Thea van Diepen 🌳📚
@theavandiepen.bsky.social
Author of fantasy and sci fi, lover of languages, "yes we could definitely put more trees in this book"
They/them 🏳️🌈
https://theavandiepen.com/links
They/them 🏳️🌈
https://theavandiepen.com/links
Pinned
Next Friday, I’ll be interviewing @piperstrangeart.bsky.social live on YouTube!
To find out what time it’s starting in your timezone, head on over here: www.youtube.com/live/3ruUlLY...
To find out what time it’s starting in your timezone, head on over here: www.youtube.com/live/3ruUlLY...
The livestream is done, but you can still catch the recording via the same link!
Thanks to everyone who came live- it was a lot of fun! And for folks watching the recording, I hope you enjoy 😊
Thanks to everyone who came live- it was a lot of fun! And for folks watching the recording, I hope you enjoy 😊
Reposted by Thea van Diepen 🌳📚
Bandcamp has banned AI music.
The company has released a statement which includes the following: "Music and audio that is generated wholly or in substantial part by AI is not permitted on Bandcamp."
stereogum.com/2485199/band...
The company has released a statement which includes the following: "Music and audio that is generated wholly or in substantial part by AI is not permitted on Bandcamp."
stereogum.com/2485199/band...
Bandcamp Bans AI Music
AI music has become a big problem on streaming services. Remember the AI-generated psych-rock band the Velvet Sundown and the AI-generated metalcore band Broken Avenue racking up streams on Spotify? R...
stereogum.com
January 14, 2026 at 2:23 PM
Bandcamp has banned AI music.
The company has released a statement which includes the following: "Music and audio that is generated wholly or in substantial part by AI is not permitted on Bandcamp."
stereogum.com/2485199/band...
The company has released a statement which includes the following: "Music and audio that is generated wholly or in substantial part by AI is not permitted on Bandcamp."
stereogum.com/2485199/band...
Reposted by Thea van Diepen 🌳📚
From a good friend in Minneapolis: "Target is allowing ICE to stage in their parking lots, use their restrooms, and abduct people from inside their stores - so if you weren’t boycotting already, now is the time." They were staging in Chicago as well.
January 12, 2026 at 3:42 PM
From a good friend in Minneapolis: "Target is allowing ICE to stage in their parking lots, use their restrooms, and abduct people from inside their stores - so if you weren’t boycotting already, now is the time." They were staging in Chicago as well.
Reposted by Thea van Diepen 🌳📚
Calling them out on bad business, unprofessional behavior, malfeasance, etc isn’t “bullying”. It’s protecting your peers.
Example: EDE Bell / Chris Bell / Athis Arts claim they’re being “bullied” because “conspiracy”. No, you’re being called out because you’re allegedly grifting, toxic amateurs.
Example: EDE Bell / Chris Bell / Athis Arts claim they’re being “bullied” because “conspiracy”. No, you’re being called out because you’re allegedly grifting, toxic amateurs.
Cosigned 💯.
See also: book publishing, chapbook publishing, audiobook publishing, etc.
If you are publishing someone else’s work for profit then it ain’t a hobby, no matter what your intention. It’s a business. Treat it accordingly, and warn your peers about those who don’t.
See also: book publishing, chapbook publishing, audiobook publishing, etc.
If you are publishing someone else’s work for profit then it ain’t a hobby, no matter what your intention. It’s a business. Treat it accordingly, and warn your peers about those who don’t.
I'm just going to gently say that a lot of people get into publishing comics with good intentions but do not have the ability to manage the intensity of doing it even on a small scale. If you can't be honest & transparent with people you should not be in a position of power over them, full stop.
January 12, 2026 at 10:03 PM
Calling them out on bad business, unprofessional behavior, malfeasance, etc isn’t “bullying”. It’s protecting your peers.
Example: EDE Bell / Chris Bell / Athis Arts claim they’re being “bullied” because “conspiracy”. No, you’re being called out because you’re allegedly grifting, toxic amateurs.
