Barlow Adams
@barlowadams.bsky.social
Writer. Pie enthusiast. Historically preserved beard site. Cheese poet. Best of the Net, Best Small Fictions, Wigleaf Top 50, Cinnamon Challenge: honorable mention.
Reposted by Barlow Adams
"Ms. Keating's style of writing is rather slow, putting her more along the lines of @stephenking.bsky.social "
oh, darling, this this New Brunswick girl will take the biggest compliment of that.
oh, darling, this this New Brunswick girl will take the biggest compliment of that.
![3 stars, July 17 2024
Laura Keating's book, The Truest Sense, is an anthology of short horror stories that range anywhere from mild enough a second grader would be safe reading the story to so twisted that it could play havoc with one's dreams depending on how sensitive that person is, thus quite possibly forcing them to leave the light on at night.
The Truest Sense delves into many different aspects of a person's psyche, many times forcing the readers to take a [sic] step back from what they read so they can ground themselves in reality once again, and take a moment to say "This is only make believe. This is ONLY make believe," While the reder is aware what they have read is fiction, it's written in such a way, some of the stories are difficult to distinguish between fiction and reality.
Ms. Keating's style of writing is rather slow, putting her more along the lines of Stephen King, with the way she tends to describes everything when summing the situation up in a few words would be better, but then half the story would disappear.
For those that love a great campfire or Halloween ghost story, The Truest Sense is the perfect collection of stories to take along.These stories aren't horror just to be gruesome horror, these are horror in The Truest Sense, and that can be so much worse.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:q7mzefsqqfjosq43isvpa4cm/bafkreic3pkpdgiq23qusfwg5th3z2c7fmmgyzotvb7tbjp5im7wmzgflaa@jpeg)
January 5, 2026 at 11:46 PM
"Ms. Keating's style of writing is rather slow, putting her more along the lines of @stephenking.bsky.social "
oh, darling, this this New Brunswick girl will take the biggest compliment of that.
oh, darling, this this New Brunswick girl will take the biggest compliment of that.
If you don’t love me at my bad camera angle that makes me look like a swamp corpse after five days of bloating in the hot sun, you don’t deserve me at my good camera angle that makes me look like a swamp corpse after two days of bloating in the hot sun.
January 5, 2026 at 8:12 PM
If you don’t love me at my bad camera angle that makes me look like a swamp corpse after five days of bloating in the hot sun, you don’t deserve me at my good camera angle that makes me look like a swamp corpse after two days of bloating in the hot sun.
Reposted by Barlow Adams
What in the Gestapo is going on in Grand Rapids?
Watch this activist get arrested *mid-interview* for speaking out against U.S. action in Venezuela.
Watch this activist get arrested *mid-interview* for speaking out against U.S. action in Venezuela.
January 5, 2026 at 4:12 PM
What in the Gestapo is going on in Grand Rapids?
Watch this activist get arrested *mid-interview* for speaking out against U.S. action in Venezuela.
Watch this activist get arrested *mid-interview* for speaking out against U.S. action in Venezuela.
Reposted by Barlow Adams
Just realized that Emperor Qin Shi Huang's "Terracotta Army" of clay soldiers he kept in a vault in like 200 BC make him the first Warhammer Guy. he got some disposable income and started painting minis. totally get it
January 4, 2026 at 3:11 PM
Just realized that Emperor Qin Shi Huang's "Terracotta Army" of clay soldiers he kept in a vault in like 200 BC make him the first Warhammer Guy. he got some disposable income and started painting minis. totally get it
Reposted by Barlow Adams
this Friday!! we’re having an info session for The Ministry of Words, our new teaching collective 🌱
if you have any questions for Fatimah Asghar, @ingridrojasc.bsky.social, or me, or if you just want to hear more, please contact us at trip.whitfield@gmail.com for the session link
if you have any questions for Fatimah Asghar, @ingridrojasc.bsky.social, or me, or if you just want to hear more, please contact us at trip.whitfield@gmail.com for the session link
January 4, 2026 at 9:26 PM
this Friday!! we’re having an info session for The Ministry of Words, our new teaching collective 🌱
if you have any questions for Fatimah Asghar, @ingridrojasc.bsky.social, or me, or if you just want to hear more, please contact us at trip.whitfield@gmail.com for the session link
if you have any questions for Fatimah Asghar, @ingridrojasc.bsky.social, or me, or if you just want to hear more, please contact us at trip.whitfield@gmail.com for the session link
Reposted by Barlow Adams
“Rules, conventions, morals, reality itself: all exist so long as their existence is convenient to the preservation of power. Otherwise, they, like all else, are expendable.”
