Kate Heartfield
@kateheartfield.com
I write weird novels about weird history, plus games and stories. Next novel: MERCUTIO, May 2026. (Mostly) former journalist; currently teaching journalism. From Manitoba, now in Ottawa. She/her. Trans rights or gtfo 🏳️🌈
https://kateheartfield.com
https://kateheartfield.com
Pinned
Kate Heartfield
@kateheartfield.com
· Apr 30
New pinned thread! I'm a writer in Ottawa, Canada. I write historical fantasy novels (see next posts), and other things. I used to be a newspaper journalist. My newsletter, which comes out every second Friday: buttondown.com/heartfield My website: www.kateheartfield.com My typical cat situation:
"Book rollout" is such a weird thing to call it. I have never heard an author say that.
A piece Olivia Nuzzi published yesterday (as part of a Substack Q+A) called "Signs Your Book Rollout Has Gone Awry":
December 2, 2025 at 8:14 PM
"Book rollout" is such a weird thing to call it. I have never heard an author say that.
Reposted by Kate Heartfield
as we approach noon on publication day for my new book of lyrics & commentary I can’t help thinking that you should totally buy my book
thisyearbook.com
thisyearbook.com
This Year - John Darnielle
From New York Times bestselling author and Mountain Goats’ singer/songwriter John Darnielle—“a master at building suspense” (Los Angeles Times)—comes an epic, gripping novel about murder, truth, artis...
thisyearbook.com
December 2, 2025 at 8:00 PM
as we approach noon on publication day for my new book of lyrics & commentary I can’t help thinking that you should totally buy my book
thisyearbook.com
thisyearbook.com
Reposted by Kate Heartfield
In bookstores today! It's "We Will Rise Again," a book of hard-won hope in this dark season. I co-edited it with the wondrous @older.bsky.social and @drkarenlord.bsky.social -- it's an anthology of speculative stories and essays about protest and resistance! www.simonandschuster.com/books/We-Wil...
December 2, 2025 at 5:51 PM
In bookstores today! It's "We Will Rise Again," a book of hard-won hope in this dark season. I co-edited it with the wondrous @older.bsky.social and @drkarenlord.bsky.social -- it's an anthology of speculative stories and essays about protest and resistance! www.simonandschuster.com/books/We-Wil...
btw I got the official notice of the Anthropic class action (and my unique ID!) last night, so authors who were also expecting that, check your email, which I know is probably currently a garbage fire like mine thanks to all the promotional crap
December 2, 2025 at 5:47 PM
btw I got the official notice of the Anthropic class action (and my unique ID!) last night, so authors who were also expecting that, check your email, which I know is probably currently a garbage fire like mine thanks to all the promotional crap
Reposted by Kate Heartfield
Publishing Industry stuff eating my brain: The EUDR sustainable forestry requirements.
In brief: Starting January 1 (unless negotiations give us an extension or waiver), all books imported to the EU must have geolocation data for the trees harvested to make all the paper components.
1/11
In brief: Starting January 1 (unless negotiations give us an extension or waiver), all books imported to the EU must have geolocation data for the trees harvested to make all the paper components.
1/11
December 2, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Publishing Industry stuff eating my brain: The EUDR sustainable forestry requirements.
In brief: Starting January 1 (unless negotiations give us an extension or waiver), all books imported to the EU must have geolocation data for the trees harvested to make all the paper components.
1/11
In brief: Starting January 1 (unless negotiations give us an extension or waiver), all books imported to the EU must have geolocation data for the trees harvested to make all the paper components.
1/11
Reposted by Kate Heartfield
The real question is not "Why is Bluesky so left-coded," the real question is "Why can't the right exist in a social media environment without algorithmic assistance, where people can ignore them"
December 2, 2025 at 3:08 PM
The real question is not "Why is Bluesky so left-coded," the real question is "Why can't the right exist in a social media environment without algorithmic assistance, where people can ignore them"
One of the jackasses responding to @kristadb1.bsky.social saying "please don't say rude things about my food" responded by saying that the "entire purpose" of this platform is to "receive comments on things you share" and I think that reveals a fundamental gap. That is not its purpose to me! +
December 2, 2025 at 4:42 PM
One of the jackasses responding to @kristadb1.bsky.social saying "please don't say rude things about my food" responded by saying that the "entire purpose" of this platform is to "receive comments on things you share" and I think that reveals a fundamental gap. That is not its purpose to me! +
Reposted by Kate Heartfield
acting winners are often some of my favorite NYFCC choices. This is one of them
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: Benicio del Toro, One Battle After Another
December 2, 2025 at 3:55 PM
acting winners are often some of my favorite NYFCC choices. This is one of them
Anyway 'tis the season to switch over to the only soggy garbage masculine Hero who holds my heart.
