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Reposted by Lauren C. Johnson

SFWP @sfwp.bsky.social · 5d

For fans of #historicalfiction and #fantasy books, THE WEST FACADE by @laurencjohnson.bsky.social will be available in just 5 MONTHS!

Preorder THE WEST FACADE right here: buff.ly/0LHG1dG

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Reposted by Lauren C. Johnson

Grace Loh Prasad @gracelp.bsky.social · 7d

One of the great pleasures of reading is coming across an artful metaphor. Describing AI as a “single-use plastic of the mind” is just 🤯 It’s also a perfect example of what AI is not capable of. AI is about shortcuts & optimization whereas a powerful metaphor creates understanding through detours.

Wendy Xu @wendyxu.bsky.social · 9d

"single-use plastic of the mind" had me GAGGED

But a still graver scandal of AI— like its hydra-head sibling, cryptocurrency-is the technology's colossal wastefulness. The untold billions firehosed by investors into its development; the water-guzzling data centers draining the parched exurbs of Phoenix and Dallas; the yeti-size carbon footprint of the sector as a whole—and for what? A cankerous glut of racist memes and cardboard essays.
Not only is the ratio of Al's resource rapacity to its productive utility indefensibly and irremediably skewed, Al-made material is itself a waste product: flimsy, shoddy, disposable, a single-use plastic of the mind.

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Mary Sue @marysuesays.bsky.social · 11d

Portlanders especially, but everyone also!

HAVE YOU TAKEN A STOP THE BLEED CLASS?!

Did you know you can click this link and take a Stop the Bleed class?

www.stopthebleed.org/get-trained/...

Online Course

Take an online course as an alternative to in-person Stop the Bleed Training.

www.stopthebleed.org

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Rafi @rafil.bsky.social · 11d

I have approximately zero following on this app, sharing in the hopes it can get in front of the right person. A man I went to college with’s wife was kidnapped by ICE at a green card hearing, and he’s trying to find a reporter who will speak to him about the situation

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Club Chicxulub @clubchicxulub.bsky.social · 11d

The publishing landscape is rough, but when it comes to indie speculative fiction, we're in a golden age!

For all your weird and dark story (and music!) cravings, Club Chicxulub Journal lives ☄️🦖

clubchicxulub.com

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Reposted by Lauren C. Johnson

Kristina Ten @kristinaten.bsky.social · 12d

Thanks to @spacecowboybooks.bsky.social for this mini interview about Tell Me Yours, I’ll Tell You Mine! We talked strength in numbers, borrowed forms, and some of the book’s most fun experiments.

Pictured with the current state of tour prep... 😵‍💫

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Grace Loh Prasad @gracelp.bsky.social · 12d

Do you love doing bookish things? Are you ready to talk about your forthcoming book? Want to get invited to conferences, libraries & more? This Sunday, Sept. 28, 10am-12pm PT, I’m doing a Zoom session on BUILDING YOUR AUTHOR PLATFORM at @thewritersgrotto.bsky.social. Link below ⬇️

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Eamhair MacGriogair / Maya Evan MacGregor @maigheach.bsky.social · 14d

I really wish people would stop talking about autistic people (like me!) as a “risk” instead of a neutral and naturally occurring subset of humanity who get born mostly because other autistic people exist in our bloodline.

It’s really exhausting. We’re human and ✨can hear you.✨

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Space Cowboy Books @spacecowboybooks.bsky.social · 13d

New Book Spotlight up on the blog today. A mini-interview with @kristinaten.bsky.social about Tell Me Yours, I'll Tell You Mine from Stillhouse Press

spacecowboybooks.com/3253-2/

New Book Spotlight – Tell Me Yours, I’ll Tell You Mine by Kristina Ten – Space Cowboy Books

spacecowboybooks.com

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Lauren C. Johnson @laurencjohnson.bsky.social · 14d

I wrote my debut novel while working full time. It took me 10 years, but I don't regret any of the time I spent drafting and revising.

Lauren C. Johnson @laurencjohnson.bsky.social · Sep 3

My weird Gothic fairytale novel, The West Facade comes out exactly 6 months from today with @sfwp.bsky.social Eeeee!

Here's how you can pre-order 🌙🖤 www.sfwp.com/books/johnson

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Lauren C. Johnson @laurencjohnson.bsky.social · Sep 3

Those essays and memoirs showed me the way. So, I aspire to put my work out there as an offering for anyone else going through it. 💙

Lauren C. Johnson @laurencjohnson.bsky.social · Sep 3

Definitely a theme here. These have not been easy pieces to write, and I’m not even sure I could say writing them has been cathartic. But I will say that when I was reeling with anticipatory grief, I read countless essays by people who’d experienced similar losses.

