Joanne Leedom-Ackerman
@jleedomackerman.bsky.social
Novelist/Journalist—Burning Distance, The Far Side of the Desert, The Dark Path to the River, No Marble Angels, PEN Journeys; Vice President PEN International
Inspiring evening at the @americanwritersmuseum.org Onword dinner in Chicago honoring writers past and present, readers, students and teachers of writing.
October 6, 2026 at 1:52 PM
Inspiring evening at the @americanwritersmuseum.org Onword dinner in Chicago honoring writers past and present, readers, students and teachers of writing.
Excellent evening with PEN/Faulkner’s Malamud Award ceremony honoring Elizabeth McCracken with award for short fiction, in conversation with Yiyun Li, previous winner. Janna Malamud Smith honoring the winner & also her father Bernard Malamud.
October 6, 2026 at 1:47 PM
Excellent evening with PEN/Faulkner’s Malamud Award ceremony honoring Elizabeth McCracken with award for short fiction, in conversation with Yiyun Li, previous winner. Janna Malamud Smith honoring the winner & also her father Bernard Malamud.
Enjoy my October Substack: with essay “Dinner and a Movie or Frontlines With ISIS?”; link to my story in The Hopkins Review; Writer at Risk Myanmar/Burmese writer & activist Wai Moe Naing; Books to Check Out features BEYOND HONOR by KB Brodsky and THE GHOST WRITER by Robert Harris, and more.
Dinner and a Movie or Frontlines with ISIS?
October 2026 Newsletter
joanneleedomackerman.substack.com
October 1, 2026 at 3:07 PM
Enjoy my October Substack: with essay “Dinner and a Movie or Frontlines With ISIS?”; link to my story in The Hopkins Review; Writer at Risk Myanmar/Burmese writer & activist Wai Moe Naing; Books to Check Out features BEYOND HONOR by KB Brodsky and THE GHOST WRITER by Robert Harris, and more.
Delighted to have my short story “The Governor on the Zambezi” in the new Hopkins Review. Looking forward to reading the other work in the dynamic summer issue!
muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/articl...
#shortstory #authorlife #writers #fiction #projectmuse
@projectmuse.bsky.social
muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/articl...
#shortstory #authorlife #writers #fiction #projectmuse
@projectmuse.bsky.social
September 10, 2026 at 1:48 PM
Delighted to have my short story “The Governor on the Zambezi” in the new Hopkins Review. Looking forward to reading the other work in the dynamic summer issue!
muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/articl...
#shortstory #authorlife #writers #fiction #projectmuse
@projectmuse.bsky.social
muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/articl...
#shortstory #authorlife #writers #fiction #projectmuse
@projectmuse.bsky.social
Enjoy my September Substack, with essay “Back on the Champs-Élysées,” link to my short story in the Hopkins Review, Writer at Risk features Chinese journalist Dong Yuyu, Books to Check Out section features Hernan Diaz’s TRUST and Barbara Kingsolver’s DEMON COPPERHEAD & more.
tinyurl.com/5ceve7df
tinyurl.com/5ceve7df
Back on the Champs-Élysées
September 2026 Newsletter
joanneleedomackerman.substack.com
September 1, 2026 at 2:41 PM
Enjoy my September Substack, with essay “Back on the Champs-Élysées,” link to my short story in the Hopkins Review, Writer at Risk features Chinese journalist Dong Yuyu, Books to Check Out section features Hernan Diaz’s TRUST and Barbara Kingsolver’s DEMON COPPERHEAD & more.
tinyurl.com/5ceve7df
tinyurl.com/5ceve7df
Enjoy my August Substack with essay “Acts of Faith." Writer at Risk section profiles Mahrang Baloch, Books to Check Out features William Boyd’s THE PREDICAMENT & Azar Nafisi’s READING LOLITA IN TEHRAN, now out as a film.
joanneleedomackerman.substack.com/p/acts-of-fa...
joanneleedomackerman.substack.com/p/acts-of-fa...
