GROUND CONTROL in a gif: Sarah has to decide if she'll follow her husband on a one-way trip to Mars... but what happens if love isn't enough to take her all the way? Order direct from sleyhouse.com for 25% off, or from your local bookshop at bookshop.org.

Serious question: do people NOT named Karen also get this ad with these hairstyles, or is this a targeted attack? Because I feel attacked.

Giving Tuesday is right around the corner! We're grateful for any amount (or even a share!). If you have a few dollars looking for a worthy cause, please consider dropping it in our Ko-Fi! ko-fi.com/strongwomens...

"It wasn’t just the possibilities that sounded bizarre and unreal, but the one-way journey; a ship made to take off from Earth and land on Mars wasn’t made to take off from Mars and land on Earth." From Ground Control, by K.A. Hough (2022). www.sleyhouse.com/product-page...

Why should you attend our FREE twice-a-month online readings (starting again in January)? See what our fans say! t.co/WkFKHonXum

There is no movie that cannot be enormously improved by replacing 95% of the actors with Muppets, and this is a hill I will die on.

Me at 5:30 am today: I'm going to get up and write! Me at 12 pm, having cut my own hair, done my nails, given the dog a bath, driven a kid to practice, and cleaned out two small appliances: I should probably sit down and write.

"Near-future women's fiction set on a spaceship to Mars." What genre is YOUR book? www.sleyhouse.com/product-page...

Oh, hi! I'm Karen (I'm sorry), a Canadian writer/editor/personal trainer/mom living at the mo in the US. The important thing to remember is that I think I'm funny. My book: a.co/d/1ZcPGaW My bathroom selfie:

Now THAT's a review! "...The blend of personal struggle, ethical dilemmas, and survival stakes makes this perfect for book clubs seeking discussion-rich titles that balance science and soul." GROUND CONTROL's book club discussion guide is here! karenhoughwrites.com/for-book-clubs

In our house, you are not allowed to lick any bowl or plate... unless it is/was holding ice cream. And then it's mandatory. 🍨 What are your favourite #HouseRules?

Fuchsia is either spelled wrong or it's pronounced wrong.

I need to live more like my dog: 1. Wake up 2. Do big stretchies 3. Walkies! 4. Drink lots of water, have a snack 5. Nap Repeat.

Oh no. It's too late! 💨

I love this recent review of GROUND CONTROL (2022, Sley House): 🔭"Sarah’s struggle between following her husband into the unknown or finally choosing herself makes for a powerful, thought-provoking read that blends personal stakes with cosmic scale." www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1737...

Me: Whatever doesn't kill me makes me stronger. My brain: Or kills you.

Can we all agree that, while the rise of Uncrustables is another spot-on metaphor for the collapse of civilisation, it's *slightly* too on-the-nose?

You heard me. I have CANDY in my heels tonight. I will not be taking questions at this time.

Read any good books lately? www.sleyhouse.com/product-page... @sleyhouseeditor.bsky.social

Coming THIS WEEK! Grab your lunch and spend an hour with 6 fantastic women & nonbinary authors! Giveaways! Chat with readers & writers! Make new friends! share.google/ioprLU8hUUY4...

Dialogue snippet from Ground Control (Sley House, 2022): Trailing spouse Sarah talks to her parents about not wanting to leave for Mars with her husband. sleyhouse.com/product-page...

TWIST! Sarah has serious doubts about leaving everything else behind forever, but follows her husband on a one-way, 9-month shuttle to Mars. ...What could possibly go wrong? Check out GROUND CONTROL, published by @sleyhouseeditor.bsky.social. www.sleyhouse.com/product-page...

TONIGHT!!

Semi-annual reminder that my first novel is available everywhere you buy your books. GROUND CONTROL has something for everyone: soil pathogens, strong female friendships, & a trailing spouse on a one-way trip to Mars. (And it needs more reviews!) www.sleyhouse.com/product-page...

3 days! On Thursday at 7pm EDT I’m excited to read my story “N-Body Code” from the 2024 @parseconfluenceink.bsky.social Triangulation Anthology “Hospitium”. Join us on Zoom with @swsworlds.bsky.social - free! Register here: www.eventbrite.com/e/first-frid... #womenauthors #speculativefiction

Break time's almost over! But you can register NOW for our next Quick Reads! But be sure to keep your eyes open for some fun extras while you wait for our next live QuickReads! We'll be back to our regular schedule on... www.eventbrite.com/o/strong-wom...

My husband: Would you like to go for a romantic dinner with me tomorrow night? Me, googling the restaurant: Oo! The patio is dog friendly! Can I bring the dog?

Super cool! Unbeknownst to me, GROUND CONTROL is on the shelf at TWO DC libraries! Go give it a read! (And thanks, @dcpl! 🥰)

🫠

That awkward time between submitting something to your publisher and getting the edits back... should I dive into a new project? Start revising an old one? Finish that flash fiction? ... just feel guilty that I'm not doing any of the above?

I just resubmitted my revised manuscript to @sleyhouseeditor.bsky.social. (inside squeeee)

Hands up if you love a good semicolon (and know how to use it). 🙋‍♀️ P.S. RESIST! theconversation.com/semicolons-a...

Oh hi!👋 canvasrebel.com/meet-karen-h...

Almost everything needs to be kept in a cool, dry place. Is there ANYTHING that you store in a warm, moist (sorry) place?

I want to add the phrase, "that I am not paid to clean," every time I mention my house.

Did I burn an entire batch of candied bacon? Yes. Am I sad about it? Also yes. Am I going to eat it anyway? You betcha.

Readers, despite the stunning cover reveal and great team at @sleyhouseeditor.bsky.social, PAPER MOONS needs a little more time to incubate. I'll share the publication date when I know it. In the meantime, thanks for your patience and support!

Haaaaaaave you subscribed to my newsletter yet? It's a lot like me: short, witty, and somewhat random. Here's the most recent one: preview.mailerlite.io/preview/6282...

I try not to keep too close tabs on my Amazon author page, but woot woot! Many someones are buying my book! (Now if more of you could please leave reviews...) a.co/d/6QEC1iw

Woke up with a pillow crease so epic, it's Blofeldian.

If we all agree that "following the roomba around and giving it little foot taps to redirect it" counts as cleaning, then yes, I cleaned my house today.

I've never been one of those "you have to earn my respect" people, but I'm amazed by how often people bend over backwards to earn my disrespect.

Dear @merriam-webster.com: I love you.

Um. Ok.

While I'm sure Future Me will be happy that Past Me increased the weights on all my leg exercises yesterday, Present Me thinks she's a total jerk.

Introduce yourself as a TV character:

Ok, so let's say my concussion accounts for my current state of blanked-out memory, lack of focus, and blurry vision... That only covers the last two weeks...

Excitement is building! PAPER MOONS makes its debut on March 11, 2025: it's spec fic, for dog people. Preorder now from SleyHouse.com. @sleyhouseeditor.bsky.social

We know, it feels like this sometimes. If you are a woman or nonbinary speculative fiction author with a new book that's just been released it is coming out soon, promote it on this thread! ⬇️

Best interview ever! I was well-groomed, well-dressed, and had interesting questions and anecdotes prepared that showcase my professional qualifications, experience, and knowledge. ...sure wish the person that was supposed to interview me had been there too. Their loss.