Mary
@kilerkki.bsky.social
I read voraciously, write occasionally, and take a lot of photos of food and cats. Queer, married, she/her. 🇨🇦
Reposted by Mary
Context: this speech is from SIR THOMAS MORE, a history written, as near as scholars can tell, in the early 1600s by 6 or 7 people including Dekker, Heywood, Chettle, Shakespeare, and Munday.
It was never performed, because Jacobean England was a police state and it was banned by the censor.
It was never performed, because Jacobean England was a police state and it was banned by the censor.
Sir Ian McKellen performing a monologue from Shakespeare’s Sir Thomas More on the Stephen Colbert show. Never have I heard this monologue performed with such a keen sense of prescience. Nor have I ever been in this exact historical moment.TY Sir Ian, for reaching us once again.
#Pinks #ProudBlue
#Pinks #ProudBlue
February 5, 2026 at 2:30 PM
Context: this speech is from SIR THOMAS MORE, a history written, as near as scholars can tell, in the early 1600s by 6 or 7 people including Dekker, Heywood, Chettle, Shakespeare, and Munday.
It was never performed, because Jacobean England was a police state and it was banned by the censor.
It was never performed, because Jacobean England was a police state and it was banned by the censor.
Reposted by Mary
Thrilled my article on the contributions of female writers to the #Wuxia genre (published recently in ArtReview's magagzine) is now on their website. The work of women writers and gender rep has been a major part of my research, which I hope to put in the upcoming book! artreview.com/there-is-no-...
There is No Such Thing as ‘Real’ Wuxia
The global popularity of Chinese historical fantasy has brought forward a new era of female writers. How did this revolution start?
artreview.com
February 4, 2026 at 8:55 PM
Thrilled my article on the contributions of female writers to the #Wuxia genre (published recently in ArtReview's magagzine) is now on their website. The work of women writers and gender rep has been a major part of my research, which I hope to put in the upcoming book! artreview.com/there-is-no-...
Read the full text of PM Carney's Davos speech (gift link, I hope):
"[T]he strong do what they can, and the weak suffer what they must. This aphorism of Thucydides is presented as inevitable — [and] there is a strong tendency for countries to [...] hope that compliance will buy safety.
It won’t."
"[T]he strong do what they can, and the weak suffer what they must. This aphorism of Thucydides is presented as inevitable — [and] there is a strong tendency for countries to [...] hope that compliance will buy safety.
It won’t."
Mark Carney earned a rare standing ovation in Davos. Read the full text of his speech here
Carney addressed World Economic Forum Tuesday, expressing his vision for middle powers like Canada in a troubled and changing world.
www.thestar.com
January 20, 2026 at 6:18 PM
Read the full text of PM Carney's Davos speech (gift link, I hope):
"[T]he strong do what they can, and the weak suffer what they must. This aphorism of Thucydides is presented as inevitable — [and] there is a strong tendency for countries to [...] hope that compliance will buy safety.
It won’t."
"[T]he strong do what they can, and the weak suffer what they must. This aphorism of Thucydides is presented as inevitable — [and] there is a strong tendency for countries to [...] hope that compliance will buy safety.
It won’t."
We’ve spent the past couple of months working on some pretty intense revisions of our novel, so it was an unexpected relief to reread Ch 18 today & realize: this one is *good.* I still like it! I’ll tweak sentences here & there but I don’t, actually need to toss out the whole thing & start over!!!
January 19, 2026 at 7:06 PM
We’ve spent the past couple of months working on some pretty intense revisions of our novel, so it was an unexpected relief to reread Ch 18 today & realize: this one is *good.* I still like it! I’ll tweak sentences here & there but I don’t, actually need to toss out the whole thing & start over!!!
Reposted by Mary
Had an intriguing editorial discussion recently: how did people in the past talk about 'minutes' when they didn't have watches or standardised times? How does that affect your thinking?
Come down an Elizabethan/Jacobean rabbit hole with me.
1/
Come down an Elizabethan/Jacobean rabbit hole with me.
