ash vale
@ashvalewrites.bsky.social
🇨🇦 canadian writer, game master, gremlin (they/them)
🏳️🌈 co-founder of @othersidespec.bsky.social
🖋 fantasy, romance, horror
📖 words at or coming from Nightmare, Heartlines, PseudoPod, and more
website: https://ash-vale.ca/
🏳️🌈 co-founder of @othersidespec.bsky.social
🖋 fantasy, romance, horror
📖 words at or coming from Nightmare, Heartlines, PseudoPod, and more
website: https://ash-vale.ca/
Pinned
I finally did it, I'm so brave—an awards eligibility post! I've had a few short stories and one poem published this year, and I'd be grateful as always if you nominated any of them for any kind of awards, or if you just read them.
Links to all of them are available here: ash-vale.ca/stories.html
Links to all of them are available here: ash-vale.ca/stories.html
Reposted by ash vale
Reposted by ash vale
🎆Welcome to the Round of 16 of the 2025 Headline of the Year Contest!🎆
Voting will be open in 4 locations for each round for about a day.
16 headlines.
Only 1 winner.
A reminder of the nominees:
bsky.app/profile/paul...
Voting will be open in 4 locations for each round for about a day.
16 headlines.
Only 1 winner.
A reminder of the nominees:
bsky.app/profile/paul...
The 2025 Headline of the Year Nominees
🧵
🧵
December 27, 2025 at 9:37 PM
🎆Welcome to the Round of 16 of the 2025 Headline of the Year Contest!🎆
Voting will be open in 4 locations for each round for about a day.
16 headlines.
Only 1 winner.
A reminder of the nominees:
bsky.app/profile/paul...
Voting will be open in 4 locations for each round for about a day.
16 headlines.
Only 1 winner.
A reminder of the nominees:
bsky.app/profile/paul...
Reposted by ash vale
still my favorite christmas post
December 25, 2025 at 1:08 AM
still my favorite christmas post
Reposted by ash vale
God jul, nästa år vänder vi kampen mot fascismen till seger!
December 24, 2025 at 5:40 AM
God jul, nästa år vänder vi kampen mot fascismen till seger!
Reposted by ash vale
[first day as a shepherd]
boss: where are you going?
me: [pointing] star
boss: what? why
me: [shrugging] baby
boss: where are you going?
me: [pointing] star
boss: what? why
me: [shrugging] baby
December 23, 2025 at 1:24 AM
[first day as a shepherd]
boss: where are you going?
me: [pointing] star
boss: what? why
me: [shrugging] baby
boss: where are you going?
me: [pointing] star
boss: what? why
me: [shrugging] baby
Today my city will have 7 hours and 28 minutes of daylight. A dark day to cap off a (personally) dark year, but the sun rises again- it always does. Happy solstice, friends 💜
December 21, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Today my city will have 7 hours and 28 minutes of daylight. A dark day to cap off a (personally) dark year, but the sun rises again- it always does. Happy solstice, friends 💜
Reposted by ash vale
It's your birthday, Duane.
December 20, 2025 at 3:21 PM
It's your birthday, Duane.
Reposted by ash vale
blergh, I HATE having to ask coz I know it’s super hard for everyone especially around this time of year… but I’m also about to hit negative balances and I don’t get paid til next Friday :/
been a real f’ing hard eight months tbh and I’m sorry everything is so awful
ko-fi.com/mercwolfmoor
been a real f’ing hard eight months tbh and I’m sorry everything is so awful
ko-fi.com/mercwolfmoor
Support Merc Wolfmoor
I appreciate you! (And the kitties do, too!)
ko-fi.com
December 20, 2025 at 2:03 PM
blergh, I HATE having to ask coz I know it’s super hard for everyone especially around this time of year… but I’m also about to hit negative balances and I don’t get paid til next Friday :/
been a real f’ing hard eight months tbh and I’m sorry everything is so awful
ko-fi.com/mercwolfmoor
been a real f’ing hard eight months tbh and I’m sorry everything is so awful
ko-fi.com/mercwolfmoor
Reposted by ash vale
Fancy a post-Christmas Regency and sapphic chill reading sesh in your pjs?
Like and repost this skeet (is that really what we call them?) for a chance to win one of 3 signed copies of THE UNLIKELY PURSUIT OF MARY BENNET! Open worldwide until midnight 23rd Dec, winners drawn on Christmas Eve.
Like and repost this skeet (is that really what we call them?) for a chance to win one of 3 signed copies of THE UNLIKELY PURSUIT OF MARY BENNET! Open worldwide until midnight 23rd Dec, winners drawn on Christmas Eve.
December 20, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Fancy a post-Christmas Regency and sapphic chill reading sesh in your pjs?
Like and repost this skeet (is that really what we call them?) for a chance to win one of 3 signed copies of THE UNLIKELY PURSUIT OF MARY BENNET! Open worldwide until midnight 23rd Dec, winners drawn on Christmas Eve.
Like and repost this skeet (is that really what we call them?) for a chance to win one of 3 signed copies of THE UNLIKELY PURSUIT OF MARY BENNET! Open worldwide until midnight 23rd Dec, winners drawn on Christmas Eve.
Reposted by ash vale
Again, I truly *loved* this week’s episode of Heated Rivalry, but IT IS A WISH FULFILLMENT ROMANCE. The success of a gay hockey romance TV show, largely watched by people who are neither hockey players nor hockey fans, is not “proof that the world is ready and all we would do is love you”
December 19, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Again, I truly *loved* this week’s episode of Heated Rivalry, but IT IS A WISH FULFILLMENT ROMANCE. The success of a gay hockey romance TV show, largely watched by people who are neither hockey players nor hockey fans, is not “proof that the world is ready and all we would do is love you”
I've tried to suppress it but I have to speak my truth...I'm obsessed with KATSEYE
December 19, 2025 at 4:02 PM
I've tried to suppress it but I have to speak my truth...I'm obsessed with KATSEYE
Reposted by ash vale
We're reopening to submissions on January 1st.
