Sandra Schwab
@scribblingsandy.bsky.social
Historical romance author with a PhD, a piano, & a very large library. Expert on dragons & PUNCH. Writes stories with happy endings and loves her caravan Miss Hetty. 🌈 She / her.
#Romancelandia #HistoricalRomance
#Romancelandia #HistoricalRomance
Pinned
Bluesky peeps, since I've got a bunch of new followers (hello everybody! lovely to have you on board!), how about I do a little intro thread? 🧵
Reposted by Sandra Schwab
Ugly crying
Going to end on one of the most beautiful commercials ever made with the reminder and a call to remember the small things. They make a big difference to others.
Love all, help all.
Go Jackets.
Love all, help all.
Go Jackets.
November 21, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Ugly crying
Reposted by Sandra Schwab
I feel like the last couple decades of "is representation good or not?" discourse missed more important questions of "how fragile is representation?", "what do we do when multiple industries eliminate it as an intentional move against us?" and "how can we sustain queer artists when shit goes south?"
"According to the report, [...]during the 2024-25 television season, queer characters increased across platforms by 4%, bringing the total to 489. However, the Thursday report found that 41% of those characters will not return." www.thewrap.com/glaad-where-...
Nearly Half of All LGBTQ+ Characters Will Disappear From TV Next Season, GLAAD Study Finds
The 2024-25 TV season recorded 489 queer characters across broadcast, cable and screenings, but cancellations and plot find a deep decline to come
www.thewrap.com
November 21, 2025 at 7:13 AM
I feel like the last couple decades of "is representation good or not?" discourse missed more important questions of "how fragile is representation?", "what do we do when multiple industries eliminate it as an intentional move against us?" and "how can we sustain queer artists when shit goes south?"
Reposted by Sandra Schwab
When you call out and warn about attacks on academic freedom by the AfD but you are silent on cancellations by @lmumuenchen.bsky.social due to pressure from the CSU and others you have not understood the concept of academic freedom.
The LMU announces the cancellation of a seminar on the topic "the targeting of Palestinian academia". The cancellation announcement is titled "LMU as a place of pluralistic discourse". Couldn't make this up.
www.lmu.de/en/about-lmu...
www.lmu.de/en/about-lmu...
LMU as a place of pluralistic discourse
Statement on the Planned Event “The Targeting of the Palestinian Academia” at LMU Munich
www.lmu.de
November 18, 2025 at 9:01 AM
When you call out and warn about attacks on academic freedom by the AfD but you are silent on cancellations by @lmumuenchen.bsky.social due to pressure from the CSU and others you have not understood the concept of academic freedom.
Reposted by Sandra Schwab
I’m still thinking about “quiet, piggy.” No president should be able to speak to a member of the press that way and remain president. That moment encapsulates how vile, misogynistic, and horrible that man is.
November 18, 2025 at 2:34 PM
I’m still thinking about “quiet, piggy.” No president should be able to speak to a member of the press that way and remain president. That moment encapsulates how vile, misogynistic, and horrible that man is.
Reposted by Sandra Schwab
DAY 13 – ADVENT SALE ✨🎄
Today’s festive fav is the Roman votive uterus. Many ancient examples contain a hidden clay bead inside, seen only on X-rays, thought to symbolise new life. We keep the tradition alive by adding a hand-formed bead to each one.
Shop Now
potted-history.co.uk/products/rom...
Today’s festive fav is the Roman votive uterus. Many ancient examples contain a hidden clay bead inside, seen only on X-rays, thought to symbolise new life. We keep the tradition alive by adding a hand-formed bead to each one.
Shop Now
potted-history.co.uk/products/rom...
November 18, 2025 at 8:19 PM
DAY 13 – ADVENT SALE ✨🎄
Today’s festive fav is the Roman votive uterus. Many ancient examples contain a hidden clay bead inside, seen only on X-rays, thought to symbolise new life. We keep the tradition alive by adding a hand-formed bead to each one.
Shop Now
potted-history.co.uk/products/rom...
