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assaph.bsky.social
Assaph Mehr 📚⚔️🕵️👻🏺🏛️🤖
@assaph.bsky.social
2.8K followers 1.9K following 570 posts
Author of Murder In Absentia, an historical-fantasy murder-mystery in a quasi-Roman Ancient World (see http://egretia.com); Mad genius behind http://TheProtagonistSpeaks.com
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assaph.bsky.social
Assaph Mehr 📚⚔️🕵️👻🏺🏛️🤖 @assaph.bsky.social · Dec 7
Since it's been a while & I met a lot of new peeps here, some introductions are in order!
Here you'll find Bookish stuff:
* I read & review novels 📚
* I write some too 😉
* It's all about fantasy, mystery, & history
* The occasional nature pics, history & archaeology tidbits, and rants against 🤖
🧵👇
assaph.bsky.social
#WritersTip 🤣🤣🤣Don't use a big word when a singularly unloquacious and diminutive linguistic expression will satisfactorily accomplish the contemporary necessity.Retry
Don't use a big word when a singularly unloquacious and diminutive linguistic expression will satisfactorily accomplish the contemporary necessity.Retry
November 8, 2025 at 6:02 AM
assaph.bsky.social
Folding a few book & TV/movie reviews into an exercise in critical thinking about the art of storytelling, using comparisons to learn about each medium’s rules, strengths, and weaknesses
egretia.com/2025/10/29/o...
On Screen Adaptations (four reviews in one!)
I’ve read The Survivors by Jane Harper and watched the Netflix TV series at the same time, so — rather than a plain review — I thought I’d do a post on comparative observati…
egretia.com
November 1, 2025 at 8:14 PM
assaph.bsky.social
No 4 or a character name generator -- at which point it becomes no. 4 😅
the 4 types of writers 1. spent hours carefully choosing character name 2. can't decide so is using "placeholder" name that they'll inevitably not be able to change 3. named character after like, a street sign 4. character crashed onto page already named and you cannot change it
October 30, 2025 at 11:57 PM
assaph.bsky.social
Only for one character, and that's because I wanted things simpler (for me) at the start. Other parents were kept alive when they made characters' lives more... interesting 😜
Main character: you murdered my parents! Writer: For character development.
October 30, 2025 at 11:50 PM
assaph.bsky.social
A rather philosophical exercise of comparative analysis of mediums: how do books translate to the screen, based on recent experiences (an d my conclusions will likely surprise you!)
egretia.com/2025/10/29/o...
On Screen Adaptations (four reviews in one!)
I’ve read The Survivors by Jane Harper and watched the Netflix TV series at the same time, so — rather than a plain review — I thought I’d do a post on comparative observati…
egretia.com
October 29, 2025 at 2:22 AM
assaph.bsky.social
Tonight's protagonist interview :)
theprotagonistspeaks.com/2025/10/24/s... -> @renasartain.bsky.social
Sonja Vinzler (of Kepstadur Keep, by R. G. Sartain)
Dear readers, tonight with us is a woman trying to find a way to bring her brother back from the dead. Though educated in magic, it is still an uncharted territory. She is here to talk about haunte…
theprotagonistspeaks.com
October 24, 2025 at 8:00 AM
assaph.bsky.social
Make it so 🤣
England is named after the Anglo-Saxons. However, things could have gone very differently: In our universe England is named after a Germanic tribe called the Angles. The language of England is called "English", and speakers of this language are called "Anglophone". [Map showing Scotland and England] In another universe Sexland is named after a Germanic tribe called the Saxons. The language of Sexland is called "Sexish", and speakers of this language are called "Saxophone". [Map showing Pictland and Sexland]
October 23, 2025 at 10:25 AM
assaph.bsky.social
Just in time for the spooky season 👻
The book that has everything* from #ghosts featureing in courtroom drama, revenge, intrigue, homicidal walking statues, and an obligatory trip down the sewers...
