iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

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The Rumpus @therumpus.net · 29/07/2026

"How do we make space and time for the endless to do list along with the mess of who we are?" Maintaining the Energy for Activism When You’re Struggling to Pay Rent: @rachellayown.bsky.social interviews @juliewbach.bsky.social about Work To Do (University of Iowa Press). ➡️ buff.ly/5v044fx

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Split Lip Magazine @splitlipthemag.bsky.social · 28/06/2026

Grab some coffee and start ACCOMPLISHMENT SUNDAY with an interview☀️ Contributor @rachellayown.bsky.social talked about her novel HOW WE SEE THE GRAY with @normanb.bsky.social for Life Elsewhere ✨ Listen here: buff.ly/mRG495H

The book cover of Howe We See The Gray by Rachel León.

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Rachel León @rachellayown.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

This conversation was such a treat. @normanb.bsky.social is a delight. Please tune in on Sunday—or catch the episode wherever you listen to podcasts!

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Rachel León @rachellayown.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

Chicago! I’ll be in conversation with the brilliant Alison Kinney about writing hard stories in hard times at Pilsen Community Books tonight at 7. Please join us! www.pilsencommunitybooks.com/events/20260...

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Norman B @normanb.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

A big thank you to @rachellayown.bsky.social for alerting me to Low Mimetic by La Historia via her superb novel, How We See The Gray. Looking forward to our upcoming conversation lahistoria.bandcamp.com/album/low-mi...

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Greg Zimmerman @gregzimmerman.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

Book 31: How We See The Gray, by @rachellayown.bsky.social. We read novels to learn and to be entertained. This novel does an amazing job at both. open.substack.com/pub/thenewdo... #books #booksky

open.substack.com

How We See The Gray, by Rachel León: A Big 'Ole Dose of Empathy

It's not an exaggeration to say reading this novel will make you a better person.

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Ignatius Valentine Aloysius @ignatius2u.bsky.social · 25/05/2026

SUNDAY SALON CHICAGO was fun last night 5/24 at 7 pm at @roscoebooks.bsky.social, w/ a full house. TY to all who came out to support the store & these 5 talents: @frugalpoet.bsky.social (Cynthia Gallaher), Mary Kay Zuravleff, @rachellayown.bsky.social, Melanie Faranello & @jrblanes.bsky.social ❤️👏🌈

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Chicago Review of Books @chicagorevbooks.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

This is tonight!!! We hope to see you @theunderstudychi.bsky.social to celebrate @rachellayown.bsky.social's debut novel!

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Namrata Poddar 🧿🌀 @namratapoddar.bsky.social · 19/05/2026

Honored to see “Border Less” featured here, in excellent company. Thank you @debutiful.bsky.social and @rachellayown.bsky.social for spotlighting polyphonic stories that take risks with form and voice. 🙏🏽🤎 For more on each 📕, visit: debutiful.net/2026/05/18/t... (Images reposted from @debutiful )

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StoryStudio Chicago @storystudiochicago.bsky.social · 15/05/2026

Happiest of happy Pub Days to @chicagorevbooks.bsky.social's Managing Director @rachellayown.bsky.social. Go get your copy of Rachel's debut novel HOW WE SEE THE GRAY now!!!! chireviewofbooks.com/2026/05/15/c...

chireviewofbooks.com

Complicating the Idea of Foster Care: An Interview with Rachel León - Chicago Review of Books

A conversation with Rachel León on her debut novel, "How We See the Gray"

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Tortoise Books @tortoisebooks.bsky.social · 15/05/2026

"It’s funny because sensitivity is such a strength as a writer, but you really need to steel yourself to publish." - @rachellayown.bsky.social. Great little interview!

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Chicago Review of Books @chicagorevbooks.bsky.social · 15/05/2026

"I hope the novel lets people consider taking a step back and giving people grace and reflecting on how we all mess up...we’re all just trying." Annelies Zijderved's interview with @rachellayown.bsky.social on "How We See the Gray" (Curbstone Press) is out now. chireviewofbooks.com/2026/05/15/c...

chireviewofbooks.com

Complicating the Idea of Foster Care: An Interview with Rachel León - Chicago Review of Books

A conversation with Rachel León on her debut novel, "How We See the Gray"

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Greg Zimmerman @gregzimmerman.bsky.social · 15/05/2026

"I don’t feel anxious or nervous. More like I’ve just taken off on a wild adventure, so I better enjoy the ride." LOVE this conversation between two brilliant writers, on the occasion of @rachellayown.bsky.social's PUB DAY!!! CC: @amyegia.bsky.social open.substack.com/pub/pubcheer... #booksky

open.substack.com

Interview with Rachel León

I am so thrilled to be running this interview today.

