Marie Brennan
@swantower.bsky.social
Author of the Memoirs of Lady Trent. Also one half of M.A. Carrick. She/her.
Pinned
Marie Brennan
@swantower.bsky.social
· Jan 7
Okay, this is a thread for U.S. folks, but also anybody facing political woes at home. I'm pinning this to my profile as an irregularly updated thread for advice and links on how to take action/take care of yourself. Scroll through it any time you need reminders (that's what I'll be doing myself).
Today's excellent discovery is that if you mouse open the menu for "ask an AI chatbot" in Firefox, one of your options there is "remove AI chatbot."
GET THEE BEHIND ME, SLOPTAN
GET THEE BEHIND ME, SLOPTAN
February 18, 2026 at 8:57 PM
Today's excellent discovery is that if you mouse open the menu for "ask an AI chatbot" in Firefox, one of your options there is "remove AI chatbot."
GET THEE BEHIND ME, SLOPTAN
GET THEE BEHIND ME, SLOPTAN
Reposted by Marie Brennan
This local Wolfdog joined an Olympic ski event and triggered the finish-line camera. This is Nazgul. He snuck into a cross-country skiing sprint this morning and raced the homestretch with some competitors before being escorted home. 14/10 someone get him a medal
February 18, 2026 at 5:48 PM
This local Wolfdog joined an Olympic ski event and triggered the finish-line camera. This is Nazgul. He snuck into a cross-country skiing sprint this morning and raced the homestretch with some competitors before being escorted home. 14/10 someone get him a medal
Reposted by Marie Brennan
So I've shared this thread already, but also wanted to pull this out specifically because the pattern decks are *awesome* - and also, it turns out, incredibly good and flavourful for fortune-telling at LARP if you have a ref team who're okay with you using them and a setting they work in.
Finally, I should mention that the pattern deck *itself* is eligible for a Hugo Award, under the umbrella category of "related work." Should you wish to get one for yourself, you can do so here! #HugoAwards #Hugos
pattern-deck.backerkit.com/hosted_preor...
pattern-deck.backerkit.com/hosted_preor...
Pre-order Rook and Rose Pattern Deck on BackerKit
Oracle cards for divination and games -- shipping now!
pattern-deck.backerkit.com
February 18, 2026 at 4:35 PM
So I've shared this thread already, but also wanted to pull this out specifically because the pattern decks are *awesome* - and also, it turns out, incredibly good and flavourful for fortune-telling at LARP if you have a ref team who're okay with you using them and a setting they work in.
Someday I will succeed in arranging my life such that February can be one long nap interspersed with staring out the window at the rain.
(This will probably require me to be reincarnated as a house cat.)
(This will probably require me to be reincarnated as a house cat.)
February 16, 2026 at 10:59 PM
Someday I will succeed in arranging my life such that February can be one long nap interspersed with staring out the window at the rain.
(This will probably require me to be reincarnated as a house cat.)
(This will probably require me to be reincarnated as a house cat.)
If you're nominating for the #HugoAwards, may I rec to your attention our wonderful artists for the Rook and Rose pattern deck? I *think* the first two are eligible in the pro artist category and the third in fan (though if you want to be *really* sure, you can nominate them in both). 1- #Hugos
February 16, 2026 at 6:27 PM
If you're nominating for the #HugoAwards, may I rec to your attention our wonderful artists for the Rook and Rose pattern deck? I *think* the first two are eligible in the pro artist category and the third in fan (though if you want to be *really* sure, you can nominate them in both). 1- #Hugos
Reposted by Marie Brennan
a neighbor set up this werewolf for halloween and instead of taking it down they just update it with seasonal outfit changes. now it’s dressed for valentine’s day and holding a sign with a picture of bad bunny and his super bowl slogan. i love him.
February 15, 2026 at 10:42 PM
a neighbor set up this werewolf for halloween and instead of taking it down they just update it with seasonal outfit changes. now it’s dressed for valentine’s day and holding a sign with a picture of bad bunny and his super bowl slogan. i love him.
Reposted by Marie Brennan
Our second poem and author analysis is:
Dulle Griet Stages a New Assault
by Marie Brennan
Poem ⬇️
strangehorizons.com/wordpress/po...
Analysis ⬇️
strangehorizons.com/wordpress/po...
Dulle Griet Stages a New Assault
by Marie Brennan
Poem ⬇️
strangehorizons.com/wordpress/po...
Analysis ⬇️
strangehorizons.com/wordpress/po...
February 1, 2026 at 3:31 PM
Our second poem and author analysis is:
Dulle Griet Stages a New Assault
by Marie Brennan
Poem ⬇️
strangehorizons.com/wordpress/po...
