Frances Pauli
@francestypes.bsky.social
Author of the Serpentia and Sunrunner series. Typewriter nut, tea addict, mother, furry, snake wrangler, and sometimes artist. francespauli.com linkree: https://linktr.ee/francespauli
Reposted by Frances Pauli
Need some more short fiction to round out your 2025 reading list? Give "To Dream of Birdsong" by @parkeriswriting.bsky.social a read
We love it, and we hope you will, too! plotthoundmag.com/to-dream-of-...
We love it, and we hope you will, too! plotthoundmag.com/to-dream-of-...
February 1, 2026 at 5:07 PM
Need some more short fiction to round out your 2025 reading list? Give "To Dream of Birdsong" by @parkeriswriting.bsky.social a read
We love it, and we hope you will, too! plotthoundmag.com/to-dream-of-...
We love it, and we hope you will, too! plotthoundmag.com/to-dream-of-...
Reposted by Frances Pauli
And one last thing for today: the latest edition of Critical Friends. We've moved it a week earlier in the schedule in order to include a fantastic conversation between @tristanbeiter.bsky.social's Le Guin book club about the contexts of criticism ... and the potential of the book club.
Critical Friends Episode 20: On Book Clubs
In this episode of Critical Friends, the Strange Horizons SFF criticism podcast, as part of our 2026 criticism special issue Tristan Beiter introduces us to his Ursula K. Le Guin book club.
strangehorizons.com
January 26, 2026 at 2:05 PM
And one last thing for today: the latest edition of Critical Friends. We've moved it a week earlier in the schedule in order to include a fantastic conversation between @tristanbeiter.bsky.social's Le Guin book club about the contexts of criticism ... and the potential of the book club.
AUTHOR BEWARE: Scammers making Facebook pages that look like Kindle Publishing and/or use the Amazon logo clearly trying to sell author services. 100% fake. Tip: say the word 'trademark' and they delete the entire page in ten seconds flat. 📚💙
January 23, 2026 at 8:25 PM
AUTHOR BEWARE: Scammers making Facebook pages that look like Kindle Publishing and/or use the Amazon logo clearly trying to sell author services. 100% fake. Tip: say the word 'trademark' and they delete the entire page in ten seconds flat. 📚💙
Resistance is not futile.
[AI bubble bursts] billionaire tech bro: the stupid consumer did not understand it
January 22, 2026 at 2:16 PM
Resistance is not futile.
Owl philanthropists are now canon in my universes.
A THREAD. Which I have decided to call 'Reasons Why Owls Are Excellent'.
1. They are always putting the needs of others before their own.
1. They are always putting the needs of others before their own.
Almost certainly the best thing I was ever told about owls was when I met an owl handler at an owl sanctuary and he told me that the wild owls who lived near the sanctuary worried about the tame show owls there and sometimes stopped by to leave them shrews and mice as presents.
January 21, 2026 at 2:21 PM
Owl philanthropists are now canon in my universes.
Reposted by Frances Pauli
I've bought a lot of pre-made covers from Skyla (and have commissioned others) & she's wonderful to work with. Check them out ⬇️
Get your writing projects figured out for the year now with an affordable premade cover. No generative AI--all design elements are licensed assets by real photographers and artists. There are new ones in the shop as I work on retooling my site. payhip.com/IndigoChickD...
Indigo Chick Designs - Premade Cover
Writer, artist, and editor Skyla Dawn Cameron worked behind the scenes in publishing for six years as a cover artist, editor, and art director. She went exclusively freelance in 2013, and approaches c...
payhip.com
January 12, 2026 at 11:50 PM
I've bought a lot of pre-made covers from Skyla (and have commissioned others) & she's wonderful to work with. Check them out ⬇️
Reposted by Frances Pauli
Something a little different. Some cartoonists put out a call for comics about local ICE experiences. This one happened a few months ago so it's a little older than current events, but it's a story that I never stopped thinking about. #ICEoutcomics
January 18, 2026 at 2:10 PM
Something a little different. Some cartoonists put out a call for comics about local ICE experiences. This one happened a few months ago so it's a little older than current events, but it's a story that I never stopped thinking about. #ICEoutcomics
2025 Reads Thread-animal fiction edition. :)
This year I discovered the Shady Hollow mysteries of Juneau Black (pen name of an author-duet of cozy mystery) The books are sweet, full of animals and lovely coziness. So far the mysteries are actually pretty obvious, but I've hope for a twist in book 3
This year I discovered the Shady Hollow mysteries of Juneau Black (pen name of an author-duet of cozy mystery) The books are sweet, full of animals and lovely coziness. So far the mysteries are actually pretty obvious, but I've hope for a twist in book 3
January 17, 2026 at 12:57 AM
2025 Reads Thread-animal fiction edition. :)
This year I discovered the Shady Hollow mysteries of Juneau Black (pen name of an author-duet of cozy mystery) The books are sweet, full of animals and lovely coziness. So far the mysteries are actually pretty obvious, but I've hope for a twist in book 3
This year I discovered the Shady Hollow mysteries of Juneau Black (pen name of an author-duet of cozy mystery) The books are sweet, full of animals and lovely coziness. So far the mysteries are actually pretty obvious, but I've hope for a twist in book 3
I have a few things eligible this year, From the Indulge anthology, my sweet gay romance, Manuel and Otis, and from the Wild Hearts anthology, my Francine DeCarey pen name has True Colors. I'll be posting some of my favorite reads this year soon.
