iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Traci Chee @tracichee.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

I'll be at the National Book Festival in Washington D.C. this month! Come see me on Sat. 8/22 from 2-3pm for "Get the Power, Keep It, Wield It: Intrigue and Adventure" with Gabi Burton. Book signing to follow in Hall B. Register: www.loc.gov/events/2026-...

colorful banner for the Library of Congress' National Book Festival, with the text: "America 250: It's Your Story," "August 22, 2026," and "Visit loc.gov/bookfest to learn more."

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Swordslinger @dday95.bsky.social · 19/03/2026

So, I've been re-reading Kindling by @tracichee.bsky.social, and it can still pull me in as deeply as the first time I read it. I don't see second person done well a lot, but this book is one of the few expections. I would give a lot for a prequel, not gonna lie. Also, Leum is my favorite grump.

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Traci Chee @tracichee.bsky.social · 24/02/2026

🔥 KINDLING releases in paperback today! Thanks to everyone who's bought a copy, requested it from the library, told their friends--I'm so excited for these kids to find new readers and break more hearts. 💔 (Psst, check out that lovely new cover detail. 👀) www.harpercollins.com/products/kin...

Photo of Traci Chee in a burgundy top standing in front of multicolored bookshelves; with one hand, she's holding out her book, KINDLING, which is in focus, while the rest of the picture is blurred

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Tara Sim @tarasimauthor.bsky.social · 24/06/2025

It's been one year since the release of WE SHALL BE MONSTERS, my love letter to Frankenstein, mythology, and angry/weird girls. 🪷 As I work on the sequel (brace yourselves), I'm so grateful to my readers who continue to champion me and my books 💜🖤

A picture of the book WE SHALL BE MONSTERS surrounded by dark purple tulips

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Abby White @abbywhitewrites.bsky.social · 20/06/2025

Honored by this beautiful #blurb from one of the authors I admire most. Thank you, @tracichee.bsky.social ! #Preorder D.J. ROSENBLUM BECOMES THE G.O.A.T. today!

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Nicole R. Misra she/her @nicolermisra.bsky.social · 24/05/2025

May 23: A middle grade book of connected short stories all taking place in an airport written by East Asian and Southeast Asian authors: You Are Here: Connecting Flights. #AAPIHeritageMonth #AAPIBooks #BookSky

This is the book cover for You Are Here: Connecting Flights (written by Ellen Oh with Randy Ribay, Meredith Ireland, Mike Chen, Christina Soontornvat, Susan Tan, Erin Entrada Kelly, Grace Lin, Traci Chee, Linda Sue Park, Minh Lê, Mike Jung) features children from various Asian cultures and ethnicities walking together through an airport. Some are carrying items like a guitar, one boy is chasing his little sister, another girl is listening to headphones. Several boys are dressed in a sports uniform.

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BookBreak @bookbreak4schools.bsky.social · 07/05/2025

We had the best time talking with @tracichee.bsky.social today! We learned so much about the inspiration behind the realm of Awara and learned some words in the Awaran language she created. What was your favorite part?

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BookBreak @bookbreak4schools.bsky.social · 04/05/2025

Are you joining us this week to talk with @tracichee.bsky.social about her novel A Thousand Steps Into Night? We are so excited to talk to her about how she uses mythology to challenge readers to think critically about their sense of self and community. See you there!

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BookBreak @bookbreak4schools.bsky.social · 29/04/2025

It's hard to believe that we are heading into our last 3 events for this school year! What an amazing trio we have in May -- @vashtiharrison.bsky.social and @lamargiles.bsky.social for elementary and @tracichee.bsky.social for middle & high school. We can't wait! Will we see you there?

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Traci Chee @tracichee.bsky.social · 21/04/2025

This weekend! 🔥Join us at @latimes.com Festival of Books on Sat. 4/26, 11:20am for High Intensity, Even Higher Stakes: Fantastical Worlds and Underworlds in Young Adult Fiction at the YA Stage! 🔥 Signing to follow in Signing Area 9. events.latimes.com/festivalofbo...

graphic of text that says 'FIND ME AT Los Angeles Times 30 YEARS FESTIVALOFBOOKS FESTIVALOE APRIL 26-27, 2025 UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA Many stories. One weekend. HIGH INTENSITY EVEN HIGHER STAKES: FANTASTICAL WORLDS AND UNDERWORLDS IN YOUNG ADULT FICTION SATURDAY, APRIL 26, 11:20 AM YA STAGE Sharon Levin, Victoria Aveyard, Traci Chee, Ransom Riggs, Brittany N. Williams, Regan Revord, Annabelle Chang SIGNING TO FOLLOW

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Emily Skrutskie @skrutskie.com · 09/04/2025

Another glorious blurb for A LEGIONNAIRE'S GUIDE TO LOVE AND PEACE, this time from my good friend @tracichee.bsky.social!

