J. Kathleen Cheney

Fantasy Writer, publishing as J. Kathleen Cheney or Anna St. Vincent. Member of Codex, Nebula Finalist, Locus Award Finalist, W0TF... but mostly a dog servant these days...

Public Key

npub1uadccle7vql3t3lzaetc8mlpmtfjzhtqxdrpatfdls9kr6yc68hste6fvc

NIP-05 Address

jkcheney_at_wandering.shop@mostr.pub

Profile Code

nprofile1qqswwkuv0ulxq0c4cl3wu4uralsa45ept4srx3s745klczmpazvdrmcsqfvnx

Author Public Key

npub1uadccle7vql3t3lzaetc8mlpmtfjzhtqxdrpatfdls9kr6yc68hste6fvc

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Last Notes

2024-08-02 16:15:12

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@npub1psd…9sr7 I've never seen the show, but immediately recognized Richard E. Grant. ;o)

2024-04-02 12:06:27

#WordWeavers 2 — What books/resources have you used to improve your writing?
I'm really bad about this, so there are very few that I've even finished reading. However, one book that I've -consistently- used is the Emotion Thesaurus, where the writers (bless them!) supply other ways to express how a character feels, and it's a second round draft Must Have for me. (A lot is available online, but I use the book when editing.)
https://onestopforwriters.com/emotions

2024-03-03 10:56:25

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@npub1fgl…4jl4
It’s okay to stop back when you’re a bit fried!

2024-02-24 18:22:58

I just realized that a bit character in my WIP is called Celery and now I have to justify that.
(I think her name is actually Celerity, bit no one calls her that. They all just say Celery.)

2024-01-11 21:10:19

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@npub1fgl…4jl4
I think that most people are surprised that we can get sick of a particular work.

2023-12-08 18:04:24

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@npub1psd…9sr7 @npub1kxd…wxfl
The lutefisk-scented candle... ::shudders::

2023-11-21 12:15:06

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@npub1psd…9sr7 I have to admit... I've seen that cover and wasn't impressed. Sorry :o(
I have a friend with a major romance imprint, and her covers are -terrible-. They're basically a stock photo with text, something that I could whip together in an hour.
I have no clue why sometimes imprints do fantastic work and why sometimes art directors just phone it in...
::shrugs::

2023-11-21 12:06:08

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@npub1psd…9sr7 I will have to say that the Art Department at Ace/Roc did a fantastic job on my books... pretty much without asking for my input. My name's definitely not legible at thumbnail size (nor are the minor words like of and the), but the covers are pretty enough to make people look twice, and that's all I want.
(And while the clothing wasn't right, I had enough time in edits to change a few outfits to match their covers.)

2023-11-21 11:53:03

So a book cover is often the same. You're looking for something memorable, that may or may not exactly represent the rest of the house. Something that may make them click through, which can even me "I can't quite read that title"...
I am NOT, however, saying that one should go for ugly and tacky. And bad kerning can, indeed, land you in trouble (and end up with your cover on SBTB's cover-mocking pages.)

2023-11-06 18:55:39

Someone elsewhere here mentioned critique partners and I was reminded of some of my WTF favorites including “You can’t have guns and swords in the same story.”
Another was a crit for The Kings Daughter where an editor told me “She can’t have gray eyes. In gaming, elves always have gray eyes”. There are no elves nor is there anything about gaming (other than chess) in that book.

2023-10-10 09:15:40

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@npub1psd…9sr7 I was on liraglutude for 9 months a couple of years back and really never noticed any problem. (Liraglutide is Saxenda/Victoza). Now that I’m ready to start working on my weight again, it’s nearly impossible to get. :(.

2023-10-03 09:41:30

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@npub1psd…9sr7 True ;o)

2023-10-03 09:36:53

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@npub1psd…9sr7
I'm thinking these would be nice...
https://stockroom.wandering.shop/media_attachments/files/111/170/407/538/870/068/original/e32fae55631769f3.png

2023-09-12 10:57:06

There's still a lot of awkwardness with the Mac, mostly in things that I'm simply not used to yet.
(Forex, the scrolling is upside down compared to what I'm used to and I can't see a way to change that yet.)
Overall, though, the Mac is doing well. Plus the battery isn't overheating and frequently turning off the internet (which was getting to be an annoyance on the PC.)
I have loaded Typeface to be my font manager, and that's going to take FOREVER to work through.

2023-09-01 19:15:02

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@npub1psd…9sr7 Maybe as a christmas present ;o)

2023-09-01 18:56:11

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@npub1psd…9sr7 The ergonomic one is a little pricey, so I'll have to give that a lot of thought first. (I'm a split keyboard person)

2023-09-01 17:45:29

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@npub1psd…9sr7 Ordered. At home I use a separate keyboard (Microsoft) but I haven't explored whether it will work with a Mac yet, so that's likely another upcoming expense.

2023-09-01 17:17:54

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@npub1psd…9sr7 I think my first upgrade will be to purchase a spare battery for it. But I'll take my time changing over, and there are a couple of good Mac-centric computer repair shops near here.

2023-09-01 17:16:25

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@npub1psd…9sr7 I don't have it yet, but here's what I purchased:
(The last time I purchased a computer from these people, they actually sent me one that was -newer- than specified, much to my shock.)
https://stockroom.wandering.shop/media_attachments/files/110/991/018/213/197/923/original/795f2977e8c73396.jpg

2023-09-01 14:22:35

Okay. I've bitten the bullet and purchased a new used Mac.
As much as the outlay of $$$$ horrifies me, this PC is on borrowed time, so it has to be replaced. I'm hoping that I will have several months where I can use both to be sure everything transfers over properly.
As I told husband earlier this morning, all my software (except for my beloved Font Manager) should transfer over, and this PC can become a backup emergency computer.
(The less I use it, the more time before the batt dies.)

2023-08-24 10:15:40

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@npub1psd…9sr7 Ooh! That's looks like a handy app.
I'm not in a super hurry to buy, so I've got time to look around... so that helps. ;o)

2023-08-24 10:02:21

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@npub1psd…9sr7
I've seen minimum 16, but preferably 32, so I'm trying to keep that in mind.
(I've just been reading PS forums and people are complaining about certain AMD video cards crashing a lot with PS, so I'm trying to do some due diligence by outsourcing to Masto.)
(Now checking my little mac to see whether it's Intel :( )

2023-08-24 09:45:21

I'm starting to look around for a Mac laptop to replace my PC, but...
I need one with a video card that can handle #photoshop
Does anyone who uses photoshop have any recommendations for what model I should be hunting (used model, BTW)?

2023-08-22 19:26:03

I've recently started following the Loose Ends Project. I have neither the #knitting or #crochet skills to help out with this yet, but maybe someday I will.
The project accepts works left unfinished by crafters, and connects that work with a (hopefully local) crafter who -can- finish it and get it to the planned recipient.
What a lovely concept.
https://www.instagram.com/thelooseendsproject

2023-08-22 13:00:52

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@npub1psd…9sr7 Good work!

2023-08-22 09:58:17

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@npub1ul2…5sjq @npub1drs…rjcx @npub1url…g5jk
My GP (who’s actually an internist) has me on liraglutide (the drug that came before Ozempic) to aid in weight loss, but I don’t take the full dose and we monitor symptoms carefully and do regular blood testing to make sure nothing goes awry. This is the kind of thing that I suspect a lot of doctors aren’t as careful about (or patients).
I have lost about half of my goal but then I took a year off to assess health before starting again

2023-08-20 08:44:03

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@npub1ul2…5sjq ::hugs::