Jennifer Crispin || Dancing Star Press

And I mean, wouldn't I love to be able to pick up these brands locally, rather than paying the skyrocketing shipping costs? Obviously. But not at Target.

I thought I would miss Target when I started boycotting it, but I have not. I don't know what it would take to get me back there, but this ain't it. Every once in a while I get an email from a brand I follow saying "We are now on the shelves at Target!" and it just gives me the ick for the brand.

I am a little disappointed the app didn't pick up the pair of downy woodpeckers I saw hanging out in the yard during the recording period, but maybe they just weren't feeling chatty at the time?

Screengrab from Merlin Bird ID, of birds identified from their calls during a ten minute recording period. Nine bird species were heard, and the four listed in this image are: House Sparrow Northern Cardinal Black-capped Chickadee

Screengrab from Merlin Bird ID. The five birds identified in this image are: White-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Dark-eyed Junco American Goldfinch Canada Goose There is an icon near the Brown Creeper ID that indicates it would be an unusual find in this location.

Today's #TenMinuteMerlin is more like it!

I am a little skeptical of the Brown Creeper ID as I have NEVER seen one in my yard. But while it is unlikely in this location, it isn't absurd, so who knows? Maybe it (like the geese) flew over on its way to the river.

#Booksky Speaking of queer Southern gothics written by women, Dee Holloway @deeholloway.bsky.social’s novella, LITTLE NOTHING, is pretty great. Looking for sapphic historical fantasy with unforgettable characters and rich world building? 👇🏻https://queenofswordspress.com/product/little-nothing/

On a neon computer chip background. “TK Rex’s tales of climate refugees, sentient drones, and multispecies networks pull no punches about the hardships to come, yet leave me feeling hopeful and inspired all the same. Essential reading for the Anthropocene.” - Sarena Ulibarri, author of ANOTHER LIFE and STEEL TREE.

Big thanks to solarpunk trailblazer Sarena Ulibarri for her kind words. “TK Rex’s tales of climate refugees, sentient drones, and multispecies networks pull no punches about the hardships to come, yet leave me feeling hopeful and inspired all the same. Essential reading for the Anthropocene.”

Not to disparage any of these birds! (Except maybe the house sparrows.) I do love the chickadees and the goldfinch. They are just my usual visitors.

(Except maybe the song sparrows. I admit I need to get better at all the different sparrow species.)

Of course as soon as I brought my phone back inside, there are suddenly WAY more birds in my yard. They are still mostly house sparrows and goldfinch, though.

My first #TenMinuteMerlin haul is not very exciting, but I DO really like multitasking. I dropped my phone on my kitchen porch railing, then went inside and set a timer to do dishes and make tea.

A black and white photo of Tim Gunn, from Project Runway, where he was a mentor for the designers. He's also been an academic and teacher and creative director in the fashion industry for years. The caption is "Keep Calm and Make it Work"

Today:

Text reads: All about the 2026 Trans Rights Readathon! How to sign up, participate, dates, & more...

Header: 2026 Readathon Dates Text: Mark your calendars! This year the 4th annual Trans Rights Readathon will be Tuesday, March 17th through Tuesday, March 31st! This year is our longest year yet!

Header: What is the Trans Rights Readathon? Text: The Trans Rights Readathon is an annual decentralized call to action for readers and book lovers in support of Trans Day of Visibility (TDOV) on March 31st.

header: The #TRR isn’t just reading, it’s Action! Text: The Trans Rights Readathon encourages readers to seek out books by and about trans, nonbinary, 2Spirit, and gender noncomforming authors and characters, along with taking action on the mutual, local, and national level! Below are three boxes, saying uplift, amplify, and support (with a dollar sign for the S)

Welcome back to another year of the Trans Rights Readathon!

This year’s readathon will take place from March 17 to March 31. If you want to officially sign up, fill out the form on our 🕸️site to join the fun!

#TransRightsReadathon #trr26 #TransBooks

If you want to read voices of young artists in Iran, please support the comics anthology "Young in Iran" published with @comicsworkshop.bsky.social It's 264 pages, 6x9 inches, and was censored by Kickstarter. Take a look: www.sequentialartistsworkshop.org/saw-shop/p/y...

