The PEN Pod: On Knowing We’re Not Alone with BIll Konigsberg
“The misfits have stories to tell. People who feel that way have more of a need to read in some ways, so I think it’s a perfect marriage.” More
The PEN Pod: Writing as Witness with Wayétu Moore
“Representation is important—not just what’s on the page, but who’s holding the pen.” More
The PEN Pod: Looking Through Time with Rebecca Makkai
“Look at the ways that the American healthcare system, in times of crisis, exacerbates the fissures that are already there, the inequalities that are already there.” More
The PEN Pod: Letting Go of Our Illusions with Charles Yu
“This moment and what I think will be the aftermath of it for a long time, is to actually make very real what has felt real for a long… More
The PEN Pod: Creating Inner Worlds with Deborah Feldman
“Use this opportunity to learn to create this rich inner self and this inner world, because later. . . those skills will remain very valuable.” More
The PEN Pod: Singing About Dark Times with Carolyn Forché
“People have always turned to poetry in moments of extremity, because poetry arises—it’s deeply sourced, it’s memorable, it’s musical, and it offers us awareness.” More
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PEN America On 
White House will not pay for staff's official Twitter profiles to be verified: "It is our understanding that Twitter Blue does not provide person-level verification as a service... a blue check mark will now simply (verify)... the account is a paid user." https://www.axios.com/2023/03/31/twitter-verification-white-house-biden-check-mark
#Florida: Pinellas school officials now deny the PG-rated ‘Ruby Bridges’ film they banned was banned.
Previously: The district banned Toni Morrison’s first novel, “The Bluest Eye,” from all high schools in January after one Palm Harbor parent complained. https://www.tampabay.com/news/education/2023/03/31/school-board-superintendent-kevin-hendrick-disney-north-shore-elementary/
Proud. @PENamerica supports kidlit and authors esp on Trans Day of visibility. Trans stories are being attacked. And it's never about the books - it's about what the books represent. The ultimate free expression - celebrating who you are. https://pen.org/banned-books-transgender-stories/