Melanie Marttila (she/her)
@melaniemarttila.bsky.social
📤 223
📥 143
📝 81
#ActuallyAutistic
writer of poetry and speculative tales of hope in the face of adversity.
My review of A.L. Jensen's Hygge and Homicide is out in today's The Seaboard Review of Books!
www.theseaboardreview.ca/p/getting-co...
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Getting Cozy with A.L Jensen’s Hygge and Homicide
A Hygge House Cozy Mystery
https://www.theseaboardreview.ca/p/getting-cozy-with-a-l-jensen-hygge-and-homicide
12 days ago
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And I thought January was a year of a month! March was … Can I just say, YIKES! But there was light in the darkness. SuperCanucks was launched! I wrote and submitted two short stories! I’m getting out in the literary world again! Read on, my friends.
open.substack.com/pub/melaniem...
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Alchemy Ink: March 2026
An anthology launches! A decision is made! Next up: waiting for the fallout …
https://open.substack.com/pub/melaniemarttila/p/alchemy-ink-march-2026?r=h5jld&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
12 days ago
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It's almost here! SuperCanucks: An anthology of Canadian Small-town Superheroes is launching March 21, 2026! You can get it at your favourite bookstore, or request a copy through your local public library.
about 1 month ago
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Two of my reviews were published in The Maple Tree Literary Supplement back in January. A Thousand Tiny Awakenings edited by Connor Lafortune and Lindsay Mayhew and Palpitations by Thomas Leduc Both published by Latitude 46 Publishing in 2025!
www.mtls.ca/issue28/mela...
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https://www.mtls.ca/issue28/melanie-marttila/
about 1 month ago
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Trying to stay afloat as the hits keep coming. Being gentle with myself as I get back into the writing groove. It’s a process. As is the ongoing uncertainty at work, an autistic fave, let me tell you … It’s the usual mixed bag.
open.substack.com/pub/melaniem...
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Alchemy Ink: February 2026
Thawing out and waking up
https://open.substack.com/pub/melaniemarttila/p/alchemy-ink-february-2026?r=h5jld&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
about 2 months ago
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If you haven't yet read Shani Mootoo's Starry Starry Night, please do! It's a powerhouse of immersive point of view and is by turns touching, horrifying, and lyrical. Thanks to The Seaboard Review of Books for publishing my review!
www.theseaboardreview.ca/p/starry-sta...
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Starry Starry Night by Shani Mootoo
An Immersive Coming-of-age Story Set in 1960s Trinidad
https://www.theseaboardreview.ca/p/starry-starry-night-by-shani-mootoo
about 2 months ago
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In just under a month, on March 21st from 1 to 3 pm, SuperCanucks will be having its Sudbury Launch at the main branch of the Greater Sudbury Public Library. If you’re in the area, come on out and support us!
melaniemarttila.substack.com/p/supercanuc...
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SuperCanucks Book Launch
I'll be reading from my story, "Old Crow," you can bet on that!
https://melaniemarttila.substack.com/p/supercanucks-book-launch
about 2 months ago
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Year's Best Canadian Fantasy and Science Fiction (in which my poem, Vasilisa, appears alongside a whole passel of excellence!) is on the Locus Magazine recommended reading list! All that to say, read the list, and vote if you can.
locusmag.com/2026/02/2025...
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2025 Recommended Reading List
Welcome to the Locus Recommended Reading List… We saw some fabulous books come out last year and are so pleased to let you know about them! Our recommendations are compiled annually by the Locus re…
https://locusmag.com/2026/02/2025-recommended-reading/
2 months ago
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It's been a year of a month, folks. Love and light to everyone, and strength to those who need it.
open.substack.com/pub/melaniem...
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Alchemy Ink: January 2026
A new year, zero resolutions, and striving for balance
https://open.substack.com/pub/melaniemarttila/p/alchemy-ink-january-2026?r=h5jld&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
3 months ago
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Here's a press release from Heidi Ulrichsen for
Sudbury.com
about Super Canucks coming out March 21, 2026 from Latitude 46 Publishing! My story, "Old Crow," is in there!
www.sudbury.com/local-news/s...
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Sudbury publisher’s new anthology imagines Canadian superheroes
Latitude 46 releasing ‘Super Canucks’ anthology in March with four of the 11 stories therein written by Nickel City authors
https://www.sudbury.com/local-news/sudbury-publishers-new-anthology-imagines-canadian-superheroes-11738577
3 months ago
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In this month's Alchemy Ink: I return to work, sprain a finger (!), review the month — and year — in writing, and offer my usual watching and reading recommendations. 2025 was ... a year. Here's to a more balanced 2026!
open.substack.com/pub/melaniem...