-Omar El Akkad
-Omar El Akkad
January 3, 2026 at 9:26 PM
“Rules, conventions, morals, reality itself: all exist so long as their existence is convenient to the preservation of power. Otherwise, they, like all else, are expendable.”
-Omar El Akkad
-Omar El Akkad
Reposted by Barlow Adams
My first-ever prose poem is up at @lostballoon.bsky.social! Thank you to editor @chelsvoulgares.bsky.social for publishing it!
Our last piece of 2025 is by @chelseastickle.bsky.social! You are going to love “In The Dark.” lost-balloon.com/2025/12/31/i... (photo credit: Flashlight by Katie Tegtmeyer)
December 31, 2025 at 8:59 PM
My first-ever prose poem is up at @lostballoon.bsky.social! Thank you to editor @chelsvoulgares.bsky.social for publishing it!
The most important trait someone can have to me is the ability to be honest with themselves, identify flaws, admit mistakes, and take responsibility. It’s fundamental to growth and change, as well as investing in others and forming functional, healthy relationships.
It’s the same with countries.
It’s the same with countries.
January 2, 2026 at 10:48 PM
The most important trait someone can have to me is the ability to be honest with themselves, identify flaws, admit mistakes, and take responsibility. It’s fundamental to growth and change, as well as investing in others and forming functional, healthy relationships.
It’s the same with countries.
It’s the same with countries.
Reposted by Barlow Adams
basically this but for empire
January 2, 2026 at 7:16 PM
basically this but for empire
Reposted by Barlow Adams
Why do I have to read an Irish paper for a feature about this?
‘It’s surreal’: US sanctions lock International Criminal Court judge out of daily life
Canadian judge Kimberly Prost is unable to use credit cards, transfer money or book everyday services in what she calls an attack on the independence of the judiciary
www.irishtimes.com
January 1, 2026 at 12:24 PM
Why do I have to read an Irish paper for a feature about this?
Hey, I’m not looking for anything serious, I just want to use slap bracelets on each other, cry about the state of the world, and maybe play some Mario Kart.
January 2, 2026 at 5:27 PM
Hey, I’m not looking for anything serious, I just want to use slap bracelets on each other, cry about the state of the world, and maybe play some Mario Kart.
Reposted by Barlow Adams
"Experts recommend it for everyone—it’s great for strength, longevity, mental health, sports performance, and self-esteem. But now, everywhere I look online is about two steps away from an Oath Keepers rally."
I Just Want to Start Lifting Weights Without Getting Red-Pilled
You there! Help me, please! I just wanted to learn about strength training on the internet, and now I’m pretty sure I’m in some kind of neo-fascist...
buff.ly
January 2, 2026 at 2:20 AM
"Experts recommend it for everyone—it’s great for strength, longevity, mental health, sports performance, and self-esteem. But now, everywhere I look online is about two steps away from an Oath Keepers rally."
Personally, I expect Mayor Mamdani to use—what I have been told—are his magical, Islamic gayness-fueled commie powers to discover how my kids lose the lids to my Tupperware.
If he does not, I will consider his tenure a failure. If he does…I will be able to save food again. #NoLeftoversLeftBehind
If he does not, I will consider his tenure a failure. If he does…I will be able to save food again. #NoLeftoversLeftBehind
January 2, 2026 at 4:25 PM
Personally, I expect Mayor Mamdani to use—what I have been told—are his magical, Islamic gayness-fueled commie powers to discover how my kids lose the lids to my Tupperware.
If he does not, I will consider his tenure a failure. If he does…I will be able to save food again. #NoLeftoversLeftBehind
If he does not, I will consider his tenure a failure. If he does…I will be able to save food again. #NoLeftoversLeftBehind
Reposted by Barlow Adams
"Did you consider the people who don't like chili? The people who are vegetarians? The people without tastebuds? The people who don't know how to turn on stoves? What about all those folks?" #McSweeneysTop25of2025
Did You Even Consider Every Possible Lived Experience Before Recklessly Posting Your Chili Recipe on Social Media?
