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earthkids.bsky.social
Ari is Querying
@earthkids.bsky.social
710 followers 580 following 3.5K posts
🐈‍⬛ YA Writer Attemptee
🐈‍⬛ 2024 WTMP Mentee
🐈‍⬛ Philly
🐈‍⬛ Ace | Non-Binary
🐈‍⬛ She/They
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earthkids.bsky.social
107. On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong

I knew from the start this book would break my heart, but I wasn't sure how or why. Despite my heightened anxiety, I couldn't stop reading this. It was so beautiful & while I struggled a bit with some of the structure in the last 80%, I loved it.
Ari's & Eddie Spaghetti's 2025 Reads: 107/?? There is the book cover for On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous a novel by Ocean Vuong. It's a black and white image of someone hugging their knees. To the left is the following text: "This felt as if I were lost inside a collage of found footage. There were moments where I forgot I was reading a book and felt as if I were watching some movie like Aftersun. It has this grand feeling where you know at some point, the narrative is going to break you and yet I was never really sure where. The structure is a little hard to explain because it's a conglomeration of prose and poetry all in a letter Little Dog addresses to his mother, knowing she will most likely never read it especially considering she is illiterate. Its pages are full of all the things we wish we could say as we leap between three generations in such a way that I didn’t always feel like I was supposed to be watching the scene unfold before me."
December 9, 2025 at 5:37 PM
earthkids.bsky.social
Picked this up from the library and look forward to eventually reading it.

I like that in the US it's Queer Enlightenments vs Queer Georgians because there's a whole state called Georgia (I guess).
A library book of Queer Enlightenments: A Hidden History of Lovers, Law readers, and homemakers by Anthony Delaney. The book cover is blue with an 18th C man on the cover.
December 9, 2025 at 3:14 PM
earthkids.bsky.social
I actually got a decent amount of writing done today and I finished the scene I was struggling with and then went, Now what?

So it felt like a good time to take a break.
Anna Karenina retelling today's word count: 4,049 overall word count: 45,111. The words are over a pink background full of clouds to the left and right of the title there are mid-century modern pink and purple stars. There is a little rabbit with balloons floating above a cloud to the left and a little astronaut girl sitting in a cloud looking down at a lesbian pride Saturn and a little rocker is flying up from the bottom left corner.
December 9, 2025 at 12:42 AM
earthkids.bsky.social
106. Diary of a Void by Emi Yogi

As much as I love an unreliable narrator, I needed this one to push its 'thesis' or 'message' or whatever it's called a little more in the narrative.

But the book is so short that it made my brain happy to complete.

💙📚
Ari's & Eddie Spaghetti's 2025 Reads: 106/?? There is the book cover of Diary of a Void a novel by Emi Yagi, translated by David Boyd and Lucy North. there is a woman in autumn clothes at a pedestrian crosswalk. Then there are the words: "I. . .I didn’t love this book. The setup was interesting because it mentions a woman pretending to be pregnant to get away from some of the misogyny in the workplace then things get a little weird. And yeah, it does. We have a great unreliable narrator and I love how almost apathetic she is yet I really would’ve loved it to push the gender part of the narrative more. By the end, I was like okay? I loved that everything was handled in a subtle way yet I personally wanted/needed more. But I’m also a person who reads a lot of books about gender, in general. Anyway, I’m glad I finally read this! It took awhile for me to get to it and I’m still glad I gave it a shot."
December 8, 2025 at 5:45 PM
earthkids.bsky.social
Time and Time Again by Chatham Greenfield

I finished and immediately wanted more time loop books but had to stop myself from reading them because this was so good, I'd be disappointed.

🌈📚 💙📚
Ari & Eddie Spaghetti's 2025 Reads: 37/?? There are three images from left to right. There is an image of me wearing a green flannel with a pride flag painted on my face and a speech bubble that says: "This was such a a charming read. It was really the end that cemented my love for it because it takes everything I love about a time loop story and makes it its own. I loved all the characters and having a chance to meet them." The book cover for Time and Time Again by Chatham Greenfield. There are two individuals on a car looking at each other. One holds a cane. Eddie Spaghetti is a black cat eating a lesbian pride flag. His speech bubble says: "Read this if you love: Time loops Lesbians IBS Real Talk Fun So much fun" Up first is a great gift idea for someone in your life who loves to read especially if they're a teen. It's a time loop RomCom featuring a main character who is caught in that loop during an IBS flare up. When it comes to representation this book has so much! It's Sapphic, Jewish, Non-binary, and has two disabled characters. So buy it before it's banned, I guess. I know I might need to because I borrowed the audiobook from the library back in March and still think of this book.
December 8, 2025 at 5:13 PM
earthkids.bsky.social
Glorious Exploits by Ferdia Lennon

I correctly judge this book by its cover and I'm so happy about that.