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Alchemy Ink: December 2025
Hi-ho, hi-ho …
https://open.substack.com/pub/melaniemarttila/p/alchemy-ink-december-2025?r=h5jld&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
3 months ago
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reposted by
Melanie Marttila (she/her)
Casey Lawrence
4 months ago
Stories by yours truly
@myexplodingpen.bsky.social
,
@premeemohamed.com
,
@pbarmby.bsky.social
,
@melaniemarttila.bsky.social
,
@harkback.bsky.social
,
@niallspain.bsky.social
, Jim Robb, Chris O’Halloran, & Dwain Campbell. SuperCanucks will be flying off the shelves in March 2026! Preorder now!
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This month's Alchemy Ink features a new format. You can read what you want and ignore the rest. Let me know what you think. Seriously. There's a poll at the end 🙂
open.substack.com/pub/melaniem...
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Alchemy Ink: November 2025
Rebooting …
https://open.substack.com/pub/melaniemarttila/p/alchemy-ink-november-2025?r=h5jld&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
4 months ago
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Ah! My heart! The fabulous Frances Boyle has reviewed The Art of Floating for ARC Poetry. It's a gift and a poem of its own. I expected nothing less from a sister word witch 💜💜💜
arcpoetry.ca/editorials/m...
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Changing with the tide: Melanie Marttila’s The Art of Floating
Nature is intertwined with family lore and love in Melanie Marttila's debut poetry book, and with myth, ancient magic and feminism to summon mystery.
https://arcpoetry.ca/editorials/melanie-marttila-the-art-of-floating/
4 months ago
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I am super excited to reveal the cover and table of contents for the forthcoming SuperCanucks: An anthology of Canadian small-town superheroes, edited by Andy Taylor and Matthew Del Papa, to be published March 21, 2026, by Latitude 46 Publishing!
open.substack.com/pub/melaniem...
5 months ago
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reposted by
Melanie Marttila (she/her)
Casey Lawrence
5 months ago
Super Canucks features stories by yours truly,
@premeemohamed.com
,
@melaniemarttila.bsky.social
,
@harkback.bsky.social
,
@niallspain.bsky.social
,
@pbarmby.bsky.social
, Jim Robb, Chris O’Halloran, & Dwain Campbell. Coming March 2026! Preorder now!
store.latitude46publishing.com/products/sup...
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SuperCanucks: An anthology of Canadian small-town superheroes
Short FictionPub Date : March 21, 20265.5 X 8.5 in | 100 pgsTrade Paperback : 9781997529057 e-pub: 9781997529064 PRE-ORDER NOW! SuperCanucks features eleven stories that explore the usual superhero...
https://store.latitude46publishing.com/products/supercanucks-an-anthology-of-small-town-canadian-superheroes
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My review of Mona Awad’s We Love You, Bunny was released into the wild by The Seaboard Review of Books today! It’s hilarious and horrific and weirdly touching by turns and will take you down so many rabbit holes (pun intended).
www.theseaboardreview.ca/p/we-love-yo...
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A Surreal Love Letter to Dark Academia: We Love You, Bunny by Mona Awad
Reviewed by Melanie Marttila
https://www.theseaboardreview.ca/p/we-love-you-bunny-mona-awad
5 months ago
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reposted by
Melanie Marttila (she/her)
The Seaboard Review of Books 🇨🇦 📚
5 months ago
“Like Water for Weary Souls is both a compulsive mystery and an immersive experience of Sudbury’s history," says reviewer
@melaniemarttila.bsky.social
.
www.theseaboardreview.ca/p/like-water...
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reposted by
Melanie Marttila (she/her)
StoryBundle
5 months ago
The Leading Ladies Fantasy Bundle: You know how it goes. There's one female character in the book, and she's a love interest. She's given little to do and less to wear. She has no good lines, and nothing to contribute save her helplessness. These are not those stories.
storybundle.com/fantasy
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October’s Alchemy Ink was delayed because October was hectic, though mostly awesome, and the time change always discombobulates me for a couple of weeks. Better late than never? Also, this post is even longer than my usual epic scrawl. You have been warned.
open.substack.com/pub/melaniem...