1/
January 17, 2026 at 10:34 AM
Had an intriguing editorial discussion recently: how did people in the past talk about 'minutes' when they didn't have watches or standardised times? How does that affect your thinking?
Come down an Elizabethan/Jacobean rabbit hole with me.
1/
Come down an Elizabethan/Jacobean rabbit hole with me.
1/
@meowbrey.bsky.social and I are housesitting for friends in a downtown neighborhood while our condo is renovated and we’re having a hard time coping with Fancy Toronto Prices
January 14, 2026 at 5:31 PM
@meowbrey.bsky.social and I are housesitting for friends in a downtown neighborhood while our condo is renovated and we’re having a hard time coping with Fancy Toronto Prices
My entire camera roll lately is photos of tile and countertops and cabinet doors in preparation for an upcoming reno, BUT here is a video of Paladin discovering the existence of CatTV. He doesn’t care about the birds or the big squirrel but by Freya he’s going to get that chipmunk…
January 10, 2026 at 7:47 PM
My entire camera roll lately is photos of tile and countertops and cabinet doors in preparation for an upcoming reno, BUT here is a video of Paladin discovering the existence of CatTV. He doesn’t care about the birds or the big squirrel but by Freya he’s going to get that chipmunk…
Thread for books read in 2026 (or for as long as I remember/bother to keep it up).
January 4, 2026 at 2:33 PM
Thread for books read in 2026 (or for as long as I remember/bother to keep it up).
I’m reading, this week, Mary Renault’s THE MASK OF APOLLO—a book about art & theatre but also tyrants & tyranny, about how a free people can give up their power and with it their freedom.
“They waited to see what would happen to them next; they had forgotten they could themselves make happenings.”
“They waited to see what would happen to them next; they had forgotten they could themselves make happenings.”
January 3, 2026 at 8:06 PM
I’m reading, this week, Mary Renault’s THE MASK OF APOLLO—a book about art & theatre but also tyrants & tyranny, about how a free people can give up their power and with it their freedom.
“They waited to see what would happen to them next; they had forgotten they could themselves make happenings.”
“They waited to see what would happen to them next; they had forgotten they could themselves make happenings.”
Last year for Christmas my sister gave me a chocolate babka mix from @kingarthurbaking.bsky.social and this year I finally baked it. Outstanding, served with thick cut bacon and scrambled eggs.
Merry Christmas to all. May you join Paladin in taking a well-deserved nap.
Merry Christmas to all. May you join Paladin in taking a well-deserved nap.
December 25, 2025 at 8:59 PM
Last year for Christmas my sister gave me a chocolate babka mix from @kingarthurbaking.bsky.social and this year I finally baked it. Outstanding, served with thick cut bacon and scrambled eggs.
Merry Christmas to all. May you join Paladin in taking a well-deserved nap.
Merry Christmas to all. May you join Paladin in taking a well-deserved nap.
Reposted by Mary
Honestly folks, you don't have to be a frequent romance reader to enjoy Demas's books. Really carefully observed not-quite-historical fantasy in the Guy Kay mode with, yes, (queer) romance at their core.
All good, but can I suggest One Night in Boukos & The House of Red Balconies as 2 standalones.
All good, but can I suggest One Night in Boukos & The House of Red Balconies as 2 standalones.
Interested in reading some queer romance to relax after buying all the things (or staunchly resisting the call to buy all the things)? I have some ebooks on sale:
sextonscottage.com/discount/SOM...
Discount SOMEFRIDAY2025 applies only on ebooks and is good through Sunday night Eastern Time.
sextonscottage.com/discount/SOM...
Discount SOMEFRIDAY2025 applies only on ebooks and is good through Sunday night Eastern Time.
November 30, 2025 at 6:05 AM
Honestly folks, you don't have to be a frequent romance reader to enjoy Demas's books. Really carefully observed not-quite-historical fantasy in the Guy Kay mode with, yes, (queer) romance at their core.
All good, but can I suggest One Night in Boukos & The House of Red Balconies as 2 standalones.
