Reading this made me think of how Janice Radway’s Reading the Romance provided me with nuance in understanding romance (and its readers) after I had largely dismissed it. And now I’m like, hungry to dive back in and explore deeper.

I found a flowchart which helps you navigate the IT landscape

One thing that makes me happy is my coffee table, which I made out of an old type case, filled with favorite rocks and bits gathered from my travels.

Finally getting some theological clarity on the ethics of reclining in one’s plane seat

Hiring a coach or teacher (or whatever language you use to describe mentors) is NOT just about subject matter expertise. It’s about the ability to be a leader and to help others in a genuine way. Coaching itself is a skill, not just ‘I know about X subject, so can tell others about it to get money’

Just a reminder that ordering books through an author’s @bookshop.org affiliate links supports independent bookstores AND authors. In other words, your favorite authors get a lil’ extra money, as do actual bookstores (not that one billionaire website). A win-win.

You know what I think would be cool? A cross-pollinating, interdisciplinary cohort of researchers, writers, thinkers, and artists ready to do serious research and imagining around food. I think I’m gonna build it (I’m also going to need to apply for grant funding). Would you join?

Fellows of the Royal Historical Society are historians working in a wide range of sectors (in and beyond education) in the UK and worldwide. We've a new guide about becoming a Fellow: bit.ly/48iH0oG If you'd like to join a 4000+ community of historians, please consider an application #Skystorians

Just a reminder that ordering books through an author’s @bookshop.org affiliate links supports independent bookstores AND authors. In other words, your favorite authors get a lil’ extra money, as do actual bookstores (not that one billionaire website). A win-win.

Please share widely! 📜 RBMS 2026 CFP (with some changes this year to session formats): web.cvent.com/event/0f0104... The planning spreadsheet is in the re-blogged post.

Up before dawn, sitting in silence with my notebook, mapping out next projects sans screens. The work flows faster, more smoothly, like a river over timeworn stones versus the tension of the rapids that come with using a laptop and the feeling of Being At Work versus creating my work.

I show myself some extra love each day by choosing one meal to plate really nicely and to enjoy slowly and intentionally (this is cucumber and tomato salad with couscous-stuffed peppers).

Ok there are many reasons to preserve food, but one is… So that when Barnaby mentions roasted Moroccan veg in the season 14 finale of Midsomer Murders and you get a sudden craving, you can make your own version knowing you’ve got preserved lemons and raisins on hand.

As someone who drove free buses (and rode free buses) in Iowa City for years: the quality of life improvement that comes from quality, accessible public transit cannot be overstated. I wish it for everyone, everywhere.

Hey this is in just like, 4 hours! I can’t wait to make some end of year creative magic with y’all (there are still a few spaces open if you want to jump in last minute)

Tomorrow! $20 includes recording and take home resources. Come play and explore your 2026 desires with me (and lay the path for them to come to pass, using magic and intuition plus practice). Join here: rootsandbranches.squarespace.com/sign-up/p/de...

I created a 1 evening container to come in connection with the parts of ourselves who unapologetically go after their desires. Name them and claim them. It’s a space to play with meditation + energy work even if you’ve never done either before. Come join me! $20, with recording. Learn more here:

The northern lights are a reminder that the world around us is pure magic, just waiting for us to wake up and take notice.

What historians see when people claim AI is solving mysteries that have baffled historians for years.

WOW y’all my little curiosity-driven, playful online culinary school is ONE YEAR OLD today! Thank you for all the support, for everyone who’s signed up for a class or taken a private lesson or shared my work with someone they love. Here’s to another amazing year of the Culinary Curiosity School!

Buy from a small biz + author this year: Books on food + history! bookshop.org/lists/my-boo... Culinary classes + private lessons! Culinarycuriosityschool.com Creativity support + holistic coaching (and also classes)! Rootsandbranches.site Great alone or bundled! DM me with any questions

Collage-making evening

Time for your occasional reminder that I’m a fermentation-loving, food preserving witch who does energy work, herbalism, + foraging AND ALSO is Queer + has a PhD and believes in science + human rights. If that sounds like you, hi and welcome! Not your thing? I trust you to find the door.

