Para 🌵
@paracactus.bsky.social
Sci-fi & fantasy reader. Antelope appreciator. Also posting a lot about my many and varied crafting WIPs. She/her (or they/them) 🏳️🌈
Filter topics: #booksky (reviews) | #NamibiaCam
📍🇸🇮
otherworldsreviews.wordpress.com
goodreads.com/parawanderer
Filter topics: #booksky (reviews) | #NamibiaCam
📍🇸🇮
otherworldsreviews.wordpress.com
goodreads.com/parawanderer
Pinned
Para 🌵
@paracactus.bsky.social
· Nov 10
To Other Worlds
SFF book reviews, recommendations, and more
otherworldsreviews.wordpress.com
I keep forgetting we can do pinned posts now
Hi! Call me Para. I'm into:
- SFF books (esp. queer)
- cross stitch (+ knitting, crochet...it alternates)
- Namib desert livestream, with a focus on antelopes & zebras
- enamel pins
- cheap fountain pens & unusual colour ink
I review books on my blog:
Hi! Call me Para. I'm into:
- SFF books (esp. queer)
- cross stitch (+ knitting, crochet...it alternates)
- Namib desert livestream, with a focus on antelopes & zebras
- enamel pins
- cheap fountain pens & unusual colour ink
I review books on my blog:
It's a shame I have to take a couple days off work (sick with a cold)(not covid) just as I might have finally been allowed to fix books for real 😭
I hope there are still some left next week...
I hope there are still some left next week...
November 11, 2025 at 8:48 PM
It's a shame I have to take a couple days off work (sick with a cold)(not covid) just as I might have finally been allowed to fix books for real 😭
I hope there are still some left next week...
I hope there are still some left next week...
Reposted by Para 🌵
I really hope I never attract the attention of Joyce Carol Oates, Kendrick Lamar, or menswear guy.
November 11, 2025 at 6:39 PM
I really hope I never attract the attention of Joyce Carol Oates, Kendrick Lamar, or menswear guy.
Reposted by Para 🌵
to somewhere | gouache
November 10, 2025 at 10:43 PM
to somewhere | gouache
Reposted by Para 🌵
A togglable "I'm an adult with kids and a job" feature that assumes you only get to play once a week, and dumps a summary of what you were last doing/your current objectives in a corner tooltip on loading a save.
November 11, 2025 at 12:47 AM
A togglable "I'm an adult with kids and a job" feature that assumes you only get to play once a week, and dumps a summary of what you were last doing/your current objectives in a corner tooltip on loading a save.
The tradeoffs I will make to avoid dealing with bureaucracy and phone calls and whatnot 🫠
November 11, 2025 at 9:22 AM
The tradeoffs I will make to avoid dealing with bureaucracy and phone calls and whatnot 🫠
Reposted by Para 🌵
My second #embroidery project and my first time painting with thread 💜 I followed @crewelghoul.bsky.social’s tutorial and while I had to alter the colour scheme a little (don’t have that vibrant purple in my arsenal), I’m happy with my pansies!
November 9, 2025 at 4:51 PM
My second #embroidery project and my first time painting with thread 💜 I followed @crewelghoul.bsky.social’s tutorial and while I had to alter the colour scheme a little (don’t have that vibrant purple in my arsenal), I’m happy with my pansies!
Reposted by Para 🌵
Krita, day 4
November 7, 2025 at 1:32 PM
Krita, day 4
Reposted by Para 🌵
Reposted by Para 🌵
every piece of mass-market software these days feels like living with an unruly pet where you have to constantly stop what you're doing to check if it's secretly eating plastic under the dresser again
November 7, 2025 at 2:27 AM
every piece of mass-market software these days feels like living with an unruly pet where you have to constantly stop what you're doing to check if it's secretly eating plastic under the dresser again
Reposted by Para 🌵
Good literary translation requires understanding (language, culture, genre--on both sides of the translation) and an ability to write well. "AI" can't do that. There are no shortcuts. Treat your work and foreign language readers with the respect they deserve. You won't fool anyone with this.
