Kate Heartfield
@kateheartfield.com
I write weird novels about weird history, plus games and stories. Next novel: MERCUTIO, May 2026. (Mostly) former journalist; currently teaching journalism. From Manitoba, now in Ottawa. She/her. Trans rights or gtfo 🏳️🌈
https://kateheartfield.com
https://kateheartfield.com
Pinned
Kate Heartfield
@kateheartfield.com
· Apr 30
New pinned thread! I'm a writer in Ottawa, Canada. I write historical fantasy novels (see next posts), and other things. I used to be a newspaper journalist. My newsletter, which comes out every second Friday: buttondown.com/heartfield My website: www.kateheartfield.com My typical cat situation:
And an actual wedding.
If Bad Bunny can cover the history of Puerto Rico, colonialism, transatlantic slavery, hemispheric consciousness, as well as contemporary life and politics in under 14 minutes, you can do your 15- or 20-minute conference presentation with time to spare.
February 10, 2026 at 1:56 AM
And an actual wedding.
Reposted by Kate Heartfield
Liberal MP Bruce Fanjoy from the Ottawa-area riding or Carleton is breaking ranks with the Carney government on its Return to Office policy for public servants:
“There is little to no evidence that a one-size-fits-all RTO policy will improve productivity or service to Canadians”
“There is little to no evidence that a one-size-fits-all RTO policy will improve productivity or service to Canadians”
February 9, 2026 at 7:34 PM
Liberal MP Bruce Fanjoy from the Ottawa-area riding or Carleton is breaking ranks with the Carney government on its Return to Office policy for public servants:
“There is little to no evidence that a one-size-fits-all RTO policy will improve productivity or service to Canadians”
“There is little to no evidence that a one-size-fits-all RTO policy will improve productivity or service to Canadians”
Will try not to spoil the Canada-Czechia game for anyone watching it later, but the first 10 minutes or so have just been me yelling "yes!" and "oh no" in roughly equal proportion
February 9, 2026 at 8:32 PM
Will try not to spoil the Canada-Czechia game for anyone watching it later, but the first 10 minutes or so have just been me yelling "yes!" and "oh no" in roughly equal proportion
Got a pretty well done AI scam "book club" email this morning, better than most, so I am going to break it down to show how I confirmed it was fake. +
February 9, 2026 at 4:43 PM
Got a pretty well done AI scam "book club" email this morning, better than most, so I am going to break it down to show how I confirmed it was fake. +
Even in this thoughtful and excellent essay, the exceptionalism is hard to shake. "Where else but in America could a left-wing, brown-skinned immigrant, a racialised ‘other’, become the mayor of a globally influential city?" Who is the mayor of London? Who are the mayors of Montreal and Toronto?
‘As the Swedish diplomatic historian Anders Stephanson writes, “the alarming fact” is that “everyone on this earth has an enormous stake in how the United States chooses to be and act in this world.” Not just enormous, but existential.’
Adam Shatz’s Winter Lecture:
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
Adam Shatz’s Winter Lecture:
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
Adam Shatz · Another Country: Visions of America
Is America a dream or a nightmare, a democratic paradise or a bastion of white supremacy and religious intolerance? Is...
www.lrb.co.uk
February 9, 2026 at 2:04 PM
Even in this thoughtful and excellent essay, the exceptionalism is hard to shake. "Where else but in America could a left-wing, brown-skinned immigrant, a racialised ‘other’, become the mayor of a globally influential city?" Who is the mayor of London? Who are the mayors of Montreal and Toronto?
Unsurprised to see myself among Science Fiction and Fantasy Authors but somewhat surprised that there is a separate nebula for Speculative Fiction Writers and Industry. Real People's Front of Judea vs Judean People's Front situation.
February 9, 2026 at 5:05 AM
Unsurprised to see myself among Science Fiction and Fantasy Authors but somewhat surprised that there is a separate nebula for Speculative Fiction Writers and Industry. Real People's Front of Judea vs Judean People's Front situation.
Kind of a heartbreaking first few days for Canada at the Olympics but we soldier on. I blame the brown coats. Anyway good for the athletes who are all doing amazing things.
February 8, 2026 at 11:21 PM
Kind of a heartbreaking first few days for Canada at the Olympics but we soldier on. I blame the brown coats. Anyway good for the athletes who are all doing amazing things.
I don't know whose commentary CBC Gem is carrying for biathlon (presumably not CBC's own as the commentators have not even mentioned the Canadian competitors) but wow it is 80% mispronouncing names and excitedly emphasizing! syllables! of! words! Makes me appreciate good sports commentary.
