mastodon 4.7.3Publisher at Queen of Swords Press, writer of sundry things, editor and more! 2025 Alice B. Award winner. Posts about #publishing, #writing, cons, #Minneapolis, fandom, #books, cats and sundry other things.
I am on a educational cruise on the Mississippi with an environmental group this afternoon and my table mate (white lady in her late 70s/maybe early 80s) just said (of the last few months), “We kicked their butts, but at too high a price.” Her senior apartment complex is still doing grocery runs and diaper drops. She does vigils at Whipple (building where people are still imprisoned/processed). #TwinCities #LifeDuringWartime
I have bought my cat a therapy toy, but it is not a hit. I coated it in catnip, but she finds its pressure sensitive purr box unconvincing. Her brother died in April and she’s a very restless, noisy cat in the bedroom so I was hoping this would help reduce the amount of time she spends howling loudly outside the bedroom door while I attempt to sleep. Sigh.
Catching up with friends this AM, working at DreamHaven this afternoon, polishing and sending my piece on rereading Joanna Russ’s short stories tonight. Really excited about this piece - I reread all of Russ’s collected short stories for it. And I had a decent night’s sleep last night!
#Minneapolis #LifeDuringWartime Went out to run errands this AM, spotted a black SUV with a temp plate on the back sprawling across 3 parking places in the drugstore parking lot, stopped off to warn the folks at the local foodshelf, sent out a notice on the neighborhood feeds. Ain’t no “drawdown” on the ground, folks. Stay vigilant and don’t fall for anything that says different until we can see it.
A thing elsewhere: Author A points out some b.s. that Author B has loudly stated about the “inevitability” of A and how they use it for everything! Author C leaps in with a patronizing comment about it is clear that Author A didn’t read Author B’s essay. Author A responds w/ quotes. A couple of us point out that Author B is engaged in disingenuous b.s., as they have done in the past on other issues. Author C freaks outs, then starts babbling about their “newb” status and “witch burnings.” 🤔🙄
Well, this is quite the…thing. Now and then I like to reflect on the fact that with 25 years of experience in IT (and no record of sending live cockroaches to anyone), I am basically unemployable. But dickheads like these not only get parachutes, they get hired on elsewhere. 😠😠😠 All my sympathies to their victims.
https://www.ft.com/content/06ec1b03-d4af-40cf-b12a-4ba5a410f6d2?syn-25a6b1a6=1&fbclid=IwY2xjawTdzi9wZG9mA2V4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDzQwOTk2MjYyMzA4NTYwOQABHt7XvY03bzNbK3oq7IN8wGKuyWihr4gzqYbvHLJYMEmUAin1jn_CJ9-Z1Nqf_aem_Vk8SYDpSi11qEEcuOspCiA
#Signalboost #NativeArtist #Beadwork @mahtheyzhawey@mastodon.art still hasn’t made rent yet and has some beautiful things up in her shop! Need a gift for yourself or someone else? https://ko-fi.com/s/a2845aa162
#Minnesota #MNastodon I’m going to be appearing at the first ever Sharing Our Stories: Central Minnesota LGBTQ Lit Festival in St. Cloud in 5/9 to talk about the history of queer publishing and do a short reading from my work. Come join us! https://facebook.com/events/s/sharing-our-stories-central-mn/884830480913129/
Bidding farewell to our beloved #smallpress kitty Shu this week. He’s told me he’s ready to move on so doing a lot of final snuggles. Here he is pictured some months back in happier times with 2 of our bestselling titles and a favorite toy. 😢
DONE! Just wrapped up my last class for my data analytics certification despite being horribly sick the first week and losing my best boy/emotional support kitty the second week and, you know, everything else. So, of course, the trackpad on my laptop just died so computer repairs coming up (no advice needed). In short, great day to buy a Queen of Swords Press title or ask your library to order a few in! It would help a lot. https://queenofswordspress.com/
I was not at last night’s #MinnesotaFrost game last night, sadly, but the passenger on the Zamboni had a banner that was absolutely on point.
“No ICE.
No War.
No Kings.
No Fear.” 💖💖💖
#Bookstodon Wish I could be at this! Singaporean sf author panel featuring author Joyce Chng at the Singapore Bookbar on 8/7! There will be signed copies of SAILING THE GOLDEN CHERSONESE available for purchase too! https://www.eventbrite.sg/e/home-truly-beyond-singapores-speculative-fiction-writers-tickets-1992984969694?fbclid=IwY2xjawS4k7tleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA80MDk5NjI2MjMwODU2MDkAAR5UNKuuq9JaVxJa5v70PJwuvZWyYaH0qnFVyK5c2w0AyILGkTyaaqOkWP20yg_aem__OfWTrlfUt9g1sWqX2jX7g
https://www.eventbrite.sg/e/home-truly-beyond-singapores-speculative-fiction-writers-tickets-1992984969694?fbclid=IwY2xjawS4k7tleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA80MDk5NjI2MjMwODU2MDkAAR5UNKuuq9JaVxJa5v70PJwuvZWyYaH0qnFVyK5c2w0AyILGkTyaaqOkWP20yg_aem__OfWTrlfUt9g1sWqX2jX7g
#Bookstodon Doing the book table and programming thing at @Minicon this weekend! Look for me and @mmerriam@wandering.shop at the Queen of Swords Press table and on panels. https://mnstf.org/minicon59/
#Bookstodon Big thank you shout out to @NerdsofaFeather@wandering.shop for including the Astreiant Series created by Melissa Scott @blueterraplane@wandering.shop and Lisa A. Barnett in their recommendation list for the Best Series Hugo Award! http://www.nerds-feather.com/2026/02/2026-nerds-of-feather-awards.html?m=1
My cat sitter came by to say goodbye last night, my friend gets here a bit before the vet (due 11:30-12:30) and he has enjoyed a bit of food and is now snoozing in a sunbeam. I’m going to miss him so much, but I’m glad it’s a peaceful road.
