Edith Pilaf
@tjwest3.bsky.social
Queer Appalachian ex-pat writer who loves all things pop culture. My debut queer Appalachian rom-com, Country Road Romance, is available now.
It's Swoony Sunday at Omnivorous, where I reviewed Catherine Doyle's The Dagger and the Flame, a quite gripping enemies-the-lovers romance that I couldn't put down.
open.substack.com/pub/omnivoro...
open.substack.com/pub/omnivoro...
Swoony Sunday Book Review: "The Dagger and the Flame"
Catherine Doyle's new romantasy makes for a gripping read, with characters you love and an enemies-to-lovers dynamic you can't resist.
open.substack.com
November 16, 2025 at 2:05 PM
It's Swoony Sunday at Omnivorous, where I reviewed Catherine Doyle's The Dagger and the Flame, a quite gripping enemies-the-lovers romance that I couldn't put down.
open.substack.com/pub/omnivoro...
open.substack.com/pub/omnivoro...
Looking more and more like my dad every day.
November 16, 2025 at 4:15 AM
Looking more and more like my dad every day.
The most surprising part of today's writer's conference, was when, during a poetry workshop, I actually volunteered to share something I wrote. I prefaced it by saying that I'm not a poet but, to my surprise, both the moderator (the great Ruth McQuade) and
November 15, 2025 at 11:21 PM
The most surprising part of today's writer's conference, was when, during a poetry workshop, I actually volunteered to share something I wrote. I prefaced it by saying that I'm not a poet but, to my surprise, both the moderator (the great Ruth McQuade) and
Baby’s first West Virginia Writers Conference!
November 15, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Baby’s first West Virginia Writers Conference!
Happy Saturday, everyone! For today's edition of Omnivorous I reviewed the third and fourth episodes of King & Conqueror, which I continue to find a really compelling, and very tragic, pierce of period storytelling.
November 15, 2025 at 1:21 PM
Happy Saturday, everyone! For today's edition of Omnivorous I reviewed the third and fourth episodes of King & Conqueror, which I continue to find a really compelling, and very tragic, pierce of period storytelling.
Happy Friday, everyone! For today's edition of Omnivorous I reviewed the fifth and sixth episodes of this season of The Witcher. IMO this season is quite good, and these two episodes in particular are exceptional.
open.substack.com/pub/omnivoro...
open.substack.com/pub/omnivoro...
TV Review: "The Witcher" (Season 4, Episodes 5-6)
The fourth season of the Netflix series delivers some strong drama while also heightening the stakes of the conflicts to come.
open.substack.com
November 14, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Happy Friday, everyone! For today's edition of Omnivorous I reviewed the fifth and sixth episodes of this season of The Witcher. IMO this season is quite good, and these two episodes in particular are exceptional.
open.substack.com/pub/omnivoro...
open.substack.com/pub/omnivoro...
I've now done a complete read-through of A Bond of Blood and Stone. A few edits a needed here and there, but we're close to the having it done and ready to put into production.
A couple of days' more work, and then it'll be submitted for preorders!
A couple of days' more work, and then it'll be submitted for preorders!
November 14, 2025 at 2:55 AM
I've now done a complete read-through of A Bond of Blood and Stone. A few edits a needed here and there, but we're close to the having it done and ready to put into production.
A couple of days' more work, and then it'll be submitted for preorders!
A couple of days' more work, and then it'll be submitted for preorders!
Reposted by Edith Pilaf
New byline!! Got to shout out some of the disabled movies worth watching for @letterboxd.social!!
letterboxd.com/journal/disa...
letterboxd.com/journal/disa...
Disability Visibility: a starter pack of twenty depictions of disability on film • Journal • A Letterboxd Magazine
With her book Popcorn Disabilities soon to hit shelves, author Kristen Lopez offers a starter pack of twenty films about disability—from the good (The Best Years of Our Lives) to the not-so-good (Rain...
letterboxd.com
November 13, 2025 at 11:25 PM
New byline!! Got to shout out some of the disabled movies worth watching for @letterboxd.social!!
letterboxd.com/journal/disa...
letterboxd.com/journal/disa...
