Steph Grossman
@stephgrossman.bsky.social
Reader. Writer. Aspiring time traveler. Dreaming Thing. Assistant Prof @ Texas State (former marketing peep @ JSTOR, Penguin RH, S&S). Words: Paste, Joyland, Masters Review, CRAFT, Salamander. Co-Host: Basement Girls horror podcast. https://bit.ly/SGpubs
Pinned
On to naturalism with “To Build a Fire” by Jack London next week, plus some modernism with Robert Frost, Marianne Moore, Ezra Pound, and T.S. Eliot.
Teaching an US Lit Since 1865 class for the 1st time this semester; worked all last week/weekend on presentations about postbellum history and Walt Whitman; now working on presentations about Emily Dickinson, Louisa May Alcott, and Kate Chopin. So. Much. Work. But rewarding.
February 13, 2026 at 2:13 PM
On to naturalism with “To Build a Fire” by Jack London next week, plus some modernism with Robert Frost, Marianne Moore, Ezra Pound, and T.S. Eliot.
On to "The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman this week, as well as W.E.B. Du Bois and Paul Lawrence Dunbar.
Teaching an US Lit Since 1865 class for the 1st time this semester; worked all last week/weekend on presentations about postbellum history and Walt Whitman; now working on presentations about Emily Dickinson, Louisa May Alcott, and Kate Chopin. So. Much. Work. But rewarding.
February 8, 2026 at 1:17 AM
On to "The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman this week, as well as W.E.B. Du Bois and Paul Lawrence Dunbar.
Teaching an US Lit Since 1865 class for the 1st time this semester; worked all last week/weekend on presentations about postbellum history and Walt Whitman; now working on presentations about Emily Dickinson, Louisa May Alcott, and Kate Chopin. So. Much. Work. But rewarding.
February 2, 2026 at 11:24 PM
Teaching an US Lit Since 1865 class for the 1st time this semester; worked all last week/weekend on presentations about postbellum history and Walt Whitman; now working on presentations about Emily Dickinson, Louisa May Alcott, and Kate Chopin. So. Much. Work. But rewarding.
Been submitting a voicey gothic coming-of-age story I really believe in. I know it's early in the process (my avg. # of rejections on a story is ~45 before an acceptance) but I've recieved 3 form rejections so far and I can't help but despair it's a sign the story isn't working.
January 26, 2026 at 8:59 PM
Been submitting a voicey gothic coming-of-age story I really believe in. I know it's early in the process (my avg. # of rejections on a story is ~45 before an acceptance) but I've recieved 3 form rejections so far and I can't help but despair it's a sign the story isn't working.
Uncanny—in just one of my classes (of 20 students) I have two Kealy’s, two Destiny’s, and two Sophia’s!
January 23, 2026 at 10:20 PM
Uncanny—in just one of my classes (of 20 students) I have two Kealy’s, two Destiny’s, and two Sophia’s!
My baby was just diagnosed with RSV & a double ear infection, &, why yes, there IS less than a week before the beginning of the spring semester, the week in which I’d been planning to prep all of my materials for a new course I’m teaching, plus my three other classes. Pray for her…Pray for me…😅
January 14, 2026 at 10:33 PM
My baby was just diagnosed with RSV & a double ear infection, &, why yes, there IS less than a week before the beginning of the spring semester, the week in which I’d been planning to prep all of my materials for a new course I’m teaching, plus my three other classes. Pray for her…Pray for me…😅
What are your favorite lit mags and magazines to read interviews with authors? Would love some suggestions because I'm planning on pitching something soon!
January 12, 2026 at 2:38 AM
What are your favorite lit mags and magazines to read interviews with authors? Would love some suggestions because I'm planning on pitching something soon!
"In 2024, Barnes & Noble opened more new bookstores in a single year than it had in the whole decade from 2009 to 2019."
Thank you Booktok!
www.usatoday.com/story/money/...
Thank you Booktok!
www.usatoday.com/story/money/...
Barnes & Noble to open 60 stores in 2026. See new locations.
Barnes & Noble is giving readers more stores, at least 60 by June, to shop at in the new year. See where.
www.usatoday.com
December 22, 2025 at 3:16 PM
"In 2024, Barnes & Noble opened more new bookstores in a single year than it had in the whole decade from 2009 to 2019."
