Tom Birdseye
@tombirdseye.bsky.social
Author of 20 books for young readers, the most recent being my first YA — There Is No Map for This.
Strange creatures, we humans, seeking challenges that include wallowing in the muck. Whats the allure, besides family fun? The question may be philosophical, rhetorical, or possibly one of those Zen koans: What is the sound of mud napping?
June 30, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Strange creatures, we humans, seeking challenges that include wallowing in the muck. Whats the allure, besides family fun? The question may be philosophical, rhetorical, or possibly one of those Zen koans: What is the sound of mud napping?
Dad left way too soon — he was only 54 when he died of cancer — but the memory of him is still very much alive. That's a part of our legacy, I guess — what people remember of us. Irving Birdseye was particularly good at being a good man, and gave me a high bar to strive for. Thanks, Dad. I remember!
June 16, 2025 at 12:41 AM
Dad left way too soon — he was only 54 when he died of cancer — but the memory of him is still very much alive. That's a part of our legacy, I guess — what people remember of us. Irving Birdseye was particularly good at being a good man, and gave me a high bar to strive for. Thanks, Dad. I remember!
Nature is my muse. So when I came upon the bent-branch chair at the Carl Sandburg home in western North Carolina, I had to give it a try. It didn't disappoint. Where do you go when in need of inspiration?
#thereisnomapforthis #carlsandburg #natureinspired
#thereisnomapforthis #carlsandburg #natureinspired
June 9, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Nature is my muse. So when I came upon the bent-branch chair at the Carl Sandburg home in western North Carolina, I had to give it a try. It didn't disappoint. Where do you go when in need of inspiration?
#thereisnomapforthis #carlsandburg #natureinspired
#thereisnomapforthis #carlsandburg #natureinspired
You don't need to hang a bear bag, just backpack on a different planet!
April 29, 2025 at 5:13 PM
You don't need to hang a bear bag, just backpack on a different planet!
Sometimes the best way to go forward is to retreat — as in a writing retreat. Much progress made on the new novel, tentatively titled BLOWUP, during a 4-day deep dive at the beach. Now, onward!
#writing #tombirdseye #oregon #writingretreat #thereisnomapforthis
#writing #tombirdseye #oregon #writingretreat #thereisnomapforthis
April 28, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Sometimes the best way to go forward is to retreat — as in a writing retreat. Much progress made on the new novel, tentatively titled BLOWUP, during a 4-day deep dive at the beach. Now, onward!
#writing #tombirdseye #oregon #writingretreat #thereisnomapforthis
#writing #tombirdseye #oregon #writingretreat #thereisnomapforthis
Delight found in a book. Grandson Griffin reveling in riddles.
#bookstagram #riddles #reading #readers
#bookstagram #riddles #reading #readers
April 27, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Delight found in a book. Grandson Griffin reveling in riddles.
#bookstagram #riddles #reading #readers
#bookstagram #riddles #reading #readers
Let's celebrate! Saturday, April 26 is Independent Bookstore Day. For me that will be at Grassroots Books in Corvallis, Oregon — over 50 years of service to our community.
#grassrootsbooks #oregon #thereisnomapforthis #indiebookstore #IndieBookstoreDay
#grassrootsbooks #oregon #thereisnomapforthis #indiebookstore #IndieBookstoreDay
April 25, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Let's celebrate! Saturday, April 26 is Independent Bookstore Day. For me that will be at Grassroots Books in Corvallis, Oregon — over 50 years of service to our community.
#grassrootsbooks #oregon #thereisnomapforthis #indiebookstore #IndieBookstoreDay
#grassrootsbooks #oregon #thereisnomapforthis #indiebookstore #IndieBookstoreDay
Yes, wine can make you tipsy, but since when does it also affect the glass?
#tombirdseye #thereisnomapforthis #GroundwoodBooks #oregon #wine #magicalrealism
#tombirdseye #thereisnomapforthis #GroundwoodBooks #oregon #wine #magicalrealism
April 5, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Yes, wine can make you tipsy, but since when does it also affect the glass?
#tombirdseye #thereisnomapforthis #GroundwoodBooks #oregon #wine #magicalrealism
#tombirdseye #thereisnomapforthis #GroundwoodBooks #oregon #wine #magicalrealism
Reading in situ — aka the snowy wild.
