Karen Strong
@karenmusings.bsky.social
Speculative fiction author. Avid reader. Public library aficionado. Southern Book Prize and Ignyte award finalist. She/Her.
https://www.karen-strong.com
https://www.karen-strong.com
“At a time when everything feels meaningless, and when the powers that be want your life to feel that way, you have to imbue your life with meaning.”
- James Factora
- James Factora
April 24, 2025 at 2:17 PM
“At a time when everything feels meaningless, and when the powers that be want your life to feel that way, you have to imbue your life with meaning.”
- James Factora
- James Factora
Peaceful morning at the neighborhood river.
April 17, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Peaceful morning at the neighborhood river.
“In the most basic way, writing is about opening yourself to another person’s mind.”
- Katie Kitamura
- Katie Kitamura
April 16, 2025 at 11:05 PM
“In the most basic way, writing is about opening yourself to another person’s mind.”
- Katie Kitamura
- Katie Kitamura
Snowball and azalea blooming season in Georgia USA. #FlowerReport #BloomScrolling
April 13, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Snowball and azalea blooming season in Georgia USA. #FlowerReport #BloomScrolling
Reposted by Karen Strong
Reposted by Karen Strong
How the Word Is Passed (Adapted for Young Readers) will be out September 2nd and is now available for pre-order. Can’t wait for you all to read it. Shout out to teachers. This is for y’all.
www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/clint...
www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/clint...
April 7, 2025 at 5:25 PM
How the Word Is Passed (Adapted for Young Readers) will be out September 2nd and is now available for pre-order. Can’t wait for you all to read it. Shout out to teachers. This is for y’all.
www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/clint...
www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/clint...
Reposted by Karen Strong
#NationalLibraryWeek kicks off today! It’s a time to celebrate the places that welcome everyone, spark curiosity, and strengthen our communities.
This week, take a moment to discover—or rediscover—what makes your library special.
What draws you to the library?
ilovelibraries.org/national-lib...
This week, take a moment to discover—or rediscover—what makes your library special.
What draws you to the library?
ilovelibraries.org/national-lib...
April 6, 2025 at 5:28 PM
#NationalLibraryWeek kicks off today! It’s a time to celebrate the places that welcome everyone, spark curiosity, and strengthen our communities.
This week, take a moment to discover—or rediscover—what makes your library special.
What draws you to the library?
ilovelibraries.org/national-lib...
This week, take a moment to discover—or rediscover—what makes your library special.
What draws you to the library?
ilovelibraries.org/national-lib...
Sipping iced coffee and fleshing out beats for this week's scene list. Hope to hit another draft milestone by the end of the month. At the juicy meat of the plot that has moments and reveals that I've been looking forward to writing.
April 6, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Sipping iced coffee and fleshing out beats for this week's scene list. Hope to hit another draft milestone by the end of the month. At the juicy meat of the plot that has moments and reveals that I've been looking forward to writing.
I’m currently editing something I wrote almost a decade ago. It needs a lot of work, but I’m so proud of how much I’ve grown as a writer and how I’m able to see the upward trajectory of my skill.
Remember that striving to grow in your craft is never a waste. The results are always worth it.
Remember that striving to grow in your craft is never a waste. The results are always worth it.
March 16, 2025 at 3:51 PM
I’m currently editing something I wrote almost a decade ago. It needs a lot of work, but I’m so proud of how much I’ve grown as a writer and how I’m able to see the upward trajectory of my skill.
Remember that striving to grow in your craft is never a waste. The results are always worth it.
Remember that striving to grow in your craft is never a waste. The results are always worth it.
Signs of Spring on my afternoon walk.
February 28, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Signs of Spring on my afternoon walk.
Writing a novel during these times is very difficult but I hit a major milestone today and I'm so proud of all my hard work.
This book keeps dragging me but I'm gonna keep pushing until I'm done.
This book keeps dragging me but I'm gonna keep pushing until I'm done.
February 21, 2025 at 1:05 AM
Writing a novel during these times is very difficult but I hit a major milestone today and I'm so proud of all my hard work.
This book keeps dragging me but I'm gonna keep pushing until I'm done.
This book keeps dragging me but I'm gonna keep pushing until I'm done.
Reposted by Karen Strong
[Just a cup of sunshine]
January 28, 2025 at 3:43 PM
[Just a cup of sunshine]
Reposted by Karen Strong
"We are a creative, disruptive people who have never accepted silence."
In this op-ed, @raquelwillis.com offers advice to trans kids on resisting discriminatory times and calls on the strength and resolve of trans trailblazers throughout history. ⤵️
In this op-ed, @raquelwillis.com offers advice to trans kids on resisting discriminatory times and calls on the strength and resolve of trans trailblazers throughout history. ⤵️
Dear Trans Kids, You Don't Need the Government's Permission to Exist
Activist and journalist Raquel Willis offers crucial advice to trans and non-binary youth.
www.teenvogue.com
January 27, 2025 at 8:31 PM
"We are a creative, disruptive people who have never accepted silence."
