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Allison Pottern

@apottern.bsky.social

940 followers 940 following 420 posts

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Allison Pottern

@apottern.bsky.social

A Boston-based initiative, encouraging those who can afford it, to have a box of pantry items available for trick-or-treating families who might need the extra support!

www.facebook.com/share/g/1Yzg...

October 30, 2025 at 3:32 PM

Allison Pottern

@apottern.bsky.social

Happy Book Birthday to my fellow writer-parent @mizdoomcookie.bsky.social out there making the magic happen! So excited to read about romantic, magical, winter witches!

September 23, 2025 at 1:24 PM

Allison Pottern

@apottern.bsky.social

Just booked a writing retreat, so, er, I'd love to fit in a couple more clients/workshops for fall to help offset the cost!

I'm a writer, editor, & marketing coach. My sweet spot is helping authors w forthcoming titles navigate the book marketing engine + plan for launch. (pottern.com) 🧵

"Writing and Marketing consults with Allison Pottern Hoch. You've spent years crafting your book to get it out into the world — and I've spent 20+ years helping authors develop and market theirs. Now let me help you! Does publishing or marketing overwhelm you?
Are you a debut author with book launch jitters?
Does it feel like your publisher isn't giving you the marketing guidance you need?
Do you need help getting your speculative fiction novel over the finish line?
Are you struggling to figure out what publishing path is right for you?
Book a consult today: pottern.com/book-a-session"

September 2, 2025 at 9:40 PM

Allison Pottern

@apottern.bsky.social

In case you are a more visual person, more reasons to read, laugh, and spread the joy. Feel free to share with a friend that needs a pick me up today. Happy Friday folks!

magazine.trollbreath.com/cryptid-car-...

The opening paragraphs of Allison Pottern's short story "Cryptid Car Rental" in a browser window-type box, next to some descriptors:

Grumpy+ Sunshine
All the kinds of comments you love to hate
Demons, werewolves, vampires, oh my!
Road trip!
May induce spit-takes, cackling, & tears

August 29, 2025 at 4:30 PM

Allison Pottern

@apottern.bsky.social

Major FOMO re: #worldcon!! Half of our anthology's contributors will be there, so the ebook is more than half off!

Grab a copy and say hi to @darylwriterguy.bsky.social @chriscampbell.bsky.social @fechoe.bsky.social @brigittewinter.bsky.social @avani.bsky.social
books2read.com/newyearnewyo...

The words $2.99 Worldcon Ebook Sale" above the image of the top half of a tablet displaying the cover for "New Year, New You: A Speculative Anthology of Reinvention" all against a purple background. So wish I could be there but say hi to my friends for me.

August 13, 2025 at 1:47 PM

Allison Pottern

@apottern.bsky.social

Our little-anthology-that-could is still randomly on super-sale from Am*zon. Less than $5 for this beautiful paperback: a.co/d/0NE0fgO

It's the perfect time to get your hands on these tremendous SFF stories from Elizabeth Bear, Daryl Gregory, F.E. Choe, Shen Tao and more.

#speclit #booksky

A pink and purple paperback copy of New Year, New You: A speculative Anthology of Reinvention displayed against a backdrop of pink, purple, and silver mardi gras beads, with a $5 sticking out like a bookmark because this awesome anthology is currently on sale for less that $5 on Amazon. WHAT? Go buy it now!

August 5, 2025 at 3:43 PM

Allison Pottern

@apottern.bsky.social

No idea why, but Am*zon put our book on deep discount!

Get our kickass anthology IN PAPERBACK feat. stories by @matociquala.bsky.social @darylwriterguy.bsky.social and up-and-comers from @viableparadise.bsky.social FOR LESS THAN $5!

