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Erica Waters

@ericawatersbooks.bsky.social
466 followers 583 following 55 posts

Author of queer Southern horror, Bram Stoker winner, New England transplant. Latest: ALL THAT CONSUMES US. Rep: Lauren Spieller/Folio ericawaters.com

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Reposted by Erica Waters
Preeti Chhibber @runwithskizzers.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
Call your reps. Find your rep here: Reps.fyi Reposting images with alt text
Authors Against Book Bans (AABB) strongly opposes House Resolution 2616 (The "Stopping Indoctrination and Protecting Kids" Act) and the suppressive effects it could have on school libraries and student education. As a coalition of authors, illustrators, editors, and other book creators, we unequivocally support the availability of diverse stories on library shelves and the freedom for every child to exercise their right to read. 
The proposed amendments to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 would withhold ESEA funding from schools that "teach or advance concepts related to gender ideology," as defined in section 2 of Executive Order 14168. This attempt to codify the inaccurate definitions outlined in that EO - which falsely equate gender ideology with gender identity - will have detrimental effects throughout our schools and society.
While the bill claims to be about "protecting kids," this is a smoke screen we've seen before. HR 2616, as written, is an attempt to target and eliminate not just trans and nonbinary books, but any mention of the existence of gender non-conforming people.The proposed amendment narrows the perspectives permitted in school discourse and flouts the long-standing legal precedent that supports constitutionally protected speech in schools.
In his opinion for 1982's Board of Education v. Pico, Justice William J.
Brennan, Jr., wrote:
"In sum, just as access to ideas makes it possible for citizens generally to exercise their rights of free speech and press in a meaningful manner, such access prepares students for active and effective participation in the pluralistic, often contentious society in which they will soon be adult members."Students have an inalienable right to access literature with diverse ideas and perspectives for their personal and educational development. It would be particularly damaging to those students whose "fully internal and subjective sense of self" (90 Fed. Reg. 8615) is targeted and negated under this bill, who would no longer be able to see themselves reflected in books at school.
We at AABB ask the House Education & Workforce Committee members to consider the potential ramifications of HR 2616 and prevent this bill trom going any turther. We stay committed to doing everything in our power to defend the freedom to read.
Sincerely and respectfully, Authors Against Book Bans
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Shane Hawk @shanehawk.com · 04/05/2026
For a year, I’ve been building this project, the Native Horror Index, with my bear hands basically. It’s my gift to the horror-loving Indigenous community. Over 55 profiles are live, but starting today, you can submit your own profile. Tag your kin, let em know. NativeHorrorIndex.com
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Erica Waters @ericawatersbooks.bsky.social · 27/04/2026
Come see me and some other very cool authors at the Salem Horror Fest this Saturday for a free author reading, panel, and signing. You can attend even if you don’t have tickets to the rest of the festival. The amazing Copper Dog books will be there too!
Into the Depths of Dark Fiction

Featuring Clay McLeod Chapman, Erica Waters, Kristin Dearborn, Mae Murray, and Douglas Wynne presented by Boston Horror Society and Copper Dog BooksDescend the steps of The Library at the historic Hawthorne Hotel for the Salem Horror Fest Book Talks. Five authors of dark fiction, including Bram Stoker and Shirley Jackson Award nominated writer Clay McLeod Chapman, will be reading their stories, discussing the art of writing, and signing books for attendees. The event will be hosted by Boston Horror Society's Jason LeBlanc, and books will be provided by Copper Dog Books of Beverly, MA.


