Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

S.M. Mack (Smack)

@whatsmacksaid.bsky.social

380 followers 320 following 770 posts

Dog person, spec fic reader and writer (DEATH VALLEY BLOOMS 2025). She/her, opinions my own. https://linktr.ee/whatsmacksaid and 📷 @what_smacksaid

linktr.ee

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

S.M. Mack (Smack) @whatsmacksaid.bsky.social · Aug 2

TA-DAAA, behold the gorgeous cover for my debut novella, DEATH VALLEY BLOOMS, available August 12, 2025 from @neonhemlock.bsky.social. & a little 🦜 told me it's on sale here: bookshop.org/p/books/deat...

And it's on my favorite indie site (www.mystgalaxy.com/book/9781966...) & all other retailers.

Image is of the cover of my novella, Death Valley Blooms, with a muted background that is a picture of some of the sand dunes in Death Valley, with a line of mountains in the background.

As for the cover itself, a cube of dirt displaying several geological layers hovers midair, with flowers blooming on its top and bones and roots penetrate all the way through the cube and below. The flowers are primarily yellow, but also purple and light pink. The title, Death Valley Blooms, is plastered on the left side of the cube facing the viewer, and on the right it says "A novella." My author name, S.M. Mack, appears at the bottom of the image. At the top of the cover is a blurb from Liza Wemarkor that reads "A breathtaking, atmospheric novella."

Screenshot of the summary of my novella, Death Valley Blooms. It reads:

Every decade or so, vast quantities and varieties of wildflowers bloom all at once in Death Valley. But unbeknownst to the wider world, these super blooms are powered by a woman’s life.

Mar Ramse lost her mother to Death Valley as a teenager and would give anything to break her family’s curse, but now the desert whispers its call to her. However, she still has a single ace up her sleeve: neither she nor her brother will ever have children.

Is it enough for the desert to release its grip on her family?

5 11

Reposted by S.M. Mack (Smack)

Bogi Takács / SONG OF SPORES coming Nov 2025! @bogiperson.bsky.social · 2d

REVIEWERS: I have e-ARC copies of SONG OF SPORES, my weird trans, intersex space opera book coming Nov 4 from Broken Eye Books!

You can request a copy here:

forms.gle/XZamWpmBUGwH...

I will be offline soon for Sukkot, so tell your friends in the meanwhile & I'll respond on Wed night (G-d willing)

Get an e-ARC of SONG OF SPORES!

This is for reviewers to request a copy (epub, pdf) of the weird trans, intersex space opera book Song of Spores by Bogi Takács, Broken Eye Books (upcoming Nov 4 2025). Please do not self-reject :) I ...

forms.gle

1 33 37

Reposted by S.M. Mack (Smack)

Barred and Boujee aka Madiba Dennie @audrelawdamercy.bsky.social · May 15

ah, every time an originalist is corrected on their bad history an angel gets its wings

4 100 900

Reposted by S.M. Mack (Smack)

Barred and Boujee aka Madiba Dennie @audrelawdamercy.bsky.social · 2d

related, when the president is invading our own country, waging war on our own people, i don't wanna see dems give the GOP shit they ask for, don't wanna hear shit bout 'we hope our friends across the aisle will work with us on bipartisan solutions to the problems they cause' i don't want none of it

Grudgie the Whale @grudgie.bsky.social · 2d

Look. Invading our own country is about as straightforward a case as you can have for impeachment. The GOP abandoning the Constitution is kind of the only story there is and it gets no coverage.

Seth Cotlar @sethcotlar.bsky.social · 2d

Guys. I just had a crazy idea. What if the President DIDN’T deploy troops in American cities. Just a thought. Have we tried that before?

34 960 4.4K

Reposted by S.M. Mack (Smack)

Spooky Thing at a Distance @gottalottacats.bsky.social · 2d

PLEASE HELP! We had 7 cats and a dog and they've all been placed except 2 cats. We're moving to senior housing and CANNOT bring them. Will someone in East Texas please foster them while we keep looking? We'll send you cat litter and cat food. They're neutered and vaccinated. They're good cats!

A tabby cat named Lala rubbing her face on an older man's beard. They are both very happy

A black kitty named Spy Cat with beautiful yellow eyes.

1 7 7

Reposted by S.M. Mack (Smack)

David M. Perry @lollardfish.bsky.social · 3d

We Have at least 70? years of science fiction exploring this proposition and all reaching the same conclusions as Josie.

Which I only bring up because everyone involved in this AI thing is a science fiction fan, but not one who understands what they read.