All good, but can I suggest One Night in Boukos & The House of Red Balconies as 2 standalones.
Asian-inspired fantasy giveaway! Contest open to residents of the U.S., U.K., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
Love Asian-inspired fantasy? We’re giving away a bundle of five paperback books to one lucky reader!
One winner will be selected at the end of the event. The giveaway runs November 24th until December 8th.
Enter now for your chance to win! You can find the page in the comments or in my linktree!
One winner will be selected at the end of the event. The giveaway runs November 24th until December 8th.
Enter now for your chance to win! You can find the page in the comments or in my linktree!
November 25, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Asian-inspired fantasy giveaway! Contest open to residents of the U.S., U.K., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
The bad news is I started preheating the oven without remembering that I had a 3/4 full pack of Costco muffins IN their plastic container inside to hide it from the ravenous cat
November 24, 2025 at 9:35 PM
The bad news is I started preheating the oven without remembering that I had a 3/4 full pack of Costco muffins IN their plastic container inside to hide it from the ravenous cat
I hoped Where Winds Meet was going to let me play this badass baby-carrying dude, but it turns out he and his white-haired boyfriend are only around for the prologue, so here’s my girl Shuozhen. Serious, good-hearted, ambitious but a little naïve.
So far this game is overwhelming but beautiful!
So far this game is overwhelming but beautiful!
November 20, 2025 at 2:07 PM
I hoped Where Winds Meet was going to let me play this badass baby-carrying dude, but it turns out he and his white-haired boyfriend are only around for the prologue, so here’s my girl Shuozhen. Serious, good-hearted, ambitious but a little naïve.
So far this game is overwhelming but beautiful!
So far this game is overwhelming but beautiful!
This is an incredible essay on the interwoven pains of Long COVID, pregnancy, and writing—and coming out the other side into a life that looks far different than you both imagined and feared.
This essay about Cinder House is definitely the most vulnerable, personal thing I've ever written; it took me over a year to get to the point where I wanted to tell this particular story. Thanks to @booktrib.bsky.social for giving it a home! 🏠🔥
booktrib.com/2025/11/18/h...
booktrib.com/2025/11/18/h...
Housing the Heroine in “Cinder House” | BookTrib.
If you asked me today, and if you'd asked me two years ago, I'd tell you I'm very fond of my house. It's nothing special. It's a townhouse surrounded by other townhouses that look just like it, formin...
booktrib.com
November 19, 2025 at 1:38 PM
This is an incredible essay on the interwoven pains of Long COVID, pregnancy, and writing—and coming out the other side into a life that looks far different than you both imagined and feared.
Finished The Autobiography of Benvenuto Cellini on the morning I leave Florence, after walking last night through the Loggia dei Lanzi to bid goodbye to his Perseus. Now to reread Lois McMaster Bujold’s The Spirit Ring, in which she calls Cellini “that wonderful egotistical monster.” Exactly right.
November 17, 2025 at 10:58 AM
Finished The Autobiography of Benvenuto Cellini on the morning I leave Florence, after walking last night through the Loggia dei Lanzi to bid goodbye to his Perseus. Now to reread Lois McMaster Bujold’s The Spirit Ring, in which she calls Cellini “that wonderful egotistical monster.” Exactly right.
As the crowning glory of our Florence trip we booked a pasta making class! A charming small group of fellow foodies, a skilled & funny teacher, three types of pasta and three sauces. This was an absolute delight.
November 15, 2025 at 5:58 PM
As the crowning glory of our Florence trip we booked a pasta making class! A charming small group of fellow foodies, a skilled & funny teacher, three types of pasta and three sauces. This was an absolute delight.
We’ve been seeing & doing & eating so much here in Florence that it’s hard to keep up and even harder to catch up, so this will not be a chronological accounting of event but more of an impressionistic gesture at a whole.
November 15, 2025 at 4:18 PM
We’ve been seeing & doing & eating so much here in Florence that it’s hard to keep up and even harder to catch up, so this will not be a chronological accounting of event but more of an impressionistic gesture at a whole.