Acts of Faith
August 2026 Newsletter
joanneleedomackerman.substack.com
August 1, 2026 at 2:22 PM
Enjoy my August Substack with essay “Acts of Faith." Writer at Risk section profiles Mahrang Baloch, Books to Check Out features William Boyd’s THE PREDICAMENT & Azar Nafisi’s READING LOLITA IN TEHRAN, now out as a film.
joanneleedomackerman.substack.com/p/acts-of-fa...
joanneleedomackerman.substack.com/p/acts-of-fa...
Looking forward to being in conversation with @azarnafisi.bsky.social Monday August 3 at the Avalon Theater, 5612 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington DC after the showing of the exquisite film READING LOLITA IN TEHRAN based on her seminal book.
www.theavalon.org/films/readin...
www.theavalon.org/films/readin...
Reading Lolita in Tehran - The Avalon Theatre Project, Inc.
A literature professor in revolutionary Iran gathers seven of her most dedicated female students to immerse themselves in banned literary classics.
www.theavalon.org
July 29, 2026 at 1:50 PM
Looking forward to being in conversation with @azarnafisi.bsky.social Monday August 3 at the Avalon Theater, 5612 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington DC after the showing of the exquisite film READING LOLITA IN TEHRAN based on her seminal book.
www.theavalon.org/films/readin...
www.theavalon.org/films/readin...
Enjoy my July Substack, with “Home of the Free, Land of the Brave.” Writer at Risk profiles Eritrean poet Amanuel Asrat; Books to Check Out features Rye Barcott’s COURAGE CAN SAVE US & Samanta Schweblin’s SEVEN EMPTY HOUSES, translated by Megan McDowell.
tinyurl.com/54ma8nmy
tinyurl.com/54ma8nmy
Home of the Free, Land of the Brave
July 2026
tinyurl.com
July 9, 2026 at 8:43 PM
Enjoy my July Substack, with “Home of the Free, Land of the Brave.” Writer at Risk profiles Eritrean poet Amanuel Asrat; Books to Check Out features Rye Barcott’s COURAGE CAN SAVE US & Samanta Schweblin’s SEVEN EMPTY HOUSES, translated by Megan McDowell.
tinyurl.com/54ma8nmy
tinyurl.com/54ma8nmy
Enjoy my June Substack, with blog “China on My Mind.” The Writer at Risk profiles Belarusian writer Vacłaŭ Areška, Books to Check Out features Shawna Yang Ryan’s GREEN ISLAND and Allen Levi’s THEO OF GOLDEN. Book News shares info, appearances, awards, & interviews.
tinyurl.com/26pn6x9w
tinyurl.com/26pn6x9w
China On My Mind
Dear Friends,
joanneleedomackerman.substack.com
June 2, 2026 at 2:48 PM
Enjoy my June Substack, with blog “China on My Mind.” The Writer at Risk profiles Belarusian writer Vacłaŭ Areška, Books to Check Out features Shawna Yang Ryan’s GREEN ISLAND and Allen Levi’s THEO OF GOLDEN. Book News shares info, appearances, awards, & interviews.
tinyurl.com/26pn6x9w
tinyurl.com/26pn6x9w
Art & literature on a warm spring evening celebrating the American Writers Museum with writers Alice McDermott, Louis Bayard, Judith Martin, AWM President Carey Cranston & AWM board members Malcolm O’Hagan, Jay Hammer, Farinaz Tehrani, Judy Pomeranz, Werner Hein.
May 20, 2026 at 5:21 PM
Art & literature on a warm spring evening celebrating the American Writers Museum with writers Alice McDermott, Louis Bayard, Judith Martin, AWM President Carey Cranston & AWM board members Malcolm O’Hagan, Jay Hammer, Farinaz Tehrani, Judy Pomeranz, Werner Hein.
Happy pub day and congrats to Elliot Ackerman and Admiral James Stavridis for 2084, the third in a trilogy peering into the future with the hope we can all make it better than grim paths that could lie ahead.
#2084 #militarythriller #politicalfiction #newbooks
#2084 #militarythriller #politicalfiction #newbooks
May 12, 2026 at 5:50 PM
Happy pub day and congrats to Elliot Ackerman and Admiral James Stavridis for 2084, the third in a trilogy peering into the future with the hope we can all make it better than grim paths that could lie ahead.
