Smart Bitches, Trashy BooksSmart Bitches, Trashy Books ([syndicated profile] smartbitches_feed) wrote2025-10-18 07:00 am

Book Beat: Horror, a Cookbook, & More

Posted by Amanda

Book Beat aims to highlight other books that we may hear about through friends, social media, or other sources. We could see a gorgeous ad! Or find a new-to-us author on a list of underrated romances! Think of Book Beat as Teen Beat or Tiger Beat, but for books. And no staples to open to get the fold-out poster.

Galloway’s Gospel

Galloway’s Gospel by Sam Rebelein

Author: Sam Rebelein
Released: September 16, 2025 by William Morrow
Genre:

In this shockingly fun wild ride of horrors, Sam Rebelein takes readers back to Renfield County and tells the story of two Rachels—one who mistakenly starts a cult at her local high school and one who tries to dismantle it ten years later. 

2009: Rachel Galloway is bored in class. She spends the dreary fall days sketching in her notebook—adorable pigs munching on her boring teachers—and imagining a utopia where all the horrors of Burnskidde High School disappear. But when her classmates start to believe this utopia could be real, Galloway finds herself at the center of an elaborate, and quickly spreading, new religion. Before long, the town is split between believers and nonbelievers. As tensions rise and the rituals become more dangerous, Galloway can’t be sure what’s real and what’s not, or who she can trust.

CULTWATCH

2019: This is the cryptic message that Renfield County Guard Rachel Durwood receives from her colleague Mark, mere days after he’s disappeared. Mark’s note leads Durwood to the town of Burnskidde, famously sealed off from the rest of the county ten years ago. Now, she discovers a small, insulated community preparing for the rapture and, seemingly, their collective demise. In order to save Burnskidde from itself, she must piece together the fallout from 2009 and avoid being swept up into the monstrous cult herself.

As Rachel Galloway watches her life spiral out of control, Rachel Durwood navigates a world where history, horror, and faith collide. Despite being separated by a decade, Galloway and Durwood may be closer to each other than they realize. But even together, will they be able to stop Burnskidde’s impending doom?

I love the “oops, I accidentally started a cult” aspect of this book description. 

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How to Be a Better Adult

How to Be a Better Adult by Jacque Aye

Author: Jacque Aye
Released: January 29, 2023 by Jacque Aye
Genre: ,
Series: How to Be a Better Adult #1

“Another day of corporate drudgery”

Hope Obiako, disillusioned by her mundane existence as a lowly account specialist, discovers a mysterious handbook that drastically changes her life.

Hope is a master performer, making a show of her competence and compliance. And while she really is both competent and compliant, no one at William Hensley & Associates seems to see it. But what they never saw coming, behind her quiet and agreeable personality, is Hope’s drive to “make it” by any magical means necessary.

This book is “Sorry to Bother You” meets the surrealism of “Atlanta”, plus some “Awkward Black Girl” mixed in for good measure! An afro-surrealist tale with magical undertones. If you like the themes in the work of Sayaka Murata and the magical realism of Haruki Murakami you’ll enjoy this read.

I love both Sorry to Bother You and Haruki Murakami, plus I really like the illustration. It promises a trippy mix of inspiration.

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The In Death Cookbook

The In Death Cookbook by Theresa Carle-Sanders

Author: Theresa Carle-Sanders
Released: October 7, 2025 by St. Martin's Griffin
Genre:

Discover seventy-four to-die-for recipes inspired by the world of J.D. Robb’s #1 best-selling series—with a Foreword by J.D. Robb herself!

With more than seventy amazing photographs, and story excerpts that connect the recipes to the novels that inspired them, The In Death Cookbook will transport fans from the bustling streets of futuristic New York City to Lieutenant Eve Dallas and Roarke’s luxurious Manhattan mansion, where they’ll learn to prepare the most delectable dishes. From Autochef favorites to Summerset’s mouth-watering desserts, readers will find professionally developed, easy-to-prepare selections ranging from breakfast entrees to sides, main courses and everything in between. Contributions from the whole In Death cast of characters, including the beloved snack—Feeney’s Candied Nuts!

A must for every J.D. Robb fan and a great holiday gift.

“I can still wish for an AutoChef, but until technology grants that wish, please enjoy these fun, adventurous, comforting, fancy, and basic recipes—inspired by the In Death series and its characters. I hope you find pleasure in the preparation and in the sharing of these dishes with friends, family, and lovers.” — J. D. Robb a.k.a. Nora Roberts

Sarah and I were discussing this! I read a few of the In Death books, but I don’t remember a ton of food content. Granted, it’s been ages since I read any. 

