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:
Oh I have a few of these.
November 10, 2025 at 11:40 PM
Oh I have a few of these.
Huh. My whole life, from my dad's curling bonspiels in the 80s to my partner's current D&D group and my kid's MtG group, finding regular low-barrier group activities with buddies has been one thing that all the men I have known have consistently excelled at. (Also I had no idea mahjong was back.)
as the husband of a mahjong addict, dudes need to identify an activity that can be done relatively easily in groups with minimal financial commitment so they can get out of the house for 2-3 hours on a school night, have two beers, and shoot the shit with their buddies.
It won't be mahjong tho.
It won't be mahjong tho.
This is excellent, and great fun to read. www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...
November 10, 2025 at 11:13 PM
Huh. My whole life, from my dad's curling bonspiels in the 80s to my partner's current D&D group and my kid's MtG group, finding regular low-barrier group activities with buddies has been one thing that all the men I have known have consistently excelled at. (Also I had no idea mahjong was back.)
Reposted by Kate Heartfield
Canada’s premier speculative fiction magazine calls it a day after 35 years
www.cbc.ca/arts/on-spec...
www.cbc.ca/arts/on-spec...
Canada’s premier speculative fiction magazine calls it a day after 35 years | CBC Arts
Edmonton-based On Spec, which showcased authors like Julie E. Czerneda, Tony Pi and a young Cory Doctorow, will publish its final issue in December
www.cbc.ca
November 10, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Canada’s premier speculative fiction magazine calls it a day after 35 years
www.cbc.ca/arts/on-spec...
www.cbc.ca/arts/on-spec...
Today's AI generated scam email was from someone ostensibly offering to be a beta reader (for cash, presumably) so that's a new twist.
November 10, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Today's AI generated scam email was from someone ostensibly offering to be a beta reader (for cash, presumably) so that's a new twist.
One of my favourite novels of the last few years. Pick it up.
NEW BOOK ON NETGALLEY ALERT!
Calling all reviewers, librarians, booksellers, and press: @kerstinhall.bsky.social 's Nebula and Locus Award-nominated dark fantasy novel - ASUNDER - has landed on Netgalley UK!
Request: https://geni.us/SolarisNG
Preorder: https://geni.us/asunder
Calling all reviewers, librarians, booksellers, and press: @kerstinhall.bsky.social 's Nebula and Locus Award-nominated dark fantasy novel - ASUNDER - has landed on Netgalley UK!
Request: https://geni.us/SolarisNG
Preorder: https://geni.us/asunder
November 10, 2025 at 4:09 PM
One of my favourite novels of the last few years. Pick it up.
I am at my mechanic getting my tires changed over (made the appointment a couple of weeks ago) and they have taken 5 calls, in the 15 minutes since they opened, from people asking whether they can get squeezed in today (they cannot).
November 10, 2025 at 1:17 PM
I am at my mechanic getting my tires changed over (made the appointment a couple of weeks ago) and they have taken 5 calls, in the 15 minutes since they opened, from people asking whether they can get squeezed in today (they cannot).
The clock just ticked over to Edmund Fitzgerald day. Here are the Rheostatics.
The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald
YouTube video by Rheostatics - Topic
youtu.be
November 10, 2025 at 5:10 AM
The clock just ticked over to Edmund Fitzgerald day. Here are the Rheostatics.
Reposted by Kate Heartfield
congress could eliminate them at any time by passing a bill that instituted an automatic continuing resolution at the last approved funding level whenever the term of the last budget bill was exceeded. It would not be hard, on a technical level. It would just take a normal bill. It is a choice.
Shutdowns weren't a thing in the US either, until they were invented by the Carter administration. It's not some natural, immutable characteristic of the US system of government, although people (not the OP) talk about it that way.
Did you know that in Canada, if a budget doesn’t pass the government doesn’t shut down?
Federal workers aren’t furloughed.
Funding for social services doesn’t dry up.
Failure to pass a budget triggers an election.
It puts the politicians jobs on the line.
They get the budget passed.
Federal workers aren’t furloughed.
Funding for social services doesn’t dry up.
Failure to pass a budget triggers an election.
It puts the politicians jobs on the line.
They get the budget passed.
November 10, 2025 at 1:41 AM
congress could eliminate them at any time by passing a bill that instituted an automatic continuing resolution at the last approved funding level whenever the term of the last budget bill was exceeded. It would not be hard, on a technical level. It would just take a normal bill. It is a choice.
Shutdowns weren't a thing in the US either, until they were invented by the Carter administration. It's not some natural, immutable characteristic of the US system of government, although people (not the OP) talk about it that way.
