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Reposted by Allison Pottern

The Ignyte Awards @theignyteawards.bsky.social · 3d

Oh, hello

Allison Pottern @apottern.bsky.social · 13h

Novel #1: The first half would smell of daffodils, wind, and ocean; the second half would smell of poppies, petrichor and graveyards.

WIP so far: Brine, sun-baked stone, hot plastic, and, distantly, the fishy smell of a long dead sea.

L. D. Lewis, Peach Jolly Rancher 🍬 @ldlewiswrites.blacksky.app · 1d

What would *your* book smell like if you engaged in a mega weirdo scented pages promotional campaign?

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Rare Book School @rarebookschool.bsky.social · 14h

Do you work at a small U.S. liberal arts college or at a university with 5,000 or fewer undergrads? If so, check out Rare Book School’s 𝗠. 𝗖. 𝗟𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗙𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗶𝗻 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆, 𝗕𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗵𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗛𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀!

Application deadline: 𝟳 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱

rarebookschool.org

A vertically oriented graphic shows a photo of a smiling woman in glasses and a blue RBS apron with her hands lifted high as she claps in celebration. A blue bar extending horizontally below her reads, in white text, “The M. C. Lang Fellowship in Book History, Bibliography & Humanities Teaching with Historical Sources.” This is flanked by white text against black reading: “Apply Now! Learn more about this and other RBS funding opportunities at rarebookschool.org.” The right third of the graphic has black and red text against a white background, reading, “A two-year program for faculty, librarians & curators at U.S. liberal arts colleges & small universities. Equips instructors with bibliographically informed teaching methods using original historical sources. Includes two Rare Book School courses, an annual stipend for travel & housing & matching funds for book-historical projects at fellows’ home institutions. Application Deadline: 7 December 2025.”

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Marie Brennan @swantower.bsky.social · 1d

<totters out onto porch>

<settles into rocker>

<thumps cane a few times>

Let's talk about what the process of submitting short fiction used to look like, shall we? And about what it looks like now.

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Allison Pottern @apottern.bsky.social · 7d

I have had the distinct honor of reading this book in various draft forms and it. is. so. good. Nettle has gotten herself into a hot mess, but this book is a thrill ride. @ash-howell.com is a writer to watch (or, you know, rep! get on it agents!)

Ash Howell @ash-howell.com · 7d

A DARKER SHADE OF MAGIC x HOUSE M.D.

Days before graduation, blood-magic medical student Nettle accidentally girlbosses herself into the middle of a murderous conspiracy. Her best friend has been hiding his radical political activism. And worst of all, she’s *really* broke.

#DVpit #F #A #LGBTQ

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Allison Pottern @apottern.bsky.social · 7d

@alecjmarsh.bsky.social you had me at glittering heist (the best kind). Attention editors and agents scrolling #dvpit don’t miss this!

Alec @alecjmarsh.bsky.social · 7d

Scotland, 1925: A gentleman thief, a lonely demon hunter and a married sorceress embark on a glittering heist to destroy the English occult.

Forbidden passions and their own ambition threatens to destroy them before the English get the chance.

Bi rep, ace rep, mf, mmf, mm

#dvpit #a #f #queer

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House of Anansi Press @houseofanansi.bsky.social · 7d

🪲 “As the Earth Dreams offers a distinctly Canadian vision of Black life that is as lush and expansive as it is tender and rooted.” —The Walrus

🌀 AS THE EARTH DREAMS, edited by Terese Mason Pierre (@teresempierre.bsky.social), is out October 14th, learn more here: houseofanansi.com/products/as-...

A stack of the book AS THE EARTH DREAMS: BLACK CANADIAN SPECULATIVE STORIES sits on a wooden bookshelf beside a standing copy that displays the cover. The cover features bold blue text with a vibrant illustrated bug on a black background.

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Allison Pottern @apottern.bsky.social · 9d

If you're like me and never made a ginger scallion oil before it is sooooo easy and yum.

rackoflam.com/ginger-scall...

Ginger Scallion Sauce (姜葱酱)

Elevate your dishes with Ginger Scallion Sauce, a fragrant blend of fresh ginger, scallions and oil, enhancing flavors to meats, rice or noodles!

rackoflam.com

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Allison Pottern @apottern.bsky.social · 9d

Struggling not to get sick rn? ME TOO. A friend made this for me post-surgery & now with half my household down with illness, it was the nourishment I craved.

The key is the chicken & broth. Make your own rice + a quick ginger scallion oil. SO GOOD.

www.americastestkitchen.com/recipes/1292...

Khao Man Gai (Thai-Style Chicken and Rice) | America's Test Kitchen

This simple cooking method gets a boost from a remarkable sauce.

www.americastestkitchen.com

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Allison Pottern @apottern.bsky.social · 11d

AI at its peak.

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Allison Pottern @apottern.bsky.social · 12d

Help me support the brilliant @teabowart.bsky.social and his new graphic novel that has science, magic, friendship, and incredible art!

I just backed LUNA LILY and the LUNAR PARK - Issue One on @kickstarter.com www.kickstarter.com/projects/bob...

LUNA LILY and the LUNAR PARK - Issue One

A Sci-Fi Fantasy middle-grade Graphic Novel About Family, Friendship, and Finding Your Power!

www.kickstarter.com

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Richie Narvaez @richienarvaez.bsky.social · 12d

We've reached our goal—BIG THANK YOU! There is still time if you want to contribute and get cool rewards.
www.kickstarter.com/projects/for...

