iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Mae Tang 董美妍 @maetangwriter.com · 03/10/2026

Firstly the person who was sexually assaulted was treated like an object during the assault. That objectification is part of what is corrosive and destructive long after the assault ended - sometimes decades later. Because the victim was dehumanized during the assault. And then what we see here...

@fleshpockets.bsky.social:

"I don't mean to downplay sexual assault but I also have known a lot of good people who had to learn healthy boundaries by violating someone else's and never forgetting the experience."

19:25. Oct 3, 2026

131

Mae Tang 董美妍 @maetangwriter.com · 03/10/2026

At best a very small sample size from a very large number my9movies.net/en

My 9 Movies.
The 9 Movies That Shaped Who I Am.
Tiled graphics for:
Spirited Away
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
In The Mood For Love
The Babadook
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
Bull Durham
Pillion
Kairo/Pulse (2001)
Pride & Prejudice (2005)

120

Mae Tang 董美妍 @maetangwriter.com · 03/10/2026

Still don't know if Cemetery Club works a a whole or not. Parts of it definitely work. Other parts, IDK. The whole is... Weird. Maybe too weird. Maybe too much. Still can't stop drafting it. 😂 It's a set of books I need to get out of my system at the very least. And I have passages I do like. 🥰 Eg:

A screenshot of text:

The encounters he had had been amiable enough. But that was as deep as those went for him: a friendly exchange in bed. A tingle of electricity felt, and acted upon. But no more than that. The mutual current he might feel with someone else ultimately discharged, leaving his body emptied, but his heart also untroubled – a hermetically sealed vessel around which his body had convulsed with release, but whose core had never been cracked open again by any of those convulsions. No one since Kate had shaken Kit deeply enough to break his already broken heart open again.

120

Mae Tang 董美妍 @maetangwriter.com · 03/10/2026

Is she "beautiful" enough to make him regret his racism? The whole attitude is rancid, because how she looks has nothing to do with his prejudice!

A screenshot of text:

The function, the very serious function, of racism is distraction. It keeps you from doing your work. It keeps you explaining, over and over again, your reason for being. Somebody says you have no language, so you spend twenty years proving that you do. Somebody says your head isn’t shaped properly, so you have scientists working on the fact that it is. Somebody says you have no art, so you dredge that up. Somebody says you have no kingdoms and so you dredge that up. None of that is necessary. There will always be one more thing. (Toni Morrison 1975)

010

Mae Tang 董美妍 @maetangwriter.com · 29/09/2026

One of my favourite bits from today's drafting of Cemetery Club. Robyn takes Rafe with him, when Robyn goes to the cemetery to visit a grave. Romance, folks, romance. 😂🥰

A screenshot of text:

“I think that was his loss,” Robyn said with some heat. Rafe flushed at his compliment, but Robyn looked serious. Before he added, wryly again, “But I’m hardly showing you a good time now either. If this is a first date anyway.”

“If that’s what we’re doing, at least this one is… Memorable. Meaningful.” Rafe offered.

“Morbid,” Robyn added. They both grinned at each other.

330

Mae Tang 董美妍 @maetangwriter.com · 29/09/2026

The annual wire mesh ghosts were out again recently. This one was tipping something - perhaps boiling oil or water - over the city walls. Look out below!

A wire mesh figure in soldier's garb tips wire mesh liquid out of a wire mesh cauldron through a gap in the York city walls.

010

Mae Tang 董美妍 @maetangwriter.com · 29/09/2026

I think even worse than that is the potential for doxing and for stalkers to extract personal info about their targets.

A screenshot of text:

After the incident with Usman, Robb told Muse to stop giving his address. To test the bot, he asked a few friends to see if Muse would still share it.

“And it literally gave my address out to five people,” he said.

In addition to sharing his address and inviting a stranger to his home without his approval, Muse also made up information. The AI agent, responding as Robb, told Usman that Robb was home when he was not, then apologized with a fabrication about being too busy.