The nomination cycle for the 2025 Ursa Major Awards has now begun! They will be open until February 5th, 11:59 PM PST!
ursamajorawards.org/nominations....
You can go back and edit your nominations at any time until the period has ended!
ursamajorawards.org/nominations....
You can go back and edit your nominations at any time until the period has ended!
Ursa Major Awards nominations
Nominations page for Ursa Major Awards
ursamajorawards.org
January 17, 2026 at 12:37 AM
I have a few things eligible this year, From the Indulge anthology, my sweet gay romance, Manuel and Otis, and from the Wild Hearts anthology, my Francine DeCarey pen name has True Colors. I'll be posting some of my favorite reads this year soon.
Animal-centric Speculative Fiction alert. :) 🐻📚💙Your morning read?
In “Bird and Bread,” Aparna Kapur shares a fantastic satirical tale about a bird preventing the end of the world, quite smugly.
Link below to save the world: tasavvurnama.com/bird-and-bre...
🔮 - #SouthAsian #SpeculativeFiction
Link below to save the world: tasavvurnama.com/bird-and-bre...
🔮 - #SouthAsian #SpeculativeFiction
January 15, 2026 at 2:32 PM
Animal-centric Speculative Fiction alert. :) 🐻📚💙Your morning read?
Reposted by Frances Pauli
Reposted by Frances Pauli
Gender Ideology: Both a completely new liberal concept that no one 5 years ago ever heard of before AND somehow infecting the writings of ancient Greek philosophers.
Texas A&M says PLATO may be gender or race ideology
I mean, they are so close to getting the criticisms of the western canon 😹
dailynous.com/2026/01/06/t...
I mean, they are so close to getting the criticisms of the western canon 😹
dailynous.com/2026/01/06/t...
Texas A&M Bans Plato - Daily Nous
Drop the race and gender material from your course and the Plato readings, or teach a different course. You have a day to decide. That's a paraphrase of what Martin Peterson, professor of philosophy at Texas A&M University, was told by university officials today about his upcoming "Contemporary Moral Problems" course, due to start next
dailynous.com
January 7, 2026 at 12:55 PM
Gender Ideology: Both a completely new liberal concept that no one 5 years ago ever heard of before AND somehow infecting the writings of ancient Greek philosophers.
I feel this in my cockles.
January 4, 2026 at 5:42 PM
I feel this in my cockles.
Reposted by Frances Pauli
ATTN EDITORS & AUTHORS: If you published original short SF/F/H this year that engages with themes of nature, climate & animals (pets included!), send it our way for consideration in The Year's Best Speculative Ecofiction ✨
We also accept collections & anthos (stories are considered individually).
We also accept collections & anthos (stories are considered individually).
Nominations for ECO25 are OPEN 🌍🌱✨ We look forward to reading your best 2025 ecofiction!
Get the full details in our blog post announcement below ⬇️
Full guidelines: apexbookcompany.moksha.io/publication/...
Submission Portal: apexbookcompany.moksha.io/publication/...
Get the full details in our blog post announcement below ⬇️
Full guidelines: apexbookcompany.moksha.io/publication/...
Submission Portal: apexbookcompany.moksha.io/publication/...
Nominations for ECO25 Now Open!
ECO: The Year’s Best Speculative Ecofiction is an annual showcase of some of the most compelling and thought-provoking ecofiction published every year. If you published speculative ecofiction in 2025 ...
www.apexbookcompany.com
December 30, 2025 at 8:15 PM
ATTN EDITORS & AUTHORS: If you published original short SF/F/H this year that engages with themes of nature, climate & animals (pets included!), send it our way for consideration in The Year's Best Speculative Ecofiction ✨
We also accept collections & anthos (stories are considered individually).
We also accept collections & anthos (stories are considered individually).
"...the touch of magic in the world (at Christmas) is amplified by the collective consciousness focusing on quiet beauty, kindness, and generosity."
December 27, 2025 at 11:25 PM
"...the touch of magic in the world (at Christmas) is amplified by the collective consciousness focusing on quiet beauty, kindness, and generosity."
They did a lovely job with this frame story and so many good stories inside too. <3 Have a listen.
If you like a holiday with some mystery, some ritual, some ceremony, and of course reuniting of old friends--and I do--you might try "Fireside Meeting After the Holiday Feast" with stories by @rcarterhall.bsky.social, Thomas "Faux" Steele, @francestypes.bsky.social, @nenekiribookwyrm.bsky.social...
