T. Rutherford
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trutherford.bsky.social
T. Rutherford
@trutherford.bsky.social
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Academic by day, fiction writer by night (and on the weekends, and lunch, and in any spare moment).
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T. Rutherford @trutherford.bsky.social · 12h
My speculative fiction ANTI-CHARTER CAMPAIGN is complete, and I made my first ever agent's guide.

#AmQuerying
Mood board for Anti-Charter Campaign agent's guide. Pictures of an elementary school, money, butterscotch, cheersing beers, ants, a map of PA, D&D dice and character sheets, kids in a school, a magic book, an apple for the teacher, and a man with a nametag that says "Evil Corp" Speculative Fiction ANTI-CHARTER CAMPAIGN is Jumanji X Abbott Elementary. Librarian Britt and her teacher colleagues must make the right rolls in a magical RPG to save their school from a charter takeover. 92K Words, Querying Now Comps: Roll for Romance, The Grimoire Grammar School PTA, A Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, The Lost Bookshop, Minor Dramas & Other Catastrophes, The Faculty Lounge, Up the Down Staircase Excerpt: “Yes, it is. Would you like to hold it?” “Why would you do that, Angelo?” Suze shook her head. “Classic NPC inciting move. He’s going to run away with it now.” Britt picked up the thread as soon as Suze quieted, making her voice high like a child’s. “‘Yes, I would.’ The boy snatches the emblem from your hand and runs toward the back of the tavern.” “Oh well,” Angelo declared in his Martin affectation, tossing his head as if he had fluffy curls instead of a close-cropped buzz. “Maybe now all the exiled princes and damsels in distress will stop asking me for help and I can just sit back and enjoy a tankard of ale.” “Since when have damsels of any kind approached you, Martin?” Suze retorted, at least seeming to be in character. Though Catherine wasn’t certain if a paladin would make such a snide comment. The party had been together for eight or nine adventures. She supposed that bred a certain familiarity they could play into.  “But you need that, Martin. You know they’ve been asking people for their badges lately.” Catherine scanned over her character sheet. She’d prepared spells for what she thought Sprintze would be doing in the off season.
trutherford.bsky.social
My speculative fiction ANTI-CHARTER CAMPAIGN is complete, and I made my first ever agent's guide.

#AmQuerying
Mood board for Anti-Charter Campaign agent's guide. Pictures of an elementary school, money, butterscotch, cheersing beers, ants, a map of PA, D&D dice and character sheets, kids in a school, a magic book, an apple for the teacher, and a man with a nametag that says "Evil Corp" Speculative Fiction ANTI-CHARTER CAMPAIGN is Jumanji X Abbott Elementary. Librarian Britt and her teacher colleagues must make the right rolls in a magical RPG to save their school from a charter takeover. 92K Words, Querying Now Comps: Roll for Romance, The Grimoire Grammar School PTA, A Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, The Lost Bookshop, Minor Dramas & Other Catastrophes, The Faculty Lounge, Up the Down Staircase Excerpt: “Yes, it is. Would you like to hold it?” “Why would you do that, Angelo?” Suze shook her head. “Classic NPC inciting move. He’s going to run away with it now.” Britt picked up the thread as soon as Suze quieted, making her voice high like a child’s. “‘Yes, I would.’ The boy snatches the emblem from your hand and runs toward the back of the tavern.” “Oh well,” Angelo declared in his Martin affectation, tossing his head as if he had fluffy curls instead of a close-cropped buzz. “Maybe now all the exiled princes and damsels in distress will stop asking me for help and I can just sit back and enjoy a tankard of ale.” “Since when have damsels of any kind approached you, Martin?” Suze retorted, at least seeming to be in character. Though Catherine wasn’t certain if a paladin would make such a snide comment. The party had been together for eight or nine adventures. She supposed that bred a certain familiarity they could play into.  “But you need that, Martin. You know they’ve been asking people for their badges lately.” Catherine scanned over her character sheet. She’d prepared spells for what she thought Sprintze would be doing in the off season.
February 14, 2026 at 6:43 PM
trutherford.bsky.social
I started tracking my words since my second book. Now I've completed my fourth and love looking at how the progress comes about.
A min. of 800 words a day makes a book in just over three months
#WritingCommunity
Graph of words per day for a year, covering three books
February 13, 2026 at 11:33 PM
trutherford.bsky.social
Today's #WipSnips, "liquid," from Chapter 23 of my speculative fiction, Anti-Charter Campaign
#WritingCommunity #AmWriting
Needing liquid courage, Angelo ordered something a bit stronger than his normal beer. The liquor came in a tumbler with a single large ice cube. He felt like he was on Mad Men. Perhaps he could channel some of the swagger without the sexism.