* Except an actual kitchen sink. It's based on #AncientRome, after all 🤣
A photo of the book "In Numina" by Assaph Mehr, lying in a bloody kitchen sink
October 23, 2025 at 7:37 AM
assaph.bsky.social
Sounds like something Felix could have solved 😜
see the whole 🏺 thing here: mediachomp.com/roman-ring-m...
Roman Ring Mystery
Gareth Harney tweeted this epic stranger than fiction Roman ring mystery thread. This enigmatic Roman gold ring was found in a ploughed...
mediachomp.com
October 23, 2025 at 6:28 AM
assaph.bsky.social
This is brilliant! 😆
"FRENCH POLICE have immediately ended all efforts to recover priceless Napoleon-era jewellery from the Louvre taken in a daring heist after it emerged the jewels were merely stolen for the purposes of training AI software."
waterfordwhispersnews.com/2025/10/20/l...
Louvre Thieves Given Immunity After Confirming Jewels Stolen For Purpose Of Training AI Software
FRENCH POLICE have immediately ended all efforts to recover priceless Napoleon-era jewellery from the Louvre taken in a daring heist after it emerged the jewels were merely stolen for the purposes of ...
waterfordwhispersnews.com
October 23, 2025 at 4:20 AM
assaph.bsky.social
This pun is painful 🤣🏺
In ancient Rome, there were four types of poison. Poisons I, II, and III would all kill you with varying degrees on pain. However, Poison IV would just make you really itchy.
October 21, 2025 at 4:47 AM
assaph.bsky.social
😆zeus: you are condemned to carry the weight of the sky.
atlas: ¯_(ツ)_/¯
zeus: you are condemned to carry the weight of the sky. atlas: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
October 20, 2025 at 8:55 AM
Reposted by Assaph Mehr 📚⚔️🕵️👻🏺🏛️🤖
bcmerchant.bsky.social
CA governor Gavin Newsom vetoed both of the major AI bills on his desk that Silicon Valley meaningfully opposed—one making it illegal for bosses to use AI to fire workers with no oversight, one requiring chatbot sellers to ensure their products do not harm children before marketing to them.
Silicon Valley's capture of our political institutions is all but complete
The tech lobby kills off two key California AI bills, and why it matters. Plus: How Sam Altman played Hollywood with Sora 2, organized mass social media deletions, and more.
www.bloodinthemachine.com
October 16, 2025 at 10:46 PM
assaph.bsky.social
Some I already have (I *like* reading my stories). Some do not actually exist (typos are as inescapable as death and taxes). Others are overlapping, but 2k word/day and immunity from distractions sound lovely 😁
#writerslife
Title: You can only choose three potions: Row 1 (left to right): built-in mental thesaurus remember all of your worldbuilding banish imposter syndrome ability to finish your WIP Row 2: Marketable™ ideas never get tired of reading your own work infinite grammar skillz coherent first drafts Row 3: 2000 words every day guaranteed immune to distraction desire to actually write when you sit down eradicate typos permanently
October 15, 2025 at 9:16 AM
assaph.bsky.social
#BookReview : An entertaining adventure tale based on a lesser known Greek 🏺 mythological character, and I’ll certainly be looking for future installments by Sidiropoulos in that world.
egretia.com/2025/10/15/b...
Book Review: Autolycus the thief, by Michail Sidiropoulos
A lesser known bronze-age character as a basis for mythical story – of course I jumped on the chance to read it. What to Expect An embellished telling of the life of the grandfather of Odysse…
egretia.com
October 15, 2025 at 3:08 AM
assaph.bsky.social
I have no trouble with said 😁
Indiana Jones replacing an object: "said" -> "words that no sane person would use in place of said"
October 11, 2025 at 8:38 PM
assaph.bsky.social
Realistic Indiana Jones movies 🏺😁
Realistic Indiana Jones movies * Indiana Jones and tomb that had already been looted by robbers in the 19th century * Indiana Jones and pottery fragment #1478 * Indiana Jones and the site discovered under somebody's house so there was no way to actually dig it * Indiana Jones and the famous treasure that actually turned out to be an ancient chamber pot * Indiana Jones and the temple of maybe three damaged columns * Indiana Jones and the intro to archaeology class that didn't give a shit and just wanted to pass for the gen ed credit
October 11, 2025 at 9:11 AM
assaph.bsky.social
Last 24 hours to grab this amazing anthology on the cheap!