A few things I’ve seen (or eaten) in Florence over the past two days:
The ground floor courtyard of the Palazzo Vecchio at twilight.
The ground floor courtyard of the Palazzo Vecchio at twilight.
November 12, 2025 at 8:11 PM
A few things I’ve seen (or eaten) in Florence over the past two days:
The ground floor courtyard of the Palazzo Vecchio at twilight.
The ground floor courtyard of the Palazzo Vecchio at twilight.
We’re staying at Il Guelfo Bianco, a gorgeous art-filled hotel located just up the street from the Duomo. The room is exquisite beyond my hopes: immensely tall ceilings, windows opening onto an interior courtyard with an olive tree, a huge wooden wardrobe and a very comfy bed.
November 12, 2025 at 7:45 AM
We’re staying at Il Guelfo Bianco, a gorgeous art-filled hotel located just up the street from the Duomo. The room is exquisite beyond my hopes: immensely tall ceilings, windows opening onto an interior courtyard with an olive tree, a huge wooden wardrobe and a very comfy bed.
Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore: Il Duomo, Florence.
November 11, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore: Il Duomo, Florence.
A Cat of Sorrows, and Acquainted With Grief
(I didn’t let him lick my pasta bowl)
(I didn’t let him lick my pasta bowl)
November 6, 2025 at 11:03 PM
A Cat of Sorrows, and Acquainted With Grief
(I didn’t let him lick my pasta bowl)
(I didn’t let him lick my pasta bowl)
Reposted by Mary
Wow! 😮🤩
There's a new interactive map of Every Known Road in the Roman Empire!! 🤓
itiner-e.org
We might have to have a lie-down.
There's a new interactive map of Every Known Road in the Roman Empire!! 🤓
itiner-e.org
We might have to have a lie-down.
November 6, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Wow! 😮🤩
There's a new interactive map of Every Known Road in the Roman Empire!! 🤓
itiner-e.org
We might have to have a lie-down.
There's a new interactive map of Every Known Road in the Roman Empire!! 🤓
itiner-e.org
We might have to have a lie-down.
Paladin did OK with a delayed breakfast (he just snoozed on @meowbrey.bsky.social’s chest until 6 am finally rolled around), and we were out this morning until just before lunchtime so he didn’t have a chance to beg.
But now it’s past 5 pm in his stomach with no food in his bowl. He will PERISH.
But now it’s past 5 pm in his stomach with no food in his bowl. He will PERISH.
November 2, 2025 at 9:13 PM
Paladin did OK with a delayed breakfast (he just snoozed on @meowbrey.bsky.social’s chest until 6 am finally rolled around), and we were out this morning until just before lunchtime so he didn’t have a chance to beg.
But now it’s past 5 pm in his stomach with no food in his bowl. He will PERISH.
But now it’s past 5 pm in his stomach with no food in his bowl. He will PERISH.
What is your Ultimate Comfort Food on a rainy autumn day?
Mine is hand-pulled beef Lanzhou noodles with plenty of green onions, cilantro, and red chili oil. Nothing is more warming or comforting!
(NB: I do not make this myself. The neighbourhood Noodle King is the unchallenged master.)
Mine is hand-pulled beef Lanzhou noodles with plenty of green onions, cilantro, and red chili oil. Nothing is more warming or comforting!
(NB: I do not make this myself. The neighbourhood Noodle King is the unchallenged master.)
November 1, 2025 at 3:25 PM
What is your Ultimate Comfort Food on a rainy autumn day?
Mine is hand-pulled beef Lanzhou noodles with plenty of green onions, cilantro, and red chili oil. Nothing is more warming or comforting!
(NB: I do not make this myself. The neighbourhood Noodle King is the unchallenged master.)
Mine is hand-pulled beef Lanzhou noodles with plenty of green onions, cilantro, and red chili oil. Nothing is more warming or comforting!
(NB: I do not make this myself. The neighbourhood Noodle King is the unchallenged master.)