Nan McCarthy
@nanmccarthy.bsky.social
Love to read, love to write. Author of Chat, Connect, Crash & Since You Went Away series. Former managing editor & tech writer. Rainwater Press founder. USMC vet spouse. Chicago native in KCMO. If you love books you’re my people.
https://nan-mccarthy.com
https://nan-mccarthy.com
Pinned
Nan McCarthy
@nanmccarthy.bsky.social
· Nov 13
In addition to reading, writing, books & publishing, I’m into Internet history, pop culture, etymology, walking, swearing, TCM, Elvis, Prince, & the blues, Chicago, Kansas City, all things Japanese, poetry, pizza, rescues, road trips, humor, mental health, LGBTQ+ allyship, purple pens, & cryptograms
“Obviously, a batch of cookies is just the starting point. If you can do one dozen, make another. While you’re at the store, grab a few extra items for the food shelf. Every little bit helps. Ask your neighbors if they need anything while you’re out. Start conversations.”
Finally wrote about it.
"I’m calling it the Cookie Theory of Collective Action: Everyone has a role, anyone can start small, and joy is an essential part of the broader fight for your community."
snackstack.net/2026/01/30/t...
"I’m calling it the Cookie Theory of Collective Action: Everyone has a role, anyone can start small, and joy is an essential part of the broader fight for your community."
snackstack.net/2026/01/30/t...
The Cookie Theory of Collective Action
Build community, bring snacks, and other tips from an occupied city
snackstack.net
January 31, 2026 at 2:26 PM
“Obviously, a batch of cookies is just the starting point. If you can do one dozen, make another. While you’re at the store, grab a few extra items for the food shelf. Every little bit helps. Ask your neighbors if they need anything while you’re out. Start conversations.”
Reposted by Nan McCarthy
Here are some ways to help Minnesota with all the essential but less visible needs.
But also, go get involved with your own community. Make new friends. Get those networks going. Learn what orgs in your city are already doing good work that needs support. Don't wait.
www.standwithminnesota.com
But also, go get involved with your own community. Make new friends. Get those networks going. Learn what orgs in your city are already doing good work that needs support. Don't wait.
www.standwithminnesota.com
Stand With Minnesota Donation Directory
Stand With Minnesota is a hub for supporting, learning, and taking action to support Minnesotans impacted by ICE and federal enforcement.
www.standwithminnesota.com
January 29, 2026 at 4:26 PM
Here are some ways to help Minnesota with all the essential but less visible needs.
But also, go get involved with your own community. Make new friends. Get those networks going. Learn what orgs in your city are already doing good work that needs support. Don't wait.
www.standwithminnesota.com
But also, go get involved with your own community. Make new friends. Get those networks going. Learn what orgs in your city are already doing good work that needs support. Don't wait.
www.standwithminnesota.com
Reposted by Nan McCarthy
Reporter: You received a letter from AG Pam Bondi making several demands….
Walz: I would just give a pro tip to the AG. There's 2 million documents in the Epstein files we're still waiting on. Go ahead and work on those
Walz: I would just give a pro tip to the AG. There's 2 million documents in the Epstein files we're still waiting on. Go ahead and work on those
January 25, 2026 at 7:31 PM
Reporter: You received a letter from AG Pam Bondi making several demands….
Walz: I would just give a pro tip to the AG. There's 2 million documents in the Epstein files we're still waiting on. Go ahead and work on those
Walz: I would just give a pro tip to the AG. There's 2 million documents in the Epstein files we're still waiting on. Go ahead and work on those
Reposted by Nan McCarthy
Yesterday, Minneapolis gave us hope. That’s what they’re trying to kill: the will of a people who are willing to fight them.
January 24, 2026 at 4:20 PM
Yesterday, Minneapolis gave us hope. That’s what they’re trying to kill: the will of a people who are willing to fight them.
