The Write Spxt

Tomás Q. Morín on Cat Love and the Superstitious Homework of Being a Writer

Bianca Ducasse — Sun, 30 Aug 2026 14:24:44 GMT

Tomás Q. Morín

I am incredibly inspired by Tomás, who I collaborated with on his latest book Cat Love. Over the course of his life, so far, he has been able to build an incredible caliber of published work across different genres. When I asked him about how he overcomes writers block, he said he doesn’t have it. Because he has figured out that magic is born from low expectations, from being able to do what you love while having fun and ensuring your life is well lived.

What a concept.

We can learn a lot from this way of being: we do not have to punish ourselves by dragging our feet through the mud to find the muse. We do not have to isolate our writing or ourselves to create. We only need to have within us the desire to incorporate the work into our lives, like we do with eating, and simply live.

This conversation made me want to give myself (and my writing) a little more room.

Read CAT LOVE

Books by Tomás

Poetry

Machete Read
Patient Zero Read
A Larger Country Read
My Favorite Things Preorder, on sale 2/9/27

Fiction

Cat Love Read

Nonfiction

Where Are You From: Letters to My Son Read
Let Me Count the Ways Read

As Editor

Coming Close: Forty Essays on Philip Levine with Mari L’Esperance Read

As Translator

The Heights of Macchu Picchu by Pablo Neruda Read

Media mentioned while chatting with Tomas

The Writing Life by Annie Dillard Read
Underground by Haruki Murakami Read
Luis Alberto Urrea Explore
Association of Writers and Writing Programs (AWP) Explore
University of Nebraska Press Explore Unsolicited Submissions
Poets & Writers Magazine Explore

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Current associate director of marketing at Pantheon and Doubleday Books, imprints at Penguin Random House.

The Magical True Story Behind Raising Hare

Bianca Ducasse — Sun, 09 Aug 2026 06:22:26 GMT

I had a great time sitting down with Chloe Dalton, author of Raising Hare, when she visited the U.S. in May of this year.

Please, watch our in-conversation and visit your local bookstore and look for her amazing book.

You will be nudged to slow your life down, take a look at your surrounding world and appreciate the beauty of nature.

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Jemimah Wei on Crafting The Original Daughter

Bianca Ducasse — Sun, 02 Aug 2026 06:23:12 GMT

Photo: © Amanda Wong

I read The Original Daughter in audio format while at the gym. I wouldn't necessarily recommend this unless you're comfortable tearing up mid-set. Listening to it felt like riding an emotional rollercoaster: grief, shock, anger, empathy, understanding and frustration all at once. Having siblings of my own, the narrative hit home in a personal way and made me reflect on what it means to create your own family.

It took Jemimah nine years to finish this story. The emotional depth threaded within is a clear reflection of the care she put into ensuring the voices for each character did something substantial.

It was a privilege to collaborate with her on the trade paperback release, emboldened with a brand new cover to make tangible the complex sisterhood at the center.

In this chat, we dive into…

nine years of isolated writing
the “poetry is a luxury” mindset
bridging craft and ambition

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Work, lately #03

Bianca Ducasse — Sun, 26 Jul 2026 06:22:07 GMT

In the photo booth at Essence Festival, July 2026

I spent my Fourth of July weekend in New Orleans, at Essence Festival. It is a three-day once-a-year event that consumes downtown NOLA and fills the airport, streets and convention center with travelers from all over the country.

While I was waiting to board my flight on the Thursday before the start, my plane was filled with older Black women wearing the same t-shirt and speaking joyfully about how excited they were for their yearly trip together — this one would include a sighting of The Michelle Obama, who would be recording a podcast episode on the evening of day one with Keke Palmer. She was present to promote her new book, The Look.

I wondered if they were readers and tried to remember their faces in case they visited the Book Festival area, where I’d be stationed.

Since my flight departed at 5am, as soon as I entered my hotel room, I went to sleep. I woke up a couple of hours later to the sounds of downtown outside. I spent the afternoon reviewing the festival’s schedule informing of all the author panels, signings and where I’d need to be at any given time.

I arrived at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center around 8:30am on Friday, July 3rd so that I could walk around slowly before the crowd arrived. What I didn’t know was that the crowd would already be there: outside of the convention center were several lines outside of several entrances that simply wrapped around the building. Click here to take a look at the sheer size of this place.

Our Book Festival programming was located in Hall H where the energy remained high from morning to 5pm as readers came to connect with authors and discover new titles.

When I managed to find free time away from the convention floor, I took the opportunity to explore the city. I ventured to a local bookstore (where I found the first edition of Wild Seed by Octavia Butler), ate incredible food and walked slowly through the streets.