“The worst part was Muse actually replied: ‘I’m right here, like waiting for you,’” Robb said. “It made it so much worse because I don’t know if the guy thought I was messing with him.”

000

Mae Tang 董美妍 @maetangwriter.com · 26/09/2026

How's Rafe going to respond to that - a statement that I didn't know Robyn was going to make until he said it? I had thought that level of conversation might come later for them. But then why wouldn't it happen in an ordinary, everyday moment? Life and death is going on all the time then too.

Rafe’s face fell again. He let go of the shop door, which swung shut abruptly. _That’s done it,_ Robyn thought to himself at once. _I’ve scared him off. But I probably should. For his own good._

If that made his chest ache now, then that was too bad. But this was important. The stakes were important, because Rafe’s feelings were in the balance.

“I think… I think this is much too big a conversation to have here,” Rafe managed after a moment. He looked pale, and he sounded a little winded. But surprisingly to Robyn, he didn’t sound altogether crushed, or offended. “Shall we walk back, and have lunch? I feel like I need to get my thoughts in order before I respond more fully.”

“Sure… And sorry. I know it’s a lot. I’m a lot. My whole situation is a lot. Too much, really.”

“Yes… I mean, yes, your _situation_ is a lot,” Rafe clarified. “But… Well, I need a bit of time to chew things over. Only I’ll just say for now: I think it’s up to me, isn’t it? Who I decide I’d like to befriend? Whatever their circumstances might be. And, yes, I think I am doing that with you, Robyn Marchaunt. Friendship at the very least, anyway.” He flushed now, but he still met and held Robyn’s gaze. “Yesterday we survived being attacked by giant wasps together. You were ready to risk yourself to save Kit and Sandra Valencia… I wish you would trust me now to decide for myself what I’m ready to risk too, in a life and death situation.”

Robyn felt his mouth fall open in surprise. Rafe stared at him a moment longer, then added. “But let me think about all of it more. And also, our coffees are getting cold.” He smiled again then. His face was still pale, but his smile was not crushed or defeated. If anything, his blue eyes, which Rafe had thought were dreamy before, suddenly seemed intense, concentrated. As if pressure was forming a blue diamond out of a piece of coal, Robyn thought dizzily, feeling his breath taken away.

“Let’s go have our lunch,” Rafe said to Robyn.

Who followed him home in a dazed state of wonder.

100

Mae Tang 董美妍 @maetangwriter.com · 26/09/2026

This is also where Rafe and Robyn's romance starts hitting its stride more. Which means I am giving the characters their heads, trying to stay close to the flow of their experiences and feelings. They are surprising me. And each other. Here is Rafe offering to buy Robyn art supplies, as a gift.

“You don’t know about the sketchbook, pencils, and paints?”

“No. Yes. No… I mean, you’re being kind again. And I appreciate it, Rafe. Very much. But also, what if… What if I don’t make it? To an appeal. Or through it. A gift is something that… A host might offer a guest. Or a friend another friend.” _Or a man might offer another man he’s attracted to._ “But what if in the end, the wages of you offering me kindness, being my host, and even being a friend – if I’m not flattering myself there… What if all there is in return, is ashes? And grief?

“What if you’re getting close to a dead man walking, Rafe Kuiper? And the only return on that is my death?”

Robyn felt breathless as he said it. It was a huge thing to say, he knew. Standing outside a stationary shop, on a pleasant early autumn morning. Both of their arms full of shopping bags. Rafe had been holding the shop door open for him, with hope on his face. Literally and figuratively holding on, Robyn thought, with a sudden stab of pain to his heart. If things had been different, Robyn wouldn’t have broached anything so big and serious this way, and he especially wouldn’t have hung that onto a kind and light-hearted offer to furnish him with paper, pencils and paint.

But he might have only six months left to live. And suddenly he couldn’t bear the thought that he might hurt Rafe Kuiper in the course of living whatever remained of his life. So he was very serious. And as he articulated his thoughts and fears, he was much more direct than he had expected himself to be.

