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Sara Ryan

@ryansara.bsky.social
787 followers 376 following 262 posts

Queer author of books & comics for teens & others. They/them. Authors Against Book Bans member. VCFA WCYA faculty. Represented by Michael Bourret. Not here much.

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Reposted by Sara Ryan
Prisonculture @prisonculture.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
Want to Fight Book Bans? Start Here. bookriot.com/how-to-fight...
bookriot.com
Want to Fight Book Bans? Start Here.
No one is coming to save us, so we must do it ourselves. Here are 60+ small tasks to help defend the right to read in 2026 and beyond.
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Reposted by Sara Ryan
Nisi Shawl @nisishawl.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Yes, join us! Also... 👋🏾 Hey #WritingCommunity! Please boost so more writers see this 🙏🏾 bsky.app/profile/writ...
bsky.app
Writing the Other (@writingtheother.com)
Get to know your protagonist & other important characters better in this live workshop w/ @nisishawl.bsky.social & @ktempestbradford.com. Dig into character background & relationships via writing exercises & real-time feedback. 📅 Oct 31 & Nov 1 🕘 9:30-4pm P 💰 $175 Scholarships 👍🏾 champ.ly/IN06b9vH
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Sara Ryan @ryansara.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
This is today!
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Sara Ryan @ryansara.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Oops, I mean Ida B. Wells!
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Sara Ryan @ryansara.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Aw, I remember going to the Wilson HS production! I'll try to make one of these performances too!
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Sara Ryan @ryansara.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Tomorrow 10/6, 6:30 pm @literary-arts.org bookstore: Banned Books discussion w/author & co-leader of Oregon Authors Against Book Bans @catwintersbooks.bsky.social , authors @cfastwolf.bsky.social & @oneofthejohns.bsky.social, & librarian Alicia Tate! See you there! literary-arts.org/event/banned...
literary-arts.org
Banned Books Discussion
Join us at The Literary Arts Bookstore for a discussion on book bans with co-leader of the Oregon chapter of Authors Against Book Bans, Cat Winters. Learn more about how
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Reposted by Sara Ryan
We Need Diverse Books @weneeddiversebooks.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Did you find this post informative or helpful? Consider helping us spread the word by reposting or resharing to your stories so that we can reach even more readers! And be sure to follow We Need Diverse Books to discover and support diverse voices, authors, and stories all year long 📚❤️
Gold-colored graphic depicting an illustration of a group of young people lounging in a book store, sitting on the hardwood floor, and reading books together. There are illustrations of bookshelves decorated with books, knick knacks, plants, and cactuses in the background. At the center of the graphic is a white pop-up window with rounded corners at the center. The logo for We Need Diverse Books is at the top of the window, followed by the name of the organization and a subtitle denoting it as a Nonprofit Organization. Body text beneath says, “Follow us to support and learn more about diverse authors and stories!” Underneath the body text is a row of blue icons indicating how people can engage with this post by liking, sharing, commenting, reposting, and saving. At the bottom of the white window is a light green bubble containing the handle @WeNeedDiverseBooks.
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Reposted by Sara Ryan
We Need Diverse Books @weneeddiversebooks.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Want to learn more about the fight against book bans? Follow and support these groups/organizations!
Gold-colored graphic with a dotted line border. There is one question and its answer displayed at the center of the graphic. Question: “How Can I Learn More About the Fight Against Book Bans?” Answer: Follow and support these organizations/groups: Ad Astra, American Booksellers for Free Expression, American Library Association, Authors Against Book Bans, Authors Guild, EveryLibrary, Florida Freedom to Read Project, Freedom to Read Foundation, Massachusetts Freedom to Read, National Coalition Against Censorship, PENAmerica, Publishing Professionals Against Book Bans, Texas Freedom to Read Project, and Unite Against Book Bans.
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We Need Diverse Books @weneeddiversebooks.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
❌ MYTH — “I’m Not Worried, Because Book Bans Happen Slowly.”
Gold-colored graphic with a dotted line border. There is one myth and its rebuttal displayed at the center of the graphic. Myth: “I’m Not Worried, Because Book Bans Happen Slowly.” Fact: Prior to 2021, the vast majority of book challenges involved one title at a time. But starting in 2022, 90% of attempts were aimed at banning multiple titles at once, according to the ALA, and 40% involved challenges to 100 or more books. According to PENAmerica’s book ban tracking, there were 3,362 book bans filed during the 2022-2023 school year, which dramatically jumped up to 10,046 ban attempts in the 2023-2024 school year, with numbers steadily trending upward every year. We cannot afford to be complacent in our fight against book bans, because they’re impacting authors, schools, librarians, and even book sellers more and more often. Source: Harvard Ed. - “Book Bans and the Librarians Who Won't Be Hushed” & The American Library Association.