If you’re ever in New Orleans, here are a few spots you should definitely check out:

Beckham’s Bookshop — A charming, multi-story used bookstore perfect for getting lost in. And they have a cat wandering the shelves!
Chophouse New Orleans — Fantastic atmosphere, live music and delicious dining.
Compère Lapin — An absolute must for incredible Caribbean/New Orleans food.
Kimpton Hotel Peacock Room — Stunning decor, great food, live DJ and often featuring a local artist hosting a painting class or selling handmade goods.

Reflections from the festival floor

I am not often a part of festivals. Being given the opportunity to break out of the usual day-to-day to visit a new city and build community with readers was a whirlwind and extremely exciting. Watching readers light up as they met their favorite author was the ultimate reminder of why I do this work: it’s more than just making mailing lists and sending books out in the mail. At its core, it’s about creating organic spaces where stories connect people.

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Current associate director of marketing at Pantheon and Doubleday Books, imprints at Penguin Random House.

17. What If You Sent a Letter in the Mail Instead?

Bianca Ducasse — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 06:22:07 GMT

My letter box.

If you are someone dear or near, you’ve probably received something in the mail from me. Not only am I a book fairy who loves putting books in the mail for people, but I love to use paper and glue to create things with my hands.

Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when published

there is something sacred about taking the time to 
write things down on a piece of paper, 
fold it neatly, 
organize an envelope, 
locate and purchase a stamp,
put envelope in the mail.
an offering of sorts 
that travels solitary through space and time 
towards a very specific destination, 
to a very specific person 
through many different hands 
                           and 
an adventure that isn’t experienced by 
either the sender or receiver, 
although both parties know it has happened. 
imagine if the traveling envelope 
                          could talk, 
what would it share about its 
                     journey 
through the mail?

It has never failed, every single time I’ve put something in the mail, the receiver is filled with a burst of light:

Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when published

a dopamine hit that can’t be generated through scrolling. 
it is the real thing, 
a reflection of what human connection is, 
what we are capable of doing with 
        and for each other. 
taking our time, 
sending an item that is in limited supply, 
          one-of-a-kind 
so that they know something clear: 
                      i was thinking of you and i wanted you to know.

Ways to Get Started

Pick a friend

Think of someone who doesn’t live near you. Someone you don’t see or speak to often but they come to your mind a lot. When they cross your mind, what do you think about? Instead of sending them a text message or picking up the phone to call, consider putting something in the mail.

Use a postcard

The postcard is like sending a tweet. You must get to the point and there is no need to write a bunch. They are inexpensive, sometimes as cheap as $0.50 and many local shops have inventory of artists who live in the area.

Get stamps sent to your home

To make it easier on yourself, order stamps to come to your home. Every mailbox has an outbox.

Invite them to write back

If this is a new practice for both you and your penpal, they will need an explicit nudge to reply to your mail. Otherwise, they will simply send you a text message of a photograph of the mail saying thank you. But the goal is that they also take a moment to slow down and respond. At the end of your letter, be sure to say that you can’t wait to read from them.

Keep in Mind

You are using mobility in your hands

I keep hearing that schools are not very strict about giving kids opportunities to write with their hands. It is easier to teach them how to type, how to use a tablet. A generation of young people are growing up without practicing mobility in their hands that allow them to write - what a tragedy. Putting a letter in the mail is you creating an opportunity for yourself to continue flexing a muscle that is important to your mind and body.

You are sending the receiver good energy

I love to scrapbook and create collages using magazines and print outs. I make a mess on my livingroom floor with all the markers, stickers, glue sticks, washi tape… While I am creating, I am thinking of the friend its intended for. It is like a small prayer extended their way, it drives the words I may decide to cut out and paste.

You inevitably create good energy for yourself

When I am having positive thoughts about my friend while creating something for the mail, it feels good. It feels good to love someone, to have faith and hope that maybe they will receive this mail in divine timing.

Have No Expectations

A lot of people are not used to putting things in the mail. Keep your expectations low when you begin: as mentioned above, instead of you receiving a reply in the mail, the person may text you a photograph of their excitement that they received your letter. And then never put one in the mail to reply to you. It happens. Remember that your penpal may need some time to warm up to the practice and sometimes, honestly, it’s not for everyone.

Begin

None of this is really about the paper, or the stamp, or the postcard. It’s about being willing to slow down long enough to say: you exist to me. That’s worth the fifty cents and the walk to the mailbox.

Who came to mind while you were reading this? Go tell them.

