Catherine Tavares

Duotrope's Interview with Trollbreath Magazine Read Duotrope's editor interview with Trollbreath Magazine to learn what they're looking for and gain more insight into this publication.

Just for funnsies, here's an interview with one of the co-editors of Trollbreath Magazine, posted by @duotrope.com today.

Said editor being me (Jennifer helped me write the answers once she got up)

duotrope.com/interview/ed...

a man is standing in front of a bookshelf in a library looking at a woman . ALT: a man is standing in front of a bookshelf in a library looking at a woman .

Wait, it's November?!

Congrats everyone! 🎉

Heck yeah! Congrats!!!

So this happened. Today has been such a rollercoaster. Hug all your friends tight and celebrate every little joy when you can <3

Me, after eating way too much cake at lunch: Oof, not doing that again.

Me, at dinner: Oh, look! Cake!

Screenshot from P.A. Cornell's newsletter that reads: If you'd like to check out some microfiction though, it's recently been getting more love with pro magazines like Apex and Augur running microfiction contests and even a Best Microfiction anthology series. Publishers like Shacklebound Books have also put out their share of tiny stories. And author Catherine Tavares has made it a personal goal to write more microfiction this year, some of which you'll find here. The last sentence is highlighted in purple.

Got a lovely little shout-out from @cornellwriter.bsky.social in her newsletter for my microfiction work. Thank you P.A.!

Read the entire newsletter post (which is full of cool things) as well as subscribe (all of P.A.'s posts are full of cool things) here:
pacornell.substack.com/p/robots-dog...

Mango Lassi Cake - Dish by Rish Learn how to make this amazing mango lassi cake. Layers of mango and cardamom sponge, mango curd, finished with a saffron buttercream.

Modified from this recipe that SOMEONE here or on Codex shared. Who was it? You have my heartfelt thanks. My weekend is filled with yummy cake thanks to you!

Bird's eye view of a mango cake. The cake is round and has white frosting. In the center of the cake there is a pumpkin made from mango curd frosting and tiny dots of mango curd around the edges of the cake.

Mango cake! 🥭 Absolutely delicious! Mango cardamom sponge, mango curd, and then a frosting that was supposed to be plain but there was An Incident with the curd oozing everywhere and the frosting became mango as well. Still good!

Happy Halloween! 🎃

Due to the high number of AI submissions and general life things, we are still processing short story submissions from the last open submission period. If you haven't heard anything from us yet, this is why. We hope to have everything processed over the next 2 weeks. Thanks for your patience!

Ghosts of Summer September, 100° F The apartment is dark when I return, the blackout curtains doing their job of keeping the late afternoon sun...

Happy Halloween! In the mood for some ghostie vibes? Feeling a little nostalgic for summer? Wondering why it is still 80 degrees and sunny in the middle of fall? Well, have I got a story for you! "Ghosts of Summer" is free to read with @apexmag.bsky.social. Come check it out today!

I will never understand why anyone would 1) want to eradicate space for kids/teens to find books, 2) not appreciate and find entertaining the beauty of YA stories made for YA audiences, and 3) not just go read a fricken adult book if they want an adult story/character!

Just rifled through my own older copies to see, and yes, there are multiple references to these kids being kids. I barely had to search; it was on every page. To edit all that out...urgh, this erasing of YA is really making me mad.

Take my money!!! 🤩

Catherine Tavares' Newsletter Updates, news, and insights from speculative fiction author Catherine Tavares

I know I do the "you should subscribe to my newsletter" posts every once in a while, but this time you're really going to want to subscribe to my newsletter.

The November post has So. Much News. All the news. Chock full of news. So, yeah...you should subscribe to my newsletter:

Thank you! The story is about a woman taking back the power to choose whether or not she has children and what motherhood and legacy mean to her. It was largely inspired by my experiences wrestling with that question as well as societal expectations placed on women and girls.

They Will Dance Among Planets There is an Old Earth myth that says stars are the souls of unborn children.

ICYMI, you can read "They Will Dance Among Planets" for free right now on the Flash Point SF website:

Front Cover of Flash Point Science Fiction Volume Four. A party of a dwarf, ranger, elf, and fairy stand together in a rocky region looking at a map. Behind them, the sky is filled with multiple planets.

Back cover of Flash Point Science Fiction Volume Four. There is a feather quill above the list of author names and a beaker full of ink below the list.

Front page for They Will Dance Among Planets. The image is of a hand holding a glowing blue cylinder in front of a port window that looks out onto space.

First page of They Will Dance Among Planets: There is an Old Earth myth that says stars are the souls of unborn children. As Lindi sits in front of the medical station’s viewing window, she wonders about those stars and the souls of those children. She can’t remember if someone told her the myth, if she had read it or heard it in passing, but it is there in her consciousness now, its sudden relevance begging for attention. Are the unborn children miscarriages, Lindi wonders. Stillborns? Those who died in childhood? Are stars what becomes of all souls when their mortal lives end? Lindi’s musings are interrupted by the opening whoosh of the door and the return of the attendant. She is older than Lindi, but not by much, and she smiles in a way that makes Lindi believe she is genuinely happy to assist in today’s events. It makes sense, Lindi thinks, as the attendant reaches her. They are both of the sterilized generation. If anyone could understand what Lindi is about to do, it is this woman.

Look what came in the mail! 🤩😍 I love the @flashpointsf.bsky.social hardcovers so much. They look so good on my shelf and the stories are amazing! Honored to have my little sci-fi piece "They Will Dance Among Planets" in such a gorgeous collection.

Aw, thank you for the shout out! 💛

Two Fic Tuesday Welcome! So, we've made it to the end of October. I know this month has been weird for my posting schedule, but I seem to be back on track, which is great. I've really loved being able to share two s...

It sure is Tuesday and I'm actually remembering to post a link this week!

For Halloween week we have @cjtavares.bsky.social and H. Pueyo stories! Yay!

howsweetthewords.com/two-fic-tues...

Thank you!

Thank you!

Thanks Nico! 💛

It me! I'm the zombies! So stoked to have a story coming soon with Heartlines. This is such a great magazine and that TOC is filled with authors I admire. I am honored to be included and can't wait to share it with you.

Amen!

Yay!!! 🎉🎉🎉

I am basking in that warm fully funded glow (and low-key hoping it cures my cold).

Thanks everyone who donated and boosted!

Screenshot of the Apex 2026 Kickstarter meter that shows they have $19,039 toward their $20,000 goal with 379 backers and 4 days left to give.

Friends, I am currently under the weather, very behind on work, fighting SAD--my heart, it cannot take this. Please, give and get @apexmag.bsky.social to their goal so I can save my dwindling supply of tissues for my nose and not my tears.
www.kickstarter.com/projects/ape...

Apex is only $1000 off hitting their initial goal! Let's keep this pillar of the SFFH community running for another year (preferably with some stretch goals thrown in!)

Apex Magazine 2026 An award-winning digital literary magazine of science fiction, dark fantasy, and horror.

Okay, listen: @apexmag.bsky.social is SO CLOSE to their funding goal, but there are only 5 DAYS left. And I know we're all barely able to put food on the table, but whatever you have to give, please consider giving to Apex TODAY so there can be just one more light shining in the darkness in 2026.

I'm so excited for this! I will be there on the Wellness panel on Saturday to talk all things writing while caring for your health and y'all should join me!
@sfwa.org