Saturday, May 2
10:30 AM - 1:00 PM
Hawthorne Hotel Library

10:30 AM - 11:30 AM • Author Readings

11:30 AM - 12:00 PM • Author Q&A

12:00 PM to 1:00 PM • Author Signings


Free admission. Open to the public.Salem Horror Fest poster
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kelly jensen @heykellyjensen.bsky.social · 20/03/2026
The Nationwide Book Ban Bill Moves to the House: How to Take Action Now. bookriot.com/hr7661-advan...
bookriot.com
The Nationwide Book Ban Bill Moves to the House: How to Take Action Now
The nationwide book ban bill, HR 7661, has progressed out of committee and into the House. Here's what you need to know to take action.
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Maggie Tokuda-Hall @maggietokudahall.bsky.social · 26/02/2026
Don't be fooled by this bill's name-- this is a book banning bill that will exclude LGBTQ books from all public schools NATIONWIDE. Call your congresspeople and tell them to VOTE NO on this nakedly bigoted book banning bullshit. www.congress.gov/bill/119th-c...
congress.gov
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Maggie Tokuda-Hall @maggietokudahall.bsky.social · 14/11/2025
Hooray! @authorsabb.bsky.social is *OFFICIALLY* a nonprofit, and is now open for donations! For the last two years we've been doing all this w free tools, or paying out of pocket, & we were STILL able to get SO MUCH DONE. Imagine what we could do with $$$ www.authorsagainstbookbans.com/donate/
authorsagainstbookbans.com
Donate - Authors Against Book Bans
Thank you for donating to Authors Against Book Bans. Your donation directly supports the freedom to read by powering our work with our partner organizations, bringing the author muscle to the fight to...
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kelly jensen @heykellyjensen.bsky.social · 07/11/2025
Last month, it was teenagers who got 8 books banned in a statewide Georgia reading bowl back into the competition. These literary heroes deserve recognition–get to meet three of these rad book-loving intellectual freedom champions. bookriot.com/teens-who-ov...
bookriot.com
Meet the High Schoolers Who Overturned a State Reading Bowl Book Ban: Book Censorship News, November 7, 2025
A Georgia statewide reading bowl banned eight books. These students led the charge to get the bans overturned and succeeded.
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Erica Waters @ericawatersbooks.bsky.social · 10/10/2025
New short story from me out today! Give it a listen?
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Maris Kreizman @maris.bsky.social · 25/09/2025
My way of coping with all of the madness is focusing on what I can do to make my community a little bit stronger. So excuse me for all of the earnestness, but I wrote about ways we can all pitch in to support a thriving literary culture. lithub.com/how-to-be-a-...
lithub.com
How to Be a Good Literary Citizen (in Seven Easy Steps)
Last Sunday I spent hours at the Brooklyn Book Festival, a too rare occasion for me to pull myself away from the internet for an entire afternoon. As I looked around at the crowd on their way to pa…
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Elspeth Wilson @elspethwrites.bsky.social · 15/09/2025
Got to chat to some of the most exciting names in the genre and write my thoughts about what makes dark academia dark academia for The Nerd Daily! Read on for discussions of institution as villain & glamour with a rotten underside w Olivie Blake and more #BookSky 🖤📚 thenerddaily.com/elspeth-wils...
thenerddaily.com
Glitz, Glamour and Villainy: What Makes A Work Dark Academia and Why is the Genre Booming? | The Nerd Daily
Elspeth Wilson, author of These Mortal Bodies, discusses what attracts us to dark academia and what actually goes into making a work part of the genre with fellow contributors from the upcoming anthol...
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Reactor Magazine @reactorsff.bsky.social · 04/09/2025
FACT: If you tried to read every book on the list of horror, romantasy, and other SFF-crossover novels coming out in September 2025...it would take a really long time. Which are you most excited for? reactormag.com/new-sff-cros...
reactormag.com
All the New Horror, Romantasy, and Other SFF Crossover Books Arriving in September 2025 - Reactor
A woman accused of witchcraft, a grieving widower, and a Vietnam vet are just some of the folks you'll meet in September's new crossover titles.