Analysis ⬇️
strangehorizons.com/wordpress/po...
Dulle Griet Stages a New Assault
by Marie Brennan
Poem ⬇️
strangehorizons.com/wordpress/po...
Analysis ⬇️
strangehorizons.com/wordpress/po...
I really do have two types of titles: ones I had before I started writing or came up with very early on, which I love, and ones I came up with after finishing, which were like pulling teeth and they're okay I suppose.
Guess which one I'm having to come up with for this story . . .
Guess which one I'm having to come up with for this story . . .
February 14, 2026 at 12:43 AM
I really do have two types of titles: ones I had before I started writing or came up with very early on, which I love, and ones I came up with after finishing, which were like pulling teeth and they're okay I suppose.
Guess which one I'm having to come up with for this story . . .
Guess which one I'm having to come up with for this story . . .
I just updated my "appearances" page, and it includes several online events coming up in the next two months!
www.swantower.com/appearances/
www.swantower.com/appearances/
Public Appearances - Swan Tower
Last updated: October 13th, 2025. February 23rd — Reddit AMA on behalf of The Pixel Project March 7th, 8:30 Eastern Time — “A Voice of Her Own” (livestreamed YouTube panel on women in historical fan...
www.swantower.com
February 9, 2026 at 6:31 PM
I just updated my "appearances" page, and it includes several online events coming up in the next two months!
www.swantower.com/appearances/
www.swantower.com/appearances/
Reposted by Marie Brennan
From this week's short fiction readings, I really enjoyed @swantower.bsky.social 's "The Final Voyage of the Ouranos" in Sunday Morning Transport:
www.sundaymorningtransport.com/p/the-final-...
www.sundaymorningtransport.com/p/the-final-...
February 8, 2026 at 8:24 PM
From this week's short fiction readings, I really enjoyed @swantower.bsky.social 's "The Final Voyage of the Ouranos" in Sunday Morning Transport:
www.sundaymorningtransport.com/p/the-final-...
www.sundaymorningtransport.com/p/the-final-...
Reposted by Marie Brennan
And after ending that recording, we discovered that our lovely editor included bonus ARCs of books by @anuja-v.bsky.social, @mollyoneillwrites.bsky.social, and @oranjessie.bsky.social!
youtu.be/kS6ZZ4TF7ng
youtu.be/kS6ZZ4TF7ng
Bonus ARCs in the box!
YouTube video by Marie Brennan
youtu.be
February 6, 2026 at 9:32 PM
And after ending that recording, we discovered that our lovely editor included bonus ARCs of books by @anuja-v.bsky.social, @mollyoneillwrites.bsky.social, and @oranjessie.bsky.social!
youtu.be/kS6ZZ4TF7ng
youtu.be/kS6ZZ4TF7ng
Reposted by Marie Brennan
Unboxing The Eye of Leviathan by M.A. Carrick!
YouTube video by Marie Brennan
youtu.be
February 6, 2026 at 9:30 PM
Reposted by Marie Brennan
I've told this story on ContrabandCamp but it's worth sharing for BHM because it's one of the greatest stories ever.
A thread.
A thread.
February 4, 2026 at 5:07 AM
I've told this story on ContrabandCamp but it's worth sharing for BHM because it's one of the greatest stories ever.
A thread.
A thread.
Reposted by Marie Brennan
"The perfect side eye doesn't exist" proved wrong😍
This is Bowie. He overheard you talking about his rubber ducky jacket. Jealousy is a disease. Hopes you get well soon. 12/10 (IG: bowiethegoldenbear)
February 3, 2026 at 5:17 PM
"The perfect side eye doesn't exist" proved wrong😍
Reposted by Marie Brennan
how much unchecked influence over society & government do they have to have before we quit saying billionaires and start saying oligarchs
February 4, 2026 at 8:32 PM
how much unchecked influence over society & government do they have to have before we quit saying billionaires and start saying oligarchs
Reposted by Marie Brennan
This is great! Fellow scholars, volunteer to guest lecture for Minnesota faculty struggling to teach during shutdown!
Someone made an actually-organized version of this!!
February 4, 2026 at 8:17 PM
This is great! Fellow scholars, volunteer to guest lecture for Minnesota faculty struggling to teach during shutdown!
Reposted by Marie Brennan
I think this would have the opposite effect of what is intended. Instead of supressing the vote you’re going to end up with angry people even more determined to cast a ballot bsky.app/profile/marc...
🚨BREAKING: Steve Bannon said Tuesday that the federal government is planning to send Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers to patrol polling stations during this year’s midterm elections. www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/...
