iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Donna-Claire - Author @donnacwrites.com · 26/10/2025

In the background of this photo of my kitten trying to crawl as close to me as possible is the laptop I intended to write my book on today.

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Donna-Claire - Author @donnacwrites.com · 25/10/2025

Tis the Halloween season for Dreadful Meadows. I lost to my wife by nearly 30 points. She had a wonderful engine humming along.

The final board state of a game of Dreadful Meadows.

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Donna-Claire - Author @donnacwrites.com · 24/10/2025

First game of Dicemancy: I won on the final turn. This game has a nice skill curve and I definitely feel like spell placement mastery will be a nice adventure. I felt very, very clever placing my final spell card in a way that let me defeat the final titan. Happy I backed it. #boardgames

The final board state of a game of Dicemancy.

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Donna-Claire - Author @donnacwrites.com · 23/10/2025

View from my writing desk this morning.

A dark room with a trickle of sunlight from a window on the right side. The room features wall hangings, an old desk, and a full bookcase.

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Donna-Claire - Author @donnacwrites.com · 22/10/2025

Tis the season for Witchcraft! Suffered a Minor Loss here. I had that 5 on Putnam revealed early and poured all my energy in bumping him up. I figured 7 had to be enough for our other friends, right? Right?! Alas. I love this tense game even if I've never convinced all 3 jurors. #boardgames

The final board of a game of Witchcraft! set up on a board game table.

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Donna-Claire - Author @donnacwrites.com · 21/10/2025

Played The Four Doors with my wife tonight. Narrowly won on standard difficulty! I so appreciate how big this game feels for a deck of cards and some pawns. There's a good 40 minutes of crunch and collaboration here. #boardgames

A game of The Four Doors set up on a board game table with a red mat.

The final board state of a narrow victory in the board game The Four Doors.

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Donna-Claire - Author @donnacwrites.com · 17/10/2025

Fantastic Factories: dice placement, resource management, and satisfying combos. This game is very smooth and intuitive to learn. The solo is one of the simplest bots I've ever played against. Great game, even though I lost by a measly 2 points. #boardgames

The final board state of a solo game of Fantastic Factories.

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Donna-Claire - Author @donnacwrites.com · 17/10/2025

First solo play of Gardlings! This is a great combination of tile laying and push your luck. Get gems, but not too many gnomes. As someone who loves Quacks, having these mechanisms in a neat solo package is awesome. #boardgames

The final board state of a game of Gardlings on a board game table with a red mat.

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Donna-Claire - Author @donnacwrites.com · 14/10/2025

My fiction DEBUT has been out for one week. When I started this novelette on my typewriter in 2023, I never thought I'd be holding SHOULDN'T WE DANCE? in my hands. You can get a copy and support my Philly small press @stanchion.bsky.social at the ol' link. www.stanchionzine.com/product-page...

A woman with dark hair and glasses holding up a book titled SHOULDN'T WE DANCE?

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Donna-Claire - Author @donnacwrites.com · 12/10/2025

Quick game of Planted at 2p. I love this simple game of drafting and resource management. A total joy in terms of components as well. I won by 2! #boardgames

The final board state of a two player game of Planted.

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Donna-Claire - Author @donnacwrites.com · 12/10/2025

Afternoon game of Décorum. This co-op game thrives in the meta narrative that comes up with each scenario and the funny ways you can and can't communicate. Very immersing! #boardgames

A woman reading a large board game card. The game Décorum is set up in front of her.

A game of Décorum set up on a board game table with a red mat.

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Donna-Claire - Author @donnacwrites.com · 09/10/2025

Here's A Place For All My Books, which is tied with Saltfjord and Vantage as my favorite solo of 2025. This game is so tactile, puzzly, and wonderfully smooth to run solo. The theme is aces and it basically puts itself away during scoring. Simply wonderful. #boardgames

The final board state of A Place For All My Books set up on a red playmat.

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Donna-Claire - Author @donnacwrites.com · 07/10/2025

Today's the day. My fiction debut is officially out in the world. I spent the last 10 years publishing creative nonfiction. I didn't think I had fiction left in my bones, but SHOULDN'T WE DANCE? proved me wrong. I love this story. I hope you'll love it as well. www.stanchionzine.com/product-page...

A book held up on a balcony railing at sunrise. The book is titled SHOULDN'T WE DANCE?

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Donna-Claire - Author @donnacwrites.com · 06/10/2025

My book is very pretty. It's also well-written! It also comes out tomorrow! SHOULDN'T WE DANCE? from @stanchion.bsky.social is about male friendship, grief, storytelling, and tripping into your bar cart in the wee hours of the morning. Get a copy here: www.stanchionzine.com/product-page...

A copy of SHOULDN'T WE DANCE? held up against a ray of sunrise light.

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Donna-Claire - Author @donnacwrites.com · 04/10/2025

Holding your book in your hands never gets old. Infinite gratitude to @stanchion.bsky.social for believing in this story. SHOULDN'T WE DANCE? comes out next week.

A hand holding a book called SHOULDN'T WE DANCE?

