Sharleen Mondal

For context, I purchase these and mail each copy out myself until each has found its home with an eager reader. I've got several copies of each book this year. I've done this with different books for the past few years around my birthday. 💜

Tomorrow is my birthday--time for my annual book giveaway in gratitude. This year: Andrea Gibson's collection, or Reyna Grande and Sonia Guiñansaca's anthology. Please DM with your info if you'd like a copy and specify which book (U.S. and Canada only). 🙏🏾💜 #WritingCommunity

This discussion of all the ways that the humanities matter (including complex thinking and problem-solving, doing jobs the world needs even though they often pay less, etc) is currently getting less traction than my post re: "yay Muppet Christmas Carol." Would love it if you'd weigh in on this too.

Doing the good work. Thank you, Andrea!

‘To the men who ran the world, I was just a photo op’: Malala Yousafzai on growing up, getting cynical – and how getting high nearly broke her The global icon of women’s education is ready to tell the full story of her turbulent recent life, from arguing with her parents to being ghosted by the statesmen who were once desperate to be seen wi...

"Optimism is the only way you can keep going, because there's no other option." Grateful for this message and looking forward to reading the book!
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...

YouTube video by Sub Pop Iron and Wine - The Trapeze Swinger

For October. One of the most gorgeous songs ever, not to mention the reference to Halloween.
youtu.be/yt7O8gDy0DA?...

Ready for the remainder of my Paper #1 "exit interviews" with composition students today. Talking with them first and understanding what they tried to do helps me respond more effectively to them as writers when I leave written feedback. This is how we do "accent on the individual" at Ashland. 💜💛

The Booker shortlist honors authors 'in total command' of their craft The 2025 Booker shortlist is made up of works by veteran authors, many of whom have several books under their belts — and a couple that have been on this list before.

Delighted to see Katie Kitamura on this list. Her keynote at the Cleveland Inkubator Conference earlier this month was incredible.
www.npr.org/2025/09/23/n...

I FINISHED A COMPLETE DRAFT OF THE NONFICTION ESSAY THIS MORNING. There are specific parts I know I need to revise, but my goodness, a full draft exists! Thank you to my #WritingCommunity for having my back with endless encouragement. 💜 #AmWriting

It's a day I hardly dared hope for. This is the first full long book I read to kid when he was a baby. Now older and a reader in his own right, he's requesting to read it together. And then writes his own notes and observations afterwards. 🥹 Here's my tattered childhood copy that we're using. 💜😍

Scientists link hundreds of severe heat waves to fossil fuel producers' pollution A new study finds dozens of heat waves would be "virtually impossible" without the activity of major fossil fuel producers, including oil companies.

A new study finds dozens of heat waves would be "virtually impossible" without the activity of major fossil fuel producers, including oil companies.

So very excited for this virtual panel tonight titled "Get Real: Being Vulnerable in Fact and Fiction" with Kiese Laymon and Deesha Philyaw, part of Literary Cleveland's Inkubator Conference! #CleInk25

Today's a day for deep work, beginning with a virtual write-in with Ashland colleagues (we do these once a week for our AU Research & Writing Community). Typing was a little...interesting 😂 It felt so good to advance this essay and write with my colleagues! #AmWriting #LitProfLife

First virtual panel of Lit Cleveland's Inkubator Conference on writing nonfiction. Incredible writers Dr. Eve L. Ewing and Dr. Imani Perry in this conversation, generously moderated by Dr. Joy R. Bostic. #CleInk25

I'm relieved to be able to post info for events I'm personally attending after a necessary cautionary hiatus from sharing such things. I can't wait for the Cleveland Inkubator Conference this weekend, kicking off with a virtual event tomorrow evening! inkubator.litcleveland.org/conference-i...

Are you a faculty member struggling to make progress on your long-term research and writing projects while already feeling like you're burning the candle at both ends? Consider registering for NCFDD's Faculty Success Program--and contact me for a $300 discount code! www.ncfdd.org/programs/fac...

