Reading a book that only has 100 Goodreads ratings, thinking again about how fucking hard we all work and how much of a crapshoot it all is. No one is OWED an audience, obvs. But despite being old and knowing better, it still amazes me how little correlation there is between hard work and "success"

We live in capitalism. Its power seems inescapable. So did the divine right of kings. Any human power can be resisted and changed by human beings. Resistance and change often begin in art, and very often in our art, the art of words.

Tim Curry and Dolly Parton have taught us not only that you should be bigger, weirder, gayer, and freakier, but also that those qualities are what people will love about you. The things that make you strange and amazing are the things that will resonate with other strange and amazing people

From the Duchess (it's real; read about it on my website) to the Duke - well played.

Buttadeus@thewanderingjew.bsky.social · 12h ago

It is genuinely odd and under-discussed that there is a descendant of Montezuma II of the Aztec Empire currently holding a Spanish dukedom in his name and he's just some guy now.

In service of that new book pre-order landing and the book itself imminently arriving, I'm declaring an AMA here on BlueSky for the rest of today (so do ask something because otherwise there's going to be this awkward SILENCE...) ...And GO.

oh okay. him too?? that's god saying go ahead and take the rest of the week off. fuck it.

A lot of my writer friends are stepping up in similar ways, in Dolly's name. Here's another.

Jim C. Hines@jimchines.com · 13h ago

Dolly Parton's Imagination Library gifted more than 300 million books to children. In honor of her passing, I'm making my middle grade book TAMORA CARTER: GOBLIN QUEEN free through the end of the week if you use coupon code ThanksDolly at payhip.com/b/JI8X Grab a copy for a kid who might enjoy it.

I really cannot think of a greater honor than to have the Muppets say this about you upon your passing

truth from Jenny Zigrino

... 😲... good god you idiots READ THE ROOM... she isn't even cold yet and you go and do this??? to someone THAT beloved and mourned? Also, why do you hate children (once they're born)?

@NewsJennifer (Jennifer Schulze)@newsjennifer.bsky.social · 12h ago

Indiana and Missouri Republicans defunded the Dolly Parton library programs in those two states? Are you f*cking kidding me?

This is the letter kids got at the end of Dolly’s Imagination Library. I defy you to read this and not cry.

A New Alma Alexander Novel! ...WELL. Welcome back, Readers. After six long years, a new Alma Alexander novel is coming, and coming SOON. You can already pre-oder the ebook edition here and the paperback is to follow very shortly (final formatting tweaks are in process) and the book itself drops on…

A New Alma Alexander Novel!

...WELL. Welcome back, Readers. After six long years, a new Alma Alexander novel is coming, and coming SOON. You can already pre-oder the ebook edition here and the paperback is to follow very shortly (final formatting tweaks are in process) and the book itself drops on November 24 this year. You know what to do when it comes to Christmas shopping, right...?

almaalexander.org

"'Cause I see, oh, blue skies, Through the tears in my eyes..."

I'm Going Home

Provided to YouTube by Virgin Music GroupI'm Going Home · Tim Curry · The Rocky Horror Picture ShowThe Rocky Horror Picture Show - Original Soundtrack℗ 1989 ...

youtube.com

"This phenomenon raises the question, Is night without natural darkness still night?"

What the World’s Nightscapes Reveal About Our Dependence on Artificial Light

An image of Earth at night as seen from space appeared on my laptop screen during an internet search. The captivating image with a vague title—“Global Map”—drew me in like an insect mesmerized by t…

lithub.com

She was not neutral, not in the way pundits describe it. She was transcendent lawful good.

alix e. harrow@alixeharrow.bsky.social · 16h ago

neutral. lol. some of yall wouldn't recognize a moral stance if it danced in front of you wearing nothing but rhinestones

Check your fuckin' aim indeed.

Lili Saintcrow@lilithsaintcrow.com · 14h ago

fuck, more and more outlets are reporting it verified godsDAMNit, Grim Reaper, check your fuckin' aim

:sob: noooooo

John Scalzi@scalzi.com · 14h ago

What the fucking fuck 2026 could you just fucking stop this shit already people.com/tim-curry-de...

Wait. Wait. Fucking WAIT. Am I understanding that Tim Curry has now died? One day after Dolly? Forgive my French but fuck you 2026...

Tim Curry's Dr. Frank-N-Furter Iconic Smirk

ALT: Tim Curry's Dr. Frank-N-Furter Iconic Smirk

static.klipy.com

This... is everything.

Yashar Ali 🐘@yasharali.bsky.social · 17h ago

This morning, the Coldstream Guards at Buckingham Palace performed a tribute to Dolly Parton. The last time I remember the guards at the palace honoring the memory of an American entertainer was when they paid tribute to Aretha Franklin after she passed away.

Really thinking that one the upcoming Writing School posts in my Patreon should be about sex scenes. Because I just read one that had me screaming "WHAT WERE YOU THINKING" and wondering if there was a way some people can be... dissuaded from writing those. Gently, or with a cudgel.

Tonight, the Empire State Building lights will sparkle pink at 9:25 to honor Dolly Parton. A global icon, her seven-decade career touched generations. She leaves a legacy through her Dollywood Foundation and Imagination Library, providing millions of books to children.

In a world full of the destructive kookiness of people like RFK Jr, strive to fill it with a little of the restorative kindness of Dolly Parton.

Kyle Griffin@kylegriffin1.bsky.social · yesterday

Reminder: Dolly Parton helped fund the Moderna vaccine for COVID.

I ended up having more extended thoughts on Dolly Parton over on Facebook and I thought I would share them here as well.

In honor of Dolly, I'd like to give away a 4-book set of my Worldweavers series for your classroom or library - YA, and up - tothe first educator/young-reader-librarian to speak up for it. You can reach me through my website (www.almaalexander.org) if ya want an author visit to go with it, call out

Delilah S. Dawson@delilahsdawson.bsky.social · yesterday

In honor of Dolly, I'd like to give away some of my middle grade books to teachers who are having trouble getting books into their classrooms. I have Mine, Camp Scare, and Ride or Die on the Horror side and Minecraft Mob Squad on the Fantasy/Gaming side. I'll give away 4 mailers with 3 books each.

I cannot stop thinking now about the fact that over the decades of her book charity Dolly appears to have given away 100,000,000 books to small children, one a month, each child. I’m seeing such a widespread outpouring of loss and love, and all of it … all of it … is proper and deserved.

Sometimes, Reddit has excellent insights. 🫠

She was REAL. she's going to be missed.

Kyle Griffin@kylegriffin1.bsky.social · 2d ago

Dolly Parton's Imagination Library gifted more than 332,000,000 books since it was first created 31 years ago.

Crying now

The New York Times@nytimes.com · 3d ago

Towering woodlands across the Western U.S. are being permanently replaced by spiky shrubs as bigger and hotter wildfires sweep through forests that have not evolved to survive such high-intensity blazes and a warmer climate. nyti.ms/4xrs96D

I *will* call Mommy (the judge) if they try to fuck around with the dates on us. I will. I will make the judge yell at them if they try to pull any shit.