💙📚
Ari's & Eddie' Spaghetti's 2025 Reads: 83/?? There are three images. The firsti s me wearing a lot of green and putting my arms out with a speech bubble over my head saying: "I judged this book by its cover & purchased it on a whim. And I’m so happy that I spent the time with these characters + their wild play endeavors. I legit laughed & cried. I feared it was going in one direction, then it didn’t, making me love the book more." In the middle is the book cover of Glorious Exploits a novel by Ferdia Lennon. The cover is bright orange with a large classical sculpture head with googley eyes. Eddie Spaghetti is a little black cat sticking his tongue out with a speech bubble above his head that says: "Read this if you love: Unserious Serious Books Ancient Greece Absurdity Yet emotional Euripides (not required love) Theater Kids? Sicily" This one is for anyone out there who needs a good fictional ancient history book (because they are hard to come by). Glorious Exploits by Ferdia Lennon This has the energy of something like A Knight's Tale or The Great where it really digs into the vibes of a time period making it more historically accurate than a lot of other books. It helps that it is written by a guy who studied all this shit. We meet Lampo and Gelon in Syracuse during the Peloponnesian War. As much as they want Athens to fall they don't because that means no more Euripides and these guys really love plays. So they put on a performance of Medea and a brand new play that the Athenian prisoners of war mentioned. I bought this book on a whim because it sounded interesting and those googly eyes and by the end it has me crying and so enamored with the plot. I need more fiction by this author stat.
December 8, 2025 at 5:09 PM
earthkids.bsky.social
A Gentleman's Gentleman by T.J. Alexander

If you haven't already, go ahead and treat yourself to some historical trans joy.

There's even a read-a-thon for this book starting in January!

🌈📚 💙📚
Ari's & Eddie Spaghetti's 2025 Reads: 23/?? There are three images from left to right. There is me in a white shirt with a naked woman on a horse and a light blue panda hat. A speech bubble above my head says: "This felt like the kind of side plot I’d want to see on Bridgerton. The one I’d be more invested in and yelling at the characters about their feelings. It has a mini mystery in it that had me going OMG the entire time. It was a fun character focused romantic romp." The middle is the book cover for A Gentleman's Gentleman by TJ Alexander. A blue cover featuring a man in flrilly blue outfit with a calling card where the title is. Edie Spaghetti is a little black cat standing on a pile of books next to an Eevee with a speech bubble that says: "Read this if you love: Regency Romance Trans Joy A Side of Mystery Friendships Not Too Spicy? Some identity navigation Fun! " Love Bridgerton? Then I got a great book for you. Honestly, if you hate Bridgerton but want to love it then this is actually the book for you. The Gentleman's Gentleman by T.J. Alexander First of all, T.J. Alexander is one of my favorite authors. Second of all, this book is full of joy and everyone should have a little joy in their life. Lord Christopher Eden must find a wife in order to keep his inheritance. It's this whole weird little issue thanks to some ancestor. (I feel like Frances Burney could get behind this plot.) But the problem is: 1. Lord Christopher isn't interested in women and 2. He's trans. How is he going to enter society without outing himself while also finding someone he can trust? There's also a fun little mystery subplot about a missing daughter. Anyway, I loved this book. I even got to read an early finished copy of it that I treasure and is now signed. And if historical romance isn't your thing then don't worry, T.J. Alexander has so many other books for you to check out. Anyway, READ MORE TRANS BOOKS!
December 8, 2025 at 5:07 PM
earthkids.bsky.social
I read a lot of books this year and I also liked a lot of those books so I'm just going to casually share all my books whenever I feel like it.

There's no top 10s here; there is only book love.

