I don’t write about being chronically ill very often, mostly because I’m still thinking it through in real time.

This short piece is about effort, belief, and what it’s like to live in a culture that insists improvement is always possible…even when your body says otherwise.

https://kristiedegaris.substack.com/p/effort-without-improvement

#Health #Scotland #UK #Writing #WritingCommunity #Books #Reading #Women

THREAD

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My daughter took this photograph of me today, quickly, in my bedroom. We swept the mess off the table, moved the dirty clothes off the chair and tried to make things look presentable, including me.

I complained the entire time about how I looked. The light wasn’t good, my hair was greasy, I’m 42 on Sunday, I want to lose weight, I’m in perimenopause. But this is something I do. Saying it out loud has become a habit.

#Books #Writing #WritingCommunity #Reading #Scotland #UK

THREAD

1/

My daughter took this photograph of me today, quickly, in my bedroom. We swept the mess off the table, moved the dirty clothes off the chair and tried to make things look presentable, including me.

I complained the entire time about how I looked. The light wasn’t good, my hair was greasy, I’m 42 on Sunday, I want to lose weight, I’m in perimenopause. But this is something I do. Saying it out loud has become a habit.

#Books #Writing #WritingCommunity #Reading #Scotland #UK

A couple of days late (as always) this is my January Reading Wrap up for 2026 - https://nomadicreader.com/2026/02/04/january-2026-wrap-up/

There were no 5 star reads this month, but that's OK there's still 11 months of reading to go.

#books #reading #review

I made a leather cover for my e-reader tablet with magnets that completely (and safely) encloses it. Not my most elegant work but I had to do a few work arounds to incorporate the magnets and make a spine that wouldn't crack when folded back upon itself. It closes very firmly. #LeatherCraft #maker #tablet #HandMade #humour #books #BookBinding

@randahl

Show them what they can find on Mastodon.

#books
#knitting

You no longer need a publisher to get your book designed, printed and bound. The really important jobs a #publishing house still does these days are marketing and distribution. Without that, a self-published author just owns a very large number of identical books that will probably stay in their spare room, where nobody knows about them, until someone throws them out.

#writing #books

You no longer need a publisher to get your book designed, printed and bound. The really important jobs a #publishing house still does these days are marketing and distribution. Without that, a self-published author just owns a very large number of identical books that will probably stay in their spare room, where nobody knows about them, until someone throws them out.

#writing #books

Virtual Classroom Visit with Grace Lin
The Eric Carle Museum
Feb. 12, 2026
1–1:30 pm
In this interactive virtual visit for elementary school readers, award-winning and bestselling author Grace Lin will explain& share the customs of the Lunar New Year and its food! This 30-minute program includes a Year of the Horse draw-along and followed with a 15-minute Q&A. Purchase hardcover copy by February 5 and receive link to join.
https://shop.carlemuseum.org/product/ling-tings-lunar-new-year-two-times-lucky-hardcover #globalmuseum #museums #ChineseNewYear #books

3/3
including racism—and by exercising our constitutional rights, including our most powerful tool for change: the vote.

🗳️ Register to vote.
🗳️ Vote in local and national elections.
🇺🇸 Be the change.

#BlackHistoryMonth #History #Civilwar #CivilRights #nurses #healthcare #racism #equality #harriettubman #freedom #vote #hero #humanity #quote #compassion #America #books

2/
We recognize how their struggle inspired and laid the groundwork for movements advancing the rights of women, #immigrants, and all marginalized communities.

📚During these challenging times of banning #books and whitewashing history, we need educate ourselves and reflect on the truth that our destinies are connected, and progress for one #community strengthens us all.

🎯Let us honor this shared humanity not just in memory, but through peaceful civic action against systemic inequities—

The Wuthering Heights people remember is not the book Emily Brontë wrote.

I read it just in time for the release of Emerald Fennell’s adaptation. She has said Wuthering Heights left its greatest impression on her at 14. Here’s my interpretation at 41, feeling world weary & no longer susceptible to the charms of beautiful men who behave badly.

It turns out it isn’t really about love at all, but about inheritance, race & power.

https://kristiedegaris.substack.com/p/wuthering-heights

#Books #Scotland #Writing #UK #Reading

#QuestionOfTheDay who is a character that ruined a work of fiction you were otherwise enjoying and why?

bonus points if you actually stopped watching/playing/reading etc because of this character, so not just like an annoying character you hate but you still kept going

#fiction #movies #film #TV #Television #anime #manga #musicals #comics #comicbooks #ttrpg #CCGs #books #videogames

The Last Lady of Lună is 50% off through Feb 15!

I am the last of my line. My enemies are hunting me. And my mates don't believe in vampires.

The Last Lady of Lună is a slow burn paranormal romance and the first in a series about Natalia of the Lună vampires, her five mates, and the future they will build together.

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1828648
Itchio: https://jess-mahler.itch.io/the-last-lady-of-lun
Other retailers: https://books2read.com/u/m0LQYW

#Queer #Romance #Books #Vampires

Testing out Margins, a book tracking app. If you use it, let's follow each other.
https://margins.app/u/6ab16c5711154255ae19eacbb5f9dd27

#Books #Apps #BookTrackers #Reading

I wanted to love "Beautyland" by Marie-Helene Bertino - a neurodiverse protagonist who loves science(!) - but it didn't quite live up to my expectations.

But now I'm 11 chapters into "Circe" by Madeline Miller, which has been a wonderful journey so far. Miller knows her Classics! Highly recommend 📚 #books

I made a leather cover for my e-reader tablet with magnets that completely (and safely) encloses it. Not my most elegant work but I had to do a few work arounds to incorporate the magnets and make a spine that wouldn't crack when folded back upon itself. It closes very firmly. #LeatherCraft #maker #tablet #HandMade #humour #books #BookBinding

"Secrets, silent, stony sit in the dark palaces of both our hearts: secrets weary of their tyranny: tyrants, willing to be dethroned."
ch. 2: Nestor page 28

Ulysses by James Joyce was partially serialised in the American journal The Little Review from March 1918 to December 1920, the entire work was published in Paris by Sylvia Beach #OTD in 1922.

Ulysses at PG:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/4300

#books #literature

"Secrets, silent, stony sit in the dark palaces of both our hearts: secrets weary of their tyranny: tyrants, willing to be dethroned."
ch. 2: Nestor page 28

Ulysses by James Joyce was partially serialised in the American journal The Little Review from March 1918 to December 1920, the entire work was published in Paris by Sylvia Beach #OTD in 1922.

Ulysses at PG:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/4300

#books #literature