#thereisnomapforthis #GroundwoodBooks #oregon #cascades
#readinginthewild #reading #yabooks
#thereisnomapforthis #GroundwoodBooks #oregon #cascades
#readinginthewild #reading #yabooks
March 26, 2025 at 7:03 PM
Reading in situ — aka the snowy wild.
#thereisnomapforthis #GroundwoodBooks #oregon #cascades
#readinginthewild #reading #yabooks
#thereisnomapforthis #GroundwoodBooks #oregon #cascades
#readinginthewild #reading #yabooks
So lucky to come upon freshwater otters in Oregon's Crooked River, Smith Rock State Park. Talk about awesome fishing skills!
March 24, 2025 at 5:54 PM
So lucky to come upon freshwater otters in Oregon's Crooked River, Smith Rock State Park. Talk about awesome fishing skills!
The first day of spring.
March 21, 2025 at 2:02 AM
The first day of spring.
If of thy mortal goods thou art bereft,
And from thy slender stores two loaves alone to thee are left,
Sell one,
And with the dole buy hyacinths,
to feed thy soul.
Thirteenth-century Persian poet Saadi got it right — beauty matters. Feed your soul.
And from thy slender stores two loaves alone to thee are left,
Sell one,
And with the dole buy hyacinths,
to feed thy soul.
Thirteenth-century Persian poet Saadi got it right — beauty matters. Feed your soul.
March 15, 2025 at 6:36 PM
If of thy mortal goods thou art bereft,
And from thy slender stores two loaves alone to thee are left,
Sell one,
And with the dole buy hyacinths,
to feed thy soul.
Thirteenth-century Persian poet Saadi got it right — beauty matters. Feed your soul.
And from thy slender stores two loaves alone to thee are left,
Sell one,
And with the dole buy hyacinths,
to feed thy soul.
Thirteenth-century Persian poet Saadi got it right — beauty matters. Feed your soul.
Home from the Fisherpoets Gathering in Astoria, Oregon, a celebration of commercial fishing and its community. It was centered, not on a genre — sci fi, fantasy, mystery, etc — but on a chosen career. Are there other professions that inspire in this way? I'm coming up blank . . .
February 24, 2025 at 8:16 PM
Home from the Fisherpoets Gathering in Astoria, Oregon, a celebration of commercial fishing and its community. It was centered, not on a genre — sci fi, fantasy, mystery, etc — but on a chosen career. Are there other professions that inspire in this way? I'm coming up blank . . .
Yesterday I lit a candle in honor of my dad, who died 51 years ago — the flame is a metaphor for the light a life brings to the world. This morning the candle had burned out. Dad might be long gone, but he's still alive in my heart. I carry the light with me, a flame that never burns out.
February 15, 2025 at 5:46 PM
Yesterday I lit a candle in honor of my dad, who died 51 years ago — the flame is a metaphor for the light a life brings to the world. This morning the candle had burned out. Dad might be long gone, but he's still alive in my heart. I carry the light with me, a flame that never burns out.
No caption needed. Create the story that goes with this image.
January 28, 2025 at 10:24 PM
No caption needed. Create the story that goes with this image.
The joy of no victory, the agony of no defeat — Non-Combat Scrabble.
January 22, 2025 at 10:39 PM
The joy of no victory, the agony of no defeat — Non-Combat Scrabble.
Reading in the wild: There Is No Map for This on the summit of Ryan Mountain, Joshua Tree National Park.
#thereisnomapforthis #GroundwoodBooks #yabooks #comingofage #readinginthewild #yabookshelf #literature #booklover #readersofinstagram #booksbooksbooks #joshuatree #joshuatreenationalpark
#thereisnomapforthis #GroundwoodBooks #yabooks #comingofage #readinginthewild #yabookshelf #literature #booklover #readersofinstagram #booksbooksbooks #joshuatree #joshuatreenationalpark
January 21, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Reading in the wild: There Is No Map for This on the summit of Ryan Mountain, Joshua Tree National Park.
#thereisnomapforthis #GroundwoodBooks #yabooks #comingofage #readinginthewild #yabookshelf #literature #booklover #readersofinstagram #booksbooksbooks #joshuatree #joshuatreenationalpark
#thereisnomapforthis #GroundwoodBooks #yabooks #comingofage #readinginthewild #yabookshelf #literature #booklover #readersofinstagram #booksbooksbooks #joshuatree #joshuatreenationalpark
Philosophers suggest that to maximize peace in our lives, we should accept the objective truth of any given situation. Gnashing our teeth and wringing our hands and spewing vitriol is neither healthy nor effective. Wishing everyone equanimity, empathy, peace, and commitment to being good humans.