🏳️‍⚧️ Josephine Riesman @josie.zone · 3d

It is morally wrong to want a computer to be sentient. If you owned a sentient thing, you would be a slaver. If you want sentient computers to exist, you just want to create a new kind of slavery. The ethics are as simple as that. Sorry if this offends

20 230 770

Reposted by S.M. Mack (Smack)

Rainesford Stauffer @rainesford.bsky.social · 22d

For a column, looking to chat with earlyish-career workers about whether you’re struggling to focus on work/job-searching amid…well, everything else happening in the world. Would love to talk to experts, including organizers, on actions we can take at work or beyond to help. DMs/inbox always open.

3 43 75

Reposted by S.M. Mack (Smack)

Prisonculture @prisonculture.bsky.social · 2d

Wishing everyone a good week ahead. Take care of yourselves and don't give in to the fascists.

8 170 1K

S.M. Mack (Smack) @whatsmacksaid.bsky.social · 2d

They still haven't found all the children??? That's horrific.

1 4

Reposted by S.M. Mack (Smack)

The Man Who Would Be Damn Hell Ass Pumpkin King @weirdnoirmaster.bsky.social · 3d

When one of these dingdongs tells you you're wrong for hating AI, consider that you might not hate it enough. Lean into it. Find new ways to hate

3 12 34

Reposted by S.M. Mack (Smack)

Indivisible ❌👑 @indivisible.org · 3d

Before you hit the streets on No Kings Day, join the @aclu.org’s know your rights, protest safety, and de-escalation training to take action safely and confidently. Learn how to protect yourself and your community while standing up for your rights.

No Kings: Protest Safety, Know Your Rights & De-Escalation Training

I'm attending this event - sign up now to join me!

act.aclu.org

17 430 770

Reposted by S.M. Mack (Smack)

Anil Dash @anildash.com · 4d

One first step people should do to respond to this is start using the “report a speed trap” function in Apple Maps to report where ICE is operating. Make Apple party to the attempt to protect people.

404 Media @404media.co · 5d

ICEBlock Owner After Apple Removes App: ‘We Are Determined to Fight This’

🔗 www.404media.co/iceblock-own...

ICEBlock Owner After Apple Removes App: ‘We Are Determined to Fight This’

Apple removed ICEBlock reportedly after direct pressure from Department of Justice officials. “I am incredibly disappointed by Apple's actions today. Capitulating to an authoritarian regime is never t...

www.404media.co

52 1.4K 3.5K

S.M. Mack (Smack) @whatsmacksaid.bsky.social · 4d

Even worthless things can become valuable once they become rare. Congress has not authorized the use of military force.

Reposted by S.M. Mack (Smack)

Swords & Sapphics: The Podcast @swords-andsapphics.bsky.social · 9d

CALLING STABBY SAPPHICS!

Add 19 new swords & sapphics-themed books to your TBR this autumn with our Ultimate Book Bundle! 19 books for $22 including:

⚔️ fantasy, romance, mythology, sci-fi, & horror
⚔️ lesbian, bi, & pan women
⚔️ will definitely include sharp objects

itch.io/b/3296/the-u...

The Ultimate Swords & Sapphics Book Bundle: 19 sci-fi, fantasy, & horror books featuring weapon-wielding sapphics for $22, at tinyurl.com/sandsbundle.

Includes the following books:
Kiss of Death by Bryony Rosehurst
Tide Breaker's Curse by Ivy H. Marikova
Stars and Soil by Dax Murray
Unchain My Heart by RJ Martin
Her Lady of Steel and Fire by Fern V. Bedek
Of Serpents and Sorrow by Katherine Shaw
Shadows Dark and Deadly by Andrea Marie Johnson
Jagged Shard by Dani Finn
Valerin the Fair by Rien Gray
Dame Ophis by Merlina Garance
Soul Flames and Dawn Weaver by Issy Waldrom
The Gift of Blood and They Who Brought the Storm by Vaela Denarr & Micah Iannandrea
Blood Bounty by Elena Abbott
Beyond Bringers by visceralhit
Born from Earth by Jake Vanguard
My Lord by L.B. Shimaira
The Price of Peace by Senka Heksum

62 84

S.M. Mack (Smack) @whatsmacksaid.bsky.social · 4d

a black and white photo of a crowd of people standing in a crowd .

Alt: a black and white photo of a crowd of people cheering

media.tenor.com

Reposted by S.M. Mack (Smack)

Merriam-Webster @merriam-webster.com · 7d

We are thrilled to announce that our NEW Large Language Model will be released on 11.18.25.