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Alchemy Ink: October 2025
My continuing adventures in caregiving. And buckle up, folks, this post is a loooong one!
https://open.substack.com/pub/melaniemarttila/p/alchemy-ink-october-2025
5 months ago
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My review of Liisa Kovala's Like Water for Weary Souls is out in today's The Seaboard Review of Books! If you enjoy historical fiction, mysteries, or women's fiction, you should really check it out. It's fabulous!
www.theseaboardreview.ca/p/like-water...
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Like Water for Weary Souls by Liisa Kovala
Reviewed by Melanie Marttila
https://www.theseaboardreview.ca/p/like-water-for-weary-souls-by-liisa-kovala
5 months ago
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On the last weekend of October, I went to Writing on the Rocks, a Wild Ground Writing retreat. Highly recommend any WGW retreat. I've been to 2 now, and they were both fabulous!
open.substack.com/pub/melaniem...
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Writing on the Rocks
A Wild Ground Writing Retreat
https://open.substack.com/pub/melaniemarttila/p/writing-on-the-rocks?r=h5jld&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
5 months ago
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The last 2 weeks of October were busy, and then the return to Standard time messed me up. So, this post-con report was delayed. But I had fun, did 2 panels, attended 2 launches, and got some awesome pub news!
open.substack.com/pub/melaniem...
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Can-Con, October 17 to 19, 2025
A post-con report
https://open.substack.com/pub/melaniemarttila/p/can-con-october-17-to-19-2025?r=h5jld&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
5 months ago
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reposted by
Melanie Marttila (she/her)
Stephen Kotowych 🇨🇦
5 months ago
Hey! Apparently it's
#IReadCanadian
day! If only there was somewhere readers looking for new
#Canadian
SFF authors to read could find a bunch of them all in one place... 🤔
a.co/d/azXj9pF
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Year’s Best Canadian Fantasy and Science Fiction: Volume Three eBook : Kotowych, Stephen: Amazon.ca: Kindle Store
Year’s Best Canadian Fantasy and Science Fiction: Volume Three eBook : Kotowych, Stephen: Amazon.ca: Kindle Store
https://a.co/d/azXj9pF
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reposted by
Melanie Marttila (she/her)
Andy W. Taylor
6 months ago
Super Canucks features stories by
@premeemohamed.com
,
@melaniemarttila.bsky.social
,
@harkback.bsky.social
@myexplodingpen.bsky.social
@niallspain.bsky.social
@pbarmby.bsky.social
, Jim Robb, Chris O’Halloran,and Dwain Campbell. Coming March 2026. 2/2
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Can-Con is 1 week away! I’ll be on two panels at this year's Can-Con! The first will be “The Art of Rest” at 8 pm on Friday, October 17, and the second is “The Taste of Sadness: Writing Emotional Dysregulation” at 2:30 pm on Sunday, October 19.
www.can-con.org/schedule
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Schedule — Can*Con
https://www.can-con.org/schedule
6 months ago
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Wordstock is in 2 weeks! Take a gander at this year's line up and while you're at it, subscribe to the Wordstock Substack to keep up to date on what's happening with Sudbury's literary festival. Don't forget to get your tickets! Streaming available!
wordstocksudbury.substack.com/p/are-you-jo...
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Are you joining us in 2 weeks? Browse Wordstock Sudbury's lineup for Oct 24 & 25
Tickets on sale now for Sudbury's annual festival for readers, writers, and lovers of words
https://wordstocksudbury.substack.com/p/are-you-joining-us-in-2-weeks-browse
6 months ago
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reposted by
Melanie Marttila (she/her)
Suyi
6 months ago
It's
@canconsffh.bsky.social
next weekend! I'm excited for: snazzy new venue; time with friends old & new; dope panels & events + fave Toronto bookstore
@bakkaphoenix.bsky.social
; the thrill of enthusiastic readers; copious beers; etc. Thankfully, I have a slim schedule this year. See below!
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Getting back out into the world while respecting my energy levels and maintaining healthy boundaries can be tricksy, but it can be done. Some writerly news to share causing much excite, and my usual takes on what I've been watching and reading.
open.substack.com/pub/melaniem...
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Alchemy Ink: September 2025
Getting back into creative life with an in-person event!
https://open.substack.com/pub/melaniemarttila/p/alchemy-ink-september-2025?r=h5jld&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
6 months ago
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My review of We Bury Nothing by Kate Blair is out in today's The Seaboard Review! It's a fabulous YA historical mystery that ties the past to the present with an engaging and topical plot. Reader, I loved it :)
www.theseaboardreview.ca/p/we-bury-no...