Our 8th most-read article of 2025. - - -Look, I get it. You thought what you posted was innocuous. Still, did you stop to think about everyone who...
buff.ly
December 31, 2025 at 1:30 PM
"Did you consider the people who don't like chili? The people who are vegetarians? The people without tastebuds? The people who don't know how to turn on stoves? What about all those folks?" #McSweeneysTop25of2025
Reposted by Barlow Adams
We back at it, folks. On the docket from the fiction side — small-town murders, car-slinging crushes, and tricky corvids.
#amreading #litmags
#amreading #litmags
January 2, 2026 at 12:19 AM
We back at it, folks. On the docket from the fiction side — small-town murders, car-slinging crushes, and tricky corvids.
#amreading #litmags
#amreading #litmags
Reposted by Barlow Adams
The good folks over at @smokelong.bsky.social started a new community for us: The Village! I'm so excited about it that I contributed the very first Lit Mag interview where I talk about Split Lip's submissions & editing process & gush about @rpmirabella.bsky.social & K-Ming Chang! Join to read!
Read our interview with @maureenlangloss.bsky.social of Split Lip in The Village!
January 2, 2026 at 3:19 PM
The good folks over at @smokelong.bsky.social started a new community for us: The Village! I'm so excited about it that I contributed the very first Lit Mag interview where I talk about Split Lip's submissions & editing process & gush about @rpmirabella.bsky.social & K-Ming Chang! Join to read!
Reposted by Barlow Adams
Happy for my first publication of the year to be in Ghost Parachute! Huge thanks to @brettpribble.bsky.social! And thanks to Brett J Barr for the illustration!
(It's always a treat to find an editor who doesn't want to "edit" my use of dialect! 💜)
Hope you enjoy my tiny devil story!
(It's always a treat to find an editor who doesn't want to "edit" my use of dialect! 💜)
Hope you enjoy my tiny devil story!
Deal Breaker, 1937 — Ghost Parachute
Devil days got that fool magic brewin’ in the hot, you know what I’m talking about, those close Kansas afternoons when the thunderheads build and build, climbing up the sky like they trying to get int...
ghostparachute.com
January 2, 2026 at 1:40 PM
Happy for my first publication of the year to be in Ghost Parachute! Huge thanks to @brettpribble.bsky.social! And thanks to Brett J Barr for the illustration!
(It's always a treat to find an editor who doesn't want to "edit" my use of dialect! 💜)
Hope you enjoy my tiny devil story!
(It's always a treat to find an editor who doesn't want to "edit" my use of dialect! 💜)
Hope you enjoy my tiny devil story!
“Choosy mom’s choose Jif,” was such an effectively pithy way to say, “If you care about your kids or have any class at all, you will buy our peanut butter, breeder.”
January 1, 2026 at 10:12 PM
“Choosy mom’s choose Jif,” was such an effectively pithy way to say, “If you care about your kids or have any class at all, you will buy our peanut butter, breeder.”
Better Off Ted was unfairly cancelled. That show was funny and different and it deserved your love!
January 1, 2026 at 6:20 AM
Better Off Ted was unfairly cancelled. That show was funny and different and it deserved your love!
Reposted by Barlow Adams
Published two books! First: Boxcutters, with @malarkeybooks.bsky.social
"Chrostek’s prose is so assured and confident that I felt immediate pleasure upon starting each story and not having a clue as to where I was about to be taken."
@ttbrader.bsky.social
(BOGO collection sale at Malarkey today!)
"Chrostek’s prose is so assured and confident that I felt immediate pleasure upon starting each story and not having a clue as to where I was about to be taken."
@ttbrader.bsky.social
(BOGO collection sale at Malarkey today!)
Boxcutters, stories by John Chrostek — Malarkey
One Amazon delivery stolen from a neighbor’s porch leads to plenty more. To keep the show going, a balding sitcom actress tries out a new wig and discovers a hunger for life. Jesus Christ claims the o...
malarkeybooks.com
December 31, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Published two books! First: Boxcutters, with @malarkeybooks.bsky.social
"Chrostek’s prose is so assured and confident that I felt immediate pleasure upon starting each story and not having a clue as to where I was about to be taken."
@ttbrader.bsky.social
(BOGO collection sale at Malarkey today!)
"Chrostek’s prose is so assured and confident that I felt immediate pleasure upon starting each story and not having a clue as to where I was about to be taken."
@ttbrader.bsky.social
(BOGO collection sale at Malarkey today!)
Reposted by Barlow Adams
Without further ado, here are my favorite stories of 2025, to give you something to read today.