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Ysabella Osses on Community, Culture and the Audacity to Build

Bianca Ducasse — Sun, 28 Jun 2026 06:23:04 GMT

Ysabella Osses

Here is a confession: despite spending my entire career working in the world of books and storytelling, I still get incredibly uncomfortable when I have to turn a camera on myself. Put me in a room to ask questions or have a deep, late-night conversation, and I’m completely at peace. But the moment I’m staring at that little glass lens on my phone, trying to pretend it’s a person? No.

So I sought out someone who I believe has mastered the art of talking to a camera as if those on the other end are in the same room. Ysabella shares book content on Instagram and displays a comfortability I hope to learn one day.

Talking to her reminded me that reading is arguably the most beautifully labor-intensive form of entertainment we have left and that choosing to sit with a book is, in its own way, a quiet act of resistance.

In this conversation we dive into…

Using reading as an escape
Starting a bookstagram account
Asking for what you want when attempting to collab with authors and publishers

Books mentioned while chatting with Ysabella

Tender is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica
My Tender Matador by Pedro Lemebel
Twilight Zone by Nona Fernández
House of Spirits by Isabel Allende
Chile, Pinochet & The Caravan of Death by Patricia Verdugo

Ysabella showing us her junk journal.

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16. Can we talk about the privilege of "falling behind"?

Bianca Ducasse — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 06:22:23 GMT

Me, reading Carl’s Doomsday Scenario poolside.

What a busy two weeks I’ve had! It is a privilege to have a life worth living, people to support and live alongside of; to have things to do, so much so that I “fall behind” on creative tasks in the name of gaining lived experience. It is a privilege to be social, well loved and cared for; to be part of community.

This past weekend, we celebrated my niece’s 21st rotation around the sun. Her birthday is usually sentimental because she was the first baby who entered our family. I was 16 when she was born and still remember the day: the first birth I have ever witnessed in real time. I was in the labor and delivery room with my sister and mother, nearly traumatized as I watched my sister scrunch her face up in agony as she tried to push the baby out. A yelp erupted from her. I remember the nurse telling her, “Don’t scream. Just push.” There was silence after that, only the sound of my sister grunting through the pushing until a little person appeared with a head full of curly dark hair.

Then we were busy celebrating the dance recital of my little one, the first and only birth I have lived. Since she is a social butterfly, she had two birthday parties to attend and a few playdates to host.

The books that have been keeping me company are plenty: I am on book six of the Dungeon Crawler Carl series by Matt Dinniman. I recently finished listening to his new stand alone novel, Operation Bounce House and have started listening to After the Dance by Edwidge Danticat. The Dungeon Crawler Carl series is the most fun I’ve had while reading in a long time. It is filled with action, humor, gore, emotion, twists and turns. Not to mention the community that it builds: I was reading while at the airport and someone approached me, a smile on his face as he exclaimed, “I’ve just finished the entire series. They’re so good!” We chatted for a few minutes until we both finally had to catch our flights. The only thing predictable about Crawler Carl is that we can and should expect change.

I am working on finalizing a chat with Ysabella of @ysaleftyouonread. I had a lot of fun talking to her about bookstagram and being driven by intuition when attempting to build a community. In the meantime, check her out on Instagram.

These past two weeks have confirmed that we cannot tell stories or build communities if we don’t step outside to experience them first.

So while I slow-cook Ysabella’s episode, I want to leave you with a few thoughts to carry into your week. Grab a notebook, a blank paper, or just a quiet moment with your morning coffee:

When was the last time you purposefully “fell behind” on your to-do list in order to live? How did it feel to choose presence over productivity?
Think back to a moment of serendipitous connection (like meeting a fellow reader at an airport). What did that brief window tell you about the kind of community you crave?
What books have been keeping you company lately?
Have you found any unexpected literary joy like I did with Crawler Carl?

Leave a comment

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Dr. Chanda Prescod-Weinstein on Physics and the Questions That Make Us Human

Bianca Ducasse — Sun, 31 May 2026 06:22:50 GMT

My first attempt at using Substack’s Recording Studio was with Dr. Chanda Prescod-Weinstein, author of The Disordered Cosmos and The Edge of Space-Time. I have had the privilege of collaborating with Chanda on the publication of Space-Time and have been feeling so proud to be a part of such important work.

In this conversation, I dive right into as many questions as I can get out, staying mindful that I should not keep her for more than an hour. Afterwards, I was still left riddled with many more questions, wishing I had picked this one over that one; wishing I had asked it in this way over that way; hoping I made use of the space-time she shared with me. As always, Chanda was patient with my ignorance and made sure the science she cares so deeply about was accessible for my muggle brain (and maybe yours).

What questions would you ask a theoretical physicist?

