Forsan et haec olim legisse iuvabit.

Before I get into the writing stuff, let me tell you about today. I finally got to see my BFF from college and her kid. We had a great time talking and finally exchanging gifts (she fell and broke bones over the holiday). I got a skele-kitty pillow and some of bath and body works vampire blood products

I then stop by CVS and we're lucky I wasn't on the 6 o'clock news. A few days back I called in my meds and they told me they had to call my doctor for my insulin needles. I was puzzled. I usually check that. Sure enough I have NINE refills until December 2026 (but now my endocrinologist is texting me to find out what's up. CVS is stupid was explanation enough).

So there's no further communication about it. I get there and don't get my needles. Excuse me, where are my needles?

Pharm tech - there's no needles

me - why

Pharm tech - can't tell you. We can only see the screen for what IS here (WTF?) you need to go to consultation and ask.

I do this and ask what's up, why did you tell me I had no refills and why did you NOT refill it?

Pharm tech - I don't know why and it says it's no a covered service.

since when?

Pharm tech -I can't tell

well, my horrible insurance HAS done this before to force me to use their pharmacy only

I come home call my insurance and they said 'what do you mean they didn't give you your needles? It IS a paid service and CVS billed us at 14:20 today (which is when I was there). So you're telling me that they billed you and then DID NOT give me my needles

Yes. So I call CVS and they call me back (they no longer pick up the phone) and I say my insurance said you billed them making it impossible for me to get them elsewhere so where are they?!?

Pharm tech - oh your needles are right here. You can come pick it up.

THEN WHY DID YOU TELL ME THEY WEREN'T THERE.

Pharm tech - I don't know who told you that.

YOU told me that (she's the only Middle Eastern woman there with a heavy accent so I recognize her voice)

Pharm tech - well I don't know why that happened because they're here.

It's a twenty mile drive to get back there. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?

Me going out the door on fire.

Dad: don't be me, don't go off

It was definitely a what would Spock do moment when I got there. And yes my needles were there.


I am trying to p ull everything off my faulty flashdrive which took 10 tries to get it to read (talk about giving me a heart attack) Finally got my new flash, still transferring data.


So on to the writerly ways (who's still here with me?) It's more a question than any advice. I just started an arc (The Atlas of Unknowable Things) and it's not just first person, it's I don't know the technical term for it, I'd call it conversational first person.

It feels like the person is sitting in the room with you, talking to you, sort of throwing in a few fourth wall breaking stuff like they're expecting you to answer.

I know a lot of people don't like first person (I do) and I was curious what people would think of this. WOuld you like it? Have you ever written it (I have not) How did you handle it if you did

I have aggravated my bad knee, seriously messed it up (not a surprise. I overworked it, the cartilage is burst into at least three pieces, it will need replacing) Even having the lap top sitting on it hurts a lot.

Here's about 2 weeks of links


Open Call

Toad Shade Zine

Three-Lobed Burning Eye September 2025 Window Speculative fiction with strong narrative voices

A Coup Of Owls Winter 2025 Issue Stories you’ve poured your soul into but haven’t been able to find the right home for. We do not have set issue themes but feel free to be inspired by the season, seasonal occasions and events.
Note: Only publishes creators from under represented and/or marginalized communities.

Cloaked Press is open to Novels and Novellas Fantasy, science fiction, and horror novels and novellas

Eavesdrop Resistance: Queer-focused stories of any genre: space opera, niche cryptid horror, experimental formats, and anything in between!

5 Paying Literary Magazines to Submit to in August 2025

Of Swords & Roses

The First Line – Winter 2025

Clocks Dark fiction, speculative fiction, near sci-fi that deal with clocks, or a clockmaker

Bog Matter Magazine Fall 2025 Issue. the in-between

Translunar Travelers Lounge Fall 2025 Window
Speculative Fiction in the science fiction or fantasy variety

Trunk Stories Reprints or original stories: Shorts that have been rejected 20+ times, Novelettes that have been rejected 10+ times

Hearth Stories 2025 September Window Speculative fiction that explores connection, family, relationships, comfort, and the natural world.

Dreams Divine Romantic fantasy stories set in or about dreams due next week if you have something like this

No Gods No Masters Stories that are ready to get their hands dirty in the making of a newer, fairer world.

