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:
Here's a thread about my novels, in case you have a gift card burning a hole in your pocket or are just looking for your next library borrow. All of them have audiobook, ebook and print versions.
Kate's books: a gift guide, a wish list guide, or an "if I get a gift card" guide
For the reader who likes books about WWII, Little Women, Indiana Jones, The Night Watch by Sarah Waters, lesbian history in Paris, medieval history, fiber arts, and/or Nazis in pain: The Tapestry of Time. +
For the reader who likes books about WWII, Little Women, Indiana Jones, The Night Watch by Sarah Waters, lesbian history in Paris, medieval history, fiber arts, and/or Nazis in pain: The Tapestry of Time. +
The Tapestry of Time
*Aurora Award Finalist* Love, heroism and the supernatural collide in the midst of war.'Paranormal elements are expertly woven with real history to create a convincing and exciting tale'Guardian 'A da...
harpercollins.co.uk
December 26, 2025 at 8:17 PM
Here's a thread about my novels, in case you have a gift card burning a hole in your pocket or are just looking for your next library borrow. All of them have audiobook, ebook and print versions.
Reposted by Kate Heartfield
Talking to one of these types at a con who asked how I 'got in' with so many 'famous writers' who I'd been talking to and I said "we made friends before anyone knew who we were decades ago by striking up interesting conversations and enjoying each other's company" and he kept re-asking the question.
They have come to the convention hoping to "break in" and then find themselves -- shocker! -- a "nobody in the book world." Yeah no shit! We all are! I have gently told guys like this a million times that it takes most of us *years* of hard work but they do not believe that could be true for them. +
December 26, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Talking to one of these types at a con who asked how I 'got in' with so many 'famous writers' who I'd been talking to and I said "we made friends before anyone knew who we were decades ago by striking up interesting conversations and enjoying each other's company" and he kept re-asking the question.
Reposted by Kate Heartfield
This describes a solid 50% of all the writers I talked to at the library last year as writer-in-residence
They have come to the convention hoping to "break in" and then find themselves -- shocker! -- a "nobody in the book world." Yeah no shit! We all are! I have gently told guys like this a million times that it takes most of us *years* of hard work but they do not believe that could be true for them. +
December 26, 2025 at 5:03 PM
This describes a solid 50% of all the writers I talked to at the library last year as writer-in-residence
Reposted by Kate Heartfield
Kate is wise as usual and of course some of this is just that you are a writer in a world of writers. You wrote a thing? Great (and I know few people more supportive of writing than writers) but so did everyone here. When people ask what distinguishes your work they're not being...
They have come to the convention hoping to "break in" and then find themselves -- shocker! -- a "nobody in the book world." Yeah no shit! We all are! I have gently told guys like this a million times that it takes most of us *years* of hard work but they do not believe that could be true for them. +
December 26, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Kate is wise as usual and of course some of this is just that you are a writer in a world of writers. You wrote a thing? Great (and I know few people more supportive of writing than writers) but so did everyone here. When people ask what distinguishes your work they're not being...
I'd believe this anecdote because I've met guys like this at conventions. People do ask (politely) about their work and they can't pitch it because what makes it special is that they are the specialest boy. They go to panels and hear queer and BIPOC writers talk about their work and think "ah ha". +
This shit is made up, actually
December 26, 2025 at 4:27 PM
I'd believe this anecdote because I've met guys like this at conventions. People do ask (politely) about their work and they can't pitch it because what makes it special is that they are the specialest boy. They go to panels and hear queer and BIPOC writers talk about their work and think "ah ha". +
Reposted by Kate Heartfield
Good morning! For @defector.com, I wrote about what @rachelreidwrites.bsky.social's "Game Changers" books, and the resulting TV show, have meant to me as a lifelong hockey fan with an increasingly... complicated... relationship to the men's pro game.
‘Heated Rivalry’ Is Bringing Me Back To Hockey | Defector
I wasn’t sure, at first, that I wanted to read Heated Rivalry, or the rest of the novels in Rachel Reid’s best-selling “Game Changers” series. I had thoroughly enjoyed the first of Reid’s two standalo...
defector.com
December 26, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Good morning! For @defector.com, I wrote about what @rachelreidwrites.bsky.social's "Game Changers" books, and the resulting TV show, have meant to me as a lifelong hockey fan with an increasingly... complicated... relationship to the men's pro game.
I will save my Heated Rivalry e6 thoughts while people are still watching it, except for the one that kept me up last night: Does Russia not have loons??
December 26, 2025 at 2:58 PM
I will save my Heated Rivalry e6 thoughts while people are still watching it, except for the one that kept me up last night: Does Russia not have loons??
Reposted by Kate Heartfield
If you’re in the UK & are so inclined, from Dec 25 to Jan 5 you can get the Kindle edition of THE RIVER HAS ROOTS for 99p as part of their 12 Days of Kindle event! This means in the UK you can also get that price matched at other etailers, like Kobo! Merry Christmas!
www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/...
www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/...