Thank you Booktok!
www.usatoday.com/story/money/...
Thank you Booktok!
www.usatoday.com/story/money/...
“I’m a pusher, Cady. I’m a pusher.” When they were telling me to push.
December 17, 2025 at 10:56 PM
“I’m a pusher, Cady. I’m a pusher.” When they were telling me to push.
Reposted by Steph Grossman
The first step to a great reading year is buying far too many books while you’re Christmas shopping, right? . . . right?
December 13, 2025 at 1:11 AM
The first step to a great reading year is buying far too many books while you’re Christmas shopping, right? . . . right?
I care much more about the why than the what.
December 10, 2025 at 2:34 AM
I care much more about the why than the what.
If you get why I’m posting this, I want to be your friend.
November 30, 2025 at 5:43 PM
If you get why I’m posting this, I want to be your friend.
Grading thoughts this semester: Thankful that basic AI and LLMs students use are still inept at incorporating direct quotes from sources...it really helps me see who is doing their own work and who is just relying on summaries and arguments synthesized from AI. For now.
November 29, 2025 at 10:45 PM
Grading thoughts this semester: Thankful that basic AI and LLMs students use are still inept at incorporating direct quotes from sources...it really helps me see who is doing their own work and who is just relying on summaries and arguments synthesized from AI. For now.
Are they called throw pillows because you're always throwing them off your couch in order to sit?
November 18, 2025 at 2:34 AM
Are they called throw pillows because you're always throwing them off your couch in order to sit?
Just posting some Halloween 2026 ambiance from my neighborhood before it truly feels too late.
November 9, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Just posting some Halloween 2026 ambiance from my neighborhood before it truly feels too late.
Enjoyed this one.
October 29, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Enjoyed this one.
I really should use my campus office more.
October 20, 2025 at 10:22 PM
I really should use my campus office more.
Submitting to lit mags for the first time since 2023--a whole 9 months of pregnancy and 13 months of focusing almost exclusively on my daughter in between! In shock I didn’t have to reset my Duotrope password.
a cartoon character is standing in a doorway with a broom and the words boom baby below him .
ALT: a cartoon character is standing in a doorway with a broom and the words boom baby below him .
media.tenor.com
October 16, 2025 at 8:22 PM
Submitting to lit mags for the first time since 2023--a whole 9 months of pregnancy and 13 months of focusing almost exclusively on my daughter in between! In shock I didn’t have to reset my Duotrope password.
Just joined r/getoutofbed
October 8, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Just joined r/getoutofbed
This is what I get for trying to quickly promote my podcast on a random Monday afternoon in a convo about hobbies on Fable. No edit button available.
The Basement GIROS … 🤦♀️
The Basement GIROS … 🤦♀️
October 6, 2025 at 7:21 PM
This is what I get for trying to quickly promote my podcast on a random Monday afternoon in a convo about hobbies on Fable. No edit button available.
The Basement GIROS … 🤦♀️
The Basement GIROS … 🤦♀️
I had a joke about Persephone, but Hades stole it.
October 4, 2025 at 6:49 PM
I had a joke about Persephone, but Hades stole it.
To read: www.theguardian.com/books/2025/s...
‘She wrote the best first line – and the most chilling stories’: Stephen King on the dark brilliance of Daphne du Maurier
From Rebecca to The Birds and scores more creepy short stories, Du Maurier was queen of the uncanny, writes the US horror maestro
www.theguardian.com
October 2, 2025 at 11:42 AM
To read: www.theguardian.com/books/2025/s...
Watching season one of True Detective for the first time ever
September 29, 2025 at 2:49 AM
Watching season one of True Detective for the first time ever
Reading "The Tooth" by Shirley Jackson, and wow, I'm so stressed out lol
September 22, 2025 at 11:37 PM
Reading "The Tooth" by Shirley Jackson, and wow, I'm so stressed out lol
Just want to note that I’ve been doing the single top button thing since like 1998 and have just been WAITING for it to be socially acceptable.
September 17, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Just want to note that I’ve been doing the single top button thing since like 1998 and have just been WAITING for it to be socially acceptable.