50 Romance Publishers Open to Direct Submissions

Nine Manuscript Publishers Open to Direct Submissions in August 2025

Twin Flame Literary: Now Seeking Submissions


28 Themed Submission Calls and Contests for August 2025


From Around the web

How Editing Shapes Storytelling in Fiction and Memoir Writing

How to Prepare a Manuscript for Publishing

13 Book Binding Types to Know

Optimizing eBook Metadata for Authors in Competitive Niches

When Should I Use a Colon, Semicolon, and Dash?

How to Plan a Book Tour on Your Own


How to Choose the Right Editing Service for Your Genre and Goals

First-Time Authors: Overcoming Common Challenges When Writing Your First Book

Setting Up Your Book for Future Growth.

How to Start Dictating Fiction (Even If You’ve Tried and Failed Before) pro tip from someone who did her whole sabbatical this way PROOF READ the next day. This stuff is good but half the time it's also on crack. It's like close but no cigar.

Why Your Amazon Book Page Isn’t Converting — and How to Fix It

How to Pair Your Book’s Beginning and Ending to Satisfy Readers

What happens to book characters when the book is over?

Plotter Vs. Pantser: Which Is Right for You?

9 Dos & Don’ts of Book Proposal Formatting

How to Begin a Sequel Without Confusion or Boredom



The Sentence as a Spine: How Syntax Shapes Story


From Betty

Getting Feedback On Your Writing

Five Tips for Characters That Go Against the Flow

Eight Dos and Don’ts for Making Magic Interesting

Twelve Sources of Wish Fulfillment for Your Story

Six Stories That Make Great Use of Their Premise

“In Medias Res” Means in the Middle, but What Is the Middle?

The Power of Dialogue: More Than Just Spoken Words

How to Write Killer Chapter Endings That Hook Readers

How to develop character wounds and misbeliefs

5 Paths to Plotting Your Novel

ARGGH! Words We Love to Hate

Steinbeck on Writing

How to Pair Your Book’s Beginning and Ending to Satisfy Readers

How to Use the Four Levels of Conflict to Strengthen Your Story

Online Scam Protection for Writers: How to Stay Safe and Protect Yourself in 2025

How Carousels on Instagram Help Writers Increase Visibility & Connect with Readers I know nothing about this. I need to sit down and look this over

Mom and I hit Costco. There was ONE, count 'em, one buggy left. Dear god. Somehow we survived but since I have SO MUCH to cart back next week I passed on many of the things I wanted to buy. Ah well.


And since that was the most exciting thing to happen all day, here have the fandom recs for two weeks including this one!!

Warmth In The Chest Hazbin Hotel this was written for me in fandomtrumpshate I haven't even had a chance to read it yet


Sleeping Beauties Torchwood

Thunder And Lightning Stargate SG-1

The Best (Friend) Hazbin Hotel

In The Doghouse Torchwood

Springtime Picnic FAKE

Chase Away the Cold Teen Wolf

To Be Tamaranean Teen Titan

Melolagnia Hazbin Hotel

Pizza 'Pology Hazbin Hotel

what we were searching for. KPop Demon Hunters

Goodbye For Now 光渊 | Justice in the Dark


Make It Count Hazbin Hotel

A Practical Gift Torchwood

What Friends Do Criminal Minds

Oops, I Married an Alien Eerie Indiana

None of It Was Accidental 逆爱 | Revenged Love

rewritten. 陈情令 | The Untamed (TV)魔道祖师 - 墨香铜臭 | Módào Zǔshī - Mòxiāng Tóngxiù

Finding a New Home
9-1-1

The Final Straw. Teen Wolf

Breaking Free Stargate Atlantis

A radio demon's daisy in hell. Hazbin Hotel

Leap Of Disaster Torchwood

Transparent The Murderbot Diaries

What You Have Done to Me
Hazbin Hotel

Torchwood Life Torchwood

Too Many Times. Torchwood

Hurts To Say Goodbye
Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Drunk Hazbin Hotel

An Important Stop in the Journey 91-1
here, now (in this cage).
魔道祖师 - 墨香铜臭 | Módào Zǔshī - Mòxiāng Tóngxiù

All The Girly Things Horrid Henry

Getting Picked Up Teen Wolf

Royal Flush Hazbin Hotel

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Mom had to drive my SUV today so I could take the Bronco back (no problems) and from there we went to Primanti Brothers, started in 1933 which I love (it's the one famous for having slaw and fries on the sandwich, and man they're good fries)

From there we went to the casino. I lost. Mom won 200$. It was fun for an hour.

