Just took time to say, I'll drop you a line
Mar. 23rd, 2026 11:26 pm


This is more partial even than usual, because I've had some download problems that I've since fixed. But we can let that filter out to the second quarter; time waits for etc. etc.
This Is Not a Love Poem, Alexandra Dawson (Reckoning)
I Met You On the Train, J. R. Dawson (Uncanny)
The Doorkeepers, A. T. Greenblatt (Uncanny)
Unsettled Nature, Jordan Kurella (Apex)
Straw Gold, Mari Ness (Small Wonders)
No Kings/No Soldiers, A.M. Tuomala (Uncanny)
Blade Through the Heart, Carrie Vaughn (Reactor)
Antediluvian, Rem Wigmore (Reckoning)

(video ID: a white person with short reddish-brown hair and gold-rimmed glasses sits in front of a bookshelf, talking. /end ID)
Transcript: What is the most exciting part, and what is the most challenging part, of doing publishing?
The most challenging part is all of the nuts and bolts, but more than that, also, it’s convincing people that this is book that they wanna read. Because in the end, you can publish every book under the sun, but if nobody is gonna buy it and read it, then you’ve got a problem. You’re not really publishing books then, you’re just, sort of patting yourself on the back, self-congratulatory, all that.
Convincing people to actually buy the books is a big part. And then to also read them. Because, as it’s often joked, buying books and reading books are two different hobbies, but in the end, you cannot sustain a publisher if people aren’t enjoying the things that they read. So yeah, that’s… that’s the challenge I think, is actually getting the books in people’s hands. Especially in this current economic and political moment.
The most exciting part is finishing a book. I mean, it – and also seeing people enjoy that book. I mean, I love seeing unboxing videos. I love when we get reviews. I do try not to read reviews because… it… reviews aren’t for the writer or for the publisher. Reviews are for the readers – other readers. So I try not to let them stress me out too much, but it is still very nice to see a review and somebody really really liked something that you’ve poured a ton of work into.
The most exciting part is when it works, and when it goes the ways its supposed to do, you see happy readers and finished products out in the world.
Feel free to drop me any questions you might have for an indie publisher. Let me know what you think. Bye!


Have you seen our collection of queer stories and artwork inspired by William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, entitled And Seek (Not) to Alter Me: Queer Fanworks Inspired by Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing”? Well, now you have!
We were delighted by Shadow’s response to his first visitors last night. We kept him crated until they’d seated themselves ready to watch the first two eps of Slings & Arrows. He made not a peep when they arrived nor during our typically uproarious dinner. Once we let him out of the crate, he observed them closely. One guest had recently enjoyed a hot-and-sour sauce on her egg roll. She invited him closer and he licked her hands! He permitted the other to pet his back. He curled up in his bed (immediately below the TV) and peacefully admired the assembled multitude.
Early this AM MyGuy placed one of Shadow’s beds on my side of our bed. Around 6AM he tip tip tap tipped into the bedroom and curled up in it, keeping me company for 45 minutes.
He was in the breezeway with MyGuy 20 minutes ago, having just come back from his evening constitutional. Just as his lead was unhooked, the leonine March wind blew open the door to the backyard. Shadow was out like a shot. MyGuy called him back, but he kept backing up. At last, MyGuy leaned on the garage holding the door open, and Shadow scooted right back in to the breezeway.
The wisdom around rescues is a rule of 3: 3 days to decompress, 3 weeks to learn routines, and 3 months to feel fully at home. We’re on track.
(Got to get some Shadow icons!)
| Open Date | Close Date | Community | Type of Challenge | Prompt/Information | Link |
| 03/20/2026 | 04/01/2026 | Fanworks | Multifamdom: Challenge 510: River | click here for details | |
| 03/28/2026 | 04/03/2026 | Fanworks | 镇魂 | Guardian: Request period for the 镇魂 | Guardian Reverse Exchange 2026 | click here for details |
| Open Date | Close Date | Community | Type of Challenge | Prompt/Information | Link |
| 03/12/2026 | 03/21/2026 | Fanworks | Multifandom: Signup period for Worldbuiding Exchange | click here for details | |
| 03/15/2026 | 03/27/2026 | Fanworks | 镇魂 | Guardian: Offer period for the 镇魂 | Guardian Reverse Exchange 2026 | click here for details |

What is May Trope Mayhem? It’s Duck Prints Press’s annual multi-fandom/original work creation event! Our creators have shared their favorite tropes, and we’ve picked 31, one per day of May, to make an awesome, fun, diverse list of prompts to inspire your creativity. Come May 1st, we invite everyone to create a ficlet, artwork, gif set, photo montage, or whatever else they feel like, inspired by the trope of the day. We’re open to any fandom or no fandom at all, original characters and old faves, any ship (yes even that one) or no ship or reader inserts or, or, or… If you can imagine it, we’d love to see you create it!
Check out past May Trope Mayhem’s…
No changes are being made to the rules for 2026, so you can get the gist by checking out the past challenges.