C'mere, pookie. We need to talk about how now is a difficult time for lots of people in publishing. Not just bc--*waves arms*--but bc we're seeing Best of the Year lists and Award Eligibility posts, and bc the last book deals of the year are being announced while sub times are longer than ever. 1/

Reviews, recommendations, and requesting these books for purchase by your local library.

"I can't afford to support my favorite author right now, I—" Reviews. Reviews are free AND they are a gift to authors that can keep on giving (i.e., exposure, marketing, algo boosts, etc.) Please, give the gift of reviews to your authors this holiday season. It really can make a difference!

Reviews and also tell someone in your life who isn’t in online spaces about our books. So many people who read are not online reading reviews. Spread the word anyway you can, for free.

It’s his stupid tariffs. This isn’t rocket science.

What was this event even about? I heard crazy voice talking about a mother’s breast and then pitting out during half a pull-up and you’ve got Duffy saying this. Was it about breast-feeding and working out in airports?

#ArtAdventCalendar Day 7. ’The Singing Tree’... digital art.

A painting from the way-back times (high school) in the early 1990s. I photographed it today because a friend was wondering how easily/cheaply she might frame a canvas and I don’t think it gets any cheaper than how that was done by the art teacher, Mr. Straus. Pointillism! #ArtAdventCalendar

I said yesterday that I had posted all of the “gesture series” (I make lines that speak to me of a particular gesture or moment and then I create the characters around them) ink paintings that I had — but then I made another one. “Togetherness” #ArtAdventCalendar

Christmas cards! New Year’s cards! Made by me, from design to printing (main image) to hand-painting sparkly gold details. Both the red lighthouse and windmill are located near Holland, Michigan. #artforsale #handmade #smallbusiness #etsy www.etsy.com/shop/RAFinle...

I’m ahead of things by an hour (for me), but it’s been A Day™️ in terms of emotional stuff so here is the 5th and all-so-far of my “gesture” series (I make lines that speak to me of a particular gesture or moment and then I create the characters around them). “Forever Friends” #ArtAdventCalendar

I intended to, but it’s been a very rough one. Instead, I’ve done some thinking about it, and intend to make big strides toward it next year. So, not necessarily great but not horrible! Congratulations to those who did write a book this year!

If you're in Northern Illinois and looking to escape the cold, stop by Matchmaker Bookshop in Highland Park. It's adorable, has a great selection of books and bookish things, and has the coziest lounge and a meeting room in the upper level. Local authors—it's a great hangout space! 📚

The fourth piece in my “gesture” series (I make lines that speak to me of a particular gesture or moment and then I create the characters around them). “Companions” I see them as specific animals from my life, but feel free to interpret them however you like! #ArtAdventCalendar

🌲 THE BIG CHRISTMAS GIFT THREAD! 🌲 If you are a creator or small shop/business, reply to this post with: - pics and a brief description of what you do (don't forget the alt text!) - a link or details on how people can buy I will boost you! Everyone else: buy the cool things! Repost this post! ⛄

Updated my Etsy shop with Christmas and New Years art cards, some cat notecards (made with shadow tracings of Smokey), some abstract art cards and handmade reproductions (limited edition) of my original “gesture art” pieces on shikishi board. rafinleyenterprises.etsy.com

Yeahhhhhh, if anyone is considering buying my print books, now is the time. I won’t check my cost estimator until the 15th (although maybe I can postpone making changes until Feb? My brain hasn’t come fully online today). Otherwise, there are ebooks! And libraries, if you ask them.

"The first draft is just you telling yourself the story." — Terry Pratchett

The third piece in my “gesture” series (I make lines that speak to me of a particular gesture or moment and then I create the characters around them). “A Father’s Joy” #ArtAdventCalendar

Giving credit where credit is due for the thread of songs I’m about to post because I’m revisiting my 1990s self

For #ArtAdventCalendar day 2: One of my favourite photo I'd taken the last years... #photo #photography #EastCoastKin

FYI as you head into the holiday season: Shopify is a Canadian company, but its CEO Tobi Lütke is Maple MAGA in both words & monetary support (under the guise of “free speech” & “open commerce”).

