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Reposted by Sam Weller

Sam Weller @samwellerauthor.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

This is the most remarkable story Ray Bradbury ever shared with me. He told it to me late one night, sitting in his den of antiquities and mementos. Take five minutes to read this. It’s pure magic. #Writing #Living #Creativity #RayBradbury #BookSky

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Sam Weller @samwellerauthor.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

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Sam Weller @samwellerauthor.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

We all know what followed the Guilded Age, right? The Progressive Era. Bring it.

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Sam Weller @samwellerauthor.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

The sheer ineptitude of the emergency slide deploying on Air Force One is mind-boggling. This doesn’t even happen on the thousands of commercial flights taking off every single day. And to think, these are the same characters who carry the nuclear codes. www.nytimes.com/2026/09/09/u...

nytimes.com

Trump Is Delayed After Emergency Slide Deploys on New Air Force One

The mishap occurred while the Qatari-donated jet was parked on the tarmac at Joint Base Andrews. It delayed President Trump’s departure to a Republican convention in Dallas.

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Sam Weller @samwellerauthor.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

@johnbiemer.bsky.social Thank you for writing your beautiful essay about the unique nature of dropping a child off at college. It brought me solace in the midst of my own parental sorrow.

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Sam Weller @samwellerauthor.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

Having gone through this twice, this is beautifully written.

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Sam Weller @samwellerauthor.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

Thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate Ray Bradbury’s birthday! The #RayDay readings were remarkable! As a way of saying thanks, I am posting a free, downloadable pdf from my book, DARK BLACK, a fantasy story about #RayBradbury titled, LIVE FOREVER! www.samweller.net/bradbury-1/2...

samweller.net

LIVE FOREVER! — Sam Weller

To celebrate Ray Bradbury’s birthday, I’m posting a fictional short story I wrote about Ray from my collection, Dark Black . Much of Bradbury’s oeuvre can be looked at through the lens of “autobiogr...

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Sam Weller @samwellerauthor.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

In researching an essay for @lareviewofbooks.bsky.social , I discovered an undeveloped, never-before-seen photograph of film director #JohnHuston taken by #RayBradbury at Huston’s Irish manor on January 30, 1954. The photo is dark and grainy, but absolutely magical nonetheless. #RayDay

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Reposted by Sam Weller

Chris Hickam @chrishickam.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

Thirty years ago, my wife and I met in a college production of The Martian Chronicles. In September 2010, we were able to share our story with Ray thanks to @samwellerauthor.bsky.social. #rayday #RayBradbury

A picture of Ray Bradbury with the author of the post and his wife.

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Sam Weller @samwellerauthor.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

In researching an essay for @lareviewofbooks.bsky.social, I discovered an undeveloped, never-before-seen photograph of film director #JohnHuston taken by #RayBradbury at Huston’s Irish manor on January 30, 1954. The photo is dark and grainy, but absolutely magical nonetheless. #RayDay

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Sam Weller @samwellerauthor.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

That time when the legendary creator of Tarzan, Edgar Rice Burroughs, wrote a personal letter to a teen #RayBradbury explaining why he could not come speak to Bradbury’s club, the Los Angeles Science Fiction Society.

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Sam Weller @samwellerauthor.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

Here’s a good one from my files: A 26-year-old #raybradbury during his courtship with Marguerite McClure, circa late ‘46/early ‘47. They married on Sept. 27, 1947. That’s Ray’s handwriting at the top of the photo. #RayDay #raybradbury

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Reposted by Sam Weller

gojirama, but spooky @gojirama1.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

My contribution to #RayDay is a reading from #TheFogHorn.

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Sam Weller @samwellerauthor.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

A young Ray Bradbury in 1942, around the time he wrote his first classic story, “The Lake,” outside his family home at 670 S. Venice Blvd in Venice, CA. From my book, LISTEN TO THE ECHOES: THE RAY BRADBURY INTERVIEWS (hatandbeardbks, 2017). And again in 2003 outside the same home in a photo I took.