Reposted by Nan McCarthy
With the way things are in the world, it's so easy to succumb to rage and terror, but writing is one of my key lifelines. There's my own work of course, but reading other people's great stories as they come out + seeing them get their flowers can be just as exciting. Life is still happening even now
January 22, 2026 at 4:25 PM
With the way things are in the world, it's so easy to succumb to rage and terror, but writing is one of my key lifelines. There's my own work of course, but reading other people's great stories as they come out + seeing them get their flowers can be just as exciting. Life is still happening even now
Reposted by Nan McCarthy
I wrote about how Heated Rivalry is just the latest case of how publishers, with all their data, are still not able to predict what will be the next sensation. lithub.com/get-ready-fo...
Get Ready For Publishing to Chase the Heated Rivalry Phenomenon
Heated Rivalry mania has swept the world, and it’s been so fun to watch the stars of the TV series becoming A-list celebrities while the books upon which the show was based hit the bestseller list …
lithub.com
January 22, 2026 at 1:05 PM
I wrote about how Heated Rivalry is just the latest case of how publishers, with all their data, are still not able to predict what will be the next sensation. lithub.com/get-ready-fo...
Reposted by Nan McCarthy
Three of the world’s best teams — Argentina, England and Netherlands — are reportedly interested in making Kansas City their training home during the World Cup. Organizers say local businesses should start planning to make the most of 650,000 expected visitors.
Kansas City has caught the eye of 3 World Cup powerhouses as teams make base camp selections
Three of the world’s best teams — Argentina, England and Netherlands — are reportedly interested in making Kansas City their training home during the World Cup. Organizers say local businesses should start planning to make the most of 650,000 expected visitors.
www.kcur.org
January 21, 2026 at 3:05 PM
Three of the world’s best teams — Argentina, England and Netherlands — are reportedly interested in making Kansas City their training home during the World Cup. Organizers say local businesses should start planning to make the most of 650,000 expected visitors.
Reposted by Nan McCarthy
The Justice Department already missed its December deadline to release the Epstein files—and now it’s struggling to defend the delay, @willgottsegen.com argues in The Atlantic Daily:
What’s Going on With the Epstein Files?
Less than 1 percent of them have been released.
bit.ly
January 17, 2026 at 10:15 PM
The Justice Department already missed its December deadline to release the Epstein files—and now it’s struggling to defend the delay, @willgottsegen.com argues in The Atlantic Daily:
Watched 2 episodes of 11.22.63 on Netflix last night & boy am I disappointed, especially since King was involved in the series. First 20 minutes were promising & then it went off the rails. The book is way more subtle & gripping, great characters & plot w/ fascinating history interwoven.
January 17, 2026 at 2:29 PM
Watched 2 episodes of 11.22.63 on Netflix last night & boy am I disappointed, especially since King was involved in the series. First 20 minutes were promising & then it went off the rails. The book is way more subtle & gripping, great characters & plot w/ fascinating history interwoven.
Remembering my Nana (& her chocolate cake) on the anniversary of her death, 34 years ago today.
nan-mccarthy.com/2026/01/15/c...
nan-mccarthy.com/2026/01/15/c...
Chocolate Cake
Remembering My Nana (& her chocolate cake) on the anniversary of her death, 34 years ago today. Nan McCarthy Frances Hyzy Morris (my mom’s mom) was born in Krakow, Poland on March 3rd, 1905. In…
nan-mccarthy.com
January 15, 2026 at 10:03 PM
Remembering my Nana (& her chocolate cake) on the anniversary of her death, 34 years ago today.
nan-mccarthy.com/2026/01/15/c...
nan-mccarthy.com/2026/01/15/c...
Reposted by Nan McCarthy
Jeffrey Epstein's benefactor, accountant and lawyer face Congressional scrutiny...here is what it means open.substack.com/pub/jkbjourn...
Jeffrey Epstein's benefactor, accountant and lawyer face Congressional scrutiny
These are Epstein's money men
open.substack.com
January 8, 2026 at 2:33 PM
Jeffrey Epstein's benefactor, accountant and lawyer face Congressional scrutiny...here is what it means open.substack.com/pub/jkbjourn...
