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Rashmi Sirdeshpande

@rashmiwriting.bsky.social

1.3K followers 900 following 1.1K posts

Neurodivergent (AuDHD). Learner. Dreamer. Award-winning children's author. Musings on books, writing, creativity and ND life. Agent: Lydia Silver

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Rashmi Sirdeshpande @rashmiwriting.bsky.social · Nov 19

Hello Bluesky! I’m a neurodivergent UK children’s author who thinks and talks too much and writes a mix of picture books, poetry, fiction and nonfiction. Looking forward to connecting with people who make and love books! #KidsBooksUK

Photo of smiling children’s author Rashmi Sirdeshpande at her writing desk with a bookcase full of books behind her.

Photo of Rashmi Sirdeshpande’s books. The collection includes picture books illustrated by Diane Ewen, Rikin Parekh and Jojo Clinch, nonfiction illustrated by Annabel Tempest, Adam Hayes and Jason Lyon, a story anthology illustrated by Sarah McIntyre and poetry anthologies illustrated by Chris Riddell.

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Rashmi Sirdeshpande @rashmiwriting.bsky.social · 5h

So true. When one publisher posted a look inside their office and let us meet some of their people I remember thinking ooooh interesting! 👀

Reposted by Rashmi Sirdeshpande

Dom Conlon @domconlon.bsky.social · 17h

Publishing’s use of social media is generally appalling. It’s usually one post per day, a single image which may sometimes get converted to a reel. No faces, no personality. Even publishers with large followings get low engagement. So irrelevant on something they could fill with content

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Rashmi Sirdeshpande @rashmiwriting.bsky.social · 7h

VIBES!! THAT IS IT!!!! 😂😂 Genuinely.

Reposted by Rashmi Sirdeshpande

Louie Stowell @louiestowell.bsky.social · 17h

The ancient ones performed feats of memory, as their culture required them to commit long strings of numbers to their mind palaces.

bleary @bleary.off-the-records.com · 1d

If anyone needs me I will be in the museum, lying down next to the bog bodies.

Did people really memorize phone numbers before cell phones, or is that just a movie thing?
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I was watching some old shows from the 90s and noticed people would just dial numbers from memory - like they'd call their friends or family without looking anything up.
Made me wonder if that was actually normal back then? Did people genuinely have all their important numbers memorized, or did most folks keep a little address book or written list nearby?

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Rashmi Sirdeshpande @rashmiwriting.bsky.social · 9h

Jenni!! Much love to you. xx

Rashmi Sirdeshpande @rashmiwriting.bsky.social · 9h

HAZEL! I'm up to my neck in edits and this really made me smile. Means a huge amount coming from you too! And I love Kelly Yang and Tolá Okogwu. Loved Onyeka and her latest, Champions of the Galaxy, is AMAZING!

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Rashmi Sirdeshpande @rashmiwriting.bsky.social · 9h

"Fave non-fiction of 2024"! Blown away by this. Just what I needed while I'm deep in edits. And I love Kelly Yang and Tolá Okogwu (Tolá's latest - Champions of the Galaxy - is AMAZING!).

Hazel Pinner @hazelmpinner.bsky.social · 4d

#KidsBooksFriday starting with my fave non-fiction of 2024! The Amazing Asia encyclopedia by @rashmiwriting.bsky.social @jasonlyon.bsky.social is stunning & kids love it. @kellyyang.bsky.social is vocal the fight against #BannedBooks in the US ✊ I adore the Onyeka series too. #EduSky

Front cover of Amazing Asia and encyclopaedia of an epic continent by Rashmi Sirdeshpande and Jason Lyon.

Front covers of the Front Desk series by Kelly Yang

Front covers of the Onyeka series by Tolá Okogwu

Rashmi Sirdeshpande @rashmiwriting.bsky.social · 9h

I feel it more than see it. I'd tell you I can see/picture what I read but I don't mean that in the traditional sense. I like the sounds of words too. I need to be pulled in and it can't be too complicated or waffly or I'm lost (ADHD brain).

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Rashmi Sirdeshpande @rashmiwriting.bsky.social · 5d

Immediately added it to my list of the zillion podcasts I really want to listen to but where is the tiiiiiime waaaaaaa. The number I follow and have saved!!!

Reposted by Rashmi Sirdeshpande

Louie Stowell @louiestowell.bsky.social · 5d

Just found out from @chloesackur.bsky.social: there's a new kidlit podcast in town! From @rachelparris.bsky.social & Children's Book project www.instagram.com/childrensboo... First guest @laurenlaverne.bsky.social, check it out! feeds.acast.com/public/shows... #UKKidLit #KidLitUK

Welcome back to Instagram. Sign in to check out what your friends, family & interests have been capturing & sharing around the world.

www.instagram.com

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Rashmi Sirdeshpande @rashmiwriting.bsky.social · 6d

THIS. The industry also doesn’t want to admit how it really feels about marginalised voices and books by marginalised voices. #kidlituk

Sam Missingham @samatlounge.bsky.social · 6d

This is as enraging as it is predictable. The industry absolutely does not want to do the work it needs to change structurally (and not just plug on temporary initiatives). www.thebookseller.com/news/report-...