Example: EDE Bell / Chris Bell / Athis Arts claim they’re being “bullied” because “conspiracy”. No, you’re being called out because you’re allegedly grifting, toxic amateurs.
Reposted by Thea van Diepen 🌳📚
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 6:15 PM
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...
Reposted by Thea van Diepen 🌳📚
Friendly reminder that we call eggplant eggplant because the "normal" eggplant used to look like this
January 12, 2026 at 5:42 AM
Friendly reminder that we call eggplant eggplant because the "normal" eggplant used to look like this
Reposted by Thea van Diepen 🌳📚
a reminder, again, that AltNPS is a grifter account run by people who have no affiliation with the National Park Service and indeed who never did have any affiliation with the National Park Service. They have no sources, they have no information, they are purely there to scam you.
"Receiving reports" my ass. AltNPS is not receiving reports of ICE raids in Saint Paul. They are seeing posts on social media like the rest of us.
I DO have loved ones in Saint Paul. ALL of my loved ones. They're terrified. Fuck you.
I DO have loved ones in Saint Paul. ALL of my loved ones. They're terrified. Fuck you.
January 12, 2026 at 3:30 AM
a reminder, again, that AltNPS is a grifter account run by people who have no affiliation with the National Park Service and indeed who never did have any affiliation with the National Park Service. They have no sources, they have no information, they are purely there to scam you.
I hate that I know what they mean by this 😂
January 12, 2026 at 10:09 AM
I hate that I know what they mean by this 😂
Reposted by Thea van Diepen 🌳📚
Reposted by Thea van Diepen 🌳📚
Thread.
And, listen, for everyone frightened to disengage/risk pissing off publishers who make a lot of how much they do in the field and leverage BIPOC colleagues as shields (which, ugh): there is no industry-wide blocklist.
Publisher grudges are generally personal with minimal scope. ->
And, listen, for everyone frightened to disengage/risk pissing off publishers who make a lot of how much they do in the field and leverage BIPOC colleagues as shields (which, ugh): there is no industry-wide blocklist.
Publisher grudges are generally personal with minimal scope. ->
Emily Bell, Atthis Arts. That's who I am talking about.
I'm done.
I posted this and two minutes later she blocked me.
It's been a year of this. I'm fucking done.
I'm done.
I posted this and two minutes later she blocked me.
It's been a year of this. I'm fucking done.
I'm stuck in a moral quandary.
At what point is my silence protecting a questionable person because of my fear of punching down? At what point does it matter if I have personal experience, or just eyes?
I don't have a problem being a bull. I just don't want to be a bully.
At what point is my silence protecting a questionable person because of my fear of punching down? At what point does it matter if I have personal experience, or just eyes?
I don't have a problem being a bull. I just don't want to be a bully.
January 12, 2026 at 4:22 AM
Thread.
And, listen, for everyone frightened to disengage/risk pissing off publishers who make a lot of how much they do in the field and leverage BIPOC colleagues as shields (which, ugh): there is no industry-wide blocklist.
Publisher grudges are generally personal with minimal scope. ->
And, listen, for everyone frightened to disengage/risk pissing off publishers who make a lot of how much they do in the field and leverage BIPOC colleagues as shields (which, ugh): there is no industry-wide blocklist.
Publisher grudges are generally personal with minimal scope. ->
Reposted by Thea van Diepen 🌳📚
Periodic reminder: Gen AI only seems cheap/free because the companies that are selling it stole work to train their models.
If they'd had to compensate artists, they couldn't have afforded to train the models.
OpenAI even admitted this out loud.
If they'd had to compensate artists, they couldn't have afforded to train the models.
OpenAI even admitted this out loud.
January 10, 2026 at 6:20 AM
Periodic reminder: Gen AI only seems cheap/free because the companies that are selling it stole work to train their models.
If they'd had to compensate artists, they couldn't have afforded to train the models.