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Ada Palmer @adapalmer.bsky.social · 12d

NASA’s Psyche spacecraft has fired off a stream of laser-encoded data across 218 million miles. And Earth caught it. The test, part of the Deep Space Optical Communications project, used California telescopes to aim and decode the faint beams.

NASA successfully sends and receives data encoded with lasers from 218 million miles away

NASA’s Deep Space Optical Communications (DSOC) recently sent and received laser-encoded data from a location 218 million miles away from Earth. This technology demonstration project has opened up a…

buff.ly

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Allison Pottern @apottern.bsky.social · 12d

Attention all my published author friends and followers — you may be eligible to receive compensation from the Anthropic Settlement. I know it doesn't really make up for what they did, but if they took your work, you deserve to recoup something. File a claim!

John Scalzi @scalzi.com · 12d

This is blame I'm happy to accept. Authors, check to see if you're eligible to receive compensation in the Anthropic Settlement and if you are, file that claim.

secure.anthropiccopyrightsettlement.com/lookup

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John Scalzi @scalzi.com · 12d

This is blame I'm happy to accept. Authors, check to see if you're eligible to receive compensation in the Anthropic Settlement and if you are, file that claim.

secure.anthropiccopyrightsettlement.com/lookup

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Allison Pottern @apottern.bsky.social · 22d

Happy Book Birthday to my fellow writer-parent @mizdoomcookie.bsky.social out there making the magic happen! So excited to read about romantic, magical, winter witches!

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Nathan Edwards @grackle.space · 23d

dudes rock

Tumblr post from every-lemon
Sep 8

so my spouse is part of a weirdly intense but mostly benign men's workout group that meets at like, 5:30am outside every day, even in winter. they do a lot of burpees and lugging cinder blocks up hills and stuff.
they take turns leading the workouts and tomorrow is his turn. I asked what he was planning. he handed me a sheet of William Carlos William poems from a large stack he'd printed.
I said "what" and he explained, helpfully, "it's a William Carlos William themed workout." I asked what inspired it and he said "l've been planning this for months."

Follow up tumblr post
every-lemon
Sep 9
it was a smash hit.
a dozen guys showed up (more than usual). spouse brought a red wheelbarrow and they took turns bringing cinder blocks up the hill with it. then they broke up in teams and did a relay with an "icebox" (cooler filled with 40lbs of ice). at the end he opened the cooler to reveal it was full of beach plum lacroix and all the guys cheered. they drank sparkling water as he read 'approach of winter' out loud.
he was home by 6:30am.

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Allison Pottern @apottern.bsky.social · 26d

Embassytown is my favorite Mieville, definitely recommend. And reading in These Times gives it extra resonance, for better or worse.

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Allison Pottern @apottern.bsky.social · Sep 2

Just booked a writing retreat, so, er, I'd love to fit in a couple more clients/workshops for fall to help offset the cost!

I'm a writer, editor, & marketing coach. My sweet spot is helping authors w forthcoming titles navigate the book marketing engine + plan for launch. (pottern.com) 🧵

"Writing and Marketing consults with Allison Pottern Hoch. You've spent years crafting your book to get it out into the world — and I've spent 20+ years helping authors develop and market theirs. Now let me help you! Does publishing or marketing overwhelm you?
Are you a debut author with book launch jitters?
Does it feel like your publisher isn't giving you the marketing guidance you need?
Do you need help getting your speculative fiction novel over the finish line?
Are you struggling to figure out what publishing path is right for you?
Book a consult today: pottern.com/book-a-session"

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Nalo Hopkinson @nalohop.bsky.social · Sep 3

Why am I telling you all this? Because Tiffany once more has a couple of slots for new clients. If you're even curious, I highly recommend you contact her via @tiffscribes.bsky.social Chat with her to see whether the two of you might be a good fit. Do it soon. She's a precious and limited resource.

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Allison Pottern @apottern.bsky.social · Sep 9

And publishers: start the marketing convo with your authors *earlier.* The average 4 - 6 mo of intermittent communication is not enough to bring a new author up to speed/hear their thoughts/needs without added support. I believe so many opportunities are missed because folks are just not *informed.*

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Allison Pottern @apottern.bsky.social · Sep 9

Readers and reviewers: it's up to us to share as much about the backlist we read as the front list. Books don't have just one pub date: an old book is new to someone every day! Let's help make those kismet encounters happen.

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Allison Pottern @apottern.bsky.social · Sep 9

If you've been dealt a rough pub date hand, here's what I recommend: make your own "pub date" that better fits the needs of your book. If you can, center it around a holiday/ current event/location that vibes with your book. Then build your own marketing snowball around that.

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Allison Pottern @apottern.bsky.social · Sep 9

Especially when it's the publisher who *controls* the pub date. I've worked with debut authors who were given crap pub dates. The day *after* Christmas? Election week? Mid-January? Tough times to promote anything new, by someone no one's heard of (yet!) But somehow a lack of sales = a book problem.

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Allison Pottern @apottern.bsky.social · Sep 9

Publishers seem to be assessing the "success" of a book earlier and earlier, to the point where, as @justintaylor.bsky.social points out, it gets meaningless. It becomes less about a book's success and more about a marketing campaign's success. Not a fair (or accurate) metric of of the book's worth.

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