Melody Simpson
@melodysimpson.bsky.social
Writer. Founder of Melanin in YA (@melanininya.bsky.social), your source for all things Black in traditional young adult publishing.
All things TV, movies, books, sci-fi, theatre, & theology.
Los Angeles / Austin
https://melodylsimpson.com
All things TV, movies, books, sci-fi, theatre, & theology.
Los Angeles / Austin
https://melodylsimpson.com
Pinned
Melody Simpson
@melodysimpson.bsky.social
· Nov 17
Feels on brand (as the founder of Melanin in YA) to make a starter pack for Traditionally Published Black YA Authors & Black Publishing Pros (Lit Agents, Editors, etc...) in the YA space. I'll be adding to it constantly as more people join the app.
go.bsky.app/5Coyqe9
go.bsky.app/5Coyqe9
Reposted by Melody Simpson
Hey, I have had some questions about who is allowed to file.
Here is the class certification:
Here is the class certification:
August 27, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Hey, I have had some questions about who is allowed to file.
Here is the class certification:
Here is the class certification:
Reposted by Melody Simpson
Hi authors! Please remember to file a claim!
AI advocates have warned that if every author in the class action filed a claim, it would "financially ruin" the entire industry.
Authors celebrate “historic” settlement coming soon in Anthropic class action
Advocates fear such settlements will “financially ruin” the AI industry.
arstechnica.com
August 27, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Hi authors! Please remember to file a claim!
Reposted by Melody Simpson
Today August 15th is the last day to cast your vote for the Ignyte Awards! Go here to vote: ignyteawards.fiyahlitmag.com/vote
The #IgnyteAwards for Outstanding Anthology/Collected Works are:
August 15, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Today August 15th is the last day to cast your vote for the Ignyte Awards! Go here to vote: ignyteawards.fiyahlitmag.com/vote
Reposted by Melody Simpson
"i just use AI for-" say no more, i already think less of you
August 3, 2025 at 12:35 AM
"i just use AI for-" say no more, i already think less of you
Not my bro saying Oprah said “Look under you car, I’m putting life jackets there!” 💀💀💀
July 31, 2025 at 10:58 PM
Not my bro saying Oprah said “Look under you car, I’m putting life jackets there!” 💀💀💀
Reposted by Melody Simpson
"I used to believe that if I stayed out of politics and focused on my work, then I could avoid ostracizing anyone and things would just work themselves out. But now, the work of helping my patrons feel safe, informed, and free is itself political"
bookriot.com/running-for-...
bookriot.com/running-for-...
How a Quiet Librarian Became a Loud Threat to the Iowa Legislature: Book Censorship News, July 19, 2025
How one Iowa librarian went from being unaware of attacks on books and libraries to running for state-level office to turn the tide around.
bookriot.com
July 18, 2025 at 1:12 PM
"I used to believe that if I stayed out of politics and focused on my work, then I could avoid ostracizing anyone and things would just work themselves out. But now, the work of helping my patrons feel safe, informed, and free is itself political"
bookriot.com/running-for-...
bookriot.com/running-for-...
Reposted by Melody Simpson
Here's India May's story of how she went from a quiet librarian to a loud threat to Iowa Legislature. She's running for office, thanks to seeing the ways that the current legislature is specifically targeting libraries throughout the state: bookriot.com/running-for-...
How a Quiet Librarian Became a Loud Threat to the Iowa Legislature: Book Censorship News, July 19, 2025
How one Iowa librarian went from being unaware of attacks on books and libraries to running for state-level office to turn the tide around.
bookriot.com
July 18, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Here's India May's story of how she went from a quiet librarian to a loud threat to Iowa Legislature. She's running for office, thanks to seeing the ways that the current legislature is specifically targeting libraries throughout the state: bookriot.com/running-for-...
Reposted by Melody Simpson
You know how those of us who've been covering and talking about and shouting about book bans for over 4 years now have talked about how vital it is to show up to school board meetings and library board meetings? How necessary it is to vote down ballot? How change happens by "being political?"
July 18, 2025 at 1:10 PM
You know how those of us who've been covering and talking about and shouting about book bans for over 4 years now have talked about how vital it is to show up to school board meetings and library board meetings? How necessary it is to vote down ballot? How change happens by "being political?"
Reposted by Melody Simpson
Went ahead and made a starter pack of Iranian/Persian artists I know who deserve all the love and support now more than ever. Let me know if I missed anyone and I’ll add them go.bsky.app/LHbyaKpv
June 22, 2025 at 10:35 AM
Went ahead and made a starter pack of Iranian/Persian artists I know who deserve all the love and support now more than ever. Let me know if I missed anyone and I’ll add them go.bsky.app/LHbyaKpv
Reposted by Melody Simpson
This is physical bravery. This guy is a patriot.
6/21, Los Angeles: A neighborhood volunteer documenting ICE was stopped by agents in an unmarked car, surrounded, and threatened by masked agents while they filmed him on their phones.
June 21, 2025 at 10:28 PM
This is physical bravery. This guy is a patriot.