Steve Bannon says ICE will ‘surround the polls’ as Trump doubles down on taking over elections
Trump doubled down on his comments to nationalize voting Tuesday during an Oval Office press conference. “If you think about it, a state is an agent for the federal government in elections,” Trump sai...
www.democracydocket.com
February 4, 2026 at 7:29 PM
I think this would have the opposite effect of what is intended. Instead of supressing the vote you’re going to end up with angry people even more determined to cast a ballot bsky.app/profile/marc...
Reposted by Marie Brennan
Reposted by Marie Brennan
In less than a week the Kennedy Center has effectively closed and our local DC paper has been gutted, both by billionaires.
I don’t think immigrants are our problem in this country.
I don’t think immigrants are our problem in this country.
February 4, 2026 at 5:38 PM
In less than a week the Kennedy Center has effectively closed and our local DC paper has been gutted, both by billionaires.
I don’t think immigrants are our problem in this country.
I don’t think immigrants are our problem in this country.
Reposted by Marie Brennan
Bookshop.org is teaming up with Draft2Digital to allow self-publishers to sell ebooks on the Bookshop platform www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/...
Bookshop.org Teams with Draft2Digital
The online bookselling platform has partnered with the self-publishing company to allow self-published authors to sell e-books on its site.
www.publishersweekly.com
February 4, 2026 at 5:54 PM
Bookshop.org is teaming up with Draft2Digital to allow self-publishers to sell ebooks on the Bookshop platform www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/...
Reposted by Marie Brennan
Today, I am matching donations to any org in this list, up to $1000. Reply here or DM me with receipt. www.standwithminnesota.com
Stand With Minnesota
Stand With Minnesota is a hub for supporting, learning, and taking action to support Minnesotans impacted by ICE and federal enforcement.
www.standwithminnesota.com
February 4, 2026 at 5:20 PM
Today, I am matching donations to any org in this list, up to $1000. Reply here or DM me with receipt. www.standwithminnesota.com
Reposted by Marie Brennan
Blumenthal, running through a list of proposed reforms, says that the right to seek redress agents violating their rights can be accomplished with four words added to current U.S. code, and adds:
"Rights without remedies are empty promises."
"Rights without remedies are empty promises."
February 3, 2026 at 8:21 PM
Blumenthal, running through a list of proposed reforms, says that the right to seek redress agents violating their rights can be accomplished with four words added to current U.S. code, and adds:
"Rights without remedies are empty promises."
"Rights without remedies are empty promises."
Reposted by Marie Brennan
But also, this may be one of the best conflict-of-interest statements ever?
![Screenshot of an excerpt from the article in the previous post. Text reads: "[Disclosure: Prior to his election, the author was Councilor Green's DM in a Dungeons & Dragons campaign.]"](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:rgzw2gfpyanm42hqkxvewh7l/bafkreih5jmgp4g2tttv4fhreve7hcaumxv5effmceh3osbl2khhtfibsky@jpeg)
February 3, 2026 at 5:18 PM
But also, this may be one of the best conflict-of-interest statements ever?
Reposted by Marie Brennan
Are you a freelancer hoping to level up your bookkeeping before tax season? UVW-CWA has joined forces with freelancer-specialist tax firm Brass Taxes for a webinar. Open to non-members!
February 11th, 10AM Pacific on Zoom
Art by Cleveland Mosher
Sign up: actionnetwork.org/events/brass...
February 11th, 10AM Pacific on Zoom
Art by Cleveland Mosher
Sign up: actionnetwork.org/events/brass...
February 3, 2026 at 5:35 PM
Are you a freelancer hoping to level up your bookkeeping before tax season? UVW-CWA has joined forces with freelancer-specialist tax firm Brass Taxes for a webinar. Open to non-members!
February 11th, 10AM Pacific on Zoom
Art by Cleveland Mosher
Sign up: actionnetwork.org/events/brass...
February 11th, 10AM Pacific on Zoom
Art by Cleveland Mosher
Sign up: actionnetwork.org/events/brass...
Reposted by Marie Brennan
Strange Horizons stands with immigrants in the US as they experience intensified anti-immigrant operations.
We have the opportunity to lend our strength as a global community.
Read our full statement:
strangehorizons.com/wordpress/no...
We have the opportunity to lend our strength as a global community.
Read our full statement:
strangehorizons.com/wordpress/no...
Statement on ICE Operations in the USA
Strange Horizons stands with immigrants in the US facing these conditions.
strangehorizons.com
February 3, 2026 at 11:41 AM
Strange Horizons stands with immigrants in the US as they experience intensified anti-immigrant operations.
We have the opportunity to lend our strength as a global community.
Read our full statement:
strangehorizons.com/wordpress/no...
We have the opportunity to lend our strength as a global community.
Read our full statement:
strangehorizons.com/wordpress/no...