Go, now, before the algorithm changes its mind! a.co/d/0NE0fgO 📚🚀

August 4, 2025 at 4:46 PM

Allison Pottern

@apottern.bsky.social

Our awesome cover to help entice folks:

May 23, 2025 at 12:42 PM

Allison Pottern

@apottern.bsky.social

Hello Monday, it's the time of year for matzo brei: eggy matzah fried in butter. Tender and savory; crisp edges & a chewy center. I like mine topped with jam, but the options are endless. Ruth Reichl's ratios are easy to make single serving in less than 5 min. ruthreichl.substack.com/p/matzo-brei

April 14, 2025 at 12:29 PM

Allison Pottern

@apottern.bsky.social

While I've been waiting for sales data to populate, I've been making graphics and teaching myself about BookBub ads. What do you think? Which one makes you go "Ooooo, must buy!" #booksky

(and if you feel so compelled: books2read.com/newyearnewyo...)

April 8, 2025 at 5:49 PM

Allison Pottern

@apottern.bsky.social

NEW YEAR, NEW YOU is eligible for the Best Anthology! Snag it now for only $0.99 and if you love it, consider voting for it as a write-in for the 2025 Locus Awards.

And if you got a kick out of my story "Cryptid Car Rental" that's eligible for write-in too! magazine.trollbreath.com/cryptid-car-...

April 7, 2025 at 8:00 PM

Allison Pottern

@apottern.bsky.social

NEW YEAR, NEW YOU is the little anthology that could! Its writers have been winning accolades and the book itself has received so much love from readers and reviewers! See what all the fuss is about: the ebook is on mega sale this week at only $0.99! 🪐📚https://books2read.com/newyearnewyoustories

A promotional graphic for the SFF anthology "New Year, New You: A Speculative Anthology of Reinvention" which is on sale this week for $0.99 (ebook). The graphic also includes endorsements from readers and reviewers with such glowing comments as "Nuanced" "Intense and beguiling" and "Complex and experimental."

April 7, 2025 at 12:48 PM

Allison Pottern

@apottern.bsky.social

This weekend. Five SFF authors. One reading. @charmcityspec.bsky.social hosts their first event of 2025 and I'm so honored to be part of it. Join us in Baltimore on Saturday for stories of space, time travel, misdeeds, superpowers, aliens and other worlds. Come on by!

www.birdinhandcafe.com/events

A purple flyer that reads: "Bird in Hand" (with a coffee mug graphic next to it) presents... Charm City Spec: Brigitte Winter | Catherine Castellani | Allison Pottern | Ben Pick| Carolyn Ives Gilman" Below are three book covers, for DARK ORBIT, NEW YEAR NEW YOU, and FALLING THROUGH, followed by the date, time, and location: 3.22.25 | 6:30 PM | 11 E. 33RD St.

A graphic of smiling SFF authors and their book covers.

March 20, 2025 at 2:19 PM

Allison Pottern

@apottern.bsky.social

You deserve something lovely. One of my favorite literary gifty shops, Obvious State, is having a clearance sale of art prints and I'm sure you'll find something that speaks to you.

obviousstate.com/collections/...

Give me books, fruit, French Wine, fine weather, and a little music. - John Keats (the words sit above an interpretive design of a guitar, neck angled down, with an apple at it's center, book pages shaping the lower half of the instruments body and tree branches the upper half. The top of the body and the neck look like a tilted wine glass.

March 20, 2025 at 1:40 PM

Allison Pottern

@apottern.bsky.social

For my mid-atlantic pals, I'm going to be doing a reading on March 22nd in Baltimore! Come say hi! I'll be reading from my time travel short story about therapy, whales, and the Pleistocene. Note to self: rehearse how to pronounce Pleistocene.

www.eventbrite.com/e/charm-city...

March 7, 2025 at 10:34 PM

Allison Pottern

@apottern.bsky.social

It's Friday, which means you deserve a treat for making it through the week (you did it!!) A dear friend of mine baked this coconut butter mochi for me earlier this week and I plan to make it again immediately and you should too. Easy recipe, gourmet results.

www.thekitchn.com/hawaiian-but...