Amazon has launched a new AI-driven translation service, Kindle Translate, for Kindle Direct Publishing authors 👇 #BookSky
Amazon launches AI translation service for indie authors
ebx.sh
November 7, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Good literary translation requires understanding (language, culture, genre--on both sides of the translation) and an ability to write well. "AI" can't do that. There are no shortcuts. Treat your work and foreign language readers with the respect they deserve. You won't fool anyone with this.
Reposted by Para 🌵
if fucking ChatGPT could do any of the goddamn things the stupid fucking internet and also apparently every stupid person I know thinks it could, it wouldn't have to ADVERTISE AT ALL, let alone coy fuckboy minimalist copy CAREFULLY DRAFTED NOT TO BE ACTIONABLE
god, I'm mad about this bullshit.
god, I'm mad about this bullshit.
November 7, 2025 at 10:13 PM
if fucking ChatGPT could do any of the goddamn things the stupid fucking internet and also apparently every stupid person I know thinks it could, it wouldn't have to ADVERTISE AT ALL, let alone coy fuckboy minimalist copy CAREFULLY DRAFTED NOT TO BE ACTIONABLE
god, I'm mad about this bullshit.
god, I'm mad about this bullshit.
Reposted by Para 🌵
one of my least favorite new publishing "truths" is that books only deserve consistent marketing & publicity if they are already doing well, it's the new "needs experience to get experience" 🤡
November 6, 2025 at 6:55 PM
one of my least favorite new publishing "truths" is that books only deserve consistent marketing & publicity if they are already doing well, it's the new "needs experience to get experience" 🤡
Reposted by Para 🌵
We tried this end of 19th century and it was not a good idea, yeah
I see lots of apps and pop "science" socmed trends about this too: face shape/body shape/limb length etc can tell you something about the person. It's not cute or a curious game or quiz (as it's often presented), it's normalizing race science and eugenic thinking. It's all been debunked, stop it
A new paper suggests a photo can tell a recruiter much about an applicant’s personality
November 6, 2025 at 9:27 PM
We tried this end of 19th century and it was not a good idea, yeah
#TheMagnusArchivesReadalong has reached the finale of season 1! Come join us for a chat! 🪱
From the Fantasy community on Reddit
Explore this post and more from the Fantasy community
www.reddit.com
November 5, 2025 at 5:38 PM
#TheMagnusArchivesReadalong has reached the finale of season 1! Come join us for a chat! 🪱
Reposted by Para 🌵
we’re like four days away from learning that the thieves gained access to a secret room in the Louvre by removing the keys from the belt of a sleeping security guard with a fishing pole
November 3, 2025 at 7:08 PM
we’re like four days away from learning that the thieves gained access to a secret room in the Louvre by removing the keys from the belt of a sleeping security guard with a fishing pole
Reposted by Para 🌵
Out today!! 🪐
Here's the cover illustration I did of 'The King Must Die' by @kashinggiwa.bsky.social , for @sagapressbooks.bsky.social 💪
Out October, 2025! 🪐
Out October, 2025! 🪐
November 4, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Out today!! 🪐
Man. This day seems intent to send me into sensory overload 😭
November 4, 2025 at 9:24 AM
Man. This day seems intent to send me into sensory overload 😭
Reposted by Para 🌵
Young Harbour Seal: "I want you to draw me like one of your French girls."
(From my #pelagic birding tour in the #BayofFundy.)
Bay of Fundy, #NewBrunswick, Canada
September 2025
#mammals #seal #marinelife #nature #photography
(From my #pelagic birding tour in the #BayofFundy.)
Bay of Fundy, #NewBrunswick, Canada
September 2025
#mammals #seal #marinelife #nature #photography
November 3, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Young Harbour Seal: "I want you to draw me like one of your French girls."
(From my #pelagic birding tour in the #BayofFundy.)
