Steve Retka

What else was he supposed to do?? Such a BS call

My go-to account for keeping up on Minneapolis news 👇 Dex with a great breakdown of the mayoral race here.

Book cover with the shadow of a wine goblet and red flecks that could either be wine or blood. The title is The Poisoner’s Recruit. At the top it says “the debut novel in The Poisoners series by Steve Retka.”

A rear book cover with a marble pattern that says “The Path to Power in Rome is Paved with Poison Pelta Glaucia chose death over servitude when she poisoned her overbearing master, only to be spared from the gallows and apprenticed to Rome's most infamous poisoner, Locusta-the woman who just put Emperor Nero on the throne. Being a poisoner's apprentice kept her from a grisly execution, but now, unknown forces are conspiring to sabotage her one chance at freedom. However, that freedom comes at a cost. The life of a poisoner would mean the wealth and prestige Pelta's never had. It would also mean taking the lives of strangers. Killing her master was one thing, but is she ready to make a career out of it? Immerse yourself in the untold side of Ancient Rome life in this story inspired by the real historical account of Locusta of Gaul. THE POISONER'S RECRUIT is the first book in The Poisoners series by Steve Retka. STEVE RETKA is an independent author with a wide range of interests and a fascination with the power of storytelling. He currently lives in Minneapolis with his wife and two kids, finding small moments among the chaos to write.

Hey y’all, fun life update. I’ve been hard at work on finishing my book The Poisoner’s Recruit. I finalized my cover design and the manuscript will be off to my editor soon. Hoping to release early next year!

If you’re interested in following along, I have an Instagram dedicated to writing that will have all the new details as they come.

www.instagram.com/bysteveretka...

Book cover with the shadow of a wine goblet and red flecks that could either be wine or blood. The title is The Poisoner’s Recruit. At the top it says “the debut novel in The Poisoners series by Steve Retka.”

A rear book cover with a marble pattern that says “The Path to Power in Rome is Paved with Poison Pelta Glaucia chose death over servitude when she poisoned her overbearing master, only to be spared from the gallows and apprenticed to Rome's most infamous poisoner, Locusta-the woman who just put Emperor Nero on the throne. Being a poisoner's apprentice kept her from a grisly execution, but now, unknown forces are conspiring to sabotage her one chance at freedom. However, that freedom comes at a cost. The life of a poisoner would mean the wealth and prestige Pelta's never had. It would also mean taking the lives of strangers. Killing her master was one thing, but is she ready to make a career out of it? Immerse yourself in the untold side of Ancient Rome life in this story inspired by the real historical account of Locusta of Gaul. THE POISONER'S RECRUIT is the first book in The Poisoners series by Steve Retka. STEVE RETKA is an independent author with a wide range of interests and a fascination with the power of storytelling. He currently lives in Minneapolis with his wife and two kids, finding small moments among the chaos to write.

Hey y’all, fun life update. I’ve been hard at work on finishing my book The Poisoner’s Recruit. I finalized my cover design and the manuscript will be off to my editor soon. Hoping to release early next year!

Obviously not as important as the issues or who he is, but can we take a minute to appreciate that campaign sign?? 👀

I have two kids under 4 and the Vikings are still the most stressful part of my life 😩

He literally said he was good with gun deaths over gun control. You reap what you sow.

A Democrat lawmaker, her husband and her dog were shot to death like a month ago by a right wing extremist and none of these people clutching pearls gave a fuck.

I'm not living in fear of racist white men who would shit themselves if they were alone in a room full of Black people.

I’m still upset about Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance 😫

4 year old Ivy in her orange dress that says “pumpkin spice and everything nice” and wearing a backpack

Ivy was back for her first day at preschool today. Can’t believe we’re a year away from kindergarten already. 😭

Indiana Jones looking at a snake.

“Packers…why’d it have to be Packers?”

Okay but HOW is McDonald’s sprite so good??

I had the same question 👀

Our 15-year old corgi named Zoey who we had since 2014.

This morning we had to say goodbye to our sweet Zoey girl. For 11 years you’ve provided more love and laughs than I ever could’ve imagined.

It’s wrecked me seeing you go, but you went so peacefully and were spoiled right up until the end. Rest easy, little girl. I’ll always love you. ❤️🌈

The covers for the first 11 books of the Redwall series by Brian Jacques 1. Redwall 2. Mossflower 3. Mattimeo 4. Mariel of Redwall 5. Salamandastron 6. Martin the Warrior 7. The Bellmaker 8. Outcast of Redwall 9. Pearls of Lutra 10. The Long Patrol 11. Marlfox

A wooden tracking board with green meeples that says 10x10 Challenge. 1. Aeon's End Legacy (5 plays) 2. Avatar the Last Airbender: Aang's Destiny (5 plays) 3. Oh My Goods (5 plays) 4. Sagrada Artisans (5 plays) 5. Tidal Blades 2: Heroes of the Reef (5 plays) 6. Cafe (5 plays) 7. Heaven & Ale (5 plays) 8. Istanbul: Choose & Write (5 plays) 9. Metro X (6 plays) 10. Star Wars Outer Rim (5 plays)

My 2 hobby goals for the year were to read the entire Redwall series and to complete our annual #10x10Challenge for board games. Halfway through the year and I'm right on track!

