T. Rutherford
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trutherford.bsky.social
T. Rutherford
@trutherford.bsky.social
420 followers 710 following 170 posts
Academic by day, fiction writer by night (and on the weekends, and lunch, and in any spare moment).
She/Her
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trutherford.bsky.social
I'm between two of these.
October 24, 2025 at 3:26 AM
trutherford.bsky.social
Today's #WIPSnips is "pressure" and is found in Chapter 3 of my women's fiction/romance, Family Science.
#AmWriting #WritingCommunity
“It’s a tale that too many young actors can tell. The fame. The pressure. The access. All of it swirls together into an intoxicating cocktail, and like many others, I turned to drugs for escape.” The audience lets out an audible gasp even though Jade Logan’s story was old news. Her tragic downfall from superstardom happened twenty years ago. Why was this on a show today? A twinge of annoyance tickled Hannah’s throat. Heartburn at having to rehash ancient history. But still she didn’t change the channel. She didn’t mute the TV and return to the thick stack of reading for her classes. She watched James’ sister tell her tale. His tale.
September 9, 2025 at 6:21 PM
trutherford.bsky.social
Today's (9/4) #WIPSnips, "coffee" is used a ton in my WIP, Family Science.
Here's an instance from Chapter 15
#AmWriting #WritingCommunity
Jade Logan’s Secret Child? The headline invaded Hannah’s phone right when she was glancing at the time. She couldn’t be late for her meeting with Maggie. Not when she actually had a decent idea. Her finger twitched and she had opened the news site—if it could be called that—before she was able to ask herself if she really wanted to see this. When the page loaded, her morning coffee caught in her windpipe. There, under the headline, was a picture of Jade holding her hand out to the camera and looking very paternalistically concerned as she turned back toward where Millie and Hannah stood.
September 4, 2025 at 6:07 PM
trutherford.bsky.social
Today's #WIPSnips from August 21, "shout"
Here it is from Ch. 6 of Family Science
#AmWriting #WritingCommunity
Hannah had the sudden urge to reach out her arms and swallow her friend in a hug. The pain and longing from Abby was so loud that the shouts and laughs of the children playing faded to a background hum. How had Hannah missed what she was going through before? How had she not known Abby had experienced such a profound loss?
August 21, 2025 at 8:15 PM
trutherford.bsky.social
Actually have this one today.
"Career" for the 8/20 #WIPSnips from chapter 3 of Family Science
#AmWriting #WritingCommunity
But what had Jade said? That they left their successful business . . . That wasn’t the story Hannah knew. James’ parents built their career one hundred percent on Jade, taking double ten percents as her agent and manager, curating her America’s sweetheart little girl image until she had aged out of pigtails and no one would consider her for grown-up roles. And so their parents had chased that fame beyond its expiration date, investing everything in Jade and nothing in James. Well, nothing except attempts to get him to work for them too.
August 20, 2025 at 5:57 PM
trutherford.bsky.social
I don't have "trap" as a stand-alone word in my WIP for the Aug. 19 #WIPSnips, but I have "trappings."

From Chapter 14 of Family Science.