I spent HOURS on this. I haven't started on any of my recommendations list ideas, but I HAVE made lots of progress on my TBR spreadsheet (which books to order, which to check out from the library, which need to go though inter-library loan) and things are already SUPERFLUOUSLY EXORBITANT.

Right? This is what I was thinking! Is this person so cool they actually eschew pronouns, or are they just Writing Fancy and Proper rather than conveying actual information.

Author bios that refuse to use any pronouns and just use the author's last name are going to make me tear out my hair. I AM JUST TRYING TO DOUBLE-CHECK A PERSON'S PRONOUNS TO AVOID BEING SHITTY ON THE INTERNET.

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When I say I am going to make the Trans Rights Readathon most of my personality during the month of March, one of the MANY things I mean is that I've spent a ridiculous amount of time on StoryGraph today editing my tags so that I can start making lists and recommendation posts...

Rainbow text over a psychedelic background. A cartoon image of a white woman in a fitted top points to the Trans Rights Readathon logo, posed as if she is about to whisper a secret. Text reads: PSST! Are you an indie author hoping to share your book with readers during the Trans Rights Readathon?

Rainbow text over a psychedelic background. At the bottom of the image, are two graphics from artist PocketMilo. In one, a brown-skinned person with purple hair and a pink outfit, smiles while holding a potted houseplant. Opposite, a brown-skinned person with green hair and vitiligo gives a haircut to a light-skinned person with red hair and prominent top surgery scars. Text reads: Is Your Book a Good Fit? The Trans Rights Readathon encourages readers to seek out works by and/or about trans, nonbinary, 2Spirit, and gender non-conforming authors or main characters.

Rainbow text over a psychedelic background. A graphic by artist PocketMilo appears at the bottom of the slide, and depicts two people embracing. Their faces are partially obscured. They are surrounded by lush vines. A trans pride flag is visible on the back of the nearer figure’s coat. Text reads: If So, You Should Know… We heard you last year when you said that you wanted more resources for the event. Which is why...

Rainbow text over a psychedelic background. At the bottom of the page, a graphic by artist PocketMilo shows two light-skinned people lying side-by-side in bed with their legs intertwined. One has visible top surgery scars, is wearing plaid shorts, and has fallen asleep while holding a book. The other wears baggy pants, socks, and a crop top, and is reading a book. Text reads: We’re Planning Something Big! If you’re interested in learning more, send an email with the subject line “Indie Author” to transreadathon@gmail.com, and we’ll forward the details to help you plan ahead.

The Trans Rights Readathon is right around the corner. We've got some exciting new plans this year, and we're compiling some resources for indie authors. Many of them are still in the works and will be announced publicly throughout March. 🤍💗💙 #TRR26 #transrightsreadathon #indieauthors

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Commissions for both personal and commercial work open for 2026. Do reach out to me directly via email for commercial work, information on personal comms in link below. Can't wait to see what ideas you have :)

I want to go wander the library, but I also do not want to put on outdoor clothes: a Sunday afternoon struggle.

a green sparkly set of dice with black ink

a blue and orange sparkly set of dice with yellow ink

The Fight ICE with Dice Charity Auction is live and has 150 donated items including handmade (and gorgeous dice sets) to support Immigrants' Rights organizations! Check it out!

fighticewithdice.com/collections/...

Jayme Lawson from Sinners hit the nail on the head and said how I felt with the whole BAFTAs situation.

If you are very, very lucky, guardian carpenter bees will take up residence in a board on your kitchen porch, and will greet you on your way into the house nearly every day in the summer.

🎉💜💜🎉💜🎉💜🎉💜🎉💜🎉💜🎉

I am sure it doesn't feel this way to the organizers, but WHY IS MARCH FIFTH SO FAR AWAY?

"Planetary" by @zzclaybourne.bsky.social
The final story in the collection is a real gem!

On first contact, evolutionary time-scales, and communication across vast gulfs of difference. Had me thinking of both Bogi Takács & Joan Sloncewski. (Two authors I also love!)

"Grains of Sand" by @killianfantasy.blacksky.app
Moments of visceral emotional resonance.

On the need for touchstones of home.