Came home, finished my syllabi (barely in time, due friday) fielded some nonsense at work (there's plenty of it)

Got excited because I can finally go out to watch the Persaid meteor shower. It's raining. Naturally.

What I Just Finished Reading:

Dark and Dangerous Journey - WWII mystery arc, really enjoyed this.

Pantomine - an LGBT (intersexed main character) fantasy, I like it thought it ended well, set up for book 2

The Black Hand Syndicate in Ohio, one of those over priced history books you use in local drug stores. Well researched, but not as interesting as you'd want it to be for 25$


Holy crap I need to get caught up on my book reviews


What I am Currently Reading:

The Wood - an urban fantasy so far so good

What Can't be Said - the latest Sebastian St. Cyr book (or is it last year's and I need to get this year?) too soon to say, but I love this series

The Secret of the Orange Blossom Cake - WHY did I ask for this arc? It's a magic realism romance. Was it the magic realism (Not nearly enough of it) or because it's set in Italy? It's too contemporary romance for me but it's not badly written but there are logic gaps and the main character is SO irritating.



What I Plan to Read Next:

I have so many arcs

I made it to Hershey in spite of construction and the fact that half of Hershey is 'road closed' I went to the Hershey Story Museum. Now, I admit it, this is a biased museum of course but probably easily fact checked. If it's all true, Milton Hershey was a good millionaire. He gave like 60 Million dollars to an orphanage, started schools for his workers children, gave them decent wages (mostly), made a community for them including golf courses (and one for the kids) theaters etc. It was a nice museum.

I hit Wendy's for lunch for the first time in like 15 years. You all can guess why. I wanted the Meal of Misfortune. It was a surprising number of chicken nuggets like 8 of them (I don't like nuggets) but there was no cartilage in them and it was tolerable with the dips (a spicy blackish/dark purple one and one obviously raspberry base) and my sundae needed more goo but it was good.

From there I went to the Hershey Gardens, a tiny bit pricey for a small garden (but I know how much it is to take care of a place like this) They had a butterfly collection, you the know the type. Lots a blue morphos floating around but there were ones I've never seen before like a dead leaf butterfly (which looked just like a dead leaf) and had some other insects and reptiles, including the bird poop frog (well named) and a white tree frog who had SUCH a face.

There were all kinds of beautiful roses which would have looked even better about 6 weeks ago. Also would have been nicer if it wasn't 1001 degrees out there. Pretty sure the sun is cooler. I loved that there is a Milton Hershey rose (bred for him in the 20s or 30s) and later they renamed one Catherine Hershey. Milton's was nearly extinct but it's back and they were selling it and if I had a place for it....

From there I saw there was 2 hours before everything closed so I went to the car museum. I wanted to break a bunch of collection cabinets and steal me scads of hood ornaments (I love them so) they had american, french and british. There was a deluxe edition steudabaker one that was a full devil with tail and a pitchfork (from the 20s-30s) and pierce arrow had one with a naked mercury on it (well he had his fig leaf) from 1926.

It was three floors of cars and motorcycles. Oddly enough there weren't many trucks. The ground floor was a lot of dirt bikes (not my thing) and big cars/buses. The first floor had the most cars, lots of station wagons for some reason and a really nice Tucker collection (fantastic cars, ahead of their time, he was run out of the business by the big boys in Detroit) Top floor were more motorcycles (one from the 40s called the whizzer....) and all my hood ornaments. (now I see me doing a human Arackniss and Angel story just to work in those hood ornaments and sending them to Hershey Park.

On the way from here to the hotel, my GPS takes one last gasp at killing me. I should have been in the left lane but nope it says go right....RIGHT into hershey park (hey it was only 35$ but I'm not sure if that's park entrance or just the parking) I tell the guy what happened because it's a one way. I couldn't turn around. He laughed and waved me in and said just keep going. It'll circle back out for you.

Dinner was a huge disappointment and a bit scary. I wanted to go to the chocolate avenue grill (nope, totally packed) so I hit another biggie around here Troeg's Brewery. I ended up with a 20$ sandwich and fries and the world's most overpriced beer. I didn't realize the prices were on the sign across the big bar space. So when I was choosing between the Jovial dupple ale and the freaky peach sour ale I could have gotten two of the Jovial. Didn't see that and paid 14$ for ONE freaking sour ale which was stored in a bourbon barrel so all I could really taste was bourbon. It was good but it wasn't worth the price of a six pack.