#2084 #militarythriller #politicalfiction #newbooks
#2084 #militarythriller #politicalfiction #newbooks
Enjoy my May Substack, including blog “Into the Breach…” The Writer at Risk profiles young Cuban poet Duannis Dabel Leon Taboada. Books to Check Out features 2084 by Elliot Ackerman & James Stavridis & Brian J. Morra’s novel THE ABLE ARCHERS.
joanneleedomackerman.substack.com/p/into-the-b...
joanneleedomackerman.substack.com/p/into-the-b...
Into the Breach…
Dear Friends,
joanneleedomackerman.substack.com
May 1, 2026 at 3:06 PM
Enjoy my May Substack, including blog “Into the Breach…” The Writer at Risk profiles young Cuban poet Duannis Dabel Leon Taboada. Books to Check Out features 2084 by Elliot Ackerman & James Stavridis & Brian J. Morra’s novel THE ABLE ARCHERS.
joanneleedomackerman.substack.com/p/into-the-b...
joanneleedomackerman.substack.com/p/into-the-b...
Thanks to all the dynamic independent bookstores that knit our communities together and give platforms for writers, books & ideas. A few photos of stores who have hosted, encouraged and helped promote my novels in DC, Chicago, Dallas, NYC, LA, Denver and more. THANK YOU!
April 27, 2026 at 6:15 PM
Thanks to all the dynamic independent bookstores that knit our communities together and give platforms for writers, books & ideas. A few photos of stores who have hosted, encouraged and helped promote my novels in DC, Chicago, Dallas, NYC, LA, Denver and more. THANK YOU!
Enjoy my April Substack, with blog “Barking at Thunder 2." Writer at Risk profiles Belarusian writer & editor Valeryja Kaściuhova. Books to Check Out features the timely CHECKLIST TO END TYRANNY by Peter Ackerman & Anne Tyler’s THREE DAYS IN JUNE.
joanneleedomackerman.substack.com/p/barking-at...
joanneleedomackerman.substack.com/p/barking-at...
Barking at Thunder 2
Dear Friends,
joanneleedomackerman.substack.com
April 1, 2026 at 2:50 PM
Enjoy my April Substack, with blog “Barking at Thunder 2." Writer at Risk profiles Belarusian writer & editor Valeryja Kaściuhova. Books to Check Out features the timely CHECKLIST TO END TYRANNY by Peter Ackerman & Anne Tyler’s THREE DAYS IN JUNE.
joanneleedomackerman.substack.com/p/barking-at...
joanneleedomackerman.substack.com/p/barking-at...
My March Substack includes blog “Sunrise…Sunset: Not Missing Snow, Wind, and Weather," Writer at Risk section with British/Chinese publisher & author Jimmy Lai, Books to Check Out features Deborah Goodrich Royce’s BEST BOY & Kate Quinn’s THE BRIAR CLUB, and more.
tinyurl.com/27hbe6ms
tinyurl.com/27hbe6ms
Sunrise…Sunset: Not Missing Snow, Wind, and Weather
Dear Friends,
tinyurl.com
March 2, 2026 at 3:53 PM
My March Substack includes blog “Sunrise…Sunset: Not Missing Snow, Wind, and Weather," Writer at Risk section with British/Chinese publisher & author Jimmy Lai, Books to Check Out features Deborah Goodrich Royce’s BEST BOY & Kate Quinn’s THE BRIAR CLUB, and more.
tinyurl.com/27hbe6ms
tinyurl.com/27hbe6ms
Many Iranian writers have spent years in Evin Prison, including Narges Mohammadi, who has spoken up for human rights and spent almost two decades as an inmate on charges of committing “propaganda activity against the state” and “collusion against state security” which she has denied.
February 17, 2026 at 9:29 PM
Many Iranian writers have spent years in Evin Prison, including Narges Mohammadi, who has spoken up for human rights and spent almost two decades as an inmate on charges of committing “propaganda activity against the state” and “collusion against state security” which she has denied.
Enjoy February’s Substack with blog “World in Our Minds…Learning from Dogs.” Writer at Risk Narges Mohammadi; Books to Check Out features Kazuo Ishiguro’s “Cellists” and E.M. Forster’s “The Machine Stops.” This monthly Substack is free.
joanneleedomackerman.substack.com/p/world-in-o...
joanneleedomackerman.substack.com/p/world-in-o...