Leave a comment

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15. Questioning Audre Lorde

Bianca Ducasse — Sun, 24 May 2026 06:22:49 GMT

Photo credit: Afropunk

The challenge I gave myself to read Audre Lorde's work has proven to be in service of getting to know myself and her.

A Burst of Light is the one carrying my favorite title. Meanwhile, Zami: A New Spelling of My Name is growing to be my favorite. It is recounting the earliest years of her life into her early 20s. We are able to witness how she, once upon a time, worshiped the ground her mother walked on. And we watch the downfall of that dynamic, its affects following us throughout the narrative in both positive and negative light. There are strings she didn't attach for her reader, clear details that she needed to take to the grave. One of which is the relationship she had with her older sisters. And, of course, her mother.

I often wondered: how did her mother die? Did Lorde arrive at any peace upon that moment? If her parents had been telling the story, what would they have said? Perspective matters.

It seemed to me that Lorde provided much more intimate details on the day-to-day with her lovers than anyone else. Soon after reading, I tried to find anything I could online about her parents. All that emerged was this photo of her and her mother:

Photo credit: Afrodiaspores

In the photo, Lorde looks so confident and sure of herself with her back straight, her chin up. What I see, too, is how she is slightly leaning on her mother's shoulder for balance in, maybe, a symbolic way. Her mother's face looks like one that carries a lot of pride. Where were they? Who had taken the picture? Where was the rest of the family?

Zami does not present us with the Lorde that knows silence will not protect. Instead, we meet the Lorde who gets pregnant at 17-years-old and ventures to an underground clinic to get an abortion. Almost dying. We meet the Lorde who moves out of her family home as soon as she graduates high school in the name of freedom and hustles her way around New York and Mexico. We meet the Lorde who contemplates how to define her sexuality, but isn't one hundred percent sure. We meet the Lorde who fights to stay in relationships with white women who mistreat her Blackness.

It is a beautiful and complex journey showcasing the true layers of what it meant to be a Black queer woman in America during her time. I wonder, if she were alive today, how would she self-identify? What would she have to say about the condition of our world, our political climate? What would she be urging us to do?

Originally published October 2020 via Books for the Soul

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Work, lately #02

Bianca Ducasse — Mon, 18 May 2026 21:07:37 GMT

Me and the rest of my team at Pantheon and Doubleday Books marketing. (In order of appearance, left to right: Me, Anne, Jess, Jennifer)

I recently got back home from being in New York for a week and a lot happened: the marketing department for my division hosted an all-day summit where we brainstormed ways to better get books into the hands of readers. You will not be surprised to learn (I hope!) that I volunteered to present a marketing campaign from outside publishing that I believed could teach us something about books and readers. Maybe, fingers crossed, an initiative that we can implement in the future.

After a day of sharing ideas, we ventured to Paint n’ Pour in Hell’s Kitchen. I highly recommend! Then we prepared to host Chloe Dalton, author of the instant New York Times bestseller Raising Hare, who traveled from London for her first stateside tour. I took advantage of the opportunity to make “Day in the life of…” social content around the hare.

By day five, I was so exhausted from the late nights and early mornings that I was reminded of the fatigue I felt after giving birth (dramatic, I know).

Whenever I venture to the concrete jungle, I am reminded so deeply of its speed, the lack of nature, the frequency of sounds, the fatigue that is carried on the residents who rush past me. It is difficult for me to be in the city and not observe it. Once upon a time, I lived that same life and it is easy, when I am there, to adapt to the speed required. Otherwise, I will get pushed over!

I intentionally distorted the woman’s face on the right as I did not ask her permission for a photograph.

But when I stepped outside en route to the station on the morning of day five, I stopped to take a deep breath. For a moment, I admired my aunt’s neighbor’s tall fence bushes and the way the rising sun glowed against its leaves. I was too mesmerized to take a photo. I listened to the birds and their orchestra.

Then, I sped walked to the train.

When I was heading over to Barnes & Noble on the Upper West Side to meet with the rest of my team for Chloe’s event with Amy Sedaris, I decided to walk the 35 minutes instead of taking the train.

What I witnessed were people locating tiny corners of grass to sit, obviously thankful to grab any amount of nature they could find. I passed by Julliard and, through glistening windows, saw a group of young girls in their recital outfits; maybe aged between eight and 13. Frieda, my 7-year-old, immediately came to mind. The building next to Julliard had a massive sign that read FRIDA & DIEGO. An exhibit featuring them both, the name kept my mind on my baby girl.

I ventured into a stationary shop, but didn’t see anything worth spending on. I arrived at the bookstore early enough that I had the privilege of browsing all three floors before the event began. It felt great to move slowly. When the event began, the house was full.