The Voice of Dog: “Fireside Meeting After the Holiday Feast” by Friends of the Fireplace (part 1 of 2)
Today’s story is the first of two parts of a collaborative piece, with contributions by Renee Carter Hall, Thomas “Faux” Steele, Frances Pauli, Nenekiri Bookwyrm, Ziegenbock, K.C. Shaw, Vincenzo Pasqu...
thevoice.dog
December 23, 2025 at 7:48 PM
They did a lovely job with this frame story and so many good stories inside too. <3 Have a listen.
We should all be enraged by this, because there is literally nothing to stop it from happening to all of us now. Anything is fair game to the magic insta-gratification machines.
Fire the principal involved here and, honestly? Investigate the devices of the school board members.
Society is failing these children.
December 22, 2025 at 8:52 PM
We should all be enraged by this, because there is literally nothing to stop it from happening to all of us now. Anything is fair game to the magic insta-gratification machines.
Add your voice to the AI conversation.
If you write, or even you just prefer to read SFF that wasn't made by energy-devouring Plagiarism Bot, definitely fill out this survey on GenAI.
Depending on what you want to say, you can do it pretty quickly. Every bit of our voices helps this.
Depending on what you want to say, you can do it pretty quickly. Every bit of our voices helps this.
SFWA members and general SFF community:
In this press release, our Board of Directors apologizes for recent events.
Feedback from writers is strongly welcomed in the survey.
SFWA Members: Write to [email protected] to support our Emerging Tech Committee.
www.sfwa.org/2025/12/22/p...
In this press release, our Board of Directors apologizes for recent events.
Feedback from writers is strongly welcomed in the survey.
SFWA Members: Write to [email protected] to support our Emerging Tech Committee.
www.sfwa.org/2025/12/22/p...
December 22, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Add your voice to the AI conversation.
Reposted by Frances Pauli
I'll just ditto this and say that I also don't use AI to generate any of my cover images. I use stock photos and hire human artists. Because the stock photo sites have been inundated by AI 'art' if you see an image on one of my books you suspect involves AI please tell me so I can investigate.
In case it doesn't go without saying: I have not used gen AI to create text in any of my books. I have not used Grammarly etc to "clean up" the text. I have not used it to research any of my books, except where it might be built into search engines under the hood (I do not use labelled AI results).
December 20, 2025 at 9:42 PM
I'll just ditto this and say that I also don't use AI to generate any of my cover images. I use stock photos and hire human artists. Because the stock photo sites have been inundated by AI 'art' if you see an image on one of my books you suspect involves AI please tell me so I can investigate.
Reposted by Frances Pauli
📚🐻Junebug remembered, she was not a kelpie either. Not unicorn anymore nor fully kelpie. She was, as General had been, a creature with both natures. She still had her horn, even if her teeth, her coat, her belly had been born anew.
She had magic.
www.patreon.com/posts/kelpie...
She had magic.
www.patreon.com/posts/kelpie...
Kelpiecorn: Twenty-two | Frances Pauli
Get more from Frances Pauli on Patreon
www.patreon.com
December 20, 2025 at 7:55 PM
📚🐻Junebug remembered, she was not a kelpie either. Not unicorn anymore nor fully kelpie. She was, as General had been, a creature with both natures. She still had her horn, even if her teeth, her coat, her belly had been born anew.
She had magic.
www.patreon.com/posts/kelpie...
She had magic.
www.patreon.com/posts/kelpie...
"Wet Rat Winter" shall be the name of my grunge band. Toilet Rats is a close second. The king of disaster headlines.
Today on Band Name Or Plague Vector?
King County warns of toilet rats after record flooding
December 20, 2025 at 5:26 PM
"Wet Rat Winter" shall be the name of my grunge band. Toilet Rats is a close second. The king of disaster headlines.
A very good model to consider. I will be making a statement for the webpage shortly with this one in mind.
Just a reminder writer friends, Delilah Waan has an incredible example of an AI statement on her website breaking down her views and every area in publishing where AI could creep in and how she tries to avoid it. If you feel strongly, here's a great way to approach having a statement for readers.
Where I Stand on the Use of AI in Publishing – Delilah Waan
www.delilahwaan.com
December 20, 2025 at 5:20 PM
A very good model to consider. I will be making a statement for the webpage shortly with this one in mind.
This entire thread, up and down. Why art is about process and why handing the process over to a machine will never result in your own art. Ever. Process always trumps product. <3
Our art is the culmination of our lives and experiences and our conversations with others' art and our fears and our dreams. It is imperfect and beautiful and personal and deeply human. The more you write, the more time you spend in the process, the better storyteller instincts you'll develop.
December 20, 2025 at 5:14 PM
This entire thread, up and down. Why art is about process and why handing the process over to a machine will never result in your own art. Ever. Process always trumps product. <3