OpenAI even admitted this out loud.
If they'd had to compensate artists, they couldn't have afforded to train the models.
OpenAI even admitted this out loud.
Reposted by Thea van Diepen 🌳📚
DO YOUR PART!
January 10, 2026 at 4:14 AM
DO YOUR PART!
Reposted by Thea van Diepen 🌳📚
Timeline Cleanse: Please enjoy this photo of a praying mantis that was sitting on top of my car windshield, but the angling and lighting were so weird it looks like a giant praying mantis wandering a corn field in Iowa.
January 10, 2026 at 1:03 AM
Timeline Cleanse: Please enjoy this photo of a praying mantis that was sitting on top of my car windshield, but the angling and lighting were so weird it looks like a giant praying mantis wandering a corn field in Iowa.
Reposted by Thea van Diepen 🌳📚
I love that the rhino looks like a massive puppy trying to play.
There’s a description of the video in the second skeet on the original post.
There’s a description of the video in the second skeet on the original post.
January 9, 2026 at 8:19 PM
I love that the rhino looks like a massive puppy trying to play.
There’s a description of the video in the second skeet on the original post.
There’s a description of the video in the second skeet on the original post.
I don’t know how people read this and didn’t realize it was bait xD Anyways, thank you Krista for doing the good work of blocking food scolds xD
January 9, 2026 at 6:04 AM
I don’t know how people read this and didn’t realize it was bait xD Anyways, thank you Krista for doing the good work of blocking food scolds xD
Reposted by Thea van Diepen 🌳📚
One of our tiny dogs has been nauseous lately and the vet thinks it's an allergy. As with a human, this means adopting a strict diet of non-allergenic foods + novel proteins to isolate the issue (prescription special-order food).
So that's how I ended up buying 2kg of CROCODILE MEAT for my 2kg dog.
So that's how I ended up buying 2kg of CROCODILE MEAT for my 2kg dog.
January 7, 2026 at 7:30 AM
One of our tiny dogs has been nauseous lately and the vet thinks it's an allergy. As with a human, this means adopting a strict diet of non-allergenic foods + novel proteins to isolate the issue (prescription special-order food).
So that's how I ended up buying 2kg of CROCODILE MEAT for my 2kg dog.
So that's how I ended up buying 2kg of CROCODILE MEAT for my 2kg dog.
Reposted by Thea van Diepen 🌳📚
I cannot emphasize enough the importance of finding one constructive real world offline thing you can do to use your particular skills in service of fighting fascism as a psychological defense against the constant drumbeat of fuckery
my hot take is that I don't think it's this website specifically that's toxic. the Circumstances are toxic and nobody really knows what to do about it so they come online and scream. and if I may offer an alternative: actually going outside and screaming feels better.
January 6, 2026 at 8:33 PM
I cannot emphasize enough the importance of finding one constructive real world offline thing you can do to use your particular skills in service of fighting fascism as a psychological defense against the constant drumbeat of fuckery
Reposted by Thea van Diepen 🌳📚
This is Peanut. His name isn't Peanut because he's small. It's because he is a lethal threat to a significant portion of the population. Still 13/10 (IG: peanut_tacoterrier)
January 6, 2026 at 9:43 PM
This is Peanut. His name isn't Peanut because he's small. It's because he is a lethal threat to a significant portion of the population. Still 13/10 (IG: peanut_tacoterrier)
Reposted by Thea van Diepen 🌳📚
Also, Jewish LGBTQ+ equality organization Keshet and the Hebrew Free Loan Society are still offering interest-free loans up to $10k to support moving and relocation expenses for individuals and families (you do not have to be Jewish) fleeing anti-LGBTQ+ state laws. www.keshetonline.org/movetothrive/
January 6, 2026 at 8:31 PM
Also, Jewish LGBTQ+ equality organization Keshet and the Hebrew Free Loan Society are still offering interest-free loans up to $10k to support moving and relocation expenses for individuals and families (you do not have to be Jewish) fleeing anti-LGBTQ+ state laws. www.keshetonline.org/movetothrive/
Reposted by Thea van Diepen 🌳📚
it's super cool that we're at the point where a company's founder can outright say, "we were founded to commit mass murder on an ideological basis" and face no repercussions
(reposted with alt text)
(reposted with alt text)
January 6, 2026 at 5:48 PM
it's super cool that we're at the point where a company's founder can outright say, "we were founded to commit mass murder on an ideological basis" and face no repercussions
(reposted with alt text)
(reposted with alt text)
Reposted by Thea van Diepen 🌳📚
In the wake of all the news coming out of the US and the amount of shouting at the TV I've done, I thought everyone else might benefit from one of my favourite photos from 2017 to break up the doom scrolling.