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Donna-Claire - Author @donnacwrites.com · 04/10/2025

Last game of the day: River Valley Glassworks with my wife. I won with my best score ever at 89. She put up at valiant effort at 81. I love this welcoming game anyone can learn, and get a lot of mileage out of introducing it to newer gamers. #boardgames

A woman holding a glass of wine, seated at a board game table. The game set up is River Valley Glassworks.

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Donna-Claire - Author @donnacwrites.com · 03/10/2025

Dreadful Meadows solo: an utter delight. This game is everything I love from the quick time to table and the easy to run and understand bot. Resource management, contract fulfillment, and a great theme here. I also love this game at 2p. #boardgames

The final board state of a solo game of Dreadful Meadows.

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Donna-Claire - Author @donnacwrites.com · 03/10/2025

Wroth solo: beautiful game and challenging puzzle. I'm not good at area control games but the package and CTG production called to me. It is as hard as folks say solo, but I really don't mind. I would be keen to keep exploring factions and see if I can actually develop strategy. #boardgames

The final board state of a loss of Wroth played solo.

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Donna-Claire - Author @donnacwrites.com · 03/10/2025

Presenting: my worst play of Hispania. I didn't play with tempo well and only focused on preventing loss instead of advancing my win condition. Lost anyway. Great amount of brain burn in a tiny box! #boardgames

The final board state of a losing game of Hispania.

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Donna-Claire - Author @donnacwrites.com · 02/10/2025

My fiction debut comes out in 5 days. My fiction debut comes out in 5 days! SHOULDN'T WE DANCE? is the book of my heart. There's still time to pre-order a discounted copy and support my small press @stanchion.bsky.social. It is a beautiful thing to be able to share writing.

The title page of a book called SHOULDN'T WE DANCE?

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Donna-Claire - Author @donnacwrites.com · 02/10/2025

Played The Four Doors at 2p tonight. This crunchier iteration of the Forbidden series is quickly rising as one of my favorites of 2025. It is also cat approved. #boardgames

A woman reading a card at a board game table with a black cat in her lap.

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Donna-Claire - Author @donnacwrites.com · 30/09/2025

Here's all 12 games I played this month. Tea Witches was my most-anticipated play of the month. Spirit Island is my all-time favorite game at 2p with my wife. Vantage is a masterpiece and The Four Doors has replaced the Forbidden series for me. A good month overall! #boardgames

A 3x4 grid of board game covers. Games range from Diatoms to Vantage to Waddle to Spirit Island.

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Donna-Claire - Author @donnacwrites.com · 30/09/2025

A quick game of A Gentle Rain. I find this game soothing and also very frustrating because I constantly back myself into corners. Skill issue. Still a sweet game. #boardgames

The final board of a game of A Gentle Rain.

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Donna-Claire - Author @donnacwrites.com · 30/09/2025

My first solo play of The Four Doors. The puzzle is dynamic as you try to tinker with swapping powers and maximizing your 3 actions. The escalation is very much so Matt Leacock. This game is bigger than its box! I consider that the greatest win for a weeknight play. This one is a gem. #boardgames

The final board for a game of The Four Doors set out on a board game table with a red mat.

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Donna-Claire - Author @donnacwrites.com · 21/09/2025

After living in our new house for two months, the board game room is finally set up and has room for many more shelves...

A photo of a hobby board game room. Every wall in the room is lined with shelves filled with games. In the center of the room is a covered game table.

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Donna-Claire - Author @donnacwrites.com · 19/09/2025

So close and yet so far in solo Diatoms. I am so bad at these types of constricted puzzle games and yet I love them. Plus the game is stunning. #boardgames

A close up of the final player board in a solo game of Diatoms.

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Donna-Claire - Author @donnacwrites.com · 19/09/2025

Off work today so broke out Finspan solo. This is my favorite 'Span game because the bot takes 0 brain to run and score and the rules are streamlined. And fish! I won with 100 points to the bot's 85. #boardgames

The final board state of a solo game of Finspan.

A close up of the final board of a solo game of Finspan.

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Donna-Claire - Author @donnacwrites.com · 19/09/2025

Obsessed with how my writing desk looks in the morning light.

A writing desk and bookcase set in the corner of a room and bathed in sunrise light. There are three photos on the wall and an open laptop on the desk.

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Donna-Claire - Author @donnacwrites.com · 19/09/2025

Played a quick game of Twinkle Twinkle with my wife tonight. Fun game of open drafting and very pretty tableau building. Looking forward to playing this again this weekend at 4. #boardgames

The final boards for two players for Twinkle Twinkle on a board game table.

A close up of one final board in Twinkle Twinkle.

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Donna-Claire - Author @donnacwrites.com · 17/09/2025

Snuck in a quick game of Harmonies today. I love this little puzzle even though I am not good at it. #boardgames

The final board state of Harmonies set out on a board game table with a red mat.

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Donna-Claire - Author @donnacwrites.com · 17/09/2025

CRYBABY is ranking so well today and we are very close to a second printing. If you like me, my writing, or books about emo rap, consider getting a copy.