“A charming, post-war fantasy, A Legionnaire’s Guide to Love and Peace is the perfect mix of the flashy, extravagant struggle between good and evil and the down-to-earth grind of a military on the march. Kat, Emory, and their fellow soldiers are my favorite kind of heroes—big, good-natured, and supportive, both on and off the battlefield—and between the quest for hand pies, the inane ball games, and the general camaraderie, it’s impossible not to fall in love with them. For anyone who adores everyday folks just doing their best, this book is a warm, welcoming hug.”—Traci Chee, New York Times bestselling author of Kindling and A Thousand Steps into Night

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Traci Chee @tracichee.bsky.social · 31/03/2025

KINDLING is one of Kirkus Reviews' Best Books of the 21st Century (So Far)! 🔥 Thank you so much to Kirkus for including Kindling on this list of truly incredible YA titles. What an honor! Find the full list and get some TBR inspiration here: www.kirkusreviews.com/young-adult/...

white background with the flaming red cover of Kindling and the text: Kirkus Reviews Best Books of the 21st Century (So Far) Teens & YA, All Young Adult books alpha, KINDLING by Traci Chee, February 27, 2024

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Emily Skrutskie @skrutskie.com · 09/03/2025

Did we spend nearly an hour finally taking down our new years balloons, arranging them on the floor with the books, and meticulously aligning every light in our kit to get this picture? Maybe so. But in my defense, I have ARCs!!!!!

Advanced reader copies of A LEGIONNAIRE'S GUIDE TO LOVE AND PEACE sit stacked on rumpled gold reflective mylar with colorful highlights

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BookBreak @bookbreak4schools.bsky.social · 28/02/2025

How many of these new Would You Read It? videos have your middle schoolers watched? And how long is the holds list for each book? What an amazing bunch!! @barbaradee.bsky.social @cynleitichsmith.bsky.social @tracichee.bsky.social

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Grace Lin @authorgracelin.bsky.social · 22/02/2025

I hesitate to give interviews about book banning as I feel that other authors have been much more targeted (in super scary ways) than I and are more deserving of sympathy & protection. But I thought, I would try to explain the pain “soft banning” also causes: www.themarysue.com/the-receptio...

themarysue.com

‘The reception of my books is different now’: Author Grace Lin on the reality of book bans and their impact

The Mary Sue spoke to author Grace Lin about her experiences with book banning and how it has impacted her career.

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Emily Skrutskie @skrutskie.com · 19/02/2025

Here's the cover of A LEGIONNAIRE'S GUIDE TO LOVE AND PEACE! It was art directed by Regina Flath, designed by Aarushi Menon, and the illustration at the heart of it was done by my sister, Sarah Skrutskie. I love it to pieces. Out on 6/24/25! 💙📚 www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/771397...

The cover of A LEGIONNAIRE'S GUIDE TO LOVE AND PEACE, by Emily Skrutskie. The cover is green, with the title text displayed on a golden ribbon. A tagline reads "A ONE NIGHT STAND BEFORE THEIR ONE LAST STAND." Centered on the cover are two silhouettes in gold, a man carrying a shield and a taller woman holding a spear. The man and woman are holding hands.

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Traci Chee @tracichee.bsky.social · 19/02/2025

KINDLING is a finalist for the LA Times Book Prize! 🔥 I’m so thrilled to be included alongside K.A. Cobell, Safia Elhillo, Carolina Ixta & @kimjohnson.bsky.social. 📚 Congratulations to all the finalists & a huge thank you to LA Times & the judges for this honor! www.latimes.com/entertainmen...

Person with long black hair in an orange checkered top holding up a red hardcover copy of Kindling by Traci Chee

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School Library Journal @slj.com · 27/01/2025

The Children's Literature Legacy Award winner is Carole Boston Weatherford. #alayma

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School Library Journal @slj.com · 27/01/2025

Winner of the 2025 Newbery Medal: The First State of Being by Erin Entrada Kelly #alayma

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School Library Journal @slj.com · 27/01/2025

Excellence in Nonfiction Award goes to: Rising from the Ashes: Los Angeles 1992 #alaayma #yalsa

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Gabe Cole Novoa @thegabecole.bsky.social · 27/01/2025

😭😭😭😭😭

Congratulations Stonewall Book Award Honoree Gabe Cole Novoa! Most Ardently by Gabe Cole Novoa is a Stonewall Honor Book

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Mackin Educational Resources @mackinlibrary.bsky.social · 27/01/2025

Congratulations to "Everything We Never Had" for winning the Asian/Pacific American Award - Young Adult Literature! #alayma

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Emily Skrutskie @skrutskie.com · 21/01/2025

Hey #BookSky 💙📚, the ebook of my sci-fi thriller is currently on sale, but only for the next 24 hours! If punchy hackers, diabolical warship AIs with god complexes, and conwomen are your flavor, don't miss out on THE SALVATION GAMBIT! www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/708770...