This is the second piece in my “gesture” series (I make lines that speak to me of a particular gesture or moment and then I create the characters around them). “A Mother’s Love” #ArtAdventCalendar

Let's get #ArtAdventCalendar rolling! It's December 1 somewhere right now. Saskatchewan Supercell 32x40in 81x102cm Oil on Canvas 2019 #Art #Painting

Day 1 of #artadventcalendar Watercolor 😈🎨🦇 I'll try to remember to use this post as a thread and keep them all together 🤞

It's #artadventcalendar time! Here is "Moon Walk," a three color screen print. 2025, edition of 45. 🎨🐡

Happy first day of #ArtAdventCalendar, folks. I’m sharing this excellent Wyandotte rooster I digitally painted for #birdtober. I work in #Procreate using natural media brushes. #chicken #birds #art #illustration #digitalArt #SciArt

Day 1: #ArtAdventCalendar Thank you @jayispainting.earthskyart.ca for organizing this again! You rock! Tisha Mark ©2024, In the Storm II, oil on canvas, 12”x12” tishamark.com/product/in-t... #art #painting #bsnm #SciArt #TraditionalArt

#ArtAdventCalendar Day One -- (photo by me)

I'm drawing every day but mostly for projects that are in progress so I'll probably use this year's #ArtAdventCalendar event to look back at my favorite drawings I did this year, starting with this one! I had the idea of the outline of a white cat against a garden and it slowly evolved into this.

Happy decembirb #ArtAdventCalendar

My bipartisan IRS MATH Act with Senator Bill Cassidy is now law. Now, if you mess up your taxes, the IRS has to tell you where you made a mistake and how to fix it. No more spending a fortune on lawyers or hours to find errors. That means fewer headaches and more money in your pocket.

I’ve been missing my small family unit (mom, dad, dog) so much since the last of them died this year. This piece is the first of a series which starts with simple lines which, to me, convey a gesture. I then create characters around the lines. This one is “Family Hug.” #artadventcalendar

I was watching and thinking, “this is such a good take,” while wondering why it is that I’ve never been Black Coffee Guy and wondering how that might relate to my experiences of being ostracized and bullied in school — and then, yeah, that final sentence hit.

The most precious commodity you have is your attention. You don’t have to waste it on poor-faith debates or arguments with strangers if you don’t think they’ll be productive. You can prioritize the things that matter to you and make your life richer.

Updated my Etsy shop with Christmas and New Years art cards, some cat notecards (made with shadow tracings of Smokey), some abstract art cards and handmade reproductions (limited edition) of my original “gesture art” pieces on shikishi board. rafinleyenterprises.etsy.com

Tomorrow is patreon day! A buck gets you a short fantasy adventure every month, plus the 10-year story backlist. A STEAL. Best of all, it keeps me doing more fiction work and less corporate work 😆. THE WORLD NEEDS LESS CORPORATE WORK www.patreon.com/kameronhurley

There is hope for the future

I love this idea. My dad died when I was three and I had to figure out simple things like how to tie a tie and even shave on my own. Please retweet this because I know there are a lot of kids out there who could use some help with day to day life.

Oh my god. She's 1000% right. This makes so much sense. (Credit: Saradoesbookstuff on insta)

Happy Thanksgiving from me and Smokey!

Time once again to rep my favorite place for giving: anelder.org - they supply food, firewood and supplies for traditional crafting to Navajo Elders. If you have the cash, please give these folks a hand.

#Romancelandia Holiday Fairies is BACK for our 6th year! 🎁✨ This community-powered gifting initiative is all about mutual aid, kindness, and making sure no one goes without a little magic this season. Let’s make 2025 our most generous year yet! Learn more: bit.ly/holidayfairies

Introduce yourself with five concerts you’ve seen — Skinny Puppy Itzhak Perlman Echo and the Bunnymen Indigo Girls Mandy Patinkin

There’s still time to read the first book (set around Halloween) so you can get to the second book (set around the Winter Solstice) and then have the third book (set around Imbolc, at the start of February). www.rafinleybooks.com

The ridiculous wind storm + the glare off the stove gave me an optical migraine right as I was finishing the cranberry sauce, so the turkey breast didn’t get its herbed butter under the skin until 1:30am. Doing Thanksgiving my way and totally confusing the cat.

This is an older article I still link to all the time because it continues to be so relevant. electricliterature.com/taylor-swift...

Today’s xkcd made me cry. In a good way. xkcd.com/3172/

A new kind of rapid Chotining. Please appreciate the alt-text.