No, I will not stop barraging you with pictures of my cat.
November 14, 2025 at 1:18 AM
No, I will not stop barraging you with pictures of my cat.
Happy Thursday, everyone! For today's edition of Omnivorous I reviewed the fourth and final season of Acapulco, which I found to be an absolute delight (even if some plot points felt a little rushed). I'm gonna miss this happy little gem of a show!
open.substack.com/pub/omnivoro...
open.substack.com/pub/omnivoro...
TV Review: "Acapulco" (Season 4)
The Apple TV series was a ray of light in some dark times, and the fourth and final season allows viewers to say goodbye to the characters that we love and to Las Colinas.
open.substack.com
November 13, 2025 at 11:51 PM
Happy Thursday, everyone! For today's edition of Omnivorous I reviewed the fourth and final season of Acapulco, which I found to be an absolute delight (even if some plot points felt a little rushed). I'm gonna miss this happy little gem of a show!
open.substack.com/pub/omnivoro...
open.substack.com/pub/omnivoro...
I watch King & Comqueror for the plot:
The plot:
The plot:
November 13, 2025 at 3:25 AM
I watch King & Comqueror for the plot:
The plot:
The plot:
Oof. Okay. I just read the scene where my lovers get back together and felt a pinch in my heart. When that happens I know the book is in the final stages of completion.
Mark it down. Submitting preorders 2 weeks from today.
Get ready world for A Bond of Blood and Stone.
Mark it down. Submitting preorders 2 weeks from today.
Get ready world for A Bond of Blood and Stone.
November 13, 2025 at 2:47 AM
Oof. Okay. I just read the scene where my lovers get back together and felt a pinch in my heart. When that happens I know the book is in the final stages of completion.
Mark it down. Submitting preorders 2 weeks from today.
Get ready world for A Bond of Blood and Stone.
Mark it down. Submitting preorders 2 weeks from today.
Get ready world for A Bond of Blood and Stone.
It's Writer Wednesday over at Omnivorous, where I wrote about how sometimes the unexpected character or plot twist can change your whole project for the better, even when they step in at the last minute.
open.substack.com/pub/omnivoro...
open.substack.com/pub/omnivoro...
Writing Wednesday: Of Grandmothers and Unexpected Plot Twists
How a surprise character ended up changing the trajectory of my novel for the better.
open.substack.com
November 12, 2025 at 11:42 PM
It's Writer Wednesday over at Omnivorous, where I wrote about how sometimes the unexpected character or plot twist can change your whole project for the better, even when they step in at the last minute.
open.substack.com/pub/omnivoro...
open.substack.com/pub/omnivoro...
I’ll never get tired of taking pictures of him.
November 12, 2025 at 9:53 PM
I’ll never get tired of taking pictures of him.
Whenever I walk through the house Tiggy trots along behind me like I'm a witch and he's my familiar and, tbh, I love that for us.
November 12, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Whenever I walk through the house Tiggy trots along behind me like I'm a witch and he's my familiar and, tbh, I love that for us.
Happy Tuesday, everyone! For today's edition of Omnivorous I reviewed the first two episodes of the new series King & Conqueror, which I found to be quite a good time, thanks to some gutsy women and two well-matched male leads.
open.substack.com/pub/omnivoro...
open.substack.com/pub/omnivoro...
TV Review: "King & Conqueror" (Season 1, Episodes 1-2)
It might take some pretty big liberties with history, but the new British period drama is nevertheless a bracingly good time thanks to its two handsome and well-matched leads.
open.substack.com
November 11, 2025 at 11:47 PM
Happy Tuesday, everyone! For today's edition of Omnivorous I reviewed the first two episodes of the new series King & Conqueror, which I found to be quite a good time, thanks to some gutsy women and two well-matched male leads.
open.substack.com/pub/omnivoro...
open.substack.com/pub/omnivoro...
“Omg why are you so obsessed with me?”
November 11, 2025 at 10:08 PM
“Omg why are you so obsessed with me?”