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We Bury Nothing by Kate Blair Ties Past to Present with Engaging Mystery
Reviewed by Melanie Marttila
https://www.theseaboardreview.ca/p/we-bury-nothing-by-kate-blair
7 months ago
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I’ll be on two panels at this year's Can-Con! The first will be “The Art of Rest” at 8 pm on Friday, October 17, and the second is “The Taste of Sadness: Writing Emotional Dysregulation” at 2:30 pm on Sunday, October 19.
www.can-con.org/schedule
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Schedule — Can*Con
https://www.can-con.org/schedule
7 months ago
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My review of Birch and Jay by Allister Thompson is in today's The Seaboard Review of Books. Allister already reached out on IG and said he liked it (he really liked it!). Such an honour to support a fellow northeastern Ontario and Latitude 46 author.
www.theseaboardreview.ca/p/birch-and-...
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Birch and Jay by Allister Thompson
The Knowledge Seekers: Book 1
https://www.theseaboardreview.ca/p/birch-and-jay-by-allister-thompson
7 months ago
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reposted by
Melanie Marttila (she/her)
Stephen Kotowych 🇨🇦
7 months ago
I need a timeline cleanse. How about a table of contents announcement! That’s right—despite the world being on fire, it’s time to reveal the TOC for Year’s Best Canadian F&SF Volume 3! It was VERY hard to narrow the list down but it's all killer, no filler. The book launches October 14. Enjoy! 1/2
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reposted by
Melanie Marttila (she/her)
The Seaboard Review of Books 🇨🇦 📚
7 months ago
“Thyme Travellers is fabulous...the timing of this anthology is perfect.” Review by
@melaniemarttila.bsky.social
. THYME TRAVELLERS is published by
@fernpub.bsky.social
.
#speculativefiction
#palestinianfiction
@soniasulaiman.bsky.social
theseaboardreview.substack.com/p/thyme-trav...
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My review of Thyme Travellers: An Anthology of Palestinian Speculative Fiction edited by Sonia Sulaiman is now out in The Seaboard Review! This was such a touching and timely anthology to read. You should all get a copy!
www.theseaboardreview.ca/p/thyme-trav...
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Thyme Travellers: An Anthology of Palestinian Speculative Fiction, edited by Sonia Sulaiman
Reviewed by Melanie Marttila
https://www.theseaboardreview.ca/p/thyme-travellers-an-anthology-palestinian-speculative-fiction
7 months ago
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Keeping a level head as I re-enter the world. Exciting writing-related stuff is happening! Writing and revision progress, and as always, lots of thoughts about stuff I watched and read. Join me for my review of this writer’s life in August.
open.substack.com/pub/melaniem...
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Alchemy Ink: August 2025
If I don’t accept your “gift,” it’s yours to keep.
https://open.substack.com/pub/melaniemarttila/p/alchemy-ink-august-2025?r=h5jld&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
7 months ago
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I'm furiously happy about this interview in On Creative Writing! Let the happy dancing commence!
www.oncreativewriting.com/post/neurodi...
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Neurodivergent author Melanie Marttila on the power of reclaiming your authentic voice
Neurodivergent SFF author Melanie Marttila says a 2021 autism diagnosis helped her reclaim her authentic voice and take creative risks. She was influenced by a supportive undergraduate community and ...
https://www.oncreativewriting.com/post/neurodivergent-author-melanie-marttila-on-the-power-of-reclaiming-your-authentic-voice
9 months ago
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Progress is being made! And I guess I'm a book reviewer now? But, as ever, the more things change, the more they stay the same. It's a process. And a journey. And a becoming. Will let you know how it all turns out.
open.substack.com/pub/melaniem...
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Alchemy Ink: July 2025
A gradual return to work and change of schedule seem to have made all the difference.
https://open.substack.com/pub/melaniemarttila/p/alchemy-ink-july-2025?r=h5jld&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
9 months ago
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reposted by
Melanie Marttila (she/her)
The Seaboard Review of Books 🇨🇦 📚
9 months ago
"....a thought-provoking, and timely novel"
@melaniemarttila.bsky.social
reviews THE MIDNIGHT PROJECT by Christy Climenhage.
#clifi
#climatechange
www.theseaboardreview.ca/p/the-midnig...
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Six weeks off work can make a lot of difference. And also very little difference at all. Except, of course, that I read a lot of books and watched a lot of movies. This post is a looong one, folks.
open.substack.com/pub/melaniem...
