Michael A. Stackpole 🇺🇦
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michaelastackpole.bsky.social
Michael A. Stackpole 🇺🇦
@michaelastackpole.bsky.social
7.6K followers 4K following 2.8K posts
Award-winning writer and game designer. Author of the New York Times bestselling Rogue Squadron and I, Jedi (among 60+ others). https://ko-fi.com/michaelastackpole and
https://linktr.ee/michaelastackpole
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michaelastackpole.bsky.social
If you see this, post your getaway vehicle.
In response to the prompt, "If you see this, post your getaway vehicle." I quote posted an image of the Space Shuttle rocketing toward a cloudy sky and the sun hidden in the clouds. Shot from the launch pad, the image has the shuttle going vertical. Gorgeous shot with the launch exhaust being bright, with a grey background.
November 23, 2025 at 3:38 PM
michaelastackpole.bsky.social
Without downloading new pics, what is it like dating you?
In response to a prompt "Without downloading any new pictures, what is it like dating you," I have posted a pic with two signs on a fence in front of a hole dug in the ground. One sign reads, "Hard Hats Only. No Trespassing. Violators will be prosecuted. "Private Property."" and the other reads "Video Recording in Progress."
November 23, 2025 at 3:07 PM
michaelastackpole.bsky.social
I just released my "Brief Guide to Writing Short Fiction." It's a solid guide to writing short stories and more; and has a special focus on Sword and Sorcery stories.

It costs $10, which, as a set of instructions to write stories you can sell, is rather inexpensive.

Like and share. That helps!
the image is of a note pinned to a cork board. The note reads "Basic Guide to Writing Short Fiction."
November 10, 2025 at 7:59 PM
michaelastackpole.bsky.social
As a veteran of the Great Satanic Panic, I am wildly surprised that the Godly GOP can condone the production of the coin. The laws of Similarity and Contagion would make it a prime focus for Black Magick being used against their chosen one.

Someone will get a thesis out of this...
The image is the front and back of the proposed Trump coin, which is disturbing in a number of ways. US law prohibits putting a living person on coins/stamps. Moreover, as I point out, this coin would be a prime focus for evil magick directed at 47. I should also note that, as a fantasy writer, I've dealt with similar coins. In one set of books, the DragonCrown War novels, the people of a country regularly "blinded" the image of their King on coins by punching the eye out. The idea was to prevent him from spying on them because they possessed that coin. Hmmm, maybe we need to protect ourselves in case they plant a microchip in this coin. Also, as a coin collector, these type of memorial coins are regularly produced and sold to collectors, and never used in commerce. Interestingly, I buy a memorial coin like this to commemorate each book and most stories I've had come out. At least one of the coins has appreciated so much in value it is worth more than what I got for the book I bought it to commemorate.
November 10, 2025 at 3:03 PM
michaelastackpole.bsky.social
Repost this with you and your significant other (not really):
the image is of Cassandra Peterson dressed as Elvira, sitting next to the puppet known as the Cryptkeeper. It is delightful and was an ad for Knott's Berry Farm.
October 29, 2025 at 2:35 PM
michaelastackpole.bsky.social
Turns out you CAN make individual-serving size bread pudding. In this case made from donuts. (Twas an experiment; details on preparation in the alt text.)

If you try this, shoot and post pics; tag me please. I'd love to see your versions.
Image shows two and a half individual servings of Bread Pudding, shaped roughly like popovers. They were made from cut up stale donuts and soaked in an egg-cream-sugar mixture overnight. I added both white and milk chocolate chips. I then put them into a silicone dish meant to hold eggs; putting in just enough to form a little crown. Into the toaster oven at 350. After 25 minutes a toothpick came out clean. I popped them out and returned them for another five minutes, standing on their crowns, on a cookie sheet just to let the body crisp up a little. 12/10, will make again bc I have a ton more of the mixture.
October 22, 2025 at 7:18 PM
michaelastackpole.bsky.social
So, let's logic this out.

If participating in a No Kings rally means one hates America...

Then loving America means you want a King?

(Wanting a King in America we can discuss, but not this bloated buffoon who makes King George III look positively wonderful by comparison.)
The illustration is a screen cap showing that the No Kings rally in Scottsdale AZ will be between 9-11 AM at the PF Chang's Plaza at Scottsdale road and Camelback, southwest corner. Wear Yellow.
October 17, 2025 at 3:19 PM
michaelastackpole.bsky.social
NO KINGS is peak Scottsdale. Gotta love the power-corner location.

Brunch. Protest. Spa.

The American Dream: Luxury, irony and passion.

