Mary Soon Lee
@marysoonlee.bsky.social
Author, cat owner, and book addict. Website: https://marysoonlee.com/
Pinned
Mary Soon Lee
@marysoonlee.bsky.social
· Nov 24
Hello, this is Mary Soon Lee entering stage left.... Hoping to find some of the folks I used to follow on that other social media platform....
For anyone wondering who I am, I write poetry and fiction, much of it SF and F.
I also have a cat, Pilot.
And I like to post about books I've enjoyed :-)
For anyone wondering who I am, I write poetry and fiction, much of it SF and F.
I also have a cat, Pilot.
And I like to post about books I've enjoyed :-)
November 22, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Part 4 of the Reddit Readlong of "The Sign of the Dragon" is underway, for those who Reddit :-)
www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/co...
✏️📖🐉
www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/co...
✏️📖🐉
November 21, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Part 4 of the Reddit Readlong of "The Sign of the Dragon" is underway, for those who Reddit :-)
www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/co...
✏️📖🐉
www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/co...
✏️📖🐉
Update from the poetry front. My poem "Enough" appeared in yawp, Fall 2025. yawp is a Pittsburgh-based magazine.
For the curious:
- first draft written 10/2018
- published draft dates from 3/2022
- accepted in 30 days
- previously rejected 17 times (yes)
- it's a mainstream poem
✏️
For the curious:
- first draft written 10/2018
- published draft dates from 3/2022
- accepted in 30 days
- previously rejected 17 times (yes)
- it's a mainstream poem
✏️
November 17, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Update from the poetry front. My poem "Enough" appeared in yawp, Fall 2025. yawp is a Pittsburgh-based magazine.
For the curious:
- first draft written 10/2018
- published draft dates from 3/2022
- accepted in 30 days
- previously rejected 17 times (yes)
- it's a mainstream poem
✏️
For the curious:
- first draft written 10/2018
- published draft dates from 3/2022
- accepted in 30 days
- previously rejected 17 times (yes)
- it's a mainstream poem
✏️
Time for another round of What Will I Read For Fun?
P.S. For those wondering, yes, often I just pick a book without doing this, e.g. for my most recent for-fun read of Scout's Progress (Liaden Universe, Sharon Lee + Steve Miller).
P.S. For those wondering, yes, often I just pick a book without doing this, e.g. for my most recent for-fun read of Scout's Progress (Liaden Universe, Sharon Lee + Steve Miller).
November 15, 2025 at 10:21 PM
Time for another round of What Will I Read For Fun?
P.S. For those wondering, yes, often I just pick a book without doing this, e.g. for my most recent for-fun read of Scout's Progress (Liaden Universe, Sharon Lee + Steve Miller).
P.S. For those wondering, yes, often I just pick a book without doing this, e.g. for my most recent for-fun read of Scout's Progress (Liaden Universe, Sharon Lee + Steve Miller).
#poetry. #TSOTD_note.
Update for those wondering. One week later, and I now have 15 The-Sign-of-the-Dragon poems. The first 8 are a mini sequence; the others are shorter sequences or stand-alone poems. I may get one more written by the end of Tuesday, then likely pause while my daughter's home.
Update for those wondering. One week later, and I now have 15 The-Sign-of-the-Dragon poems. The first 8 are a mini sequence; the others are shorter sequences or stand-alone poems. I may get one more written by the end of Tuesday, then likely pause while my daughter's home.
#poetry. #TSOTD_note.
For the first time, I returned to the world of "The Sign of the Dragon" and wrote a mini sequence of 8 poems that take place near the midpoint of the main book. I finished today after an obsessed flurry of activity while I had an empty house (barring Sir Cat's good company).
For the first time, I returned to the world of "The Sign of the Dragon" and wrote a mini sequence of 8 poems that take place near the midpoint of the main book. I finished today after an obsessed flurry of activity while I had an empty house (barring Sir Cat's good company).
November 15, 2025 at 9:54 PM
#poetry. #TSOTD_note.
Update for those wondering. One week later, and I now have 15 The-Sign-of-the-Dragon poems. The first 8 are a mini sequence; the others are shorter sequences or stand-alone poems. I may get one more written by the end of Tuesday, then likely pause while my daughter's home.
Update for those wondering. One week later, and I now have 15 The-Sign-of-the-Dragon poems. The first 8 are a mini sequence; the others are shorter sequences or stand-alone poems. I may get one more written by the end of Tuesday, then likely pause while my daughter's home.
Update from the reading front: finished a re-read of Scout's Progress, part of the wonderful Liaden Universe series by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller. A delight.
www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
📖🚀📚
www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
📖🚀📚
November 15, 2025 at 8:32 PM
Update from the reading front: finished a re-read of Scout's Progress, part of the wonderful Liaden Universe series by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller. A delight.
www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
📖🚀📚
www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
📖🚀📚
FYI, I'm on the Poetry, Flash, & the Power of Hybrid Storytelling panel at Quasar on Sunday....
