Marissa Lingen

Up until recently I think we were seeing a lot of "autistic people have theory of mind problems" and now we're recognizing that allistic people do TOO, in the other direction, and adjusting to that information is useful but fraught.

So one, I think that it's easy to be frustrated with a world that isn't designed for you and overgeneralize, and I think we're seeing some of that in some autistic people.

And two, I think theory of mind is harder than we gave it credit for, and in multiple directions.

My interaction with other brains is like, here, I brought this wild rice salad to the picnic. Oh, you brought potato salad? and someone else brought a key lime pie? GRAND, we did not need three wild rice salads.

So like--sure, there are people who are like "Ugh, I wish I didn't have to interact with people of a different neurotype than me."

Those people are ASSHOLES, and when they share my neurotype I am still not their friend. I like my friends having different brains than mine. I already have my brain!

You know the saying "If you know one autistic person, you...know one autistic person," meant to indicate that autistic people vary a lot? Allistic people do too.

I think of that a lot when people are making sweeping statements about allistic/autistic people's preferences.

Farmer's market haul: bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, and the entire world's supply of winter squash (to take up north and cook for college students).

It was a beautifully well-written speech. It made me gasp at several points at how well she'd done it.

Younger Nibling: Aunt Marissa, you're such a Willow.
me: OH NO I FEEL SEEN

This is such a great advice post from Fran! Happy launch day, friend, and happy 10 years on the shelves!

I am a fan of this, and also I deliberately subscribed to some magazines on paper so that I could read a magazine at lunch and not scroll on my phone. Even political/news magazines are better for my brain than the scroll there. But bedtime even more so.

So many sympathies for your loss

The illustrated cover for A Honeymoon of Grave Consequence, by Stephanie Burgis, shows the silhouette of an elegant traveling carriage over the title and a bat with wings outstretched underneath, all of it framed by apples and with mirrors at the top and the bottom of the image. Above and beside the cover is this snippet of text: “Oh, you poor, innocent fools!” the voice groaned. “If you only had any notion of the dark horrors that lie in wai—oh.” The voice’s tone shifted abruptly as the glowing eyes reappeared and fixed on Lord Riven’s face. “You’re no human.” “Indeed not.” Lord Riven smiled thinly, the tips of his sharp canine teeth visible by the dim glow of the nearby carriage lamp. “Nor have I been innocent for quite some centuries now, I assure you.” “And I am no fool,” Margaret said briskly, “so if you’ll direct us to our chambers and arrange for our luggage and a meal to be sent there as quickly as possible, we would both appreciate it. Dawn comes early at this time of year, you know.” “Not to thiiiiiis cursed house,” the spectral voice groaned...but soft footsteps shuffled obediently backwards, and the door finally swung fully open.

Only 1 day until A Honeymoon of Grave Consequence is published in ebook and paperback - so today is your last chance to preorder it for the special advance price of $2.99/£2.49! books2read.com/honeymoonGrave

And you can read a longer excerpt here: twimom227.com/2025/09/sund...

#romancelandia

Happy birthday, buddy!

"I feel like I'm doing several things?" I said to T, and he burst out laughing and said, "There's a reason why you feel that way. Yes."

The thing is I have stopped deluding myself that my schedule will ease up in [checks notes] late November and December. Um. Yes. So.

This Saturday! Join me and C.S.E. Cooney for poetry!

That is a very smart rec, @reactorsff.bsky.social !

New excerpt just dropped! Catch some thieves before they escape and launch next week!

They do really good cream cheeses as well as the best bagels we've found in the Twin Cities. I got the tipoff that this was the last week for peach vanilla and next week it'll be maple chai instead.

Farmer's market haul: cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, jicama, bell peppers, broccoli, cauliflower (two colors), tomatillos (bushel), strawberries, raspberries, jarred garlic crisps, cacio e pepe bagels, peach vanilla cream cheese (not intended for use togther).

The leathery visage of RFK Jr is beside massive all-capitals text with AUTISM in white and ANNOUNCEMENT in yellow, all on a blue background.

I'm autistic! I love cheese! I have a book out about an autistic person who also loves cheese!

CHEDDAR LUCK NEXT TIME is a cozy mystery with genuine autistic rep, cats, and a loooot of cheese.

www.bethcato.com/cheese-myste...

The Things You Know, The Things You Trust — IfTheresAnyone In the future, everything will stay essentially the same, despite changes. The things you know about the people you love will be enough to rely on, at their core, no matter what the world does.

Free story in @iftheresanyoneleft.bsky.social! The Things You Know, The Things You Trust: www.iftheresanyoneleft.com/stories/mari...

Thank you for writing it!

Hey, you're one up on me, I made notes on the whole of Paradise Lost to verify that it wasn't actually going to apply to this project and I should go on with my day

Beneath Ceaseless Skies - Holly on the Mantel, Blood on the Hearth by Kate Francia The wind wailed around the tiny pile of stones at the base of the blackthorn tree. She stood for a moment, eyes closed, willing herself to move. She could do this simple thing: walk through her door. ...

I love stories where characters use their own struggles as a lens for deeper understanding of others. Here's one from @katefrancia.bsky.social in @bcsmagazine.bsky.social :

www.beneath-ceaseless-skies.com/stories/holl...

My childhood piano teacher had a golden retriever who really loved Bach. Other things she would lie quietly for, but Bach she would come put her head on your foot and thump her tail happily.

They're up near my bestie, so I've been a couple of times--quality market, that. I just go to the Eagan city one because it's closest and quite good.

Thanks, dear!

Friend, you wouldn't believe what they're gonna harpy on

I hope you continue to think so with more data! :) Thanks!

Yeah, it's a whoooole thing :)

Horror writers are the nicest people, I tell my mother. And here's more evidence! Look at the innocent of your smile!

Thank you, buddy.