💙📚 #booksky
Ari's & Eddie Spaghetti's Favorite Reads Thread but thread is there as the emoji thread. Then in the four corners from top left to right are the following images. Me with longer black hair holding Eddie Spaghetti who is a black cat then there is a clip art image of three books over my hand that is held up, one is blue, the other yellow, and the last is orange; Ayla is a calico cat with her face cut out and put on Padme Amidala's body from in a toga-like dress, she holds a pink smile face clip cart book; Eddie Spaghetti is a little black cat with his paw up and he is holding a salmon pink book with a black question mark and across from him is the same image flipped and he has a pink book with a black question mark. The background is purple with little ghosts.
December 8, 2025 at 5:07 PM
earthkids.bsky.social
Ayla Achilles Amidala is just casually being super weird today.

She's just doing this all over the apartment and I don't think it's a big cause Eddie has done nothing and he's the fly catcher.
December 8, 2025 at 4:06 AM
earthkids.bsky.social
He couldn't stop me and I finally sat down to type up some notes and actually write for the first time in like a month.

Hopefully, I continue to write this project regularly again.
Anna Karenina retelling today's word count: 1,753 overall word count: 41,950. The words are over a pink background full of clouds to the left and right of the title there are mid-century modern pink and purple stars. There is a little rabbit with balloons floating above a cloud to the left and a little astronaut girl sitting in a cloud looking down at a lesbian pride Saturn and a little rocker is flying up from the bottom left corner.
December 7, 2025 at 10:03 PM
earthkids.bsky.social
Eddie Spaghetti is giving me a dirty look while I try to work on Sapphic Anna Karenina Retelling.
Eddie Spaghetti is a little black cat behind a cactus cat tree.
December 7, 2025 at 9:23 PM
earthkids.bsky.social
Still feeling sick but it's okay because Eddie Spaghetti is here with his magic purr powers to heal me as I read Diary of a Void by Emi Yagi.
Eddie Spaghetti is a little black cat curled up on my stomach as I hold up the book Diary of a Void by Emi Yagi with a woman standing at a pedestrian crossing. In the background is a calico cat.
December 6, 2025 at 8:10 PM
earthkids.bsky.social
Hot Pot made me so sick and now I'm reminding everyone to read Time and Time Again by Chatham Greenfield because that book really has it all.

First of all, it featured an MC stuck in a time loop DURING an IBS flare up.

There's also so much queer and gender rep and the main characters are Jewish!
The book cover for Time And Time Again by Chatham Greenfield featuring a scene in Florida with two white teens leaning against a blue car. One holds a cane and is sitting on the hood and wears an orange shirt and has blue hair. The other teen is fat and wearing a black and rose romper and is happily gazing at the teen sitting on the hood of the car. The book has a Stonewall Honor Book prize on it with a black triangle with a pink circle to the side of it and a book in the middle then the top says Reese's Lit Up Book Club.
December 6, 2025 at 6:11 PM
earthkids.bsky.social
Going to give this a try while I wait to hear back about the eARC for Get Over It, April Evans

But it feels unfair that I finally wrote a paragraph then I start a retelling featuring a character named Kitty (I know, I need to write).

Anyway, back to The Unruly Heart of Miss Darcy by Erin Edwards.
The book cover for The Unruly Heart of Miss Darcy by Erin Edwards, it features two white women sitting on a red couch, one is in blue dress as she lies in the lap of a girl wearing a green coat and white dress. The wall paper has pink and blue flowers on it.
December 5, 2025 at 8:14 PM
earthkids.bsky.social
Aaaah I was just sent an eARC of Get Over It, April Evans by Ashley Herring Blake, thanks to @berkleyromance.bsky.social

This is double exciting for me because the author is represented by a local to Philly lit agency (Neighborhood Literary).
The book cover for Get Over It, April Evans a novel by USA Today Bestselling Author of Dream On, Ramona Riley Ashley Herring Blake. There are two women on the book cover by a lake with fireflies and trees surronding them. They sit on a log and are almost kissing one another. One has short black hair and a tattoo on their arm and the other has long purple hair and a yellow dress. At the bottom is a quote: "Ashley Herring Blake writes sweet, sexy romances with a supporting cast of queer found family like no one else." -USA Today Bestselling Author Alicia Thompson
December 4, 2025 at 7:11 PM
earthkids.bsky.social
105. Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 by Cho Nam-Joo

This isn't your average 'weird girl' fic. Saying that cause I thought it was. It reads more like a case study about a woman's life along w/ gender in South Korea before wrapping up in a subtly shocking way. Best paired w/ The Vegetarian by Han Kang.

