Brandon O'Brien @therisingtithes@wandering.shop

Half of the brain power I've used still being awake has been spent on this very frustrating--

Braincrack:

the Ikoria preview opening with a Vivien Reid cosplayer doing the Godzilla challenge.

(I'm sorry.)

I—

Whatever, Agent Cooper is #5

(I'll also say as an aside that these, and my Elegies published in previous issues of Uncanny, are all from the same work and speaking in a similar chorus, and of all the places I'm glad to have these pieces, I'm damn glad it's Uncanny in particular.)

Now that the contracts are signed--and days before my birthday, no less--I'll say that I've recently sold not one, but two poems to @UncannyMagazine@twitter.com.

They're both from the perspective of a lagahoo.

I can't wait for you to read them. Soon come.

(I say that like listening to Polkadot Stingray doesn’t *always* generate story moods in my brain)

tfw 「DENKOUSEKKA」gives birth to an entire anime in your brain

So nobody ever made a clip of the greatest moment in @AfroSenju@twitter.com's Persona 5: The Royal stream yesterday, so I just decided... Afro really had the shounen protagonist energy and I can't wait for the rest of these streams.
https://clips.twitch.tv/AntsyElatedSandstormFailFish

I guess that's it? Thank you for indulging me! (And yes, save all best wishes for the Saturday.)

💖

6. I'm still thinking that sometime on Saturday I may end up just streaming some poetry reading and chatting with folks on Twitch. Maybe, maybe not. But heads up, if I do read, I'm reading this poem, so if I don't read, it'd be a gift if you just read it. https://uncannymagazine.com/article/drop-some-amens/

5. Obviously, you can't share a cake with me, because quarantine. But on Saturday, have a slice of cake or a scoop of ice cream and think of me, just a little.

4c. Support those for whom bouncing back from times like these require support. We're all in this together.

4b. Conversely, I am not the only freelance creative who may be in need. I would greatly recommend throwing some coin and supporting the work of fine folks such as these:

@madpierrot@twitter.com
@bignoseagenda@twitter.com
@LiteralSoup@twitter.com
@DeePennyway@twitter.com
@temporalhiccup@twitter.com
@KameronHurley@twitter.com

4. Surely you're under no obligation, because times are tough for everybody, but you'd like to support me financially, I would like to get a running desktop very soon, because working from home without one has actually been really mentally frustrating? https://ko-fi.com/therisingtithes

3. Buy my games. I made a couple of new ones earlier this week, even! https://twitter.com/therisingtithes/status/1245037315031994375

3b. If you are playing them, I'd love to hear what you think!
---
RT @therisingtithes
A reminder that Hot-Blooded/Cool-Headed Lovers and The Moon Wants Me To Leave You are new to my Itch game storefront, if you're looking for something to play!

https://therisingtithes.itch…
https://twitter.com/therisingtithes/status/1245037315031994375

2b. If you're a Black science fiction and fantasy writer, consider submitting to @fiyahlitmag@twitter.com. Subs are now open for our June issue!
---
RT @fiyahlitmag
We're now open for UNTHEMED submissions for our July issue through the end of the@fiyahlitmag@twitter.com window for the "JOY" issue now opens May 1st).

Check our guidelines and send us the good stuff. https://www.fiyahlitmag.com/submissions/
https://twitter.com/fiyahlitmag/status/1245201134702264320

2. Read @fiyahlitmag@twitter.com. Read the latest issue. Offer a gift subscription to a friend, if able. I love FIYAH, I love the inimitable privilege of picking poetry for it each issue. I dare say you will enjoy it.
---
RT @fiyahlitmag
FIYAH Is@fiyahlitmag@twitter.comow available for download. $3.99 https://www.fiyahlitmag.com/shop/issues/2020-issues-issues/issue-14/
https://twitter.com/fiyahlitmag/status/1245199496067174400

1b. Along the lines of 'they don't need to be to/for/about me', consider writing a poem that you think may bring joy, calm, delight, or understanding to someone close to you, & sharing it with them this weekend. I don't even need to know. But it will still be a gift.

Without any obligation to the reader, here are some things I would absolutely love if you want to wish me a happy birthday this Saturday:

1. If you planned on verbal/written wishes, I would love them in poem form. They don't need to be to/for/about me, but I'd love your poetry.

Thankfully, I'm at home, doing the right thing, working, trying to be ~productive~. Even though I'm accustomed to working from home, though, this isn't exactly doing wonders for my focus.

What was I talking about, again?

Oh, right, my birthday.

My birthday is this weekend.

Usually, I have a lot of strange feelings about my birthday. I have very peculiar feelings about the fact that this time around, I turn [redacted] years old amidst an international pandemic response. Living in history is unpredictable like that.