Kristin Houlihan, Writer
@kristinwrites.bsky.social
Poet, Wife, Mom, LongCovid/MECFS Sufferer. Looking to connect and learning to advocate. Cofounder of #CripCoop. EIC, Poetry @epistemiclit.Bsky.social, @whirligiglit.bsky.social. Micropoetry chapbook Lift the Mask available widely. www.kristinhoulihan.com
Pinned
Lift the Mask: a short collection of poetry and lyrical prose
Lift the Mask: a short collection of poetry and lyrical prose - Kindle edition by Houlihan, Kristin. Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading Lift the Mask: a short collection of poetry and lyrical prose.
www.amazon.com
Who would like to buy my book today?
$0.99 in ebook
$3.46 in audio
$4.99 in paperback
29 micropoems about family, motherhood, and chronic illness
#BookSky
www.amazon.com/Lift-Mask-co...
$0.99 in ebook
$3.46 in audio
$4.99 in paperback
29 micropoems about family, motherhood, and chronic illness
#BookSky
www.amazon.com/Lift-Mask-co...
Reposted by Kristin Houlihan, Writer
Literally buying one copy of a book at your local indie bookstore can mean the difference in whether they buy future books from that author.
November 24, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Literally buying one copy of a book at your local indie bookstore can mean the difference in whether they buy future books from that author.
Reposted by Kristin Houlihan, Writer
Today's author discourse reminds me of when I was in a library-run youth writing group
The lady running it said "I don't know anyone who makes a living entirely off book sales. They teach or edit or SOMETHING else"
I was determined to become the exception
Then I started Weeknight Writers
1/?
The lady running it said "I don't know anyone who makes a living entirely off book sales. They teach or edit or SOMETHING else"
I was determined to become the exception
Then I started Weeknight Writers
1/?
November 25, 2025 at 11:58 PM
Today's author discourse reminds me of when I was in a library-run youth writing group
The lady running it said "I don't know anyone who makes a living entirely off book sales. They teach or edit or SOMETHING else"
I was determined to become the exception
Then I started Weeknight Writers
1/?
The lady running it said "I don't know anyone who makes a living entirely off book sales. They teach or edit or SOMETHING else"
I was determined to become the exception
Then I started Weeknight Writers
1/?
Reposted by Kristin Houlihan, Writer
Light Up A Lantern!
Everyone who gives $50+ to #MEAction fundraiser will have the ability to list a name on a lantern. You may light up a lantern in honor or in memory of someone else.
And, your donation will be DOUBLED thanks to a matching donation!
www.meaction.net/donate
Everyone who gives $50+ to #MEAction fundraiser will have the ability to list a name on a lantern. You may light up a lantern in honor or in memory of someone else.
And, your donation will be DOUBLED thanks to a matching donation!
www.meaction.net/donate
November 25, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Light Up A Lantern!
Everyone who gives $50+ to #MEAction fundraiser will have the ability to list a name on a lantern. You may light up a lantern in honor or in memory of someone else.
And, your donation will be DOUBLED thanks to a matching donation!
www.meaction.net/donate
Everyone who gives $50+ to #MEAction fundraiser will have the ability to list a name on a lantern. You may light up a lantern in honor or in memory of someone else.
And, your donation will be DOUBLED thanks to a matching donation!
www.meaction.net/donate
Reposted by Kristin Houlihan, Writer
To celebrate Family Caregivers Month, we’re unveiling brand-new shirts, sweatshirts, & mugs — created by caregivers for our community!
Our community came together — caregivers, volunteers, designers, friends — to create these items! Find them here: www.bonfire.com/store/meacti...
#InvisibleIllness
Our community came together — caregivers, volunteers, designers, friends — to create these items! Find them here: www.bonfire.com/store/meacti...
#InvisibleIllness
November 25, 2025 at 7:12 PM
To celebrate Family Caregivers Month, we’re unveiling brand-new shirts, sweatshirts, & mugs — created by caregivers for our community!
Our community came together — caregivers, volunteers, designers, friends — to create these items! Find them here: www.bonfire.com/store/meacti...
#InvisibleIllness
Our community came together — caregivers, volunteers, designers, friends — to create these items! Find them here: www.bonfire.com/store/meacti...
#InvisibleIllness
This is a fabulous initiative. Truly. I so hope it succeeds!
