Marianne Xenos
@mariannexenos.bsky.social
Artist, writer and occasional shapeshifter. I live in western Mass. with a cat named Fred.
www.mariannexenos.com
www.mariannexenos.com
Little Key Press nominated my story "Lucky Dragon" for a Pushcart Prize. I know those Pushcart nominations are like the longest of the long, long lists, but it's still a thrill. I wrote the story to the book's prompt, and fell in love with my character, a sentient claw machine.
December 8, 2025 at 1:37 AM
Little Key Press nominated my story "Lucky Dragon" for a Pushcart Prize. I know those Pushcart nominations are like the longest of the long, long lists, but it's still a thrill. I wrote the story to the book's prompt, and fell in love with my character, a sentient claw machine.
I use a timer when I'm at my work table. Twenty minutes on and at least an hour off. I have a different schedule for writing, but for standing, cutting and pasting work, twenty minutes is my limit. Yesterday I pushed myself way past the time limit and lost a day's work today. So, here's a reminder.
August 15, 2025 at 3:26 AM
I use a timer when I'm at my work table. Twenty minutes on and at least an hour off. I have a different schedule for writing, but for standing, cutting and pasting work, twenty minutes is my limit. Yesterday I pushed myself way past the time limit and lost a day's work today. So, here's a reminder.
Audre Lourde with a hat tip to Rob Brezny.
July 24, 2025 at 3:47 AM
Audre Lourde with a hat tip to Rob Brezny.
This is just me talking to myself. I've been looking for inspiration in all the wrong places. Picasso said, "Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working."
July 20, 2025 at 6:10 AM
This is just me talking to myself. I've been looking for inspiration in all the wrong places. Picasso said, "Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working."
The event for the CLAW MACHINE anthology is on Tuesday, June 26 at 7 pm PT, 10 pm ET.
www.instagram.com/p/DLDgqMUyij6/
www.instagram.com/p/DLDgqMUyij6/
June 22, 2025 at 4:10 PM
The event for the CLAW MACHINE anthology is on Tuesday, June 26 at 7 pm PT, 10 pm ET.
www.instagram.com/p/DLDgqMUyij6/
www.instagram.com/p/DLDgqMUyij6/
We're having an online reading for the CLAW MACHINE anthology next Tuesday, June 24 at 10:00 pm ET, 7:00 pm PT. The official book release happened last week in Portland, OR, and I'm looking forward to hearing the other authors read their work.
linktr.ee/mariannexenos
linktr.ee/mariannexenos
June 18, 2025 at 7:21 PM
We're having an online reading for the CLAW MACHINE anthology next Tuesday, June 24 at 10:00 pm ET, 7:00 pm PT. The official book release happened last week in Portland, OR, and I'm looking forward to hearing the other authors read their work.
linktr.ee/mariannexenos
linktr.ee/mariannexenos
Happy Pride Month. To celebrate, here's Lady Fred modeling a copy of WRITTEN WITH PRIDE published by Not a Pipe Publishing. My short story "Doomcookies and Donuts" is included. The story is set in the late 80s in Central Square Cambridge, and involves friendship, trauma and tap dancing.
June 2, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Happy Pride Month. To celebrate, here's Lady Fred modeling a copy of WRITTEN WITH PRIDE published by Not a Pipe Publishing. My short story "Doomcookies and Donuts" is included. The story is set in the late 80s in Central Square Cambridge, and involves friendship, trauma and tap dancing.
The kickstarter is live today! I'm excited to be in this anthology with a group of wonderful authors.
Elizabeth Mitchell is a joy to work with. Link in the next comment.
Elizabeth Mitchell is a joy to work with. Link in the next comment.
March 4, 2025 at 10:43 PM
The kickstarter is live today! I'm excited to be in this anthology with a group of wonderful authors.
Elizabeth Mitchell is a joy to work with. Link in the next comment.
Elizabeth Mitchell is a joy to work with. Link in the next comment.
Mark Rothko, Untitled (Yellow and Blue)
#standwithukraine
#standwithukraine
March 1, 2025 at 2:53 AM
Mark Rothko, Untitled (Yellow and Blue)
#standwithukraine
#standwithukraine
Here's the first page of my story "Furies Unlimited" in The Amphibian Literary and Arts Journal. Illustration and design by Anna Potter -- thank you, Anna!
February 24, 2025 at 6:28 PM
Here's the first page of my story "Furies Unlimited" in The Amphibian Literary and Arts Journal. Illustration and design by Anna Potter -- thank you, Anna!