February 10, 2026 at 5:58 PM
trutherford.bsky.social
Today's #WIPSnips, "confident," from Chapter 11 of my speculative fiction, Anti-Charter Campaign
#WritingCommunity #AmWriting
Jesus. He made it sound like she was dealing drugs out of a van or stripping at Buck’s on her off hours. Not that the latter would be terrible. At least there’d be a buffet. In either case, her wholesome science-themed YouTube was hardly the kind of thing he should be disparaging. She was confident at least a couple of donors at the auction opened their wallets because they recognized her.
February 3, 2026 at 11:54 PM
trutherford.bsky.social
Meet the characters from ANTI-CHARTER CAMPAIGN
These four must band together to defeat the monsters in D&D and save their school from a charter takeover in a speculative fiction that's Jumanji X Abbott Elementary
Querying Soon 📆
#QuestPit #W #A #S #F
Quadrant of four characters: Angelo, a PE teacher who plays a rogue with a circus past; Susanne, a chemistry teacher who plays a paladin; Catherine, a first-grade teacher who plays an elf sorcerer; Britt, a librarian who's the DM
January 31, 2026 at 9:03 PM
trutherford.bsky.social
ANTI-CHARTER CAMPAIGN: Speculative Fiction
A group of elementary teachers fight a charter takeover by playing a D&D game with real-life corollaries
For fans of The Grimoire Grammar School PTA, D20, and Roll for Romance
Vibes and scenes in this mood board
Querying Soon
#QuestPit #W #A #S #F
Moodboard for Anti-Charter Campaign with an apple for a teacher, an elementary school, a nametag that says "evil corp," a fistful of money, butterscotch candy, cheersing beers, ants, happy kids in a hall, a magic book, D&D dice, map of PA
January 31, 2026 at 3:51 PM
trutherford.bsky.social
ANTI-CHARTER CAMPAIGN: Speculative Fiction
Jumanji X Abbott Elementary
School librarian Britt and her teacher friends must figure out how to stop a charter takeover of their beloved school.
The strange D&D game they're playing may hold the key.
Querying Soon
#QUESTPIT #W #A #S #F
Top image of an elementary classroom; bottom image of a table w/D&D dice and character sheets Text reads: Speculative fiction, Anti-Charter Campaign, is Jumanji X Abbott Elementary. Librarian Britt and her teacher colleagues must make the right rolls in a magical RPG to save their school from a charter takeover.
January 31, 2026 at 5:06 AM
trutherford.bsky.social
Today's #WIPSnips, "suggest" from Chapter 17 of my speculative fiction, Anti-Charter Campaign
#AmWriting #WritingCommunity
They checked in at the hostess stand and the waitress led them to a booth near the bar, where a group of women giggled as they glanced their way. “You should go talk to them,” Britt said to Angelo. There was something about him today—an aura of confidence he usually didn’t have. The tight polo shirt he wore hugged his lean muscles and its royal blue color worked beautifully with his dark eyebrows and close-cropped hair. She could see the appeal. Typically, this suggestion would have been met with a joke and a hand wave. Angelo wasn’t the type to approach a woman in a bar. But today, to Britt’s surprise, he gave a hopeful smile and scooted himself out of the booth, heading to the bar with a very new swagger.
January 30, 2026 at 5:02 PM
trutherford.bsky.social
Today's #WIPSnips, "formation" from chapter 19 of my speculative fiction, Anti-Charter Campaign
#WritingCommunity #AmWriting
When she arrived at work, she set about the business of readying her classroom for the day. Chairs down, lamps on—the fluorescents made her and the children snippy. She wrote the date and day of the week on the whiteboard, using the overhead projector she snagged from a retiring colleague to help her make straight lines. The 1990s technology worked fine to demonstrate letter formation and simple math facts.
January 29, 2026 at 4:47 PM
trutherford.bsky.social
I didn't have today's #WIPSnips, "commit" anywhere yet in my speculative fiction, Anti-Charter Campaign.
But I did have "committee" in chapter 5
#Writingcommunity #AmWriting
A hollow of guilt opened in her stomach, despite having eaten enough protein to resist the lure of carb-filled snacks. Catherine and the committee had worked hard on decorating for the school’s fundraising auction, and Britt knew that dressing up honored their work. She just wished she could honor it in tagless, cotton clothes that didn’t attack her with folds and seams.
January 26, 2026 at 5:02 PM
trutherford.bsky.social
Probably the most snow we've had since I've lived here. Would love to get my proper camera out and take pictures, but it's also one of the coldest days.
I'll be staying inside and catching up on writing.