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Lauren C. Johnson @laurencjohnson.bsky.social · Sep 3

🖊️ I’m finalizing edits on an essay about training for and running the San Francisco Marathon in honor of my dad.

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Lauren C. Johnson @laurencjohnson.bsky.social · Sep 3

🖊️ I finished and sold a 2,000-word essay about collecting Generation 1 My Little Ponies 🦄 as a bizarre grief response to losing my dad. That one’s coming out closer to the end of the year, and yes, I will share photos of the ponies along with the essay. 🎠

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Lauren C. Johnson @laurencjohnson.bsky.social · Sep 3

🖊️ I finished a first draft of my essay about watching the Southwest Florida Eagle cam while my dad was going through cancer treatments.This one’s a mess, but I got words on the page and that’s the most important thing.

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Lauren C. Johnson @laurencjohnson.bsky.social · Sep 3

End-of-summer writing update ✍️ At the beginning of June, I posted about Jami Attenberg’s annual challenge, #1000wordsofsummer, and I wanted to share where I landed for accountability’s sake.

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SFWP @sfwp.bsky.social · Aug 21

This just in, our summer book sale works on preorders!

Treat yourself to books by @carolinehagood.bsky.social, Lisa K. Friedman, @lumchanmfa.bsky.social, @laurencjohnson.bsky.social, and @wendyjfox.bsky.social, and get 30% off your total purchase when you shop directly from SFWP! buff.ly/S3Jxn7N

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T. K. Rex @tkrex.bsky.social · Jul 11

I got to host a reading last night & it was SPECTACULAR

@laurencjohnson.bsky.social, Josh Fernandez, K. M. Soehnlein, @audthentic.bsky.social and @cynthiasaysboo.bsky.social read, @fabulistmag.bsky.social co-hosted, Cafe Suspiro & Arc Gallery were an amazing double venue. San Francisco I love you

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Lauren C. Johnson @laurencjohnson.bsky.social · Jul 9

I'm so thrilled to join this 🌟stellar🌟 lineup!!! Bay Area friends, come through!

T. K. Rex @tkrex.bsky.social · Jul 2

Next week! I’m co-hosting Stir, a new reading series at Cafe Suspiro on Folsom St. We have five local authors reading, including @audthentic.bsky.social & @cynthiasaysboo.bsky.social with @fabulistmag.bsky.social hosting a Q&A. Vibes & coffee 5-6, words 6-8pm, July 10
cafesuspiro.com/pages/stir-a...

Stir: a reading series at Cafe Suspiro

San Francisco Coffee Shop Record Shop Book Shop

cafesuspiro.com

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Reposted by Lauren C. Johnson

Vanessa Fogg @vanessafogg.bsky.social · Jul 7

My short fiction recs for April-June are up. Featuring stories by T.K. Rex, @foxesandroses.bsky.social @thomasha.bsky.social @nuzo.bsky.social @mariahaskins.com @angelaliu.bsky.social Madison Jozefiak @carrievaughnco.bsky.social and @aimeeogdenwrites.com

itsajumble.blogspot.com/2025/07/shor...

Short fiction recs! April-June 2025

Due to personal matters, I was not able to get as much short fiction read as usual these past few months. But here are some short stor...

itsajumble.blogspot.com

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Reposted by Lauren C. Johnson

Amy @lolennui.bsky.social · Jun 27

It’s every parent’s nightmare, isn’t it? you check your child’s bulletproof backpack and find a picture book about gay penguins

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Lauren C. Johnson @laurencjohnson.bsky.social · Jun 26

My wonderful editor, Adam al-Sirgany's collection is available for pre-order from @whiskeytit.com!! Two words: sentient figurines!

whiskeytit.com/product/more...

More Hell

In Midwestern flyover country, the stories of More Hell weave a rich and sometimes comic tapestry of longing, addiction, sex, and loss. The wild cast of rural characters navigate a fast-changing wo…

whiskeytit.com

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Reposted by Lauren C. Johnson

Club Chicxulub @clubchicxulub.bsky.social · Jun 25

THANK YOU to everyone who submitted pieces to Club Chicxulub Vol. 4, LIMBO!! 🌀 We received double the submissions we received last time, and we're so honored and humbled that you trust us to present your work.

We promise to respond to you asap! 🦖☄️✨

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Lauren C. Johnson @laurencjohnson.bsky.social · Jun 25

A belated congrats to Alexander Boldizar for winning the 2025 Locus Award for best science fiction novel of 2024 for The Man Who Saw Seconds!!!

This was my first time attending the Locus Awards Weekend festivities and it was a hoot!

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