In The Scarlet Ball, a young half-Vietnamese, half-French woman stumbles into an opportunity that could very well be the death of her. Judith Ban is a recent immigrant living in Manhattan and working for a very exclusive modiste. (For long hours and crappy wages, as this is taking place during the 1800s when everything was terrible for everyone, and yet somehow even more terrible if you were not white.) Our Protagonist is doing a delivery to a mansion that is in disarray: the young lady of the house has absconded in order to avoid a potentially lethal social obligation.

Misery’s Wife is a retelling of the Portuguese fairy tale, “What Came of Picking Flowers.” (I had to do some poking around to find out what folk tale the book was based on. It was not named in the book summary.) It’s something of a “Bluebeard” but with elements from other tale types. (Note: fairy tales tend to fall into rough categories with specific elements/themes in common.) It takes place in a post-apocalyptic, post-ecological collapse world in which the natural world has either gotten much, much bigger or else humanity has become much, much smaller.

I am attempting to raise enough money to move from AZ to MN due to housing di… Rena McGee needs your support for Help Me Move from AZ to MN for Better Support

Halloween Playlist for 2026

I am attempting to raise enough money to move from AZ to MN due to housing di… Rena McGee needs your support for Help Me Move from AZ to MN for Better Support

Support Jade Needs Hugs

Venmo is a digital wallet that lets you make and share payments with friends. You can easily split the bill, cab fare, or much more. Download the iOS or Android app or sign up on Venmo.com today.

I am attempting to raise enough money to move from AZ to MN due to housing di… Rena McGee needs your support for Help Me Move from AZ to MN for Better Support

I am attempting to raise enough money to move from AZ to MN due to housing di… Rena McGee needs your support for Help Me Move from AZ to MN for Better Support

The 40-year-old woman, who was from Jefferson County was unvaccinated, according to the coroner. The state health department is conducting a "thorough review" of the case.

I do not advise getting three vaccines at the same time, I'm just saying. I still don't feel all that great after getting one earlier in the week. (I have mostly already not been feeling that great due to the entire, "I am a ball of stress and people seemed determined to drive me out of my goddamn mind," thing that has been happening for the past YEAR.")