salemlitfest.bsky.social
@salemlitfest.bsky.social
Read & listen to interviews with SLF alumni! James Bird @publisherswkly.bsky.social (11-18) re: showcasing Indigenous culture & community in books for young readers. Jim DeFilippi recently featured 3 alumni on Blue Smoke & Black Ink (YouTube): Stephen P. Kiernan January Gill O'Neil & J.D. Scrimgeour
November 26, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Congrats Kylie Lee Baker—I’LL FIND YOU WHERE THE TIMELINE ENDS—magical YA romance; Jennifer Lynn Barnes—THE SAME BACKWARD AS FORWARD—romantic YA thriller; @jcostabates.bsky.social—RICA BAPTISTA: THE BOX OF POSSIBILITIES—creative, funny chapter book; Danielle Jones—HUNGER—fierce, intimate poetry
November 21, 2025 at 1:15 PM
11-12 Gord Hill THE 500 YEARS OF INDIGENOUS RESISTANCE COMIC BOOK zoom & @salemstatelibrary rm 209; 11-15 poetry reading by @instacolleenm @thebottleshopbeverly 112 Rantoul St.; 11-23 storytime w/ @tavaresbooks DASHER AND THE POLAR BEAR Hastings House 14 Oak St. Beverly, more @bookshopofbeverlyfarms
November 11, 2025 at 11:41 PM
Congrats Lit Fest alums! Amanda Foody & C.L. Herman-A FATE SO COLD, first in a new fantasy duology; @alixeharrow.bsky.social-THE EVERLASTING, a moving and genre-defying quest; @kendallkulper.bsky.social-A TIME TRAVELER’S HISTORY OF TOMORROW, a time-bending love story
November 7, 2025 at 12:41 PM
Coming to the Salem Athenaeum: 11-13 KILL TALK with Dr. Janet McIntosh plus combat poetry readings by @myownwilderness.bsky.social Dave Connolly, Preston Hood & Marc Levy. 11-15 Writing Workshop: Pieces of Salem with J.D. Scrimgeour. 11-21 The Hard Work of Hope with @michaelansara.bsky.social
November 3, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Congrats to alumni with YA books out in PB: @missdahlelama.dahliaadler.com edited AT MIDNIGHT: 15 Beloved Fairy Tales Reimagined; in Kathleen Glasgow’s THE GLASS GIRL, a teenager struggles with alcohol; @laurataylornamey.bsky.social’s WITH LOVE, ECHO PARK features two Cuban teens in LA—sparks fly!
October 28, 2025 at 11:10 PM
Congrats to Lit Fest alum whose middle-grade books are out in PB: In @kalynnbayron.bsky.social’s RISE OF THE WRECKING CREW, the Squad makes a stand against the undead. In @annhood56.bsky.social’s HARRY HOUDINI: PRINCE OF AIR, Maisie & Felix find themselves at an 1894 magic show with Harry Houdini.
October 25, 2025 at 7:57 PM
Congratulations Lit Fest alumni! @kristinbairokeeffe.bsky.social—CLEMENTINE CRANE PREFERS NOT TO, narrated by @sarasounds.bsky.social. Julie C. Dao—SO BLOOMS THE DAWN. @kyliu99.bsky.social—ALL THAT WE SEE OR SEEM. @aptshadow.bsky.social—LIVES OF BITTER RAIN.
October 23, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Silent Book Club at The Castle Bvrly Oct 21 6PM cohosted @copperdogbooks.bsky.social; book talk w/ Daniel Seddiqui—GETTIN' NAUTICAL IN NEW ENGLAND—Oct 23 6PM The Bookstore of Gloucester; book event w/ @kristinbairokeeffe.bsky.social—CLEMENTINE CRANE PREFERS NOT TO—Oct 25 5PM Jabberwocky Newburyport
October 20, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Congrats to Lit Fest alums! @kalynnbayron.bsky.social’s MAKE ME A MONSTER is a Frankenstein-tinged horror romance. Tiffany D. Jackson’s THE SCAMMER follows a girl whose roommate’s ex-convict brother moves in. Return to Katie Zhao’s hidden world of the Descendants of the Zodiac in ZODIAC LEGACY.
October 16, 2025 at 10:05 PM
Congrats to Lit Fest alumni @victoriachang.bsky.social Jim DeFilippi & Matthew E. Henry on recent publications/pods.
