Anna ZenKen Stephens

A painting of a bird beside the text "looks like we're dealing with a big ol' turd sandwich"

My first book occasionally gets criticised because the bad guys are a secret cult of cartoonishly evil necromantic billionaires and I can only assume that these criticisms come from people who live a blessedly offline existence and have never once read a newspaper.

Cover of the non fiction book, what fresh hell is this, about the perimenopause and menopause

Further to my rant about perimenopause and menopause last weekend, for those folks entering or within its hellish embrace, I have found this book to be a brilliant resource. Written by a nonbinary person, it's really trans inclusive and avoids heavily gendered terms wherever possible.

Daylight Savings is here in the US, Dawnfather worshippers let's goooooo! 🌞 ✨ #CriticalRole

In his interview with Sayeeda Warsi, Nick Robinson said: "he gives an example of where in another area, the debate about trans rights, you end up with police arresting a man at an airport for allegedly being anti-trans, something I think almost no one defends now." Robinson was referring back to comments made by Jonathan Hall KC ("do you remember the non-crime hate incidents, the arrest of Graham Linehan.") As the BBC's own reporting (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c07p7v2nn8mo) makes clear Linehan was arrested "on suspicion of inciting violence" for a tweet which read "If a trans-identified male is in a female-only space, he is committing a violent, abusive act. Make a scene, call the cops and if all else fails, punch him in the balls" and he went on to add "I hate them. Misogynists and homophobes. Fuck em.” Both Nick Robinson's description of the reason for Linehan's arrest ; and his description of Linehan's attitude towards trans people, are grossly inaccurate. Linehan was arrested on suspicion of inviting violence and he could hardly have been more explicit about how he feels about trans people.

I've made a further complaint to the BBC about the hideously bigoted - and inaccurate - Radio 4 Today programme.

Fuck @officialgrammarly.bsky.social

It's the first day of London Book Fair today - good luck to my agent @harryillingworth.bsky.social and the rest of the @dhhlitagency.bsky.social team, plus all the other agents, editors, scouts and book folk descending on Olympia!

Green win shows progressive voters are now voting against Labour as well as Reform Gorton and Denton byelection shatters Labour strategy of neglecting its core base while focusing on Reform defectors

I generally assume that political parties know what their constituencies think better than the rest of us do: they spend so much money on polling and focus groups.

But I would be *amazed* if they understood how viscerally they are loathed by young progressives for pushing trans people under a bus.

a man in a plaid shirt is saying i 'm on a real rollercoaster of emotions right now ALT: a man in a plaid shirt is saying i 'm on a real rollercoaster of emotions right now

1154 words this morning that turned unexpectedly from pursuing the aims of the heist to an altercation between our protagonists on an unrelated but deeply personal matter.
Can they come back from this? Can they save whatever fledgling relationship they'd begun to revive? Can they stop the killer?

Oof, that's tough. I also got a rejection yesterday, so ... twinsies?

A very happy #DHHNewsRoundup day! We have some fantastic bookish news for you to delve into! As always, congratulations to our wonderful authors📚🌟

Read here: shorturl.at/7Y43T

A woman wearing a ghillie suit holding an assault rifle while standing in shallow water. She’s looking off, scanning the horizon for threats.

It’s almost International Women’s Day and I’m currently thinking about some of the most badass women on earth: The Akashinga Rangers
These Zimbabwean women train hard to protect wildlife from the worst people on the planet: poachers

A freshly groomed, exceedingly dapper brown poodle by pale purple furniture. The tail is blurred by the speed of its wagging, as is right and proper.

1012 words this morning. Snooping has been achieved, and a Grand Revelation, uh, revealed.
It may, however, be misdirection. Or it may not! Who knows? Certainly not me, the author. I'm just proceeding on vibes at this point to see where they take me.
Structure is for draft 2.
Poodle for added aww

# 248- Ben and Nico interview the short-story writer & reviewer Benjamin Kurt Unsworth, and dig deep on what makes the young man's story-brain tick! Listen here:

pod.link/1524142040/e...

Benjamin's Collections:

phantasmagoriamag.co.uk/online-store...

blackshuckbooks.co.uk/shadows-21/

The NHS has now stopped all medication - puberty blockers and hormones - for trans minors. For most, unless they get drugs from other sources, this means a lifetime, in an increasingly violent and transphobic society, unable to pass. Under Wes Streeting NHS policy is harm and death for trans people.

I’m Keir for you: The PM is visiting a community center in London to discuss the impact. Expect a pooled interview with broadcasters mid-morning. There’s one quote on rising bills in his words trailed overnight that warrants chasing up: “I will always be guided by what is best for the British public. And no matter the headwinds, supporting working people and their families with the cost of living is always top of my mind.”

I mean, this just isn't true, is it? If Starmer was focused on the cost of living crisis he wouldn't insist on no customs union and no single market? Nor would he embrace the negative economic consequences of his anti-migrant policy?

Like everything else about Starmer, this is empty rhetoric.

WHY ISN'T THERE MORE SUPPORT?
The rallying cry for the ages (in the white western world)

You heard Robbie Daymond! 👆 👆 👆

Happy #InternationalWomensDay from Critical Role! ✨

Thank you so much! I'll look at it.

Melissa is absolutely right. We might be traditionally published, and we might occasionally break out with a bestseller, but midlist authors are often neglected by publishers while the big titles suck up all the oxygen. There are some brave and exciting books out there that deserve a lot more hype!

Hmm, I am not but will look into it, thanks. Any particular brand you'd recommend?

Thanks, buddy. Means a lot. X

Oh, Claire, I'm so sorry you can't enjoy this amazing moment as much as you want. Just remember you wrote this book and got here despite this body bullshit and you should celebrate as best you're able. HUGE CONGRATULATIONS on a (probably) lifelong dream.

Angry. Sad. Unable to think or move or be without The Body having an opinion.
I have honestly never been so miserable in my life.
So unlike the person I always wanted to grow into.
What's that saying about the past being another country? It's true because I don't even know where or who I am.
End.

The worst is that I no longer remember what it is like to be me. I'm a stranger in this itchy, unregulated, unfamiliar skin. I have a distant memory of being the person I've spent the last 4 decades evolving into. And now I'm...whatever this is. A stranger to myself. An imposter. A thing.

Today I shouted at my dog, who didn't deserve it, and then sobbed uncontrollably. I'm currently wearing shorts and a vest in a house that is 15 degrees and shivering with cold because I can't be any warmer without triggering The Incandescence.
None of that is the worst.

My smart watch, which ain't so smart, recorded me waking up 9 times last night. Those were the 9 hot flushes that meant I had to drag off all the blankets and half my clothes. It doesn't count the hours I was lying awake with joint pain or itchy skin or restless legs or anxiety.

Menopause talk. Because it's 10.30pm and I've had a couple of drinks and my life is a fucking nightmare because my body no longer works.
I now have an inkling why 45-55 is the prime age for people with uteruses to attempt s*icide. No, this is not me. I'm not there. I just... can see it.

Recent midlist SFF books that deserve everything:

The Tales of the Plains trilogy by @davewragg.com

The Works of Vermin by @hironennes.bsky.social

Seven Recipes for Revolution by @ryanprose.bsky.social

A bit older but The Graven trilogy by @essahansen.bsky.social

Build Jakapan Puttha | Actor Known for: KinnPorsche, Tra Barb See Chompoo, KinnPorsche side story

This is him m.imdb.com/name/nm12728...