Report reveals 'stark inequalities' and 'precipitous decline' in representation in children's publishing

Literacy charity Inclusive Books for Children has published its annual Excluded Voices report, revealing 'stark inequalities' in UK children’s publishing.

www.thebookseller.com

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Rashmi Sirdeshpande @rashmiwriting.bsky.social · 6d

Made me so happy. Love Jess’s work.

Reposted by Rashmi Sirdeshpande

Louie Stowell @louiestowell.bsky.social · 6d

In case you missed this yesterday, brilliant "good things happening to good people" news! COMICS! #UKKidLit #KidLitUK

Jess Bradley @jessbradley.bsky.social · 7d

Some extremely exciting news to share today!

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Rashmi Sirdeshpande @rashmiwriting.bsky.social · 8d

Available to preorder from your favourite independent bookshop and all the usual places: www.penguin.co.uk/books/447196...

Super Uma

Meet Uma - Uma the amazing, the adventurous, the seriously awesome superhero! Together with her Nani, and Chip, her unicorn side-kick, she goes on rescue missions, standing up for what is right and g...

www.penguin.co.uk

Rashmi Sirdeshpande @rashmiwriting.bsky.social · 8d

Cover reveal - So proud to be paired with the amazing Nakul P for our new picture book SUPER UMA, a story about sensory overload, teamwork and empathy. Out in April 2026 with @puffinbooksuk.bsky.social

Cover of picture book Super Uma. Features a little South Asian girl, a small unicorn doing a flying kick and a South Asian grandma figure with a helmet and motorbike with fire motifs, all set against the sparkly colourful background of a magical world.

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Rashmi Sirdeshpande @rashmiwriting.bsky.social · 9d

The kids are with my parents and I can't tell if me wanting to use my free day to catch up on @write-mentor.bsky.social Wowcon keynotes/panels is an enrichment thing or another way of procrastinating and delaying doing my edits.

Rashmi Sirdeshpande @rashmiwriting.bsky.social · 11d

Got the go-ahead for a cover reveal. Just doing some scheming with the lovely illustrator. Then almost all my book-related secrets will be out in the open. 🎉☀️

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Rashmi Sirdeshpande @rashmiwriting.bsky.social · 11d

You’d be brilliant and I bet they’d love you to!

Rashmi Sirdeshpande @rashmiwriting.bsky.social · 11d

Her latest IS excellent!

Reposted by Rashmi Sirdeshpande

Caz 💖💜💙 @wabbits.bsky.social · 11d

Hooray for Barrington Stoke, as you rightly say! Many of my dyslexic pupils found way in with verse novels (shout-out to the incredible Sarah Crossan) & interactive fiction.

Guinness World Records universally popular (topic for every taste!)
Yay for illustrated fiction - Pie In the Sky, Loki, etc

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Rashmi Sirdeshpande @rashmiwriting.bsky.social · 11d

Yes!

Reposted by Rashmi Sirdeshpande

Marianne Doherty @mariannedoherty.bsky.social · 11d

I wrote an article for work about reading with dyslexia. This includes a list of kids books of various formats that I’ve personally found super-readable for different reasons.

www.scottishbooktrust.com/articles/rea...

#DyslexiaAwarenessWeek
#KidsBooksFriday

Reading with dyslexia

Read our article about reading with dyslexia, including a book list of dyslexia-friendly titles.

www.scottishbooktrust.com

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Reposted by Rashmi Sirdeshpande

Marianne Doherty @mariannedoherty.bsky.social · 11d

It’s #DyslexiaAwarenessWeek in Scotland this week and in the rest of the UK next week. As a dyslexic reader myself I wanted to use #KidsBooksFriday this week to celebrate brilliant, accessible and super-readable texts of all kinds.
#UKKidLit #KidLitUK #KidLit

Book cover for Reek by Alastair Chisholm, illustrated by George Caltsoudas showing a young person with a helmet and rocket books swinging through a futuristic Edinburgh via a rope.

Book cover for Wonderfully Wired Brains by Louise Gooding showing a young person with short hair and glasses wearing a green hoodie. Around their head are a myriad of different things from animals to basketballs, pencils, paint brushes and games controllers.

Book cover for Ink Girls by Marieke Nijkamp and Sylvia Bi showing three girls with papers in their hand as if passing our leaflets, hovering over a medieval European style city.

Book cover for The Horse Dreamer by Holly Surplice showing a sketch style drawing of a girl riding a galloping horse.

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Rashmi Sirdeshpande @rashmiwriting.bsky.social · 17d

So true. I don’t write every day or all the time either(!) So lovely and refreshing to hear your very honest thoughts on publishing, Alom.

Rashmi Sirdeshpande @rashmiwriting.bsky.social · 17d

100%. Otherwise why do I need to write? There are plentyyyy of other writers. Incredible ones.