Other than my two favorites, these are in chronological order.
My FAVORITE story of 2025 was this one by @keersteemack.bsky.social in @xraylitmag.bsky.social xraylitmag.com/portrait-of-...
Other than my two favorites, these are in chronological order.
My FAVORITE story of 2025 was this one by @keersteemack.bsky.social in @xraylitmag.bsky.social xraylitmag.com/portrait-of-...
PORTRAIT OF YOU IN FIVE PSYCHICS by Kirsti MacKenzie
First guy says: you’re gonna see a UFO. Like, BOOM. He lays this on me. Right now you’re probably thinking well, if that doesn’t torpedo the whole thing for you. But it didn’t. Okay? It didn’t. I sat ...
xraylitmag.com
December 31, 2025 at 12:02 PM
Without further ado, here are my favorite stories of 2025, to give you something to read today.
Other than my two favorites, these are in chronological order.
My FAVORITE story of 2025 was this one by @keersteemack.bsky.social in @xraylitmag.bsky.social xraylitmag.com/portrait-of-...
Other than my two favorites, these are in chronological order.
My FAVORITE story of 2025 was this one by @keersteemack.bsky.social in @xraylitmag.bsky.social xraylitmag.com/portrait-of-...
Reposted by Barlow Adams
"What was your biggest impact on the Internet?"
I drew the original of this. (I storyboarded and assistant directed on this episode.) (Fry, "Shut up and take my money")
I drew the original of this. (I storyboarded and assistant directed on this episode.) (Fry, "Shut up and take my money")
December 31, 2025 at 4:00 AM
"What was your biggest impact on the Internet?"
I drew the original of this. (I storyboarded and assistant directed on this episode.) (Fry, "Shut up and take my money")
I drew the original of this. (I storyboarded and assistant directed on this episode.) (Fry, "Shut up and take my money")
Reposted by Barlow Adams
www.cleavermagazine.com/ghost-roofer...
Ooh, love this one by @claudiamonpere.bsky.social in Cleaver Mag.
“The foreman’s movements are all violin: the strong rhythm of portato; the slow, smooth movement of legato; spicatto when he moves quickly across the roof.”
Ooh, love this one by @claudiamonpere.bsky.social in Cleaver Mag.
“The foreman’s movements are all violin: the strong rhythm of portato; the slow, smooth movement of legato; spicatto when he moves quickly across the roof.”
Claudia Monpere: GHOST ROOFERS • Cleaver Magazine
Flash by Claudia Monpere appears in Cleaver, Split Lip, SmokeLong Quarterly, Craft, Flash Frog, Trampset, The Forge, and elsewhere.
www.cleavermagazine.com
December 30, 2025 at 10:29 AM
www.cleavermagazine.com/ghost-roofer...
Ooh, love this one by @claudiamonpere.bsky.social in Cleaver Mag.
“The foreman’s movements are all violin: the strong rhythm of portato; the slow, smooth movement of legato; spicatto when he moves quickly across the roof.”
Ooh, love this one by @claudiamonpere.bsky.social in Cleaver Mag.
“The foreman’s movements are all violin: the strong rhythm of portato; the slow, smooth movement of legato; spicatto when he moves quickly across the roof.”
My resolution for 2026 is to finally reach my childhood dream of becoming a werewolf, and then use these newfound powers to crush junior varsity kids at sports and get cashiers to sell me beer. Also, maybe write a few more stories and lose weight.
But mostly the werewolf thing.
But mostly the werewolf thing.
December 31, 2025 at 3:51 PM
My resolution for 2026 is to finally reach my childhood dream of becoming a werewolf, and then use these newfound powers to crush junior varsity kids at sports and get cashiers to sell me beer. Also, maybe write a few more stories and lose weight.
But mostly the werewolf thing.
But mostly the werewolf thing.
Reposted by Barlow Adams
Please enjoy the whole of @toddedillard.bsky.social's remarkably moving, Pushcart-nominated poem, "What the Husband Keeps," from Issue 20 of Stanchion Magazine.
www.stanchionzine.com/post/what-th...
www.stanchionzine.com/post/what-th...
December 31, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Please enjoy the whole of @toddedillard.bsky.social's remarkably moving, Pushcart-nominated poem, "What the Husband Keeps," from Issue 20 of Stanchion Magazine.
www.stanchionzine.com/post/what-th...
www.stanchionzine.com/post/what-th...