Maria Fox
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mariafoxwriter.bsky.social
Maria Fox
@mariafoxwriter.bsky.social
320 followers 650 following 56 posts
Fantasy and science fiction writer. mariafoxwriter.com Former academic. I have opinions and sometimes share them. She/her. Pro-democracy. 5calls.org. No DMs, thanks.
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mariafoxwriter.bsky.social
It’s been a busy couple of weeks but this lovely roseate spoonbill near our library reminded me to stop and take a breath. #Florida #FloridaLife #FloridaBirds #birds #birding
A reedy section of a pond. The grassy, mowed bank can be seen across the top of the image, in the lower left corner, and reaching out from about halfway down the left side of the image. From the right extends a mass of reeds into the middle of the image. In the center of the image, a bit higher than the horizontal center, stands a roseate spoonbill in profile. It stands at the edge of reeds extending from the right. The spoonbill is a wading bird, larger than duck and a little smaller than a goose. Its plumage is pinkish, or roseate. Its long gray beak ends in a flat, spoon-like shape. In this photo, its reflection in the pond water it wades in is visible. The pond also reflects the blue sky, the grassy banks, the reeds in and edging the water, and the surrounding trees (not visible in the photo). In the foreground are a couple of reedy tussocks in the pond.
September 6, 2025 at 9:32 PM
mariafoxwriter.bsky.social
My youngest and I had a lot of fun learning to throw pots last weekend at a local pottery, the Clay Co-Op. 2 hours, we each got to make 2 pots, all materials included. (I’ll show you the pots once they’ve been fired in another couple weeks.) 1/3
The inside of a pottery studio. In the center is a potter’s wheel. The wheel consists of a low, irregularly shaped table. The horizontal surface is yellow plastic. The three black plastic legs rest on red bricks. On the low table on the left side is a wheel, a mostly black circle with a steel border. On the wheel rest a metal scraping tool and a wooden pottery knife. On the table to the right is a plastic bucket filled with clayey water. A large clayey rectangular sponge is draped over the rim. On the speckled concrete floor is the pedal for the wheel, connected to the wheel and table by a cord. A low gray stool is to the left of the pottery wheel table. Toward the upper right, two more wheel stations can be seen. In the upper left stands a sturdy wooden table holding tools, not fully visible. Table displaying some of the class’s finished pots. Visible are four finished but unglazed and unfired pots of red clay on flat wood squares. The are two small pots, fully glazed and fired, one yellow, one blue. In the bottom right corner is a crock holding several paintbrushes of different sizes and shapes. In the upper left are three objects like dark cake stands. A red pot on a wood square sits on a fourth stand, for easier painting. The pottery teacher’s red and white striped apron is visible, as is one arm steadying the wood platform. One can just see the blowtorch she is using to quickly dry the surface of the pot to ready it for painting with glaze. A look at finished but unglazed and unfired pots from class. On a wooden table surface, in the center of the photo are two bowls set on thin wood squares ready to be painted with glaze. One can see the edges of two others along the right side. At the top of the image, from the left, are a plastic tub with tools, a green go-cup, and a white rag.
August 25, 2025 at 10:20 PM
mariafoxwriter.bsky.social
Every few weeks I like to make focaccia. Yesterday made some plain and some with onion, garlic, and rosemary. Very satisfying on a rainy evening. #HomeBaking #SavoryBaking #baking #focaccia #ItalianHomeCook
Seen from above. A white oval platter on a red tablecloth. Eight pieces of plain focaccia are arranged on the platter. One can see the dimples in the golden-brown bread and the Maldon salt flakes sprinkled on top. Seen from above. A wooden cutting board on a dark granite counter that is reflecting a lot of glare. On the board are twelve freshly cut golden-brown pieces of focaccia. A couple of pieces are angled for visual interest. Onion, rosemary, and Maldon salt flakes top the focaccia. To the lower right is a pizza cutter, resting against a couple of pieces.