On my very last day, I sat outside on the back porch of my aunt and uncle’s home with my coffee. The sun was out, finally warm after a week of chills and gray skies. And there, right in front of me, were a pair of rabbits munching on the grass. Their coats were salt and pepper, but instead of black, they were brown. Maybe they are siblings, I thought.

It was a beautiful observation to have on my final day: after spending a week with Chloe Dalton, talking endlessly about hares, nature, wildlife and all the beauty in between.

And maybe that is what I keep learning, both in publishing and in life. The world moves fast and demands that we move with it. But there is still something sacred about slowing down long enough to notice what is directly in front of you.

Rabbits in Valley Stream, New York. May 2026

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Joel Uili on Creativity, Calling and the Courage to Begin

Bianca Ducasse — Sun, 10 May 2026 06:22:50 GMT

Joel Uili

For as long as I can remember, I have been navigating this life through a creative perspective. Choices were made based on feeling and instinct, what was in my gut, rather than on probability or math. This, naturally, drove my father crazy. Someone from a third-world country views creative pursuits as risky, fragile things.

“Their is no guarantee,” he’d tell me. “Become a doctor!”

Despite his efforts, I ignored him. I went to college for communications, knowing that I wanted to always be as close to storytelling as I could. When I graduated and was bringing a sad salary as an administrative assistant from a technical college, he shook his head. I always knew, however, the technical college was just a stepping stone. A way to make money while I figured out an exit strategy. It would take me about two and half years to get out, making my way to New York to pursue books.

I’ve now been in books long enough to sometimes scratch my head and wonder, should I have just become a doctor?

According to , the founder of The Career Archetypes, I did exactly what I was supposed to do. I followed the yellow brick road, the path less travelled, fueled by passion and purpose.

If you’re anything like me, then you have spent your life chasing a vision only you can see. And you have probably also spent a substantial amount of time doubting yourself, wondering whether you’re doing the right thing or whether you should simply become a doctor.

After you listen, I’m curious of the questions and revelations that land for you. Please, leave a comment and share.

Leave a comment

In this chat, we dive into…

what it actually means to have a calling
why so many people feel disconnected from their work
how creativity, instinct and self-knowledge can guide you toward a more meaningful life

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Kristy Woodson Harvey on Writing, Readers and the Power of Showing Up

Bianca Ducasse — Sun, 03 May 2026 06:22:48 GMT

Kristy Wodson Harvey holding her Summer 2026 release, Summer State of Mind

I sat down with Kristy Woodson Harvey, a New York Times bestselling author I’ve pointed to for years when people ask me what it takes to build a career as an author. Not only is she versatile in her skills, but she is also a great collaborator with her publisher. This means that she is not solely dependent on what the publisher can do for her, but rather alongisde her.

Kristy didn’t come from a single viral moment or a lucky break. She built her readership the long way, through relationships, consistency and a genuine understanding of the people on the other side of her books.

She treats every book like its own ecosystem that isn’t just something to write and release, but something to nurture, connect and grow over time. And after 13 books, what becomes clear is this: there is no secret formula just a willingness to keep showing up.

In this conversation, we dive into…

why chasing trends will always leave you behind
how to build a readership through community, not virality
what authors get wrong about bookstores, libraries, and local support
Get Kristy's New Book

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Current associate director of marketing at Pantheon and Doubleday Books, imprints at Penguin Random House.

The First Workshop for TWX Was a Success

Bianca Ducasse — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 00:26:41 GMT

Photo taken by Sejoe

I am feeling proud and extremely thankful for hosting my first workshop since leaving New York. Slowly but surely, I am finding the literary community in my new city and am learning that writers and readers, no matter the region, are passionate about similar things.

They are curious about whether their writing still matters in a landscape that continuously shows us that followers and platform are king. The good news is that the book publishing industry is a machine that is oiled by everyday readers who are familiar with the fact that good writing deserves to be seen.

For instance, Doubleday Books recently announced a new imprint called Outsider Editions that is being steered forward by Thomas Gebremedhin, a VP and Executive Editor. The intention there is to reissue books from the past that may not have received the recognition they deserved during their original publication. Maybe these books can benefit from a resurrection because, after all, they speak to todays issues. It is further confirmation that writing (and your books) are historical artifacts, no matter if these books are the journals you keep under your bed or those we can find in the bookstores. Considering many of these authors have since passed, we know that having a platform today is not a requirement for a book deal. It’s an advantage, yes, but not the foundation.

Nancy Yuskaitis, the author of Hi Mom, It’s Me, came to the workshop with a question I hear often: what more can I do for a book that’s already out in the world?