January 20, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Philosophers suggest that to maximize peace in our lives, we should accept the objective truth of any given situation. Gnashing our teeth and wringing our hands and spewing vitriol is neither healthy nor effective. Wishing everyone equanimity, empathy, peace, and commitment to being good humans.
Celebrating Month-a-versary #608. The best that you can do is fall in love.
January 19, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Celebrating Month-a-versary #608. The best that you can do is fall in love.
Novel goes novel with travels: There Is No Map for This explores Ladder Canyon, California.
#thereisnomapforthis #GroundwoodBooks #yabooks #comingofage #readinginthewild #yabookshelf #booknerd #bookaddict #bibliophile #bookshelf #readersofinstagram #booksbooksbooks #bookaholic #libros #readers
#thereisnomapforthis #GroundwoodBooks #yabooks #comingofage #readinginthewild #yabookshelf #booknerd #bookaddict #bibliophile #bookshelf #readersofinstagram #booksbooksbooks #bookaholic #libros #readers
January 18, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Novel goes novel with travels: There Is No Map for This explores Ladder Canyon, California.
#thereisnomapforthis #GroundwoodBooks #yabooks #comingofage #readinginthewild #yabookshelf #booknerd #bookaddict #bibliophile #bookshelf #readersofinstagram #booksbooksbooks #bookaholic #libros #readers
#thereisnomapforthis #GroundwoodBooks #yabooks #comingofage #readinginthewild #yabookshelf #booknerd #bookaddict #bibliophile #bookshelf #readersofinstagram #booksbooksbooks #bookaholic #libros #readers
Facing fear, grandson Griffin first time top roping. What's your crux? Mine is facing the empty page.
January 7, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Facing fear, grandson Griffin first time top roping. What's your crux? Mine is facing the empty page.
Oh, Canada!
#thereisnomapforthis #canada #GroundwoodBooks #yabooks #comingofage #readinginthewild #yabookshelf #literature #booklover #instabooks #books #bookstagram #reading #bookworm #bookish #booknerd #bookaddict #bibliophile #bookshelf #readersofinstagram #booksbooksbooks #bookaholic #readers
#thereisnomapforthis #canada #GroundwoodBooks #yabooks #comingofage #readinginthewild #yabookshelf #literature #booklover #instabooks #books #bookstagram #reading #bookworm #bookish #booknerd #bookaddict #bibliophile #bookshelf #readersofinstagram #booksbooksbooks #bookaholic #readers
December 31, 2024 at 8:16 PM
You've heard of minimalism. Well, this is our maximalist approach to gingerbread house design and construction — aka, Why just do it when you can overdo it?
December 24, 2024 at 8:17 PM
You've heard of minimalism. Well, this is our maximalist approach to gingerbread house design and construction — aka, Why just do it when you can overdo it?
Looking for a gift for someone? A book is a gift that can be opened again and again.
December 17, 2024 at 5:45 PM
Looking for a gift for someone? A book is a gift that can be opened again and again.
It could happen any time, tornado,
earthquake, Armageddon. It could happen.
Or sunshine, love, salvation.
It could, you know. That’s why we wake
and look out—no guarantees
in this life.
But some bonuses, like morning,
like right now, like noon,
like evening.
William Stafford
earthquake, Armageddon. It could happen.
Or sunshine, love, salvation.
It could, you know. That’s why we wake
and look out—no guarantees
in this life.
But some bonuses, like morning,
like right now, like noon,
like evening.
William Stafford
December 15, 2024 at 8:29 PM
It could happen any time, tornado,
earthquake, Armageddon. It could happen.
Or sunshine, love, salvation.
It could, you know. That’s why we wake
and look out—no guarantees
in this life.
But some bonuses, like morning,
like right now, like noon,
like evening.
William Stafford
earthquake, Armageddon. It could happen.
Or sunshine, love, salvation.
It could, you know. That’s why we wake
and look out—no guarantees
in this life.
But some bonuses, like morning,
like right now, like noon,
like evening.
William Stafford