Rashmi Sirdeshpande
@rashmiwriting.bsky.social
Neurodivergent (AuDHD). Learner. Dreamer. Award-winning children's author. Musings on books, writing, creativity and ND life. Agent: Lydia Silver
https://linktr.ee/rashmiwriting
https://linktr.ee/rashmiwriting
Pinned
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
Reposted by Rashmi Sirdeshpande
Creative pals, we need you! A group of us are running an auction to raise funds for the Emergency Response Rooms in Sudan. Sudanese people are dealing with the worst humanitarian crisis since records began. Can you donate mentoring/art/signed books etc? SIGN UP HERE: www.sudancoup.com/auction
Creatives4Sudan Fundraising Auction — Keep Eyes On Sudan
Creatives coming together to raise life-saving funds for the people escaping genocide in El-Fasher, Sudan
www.sudancoup.com
November 10, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Creative pals, we need you! A group of us are running an auction to raise funds for the Emergency Response Rooms in Sudan. Sudanese people are dealing with the worst humanitarian crisis since records began. Can you donate mentoring/art/signed books etc? SIGN UP HERE: www.sudancoup.com/auction
My Bluesky used to be very bookish but I lingered on some local and US politics and now it’s a full-on political feed and… can I get the book stuff back please?
November 10, 2025 at 5:56 PM
My Bluesky used to be very bookish but I lingered on some local and US politics and now it’s a full-on political feed and… can I get the book stuff back please?
Really interesting listening to @darrenchetty.bsky.social talking about how history is written when it comes to racially minoritised people - thinking about the POV, the reader, context, and how the narrative humanises, shows agency and recognises heterogeneity in social groups.
November 8, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Really interesting listening to @darrenchetty.bsky.social talking about how history is written when it comes to racially minoritised people - thinking about the POV, the reader, context, and how the narrative humanises, shows agency and recognises heterogeneity in social groups.
An amazing book!
I’m proud to announce that DON’T TRUST FISH has been nominated for the Carnegie Medal for Illustration out in the UK. Proud to be part of such a special book written by @unshavedmouse.bsky.social Congrats to all the nominees❤️ @carnegiemedals.bsky.social #carnegies2026
November 8, 2025 at 12:41 PM
An amazing book!
Now listening to @chrishaughton.bsky.social speaking at the IBBY “Whose History?” conference. His book The History of Information is one of my absolute favourites. #kidlituk
THE HISTORY OF INFORMATION by @chrishaughton.bsky.social is top tier children’s nonfiction - stunning, insightful, and thought-provoking. A must for every classroom and library and in this age of disinformation, it’s the most important book you’ll read this year. #KidlitUK #KidBooksUK
November 8, 2025 at 10:54 AM
Now listening to @chrishaughton.bsky.social speaking at the IBBY “Whose History?” conference. His book The History of Information is one of my absolute favourites. #kidlituk
Waiting in the car outside my daughter’s fencing class with a huge bag of Wotsits, watching the IBBY 2025 Conference “Whose History?”. It’s a great line-up, an important topic and I like Wotsits so it’s all good. #KidLitUK
November 8, 2025 at 10:24 AM
Waiting in the car outside my daughter’s fencing class with a huge bag of Wotsits, watching the IBBY 2025 Conference “Whose History?”. It’s a great line-up, an important topic and I like Wotsits so it’s all good. #KidLitUK
Reposted by Rashmi Sirdeshpande
i've been working on translations of two poems from the Classic of Poetry 诗经 (the oldest surviving book of chinese poetry dating back to 11th to 7th century BC). I have had to consult 6 annotated editions, and the most thorough edition has 3+ pages of annotations for every single line lol 😅
November 6, 2025 at 12:25 PM
i've been working on translations of two poems from the Classic of Poetry 诗经 (the oldest surviving book of chinese poetry dating back to 11th to 7th century BC). I have had to consult 6 annotated editions, and the most thorough edition has 3+ pages of annotations for every single line lol 😅
🥰🎉📖
November 7, 2025 at 11:57 AM
🥰🎉📖
100% agree that it’s a golden age of children’s nonfiction. I recommended a big bunch of factual books (twice!) back when I was BookTrust Writer-in-Residence. Sharing the links again in this thread! 📚 #NonfictionNovember #KidLitUK #KidsBooksFriday
I genuinely think we live in a golden age of kids non-fiction, so I’m very excited for us to celebrate #NonFictionNovember with this week’s #KidsBooksFriday.
