Verdell Walker

“Dressed to Bloom” is my first published short story —it explores grief, love, and honoring a mother’s wish to return to the soil, rooted in Black Southern funerary traditions. Published in Tractor Beam #3 : tinyurl.com/ub9832f5   (Eligible for Hugo/Nebula consideration)

@Breyionna @NickieNaughton I’ve always wondered if there was a connection!

@NickieNaughton You were over there like, "Back to Africa??" 😭😭 There is a connection though. The earliest enslaved people in Louisiana were Bakongo and Ambundu people from Angola. That's how the original plantation got its name before it became of prison.

And that is what people are missing. Damn the public opinion. He thought he was heading to Angola Prison. And every Black person in Louisiana and neighboring states knows that you don't leave Angola the same way you went in.

Amazing marketing. 10/10

We are thrilled to announce that our NEW Large Language Model will be released on 11.18.25.

🎶 Take a look, it’s in a book 🎶 After nearly 20 years… Reading Rainbow is returning to motivate, help, and encourage kids to become avid readers with new episodes, new friends, new projects, and of course… new books! Make sure to follow the rainbow 📚🌈✨ #FollowTheRainbow

Not to be a debbie downer, but…we didn’t actually hear Peggy say yes. That makes me nervous 😬 #TheGildedAgeFinale #thegildedage

I did my part. This movie was incredible! Ryan Coogler is a genius #SinnersMovie

@RSAGarcia @UncannyMagazine Congratulations! The story of the year!

So proud of @libbylh and the team at @ThisFirst! They are changing the game for prenups, which are very unfun but very essential. If marriage is in your future, check them out. As @libbylh says, they are non-negotiable! fortune.com/2024/10/24/she…

@RSAGarcia Congratulations - so well deserved!!!

@UncannyMagazine @RSAGarcia Loved this story so much! Well deserved!

Congratulations to R.S.A. Garcia! @RSAGarcia's “Tantie Merle and the Farmhand 4200” is a finalist for an Outstanding Short Story Ignyte Award! You can read it here!! uncannymagazine.com/article/tantie…

Do you know a historic Black Church seeking funding? Preserving Black Churches is a $60M grant initiative from our African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund. Learn more and apply: ow.ly/hSxj50SR7NC #TellTheFullStory

@joelbrigham Hi! Your posts are so helpful and I have many of them bookmarked!

If you've been following me On Here but have never said hi, lemme hear ya say ayo

Woke up to the lovely news that I’d been accepted into the @futurescapes spring workshop! Excited to work on my craft and dive deep into SFF knowledge this March.

@niccoyat I walk straight past these, every time

Am I the only person who doesn’t like these type of book covers 😭

So, I spoke to people getting food at a food bank and here are some things I learned from those in need: 1. Everyone donates Kraft Mac and Cheese in the box. They can rarely use it because it needs milk and butter which is hard to get from regular food banks. 2. Boxed milk is a treasure, as kids need it for cereal which they also get a lot of. 3. Everyone donates pasta sauce and spaghetti noodles. 4. They cannot eat all the awesome canned veggies and soup unless you put a can opener in too or buy pop tops. 5. Oil is a luxury but needed for Rice a-Roni which they also get a lot of. 6. Spices or salt and pepper would be a real Christmas gift. 7. Tea bags and coffee make them feel like you care. 8. Sugar and flour are treats. 9. They fawn over fresh produce donated by farmers and grocery stores. 10. Seeds are cool in Spring and Summer because growing can be easy for some. 11. They rarely get fresh meat. 12. Tuna and crackers make a good lunch. 13. Hamburger Helper goes nowhere without ground beef. 14. They get lots of peanut butter and jelly but usually not sandwich bread. 15. Butter or margarine is nice too. 16. Eggs are a real commodity. 17. Cake mix and frosting makes it possible to make a child’s birthday cake. 18. Dishwashing detergent is very expensive and is always appreciated. 19. Feminine hygiene products are a luxury and women will cry over that. 20. Everyone loves Stove Top Stuffing. In all the years I have donated food at the Holidays, I bought what I thought they wanted, but have never asked. I am glad I did. If you are helping a Family this Christmas, maybe this can help you tailor it more. It does for me!

Teach this in creative writing courses!

Someone PLEASE give this family a show.