E.M. Anderson | author &amp; schism enthusiast too hot for Bluesky

E.M. Anderson | author & schism enthusiast too hot for Bluesky

27 July

new pinned post 🧵 hellooooooo I'm E (they/she) the #author of THE LORD OF THE WOOD (2026) and THE KEEPER OF LONELY SPIRITS (2025), as well as various short stories more links are threaded, but here's a link to more info about about my two current novels: www.harpercollins.com/blogs/author...

E.M. Anderson | author & schism enthusiast too hot for Bluesky

#FirstDraftFall ...bittersweet ending aka

Weeknight Writers@weeknightwriters.bsky.social

#WeeknightWriters #FirstDraftFall How will your WIP end? These questions are from our First Draft Fall worksheets! For the full worksheets, join our membership program at ko-fi.com/weeknightw...

Wole Talabi | THE FIST OF MEMORY is OUT NOW

okay well since I pivoted WIPs lol, the stakes are that the MC's ex-best friend's spirit will be destroyed if she can't find a mourner for them #FirstDraftFall

Weeknight Writers@weeknightwriters.bsky.social

#WeeknightWriters #FirstDraftFall What are the stakes of your WIP? What does your character have to gain or lose? These questions are from our First Draft Fall worksheets! For the full worksheets, join our membership program at ko-fi.com/weeknightw...

E.M. Anderson | author & schism enthusiast too hot for Bluesky reposted

@wtalabi.com

The day is finally upon us! THE FIST OF MEMORY is officially out NOW in the US and Canada. This near-future story of assassins, aliens, astrophysicists and ancestors that I started 15 years ago, is finally out in the world & it still feels a bit unreal. astrapublishinghouse.com/product/the-...

E.M. Anderson | author & schism enthusiast too hot for Bluesky

E.M. Anderson | author & schism enthusiast too hot for Bluesky

l M a o I was listening to my audiobook in the car today (THE KEEPER OF LONELY SPIRITS) and David, venting about his day, said "and it was all downhill from there" to Peter, and I LOST MY GODDAMN MIND

E.M. Anderson | author & schism enthusiast too hot for Bluesky@elizmanderson.com

DISCUSSION the either/both crowd consistently mentions context, tone, and/or phrasing as important to interpretation - "It's all downhill from here" generally positive - "It all went downhill from there" generally negative - "It's all going downhill" generally negative

buttondown.comlive from the forest, it's e.m. anderson!author of The Lord of the Wood (Hanover Square Press, 2026) and The Keeper of Lonely Spirits (Mira, 2025). plant lady, bird lady, Iroh stan 5ever. queer and auDHD. she/they. come for the publishing up...

rp for the evening crowd! although actually a shocking number of people saw this in a very small window of time, guess y'all happened to be online right as I posted

E.M. Anderson | author & schism enthusiast too hot for Bluesky@elizmanderson.com

reminder that I have a more or less monthly newsletter! - read issues in the archives without subscribing, OR - subscribe to get occasional exclusives, like the upcoming post-KEEPER-OF-LONELY-SPIRITS story going only to subscribers this November buttondown.com/elizmanderson

E.M. Anderson | author & schism enthusiast too hot for Bluesky

E.M. Anderson | author & schism enthusiast too hot for Bluesky

also thank you to those of you who subscribed, I enjoyed the celebratory GIFs Buttondown dropped in my inbox

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E.M. Anderson | author & schism enthusiast too hot for Bluesky

ko-fi.comBuy e.m. anderson (they/she) a CoffeeBecome a supporter of e.m. anderson (they/she) today!

I do also have a Ko-Fi, but that's mostly for people to just throw money at me if they're so inclined. usually I don't bother mentioning it unless I'm having an emergency ko-fi.com/elizmanderson

E.M. Anderson | author & schism enthusiast too hot for Bluesky

elizmanderson.comauthor e.m. anderson

and there is also my actual website! elizmanderson.com

E.M. Anderson | author & schism enthusiast too hot for Bluesky

E.M. Anderson | author & schism enthusiast too hot for Bluesky

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Spooky Pickle 🤜Fistfuls of Poetry🤛

also whenever I get a new subscriber, Buttondown sends me a fun celebratory gif

E.M. Anderson | author & schism enthusiast too hot for Bluesky reposted

@spookyxpickle.bsky.social

20h

Oh, so The Lord of the Wood by @elizmanderson.com Or the books in The Machines series by @aimeecozza.com right? Because yeah in both. Been making that face a lot. Oh! And the disability rep, beyond, too?!

