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Laura Blackwell (she/her) @pronouncedlahra.bsky.social · 34m

Another way to learn: Here's a 2024 video chat several committee members (and one expert) recorded about how the Bram Stoker Awards' dual-track nomination process works. Always check current rules, including *never* stumping/cajoling for recommendations/noms/votes!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=EINb...

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Reposted by Laura Blackwell (she/her)

Aparna Nair @disabilitystor1.bsky.social · 5h

I don't know how many times to point out that is absolutely ghoulish and non-consensual and disgusting behavior.
To exploit the image of a dead woman who was also exploited in real life so you can live out your momentary fantasies of "what is possible" with AI is bad science journalism, also.
Sick.

October 10, 2025

4 min read

Marilyn Monroe in Game of Thrones? AI Could Make It Happen Soon

Despite early, and familiar, copyright growing pains, Sora may be the prelude to AI-generated on-demand TV and movies

Screenshot includes an AI generated image of what looks like a human cross between Daenaerys Targaryen and Marilyn Monroe on the back of a dragon.

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Laura Blackwell (she/her) @pronouncedlahra.bsky.social · 2h

My keyboard has five layers built-in; I just haven't dug into programming more than the top layer yet. But if the link will be in your Patreon, maybe it's time to subscribe!

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Reposted by Laura Blackwell (she/her)

Kim Weeden @weedenkim.bsky.social · 9h

Photos coming out of Western AK are devastating.

Hardest hit are indigenous villages off road system, many miles by air from supplies. Most built on river deltas w/ no high ground to which to escape.

Cuts to NASA/NOAA mean worse weather data. Cuts to EPA mean no grants for erosion control. Etc.

News Eye @newseye.bsky.social · 9h

These are mostly indigenous communities in Alaska that have been slammed by the storm.

The local manager of a small airline fleet says he is the only one doing evacuations right now!

Defund FEMA and people are abandoned. Defund public media and no-one knows.

FYI, today is Indigenous Peoples Day.

Flooding seen with water up to the crash barriers of local roads

Sheds and debris lie scattered in the storm

A small blue house has been blown onto its roof

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Reposted by Laura Blackwell (she/her)

Kate Heartfield @kateheartfield.com · 3h

We are one week away from the launch of Premee's new book here in Ottawa at Perfect Books, with me as wingman. Please come, and support a lovely bookstore while you're at it.

Kate Heartfield @kateheartfield.com · 12d

If you are going to be in Ottawa Oct. 20, you should come see me and @premeemohamed.com at the launch for her excellent novella, The First Thousand Trees. At the wonderful community hub that is Perfect Books.

JOIN US FOR THE LAUNCH OF
THE FIRST THOUSAND TREES
PREMEE MOHAMED
MONDAY
OCTOBER 20
7:00-8:30 PM

PERFECT
BOOKS
258A ELGIN ST,
OTTAWA

Author Premee Mohamed in
conversation with Kate Heartfield

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Reposted by Laura Blackwell (she/her)

Laura Blackwell (she/her) @pronouncedlahra.bsky.social · 4d

Truly gorgeous stories, and so much fun. Highly recommended!

Story Hour @storyhour.bsky.social · 4d

Spookymonth continues with readings from @rachelunger.bsky.social and @laurenparker.bsky.social! Their stories showed two different kinds of curses and two different kinds of creepy. You can still watch! This is totally safe and not a RINGU kind of curse. Honest. youtu.be/GFu85wShG4w

October 8, 2025 Story Hour: Rachel Unger and Lauren Parker

YouTube video by Story Hour

youtu.be

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Laura Blackwell (she/her) @pronouncedlahra.bsky.social · 2h

I like hearing about what's working for other writers, even if we're working on different setups. Gives me ideas for rabbit holes to go down. Thank you!

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Laura Blackwell (she/her) @pronouncedlahra.bsky.social · 3h

I'm using Windows. I'm learning Colemak via Tarmak on a ZSA keyboard (disclaimer: I freelance for ZSA), which uses QMK. It's allowed me to do nice things like create a Caps WORD key and an Italics toggle key. In time I might get intrepid and start playing with the keyboard layers like you describe!

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Laura Blackwell (she/her) @pronouncedlahra.bsky.social · 3h

This sounds intriguing! Are you using QMK or something? I am currently working toward a Colemak-DH layout optimized for my writing and editing, and I'd love to have an easy way to select words or lines without touching the mouse. I'm not a programmer and use Windows, so it's a big challenge.

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Laura Blackwell (she/her) @pronouncedlahra.bsky.social · 3h

Sigh. That should be "stolen savings to coat" (obviously edited from "stolen savings on coating"). I am human and make mistakes! Even the mistakes are more interesting than what the (mis)Anthropic Mubs come up with, though, I'll bet.

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Laura Blackwell (she/her) @pronouncedlahra.bsky.social · 4h

Anthropic cried poor about paying damages to the writers from whom it stole. Many of us received nothing at all. But here Anthropic is, spending its stolen savings on to coat Powell Street BART in its appropriately poop-colored branding. "Keep thinking"? How about you *start* thinking, Anthropic.

Photo of the inside of Powell Street BART station in San Francisco shows columns covered in poop-colored wrap emblazoned "Claude" and "Keep thinking." The floor has received the same treatment in paint or a plastic rug.