August 23, 2025 at 11:20 PM
mariafoxwriter.bsky.social
Ngl, it was pretty thrilling to open the box of author's copies I ordered! You can learn more about the book and order your own hard copy or ebook at books2read.com/b/bzx7o2
#WritingLife #SmallPleasures #BuyMyBook
August 22, 2025 at 11:05 PM
mariafoxwriter.bsky.social
Got in a baking mood and we had a bunch of blueberries, so I made the Black- and Blueberry Ricotta Cake from Snacking Cakes by Yossy Arefi using only blueberries. #BlueberryBaking #baking #SnackingCakes #YossyArefi
Blueberry snacking cake seen from above. A square cake on a square white platter on a dark granite counter with some reflective glare. The cake is puffy and golden brown and many blueberries are visible. There is some sugar sprinkled on top.
August 19, 2025 at 12:31 AM
mariafoxwriter.bsky.social
I share a map of the kingdom of Tamtir that I drew while writing and several mixed media pieces I made (and rejected!) while figuring out the cover design.
#Sci-FiAndSunshine #WriterPodcast #AmateurArt #WritingProcess #BuyMyBook
Blog banner using the images from the book cover of Handsome and Hideous. In the background, there is a stone octagonal castle left-center, a tattered red rose to the right, supported by a tangle of black thorns, and a starry dark blue night sky over the castle, rose, and thorns. To the left are foregrounded images of the paperback edition, turned to show a bit of the spine, and a color tablet displaying the book cover. To the right in white letters is written, “Handsome and Hideous by Maria Fox is now available in e-book and paperback! Vendors: https://books2read.com/u/bzx7o2. MariaFoxWriter.com.” In the lower left corner and upper right corner are corner decorations in light purple.
August 8, 2025 at 7:06 PM
mariafoxwriter.bsky.social
A few days ago I was at the Sarasota Art Museum for an Artist Talk by two Gee’s Bend quilters, Loretta Pettway Bennet and Louisiana Bendolph. They were thoughtful, inspiring, and funny. I love to learn the many different ways people think about and practice their art. 1/4
Quilt by Louisiana Bendolph, Housetop Variation, 2007. The quilt is hanging on a wall. The main color of the quilt is creamy white. It is divided by a strip of black into two uneven sections, the top part about three quarters of the quilt area, the bottom one quarter. An inner black border outlines the quilt except for a section across about two thirds of the top, which is red. A narrower red border, the quilt binding, frames the entire quilt. In the middle of the larger top section is a black and white square, an abstract composition. A narrow red line stretches horizontally to the right from the not-quite-center of the square to the inner edge of the black border. A wider black line drops from the upper right black border, stopping level with top of the square but not touching it. This is a print made from a maquette of a quilt by Loretta Bennet, Blues, 2007. The print is matted in white and framed in black. The image is an abstract composition made of rectangular shapes in black, tan, indigo, royal blue, dark teal, and bright sky blue. This is a mixed media room installation by Lillian Blades, Sanctuary, 2025. A central dome or tent structure is surrounded by three curved outer curtain structures. They are all suspended from the ceiling and are made of round and rectangular pieces of glass and other material that lets light pass through. The dominant colors are pink, yellow, and white. The floor of the exhibit is wood. A skylight illuminates the work with natural sunlight.