December 2, 2025 at 2:52 AM
Anyway 'tis the season to switch over to the only soggy garbage masculine Hero who holds my heart.
Somewhat gratified to find in Ross Poldark exactly the kind of soggy garbage masculine Hero I tried my best to examine in The Valkyrie (except I actually have some affection and pity for Sigurd). Always good to have confirmation that the thing you wrote a novel about still makes you mad.
I started watching the 2015 Poldark series, having never been exposed to any of the material before, and the only character I like is the old lady who sits in the corner, draws tarot cards and tells everyone they will be miserable and die. She is correct.
December 2, 2025 at 2:19 AM
Somewhat gratified to find in Ross Poldark exactly the kind of soggy garbage masculine Hero I tried my best to examine in The Valkyrie (except I actually have some affection and pity for Sigurd). Always good to have confirmation that the thing you wrote a novel about still makes you mad.
A thing I have been getting back into: online museum and theatre talks/performances. Honestly this was the best thing about life in 2020 and why not continue? Recently I watched the Red Bull Theater staged reading of Faustus, and a free Getty Museum talk on the Voynich MS, for example. Can recommend
December 1, 2025 at 11:15 PM
A thing I have been getting back into: online museum and theatre talks/performances. Honestly this was the best thing about life in 2020 and why not continue? Recently I watched the Red Bull Theater staged reading of Faustus, and a free Getty Museum talk on the Voynich MS, for example. Can recommend
Reposted by Kate Heartfield
I read avidly but very often books that are at least 10 years old. So I'd love some more recent recs of authors who aren't getting enough attention! Esp SFF
(Let's assume if they're racking up awards and/or are fandom darlings, I am already aware.)
(Let's assume if they're racking up awards and/or are fandom darlings, I am already aware.)
In 25 years of teaching creative writing, by far and away the two most common traits I've seen among successful writers are that they read avidly and that they support other writers enthusiastically.
November 30, 2025 at 7:27 AM
I read avidly but very often books that are at least 10 years old. So I'd love some more recent recs of authors who aren't getting enough attention! Esp SFF
(Let's assume if they're racking up awards and/or are fandom darlings, I am already aware.)
(Let's assume if they're racking up awards and/or are fandom darlings, I am already aware.)
There are also some questions I get all the time in interviews that are totally reasonable but that I really struggle to answer:
1. Are there historical settings you want to write in you haven't yet? (sure? all of them I guess)
2. Who would you cast in a movie adaptation of your book? (no idea)
1. Are there historical settings you want to write in you haven't yet? (sure? all of them I guess)
2. Who would you cast in a movie adaptation of your book? (no idea)
This is the one. Once I had it from my seatmate while I was still buckling my seatbelt for a cross-Atlantic flight. Somehow I did not find a way out until we'd exhausted all my work and confirmed she had heard of none of it. That's when I switched to saying "freelance writer" rather than "novelist."
"Oh, have you written anything I've heard of?"
December 1, 2025 at 9:21 PM
There are also some questions I get all the time in interviews that are totally reasonable but that I really struggle to answer:
1. Are there historical settings you want to write in you haven't yet? (sure? all of them I guess)
2. Who would you cast in a movie adaptation of your book? (no idea)
1. Are there historical settings you want to write in you haven't yet? (sure? all of them I guess)
2. Who would you cast in a movie adaptation of your book? (no idea)
This is the one. Once I had it from my seatmate while I was still buckling my seatbelt for a cross-Atlantic flight. Somehow I did not find a way out until we'd exhausted all my work and confirmed she had heard of none of it. That's when I switched to saying "freelance writer" rather than "novelist."
"Oh, have you written anything I've heard of?"
What’s the worst question someone can ask after you tell them your profession? For linguists, it’s definitely “how many languages do you speak?”, but I’m curious what else is happening to the rest of y’all out there?!
December 1, 2025 at 8:55 PM
This is the one. Once I had it from my seatmate while I was still buckling my seatbelt for a cross-Atlantic flight. Somehow I did not find a way out until we'd exhausted all my work and confirmed she had heard of none of it. That's when I switched to saying "freelance writer" rather than "novelist."
I was out talking to some undergrads today (not in my own dept) and got into a conversation with some engineering students who told me their favourite contract instructor got cut and their work is being graded by AI. "And the AI *sucks*" said one with vehemence. They're mad and they're right to be.
December 1, 2025 at 7:53 PM
I was out talking to some undergrads today (not in my own dept) and got into a conversation with some engineering students who told me their favourite contract instructor got cut and their work is being graded by AI. "And the AI *sucks*" said one with vehemence. They're mad and they're right to be.