It Takes A Village: a speculative anthology about the meaning of care. Edited by Eric Klein.
It Takes A Village: a speculative anthology about the meaning of care. Edited by Eric Klein. Can Care and Compassion be legislated? Utopia or Dystopia? What do Care and Compassion mean in the age of Artificial Intelligence? Is there space for care and compassion on interstellar travel? Penal Colony or war?
October 9, 2025 at 9:09 AM
assaph.bsky.social
One of my proudest side-projects: stories of care and compassion (and who doesn't need some these days?) On special this weekend, so grab your copy!
On Special - Oct 3-11! ebook $0.99! Book Title: It Takes A Village Subtitle: An Optimistic Anthology Speculating about the Meaning of Care Editors: Alison-Maynard Gillbee, KC Eric Klein (Plus Past Precedent, Internationalist, Women's Faction - smaller text) Story Themes/Content: Utopian and Dystopian Futures Assorted Gods (old and new) A Criminal Trial Shadowy Government Agencies Colony Ships and Interstellar Travel Tangible Benefits of Compassion Fantasy Social Justice Artificial Intelligence (of various flavors) The meaning and merit of Care
October 7, 2025 at 7:09 AM
Reposted by Assaph Mehr 📚⚔️🕵️👻🏺🏛️🤖
thescribblings.com
🚨🚨Sale Alert 🚨🚨
Offer open to all humans
assaph.bsky.social Assaph Mehr 📚⚔️🕵️👻🏺🏛️🤖 @assaph.bsky.social · Oct 4
It Takes A Village: a speculative anthology about the meaning of care, bringing some of the best indie #scifi and #fantasy voices to speculate about what it is to be human. On Promo this week! amzn.to/42pE2ww
It Takes A Village: ebook on $0.99 special Oct 3-11
October 4, 2025 at 8:51 PM
assaph.bsky.social
It Takes A Village: a speculative anthology about the meaning of care, bringing some of the best indie #scifi and #fantasy voices to speculate about what it is to be human. On Promo this week! amzn.to/42pE2ww
It Takes A Village: ebook on $0.99 special Oct 3-11
October 4, 2025 at 8:30 PM
assaph.bsky.social
My latest newsletter: a short story. Can you guess which mountain?
egretia.substack.com/p/mountain-v...
Picture of a mountain
October 3, 2025 at 11:06 PM
assaph.bsky.social
May not work if you like writing in cafés.
1. Victor Hugo wrote naked. To meet deadlines, he locked away his clothes so he couldn't leave home. Naked at his desk, he forced himself to face the page. It worked: The Hunchback of Notre-Dame was finished on time. [The image also shows a photograph of Victor Hugo and a title page of "Les Misérables"]
October 3, 2025 at 4:58 AM
assaph.bsky.social
A few weeks ago we came back from a book fair with a haul of some interesting finds from the “Old Books” tables. I’d like to draw your attention to those below, as I’ve bought them with the explicit intention of incorporating into my own future writing.
egretia.com/2025/10/01/w...
Writing Old Books
A few weeks ago, the wife and I went to a used-books fair. We came back with a haul of some interesting finds from the “Old Books” tables. While there were too many others we had to lea…
egretia.com
October 1, 2025 at 2:54 AM
assaph.bsky.social
As someone who deals with AI professionally, I know well their ability around creative writing 😜
Dragon head: Trad books Dragon head: Indie books Stupid dragon head: AI books
September 29, 2025 at 9:14 PM