Jess

The "Drawn by Tolkien on an unused page from a University of Leeds examination booklet" aspect of this REALLY speaks to me. Like, this man just needed to let a map POUR out of him and used whatever piece of paper was closest.

I am loving the trend in publishing right now where they spray the edges of the books in pretty colors. I see a book with sprayed edges and a little voice in my head goes "my precious..."

A turquoise card that says "The House in Winter (2014) by Jessica Sirkin" and "The Snow Image (1851) by Nathaniel Hawthorn" on the first line. Under it is a graphic of a stack of books. Centered on the bottom are the words "Join us for a discussion of these two short stories on Tuesday January 21st at 9 am at Kimberly Public Library.""

I recently discovered that a library in Wisconsin used a short story of mine that @apexmag.bsky.social published years ago for their short story book club. And they paired me up with Nathaniel Hawthorne. Probably the best compliment I've ever recieved. www.apexbookcompany.com/a/blog/apex-...

I don't really care if the future is short videos. I like words. Words have gotten me this far and I'm gonna stick with 'em for the duration

It's been more than six months since I first came across this short by @catvalente.bsky.social, but I also find myself thinking about it again since reading her latest.

Fragments of a Symbiotic Life - Lightspeed Magazine I was born normal enough, except that I was four days late, which isn’t so much, and slightly jaundiced, which isn’t unusual, and had a raccoon for an arm, which is admittedly strange. It wasn’t my wh...

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This flash is so packed with emotion. A metaphor for what we judge as worthy of saving and what we think should be let go. But every small thing counts and everything adds up. In the end we might end up much lonelier than we thought.

by Will McMahon in @lightspeedmagazine.com

Through the Machine - Lightspeed Magazine “Steve, over here! Turn to your right. Can we get a smile?” He falls back on his training easily enough, turns to the cameras, gives them his famous crooked smile, tilts his head just so as the flashe...

I just read "Through the Machine," a story about actors becoming commodities in the world of AI from @lightspeedmagazine.com. It made me think about writers. When people ask AI to write a story in the style of ____, the writer isn't going to get royalties. www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/thro...

Thank you for writing it. I think I needed to read it.

Descendant - F(r)iction Aliette de Bodard's short story Descendant explores one person's unique connection to the ocean, and it's undeniable pull in F(r)iction.

Descendent by @aliettedebodard.com is about as woman called to become a dragon -- about leaving the ones you love behind and what it means to be left behind. I lost my dad a few years ago and this story resonated beautifully. It meant a lot to me. frictionlit.org/descendant/

I know we don't feel like there's much to celebrate this July 4th. It's been a rough several years.

So I want to talk about how we're making history right now.

"seven ribbons" by @bethgoder.bsky.social from @apexmag.bsky.social is about sisterhood, rebellion and borders: their power, their arbitrariness, and how the way we think about borders shapes us. Beautiful story and very inportant right now. www.apexbookcompany.com/a/blog/apex-...

When He Calls Your Name - Uncanny Magazine There’s nights in the deep end of summer so hot and thick and wet you can feel the dark wrinkling up your fingers like bathwater—and my last night breathing was one of those. 2 a.m. came to ring my be...

Spec fiction is full of retellings of timeless classic tales. "When He Calls Your Name" by @catvalente.bsky.social from @uncannymagazine.bsky.social breaks the mold by choosing a much more modern source. It's beautiful, thoughtful, and very clever. www.uncannymagazine.com/article/when...

June 18, 2025 (Wednesday) Tomorrow is the federal holiday honoring Juneteenth, the celebration of the announcement in Texas on June 19th, 1865, that enslaved Americans were free.

June 18, 2025

A café I went to in college had Aztec cocoa, which was hot chocolate with cinnamon and chili pepper. I make it for myself sometimes. It might make a good ice cream.

I'd love some magic. I'm glad you're doing well enough to write this story and I hope it gets easier for you.

Thanks. I'm back to writing now.

I recently read "By Salt, By Sea, By Light of Stars" by @premeemohamed.com from @strangehorizons.bsky.social. The story uses magic and mentorship to talk about creative burnout. As someone whose burnout cost me, for a couple years, the creative spark that keeps me writing, this story means a lot.

Phoebe and I are watching Leverage: Redemption together. Look at this magnificent floof.

I need a to-do list that hunts me down with the ruthless tenacity of the Duolingo owl.

Thank you.

A felt white rabbit with croqueted (?) green textures like moss on the body plus tiny carrots and an eruption of greenery in the middle.

Mallory, a Luther College student (biology / anthropology) made this amazing nod to the white rabbits in the Southern Reach novels.

Red, Scuttle When the Ships Come Down - Uncanny Magazine Content note: Ableism and racism   The British plucked us from our prisons and sailed us here, this jungle island in the Nanyang with their treasure striated into the bedrock. More precious than gold,...

Really enjoyed "Red, Scuttle When the Ships Come Down" by @wenyilee.bsky.social over at @uncannymagazine.bsky.social. Really well written, well told story that unfolds perfectly.

www.uncannymagazine.com/article/red-...

As a kid, I thought being the person who came up with clever names for nail polish colors would be a cool job. Now, I really want to name this color "Conspiracy Theory," because it looks like each nail is wearing its own little tin foil hat. I think I may not be cut out for that job.