A low-res camera view of a snow-covered backyard
January 25, 2026 at 9:44 PM
trutherford.bsky.social
Today's #WIPSnips is "notice," which appears quite a few times in my speculative fiction, Anti-Charter Campaign. Here's one instance from chapter 6.
#WritingCommunity #AmWriting
“Tell us about the ruby, please.” Catherine, using Sprintze’s lovely royal manners, got them back on track. “Smelt looks down at you with a smirk. You get the impression he doesn’t get many elves of your lineage in these parts. ‘The Radical Ruby was stolen from Doz the Great. Some folks say it was goblins, others demons. Old Doz is offering a reward.’ He leans down closer to whisper near Sprintze. ‘Heard it’s one that even your kind would take notice of.’” Susanne wasn’t buying that this barkeep would have so much knowledge. “Britt, I want to make a perception check. What’s this dude’s deal?” When Britt nodded, Suze rolled a D20 and added up her bonuses, “Eighteen.” “You get the sense there’s something he’s not telling you.” Britt spoke to Susanne in a conspiratorial tone.
January 25, 2026 at 6:03 PM
trutherford.bsky.social
Today's #WIPSnips is "bone" taken from chapter 7 of my speculative fiction, Anti-Charter Campaign
#WritingCommunity #AmWriting
Martin didn’t seem to be affected either way, instead pushing Patty out of the booth and directing her toward Bodi’s table. The bard looked up as they approached, his expression open, but Patty caught the weariness behind his eyes. He’d been sitting here a while. As Sprintze pressed her hand to her chest and stretched her fingers out to him, his eyes brightened a bit. Patty hadn’t noticed he was an elf, but looking closer, she saw the fine bone structure and the point of his ears, hidden under a tight woven cap. Best to let Sprintze take the lead here.
January 24, 2026 at 4:09 PM
trutherford.bsky.social
Today's #WipSnips word is "activity." Here it is in chapter 19 of my speculative fiction, Anti-Charter Campaign.
#WritingCommunity #AmWriting
The children filed in and she lowered herself to the rug for circle time. This was her domain. The walls were decorated with the kids’ artwork and little cut-outs she’d made from her Cricut, mixed in with fairy lights she’d snagged from dollar stores. Each month they had a different focal unit—this month was “our town”—they drew and read maps, role-played important community figures, and even learned a little about local government. For each activity, Catherine unleashed her artistic and crafty sensibilities. She was a star teacher and she knew it.
January 22, 2026 at 3:09 AM
trutherford.bsky.social
Today's #WIPSnips word, "troll," from Chapter 11 of my speculative fiction, Anti-Charter Campaign
#WritingCommunity #AmWriting
The fire out and her heartbeat returning to normal, Susanne turned to the comments. “Yes, this does also happen to scientists who are men, Jock-Rock-three-seven-five. I’d be happy to provide you with some links to other scientific mishaps after we’re done here.” Her pulse quickened again, but she could control it. Dealing with sexist trolls was par for the course for any woman on social media.
January 20, 2026 at 6:57 PM
trutherford.bsky.social
Only one instance so far of today's #WIPSnips word, "drain," in my speculative fiction, Anti-Charter Campaign.
It's from Chapter 2.
#WritingCommunity #AmWriting
“Roll for charisma.” Britt said as she rolled her own dice behind the screen, then stood to see Catherine’s roll. “I mean, it’s a little boy, so he’s not that strong. You easily snatch back the badge, which floats across the tavern. He exits the back door. It doesn’t even seem like he noticed. But the movement has attracted the attention of a shadowy figure at the back. He drains his ale and pulls himself up from the table, heading your way.”
January 19, 2026 at 4:52 PM
trutherford.bsky.social
A rare romantic moment from Chapter 23 of my speculative fiction, Anti-Charter Campaign, for today's #WIPSnips, "remain."

#WritingCommunity #AmWriting
Angelo tilted his head to his shoulder in a half shrug, but took a step toward her, dragging his hand along the counter. “We both must have had more than usual.” He left the implication hanging in the air of her kitchen, an invitation for her to step his way as well. She did, and he did, and before he could count each step they were close enough to share breaths. He reached out and cupped his palm around her waist, sliding her stockinged feet along the floor the remaining inches toward him. She steadied herself with a hand on his bicep, bringing the other to his neck, just above his collar. As she looked up at him, his body tensed in anticipation. Her eyes weren’t so dark this close. A rim of green framed the deep brown, as if circling where he should rest his gaze.