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Chicago Review of Books @chicagorevbooks.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

We’re thrilled for @rachellayown.bsky.social's debut novel HOW WE SEE THE GRAY forthcoming tomorrow (!!!) from @nupress.bsky.social. She’ll be in conversation at the @theunderstudychi.bsky.social w/ @meganstielstra.bsky.social on May 21 at 7:30pm—register below! www.eventbrite.com/e/a-conversa...

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Rachel León @rachellayown.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

It was so special to be interviewed by @rubyprosenthal.bsky.social, who is a serious delight. (Huge thanks, Ruby!)

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Split Lip Magazine @splitlipthemag.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

ICYMI: Contributor @recycledgiraffe.bsky.social published an interview with @rachellayown.bsky.social in @chicagorevbooks.bsky.social! 👏 🤩 Check it out right here: buff.ly/qIDvgx6

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Split Lip Magazine @splitlipthemag.bsky.social · 07/05/2026

💕 Always excited for a new book! 💕 Contributor @saralippmann.bsky.social just launched her new book HIDDEN RIVER & was interviewed by fellow contributor @rachellayown.bsky.social 👏 buff.ly/eBHPoTa

A hot pink book cover for Hidden River by Sara Lippmann.

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Ruby Rosenthal @rubyprosenthal.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

This is soo good!!

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Rachel León @rachellayown.bsky.social · 01/05/2026

To see my book next to Jesmyn Ward’s?!? Pinch me. Huge thanks to @mbwwelch.bsky.social for including HWSTG and for the kind words!

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StoryStudio Chicago @storystudiochicago.bsky.social · 01/05/2026

So many great books headed your way in May ... including @chicagorevbooks.bsky.social Managing Director @rachellayown.bsky.social's debut novel, HOW WE SEE THE GRAY!!!!

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Norman B @normanb.bsky.social · 29/04/2026

A delightful surprise in the mail today, @rachellayown.bsky.social's superb novel, How We See The Gray

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The Rumpus @therumpus.net · 29/04/2026

“Escape as self-care, as opportunity for needed relaxation, as freedom.” @rachellayown.bsky.social reviews Lindsey Danis’s (Out) On the Road: The Radical Joy of Queer Travel (@igpublishing.bsky.social). ➡️ buff.ly/4tEX0HF

The cited quote and information written in black against a white background segmented into fourths by two intersectiong black lines. In the lower lefthand corner is the book cover for (Out) on the Road.

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Chicago Review of Books @chicagorevbooks.bsky.social · 17/04/2026

"I would like readers to see our healthcare system through the eyes of someone who dedicated their life to hard medicine." @rachellayown.bsky.social's interview with Adam Axler on on “American Triage” (@whiskeytit.com) is out now. chireviewofbooks.com/2026/04/17/r...

chireviewofbooks.com

Reading Your Resistance: Interview with Adam Axler - Chicago Review of Books

Our interview with Adam Axler about his forthcoming memoir, "American Triage."

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Chicago Review of Books @chicagorevbooks.bsky.social · 30/03/2026

"The speculative aspect is almost deeper in this light, because it challenges an American audience to push beyond the guilt of complicity." Out now: @rachellayown.bsky.social's interview with Radhika Singh on "Earthly Playing Field” (@commonnotions.bsky.social). chireviewofbooks.com/2026/03/30/r...

chireviewofbooks.com

Read Your Resistance: Interview with Radhika Singh - Chicago Review of Books

Our interview with Radhika Singh about her forthcoming novel, "Earthly Playing Field."

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The Rumpus @therumpus.net · 22/03/2026

“...the translation is a joyful read of a mind at work...” With Both Anxiety & Self-Importance: @rubyprosenthal.bsky.social reviews Sean Wilsey’s translation of Luigi Pirandello’s One, None, and a Hundred Grand. ➡️ buff.ly/5aa6ERw

The cited quote and information written in black against a white background segmented by two black lines. In the bottom lefthand corner is the book cover for One, None, and a Hundred Grand.

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Ruby Rosenthal @rubyprosenthal.bsky.social · 20/03/2026

I loved this interview that @rachellayown.bsky.social did, especially the last line: "A beautiful reminder that art takes time."

