small child on the way out of the library, dragging his feet and chanting angrily: NO PIZZA, BOOKS! NO PIZZA, BOOKS! me: What if...both? Small child stares goggle-eyed for a very long moment, then continues his exit from the library, chanting happily: PIZZA AND BOOKS! PIZZA AND BOOKS!

I think my motto for the rest of the year is going to be "it fixes what it fixes." Making dinner, finishing Chapter 5 revisions, doing my volunteer work: the fact that it doesn't fix EVERYTHING doesn't mean that it fixes NOTHING. The middle ground, where things fix what they fix, is where we live.

Catching up on @bcsmagazine.bsky.social reading, and I really liked this Chris Willrich story that is math-tinged and goblin-y: www.beneath-ceaseless-skies.com/stories/a-ra...

if the US government didn’t want immigrants to have a deep sense of political engagement they shouldn’t make a civics test a prerequisite for citizenship. you created me (guy who knows what cloture is), America

BCS #445 ebook out early today at @WeightlessBooks & Kindle Store and for subscribers, w stories by thirteen-time BCS author @marissalingen.bsky.social and new one @davidmarinowrites.bsky.social, behind cover art by Bruce Brenneise: weightlessbooks.com/fiction/bene... www.amazon.com/Beneath-Ceas...

If you subscribe to BCS, you get to read my crow story TODAY!

Nothing says civic pride to me like voting at the ice arena. The library would also be good, but for some reason we never get assigned to the library even though the library is a block closer to our house than the arena and has voting.

Despite having almost complete control over the City, I’ve seen Jacob Frey mostly hide, delegate, and abdicate most of his responsibility, particularly when issues are tough or he perceives them to be controversial and not politically convenient to him.

I was updating a family member on another family member and tried to say "I'm really worried." Phone autocorrected it to "I'm really weird." I mean, yes? but she already knows that?

Unintentionally causing havoc at the library, as a small voice cuts through the hold shelves: "DAT LADY gets to wear HER costume already!"

I just feel like I deserve some kind of accolades for not mentioning the Halloween Blizzard until now, this year. The Most Restrained Minnesotan Medal or something. Because it was really cool, honestly, did you know we had a blizzard one year for Halloween? it was the greatest.

Did you know I have a newsletter? It's short and sweet and has pretty pictures. And it's the easiest way to keep up with what's going on in my writing life. www.jrdawsonwriter.com

Exciting news! I've been working all year on a vertigo arts project in collaboration with others in academia, physical therapy, puppetry, and dance. Now the first part is out: I'm running a creative writing workshop for people who are directly or indirectly affected by vertigo. >

do you like ebooks do you like ebooks about haunted architecture did you ever wish THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE was more ... SFnal? just in time for the height of spooky season, my ROSE/HOUSE is on sale for only $2.99 at all ebook retailers! until November 2nd! us.macmillan.com/books/978125...

This book remains lodged in my psyche. In a monumental career, this is one of Walton's best. Two timelines of a life collide in exquisite ways. If you dug IN UNIVERSES, you've got to read MY REAL CHILDREN.

i hear this book is good

In case you wanted to know what was going through the heads of some Chicago police as the feds throw tear gas and make arrests throughout the city, Jeremy Gorner and I have you covered here. What they have to say may surprise you. www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/26/c...

I wrote about how RFK Jr is making health worse for millions of Americans. He's slashed research and healthcare, and replaced them with "hAvE yOu TrIeD YoGa?" Link & free link in thread. There are impeachment/removal proposals in both the House and Senate. Tell your electeds to boot this guy out!

Niche SF story idea: the TimeCop bureau standard for whether something has made significant alterations to the timeline is whether it would require changing the lyrics of a @themountaingoats.bsky.social song.

Have you read? What a Big Heart You Have by Marissa Lingen at kaleidotrope A fun mix of fairy tales and a perplexed granddaughter. kaleidotrope.net/autumn-2025/...

This is a hard one, in a very good way: @wiswell.bsky.social 's latest in @tordotcom.bsky.social regards end of life care with heart and a touch of eerieness: reactormag.com/phantom-view...

One of my favorite tiny entertainments is reading headlines as though I have no idea sports teams exist. Today's MinnPost digest is an excellent example of that genre. It says, "Mature Ant to lead Wolves."

This is particularly true for anything that's meant to be humorous. Have you ever met a 5yo? Then you know how repeated humor goes: "Because 7 8 9! Aunt Marissa. Aunt Marissa? 7 8 9? Because 7 8 9! AHAHA Why is 6 afraid of 7, Aunt Marissa?" By the time you're through copyedits, that's the vibe.