💙📚
Ari's & Eddie Spaghetti's 2025 Reads: 105/??? There are three images here starting from left to right. There is me dressed as Judy Funnie from Doug in a purple dress and a black turtle neck and I'm holding a book. There is a speech bubble above my head that says: "Wow! I’m going to be thinking about this one because the whole time I was like: “Love how this is written like a report.” Then I learn why and it ends on a killer note that had me really sitting there thinking about the book." In the middle is the book cover for Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 an International Bestseller novel by Cho Nam-Joo. The book cover features a surrealist image of a woman with long hair before a sky, her face is gone and there is a desert. A little black cat that is named Eddie Spaghetti is looking up at you with a speech bubble above his head that says: "Read this if you love: A heck of a last line The horrors of being woman Analyzing Gender in South Korea Books in translation The Vegetarian by Han Kang"
December 4, 2025 at 3:32 PM
earthkids.bsky.social
He's all curled up with me now and did a good job at taking his meds today.

When we were at the vet, he tried to run away and crawl into hiding inside my messenger bag.
Eddie Spaghetti is a little black cat on my lap. Eddie Spaghetti is a little black cat climbing in a gray messenger bag with star wars pins
December 4, 2025 at 3:06 AM
earthkids.bsky.social
Poor Eddie Spaghetti has some kind of mystery illness and itchiness and he keeps using that as an excuse to steal my comfy spot.

I already had to pay $400 in vet bills for him and he seems okay. We were so close to paying off Ayla's surgery and have been set back a lot.
Eddie Spaghetti is a little black cat on the couch.
December 4, 2025 at 2:59 AM
earthkids.bsky.social
DANNY PHANTOM x IT (2017)

Well, Denny Dragan sure messed up this time. Rather than find his missing sister, he accidentally released a serial killer ghost.

To make things messier, he needs help from Guitar, a medium who would rather practice his cello than save lives.

#AgentsGuide #amquerying
An Agent's Guide to Reach Out a 85,000 word YA Horror/Fantasy with mystery elements. It's a collage of tarot cards, a girl climbing into an empty pool and a cassette tape that says "In case I disappear" Lined paper that says The Pitch at the top circled in red and a polaroid of a mauseleum. Then the following words: THE UNDERWOOD TAPES x WEDNESDAY Denny Dragan sure messed up this time. While trying to find his missing sister, he accidentally released a serial killer ghost. Talk about a distraction! And to make things messier, he needs help from a medium who would rather let people die than help out strangers. lined paper that says to the left "Tropes/rep" that's circled in red then there is a paper taped to it with the following words: "Found Family Epistolary Interludes Rewind, Replay, Repeat Witchcraft Meddling Kids Missing Person Unsolved Mysteries & Urban Legends Ghostly Goals 90s Vibes" underneath is another paper taped with the following pride pins: Trans, Ace, Lesbian, progress pride" On the left it says "Comps" and is circled in red then has two film strips that go from top to bottom: Wednesday and her friend in a cemetery, the Mystery Gang in a small town, the Losers Club in a cemetery, the Dead Boy Detectives in a bunker then The Underwood Tapes by Amanda Dewitt with two people on the book cover with film around them; the Name of the STar by Maureen Johnson with the book cover featuring a faded park image; Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake with a book cover of a ghost girl walking through fog to a house; Dead Flip by Sara Fraizan with a book cover of an arcade and heads above it. Lined paper with an unspooled cassette tape at the top where it says "A snippet" circled in red and says the following: " Dear listener who is probably just Denny. I bet you’re chuckling now ‘cause I’m right, aren’t I? Anyway, this is my ‘in case I disappear’ tape but the rest is a real treat for you. It’s some impressive project I’ve been working on. Though if I am missing, tell mom it wasn’t the monsters, but I’m, like, studying archeology at some college where I’m on some research trip with the professor to find the amulet. Then really buckle down and be all like ‘You know, the amulet? How do you not know about the amulet? What kind of mom are you?’ until she cries or something then you can tell the truth. I want her to feel bad for always being ‘too busy.’"
December 3, 2025 at 4:04 PM
earthkids.bsky.social
Aaaaw my old cat, Tormund Giantsbabe, reading Vicious by V.E. Schwab with me.

