A little meditative exercise on my Substack column today. If you need a few minutes to breathe, please check it out. bit.ly/4iKkyZ0

Some mornings, your cat is waiting to greet you the moment you get up, and he climbs in your lap and purrs and tells you you’re the best mom ever. Other mornings, your reception looks like this. (Upside-down printing on box included in overall mood.)

A little piano music on my Substack column this morning: Sinfonia No. 13 in A Minor, by J. S. Bach. Please have a listen (and make a musical request if you'd like!). bit.ly/4ku0c81

Absolutely did not expect to make it to the finals in the @nycmidnight.bsky.social 250-word microfiction challenge. Can’t wait for the new prompt this weekend. Congratulations to my fellow finalists!

A little meditation today on my Substack column, to help create mental space in the chaos. If you'd like, please have a look. open.substack.com/pub/krisfaat...

Daily hug from Fergus Cat.

Chop Wood, Carry Water 3/4 Chop Wood, Carry Water is one of my favorite columns. Excellent notes here on how to respond to the attack on the Social Security Admin. open.substack.com/pub/chopwood...

Daily hug from Fergus Cat. Sound on. 😸

A little Monday meditation today on my Substack column, imagining the life of trees. Please check it out! bit.ly/41mgUxu

We want to send a message to the world: what has happened today is an absolute disgrace. It is completely un-American.

Pass it on. #StandWithUkraine

Chop Wood, Carry Water 2/28 I love this column and the action items in it every day. (My reps are probably sick of hearing from me.) Please check it out. open.substack.com/pub/chopwood...

Morning, Bluesky! Man, the FB ban today is harder for me than the spending ban... ;) It's so good to be made aware of how heavily I lean on that particular outlet. Just wanted to share a little meditation, if you could use it going into the weekend: open.substack.com/pub/krisfaat...

A little music for your Friday, on my Substack column today. Take a three-minute breather. bit.ly/3WRbXeM

Feline hug from Fergus and Templeton.

My "A Place to Stand" Substack column for today features the second movement of Beethoven's Pathetique sonata. If you'd like a little musical meditation/breath of peace, please check it out: krisfaatz.substack.com/p/musical-me...

Today's Substack column on staying grounded in these times, with a meditative exercise: krisfaatz.substack.com/p/anchoring-...

Hey, so I'm attempting a Substack column on attempting to stay grounded in these times. "A Place to Stand" draws on my experience as a survivor of an abusive narcissist & talks about why it matters to hang onto personal identity. If you'd like, please give it a look. bit.ly/3WF71cz

You may need a moment of sanity. Fergus provides a purr.

My co-editor says it’s about time I was writing again…

In case a cat picture would improve your day: this is Fergus, napping, with other cat Templeton’s tail covering his head. Apparently this enhances the sleeping experience. 🤔

Hear, hear.

This is Fergus, my co-editor, writing class TA, and self-assigned therapy cat. He knows we need hugs in these times, and sends them to all.

Your daily hug from Fergus Cat.

If I had a hammer…

This is Fergus, my ever-helpful co-editor and writing class TA. He sends a hug to all.

New Year’s resolutions…

Something to keep in mind for 2025 Written by James Miller of A Small Fiction

I don’t know about y’all, but I personally am rooting for Snowmageddon 2025, to take place in the metropolitan DC and greater Baltimore areas, Sunday 1/19 into Tuesday 1/21. It won’t stop anything, of course, but there’s the “crowd size” factor. Plus, I’m in B’more and I like snow.

Fergus’s human mom still cannot understand how this is comfortable. She is such a Philistine. 😸

So, I was hoping to spend time during the quiet week before New Year’s thinking about plans and goals, things like Book Launch and New Classes (I teach creative writing). Thus far, though, Existential Dread and Excessive Chocolate Consumption seem to be winning. 🙄 Anyone else in that boat?

I’ve only seen Eastern Gray and North American Red. Need to step up my squirrel game. 😉

Templeton says Boxing Day should last all week (at least).

My over-Christmas read, finished in a race to the end, so I'll be re-reading the last few chapters. But: hats off. Nobody does brilliantly bizarre, hilarious, and profoundly moving all at once like @theauthorguy.bsky.social .

New book announcement! I'm thrilled to share that my historical fantasy novel LINE MAGIC, which was shortlisted for the Santa Fe Writers Project's 2023 awards, is forthcoming in June 2025 from Highlander Press. Find out more at krisfaatz.com and please stay tuned for updates!

This cat and this box: the perfect pair of expressions. 😉

This happened. 🙂 Winners to be announced in January. Congratulations and best of luck to all the finalists!

I'm delighted to share this podcast interview with Deborah Kevin at Highlander Press! Debby and I had a fantastic time talking about writing inspiration and the unexpected moments that can spark creativity. Please have a listen! apple.co/4gJZAsz #CreativeWriting #WriterInspiration #StorytellHer

A Caturday photo. Fergus says, what’s up?

Fergus cannot fathom why I think we have a bit of a situation with all these boxes. To him, the room looks perfect.

Cat logic: Greenies come out of small bags. Therefore, everything that comes out of a small bag is a treat. Thus: Fergus: Gimme that. Mom: You don’t want it. It’s a craisin. F: Gimme THAT. M: Cats don’t eat mango. F: Gimme THAT!! M: It’s a CARROT! F: Mean Mom. Won’t share. 😾 #lifewithcats #catmom

My newest short story, "Ranger" is up today at Bewildering Stories. It was a delightful puzzle to write. If you're in the mood for some WWII-era historical fantasy (featuring a very small dragon), please take a look! www.bewilderingstories.com/issue1070/ra...

Mom is doing her job. Fergus approves.

Most welcome dose of sanity this morning: a wonderful discussion of @deeshaphilyaw.bsky.social 's "Snowfall" with my American Lit class this morning. And two folks said they now feel inspired to try writing. My work here is done. :)

It is amazing how long it can take to overhaul a 250-word story. #writinglife

I have a new post up at my Substack, A Place to Stand, about staying grounded in turbulent times. Please take a look (and maybe subscribe for free!). open.substack.com/pub/krisfaat...

So this is happening… Local Baltimore friends, I’ll be reading from and talking about my new novel Fourteen Stones on Friday 12/6, at Snug Books, 6:30 pm. I’d love to see you there!

Might have thought about standing up, heading to bed, etc…

This is Fergus. He has various soft and roomy sleeping options, but apparently, the Chobani box provides the optimum experience. (That is his tail sticking out at the end, btw.) #cats #lifewithcats #catmom

Just wanted to share that I’m starting a Substack, “A Place to Stand,” drawing on my experience as a trauma survivor and reflecting on how words and storytelling can help us stay grounded in chaotic times. You can find it & subscribe here: bit.ly/4hWhTMc