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Erica Waters @ericawatersbooks.bsky.social · 04/09/2025
I just wrote the most harrowing scene, which opened up a whole new dimension to the underlying horror in the novel I'm writing. All in about two pages. Muahahahha I love writing.
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Erica Waters @ericawatersbooks.bsky.social · 04/09/2025
Dropped my phone into a bowl of yogurt, and now there is yogurt in the tiny speaker holes. So, yeah, that feels about right.
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Erica Waters @ericawatersbooks.bsky.social · 02/09/2025
My first piece of writing for grownups is out today! I'm very excited to share my story "Tallow's Cove" in These Dreaming Spires: A Dark Academia Anthology. This is also my first piece of writing set in New England... and it's a ghost story! ericawaters.com/other-writin...
The cover of These Dreaming Spires appears against a purple background. The title is in gold, and there are gold decorations and towers, as well as purple and blue flowers in the background.
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The Fantasy Hive @thefantasyhive.bsky.social · 01/09/2025
Today we're thrilled to welcome to the Hive authors from upcoming Dark Academia anthology THESE DREAMING SPIRES to discuss what the genre means to them! Read more: tinyurl.com/bd3r7ax3 #DarkAcademia @titanbooks.bsky.social @marieoregan.bsky.social @paulkane.bsky.social
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Paul Kane @paulkane.bsky.social · 26/08/2025
‘This might be my favorite anthology ever!’ ‘I inhaled this book.’ ‘An amazing collection.’ ‘Every story was a hit for me.’ ‘The dark academia book of brilliance.’ 4 and 5 ⭐️ reviews of #TheseDreamingSpires – out this time next week! www.amazon.co.uk/These-Dreami...
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Erica Waters @ericawatersbooks.bsky.social · 06/08/2025
A fun bit of news: I have a very weird short story coming out sometime in the next year with the horror fiction podcast @talestoterrify.bsky.social! I had a ton of fun writing this piece (that's inspired by my eldritch horror of a chihuahua), so I am excited to see the podcast bring it to life!
Black and white photo of vampiric chihuahua open-mouthed behind unsuspecting beagle
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Titan Books @titanbooks.bsky.social · 13/07/2025
A NEW SEMESTER BEGINS. THESE DREAMING SPIRES, edited by Marie O'Regan and Paul Kane, features 12 new dark academia short stories from masters of the genre, including Olivie Blake, Genevieve Cogman, MK Lobb & more. Pre-order your copy before term starts on September 2! tinyurl.com/3394nw8x
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Eric Smith @ericsmithrocks.bsky.social · 23/06/2025
When it comes to queries, I’m noticing an increase in everyone trying their best, this is a very hard industry, creating in these difficult times is challenging, and I’m very proud of you. ❤️
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Gabino Iglesias @gabino.bsky.social · 18/06/2025
The heat makes people and animals lose their minds. Flesh-eating bacteria waits in warm, stagnant water. Things melt. Sharks hunt at the beach. The kudzu is always hiding something. The blistering sun wakes up the ghosts sleeping in the walls. Remember: summer is horror season.
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Erica Waters @ericawatersbooks.bsky.social · 17/06/2025
If you want to eat more leafy greens, get a CSA. My pickup today included lettuce, spinach, chard, kale, and radishes. (Also strawberries, rhubarb, and pasture-raised eggs.) I would definitely not have bought all those greens at the grocery store.
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Erica Waters @ericawatersbooks.bsky.social · 13/06/2025
Ten years ago today I finished a first draft of my first novel. That book will never see the light of day, but all these years and books later, I still remember that feeling so clearly—the astonishment of having actually done something so huge. It changed my whole life.
The photo shows a white nonbinary person wearing a vest and taking a picture in a mirror.
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Erica Waters @ericawatersbooks.bsky.social · 02/06/2025
This beauty, which includes a story of mine, releases in exactly three months. It's my first piece of writing set in New England, and it's a ghost story.