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Donna-Claire - Author @donnacwrites.com · 16/09/2025

Played a 2p game of Waddle after dinner. This game is silly fun. It is a "strategic" area control game with forbidden snacks (marbles) and you can learn and play in 20 minutes. I'm delighted by the random bits of setup that will give this lovely filler more legs. #boardgames

The final board state of a two player game of Waddle.

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Donna-Claire - Author @donnacwrites.com · 14/09/2025

I have written zero words this weekend, but I *have* enjoyed two birthday dinners with my wife and her sister and husband. I have to remember: Life is not an endless spill of hard work.

Two women seated at a restaurant table. On the left, the woman has dark hair, glasses, and is wearing a blue button up shirt. On the right, the woman has glasses and colorful hair.

A woman and a man seated at a dinner table. The woman on the left has short hair and glasses. The man beside her has short hair, a beard, and glasses. They're both smiling.

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Donna-Claire - Author @donnacwrites.com · 12/09/2025

Playing Spirit Island on my birthday. This is the best game ever made. Solo and at two, it sings like nothing else. My truest joy. #boardgames

A dark-haired woman sitting at a board game table playing a game of Spirit Island.

The final board for a two-player game of Spirit Island.

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Donna-Claire - Author @donnacwrites.com · 06/09/2025

I am on a 45-day reading streak.

A pink mug on a table outside that says "Pocket Books." There is a Kindle on the table next to the mug.

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Donna-Claire - Author @donnacwrites.com · 05/09/2025

Wraith & The Giants: Defeated the Water Giant with one turn to spare. Got very lucky on symbols on my second action row and was able to drop a lot of damage on B weak spots for a few of the scars. Great, brutal little solo game. #boardgames

Final turn of Wraith & The Giants board game set up on a table with a red mat.

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Donna-Claire - Author @donnacwrites.com · 01/09/2025

Played Tea Witches at two today with a cat cameo. I really loved the way your served witches became your engine on later turns. The game works well at two, but I cannot imagine it at 3 or 4. Might be an AP nightmare for some groups. Happy to own this one. #boardgames

A game of Tea Witches set up on the table. At the end of the table is a woman holding a Tea mug and a cat.

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Donna-Claire - Author @donnacwrites.com · 01/09/2025

Vantage is the masterpiece of Jamey's career as a game designer. I've wanted something so meta and engaging in my solo exploration games for some time. He has really nailed it. If you're a writer especially, this is the board game for our ilk. #boardgames

A game of Vantage set up on a board game table with a red mat.

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Donna-Claire - Author @donnacwrites.com · 31/08/2025

Snuck in my first solo game of Elder Sign this morning. Very fun dice game. Good mitigation options. The theme is a hit. I would describe this one as the good kind of ouch in terms of luck. I can only imagine how fun it is with a big group. #boardgames

A complete game of Elder Sign set up on a board game table with a red mat.

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Donna-Claire - Author @donnacwrites.com · 27/08/2025

I think my cat is assembled incorrectly.

A black and white cat with his belly up and tongue out.

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Donna-Claire - Author @donnacwrites.com · 24/08/2025

No board games today, but I did hug my tiny cat for an extended period of time.

A dark-haired woman hugging a black and white cat.

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Donna-Claire - Author @donnacwrites.com · 22/08/2025

Beacon Patrol: a gem of a tile laying game. I'm not very good at this game, frequently backing my boat into a corner. But I don't need to win a game to appreciate how smart the little wrinkles of its mechanisms are. #boardgames

A close-up photo of Beacon Patrol spread out on a red board game table.

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Donna-Claire - Author @donnacwrites.com · 22/08/2025

Saltfjord: This game is a delight. Each decision is consequential not just turn to turn, but round to round as you build your settlement board. The solo is BYOS, which is my preference for a game with this many scoring pathways. Beautiful to look at and puzzle through. #boardgames

Final board state of a solo game of Saltfjord.

A close-up of the many boards and pieces for the board game Saltfjord.

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Donna-Claire - Author @donnacwrites.com · 22/08/2025

Folks, it finally happened: I finally won a game of Conservas. It took months. It was nearly an overfishing defeat, but we did it. I love a good fishing board game. I know people say Conservas is solved, but not to me! #boardgames

The final board state for a solo game of Conservas. Cards and small pieces cover a red game table mat.

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Donna-Claire - Author @donnacwrites.com · 19/08/2025

Convinced that Wraith & The Giants is Scott Almes' best solo board game design. The snappy player turns and absolutely brutal enemy turns make this one feel a lot bigger than its small box. Scaling Giants and trying to combo icons for maximum damage and movement is stellar. #boardgames

A completed game of Wraith & The Giants laid out on a board game table with a red mat.

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Donna-Claire - Author @donnacwrites.com · 18/08/2025

I got A Place For All My Books to the table solo this weekend. The deluxe production is stellar, sure, but the deceptively thinky gameplay really sings here too. I love the tension of needing just one more turn. The solo is super easy to run with good decision space. #boardgames

The final board state of new board game A Place For All My Books.

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Donna-Claire - Author @donnacwrites.com · 29/04/2025

Making cauliflower chowder before the Phillies play, AMA.

A red Dutch oven on a stove full of chopped potatoes and cauliflower pieces.

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