I cannot fix the big things, so here's a small thing.
I cannot fix the big things, so here's a small thing.
January 3, 2026 at 10:10 AM
In the wake of all the news coming out of the US and the amount of shouting at the TV I've done, I thought everyone else might benefit from one of my favourite photos from 2017 to break up the doom scrolling.
I cannot fix the big things, so here's a small thing.
I cannot fix the big things, so here's a small thing.
Reposted by Thea van Diepen 🌳📚
disabled people deserve a good life, whether they can work or not
December 3, 2025 at 9:01 PM
disabled people deserve a good life, whether they can work or not
Reposted by Thea van Diepen 🌳📚
Disabled people are not expendable.
The elderly are not expendable.
Children are not expendable.
Worth should never be tied to economic productivity.
If we protected the most vulnerable in society, everyone would be better off.
The elderly are not expendable.
Children are not expendable.
Worth should never be tied to economic productivity.
If we protected the most vulnerable in society, everyone would be better off.
January 6, 2026 at 9:38 AM
Disabled people are not expendable.
The elderly are not expendable.
Children are not expendable.
Worth should never be tied to economic productivity.
If we protected the most vulnerable in society, everyone would be better off.
The elderly are not expendable.
Children are not expendable.
Worth should never be tied to economic productivity.
If we protected the most vulnerable in society, everyone would be better off.
Reposted by Thea van Diepen 🌳📚
An incantation to soothe anger from nearly 4 millennia ago for those in need of one.
It begins by telling us what anger is and does.
“Anger goes like a wild bull, it continually leaps forth like a dog.”
Anger is like a lion and a wolf.
It is fierce. It runs. It tears at one’s face and stomach.
It begins by telling us what anger is and does.
“Anger goes like a wild bull, it continually leaps forth like a dog.”
Anger is like a lion and a wolf.
It is fierce. It runs. It tears at one’s face and stomach.
January 6, 2026 at 10:39 AM
An incantation to soothe anger from nearly 4 millennia ago for those in need of one.
It begins by telling us what anger is and does.
“Anger goes like a wild bull, it continually leaps forth like a dog.”
Anger is like a lion and a wolf.
It is fierce. It runs. It tears at one’s face and stomach.
It begins by telling us what anger is and does.
“Anger goes like a wild bull, it continually leaps forth like a dog.”
Anger is like a lion and a wolf.
It is fierce. It runs. It tears at one’s face and stomach.
Reposted by Thea van Diepen 🌳📚
Brooke is a great scientist and fabulous science communicator and disability advocate. You should hire her.
I am looking for a postdoc position + will be attending #SICB2026! My areas of interest/experience: sexual selection, reproduction, host-parasite interactions, animal behavior, (plus bio ed and disability advocacy in bio). I would be happy to chat with anyone attending who is looking for postdocs!
January 4, 2026 at 7:19 PM
Brooke is a great scientist and fabulous science communicator and disability advocate. You should hire her.
Reposted by Thea van Diepen 🌳📚
The kicker was THIS piece is what caused her concern.
January 4, 2026 at 12:58 AM
The kicker was THIS piece is what caused her concern.