#Bookstodon Queen of Swords Press is about to release a gorgeous mini-collection of queer pirate stories by the multi-talented Joyce Chng on 4/9! SAILING THE GOLDEN CHERSONESE features 4 stories about a trans masc pirate captain, love, magic and more! https://queenofswordspress.com/product/sailing-the-golden-chersonese/
I have been invited to an acquaintance's 15th birthday party for his rescue pit bull tomorrow and while I can’t actually drive 4 hours across the state to attend, I’m charmed that she is getting her favorite dish, which apparently includes a lychee-mint salsa, made by her human. Good job, Rayne. 👍🏻
General sweeping statement about the Oscars, which I stopped watching eons ago: if I see a film directed by a white dude and centering a white dude, especially if they’re both straight and “Hollywood royalty,” the faster it makes it to my skip pile as not for me. Saves me a lot of time and money, as a rule. In 2025, I saw “Sinners” and “K-Pop Demon Hunters” and a couple of the shorts. Still need to see “Come See Me in the Good Light” and then I’m good for big films.
#Bookstodon #Minneapolis My part-time gig and a great host for our events, DreamHaven Books and owner Greg Ketter were on MS Now last night! The store also carries all our print titles! I’m teaching at the Loft on Saturday and there hasn’t been time to set something up for #AuthorsforMinnesota Day, but I’m happy to sign my books at DreamHaven for you on Friday for Saturday purchase. https://bsky.app/profile/jacobsoboroff.bsky.social/post/3mfnectony22s
#Bookstodon #LGBTstodon
In the mood to get away from it all for a bit? Let us help! We have terrific queer books featuring dapper lesbian capybara pirates, menopausal werewolves, gay Edwardian murder mysteries, talking corgies from space and more!
https://queenofswordspress.com
#Bookstodon Independent Bookstore Day is looming (4/25) so here's your reminder that you can get Queen of Swords Press books in print or ebook on Bookshop/your local indie bookstore on Bookshop! Also available at DreamHaven Books in Minneapolis! https://bookshop.org/lists/queen-of-swords-press-titles
#Illinois Dem Kat Abughazaleh runs an attack ad on herself that’s pretty brilliant.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4yXsd87Zgb4&t=1s&pp=2AEBkAIB
#Bookstodon Book sale! Get a great deal on POINT OF HEARTS today at DriveThruFiction! https://www.drivethrufiction.com/en/product/512204/point-of-hearts-a-novel-of-astreiant?src=DotD
#Bookstodon What do you get when you support my/the Queen of Swords Press’ Patreon? Excerpts from new work, dibs on new books we publish, behind the scenes looks at various projects…and the reduced likelihood of seeing a GoFundMe for my living expenses in the very near future. Sound like fun? Check it out here and support a tiny queer press! https://www.patreon.com/CLundoff
RE: @charliejane@wandering.shop
More “Killjoys” would be amazing.
Still somewhat sick and snowed in so today is a work day in which I try to get caught up my class homework, the article I have due tomorrowish, the backlog of administrative tasks I haven’t gotten to due to being sick, hopefully some writing and then the second half of this as a treat. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=obX-HGs-PS8
#Signalboost #Minneapolis My neighbors have been working with this family for months now, helping them get housed in a hotel for the worst of the winter/Metro Surge, getting their dog spayed and trained, assisting them toward permanent housing. A few more $ keeps them and their pup off the streets and out of the soon to be completely overwhelmed safety net (thanks, Mayor Frey, for always making things worse!) for a bit longer, maybe enough time to get housing sorted. https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-buck-and-his-family-survive-the-winter?lid=lwlp5hn0n00i&utm_medium=email&utm_source=product&utm_campaign=t_email-campaign-update&
#Bookstodon Comp time! If you loved the Astreiant Series by Melissa Scott and Lisa A. Barnett, you will also enjoy the Lynes & Mathey duology by Melissa Scott and Amy Griswold! Available direct from us or wherever great queer reads are sold! https://queenofswordspress.com/product/death-by-silver/
#Nativeartist #Beadwork Need a Mother’s Day gift from an artist who needs to raise rent ASAP? https://ko-fi.com/s/a2845aa162
State of the Catherine: this thing is just not letting go. Feeling a bit than yesterday, but still running on not a lot of sleep, much coughing, eyes swollen, etc. So tired…but feeling well enough to stress out about stuff I’m not getting done. 😢