Image reattached with alt text
Image reattached with alt text
November 26, 2025 at 12:09 AM
This is a fabulous initiative. Truly. I so hope it succeeds!
Image reattached with alt text
Image reattached with alt text
Reposted by Kristin Houlihan, Writer
Remember our joy pop-up? It’s going to keep popping. We’re permanently opening subs for flashes of joy (well, as permanent as anything, which is not very but you get the idea). If we love it and it’s joyful we’ll add it to the issue. Like a little library of joy.
templeinacity.com/explore-the-...
templeinacity.com/explore-the-...
November 25, 2025 at 10:58 PM
Remember our joy pop-up? It’s going to keep popping. We’re permanently opening subs for flashes of joy (well, as permanent as anything, which is not very but you get the idea). If we love it and it’s joyful we’ll add it to the issue. Like a little library of joy.
templeinacity.com/explore-the-...
templeinacity.com/explore-the-...
Reposted by Kristin Houlihan, Writer
Each week on my patreon, I write about maps and about the process of drawing maps for books.
I'm hoping to get membership up over 500 subscribers, and we're close! It's free, so if you're curious, go read some articles. If you like it, please consider subscribing!
patreon.com/SurprisedEel
I'm hoping to get membership up over 500 subscribers, and we're close! It's free, so if you're curious, go read some articles. If you like it, please consider subscribing!
patreon.com/SurprisedEel
Surprised Eel Maps | Patreon
Custom Maps, Artwork, and History
patreon.com
November 25, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Each week on my patreon, I write about maps and about the process of drawing maps for books.
I'm hoping to get membership up over 500 subscribers, and we're close! It's free, so if you're curious, go read some articles. If you like it, please consider subscribing!
patreon.com/SurprisedEel
I'm hoping to get membership up over 500 subscribers, and we're close! It's free, so if you're curious, go read some articles. If you like it, please consider subscribing!
patreon.com/SurprisedEel
I’m feeling surprisingly ok today and it’s kinda freaking me out.
November 25, 2025 at 9:31 PM
I’m feeling surprisingly ok today and it’s kinda freaking me out.
Reposted by Kristin Houlihan, Writer
I'm editing an anthology about unlikable characters and seeking work from younger writers, 15-21. If you know of one such writer who might want to submit their work for consideration, please share this call for submissions: audacity.substack.com/p/acquired-t...
Acquired Tastes: A Call for Submissions
For younger writers, ages 15-21
audacity.substack.com
November 19, 2025 at 8:23 PM
I'm editing an anthology about unlikable characters and seeking work from younger writers, 15-21. If you know of one such writer who might want to submit their work for consideration, please share this call for submissions: audacity.substack.com/p/acquired-t...
Applesauce is in the slow cooker! Teen is on pie duty this afternoon. #Thanksgiving
November 25, 2025 at 7:55 PM
Applesauce is in the slow cooker! Teen is on pie duty this afternoon. #Thanksgiving
Reposted by Kristin Houlihan, Writer
Watching, digesting, processing, contextualizing, & writing about these conferences is intense work, but @mileswgriffis.bsky.social and @betsyladyzhets.bsky.social never miss a beat. They're consistently doing journalism that no one else is doing.
Help @thesicktimes.org keep going? bit.ly/49AUf4t
Help @thesicktimes.org keep going? bit.ly/49AUf4t
Our recap of last week's Long COVID International Conference is up now at @thesicktimes.org! Featuring summaries of talks that we found most notable (and a few hints about interesting results that aren't public yet). thesicktimes.org/2025/11/25/i...
International Long COVID conference spotlights biomarker and mechanism research - The Sick Times
The event, now in its third year, also revealed updates about clinical trials and healthcare for the disease.
thesicktimes.org
November 25, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Watching, digesting, processing, contextualizing, & writing about these conferences is intense work, but @mileswgriffis.bsky.social and @betsyladyzhets.bsky.social never miss a beat. They're consistently doing journalism that no one else is doing.
Help @thesicktimes.org keep going? bit.ly/49AUf4t
Help @thesicktimes.org keep going? bit.ly/49AUf4t
Reposted by Kristin Houlihan, Writer
I got my chronic market newsletter this morning.
