Samantha (Sam) Mills
@samtasticbooks.com
Nebula, Locus, Sturgeon winner | Codexian | Archivist | Repped by Lisa Rodgers | THE WINGS UPON HER BACK, Compton Crook winner and World Fantasy finalist, out now! (she/her) www.samtasticbooks.com
Newsletter at https://subscribepage.io/samtasticnews
Newsletter at https://subscribepage.io/samtasticnews
Pinned
IT IS ALIVE!! Behold the cover for Rabbit Test and Other Stories, out in April! Preorder while it is still legal to distribute through the mail!
Every time I'm at the bookstore i whisper to myself, "it's basically like getting 30% off"
Muttering ‘technically this is a business expense’ every time I pony up forty quid minimum for an interesting book from an academic press.
November 25, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Every time I'm at the bookstore i whisper to myself, "it's basically like getting 30% off"
The first time my sister and I threw Thanksgiving for our siblings, we were in our early 20s. Had never planned and served a big meal before. Everyone was over, everyone was hungry, we were shuttling side dishes through the oven, frying up rice balls (🤤), having a great time--
yes, hello, I would like to place an order for everyone’s funniest stories of holiday food-related family grudges / drama / chaotic incidents / lore
I feel like we need this
I feel like we need this
November 25, 2025 at 2:42 PM
The first time my sister and I threw Thanksgiving for our siblings, we were in our early 20s. Had never planned and served a big meal before. Everyone was over, everyone was hungry, we were shuttling side dishes through the oven, frying up rice balls (🤤), having a great time--
Reposted by Samantha (Sam) Mills
LP is one of our best and kindest. Every chance I get to talk to him at conventions is too short, but he’s just such a lovely presence that there’s a line of people eager to see him. Share and support if you can.
Please help @lpkindred.bsky.social stay in school in these difficult times. He's a great person who's had a rough go and deserves all the good things.
www.gofundme.com/f/keep-lp-in...
www.gofundme.com/f/keep-lp-in...
Donate to Keep LP in School Spring 2026, organized by LP Kindred
Hey y'all,
I'm LP Kindred, a Chicagoan-Angeleno writer/editor/teaching artist/culture work… LP Kindred needs your support for Keep LP in School Spring 2026
www.gofundme.com
November 19, 2025 at 8:56 PM
LP is one of our best and kindest. Every chance I get to talk to him at conventions is too short, but he’s just such a lovely presence that there’s a line of people eager to see him. Share and support if you can.
Reposted by Samantha (Sam) Mills
Intuit is integrating ChatGPT into their TurboTax, QuickBooks, Credit Karma, & Mailchimp services, & vice versa. Which is to say, I think a SHIT TON of people are about to get audited.
They also claiming no bleedover btwn your financial data & ChatGPT, which… okayy… 😬
www.cnbc.com/2025/11/18/i...
They also claiming no bleedover btwn your financial data & ChatGPT, which… okayy… 😬
www.cnbc.com/2025/11/18/i...
November 19, 2025 at 4:32 AM
Intuit is integrating ChatGPT into their TurboTax, QuickBooks, Credit Karma, & Mailchimp services, & vice versa. Which is to say, I think a SHIT TON of people are about to get audited.
They also claiming no bleedover btwn your financial data & ChatGPT, which… okayy… 😬
www.cnbc.com/2025/11/18/i...
They also claiming no bleedover btwn your financial data & ChatGPT, which… okayy… 😬
www.cnbc.com/2025/11/18/i...
Showing my husband cinema classic Jesus Christ Vampire Hunter. Not sure he's totally on board yet... XD
November 19, 2025 at 4:13 AM
Showing my husband cinema classic Jesus Christ Vampire Hunter. Not sure he's totally on board yet... XD
Reposted by Samantha (Sam) Mills
work on the creative project that pays me money and that i am under contract for and that people like????? no thanks, im busy thinking about my creative project that im kind of bad at and somehow costs me money and that nobody asked for
November 19, 2025 at 2:38 AM
work on the creative project that pays me money and that i am under contract for and that people like????? no thanks, im busy thinking about my creative project that im kind of bad at and somehow costs me money and that nobody asked for
Reposted by Samantha (Sam) Mills
IT'S ONLY TUESDAY?
November 18, 2025 at 11:12 PM
IT'S ONLY TUESDAY?
I like this distinction
I think it's important to distinguish between "write for an audience" and "write for 'the market'." "The market" is a fickle, largely mindless construct by corporations based on what made money yesterday.
I write for an audience, not the market. For me writing has always been about communication.
