Mary Helen Specht

Review | In ‘How to Commit a Postcolonial Murder,’ two sisters hatch a risky plan Nina McConigley’s novel considers the legacy of colonial violence through the story of one Wyoming family.

Congrats to @ninamcconigley.bsky.social for this fab review of her brand new novel! www.washingtonpost.com/books/2026/0...

From the NYer: "English describes acoustic pitch using a verticality metaphor (high-low) but... in the case of some Zimbabwean instrumentalists [they use] 'crocodile' (low pitch) and 'those who follow crocodiles' (high pitch)." Amazing.

Loved writing this one...

Since we’re talking about how much billionaires suck again, here’s a reminder that your local indie bookstore deserves your business this holiday season. They have gift cards and are happy to mail stuff out. Same goes for @bookshop-org.bsky.social. Buy books. Give books. Support bookstores.

This was entirely predictable from the minute HBO acquired them.

Renowned poet and Black arts movement icon Nikki Giovanni dies at 81 The poet and activist was a leading figure of the Black Arts Movement. Giovanni was working on her upcoming book of poetry, set to publish in the fall.

"We will forever be grateful for the unconditional time she gave to us, to all her literary children across the writerly world," said Kwame Alexander in the statement on the renowned Nikki Giovanni’s death

The New York Times Denounced “Y’all.” We’d Like a Word. Is this even really a debate?

Thank you @dansolomon.com for this impassioned and necessary defense of Y’ALL www.texasmonthly.com/being-texan/... @texasmonthly.bsky.social

Anyone else feel as though the elf on the shelf is watching them? I mean, nobody likes a tattle-tale, amirite?

No notes.

Beyond grateful.

A poem for my last day working at the writing center for the semester (by Joseph Fasano)

Kiddo (red hair) and I (blonde) want matching punk rock streaks. What color/s should ask for?

Loved hearing Michelle in conversation last night about her amazing book of essays HERE, NOW.