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Alchemy Ink: June 2025
My ongoing burnout journey and the desire for definitive change.
https://open.substack.com/pub/melaniemarttila/p/alchemy-ink-june-2025?r=h5jld&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
10 months ago
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It's been a rough month and I'm not out of the burnout woods yet. Finally put my own mask on first and took sick leave to recover from burnout. Availing myself or EAP and learning to pay attention to my feelings. It's a work in progress. And so am I.
open.substack.com/pub/melaniem...
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Alchemy Ink: May 2025
My little love got sick, and I realized I’m not out of the burnout woods yet.
https://open.substack.com/pub/melaniemarttila/p/alchemy-ink-may-2025
11 months ago
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New lessons in the life autistic, election stress, work stress, and counting spoons for the writing. It’s all part of the month in this writer’s life.
open.substack.com/pub/melaniem...
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Alchemy Ink: April 2025 update
My brain, she does not brain. Oh! And … May the fourth be with you. See what I mean? My priorities are all messed up.
https://open.substack.com/pub/melaniemarttila/p/alchemy-ink-april-2025-update?r=h5jld&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
12 months ago
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I am so excited to be on an episode of Suzy Vadori's Show Don't Tell Writing Podcast! We just recorded this yesterday and I'm amazed at how quickly Liz put together the final version.
www.buzzsprout.com/2333353/epis...
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42. Writing as a Neurodivergent Author with Melanie Marttila - Show, don't Tell Writing with Suzy Vadori
In this week's episode, Suzy chats with Author and Poet Melanie Marttila. They discuss Melanie's journey as a writer, through her adult diagnosis of Autism, and how that shifted how she thought about ...
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2333353/episodes/17013985
12 months ago
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Yes, the sh*t has officially hit the fan. Struggling? I know I am. Some Substack recommendations to keep Canadians abreast of events, an upcoming local poetry reading, and some lovely reading and watching recommendations to soothe the world-weary soul.
open.substack.com/pub/melaniem...
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Alchemy Ink: March 2025
The sh*t has officially hit the fan.
https://open.substack.com/pub/melaniemarttila/p/alchemy-ink-march-2025
about 1 year ago
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The Aurora Awards are accepting nominations until April 5th 2025. I humbly offer my eligible works for consideration. But you know, if you're Canadian and you love science fiction and fantasy, join the CSFFA and nominate your favourite authors.
open.substack.com/pub/melaniem...
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Auroras eligibility post
It’s that time of year again. Again? Yeah. Feels weird. But good-weird.
https://open.substack.com/pub/melaniemarttila/p/auroras-eligibility-post
about 1 year ago
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Sweet lord, but aren't we all tolerating ambiguity these days? Some thoughts, my month in writing, some interesting articles, what I'm doing to stay sane, and all the things I'm watching and reading. The latest issue of Alchemy Ink, free to read, always.
open.substack.com/pub/melaniem...
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Alchemy Ink: February 2025
Tolerating ambiguity. It’s harder than it looks.
https://open.substack.com/pub/melaniemarttila/p/alchemy-ink-february-2025
about 1 year ago
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reposted by
Melanie Marttila (she/her)
Queer Momentum
about 1 year ago
✨ ARE YOU READY TO ORGANIZE FOR QUEER RIGHTS? ✨ Anti-2SLGBTQIA+ hate is on the rise in Canada and around the world. We have a choice: to sit back and let others decide our fate, or to come together and decide for ourselves. We choose to organize. Today, we're launching
RainbowEquality.ca
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Writers and creators with privilege, want to use it to support the marginalized/oppressed creatives in your communities? Sign up for the Writing the Other "Are You My Ally?" Webinar! Deadline to register is March 2nd!
writingtheother.com/are-you-my-a...
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Are You My Ally? A Webinar for Writers and Creators - Writing the Other
Join authors Nisi Shawl and K. Tempest Bradford for a webinar that will empower would-be allies to support marginalized creatives.
https://writingtheother.com/are-you-my-ally-2025/
about 1 year ago
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January 2025 was a bit much. So is this month's Alchemy Ink. A wee ramble in addition to the usual life in general, the month in writing, of interest on the interwebz, filling the well, and what I'm watching and reading segments. It's big, but it's worth it 😊
open.substack.com/pub/melaniem...
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Alchemy Ink: January 2025
As the light returns . . .
https://open.substack.com/pub/melaniemarttila/p/alchemy-ink-january-2025
about 1 year ago
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