I write for an audience, not the market. For me writing has always been about communication.
Been pondering the "write for yourself / no, write for an audience" convos I've seen going around. This obviously varies for everyone, but for me it's "write for myself, edit for an audience." I can't finish a project unless I retreat into a bubble and pretend nobody will ever read it--
November 18, 2025 at 10:57 PM
I like this distinction
Oh boy! Daughter was one of my favorite books of the year, Herald is next on my TBR, and I didn't even realize there was going to be a Doorway!! This is a great deal
💀Celebrate the announcement of SAINT DEATH'S DOORWAY, the third book in @csecooney.bsky.social 's World Fantasy Award-winning SAINT DEATH series, by grabbing SAINT DEATH'S DAUGHTER & SAINT DEATH'S HERALD for just 0.99 alongside a wide variety of other Solaris titles! geni.us/Solarissale
November 18, 2025 at 9:41 PM
Oh boy! Daughter was one of my favorite books of the year, Herald is next on my TBR, and I didn't even realize there was going to be a Doorway!! This is a great deal
Everyone post your hometown slop!
When you're up late drinking with friends... nothing hits like a mountain of loaded carne asada fries 🤤
When you're up late drinking with friends... nothing hits like a mountain of loaded carne asada fries 🤤
November 18, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Everyone post your hometown slop!
When you're up late drinking with friends... nothing hits like a mountain of loaded carne asada fries 🤤
When you're up late drinking with friends... nothing hits like a mountain of loaded carne asada fries 🤤
Reposted by Samantha (Sam) Mills
PSA for any Apub authors whose books are in the Anthropic settlement list: Amazon is not participating in the settlement, since they have an investment in Anthropic. When you submit your claim form, you DO NOT have to list Amazon as an add'l rightsholder, & can claim 100% of settlement money.
November 18, 2025 at 4:26 PM
PSA for any Apub authors whose books are in the Anthropic settlement list: Amazon is not participating in the settlement, since they have an investment in Anthropic. When you submit your claim form, you DO NOT have to list Amazon as an add'l rightsholder, & can claim 100% of settlement money.
Reposted by Samantha (Sam) Mills
It's true! Nightmare Magazine will open to subs in January! Check out the schedule below for dates & times; read the guidelines for more specifics.
And yes, as ever, each writer can make one submission to each category: short story, flash, poetry, CNF.
adamant.moksha.io/publication/...
And yes, as ever, each writer can make one submission to each category: short story, flash, poetry, CNF.
adamant.moksha.io/publication/...
Moksha
adamant.moksha.io
November 18, 2025 at 4:59 PM
It's true! Nightmare Magazine will open to subs in January! Check out the schedule below for dates & times; read the guidelines for more specifics.
And yes, as ever, each writer can make one submission to each category: short story, flash, poetry, CNF.
adamant.moksha.io/publication/...
And yes, as ever, each writer can make one submission to each category: short story, flash, poetry, CNF.
adamant.moksha.io/publication/...
Been pondering the "write for yourself / no, write for an audience" convos I've seen going around. This obviously varies for everyone, but for me it's "write for myself, edit for an audience." I can't finish a project unless I retreat into a bubble and pretend nobody will ever read it--
November 18, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Been pondering the "write for yourself / no, write for an audience" convos I've seen going around. This obviously varies for everyone, but for me it's "write for myself, edit for an audience." I can't finish a project unless I retreat into a bubble and pretend nobody will ever read it--
Reposted by Samantha (Sam) Mills
This postscript is so telling of what trying to negotiate with MRM is like. Massive respect for Scott in sticking to his principles and not allowing them to bully or gaslight him into signing. I'm disgusted that this is still happening to authors. No market is worth this.
Did you read my post from last week about how contract woes caused me to withdraw an accepted story from F&SF, ending my 54-year quest to be published in that magazine? But wait (as the saying goes) — there's more! Scroll down at the link for an update. www.scottedelman.com/wordpress/20...
A dream denied: My 54-year quest to publish a short story in F&SF ‹ Scott Edelman
www.scottedelman.com
November 18, 2025 at 4:05 PM
This postscript is so telling of what trying to negotiate with MRM is like. Massive respect for Scott in sticking to his principles and not allowing them to bully or gaslight him into signing. I'm disgusted that this is still happening to authors. No market is worth this.