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Reposted by Sara Ryan
We Need Diverse Books @weneeddiversebooks.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
❌ MYTH — “Book Bans Don’t Have Significant Economic Impacts.”
Gold-colored graphic with a dotted line border. There is one myth and its rebuttal displayed at the center of the graphic. Myth: “Book Bans Don’t Have Significant Economic Impacts”. Fact: In order for a book to be banned, copies of the book have to be on shelves, which is taxpayer money already spent. If a ban has to be reviewed by a committee prior to removal, every member of the committee also has to have a copy of the book. Then there is the “labor” component, or the human cost behind such reviews, since taxpayer dollars pay the salary of the employees who are spending some—or much—of their time reading challenged books. Research from EveryLibrary found that in Texas alone, citizens can expect to pay around $3.6 Million to ban books; Florida’s costs come to between $34,000 and $135,000 per library or school per year; in Missouri, taxpayers can expect to pay 10% of a school district’s per-student expenditures on banning just one book. Source: EveryLibrary - “The Taxpayers' Rising Fin
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Reposted by Sara Ryan
We Need Diverse Books @weneeddiversebooks.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
❌ MYTH — “Book Bans ‘Only’ Impact School Libraries.”
Gold-colored graphic with a dotted line border. There is one myth and its rebuttal displayed at the center of the graphic. Myth: “Book Bans ‘Only’ Impact School Libraries.” Fact: Increasingly, we’re seeing attempts to ban and censor books beyond school libraries. According to a 2023 article in Harvard Ed., 48% of book challenges were directed at public libraries, impacting the accessibility of titles to the wider community. Even more alarmingly, earlier in 2026, the state of Arkansas introduced an amend-ment known as Arkansas Act 372, which moves to include librarians AND booksellers as being among those who can be criminally charged for “distributing or providing materials deemed harmful to minors”. Book banners also target book stores and booksellers in their efforts. Source: Harvard Ed. - “Book Bans and the Librarians Who Won't Be Hushed” & EveryLibrary.
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Reposted by Sara Ryan
We Need Diverse Books @weneeddiversebooks.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
❌ MYTH — “If I Can Still Buy a Book Through Retailers, It’s Not Really Banned.”
Gold-colored graphic with a dotted line border. There is one myth and its rebuttal displayed at the center of the graphic. Myth: “If I Can Still Buy a Book Through Retailers, It’s Not Really Banned.” Fact: School libraries and public libraries play a fundamental role in keeping literature accessible to students and patrons. Even if particular book titles can be accessed elsewhere, the restriction of them in libraries and public schools remains a potential infringement of students’ constitutional rights. Privately purchasing books via alternate means is a privilege that not every student or library patron has access to, and further-more, purchasing a book for one’s private collection does not negate or neutralize the impacts of a book ban, nor increase its accessibility to the public. Source: PENAmerica - “What Is a Book Ban? And More Frequently Asked Questions”.
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Reposted by Sara Ryan
We Need Diverse Books @weneeddiversebooks.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
❌ MYTH — “Authors Sell More Books After Being Banned.”
Gold-colored graphic with a dotted line border. There is one myth and its rebuttal displayed at the center of the graphic. Myth: “Authors Sell More Books After Being Banned.” Fact: The vast majority of authors do not see a bump in sales or receive increased financial support after one or more of their titles have been banned. In many cases, book bans mean that an author also loses out on valuable opportunities to connect with readers — such as school visits, book tour stops, festival appearances, or other public speaking engagements — decreasing their income and their ability to promote and sell their books. The effects for smaller authors who are not already considered “bestsellers” can be even more significantly felt. Source: Book Riot - “You’re Wrong About These Common Myths About Book Bans” (2024).
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Reposted by Sara Ryan
We Need Diverse Books @weneeddiversebooks.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
It’s #BannedBooksWeek, which means it’s the perfect time to dispel common myths and misconceptions about the prevalence and impacts of book bans across the United States. Here are five common myths about book banning that everyone should know the truth about 🧵
Gold-colored graphic depicting an illustration of a group of young people lounging in a book store, sitting on the hardwood floor, and reading books together. There are illustrations of bookshelves decorated with books, knick knacks, plants, and cactuses in the background. The graphic is titled “5 Myths You Should Know About Book Banning”.