The image shows the cover of These Dreaming Spires: A Dark Academia Anthology in shades of blue, purple, and gold.
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Mysterious Galaxy Bookstore @mystgalaxybooks.bsky.social · 24/04/2025
Research shows people who shop at indie bookstores on Independent Bookstore Day are fucking rad.
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vicky 💚 @vickyagain.bsky.social · 24/04/2025
i just think!! it's kinda freaking cool! (it glows in the dark heh) [ my illustrations for the @rainbowcrate.bsky.social special edition of @ericawatersbooks.bsky.social's THE RESTLESS DARK ] #booksky #artsky
Photograph of THE RESTLESS DARK Rainbow Crate special edition, in dramatic blinds lighting. The cover shows three girls' busts in a green monochrome with a steak of yellow light across the cover.Photograph of part of the back cover of THE RESTLESS DARK Rainbow Crate special edition, showing a woman in a fancy dress looking through mountains as two drunk bridesmaids teeter at the top of a cliff.
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Libro.fm @libro.fm · 22/04/2025
Tomorrow, a certain online mega-retailer launches a book sale, just days before Indie Bookstore Day on 4/26. This is no coincidence; Bookstore Day is one of the largest revenue drivers for indies. Indies need our support to thrive & build community spaces for all...mega-retailers do not.
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Erica Waters @ericawatersbooks.bsky.social · 22/04/2025
My queer dark academia, All That Consumes Us, is on sale for $1.99 wherever you buy your ebooks. I’d rec it for you if you like gothic lit, sapphic romance, found family, and ghosts! 👻
The cover illustration of All That Consumes Us features two hands, one of which is a skeleton, holding a book. There is also ivy and cicadas.
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Erica Waters @ericawatersbooks.bsky.social · 16/04/2025
A bit of springtime spookiness: Ghost Wood Song’s ebook is $1.99 wherever you buy your ebooks. -A ghost-raising fiddle -Set in rural Florida springtime -Murder mystery -A bluegrass band -Sweet little romance 💜
Ghost Wood Song’s hardcover lies on a table between a cup of tea and dried purple flowers. The cover features a large stylized title that looks like it is made of wood, as well as azaleas, wasps, and a rattlesnake.
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C. L. Polk @clpolk.com · 13/04/2025
literally everything. it's gonna be rough. Check for authors you like. see if they have a ko-fi, a patreon, a subscription service, buy their books (paper to preserve the most at-risk for censorship authors, your local indie, etc) and talk about those books to spread word of mouth. please.
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Gabino Iglesias @gabino.bsky.social · 09/04/2025
Here’s your morning mood, courtesy of Kiko Capile.
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Erica Waters @ericawatersbooks.bsky.social · 08/04/2025
A small nice thing about living in a walkable city is that I’ve gotten to watch a puppy named Cora grow up for the last eight months just because I’m often walking by during her potty break. Today she tried to steal my gloves.
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American Library Association @amlibraryassoc.bsky.social · 08/04/2025
NEW: ALA is going to court to stop the President’s attempts to illegally dismantle the Institute of Museum & Library Services. The President does not have the authority to destroy a federal agency. That's why we're taking action with our co-plaintiff @afscme.bsky.social. #ForOurLibraries (1/3)
We're suing Trump to save library funding. Show up for our libraries, American Library Association.
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Erica Waters @ericawatersbooks.bsky.social · 07/04/2025
A nice bit of book news: My mom was at the library in my hometown over the weekend and overheard someone asking for my book The River Has Teeth. She was very excited to tell them she was the author's mom.
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Erica Waters @ericawatersbooks.bsky.social · 03/04/2025
If you’re looking for something spooky to read, The Restless Dark is on sale for $1.99 wherever you get your ebooks. 🖤
The illustrated cover of The Restless Dark with pull quotes from trade reviews:

