Cislyn Smith
@cislyn.bsky.social
Writer, editor, crafty person. Frequently covered in cat hair, often wearing many hats. Dream Foundry, Flights of Foundry, Small Wonders Magazine
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Cislyn Smith
@cislyn.bsky.social
· Sep 17
Oh hey, so maybe I should introduce myself since there's been a huge influx of new folks? Hi! I'm co-chair for Flights of Foundry, operations manager of Dream Foundry, and co-editor of Small Wonders Magazine! I love collaborating on projects and working out logistics for anything other than dinner.
This story had me all up in my feels today. Dad had so much *stuff*. The only reason it was seven weeks instead of seven years in Florida is because a) he had some plans for some of the collections and b) I got LOTS of help including professionals to just deal with it.
apple.news/A880ZrgDNSwm...
apple.news/A880ZrgDNSwm...
Boomers Are Passing Down Fortunes — And Way, Way Too Much Stuff — Bloomberg Businessweek
As the $90 trillion Great Wealth Transfer begins, millennials and Gen X aren’t just inheriting money. They’re being buried under an avalanche of baseball cards, fine china and collections of all sorts...
apple.news
November 22, 2025 at 4:18 AM
This story had me all up in my feels today. Dad had so much *stuff*. The only reason it was seven weeks instead of seven years in Florida is because a) he had some plans for some of the collections and b) I got LOTS of help including professionals to just deal with it.
apple.news/A880ZrgDNSwm...
apple.news/A880ZrgDNSwm...
Since I’ve been home I’ve been treating grief like it’s a physical illness and so far it’s been serving me well. Lots of warm tea, kitty cuddles, going to bed early and sleeping late. I’m trying to be gentle with myself. I sure do miss dad.
November 18, 2025 at 11:36 PM
Since I’ve been home I’ve been treating grief like it’s a physical illness and so far it’s been serving me well. Lots of warm tea, kitty cuddles, going to bed early and sleeping late. I’m trying to be gentle with myself. I sure do miss dad.
Reposted by Cislyn Smith
Reposted by Cislyn Smith
If you're a dinosaur in a noir story, it's inevitable that you'll find yourself at Qurtiz's establishment in "Everybody Comes to the Velociraptor's", by Timothy Mudie.
Everybody Comes to the Velociraptor’s - Small Wonders
When the triceratops headbutted in my office door, I was at my desk, cigarette pinched between my claws and a whiskey in front of me. I expected him; he knew I expected him; no point trying to hide it.
smallwondersmag.com
November 17, 2025 at 4:07 PM
If you're a dinosaur in a noir story, it's inevitable that you'll find yourself at Qurtiz's establishment in "Everybody Comes to the Velociraptor's", by Timothy Mudie.
I’m home. I’ve spent the day covered in cats and got more than ten hours of sleep last night.
November 13, 2025 at 11:48 PM
I’m home. I’ve spent the day covered in cats and got more than ten hours of sleep last night.
Detroit has captured me in its gravity field. I WILL escape. Eventually. If they ever let me board the dang plane.
November 12, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Detroit has captured me in its gravity field. I WILL escape. Eventually. If they ever let me board the dang plane.
It’s been six weeks since dad died. I keep feeling like I haven’t done anything and I’m taking too long but this is actually kind of a whirlwind and now that I’m nearly done here in Florida I feel it. I will miss this view.
November 10, 2025 at 12:32 AM
It’s been six weeks since dad died. I keep feeling like I haven’t done anything and I’m taking too long but this is actually kind of a whirlwind and now that I’m nearly done here in Florida I feel it. I will miss this view.
Reposted by Cislyn Smith
We are TWO BACKERS away from 400 backers!! With LESS THAN 24 HOURS LEFT for late pledges, help us get to 400 backers before our campaign fully comes to a close? 👀
www.kickstarter.com/projects/hyb...
www.kickstarter.com/projects/hyb...
ONLY 24 HOURS LEFT to late pledge! If you want a 2026/2027 subscription or to sponsor a poem, story, or cover? Now’s the time! We’re so appreciative of all your support and can’t wait to open to submissions and start working on bringing the magazine to life!
www.kickstarter.com/projects/hyb...
www.kickstarter.com/projects/hyb...
