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rachaelreadswrites.bsky.social
Rachael 📚 🎶
@rachaelreadswrites.bsky.social
120 followers 160 following 160 posts
All things books!
Reader, Writer, Librarian, & Harpist
In my cozy fantasy/fairytale era
"too sensitive," "too direct," "too many words," "too earnest," "too much"
https://linktr.ee/rachaelreadsandwrites
Posts Replies Media Videos
Reposted by Rachael 📚 🎶
katmabu.bsky.social
Standing with members of @sbworkersunited.org
in Chicago today, demanding fair pay and dignity on the job.

This holiday season, choose solidarity. Don’t cross the picket line.
December 10, 2025 at 9:28 PM
Reposted by Rachael 📚 🎶
thetnholler.bsky.social
ICYMI — “I identified myself as a U.S. citizen and a veteran, but that didn't matter. ICE Agents smashed my window, sprayed tear gas and pepper spray into my car, dragged me out… this experience violated the very principles I fought to defend.”
December 11, 2025 at 4:16 AM
Reposted by Rachael 📚 🎶
feistywaters.com
I’ve worked in public libraries for 20 years, today was the first time we’ve had to tell someone they couldn’t bring their chainsaw in the library.
December 11, 2025 at 1:30 AM
Reposted by Rachael 📚 🎶
cajunblue.bsky.social
🚨Arresting US citizens who have not broken any laws is now acceptable practice in the United States of America. The only thing worse than being ICE is pretending that you don’t see what is happening to our neighbors. She isn’t a hero, she’s an American. 🇺🇸
December 10, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Reposted by Rachael 📚 🎶
effies.bsky.social
Trying out a new PCP's office, and their "preferred language" dropdown on the intake form is time-traveler inclusive.
alt-text: screencap from a dropdown menu with "English" selected, beneath it is "English, middle (1100-1500)" and "English, old (ca.450-1100)
December 8, 2025 at 8:06 PM
rachaelreadswrites.bsky.social
It's not too late to join our holiday-themed writing challenge! Sign up for the email to stay in the loop.
#fantasy #holiday #Christmas #writingchallenge #sff #specfiction #cozy #shortstory
open.substack.com/pub/fantasys...
This month’s Fantasy Story Writing Challenge begins TODAY!
And this month’s prompts are [drumroll] …
open.substack.com
December 9, 2025 at 1:30 AM
rachaelreadswrites.bsky.social
A fragmentation of a wintery story/prose poem I wrote up this week. Plus maybe some harp playing, given the title...
open.substack.com/pub/rachaelr...
#writersky #booksky #shortstory #poem #prosepoem #specfiction #sff #cozyfantasy #Christmas #wintersolstice #walkingintheair
Walking in the Air: Cozy Winter Flash Fiction
Plus some harp playing, given the title...
open.substack.com
December 6, 2025 at 4:18 PM
rachaelreadswrites.bsky.social
Which classic Christmas tale are we retelling with a fantasy twist? You get to vote!
#writersky #writingsky #writingchallenge #fantasy #specfiction #sff #Christmas #winterholidays
open.substack.com/pub/fantasys...
Monthly Term Begins Today -- Time to Vote for the Assignment Prompt
Once upon a December...
open.substack.com
December 3, 2025 at 12:08 AM
rachaelreadswrites.bsky.social
Story pitch: if Pixar produced an Addams Family spinoff starring the weird little demon cousin of Aziraphale from Good Omens.
Read if here: open.substack.com/pub/rachaelr...
#booksky #writersky #shortstory #cozyfantasy #horror #specfiction #sff
I Have One Daughter: Creepy/Cozy Fantasy Short Story
November 29, 2025 at 9:02 PM
rachaelreadswrites.bsky.social
19th century woman's Christmas poetry with STRONG yule-time goddess vibes.
#booksky #writersky #poem #poetry #Christmas #wintersolstice #yule
open.substack.com/pub/rachaelr...
"Earth Grown Old" by Christina Rossetti - An Advent Poem from 1886
"Earth grown old, yet still so green ... nurses fire unfelt, unseen"
open.substack.com
November 29, 2025 at 8:57 PM
Reposted by Rachael 📚 🎶
theharplibrarian.bsky.social
"The rising of the sun and the running of the deer..."
Winter Harp, Week 1
My own arrangement. Sheet music available in comments!
#harp #musicsky #Christmas #celticharp #sheetmusic
youtu.be/sx-8TK1lR_8?...
The Holly and the Ivy, English Christmas Carol, on Celtic/Folk Lap Harp + SHEET MUSIC - Full Version
YouTube video by The Harp Librarian
youtu.be
November 29, 2025 at 5:35 PM
rachaelreadswrites.bsky.social
For Thanksgiving entertainment that ISN'T Charlie Brown or Miracle on 34th Street, read my belated Halloween short story about a Pixar-esque lil' demon who struggles with corporeality and family.
open.substack.com/pub/rachaelr...
#booksky #writersky #fantasy #cozy #horror #humor #specfiction #sff
I Have One Daughter: Creepy/Cozy Fantasy Short Story
"Darkness incarnate could usually tell when a seance was about to go horribly wrong. It gave her the tinglies."
open.substack.com
November 27, 2025 at 9:58 PM
rachaelreadswrites.bsky.social
Happy Thanksgiving, to all who celebrate, from this little nerd.
November 27, 2025 at 6:12 PM
rachaelreadswrites.bsky.social
If you're the kind of person who is sad Halloween is over, please enjoy my Pixar short-esque story of a lil' displaced demon who struggles with corporeality and maybe boundaries.
#booksky #writersky #fantasy #cozyfantasy #cozyhorror #spookyseason #specfiction #sff
open.substack.com/pub/rachaelr...
Title: I Have One Daughter: Creepy/Cozy Fantasy Short Story. Quote: "Darkness incarnate could usually tell when a seance was about to go horribly wrong. It gave her the tinglies." By Rachael Reads and Writes
November 27, 2025 at 12:35 AM
rachaelreadswrites.bsky.social
Read this month's Wicked movie/musical themed stories
#Zine #fantasy #magicschool #booksky #writersky #specfiction #speculativefiction #sff #wickedforgood #shortstories
open.substack.com/pub/fantasys...
Community Zine
Read this month's submitted stories!
open.substack.com
November 24, 2025 at 7:21 PM
rachaelreadswrites.bsky.social
Ok, fam. Inquiring minds need to know. Which camp are you in re Thanksgiving foods?

