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Mari Ness, writer of things

@mariness.bsky.social

2.6K followers 100 following 8.1K posts

I write things. Occasionally they get published. Also occasionally on other sites, including marikness.wordpress.com, https://medium.com/@marikness, https://www.patreon.com/mari_ness. Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/mari_ness

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Mari Ness, writer of things @mariness.bsky.social · Apr 6

So yes, delighted to say that I am one of the inaugural finalists for the Hugo Award for Best Poem, alongside @angelaliu.bsky.social, @aijiang.bsky.social,
@swantower.bsky.social, @devanbarlow.bsky.social
& Oliver K. Langmead!

Mari Ness, writer of things @mariness.bsky.social · Apr 6

So, this happened!!!

List of the three finalists for the Hugo Award for Best Poem: Calypso, by Oliver K. Langmead (Titan), "Ever Noir," by Mari Ness (Haven Spec Magazine, Issue 16, July 2024), "There Are No Taxis for the Dead," by Angela Liu (Uncanny Magazine, Issue 58), 219 ballots cast for 266 nominees, Finalists range 11 to 26.

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Mari Ness, writer of things @mariness.bsky.social · 19h

YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Ignyte Awards @theignyteawards.bsky.social · 19h

@carolinemyoachim.bsky.social's WE WILL TEACH YOU HOW TO READ | WE WILL TEACH YOU HOW TO READ wins the #2025IgnyteAwards in Outstanding Short Story
www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/we-w...

2025 Winner Outstanding Short Story: WE WILL TEACH YOU HOW TO READ | WE WILL TEACH YOU HOW TO READ by Caroline M. Yoachim

Mari Ness, writer of things @mariness.bsky.social · 19h

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Mari Ness, writer of things @mariness.bsky.social · 19h

This is an OUTSTANDING choice.

Congratulations!!!

The Ignyte Awards @theignyteawards.bsky.social · 19h

Congratulations to Fasasi Ridwan who wins the #2025IgnyteAwards for Outstanding Speculative Poetry for RELIVING: POST TRAUMA OF THE LEKKI TOLLGATE MASSACRE strangehorizons.com/wordpress/po...

2025 Winner: Outstanding Speculative Poetry:
RELIVING: POST TRAUMA OF THE LEKKI TOLLGATE MASSACRE by Fasasi Ridwan

Mari Ness, writer of things @mariness.bsky.social · 20h

....so yeah, once again I'm incredibly biased here, but if you need some positive speculative poetry in your life, and/or need proof that yes, I AM capable of writing the occasional positive/optimistic piece, the paperback and ebook are for sale everywhere:

www.barnesandnoble.com/w/worlds-of-...

Worlds of Possibility -Poetry|eBook

This volume collects 43 poems originally published in the magazine version of Worlds of Possibility. Spanning science fiction and fantasy, these poems show us wondrous landscapes, whimsical adventures...

www.barnesandnoble.com

Mari Ness, writer of things @mariness.bsky.social · 20h

The Worlds of Possibility anthology ALSO includes poems by Hugo Award winner Marie Brennan AND Hugo finalist Angela Liu, PLUS poems from other favorite poets including C.S.E. Cooney, Elizabeth R. McClellan, Sara Norja, and Bogi Takács!!!!!

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Mari Ness, writer of things @mariness.bsky.social · 21h

Look what arrived! My paperback author's copy of the Worlds of Possibility poetry anthology!

Book: cover depicts woman lifting planets into space, with the words Worlds of Possibility, Poetry, edited by Julia Rios

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Reposted by Mari Ness, writer of things

the idea slumlord✨ @mollytanzer.bsky.social · 23h

“Publisher didn’t register copyright”

Marjorie James Keenan @unenthusiast.com · 1d

In honour of spooky month, share a 4 word horror story that only someone in your profession would understand.

rm -rf ~/

hammancheez @hammancheez.bsky.social · 1d

"The chancellor approved it"

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Mari Ness, writer of things @mariness.bsky.social · 1d

For the record, a DIFFERENT human saw her JUST LAST WEEK.

Briefly!

Mari Ness, writer of things @mariness.bsky.social · 1d

Stepping right up into the light

#Caturday

Grey tabby cat next to/partly underneath a table lamp, casting bright light directly on her face.