Today’s festive fav is the Roman votive uterus. Many ancient examples contain a hidden clay bead inside, seen only on X-rays, thought to symbolise new life. We keep the tradition alive by adding a hand-formed bead to each one.
Shop Now
potted-history.co.uk/products/rom...
Reposted by Sandra Schwab
"Microsoft warns that Windows 11's agentic AI could install malware on your PC: 'Only enable this feature if you understand the security implications.'"
bro what--
what are we doing here, exactly, how can you--anyone be okay with this?
bro what--
what are we doing here, exactly, how can you--anyone be okay with this?
November 18, 2025 at 3:42 PM
"Microsoft warns that Windows 11's agentic AI could install malware on your PC: 'Only enable this feature if you understand the security implications.'"
bro what--
what are we doing here, exactly, how can you--anyone be okay with this?
bro what--
what are we doing here, exactly, how can you--anyone be okay with this?
Reposted by Sandra Schwab
For your blocking consideration: @stek02.bsky.social, transphobe and right wing asshole.
November 18, 2025 at 3:55 AM
For your blocking consideration: @stek02.bsky.social, transphobe and right wing asshole.
Reposted by Sandra Schwab
posted by a friend who is Professor of Molecular Biophysics. PM me if you have any ideas and want to be put in touch.
November 17, 2025 at 8:03 PM
posted by a friend who is Professor of Molecular Biophysics. PM me if you have any ideas and want to be put in touch.
Reposted by Sandra Schwab
Yes, this is the same university that cancelled a talk by UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese in February of this year.
November 17, 2025 at 7:31 PM
Yes, this is the same university that cancelled a talk by UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese in February of this year.
Reposted by Sandra Schwab
In a clearly anticonstituional move, the University of Munich @lmumuenchen.bsky.social have just cancelled a series of lectures titled „The Targeting of the Palestinian Academia“ after pressure from righ-wing groups. Germany prides itself on academic freedon, till it comes to Palestine.
November 17, 2025 at 7:28 PM
In a clearly anticonstituional move, the University of Munich @lmumuenchen.bsky.social have just cancelled a series of lectures titled „The Targeting of the Palestinian Academia“ after pressure from righ-wing groups. Germany prides itself on academic freedon, till it comes to Palestine.
Reposted by Sandra Schwab
Because obviously you need your feelings hurt on Sunday morning ☠️☠️☠️
November 16, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Because obviously you need your feelings hurt on Sunday morning ☠️☠️☠️
Reposted by Sandra Schwab
I noticed a book a some time ago.
The cover had art of a woman and a dragon sitting at the side of a lake—but in the reflection in the water, the woman is a demon.
I want to read it, but I cannot for the life of me remember the name of the book!
If anyone happens to know what it is, please say!
The cover had art of a woman and a dragon sitting at the side of a lake—but in the reflection in the water, the woman is a demon.
I want to read it, but I cannot for the life of me remember the name of the book!
If anyone happens to know what it is, please say!
November 15, 2025 at 5:25 PM
I noticed a book a some time ago.
The cover had art of a woman and a dragon sitting at the side of a lake—but in the reflection in the water, the woman is a demon.
I want to read it, but I cannot for the life of me remember the name of the book!
If anyone happens to know what it is, please say!
The cover had art of a woman and a dragon sitting at the side of a lake—but in the reflection in the water, the woman is a demon.
I want to read it, but I cannot for the life of me remember the name of the book!
If anyone happens to know what it is, please say!
Reposted by Sandra Schwab
“We don’t understand what the world is waiting for before allowing in thousands of tents and temporary homes… We renew our appeal for shelter for the 1000th time to all free people around the world: Gaza needs dignified shelter. Gaza needs housing...”
— Eyad Amawi, Gaza Humanitarian Coordinator
— Eyad Amawi, Gaza Humanitarian Coordinator
November 14, 2025 at 7:37 PM
“We don’t understand what the world is waiting for before allowing in thousands of tents and temporary homes… We renew our appeal for shelter for the 1000th time to all free people around the world: Gaza needs dignified shelter. Gaza needs housing...”