It is a great website. You can buy items from folks with MECFS and you can also sign up to have a letter sent to you if you need a pick me up.
chronic.market
It is a great website. You can buy items from folks with MECFS and you can also sign up to have a letter sent to you if you need a pick me up.
chronic.market
Chronic Market
chronic.market
November 25, 2025 at 6:18 PM
I got my chronic market newsletter this morning.
It is a great website. You can buy items from folks with MECFS and you can also sign up to have a letter sent to you if you need a pick me up.
chronic.market
It is a great website. You can buy items from folks with MECFS and you can also sign up to have a letter sent to you if you need a pick me up.
chronic.market
About to set the kids up with the peeler-corer-slicer to get the apples going for pie (semi-homemade - store bought crust, homemade filling) and applesauce.
November 25, 2025 at 6:20 PM
About to set the kids up with the peeler-corer-slicer to get the apples going for pie (semi-homemade - store bought crust, homemade filling) and applesauce.
Reposted by Kristin Houlihan, Writer
Anyone interested in writing Poems for Pets to support my local rescue? What's better than writing poetry about the adorable quirky pets in our lives and helping us rescue more animals?
Please share
Please share
This is Melissa - wondering if there are any fellow dog and/or pet lovers in the #epistemicfamily and #poetry community who'd be interested in collaborating with me on a volume of poems about pets with the proceeds being donated to the rescue I volunteer with? Inspired by @1dgrn.bsky.social
November 25, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Anyone interested in writing Poems for Pets to support my local rescue? What's better than writing poetry about the adorable quirky pets in our lives and helping us rescue more animals?
Please share
Please share
Reposted by Kristin Houlihan, Writer
This is Melissa - wondering if there are any fellow dog and/or pet lovers in the #epistemicfamily and #poetry community who'd be interested in collaborating with me on a volume of poems about pets with the proceeds being donated to the rescue I volunteer with? Inspired by @1dgrn.bsky.social
November 25, 2025 at 2:48 PM
This is Melissa - wondering if there are any fellow dog and/or pet lovers in the #epistemicfamily and #poetry community who'd be interested in collaborating with me on a volume of poems about pets with the proceeds being donated to the rescue I volunteer with? Inspired by @1dgrn.bsky.social
Sloths on my compression socks today! I love sloths. Bc I am basically a sloth. I move very little and very slowly lol
November 25, 2025 at 5:51 PM
Sloths on my compression socks today! I love sloths. Bc I am basically a sloth. I move very little and very slowly lol
I declined a grilled cheese before my spouse left for the office and now… I dunno what to eat for breakfast. Silliness.
November 25, 2025 at 4:59 PM
I declined a grilled cheese before my spouse left for the office and now… I dunno what to eat for breakfast. Silliness.
A whole page of books by people with #MECFS!! (My book is not here bc it’s been on my todo list for like… 8 months to get it added 🤦♀️) #BookSky #ChronicIllness
Get some books!
chronic.market/chronic-illn...
Get some books!
chronic.market/chronic-illn...
Books by Authors with ME/CFS and Related Chronic Illnesses – Chronic Market
chronic.market
November 25, 2025 at 4:47 PM
A whole page of books by people with #MECFS!! (My book is not here bc it’s been on my todo list for like… 8 months to get it added 🤦♀️) #BookSky #ChronicIllness
Get some books!
chronic.market/chronic-illn...
Get some books!
chronic.market/chronic-illn...
Reposted by Kristin Houlihan, Writer
...and when you infrequently feel betterish and try to make plans, you can't keep them.
...and if you have kids, you can parent or you can Do Things, but not both.
...etc.
😟
...and if you have kids, you can parent or you can Do Things, but not both.
...etc.
😟
This is an excellent piece on PEM by @darthfoo.bsky.social. Seriously considering sending to literally everyone I know.
substack.com/home/post/p-...
substack.com/home/post/p-...
Why I Can’t Just Meet You for Dinner
The Reality of Post-Exertional Malaise
substack.com
November 25, 2025 at 2:07 PM
...and when you infrequently feel betterish and try to make plans, you can't keep them.
...and if you have kids, you can parent or you can Do Things, but not both.
...etc.
😟
...and if you have kids, you can parent or you can Do Things, but not both.
...etc.
😟
Reposted by Kristin Houlihan, Writer
I deal with this every day, all day.
"When the people in your life don’t understand PEM, they’re not just failing to understand a symptom. They’re failing to understand the central mechanism that governs your entire existence."