🎶it’s that time again🎶

Once again: Washington State, *by law* allows you the right to create native pollinator habitat on your property, no matter what local codes or HOA rules may say otherwise. I supported Skinner's yard. You can too.

Gardeners! 🌱 Why are “unsightly” dead stems of flowers dead leaf piles critical? Why does 15% of bare soil = gardening goals? To save climate-warmed, extinction-threatened native ground-/crevice-nesting native bees, butterflies and other critical insects. Support via link in her reply.

Last call for support letters! The City of Atlanta has decided to give me a court date, accusing me of violating code because I have a yard full of edible and wild plants as opposed to a monoculture lawn. Let me know if you want a letter template! Thank you for your support

Timely shirt choice

Cork friends, where in/near the city do you go to sit and work? I love the library, but also pulling together a list of pubs, cafes, or other quiet spaces where I can curl up with a notebook or laptop and write.

It’s a great time for Cat Couch

If you’re looking for employee wellness or personal development, come talk to me! I’ll come up with a program (or series, anything from private 1:1 support to group workshops) that fits your budget and your needs! Email me: [email protected] Or look at these links for examples: 👇🏼

Same

We have progressed from data collection to data analysis.

Halloween/Samhain special: comment a favorite autumn food you enjoy, and I’ll pull a card for you from The Fermentation Oracle on your theme for the next season. Rather than tipping me (though, thank you and you can do that too if you want), please donate to Umi Feeds or @acfb Links below!

Are you a passionate, intuitive creative looking for support? Here are a few ways I can help right now: 🔮Career/Shift: An energetic and meditative playground for exploring transition and mapping the path ahead. 🔮Hawthorn: A space for seasoned creatives to fall back in love with their work 🧵

I help writers build routines, which helps them find time to write books. I help writers build in peace and ritual around their writing time, which helps them be in the headspace to write books. (Or articles, or whatever else you dream of writing)

Took myself out to dinner; decided to put on a nice dress

Just having daily shoulder time with Little Okra

In the 80s, my mom was asked to be a bridesmaid, and soon began begging the bride to change the processional song, but she refused, saying it was the most beautiful song she’d ever heard. So the wedding party had to walk down the aisle to an instrumental version of…Send In The Clowns.

As we start to move into holiday shopping season (somehow, already)… Here’s your reminder that shaming small business owners for writing sales posts and for selling their wares is a bad look. You don’t snap at the grocery store for running ads, why get mad at a small biz for doing the same?

As a food media person, this is the kind of content I desire and expect to see more of in my corner of the internet

My next book, Essential Food Preserving, is available for preorder (comes out in May)! It's rooted in my firm belief that food preservation is a practice rooted in abundance, community, and play. And one that fits into the equipment, budget, and time you have. bookshop.org/a/103396/978...

Every day offers a new opportunity to boop a cat on their little snoot

Foraged trifoliate orange makes the perfect pint-sized pomander

A long-awaited and oft-requested newsletter issue: Somatic practices to support your writing and creativity. I even made you a video where I demonstrate some of my favorites! rootsandbranches.space/2025/10/15/s...

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

I teach creative ecosystems, as in you can build a connection to a wild and beautiful place And build a connection to yourself all at once

Science fiction has often dealt with worries that machines or computers or aliens will take over... but never that contraptions will take over. Harpsichords, hot air balloons, penny farthings and grandfather clocks are not scary. They are a little bit silly and, in retrospect, a bit hopeful.

Now open: call for the Royal Historical Society's First Book and Early Career Article Prizes, 2026. Eligible titles, published in 2025, may be submitted by the author before the closing date of 15 December. Further details and how to apply: bit.ly/3KnR47v #Skystorians