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Reposted by Laura Blackwell (she/her)

Robert Reich @rbreich.bsky.social · 1d

The 400 richest Americans are now worth a record $6.6 trillion.

The entire bottom 50% of America is worth just $4.2 trillion.

Read that back.

When 400 people control more wealth than half a country’s population, we have a very serious problem.

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Laura Blackwell (she/her) @pronouncedlahra.bsky.social · 1d

It is an excellent story, one that made me look at the world differently. I am so glad you're getting some recognition for it!

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Tim Melody Pratt @timpratt.org · 1d

don’t call me a fly girl I prefer “lady renfield”

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Laura Blackwell (she/her) @pronouncedlahra.bsky.social · 1d

Congratulations to all the winners! Especially thrilled for @shingai-be-like.bsky.social's win for her powerful novelette "We Who Will Not Die" from @psychopomp.com. Thought-provoking and gorgeous!

The Ignyte Awards @theignyteawards.bsky.social · 1d

That's it! Congratulations winners and thank you for your contributions to such a beautiful SFFH landscape and community.
#2025IgnyteAwards
ignyteawards.fiyahlitmag.com/2025-results/

2025 Results - The Ignyte Awards

OUTSTANDING NOVEL: ADULT for novel-length work (40k words) Works intended for an adult audience BLACKHEART MAN – Nalo Hopkinson (S&S/Saga Press) METAL FROM HEAVEN – August Clarke (Erewhon Books) THE E...

ignyteawards.fiyahlitmag.com

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Laura Blackwell (she/her) @pronouncedlahra.bsky.social · 1d

The CMS is down.

Marjorie James Keenan @unenthusiast.com · 1d

In honour of spooky month, share a 4 word horror story that only someone in your profession would understand.

rm -rf ~/

hammancheez @hammancheez.bsky.social · 1d

"The chancellor approved it"

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Laura Blackwell (she/her) @pronouncedlahra.bsky.social · 1d

Congratulations! It's a lovely story. I'm so surprised that this is your first award!

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Sonia is an Ignyte and Ember Award winner! @soniasulaiman.bsky.social · 1d

Hey, a reminder that I’m looking for work. I’m an award winning writer and editor serving the community. My book Thyme Travellers: An Anthology of Palestinian Speculative Fiction just won an Ignyte award! I’m looking for clients, and would love to work in narrative games.

Get in touch with me!

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Laura Blackwell (she/her) @pronouncedlahra.bsky.social · 1d

Have you watched yet? So good, y'all! Generational curses, witches, and tacos! SO MUCH SALT!

Story Hour @storyhour.bsky.social · 4d

Spookymonth continues with readings from @rachelunger.bsky.social and @laurenparker.bsky.social! Their stories showed two different kinds of curses and two different kinds of creepy. You can still watch! This is totally safe and not a RINGU kind of curse. Honest. youtu.be/GFu85wShG4w

October 8, 2025 Story Hour: Rachel Unger and Lauren Parker

YouTube video by Story Hour

youtu.be

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Laura Blackwell (she/her) @pronouncedlahra.bsky.social · 1d

No worries! I just hate to see anything get disqualified. Now you know for next year!

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Reposted by Laura Blackwell (she/her)

Sara Partridge, PhD @sarapartridge.bsky.social · 2d

There are reports that the *entire* office of special education at the US Dept of Education has been cut. These hardworking folks ensure kids with disabilities get equal access to a quality education.

America’s children deserve better than this.

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Laura Blackwell (she/her) @pronouncedlahra.bsky.social · 2d

Gemma Magnus Files
Michael Night of the We-Hunter
Sam ReBell-Book-and-Candlein
KelSee-a You on the Other Side
Gordon B. Lady in White

#moregoth ? Or just another horror angle? @gemmafiles.bsky.social @rebelsam94.bsky.social @anovelescape.bsky.social @gordonbwhite.bsky.social

It’s Alive! Barker @kellylink.bsky.social · 2d

Stephen The King in Yellow #moregoth

Cat Vincent, (he/him, Useless Eater) @catvincent.bsky.social · 2d

Robert Eastern Bloch #moregoth

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Laura Blackwell (she/her) @pronouncedlahra.bsky.social · 2d

Please don't *ask* HWA members to put your work on the Recommended Reading list. You can let them know it exists, that you appreciate their consideration, where to find it. The page I linked to has details about how to do this. But asking / begging / bargaining for recs is against the rules.

Laura Blackwell (she/her) @pronouncedlahra.bsky.social · 4d

HWA folks! Have you recommended others' work to the Recommended Reading list for the Bram Stoker Awards? Horror writers, have you submitted your own work to the juries? Here's how! You can even click through to the full rules if you're intrepid! www.thebramstokerawards.com/submissions/

Submissions – The Bram Stoker Awards

www.thebramstokerawards.com

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Laura Blackwell (she/her) @pronouncedlahra.bsky.social · 2d

It depends on how it's used. Letting people know you have an eligible work is okay. Asking them to put it on the Recommended Reading list is not.

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Laura Blackwell (she/her) @pronouncedlahra.bsky.social · 2d

Please read the Bram Stoker Awards rules about how to offer work for consideration! Asking for votes is considered overreach.

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