November 14, 2025 at 5:58 PM
FYI, I'm on the Poetry, Flash, & the Power of Hybrid Storytelling panel at Quasar on Sunday....
Update from the reading front. It took me most of the year, but I finished Dante's Inferno, Italian text as well the English translation. My grasp of Italian was inadequate for this undertaking, but I don't regret it.
www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
📖
www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
📖
November 13, 2025 at 2:40 AM
Update from the reading front. It took me most of the year, but I finished Dante's Inferno, Italian text as well the English translation. My grasp of Italian was inadequate for this undertaking, but I don't regret it.
www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
📖
www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
📖
#poetry. Belatedly reporting that my poem "Eating with the Dead #2" appeared in Asimov's Science Fiction, Sep/Oct 2025 :-)
For the curious
- written 4/2023
- accepted in 84 days on its first time out
- this is my 15th poem to appear in Asimov's
- they paid $27 ($1 per line)
✏️📖
For the curious
- written 4/2023
- accepted in 84 days on its first time out
- this is my 15th poem to appear in Asimov's
- they paid $27 ($1 per line)
✏️📖
November 11, 2025 at 2:57 PM
#poetry. Belatedly reporting that my poem "Eating with the Dead #2" appeared in Asimov's Science Fiction, Sep/Oct 2025 :-)
For the curious
- written 4/2023
- accepted in 84 days on its first time out
- this is my 15th poem to appear in Asimov's
- they paid $27 ($1 per line)
✏️📖
For the curious
- written 4/2023
- accepted in 84 days on its first time out
- this is my 15th poem to appear in Asimov's
- they paid $27 ($1 per line)
✏️📖
Reposting for the Sunday lunchtime people. Hmmm. That may be a small set.
#poetry. #TSOTD_note.
For the first time, I returned to the world of "The Sign of the Dragon" and wrote a mini sequence of 8 poems that take place near the midpoint of the main book. I finished today after an obsessed flurry of activity while I had an empty house (barring Sir Cat's good company).
For the first time, I returned to the world of "The Sign of the Dragon" and wrote a mini sequence of 8 poems that take place near the midpoint of the main book. I finished today after an obsessed flurry of activity while I had an empty house (barring Sir Cat's good company).
November 9, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Reposting for the Sunday lunchtime people. Hmmm. That may be a small set.
#poetry. #TSOTD_note.
For the first time, I returned to the world of "The Sign of the Dragon" and wrote a mini sequence of 8 poems that take place near the midpoint of the main book. I finished today after an obsessed flurry of activity while I had an empty house (barring Sir Cat's good company).
For the first time, I returned to the world of "The Sign of the Dragon" and wrote a mini sequence of 8 poems that take place near the midpoint of the main book. I finished today after an obsessed flurry of activity while I had an empty house (barring Sir Cat's good company).
November 8, 2025 at 10:26 PM
#poetry. #TSOTD_note.
For the first time, I returned to the world of "The Sign of the Dragon" and wrote a mini sequence of 8 poems that take place near the midpoint of the main book. I finished today after an obsessed flurry of activity while I had an empty house (barring Sir Cat's good company).
For the first time, I returned to the world of "The Sign of the Dragon" and wrote a mini sequence of 8 poems that take place near the midpoint of the main book. I finished today after an obsessed flurry of activity while I had an empty house (barring Sir Cat's good company).
Update from the reading front: I forgot to say that I picked "Death by Silver." I can report that I have now finished, and much enjoyed, said book :-)
www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
I will now progress to "The Gentleman and his Vowsmith."
www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
I will now progress to "The Gentleman and his Vowsmith."
Later tonight, once I have cleared my todo list, I will be playing the next round of What Will I Read For Fun?
This time, I am in the mood for gay SFF(*) and the candidates are shown below. Sorry for poor photography skills.
(*) Really, when am I NOT in the mood for gay SFF?
This time, I am in the mood for gay SFF(*) and the candidates are shown below. Sorry for poor photography skills.
(*) Really, when am I NOT in the mood for gay SFF?
November 5, 2025 at 11:04 PM
Update from the reading front: I forgot to say that I picked "Death by Silver." I can report that I have now finished, and much enjoyed, said book :-)
www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
I will now progress to "The Gentleman and his Vowsmith."
www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
I will now progress to "The Gentleman and his Vowsmith."
Part 3 of the Reddit Readlong of "The Sign of the Dragon" is underway, for those who would like to play along:
www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/co...
www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/co...