#AmWriting #WritingCommunity
When the food arrived, they had moved on from sharks to robots and to day-to-day lives. Hannah’s qualifying study, Millie’s crafting creations, and Jade’s and Roxy’s foundation—the speeches they gave, the parties they had to attend. Millie listened rapt and Hannah's stomach sank. Her daughter was way too interested in the trappings of this celebrity life.
August 19, 2025 at 10:29 PM
trutherford.bsky.social
Back on here on and off. Working on book #3, a family saga/romance, and it did actually have one instance of the 8/18 #WIPSnips word, "bow"
Northing too exciting, but here it is from Ch. 13 of Family Science
#AmWriting
Hannah shrugged and motioned toward the restaurant. Its patio hovered over the beach like the bow of a ship. White cloth-covered tables clustered behind the railing. “I’ve always wanted to eat here. Thanks for inviting me.” “Of course. I’ve been here a few times. It’s great. People are too busy looking at the ocean to notice who they’re sitting near.” Jade smiled apologetically, like she was used to making excuses for the attention.
August 18, 2025 at 4:37 PM
trutherford.bsky.social
Jojo Moyes X Ali Hazelwood (minus the spice)
Hannah was married and pregnant by the end of college, unable to pursue her dreams of grad school in psychology.
Now she's widowed & raising 8yo Millie alone as a dev psych PhD student, trying to form a family for them both
#PosterPit #PosterPitW #C #R
Poster background is pink marshmallows. The text is: The best children get two marshmallows (crossed out) families Title: Family Science She studies what she lives Family Saga * Romance * Single Mom * Psychology * Campus Life * Famous In-laws * Kid Drama Coming Soon
August 16, 2025 at 4:53 PM
trutherford.bsky.social
Nicole will do anything for her daughter, including letting her audition for the local theater.
When she finds out parents who act don't have to volunteer backstage and shush the kids, she's in.
*Cozy slow-burn romance
*Plus an adorable kid & plenty of musical theater
#PosterPit #C #R #PosterPitQ
Readers say: "It's a love letter to theater" and "The parent-child relationship brings all the feels" Title: Four Plays When a single mother brings her kid to audition for the local theater, she finds herself pulled into the theater's community to act, to shape her own identity, and to find love with the leading man Querying now at an agent near you Slow Burn * Cozy Vibes * Self-Discovery * Friends to Lovers
August 16, 2025 at 4:33 AM
trutherford.bsky.social
Mara Alexander's husband died.
She realizes she has died too. And she's found herself in a world slightly different than the prior, merged with another version of herself.
If it happened to her, it must have happened to him.
She just has to die enough times to find him.
#PosterPit #C #F #PosterPitQ
Her husband died and left her lost. But when she dies, she enters another world. He must be here, or in the next. She just as to die enough times to find him. Title: Our Elsewhere Curio Women's Fiction for fans of The Lost Bookshop or This Time Tomorrow Querying Now
August 16, 2025 at 4:20 AM
trutherford.bsky.social
Haven't done one of these in a while. Will try to be more active on here.
#WIPSnips for June 1 from Ch 11 of my WIP cozy slow-burn romance.
Stagger.
He kept pace with Kim despite the fact that he staggered under the weight of a giant shaggy dog costume. He half stepped, half dragged the costume around the rows on the stage. Nicole could read the expression on his face. The same one he wore as Hook when he was unable to free his wig from his stubble. He was clean shaven, but the fluff and fur still committed an assault, batting at his cheeks with the movement of his steps.
June 1, 2025 at 8:43 PM
trutherford.bsky.social
Finally got #CRPBees BINGO after all weekend. Realized I don't describe settings enough, because otherwise I would have had BINGO after the first day. Oh well, eventually got there.
This was fun! Thanks, @briannahwrites.bsky.social !
Bingo card for #CRPBees. The center line is filled with: write a happy scene, 300 words, think about your WIP, observe how someone speaks, and laugh at your own joke
May 5, 2025 at 2:49 AM
trutherford.bsky.social
Back from a work conference and looking forward to getting back into the #WritingCommunity. Here's a #DailyHaiku

Pinch to thin the blooms.
You must murder your darlings.
Gardens and writing.
A patch of strawberry plants with many (probably too many) little white flowers and proto-strawberry centers.
May 2, 2025 at 4:10 PM
trutherford.bsky.social
Fire tended! Though only just. 886 words today after a very long day of conferencing, including two academic presentations. I'll take it. #CRPBees
A chart showing words written by date. Over a month of tracking shows at least 800 words a day.
April 27, 2025 at 5:11 AM
trutherford.bsky.social
Today's #WIPSnips for 4/16. "Wet."
From chapter 5 of my cozy contemporary romance.
I promise, the rest of the book isn't this gross!
Nicole stood between them all and looked from child to child, bracing herself for their feedback. Stephan was suddenly fascinated with something on his shoe. Daisy and Rose gave her a sweet smile and then concentrated on further entrenching themselves in each other’s sweaters. Nicole had done embarrassing things at parties in college—once she dipped a cracker in wet dog food trying to be grown-up and eat what she thought was pâté. But nothing compared to three literal children clearly feeling second-hand embarrassment at her abysmal performance.
April 16, 2025 at 5:54 PM
trutherford.bsky.social
Over a month since I've started my "800 words a day" goal for my new novel, and bit by bit it is taking shape.
It's wonderful to always be making forward progress, even if I will eventually have to edit what I wrote.
As a binge worker in everything else I do, this feels like a special accomplishment
A graph of words by date at the top, starting March 10 and going through April 14. Daily words between 800 and 2,200. At the bottom is a graph of time by date, with the same date range, showing between 45 mins and two and a half hours each day.
April 15, 2025 at 3:55 AM
trutherford.bsky.social
Posting the #WIPSnips for today, April 12th. "Lip" from Ch. 4 of my cozy contemporary romance
#amwriting #WritingCommunity
With his body turned like this, he avoided catching the eyes of the other mothers who slowed as they walked past their row, seemingly hoping to get a bit of his attention. But, also, with his body turned like this, Nicole couldn’t see Daisy on stage without sweeping her eyes past Chris, without catching her gaze on his lips as he mouthed the words in the lost boy songs. He can’t resist, Nicole thought, and the image of Chris mouthing “Happy Birthday” during Rose’s audition brought a smile. But she frowned when the idea invaded her thoughts that it was her who couldn’t seem to resist. She leaned her body forward to cut him out of her field of vision.
April 12, 2025 at 10:16 PM
trutherford.bsky.social
Drawing on my newer WIP for today's #WIPSnips for April 4. Plenty of instances of "laugh" within, but I went with this instance of "laughter" in Ch 3 of my contemporary fiction/romance.
#amwriting #WritingCommunity
A silence settled over the theater with the final note, the entire cast satisfied with what they had created together. Kim stood, holding a notebook in front of her, the scribbled pages visible as she fanned herself. “Good job. We have lots of work to do.” The hush was broken with her final word, and the theater was filled with the sound of chatter, laughter, and scraping chairs. The theater’s worker-teens, as Nicole thought of them, were already ripping tape and stacking chairs, their scripts for Wendy or Peter or even Smee tucked under their arms or rolled into their jean back pockets as they worked.
April 4, 2025 at 6:51 PM
trutherford.bsky.social
The #DailyHaiku for April 4