Writers, ready your most depressing, unnerving, dislocating, horrible stories.
Writers, ready your most depressing, unnerving, dislocating, horrible stories.
December 17, 2025 at 4:36 PM
We're reopening to submissions on January 1st.
Writers, ready your most depressing, unnerving, dislocating, horrible stories.
Writers, ready your most depressing, unnerving, dislocating, horrible stories.
I just finished The Traitor & the Wretch by @mythjae.bsky.social and LOVED IT!! I love a scraggly little rat man and boy this book delivered.
Also genuinely one of the best romantic chemistries I've read all year, with real, awkward humour and a slow build from dislike to love. Highly recommend
Also genuinely one of the best romantic chemistries I've read all year, with real, awkward humour and a slow build from dislike to love. Highly recommend
December 17, 2025 at 3:53 PM
I just finished The Traitor & the Wretch by @mythjae.bsky.social and LOVED IT!! I love a scraggly little rat man and boy this book delivered.
Also genuinely one of the best romantic chemistries I've read all year, with real, awkward humour and a slow build from dislike to love. Highly recommend
Also genuinely one of the best romantic chemistries I've read all year, with real, awkward humour and a slow build from dislike to love. Highly recommend
Reposted by ash vale
Going into 2026, a reminder for everyone who's fallen off the creative wagon, game dev, writing, art, music, whatever, no matter how long:
December 16, 2025 at 3:22 AM
Going into 2026, a reminder for everyone who's fallen off the creative wagon, game dev, writing, art, music, whatever, no matter how long:
Reposted by ash vale
I finally did it, I'm so brave—an awards eligibility post! I've had a few short stories and one poem published this year, and I'd be grateful as always if you nominated any of them for any kind of awards, or if you just read them.
Links to all of them are available here: ash-vale.ca/stories.html
Links to all of them are available here: ash-vale.ca/stories.html
December 16, 2025 at 5:46 PM
I finally did it, I'm so brave—an awards eligibility post! I've had a few short stories and one poem published this year, and I'd be grateful as always if you nominated any of them for any kind of awards, or if you just read them.
Links to all of them are available here: ash-vale.ca/stories.html
Links to all of them are available here: ash-vale.ca/stories.html
I finally did it, I'm so brave—an awards eligibility post! I've had a few short stories and one poem published this year, and I'd be grateful as always if you nominated any of them for any kind of awards, or if you just read them.
Links to all of them are available here: ash-vale.ca/stories.html
Links to all of them are available here: ash-vale.ca/stories.html
December 16, 2025 at 5:46 PM
I finally did it, I'm so brave—an awards eligibility post! I've had a few short stories and one poem published this year, and I'd be grateful as always if you nominated any of them for any kind of awards, or if you just read them.
Links to all of them are available here: ash-vale.ca/stories.html
Links to all of them are available here: ash-vale.ca/stories.html
Reposted by ash vale
Reposted by ash vale
I keep this lovely John K. Samson laminate nearby at all times to store this message in heart and mind.
December 14, 2025 at 8:35 PM
I keep this lovely John K. Samson laminate nearby at all times to store this message in heart and mind.
when you turn 35, you get the big-ass breakfast poutine and the gay lil latte and no one can say shit to you
December 14, 2025 at 11:03 PM
when you turn 35, you get the big-ass breakfast poutine and the gay lil latte and no one can say shit to you
Reposted by ash vale
Reposted by ash vale
So excited to reveal the cover for Tea & Treachery at the Infinite Pantry!
It's a cozy fantasy full of delicious food, magic, found family, and sweet romance (with two queer middle-aged MCs!)
Oh, and tea. Lots of tea.
First in a brand new series! I can’t WAIT to share it with you #sff #booksky
It's a cozy fantasy full of delicious food, magic, found family, and sweet romance (with two queer middle-aged MCs!)
Oh, and tea. Lots of tea.
First in a brand new series! I can’t WAIT to share it with you #sff #booksky
December 12, 2025 at 6:22 PM
seeing the fellowship of the ring with my dad, right after finishing the book trilogy, and right after my birthday. I cried so much
Raising the always fun question: What are your most memorable theater-going experiences?
Mine also include The Matrix, Blair Witch, and being way too stoned in Belgium when Fellowship of the Ring was sold out so we sat in the back row for Mulholland Drive instead.
Mine also include The Matrix, Blair Witch, and being way too stoned in Belgium when Fellowship of the Ring was sold out so we sat in the back row for Mulholland Drive instead.
It was hands-down one of the most memorable theater-going experiences I can remember, a collective 30-minute butt-clench/armrest-grab for the final climb. And we knew he lived! Wild.
December 13, 2025 at 4:08 AM
seeing the fellowship of the ring with my dad, right after finishing the book trilogy, and right after my birthday. I cried so much
Reposted by ash vale
Reposted by ash vale
good morning, I have noticed that some of the critical responses to the Crave show Heated Rivalry have been, let's say, incomplete
sex scenes are craft! goddammit!
sex scenes are craft! goddammit!
Anatomy of a Sex Scene: Heated Rivalry Edition - Reading the End
Heated Rivalry, AKA the gay hockey show, has been getting a lot of buzz for its explicit(-ish) sex scenes, and a lot of that buzz has been coming from viewers and critics whose experience with the rom...
readingtheend.com
December 10, 2025 at 1:36 PM
good morning, I have noticed that some of the critical responses to the Crave show Heated Rivalry have been, let's say, incomplete
sex scenes are craft! goddammit!
sex scenes are craft! goddammit!