C. W. Maurer
@cwmaurer.substack.com
Author of epic fantasy and low-tech sci-fi. Engineer, coach, gamer, mom, and hobby collector in New England.
Fueled by tea, video game soundtracks, and dog snuggles.
(She/her)
Fueled by tea, video game soundtracks, and dog snuggles.
(She/her)
Pinned
C. W. Maurer
@cwmaurer.substack.com
· Jun 25
Excited to share the illustration by Ben Falco that will accompany my story, "Riftwork" in the anthology Brave New Girls: Tales of Girls Who Invent and Imagine.
Get it July 9!
Ben captured the tone of the story so much better than my aphantasia-brain could have imagined, and I love it!
Get it July 9!
Ben captured the tone of the story so much better than my aphantasia-brain could have imagined, and I love it!
Traditional Halloween Eldritch Horror game was delayed a week because of kid activities, but snacks and tea have been served, and it's time to watch the world fall into chaos. But the board game version, so it's fun Lovecraftian chaos.
November 8, 2025 at 2:08 AM
Traditional Halloween Eldritch Horror game was delayed a week because of kid activities, but snacks and tea have been served, and it's time to watch the world fall into chaos. But the board game version, so it's fun Lovecraftian chaos.
959 semi-coherent words for my NaNo day by 7AM, brought to you by my brain refusing to sleep from 2-5AM.
Im sure those will be fine when I go back to look at them. In the meantime, I am taking a nap.
Im sure those will be fine when I go back to look at them. In the meantime, I am taking a nap.
November 6, 2025 at 12:18 PM
959 semi-coherent words for my NaNo day by 7AM, brought to you by my brain refusing to sleep from 2-5AM.
Im sure those will be fine when I go back to look at them. In the meantime, I am taking a nap.
Im sure those will be fine when I go back to look at them. In the meantime, I am taking a nap.
A plus of living in an old New England town is that the mill buildings house all sorts of fun businesses and workspaces. Like the women's club/co-work/makerspace I got around to joining so that I can write without laundry threatening from the next room.
10/10 Autumn sky through old window views.
10/10 Autumn sky through old window views.
October 31, 2025 at 3:21 PM
A plus of living in an old New England town is that the mill buildings house all sorts of fun businesses and workspaces. Like the women's club/co-work/makerspace I got around to joining so that I can write without laundry threatening from the next room.
10/10 Autumn sky through old window views.
10/10 Autumn sky through old window views.
My wind ensemble does a costumed fall concert every year, which I love because I *usually* go with slightly obscure nerdy costumes, and they're more likely to recognize them in that crowd.
I don't think that will be an issue this year.
This year we're gonna be ✨️Golden✨️
💃🎶
I don't think that will be an issue this year.
This year we're gonna be ✨️Golden✨️
💃🎶
October 25, 2025 at 4:52 PM
My wind ensemble does a costumed fall concert every year, which I love because I *usually* go with slightly obscure nerdy costumes, and they're more likely to recognize them in that crowd.
I don't think that will be an issue this year.
This year we're gonna be ✨️Golden✨️
💃🎶
I don't think that will be an issue this year.
This year we're gonna be ✨️Golden✨️
💃🎶
Dear house sparrows currently fighting over the nest box in our yard.
Maybe late October in New England is not the most reasonable time/place for this?
Best of luck to ya, though.
Maybe late October in New England is not the most reasonable time/place for this?
Best of luck to ya, though.
October 19, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Dear house sparrows currently fighting over the nest box in our yard.
Maybe late October in New England is not the most reasonable time/place for this?
Best of luck to ya, though.
Maybe late October in New England is not the most reasonable time/place for this?
Best of luck to ya, though.
A little behind schedule this year, but we finally started day 1 of our annual Over the Garden Wall watch yesterday.
It's the kid's second time watching it, and it's so fun to see him recognize things he didn't notice the first time or to get excited about scenes/quotes he knows are coming.
It's the kid's second time watching it, and it's so fun to see him recognize things he didn't notice the first time or to get excited about scenes/quotes he knows are coming.
October 17, 2025 at 3:42 PM
A little behind schedule this year, but we finally started day 1 of our annual Over the Garden Wall watch yesterday.