A colorful graphich announces "$1.99 ebook sale!" An image of THE SALVATION GAMBIT book cover on an iPad accompanied by two illustrations of the main characters, Murdock and Fitz. Murdock is a white woman with brownish-red short hair dressed in a jumpsuit that's been stripped to the waist and wielding a dagger. Fitz is a white woman with long pale white hair dressed in a jumpsuit. Murdock is grinning. Fitz looks imperious.

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Traci Chee @tracichee.bsky.social · 13/01/2025

When in doubt, make more art. 💪 Half of this month's newsletter is from 2015, on rejection & a book art project called DOUBTS. Half of it is a reflection, ten years later, on what I've since learned about coping with feelings of inadequacy & failure. 🎨 tracichee.substack.com/p/when-in-do...

Four photos of a vintage brown pill bottle and several transparent pill capsules filled with strips of paper and red and white sprinkles. On the left: close on the label of the bottle, which reads, "Pure unmodified doubts; for the immediate reduction of self-worth, indispensible to the working writer; a sure cure for optimism and vitality; DIRECTIONS--Adults, one capsule by mouth three times daily. Proportionally more for children; prepared by Traci Chee, druggist, San Francisco, Calif." Top right: pill bottle on its side with the metal lid nearby, pill capsules spilling out. Middle right: open pill capsule with a strip of paper unfurling out of it; text reads "Dear author... impossible to correspond... we thank you". Bottom right: pile of pile capsules in a white dish

Top: open pill capsule with red and white sprinkles strewn about and a strip of paper reading, "Ms. Chee, we regret we cannot publish..." Middle: closed pill capsules with red and white sprinkles and coiled strips of paper inside; in the center is a strip of paper reading "07.16.09 | We are honored that you considered... time. Please consider the numerical reality:... work. We hope you will keep in touch, and we..." Bottom: a mosaic of strips of paper, each of them featuring the word "unfortunately"

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Traci Chee @tracichee.bsky.social · 02/01/2025

Happy 2025! If you're thinking about making some writing resolutions this year, I've got some thoughts about both dreams and goals. Check them out at my Substack:

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Traci Chee @tracichee.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

To celebrate KINDLING’s first year in the world, I made a pretty little thing. Huge thanks to the team at Harper for making this book possible and to all the readers who found, loved, and shared it this year. ❤️‍🔥

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We Need Diverse Books @weneeddiversebooks.bsky.social · 19/12/2024

🔔 Apply for WNDB’s 2025 Native Writing Intensive! The Native Writing Intensive offers an opportunity for reflection, conversation, celebration, & manuscript/career development. Open to Native/First Nation/Indigenous creators! 💻 bit.ly/NativeIntensive2025 ⌛ Applications close February 14th, 2025

A light green promotional graphic that has a square border made up of repeating text that says, “Native Writing Intensive.” At the center of the graphic is a multi-colored square with a white circle in the middle that says, “WNDB Native Writing Intensive 2025,” followed by a dark blue bubble that says, “Apply today!”

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Traci Chee @tracichee.bsky.social · 11/12/2024

New Substack! 🏔️ Last time I wrote about publishing dreams and why they're valuable, even if they're out of your hands: tracichee.substack.com/p/concern-an... And today I'm talking about the importance of writing goals and goal-setting, no matter how small: tracichee.substack.com/p/concern-an...

Photo of Traci Chee on a mountaintop overlooking a pastel-colored lake and a sunrise over the distant mountains; text reads "Concern & Control Part II: Goals: On climbing the mountain, step by step" and "tracichee.substack.com"

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Ellen Oh @ellenoh.bsky.social · 11/12/2024

Such a fabulous list! Publishers never think anthologies are profitable, but they are perfect for the classroom. And instead of old stories and short excerpts of long text, all of these collections are modern and relevant and far more likely to keep the attention of our young readers.

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Tara Sim @tarasimauthor.bsky.social · 10/12/2024

TODAY ONLY: get in the festive spirit with THE CITY OF DUSK for less than 3 bucks! Nothing says holiday cheer like scheming gods, the vengeful dead, and a vigilante with a sword killing men in power ⚔️ tinyurl.com/yju9s8m9

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Traci Chee @tracichee.bsky.social · 10/12/2024

Some more happy news! KINDLING made Booklist's Editors' Choice: Books for Youth, 2024! Thanks to the staff, reviewers, and Allie Stevens for the extra shout-out! Check out the complete list: www.booklistonline.com/Booklist-Edi...