World in Our Minds…Learning from Dogs
Dear Friends,
joanneleedomackerman.substack.com
February 2, 2026 at 4:06 PM
Enjoy February’s Substack with blog “World in Our Minds…Learning from Dogs.” Writer at Risk Narges Mohammadi; Books to Check Out features Kazuo Ishiguro’s “Cellists” and E.M. Forster’s “The Machine Stops.” This monthly Substack is free.
joanneleedomackerman.substack.com/p/world-in-o...
joanneleedomackerman.substack.com/p/world-in-o...
Insightful article by Elliot Ackerman on Venezuela.
Trump Is Risking Another Forever War
The shadow of Iraq looms over Venezuela.
www.thefp.com
January 5, 2026 at 7:45 PM
Insightful article by Elliot Ackerman on Venezuela.
Happy New Year! Enjoy my January Substack, including blog “Message to Tomorrow…” Writer at Risk, Books to Check Out, and more. This monthly Substack “On the Yellow Brick Road” is free. Please sign up if you’re not already a subscriber.
joanneleedomackerman.substack.com/p/message-to...
joanneleedomackerman.substack.com/p/message-to...
Message to Tomorrow…
Dear Friends,
joanneleedomackerman.substack.com
January 1, 2026 at 5:31 PM
Happy New Year! Enjoy my January Substack, including blog “Message to Tomorrow…” Writer at Risk, Books to Check Out, and more. This monthly Substack “On the Yellow Brick Road” is free. Please sign up if you’re not already a subscriber.
joanneleedomackerman.substack.com/p/message-to...
joanneleedomackerman.substack.com/p/message-to...
Enjoy my December Substack, with blog “Changing Latitudes, Chasing the Sun, Voting with Consequence.” The Writer at Risk section highlights the cases of four writers. Books to Check Out features Favorite Five for ’25.
The monthly Substack is free.
joanneleedomackerman.substack.com/p/changing-l...
The monthly Substack is free.
joanneleedomackerman.substack.com/p/changing-l...
Changing Latitudes, Chasing the Sun, Voting with Consequence
Dear Friends,
joanneleedomackerman.substack.com
December 1, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Enjoy my December Substack, with blog “Changing Latitudes, Chasing the Sun, Voting with Consequence.” The Writer at Risk section highlights the cases of four writers. Books to Check Out features Favorite Five for ’25.
The monthly Substack is free.
joanneleedomackerman.substack.com/p/changing-l...
The monthly Substack is free.
joanneleedomackerman.substack.com/p/changing-l...
IT TAKES A JOURNALIST!
Celebrating courage and commitment of journalists who find and report facts and uncover truth, DC reporters, friends & supporters gathered at the @icfjorg.bsky.social Awards Dinner.
#freedomofspeech #journalism #icfj #courage
Celebrating courage and commitment of journalists who find and report facts and uncover truth, DC reporters, friends & supporters gathered at the @icfjorg.bsky.social Awards Dinner.
#freedomofspeech #journalism #icfj #courage
November 15, 2025 at 12:52 AM
IT TAKES A JOURNALIST!
Celebrating courage and commitment of journalists who find and report facts and uncover truth, DC reporters, friends & supporters gathered at the @icfjorg.bsky.social Awards Dinner.
#freedomofspeech #journalism #icfj #courage
Celebrating courage and commitment of journalists who find and report facts and uncover truth, DC reporters, friends & supporters gathered at the @icfjorg.bsky.social Awards Dinner.
#freedomofspeech #journalism #icfj #courage
November 15, 2025 at 12:12 AM
IT TAKES A JOURNALIST!
Celebrating courage and commitment of journalists who find and report facts and uncover truth, DC reporters, friends & supporters gathered at the @icfjorg.bsky.social Awards Dinner.
#freedomofspeech #journalism #icfj #courage
Celebrating courage and commitment of journalists who find and report facts and uncover truth, DC reporters, friends & supporters gathered at the @icfjorg.bsky.social Awards Dinner.
#freedomofspeech #journalism #icfj #courage