It's the kid's second time watching it, and it's so fun to see him recognize things he didn't notice the first time or to get excited about scenes/quotes he knows are coming.
It's the kid's second time watching it, and it's so fun to see him recognize things he didn't notice the first time or to get excited about scenes/quotes he knows are coming.
I fear I reveal my roots by saying taylor ham, egg, and cheese on a plain bagel; salt, pepper, no ketchup
This whole post is gold if you are in the subcategory of humans who have strong feelings about bagels.
This whole post is gold if you are in the subcategory of humans who have strong feelings about bagels.
Tell me your bagel order and I will tell you *based on NYC cultural expectations* if you have won or lost your election for political office in NYC.
One of my favorite things about NYC is whenever anyone runs for office here they are required to disclose their bagel order.
October 11, 2025 at 6:58 AM
I fear I reveal my roots by saying taylor ham, egg, and cheese on a plain bagel; salt, pepper, no ketchup
This whole post is gold if you are in the subcategory of humans who have strong feelings about bagels.
This whole post is gold if you are in the subcategory of humans who have strong feelings about bagels.
In today's episode of "The local thrift store needs to get someone with basic book awareness (or Google search skills) on their shelving team" : Found a copy of @pdjeliclark.bsky.social's The Dead Cat Tail Assassins next to the picture books on the kid shelves.
(1/2)
(1/2)
October 7, 2025 at 4:08 PM
In today's episode of "The local thrift store needs to get someone with basic book awareness (or Google search skills) on their shelving team" : Found a copy of @pdjeliclark.bsky.social's The Dead Cat Tail Assassins next to the picture books on the kid shelves.
(1/2)
(1/2)
Reposted by C. W. Maurer
We are thrilled to announce that our NEW Large Language Model will be released on 11.18.25.
October 1, 2025 at 2:38 PM
We are thrilled to announce that our NEW Large Language Model will be released on 11.18.25.
Garden green beans are still going strong, but kiddo is pretty tired of them
Today's strategy: turn "green bean/ground beef tart" (GBx2 plus onion, cheese, herbs on puff pastry on sheet pan) into a "pizza pocket" (same things but folded up in pizza dough, then dip in marinara)
Bets on how it goes?
Today's strategy: turn "green bean/ground beef tart" (GBx2 plus onion, cheese, herbs on puff pastry on sheet pan) into a "pizza pocket" (same things but folded up in pizza dough, then dip in marinara)
Bets on how it goes?
October 1, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Garden green beans are still going strong, but kiddo is pretty tired of them
Today's strategy: turn "green bean/ground beef tart" (GBx2 plus onion, cheese, herbs on puff pastry on sheet pan) into a "pizza pocket" (same things but folded up in pizza dough, then dip in marinara)
Bets on how it goes?
Today's strategy: turn "green bean/ground beef tart" (GBx2 plus onion, cheese, herbs on puff pastry on sheet pan) into a "pizza pocket" (same things but folded up in pizza dough, then dip in marinara)
Bets on how it goes?
9 y.o. got a birthday gift from a friend. The parents apologized, but I don't know any better forms of harmless, mildly annoying entertainment that will only survive a week anyway
He hasn't gotten the "prank" part, but there's been a lot of joyful running around yelling "Here comes Mr. Fartyman!" 💨
He hasn't gotten the "prank" part, but there's been a lot of joyful running around yelling "Here comes Mr. Fartyman!" 💨
September 26, 2025 at 2:52 PM
9 y.o. got a birthday gift from a friend. The parents apologized, but I don't know any better forms of harmless, mildly annoying entertainment that will only survive a week anyway
He hasn't gotten the "prank" part, but there's been a lot of joyful running around yelling "Here comes Mr. Fartyman!" 💨
He hasn't gotten the "prank" part, but there's been a lot of joyful running around yelling "Here comes Mr. Fartyman!" 💨
Starting to shell some of the scarlet runner beans as the pods dry out, and I can't get over how pretty they are.
🌱
🌱
September 22, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Starting to shell some of the scarlet runner beans as the pods dry out, and I can't get over how pretty they are.