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The Macabre

The Macabre by Kosoko Jackson

Author: Kosoko Jackson
Released: September 9, 2025 by Harper Voyager
Genre: , ,

From award-winning and USA Today bestselling author Kosoko Jackson comes his adult speculative debut, a stand-alone novel blending time travel and globe-hopping adventure, art history, and dark fantasy about magical paintings and the lengths people will go to collect them, destroy them…or be destroyed.

A picture is worth a thousand nightmares.

Art has always been an escape for struggling painter Lewis Dixon. But other than his mom, who has recently passed away, no one has ever praised his work. If he is being honest, there’s really no one in his life. So he is shocked when the British Museum shows an unusual interest in his art. This is his chance to show the world what he’s capable of…he just has no idea that he might also be saving the world at the same time.

As Lewis soon learns, he has not been invited to participate in a curated show, but rather a test: to see if the fugue-like exhilaration he experiences when painting is actually magic, a power that allows him to enter nine very special paintings—paintings made by his great-grandfather. Spread across the globe, these paintings have unbelievable eldritch abilities…and not necessarily beneficial ones. In terms of power, these are the most valuable works of art in the world, and there are those out there who would do anything to possess just one.

And Lewis, upon passing the test, has been asked to destroy them all.

Partnered with an alluring agent in museum’s employ, Noah Rao, Lewis must travel to Japan, Australia, Nigeria—and the past—plunging himself into a world of black markets, gothic magic, ancient history, and cursed objects to save those unlucky enough to call any of the paintings their own—or to free the world from those who would misuse the power of the paintings. In doing so, he will need to discover if he has what it takes to truly be an artist, the confidence to finally open himself up to someone who could give his lonely life meaning, and the strength to enter and navigate a reality where magic is everywhere.

The magical paintings sound so creepy and interesting. A great option for October!

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ysabetwordsmith ([personal profile] ysabetwordsmith) wrote2025-10-18 01:31 am
Entry tags:

Science

Quantum crystals could spark the next tech revolution

Auburn scientists unlock the secrets of free electrons to power the next revolution in computing and chemistry.

Auburn scientists have designed new materials that manipulate free electrons to unlock groundbreaking applications. These “Surface Immobilized Electrides” could power future quantum computers or transform chemical manufacturing. Stable, tunable, and scalable, they represent a leap beyond traditional electrides. The work bridges theory and potential real-world use
.


Well, the toddlers have found a blowtorch...
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ysabetwordsmith ([personal profile] ysabetwordsmith) wrote2025-10-18 01:27 am

Creative Jam

The October [community profile] crowdfunding Creative Jam is now open with a theme of "Knowledge vs. Ignorance."  Come give us prompts, or claim some for your own inspiration.


What I Have Written


From My Prompts


ysabetwordsmith: (Crowdfunding butterfly ship)
ysabetwordsmith ([personal profile] ysabetwordsmith) wrote in [community profile] crowdfunding2025-10-18 01:07 am

Creative Jam

Welcome to the 148th Crowdfunding Creative Jam! This session will run Saturday, October 18-Sunday, October 19. The theme is "Knowledge vs. Ignorance."

Crowdfunding Creative Jam

Everyone is eligible to post prompts, which may be words or phrases, titles, images, etc. Prompters may request a specific creator, but everyone else may still use that prompt if they wish. Prompts may specify a particular character/world/etc. but creators may use the prompt for something else anyway and post the results. Prompters are still encouraged to post mostly prompts that anyone could use anywhere, as this maximizes the chance of having creators make something based on your prompt. Please title your comment "Prompt" or "Prompts" when providing inspiration so these are easy to find.

Prompt responses may also be treated as prompts and used for further inspiration. For example, a prompt may lead to a sketch which leads to a story, and so on. This kind of cascading inspiration is one of the most fun things about a collective jam session.

Everyone is eligible to use prompts, and everyone who wants to use a given prompt may do so, for maximum flexibility of creator choice in inspiration. You do not have to post a "Claim" reply when you decide to use a prompt, but this does help indicate what is going on so that other prompters can spread out their choice of prompts if they wish.

