Survivors

"It is great to be righteously angry; it is ever better when people figure out a way to channel that into actual efforts to ameliorate harm."

Sandy Allen
March 14, 2026

Welcome to What’s Helping Today, a newsletter about the everyday work of staying alive on earth — written by author and journalist Sandy Ernest Allen.

Hey all,

The temperature here has been fluctuating wildly. All the snow melted off and it was in the 60s and even 70s this week. Now today it’s bitterly cold and very windy again. I was out in my garden a couple days back surveying how things fared this winter, which has been harsh.

A third of my main arch out had fallen down and I propped it back up. I cleared the various remains of what plants were left standing at the season’s end — some ghosts of artichokes and kale.

And in one grow bag, I was surprised to find, some recently sprouted spinach:

This spinach, which I must have sown in the fall, was a reminder (as ever) that I never know what will make it, what will work out …

They inspired me, these little plants, these intrepid survivors.

I’m so immensely pleased with the reaction the Lit Hub project has gotten … I hope you all subscribed here will check it out.

I wanted to share some of the kind words folks have said …

Kate Tooley @katetooley.bsky.social 2d So many incredible authors/books and amazing reviewers on this list. *sparkle emojis* the community is truly taking care of business out here *fire emoji*

Emily C. Hughes @emilyhughes.bsky.social 2 d I am IN LOVE iwth this project oh my god - and @harronwalker.bsky.social reviewing MANHUNT by scumbelieverable.bsky.social is such a dream pairing

Joshua Foust @joshuafoust 2d This is excellent, and once again highlights how the leadership at the NYT are both explicitly queer-phobic and functionally conservative, whatever hand waves toward aesthetic liberalism they might make here and there.

Rahawa Haile @rahawahaile.bsky.social 1d This is outstanding. Kudos to all those involved in creating this package and to all the book authors who deserve a more just literary environment in which to publish over the last decade(s).

the Overseer class is now available for pre- @thrasherxy.bsky Incredible!

Sirosenbaum.sky.social @sirosenbaum.sky.social 1 d this is amazing Sandy, you should feel amazing about this

Linda Holmes @lindaholmes.bsky.social 1d This is such a good idea. It is great to be righteously angry; it is ever better when people figure out a way to channel that into actual efforts to ameliorate harm. Congrats to all.

Truly has blown me away, this response. This is What’s Helping Today …

Again, I hope you’ll check it out and perhaps share it, too …

Sending love,
Sandy

p.s. A playlist of mine for today …

i'm praying this year isn't the end of the world

Playlist · Sandy Ernest Allen · 82 items · 1 saves

open.spotify.com/playlist/6nJCEkXiaHRIGFMQUjvqpf?si=6723186fb3ce43e6

Thanks for reading What’s Helping Today, a newsletter by me — author and journalist Sandy Ernest Allen. If you were forwarded this message, WHT is free; you can subscribe here.

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