Kate Heartfield
@kateheartfield.com
I write weird novels about weird history, plus games and stories. Next novel: MERCUTIO, May 2026. (Mostly) former journalist; currently teaching journalism. From Manitoba, now in Ottawa. She/her. Trans rights or gtfo 🏳️🌈
https://kateheartfield.com
https://kateheartfield.com
In the 1892 sketch on Wikipedia, those bits look more like a mouth to me -- maybe they shifted. Or maybe the 1892 sketch was aspirational.
January 10, 2026 at 5:00 PM
In the 1892 sketch on Wikipedia, those bits look more like a mouth to me -- maybe they shifted. Or maybe the 1892 sketch was aspirational.
I started this day by getting stuck in the snow (nobody taunted me, except for me) and I made use of my traction mats, which reminds me to spread the good news about traction mats. If you drive on icy/snowy places, do yourself a favour. They work better than the traditional DIY stuff, I've found.
January 10, 2026 at 3:36 AM
I started this day by getting stuck in the snow (nobody taunted me, except for me) and I made use of my traction mats, which reminds me to spread the good news about traction mats. If you drive on icy/snowy places, do yourself a favour. They work better than the traditional DIY stuff, I've found.
Hugs, friend. Here is a photo of Minerva walking around with a zip tie looking like a hockey player chewing on a mouthguard.
January 8, 2026 at 5:28 PM
Hugs, friend. Here is a photo of Minerva walking around with a zip tie looking like a hockey player chewing on a mouthguard.
Oh hey, Indigo has Mercutio among its "most anticipated books of 2026", so it is 30% off until Jan. 11. ($18.89 CAD for the paperback, which comes out in August). I'd love this novel to find its readers, and pre-orders help, so Canadians, please check it out if you can www.indigo.ca/en-ca/mercut...
January 5, 2026 at 1:00 AM
Oh hey, Indigo has Mercutio among its "most anticipated books of 2026", so it is 30% off until Jan. 11. ($18.89 CAD for the paperback, which comes out in August). I'd love this novel to find its readers, and pre-orders help, so Canadians, please check it out if you can www.indigo.ca/en-ca/mercut...
So far at this PWHL game the fan sign that got the biggest cheer just said WOMEN, a service member with they/them pronouns was honoured, and they have played All The Things She Said at least once. We are Winning (also the Charge are up 1-0)
January 3, 2026 at 6:48 PM
So far at this PWHL game the fan sign that got the biggest cheer just said WOMEN, a service member with they/them pronouns was honoured, and they have played All The Things She Said at least once. We are Winning (also the Charge are up 1-0)
At the best game you can name (go Charge)
January 3, 2026 at 5:58 PM
At the best game you can name (go Charge)
Cat on my knees, unconcerned about my desire to make a cup of tea.
January 2, 2026 at 11:54 PM
Cat on my knees, unconcerned about my desire to make a cup of tea.
Strongly choosing to believe this means I get back into sourdough.
January 1, 2026 at 11:54 PM
Strongly choosing to believe this means I get back into sourdough.
We were supposed to go to a party but the roads are covered in snow, so it's a home NYE. So far the Entente is winning.
January 1, 2026 at 1:36 AM
We were supposed to go to a party but the roads are covered in snow, so it's a home NYE. So far the Entente is winning.
Minerva looking regal*
*at a bug
*at a bug
December 27, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Minerva looking regal*
*at a bug
*at a bug
Oh yeah for sure. We had this kind (not sure why everything had to be that colour).
December 27, 2025 at 3:32 AM
Oh yeah for sure. We had this kind (not sure why everything had to be that colour).
The kid and I made cookies.
December 23, 2025 at 8:55 PM
The kid and I made cookies.
No chatbot will ever talk to me like I talk to me, and that is why I do not respect it
![[tk the prose is boring in this scene, also most of it has to go anyway]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:r6qzbptygmyrf6kzcgil6avc/bafkreiczof26grmeetd7777yeukkdj6s7k5vq4lkjx7nmhrtljcdnzd6ae@jpeg)
December 20, 2025 at 9:54 PM
No chatbot will ever talk to me like I talk to me, and that is why I do not respect it
Yep, we've been using spellcheck for nearly as long as home personal computers have been a thing. Here is an ad from 1981. Your secretary can be working with it in a matter of minutes!
December 20, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Yep, we've been using spellcheck for nearly as long as home personal computers have been a thing. Here is an ad from 1981. Your secretary can be working with it in a matter of minutes!
Saturday morning breakfast while I work on the novel: scones fresh out of the oven, Bonne Maman lemon curd, clotted cream, berries.
December 20, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Saturday morning breakfast while I work on the novel: scones fresh out of the oven, Bonne Maman lemon curd, clotted cream, berries.
My mom is supposed to fly here from Winnipeg today but apparently Manitoba is closed due to blizzard
December 18, 2025 at 6:21 PM
My mom is supposed to fly here from Winnipeg today but apparently Manitoba is closed due to blizzard
Nobody here but one small anomalous void
December 18, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Nobody here but one small anomalous void
Bonus fun: We can't do "on this day in 1582 in France" today, because it didn't exist.
December 17, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Bonus fun: We can't do "on this day in 1582 in France" today, because it didn't exist.
I see this in my journalism students' work all the time, and yes language evolves, but this is one where the ambiguity leads me to be prescriptive. To don is to put clothing on, not to wear clothing. Unless he's getting dressed in the courtroom, just say "he wore." Don and doff = do on and do off
December 17, 2025 at 6:09 PM
I see this in my journalism students' work all the time, and yes language evolves, but this is one where the ambiguity leads me to be prescriptive. To don is to put clothing on, not to wear clothing. Unless he's getting dressed in the courtroom, just say "he wore." Don and doff = do on and do off
I know, I'll just lie in a way that she can't --
nope, thwarted
nope, thwarted
December 13, 2025 at 5:17 PM
I know, I'll just lie in a way that she can't --
nope, thwarted
nope, thwarted
It's really something how they have both developed resting grinch face.
December 11, 2025 at 10:58 PM
It's really something how they have both developed resting grinch face.
Minerva has been in hot water bottle mode under the covers with me for the last 24 hours. I'm now well enough to sit up in bed to mark assignments, but she's still on duty just in case.
December 10, 2025 at 11:55 PM
Minerva has been in hot water bottle mode under the covers with me for the last 24 hours. I'm now well enough to sit up in bed to mark assignments, but she's still on duty just in case.
Today we're painting.
December 6, 2025 at 9:47 PM
Today we're painting.