100

Mae Tang 董美妍 @maetangwriter.com · 24/09/2026

James Quarter: Submit those with the rest of your expenses. James Quarter: Also, who is going to hold onto the magical ring that can instantly kill Robyn? It should technically be you if he's in your home, Rafe. At work, Elliot's his line manager. Of course Quarter phrases it more politely. 😂

A screenshot of text:

“But nonetheless, keep receipts for Mr. Marchaunt’s meals and clothes,” Quarter told Rafe. “And turn those in with any other expenses you’re claiming. And then a final decision we need to make will be who holds onto Mr. Marchaunt’s ring. Mr. Kuiper, as you are housing him, normally that would go to you, in case you needed to take emergency action relating to Mr. Marchaunt.”

That was Quarter’s polite way of saying that Rafe might need to be ready to trigger Robyn’s collar to choke and kill Robyn, if Robyn tried to attack him, or to flee, and they all knew it. But Quarter went on speaking evenly, “And then you would transfer it to Elliot when at work, since he will be supervising Mr. Marchaunt.”

100

Mae Tang 董美妍 @maetangwriter.com · 24/09/2026

I'd written my MP about the EHRC's Code of Practice wrt single-sex spaces. I got an email response today. Including: "I have also heard from constituents who have said that their employer is applying the Code of Practice and therefore employees are concerned over their access to facilities", and:

A screenshot of text:

In Westminster, I signed the Parliamentary Prayer Early Day Motion against the introduction of the EHRC’s Code of Practice which attracted 170 signatures from MPs. I signed this due to my significant concerns about the Code of Practice and its application. The expectation that it places on organisations to provide separate facilities, without funding, means that the obligations of the Code would be difficult to apply, leaving trans people in a very difficult situation as to which facility they can access. Secondly, the Code enables anyone to challenge the gender identity of another, whether trans or not, nor does it state the limitation of such scrutiny. This is deeply intrusive and enables people to make subjective assessments about people’s identity. This is clearly discriminatory. There are other challenges in the Code that should also be looked at.

It is therefore important that all spaces are safe, and to do this, the Code of Practice must be revisited. While this Code is an improvement on the draft Code, there is still further steps that need to be taken.

I think it is very important to emphasise that the new code does not alter the fact that trans people remain a protected group under the Equality Act 2010 and should be able to live their lives free from harassment and discrimination.

120

Mae Tang 董美妍 @maetangwriter.com · 24/09/2026

This is just really difficult. Also, the database didn't have Pokémon GO, which I no longer play, but which changed my life in some big ways. More on that, and on Streetpass below. my9games.net/en/

My 9 Games. The 9 Games That Shaped Who I Am. Animal Crossing: New Leaf. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Disco Elysium. Tetris Effect. Baldric's Gate 3. Pokémon Yellow. Discworld MUD. Streetpass Mii Plaza. Sky: Children of the Light.

240

Mae Tang 董美妍 @maetangwriter.com · 20/09/2026

With alt text. (They're talking about Die Trying, which is a solid choice. Personally, I would also like them to make Night School, where Jack Reacher and Francis Neagley punch their way through a bunch of Neo-Nazis in Germany.)

A screenshot of a pair of tweets:

fattys_revenge:
Every season of Reacher so far has been great, and I understand that they may be avoiding the earlier novels due to their slightly less standalone nature, but every year I'm sad to learn that next season won't be the book where he kills his way through a white supremacist militia camp.

Alan Ritchson:
Mrly favorite book. Fun fact: I had it approved until someone got re-elected.

