Megaera Lorenz
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megaeralwrites.bsky.social
Megaera Lorenz
@megaeralwrites.bsky.social
2K followers 2.9K following 1.4K posts
Egyptologist and author. She/they. Authors Against Book Bans Illinois Chapter Leader. Debut novel THE SHABTI (2024) available now wherever books are sold.
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megaeralwrites.bsky.social
I’m endlessly amused to learn that there was also some sort of elephant-shaped house of ill repute at the Moulin Rouge at around the same time. People in the late 19th c just really liked getting it on and/or doing drugs in elephants
Garden of the Moulin Rouge with a giant elephant looming in the background.
November 13, 2025 at 4:08 PM
megaeralwrites.bsky.social
Apparently yes, but it was a *different* terrifying giant elephant that you could go inside of for a good time
Photo from the late 1800s showing a gigantic elephant statue in the garden of the Moulin Rouge
November 13, 2025 at 3:39 PM
megaeralwrites.bsky.social
TIL that a giant TERRIFYING ELEPHANT BUILDING used to dominate the Coney Island landscape in the late 1800s. It started as a hotel, very quickly became a brothel, and eventually burned down under mysterious circumstances. The dude who built it thought animal bldgs were the future of architecture.
Photo of the Elephantine Colossus, a massive elephant-shaped building, on Coney Island. It’s surrounded by a roller coaster. Closer view of the Colossus before the roller coaster was installed. Absolutely horrifying artistic rendering of the Colossus burning down, with flames shooting out of its eyes. People in Edwardian attire stand by watching with bemused interest.
November 13, 2025 at 2:58 PM
megaeralwrites.bsky.social
I *am* big. It’s the pictchas that got small!
Black and white photo of me in an over the top Norma Desmond getup.
October 31, 2025 at 10:04 PM
megaeralwrites.bsky.social
He’s at it again, no one is safe
Photo of a tabby cat with a white chest cheerfully biting my hand. All his big dumb whiskers are fully angled forward and there is an expression of unhinged glee in his eyes.
October 29, 2025 at 7:38 PM
megaeralwrites.bsky.social
This is very silly and I should be working on literally anything else right now, but I need art therapy, damn it. Will I ever finish it? Remains to be seen.
Unfinished black and white digital drawing of a 1930s-style witch on a broom with an enthusiastic skeleton riding behind her. An annoyed cat clings to the front end of the broom for dear life.
October 27, 2025 at 5:59 PM
megaeralwrites.bsky.social
I did another seasonally appropriate feline art
Cartoon of a fluffy black cat with big, dilated yellow eyes and a vacant stare, wearing a red collar and doing a small blep.
October 26, 2025 at 5:17 AM
megaeralwrites.bsky.social
I saw a photo of a panther fiercely protecting a pumpkin and had to draw it. Not sure of the original source for the photo reference.
Digital drawing of a panther sitting with one paw in a pumpkin, looking off to one side and snarling. Photo reference for the drawing. A panther sits in an enclosure full of sand, resting one paw on a pumpkin and looking off to the side while snarling.
October 23, 2025 at 3:00 PM
megaeralwrites.bsky.social
Quick study of my son and a neighborhood cat buddy. I’m liking the new Procreate brushes!
Digital ink and watercolor-style drawing of a little boy leaning over to look at a cat who is peeking out of a water pipe.
October 22, 2025 at 12:54 AM
megaeralwrites.bsky.social
Once again, I am blown away by my kid’s illustration/character design chops. Look at these little guys.
A drawing of two little fuzzy guys in faux Medieval/fantasy attire, with pointy shoes and caps with bells on them. The taller one looks concerned/annoyed. His shorter companion holds his hand and stands there looking blissfully oblivious.
October 17, 2025 at 3:08 PM
megaeralwrites.bsky.social
My 12-year-old somehow ended up in her BFF’s very enthusiastic railfanning text group and drew this series of increasingly irate reaction images in response to random train chatter blowing up her notifications at all hours
A doodle of a frustrated person scowling and holding up their hands in a pleading gesture Another doodle of the same person looking even more frustrated. They are glaring and baring their teeth. The cartoon doodle guy is now at their wits’ end. They have developed an eyelid twitch. Their hands face up, fingers curled into claws in a gesture of impotent rage
October 11, 2025 at 3:56 PM
megaeralwrites.bsky.social
EEEEE look at this art of Hermann and Horatio (plus a hint of supernatural menace) that I commissioned from Beelzeebub/beelzafterdark on Instagram 🤩🤩🤩 Could he look any more quintessentially Hermannish? (Also, this is ostensibly a “sketch” with a “simple background” but the detail? The linework?!!!)