What brilliant non-fiction would you recommend? This is another week where I can’t possibly stop at four.
#UKKidLit #KidLitUK #KidLit
What brilliant non-fiction would you recommend? This is another week where I can’t possibly stop at four.
#UKKidLit #KidLitUK #KidLit
November 7, 2025 at 11:50 AM
100% agree that it’s a golden age of children’s nonfiction. I recommended a big bunch of factual books (twice!) back when I was BookTrust Writer-in-Residence. Sharing the links again in this thread! 📚 #NonfictionNovember #KidLitUK #KidsBooksFriday
Looking forward to being part of the author panel at the School Library Association’s online event Celebrating the Information Book Award 2025 at 6.30pm on Tuesday 11th Nov. Come join us!
sla.org.uk/Public/Event...
sla.org.uk/Public/Event...
November 7, 2025 at 11:07 AM
Looking forward to being part of the author panel at the School Library Association’s online event Celebrating the Information Book Award 2025 at 6.30pm on Tuesday 11th Nov. Come join us!
sla.org.uk/Public/Event...
sla.org.uk/Public/Event...
Reposted by Rashmi Sirdeshpande
“Godden’s greatest gift is arguably her ability to convey love, not with the passivity of platitudes but as a conviction which is actively lived; a passion with the power to eclipse even hate’s most enduring shadows. Her empathy is captivating…”
thank you!
www.northernsoul.me.uk/cabaret-for-...
thank you!
www.northernsoul.me.uk/cabaret-for-...
'fierce and tender' Cabaret For Freedom, Manchester Literature Festival
Cabaret For Freedom at Manchester Literature Festival, St John's Church, Manchester.
www.northernsoul.me.uk
November 6, 2025 at 4:26 PM
“Godden’s greatest gift is arguably her ability to convey love, not with the passivity of platitudes but as a conviction which is actively lived; a passion with the power to eclipse even hate’s most enduring shadows. Her empathy is captivating…”
thank you!
www.northernsoul.me.uk/cabaret-for-...
thank you!
www.northernsoul.me.uk/cabaret-for-...
Also I forget that I am also autistic and need routine and certainty. It’s like this realisation dawns only as the event approaches but not when I’m asked. Then I’m like leave me alone, world!
Sometimes I get curveball event requests in that should make me say ok that is too much work, I have no time, but instead I say oooh that looks like fun. How did it take me decades to realize this impulsivity was an ADHD trait?
November 6, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Also I forget that I am also autistic and need routine and certainty. It’s like this realisation dawns only as the event approaches but not when I’m asked. Then I’m like leave me alone, world!
Sometimes I get curveball event requests in that should make me say ok that is too much work, I have no time, but instead I say oooh that looks like fun. How did it take me decades to realize this impulsivity was an ADHD trait?
November 6, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Sometimes I get curveball event requests in that should make me say ok that is too much work, I have no time, but instead I say oooh that looks like fun. How did it take me decades to realize this impulsivity was an ADHD trait?
My 20-minute 1-2-1 ASK ME ANYTHING slots are now live. Trialling two dates for now: 1-2pm and 7-8pm GMT on 13th and 20th Nov.
These aren’t critique/feedback sessions. They’re to help marginalised writers navigate UK children’s publishing.
UK only. Link to book in my bio. 💛📖 #KidLitUK
These aren’t critique/feedback sessions. They’re to help marginalised writers navigate UK children’s publishing.
UK only. Link to book in my bio. 💛📖 #KidLitUK
November 6, 2025 at 12:19 PM
My 20-minute 1-2-1 ASK ME ANYTHING slots are now live. Trialling two dates for now: 1-2pm and 7-8pm GMT on 13th and 20th Nov.
These aren’t critique/feedback sessions. They’re to help marginalised writers navigate UK children’s publishing.
UK only. Link to book in my bio. 💛📖 #KidLitUK
These aren’t critique/feedback sessions. They’re to help marginalised writers navigate UK children’s publishing.
UK only. Link to book in my bio. 💛📖 #KidLitUK
Because I'm entering the busiest year of my literal life... I think I've managed to get Calendly to work so I can finally set up those free online Ask Me Anything sessions to help marginalized writers navigate UK children's publishing. Now to figure out how to promote them.