🌱
🌱
I was concerned about letting the elderberries we didn't have time to pick go to waste. But there's been a whole little mini-flock of half a dozen bluebirds hanging out in the yard gobbling up the leftover ripe ones.
Even had some cedar waxwings stop by for a snack earlier in the week.
🐦
Even had some cedar waxwings stop by for a snack earlier in the week.
🐦
September 20, 2025 at 8:05 PM
I was concerned about letting the elderberries we didn't have time to pick go to waste. But there's been a whole little mini-flock of half a dozen bluebirds hanging out in the yard gobbling up the leftover ripe ones.
Even had some cedar waxwings stop by for a snack earlier in the week.
🐦
Even had some cedar waxwings stop by for a snack earlier in the week.
🐦
Kiddo got a new board game for his birthday. So it will be race cars 24/7 in our house for a while.
September 20, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Kiddo got a new board game for his birthday. So it will be race cars 24/7 in our house for a while.
Dental office swapped out a functional medical history form for some AI one that has you write in contact and insurance info multiple times and includes an incoherent alphabetical list of conditions, treatments, and... organs? To check yes or no on with no explanation.
Favorite?
Kidney y/n
Favorite?
Kidney y/n
September 18, 2025 at 12:05 PM
Dental office swapped out a functional medical history form for some AI one that has you write in contact and insurance info multiple times and includes an incoherent alphabetical list of conditions, treatments, and... organs? To check yes or no on with no explanation.
Favorite?
Kidney y/n
Favorite?
Kidney y/n
Better be the best salsa ever, because now the oven is giving us error codes and I don't know what trying to roast a bunch of tomatoes did to cause that trouble
Probably a bunch of steam at a reasonably high temperature. But still.
Anyway, that's another 5+ pounds of garden tomatoes dealt with.
Probably a bunch of steam at a reasonably high temperature. But still.
Anyway, that's another 5+ pounds of garden tomatoes dealt with.
September 12, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Better be the best salsa ever, because now the oven is giving us error codes and I don't know what trying to roast a bunch of tomatoes did to cause that trouble
Probably a bunch of steam at a reasonably high temperature. But still.
Anyway, that's another 5+ pounds of garden tomatoes dealt with.
Probably a bunch of steam at a reasonably high temperature. But still.
Anyway, that's another 5+ pounds of garden tomatoes dealt with.
Sometimes the Garden Guardian keeps an eye on the neighborhood from the porch while I harvest things. Other times he follows me around demanding the Bean Tax.
Could anyone refuse such a floof when he asks so nicely for just a few cronchy beans?
Could anyone refuse such a floof when he asks so nicely for just a few cronchy beans?
September 11, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Sometimes the Garden Guardian keeps an eye on the neighborhood from the porch while I harvest things. Other times he follows me around demanding the Bean Tax.
Could anyone refuse such a floof when he asks so nicely for just a few cronchy beans?
Could anyone refuse such a floof when he asks so nicely for just a few cronchy beans?
So. Gardensky (is that what we call that social corner?).
What does someone do with...just far too many elderberries.
Already made some jam.
Still have these and more to be picked. Plus two other plants that aren't ripe yet.
We do not currently have winemaking supplies, unfortunately.
🌱
What does someone do with...just far too many elderberries.
Already made some jam.
Still have these and more to be picked. Plus two other plants that aren't ripe yet.
We do not currently have winemaking supplies, unfortunately.
🌱
September 8, 2025 at 12:30 PM
So. Gardensky (is that what we call that social corner?).
What does someone do with...just far too many elderberries.
Already made some jam.
Still have these and more to be picked. Plus two other plants that aren't ripe yet.
We do not currently have winemaking supplies, unfortunately.
🌱
What does someone do with...just far too many elderberries.
Already made some jam.
Still have these and more to be picked. Plus two other plants that aren't ripe yet.
We do not currently have winemaking supplies, unfortunately.
🌱
Busy couple of days in the garden.
Guess it's time to make more salsa.
🌱
Guess it's time to make more salsa.
🌱
September 5, 2025 at 9:22 PM
Busy couple of days in the garden.
Guess it's time to make more salsa.
🌱
Guess it's time to make more salsa.