August 6, 2025 at 9:41 PM
mariafoxwriter.bsky.social
If you’re in the St. Pete (FL) area, stop at Tombolo Books! It’s a wonderful independent bookshop with varied and interesting stock. It’s also a very active community hub, with several book clubs & frequent author events. Plus there’s a coffee place right next door, Black Crow Coffee! 1/3
This photo is from the website of Tombolo Books. Storefront of Tombolo Books. The store front is painted in wide color blocks of green, yellow, lavender, pink, and blue. The awning over the door is black. Two palm trees stand by the door on the left. There is a large window, with panes in rows of four and columns of four, in walls at either side of the door. On the left side of the door, “New Books Open Daily” is in white lettering, with an arrow below pointing to the door. On right is “Books Books Books.” On the far right of the building is painted a book with a blue and green cover and “Tombolo Books” on the spine. A sign reading “Tombolo Books” in whote lettering hangs over the door. There is a blue sky above with a few white clouds. In the bottom right corner are some ferns, in the bottom left a fern, white gravel around the base of the trees, and cement pavement. The storefront looks bright, friendly, and welcoming. A paperback copy of Handsome and Hideous with a mug of coffee. The paperback is standing vertically on a weathered wooden outdoor table. There are gaps between th table planks. The cover is blue, with the title, author, and corner decorations in pale gray. The most noticeable image on the cover is a tattered red rose. There are white stars scattered on the cover image. The footed mug of black coffee sits a little in front of the book. It is cream-colored with brown stripes circling it. Beyond book and mug one sees the wooden railing of a deck, and in the background, leafy green trees.
August 3, 2025 at 9:33 PM
mariafoxwriter.bsky.social
What have I been doing lately, you ask? Well, yet another member of my household has been hit by covid this summer, so I’m staying close to home, masking when I go out, and testing often. 1/2
View is looking down at the shawl in progress as it is laid out on a dark wood table. The shawl forms a rough crescent. At the lower tip is a tail of yarn. The top edge is still on the circular needle, the tips of which are cropped out. A gray weight is visible above the top edge, keeping the edge from curling up. The shawl is striped in coral orange, cerulean blue, and almond beige. Toward the top there is a few rows of lace in beige. To the right of the shawl is a skein of the coral yarn, with some yarn length visible and attached to the shawl in progress. In the middle top of the shawl are two plastic safety pins, which I use to keep track of which is the “right” side of the work. Laid on a dark wood table are five identical crochet motifs, each about ten inches across. They are overlapping each other in a line. The one on the far right is fully visible. The motifs are hexagonal. They are worked mostly in shades of blue: ice, midnight, aster, and lapis, with some cream and parchment tan. Each point of the hexagon has a plastic safety pin, to aid me in assembling the blanket later. The cover for Grace Draven’s book, The Ippos King. The color palette is black, gray, beige, dull gold, and silver. The author’s name is in dull gold across the top. The title is in white lettering towards the bottom left. The left center has a large image of a bearded man’s head and shoulders is seen in three-quarter profile. He is in armor and has a dull gold cape. His hair is dark, and he is looking down, in sorrow or regret, perhaps. In the lower right is the image of a warrior woman standing on rocky terrain. She is in full armor and carries a shield and a spear. She stares straight out and stands with her feet firmly planted. Her long white hair, braided back from her face, blows in the wind behind her. Her gray skin and glowing gold eyes suggest she is not human. In the lower left corner is a distant mountain fortress. There are scattered stars or perhaps snowflakes over the dark areas of the image.
July 30, 2025 at 10:10 PM
mariafoxwriter.bsky.social
Grace Draven is a writer I’ve heard a lot of great things about, but while I was writing my own fantasy romance I was skittish about reading others’. Now Handsome and Hideous is out seeking its fortune and I’ve been reading the books I’d set aside. 1/3
Cover image of the book Radiance by Grace Draven. A red-haired white-skinned woman in a sleeveless dark dress shares an embrace with a gray-skinned man wearing a hood and sleeveless leather armor. The woman has long hair. Her eyes are closed and she turns toward him with trust. His eyes are also closed and he holds her with tenderness, one hand in her hair. It is a romantic and beautiful image.