Creators are encouraged, but not required, to post at least one item free. Likewise, sharing a private copy of material with the prompter is encouraged but not required. Creative material resulting from prompts should be indicated in a reply to the prompt, with a link to the full content elsewhere on the creator's site (if desired); a brief excerpt and/or description of the material may be included in the reply (if desired). It helps to title your comment "Prompt Filled" or something like that so these are easy to identify. There is no time limit on responding to prompts. However, creators are encouraged to post replies sooner rather than later, as the attention of prompters will be highest during and shortly after the session.

Some items created from prompts may become available for sponsorship. Some creators may offer perks for donations, linkbacks, or other activity relating to this project. Check creator comments and links for their respective offerings.

Prompters, creators, and bystanders are expected to behave in a responsible and civil manner. If the moderators have to drag someone out of the sandbox for improper behavior, we will not be amused. Please respect other people's territory and intellectual property rights, and only play with someone else's characters/setting/etc. if you have permission. (Fanfic/fanart freebies are okay.) If you want to invite folks to play with something of yours, title the comment something like "Open Playground" so it's easy to spot. This can be a good way to attract new people to a shared world or open-source project, or just have some good non-canon fun.

Boost the signal! The more people who participate, the more fun this will be. Hopefully we'll see activity from a lot of folks who regularly mention their projects in this community, but new people are always welcome. You can link to this session post or to individual items created from prompts, whatever you think is awesome enough to recommend to your friends.
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ysabetwordsmith ([personal profile] ysabetwordsmith) wrote2025-10-18 12:38 am
Entry tags:

Philosophical Questions: Tribalism

People have expressed interest in deep topics, so this list focuses on philosophical questions.

Will humanity ever be able to escape tribalism and the creation of in and out groups? Should it?

Read more... )
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ysabetwordsmith ([personal profile] ysabetwordsmith) wrote2025-10-17 11:00 pm

Today's Adventures

Today we ran errands in Charleston.

Read more... )
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ysabetwordsmith ([personal profile] ysabetwordsmith) wrote2025-10-17 10:01 pm
Entry tags:

Today's Cooking

Today I am making the recipe for blueberry muffins off the package of Quaker oat flour that we got today. The sweetener is maple syrup -- already the batter tastes good.

EDIT 10/17/25 -- Well, that was a rousing success.  :D  They taste very much like blueberry pancakes, but in a more convenient and portable form.  They're sweet but not too sweet, more a foodmuffin than a dessert muffin.  The flavor and texture is a bit different from wheat flour, but it doesn't have a strong "oatmeal" flavor.  Definitely worth making again.
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ysabetwordsmith ([personal profile] ysabetwordsmith) wrote in [community profile] followfriday2025-10-17 09:02 pm
Entry tags:

Follow Friday 10-17-25

Got any Follow Friday-related posts to share this week? Comment here with the link(s).

Here's the plan: every Friday, let's recommend some people and/or communities to follow on Dreamwidth. That's it. No complicated rules, no "pass this on to 7.328 friends or your cat will die".
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ysabetwordsmith ([personal profile] ysabetwordsmith) wrote2025-10-17 08:40 pm

Follow Friday 10-17-25: Joss Whedon

Today's theme is Joss Whedon.

Read more... )
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ysabetwordsmith ([personal profile] ysabetwordsmith) wrote2025-10-17 06:08 pm

Wildlife

Solar-powered, light-up fishing nets are saving sea turtles: 'Reduces entanglement by 63%'

Senko, his research team, and the Amador brothers have recently published research indicating that illuminating nets with green LED lights could reduce the entanglement of turtles and other off-target species by 63%.

Not only this, but the light-up features help fishers save time retrieving and disentangling nets, without compromising their harvest.



Communication saves lives.
The Bloggess ([syndicated profile] thebloggess_feed) wrote2025-10-17 07:29 pm

My favorite October reads

Posted by thebloggess

Someone recently told me that the reason I have so much anxiety is because I read so many dark, horror books and I explained that studies prove that reading horror can actually be good for your resilience and empathy and give you a safe outlet to process emotions. And I added that I’ve had overactiveContinue reading "My favorite October reads"
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ysabetwordsmith ([personal profile] ysabetwordsmith) wrote2025-10-17 01:12 pm

Birdfeeding

Today is cloudy and mild.

I fed the birds.  I've seen a few sparrows and house finches. 

I put out water for the birds.  The honeybees had drained the small metal birdbath again.

EDIT 10/17/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.

EDIT 10/17/25 -- I did more work around the patio.

EDIT 10/17/25 -- I watered the telephone pole garden and the savanna plants.

As it is now dark, I am done for the night.