The answer is simpler than we make it: keep putting yourself out there. Building community is your most powerful tool.

And this is exactly what did when she sat in the front and was the first to raise her hand when I asked if there were any questions or thoughts. She graciously shared that she has a Substack (please check it out!) and is looking to sharpen her tools while using her publication to share her poetry book.

The greatest thing we can do for ourselves is to trust that we will be a person of our word. When we tell ourselves that we will do something, we do it. We show up and we continuously build an internal trust with ourselves that is in constant communication with our future selves.

I don’t know about you, but I am always thinking about the Bianca of tomorrow. What will she want to wear? How will she want to look? What does she want to do? The Bianca of today then makes choices in hopes of making Bianca of tomorrow satisfied with the resources available to her. But that’s another thesis. . .

For now, thank you to all who showed up to the workshop and to the Tarpon Springs Book Festival and Tarpon Springs Public Library for hosting me!

Victoria Wood on Turning Bookstagram Into a Business

Bianca Ducasse — Sun, 19 Apr 2026 06:22:13 GMT

Victoria Wood

I sought Victoria Wood out because I really enjoyed the aesthetic of her Instagram feed and the variety of information she shared. If you take a look, you will notice that Victoria shares short book reviews using the carousel feature, she invites her community in by letting them see her engaging hobbies, she showcases her bookish humor and more. She used this consistency to build trust that publishers now rely on.

What stands out most about Victoria’s journey is not speed, but patience. She spent years posting before the first paid opportunity; years of learning what works and what connects.

If you are trying to figure out how to become a bookstagrammer, this is the chat you should prioritize.

In this conversation, we dive into…

how to start on bookstagram
what publishers are looking for when partnering with influencers
how to grow an audience without burning out or chasing the algorithm

If you enjoyed this, listen to these

Substack for Writers Workshop in collaboration with Tarpon Springs Book Festival

I am excited to share that I will be hosting a Substack for Writers workshop in collaboration with Tarpon Springs Book Festival! If you are in the area, would love to see you. The workshop is free for all.

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Current associate director of marketing at Pantheon and Doubleday Books, imprints at Penguin Random House.

9 Substacks I'm Currently Reading

Bianca Ducasse — Sun, 12 Apr 2026 06:22:35 GMT

Artwork by Thomas Blackshear II

A Bowl of Gravy

— in Almost Sober

Keep reading

Black Women Are Like Trees

— in

Keep reading

Review: Bloom How You Must

— in Black Book Stacks

Keep reading

Can you be anticapitalist and still want to make (big) money?

—

Keep reading

Are You Thinking What I’m Thinking?

— Dr.

Keep reading

Putting Our Minds with Nature

—

Keep reading

An Artist Becoming a Writer

— in

Keep reading

Black Films That Embody Luxury Through Black Women

—

Keep reading

on cultural uncertainty and galloping forward.

— in

Keep reading

If you enjoyed this, read these

Substack for Writers Workshop in collaboration with Tarpon Springs Book Festival

Learn More

Ways You Can Support My Work

Visit my Stan Store and buy one of the workbooks or other resources I have available.
Subscribe to my newsletter.
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Send an email to youarrived@thewritespxt.com if you believe your work is aligned with The Write Spxt for a feature.
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Current associate director of marketing at Pantheon and Doubleday Books, imprints at Penguin Random House.

Viviana Moreno on Entering Publishing Without New York

Bianca Ducasse — Sun, 05 Apr 2026 06:22:08 GMT

Viviana Moreno

Anyone who has ever lifted a book to their nose and inhaled the scent of paper knows where the publishing capital is. For generations, those who wanted to be close to the source of those printed pages, to take part in their making and release into the world, made their way to the concrete jungle.

It has long felt like a quiet industry rule: if you want to work in books, you have to be in New York.

Except Viviana Moreno didn’t.

In an industry that still carries strong geographic assumptions about where opportunity lives, Viviana has built her path from outside the city, in the Sunshine State no less. Her story stood out to me because not only does it challenge a familiar narrative, but because it speaks directly to the many aspiring publishing professionals who believe proximity is the only way in.

In this chat, we dive into…

how she entered the largest publishing house in the world without relocating to New York
what a publicist really does behind the scenes
how campaigns take shape months before publication

If you enjoyed this, listen to these

Substack for Writers Workshop in collaboration with Tarpon Springs Book Festival

Learn More

Ways You Can Support My Work

Visit my Stan Store and buy one of the workbooks or other resources I have available.
Subscribe to my newsletter and upgrade to paid.
Share this newsletter with someone you think would enjoy reading it.
Send an email to youarrived@thewritespxt.com if you believe your work is aligned with The Write Spxt for a feature.
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Current associate director of marketing at Pantheon and Doubleday Books, imprints at Penguin Random House.