OTHERSIDE 2026: A New Magazine of Queer SFF!
A new queer-led literary magazine devoted to speculative fiction, poetry, and art by 2SLGBTQIA+ authors and artists.
www.kickstarter.com
November 4, 2025 at 11:15 PM
We are TWO BACKERS away from 400 backers!! With LESS THAN 24 HOURS LEFT for late pledges, help us get to 400 backers before our campaign fully comes to a close? 👀
www.kickstarter.com/projects/hyb...
www.kickstarter.com/projects/hyb...
New challenge: Dad wanted a 13 year old neighbor to have "the coolpix camera". Great! He had FIVE of them. So now I'm staring at these and trying to figure out which is the sturdiest and most kid friendly.
November 2, 2025 at 4:24 PM
New challenge: Dad wanted a 13 year old neighbor to have "the coolpix camera". Great! He had FIVE of them. So now I'm staring at these and trying to figure out which is the sturdiest and most kid friendly.
I’ve found twelve more external hard drives in dad’s house this morning. That’s in addition to the fourteen I already found. Kiiiiiinda thinking I’ll throw them all (gently) in a box and deal with them later.
November 2, 2025 at 3:45 PM
I’ve found twelve more external hard drives in dad’s house this morning. That’s in addition to the fourteen I already found. Kiiiiiinda thinking I’ll throw them all (gently) in a box and deal with them later.
It feels oddly indulgent to sit and read stories and click buttons when I'm surrounded by so much to do in dad's house still. But I have a plan for things and I am trying to pace myself. Also, I actually love reading slush. So, onward.
November 1, 2025 at 10:27 PM
It feels oddly indulgent to sit and read stories and click buttons when I'm surrounded by so much to do in dad's house still. But I have a plan for things and I am trying to pace myself. Also, I actually love reading slush. So, onward.
Spooky? Spooky.
Oh hey, did someone say SPOOKY? We've got spooky!
Not gonna lie, the entire issue for October was pretty dang spooky. It features monsters and ghosts, revenge, eyeballs, curses, and so much more. Read all these fabulous stories right here:
smallwondersmag.com/...
1/6
Not gonna lie, the entire issue for October was pretty dang spooky. It features monsters and ghosts, revenge, eyeballs, curses, and so much more. Read all these fabulous stories right here:
smallwondersmag.com/...
1/6
October 31, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Spooky? Spooky.
Happy Halloween! If you'd like some spooky reads I've got a few for you! First up is "Tasting Notes" at The Orange and Bee:
Features: witches, murder, sweet things
theorangebee.substack.com/p/tasting-no...
Features: witches, murder, sweet things
theorangebee.substack.com/p/tasting-no...
Tasting notes
Issue seven: flash fiction by Cislyn Smith
theorangebee.substack.com
October 31, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Happy Halloween! If you'd like some spooky reads I've got a few for you! First up is "Tasting Notes" at The Orange and Bee:
Features: witches, murder, sweet things
theorangebee.substack.com/p/tasting-no...
Features: witches, murder, sweet things
theorangebee.substack.com/p/tasting-no...
Reposted by Cislyn Smith
In honor of this spooky rainy Oct. 30, here's a list of my favorite dark fairy tale retellings from 2025! :) Novels by @nassos.bsky.social @tkingfisher.com @freyamarske.bsky.social; short stories by @cislyn.bsky.social @aimeeogdenwrites.com and @adsui.bsky.social
medium.com/@katefrancia...
medium.com/@katefrancia...
October 30, 2025 at 3:26 PM
In honor of this spooky rainy Oct. 30, here's a list of my favorite dark fairy tale retellings from 2025! :) Novels by @nassos.bsky.social @tkingfisher.com @freyamarske.bsky.social; short stories by @cislyn.bsky.social @aimeeogdenwrites.com and @adsui.bsky.social
medium.com/@katefrancia...
medium.com/@katefrancia...
I slept eleven hours last night. It’s possible I needed that.
October 26, 2025 at 8:17 PM
I slept eleven hours last night. It’s possible I needed that.
Today is dad’s after party. We’ll have a picnic by the river, listen to loud music, and share stories of a guy who lived a lot. Here are a few of the photos I hung up around the house for folks to take.