Smart Bitches, Trashy BooksSmart Bitches, Trashy Books ([syndicated profile] smartbitches_feed) wrote2025-10-17 03:30 pm

F/F Romance, Friends to Lovers, & More

Posted by Amanda

Be Mine Forever

Be Mine Forever by Kennedy Ryan is $1.99 This is book three in the Bennet series. Ryan’s books are superb, with strong emotions and complex characters. Did any of you pick this up last time it was on sale?

From the bestselling author of Queen Move, a mysterious artist’s dark past stands in the way of a second chance at love in this sizzling suburban romance.

Can a secret crush . . .

Jo Walsh has loved Cameron Mitchell for as long as she can remember. Whether front and center in her life or on the periphery, the tall, brooding artist has made his presence seductively and irresistibly known. But whenever they start to get close, Cam pulls away. Jo’s tired of keeping her feelings in a box Cam is afraid to open. If he wants her, he’ll have to prove it. And if he doesn’t, Jo will need to know the real reason why . . .

. . . become the love of a lifetime?

How do you walk away from your soul mate? Cam wishes he knew. No matter how far he runs from Jo, he can’t resist looking back at the silver eyes that seem to see right through him. But as well as Jo thinks she understands Cam, the dark truth about his past is something she shouldn’t have to handle. Cam’s sure that setting Jo free is the right thing to do. Too bad his heart has other ideas . . .

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You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

Baking Me Crazy

Baking Me Crazy by Karla Sorensen is $2.49 at Amazon! This is book one in the Love at First Sight series and it features a friends to lovers romance. Have you read this one?

I’m Levi Buchanan, and until five years ago, I thought the legend of my family’s curse was a load of crazy, Southern nonsense.

No curse can make you fall in love at first sight. No curse can force a true, deep, passionate, all-consuming love that will haunt you all the days of your life.

Then I met Jocelyn Abernathy and I realized how completely wrong I was.

The problem is, Jocelyn guards her feelings like well-armed soldier. She’s the most beautiful, stubborn, infuriating woman I’ve ever met. Every time she talks, I want to kiss the living daylights out of her. But I can’t.

Because when we met, she didn’t need true love. She needed a best friend. And that’s what I’ve been to her… for five years.

But when Jocelyn meets a handsome stranger her first day working at Donner Bakery and she lets him buy her a dill pickle cupcake, I realize with ominous regret that I may have missed my window with my best friend.

If I can’t get her to see past our friendship, my new curse may be to watch the love of my life move on with someone else.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

Wake Up, Nat & Darcy

Wake Up, Nat & Darcy by Kate Cochrane is 99c! This is a f/f romance and came out last November. Shana picked this one for Hide Your Wallet.

Ex-lovers. Ex-rivals. New cohosts. Oh, puck.

Cut from the US women’s hockey team right before her third chance at gold, Natalie Carpenter is scrambling for a plan that’ll help her avoid moving back home. The answer: a guest-hosting gig on Wake Up, USA’s winter games coverage. Her cohost: Darcy LaCroix, Nat’s ex-girlfriend, one-time college teammate turned adversary.

Since leaving Team Canada, Darcy has worked hard to make a name in broadcasting. If her big break requires sharing screen time with the former cocky freshman who turned her world upside down, so be it. At this point, there’s nothing between them except history.

But audiences disagree. #PuckingHotties is trending hard, and Nat and Darcy agree to lean into it—for ratings, obviously. It’s not like Nat can forget the way Darcy broke her heart or their bitter team rivalry.

Between working, traveling together and that irresistible spark, it’s getting hard to separate what’s real and what’s for the camera. Because somewhere underneath everything that went wrong is the sneaking suspicion that nothing will ever feel quite this right again.

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You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

All of Us Villains

All of Us Villains by Amanda Foody and C.L. Herman is $2.99! This was mentioned in a previous Get Rec’d. Foody and Herman make a great writing duo and I believe they have a new or upcoming fantasy romance release.

After the publication of a salacious tell-all book, the remote city of Ilvernath is thrust into worldwide spotlight. Tourists, protesters, and reporters flock to its spellshops and ruins to witness an ancient curse unfold: every generation, seven families name a champion among them to compete in a tournament to the death. The winner awards their family exclusive control over the city’s high magick supply, the most powerful resource in the world.

In the past, the villainous Lowes have won nearly every tournament, and their champion is prepared to continue his family’s reign. But this year, thanks to the influence of their newfound notoriety, each of the champions has a means to win. Or better yet–a chance to rewrite their story.

But this is a story that must be penned in blood.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

You can find ordering info for this book here.