Did you know that in Canada, if a budget doesn’t pass the government doesn’t shut down?
Federal workers aren’t furloughed.
Funding for social services doesn’t dry up.
Failure to pass a budget triggers an election.
It puts the politicians jobs on the line.
They get the budget passed.
Federal workers aren’t furloughed.
Funding for social services doesn’t dry up.
Failure to pass a budget triggers an election.
It puts the politicians jobs on the line.
They get the budget passed.
November 10, 2025 at 12:02 AM
Shutdowns weren't a thing in the US either, until they were invented by the Carter administration. It's not some natural, immutable characteristic of the US system of government, although people (not the OP) talk about it that way.
We got the furniture/books cleared out and the old carpet pulled up yesterday. Today's measuring and cutting has mostly reminded me of my pure white mutual hatred for numbers and three dimenisional space, but we trudge onward.
When we moved into our house we said "too bad there's carpet in the bedrooms, but we can replace that." I don't want to tell you how many years ago that was. But today's the day!
November 9, 2025 at 10:11 PM
We got the furniture/books cleared out and the old carpet pulled up yesterday. Today's measuring and cutting has mostly reminded me of my pure white mutual hatred for numbers and three dimenisional space, but we trudge onward.
Reposted by Kate Heartfield
Sometimes I wonder if our many years of jokes about writers hating writing and doing anything but writing, etc, have convinced people that the writing part is the hurdle and the goal is just to have a thing in hand. But I am here to tell you: the writing is the best part. The act is the thing.
November 9, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Sometimes I wonder if our many years of jokes about writers hating writing and doing anything but writing, etc, have convinced people that the writing part is the hurdle and the goal is just to have a thing in hand. But I am here to tell you: the writing is the best part. The act is the thing.
Reposted by Kate Heartfield
I have found the perfect Bluesky account. bsky.app/profile/hwae...
bsky.app
November 9, 2025 at 5:25 PM
I have found the perfect Bluesky account. bsky.app/profile/hwae...
Happy birthday, Jacob and Evie! They show up occasionally in my two 19th c AC books. They're getting hard to find in print, but you can find the ebooks easily, and the audiobooks read by Moira Quirk. 50% on the first one here:
November 9, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Happy birthday, Jacob and Evie! They show up occasionally in my two 19th c AC books. They're getting hard to find in print, but you can find the ebooks easily, and the audiobooks read by Moira Quirk. 50% on the first one here:
Family movie night was In the Name of the Father, which my kid hadn't seen before. Still excellent, still funny, still enraging. Daniel Day-Lewis and Pete Postlethwaite both in top form.
November 9, 2025 at 1:06 AM
Family movie night was In the Name of the Father, which my kid hadn't seen before. Still excellent, still funny, still enraging. Daniel Day-Lewis and Pete Postlethwaite both in top form.
When we moved into our house we said "too bad there's carpet in the bedrooms, but we can replace that." I don't want to tell you how many years ago that was. But today's the day!
November 8, 2025 at 2:41 PM
When we moved into our house we said "too bad there's carpet in the bedrooms, but we can replace that." I don't want to tell you how many years ago that was. But today's the day!
I swear I've had so many visitors ask me about various things in this city "but why would someone put that ... there?" or "why is that like that?" and the answer is always "oh don't get me started on that mess." Someone should do a walking tour: 75 years of Ottawa planning decisions.
This is a crappy plan for the city but it'll make some people some money, so, par for the course for Ottawa. Disappointed but not surprised.
Council Update: The finalized plan to redevelop Lansdowne was approved by Council today.
Lansdowne 2.0 will bring modern sports and entertainment facilities, retail, housing, and revitalized public spaces to one of #OttCity’s most iconic destinations.
https://bit.ly/47PWTCJ
Lansdowne 2.0 will bring modern sports and entertainment facilities, retail, housing, and revitalized public spaces to one of #OttCity’s most iconic destinations.
https://bit.ly/47PWTCJ
November 8, 2025 at 2:32 AM
I swear I've had so many visitors ask me about various things in this city "but why would someone put that ... there?" or "why is that like that?" and the answer is always "oh don't get me started on that mess." Someone should do a walking tour: 75 years of Ottawa planning decisions.
This is a crappy plan for the city but it'll make some people some money, so, par for the course for Ottawa. Disappointed but not surprised.
Council Update: The finalized plan to redevelop Lansdowne was approved by Council today.