July 27, 2025 at 12:47 AM
mariafoxwriter.bsky.social
I’m still working on the crochet Delft blanket project, but I like to have more than one thing going at a time. I got a scarf knitting kit for Mother’s Day. New skill for me: knitting with color changes. These are pretty basic, as they are stripes, not intricate Fair Isle patterns. 1/2
View is from above. My knit scarf so far, seen against the background of a red sofa cushion. The scarf is a triangle made of coral orange, cerulean blue, and almond beige stripes. Loose ends from the color changes straggle across the cushion. A skein of the coral orange sits to the right of the scarf-in-progress. Two plastic stitch markers in the middle of the knitting mark this visible side as the “right side” of the knitting. Photo of the cover page of the printed pattern. At the top is the name of the pattern, Beachcomber: A Shawl for Summer, and the name of the designer, Chelsea Berkompas. In the right upper corner is the logo of KnitPicks, the site that sold the pattern. There is a photo of a pretty, smiling blonde woman at the beach, wearing the scarf draped around her neck and shoulders. She is wearing a white sleeveless dress. The scarf is striped in coral, cerulean, and almond, with lace sections in almond. Below the photograph is a description of the pattern as follows: Beachcomber is a completely reversible oversized shawl full of fun shaping, garter stitch stripes and striking lace. Worked diagonally from tip to tip, the multicolored garter stitch sections alternate with bands of lace and are finished off with a fluttery picot bind-off, resulting in a delightfully squishy, colorful and lightweight shawl! The large, asymmetrical shape can be worn a multitude of ways and the breathable cotton/linen blend makes Beachcomber a striking and dramatic summer accessory.
July 23, 2025 at 1:07 AM
mariafoxwriter.bsky.social
There was a family request for strawberry cupcakes. The recipe I like uses fresh strawberries in the batter and freeze-dried strawberries in the icing. #StrawberryCake #SallysBakingAddiction #Baking #Cupcakes 1/2
View is from above looking into a clean stainless-steel sink. A stainless steel colander is filled with fresh strawberries, unhulled. View is from above, looking into a stainless-steel pot on a dark stovetop. It is filled with bright red fresh strawberry puree. On the right a wooden spoon rests on a stainless steel spoonrest. View is from above, looking into a stainless-steel bowl on a dark countertop. Inside the bowl is pale pink cake batter with flecks of red. View is from above. On the left is a white cake tray upon which are visible nineteen strawberry cupcakes. All but the top row of three are frosted with dark pink strawberry cream cheese icing. To the right is a stainless-steel bowl with some strawberry icing in it. A spreading knife is stuck in the icing on the left side of the bowl.
July 19, 2025 at 8:18 PM
mariafoxwriter.bsky.social
Enjoying Conversations with Birds by Priyanka Kumar. Essays about her & her family’s encounters with birds in the US SW. She writes with a film-maker’s eye & heart of someone who longs to connect with landscape she inhabits and the fellow creatures who also make it their home—especially birds. 1/2
Cover of the book Conversations with Birds by Priyanka Kumar. Background is a deep midnight blue. Title and author are in white lettering. Gold decoration edges the top and bottom cover edges. Three birds, illustrated by Audubon, feature on the cover, from left to right: western tanager on a branch, a burrowing owl (I think), also on a branch, and an ivory-billed woodpecker (only the head visible).
July 16, 2025 at 10:19 PM
mariafoxwriter.bsky.social
Lot of rain last week, which puts me in a baking mood. The family requested star bread, a cinnamon-roll-like confection, with a lighter dough & a fun presentation. From Christmas Baking by Joyce & Laura Klynstra. Recipe is Star Bread. #baking #StarBread #ChristmasBaking #JoyceKlynstra #LauraKlynstra
Viewer is looking down on a baking sheet from above. The aluminum baking sheet is lined with parchment paper and sits on a dark glass range top. The star bread has eight puffy points or petals surrounding a round center. Each point is formed of two twists of dough layered cinnamon sugar and pinched together at the tip. The whole thing is golden brown and sprinkled with confectioner’s sugar. Cover of the cookbook. The background is white. Main title in red is Christmas Baking. Subtitle in green is Festive Cookies, Candies, Cakes, Breads, and Snacks to Bring Comfort and Joy to Your Holiday. A square wooden tray holds a variety of Christmas goodies. Joyce and Laura Klynstra are the authors. The book is on a dark granite counter which reflects some light.