Bay of Fundy, #NewBrunswick, Canada
September 2025
#mammals #seal #marinelife #nature #photography
(From my #pelagic birding tour in the #BayofFundy.)
Bay of Fundy, #NewBrunswick, Canada
September 2025
#mammals #seal #marinelife #nature #photography
Reposted by Para 🌵
you don't have to put on blackface to get social media attention. you can simply develop mild depression, join a menswear forum, spend the next 15 years arguing about pants, and then weaponize the knowledge against your enemies on social media.
November 4, 2025 at 12:42 AM
you don't have to put on blackface to get social media attention. you can simply develop mild depression, join a menswear forum, spend the next 15 years arguing about pants, and then weaponize the knowledge against your enemies on social media.
Why are so many pretty green inks so DRY 😭
Decided that my November ink for work should be Vinta Karnival because I haven't given it a proper try yet, and it's stunning, but god damn does it absolutely REFUSE to come out of the pen.
Decided that my November ink for work should be Vinta Karnival because I haven't given it a proper try yet, and it's stunning, but god damn does it absolutely REFUSE to come out of the pen.
November 3, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Why are so many pretty green inks so DRY 😭
Decided that my November ink for work should be Vinta Karnival because I haven't given it a proper try yet, and it's stunning, but god damn does it absolutely REFUSE to come out of the pen.
Decided that my November ink for work should be Vinta Karnival because I haven't given it a proper try yet, and it's stunning, but god damn does it absolutely REFUSE to come out of the pen.
Look at their adorable heart shaped noses 🖤🥰
When your sibling insists on going everywhere with you...
These sable antelope are part of a tight-knit herd, but clearly enjoy the company of some more than others 🌍🧪🐾
These sable antelope are part of a tight-knit herd, but clearly enjoy the company of some more than others 🌍🧪🐾
November 3, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Look at their adorable heart shaped noses 🖤🥰
Reposted by Para 🌵
I've never fallen in love or been broken up with. they say write what you know. I guess if you hadn't been there, you wouldn't know how agonizing it is to lose friendships and relationships you enjoyed due to somebody else developing feelings you find it excruciating to be be on the receiving end of
November 3, 2025 at 12:53 AM
I've never fallen in love or been broken up with. they say write what you know. I guess if you hadn't been there, you wouldn't know how agonizing it is to lose friendships and relationships you enjoyed due to somebody else developing feelings you find it excruciating to be be on the receiving end of
Tried to make a mosquito bite stop itching with a hot spoon. On vacation, so I didn't have my temp control kettle. Accidentally heat the water up too much. It HURTS.
The stupid part: I shrug and go to sleep.
Next morning I change out of pyjamas and scream when I find the big nasty 2nd degree burn.
The stupid part: I shrug and go to sleep.
Next morning I change out of pyjamas and scream when I find the big nasty 2nd degree burn.
What’s the stupidest thing you’ve ever done? I don’t mean “cheating on your partner” stupid, I mean stupid stupid. Like, once, I had this bubble bath which smelled absolutely delicious, so I took a big glug of it. That kind of stupid. (It did not taste delicious.)
November 2, 2025 at 1:48 PM
Tried to make a mosquito bite stop itching with a hot spoon. On vacation, so I didn't have my temp control kettle. Accidentally heat the water up too much. It HURTS.
The stupid part: I shrug and go to sleep.
Next morning I change out of pyjamas and scream when I find the big nasty 2nd degree burn.
The stupid part: I shrug and go to sleep.
Next morning I change out of pyjamas and scream when I find the big nasty 2nd degree burn.
Reposted by Para 🌵
Brooke Pyke is a multi award-winning photographer based on the Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia. Previously a dive instructor, she is now a self taught professional photographer. Specialising in capturing the natural world, her work showcases the raw beauty of the ocean and wild places.
November 1, 2025 at 7:45 AM
Brooke Pyke is a multi award-winning photographer based on the Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia. Previously a dive instructor, she is now a self taught professional photographer. Specialising in capturing the natural world, her work showcases the raw beauty of the ocean and wild places.