Lansdowne 2.0 will bring modern sports and entertainment facilities, retail, housing, and revitalized public spaces to one of #OttCity’s most iconic destinations.
https://bit.ly/47PWTCJ
Lansdowne 2.0 will bring modern sports and entertainment facilities, retail, housing, and revitalized public spaces to one of #OttCity’s most iconic destinations.
https://bit.ly/47PWTCJ
November 8, 2025 at 2:24 AM
This is a crappy plan for the city but it'll make some people some money, so, par for the course for Ottawa. Disappointed but not surprised.
Reposted by Kate Heartfield
Today's newsletter is about getting stuff done.
What's the month, my fine fellow? Why, it's novel writing month!
It’s November, the dismal season where I live, and the traditional knuckle-down season for my people (ie, novelists). The NaNoWriMo (national novel writing...
buttondown.com
November 7, 2025 at 1:36 PM
Today's newsletter is about getting stuff done.
Reposted by Kate Heartfield
Hi Bluesky 👋
Small life update: I’m at the centre of a multimillion dollar lawsuit in Alberta launched by a failed candidate for Jason Kenney’s UCP
It may be the longest and most expensive media trial in Canadian history
I’m ready to go public about it and I want to share more details with you 🧵
Small life update: I’m at the centre of a multimillion dollar lawsuit in Alberta launched by a failed candidate for Jason Kenney’s UCP
It may be the longest and most expensive media trial in Canadian history
I’m ready to go public about it and I want to share more details with you 🧵
November 7, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Hi Bluesky 👋
Small life update: I’m at the centre of a multimillion dollar lawsuit in Alberta launched by a failed candidate for Jason Kenney’s UCP
It may be the longest and most expensive media trial in Canadian history
I’m ready to go public about it and I want to share more details with you 🧵
Small life update: I’m at the centre of a multimillion dollar lawsuit in Alberta launched by a failed candidate for Jason Kenney’s UCP
It may be the longest and most expensive media trial in Canadian history
I’m ready to go public about it and I want to share more details with you 🧵
Reposted by Kate Heartfield
if you're Jewish (and even if you're not) and you like Shakespeare and you're in NYC, consider going to see PLAYING SHYLOCK, a solo show starring Saul Rubinek. I was very curious about this show since I have complicated feelings about "Merchant."
November 7, 2025 at 6:01 PM
if you're Jewish (and even if you're not) and you like Shakespeare and you're in NYC, consider going to see PLAYING SHYLOCK, a solo show starring Saul Rubinek. I was very curious about this show since I have complicated feelings about "Merchant."
Reposted by Kate Heartfield
Ottawa folks! Please come see my smash-hit show about an historic all-woman gang. Playing next week (Nov 13-16) @gctclive.bsky.social for 5 shows only!
🐘👯♀️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🐘👯♀️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
November 7, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Ottawa folks! Please come see my smash-hit show about an historic all-woman gang. Playing next week (Nov 13-16) @gctclive.bsky.social for 5 shows only!
🐘👯♀️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🐘👯♀️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Today's newsletter is about getting stuff done.
What's the month, my fine fellow? Why, it's novel writing month!
It’s November, the dismal season where I live, and the traditional knuckle-down season for my people (ie, novelists). The NaNoWriMo (national novel writing...
buttondown.com
November 7, 2025 at 1:36 PM
Today's newsletter is about getting stuff done.
huzzah
did you know the Mountain Goats have a new album out today and you can buy it or stream it and dance to it in your living room or while driving or on the subway and it's a whole vibe? well now you know that 30tgrs.ffm.to/ttfafpb
The Mountain Goats - Through This Fire Across from Peter Balkan
Choose your preferred music service
30tgrs.ffm.to
November 7, 2025 at 1:28 PM
huzzah
People are reading seismic changes into floor-crossing but meh, it's common in Canadian politics. First thing I thought when we ended up with a slim minority was "there'll be floor-crossing." A party making a floor-crosser so terrified/miserable they quit would be unusual, though, if that happened.
November 7, 2025 at 1:16 AM
People are reading seismic changes into floor-crossing but meh, it's common in Canadian politics. First thing I thought when we ended up with a slim minority was "there'll be floor-crossing." A party making a floor-crosser so terrified/miserable they quit would be unusual, though, if that happened.
My main contract gig is being cut, and my family responsibilities are less demanding than a few years ago. So please get in touch if you know of writing/editing/research/workshop positions, any hours, ideally remote or Ottawa. Extra points for good causes. I know it's rough out there for everyone.
November 6, 2025 at 11:31 PM
My main contract gig is being cut, and my family responsibilities are less demanding than a few years ago. So please get in touch if you know of writing/editing/research/workshop positions, any hours, ideally remote or Ottawa. Extra points for good causes. I know it's rough out there for everyone.