My story "Furies Unlimited" is included in The Amphibian, a gorgeous literary magazine featuring art, poetry and stories. Some of my stories feel like puppies in search of a good home. This particular puppy has honey-colored wings, and I'm glad it went to live with The Amphibian.
February 22, 2025 at 11:31 PM
My story "Furies Unlimited" is included in The Amphibian, a gorgeous literary magazine featuring art, poetry and stories. Some of my stories feel like puppies in search of a good home. This particular puppy has honey-colored wings, and I'm glad it went to live with The Amphibian.
According to the government, LGBTQ is now LGB. They're eliminating the rainbow one color at a time. There would be no Stonewall without transgender people.
h/t Badly Licked Bear
h/t Badly Licked Bear
February 13, 2025 at 11:39 PM
According to the government, LGBTQ is now LGB. They're eliminating the rainbow one color at a time. There would be no Stonewall without transgender people.
h/t Badly Licked Bear
h/t Badly Licked Bear
I made a goal to send out more stories this winter, and had fourteen stories in the mail in January. Now those stories are coming back, and I'm on the longest rejection streak of my life! My reward is two chocolates for every rejection.
February 7, 2025 at 6:04 PM
I made a goal to send out more stories this winter, and had fourteen stories in the mail in January. Now those stories are coming back, and I'm on the longest rejection streak of my life! My reward is two chocolates for every rejection.
Three years ago I published my first short story -- ever -- in THE FUTURE FIRE. Today's a happy writer-versary.
February 3, 2025 at 4:44 AM
Three years ago I published my first short story -- ever -- in THE FUTURE FIRE. Today's a happy writer-versary.
I finally finished my story about Derketo. The plot is basically: a shapeshifting mermaid goddess walks into a karaoke bar in the Florida Keys. It's also about mothers and daughters and a charming one-winged crow. I'll let you now if it finds a home.
Image by Thalia Took.
Image by Thalia Took.
January 24, 2025 at 6:56 AM
I finally finished my story about Derketo. The plot is basically: a shapeshifting mermaid goddess walks into a karaoke bar in the Florida Keys. It's also about mothers and daughters and a charming one-winged crow. I'll let you now if it finds a home.
Image by Thalia Took.
Image by Thalia Took.
Three years ago Frances Pai sent me chocolate truffles for my rejection jar. My rule was two chocolates per story rejection.
This week I published a story, received a rejection, and was a finalist for an award I really wanted to win.
Chocolate is complicated. Chocolate is a writerly skill.
This week I published a story, received a rejection, and was a finalist for an award I really wanted to win.
Chocolate is complicated. Chocolate is a writerly skill.
December 4, 2024 at 3:22 AM
Three years ago Frances Pai sent me chocolate truffles for my rejection jar. My rule was two chocolates per story rejection.
This week I published a story, received a rejection, and was a finalist for an award I really wanted to win.
Chocolate is complicated. Chocolate is a writerly skill.
This week I published a story, received a rejection, and was a finalist for an award I really wanted to win.
Chocolate is complicated. Chocolate is a writerly skill.
My story, "The Messenger," is in the new issue of NonBinary Review. The theme is "Rituals."
www.zoeticpress.com/issue-38-rit...
www.zoeticpress.com/issue-38-rit...
December 3, 2024 at 4:42 PM
My story, "The Messenger," is in the new issue of NonBinary Review. The theme is "Rituals."
www.zoeticpress.com/issue-38-rit...
www.zoeticpress.com/issue-38-rit...
For @simpulse.bsky.social -- gray sky with an owl.
Image: "Minerva," collage, Marianne Connolly
Image: "Minerva," collage, Marianne Connolly
November 14, 2024 at 6:19 AM
For @simpulse.bsky.social -- gray sky with an owl.
Image: "Minerva," collage, Marianne Connolly
Image: "Minerva," collage, Marianne Connolly
Last week Nina Kiriki Hoffman and I read stories as part of "Dragon Moon Dreaming," an online Art Forum via Gallery A3. The video is now available on Vimeo. Thanks, Nina!
vimeo.com/868552602
vimeo.com/868552602
October 3, 2023 at 11:17 PM
Last week Nina Kiriki Hoffman and I read stories as part of "Dragon Moon Dreaming," an online Art Forum via Gallery A3. The video is now available on Vimeo. Thanks, Nina!
vimeo.com/868552602
vimeo.com/868552602