I miss that guy so much.
Tormund is a big orange cat sitting over my head as I read Vicious by V.E. Schwab. The book cover is black full of skulls and someone with white hair walking away.
December 2, 2025 at 4:28 PM
earthkids.bsky.social
I feel like when I visit family in Florida, I have to read 2nd Chances in New Port Stephen even if Gender Expansive Book Club doesn't choose the book.

Here are some books I've been putting off + two ARCs, I'm super excited about Anderson in Bloom by Jennifer Dugan (huge author inspiration).
A series of books underneath little hanging stars that says December Hopefuls. From left to right: Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 a novel by Cho Nam-Joo, the book cover is a woman with no face and her face is instead a desert; Butter by Asako Yuzuki, the cover is yellow with a cow standing sideways and a bloody hand; Diary of a Void a novel by Emi Yagi, the book cover is a woman standing by a pedestrain crossing wearing a big orange sweateshirt, gray pants and black shoes; Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar, the book cover is yellow with a little guy on a horse; The Unruly Heart of Miss Darcy by Erin Edwards, there are two white woman in regency outfits on a couch; Anderson in Bloom by Jennifer Dugan, there are two white woman hugging in a flower store; Dream on Ramona Riley by Ashley Herring Blake, there are two white woman having a picnic by a lake; Second Chances in New Port Stephen, the book cover is cartoons of two men standing on the beach with a flamingo in a sant a hat. The one man is in stripes is white and the other man in green shirt is asian. There is also a series of Christmas lights above them on the beach with a crab
December 2, 2025 at 4:22 PM
earthkids.bsky.social
December Reads for Eddie and me
A collage that says "Our December Reads" then there are three polaroid images over a collage of paper, flowers, and a camera. The first image is a polaroid of Roman Statues then me giving a peace sign and Eddie Spaghetti a little black cat sticking out his tongue. Then there is a polaroid in a ripped paper frame with a building in the sun and then there is Eddie Spaghetti a little black cat sitting there, me holding up my phone, and Ayla a calico standing up on her hind legs. The last polaroid is of a big gate there is a tiny version of me awkwardly standing there with Eddie Spaghetti a little black cat standing behind me.
December 2, 2025 at 4:22 PM
earthkids.bsky.social
It's just a half day and nobody else is really here so I'm just telling my brain that it is time, it is time to buckle down and actually super query that Ghost Story.

So give me some time to emotionally prepare myself and then maybe I actually will.

Just kidding, I sent some queries out this week!
I am standing before a mirror in an empty hallway by a galaxy picture and am wearing a long green coat with a brown stripped sweater.
November 26, 2025 at 5:25 PM
earthkids.bsky.social
I've been reading Hello Sunshine and it's making me really miss Ghost Story because this could be a great comp for it (despite one being a graphic novel and one not).
the book cover for the graphic novel Hello Sunshine by Keezy Young with the tagline: Alex is missing, but is he really gone? there is a field of flowers and a person lying underneath them as a group with a dog is looking around.
November 25, 2025 at 5:46 PM
earthkids.bsky.social
104: Walking Practice by Dolki Min

This short book is the confused/angsty stream of concious of an alien just trying to survive. There is so much gender yet I think it needed a more in-depth translator note in the end to really push what was lost in the translation of it all.

🌈📚
Ari's & Eddie Spaghetti's 2025 Reads: 104/??? There are three images going from left to right. There is a tiny version of me in a big coat with a speech bubble that says: "Picked this up on a whim from the weird little book table and I swear I’ve heard someone talk about it before. I wish the translation notes went a little deeper on gender because while I liked this book, I felt like a lot was lost in translation." The book cover for Walking Practice a Novel by Dolki Min translated by Victoria Caudle. The cover is black featuring purple and orange font with a giant floral looking creature with sharp teeth on the cover. Then there is Eddie Spaghetti a little black cat looking shocked with a speech bubble over his head: "Read this if you love: Food Gender Murder Aliens The Weird Short Books"
November 25, 2025 at 3:13 PM