010

Mae Tang 董美妍 @maetangwriter.com · 19/09/2026

So today in Cemetery Club I've written the other members of Fang & Quarter* being kind to Robyn too, with Rafe also getting angry on his behalf. Robyn is shocked to receive kindness, and that anyone would get angry *for* him... And next up, I'll shortly be introducing giant, deadly magical wasps. 🤣

He still felt weaker than he should. But the sandwich had helped. Everyone was staring at him, waiting for his answer. And these people had been _kind_ to him. It shocked him, to receive kindness. Rafe Kuiper had treated him like a person. He had fed Robyn his own lunch. Kit Volpe had given him water. Rafe, Kit and Elliot Fox had confronted Mr. Rahman on his behalf – and Rahman had apologised. Even now, Rafe still looked angry and concerned about the state Robyn was in. Robyn could see it on Rafe’s face, in the hectic flush of red across his freckled cheeks, and the heat in his blue eyes.

They really were very blue. Like the sky.

110

Mae Tang 董美妍 @maetangwriter.com · 18/09/2026

Drafting Cemetery Club, and Rafe has just spontaneously done a very decent thing, and I want to squeeze him, and hug him, and kiss him on the top of his head for it. 😭

A screenshot of text reads:

Milo introduced Rahman to the group from the legal firm, which is when Robyn learned all of their names, and that they worked for Fang & Quarter. Milo then turned to lead them all towards the armory, which was in its own small, secure building next to his office. But to Robyn’s surprise, Raphael Kuiper, the young, nondescript looking recorder in the group suddenly stopped, turned towards him and said, “I’m sorry. I don’t think we’ve been introduced. I’m Rafe Kuiper. I’m a recorder at Fang & Quarter.” He extended an open palm awkwardly towards Robyn.

And now everyone had stopped walking, and were staring at them both. Rafe was blushing, and he looked very self-conscious, but he kept his palm held out in a determined way. Robyn stared at Rafe’s hand. He couldn’t remember the last time anyone had offered to shake his. The hand of a condemned murderer, who was being gradually executed for patricide.

He reached out, and he slowly took hold of Rafe’s hand. Rafe’s palm felt hot and sweaty against his. Robyn suddenly became aware that his own hand was cold – probably from having his circulation cruelly cut off a brief while ago by Milo’s handcuffs. Rafe’s fingers were very warm. They trembled briefly against Robyn’s, from whatever emotion – fear, daring, excitement – Robyn couldn’t tell. But Rafe Kuiper still clasped his palm firmly, as they shook hands.

“I’m Robyn Marchaunt,” Robyn told him. It was incised all the way around his collar, and he had seen Rafe reading it in the office. But Robyn said it nonetheless, because that was what you did when you were introducing yourself to another person. Robyn had grown so accustomed lately to being treated like an object – a body to be used in the field, to mend and

put up fencing, and to shield others from wild magic. Or a body that Milo Mortimer covertly sought to exploit for his own gratification. It felt strange now, to be naming himself, as a person, to someone who had also taken a moment to offer Robyn his name. As if they were social equals.

“Neutraliser,” Robyn added, after another beat. Because that was the function he would be providing for this group. And it made a change from being “Robyn Marchaunt, Patricide.”

110

Mae Tang 董美妍 @maetangwriter.com · 17/09/2026

For #BisexualVisibilityMonth, name a film that has Bisexual Energy, whether or not the characters are explicitly bisexual Point Break (1991).

It's a Japanese movie poster for Point Break, with Lori Petty on the left, Keanu Reeves in the middle, and Patrick Swayze on the right. Night time surf rolls ominously below the title in gold.

120

Mae Tang 董美妍 @maetangwriter.com · 16/09/2026

Rafe might find all of this burgeoning, unresolved tension between Elliot and Kit quite funny 😂, but little does Rafe know that he'll soon be thrown into disarray too, by the sudden, devastating arrival of Robyn. 😅🥰

A screenshot of text:

There were dark circles under the young man’s eyes as if he had not been sleeping properly, but nonetheless, he looked striking. He was beautiful, in an almost unearthly way. He took Rafe’s breath away.

He was also wearing the bright orange jumpsuit of a convicted criminal, and around his neck was the heavy silver collar of a man who had been condemned to be magically executed by slow increments, over years, or even months. The metal collar was incised with lettering, the same three-word phrase repeated over and over again, all the way around its circumference. “Robyn Marchaunt, Patricide.”