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Chicago Review of Books @chicagorevbooks.bsky.social · 20/03/2026

"In an era dominated by short-form videos, rapidly declining attention spans and instant gratification, Brennan’s slow, steady approach to publishing is a welcome anomaly." Read @rachellayown.bsky.social's interview w/ @tortoisebooks.bsky.social's Gerald Brennan! chireviewofbooks.com/2026/03/20/i...

chireviewofbooks.com

Interview with an Editor: Gerald Brennan of Tortoise Books - Chicago Review of Books

Our interview with Gerald Brennan at Tortoise Books

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Chicago Review of Books @chicagorevbooks.bsky.social · 16/03/2026

"If you asked people 'What do you need?' you’d get a variety of answers at first.” @rachellayown.bsky.social's interview with Melanie Pappadis Faranello on "Everybody Needs Something” (Columbus State University Press) is out now. chireviewofbooks.com/2026/03/16/i...

chireviewofbooks.com

Unexpected Buoyancy in "Everybody Needs Something" - Chicago Review of Books

Our interview with Melanie Pappadis Faranello about her new story collection, "Everybody Needs Something."

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Ruby Rosenthal @rubyprosenthal.bsky.social · 13/03/2026

Was really happy to interview @mbwwelch.bsky.social for @michiganquarterly.bsky.social about ON AN INLAND SEA (@beltpublishing.bsky.social), the amazing Great Lakes anthology he edited which everyone should check out!! sites.lsa.umich.edu/mqr/2026/03/...

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StoryStudio Chicago @storystudiochicago.bsky.social · 10/03/2026

Happy Pub Day to @chicagorevbooks.bsky.social editor-in-chief @mbwwelch.bsky.social. If you're in Chicago, the launch party for ON AN INLAND SEA is tonight at 6:30 pm at @roscoebooks.bsky.social.

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Belt Publishing @beltpublishing.bsky.social · 06/03/2026

The Rockford Anthology was recently officially commended by the Illinois House of Representatives for its “outstanding contribution to Illinois literature and for capturing the enduring spirit of the Rockford community”! So cool to see. Thanks to @rachellayown.bsky.social and the contributors!

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Rebecca Makkai @rebeccamakkai.bsky.social · 04/03/2026

Panel 2: I’m in conversation with Gina Chung (Kundiman), Maya Marshall (Haymarket Books), Taylor Lena McTootle (Periplus), and @rachellayown.bsky.social & @mbwwelch.bsky.social (Chicago Review of Books) about “Sustaining & Building Robust Literary Partnerships”—3/6 at 1:45 p.m. in Room 302.

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The Rumpus @therumpus.net · 25/02/2026

"I didn’t set out to write a likable character." Rich Text and the Tunnel Vision of Love: @rachellayown.bsky.social interviews Seán Hewitt about Open, Heaven (@aaknopf.bsky.social). ➡️ buff.ly/Ii3xRwC

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Rachel León @rachellayown.bsky.social · 23/02/2026

I love this book so much. Happy book birthday to NO OFFENSE and @jackiedwrites.bsky.social!

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Rachel León @rachellayown.bsky.social · 19/02/2026

I’ve been so excited about this book and love the cover, so be sure to check it out!

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Michael Welch @mbwwelch.bsky.social · 18/02/2026

This is honestly one of my favorite pieces we’ve ever run on the site 👀

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Chicago Review of Books @chicagorevbooks.bsky.social · 19/02/2026

"I measure a full-fledged bookstore by its discoveries, its hand-written recommendation note cards, and the checkouts that turn into runaway conversations about what we’re reading..." We're so proud to see @mbwwelch.bsky.social is in @literaryhub.bsky.social today!! 🤩 lithub.com/what-we-lose...

lithub.com

What We Lose When Our Independent Bookstores Close

I’m on my way to a reading when I get the call from my mother letting me know that my uncle passed away. The news isn’t unexpected. In the past few months, his worsening condition made a stranger o…

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Split Lip Magazine @splitlipthemag.bsky.social · 15/02/2026

📢 LAST CALL 📢 to read our JANUARY ISSUE before it hits the archive! buff.ly/eKv5fuz Lots of LOVE to our Contributors: WORDS @esmepromise.bsky.social, Stephanie Meade Gresham, Lia Hagen, Joan Kwon Glass ART Audrey Holmes PLUS @rachellayown.bsky.social reviews @chriscampanioni.bsky.social

A tree and a forest spirit rendered in flowing lines, white silhouettes against a simple palette of greens and blues. The background is richly textured, suggestive of tall trees, pitted boulders, and hair unfurling into mist.

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Adam al-Sirgany @adamalsirgany.bsky.social · 06/02/2026

Pretty freakin stoked to have this interview with the fantastic @rachellayown.bsky.social out at @chicagorevbooks.bsky.social. We got to talk about @sfwp.bsky.social and all the cool folks I work with there. Dig it!

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