NEA cancels decades-long creative writing fellowship For decades the program has supported writers who would become big names – Alice Walker, Michael Cunningham, Louise Erdrich and more. Last week, applicants got an email saying the program would be no ...

💔
www.npr.org/2025/08/26/n...

14-Day Writing Challenge The Free 14-Day Writing Challenge Writing is one of the most critical aspects of academic success, yet it’s often deprioritized in the face of competing demands. The 14-Day Writing Challenge is a free...

Looking to maintain consistency in your writing? Try NCFDD's FREE 14-Day Writing Challenge! First session runs from Sept. 8-21. I love this program and highly recommend it 💜 Register here: www.ncfdd.org/programs/14-...

Had the pleasure of attending a workshop with Lew Ludwig on teaching in the age of generative AI during our faculty development week at AU. He's refined this to be adaptable based on individual faculty concerns/learning outcomes/pedagogy--an extremely helpful session. #AshlandFacultyDevelopment

I'm making my last round of revisions to a nonfiction essay and profoundly grateful I got to sit in for some craft talks at our MFA program's summer residency last month. Ryan Van Meter's insights on ending an essay have been so useful--not to mention the fruitful discussion of a great cohort.

The hardest part of fall getting underway is getting less of her.

The birthday party of a child I love. Blades of green grass, uneven, tickle my ankles. A cricket on the side of a blue plastic kids' pool. A sunflower taller than me. All of us sweaty, smelling slightly like the dog as she runs, panting. The world is full of friends, she says. Yes, even this world.

Some aspiring influencer we talked about months ago. I totally misinterpreted the conversation and thought they were going to tell me about some cool professional accomplishment. 😂 (I've had my head in work things in very supportive and positive settings recently, so it's become my default!)

YouTube video by The Call of the Wild The Fish Thief: A Great Lakes Mystery (2025)

I've spent free time this summer learning more about the region where I live--everything from the underground railroad to national parks. This documentary is fascinating--about how scientists solved the mystery of the severe decline in fish populations in the Great Lakes.
youtu.be/SWGQ6OS1jE0?...

Well, I'll be. It turns out that carrying the text around with you everywhere you go doesn't actually do anything. It's the reading, thinking, discussing, intellectually wrestling with, understanding, and critically reflecting part. 😬

It's that weekend of the year! Went and saw Cat Video Fest 2025 at my local independent theater (tickets support a local rescue). Kid couldn't come with me this year, but I had very good company 💜 and once again this year, wore my Borg cat t-shirt. #CatVideoFest #Cats

YouTube video by 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙱𝙾𝙾𝚃𝙻𝙴𝙶 𝙼𝙰𝚃𝚁𝙸𝚇 MAD SEASON ft. The Seattle Symphony (2015) @Benaroya Hall [Multi-Cam]

Start at 19:13. Turn volume way up. You're welcome 💜 #ChrisCornell #MadSeason #SeattleSymphony

youtu.be/KS-hKPiIr9I?...

Study shows AI's negative effects as Ohio State University requires students to use AI in classrooms Ohio State University did not study the impact artificial intelligence has on learning before launching its new plan. All undergraduate students, starting with the incoming freshman class, will be req...

www.wosu.org/2025-07-29/s...

Molly Moves Out by Susan Pearson, illustrated by Steven Kellogg. Looking back, it seems almost prophetic for our little immigrant family, and for my own trajectory 💜 I read my own copy to my kid decades later.

Suraiya - Words Without Borders Two young people in a Turkish class find their love language in this short story by Shibabrata Barman.

Please check out this English translation by my friend Shabnam Nadiya of Shibabrata Barman's Bengali short story "Suraiya." The link includes Barman reading the story in Bangla as well as Shabnam's elegant translation. The story itself is so very good!

wordswithoutborders.org/read/article...