The first editorial letter I got on a pro sale, literally in 1999, and the most recent editorial letter last week, both contained points where the editor mentioned things they liked, things that were already working. I bring this up AGAIN because positive critique is not "soft soap for weak n00bs."

It was a time travel story that featured twins swapping places for some reason even though they were both from our time and not the target time so who would even know which was which anyway and why would it matter. Look, I was 6, okay.

New neuroscience short story forthcoming in @analogsf.bsky.social! Which also means a story of - ultimately successful - negotiations with their new publisher. Includes full final text of my contract for all to use while they finish rewriting their boilerplate. benjaminckinney.com/analog-negot...

A DUBIOUS CLAMOR would smell like a pastry shop with freshly cleaned steel underneath. I kind of doubt that the book perfumers would be up to it, it's just as well this is just a fun thought experiment.

I'd be interested to hear whether this @clarkesworldmagazine.com story by @gregegansf.bsky.social was engaging for someone who didn't do math contests and Academic Decathlon in high school, but that is me to the core so I liked it a lot: clarkesworldmagazine.com/egan_10_25/

Another @kaleidotrope.bsky.social poem in my wheelhouse this month: @jamesjosephbrown.bsky.social 's Bestla: kaleidotrope.net/autumn-2025/...

I don't think @kaleidotrope.bsky.social published this Oppenheimer poem by @writerjencrow.bsky.social just for me...but they might as well have: kaleidotrope.net/autumn-2025/...

I loved every word of this sweet story, and I wish I could have had such elder women in my life. Do yourself a favor and read it.

Last farmer's market haul of the season: strawberries, raspberries, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, poblano, Thai eggplants, cauliflower x2, broccoli, tomatillos x bushel, blackberry barbecue sauce, flash-frozen sockeye fillets and wee salmon belly bits.

This is a sweet hug of a fairy tale retelling. Marissa is so good at tapping into the heart of stories.

This is a very sweet tale. I enjoyed it very much.

This story is exactly what I needed to read this morning.

Read this at once, for a marvelous and cozy fairy tale interlude in your day!

OK, I already boosted @marissalingen.bsky.social's own post about her new story, but I just have to add, now that I've read it - oh, this is LOVELY: kaleidotrope.net/autumn-2025/... Such a funny, sweet gift of a story about grandmothers and granddaughters. I loved it and will definitely re-read!

This story is a DELIGHT.

Back from my family trip to tell you that I have a new story in @kaleidotrope.bsky.social ! "What a Big Heart You Have" is my tender tribute to Grandma and Aunt Ellen, though the characters aren't literally them. kaleidotrope.net/autumn-2025/...

...as well as phenomenal new stories by @slharris.bsky.social, @avramargariti.bsky.social, @shaenon.bsky.social, @marissalingen.bsky.social, @katiedowrite.bsky.social, and Tanvir Ahmed!

Farmer's market haul: bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, and the entire world's supply of winter squash (to take up north and cook for college students).

This is such a great advice post from Fran! Happy launch day, friend, and happy 10 years on the shelves!

Only 1 day until A Honeymoon of Grave Consequence is published in ebook and paperback - so today is your last chance to preorder it for the special advance price of $2.99/£2.49! books2read.com/honeymoonGrave And you can read a longer excerpt here: twimom227.com/2025/09/sund... #romancelandia

"I feel like I'm doing several things?" I said to T, and he burst out laughing and said, "There's a reason why you feel that way. Yes." The thing is I have stopped deluding myself that my schedule will ease up in [checks notes] late November and December. Um. Yes. So.

This Saturday! Join me and C.S.E. Cooney for poetry!

That is a very smart rec, @reactorsff.bsky.social ! New excerpt just dropped! Catch some thieves before they escape and launch next week!

Farmer's market haul: cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, jicama, bell peppers, broccoli, cauliflower (two colors), tomatillos (bushel), strawberries, raspberries, jarred garlic crisps, cacio e pepe bagels, peach vanilla cream cheese (not intended for use togther).

I'm autistic! I love cheese! I have a book out about an autistic person who also loves cheese! CHEDDAR LUCK NEXT TIME is a cozy mystery with genuine autistic rep, cats, and a loooot of cheese. www.bethcato.com/cheese-myste...

Free story in @iftheresanyoneleft.bsky.social! The Things You Know, The Things You Trust: www.iftheresanyoneleft.com/stories/mari...

I love stories where characters use their own struggles as a lens for deeper understanding of others. Here's one from @katefrancia.bsky.social in @bcsmagazine.bsky.social : www.beneath-ceaseless-skies.com/stories/holl...