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Sam Weller @samwellerauthor.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

So many beautiful people I have meet in my travels over the last 20 years as the biographer of #RayBradbury. The cool thing? And I mean this with all sincerity, I remember every single one of you. I can tell you the city, and what we discussed. Thank you for your kindness and ❤️! #libraries #RayDay

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Sam Weller @samwellerauthor.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

Ray wanted this art by Jean-Michel Folon as the cover of his final book, NIGHTMARES & DAYDREAMS, a collection. Why the book was never published is an epic tale all-together. Ray asked me to finish the book for him. I didn’t think it was right. But I know wish I had. #RayDay #RayBradbury

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Sam Weller @samwellerauthor.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

Happy #RayDay! #RayBradbury I may not be wearing a Bradbury inspired T-shirt, but I am wearing my favorite intergalactic space alien!

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Reposted by Sam Weller

A. A. Rubin @thesurrealari.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

My recitation of the end of The Martian Chronicles, by #raybradbury for #rayday. It’s one of my favorite passages, a great ending, and a reminder of how and why human authors choose to use the em-dash.

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Sam Weller @samwellerauthor.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

The wonderland that was Ray Bradbury’s basement office. #RayDay #RayBradbury #BookSky

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Sam Weller @samwellerauthor.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

A young Ray Bradbury, roused from a nap by his Aunt Neva to take this iconic photograph. This was taken right outside the house I shared earlier. #RayDay #RayBradbury #booksky

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Reposted by Sam Weller

A. A. Rubin @thesurrealari.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

Here is the passage I recited for #RayDay. It might have been difficult to understand what I was saying about the way #RayBradbury uses the em-dash without seeing the text. I’ve highlighted the relevant sentence here. Notice how the em-dashes offset “in the canal.”

"your mother and I will try to teach you. Perhaps we'll fail. I hope not. We've had a good lot to see and learn from. We planned this trip years ago, before you were born. Even if there hadn't been a war we would have come to Mars, I think, to live and form our own standard of living. It would have been another century before
Now, of course "
Mars would have been really poisoned by the Earth civilization.
They reached the canal. It was long and straight and cool and
wet and reflective in the night.
"Tve always wanted to see a Martian,"
re they, Dad? You promised."
said Michael. "Where
"There they are," said Dad, and he shifted Michael on his shoulder and pointed straight down.
The Martians were there. Timothy began to shiver.
The Martians were there-in the canal-reflected in the water. (This phrase is circled in red)
Timothy and Michael and Robert and Mom and Dad
The Martians stared back up at them for a long, long silent
time from the rippling water.
2026
309

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Sam Weller @samwellerauthor.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

In February, 1924, Ray Bradbury’s Mother, Esther Bradbury, a cinema aficionado, took her three-year-old son to see Lon Chaney in THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME. It changed his life forever. The film had a six-day engagement at Waukegan’s Elite Theatre. Here is the ad. #RayBradbury #RayDay

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Sam Weller @samwellerauthor.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

The humble childhood home of #RayBradbury in Waukegan, Illinois. There was no air conditioning in that era so on hot summer nights Ray would sleep in the backyard under an apple tree. A.C. finally came to the city at the Genesee Theater in 1927! #RayDay #RayBradbury #BookPeople

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Reposted by Sam Weller

A. A. Rubin @thesurrealari.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

In honor of #rayday, the celebration of #RayBradbury’s birthday, here’s my Heritage edition of #TheMartianChronicles. It’s a #book, with gorgeous Joseph Mugnaini illustrations, and it includes my favorite Bradbury short story, The Million Year picnic. What’s your favorite #bradbury story?

The cover of the Heritage Edition of the Martian Chronicles, by Ray Bradbury. A black contour drawing of a suburban house on a grey background. The earth rises instead of the moon (stamped in gold leaf)

Endpaper illustrations of travelers watching bubbles rise against a sunset.

The title page of the edition, with author and illustrator credits and a black and white illustration that could be a planet, moon or sun rein the sky or reflected on the water

The spine (red with gold leaf letters) of The Martian Chronicles in its slip case.