The scary part wasn't the price (that was the disappointment). When I went to pay for it, I realized my gym wallet wasn't in my purse. I know I had it at the hotel when I dumped the purse out looking for the insulin but it is GONE now. While I have money/credit in my main wallet, the gym wallet has my id and my main credit card. It wasn't outside the restaurant or in the Bronco. Fantastic. I have no idea where my driver's license is. I just drank a large sour ale that is 9% alcohol in a strange town in a car that isn't mine. Whee. Made it back to the hotel. Still can't find my wallet. I was getting ready to go tear up the Bronco and/or ask the front desk to see if it was turned in but then I saw that the bed spread had a cuff on it. Did the wallet slide under there? Thankfully yes. Geez.

The tub here is weird. High. Deep. Narrow, like it's hard to have your feet side by side. And boy do I miss my handicapped room from the Wyndham with it's high toilet. This one is about 2 inches off the ground. Thank god I can pull up on the vanity.

And I am wake enough to do music monday (but probably NOT to answer anyone's responses yet) I Feel free to share with us. We're doing the alphabet and we're up to T. I'm only sharing the last 5 years but you can share whatever T song you'd like.

( Teeing up )

There were fewer panels I wanted to sit in on and much fewer things I want from the vendors. I did go to a ghost talk with my friend in the morning (why at 10 AM people? We goths aren't made for morning. Did I mention you can tell a lot of older Steampunks were goths in the 80s and 90s? If not you should have seen the 80s=goth DJ party last night when The Cure came on and we were all dancing)

Speaking of which I am paying for it today. I'm having issues with the nerve damage all day. I had to take a few breaks because of it.

I wanted to do the make your own dice bag thing (but they way they do registrations here sucks) so I go where I was directed to go by his partner but turns out there was TWO of them, one for the VIPS and the one for the rest of us so when I ask him about the registration he just looks at me and says 'this is VIP only' You'd THINK he'd of added, go see my partner next door. I drag out of there embarrassed (and into break number one)

The afternoon session was about the history of tarot cards and I enjoyed that but there wasn't another panel I wanted to hear until 4 so break number two after another disappointing round through the vendors. I got a few less expensive things as holiday gifts but some things were SO expensive. Like the fun literary chocolates where they married classic novels with foods/drinks in those novels and made chocolates from them, like bilberries for Jane Eyre or nori and ginger for Cthulu. I planned to get several as gifts figuring they were 6-8$ a piece. they were much much more. Like twice that. I kept the flavor catalogue (I make own chocolates, no reason I can't try some of this myself) But maybe I'm the cheap ass bulking at pay 12$ for a chocolate bar because one couple raced up because they'd already finished the chocolate they bought yesterday and bought 6 more (that's over 70$, sorry but I can get a week's groceries for that)

There was a guy with collage art that was cool and the big pieces were 100$ which fair for that but he had ones the size of post cards that would have been loved by a couple friends but it was nearly that (or make me an offer. He seemed a little desperate. I didn't want to insult him because yes I don't know exactly what the cost of his time and materials should be but 50$ for a 3 inch square of burlap covered in things seemed...high)

I did get to talk to the woman doing the tarot thing. She runs a destination D&D thing in both new orleans and in a castle in the UK. It's something to look into. That could be fun.

The mocktail talk with Calamity Dawn was good. I knew what a Boulevardier cocktail was so she gave me the mock version. I had just used that in a story too. The alcohol free spirits did a passable bourbon attempt (but something in it made her and me cough, not sure what)

Tonight for me was all about music. First up was Steamcordia who...honestly plays accordian better than he sings. He stumbled over several songs.

Then came the main act, Frenchy and the Punk which I very much enjoyed. Ended up buy 2 cds (there was a price break and I didn't have cash enough for one and figured if I'm getting the card out...) It was a crazy long line for her that I was at the head of so I'll see if she's in the vendor's room again tomorrow and have her sign the cases.

Lastly came This Way to the Egress. I heard some of it but at this point it's 11 and I'm getting tired (feeling my age)

So overall a good night. I'll bring science saturday back next week.

So I left this afternoon for Gettysburg. My GPS must have known this was its last chance to fuck with me because I ordered a new one (which didn't make it before I left) Mom had given me paper directions too from MapQuest (that still exists?!?) As I come up to the second service station on the turnpike the GPS says 10 miles to my exit.

I'm like...I thought I had to go through TWO tunnels and at least three service stations. So I pull off at the service station, check the paper directions. Both say I need to get off on US 30 E (and I know that's true) so I get off and that's when I remember my brother saying don't get off the first time it wants you to go off on US 30.