A sober but important read for anyone who cares about academic freedom:
My University Just Taught Extremists How to Eliminate Academic Programs They Don't Like
Texas Christian University handed its power to the people working hardest to dismantle learning itself.
www.texasobserver.org
November 11, 2025 at 7:28 PM
A sober but important read for anyone who cares about academic freedom:
The thing I've had to accept as an indie author is that, when it comes to revision, you can't let the perfect be the enemy of the good. You have to write the best story that you can in the best way that you can and present it in the best way you can. Then let the readers decide.
November 11, 2025 at 4:27 PM
The thing I've had to accept as an indie author is that, when it comes to revision, you can't let the perfect be the enemy of the good. You have to write the best story that you can in the best way that you can and present it in the best way you can. Then let the readers decide.
Happy Monday, everyone! For today's edition of Omnivorous I reviewed del Toro's Frankenstein, which is nothing short of a masterpiece, thanks to the director's gothic touch and Elordi's achingly tragic performance.
open.substack.com/pub/omnivoro...
open.substack.com/pub/omnivoro...
Film Review: "Frankenstein" (2025)
Guillermo del Toro's take on the classic horror novel is a film of aching, exquisite, terrifying beauty anchored by Jacob Elordi's career-best performance.
open.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 11:57 PM
Happy Monday, everyone! For today's edition of Omnivorous I reviewed del Toro's Frankenstein, which is nothing short of a masterpiece, thanks to the director's gothic touch and Elordi's achingly tragic performance.
open.substack.com/pub/omnivoro...
open.substack.com/pub/omnivoro...
I'm now well into Hittin' the Right Note, my next Appalachian rom-com. Turns out that one of my characters is bisexual? I had no idea until just tonight. I love when they surprise me like this!
I also love doing my part to craft complex bi rep in Appalachian queer romance!
I also love doing my part to craft complex bi rep in Appalachian queer romance!
November 10, 2025 at 11:29 PM
I'm now well into Hittin' the Right Note, my next Appalachian rom-com. Turns out that one of my characters is bisexual? I had no idea until just tonight. I love when they surprise me like this!
I also love doing my part to craft complex bi rep in Appalachian queer romance!
I also love doing my part to craft complex bi rep in Appalachian queer romance!
One of my goals in 2026 is to read more queer indie fiction, particularly fantasy, sci-fi, horror, and romance. I'm a part of this community, and I want to give back.
So, if you have some recs that I absolutely must read in the coming year, let me know! I love to uplift other authors!
So, if you have some recs that I absolutely must read in the coming year, let me know! I love to uplift other authors!
November 10, 2025 at 3:48 PM
One of my goals in 2026 is to read more queer indie fiction, particularly fantasy, sci-fi, horror, and romance. I'm a part of this community, and I want to give back.
So, if you have some recs that I absolutely must read in the coming year, let me know! I love to uplift other authors!
So, if you have some recs that I absolutely must read in the coming year, let me know! I love to uplift other authors!
Started King & Conqueror tonight, and it’s actually quite good! Definitely one of the better period dramas I’ve seen lately.
November 10, 2025 at 4:04 AM
Started King & Conqueror tonight, and it’s actually quite good! Definitely one of the better period dramas I’ve seen lately.
Happy Swoony Sunday, everyone! For today's edition of Omnivorous I reviewed This Monster of Mine, a terrific Rome-inspired romantasy that serves up lots of trauma and steam. A definite must-read.
open.substack.com/pub/omnivoro...
open.substack.com/pub/omnivoro...
Swoony Sunday Book Review: "This Monster of Mine"
Shalini Abeysekara has crafted a delicious romantasy that draws on ancient Rome to give us a an enemies-to-lovers story with lots of trauma and steam.
open.substack.com
November 9, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Happy Swoony Sunday, everyone! For today's edition of Omnivorous I reviewed This Monster of Mine, a terrific Rome-inspired romantasy that serves up lots of trauma and steam. A definite must-read.
open.substack.com/pub/omnivoro...
open.substack.com/pub/omnivoro...
Well, I WAS gonna throw this box away. 😂
November 9, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Well, I WAS gonna throw this box away. 😂