Reposted by Nan McCarthy
If you are still on "X", you have to ask yourself why.
It's been a cesspool for years, recent days are a new low, it's not compulsory to be there.
If you don't leave it now, you have to ask what it would take to make you drop it?
It's been a cesspool for years, recent days are a new low, it's not compulsory to be there.
If you don't leave it now, you have to ask what it would take to make you drop it?
Breaking: Women's Aid Ireland will no longer maintain a presence on X from tomorrow.
@womensaidireland.bsky.social
@womensaidireland.bsky.social
January 8, 2026 at 9:32 AM
If you are still on "X", you have to ask yourself why.
It's been a cesspool for years, recent days are a new low, it's not compulsory to be there.
If you don't leave it now, you have to ask what it would take to make you drop it?
It's been a cesspool for years, recent days are a new low, it's not compulsory to be there.
If you don't leave it now, you have to ask what it would take to make you drop it?
Reposted by Nan McCarthy
I wrote the guide you didn’t know you needed: Your cheat sheet on complicity for the people involved with Epstein (and the non-release of his files) open.substack.com/pub/asharang...
Your Cheat Sheet on Complicity in the Epstein Saga
Who knew complicity could be so...complicated?
open.substack.com
January 7, 2026 at 2:58 PM
I wrote the guide you didn’t know you needed: Your cheat sheet on complicity for the people involved with Epstein (and the non-release of his files) open.substack.com/pub/asharang...
Reposted by Nan McCarthy
I've watched thousands of videos from the Jan. 6 riot as part of NPR's reporting and archive project on that day.
Here are some of the lesser known videos that have really stuck with me.
🧵
Here are some of the lesser known videos that have really stuck with me.
🧵
January 6, 2026 at 1:23 PM
I've watched thousands of videos from the Jan. 6 riot as part of NPR's reporting and archive project on that day.
Here are some of the lesser known videos that have really stuck with me.
🧵
Here are some of the lesser known videos that have really stuck with me.
🧵
Best part of Anderson & Andy’s NYE show was Andy asking Anderson to do a dramatic reading of Taylor Swift’s “Wood,” which Anderson had no idea what it was about until he read the lyrics. Giggles ensued 🪵🥂
January 1, 2026 at 4:55 AM
Best part of Anderson & Andy’s NYE show was Andy asking Anderson to do a dramatic reading of Taylor Swift’s “Wood,” which Anderson had no idea what it was about until he read the lyrics. Giggles ensued 🪵🥂
Reposted by Nan McCarthy
Apparently I'm doing this -- my open letter to that open latter about AI in writing and publishing. I emerged from Hibernation Week to write it, so god only knows how much sense it makes. But at least a human wrote it, so that's nice.
Bonus: picture of my "cat," sweet baby Boomba.
Bonus: picture of my "cat," sweet baby Boomba.
My Open Letter To That Open Letter About AI In Writing And Publishing
The tl;dr before you get into this post is this: the SFWA came out, said that some AI usage was okay enough in books for the authors of those books to not to be disqualified from winning a Nebula a…
terribleminds.com
December 28, 2025 at 7:47 PM
Apparently I'm doing this -- my open letter to that open latter about AI in writing and publishing. I emerged from Hibernation Week to write it, so god only knows how much sense it makes. But at least a human wrote it, so that's nice.
Bonus: picture of my "cat," sweet baby Boomba.
Bonus: picture of my "cat," sweet baby Boomba.
Reposted by Nan McCarthy
No, we don't have to accept hallucinatory, ecosidic creative stealing LLMs. The genie not only can be put back in the bottle, we need to do so. Accepting this as the state of affairs that we have to accept and going forward is an enormous mistake.
www.patreon.com/posts/ai-and...
www.patreon.com/posts/ai-and...