February 8, 2026 at 4:57 PM
I don't know whose commentary CBC Gem is carrying for biathlon (presumably not CBC's own as the commentators have not even mentioned the Canadian competitors) but wow it is 80% mispronouncing names and excitedly emphasizing! syllables! of! words! Makes me appreciate good sports commentary.
I love how the moment I start recovering from drafting burnout (thank you Olympic games for hitting at the perfect time; curling is what I needed) my brain starts churning on the book I plan to write five books from now. Settle down, brain
February 8, 2026 at 2:36 PM
I love how the moment I start recovering from drafting burnout (thank you Olympic games for hitting at the perfect time; curling is what I needed) my brain starts churning on the book I plan to write five books from now. Settle down, brain
The shot count in this Canada-Switzerland game is wild
Let's go women's hockey
February 7, 2026 at 9:54 PM
The shot count in this Canada-Switzerland game is wild
Let's go women's hockey
February 7, 2026 at 8:09 PM
Let's go women's hockey
If you live long enough you'll see interpretive ice dance inspired by the decade in which you went to high school and university. I am starting to understand what it must have been like for my parents when I went to costume parties in bell bottoms.
February 7, 2026 at 2:03 AM
If you live long enough you'll see interpretive ice dance inspired by the decade in which you went to high school and university. I am starting to understand what it must have been like for my parents when I went to costume parties in bell bottoms.
Reposted by Kate Heartfield
Have you folks seen Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier’s joyously sassy dance routine to RuPaul’s ‘Supermodel’ yet? It’s fun as hell and that lift near the end is hella tricky.
www.cbc.ca/player/play/...
www.cbc.ca/player/play/...
Gilles and Poirier put Canadian Olympic figure skating team in 4th after rhythm dance
Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier open up the figure skating team event at the Milano-Cortina Winter Games with a score of 85.79 in the rhythm dance.
www.cbc.ca
February 7, 2026 at 12:25 AM
Have you folks seen Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier’s joyously sassy dance routine to RuPaul’s ‘Supermodel’ yet? It’s fun as hell and that lift near the end is hella tricky.
www.cbc.ca/player/play/...
www.cbc.ca/player/play/...
Both units of our union of contract instructors and TAs at Carleton University have now ratified new collective agreements. I want to thank everyone who signed our open letter about AI guardrails; Unit 1 got a joint working committee on AI established and some affirmations of employer intentions.
February 6, 2026 at 11:10 PM
Both units of our union of contract instructors and TAs at Carleton University have now ratified new collective agreements. I want to thank everyone who signed our open letter about AI guardrails; Unit 1 got a joint working committee on AI established and some affirmations of employer intentions.
I'm now out of contract for the first time in a while (well, for first drafts; I still have many edits). Sometimes that is anxiety-producing: we never know whether we'll ever get another book contract. But at the moment I'm enjoying a chance to take stock and think about the next phase of my work.
February 6, 2026 at 9:20 PM
I'm now out of contract for the first time in a while (well, for first drafts; I still have many edits). Sometimes that is anxiety-producing: we never know whether we'll ever get another book contract. But at the moment I'm enjoying a chance to take stock and think about the next phase of my work.
Reposted by Kate Heartfield
Working in coordination with standwithminnesota.com, I’m raising rent funds for Minneapolis immigrant families in need. We now have a $5000 match offer (!) and are going to help as many families as we can to stay housed today.
V: @Ian-Coldwater
CA: $iancoldwater
PP: @coldwater
Thank you so much! 🌷
V: @Ian-Coldwater
CA: $iancoldwater
PP: @coldwater
Thank you so much! 🌷
February 5, 2026 at 11:31 PM
Working in coordination with standwithminnesota.com, I’m raising rent funds for Minneapolis immigrant families in need. We now have a $5000 match offer (!) and are going to help as many families as we can to stay housed today.
V: @Ian-Coldwater
CA: $iancoldwater
PP: @coldwater
Thank you so much! 🌷
V: @Ian-Coldwater
CA: $iancoldwater
PP: @coldwater
Thank you so much! 🌷
Reposted by Kate Heartfield
Asimov's actions, and the tolerance-up-to-celebration of it, absolutely drove women out of field and out of fandom, and made it easier for others in the field, writers, editors and fans, to follow his lead for decades. Asimov pinching asses was not about his work. It kept women and their work out.
February 5, 2026 at 9:54 PM
Asimov's actions, and the tolerance-up-to-celebration of it, absolutely drove women out of field and out of fandom, and made it easier for others in the field, writers, editors and fans, to follow his lead for decades. Asimov pinching asses was not about his work. It kept women and their work out.
