Amy Stuber

Shocked & grateful (thank you Stillhouse Press for giving my book a chance ❤️)

There's a lot of talk about consent. But when men see a woman as a body only, for the taking, it means consent wouldn't have occurred to them. This is more than knowing to ask if something is okay; it's a long-time systemic and cultural view of women as objects that needs to be unwound everywhere.

I’m a little over a week from “empty nest.” Bear with me. It’s going to be a weird fall. If you’re going through this time of life, too, sending love.

A year ago, this happened. Still so thankful. Trying to remind myself that writing is a long road, and I always come back to it, even if not every year is the most productive and fruitful.

@amystuber.com firing on all cylinders in this incredible essay. Heartbreak and beauty in parenting, in life.

I haven't been writing at all. Things have felt heavy. Blah blah blah. But I did write this little essay about my younger child's spontaneous partial lung collapse, if medical emergencies are your thing: amystuber1.substack.com/p/emergency

I have a Canadian colleague who gets a full year off for maternity leave. I had six weeks both times, and why do we opt to pay for wars and billionaire tax breaks when we could use government to take care of ourselves and each other.

there's never been a stronger argument for why we need the humanities than this year, these people

This was a genuine thrill and shock (I guess I'm a mystery writer - who knew!?). @aaronburch.bsky.social is such a champion of writers, and I'm so appreciative of his kindness and support. This was a story I thought was doomed to sit on my computer, but he helped shape it up and gave it a home!

Finally finally getting back to novel draft. Halfway there. For the first time in a long time: feels doable

Small Saturday reminder that your human body and face are good, your space is good, and you don’t need to devote your weekend energy to trying to change these things unless you really want to; “improvement” is often a capitalist ruse to keep us disconnected, uncreative, and distracted

What will it take to get this man out of office

Committing to coming out of my day job/world is burning coma to move into a more creative phase and actually write again. Who is with me?

there's a point in novel writing when you start thinking "maybe this old thing from this other old project goes in this new thing," and I'm here to say: no, don't, it doesn't.

I know there's a war going on, and this point is absolutely nonessential, but side note: can we stop with the dangerously thin, heavily surgically altered women? if that's your thing, okay. but acting like that's aspirational? don't we have more to aim for as we age?

ICE is now in the small Kansas college town where I live, rolling up in unmarked cars, conducting armed, masked kidnappings of people on sidewalks & in the parking lots of chain stores and fast food restaurants

My daughter has a new story at The Los Angeles Review: losangelesreview.org/sanctity-by-...

After decades of the Republican party's incessant shaming and morality policing, all their faux "family values," they are silent as Trump again shares racist content and appears over 30k times in the Epstein files. Tells you everything you need to know.

Every documents release a reminder that many men still view women and girls as objects, there for them to use Also: we already know this man is a rapist who bragged about assaulting women. What new evidence will it take to change the minds of those still loyal? What more do they need to see?

Heartbreakingly sad how many people will say it’s ok for humans to be violently dragged away from their kids and homes, brutalized, even killed, all in the name of nationalism. America, I should never be surprised

if this is what you wanted, if you see these videos and say "this is what I voted for," you're unquestionably a terrible person

it feels insensitive to post about anything personal during these catastrophically bad times, so forgive me - but sharing my older child's latest fiction at the lovely @psmokejournal.bsky.social www.peatsmokejournal.com/winter-2026-...

Random but putting it out there that if you need someone for a conference, panel, reading, podcast, etc., I’d be interested! I’ve been consumed by my day job and would love the chance to talk to people about writing 💕

Another war for oil when peaceful and renewable alternatives exist. The path we are on is so bleak.

If he can, in a twelve-hour period, militarily unseat another country's leader, claim control of that country, threaten to similarly take over multiple other countries, all without any Congressional involvement, Congress is dead, its power completely gone.

I’m not big on end-of-year recaps, but endless thanks to @penamerica.bsky.social for making this year unforgettable. (If you’re interested, you can order SAD GROWNUPS for the price of an elaborate coffee www.stillhousepress.org/stillhouse-s...)

My younger kid has some new poems up @maudlinhouse.bsky.social Ben Patterson - “Poems About Nebraska” maudlinhouse.net/poems-about-...

Who did it doesn’t really matter - it’s that almost everywhere in America someone so easily could

The yearly Denis Johnson reread: “and you, you ridiculous people, you expect me to help you.”

Jack Whitten

Joy

What is this weird stuck time of life, the year before no kids in the house, the year after doing something I always wanted to do, my parents old, me old or getting there. Stuck but racing. Still the trees at night and the orange moon half eaten by clouds. Still tomorrow.

What a beautiful way to wake up this morning. I’m a curmudgeon about politicians, but this is what leading with love looks like.

If the message is not just dem party business as usual and is instead about how to improve the lives of working people practically and meaningfully, about inclusivity and dignity, delivered with freshness and authenticity, people will show up! Democratic socialism! Mamdani! Yay!

people in a lot of states are about to lose their SNAP benefits. If you are in a position to help with food aid, please do. Donate to a local food pantry, reach out to people you know who are food insecure and share meals, whatever you can do!

Foggy morning drive

all these republicans claiming the private messages of their young republicans don't represent their party's ethos. look who they elected. look what he's said on the record. look at the policy he's driving each day. those messages are exactly who they are as a party.

My younger kid, Ben Patterson, has a flash piece up @januaryhouselit.bsky.social! If you like weird little college towns, generalized eccentricity, and birds, I hope you'll read it: januaryhouselit.com/2025/10/13/n...

Free shipping today at @bookshop.org which means that yes now is a perfect time to pick up MAGIC CAN'T SAVE US! bookshop.org/p/books/magi...

Free shipping on @bookshop.org today! I'd recommend picking up anything you've had yours eyes on, but here's some specific, recent indie press story collections I've loved:

Excited to be on this Ingram Spark "Short Story Standouts" list (via @bookshop.org), alongside the amazing @writesloud.bsky.social & Stillhouse press-mate @kristinaten.bsky.social

dragging people (some children) out of their homes in the middle of the night - ICE is uniformly despicable, but this feels like the next level of horror www.wbez.org/immigration/...

My book came out October 8, 2024. (After 30+ years of writing, a book!) I've been so grateful to anyone who has read it. I had a little goal of reaching 1000 copies sold (small press goals!), and we're close to that. I hope you'll consider ordering, reading, sharing reviewing on Goodreads, etc.💙

this picture of my older child - long ago - popped up on my phone, and i love it so

Reminder! We're looking for volunteer Fiction and Flash Fiction Readers! Join the SLM FAM! This weekend would be a great time to apply! 😉

I printed up a big chunk of my in-progress novel, and it felt like something! So it seems like a good time to say that I'm so happy and grateful to be working with @mlwyd.bsky.social on this and any other projects! (@tridentmediagroup.bsky.social)

I started at @splitlipthemag.bsky.social in 2018. It changed my trajectory as a reader & writer. I'm beyond grateful to @maureenlangloss.bsky.social & Split Lip! I'm stepping down this month bc of work obligations. But: volunteer at litmags! The community&experience will change you in the best ways!

My mom: I’m having my rat girl summer. Me: what? My mom (she’s 85): you don’t know anything.

I learned SAD GROWNUPS was removed from consideration for Kansas Notable Books (along w other books the deciders worried might endanger future federal funding). This isn't a bitter post. More sad that libraries feel compelled to make choices like these in these censor-y times.