“a smart and memorable thriller.” —Publisher’s Weekly, starred review

“satisfyingly twisty and refreshingly self-aware.” —Kirkus Reviews

“[A] compelling, twisty novel where perception is compromised and reality is illusive.” — Booklist
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We Need Diverse Books @weneeddiversebooks.bsky.social · 01/04/2025
It’s no joke, our friends at @bookshop.org are helping us celebrate #WeNeedDiverseBooksDay with a special promo code! 🛍️📚 Shop Bookshop.org on April 3rd and use the code “WNDB25” at checkout to get 15% off your purchase!
Graphic with a deep purple ombre background. White title text says, “Celebrate We Need Diverse Books Day with Bookshop.org”. Beneath the title is a row of white perforated tickets, the centermost which says, “15% Off using the code WNDB25” in dark purple lettering. Beneath the ticket in small white font is a note with an asterisk that says, “only active Thursday, April 3rd” and “excludes e-book purchases”.
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Trans Rights Readathon @trreadathon.bsky.social · 21/03/2025
SHE’S HERE! The Trans Rights Readathon has officially begun! ✨🥳🎊🎉📚 #booksky #trr25 #transrightreadathon
Slide 1: Pink, white, and blue text over a background image of a trans flag. Text Reads: The 2025 Trans Rights Readathon: A decentralized grassroots event that focuses on UPLIFTING trans books, AMPLIFYING trans stories, and SUPPORTING trans organizations and communities. March 21-31, 2025.Slide 2: Text Reads: The #TRR Isn’t Just Reading, It’s Action! The Trans Rights Readathon encourages readers to seek out works by and/or about trans, nonbinary, 2Spirit, and gender non-conforming authors and characters. Along with taking action on the mutual, local, and national level! Image includes a blue box with the word UPLIFT, a white box with the word AMPLIFY, and a pink box with the word SUPPORT with a dollar sign in place of the S.Slide 3: Text Reads: It’s not too late to sign up! You can find resources, graphics, and more information via our website. We also encourage you to sign up and so we can communicate with you throughout the readathon. This effort is decentralized. We encourage you to get involved and support your local community directly!Slide 4: Text Reads: Get Loud, Stay Loud. Trans people, trans voices, trans stories have always been here, and will always remain.
If this is your first or third readathon, you’re an author or a reader, an accomplice, young or old—let’s always remain loud for Trans Rights!
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Elise (they/them)🇦🇺 🏳️‍⚧️ @eliseswords.eurosky.social · 21/03/2025
Good news for fellow authors disheartened by your books being illegally used to train AI; "If your book was used by Meta, you’re automatically included in the Kadrey v. Meta class action in Northern California..." And @authorsguild.bsky.social has some practical steps you can take.
authorsguild.org
Meta's Massive AI Training Book Heist: What Authors Need to Know  - The Authors Guild
Today, The Atlantic published a search tool that allows authors to check if their works are in LibGen, an illegal pirate site AI companies copied for their AI systems. This is a similar tool to the on...
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Erica Waters @ericawatersbooks.bsky.social · 20/03/2025
Literally every word I have ever written and had published was pirated and used to train Meta’s AI.
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Erica Waters @ericawatersbooks.bsky.social · 11/03/2025
I spent a lot of time on short fiction this year. I wrote a novella and two short stories and dreamed up several more. Soooooo this is just to say: anthology editors... I would love to hear from you!
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Erica Waters @ericawatersbooks.bsky.social · 04/03/2025
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Erica Waters @ericawatersbooks.bsky.social · 26/02/2025
Private Rites by Julia Armfield was my most anticipated read of the year, and it was as good as I had hoped. Gorgeous writing and such interesting worldbuilding. This felt like a perfect follow-up to Our Wives Under the Sea. Highly recommend if you like moody sapphic lit and swooning over sentences.
The picture shows the hardcover of Private Rites by Julia Armfield next to a small gilded hand.
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Wendy N. Wagner 🎃 @wnwagner.bsky.social · 18/02/2025
Need some good news today? Authors Against Book Bans fought one conservative school district in FL and won! lithub.com/authors-agai...
lithub.com
How Authors Against Book Bans helped defeat attempted library censorship in Florida.
If you’ve been following the right wing’s obsessive book-banning over the last few years, you’ve probably heard of Authors Against Book Bans, a coalition of writers, illustrators, and other book pe…
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cookiesforbfast @cookiesforbfast.bsky.social · 18/02/2025
Friendly reminder to get your free Covid tests before they throw them away. Covidtests.gov wapo.st/42VLGQh
wapo.st
U.S. weighs destroying $500 million in stockpiled covid tests
The government is reviewing proposals to shut down the program that ships free covid tests to American households and has been considering destroying 160 million tests.
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Erica Waters @ericawatersbooks.bsky.social · 18/02/2025
Currently $1.99 wherever you get your ebooks!
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Erica Waters @ericawatersbooks.bsky.social · 16/02/2025
Just when I thought winter had reached peak misery, my dog developed a sudden and fireworks-level fear of the sound of snow plows.
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Erica Waters @ericawatersbooks.bsky.social · 14/02/2025
Dark academia is for lovers 🖤 This book might be about ghosts and secret societies, but it's also about queer love and found family, and I think you'll like it.
The cover of All That Consumes Us by Erica Waters features two hands--one human and one skeletal--over a book with cursive writing, surrounded by ivy and cicadas.
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Emmett Nahil @emnays.bsky.social · 05/02/2025
behold! my stuff some folks whose work or presence online I find valuable in the horror or spec fic genres.
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Erica Waters @ericawatersbooks.bsky.social · 05/02/2025
Given the increase in book bans and the quiet removal of queer literature from school and public libraries over the last few years, the ALA’s Rainbow Book List is essential. I am so honored that All That Consumes Us is included this year.
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Linsey Miller │ editing The Alchemy of Lies @linseymiller.bsky.social · 05/02/2025
I know we have a warped sense of what a banned book is because it's been a badge of honor for so long since those bans were stopped, but most banned books aren't famous and get quietly removed with no fanfare in such a way that no one knows they were banned or even that they exist.
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