July 12, 2025 at 12:56 AM
mariafoxwriter.bsky.social
Last week I was in the NC mountains. I expected to have slow internet access, but it was closer to NO internet access. Spent time with loved ones and soaked in the green coolness. #OffLine #Trees #BeechMountain
Forest scene from a trail on Beech Mountain, North Carolina. Foreground is the forked trunk of a beech tree (I think). The trunks are slender and gray and bear patches of green moss and sea-green lichen. More trees nearby and in the background. They are spaced apart so that the sun’s rays fall in among them. Tall grasses thrive at the trees’ feet.
July 5, 2025 at 7:55 PM
mariafoxwriter.bsky.social
I love to bake & I love chocolate, so to celebrate my pb book release I baked these delicious chocolate crinkles! Classic Chocolate Crinkles from Sally’s Cookie Addiction by Sally McKenney. #celebrate #BookBirthday #Cookies #Chocolate #ChocolateCookies #SallysBakingAddiction #SallysCookieAddiction
Viewer is looking down on a black wire rack filled with cookies, six rows of four. The rack is sitting on a dark brown granite counter. The cookies are dark chocolate covered with confectioner’s sugar. They have beautiful cracks all over which show pleasingly dark through the white sugar. A pile of cookies on a white plate that is rimmed with a delicate blue design bordered by a thin green stripe. The plate sits on runner in shades of red, orange, and burgundy on a dark wood dining table. The cookies are dark chocolate covered with confectioner’s sugar. They have beautiful cracks all over which show pleasingly dark through the white sugar.
June 28, 2025 at 1:55 AM
mariafoxwriter.bsky.social
I am thrilled to announce that Handsome and Hideous is now out in paperback as well as e-book! #DebutAuthor #Fantasy #FairyTaleRetelling #BeautyAndTheBeast #ShesTheBeast #FishOutOfWater #MagicCurses #SorceressAndPrince #FindingOnesPlace
The trade paperback of Handsome and Hideous is lying amid foliage. The cover is sundappled and shadowed by small, long leaves. The cover itself is dark blue with small white stars. The octagonal stone castle is not clearly visible in this light, but the image of dark thorns and a tattered red rose are. The title and author are in pale gray, as are the corner decorations. The cover of the book Handsome and Hideous by Maria Fox is shown against a shaded gray background. The cover is dark blue with small white stars. The background image is an octagonal stone castle. The foreground image is dark thorns and a tattered red rose. The title and author are in pale gray, as are the corner decorations. In a red cursive font around the cover are written tropes that might interest readers. Red lines with arrows run from the cover at different points and each point to a noted trope. The tropes are: she’s the beast, quest, curses, sorceress and prince, finding one’s place without losing oneself, and fish out of water times two. Beneath the cover, in red, are the URLs for vendors and the author’s website. Vendors: https://books2read.com/u/bzx7o2. Website: MariaFoxWriter.com
June 27, 2025 at 7:19 PM
mariafoxwriter.bsky.social
We just had hail with our thunderstorm today because why not #FloridaWeather #FloridaLife
A welcome mat with chunks of hail on it. The welcome mat is brown and bristly with a dark vine design and the word "welcome" on it. Marble-sized chunks of hail are on the mat. Under the mat is pale tile.
