemp
Oh look. When you fight instead of capitulating, you can have your funding restored.
JUST IN: Harvard won summary judgment against the Trump administration with the court finding that the admin violated Harvard's 1st amend. rights. The court has vacated the funding freeze orders and termination letters and issued a permanent injunction.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
![[cite_start]A screenshot of the first page of a court document from the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts[cite: 3]. [cite_start]The document is titled "MEMORANDUM AND ORDER" [cite: 43] [cite_start]and was filed on September 3, 2025[cite: 1].
The document lists two related civil actions:
* [cite_start]**Civil Action No. 25-cv-11048-ADB**: President and Fellows of Harvard College, et al., Plaintiffs, v. United States Department of Health and Human Services, et al., Defendants[cite: 4, 5, 14, 17, 21].
* [cite_start]**Civil Action No. 25-cv-10910-ADB**: American Association of University Professors - Harvard Chapter, et al., Plaintiffs, v. United States Department of Justice, et al., Defendants[cite: 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 36].
[cite_start]The order is from Judge Burroughs, D.J.[cite: 44]. [cite_start]The text begins by identifying the plaintiffs in the consolidated cases[cite: 45].](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:sefgphqp2xqwh2hawaixykwz/bafkreiaefziiwcjq4laze5iymzn45j4qfm3lc226u27qrdhlxqxjixzxae@jpeg)
September 3, 2025 at 10:23 PM
Oh look. When you fight instead of capitulating, you can have your funding restored.