Hey fellow Canadians, if you've been watching people raise emergency rent funds for Minneapolis and thinking "I would pitch in but we don't have Venmo" here is a fundraiser taking Paypal!
This fundraiser was so successful that I’m doing another one! The extra funds that were set for the first family went towards the second family’s total rent need. Let’s keep it going!
I am now raising rent funds for another Minneapolis family who has been impacted by ICE. For this family, the remaining need is $775.
Can we make this happen for them today? I believe in us & will post receipts!
V: @Ian-Coldwater
CA: $iancoldwater
PP: @coldwater
Please help and share!
Thank you 💖
Can we make this happen for them today? I believe in us & will post receipts!
V: @Ian-Coldwater
CA: $iancoldwater
PP: @coldwater
Please help and share!
Thank you 💖
February 5, 2026 at 9:49 PM
Hey fellow Canadians, if you've been watching people raise emergency rent funds for Minneapolis and thinking "I would pitch in but we don't have Venmo" here is a fundraiser taking Paypal!
Have been working on line edits to the accompaniment of Canada's Peterman and Gallant kicking ass in curling. I didn't really understand why Italy would concede with a 5-pt gap and two ends left -- still seemed winnable to me, but what do I know. #Olympics
February 5, 2026 at 8:41 PM
Have been working on line edits to the accompaniment of Canada's Peterman and Gallant kicking ass in curling. I didn't really understand why Italy would concede with a 5-pt gap and two ends left -- still seemed winnable to me, but what do I know. #Olympics
Reposted by Kate Heartfield
ICYMI this is an incredible bargain — everything @annaleen.bsky.social and I have written for Tor, for $18 plus whatever you can spare. And it benefits a wonderful organization that supports Black trans people.
If you wanna discover our work and do some good, here's your chance!
If you wanna discover our work and do some good, here's your chance!
HI! Every Tor Books release from @annaleen.bsky.social and me is available thru @humblebundle.com for a few weeks!
Get 2 books for at least $3
Get 4 books for at least $10
Get all our stuff for at least $18
This bundle supports the amazing TGI Justice Project!
www.humblebundle.com/books/charli...
Get 2 books for at least $3
Get 4 books for at least $10
Get all our stuff for at least $18
This bundle supports the amazing TGI Justice Project!
www.humblebundle.com/books/charli...
February 5, 2026 at 7:02 PM
ICYMI this is an incredible bargain — everything @annaleen.bsky.social and I have written for Tor, for $18 plus whatever you can spare. And it benefits a wonderful organization that supports Black trans people.
If you wanna discover our work and do some good, here's your chance!
If you wanna discover our work and do some good, here's your chance!
Reposted by Kate Heartfield
Today!! there is still time to register - see you there!
February 5, 2026 at 4:25 PM
Today!! there is still time to register - see you there!
Reposted by Kate Heartfield
If y'all missed it last night, after they gave us tremendous amounts of filament to print whistles (FOR FREE!!!) we lured @protopasta.bsky.social over to bluesky, and if you like companies that show up & have pretty colors, they got you!
We told @protopasta.bsky.social how much bluesky would love a filament company who was just like "oh are you making whistles, that's awesome, here have some free filament" and so they come over to hang out!!!
Jumping in to keep up with all the whistlemakers!
Protopasta is ready to donate filament to keep the momentum going! Reach out to our support team at support@protoplant.com to find how you can be involved, too!
Protopasta is ready to donate filament to keep the momentum going! Reach out to our support team at support@protoplant.com to find how you can be involved, too!
February 5, 2026 at 3:39 PM
If y'all missed it last night, after they gave us tremendous amounts of filament to print whistles (FOR FREE!!!) we lured @protopasta.bsky.social over to bluesky, and if you like companies that show up & have pretty colors, they got you!
Absolutely wild story happening in Toronto this morning. Organized crime in the towtruck industry is not news, but nine police officers with some of the charges reportedly related to a conspiracy to murder a colleague, and leaking addresses to hitmen. Yikes.
9 Toronto police officers facing charges related to tow-truck violence: source | CBC News
Nine Toronto police officers are facing charges related to violent incidents involving tow trucks and operators across the Greater Toronto Area, multiple sources tell CBC News.
www.cbc.ca
February 5, 2026 at 1:34 PM
Absolutely wild story happening in Toronto this morning. Organized crime in the towtruck industry is not news, but nine police officers with some of the charges reportedly related to a conspiracy to murder a colleague, and leaking addresses to hitmen. Yikes.
I kind of like the design of the Canada Olympic gear this time, at least going by the mixed doubles curling.
February 5, 2026 at 2:47 AM
I kind of like the design of the Canada Olympic gear this time, at least going by the mixed doubles curling.