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E.M. Anderson | author & schism enthusiast too hot for Bluesky

E.M. Anderson | author & schism enthusiast too hot for Bluesky

10h

correction to my context, who knows why I thought Katie lived across the country 😂

Katie Bender@katiebenderbooks.bsky.social

DATA TIME DATA TIME DATA TIME Behold the glory of the graphs! I am humbled to find I am in the distinct minority 😂 Also major props to @elizmanderson.com for taking this beyond North America. [Minor correction: I am West Coast, not East Coast]

DATA TIME DATA TIME get ready for a long-ass thread, but here are some results to get you started meaning by total responses | meaning by country (be nice about my graphs)(I am a humanities person) 🧵

E.M. Anderson | author & schism enthusiast too hot for Bluesky@elizmanderson.com

no context poll: the phrase "it's all downhill from here" means... - it's harder/worse from here - it's easier/better from here and what region are you from? (just for @katiebenderbooks.bsky.social)

E.M. Anderson | author & schism enthusiast too hot for Bluesky

E.M. Anderson | author & schism enthusiast too hot for Bluesky

OPPORTUNITIES FOR FURTHER RESEARCH Obviously, a poll with an either/both option, a neither option, and regions tied to responses. I will not be doing this.

E.M. Anderson | author & schism enthusiast too hot for Bluesky

and since I know you're all wondering: yes, I will be changing my use of "it all has to be uphill from here" in my short story based on the results of this study, since it's possible I may confuse at least 20% of readers with this phrase

E.M. Anderson | author & schism enthusiast too hot for Bluesky@elizmanderson.com

no context poll: the phrase "it's all downhill from here" means... - it's harder/worse from here - it's easier/better from here and what region are you from? (just for @katiebenderbooks.bsky.social)

E.M. Anderson | author & schism enthusiast too hot for Bluesky

E.M. Anderson | author & schism enthusiast too hot for Bluesky

funnily enough, despite the way this poll started, a couple of people were unfamiliar with "it's all downhill from here" but inferred a meaning from a phrase they WERE familiar with... that phrase being "it's all uphill from here," which Katie and I didn't even think was a real phrase!

E.M. Anderson | author & schism enthusiast too hot for Bluesky

FOR MY OWN AMUSEMENT multiple respondents decided that since "uphill battle" and "downhill from here" can both be used to denote struggle, the obvious conclusion is that hills themselves are simply evil (although of course we cannot actually conclude hills are evil from the results of this study)

E.M. Anderson | author & schism enthusiast too hot for Bluesky@elizmanderson.com

no context poll: the phrase "it's all downhill from here" means... - it's harder/worse from here - it's easier/better from here and what region are you from? (just for @katiebenderbooks.bsky.social)

E.M. Anderson | author & schism enthusiast too hot for Bluesky

E.M. Anderson | author & schism enthusiast too hot for Bluesky

several negative respondents mentioned that the phrase is positive only when used literally of cycling downhill after a hard uphill climb several people mentioned only ever hearing this phrase online, never in real life

E.M. Anderson | author & schism enthusiast too hot for Bluesky

respondents in Brazil, Italy, and Poland mentioned an equivalent phrase in their first languages interestingly, the equivalent phrase is often considered positive, while the English phrase is viewed as negative or at least having negative variants

E.M. Anderson | author & schism enthusiast too hot for Bluesky@elizmanderson.com

no context poll: the phrase "it's all downhill from here" means... - it's harder/worse from here - it's easier/better from here and what region are you from? (just for @katiebenderbooks.bsky.social)

E.M. Anderson | author & schism enthusiast too hot for Bluesky

E.M. Anderson | author & schism enthusiast too hot for Bluesky

a couple people also thought the categories should not have been listed as they were, explaining that easier does not necessarily mean better and harder does not necessarily mean worse (these were generally either/both responses)

E.M. Anderson | author & schism enthusiast too hot for Bluesky

positive/negative or either/both often depends on the metaphorical lens through which the respondent views "downhill" - cycling (positive) - freefall/lack of control (negative) - rockfalls (negative) - nonfunctioning brakes (negative) - Sisyphus (negative)

E.M. Anderson | author & schism enthusiast too hot for Bluesky@elizmanderson.com

no context poll: the phrase "it's all downhill from here" means... - it's harder/worse from here - it's easier/better from here and what region are you from? (just for @katiebenderbooks.bsky.social)

E.M. Anderson | author & schism enthusiast too hot for Bluesky

E.M. Anderson | author & schism enthusiast too hot for Bluesky

E.M. Anderson | author & schism enthusiast too hot for Bluesky

some either/both folks also (or alternatively) say that the phrase means "things are accelerating or increasing at their current trajectory, whether good or bad," suggesting the phrase itself is neutral and only becomes positive or negative based on the situation to which it's attached

E.M. Anderson | author & schism enthusiast too hot for Bluesky@elizmanderson.com

no context poll: the phrase "it's all downhill from here" means... - it's harder/worse from here - it's easier/better from here and what region are you from? (just for @katiebenderbooks.bsky.social)

E.M. Anderson | author & schism enthusiast too hot for Bluesky

E.M. Anderson | author & schism enthusiast too hot for Bluesky

--which leads me to suspect that either/both would've been second to harder/worse overall had I included it as an option in the Tumblr poll. however, since I didn't, this is only speculation

E.M. Anderson | author & schism enthusiast too hot for Bluesky

Canada, the UK, and the Midwestern and West Coast U.S. most consistently responded harder/worse the Southern U.S. most consistently responded either/both easier/better led only in countries/regions with singular responses; otherwise, it trailed behind the other responses in all regions