650 8.2K 25K

S.M. Mack (Smack) @whatsmacksaid.bsky.social · 4d

a hippopotamus is swimming in a pool with a sign that says zoo on it

Alt: a baby pigmy hippopotamus is swimming in a pool and grasps its keeper's leg in its mouth

media.tenor.com

Reposted by S.M. Mack (Smack)

Orcspiration @orcspiration.bsky.social · 4d

DO HARM TO YOUR ENEMIES; TREAT YOURSELF WITH KINDNESS!

7 37

Reposted by S.M. Mack (Smack)

Sheryl Weikal and the colorful Parrotlegals @leftistlawyer.com · 4d

If you're in Illinois and facing criminal charges from protesting ICE, or if you were attacked by ICE or law enforcement supporting them, I might be able to represent you pro bono. Email me at [email protected]. As always, I will take as many cases as I can.

54 1.5K 2.6K

S.M. Mack (Smack) @whatsmacksaid.bsky.social · 4d

I wrote a queer af novella :) www.neonhemlock.com/books/death-...

Death Valley Blooms by S.M. Mack — neon hemlock

Publication date: August 12 2025. An 8” x 5” novella. Every decade or so, vast quantities and varieties of wildflowers bloom all at once in Death Valley. But unbeknownst to the wider world, these s...

www.neonhemlock.com

1 3

Reposted by S.M. Mack (Smack)

Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association @sfwa.bsky.social · 5d

SFWA is also gathering data on impact, now that the List of Works for the Anthropic/AI settlement has been announced.

Have you or any of your writer-friends been affected?

Would you be comfortable sharing your experience, so that we can push for greater writer defense?

forms.gle/d5jNsS6TPDka...

Author Experience Survey: Did Anthropic Downloads Include Your Work?

SFWA is gathering information to share with the larger genre and literary community about our specific experiences with the LibGen dataset download. Do you have a story you'd like to share? Was one o...

forms.gle

10 11

Reposted by S.M. Mack (Smack)

If you know you know @privatechand.bsky.social · 5d

This. The tolerance of lying in public needs to be zero. Beginning with assholes in the media and their mealy-mouthed both-sidesism.

Rob Reiner Fan @rob-reiner-fan.bsky.social · 5d

Damn. Liz ain't having it. 😮

7 26

S.M. Mack (Smack) @whatsmacksaid.bsky.social · 5d

"The notion that people should vote against their values to support the status quo and overt corruption isn’t how a society solves problems; it’s how it normalizes them."

Arturo Dominguez 🇨🇺🇺🇸 @extremearturo.bsky.social · 5d

Fetterman's numbers should alarm any pundits or consultants who believe Democrats should shift to the right and meet conservatives in the middle.

open.substack.com/pub/extremea...

Analysis: Fetterman’s Polling Numbers Should Be a Warning For Democrats

Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman’s polling numbers highlight the already failed strategy of trying to appeal to the political right

open.substack.com

S.M. Mack (Smack) @whatsmacksaid.bsky.social · 5d

"Housing occupies an outsized role in everyone’s mind, but there’s a particular flavor to millennial housing distress."

Speculative Insight journal @speculativeinsight.bsky.social · 5d

I hope @sarahgailey.bsky.social has already seen this (with two books discussed!); also @alixeharrow.bsky.social @byzantienne.bsky.social are referenced in really interesting ways...

the-flytrap.ghost.io/housing-haun...

Housing Haunts Me

If only getting a mortgage was as easy as opening a book.

the-flytrap.ghost.io

Reposted by S.M. Mack (Smack)

Nino Cipri @ninocipri.bsky.social · 10d

Just in time to get into the Halloween spirit, I’m teaching a horror writing class with Queens Collaboratory. If you’re in NYC and want to dip your toes into writing horror, this the place to do it. Tickets are $20-$25, and spots are pretty limited. luma.com/9pzyg2tm

Red hands with sharp black nails reach across a dark, smoky background. Text: Horror writing for beginners. October 19, 2-4. LED by Astoria-based author Nino Cipri.

1 41 46

Reposted by S.M. Mack (Smack)

Annalee Newitz @annaleen.bsky.social · 7d

And now for today's good news ... a wonderful librarian now has a full time job getting people excited about books. All kinds of books. Even the diverse ones that the government doesn't want you to read.

Steve Mullis @stevemullis.net · 8d

OMG! Mychal did it. Anyone who first caught this wonderful human gaining an audience on TikTok knew there was something special happening. What an incredible journey and story. Promoting reading and libraries is so damn important right now, and I can't think of a better ambassador.

Reading Rainbow Returns With New Host and Celebrity Guest Stars

Reading Rainbow is back after almost 20 years! The beloved children's TV program — which ran for 26 years before wrapping in 2006 — is celebrated for fostering childhood reading and literacy.

people.com

7 360 1.4K