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Sam Weller @samwellerauthor.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

I love this photo. Here is a teenage Ray Bradbury in the mid-1930s alongside actress Ida Lupino who would go on to a career as one of the first women film directors. Happy #RayDay #RayBradbury

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Sam Weller @samwellerauthor.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

Happy #RayDay! To kick things off, here is the birth announcement I uncovered in the Waukegan News-Sun. The date is an error. When I showed this to #RayBRadbury, he was elated! He had no idea this ran in his hometown newspaper. Let the #RayDay Festivities begin! #Booksky

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Sam Weller @samwellerauthor.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

This Saturday!!! Are you joining us?!?! Record yourself reading short favorite passage from a book or poem and post it. Share photos of your Bradbury collection. Share a memory or message! Super important! PLEASE SHARE THIS! #RayDay #RayBradbury #BookPeople #Booksky

A photo of author Ray Bradbury with his hands in a globe. Over the photo it says: Live Forever! #RayDay 8/22/26

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Sam Weller @samwellerauthor.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

I just did a super-detailed manuscript consultation on a remarkable southern Gothic supernatural horror novel. This book is amazing. And it already has a publisher! Boom! Will give details once I have permission. #horror #booksky #writingcommunity

A canopy of southern live oak trees over a dirt road.

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Sam Weller @samwellerauthor.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

According to the @amlibraryassoc.bsky.social, 2025 saw the highest level of library censorship in our nation’s history. Why do you think that is? 🤔 #censorship #booksky #lbraries

A Venn diagram with three circles, one depicting the novel, A Brave New World, one depicting 1984, and one depicting, Fahrenheit, 451. In the center it says “You are here.”

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Sam Weller @samwellerauthor.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

Ray Bradbury is the Patron Saint of Public Libraries. We hope some of our favorite libraries will join us in celebrating #RayDay! Join me, & @labarnitz.bsky.social and others on 8/22. Memorize a few lines from a story, record your recitation, & post online. #booksky @kclibrary.bsky.social

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Sam Weller @samwellerauthor.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

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Reposted by Sam Weller

L.A.Barnitz @labarnitz.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

If there were no books, if reading was forbidden, what story would you commit to memory? I doubt I could memorize a whole novel, but I will share a few lines from a story on #RayBradbury 's birthday 8/22. Join me, @samwellerauthor.bsky.social & others celebrating #RayDay. labarnitzbooks.com/rayday

labarnitzbooks.com

Ray Day

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Sam Weller @samwellerauthor.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

This is terrifying. If the last physical copy of a book is destroyed by an AI company, leaving only a digital version, how do we know the text is even original and has not been digitally altered? #books #censorship #AI www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/07...

telegraph.co.uk

Cultural barbarism: How AI companies are destroying the world’s books

In its attempt to boost AI’s power, Silicon Valley is buying millions of rare editions, scanning them and then shredding the originals

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Sam Weller @samwellerauthor.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

I love that we are living in a post ice breaker society. Just stop, already!

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Sam Weller @samwellerauthor.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

August 4, 2026. The day of “There Will Come Soft Rains.” For the publication history and inspiration behind this remarkable story, scroll down to Number 3 on my list of ESSENTIAL BRADBURY SHORT STORIES. Should it have been Number 1? #RayBradbury www.samweller.net/bradbury-1/2...

samweller.net

THE ESSENTIAL BRADBURY — Sam Weller

As Ray Bradbury’s biographer—having worked with the man for twelve years on four award-winning books and a graphic novel—people often ask, “Where should I begin when reading Ray Bradbury?” This is a...

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Sam Weller @samwellerauthor.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

So many writers reaching out to me in recent days, it’s odd. One thing in common: they are struggling to build their publication platform. #writing #writingcommunity #publishing

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Reposted by Sam Weller

The New Republic @newrepublic.com · 03/08/2026

President Trump is banning students majoring in degrees that don’t make enough money from taking out college loans. Degrees for social work, art, religious studies, teaching aides, and music will be hit the hardest. trib.al/aaAEu6v

trib.al

Trump Moves to Cut Off Student Loans for Tons of Degrees

Under a new rule, if your degree doesn’t make enough money, you won’t be able to get a student loan.

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