The orchard beckons
Plum's early blooms dot branches
just waking to spring

#amwriting
A cluster of white plum blossoms on an adolescent tree. A blurred farm fence in the background.
April 4, 2025 at 5:49 PM
trutherford.bsky.social
Today's #WIPSnips for 3/31 is "appreciate."
From Ch 18 of my speculative women's fiction.
#amwriting #WritingCommunity
When we got to the diner, I told Matty that I was ready to try again, and that I was certain that I was going to keep trying until I found William. I repeated to him the quasi-mantra that I had resolved at home after the fuss over the sweater in the portrait, “Die, stay in the world long enough to learn the routine but not get sucked in, and then die again.” I quipped, “if this adventure of mine was a movie, this is the part where they would play the montage. I’d get to meet a bunch of different yous in it . . . and each would be wearing a different fabulous outfit.” It was fun to tease Matty. He dipped his head and raised his eyebrows to me. “And perhaps one of your Maras in another world will have evolved to appreciate fine fabrics and cuts.”
March 31, 2025 at 4:59 PM
trutherford.bsky.social
My #DailyHaiku for the start of spring:

Little face turned to
the top of the sassafras
"Spring!" croaks the crocus

#amwriting
A cluster of white crocus flowers with yellow centers at the base of a sassafras tree. Everything else in the picture is brown--the ground is covered with dead leaves and twigs.
March 30, 2025 at 3:34 PM
trutherford.bsky.social
The #WIPSnips for today, 3/28, is "smart."
I was surprised there were only two instances of this word in my speculative women's fiction. This one from Chapter 2.
The students were enthusiastic as they correctly identified our need to focus attention and to inhibit distractions, but they did not let go of the realization that this meant we miss a lot around us . . . even stuff that we probably should have seen. Despite my pleasure at how well the lecture went, I was still off my game. By November, student names were generally well embedded in my memory, but I kept having to refer back to the seating chart and my first week notes about who was who. One particularly chatty boy in the middle of the room puzzled me. He raised his hands multiple times and had smart, insightful answers. How had I not been able to commit his name to memory?
March 28, 2025 at 5:48 PM
trutherford.bsky.social
It's early days, but this is the draft blurb 😊
Nicole will do anything for her daughter Daisy, including signing her up to perform at the local community theater—even if her ex thinks it is a stupid idea. But it’s not a stupid idea. Daisy thrives and Nicole herself is drawn in. It wouldn’t hurt to dip her toe into performing, especially since parents who perform don’t have to volunteer to shush kids backstage. As Nicole overcomes her introverted nature and her shaky past with acting, she is drawn further into the world of the theater, and into the arms of its newest leading man, widower Chris. Chris and Nicole have great chemistry, on and off the stage, but both have preconceived notions of themselves—and each other—that keep them firmly in the friend zone. Despite her protestations, Nicole has to admit she wants more. Will the two of them find a starring role in each other’s lives or will their romance stay strictly on the stage?
March 28, 2025 at 5:16 PM
trutherford.bsky.social
Maybe not this version, but whatever was played on the Atari in the 80s. We pretended a hurkle was hiding under every sidewalk grate we walked over.
March 28, 2025 at 3:28 AM
trutherford.bsky.social
Searching my manuscripts for todays #WIPSnips for 3/27 made me realize I overuse "quickly" and prompted a trim. But here is a "quick"
#amwriting #WritingCommunity
Ben spoke up and began his story in a quick patter. “It’s like I told you last time I was here. My life seems the same as it did until now, but just, like, slightly different. It’s like the writers have been changed, or the artist.” Ben took a breath and continued. “Last week my dad got me Adventures of Superman #500, because he said he knows I’ve been looking for it for forever. He was so proud. I didn’t have the heart to tell him an old girlfriend had bought that for me a few years ago.” Ben took a sip of his coffee and winced—I doubted he drank much coffee. He was just trying to fit in among the olds in the room. He continued, “But when I got home and went to put the new book with my old one, the old one wasn’t there.” He looked around and said earnestly, “I track my books meticulously.” He strongly emphasized that last word, as if his attention to each syllable would illustrate his point. “There is no way I would have misplaced that book.”
March 27, 2025 at 3:07 PM