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Maggie Tokuda-Hall @maggietokudahall.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
A donation to us will help us further professionalize this work, and ensure that this organization can keep living even once our original founders (including me!) step back. The goal here is long term health and efficacy. 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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Maggie Tokuda-Hall @maggietokudahall.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
It is the start of Banned Books Week and as such it's an EXCELLLLENT moment to donate to @authorsabb.bsky.social. We are laser focused on tbe single issue of fighting book bans. It's hard work, and we've done it with all volunteers for about 3 years-- and now we finally have a program manager.
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Sara Ryan @ryansara.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
love a research action shot!
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Sara Ryan @ryansara.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Tomorrow 10/3, 12-6 pm, is the Endless Wonders Book Festival! I'll be around in the late afternoon at the @authorsabb.bsky.social table with a copy or two of Mountain Upside Down to give away. Looking forward! www.endlesswondersbooks.com
endlesswondersbooks.com
Home | Endless Wonders Books
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Sara Ryan @ryansara.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Thanks! Placing holds now!
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Sara Ryan @ryansara.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Are there YA comps to anthologies like OCTAVIA'S BROOD and WE WILL RISE AGAIN? They don't have to be anthologies; I'd love to know about any YA titles that use speculative fiction as a tool for fostering & inspiring progressive change.
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Sara Ryan @ryansara.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
I always love our Eavesdrop conversations, and this issue, focused on RESEARCH, is most especially my jam! Read & subscribe for free!
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Sara Ryan @ryansara.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
you can pay your respects to CHICAGO SALUTES THE GRAPHIC ARTS
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Sara Ryan @ryansara.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
I donated. Please join me if you can and help spread the word if you can't! Scarleteen has been doing incredible work for decades. Help them keep doing it!
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Sara Ryan @ryansara.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
PDX-area folks, an unsolicited testimonial: Adriana Javier of Cathartic Kinesis (I love that name) is a stellar fat-positive personal trainer and their books are open now for 1:1 and small group training! Work on strength & mobility with a smart, supportive human: www.instagram.com/cathartic.ki...
instagram.com
Instagram
Create an account or log in to Instagram - Share what you're into with the people who get you.
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Reposted by Sara Ryan
Steve Lieber --> Bedrock City Comic Con @stevelieberart.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
@opb.org and @stonthat.bsky.social have made a documentary about Portland, Oregon's comics scene! YEARS of work went into this, and they did a hell of a job. #pdxcomics. It debuted at @rosecitycc.bsky.social, and now everyone can see it. Go, watch! www.opb.org/article/2026...
opb.org
Oregon between panels: How creators built a comics universe in Portland and beyond
Iconic independent publishers like Dark Horse and Oni Press call Oregon their home, but how did Portland become a key player in the rise of the indie comics scene?
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Sara Ryan @ryansara.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
I love it! It works on its own, and when you know the story it's even better!
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Sara Ryan @ryansara.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
The book I'm writing now is a historical YA from the POV of a gay teen Communist NYPL page in 1934-35, so I've been looking into the positive and negative aspects of how public libraries responded to different really hard times.
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Sara Ryan @ryansara.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
I'm no longer working as a public librarian full-time, but reflecting on my nearly three decades of doing so, I really agree with the author's points & hope this piece finds a wide audience with library decisionmakers.
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Sara Ryan @ryansara.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
I loved learning about these archives and was also very pleased to see that MOUNTAIN UPSIDE DOWN is a recommended title in Mombian's own LGBTQ+ children's books database!
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Sara Ryan @ryansara.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
Today in writing a historical novel: the desire for a maps app that would give you directions specific to when your character is traveling; like, yeah, it's great to see what that subway route is in 2026, but what was it in 1934?
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Jay Edidin @edidin.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
Kids need access to gender-affirming care. Kids need access to gender-affirming care. Kids need access to gender-affirming care. Kids need access to gender-affirming care. Kids need access to gender-affirming care. Kids need access to gender-affirming care. Kids need access to gender-affirming care.
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Sara Ryan @ryansara.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
Emma Goldman's LIVING MY LIFE. It shouldn't have surprised me that her writing is so lively & engaging, but it did!
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Sara Ryan @ryansara.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
I loved that book for the reasons you mention & also appreciate the very closely-observed cultural/subcultural details.