In this op-ed, @raquelwillis.com offers advice to trans kids on resisting discriminatory times and calls on the strength and resolve of trans trailblazers throughout history. ⤵️
In this op-ed, @raquelwillis.com offers advice to trans kids on resisting discriminatory times and calls on the strength and resolve of trans trailblazers throughout history. ⤵️
Reposted by Karen Strong
Interested in judging for the next cycle of the Ignyte Awards? Applications to join our longlist judge cohort are now open thru Feb 14. No prior experience as a judge is required, but we do need you to be well-read and familiar with what we do.
ignyteawards.fiyahlitmag.com/wanna-judge/
ignyteawards.fiyahlitmag.com/wanna-judge/
Wanna Judge?, The Ignyte Awards
For the 2025 cycle, we are opening up our longlist judging cohort to folks who may be a good fit (interested, available, organically well read in a diverse...
ignyteawards.fiyahlitmag.com
January 27, 2025 at 7:46 PM
Interested in judging for the next cycle of the Ignyte Awards? Applications to join our longlist judge cohort are now open thru Feb 14. No prior experience as a judge is required, but we do need you to be well-read and familiar with what we do.
ignyteawards.fiyahlitmag.com/wanna-judge/
ignyteawards.fiyahlitmag.com/wanna-judge/
Reposted by Karen Strong
the thing is, trans folks have always been here. we’ve shaped culture, told stories that changed the world and lived authentically in the face of unimaginable challenges. and no amount of fearmongering from a man who likely couldn’t even define “nonbinary” is going to erase us.
January 21, 2025 at 7:25 PM
the thing is, trans folks have always been here. we’ve shaped culture, told stories that changed the world and lived authentically in the face of unimaginable challenges. and no amount of fearmongering from a man who likely couldn’t even define “nonbinary” is going to erase us.
Reposted by Karen Strong
I wrote this thread last year during one of the worst periods in my life, and it helps me when the urge to worry and doomscroll for hours is particularly powerful
When things feel extra chaotic and overwhelming, here's what helps me:
-doing less
-resting more
-spending more on outsourcing tasks
-aggressive hydration
-high-protein meals
-weekly therapy
-scheduling offline activities like museums and long dog walks on weekends
-focusing on things in my control
-doing less
-resting more
-spending more on outsourcing tasks
-aggressive hydration
-high-protein meals
-weekly therapy
-scheduling offline activities like museums and long dog walks on weekends
-focusing on things in my control
January 21, 2025 at 1:37 PM
I wrote this thread last year during one of the worst periods in my life, and it helps me when the urge to worry and doomscroll for hours is particularly powerful
Snow is rolling thru again tonight so I thought I would be able to go pick my library holds but my branch has already closed early. Alas.
January 21, 2025 at 6:38 PM
Snow is rolling thru again tonight so I thought I would be able to go pick my library holds but my branch has already closed early. Alas.
Reposted by Karen Strong
Did your child lose their book collection in the Los Angeles fires? Are you a teacher at a school that lost its library or your classroom library? Whether you need one book or a whole library, we can replace your books. 📚
Everyone else, please boost this post so we can connect with those in need. 🙏
Everyone else, please boost this post so we can connect with those in need. 🙏
January 16, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Did your child lose their book collection in the Los Angeles fires? Are you a teacher at a school that lost its library or your classroom library? Whether you need one book or a whole library, we can replace your books. 📚
Everyone else, please boost this post so we can connect with those in need. 🙏
Everyone else, please boost this post so we can connect with those in need. 🙏
I love this quote. I became a writer because I was a reader first:
“With all I am, I love reading. I think of writing as an extension of the reading, a kind of call and response.”
- R.O. Kwon
“With all I am, I love reading. I think of writing as an extension of the reading, a kind of call and response.”
- R.O. Kwon
January 14, 2025 at 4:49 PM
I love this quote. I became a writer because I was a reader first:
“With all I am, I love reading. I think of writing as an extension of the reading, a kind of call and response.”
- R.O. Kwon
“With all I am, I love reading. I think of writing as an extension of the reading, a kind of call and response.”
- R.O. Kwon
My reading goal this year is 100 books. So far I've read LIFE CEREMONY by Sayaka Murata and a reread of THICK by Tressie McMillan Cottom. Currently reading GUIDE ME HOME by Attica Locke.
Reading books inspires my own work and I love when I get that "writer itch" to create after finishing a banger.
Reading books inspires my own work and I love when I get that "writer itch" to create after finishing a banger.
January 8, 2025 at 3:33 PM
My reading goal this year is 100 books. So far I've read LIFE CEREMONY by Sayaka Murata and a reread of THICK by Tressie McMillan Cottom. Currently reading GUIDE ME HOME by Attica Locke.
Reading books inspires my own work and I love when I get that "writer itch" to create after finishing a banger.
Reading books inspires my own work and I love when I get that "writer itch" to create after finishing a banger.
flames don’t flicker
forever
and moths are born to be burned
- "Poem (For EMA)," Nikki Giovanni
forever
and moths are born to be burned
- "Poem (For EMA)," Nikki Giovanni
December 10, 2024 at 4:39 AM
flames don’t flicker
forever
and moths are born to be burned
- "Poem (For EMA)," Nikki Giovanni
forever
and moths are born to be burned
- "Poem (For EMA)," Nikki Giovanni
"Poem (For EMA)" is one of my favorite Nikki Giovanni poems. I have so many favorites. I met her in 2002 before I started writing my own words. She was such an inspiration. She will be missed. Rest in Peace.
December 10, 2024 at 4:34 AM
"Poem (For EMA)" is one of my favorite Nikki Giovanni poems. I have so many favorites. I met her in 2002 before I started writing my own words. She was such an inspiration. She will be missed. Rest in Peace.
It’s my favorite time of year: Eating dessert for breakfast season.
November 29, 2024 at 12:53 PM
It’s my favorite time of year: Eating dessert for breakfast season.