November 6, 2025 at 11:32 AM
Because I'm entering the busiest year of my literal life... I think I've managed to get Calendly to work so I can finally set up those free online Ask Me Anything sessions to help marginalized writers navigate UK children's publishing. Now to figure out how to promote them.
Reposted by Rashmi Sirdeshpande
hope is a group project
November 5, 2025 at 11:00 AM
hope is a group project
Reposted by Rashmi Sirdeshpande
Re-upping the dedication of Mahmood Mamdani's 2020 book, 'Neither Settler nor Native'.
November 5, 2025 at 5:04 AM
Re-upping the dedication of Mahmood Mamdani's 2020 book, 'Neither Settler nor Native'.
What an opportunity. This sounds amazing.
I'm serious. If you're feeling rusty on mind-mapping or would like some tips & tricks for thinking on paper or lateral / non-linear thinking, I would love to share / coach! Individuals / groups / orgs: let me be your anti-AI idea generator & developer! Call me The Pencil.
yentling at iCloud dot com
yentling at iCloud dot com
If anyone wants to pay me $100 for a facilitation session on how to listen to your own notes & enlarge the conversation, i promise I will not scrape your data or generate disinformation. We will have a great time.
November 5, 2025 at 12:58 PM
What an opportunity. This sounds amazing.
Reposted by Rashmi Sirdeshpande
Such a mystery, what MASS DISABLING EVENT could have happened after 2019 to cause this?
The number of people aged between 16 and 34 who are out of work due to long-term sickness increased by 76% between 2019 and 2024
UK ‘sliding into avoidable crisis’, major review into workplace sickness warns
The number of people aged between 16 and 34 who are out of work due to long-term sickness increased by 76% between 2019 and 2024
www.independent.co.uk
November 5, 2025 at 9:14 AM
Such a mystery, what MASS DISABLING EVENT could have happened after 2019 to cause this?
I wanted to be an elegant author but instead I’m the author that had to pull bits of croissant out of her hair just before the Andersen Press/Walker sales conference (which went beautifully by the way). Was talking about the This is Who I Am paperback coming in 2026 and a new unannounced book.
November 5, 2025 at 12:20 PM
I wanted to be an elegant author but instead I’m the author that had to pull bits of croissant out of her hair just before the Andersen Press/Walker sales conference (which went beautifully by the way). Was talking about the This is Who I Am paperback coming in 2026 and a new unannounced book.
Beyond thrilled that Jason Lyon has been nominated for the prestigious Carnegie Medal for Illustration 2026 (formerly the Kate Greenaway) for his incredible work in Amazing Asia. An astonishingly versatile illustrator. His work is breathtaking! #KidLit #KidLitUK #KidLitArt
November 5, 2025 at 9:15 AM
Beyond thrilled that Jason Lyon has been nominated for the prestigious Carnegie Medal for Illustration 2026 (formerly the Kate Greenaway) for his incredible work in Amazing Asia. An astonishingly versatile illustrator. His work is breathtaking! #KidLit #KidLitUK #KidLitArt
Reposted by Rashmi Sirdeshpande
Off to Stroud festival today to do Loki events! I've been deep in an edit so the temptation to ask children things like, "what's your role in the emotional arc" and "yes but how does this contribute to the overarching series plot?" will be high. Remember: children are real, not characters #KidLitUK
November 5, 2025 at 6:56 AM
Off to Stroud festival today to do Loki events! I've been deep in an edit so the temptation to ask children things like, "what's your role in the emotional arc" and "yes but how does this contribute to the overarching series plot?" will be high. Remember: children are real, not characters #KidLitUK
Incredibly sad news. Knights Of was a trailblazer that discovered, took a chance on, and championed underrepresented voices in children’s publishing - an industry that loves its tokenism and tick-boxes and social-media-friendly projects and promises that crumble far too quickly. #KidLitUK
October 30, 2025 at 6:37 AM
Incredibly sad news. Knights Of was a trailblazer that discovered, took a chance on, and championed underrepresented voices in children’s publishing - an industry that loves its tokenism and tick-boxes and social-media-friendly projects and promises that crumble far too quickly. #KidLitUK
YES!
So, now there's a booker prize for 8-12 year old kidlit, let's have one for YA and picture books. The PB one I already have a name for. The Picture Booker.
October 26, 2025 at 1:56 AM
YES!