January 18, 2026 at 11:43 PM
trutherford.bsky.social
Today's #WIPSnips for Jan 17: "gold" from Chapter 1 of my speculative fiction, Anti-Charter Campaign
#WritingCommunity #AmWriting
Britt shrugged. “We tried, but it just rang and rang. We figured she’d lost her phone in the couch cushions again. You know how she gets.” Catherine had never, in fact, lost her phone in the couch cushions or anywhere. The pink and gold bedazzled case likely helped with that. But Paul stood and nodded, as if this was a trueness about the woman he lived with and should probably know better than her colleagues. Though working in a failing elementary school together bonded colleagues into friends pretty quickly.
January 17, 2026 at 6:15 PM
trutherford.bsky.social
Today's #WIPSnips for Jan 16 is "brain."
Here's the word from Chapter 29 of my speculative fiction, Anti-Charter Campaign.
Britt could only manage a tumble of non-word sounds. Her mouth and brain weren’t quite connecting, as half of her was there with Suze, wanting to figure things out, and the other half could think of nothing but having the book back safe in her hands—of continuing their adventure and seeing things through. The resulting struggle held her fixed to the spot.
January 17, 2026 at 4:26 AM
trutherford.bsky.social
Trying to get back into the habit of posting #WIPSnips
Today's word for Jan 14, "current," from Chapter 10 of my speculative fiction, Anti-Charter Campaign
#WritingCommunity #AmWriting
Martin returned wearing a worried look. “Goblins. They’re heading down the road, ripping up Doz’s signs.” It was such a silly thing that didn’t really involve them, but Sprintze knew logic didn’t weigh heavily when it came to interactions with goblins. A tendril of anxiety crept around her, joining the vines and wildflowers in which she was crouched. She’d handled goblins before, and if the adventurers were lucky, they’d just pass by her and her companions. Perhaps they would be too occupied with their current destructive activity to pay any mind to the picnicking party.
January 14, 2026 at 11:35 PM
trutherford.bsky.social
Used the wrong hashtags for this post about ANTI-CHARTER CAMPAIGN
Reposting with the right ones and adding fantasy, because there wasn't one for speculative
#BluePit #BluePit📖 #A #W #F
trutherford.bsky.social T. Rutherford @trutherford.bsky.social · Jan 13
ANTI-CHARTER CAMPAIGN: Speculative Fiction
Jumanji X Abbott Elementary
School librarian Britt and her teacher friends must figure out how to stop a charter takeover of their beloved school.
The strange D&D game they're playing may hold the key.
Querying Soon
#BluePit 📖 #A #W
An image of a classroom over an image of a D&D game with dice. Text reads: Speculative fiction, Anti-Charter Campaign, is Jumanji X Abbott Elementary. Librarian Britt and her teacher colleagues must make the right rolls in a magical RPG to save their school from a charter takeover.
January 13, 2026 at 6:15 PM
trutherford.bsky.social
Meet the characters from ANTI-CHARTER CAMPAIGN
These four must band together to defeat the monsters in D&D and to save their school from a charter takeover in a speculative fiction that's Jumanji X Abbott Elementary.
Querying Soon 📆
#BluePit #BluePit📖 #A #W #F
Quadrant of four characters: Angelo, a PE teacher who plays a rogue with a circus past; Susanne, a chemistry teacher who plays a paladin; Catherine, a first-grade teacher who plays an elf sorcerer; Britt, a librarian who's the DM
January 13, 2026 at 4:29 PM
trutherford.bsky.social
ANTI-CHARTER CAMPAIGN: Speculative Fiction
A group of elementary teachers fight a charter takeover by playing a D&D game with real-life corollaries
For fans of The Grimoire Grammar School PTA, D20, and Roll for Romance
Vibes and scenes in this mood board
Querying Soon
#BluePit #BluePit📖 #A #W
Images: apple in classroom, elementary school, man in tie with "evil corp" as nametag, hand holding money, basket of butterscotch, four friends cheersing beers, happy kids with backpacks in hallway, magic book, dice on D&D character sheets, map of PA, ants
January 13, 2026 at 1:54 PM
trutherford.bsky.social
ANTI-CHARTER CAMPAIGN: Speculative Fiction
Jumanji X Abbott Elementary
School librarian Britt and her teacher friends must figure out how to stop a charter takeover of their beloved school.
The strange D&D game they're playing may hold the key.
Querying Soon
#BluePit 📖 #A #W
An image of a classroom over an image of a D&D game with dice. Text reads: Speculative fiction, Anti-Charter Campaign, is Jumanji X Abbott Elementary. Librarian Britt and her teacher colleagues must make the right rolls in a magical RPG to save their school from a charter takeover.
January 13, 2026 at 5:14 AM
trutherford.bsky.social
Not the word I would have expected. Maybe I'll win the lottery.
Or maybe I'll have some other kind of riches . . .
Your 2026 Word: opulent
January 1, 2026 at 7:26 PM