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Mari Ness, writer of things @mariness.bsky.social · 1d

....but it's at least POSSIBLE that a cat now owns you.

Reposted by Mari Ness, writer of things

Harry Turtledove @hntdove.bsky.social · 1d

Ea-Nāşir's perfidy seems eternal!

Comic

Panel one. Stick finger singing, "Raindrops on rose/ And whiskers on kittens."

Panel two. Same stick figure holding pot and singing, "Bright copper kettles leave/ ...Flakes on my mittens!?"

Panel three. Same figure still holding pot and singing, "Hey, these are stone with a copper veneer!"

Fourth panel. Same stick figure has put down pot and is singing, "I've been bamboozled by Ea-Nāşir!"

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Mari Ness, writer of things @mariness.bsky.social · 1d

That's what I would argue!

If you're that fixated on QR codes and/or are getting some sort of discount/kickback from MC/Visa/Amex for using them, fine, but just....add them to the regular bill/menu and let me have the regular bill/menu?

Mari Ness, writer of things @mariness.bsky.social · 1d

For health reasons I'm not all that comfortable with leaving my phone at home....but that doesn't mean that it needs to leave my bag once I'm at a restaurant.

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Mari Ness, writer of things @mariness.bsky.social · 1d

I just figured everything was normal! Normal menu, normal seating, and then....QR code for the bill.

NOT GREAT.

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Mari Ness, writer of things @mariness.bsky.social · 1d

I was able to get that place to bring me a normal bill, after demonstrating that this really WASN'T working with me or my cell phone, AND that sushi is excellent, so....I won't be avoiding it entirely in the future, but I'm also not going out of my way to get there.

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Mari Ness, writer of things @mariness.bsky.social · 1d

My mind immediately flashed back to filing my expenses and attaching receipts back when I was traveling a LOT for work, and, yeah, I'm sure some sort of workaround could be worked out, but, still.

(I also just like to be able to see the final bill to make sure the charges are correct!)

Mari Ness, writer of things @mariness.bsky.social · 1d

My other less than happy thing is when a place - in this case, another, DIFFERENT, local sushi restaurant - DOES offer regular menus, but then offers a QR code bill without another payment option - or a total amount without accessing that code.

Mari Ness, writer of things @mariness.bsky.social · 1d

Admittedly I rarely check the wine lists first, but yes, that's an additional problem.

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Mari Ness, writer of things @mariness.bsky.social · 1d

I have similar feelings about a local sushi place - although no one has called it heaven on earth.

If a QR menu is the only option, I go elsewhere.

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Reposted by Mari Ness, writer of things

Ranylt Richildis @ranylt.bsky.social · 1d

There's a new Chinese dumpling place in my city that is apparently heaven on earth and I’d love to go there, but it brags that it only has QR menus and a no-cash system, so I feel this post. My stubbornness has reached Alpine levels.

Martha Crawford @whatashrinkthinks.com · 2d

I don’t necessarily feel like retreating from the news.

But I am absolutely recoiling from technology now and just planning on becoming wholly obsolete

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Mari Ness, writer of things @mariness.bsky.social · 1d

I can get to a movie theatre, but it's not exactly easy, so I only do it for films I REALLY want to see in the theatre - and which are unlikely to give me vertigo.

WICKED and WICKED: FOR GOOD aren't in either category.

So....streaming next year! Maybe.

Mari Ness, writer of things @mariness.bsky.social · 1d

Hmm.

Yeah, that reaction is one reason why I haven't gotten around to seeing the film yet.

Another reason is that I figured I would wait until both parts were available on streaming.

Mari Ness, writer of things @mariness.bsky.social · 1d

I am not sure what's going on, to be honest, but the mockingbirds are absolutely infuriated about SOMETHING this morning which would be delightful if we were talking about just one angry mockingbird but this is at least five angry mockingbirds which is a lot of anger.

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Mari Ness, writer of things @mariness.bsky.social · 2d

My evening has been alcohol free so far, and will probably continue to be given the time....

....maybe tomorrow?

Mari Ness, writer of things @mariness.bsky.social · 2d

....I'm currently at the age where two drinks is my absolute limit for the night, and one is better, so I hear you.