Black and white line drawing of Hermann Goschalk from The Shabti by Beelzeebub, aka Beelzafterdark. Hermann stands in his office holding some sheets of paper, looking worriedly at a shadowy, menacing ghostly entity floating into the room at top left. Hermann’s cat Horatio sits behind him on a desk, also looking up at the ghost. There’s a bookcase behind Hermann and several Egyptian artifacts, including some shabti figurines and a false door. There’s a briefcase on the floor by his feet. Hermann is a short, slightly plump man in his 50s, dressed in 1930s attire, with thick, wavy hair and small eyeglasses.
October 7, 2025 at 9:14 PM
megaeralwrites.bsky.social
Here is my (I think) final Banned Books Week guide post for today! Women & Children First is presenting a reading of Ban the Bans tonight in partnership with @writersforda.bsky.social. Stop by and stay for a Q&A w/the readers! RSVP @ womenandchildrenfirst.com/event/2025-1... @authorsabb.bsky.social
Graphic for a Banned Books Week event: "Authors Against Book Illinois Banned Books Week Event Guide! Event name: Ban the Bans (play reading). Location: Women & Children First Bookstore. This event will be held on: 6th October, 2025, 6:15-7pmpm. Address: 5233 N. Clark St., Chicago, IL 60640" Event details: "We're excited to welcome our friends at Writers for Democratic Action for a reading of "Ban the Bans," a new one act play that dramatizes the American refusal to accept state forbidden expression and thought. Our featured readers for the evening will be: Rachel DeWoskin Frances de Pontes Peebles Gabrielle Lyon Zayd Dohrn This event will include a brief (20-minute) reading followed by an audience Q&A. Join us!" Free event. Please RSVP.
October 6, 2025 at 4:34 PM
megaeralwrites.bsky.social
Gurnee's Warren-Newport Public Library has several Banned Books Week events, but they're kicking off with today's blackout poetry take 'n' make activity. Materials available all day at the Information Desk. @authorsabb.bsky.social
Graphic for a Banned Books Week event: "Authors Against Book Illinois Banned Books Week Event Guide! Event name: Banned Books Blackout Poetry. Location: Warren-Newport Public Library. This event will be held on: 6th October, 2025, All Day. Address: Information Desk, 224 O'Plaine Rd., Gurnee, IL 60031." Event details: "Stop by the Information Desk to pick up your own Banned Books Blackout Poetry kit. Create your own unique poems using existing text on pages taken from various banned or challenged books!" Free event. No registration required.
October 6, 2025 at 4:10 PM
megaeralwrites.bsky.social
Here's another Chicago event that's happening pretty much now--a performance by @citylittheater.bsky.social featuring excerpts from banned books. There will be multiple performances this week. See a full schedule + reading list here: www.citylit.org/books-on-the... @authorsabb.bsky.social
Graphic for a Banned Books Week event: "Authors Against Book Illinois Banned Books Week Event Guide! Event name: Books on the Chopping Block. Location: DePaul Theatre School. This event will be held on: 6th October, 2025, 11:30am-1:30pm. Address: DePaul Theatre School Lobby, 2350 N. Racine Ave., Chicago, IL 60614" Event details: "Books on the Chopping Block is our annual 60-minute performance of dramatic readings of short excerpts taken from [banned] books. City Lit has teamed up with the ALA in celebration of Banned Books Week since 2006, performing at special events, libraries and bookstores in and around Chicago... and virtually this year.​​" Free event. No registration required.
October 6, 2025 at 3:54 PM
megaeralwrites.bsky.social
I'm back with more Banned Books Week events! This one is happening TODAY at Woodson Regional Library in Chicago. Stop by from 4-5pm for a teen-friendly evening of freedom-to-read-themed crafts. @authorsabb.bsky.social
Graphic for a Banned Books Week event: "Authors Against Book Illinois Banned Books Week Event Guide! Event name: Banned Books Week: Makers Choice. Location: Woodson Regional Library. This event will be held on: 6th October, 2025, 4-5pm. Address: YOUmedia Room, 9525 S. Halsted Street, Chicago, IL 60628." Event details: "You've got to fight for your right to read! Join us as we celebrate Banned Books Week by creating vision boards, bookmarks, buttons and paint, all in the name of fighting censorship." Event for teens. No registration required.
October 6, 2025 at 3:31 PM
megaeralwrites.bsky.social
The paperback version of The Shabti is out in the world today! 🥳 It’s not available on Amazon due to some kind of distribution snafu (well, it is, but the wait time is 1-2 months?!), but you can get it from less evil retailers such as Bookshop.org!

bookshop.org/p/books/the-...
Photo of me standing outside in a blue shirt, holding up the paperback edition of The Shabti.
September 30, 2025 at 4:22 PM
megaeralwrites.bsky.social
This is my current work buddy. I should probably relocate them outside, but I’m enjoying their tiny, quiet company.
Photo of a little brown jumping spider on a piece of mail with typed text on it.