The River Has Roots ebook by Amal El-Mohtar - Rakuten Kobo
Read "The River Has Roots The Sweeping, Magical Solo Debut by the Best-Selling Co-Author of THIS IS HOW YOU LOSE THE TIME WAR" by Amal El-Mohtar available from Rakuten Kobo. Follow the river Liss to t...
www.kobo.com
December 25, 2025 at 6:25 PM
If you’re in the UK & are so inclined, from Dec 25 to Jan 5 you can get the Kindle edition of THE RIVER HAS ROOTS for 99p as part of their 12 Days of Kindle event! This means in the UK you can also get that price matched at other etailers, like Kobo! Merry Christmas!
www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/...
www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/...
If you've ever wondered whether a cat is a help or hindrance in tying a street hockey net onto its frame, I can tell you the answer is hindrance.
December 25, 2025 at 6:51 PM
If you've ever wondered whether a cat is a help or hindrance in tying a street hockey net onto its frame, I can tell you the answer is hindrance.
Reposted by Kate Heartfield
"Family completes 115-year-old quilts"
A very touching story about a century old quilt and the enduring love of generational fiber arts.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=toVl...
A very touching story about a century old quilt and the enduring love of generational fiber arts.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=toVl...
Family completes 115-year-old quilts
YouTube video by CTV News
www.youtube.com
December 25, 2025 at 5:14 PM
"Family completes 115-year-old quilts"
A very touching story about a century old quilt and the enduring love of generational fiber arts.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=toVl...
A very touching story about a century old quilt and the enduring love of generational fiber arts.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=toVl...
I came in last in family Scrabble but it's OK/okay
December 25, 2025 at 2:46 AM
I came in last in family Scrabble but it's OK/okay
Merry Christmas to all who celebrate. We put a dent in the yule log and we're on part two of Hogfather.
December 24, 2025 at 11:37 PM
Merry Christmas to all who celebrate. We put a dent in the yule log and we're on part two of Hogfather.
I'm so proud to know @jenniferhudak.bsky.social and I urge you to read her moving poem "The World to Come" in @strangehorizons.bsky.social.
"Had I paid attention, had I believed
in what I’d been taught, this would not
be such a shock. I ought to have known
my blessed death would end like this:"
"Had I paid attention, had I believed
in what I’d been taught, this would not
be such a shock. I ought to have known
my blessed death would end like this:"
The World To Come
I did not ask for resurrection; I have no use for olam ha-bah.
strangehorizons.com
December 24, 2025 at 6:01 PM
I'm so proud to know @jenniferhudak.bsky.social and I urge you to read her moving poem "The World to Come" in @strangehorizons.bsky.social.
"Had I paid attention, had I believed
in what I’d been taught, this would not
be such a shock. I ought to have known
my blessed death would end like this:"
"Had I paid attention, had I believed
in what I’d been taught, this would not
be such a shock. I ought to have known
my blessed death would end like this:"
Reposted by Kate Heartfield
I’m spending the day with The Bone Mother, myself! 🎄📚💚
There’s still time! Give the gift of nightmares to someone you hate—or love! Available at all the best bookstores, online and in your very own town 👻
December 24, 2025 at 3:16 PM
I’m spending the day with The Bone Mother, myself! 🎄📚💚
My most niche hated plot element is bad/weird bystander emergency response. I watched E1 of Pluribus and I was managing "genre writer hates genre" but I was OUT at "should we call someone?" when the trucker's hurt. I think it's just because it's so common in TV so I'm just like, not this again.
December 24, 2025 at 4:00 PM
My most niche hated plot element is bad/weird bystander emergency response. I watched E1 of Pluribus and I was managing "genre writer hates genre" but I was OUT at "should we call someone?" when the trucker's hurt. I think it's just because it's so common in TV so I'm just like, not this again.
My favourite thing right now is watching the What Chaos hockey podcast guys absolutely losing their minds (in a good way) over every Heated Rivalry episode, and how much they hate the (fictional) podcast Man in the Crease because it is mean to Scott Hunter
Reacting to Episode 5 of 'Heated Rivalry'
YouTube video by What Chaos!
youtu.be
December 23, 2025 at 10:17 PM
My favourite thing right now is watching the What Chaos hockey podcast guys absolutely losing their minds (in a good way) over every Heated Rivalry episode, and how much they hate the (fictional) podcast Man in the Crease because it is mean to Scott Hunter
Y i k e s
New from me: The storied fiddler Ashley MacIsaac wanted to play a show at a Nova Scotia First Nation. It got cancelled because Google's AI search summary incorrectly called him a sex offender. Now he's worried for his safety www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/arti...