And a great place to be seen expressing one's love for the United States.
The photo is a screen cap of the location and time for the No Kings protest on 10/18. Specifically it lists 9-11 AM at the PF Chang's Plaza in downtown Scottsdale. This is a power corner right next to the biggest mall sprawl in Scottsdale. It is political theatre with a side of posh as only Scottsdale can do it. This is peak Scottsdale, and I love it. Irony and passion.
October 17, 2025 at 2:36 PM
michaelastackpole.bsky.social
The image features Jesus cuddling a young raptor to his chest, with pterodactyls cruising by in the sky behind. BTW, one of those three things is anachronistic. It is also the only fictional bit in the tableau.
September 23, 2025 at 2:47 PM
michaelastackpole.bsky.social
Doctor I trust more than RFKjr
Image is of a label/advertisement for "Dr. Lepper's Electric Oil of Gladness," a patent cure for, maybe, depression, or whatever else impedes happiness from the 1870s.
September 7, 2025 at 2:56 PM
michaelastackpole.bsky.social
Today, after so many instances of UTTER and COMPLETE failure at a task so simple that BILLIONs of people have succeeded at it, I must announce: (thread for details)
The image shows a covid test with the unmistakable double line of Positive....
September 6, 2025 at 2:08 PM
michaelastackpole.bsky.social
DragonCon asks its guests to bring items for the charity auctions. This year I am bringing:

1) Mint condition trade paperback of Star Wars Union (signed)
2) Hand-made (by me) leather belt pouch in black and red.
In the image are shown a copy of the Star Wars Union comic trade paperback (mint condition, from my own collection) and a red and black, hand stitched leather belt pouch, with a brass wolf's-head conch as a fastener. These are to be auctioned off for charity at DragonCon
August 27, 2025 at 2:39 PM
michaelastackpole.bsky.social
For anyone traveling to DragonCon, this is where you can find me. (Thanks to Bryan Young @swankmotron.com for putting this graphic together for me.)
This graphic lists the days and dates for Michael A. Stackpole's appearances at DragonCon
August 27, 2025 at 2:02 PM
michaelastackpole.bsky.social
Hasn't America suffered enough?
Pictured is a largely green and blue cellophane package declaring the produce within is "Vlasic Pickle Balls" aka Dill Pickle corn puffs.
August 5, 2025 at 8:57 PM
michaelastackpole.bsky.social
In Masters and Minions, @swankmotron and I managed to defeat a worthy quartet of opponents and get a Black Knight and Morgan Kell’s Archer off the board. The game lasted three hours and fun was had by all.
The Battle tech game board shows four giant robots yet standing, though two would not be for much longer. The Mechs all have fantastic paint jobs, which greatly enhanced the game.
August 3, 2025 at 6:18 AM
michaelastackpole.bsky.social
Masters and Minions is set to begin @ Gencon!
Four BattleMechs—two Archers and two Wolfhounds—painted up in the red and black of the Kell Hounds.
August 2, 2025 at 11:45 PM
michaelastackpole.bsky.social
Show me a picture on your phone that has your energy but isn't a selfie.
The image is of an orange colored drink, with a slice of blood orange in it. Probably had rum. Lot of rum. If it had less rum I'd remember what it is.
July 4, 2025 at 4:04 PM
michaelastackpole.bsky.social
They don’t even card people anymore, they just ask to see your school photo…
Portrait of the author as a young man. Had to be taken in 1970-71, black and white. Cute kid in a turtleneck sweater and a checked suit coat over, with bangs cut straight across his forehead.
July 2, 2025 at 12:45 PM
michaelastackpole.bsky.social
I’m from before the internet.
The image is of several hundreds of postage stamps from around the world, torn off envelopes and stored in a cigar box. The stamps are all over forty years old (since that’s when I stopped collecting stamps). It is a colorful collection of something we don’t see that often anymore.
June 29, 2025 at 1:11 AM
michaelastackpole.bsky.social
Advertise your account with just one image.
Scene of a backlit window in a castle, the window featuring a Gothic arch and styling. The image has been filtered through a watercolor program to make the image fantastic and ancient at the same time. The castle ruins was in Wales in spring of 2016.
June 29, 2025 at 12:59 AM
michaelastackpole.bsky.social
Did I join a cult?

(I feel like I joined a cult...)
The image shows a brown leather cover for a collection of Traveler notebooks, as well as a notebook (026 model, grid pattern), a pencil and a fountain pen (Lamy, extra fine nib). I made the cover, the laces are green and gold, which is a color combination which goes well with the deep brown, and is the combo of colors for my alma mater, the University of Vermont.
June 18, 2025 at 2:17 PM
michaelastackpole.bsky.social
Got one more leather project done…
Image of a leather belt pouch, black with red trim and face, with a brass wolf’s-head on the front as part of the clasp.
May 28, 2025 at 2:05 AM
michaelastackpole.bsky.social
I don't remember the speech. What I do remember is that, 1) Jimmy Cagney showed up, in a wheelchair and, 2) that the President shook the hand of each and every cadet walking off that stage that day.
Series: Reagan White House Photographs, 1/20/1981 - 1/20/1989Collection: White House Photographic Collection, 1/20/1981 - 1/20/1989, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Picture of Ronald Reagan at West Point commencement of 1981, shaking the hands of the Cadets. date 27 May 1981
May 26, 2025 at 1:55 PM
michaelastackpole.bsky.social
Mostly little things. This is the most recent. Biggest I've done is a messenger satchel. Just got some more leather, so might have to do another one of those.

Do you do leather work?
Image of a hand-made leather pouch, with a celtic dragon button for a closure. Dark brown over light brown, with green for the leather bits holding it closed.
May 17, 2025 at 3:33 PM
michaelastackpole.bsky.social
www.idrlabs.com/moral-alignm...

I'm good with this... not comprehensive, but fair...
A graphic depicting a plot of my personality using the Dungeons and Dragons Lawful/Neutral/Chaotic versus Good/Neutral/Evil axes... showing me to be Lawful Neutral. I'm comfortable with that.
May 7, 2025 at 3:53 PM