— Eyad Amawi, Gaza Humanitarian Coordinator
— Eyad Amawi, Gaza Humanitarian Coordinator
Reposted by Sandra Schwab
In 1981, two dudes from the National Enquirer thought they’d disrupt the romance genre with a new idea- a tabloid size romance novel. They raised over a million, and waited for the profits to roll in. The profits did not roll in.
Nothing is new under the sun.
www.washingtonpost.com/archive/busi...
Nothing is new under the sun.
www.washingtonpost.com/archive/busi...
Pulp Gives a New Twist to Old Romance
www.washingtonpost.com
November 15, 2025 at 1:45 PM
In 1981, two dudes from the National Enquirer thought they’d disrupt the romance genre with a new idea- a tabloid size romance novel. They raised over a million, and waited for the profits to roll in. The profits did not roll in.
Nothing is new under the sun.
www.washingtonpost.com/archive/busi...
Nothing is new under the sun.
www.washingtonpost.com/archive/busi...
Reposted by Sandra Schwab
steam is apparently allowing "this game had AI in it that it didn't disclose" as a valid return statement, so if you or anyone you know actually paid $70 for slop, get that money back
Insulting to the players, insulting to the IP, insulting to the medium, the developers. And the craft itself. Fuck you executives who pushed this garbage.
frvr.com/blog/call-of...
frvr.com/blog/call-of...
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is littered with AI art slop, because your $70 means nothing anymore
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is littered with AI generated artwork which makes the $70 feel like a complete rip-off.
frvr.com
November 15, 2025 at 9:10 AM
steam is apparently allowing "this game had AI in it that it didn't disclose" as a valid return statement, so if you or anyone you know actually paid $70 for slop, get that money back
Reposted by Sandra Schwab
I’ll say this much: This reads exactly like what it is: people who discovered romance five years ago and decided they had all kinds of amazing new ideas to “fix” it. Connections between books? That feel kind of cozy to the reader? How did no one ever think of that?? www.nytimes.com/2025/11/13/b...
November 14, 2025 at 1:31 PM
I’ll say this much: This reads exactly like what it is: people who discovered romance five years ago and decided they had all kinds of amazing new ideas to “fix” it. Connections between books? That feel kind of cozy to the reader? How did no one ever think of that?? www.nytimes.com/2025/11/13/b...
Reposted by Sandra Schwab
Speaking of 831stories. I saw this on threads and thought I should share because I am not only a professional author, I am also a fanfic writer. And this is a publisher, a creator, trying to control and profit from fanfic.
This is predatory and disgusting.
831stories.com/blogs/fan-fi...
This is predatory and disgusting.
831stories.com/blogs/fan-fi...
November 14, 2025 at 8:28 PM
Speaking of 831stories. I saw this on threads and thought I should share because I am not only a professional author, I am also a fanfic writer. And this is a publisher, a creator, trying to control and profit from fanfic.
This is predatory and disgusting.
831stories.com/blogs/fan-fi...
This is predatory and disgusting.
831stories.com/blogs/fan-fi...
Reposted by Sandra Schwab
Ugh, I can’t stand this publishing startup. They pay people to write fan fiction — they tried to commission a story from me. 831 Stories was founded by MBA brains who saw how lucrative romance is as a genre, and their branding targets lit snobs who think they are better than romance.
831 Stories is all-in on the romance genre, and the founders are cultivating a whole world around the books they publish, complete with fanfiction and merchandise.
With 831 Stories, romance fans get more than a steamy read
831 Stories is all-in on the romance genre, and the founders are cultivating a whole world around the books they publish, complete with fanfiction and merchandise.
n.pr
September 30, 2025 at 11:36 AM
Ugh, I can’t stand this publishing startup. They pay people to write fan fiction — they tried to commission a story from me. 831 Stories was founded by MBA brains who saw how lucrative romance is as a genre, and their branding targets lit snobs who think they are better than romance.