Fiddler Ashley MacIsaac has show cancelled over Google AI-generated misinformation
Cape Breton musician was set to perform in Nova Scotia before a search summary incorrectly described him as a sex offender
www.theglobeandmail.com
December 23, 2025 at 9:51 PM
Y i k e s
The first cookies went to
our geothermal guys who came out on Dec 23 in a snowstorm to fix the flooding caused by our water heater, which, like Tiny Tim, did NOT die (just a corroded valve thank goodness, we have put too much money into home repairs this year)
our geothermal guys who came out on Dec 23 in a snowstorm to fix the flooding caused by our water heater, which, like Tiny Tim, did NOT die (just a corroded valve thank goodness, we have put too much money into home repairs this year)
December 23, 2025 at 9:15 PM
The first cookies went to
our geothermal guys who came out on Dec 23 in a snowstorm to fix the flooding caused by our water heater, which, like Tiny Tim, did NOT die (just a corroded valve thank goodness, we have put too much money into home repairs this year)
our geothermal guys who came out on Dec 23 in a snowstorm to fix the flooding caused by our water heater, which, like Tiny Tim, did NOT die (just a corroded valve thank goodness, we have put too much money into home repairs this year)
The kid and I made cookies.
December 23, 2025 at 8:55 PM
The kid and I made cookies.
Behold, where you can learn which book is at the top of my Christmas wish list! (I think I'm going to get it)
As the year draws to a close, we've asked a selection of Solaris authors 3 very important questions...
Here are their answers 👉 https://geni.us/SolarisBks2025
FT. @kerstinhall.bsky.social @natania.bsky.social @julietmarillier.bsky.social @aptshadow.bsky.social @isabelcanas.bsky.social & more!
Here are their answers 👉 https://geni.us/SolarisBks2025
FT. @kerstinhall.bsky.social @natania.bsky.social @julietmarillier.bsky.social @aptshadow.bsky.social @isabelcanas.bsky.social & more!
December 23, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Behold, where you can learn which book is at the top of my Christmas wish list! (I think I'm going to get it)
Changing my bio to "since they are Canadian, I would not rule out treachery"
(Ftr I'm sure the Global News thing was an error. A small weird thing about this is that Graeme Wood apparently holds Canadian citizenship, and if anyone is making American media look silly, well.)
(Ftr I'm sure the Global News thing was an error. A small weird thing about this is that Graeme Wood apparently holds Canadian citizenship, and if anyone is making American media look silly, well.)
This person analyzes American politics for a living
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
December 23, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Changing my bio to "since they are Canadian, I would not rule out treachery"
(Ftr I'm sure the Global News thing was an error. A small weird thing about this is that Graeme Wood apparently holds Canadian citizenship, and if anyone is making American media look silly, well.)
(Ftr I'm sure the Global News thing was an error. A small weird thing about this is that Graeme Wood apparently holds Canadian citizenship, and if anyone is making American media look silly, well.)
I love The Green Knight so I thought "hmm I should watch David Lowery's other films" and I started with A Ghost Story and lo and behold, I love it too. Love the way he stays on a shot. The movie has a lot to say about something I think about a lot in regard to art, which is ...+
December 23, 2025 at 3:18 PM
I love The Green Knight so I thought "hmm I should watch David Lowery's other films" and I started with A Ghost Story and lo and behold, I love it too. Love the way he stays on a shot. The movie has a lot to say about something I think about a lot in regard to art, which is ...+
Reposted by Kate Heartfield
So in the UK, they'll arrest you for supporting Palestine, and now we find they'll also arrest you for supporting those who support Palestine.
If you hold a Free Greta sign, will they arrest you for supporting someone who supports those who support Palestine?
British Matryoshka doll-ass fascism.
If you hold a Free Greta sign, will they arrest you for supporting someone who supports those who support Palestine?
British Matryoshka doll-ass fascism.
Greta Thunberg has been arrested on terrorism charges for speaking out in support of the Palestine Action hunger strikers.
FUCK this British government.
https://news.sky.com/story/greta-thunberg-arrested-at-a-protest-supporting-palestine-action-hunger-strikers-13486842
FUCK this British government.
https://news.sky.com/story/greta-thunberg-arrested-at-a-protest-supporting-palestine-action-hunger-strikers-13486842
December 23, 2025 at 2:08 PM
So in the UK, they'll arrest you for supporting Palestine, and now we find they'll also arrest you for supporting those who support Palestine.
If you hold a Free Greta sign, will they arrest you for supporting someone who supports those who support Palestine?
British Matryoshka doll-ass fascism.
If you hold a Free Greta sign, will they arrest you for supporting someone who supports those who support Palestine?
British Matryoshka doll-ass fascism.
I feel duty bound to campaign for this one
December 23, 2025 at 3:16 AM
I feel duty bound to campaign for this one
The 60 Mins segment is solid. The Weiss memo, with its demands to understand the legal rationale and find people who'll argue for the regime's authority, is sickening. And all of it just feels like the logical continuation/boomerang of Guantanamo Bay and Cheney talking about the "worst of the worst"
December 23, 2025 at 12:47 AM
The 60 Mins segment is solid. The Weiss memo, with its demands to understand the legal rationale and find people who'll argue for the regime's authority, is sickening. And all of it just feels like the logical continuation/boomerang of Guantanamo Bay and Cheney talking about the "worst of the worst"