There's an upcoming ReadAlong for "The Sign of the Dragon" on Reddit fantasy:
www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/co...
As far as I can tell, it's organized by oboist73, to whom I'm greatly indebted for posting many many kind comments about "The Sign of the Dragon."
The first bit of the discussion is on 10/7
www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/co...
As far as I can tell, it's organized by oboist73, to whom I'm greatly indebted for posting many many kind comments about "The Sign of the Dragon."
The first bit of the discussion is on 10/7
November 4, 2025 at 5:58 PM
Part 3 of the Reddit Readlong of "The Sign of the Dragon" is underway, for those who would like to play along:
www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/co...
www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/co...
For those wanting a distraction, here's a link to my November newsletter, complete with poetry news and my latest reading update.
mailchi.mp/9bb9095411e6...
✏️📖
mailchi.mp/9bb9095411e6...
✏️📖
November 4, 2025 at 5:56 PM
For those wanting a distraction, here's a link to my November newsletter, complete with poetry news and my latest reading update.
mailchi.mp/9bb9095411e6...
✏️📖
mailchi.mp/9bb9095411e6...
✏️📖
Update from the poetry front: I think my poem "Corn Snake #6" was published in US1 Worksheets (I couldn't attend the launch party)
For the curious
- written 3/2024
- accepted in 138 days on its first time out
- I didn't submit this until after a 2/2025 revision
- 2nd Corn Snake poem to be published
For the curious
- written 3/2024
- accepted in 138 days on its first time out
- I didn't submit this until after a 2/2025 revision
- 2nd Corn Snake poem to be published
November 3, 2025 at 12:04 AM
Update from the poetry front: I think my poem "Corn Snake #6" was published in US1 Worksheets (I couldn't attend the launch party)
For the curious
- written 3/2024
- accepted in 138 days on its first time out
- I didn't submit this until after a 2/2025 revision
- 2nd Corn Snake poem to be published
For the curious
- written 3/2024
- accepted in 138 days on its first time out
- I didn't submit this until after a 2/2025 revision
- 2nd Corn Snake poem to be published
Later tonight, once I have cleared my todo list, I will be playing the next round of What Will I Read For Fun?
This time, I am in the mood for gay SFF(*) and the candidates are shown below. Sorry for poor photography skills.
(*) Really, when am I NOT in the mood for gay SFF?
This time, I am in the mood for gay SFF(*) and the candidates are shown below. Sorry for poor photography skills.
(*) Really, when am I NOT in the mood for gay SFF?
November 2, 2025 at 11:29 PM
Later tonight, once I have cleared my todo list, I will be playing the next round of What Will I Read For Fun?
This time, I am in the mood for gay SFF(*) and the candidates are shown below. Sorry for poor photography skills.
(*) Really, when am I NOT in the mood for gay SFF?
This time, I am in the mood for gay SFF(*) and the candidates are shown below. Sorry for poor photography skills.
(*) Really, when am I NOT in the mood for gay SFF?
Update from the reading front: finished L. E. Modesitt Jr.'s Legalist, a prequel to the existing books in his Grand Illusion political fantasy series. I enjoyed it a lot. I find Modesitt's writing very immersive.
www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
📖
www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
📖
November 2, 2025 at 11:05 PM
Update from the reading front: finished L. E. Modesitt Jr.'s Legalist, a prequel to the existing books in his Grand Illusion political fantasy series. I enjoyed it a lot. I find Modesitt's writing very immersive.
www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
📖
www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
📖
Hello folks, looking for recommendations for good/fun SFF books for an eight year old. The eight year old has read Wings of Fire, Dragon Masters, Bone (comic/graphic novel), Bad Kitty, Dairy of a Wimpy Kid (yes, not SFF), Dave Pigeon.
Thank you for any help!
📖📚🚀
Thank you for any help!
📖📚🚀
November 2, 2025 at 6:28 PM
Hello folks, looking for recommendations for good/fun SFF books for an eight year old. The eight year old has read Wings of Fire, Dragon Masters, Bone (comic/graphic novel), Bad Kitty, Dairy of a Wimpy Kid (yes, not SFF), Dave Pigeon.
Thank you for any help!
📖📚🚀
Thank you for any help!
📖📚🚀
![Photo of a ginger cat sprawled motionless on a tiled floor, somewhat resembling a corpse. [The cat is Pilot and he is fine.]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:lwn3qg2cuhqxodqhqwr5msjb/bafkreie6onky7o6wg4kdhew4lxzahnmqp7zvzkdizg4ujmqfbx6pyly7u4@jpeg)
Update from the reading front: I finished Roger Zelazny's "A Night in the Lonesome October," which proved to be a delight. Many thanks to @clankorval.bsky.social for recommending reading this a chapter per day in October. Snuff is officially the best dog ever.
www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
📖📚🐕
www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
📖📚🐕
Lastly, I'm not quite finished, but a shout out to Roger Zelazny's "A Night in the Lonesome October." The chapters are dated October 1, October 2, ...., October 31. And, as recommended by Sharon Lee, I've been reading the chapter for the day each evening. An excellent lead-up to Halloween.