June 26, 2025 at 12:08 AM
mariafoxwriter.bsky.social
A few years ago, we stopped at a rest stop on I-4 and discovered that a flock of sandhill cranes was also using the stop to rest on their journey. They were completely unbothered by us human travelers. It's one of my favorite bird encounters. #birds #floridalife
In the background is an asphalt parking lot, with the stripes and the icon marking a handicapped spot in blue and white paint. In the foreground is a sandhill crane in profile as it faces to the left of the photo. The crane is visible from its head to midbody. It is buff-colored on its back and wings, with the coloring becoming a soft gray on its neck and head. It has white cheeks, a sharp, dark beak, an orange eye, and a red cap. In the background is an asphalt parking lot, with white and blue painted stripes. In the foreground is a sandhill crane turning away from the camera. The crane is visible from head to foot. It is buff-colored on its back, wings, and tail, with the coloring becoming darker on its tail. Its legs are black and knobby-kneed. Each foot has three big toes pointing forward and a smaller toe pointing backward. Its gray neck and head can be seen in profile pointing to the right of the photo. It has white cheeks, a sharp, dark beak, an orange eye, and a red cap. The tail feathers of another crane are visible in the top right corner.
June 24, 2025 at 10:43 PM
mariafoxwriter.bsky.social
Maybe you, too, are having a difficult day. I hope this little anole lizard poking its head out to check on the world gives you a reason to smile. #lizard
In the background, a weathered wooden fence, a shrub, and other greenery. In the foreground, the curve of a handrail, made from a galvanized metal tube. There is a small round hole in the metal tube. A brown anole lizard is poking its head out of it.
June 22, 2025 at 7:40 PM
mariafoxwriter.bsky.social
Book announcement on social media 6/18/25
Hey, y'all, I did a thing! HANDSOME AND HIDEOUS is out in e-book at the usual suspects. books2read.com/u/bzx7o2 Print edition available next week. #DebutAuthor #Fantasy #FairyTaleRetelling #BeautyAndTheBeast
1/4
Book cover of Handsome and Hideous by Maria Fox. Background color is dark blue sprinkled with white stars. Background image is a crumbling octagonal stone tower with ravens flying away from it. Foreground image is a twisted branch of thorns bearing a tattered red rose. The title and author’s name are in pale gray, as are the lacy corner decorations. Red arrows point to tropes written in red: she’s the Beast, quest, curses, sorceress and prince, finding one’s place without losing oneself. URL for buying e-book is https://books2read.com/u/bzx7o2. Author’s website URL is MariaFoxWriter.com
June 19, 2025 at 12:29 AM
mariafoxwriter.bsky.social
here to share that the tea is indeed true blue, as it says on the tin!
a light, pleasant afternoon tea #tea #AfternoonTea
view from above into a white mug of blue tea. the tin the tea came in, labeled True Blue Oolong, Flavored Oolong Tea, from Harney and Sons. view from above shows white mug with a bit of bright blue tea at the bottom, the used tea bags on a tea bag rest nearby, and part of a teapot covered by a floral tea cozy.
June 17, 2025 at 11:24 PM
mariafoxwriter.bsky.social
#NoKings

www.dailykos.com/stories/2025...
Homemade sign reads “Liberty and Justice for All” in red, white, and blue. Homemade sign reads “No kings since 1776.” In the center is an American flag.
June 14, 2025 at 5:44 PM
mariafoxwriter.bsky.social
HERE is what is really happening on the ground in LA.

Where Trump is sending troops to go after America citizens exercising first amendment rights.

#FreedomToDissent #FirstAmendment
June 11, 2025 at 2:32 AM
mariafoxwriter.bsky.social
Can you spot the anole lizard? Hint: it's in profile, head downwards, on the stem of a ti plant (I think!)
In the second photo, you can see his red throat as he puffs it out
Sun-dappled tropical greenery seen out a window. Most distinct plants are ti plants. They have slender but sturdy ribbed stems and large, sword-shaped leaves. The leaves are dark green with red streaks. A green-brown anole lizard can with difficulty be seen in profile, head downward, on a ti plant's stem. The head is raised alertly. Same image as the first photo, taken a second later. The lizard has inflated his red-orange throat pouch. Sunlight highlights the red throat.
June 7, 2025 at 12:14 AM