October 24, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Today is dad’s after party. We’ll have a picnic by the river, listen to loud music, and share stories of a guy who lived a lot. Here are a few of the photos I hung up around the house for folks to take.
My grandmother saved every single letter Dad wrote home when he was in the army. Dad kept them after grandmother died. It’s stuff like this that feels super challenging to deal with.
October 18, 2025 at 4:11 PM
My grandmother saved every single letter Dad wrote home when he was in the army. Dad kept them after grandmother died. It’s stuff like this that feels super challenging to deal with.
The interconnectedness of bodies is a real problem. A thing hurts, I shift gait and then new and different things ALSO hurt. Surely some sort of distributed system with multiple redundancies would be better at the task of embodying humans.
October 17, 2025 at 2:32 AM
The interconnectedness of bodies is a real problem. A thing hurts, I shift gait and then new and different things ALSO hurt. Surely some sort of distributed system with multiple redundancies would be better at the task of embodying humans.
Reposted by Cislyn Smith
You can't logic your way out of being burnt out. Unless you're me. Who should be able to do it and it's a personal failing that I can't
October 13, 2025 at 9:39 PM
You can't logic your way out of being burnt out. Unless you're me. Who should be able to do it and it's a personal failing that I can't
I had a story come out today!
If you think too much about fairy tale witches and also murder and complicated relationships, this one is for you.
theorangebee.substack.com/p/tasting-no...
If you think too much about fairy tale witches and also murder and complicated relationships, this one is for you.
theorangebee.substack.com/p/tasting-no...
Tasting notes
Issue seven: flash fiction by Cislyn Smith
theorangebee.substack.com
October 10, 2025 at 1:02 AM
I had a story come out today!
If you think too much about fairy tale witches and also murder and complicated relationships, this one is for you.
theorangebee.substack.com/p/tasting-no...
If you think too much about fairy tale witches and also murder and complicated relationships, this one is for you.
theorangebee.substack.com/p/tasting-no...
Oh hey now the AC is out. Here’s hoping the portable unit in the bedroom works or I won’t be sleeping tonight.
On the plus side I looked through approximately a zillion family photos today. Yay?
On the plus side I looked through approximately a zillion family photos today. Yay?
October 10, 2025 at 12:47 AM
Oh hey now the AC is out. Here’s hoping the portable unit in the bedroom works or I won’t be sleeping tonight.
On the plus side I looked through approximately a zillion family photos today. Yay?
On the plus side I looked through approximately a zillion family photos today. Yay?
There’s nothing quite so infuriating as trying to cancel a dead loved one’s subscriptions. Geez, dad, I promise you didn’t need so many paid substack things. Also it’s like five screens for each cancellation. Ugh.
October 8, 2025 at 6:36 PM
There’s nothing quite so infuriating as trying to cancel a dead loved one’s subscriptions. Geez, dad, I promise you didn’t need so many paid substack things. Also it’s like five screens for each cancellation. Ugh.
Reposted by Cislyn Smith
Running short fiction magazines is hard, or so I hear. Here’s a list of three you can support if you’re so inclined, and I do hope you are.
There are several great magazines fundraising right now, or about to start fundraising, and we encourage y'all to support them!
October 4, 2025 at 9:44 PM
Running short fiction magazines is hard, or so I hear. Here’s a list of three you can support if you’re so inclined, and I do hope you are.
My dad passed away in the early hours yesterday. He was an awesome single dad, a nature photographer, an audiophile, a collector of rocks and fossils, a reader, and so much more. Check out @riverguy47.bsky.social for some of his pictures. I miss him more than words can say already.
September 30, 2025 at 1:09 AM
My dad passed away in the early hours yesterday. He was an awesome single dad, a nature photographer, an audiophile, a collector of rocks and fossils, a reader, and so much more. Check out @riverguy47.bsky.social for some of his pictures. I miss him more than words can say already.
I’m having a rough one over here. Share something happy or silly with me, when you can? I’m at the hospital with my dad and could really use a smile.
September 27, 2025 at 3:24 AM
I’m having a rough one over here. Share something happy or silly with me, when you can? I’m at the hospital with my dad and could really use a smile.