Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Shanna Swendson

@shannaswendson.bsky.social

1.6K followers 430 following 5.1K posts

Novelist and nerd. Author of the Enchanted, Inc. series and a lot of other stuff. http://shannaswendson.com/

shannaswendson.com

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

Shanna Swendson @shannaswendson.bsky.social · Oct 24

Since I've been gaining new followers and we can now pin posts, I think an introduction is in order. Hi, I'm Shanna, and I write various flavors of fantasy: contemporary humorous, portal, steampunk, paranormal mystery, and currently doing cottagecore cozy.

1 4 32

Shanna Swendson @shannaswendson.bsky.social · 4h

It seems my clean the house reset after wrapping up a project isn't going to happen because I had to twist and stretch too far to reach the ATM this morning after not pulling up close enough, and now I'm having to sit against a heating pad so my back won't stiffen up. I guess I'm officially old.

Shanna Swendson @shannaswendson.bsky.social · 5h

I wasn't kidding about being surprised by the Instant Pot going off. I'm making soup today, and it's not an all-day thing. I started after noon, and you cook for 3 hrs before adding other stuff and cooking more, and when the pot beeped, it took me a while to realize what it was.

Shanna Swendson @shannaswendson.bsky.social · 8h

I've wondered who reads all those Amish romances. Well, the lady in line ahead of me had three bags of them, and she was in full Mennonite garb. I guess she's modern enough to drive and read romances, but a man giving up modern life for an old-fashioned woman is a romantic fantasy.

Shanna Swendson @shannaswendson.bsky.social · 8h

I also got a slow cooker cookbook, so I can make myself more presents from my past self -- throw something in the cooker in the morning, and a surprise dinner is ready in the evening (I often forget I did it until the Instant Pot beeps that it's done).

1 1

Shanna Swendson @shannaswendson.bsky.social · 8h

I hit the Friends of the Library book sale this morning, and there wasn't much fiction. It was mostly bestseller mysteries and Amish Christian romances. But I did get a good stockpile of CDs that will mostly end up being writing music (Celtic, soundtrack, classical).

1 3

Shanna Swendson @shannaswendson.bsky.social · 10h

Plus, I had a ton of admin-type tasks that were on a deadline, so I couldn't really take a break. So, today will be regroup day, and then I can move on to the new project.

Shanna Swendson @shannaswendson.bsky.social · 10h

I have remembered why I always try to have a "reset" day after I finish a project. I really need to muck out the house and regroup before I move ahead so I don't burn out. I think part of my problem was that I finished at the end of a quarter, and I was eager to get going on Q4.

1 4

Shanna Swendson @shannaswendson.bsky.social · 1d

Okay, it's been almost an hour, and I haven't seen anyone I know arrive, so I'm calling it an evening, putting my comfy clothes back on, and returning to the sofa and book.

Shanna Swendson @shannaswendson.bsky.social · 1d

Someone I don't know drove up, and she just opened the door and walked in. I've never been in their house before, so I don't feel at all comfortable doing that. Still haven't seen anyone from the neighborhood come up there.

1 2

Shanna Swendson @shannaswendson.bsky.social · 1d

If I don't go, they'll tease me about keeping to myself. I enjoy the neighborhood gatherings, but on a cool, rainy evening, I'd really rather just stay in this time. Social awkwardness is fun.

1 2

Shanna Swendson @shannaswendson.bsky.social · 1d

So now I'm watching out the window, and no one else is coming up the street. I don't know whether to go back over and try knocking again louder or shouting, or what. I don't want this to be a "just come on in" neighborhood, so I'm not doing that.

1 2

Shanna Swendson @shannaswendson.bsky.social · 1d

When I ran into my neighbors downtown yesterday, they invited me for drinks on the porch this evening, or possibly inside, since it would be cold and rainy. They said to just watch for other people coming up the street. I saw someone on their porch, went over and knocked, but they never answered.

1 3

Shanna Swendson @shannaswendson.bsky.social · 1d

This is for round loaves. The base is basically a skillet and can be used on the stove. Then there's a dome that goes over it. I got it at Aldi. King Arthur Flour has bread crocks in different shapes, and those are like a pizza stone that goes around the bread.

Shanna Swendson @shannaswendson.bsky.social · 1d

I've been using a cast iron Dutch oven, so it shouldn't make much difference, other than that the Dutch oven has a glass lid and isn't enameled. Now I can use the Dutch oven for things other than bread.

Shanna Swendson @shannaswendson.bsky.social · 1d

I made the harvest bread I pretty much live on during cold weather (it's got whole wheat flour mixed w/ bread flour, dried cranberries, golden raisins, and nuts). Maybe it's that I haven't had it in months, but I feel like it tasted better.

1 2

Shanna Swendson @shannaswendson.bsky.social · 1d

I bought a cast iron bread oven (basically a flipped over Dutch oven, with a skillet-like base and a dome lid, and you bake bread inside it in the oven, which gives you a crisp crust from trapping the steam) a few weeks ago and finally had a chance to use it today. Mmm, bread.

2 5

Shanna Swendson @shannaswendson.bsky.social · 1d

The Cozy the Day Away Sale ends today. Scoop up some cozy fantasy (and cozy-adjacent) books, including two of mine, Tea and Empathy (secondary world cozy fantasy) and Interview with a Dead Editor (cozy paranormal mystery). cozyfantasysale.promisepress.org

3 3

Shanna Swendson @shannaswendson.bsky.social · 2d

I guess I saw the important part, the end of the game in which Texas won, so I got to see all the little school traditions and get a real dose of college nostalgia. I still know all the words to "The Eyes of Texas."

Shanna Swendson @shannaswendson.bsky.social · 2d

Then on the way home I ran into my next-door neighbors, the assistant pastor from church, and a friend (and her dog). Plus, the guy who gave me the theater tour lives nearby (I pass his place on the way to and from downtown). It was a nice little evening excursion.

Shanna Swendson @shannaswendson.bsky.social · 2d

The theater will have the old sound system from Skywalker Ranch when it's done, so it'll be the best theater sound in the region. The Art Deco bones are still there in the theater, so it's going to look cool when the restoration is complete.

1 2

Shanna Swendson @shannaswendson.bsky.social · 2d

I had a nice wander downtown. There was an Irish music group performing on the street (they block off the main street downtown on weekends), and I got a tour of the old Art Deco movie theater they're remodeling into a theater and performing arts center.

1 1

Shanna Swendson @shannaswendson.bsky.social · 2d

And as soon as I turned the game back on, Texas scored.

1 2

Shanna Swendson @shannaswendson.bsky.social · 2d

I watched the start of it, but I have very little patience for football. I can manage a quarter before I get bored. I watched enough to hear a bit of Texas Fight and have a moment of nostalgia, then decided to go out.

1 1

Shanna Swendson @shannaswendson.bsky.social · 2d

What was supposed to be a cool, cloudy day has been bright and sunny. There's going to be an outdoor concert downtown, so I think I'll walk down there to have done something fun today. Tomorrow will be the rainy reading day (I hope).

Shanna Swendson @shannaswendson.bsky.social · 2d

That book is on sale now as part of the Cozy the Day Away sale. (As is the first book in that cozy paranormal mystery series.) cozyfantasysale.promisepress.org

Cozy the Day Away Sale
A Two-Day Sale specifically for the cozy fantasy genre
Tea and Empathy $0.99
Sat/Sun Oct. 11-12th
Images show a little creature snuggled up with a pile of books and the Tea and Empathy book cover.

4 8