Duolingo image signifying I’ve hit a 1,000 day learning streak

Feels good, not gonna lie

Being neurodivergent during a heat wave is even worse because setting the thermostat to 72 is too cold, 74 is too warm, and 73 is just a horrible number I refuse to set it to 😩

And just like that, Ivy is off to her last day of the first year of preschool! 🫶

My 2.5 year old son sitting under a blanket with Bluey and Bingo plushies and an unnecessarily large Elmo.

squad goals

And the smell? Toxic.

The player board for Lignum mid-game, showing the saw mill with green food cubes, a light brown lumber marker, and light brown wood marker.

Main game board for Lignum with 6 clearings in the center and a rondel of action spaces around the edge of the board.

Got Lignum to the table today after several years and it’s such a good crunchy heavy euro. If you like the constraints of Agricola, i recommend this one for sure. #boardgames

A small brown mushroom growing out of a retaining wall that may or may not be a morel

Okay mushroom nerds, is this a morel growing out of the stones of a retaining wall??

The full play area at the end of the game of Final Girl for Billy the Bear at Buddyland.

The main feature of Billy is that he has Buddy minions that spawn. I started with one and after a couple kills and some bad luck with the random Bloodlust events (which I love btw) I had 3 to deal with.

Rena is my new favorite Final Girl card. This ability is sick and comes in handy so much.

Got the new Billy the Bear at Buddyland set for Final Girl to the table. Barely squeaked out a win and it might be one of my faves (with my new favorite Final Girl card). Love the arcade setting and it’s not an overly complicated set.

The full play area at the end of the game of Final Girl for Billy the Bear at Buddyland.

The main feature of Billy is that he has Buddy minions that spawn. I started with one and after a couple kills and some bad luck with the random Bloodlust events (which I love btw) I had 3 to deal with.

Rena is my new favorite Final Girl card. This ability is sick and comes in handy so much.

Got the new Billy the Bear at Buddyland set for Final Girl to the table. Barely squeaked out a win and it might be one of my faves (with my new favorite Final Girl card). Love the arcade setting and it’s not an overly complicated set.

Ivy (soon to be 4yrs old) sitting on a walk on our walk home from preschool.

JJ (2.5 yrs old) posing with some Cheetos

Idk who told them they could grow up so fast but I’m not ready for it

The ants just needed more prep time

Overhead shot of Endangered with the insert. Left bottom: All game tiles Left middle: Player dice Left top: Orange and black game dice, calendar marker Middle top: Animal tokens in two trays Middle bottom: Animal placards, animal boards, player boards, money, influence cubes, player mini cards and tokens Right bottom/middle: Animal cards Right top: Player cards, reference cards, U.N. cards, campaign cards

Overhead shot of Endangered with the animal tray removed to show bottom layer. Left bottom: All game tiles Left middle: Player dice Left top: Orange and black game dice, calendar marker Middle top: Animal tokens in two trays Middle bottom: Animal placards, animal boards, player boards, money, influence cubes, player mini cards and tokens Right bottom/middle: Animal cards Right top: Player cards, reference cards, U.N. cards, campaign cards

With the game board placed on top, there is still enough room for the lid to be flush.

No lid lift at all with all of the content in the box including game board and manual.

My biggest #boardgame crafting project is complete. Made an insert for Endangered with poster board that holds all the content through the recent Red Wolves expansion all in one box!

Overhead shot of Endangered with the insert. Left bottom: All game tiles Left middle: Player dice Left top: Orange and black game dice, calendar marker Middle top: Animal tokens in two trays Middle bottom: Animal placards, animal boards, player boards, money, influence cubes, player mini cards and tokens Right bottom/middle: Animal cards Right top: Player cards, reference cards, U.N. cards, campaign cards

Overhead shot of Endangered with the animal tray removed to show bottom layer. Left bottom: All game tiles Left middle: Player dice Left top: Orange and black game dice, calendar marker Middle top: Animal tokens in two trays Middle bottom: Animal placards, animal boards, player boards, money, influence cubes, player mini cards and tokens Right bottom/middle: Animal cards Right top: Player cards, reference cards, U.N. cards, campaign cards

With the game board placed on top, there is still enough room for the lid to be flush.

No lid lift at all with all of the content in the box including game board and manual.

My biggest #boardgame crafting project is complete. Made an insert for Endangered with poster board that holds all the content through the recent Red Wolves expansion all in one box!