Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Francisca Staines

@franciscawrites.bsky.social

2.5K followers 2K following 1.4K posts

Author of MG & Picture Books • https://franciscastaines.com/ 🇲🇽 All around book nerd with a weakness for mystery, fantasy, dogs & tacos. Rep'd by @michelle4laughs.bsky.social @StormLiterary

franciscastaines.com

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Francisca Staines @franciscawrites.bsky.social · 35m

Congrats!

Francisca Staines @franciscawrites.bsky.social · 36m

So melancholic. Beautiful.

Francisca Staines @franciscawrites.bsky.social · 2h

A lovely sunny afternoon, going home.

A picture of a rural road, a few houses and trees lining it. Blue sky and fluffy clouds.

Reposted by Francisca Staines

BIBLIOPHONE @bibliophone.bsky.social · 8h

Some of our recent guest narrators, reading poems by young creatives in Gaza:

Alana Hadid
Nada Tawhid
Paloma Faith
Amalia Holm
Katie Leung

All our stuff is free to listen to. Try our Palestinian audio poems and boost the play count to show young writers in Gaza some love 💚

bibliophone.com

Collage of a young Palestinian writer sitting in the ruins of her home, Alana Hadid, Nada Tawhid, Paloma Faith, Amalia Holm, Katie Leung

1 2 6

Francisca Staines @franciscawrites.bsky.social · 7h

😍😍😍

Francisca Staines @franciscawrites.bsky.social · 7h

💙📚🌎 #kidlit

Francisca Staines @franciscawrites.bsky.social · Mar 25

There is magic, and truth, and so much beauty in #kidlit

"If no one tell's the stories anymore, if no one learns the magic anymore, our ways will disappear from the world. Then all we'll have left is what other people think of us."
― Eden Royce, Root Magic

#BookSky 💙📚🌎 #childrensbooks #fantasy

The cover of this edition of Root Magic shows two Black kids in the middle of a swamp where magic light surrounds them.

1 3

Reposted by Francisca Staines

Cath Hodsman @cathhodsman.bsky.social · 3d

Did u know?Winter prep for our wildlife garden has turned towards our bee hotels.The greatest enemy of baby bees is damp,which causes mould & mite infestations.I take them into my summer house where it's cool & dry.All sorts of houses & materials for all sorts of different bees.Note the sign.🌿🌱🇬🇧🌱🪲🐝🌍

2 7 45

Francisca Staines @franciscawrites.bsky.social · 4d

Love the color combinations!

Francisca Staines @franciscawrites.bsky.social · 4d

I'm so sorry for your loss.

Francisca Staines @franciscawrites.bsky.social · 5d

That's fantastic! Thank you for sharing.

I just got Millennial Women (saw the title of the anthology in link you shared). I'm planning to start reading it tonight.

Francisca Staines @franciscawrites.bsky.social · 5d

Wow, that's quite the connection!

This was also my first sci-fi Le Guin, read the Earthsea saga before.

1 1

Francisca Staines @franciscawrites.bsky.social · 5d

This book is one of my favorite rereads. Never fails to move me.

1 1

Reposted by Francisca Staines

Francisca Staines @franciscawrites.bsky.social · Feb 5

Favorite quotes from favorite books.

"Sanity is a valuable possession; I hoard it the way people once hoarded money. I save it, so I will have enough, when the time comes.”
― Margaret Atwood, The Handmaid’s Tale

💙📚 #BookSky

The cover of this edition of The Handmaid's Tale, shows a woman dressed in red with a white bonnet covering her face over a black background.

16 74 550

Reposted by Francisca Staines

Francisca Staines @franciscawrites.bsky.social · Jun 7

Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend.
May the winds of life take your papalote to new highs!

#papalotes #flyingonpaperwings #flyingkites #illustration

An illustration showing a girl, as she looks up at her kite (papalote) flying high in the breeze.

A quote, in English and Spanish, accompanies the illustration: "Que tu papalote vuele alto!" "May your papalote fly high!"

1 12

Reposted by Francisca Staines

Steve Arty Person @steveartyperson.bsky.social · Aug 29

Day 29 Dissipate. Spook Trek inspired. #AuGhost #AuGhost2025 #startrek #cartoons

2 3 31

Francisca Staines @franciscawrites.bsky.social · 5d

That's such a great idea!

1 1

Francisca Staines @franciscawrites.bsky.social · 6d

I hope you like it. It's a sweet story.

1 1

Reposted by Francisca Staines

Tom Gauld @tomgauld.bsky.social · 8d

My latest cartoon for @newscientist.com
p.s. My new book of science cartoons 'Physics for Cats' is out this week. Details at www.tomgauld.com

Panel 1
A figure stands at a lectern
"This image illustrates my theory that, presented with a sufficient quantity of intricate formulae, overcomplicated diagrams and impenetrable acronyms, an audience will agree with almost anything."
The screen is completely packed with such things

Panel 2,3,4,5.
Four audience members say enthusiastically: "My thoughts exactly!", "Hear, hear!", "I quite agree!" and "Excellent point!"

12 150 490

Reposted by Francisca Staines

Francisca Staines @franciscawrites.bsky.social · Apr 4

When #kidlit says what you needed to hear to face the day.

"Sometimes things happen and sometimes they're terrible and unfair. But they don't erase the awesome stuff. They don't erase the stuff we love."
―Jennifer Maschari, The Remarkable Journey of Charlie Price.

#booksky 💙📚 #MGbooks

The cover of The Remarkable Journey of Charlie Price shows a boy running with a handful of balloons. Alongside him runs a happy black dog.

1 2 10

Reposted by Francisca Staines

Francisca Staines @franciscawrites.bsky.social · Apr 18

When #YA says, "hold my beer,"

"The things you name do grow in power, but others that are not ever whispered claw at one's heart anyway, rip it to shreds even if a syllable does not escape the lips."
― Silvia Moreno-Garcia, Gods of Jade and Shadow.

#kidlit #booksky #fantasy 💙📚

1 2 17

Reposted by Francisca Staines

Chris Barton @bartography.bsky.social · 8d

Great reporting and writing about a terrible situation.

“Deportations like Sergio’s — to fixtures of the community — are making people think, ‘This could be me next, or my favorite place next, or somebody who I talk to every day.’”

wacobridge.org/2025/10/06/d...

‘Why Sergio?’ Deportation ends 36-year dream for celebrated Waco chef and family - The Waco Bridge

Sergio Garcia and his wife, Sandra, spent 36 years building a reputation for regional Mexican cuisine in Waco. It ended when ICE came to call.

wacobridge.org

1 2 1

Francisca Staines @franciscawrites.bsky.social · 8d

Lovely!

Francisca Staines @franciscawrites.bsky.social · 8d

The candy corn slippers are super cute and very on-season!

1 1

Francisca Staines @franciscawrites.bsky.social · 9d

Butternut is one of my favorite soups, enjoy!

1 1

Francisca Staines @franciscawrites.bsky.social · 9d

They're lovely!