Politics & the Pen 2026! A great time had by all.

I'm back in print! My contributor copies of @prisminternational.bsky.social are finally here! What a beautiful journal, I can't wait to dig into the rest of the issue.

Early Valentine from Heather O'Neill. 🫀

"A Bird in the House" by @rhirschgarcia.bsky.social :

Photo by Pierre Lavie. Yes this is me. And I threw my Leica. It landed on the bass plate with hardly a scratch. Another Photographer grabbed it along with my phone and I was able to track him later. I was held face down tear gas deployed right in front of me and pepper sprayed directly into the eye.

It's important to note that this means that only 8% of the top 100 GROSSING films are directed by women. It doesn't mean that 92% of all films are directed by men. It means the films by women are not making as much money. But the directors are there and making films.

End of the year gift from Heather O'Neill. My sister studied criminology and I remember reading books about Aileen Wuornos when I was a kid.

Had to shout out @rhirschgarcia.bsky.social for the notable Notable 2025 Books list on the Ancillary Review this year, because man, it’s just stuck with me ancillaryreviewofbooks.org/2025/12/22/a...

The only one of these I've read was Greyhound but it was absolutely fabulous.

there are so many books that everyone should read and hardly anyone has read any of them

****Elizabeth May’s balance of power intensifies****

As a non-driver from Ottawa who still thinks nostalgically of the Greyhound, Joanna Pocock's Greyhound: A Memoir, feels like it was specifically written for ME!

#100smallpress, where I was a contributor, is live! Wasn't sure which of my recommendations would make it. I'm thrilled that it was Demons of Eminence. I've long been a fan of Publication Studio's Fellow Travelers series. lithub.com/100-notable-...

This selection of books is perfect for the person who starts planning their next Halloween costume on November 1, is waiting for S3 of Interview with a Vampire, and loves an unreliable narrator. Enter the code HAPPYHOLIDAYS2025 for 30% off this year’s releases! ecwpress.com/blogs/whats-...

To celebrate Jewish book month, and its incredible 100th anniversary, I’m sharing a small fraction of my Jewish book collection 🩷🩷📚 There are so many incredible Jewish writers whose work has inspired me so much. @jewishbookcouncil.bsky.social #jewishbookmonth #jewishbookmonth100

It was so nice to start a launch with my editor walking in right beforehand and saying "You got a starred review!" Reviews aren't for writers yadayadayada but it's always so bizarre and humbling when someone really understands what you were trying to do: quillandquire.com/review/other...

Tomorrow Ottawa!!!

Montrealers! Heads up, I will be at Joie de Livres on November 18th to launch my new novel. Hope to see you there!

I genuinely love when you’re in a liminal space, like an airport, and then you have to pass through a liminal space in the liminal space, like a weird hallway under construction - that’s the feeling I’m always looking for in my writing

Join us on November 18th! @rhirschgarcia.bsky.social will be at @joiedelivresmtl.bsky.social to discuss her new novel, Other Evolutions!

Torontonians! I will be at Another Story talking Other Evolutions on November 7th! Can't wait to see you there.

Hamiltonians! I am going to be at City & the City Books talking about Other Evolutions with @afsulli.bsky.social. November 5th! See you soon!

On the one hand I'm stranded at the airport for several hours. On the other hand... dogs.

Did you know that if you buy my book on Amazon, Jeff Bezos makes 5 times as much as I do on each copy sold? Sharing some behind-the-scenes book math on why buying directly from presses is best for EVERYONE (except Bezos) in my newsletter today! aubreyhirsch.substack.com/p/book-math

Happy thanksgiving!

Two new books are out today! Other Evolutions by @rhirschgarcia.bsky.social and Princess Nai and Other Stories by Jamal Saeed 📖✨🌼

It's pub day for my first novel, Other Evolutions! Find it at Indigo, Amazon and wherever books are sold. 📸 : TMG www.indigo.ca/en-ca/other-...

Two years of crying diamonds!!! I'm so grateful to the people who continue to read and support my book.

I am begging Canadians to understand that Canada Post, like public transit, should not be a business - it's a service. Canada Post is a lifeline for rural, remote and Northern communities and overall, we need to re-evaluate why people think they "need" random shit delivered ASAP.

Build your #horror TBR with these #spookymonth new releases! @kelleyarmstrong.bsky.social @orringrey.com @jimchines.com @momoshaty.bsky.social @manylittlewords.bsky.social @annieneugebauer.bsky.social @rhirschgarcia.bsky.social @danielhwilsonpdx.bsky.social

I seem to be writing another sad, unsellable story.

will never understand how Canadians became known for saying “eh” when we should be known for our ability to make the phase “okay buddy” mean everything from “of course I will give my life for yours” to “I am the drunkest man alive and I am going to fight you in this parking lot”

Can*Con @canconsffh.bsky.social's schedule is officially out! Heartlines will be stationed in the vendor room for the weekend! Come say hi and talk about short fiction! www.can-con.org/events/live-...

small one about to begin this week’s ukulele lesson, so I’m going to dig into Ottawa writer Rebecca Hirsch Garcia’s The Girl Who Cried, / @ecwpress.bsky.social @rhirschgarcia.bsky.social

The secret is out! The vast majority of 2025 for me was reading for the 2025 City of Ottawa Book Awards where I was on the jury for English Fiction. Here is the shortlist! Congrats to the nominees! Full list here: ottawa.ca/en/city-hall...

Last chance to enter the goodreads giveaway for Other Evolutions: www.goodreads.com/book/show/22...

HMU if you need new bookmarks. Other Evolutions coming October 7th! Pre-order now: ecwpress.com/products/oth...

Goodreads giveaway for Other Evolutions! www.goodreads.com/book/show/22...

New header. Other Evolutions. Coming October 7th.

In hour two of my trip to Ikea to pick up ONE THING I was collapsed on a couch saying "I'VE LOST THE WILL TO LIVE" while people just strolled past me. So you know, a normal trip.

Amazing times at the Ottawa Book sellers dinner where I got to meet the amazing person who makes sure my book ends up in stores and the Ottawa owners of those stores. Plus I got to hold my ARC for the first time!!!

But what if self-destructive? 🤔

American friends only: Kirkus is doing a bundle of SFF books which includes Other Evolutions. Ends on June 21st! www.kirkusreviews.com/contest/give...

So excited about this release! Rebecca’s writing is so unnerving and beautiful, it was an honour to illustrate for it 💛

Other Evolutions. Coming this fall from @ecwpress.bsky.social. Cover by the amazing @elizabethrangerart.bsky.social.

Tomorrow! Me, and the talented Lisa Alward and Paola Ferrante talk all things short stories. Hosted by Heather O'Neill. writersunion.ca/webinars/sha...

It gives me such joy to see this story continue to be read. I almost didn't write it. And then when it was written it was @jenralbert.bsky.social who pushed me to get it published. 📸: @rebecca-b.bsky.social at @banffcentre.bsky.social

Only 2 DAYS!!! left to get your nominations in for this year's Aurora Awards! Nominations will close at 11:59 EDT on Saturday, April 5, 2025. Please take a look through our awesome lists of eligible works and submit your nominations through our member portal at www.csffa.ca

Issue 7 is live for paid subscribers and available for purchase 🎉🎉🎉 Sign up for a free subscription and get 2 pieces to read right away! www.heartlines-spec.com/issue-7/