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Sara Ryan @ryansara.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
I read this in one sitting, with my beloved cat asleep on my lap. If you're scared that reading about grief will make you sad, well, maybe it will, but I bet you'll also feel more informed, less alone, and grateful to s.e. smith for writing so eloquently about a topic many people flinch from.
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Sara Ryan @ryansara.bsky.social · 09/08/2026
I was raised in (& somewhat by?) brutalist library buildings
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Sara Ryan @ryansara.bsky.social · 09/08/2026
I love everything about this photo
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Maggie Tokuda-Hall @maggietokudahall.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
For those counting that's now FOUR national book banning bills that are moving their way through. This one seems to be a senate companion to 7661 (much of the same language). Call the senate re: 2616 and 4925, call the house re: 8705, 7661 And as always, fuck censorship 📚
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Sara Ryan @ryansara.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
This is decaf and also the best coffee ice cream I have encountered: www.strausfamilycreamery.com/products/ice...
strausfamilycreamery.com
Products Catalog - Straus Family Creamery
Straus Premium Organic Coffee Ice Cream is made with a dash of organic Dutch cocoa blended into organic decaffeinated ground coffee beans.
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kelly jensen @heykellyjensen.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
Get Loud: Public Library and School Internet Access Is Under Threat. The FCC wants to change the e-Rate program, which could eliminate discounts libraries and schools get to provide internet to their community. bookriot.com/proposed-fcc...
bookriot.com
Get Loud: Public Library and School Internet Access Is Under Threat
The FCC wants to change the e-Rate program, which could eliminate discounts libraries and schools get to provide internet to their community.
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Tim Ellis, TDSB Ward 2 candidate 🍁 @djdynamic.ca · 08/07/2026
"They just want to turn it off." A fascinating story of the librarians who have started teaching classes showing people how to remove AI "features" from their phones and apps. www.bangordailynews.com/2026/07/02/m...
bangordailynews.com
These Maine librarians are helping patrons resist AI and Big Tech
Despite breathless reporting on how AI is going to change the world, Hannah Cyrus, a Bangor librarian, said that, in her experience, most library patrons aren’t finding it helpful.
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Sara Ryan @ryansara.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
oh absolutely! which reminds me that I'm still living in hope for the rumored S&A prequel focused on young Frank & Cyril in the early days of the New Burbage Festival
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Sara Ryan @ryansara.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
Love that whole trilogy, how he weaves in theatrical history + practical aspects of mounting a production in Lyre of Orpheus, love the absolute creep + plot-driver Parlabane, love Professor The Reverend Simon Darcourt. And dang Davies is good at sins-of-the-fathers-type plotting.
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Sara Ryan @ryansara.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
yes this, very much this (three books and counting for one party scene, not to mention *mumble* websites)
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Sara Ryan @ryansara.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
This is tonight!
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Sara Ryan @ryansara.bsky.social · 29/06/2026
6/30, 6 PM: join me and Ari Koontz at the Literary Arts bookstore for a Youth Pride celebration, grownups also welcome! Zine-making, blackout poetry, button-making, reading & conversation—hope to see you there, PDX & PDX-adjacent pals! literary-arts.org/bookstore-ca...
literary-arts.org
Bookstore & Cafe
Our Central Eastside location makes us easy to find, whether you travel by car or public transit. 716 SE Grand Ave, Portland.
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Sara Ryan @ryansara.bsky.social · 28/06/2026
These are incredible! (This and the pieces in your previous post.) How heavy is that rattlesnake suit, I wonder?
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Reposted by Sara Ryan
Dashka Slater @dashkaslater.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
Just a reminder that Prime Day is BS & Amazon is a force of evil that exploits workers, avoids taxes, and is one of the biggest carbon polluters in the US. Shop local and buy your books at your local independent bookstore or at @bookshop.org which is offering free shipping thru 6/26!
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Sara Ryan @ryansara.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
this is amazing, fosse is one of my most favorite problematic favs and I'd never seen these before
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Sara Ryan @ryansara.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
gosh that was lovely. thanks for posting.
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404 Media @404media.co · 22/06/2026
Books written for younger audiences are being relocated to adult sections at alarming rates. We asked experts to predict what that means for the rest of us.
404media.co
Are Public Libraries Becoming Children’s Libraries?
Books written for younger audiences are being relocated to adult sections at alarming rates. We asked experts to predict what that means for the rest of us.
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