December 28, 2025 at 4:15 PM
No, we don't have to accept hallucinatory, ecosidic creative stealing LLMs. The genie not only can be put back in the bottle, we need to do so. Accepting this as the state of affairs that we have to accept and going forward is an enormous mistake.
www.patreon.com/posts/ai-and...
www.patreon.com/posts/ai-and...
Reposted by Nan McCarthy
the perfect journalism job doesn't exi-
December 23, 2025 at 4:10 PM
the perfect journalism job doesn't exi-
Reposted by Nan McCarthy
ATTN MILITARY: That $1776 you’re getting? He’s taking it out of your already approved BHA and putting his name on it. www.defenseone.com/policy/2025/...
Trump rebrands Congressionally-approved troop housing subsidy as ‘warrior dividend’ bonus
More than $2.9 billion in reconciliation funds was allocated to beef up troop housing allowances. Now it’s being used for $1,776 checks.
www.defenseone.com
December 18, 2025 at 3:53 PM
ATTN MILITARY: That $1776 you’re getting? He’s taking it out of your already approved BHA and putting his name on it. www.defenseone.com/policy/2025/...
Reposted by Nan McCarthy
VA insists it doesn’t limit mental health care. Some veterans say they feel betrayed by a system that promised to take care of them for the rest of their lives. thewarhorse.org/veteran-ment...
‘I Feel Lost.’ Anxiety Grows Among Veterans Cut off From VA One-on-One Therapy
Veterans told The War Horse that therapy session limits are damaging their mental health. VA says it works with veterans to create care plans.
thewarhorse.org
December 11, 2025 at 3:31 PM
VA insists it doesn’t limit mental health care. Some veterans say they feel betrayed by a system that promised to take care of them for the rest of their lives. thewarhorse.org/veteran-ment...
Reposted by Nan McCarthy
Reposted by Nan McCarthy
The average SNAP benefit per month is $177 a person.
The average ACA benefit per month is up to $550 a person.
People want us to hold the line for a reason. This is not a matter of appealing to a base. It’s about people’s lives.
And working people want leaders whose word means something to them.
The average ACA benefit per month is up to $550 a person.
People want us to hold the line for a reason. This is not a matter of appealing to a base. It’s about people’s lives.
And working people want leaders whose word means something to them.
November 10, 2025 at 1:49 AM
The average SNAP benefit per month is $177 a person.
The average ACA benefit per month is up to $550 a person.
People want us to hold the line for a reason. This is not a matter of appealing to a base. It’s about people’s lives.
And working people want leaders whose word means something to them.
The average ACA benefit per month is up to $550 a person.
People want us to hold the line for a reason. This is not a matter of appealing to a base. It’s about people’s lives.
And working people want leaders whose word means something to them.
Reposted by Nan McCarthy
No matter how many boats Trump blows up or how many government buildings he demolishes – we're not going to forget about the Epstein files.
November 5, 2025 at 1:21 PM
No matter how many boats Trump blows up or how many government buildings he demolishes – we're not going to forget about the Epstein files.
Reposted by Nan McCarthy
Amazon is helping fund a $300 million build of a ballroom for the White House.
Independent bookstores are donating to food banks and organizations that help with food insecurity.
They are not the same.
Independent bookstores are donating to food banks and organizations that help with food insecurity.
They are not the same.
October 30, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Amazon is helping fund a $300 million build of a ballroom for the White House.
Independent bookstores are donating to food banks and organizations that help with food insecurity.
They are not the same.
Independent bookstores are donating to food banks and organizations that help with food insecurity.
They are not the same.
Reposted by Nan McCarthy
Even when the moments aren’t going viral and therefore recede a bit from national headlines, it’s worth remembering again that the trump administration is still raining a lot of terror down on the chicago area. All the love to the great American city and its surrounding neighborhoods
October 29, 2025 at 2:09 AM
Even when the moments aren’t going viral and therefore recede a bit from national headlines, it’s worth remembering again that the trump administration is still raining a lot of terror down on the chicago area. All the love to the great American city and its surrounding neighborhoods