📖📚
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November 1, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Update from the reading front: I finished Roger Zelazny's "A Night in the Lonesome October," which proved to be a delight. Many thanks to @clankorval.bsky.social for recommending reading this a chapter per day in October. Snuff is officially the best dog ever.
www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
📖📚🐕
www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
📖📚🐕
What did folks read in October that you loved?
My favorites were:
- Robert Jackson Bennett's fantasy mystery, The Tainted Cup: amazing worldbuilding/setting and I love Din
- Jamie Lackey's lovely fairytale novella, The Forest Gods, sequel to the wonderful The Forest God. (Yes, very similar title.)
My favorites were:
- Robert Jackson Bennett's fantasy mystery, The Tainted Cup: amazing worldbuilding/setting and I love Din
- Jamie Lackey's lovely fairytale novella, The Forest Gods, sequel to the wonderful The Forest God. (Yes, very similar title.)
October 30, 2025 at 7:05 PM
What did folks read in October that you loved?
My favorites were:
- Robert Jackson Bennett's fantasy mystery, The Tainted Cup: amazing worldbuilding/setting and I love Din
- Jamie Lackey's lovely fairytale novella, The Forest Gods, sequel to the wonderful The Forest God. (Yes, very similar title.)
My favorites were:
- Robert Jackson Bennett's fantasy mystery, The Tainted Cup: amazing worldbuilding/setting and I love Din
- Jamie Lackey's lovely fairytale novella, The Forest Gods, sequel to the wonderful The Forest God. (Yes, very similar title.)
On the poetry front: signed contracts for 2 poems for Asimov's and 1 for Analog :-)
For the curious:
- written 2/2023 + 2/2023 + 5/2024
- poems previously received 4 / 11 / 3 rejections respectively
- initial responses took 419 / 255 / 113 days; contracts took longer
- they pay a dollar a line
✏️
For the curious:
- written 2/2023 + 2/2023 + 5/2024
- poems previously received 4 / 11 / 3 rejections respectively
- initial responses took 419 / 255 / 113 days; contracts took longer
- they pay a dollar a line
✏️
October 30, 2025 at 5:16 PM
On the poetry front: signed contracts for 2 poems for Asimov's and 1 for Analog :-)
For the curious:
- written 2/2023 + 2/2023 + 5/2024
- poems previously received 4 / 11 / 3 rejections respectively
- initial responses took 419 / 255 / 113 days; contracts took longer
- they pay a dollar a line
✏️
For the curious:
- written 2/2023 + 2/2023 + 5/2024
- poems previously received 4 / 11 / 3 rejections respectively
- initial responses took 419 / 255 / 113 days; contracts took longer
- they pay a dollar a line
✏️
For anyone who's wondering what I selected *after* finishing Sarah Beth Durst's lovely Spellshop: the answer is Legalist, by L. E. Modesitt, Jr.... I'm up to page 147 and having a fine time :-)
Update from the reading front: this afternoon I have the happy task of selecting my next for-fun book to read :-) :-)
I have picked six books from the waiting hordes and will read the start of each, gradually removing books from contention.
N.B. The mystery book is System Collapse (Martha Wells)
I have picked six books from the waiting hordes and will read the start of each, gradually removing books from contention.
N.B. The mystery book is System Collapse (Martha Wells)
October 28, 2025 at 9:46 PM
For anyone who's wondering what I selected *after* finishing Sarah Beth Durst's lovely Spellshop: the answer is Legalist, by L. E. Modesitt, Jr.... I'm up to page 147 and having a fine time :-)
Update from the reading front: already finished "The Spellshop" by Sarah Beth Durst, which I picked out only yesterday afternoon. Yes, thank you, I did enjoy it. Gentle fantasy with a superb talking spider plant in the supporting cast.
www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
October 27, 2025 at 1:46 AM
Update from the reading front: already finished "The Spellshop" by Sarah Beth Durst, which I picked out only yesterday afternoon. Yes, thank you, I did enjoy it. Gentle fantasy with a superb talking spider plant in the supporting cast.
www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
Neither reading nor writing related: I voted (by mail) this morning. I have voted in every election since I became a US citizen in March 2003.
If you have a vote, cast it....
If you have a vote, cast it....
October 26, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Neither reading nor writing related: I voted (by mail) this morning. I have voted in every election since I became a US citizen in March 2003.
If you have a vote, cast it....
If you have a vote, cast it....