Reposted by Samantha (Sam) Mills
BEEP BEEP BEEP WE HAVE A COVER
November 17, 2025 at 9:51 PM
BEEP BEEP BEEP WE HAVE A COVER
Reposted by Samantha (Sam) Mills
This story is perfect and perfect for our times and everyone who can should vote for it 😑
I'll get a proper post up but... this is my award-eligible short story for 2025! 🥳 It is short and weird and a bit desperate, and encapsulated my feelings at the start of this lamentable year. Enjoy??
Reading 2025 fiction?
Try the short story "10 Visions of the Future; or, Self-Care for the End of Days" by Samantha Mills @samtasticbooks.com!
You can read it here!
buff.ly/K5QCsYb
Try the short story "10 Visions of the Future; or, Self-Care for the End of Days" by Samantha Mills @samtasticbooks.com!
You can read it here!
buff.ly/K5QCsYb
November 13, 2025 at 10:45 PM
This story is perfect and perfect for our times and everyone who can should vote for it 😑
I'll get a proper post up but... this is my award-eligible short story for 2025! 🥳 It is short and weird and a bit desperate, and encapsulated my feelings at the start of this lamentable year. Enjoy??
Reading 2025 fiction?
Try the short story "10 Visions of the Future; or, Self-Care for the End of Days" by Samantha Mills @samtasticbooks.com!
You can read it here!
buff.ly/K5QCsYb
Try the short story "10 Visions of the Future; or, Self-Care for the End of Days" by Samantha Mills @samtasticbooks.com!
You can read it here!
buff.ly/K5QCsYb
November 13, 2025 at 9:51 PM
I'll get a proper post up but... this is my award-eligible short story for 2025! 🥳 It is short and weird and a bit desperate, and encapsulated my feelings at the start of this lamentable year. Enjoy??
This really is a darling book that you should all read!
Convincing you to read my novella (STARSTRUCK) by sharing the first page - share yours if you want!
November 11, 2025 at 2:33 PM
This really is a darling book that you should all read!
Reposted by Samantha (Sam) Mills
To be clear, this deal still needs to go through a debate and amendment process and more 60-vote thresholds to pass the Senate, and then it must pass the House. There's still room for constituent pressure.
November 10, 2025 at 4:39 AM
To be clear, this deal still needs to go through a debate and amendment process and more 60-vote thresholds to pass the Senate, and then it must pass the House. There's still room for constituent pressure.
Reposted by Samantha (Sam) Mills
if you genuinely think Schumer and Democratic leadership opposed this & Republicans coincidentally got exactly the number of votes they needed to avoid a filibuster and none of those votes are from Democratic Senators who are up for reelection in the midterms next year, I have a bridge to sell you.
November 10, 2025 at 3:05 AM
if you genuinely think Schumer and Democratic leadership opposed this & Republicans coincidentally got exactly the number of votes they needed to avoid a filibuster and none of those votes are from Democratic Senators who are up for reelection in the midterms next year, I have a bridge to sell you.
Sometimes I wonder if our many years of jokes about writers hating writing and doing anything but writing, etc, have convinced people that the writing part is the hurdle and the goal is just to have a thing in hand. But I am here to tell you: the writing is the best part. The act is the thing.
November 9, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Sometimes I wonder if our many years of jokes about writers hating writing and doing anything but writing, etc, have convinced people that the writing part is the hurdle and the goal is just to have a thing in hand. But I am here to tell you: the writing is the best part. The act is the thing.
Reposted by Samantha (Sam) Mills
Sooo excited about this!
November 9, 2025 at 3:06 AM
Sooo excited about this!
Ugh I do nottt miss the mandatory smile from my retail days. I got pretty good at an expression I can only describe as "technically enough of a smile to stay out of trouble but not so warm that men would think I was flirting" (it mostly worked)
"Store employees are now required to smile if they are within 10 feet of a shopper.
They also must make eye contact with and wave to or greet the customer.
If they’re within four feet, the employee should ask how the customer’s day is going or if they need help."
🙄 Won't stop the boycott, y'all.
They also must make eye contact with and wave to or greet the customer.
If they’re within four feet, the employee should ask how the customer’s day is going or if they need help."
🙄 Won't stop the boycott, y'all.
Target is now requiring its employees to smile more
As the holiday season fast approaches, Target is urging its employees to add a little more “jolly” to their work routine.
www.wilx.com
November 9, 2025 at 1:10 AM
Ugh I do nottt miss the mandatory smile from my retail days. I got pretty good at an expression I can only describe as "technically enough of a smile to stay out of trouble but not so warm that men would think I was flirting" (it mostly worked)
Oh I love logging on and happy scrolling for once
November 5, 2025 at 2:41 AM
Oh I love logging on and happy scrolling for once