In my world, Midwestern Neighbor is correct. Though she should also have pushed back on the mac n’ cheese. A true midwesterner would have suggested funeral potatoes as an alternative.

youtu.be/H-iZ2JQA6EE?...
Trying To Host Thanksgiving
YouTube video by Holderness Family Laughs
youtu.be
November 23, 2025 at 10:28 PM
rachaelreadswrites.bsky.social
Challenge: can YOU write your way out of this magic school side quest?
#writersky #fantasy #magicschool #darkacademia #specfiction #speculativefiction #sff #sidequest #writingexercise
open.substack.com/pub/fantasys...
Side Quest: Encounter with a Bully
Taking the words right out of your mouth
open.substack.com
November 22, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Reposted by Rachael 📚 🎶
us.theconversation.com
Relying on ChatGPT to teach you about a topic leaves you with shallower knowledge than Googling and reading about it, according to new research that compared what more than 10,000 people knew after using one method or the other.

Shared by @gizmodo.com: buff.ly/yAAHtHq
November 21, 2025 at 11:48 AM
Reposted by Rachael 📚 🎶
booksofm.com
If you use GMail, AI (Gemini) was turned on yesterday by default and now scans all of your content for machine learning. To turn off, go to Settings>General and scroll down. Uncheck the box for "Smart features."

There's other "Smart" add-ons as well, but that's the one that reads your content.
November 20, 2025 at 5:32 PM
rachaelreadswrites.bsky.social
Looking for spec fiction lit magazines with submissions open NOW? Fantasy, scifi, horror, etc. Plus options for novel excerpt contests.
#writersky #specfiction #speculativefiction #sff #submissions #fantasy #scifi #horror #booksky
open.substack.com/pub/fantasys...
open.substack.com/pub/fantasys...
November 20, 2025 at 7:21 PM
Reposted by Rachael 📚 🎶
angelaliu.bsky.social
This poem by Andrea Gibson perfectly encapsulates the feeling I get when people say "hey, why don't you have more confidence?"
Diagnosis I suffer from unrequited self love. I love myself, but I don't love myself back. -Andrea Gibson
November 19, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Reposted by Rachael 📚 🎶
atgreenblatt.bsky.social
A really powerful personal essay by a colleague.

medium.com/@bratt.avaso...
The Pause on Hunger: How America Teaches Families to Starve Politely
When my mother texts me now, she doesn’t ask how I am. She asks if I can send money for groceries.
medium.com
November 18, 2025 at 3:02 AM
rachaelreadswrites.bsky.social
My conspiracy theory is that university ITS is just an urban myth.

“Their coming hath long been fortold by the robo-reply in the ‘help’ chat, which hath promised us a ‘live operator response’ these many hours hence…”
November 17, 2025 at 11:19 PM
rachaelreadswrites.bsky.social
No shit. Also breaking news: water is wet.
news.gallup.com/poll/697382/...
Record Numbers of Younger Women Want to Leave the U.S.
The percentage of younger women in the U.S. who express a desire to migrate permanently has surged in the past decade.
news.gallup.com
November 14, 2025 at 8:13 PM