A golden tray of coconut butter mochi, a soft chewy bar with toasted coconut on top and crispy brown edges. One piece is being removed from the tray, revealing the translucent, smooth, bouncy, buttery interior. You can't tell, but there is also the perfect amount of flaky salt scattered over the top to balance the light sweetness of the cake. NOM NOM NOM. Photo from The Kitchn.

March 7, 2025 at 7:17 PM

Allison Pottern

@apottern.bsky.social

I have some things you can nominate this year!

Want a chuckle, a hug, & a road trip? Consider "Cryptid Car Rental" magazine.trollbreath.com/cryptid-car-...

Need a hit of time travel, connection, & whales? Consider "All the Time in the World and None at All." Happy to send you a free review copy!

March 6, 2025 at 3:56 PM

Allison Pottern

@apottern.bsky.social

So many SFF awards open atm: Locus, BFSAs, Nebulas. Please consider my stories!

"Cryptid Car Rental" magazine.trollbreath.com/cryptid-car-...

+ Happy to send you a digital ARC of NYNY if you'd like to consider "All the Time in the World..." + the rest of the TOC for noms. linktr.ee/newyearnewyo...

Eligibility post for Allison Pottern's stories "Cryptid Car Rental" in Trollbreath Magazine and "All the Time in the World and None at All" in the New Year, New You, a Speculative Anthology of Reinvention.

A very long graphic featuring the eligibility of the short stories in New Year, New You: A Speculative Anthology of Reinvention, including Allison Pottern's story "All the Time in the World and None at All"

An eligibility post for Allison Pottern's short story 'All the Time in the World and None at All' from "New Year, New You: A Speculative Anthology of Reinvention" with the opening lines:

January 1, 2006
12:01 am
The time traveler was late.

3:05 am
Sometimes he finds himself staring at the sky and forgetting what time he’s in. Haze, cloud, stars. Sometimes it seems he can feel the earth turning beneath his feet, time unspooling around him. One moment, he’s in his hometime, sweating in his winter gear, waiting for his transfer. Now here he is in a New York City that no longer exists, skyscrapers looming up around him, slush in the streets. Then he is 18,000 years ago, when there is no calendar. Only ice, a thousand feet thick.

An eligibility post for Allison Pottern's short story "Cryptid Car Rental" published in Trollbreath Magazine. Features tropes such as: Grumpy + Sunshine; All the kinds of comments you love to hate; Demons, werewolves, vampires, oh my!; Road Trip!; and May induce spit-takes, cackles, & tears. Also includes opening lines:

REVENANT GETAWAYS: FOR THE SAVVY TRAVELER LOOKING TO ESCAPE: REVIEWS, RENTALS, AND GETAWAYS

U.S.A. > New Mexico > Car Rentals > Travel Forum

Subj: CRYPTID CAR RENTAL ANY GOOD????
Posted: 10-10-23
by: veggie_dana

Hey everyone, I’m an artist (that’s so exciting to type!!) traveling to Taos later this week for my very first art show!! But my ride from just ABQ fell through (frowny face) so I have to rent a car. All the regular car rental places are either booked or crazy expensive. I don’t have a lot more money to budget for this trip, but I saw a good groupon deal for Cryptid Car Rental? But I can’t find reviews anywhere else online and there’s no phone number on their website which makes me nervous?? It looks like they have a rental kiosk at the airport but I dunno. Has anyone heard of them?? Anyone used them before? TIA! <3 Dana

33 REPLIES:

1. Re: CRYPTID CAR RENTAL ANY GOOD????
Posted: 10-10-23
By: undead_darling149

hi @veggie_dana, yes i have used cryptid many times and they are very affordable and discreet. but know they only take cash or blood donation.

February 6, 2025 at 4:29 PM

Allison Pottern

@apottern.bsky.social

You know what’s getting me through the week? This cake, this “can we even eat this much cake” monstrosity. Made by the enthusiastic children who said “we want to surprise you mama” which meant four cakes stacked on top of each other. If you see me looking vaguely maniacal it’s probably the sugar.