🌱
What I wanted to do this morning: read for a bit to decompress from back-to-school and back-to-coaching chaos.
Instead, I'll be redoing my tryout skill eval data analysis because Excel turned on co-pilot without me realizing it until it started "guessing" what should go in blank cells I'd sorted
Instead, I'll be redoing my tryout skill eval data analysis because Excel turned on co-pilot without me realizing it until it started "guessing" what should go in blank cells I'd sorted
September 4, 2025 at 12:10 PM
What I wanted to do this morning: read for a bit to decompress from back-to-school and back-to-coaching chaos.
Instead, I'll be redoing my tryout skill eval data analysis because Excel turned on co-pilot without me realizing it until it started "guessing" what should go in blank cells I'd sorted
Instead, I'll be redoing my tryout skill eval data analysis because Excel turned on co-pilot without me realizing it until it started "guessing" what should go in blank cells I'd sorted
The tomatoes have been quite productive this summer. So I was confused by the one plant where they started to ripen but never turned red.
Turns out one plant out of the bunch (all grown from last year's red tomatoes) has yellow tomatoes.
Picked 5lbs yesterday.
Today we make roasted tomato salsa.
Turns out one plant out of the bunch (all grown from last year's red tomatoes) has yellow tomatoes.
Picked 5lbs yesterday.
Today we make roasted tomato salsa.
September 2, 2025 at 1:42 PM
The tomatoes have been quite productive this summer. So I was confused by the one plant where they started to ripen but never turned red.
Turns out one plant out of the bunch (all grown from last year's red tomatoes) has yellow tomatoes.
Picked 5lbs yesterday.
Today we make roasted tomato salsa.
Turns out one plant out of the bunch (all grown from last year's red tomatoes) has yellow tomatoes.
Picked 5lbs yesterday.
Today we make roasted tomato salsa.
Labor Day weekend pizza in the brick oven. At least if Appa doesn't steal all the fuel first.
🍕 🐕
🍕 🐕
August 31, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Labor Day weekend pizza in the brick oven. At least if Appa doesn't steal all the fuel first.
🍕 🐕
🍕 🐕
Looks like the seeds in the sunflowers have developed enough for the goldfinches to stop by for lunch.
(Phone camera photos continue to be less than ideal, but it's what we have)
(Phone camera photos continue to be less than ideal, but it's what we have)
August 27, 2025 at 7:53 PM
Looks like the seeds in the sunflowers have developed enough for the goldfinches to stop by for lunch.
(Phone camera photos continue to be less than ideal, but it's what we have)
(Phone camera photos continue to be less than ideal, but it's what we have)
8 y.o.'s playlist for the morning consists of The Voyage of the Dawn Treader audio drama followed by the K-Pop Demon Hunters soundtrack.
Quite a tonal clash on its own, right?
At some point, he put it on shuffle. So, he's now happily listening to the book out of order interspersed with Huntr/x
🙃
Quite a tonal clash on its own, right?
At some point, he put it on shuffle. So, he's now happily listening to the book out of order interspersed with Huntr/x
🙃
August 22, 2025 at 1:11 PM
8 y.o.'s playlist for the morning consists of The Voyage of the Dawn Treader audio drama followed by the K-Pop Demon Hunters soundtrack.
Quite a tonal clash on its own, right?
At some point, he put it on shuffle. So, he's now happily listening to the book out of order interspersed with Huntr/x
🙃
Quite a tonal clash on its own, right?
At some point, he put it on shuffle. So, he's now happily listening to the book out of order interspersed with Huntr/x
🙃
I can't get over the number of happy little bees enjoying the sunflower pollen the past few days.
This is the first year we've intentionally grown sunflowers (had some volunteers near the bird feeders last year), and they are quite fun.
This is the first year we've intentionally grown sunflowers (had some volunteers near the bird feeders last year), and they are quite fun.
August 20, 2025 at 9:40 PM
I can't get over the number of happy little bees enjoying the sunflower pollen the past few days.
This is the first year we've intentionally grown sunflowers (had some volunteers near the bird feeders last year), and they are quite fun.
This is the first year we've intentionally grown sunflowers (had some volunteers near the bird feeders last year), and they are quite fun.