#PwME #ME #MECFS #LongCovid #disability #spoonie #ChronicIllness
"When the people in your life don’t understand PEM, they’re not just failing to understand a symptom. They’re failing to understand the central mechanism that governs your entire existence."
#PwME #ME #MECFS #LongCovid #disability #spoonie #ChronicIllness
This is an excellent piece on PEM by @darthfoo.bsky.social. Seriously considering sending to literally everyone I know.
substack.com/home/post/p-...
substack.com/home/post/p-...
Why I Can’t Just Meet You for Dinner
The Reality of Post-Exertional Malaise
substack.com
November 25, 2025 at 1:43 PM
I deal with this every day, all day.
"When the people in your life don’t understand PEM, they’re not just failing to understand a symptom. They’re failing to understand the central mechanism that governs your entire existence."
#PwME #ME #MECFS #LongCovid #disability #spoonie #ChronicIllness
"When the people in your life don’t understand PEM, they’re not just failing to understand a symptom. They’re failing to understand the central mechanism that governs your entire existence."
#PwME #ME #MECFS #LongCovid #disability #spoonie #ChronicIllness
Reposted by Kristin Houlihan, Writer
I just finished my ARC copy and it is SO GOOD! I love the whole series but book 3 is my favorite and I cannot WAIT to share it with my kids!
Get yourself an ARC if that’s your thing. If not, get excited for the upcoming (but tbd) release!
#KidLit #MiddleGrade #Pterosaurs #Magic #Sisters
Get yourself an ARC if that’s your thing. If not, get excited for the upcoming (but tbd) release!
#KidLit #MiddleGrade #Pterosaurs #Magic #Sisters
Does anyone want to read an ARC copy of book 3? I just got them, even though the release date is the 25th...🤔 #writesky #mgfiction #mgfantasy #writingcommunity #WIPSnips friends?
November 25, 2025 at 5:43 AM
I just finished my ARC copy and it is SO GOOD! I love the whole series but book 3 is my favorite and I cannot WAIT to share it with my kids!
Get yourself an ARC if that’s your thing. If not, get excited for the upcoming (but tbd) release!
#KidLit #MiddleGrade #Pterosaurs #Magic #Sisters
Get yourself an ARC if that’s your thing. If not, get excited for the upcoming (but tbd) release!
#KidLit #MiddleGrade #Pterosaurs #Magic #Sisters
Reposted by Kristin Houlihan, Writer
Glad to see this @wired.com guide on high quality masks! A KN95 can help protect you and your loved ones from COVID-19 and other airborne viruses, especially during this busy travel season. I only wish Wired wrote about the pandemic in the present tense 🙏😷
www.wired.com/story/best-d...
www.wired.com/story/best-d...
15 Good N95, KF94, and KN95 Face Masks to Buy Right Now
Flu season is here. These are the best disposable face coverings we’ve tested—and where you can find them.
www.wired.com
November 25, 2025 at 2:18 AM
Glad to see this @wired.com guide on high quality masks! A KN95 can help protect you and your loved ones from COVID-19 and other airborne viruses, especially during this busy travel season. I only wish Wired wrote about the pandemic in the present tense 🙏😷
www.wired.com/story/best-d...
www.wired.com/story/best-d...
Gardening friends! Any recommended basic set of starter tools that are suitable for small hands, small-framed gardener? I want them to be functional bc kiddo is serious about this (has a couple successful years of growing tomatoes, now planning to expand) but she is … slight.
Thanks!
Thanks!
November 25, 2025 at 12:24 AM
Gardening friends! Any recommended basic set of starter tools that are suitable for small hands, small-framed gardener? I want them to be functional bc kiddo is serious about this (has a couple successful years of growing tomatoes, now planning to expand) but she is … slight.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Don’t worry about us being too healthy. Feeding the kids five guys tonight. Milkshake with a spoon for the kiddo who got a tooth extracted this morning. 🤪
Last night spouse made a white bean, kale, and sausage soup (it was delicious). Three of the kids actually ate it. 2 were ambivalent, one was very displeased, and the fourth —- actually said they LIKED it 😱. (I used to cook like this regularly. Years ago. The kids don’t remember)
November 25, 2025 at 12:09 AM
Don’t worry about us being too healthy. Feeding the kids five guys tonight. Milkshake with a spoon for the kiddo who got a tooth extracted this morning. 🤪