One last comment on #Alchemised. I’m generally tired of invented worlds that just repackage patriarchy, with heroines brutalized for texture and given no real arc of victory outside male agency. And I’m done with the trope of the male love interest who “teaches” her who she is. Enough already.

As for #Alchemised’s darkness: yes, it’s dark, but the torture and rape are never described explicitly. It doesn’t feel like gratuitous violence to me. Seen worse in award-winning spec-fic. Unsure the novel deserves all the hype, but it surprised me positively. A tour de force. I respect that. 3/3

I’d read so many negative reviews and watched so many critical podcasts that I was surprised to find #Alchemised (French translation)more than decent, not only in its worldbuilding, which everyone praised, but also in story and plot. Can’t say I loved-loved it, but the novel holds water. 2/

Saw seasoned reviewers DNF #Alchemised (Del Rey ed.) over typos and… “laughing feet” (??). Switched to the French. Trusted Hachette—they delivered. France has a long tradition of translations that are not just faithful, but beautifully written. So, once typos and bad writing were out of the way...1/

A story I wrote with J.L. Johnson is on the preliminary ballot of the Ditmar Awards locusmag.com/2026/04/2026...

Today's weather report promised "acquazzoni a tradimento" (backstabbing downpours--a very Renaissance way of putting it). I was at the mall, so I bought a new umbrella. I have plenty of ambush umbrellas. At least a dozen.

Go, Hungary! (Wir betreten feuertrunken!)

Today I learned that in Old Norse poetry, an arrow is a "wound-bee." That's a kenning, the Viking poets' way of naming the world through metaphor. And it gets better. 1/7 #OldNorse #Poetry #Kennings #Vikings

This marvel is called "elephant's ear," (orecchia d'elefante if you want to order it in an Italian ristorante, in northern Italy--I hail from Lake Como)

Giving priority to queries that fit ⬇️ #mswl #amquerying #writingcommunity

Check out my #MSWL here: manuscriptwishlist.com/mswl-post/si..., and submission guidelines here: inkwellmanagement.com/contact/! no ai stuff pls.

Hello Writing Community! We are delighted to announce our Second Official Bluesky *** #MSWL Day *** February 26, 2026. 🎉🎉🎉 Agents + editors can post what they ✨wish✨ they had in their inboxes; writers can find their next best fit for querying. Learn more: manuscriptwishlist.com/2025/01/the-...

Congrats to Kathleen and all the other finalists, including another two of my students, @sljohnson.bsky.social and @gioclair.bsky.social !

Y'all, I just got another short story acceptance (from The Literary Hatchet), but I'm MAD! Why oh why didn't the guys send their acceptance BEFORE the 31th of December, to gift me with my 20th sale of the year?

The sky over [your city]

Joyeux Noël!

The moon was captured, too, entangled in the trees

Two Santas were caught and trapped today. I wonder whether it's happening elsewhere #Xmas

I heard Finland’s president, Alexander Stubb, say they could mobilize a million people in an emergency. Out of ~6 million. And I got curious. So I looked up what other big European countries could realistically mobilize. Germany excluded, since it’s mid-rearm. chatgpt.com/s/m_6945680a...

Confused periwinkle

Bullet Points 11 @jamesaaron.net @slashnburnett.bsky.social @gioclair.bsky.social @henryherz.bsky.social @liamjhogan.bsky.social @gerrileen.bsky.social @grigorylukin.bsky.social @kurtnewton.bsky.social ‪@natashabennett.bsky.social @jeremyszal.bsky.social @ericfomley.bsky.social zurl.co/0jolK

That plush, marshmallow look when snow lands on trees that still have their leaves

Is it true that mornings hold gold? I keep squandering mine idly learning Mandarin and Norwegian — which, honestly, is far more fun than any other language I've studied. But maybe I should be *writing*

Found out the Paris flat I sold a few years back went up in smoke last summer. Ex-tenant in cuffs, accused of lighting up the underground garage. 100+ apartments gutted, asbestos in the dust. Looks like I walked out just before the apocalypse moved in.

Got a pneumococcum jab (anti-pneumonia) yesterday. I expected to be under the weather but all I have is a sore shoulder. I'd planned a lazy day, reading and doing nothing! Will chill out anyway

Rainy Brighton sky the day before the World Fantasy Convention starts #WFC

I've got my 18th story acceptance of the year!!! Only two months left and I hope that I will get 20! #amwriting #publishing #WritingCommunity

I arrived yesterday at the hotel in Brighton for the World Fantasy Convention. My main credit card wasn't working and I'd forgotten the other card's PIN. For a long hour, I expected to sleep (comfortably!) on the pier. #WFC #Brighton

They said, "No Kings!" So he had to steal the Empress's crown #nokings

Bullet Points 11: @jamesaaron.net @slashnburnett.bsky.social @gioclair.bsky.social @henryherz.bsky.social @liamjhogan.bsky.social @gerrileen.bsky.social @grigorylukin.bsky.social @kurtnewton.bsky.social ‪@natashabennett.bsky.social @jeremyszal.bsky.social #DarkMilSF zurl.co/0jolK

Never again (sigh)

Yes, yes, a great, great zine.

I wrote a military horror thing, and here it is, amon this garhering of excellent stories.

Lazy, who? Me? Not lazy—just a reluctant Stakhanovist. I avoid starting work because I know once I start, I won’t stop.

Just hit my 16th story acceptance of 2025. Starting to wonder if I’ve crushed some kind of Guinness world record—or if I just need a Guinness #amwriting #writingcommunity

A 700-year-old church tower has been suspended above a construction site during excavation works for the upcoming 50 Fenchurch Street skyscraper in London, designed by architecture studio Eric Parry Architects. (Dezeen)

I’m thrilled to have a solarpunk story in the latest issue of Zoetic Press www.zoeticpress.com/branded-merc...

Woah! Time flies when you're having fun. Only 26 days?? We can't wait to share these dogs with you, submit to find yourself in our little yard! We're open and #reading all work now! Submit #poetry, #fiction, #essay, #art, #nonfiction, and more today! #dogyard #litmag #openforsubmissions #writer

I Like Free Speech So Much That I’ve Decided It’s Just Mine Now open.substack.com/pub/mcsweene...

Down with the flu. Also trapped with a feral mosquito that can live 6 weeks. Send help.

I wrote a military horror-sf for Bullet Points, and it's on now!

London: The latest Bansky

I've sold 15 stories this year (so far). #WritingCommunity #AmWriting

A little story of mine (I have 15 out in 2025)

I want to write a Gothic novel in which the victim is a young, beautiful man mistreated by some cruel young Alpha #amwriting #WritingCommunity

A little story of mine (I have 15 out in 2025)

The Anatomy of “Othering”: open.substack.com/pub/thecycle...

ttps://relevantmagazine.com/current/oped19/the-mixed-reactions-to-superman-reveal-a-lot-about-america/

I’ve written a novella in 12 days. #writing #WritingCommunity