Reposted by Melody Simpson
This is incredibly beautiful storytelling.
June 21, 2025 at 5:23 PM
This is incredibly beautiful storytelling.
Reposted by Melody Simpson
In Pasadena, protesters ran ICE out of a hotel. The hotel insisted ICE leave. Protesters slashed tires of many of the vehicles and local tow companies refused to assist. /
June 21, 2025 at 7:09 PM
In Pasadena, protesters ran ICE out of a hotel. The hotel insisted ICE leave. Protesters slashed tires of many of the vehicles and local tow companies refused to assist. /
Reposted by Melody Simpson
Masked ICE agents spotted swapping out license plates this morning in Bell Gardens, CA
June 21, 2025 at 9:08 PM
Masked ICE agents spotted swapping out license plates this morning in Bell Gardens, CA
Reposted by Melody Simpson
Greater Los Angeles is a peaceful city the size of the entire state of Delaware. There 18.5 million of us, from all walks of life. We love our city. We do not need anyone to
"liberate" a city that is already free. #NoICE #NoNationalGuard #NoMarines #NoKings
"liberate" a city that is already free. #NoICE #NoNationalGuard #NoMarines #NoKings
June 14, 2025 at 6:35 PM
Greater Los Angeles is a peaceful city the size of the entire state of Delaware. There 18.5 million of us, from all walks of life. We love our city. We do not need anyone to
"liberate" a city that is already free. #NoICE #NoNationalGuard #NoMarines #NoKings
"liberate" a city that is already free. #NoICE #NoNationalGuard #NoMarines #NoKings
I don't know if there are any Neopets fans over here but if there are, you should really check out Santae because it's everything Neopets should be in 2025 and isn't. It's also inclusive & they actively make updates in real time. It's AMAZING. Thank me later! www.santae.net/refer/1486
Santae
www.santae.net
June 13, 2025 at 6:10 PM
I don't know if there are any Neopets fans over here but if there are, you should really check out Santae because it's everything Neopets should be in 2025 and isn't. It's also inclusive & they actively make updates in real time. It's AMAZING. Thank me later! www.santae.net/refer/1486
Reposted by Melody Simpson
Your Cherokee words for today.
The top word is English followed by how it is written in the Cherokee language followed by how it is spelled in English then how to pronounce it phonetically.
The top word is English followed by how it is written in the Cherokee language followed by how it is spelled in English then how to pronounce it phonetically.
June 10, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Your Cherokee words for today.
The top word is English followed by how it is written in the Cherokee language followed by how it is spelled in English then how to pronounce it phonetically.
The top word is English followed by how it is written in the Cherokee language followed by how it is spelled in English then how to pronounce it phonetically.
Oh thank God! 🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾
June 12, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Oh thank God! 🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾
Reposted by Melody Simpson
Picked the worst city to try this in, too. Nearly 4 million people just in the City of Los Angeles. That number jumps to almost 10 million for the whole county. LA has a long, proud history of protests and uprisings, esp against systemic oppression.
Notice she's not talking about "criminals" anymore. Now they're onto who they perceive as their enemies, including the people *we* elected. They want to use L.A. to show they can force liberal cities into submission.
Kristi Noem: "We are not going away. We are staying here to liberate the city from the socialists and the burdensome leadership that this governor and that this mayor have placed on this country and what they have tried to insert into the city."
Sen. Alex Padilla is then forcibly removed!
Sen. Alex Padilla is then forcibly removed!
June 12, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Picked the worst city to try this in, too. Nearly 4 million people just in the City of Los Angeles. That number jumps to almost 10 million for the whole county. LA has a long, proud history of protests and uprisings, esp against systemic oppression.
Reposted by Melody Simpson
yes, the fact that he's a senator shows that they're not worried about the repercussions. But the key issue, the thing to be repeated every time this is shown, is that they have no reason for arresting him, just like they have no reason for detaining the vast majority of people they've detained.
June 12, 2025 at 6:48 PM
yes, the fact that he's a senator shows that they're not worried about the repercussions. But the key issue, the thing to be repeated every time this is shown, is that they have no reason for arresting him, just like they have no reason for detaining the vast majority of people they've detained.
Reposted by Melody Simpson
Melody is rad as hell - her leaving like 2 pairs of jeans, like 3 outfits total behind for her books???
Such a badass move. Embedded her in my heart forever.
Such a badass move. Embedded her in my heart forever.
June 11, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Melody is rad as hell - her leaving like 2 pairs of jeans, like 3 outfits total behind for her books???
Such a badass move. Embedded her in my heart forever.
Such a badass move. Embedded her in my heart forever.
Sara and Cynthia’s harmonies!!!!!! Woooooo. Beautiful. #TonyAwards
June 9, 2025 at 2:09 AM
Sara and Cynthia’s harmonies!!!!!! Woooooo. Beautiful. #TonyAwards
Reposted by Melody Simpson
Is it an “original” story if they use AI? This is terrible 😡
After Black creatives told him no, he said aight bet. Let me steal the imaginations of children in vulnerable communities.
June 3, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Is it an “original” story if they use AI? This is terrible 😡