Cover of KINDLING with the text, “Booklist Editors’ Choice!”

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Traci Chee @tracichee.bsky.social · 10/12/2024

Want to give one of my books to a reader in your life? ⭐ I made you a gift guide for that! Find them at your favorite local retailer or at the links below. 🎁 🔥 KINDLING/🌙 1000 STEPS/🌁 WANF: www.harpercollins.com/blogs/author... 📚 READER TRILOGY: www.penguinrandomhouse.com/series/1TR/t...

Cover of KINDLING with the text: A gift guide to books by Traci Chee, YA fantasy, Seven Samurai retelling with magic, found family, enemies to siblings, will make you cry, ensemble cast, post-war search for redemption, second person POV

Cover of A THOUSAND STEPS INTO NIGHT with the text: A gift guide to books by Traci Chee, YA fantasy, Ghibli-esque folktale road trip, demons! monsters! ghosts! ghouls!, Who's in the mood to smash the patriarchy?, a very good bird sidekick, the happiest ending I've ever written, no romance, only friendship

Cover of WE ARE NOT FREE with the text: A gift guide to books by Traci Chee, YA historical fiction, set during the Japanese American incarceration, found family, ensemble cast, will make you cry, anger, resilience & joy in the face of injustice, inspired by some of my family's own stories, WWII fiction

Cover of THE READER, THE SPEAKER & THE STORYTELLER with the text: A gift guide to books by Traci Chee, YA fantasy, a story about the power of the written word, a fight against destiny, epic, second-world fantasy, will make you cry, ensemble cast, pirates! assassins! secret societies! magic!

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Julie Jenkins @juliejenkinsnp.bsky.social · 10/12/2024

This response from @sbearbergman.bsky.social to @hildur.bsky.social’s post has changed my week— it is so wholesome, and human, and so the energy we all need right now. And Kerstin Langenberger, the naturalist who posted “I am on my way with the necessary equipment”? This woman is the hero we need.

My feed today on BlueSky included a post from Icelandic writer Hildur Knútsdóttir, who saw the original exchange on a Reykjavik Facebook page - someone posted to say that it appeared a cygnet was frozen to the ice and dying. As people worried online about how or whether it would be possible to help, naturalist Kerstin Langerberger replied to the post, saying: “I am on my way with the necessary equipment.” Langenberger brought a friend, some thermoses of warm water, and a surfboard in case the ice failed - the necessary equipment - and thawed then freed the baby swan, which promptly flew off.

There are a number of things I appreciate about this story, but it’s Langenberger’s statement that resonates for me. That is what I aspire to, to see injury or difficulty or something gone to trouble and decide: I am on my way with the necessary equipment. But also, to hold on to the understanding that sometimes the necessary equipment is the resolve to try and a friend who will help, and that sometimes I *am* the necessary equipment - the friend who shows up to make myself useful under the direction of an expert.

There are a lot of moments these days that I find it very, very hard to do the next thing, or indeed to do anything. The world is so, so difficult. I often feel useless or overwhelmed or exhausted or just really fucking sad. But I am going to try starting the days by saying, with all the starch that I imagine a naturalist willing to chance the ice in darkness to save a baby bird might possess:

I am on my way with the necessary equipment.

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Traci Chee @tracichee.bsky.social · 09/12/2024

KINDLING is one of Kirkus Reviews’ Best Young Adult Books of 2024! 🔥 It has been such a thrill seeing the end-of-the-year love for this story. Thank you so much to the staff and readers for this recognition! See the full list here: www.kirkusreviews.com/bes.../2024/...

cover of KINDLING with the text "Kirkus Reviews Best Book of 2024!"

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shing yin khor @shing.bsky.social · 09/12/2024

presenting, in collaboration with the inimitable @jayackley.bsky.social, a five minute folk musical documentary, about the time Idaho Fish and Game parachuted 76 beavers out of a plane. www.youtube.com/watch?v=adDE...

youtube.com

geronimo was a beaver

YouTube video by sawdustbear

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Celeste Ng @pronounced-ing.bsky.social · 07/12/2024

Just a few more days left for one of the quirkiest items I've ever offered for a giveaway ⤵️

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George Takei @georgetakei.bsky.social · 07/12/2024

On this date in 1941, Pearl Harbor was attacked by the imperial forces of Japan. The loss of life and destruction was horrific, and it pulled the U.S. into the war. For Japanese Americans, it was a terrifying time. Overnight, we became the “enemy within” because we were of Japanese descent. /1

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