Ever relevant, this poem by Mary Oliver, especially today.

i hope at some point in the near future you also get to feel this comfy cozy and loved

This is a good visual. Looks like in order to ensure we have proof that we mailed something on a specific day, we will have to stand in line at the post office and request a manual post mark.

Your disabled friend isn’t exactly thrilled about the idea of getting whatever horrible lurgy you’ve reassured them isn’t Covid, it has been revealed.

First home cooked meals of 2026: fancy instant Mac & cheese with seasoned spicy pan seared chicken breast over microgreens and brown sugar cardamom Bundt cake with espresso balsamic frosting adapted from @bethcato.bsky.social’s recipe. Not too shabby.

New Star*Line out today. Honoured to be featured along with the likes of @spires.bsky.social, @bethcato.bsky.social, @marysoonlee.bsky.social, @spacecowboybooks.bsky.social and many other fantastic poets! #poetry sfpoetry.org/wp/starline/...

Yes. It came out great! I'd intended to make the Betty Crocker spice cake that I've been baking for many yrs but saw this post & decided to give it a try. Did add a bit of fresh grated nutmeg & cardamom powder.

🐈‍⬛🤍

Supportive shout-out to all my pals-in-OCD who are scurrying to finish reading their books in progress today so they can tidily categorize their reads for each year.

No question. youtu.be/8AHCfZTRGiI?...

Today on Bready or Not: Brown Sugar Bundt Cake! Because delicious cake is the right way to end a year like 2025, correct? www.bethcato.com/bready-or-no...

If you're reading for the next genre awards cycle, please consider my most recent book, A House Between Sea and Sky, and my poetry! Most of these poems are available online.

TIL: Before Hans Asperger or Leo Kanner, a Jewish-Ukrainian psychiatrist named Grunya Sukhareva defined autism in 1925. Both men did not cite her work. She also had documented how it affected women and girls, where the men did not. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grunya_...

If you haven't read the Eric Carter series yet, then I can assure you with great confidence that this is EXACTLY what you need to start 2026 off right. As opposed to the time that I started 2020 off by reading CRISIS IN THE RED ZONE by Richard Preston. True story, double handful of irony.

What a quote.

Capricorn: Today you will cry havoc and let slip the pugs of war. Technically they're dogs. And it's a very small war.

If you're wondering whether the "open letter about AI" on file 770 is worth reading and engaging, it is not. The whole thing is rhetorical mush so it was no surprise when I got to the end and she admitted "her" letter was itself written by AI. Useless bait.

Apparently I'm doing this -- my open letter to that open latter about AI in writing and publishing. I emerged from Hibernation Week to write it, so god only knows how much sense it makes. But at least a human wrote it, so that's nice. Bonus: picture of my "cat," sweet baby Boomba.

Outside: snowpocalypse Inside: Finn toof

Are there no copy editors?

Much of Minnesota is getting hit with a snowstorm Sunday into Monday. Here's the latest forecast:

ICYMI

I'd believe this anecdote because I've met guys like this at conventions. People do ask (politely) about their work and they can't pitch it because what makes it special is that they are the specialest boy. They go to panels and hear queer and BIPOC writers talk about their work and think "ah ha". +

If you were so fortunate as to get bookseller gift cards this holiday season & are looking for new reads, might I suggest my latest books? CHEDDAR LUCK NEXT TIME is a contemporary cozy mystery!

This shit is made up, actually

Boxing Day

Ok, since this has come up four times in the last three days: REPUTABLE LITERARY AGENTS WILL NOT CHARGE YOU MONEY. IF A LITERARY AGENT WANTS TO CHARGE YOU FOR AN "EXPEDITED ACCESS PACKAGE" THIS IS A SCAM.

Baking up these Stamped Spice Cookies today. This recipe is my first experience using a cookie stamp I bought last year, and honestly, it was such a pain I won’t quickly do so again. But at least the cookies are delicious.

Yay! Two books I’ve been wanting!

Guys, guys, check out my new Bundt cake garrote!

WINTER’S GLOW (2012) Acrylic on Yupo Paper - 12” x 12” I wasn’t feeling in the holiday spirit, and as usual it took a painting to get me into the mood of the season. Don Maitz first recommended “Yupo paper” to me, and I was pleased with how the sheet he lent me handled acrylics. 1/13

I am, apparently, Toad on a regular basis. I'm not mad at it.

Somebody in the area needs this sweet guy.

This was the version of A Christmas Carol I knew first.

Today on Bready or Not: Classic Chocolate Chip Cookies! Soft, chewy, sweet. All the good things. www.bethcato.com/bready-or-no...

Today, we feast. I did a braided beef plait using homemade puff pastry, based on a showstopper from the recent season of Great British Bake Off. I made a test version a few weeks ago to perfect the technique, and it paid off. Whew!

A racist, sexist and homophobic aunt has announced plans to branch out into ableism in time for Christmas, according to sources.

This NHL ad making fun of AI is extremely funny, and I'm surprised I'm saying any of those words together youtu.be/vjz9JxAsZSg?...

I committed pie today. This is an experimental Bourbon Chocolate Pecan Pie, with a Vanilla Bourbon Crust. We have deemed it delicious.

You don't have to be a member to tell SFWA how you feel about AI.

You're not allowed to have any fun in Northfield, MN.

If you're on Instagram, hop over there to enter a giveaway by Datura, the publisher of CHEDDAR LUCK NEXT TIME! Follow the few rules & try to win a worldwide giveaway for the book! www.instagram.com/p/DSkeqaYAUi...

“It turns out that banishing the slur from public discourse was, in fact, important. Because now it’s back and it turns out that it does matter when subtext becomes actual text, when terrible people enable open hatred and bigotry, encouraging others to emulate them, degrading us all.”

Oh @bethcato.bsky.social ...

Make someone fall in love with you in three words or less: Today's cheese haul

Grab your hot cocoa and favorite Christmas jammies and join us for our week-long Christmas marathon kicking off tonight at 8pm ET with HOLIDAY AFFAIR (’49). Full lineup here: https://bit.ly/4j5pF7t

I've never lived so close to a What Are We Even Doing Here real estate listing, and I am here, gifting you this experience, make sure to open the pictures www.redfin.com/MI/Ann-Arbor...

Going into 2026, a reminder for everyone who's fallen off the creative wagon, game dev, writing, art, music, whatever, no matter how long:

Officials in Tennessee aren't just banning books, they're now demanding information on who checked out contested (largely LGBTQ+) books, including names, addresses, and "household composition." A librarian who was given the directive has come forward asking for whistleblower protections.

It’s a good day for a cheese delivery! These are all from Blue Ledge Farm in Vermont. I have wanted to try theirs for a while! I’m especially excited about their holiday special cheeses, Piece of Coal and Honey Cardamom Chèvre with Ginger.