Steve Hugh Westenra
@stevewestenra.bsky.social
Dr. Monster (PhD)
E-mail: stevehughwestenraATprotonDOTme
Author of questionable taste. Words in New Edge Sword & Sorcery. Trans. Book reviewer. #SFINCS judge. #SFFChat Academic expert on monsters. HWA. He/him
linktr.ee/SteveWestenra
NO AI
E-mail: stevehughwestenraATprotonDOTme
Author of questionable taste. Words in New Edge Sword & Sorcery. Trans. Book reviewer. #SFINCS judge. #SFFChat Academic expert on monsters. HWA. He/him
linktr.ee/SteveWestenra
NO AI
I'll definitely be trying to make next week's!! And again, thank you! ❤️
November 12, 2025 at 11:58 PM
I'll definitely be trying to make next week's!! And again, thank you! ❤️
That's true actually (the gift thing!). I bet a lot of people will just see "bird colouring book" and pick it up. ):
November 12, 2025 at 8:21 PM
That's true actually (the gift thing!). I bet a lot of people will just see "bird colouring book" and pick it up. ):
Thank you!!!!! Omg--that's incredibly generous.
I wish I'd been around for today's chat, also. D :
I wish I'd been around for today's chat, also. D :
November 12, 2025 at 8:21 PM
Thank you!!!!! Omg--that's incredibly generous.
I wish I'd been around for today's chat, also. D :
I wish I'd been around for today's chat, also. D :
Omg!!!! Thank you so so much!!
November 12, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Omg!!!! Thank you so so much!!
Oh same! I'd like to claim I had some really great insight, but honestly, what works is so random
November 12, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Oh same! I'd like to claim I had some really great insight, but honestly, what works is so random
This is so fun! I love seeing so many SFFChat friends on it
November 12, 2025 at 7:22 PM
This is so fun! I love seeing so many SFFChat friends on it
Totally fair! And that's for sure the side of it I think is good. Fully agree about all books being political, also
November 12, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Totally fair! And that's for sure the side of it I think is good. Fully agree about all books being political, also
Yes, exactly! I genuinely wonder whether those books are selling, because surely with colouring being what it is (so detail-focused), people are getting puzzled and annoyed when suddenly the different pieces they're trying to colour don't make sense or connect weirdly
November 12, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Yes, exactly! I genuinely wonder whether those books are selling, because surely with colouring being what it is (so detail-focused), people are getting puzzled and annoyed when suddenly the different pieces they're trying to colour don't make sense or connect weirdly
Oh man! I also have RBF! Ahaha. I'm usually zoned out staring into space, and people think I don't like them. Now I super overcompensate though
November 12, 2025 at 7:18 PM
Oh man! I also have RBF! Ahaha. I'm usually zoned out staring into space, and people think I don't like them. Now I super overcompensate though
This is so beautiful!!! I love the colours
November 12, 2025 at 7:17 PM
This is so beautiful!!! I love the colours
Ahaha--well thank you!! I feel like honestly there are probably a lot of people who feel similarly and we're all just muddling along.
But I do find you very cool and a good writer and artist!
But I do find you very cool and a good writer and artist!
November 12, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Ahaha--well thank you!! I feel like honestly there are probably a lot of people who feel similarly and we're all just muddling along.
But I do find you very cool and a good writer and artist!
But I do find you very cool and a good writer and artist!
If it wasn't obvious, I struggle with this a lot 🤣It doesn't make me feel good, or like a particularly cool person--I wish I could just shrug stuff off (and I'm getting better at it), but yeah
November 12, 2025 at 6:49 PM
If it wasn't obvious, I struggle with this a lot 🤣It doesn't make me feel good, or like a particularly cool person--I wish I could just shrug stuff off (and I'm getting better at it), but yeah
to other trans people, as an example). On the one hand, you can for sure look at that as a positive--it's automatically going to help you avoid some nasty people--but on the other it can also mean you're never really part of the conversations that are happening in a broader sense in your genre.
November 12, 2025 at 6:49 PM
to other trans people, as an example). On the one hand, you can for sure look at that as a positive--it's automatically going to help you avoid some nasty people--but on the other it can also mean you're never really part of the conversations that are happening in a broader sense in your genre.
of the characters I'm writing to be able to find my stuff!" and being taken seriously as anything beyond a kind "niche" genre of work (the assumption on some level--again, often subconsciously--at least I hope--being that if you're a trans author your work must only be potentially interesting
November 12, 2025 at 6:49 PM
of the characters I'm writing to be able to find my stuff!" and being taken seriously as anything beyond a kind "niche" genre of work (the assumption on some level--again, often subconsciously--at least I hope--being that if you're a trans author your work must only be potentially interesting
our marketing somehow), a lot of assumptions get made and people are less likely to approach that work with the same openness as they would a book that never uses that framing.
It sucks, because in a way it feels like choosing between, "hey, I want people who share my identity or the identities
It sucks, because in a way it feels like choosing between, "hey, I want people who share my identity or the identities
November 12, 2025 at 6:49 PM
our marketing somehow), a lot of assumptions get made and people are less likely to approach that work with the same openness as they would a book that never uses that framing.
It sucks, because in a way it feels like choosing between, "hey, I want people who share my identity or the identities
It sucks, because in a way it feels like choosing between, "hey, I want people who share my identity or the identities
as readers (I suspect subconsciously in most cases), outside one or two authors deemed Acceptable due to . . . something I really don't know tbh. I do think when we tag our work in some way as being aligned with a marginality (whether because it's feminist, or we're using our identity in our
November 12, 2025 at 6:49 PM
as readers (I suspect subconsciously in most cases), outside one or two authors deemed Acceptable due to . . . something I really don't know tbh. I do think when we tag our work in some way as being aligned with a marginality (whether because it's feminist, or we're using our identity in our
Many of them are super nice (though by faaaaaar not all, and I've had my share of Encounters 😔), but I definitely clued in after a while that there are a lot of nice people who are perfectly supportive of queer people, authors of colour, women, etc, but who just won't step outside their own identity
November 12, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Many of them are super nice (though by faaaaaar not all, and I've had my share of Encounters 😔), but I definitely clued in after a while that there are a lot of nice people who are perfectly supportive of queer people, authors of colour, women, etc, but who just won't step outside their own identity
You don't come off that way at all (honestly, it's helpful and heartening to hear that it was useful in any way).
And you definitely didn't come off as maudlin whatsoever. I honestly really love author's notes, and yours was well done.
(I feel you on the tendency to sprawl! I'm very much that way)
And you definitely didn't come off as maudlin whatsoever. I honestly really love author's notes, and yours was well done.
(I feel you on the tendency to sprawl! I'm very much that way)
November 12, 2025 at 5:12 PM
You don't come off that way at all (honestly, it's helpful and heartening to hear that it was useful in any way).
And you definitely didn't come off as maudlin whatsoever. I honestly really love author's notes, and yours was well done.
(I feel you on the tendency to sprawl! I'm very much that way)
And you definitely didn't come off as maudlin whatsoever. I honestly really love author's notes, and yours was well done.
(I feel you on the tendency to sprawl! I'm very much that way)
The detail on these is really stunning! I love the lighting on the owl, especially (though I'm partial to vultures, so that one's another favourite)!
November 12, 2025 at 5:10 PM
The detail on these is really stunning! I love the lighting on the owl, especially (though I'm partial to vultures, so that one's another favourite)!