October 14, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Congratulations to Salem Lit Fest alumni honored at the 2025 Mass Book Awards! In alphabetical order: @marjankamali.bsky.social @crystalking.bsky.social Margot Livesey Catherine Newman Jennifer Martelli January Gill O’Neil (Did we miss you? DM us and we’ll shout you out!)
October 9, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Congrats to Lit Fest alumni James Bird on the publication of WOLF CLUB, about 3 kids who search for an elusive wolf, and to Lori Haskins Houran on the PB publication of THE WOOFMORE ON THIN ICE, about a luxury hotel for dogs, co-written w/ Donna Gephart & illustrated by Josh Cleland
October 8, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Congrats! @levacrosen.bsky.social’s Evander Mills series follows a 1950s detective taking on cases related to the queer community. #4 MIRAGE CITY, out now, #3 ROUGH PAGES out in PB. In @hankphillippiryan.bsky.social’s ALL THIS COULD BE YOURS, a glam book tour becomes a deadly cat-and-mouse chase.
October 7, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Congrats to Lit Festers with new work! Moh Afdhaal published “The Kaiju in the Room” with Razzle Dazzle Cafe (Substack&YouTube); Denise Granniss published an excerpt of THE PLAGUE SHIP with @embarklitjournal.bsky.social; & @chadpoetforhire.bsky.social published 4 poems with A Thin Slice of Anxiety

October 4, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Oct 6 2:30-5 @leannareneehieber.bsky.social, AMERICA'S MOST GOTHIC, @wickedgoodbooks.bsky.social. Oct 10 7pm Ally Russell, author of middle-grade MYSTERY JAMES DIGS HER OWN GRAVE, @copperdogbooks.bsky.social. Oct 22 7-9 @stgibson.bsky.social, author of Savage Blooms, @nocturnesalem.bsky.social.
October 4, 2025 at 9:45 AM
Jennifer Martelli, talented poet & dedicated literary citizen, passed away last week. Jenn was a Salem Athenaeum trustee and friend of Lit Fest; past committee member and many-time panelist, including earlier this month. We will miss Jenn's strong poetry, sharp humor, and literary friendship.
September 30, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Congrats to Lit Fest alums @painternik.bsky.social & @scottymagoon.bsky.social! LOVE STAYS STRONG, written Paula Schneider & illustrated by Nicole, is about the strength of a family's love. Scott’s THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE GNOME’s presents a loving example of a community supporting each other.
September 30, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Today is National Coffee Day! Enjoy a coffee-cup read by Matt Yost from Lit Fest partner @fiveminutelit.bsky.social - short enough to read while you're sipping your first (fifth?) cup.
September 29, 2025 at 11:40 AM
Congrats Lit Fest alum @peculiaritea.bsky.social @chuckwendig.bsky.social & studiohoffmann.bsky.social on Kayla's EXTRAORDINARY QUESTS FOR AMATEUR WISHES & (PB) PRACTICAL RULES FOR CURSED WITCHES; Chuck's (PB) MONSTER MOVIE!; & PIGGY BANK SAVES THE DAY, by Kimberly Wilson & illustrated by Mark.
September 28, 2025 at 6:24 PM
The Salem Athenaeum presents the Salem Lit Fest in September, and so much more all year! Tomorrow - free tours at 11 and 1. Quiet writing Tuesday at 9, and for four weekend nights in October at 5:30 and 7, parlor magic with Evan Northrup. salemathenaeum.net
September 26, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Congrats to Lit Fest alums Halle Butler, @maddieday.bsky.social @missdahlelama.dahliaadler.com (editor) and @rajanilarocca.bsky.social on the recent publications!
September 25, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Congrats to Lit Fest alum Piper CJ on publication of A FROZEN PYRE, @niclesperance.bsky.social on publication of A SPELL TO WAKE THE DEAD, @kyliu99.bsky.social on inclusion in DEEP MAGIC III, & @catherineyuwrites.bsky.social on publication of THE DEVIL’S IN THE DANCERS.
September 25, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Congrats to @marjankamali.bsky.social on the PB publication of THE LION WOMEN OF TEHRAN (Aug) @tehlorkay.bsky.social on the publication of THE BETTER TO EAT YOU WITH (today) & the PB publication of IT HAPPENED TO ANNA (Aug) & to @aptshadow.bsky.social on the publication of THE HUNGRY GODS (Aug)
September 23, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Thank you to everyone who supported Salem Lit Fest 2025, including these amazing donors!
September 22, 2025 at 11:00 PM