Work, lately #01

Bianca Ducasse — Sun, 29 Mar 2026 06:22:35 GMT

“selfie”

The year began the way publishing often does: all at once.

After the holidays, everything we had neatly placed in the mental folder of “after the holidays” returned to the desk. Campaigns needed motion, mailings needed finishing, announcements needed shaping and books were getting ready to meet their readers.

On my plate, the start of 2026 meant preparing for the release of Nina McConigley’s debut novel, How to Commit a Postcolonial Murder, and the reissue of her story collection, Cowboys and East Indians, both would enter bookstores on January 20th as she began a multi-stop tour. It also meant continuing the work on Raising Hare by Chloe Dalton, whose paperback released on February 24th1. That campaign began at the end of 2024 and, in the most beautiful way imaginable, has never really ended. The book would become an instant New York Times bestseller two-times over. I have author Q&A’s for both, sharing below in case you haven’t had a chance to read.

And now, we are moving toward the next stack of releases. My attention is shifting to end of Spring and Summer releases: The Edge of Space-Time by Dr. Chanda Prescod-Weinstein will hit stores on April 7th and DeKonstructing the Kardashians by MJ Corey will go on sale May 5th.

But before I tell you about April and beyond, here is what I was doing in January and February at work, lately.

January 2026

On Fire for God by Josiah Hesse goes on sale 1/13
The paperback release of Reboot by Justin Taylor is released on 1/13
How to Commit a Postcolonial Murder and Cowboys and East Indians by Nina McConigley goes on sale 1/20
Take it From Me by Alia Hanna Habib goes on sale 1/20
Fear and Fury by Dr. Heather Ann Thompson goes on sale 1/27
Announced the cover and title of James Spooner’s upcoming release, It Starts with Anger, on sale 8/4
Collaborated with the Denver Center of Performing Arts for a finished book social giveaway in support of Nina McConigley as they are the producers of her play, adapted from Cowboys and East Indians
Finished book mailing sent to influencers who requested to read, review and post about On Fire for God
Sent pitches to targeted U.S.-based non-profit organizations like STEMNoire and more in support of The Edge of Space-Time by Dr. Chanda Prescod-Weinstein
More pitches sent, but this time to pop-culture influencers for DeKonstructing the Kardashians by MJ Corey
More pitches sent, this round was for Cat Love by Tomás Q. Morín (on sale 6/9) in which I targeted cat-focused influencers

February 2026

The Boundless Deep by Richard Holmes went on sale 2/10
The paperback of Raising Hare hits shelves on 2/24
With Bad Bunny dominating the pop-culture cycle because of his Super Bowl performance, it was perfect timing to bring a specific book back to the forefront: Mother Island: A Daughter Claims Puerto Rico by Jamie Figueroa. On a less than 24-hour turnaround time, I coached Jamie on creating a video unpacking Benito Bowl, an opportunity to show readers that she is a Puerto Rican voice they should feel safe reading
Began preparing for the pre-order campaign launch associated with Dekonstructing the Kardashians
Activated the paperback campaign for Raising Hare by Chloe Dalton
Created bold and visually striking postcards for It Starts with Anger by James Spooner (on sale 8/4) to accompany the team to Emerald City ComicCon. These had a QR code in hopes of generating pre-orders.
Began reading Anti-Zionism by Ben Moser, on sale 9/22.
Worked with the author of Cat Love on cat thought bubbles that we could use on social media leading up to the publication of the book.

Substack for Writers Workshop in collaboration with Tarpon Springs Book Festival

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Current associate director of marketing at Pantheon and Doubleday Books, imprints at Penguin Random House.

Trade paperback campaigns don’t officially launch to the public until the book is actually on sale. This is because until the paperback is on sale, we focus on directing readers to the hardcover. This helps to ensure the hardcovers that are out in stores get bought before the paperback printing is released into the world.

Neima Patterson on Writing and Adaptability

Bianca Ducasse — Sun, 22 Mar 2026 06:22:24 GMT

Neima Patterson

At a moment when creative careers are being reshaped in real time by contraction, consolidation and constant demands to “pivot,” Neima Patterson offers a perspective rooted in range, intention, self-trust and using the community around you.

She is a writer working across television, film, novels and Substack, currently revising her debut novel through the We Need Diverse Books and Penguin Random House Revision Workshop, while continuing to build a creative life that isn’t dependent on a single industry or format.