There's no way back to the damn turnpike. I'm now on the back country roads for 80s miles. I have to go through the Buchanan State Forest (which is more or less where I set my lesser known cryptid story that I just sent in). Up and down switchback mountains (hello Appalachia) with runaway truck ramps everywhere because it's so steep. At least Badlands Broncos are MADE for this kind of terrain (I mean this IS an off road vehicle which is what I told Hertz when they sent me a survey about how I liked day 2 of my rental, why do you have a fleet of off roaders?!?) I do get here without any troubles.

Only I'm here over an hour later than planned so there goes going to the movie theater tonight because by the time I check in and eat, it's like 10 minutes to go and I'm in no mood. Instead of unwinding with the Fantastic Four I go for unwinding with water aerobics in their pool which is deeper and bigger than anticipated.

The good news is the restaurant between this Wyndham and the Marriot next door is OPEN and gives me a better choice than eating here (overpriced) or going down to Perkins (and losing my spot in a very packed parking lot).

I will be leaving tomorrow morning to do a museum and hurrying my butt back while I can still park. I can walk to the movie theater. (the steampunk con doesn't start until 4)

For some reason they gave me a wheelchair room and I am a little upset about it because I KNOW there are wheelchair bound con goers. I didn't even ask for a handicapped room (maybe it came up with my Wyndham membership which I think that is on there). The hotel is sold out so it's not like I can move elsewhere in case someone needs this.

But I do question why hotels have wheelchair accessible rooms on upper levels? It seems like a danger if this place catches fire.


Community rec time

science since several of you said you like to see science posts

tv_talk Reviews, discussion and activities focused on TV content -- come find your peeps!


thankfulthursday a weekly gratitude check-in community.

fffc Froday Flash Fiction Challenge

just nothing quite worked well. Macy's summer clothes either belonged on a 90 year old going to bingo or not on sale. Did find one long sleeved tie-dyed thing left over from last fall on final sale. Got that. it's pretty but I needed it least. I want to replace my short sleeved dress shirts. Most are like 15 years old now.
No joy there.

Also there were SO many people on the roads for 2 pm on a Tuesday. it was shocking.

I'm still trying to work up excitement for the steampunk thing that I'm leaving for on thursday and I have none.

I forgot to share these badges for bingos at allbingo ( check them out )

So let me go back to one of my earliest (and my forever) fandom for fannish 50: Star Trek, the original series.

Let's be honest, there aren't a lot of women to pick from in the main cast. Uhura, Christine and Rand.

Yeoman Rand got the short end of the stick and sexually harassed off the show by a producer.

Christine is in a traditional female role of nurse. I liked her well enough.

But the one I really liked, especially now that I'm older and can appreciate her more (I liked Christine more when I was young). By now most of us probably have heard the story of how Nichelle wanted to leave the show after S1 but MLK told her to stay, that she was far too important to African Americans to quit.

We hear people joke how Uhura is just the space phone operator and that is unfair and reductive. She did so much more, especially in S1 (I did notice that when the censors and conservatives realized Star Trek was SO popular both Uhura and Sulu's roles were reduced to communications and helm. Even if all she did was communications, it was enough that she repped Black women as officers, as having agency which they did not have much of in the 1960s.

But Uhura did more.





Uhura was asked to - and expected to - take over the helm. Which she did. With no problems. She was obviously trained to do multiple bridge jobs. She could have been on the path to command for all we knew (and in later movies she was in fact a captain). Uhura was always more than a telephone operator.



In the next picture we can see her, weapon in hand and a look on her face that is not fear. Okay I'll admit it. She (and all the women) were written inconsistently when it came to their grit. That's what happens when you have multiple authors. But here, Uhura is ready to throw down. She really got to shine in the Mirror universe but I didn't share that picture because A) it's everywhere B) it's rather exploitive





I love that they did try to give her more depth much of which we owe to Nichelle herself. She was the one who gave Uhura the first name Nyota post series (upset that no one ever bothered during the show). When Uhura lost all her memories it was Nichelle who decided no, English is not her first language. She chose Swahili for Uhura.

Nichelle was more interested in music than acting in many ways from what I've read and heard her say. She was also partially why we see Uhura singing, dancing and playing music. I loved these little details (along with Sulu being a botany enthusiast which disappears after S1)

I love that the actors got to have some input in character development. Nichelle (George and Leonard) did especially well with hers.