Tag: updates

So Now What?

So a rich manbaby took over Twitter, and is tearing it apart in realtime. Some of my most loyal followers, on that platform where I’d worked hard for years to build a following, are already gone. There’s nothing quite like Twitter out there.

So the obligatory question becomes…now what?

Honestly, I don’t know. I’m not leaving Twitter until they make me leave, and I am still not convinced that the guy isn’t going to try and sell off the company he himself admits he didn’t actually want to buy. Obviously, finding other platforms where people are going is a good idea, but that requires necessarily starting from scratch. This requires time and attention and in some cases money, all of which are in short supply for me, running a one-woman operation.

I am now on Cohost, at https://cohost.org/riversidewings , and you’re welcome to follow me there. It’s not the same as Twitter– it feels more like Tumblr and Livejournal were in their better days– but it’s a new platform being grown slowly and steadily, and I like that.

I’m on Mastodon, but in between instances at the moment, and Mastodon’s got a learning curve that means not everyone’s gonna be going there.

I’m on Patreon of course, at patreon.com/riversidewings, where I recently picked up again with #FridayNightHistory: https://www.patreon.com/posts/74051392

Beyond that, I’m in the same platforms I’ve always been on, trying to figure out how to pick up and keep going. But as I watch Twitter die, I can’t help but feel angry.

I was managing, and then the wealthiest man in the world decided to come in like a sledgehammer, rather than do anything constructive.

None of this had to happen.

And yet, here we are.

A Realignment of Sorts

Folks, hi– good to see you again. It’s been awhile, hasn’t it?

So in light of recent events on Twitter which I’m sure you’ve all heard of by now, I’ve been in the midst of something of a realignment. Not leaving any platforms, mind you, but simply realigning where I focus my energy in putting content up.

So I’m back to what will likely be regular content on here. Some of it will be integrated with Patreon, once I get the Patreon plug-in to play nice with my WordPress setup, but for now, expect more content in general, here. It’s a useful medium, and it doesn’t have a character limit like Twitter does, so I figure let me use it.

Plus, lots more images that won’t get cropped like Twitter does…

It also occurs to me that inasmuch as I have a Patreon, this blog is the nearest thing I have to an official website, so, I should be updating it, huh?

Thank you for your readership all these years. As ever, if you’d like to support my work, please consider subscribing at patreon.com/riversidewings or twitch.tv/riversidewings or picking up a copy of my book at bit.ly/greydawnebook.

Your support keeps the lights on and makes everything I do possible. Thank you for being the wind beneath my wings.

Friday Night History, Episodes 30-36

Folks! I have news! #FridayNightHistory now goes up exclusively on Patreon as public posts! You can catch the episodes since the last I posted here via the following links:

Episode 30: Stumbling Over History

Episode 31: “To Whom does the Stonewall Belong?“

Episode 32: Emperor Tōbu, Part One

Episode 33: Emperor Tōbu, Part Two

Episode 34 (S2E1): The Cat Who Would Be God

Episode 35 (S2E2): Kashikobuchi

Episode 36 (S2E3): The Fox Iroha of Okarimiya

Sparrow-dancing ever onward.

Updates will continue here as the new episodes go up, but will link to the Patreon side. Other posts will continue here on WordPress, as this is my primary public-facing blog. Thank you so much for reading the series, and please consider becoming a patron, becoming a Twitch subscriber, or sending a one-time donation via bit.ly/2lQfdZ8.

Your support makes all of this possible. Thank you for being the wind beneath my wings.

An Appeal: Help Me Grow What I Do

Folks, this is a post to explain the new goal on the Patreon at http://patreon.com/riversidewings and to talk a bit about what you’re making possible and where I hope to take things.

Right now, we’re at $666, and it’s helping me devote more time to creating Friday Night History, my book projects, art, and more. I’ve been able to afford tools like new brushes, a podcasting microphone, and licenses for apps like ClipStudio Paint, where earlier, I’d have had to make do with bare minimum of tools to get by, and focus more on just surviving. You helped make Grey Dawn happen. You helped make Friday Night History go from a thread to a podcast. As I always say, you’re the wind beneath my wings.

I want to keep growing what I do– I want to devote more time to this work. This is my passion, but interacting with you all– here, on Twitter, on Discord, on Twitch, and elsewhere — is also a joy. The more of you sign up here, the closer I get to making this my full-time focus, and doing still more. This is not a hobby. This is how I make a significant portion of my livelihood.

There’s so much I want to do! I’d like to pay to enter my books and podcasts in more award competitions. I’d like to buy a PO Box so y’all can send me books and games to review. I’d like to be able to afford ads on social media. I’d like to travel, and to buy books and make photocopies that I count on for making this content. So truly, your support is bringing me closer to all of that.

With that in mind, an explanation of the next few goals and perks on Patreon.

At $750, I’ll begin a once-a-month cooking stream. The plan is to cook something historical, and to talk in realtime about it, probably on Twitch. Right now, we’re about $84 away from this.

At that point, I will also be able to start looking at buying some modest, initial adspace– all the better to bring new listeners and readers to the podcast and my books. I’ve already begun laying the groundwork for the support I’ll need at that point– the mods I’ve brought onboard over on Twitch and on Discord are part of that.

At $800/month I’ll be able to set up a PO Box, which will give you a place to direct your mail– books you’d like me to review, or video games or movies. Right now we’re about $134 away from this.

It will also make possible physical rewards. Pencil and ink sketches at first, once a month, but also stickers, and other merch.

When we hit $1000/month, this will be close to being my day job! and at that point, I will edit, record, and release pre-2021 #FridayNightHistory threads as podcasts– stuff like The Ninja that Met James Buchanan, or The Gang Goes to War Over a Tree. Right now we’re about $333 away from this.

Beyond that, this effectively becomes my day job, and we can talk further about goals when we get there.

But for now, this is what’s on deck.

So. If you like my work on #FridayNightHistory. If you read #GreyDawn. If you want to see #TheSparrowsDream and other history writing of mine make it to publication. If you want to get early glimpses of my second novel #HomewardStars as I write it: please spread the word.

patreon.com/riversidewings
twitch.tv/riversidewings
riversidewings.itch.io

Thank you to all who have supported me thus far and have continued to support me. The best is yet to come.

And you, friends, are the wind beneath my wings.

NOVEL COMING NEXT YEAR!

Friends, it’s been awhile, and I have outstanding news. Balance of Seven Press has picked up my novel Grey Dawn for publication next year!

Grey Dawn is the story of two women– time-displaced Civil War Union Army veteran Chloë Logan, and former infantry platoon sergeant Leigh Hunter– bonding in modern Philadelphia over shared experiences at war. It’s a romance, but it’s more than that: it’s about learning to trust, being whole scars-and-all, and after all the years and all the miles and all the battles a person goes through, coming home again.

To keep up with and support my work, follow me on Twitter, Facebook, Patreon, and Sponsus at riversidewings. We have a hell of an adventure ahead, friends. It’s my privilege to share it with you.