September 26, 2025 at 6:05 PM
megaeralwrites.bsky.social
I forgot about this drawing I did of a Discord buddy’s cat (she has a tiny pool table for a bed)
Drawing of a black and white cat playing billiards. She’s dressed in a slinky red gown, pearl necklace, and hoop earrings.
September 25, 2025 at 9:20 PM
megaeralwrites.bsky.social
I sense a vibration from the other side—something papery and suspiciously book-shaped is passing through the veil into our realm! Get The Shabti in paperback 9/30.
Photo of several people gathered around a table for a seance in a dark room. A copy of The Shabti in hardcover is lying in the middle of the table. Text at the top says “We’re summoning something frightful to a bookstore near you! 9.30.2025” There’s an asterisk next to the book cover, and below it a note that says “*Please envision the paperback edition here.”
September 25, 2025 at 7:07 PM
megaeralwrites.bsky.social
I’m about 6 months into my quest to maintain health and sanity in the midst of this hellscape by gettin’ SWOLE (or at least reasonably fit by my personal standards). Don’t mind the intense death stare, that’s just my resting concentrating-real-hard-on-getting-my-torso-in-the-frame face.
Selfie of me from the waist up standing next to a wood paneled wall. I’m wearing a grey tank top and glasses with red frames. I’m a white person in my early 40s with brown hair and eyes.
September 24, 2025 at 5:08 PM
megaeralwrites.bsky.social
We’ve been rewatching the LOTR movies. IDK what this guy planned to do with a Hobbit-sized mithril coat, but this is now canon as far as I’m concerned
Two panel cartoon. In the first panel, an orc and a goblin confront each other in a scene from LOTR: Return of the King. The orc angrily clutches Frodo’s mithril vest while saying “Hands off the shiny shirt! It’s MINE.” The goblin seethes in the foreground. Second panel: A caption at the top says “Later…” The orc strolls by wearing the mithril shirt as a crop top, showing off his abs, along with booty shorts, sunglasses, and a baseball cap with the eye of Sauron on it. He’s holding a paper coffee cup.
September 23, 2025 at 1:04 AM
megaeralwrites.bsky.social
Y’all, there’s so much… fascinating…. stuff in this job post I found today, I’m not sure where to begin. But the best is pretty much everything in this bit right here. (Pay rate? $3/hr)
Screenshot of part of a truly bonkers Upwork post: “Other Work) - Whoever is the BEST Can be the Manager to Manage Team - New Idea Research (Research New Ideas to Grow Book Business) -Etc (More & Innovative Ideas & Etc) -Important: To work for my team in the long run, I prefer to be called Sir as we are an employer employee relationship -like all my team goes. If you cannot do this, let me know and we can part ways. -You must write your messages and cover letter answers on your own (NOT Al) as I want to see your thinking/writing/grammar skills without Al. Plus, if you use Al, I will not be interested. - To make sure, you read the cover letter in detail, type "Yes Sir!" in the cover letter message and also do NOT use Chatgpt to answer the cover letter answers so we can see your real grammar/spelling/English abilities. Thank you. FIRST JOB: Use chatgpt4o - Create book info (maybe Outline, Description, Detailed TOC, or content) following my video and text instructions and examples. Must watch and read all my training and create one or more chapters exactly like | want. (INTRO, CONCLUSION, APPENDICES, ONE CORE CHAPTER MODELING MY CH 1).”
September 22, 2025 at 11:34 PM
megaeralwrites.bsky.social
Get The Shabti…. before it gets you! Available in paperback wherever fine books are sold, Sept. 30th.
Graphic of a mustachioed man in 1930s attire holding a phone to his ear while a copy of The Shabti lurks over his shoulder in the background. There’s a speech bubble by his head with the text “The Shabti, in paperback? In less than two weeks, you say? Great Scott!” Text at the lower right says “It’s coming! 09.30.2025”
September 20, 2025 at 1:45 AM
megaeralwrites.bsky.social
Now for something a little different: the event I'm sharing today is hosted by Read Between the Lynes, an indie bookshop in Woodstock! Snag a free audio copy of Little Library of Banned Books by Lula Dean! readbetweenthelynes.com/event/2025-1...
Graphic for a Banned Books Week event: "Authors Against Book Illinois Banned Books Week Event Guide! Event name: Banned Books Week Read-In. Location: Read Between the Lynes. This event will be held on: 5th October, 2025, 2-3:30pm. Address: 111 E. Van Buren St., Woodstock, IL, 60098." Event details: " Join us for a Banned Books Week Read-In! We’ve teamed up with Libro.fm and Silent Book Club to host a Banned Books Week Read-In on October 5, 2025, from 2-3:30 p.m. in protest of censorship. Join us as we read and take action to fight book bans! Attendees will receive a free audiobook copy of Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books. Book bans are loud, but our voices are louder!" No registration required.
September 20, 2025 at 1:05 AM