E.M. Anderson | author & schism enthusiast too hot for Bluesky@elizmanderson.com

no context poll: the phrase "it's all downhill from here" means... - it's harder/worse from here - it's easier/better from here and what region are you from? (just for @katiebenderbooks.bsky.social)

E.M. Anderson | author & schism enthusiast too hot for Bluesky

E.M. Anderson | author & schism enthusiast too hot for Bluesky

LIMITATIONS - didn't consider that some people might answer either/both until they started responding, at which point it was too late to add that poll option - didn't think to tie regional data to poll items thus, either/both responses and regional data are based on participants who mentioned them

E.M. Anderson | author & schism enthusiast too hot for Bluesky

RESULTS - 3,038 total responses before the poll closed - 64 responses including location data - harder/worse: 79.3% - easier/better: 18.2% - either/both: 2.5% either/both was a strong second on Bluesky and first in the notes on the Tumblr poll--

E.M. Anderson | author & schism enthusiast too hot for Bluesky

E.M. Anderson | author & schism enthusiast too hot for Bluesky@elizmanderson.com

no context poll: the phrase "it's all downhill from here" means... - it's harder/worse from here - it's easier/better from here and what region are you from? (just for @katiebenderbooks.bsky.social)

E.M. Anderson | author & schism enthusiast too hot for Bluesky

CONTEXT: @katiebenderbooks.bsky.social's confusion over my use of the phrase "it's all UPHILL from here" in a short story, which I had intended as a riff on "it's all downhill from here" I (Midwest) thought downhill was negative. Katie (East Coast) thought it was positive. thus the poll was born

May Barros 🇧🇷🏳️‍⚧️ 📚💙 @ Commissions open!

METHODOLOGY Tandem polls on Tumblr & Bluesky - poll on Tumblr was a true poll that ran for one week - on Bluesky, which lacks native polling, it was a post posing a question, considered active until the Tumblr poll closed

E.M. Anderson | author & schism enthusiast too hot for Bluesky reposted

@maybarros.com.br

I really need to point out that the last point is essential. They want you miserable. Being happy is THE ONLY WAY you'll be able to do the rest. Also, being happy does not mean to not be angry. Be happy AND angry

Carlos Senna/Boris@carlossennaboris.bsky.social

If Americans need our little southern recipe for how to defeat fascism it goes like this: - Put people in the streets by standing for popular demands (wages, healthcare, public services) - Do not engage with fascists online - Do not succumb to doomsayers or media-driven narratives - Be happy

E.M. Anderson | author & schism enthusiast too hot for Bluesky reposted

Gabriel Hargrave (he/him)

@ghargravewrites.bsky.social

I’m gonna scream. Not only does my appointment next week NOT help with housing, it ALSO doesn’t declare me disabled, which means ANOTHER step in the process. I’ll be homeless in less than a month, and I’ll die from my heart condition. Please consider donating. I need $2k. gofund.me/a192a7989

gofund.meDonate to Help Gabriel Stay Housed and Healthy, organized by Gabriel HargraveMy name is Gabriel Hargrave. I’m a trans man living in Minneapolis, and I’ll be … Gabriel Hargrave needs your support for Help Gabriel Stay Housed and Healthy

E.M. Anderson | author & schism enthusiast too hot for Bluesky reposted

Rosiee Thor

@rosieethor.bsky.social

Happy asexual awareness week! It’s once again time for you to become aware of me and my books. Next week you can go back to forgetting, but this week you legally have to pay attention to me sorry I don’t make the rules 💜🤍🩶🖤

E.M. Anderson | author & schism enthusiast too hot for Bluesky

ebay.comDell Inspiron 16 Laptop, 13th gen Intel Core i7- processor 16 gb RAM | eBayWeighing 5 lbs, this Dell Inspiron model is portable yet capable for on-the-go productivity.

🥺

Jennifer Laughran@literaticat.bsky.social

Presenting…. (Drumroll please)… Poppy as LOWLY WORM! Happy Halloweek! To answer questions in advance: I made the Apple Car, it took 10-ish hours over the course of a few weekends. Poppy HATED IT and would only go near it because we gave her babybel cheese. Yes we had to photoshop her into it 😂

E.M. Anderson | author & schism enthusiast too hot for Bluesky reposted

Jill Corddry

@jillcorddry.bsky.social

#booksky I can't even believe it, but my first book came out FIVE YEARS ago, on October 29th. To celebrate, I've put the ebook of Bad Company on sale for only 99$ through Halloween! Which is perfect since the story takes place in October 🎃 (1/2) #booksale #Halloween #urbanfantasy

E.M. Anderson | author & schism enthusiast too hot for Bluesky reposted

Tonya R. Moore

@tonyarmoore.com

Anyone in the market for good used laptop? I'm selling one here: www.ebay.com/itm/37759879... - shipping within the USA only.

E.M. Anderson | author & schism enthusiast too hot for Bluesky