I started watching the 2015 Poldark series, having never been exposed to any of the material before, and the only character I like is the old lady who sits in the corner, draws tarot cards and tells everyone they will be miserable and die. She is correct.
December 1, 2025 at 1:27 AM
I started watching the 2015 Poldark series, having never been exposed to any of the material before, and the only character I like is the old lady who sits in the corner, draws tarot cards and tells everyone they will be miserable and die. She is correct.
I thoroughly enjoyed Wake Up Dead Man. These movies are such gifts.
November 30, 2025 at 12:20 AM
I thoroughly enjoyed Wake Up Dead Man. These movies are such gifts.
Reposted by Kate Heartfield
The Department of What It (Really) Means to be Human by M. Darusha Wehm, coming in 2026 from @goldsf.bsky.social.
November 29, 2025 at 7:33 PM
The Department of What It (Really) Means to be Human by M. Darusha Wehm, coming in 2026 from @goldsf.bsky.social.
Reposted by Kate Heartfield
If you need multiple jobs while doing full time school, as I did, that counts you out of a TON of internships. I wasn't able to do one in undergrad and that severely affected my job prospects. In grad school I had to find my own paid internship to graduate. I have a mortgage in student loans.
Financial precarity. Yes university students have always been living on their last 20 bucks, but the number of students I talk to now who have *multiple* jobs in addition to being fulltime students, some of whom are taking care of family members' survival needs as well as their own, is shocking. 5/
November 29, 2025 at 7:06 PM
If you need multiple jobs while doing full time school, as I did, that counts you out of a TON of internships. I wasn't able to do one in undergrad and that severely affected my job prospects. In grad school I had to find my own paid internship to graduate. I have a mortgage in student loans.
Reposted by Kate Heartfield
Sri Lanka is hit hard by Cyclone Ditwah with severe flooding across the island. Over a hundred and fifty are dead, and tens of thousands are displaced. Some ways you can help:
vajra.me/2025/11/29/c...
vajra.me/2025/11/29/c...
Cyclone Ditwah Flood Relief Sri Lanka
How to donate to Sri Lankan flood relief initiatives in the wake of Cyclone Ditwah.
vajra.me
November 29, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Sri Lanka is hit hard by Cyclone Ditwah with severe flooding across the island. Over a hundred and fifty are dead, and tens of thousands are displaced. Some ways you can help:
vajra.me/2025/11/29/c...
vajra.me/2025/11/29/c...
Reposted by Kate Heartfield
The very valid worry about alienated students ignores the massive and increasing pressure on precariously employed sessionals. It's lonely and exhausting work-- especially if you're teaching online (as I did). I don't think we can fix one without fixing the other.
Meanwhile, teaching is being undermined and devlaued at our institutions in a frankly historically dangerous way, and as an underpaid contract instructor, having to spend more time and emotional energy finding ways to get through to my students for the same low pay is not sustainable. /8
November 29, 2025 at 5:12 PM
The very valid worry about alienated students ignores the massive and increasing pressure on precariously employed sessionals. It's lonely and exhausting work-- especially if you're teaching online (as I did). I don't think we can fix one without fixing the other.
Reposted by Kate Heartfield
This is an excellent thread, and if I might add, with care, that I think our academic staff are also all exhausted as well, by so many things that were not always a part of their role, as well as the pressure and precariousness of academia. Students feel that, too - the whole environment is fraught.
I have been reading all the "students these days" threads from various sides and I have an essay's worth of thoughts -- there's a lot of complexity and heterogeneity that is hard to communicate on social media. There are a couple of things I will say here though. 1/
November 29, 2025 at 5:25 PM
This is an excellent thread, and if I might add, with care, that I think our academic staff are also all exhausted as well, by so many things that were not always a part of their role, as well as the pressure and precariousness of academia. Students feel that, too - the whole environment is fraught.
I gasped out loud.
November 29, 2025 at 5:27 PM
I gasped out loud.
I have been reading all the "students these days" threads from various sides and I have an essay's worth of thoughts -- there's a lot of complexity and heterogeneity that is hard to communicate on social media. There are a couple of things I will say here though. 1/
November 29, 2025 at 4:20 PM
I have been reading all the "students these days" threads from various sides and I have an essay's worth of thoughts -- there's a lot of complexity and heterogeneity that is hard to communicate on social media. There are a couple of things I will say here though. 1/
Reposted by Kate Heartfield
Bong Joon Ho hit me up for the squad you legend deadline.com/2025/11/bong...
November 29, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Bong Joon Ho hit me up for the squad you legend deadline.com/2025/11/bong...