Two. Katherine Dunn's GEEK LOVE and Graham Swift's WATERLAND. I read them within months of each other. Between the two, I found my love of land, history, the beautiful grotesque, and the thought that every small voice connects to a bigger whole. They made me want to try.

*grumble* Really annoying moment to be named Erika.

Convincing you to read WE LIVED ON THE HORIZON by *also* sharing two paragraphs instead of one sentence. Because I'm a giver. Share yours.

Sarah's books are "must read" for me, always. It's a very very good time to pick this one up.

Was going through an old sketchbook for reasons. Here. Have a round rabbit doodle.

I suppose the question is always what is the purpose of a government that does not care for its people.

Watched Frankenstein because I deserve visually lush things.

Jeez. At this point *I'd* primary Schumer. (Note: I do not have the disposition for shaking hands or working with people I despise.)

There's a reason writers keep comparing running to writing: it's the joy of the difficult, the peace that comes from exertion, and the satisfaction of using your whole self. The goal is genuinely the work and the form.

Oh no. I might have to sketch something today. It's been too long and my brain is locked up in other areas. So, sketching, baking a layer cake, or doing an embroidery about it.

Learned yesterday that one of my coworkers knew both James Watson and Carl Sagan. She had glowing things to say about Sagan.

Objectively true.

Julia Fine/Margaux Eliot is an A+ human and writer. Grab HONEYMOON STAGE as a favor to yourself. tinyurl.com/3av2nrja

I'm going to run a VIDEO GAME TRIVIA NIGHT as one of the MUSEUM'S spring season events. So from now until May 6th, I'm open to hearing all of your fun obscure —but not TOO obscure — video game facts. 😤 (All museum posts contain random shouting.)

Twin Cities folks! Reminder that its one of the big book events of the year tomorrow and this conversation in particular looks like fire 🔥 . . . already armed with both of these books for some fresh author ink.

"What radicalized you" isn't strong enough for me. It's "what drove you to become Baba Yaga" and the answer is wide-eyed A.I. boosters.

One of my favorite books of the century so far, without exaggeration.

That point in thinking about a book when I want to set it on fire and switch to short fiction... until I remember I'm terrible at short fiction.

Attend if you can! Truly, the Worldbuilding Initiative is a very special and hopeful thing. That it's free to the public and livestreamed? Amazing.

Gonna keep the vibe going with another donation to a food bank. Find yours here: www.feedingamerica.org/find-your-lo...

Hm. Even my county went more blue than I thought it would. (Alas, not my town, but don't worry, we'll all be swallowed by the sea soon.)

Man, who knew a day with an election and a really long dental procedure could end up being a *good* day?

Attractive people aside, I can't explain exactly why this show is so compelling, and yet it is.

I voted, and I'm hoping the people I don't enjoy forget to.

"Do we feel better about ourselves and the fact that we are not billionaires, because we can sit here making fun of them?" @finejuli.bsky.social (Margaux Eliot)'s interview with @awolfson.bsky.social on her new book "Honeymoon Stage” (Little A) is out now. chireviewofbooks.com/2025/11/04/i...

I just realized that when that dude finally goes I'm gonna go on an absolute bender with the baking. Layer cakes for me, for friends, family, strangers, random people I pass on the sidewalk. Random bundts of kindness.

Good morning. If you're reading this, you've outlived someone who did heinous things. Good on you. It's possible. Keep at it.

Alan Cumming.

My supervisor/coworker asked if we'd all like to contribute to a zine she's putting together for the year. Museums, man. They attract the good folks.

And since I haven't seen it on the timeline yet, here it is, the classic statement on Daylight Saving. youtu.be/q5q77MQzU2Q?...

It's really irritating to me that someone who clearly held together by paperclips and bubble gum believes they're invincible & immortal. Meanwhile, I take really good care of my body, but do *one month* of intense travel plus working on my feet, and my back has decided I'm actively dying.

I got to wear my mom's very large amber brooch last night. +3 autumn points.

Wearing these under a gown. For reasons. I can't wear my most fun shoes because they aren't "Stand for 6 hours while working a room" shoes.

If you've ever been in a place that's hosted a Gatsby exhibit/party/gala, you'll know the 2nd view is, sadly, the widely held view.

Oh good. The AI slop book marketing scam thingy sends FOLLOW UP emails. Look. If anyone actually wants to get my books to readers, all you gotta do is talk so much about it that you become an annoyance and people read me just to get you to shut up. Or give copies to everyone you know. Your choice.

Halloween 2025 trick-or-treaters Round 7 (the TEENS have appeared): 8 teens with cat ears 1 teen in normal outfit. Note: These kids are all being way too polite/restrained and taking ONE piece each. Who is ruining our children?!

Halloween 2025 trick-or-treaters Round 6 (according to the spouse): Black Jersey #7 Blue Jersey #11 "A bunch of assorted NY sports mishmashes" K-Pop Demon Hunters Madeline "Something in a blue shirt with red circles on it" (to me, this one is the scariest of all)

Halloween 2025 trick-or-treaters Round 5 (wind os picking up, candy in peril): K-POP DEMON HUNTERS (3 of 'em)

Halloween 2025 trick-or-treaters Round 4 (it's fast and furious at the candy bucket now): Swamp thing & swat team member (sorry, we're on Long Island) Doctor in pink scrubs Minecraft winged creature, all black (Definitely expected more K-Pop Demon Hunters by now.)

Halloween 2025 trick-or-treaters Round 3 (per the spouse, who is dressed as Tylenol): Darth Vader Storm Trooper Mandalorian Aquaman Inspector gadget (w/ Gadget copter out) 2 smaller kids with coats covering their costumes

Halloween 2025 trick-or-treaters Round 2 (according to me): 6 tween girls wearing party hats, tutus, and a variety of animal ears... I do not know what this is, but I support it.

Halloween 2025 trick-or-treaters Round 1 (according to the spouse): "Purple hair w/long pony tail and some sort of orange shirt and a little girl with a coat over her shirt but pants that looked like a bronze space suit with white piping" (Told him this is K-Pop Demon Hunters.)

Here. Have some miniature tools for what ails you.

MUSEUM DAY! And Halloween, which means I'm running all around looking for my clip-on cat ears. I have to wear my museum shirt, so lowkey Aquaman isn't an option this year.

Two things: 1. Psyched for it to almost be November and still have We Lived on the Horizon hanging in alongside these absolute powerhouses. Endless appreciation to Adam Morgan and his taste. www.esquire.com/entertainmen...

A thing about launching a book in January is that by November it feels like it's been 14 years since you published, and this year in particular has been an extra bizarre folding of spacetime.

Change one letter, ruin a candy. Nards

Wrote some. Grumbly about it. Catastrophic (for the pencil) sharpener incident. Had to double back for supplies. Terrain rough, pass was blocked (house rabbit in the way). The writing and grumbling will continue until morale improves.

I donated to Food Bank of the Rockies this morning, and you can too, because fuck the GOP. www.foodbankrockies.org

While I cannot vouch for either the lecture or the lecturer being distinguished, I can vouch for the Worldbuilding Initiative being one of the most hopeful things I've come across in quite some time. youtu.be/iUKmJoSwsxM?...