Reposted by Sandra Schwab
Regretting not spending more time with a loved one is one of the most human, natural parts of grieving. Trying to replace and profit from that with AI is as inhuman as I can imagine.
November 15, 2025 at 8:35 AM
Regretting not spending more time with a loved one is one of the most human, natural parts of grieving. Trying to replace and profit from that with AI is as inhuman as I can imagine.
Reposted by Sandra Schwab
Romance should evolve, but its so clear when people want the shine and financial benefit of Romance without respecting the genre, its conventions, or the readers. It's disturbing, but not surprising that we've arrived in a place where CRAFT DOESNT MATTER is a thing people believe.
November 14, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Romance should evolve, but its so clear when people want the shine and financial benefit of Romance without respecting the genre, its conventions, or the readers. It's disturbing, but not surprising that we've arrived in a place where CRAFT DOESNT MATTER is a thing people believe.
Reposted by Sandra Schwab
The same people who have called librarians like me “groomers” and “pedos” just for letting people read what they want are fucking protecting actual predators.
I’m so, so, SO mad.
I’m so, so, SO mad.
November 15, 2025 at 4:46 AM
The same people who have called librarians like me “groomers” and “pedos” just for letting people read what they want are fucking protecting actual predators.
I’m so, so, SO mad.
I’m so, so, SO mad.
Reposted by Sandra Schwab
Last re-skeet: I am so very done with the "does romance really need a happy ending?" crowd, I cannot tell you. The last time it happened on a panel, with an audience participant that would not let it go, I actually used the phrase, "that was asked and answered" and moved on.
Genres have contracts.
Genres have contracts.
November 15, 2025 at 11:22 AM
Last re-skeet: I am so very done with the "does romance really need a happy ending?" crowd, I cannot tell you. The last time it happened on a panel, with an audience participant that would not let it go, I actually used the phrase, "that was asked and answered" and moved on.
Genres have contracts.
Genres have contracts.
Reposted by Sandra Schwab
I saw the most bonkers conversation on tiktok where people were arguing that Romance doesn’t need an HEA and authors were fighting for their lives in the comments trying to explain what a genre convention is. Again, trying to sell me a mystery with no crime and see what happens.
God we need more craft discussions and less fights about which tropes are good or bad that play out in a way that makes it clear no one even understands what a trope is anymore.
Romance should evolve, but its so clear when people want the shine and financial benefit of Romance without respecting the genre, its conventions, or the readers. It's disturbing, but not surprising that we've arrived in a place where CRAFT DOESNT MATTER is a thing people believe.
November 14, 2025 at 7:55 PM
I saw the most bonkers conversation on tiktok where people were arguing that Romance doesn’t need an HEA and authors were fighting for their lives in the comments trying to explain what a genre convention is. Again, trying to sell me a mystery with no crime and see what happens.
I'm still here; I'm just very exhausted most of the time. This is partly due to the stupid Long Covid, of course, but I feel as if I'm also weighed down by all the... ::gestures:: ...horribleness in the world.
November 13, 2025 at 6:53 PM
I'm still here; I'm just very exhausted most of the time. This is partly due to the stupid Long Covid, of course, but I feel as if I'm also weighed down by all the... ::gestures:: ...horribleness in the world.
Reposted by Sandra Schwab
A GORGEOUS COVER FOR A WONDERFUL BOOK!!
Maybe you'd like to see the amazing cover for WORLD'S OKAYEST ORACLE (RELUCTANTLY) SEEKS DEMON, my book about an infamously underpowered oracle saving the world alongside the uptight demon who helped ruin her life 20 years ago?
AMZ: go.oliviadade.com/WOOamz
Other links: go.oliviadade.com/WOOprh
AMZ: go.oliviadade.com/WOOamz
Other links: go.oliviadade.com/WOOprh
November 13, 2025 at 6:16 PM
A GORGEOUS COVER FOR A WONDERFUL BOOK!!