Neima speaks plainly about what it takes to sustain a multi-form writing practice today because that is the recipe for todays survival: your work must live in more than one place, you must ask for what you want without apology, and you must remain creatively porous while the industry itself becomes more rigid.

This is a conversation about adaptability without dilution and about building a career that can actually carry and hold you.

Substack for Writers Workshop in collaboration with Tarpon Springs Book Festival

Learn More

If you enjoyed this, listen to these

Ways You Can Support My Work

Visit my Stan Store and buy one of the workbooks or other resources I have available.
Subscribe to my newsletter and upgrade to paid.
Share this newsletter with someone you think would enjoy reading it.
Send an email to youarrived@thewritespxt.com if you believe your work is aligned with The Write Spxt for a feature.
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Current associate director of marketing at Pantheon and Doubleday Books, imprints at Penguin Random House.

What Marketers Can’t Control

Bianca Ducasse — Sun, 15 Mar 2026 06:22:36 GMT

Artwork by Lynette Yiadom-Boakye

Maybe the most challenging part of my day job as a book marketer is this: I can have a lot of tricks up my sleeve, but none of them are guaranteed to wow an audience.

Lately, I’ve been thinking about how often marketers are treated like performers. In meetings, authors come in with ideas (sometimes great ones) about what they think will activate readers and trigger sales. And many of those ideas are good tricks. But good tricks don’t always earn a standing ovation. Sometimes there’s no wow factor, no entertainment, no moment that makes someone pause, lean forward, and say, I need this.

Another important detail that often gets overlooked: a publisher typically enters an author’s world six to nine months before a book goes on sale. Which raises a real question: what was happening in that world before those six to nine months?

14. What Poems Raised You?

Bianca Ducasse — Sun, 08 Mar 2026 07:22:16 GMT

Artwork by Danielle Joy Mckinney

I have been doing a lot of reading and writing in isolation. I’ve been so involved with other things, that I needed to be protective of my space; safely placing it within an incubator to think. This sacred practice brought me to pulling poetry from my shelves, reminding me of how this writing journey of mine began.

Much of my youth is shaped by poetry. I was growing into myself, trying to find the best way to effectively communicate. I struggled as a teenager when trying to write in essay form. Now, I can only assume that block was because of the obligation to write research papers for school. I wasn’t inspired to write about elephants or to dissect classical stories written in a language that was foreign to me. I, honestly, never cared about the poetry of Shakespeare. Instead, I swallowed Bum Rush the Page, Nikki Giovanni and Russell Simmons Def Poetry Jam on Broadway.

The work within these books informed me of the world in which I stood in. It was my introduction to the politics of my society; I was being taught by creatives who have been there and done that. Sonia Sanchez, for example, wrote the introduction for Bum Rush the Page, saying that “because we have not understood our history, we have allowed ourselves to be bought and killed out of history.” She, like many of the writers featured in the collection, is bilingual in rhyme and maintained the ability to educate with a bounce. Sanchez wrote that “they saw us look at the word, splice it, look up at the word and jazz it up, look backwards at the word and decide to disconnect and reconnect it at the end, stretch it, moan it, groan it, peel it, and then finally, redress the world and say, ‘See, this is a poem.’”

In the classroom, that kind of writing was wrong.

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I remember being inspired by the freedom they had and hopeful because they had been able to make a career out of such a “wrong” writing style. On my free time, when I wasn’t taking pictures for the school yearbook or interviewing my peers for stories, I was reciting and writing poetry.

Today, poetry isn’t as crucial to my development. I am mostly attracted to complex literature, the ones that are heavy on language and those that build on tough sentences. Like, for example, Tell Me How Long the Train’s Been Gone by James Baldwin, Swing Time by Zadie Smith and The People in the Trees by Hanya Yanagihara. When I’m reading nonfiction, it is educational like The Origin of Species by Charles Darwin or The Future of the Mind by Dr. Michio Kaku.

Every so often, though, I would find my way back to the poets of the world; wanting to be in a space that expressed a big punch with little words. In those discoveries, I grew with Saul Williams in She and The Dead Emcee Scrolls; and Wild Beauty by Ntozake Shange. Shange wrote that “we need a god who bleeds now/whose wounds are not the end of anything.” Those words shook me hard, causing a vibration in my bones.

My favorite thing about poetry is that you can never predict what you will get. There are as many styles as their are people on this planet. The type that I am attracted to is commonly known as spoken word; it is grounded in hip-hop and very political. The word play is often creative and cunning, hitting below the belt and simultaneously humorous.

Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when published

“we need a god who bleeds now
whose wounds are not the end of anything…”

How beautiful it is to check god, to tell the supposed higher being that they need to stop being petty and feel something.

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