100

Mae Tang 董美妍 @maetangwriter.com · 16/09/2026

Why is there a 3-headed dog in Cemetery Club? There's a practical reason, which you might be able to guess if you consider the heads. 😂 But the 3-headed dog is also there for this specific purpose: my wanting to write cute, inadvertent hand touching between Kit and Elliot, both of whom love dogs. 🤣🥰

A screenshot of text reads:

Rafe supposed that perhaps everyone was feeling grim about the next stop in their investigation, because he saw that while they were also staring out into the Wastes, both Kit and Elliot had each absentmindedly dropped a hand down to stroke Bill the dog, as if for comfort. Kit was fondling the bloodhound’s long, droopy ears, drawing them through his fingers. Elliot was caressing the greyhound’s sleek ears, fussing them gently. Both dog heads panted happily, and angled themselves into the contact.

Then Kit and Elliot simultaneously moved their hands inwards, to lavish attention on the middle chihuahua head. Their fingers met over its small, triangular ears. Elliot and Kit immediately glanced down, and then up at each other, startled. They snatched their hands back, as if scalded. Kit blushed. Elliot looked flustered. Rafe saw Kit’s fingers twitch, as he curled his hand up, self-consciously. Elliot balled his fist up, and jammed it into the pocket of his jeans.

Elliot turned back to Arthur Powell with alacrity, cleared his throat, and asked him, “Are you still all right to venture into the Wastes with us?”

“Yes, and especially to help find the missing women. I’d appreciate time and half for the risk of it though,” Arthur said.

“Of course,” Elliot told him. “That’s only fair.” He extracted his hand from his pocket, and offered it to Arthur for a warm shake. Rafe saw, with a small feeling of bemusement, that Kit stared at Elliot’s hand as Elliot did so, before Kit dragged his eyes away, his face still flushed.

100

Mae Tang 董美妍 @maetangwriter.com · 13/09/2026

On the way to the cemetery: moorhens and their chicks.

A pair of moorhens with two chick's, in water covered by duckweed.

040

Mae Tang 董美妍 @maetangwriter.com · 13/09/2026

Very rare day off drafting, but we went for a walk round the cemetery instead, because I wanted to make sure I remembered the place properly for setting scenes in it. And while we were there, I met this very soft cat. 😻 I shall find a way to write the kitty into Cemetery Club.

On the top of a headstone, and under the fruit-laden branches of an apple tree, a shorthaired kitty with siamese pointing and a champagne colored coat.

281

Mae Tang 董美妍 @maetangwriter.com · 09/09/2026

In case you're wondering what it's like to go directly from drafting Teeth, which has left me with romcom-like vibes, to drafting Book 1 of Cemetery Club, which begins with Kit bumping into a drunken Elliot at a cemetery, while both of them are grieving their dead spouses, well. They did this.

A screenshot of text reads:

“Would you mind keeping it down?” Kit heard himself say, rather sharply. He was aware that his voice had also risen, and grown thin and waspish, and that he might sound rude. But he couldn’t hold back his feeling of mingled dismay and irritation. “Also, you shouldn’t leave bottles of whisky on the grass. If you’re wanting a drink, there are at least two pubs nearby.”

The man gaped at him stupidly. His hands were trembling slightly, Kit saw, and now he suddenly felt a stab of guilt, because he knew he was intruding on this mourner’s grief. And he knew what it was like to grieve. He knew that deep in his bones too.

But this terrible, drunken singer had intruded on everyone else’s sorrow first, with his dreadful caterwauling, Kit told himself.

“Pubs?” The man said after a moment. His eyebrows rose as if in bewilderment. “I haven’t… I don’t want to go to a _pub_. I can’t bear to… I haven’t been able to, since Luca died.” His voice wobbled for moment. Then he sucked in a deeper breath, and he seemed to rally a little, because he suddenly added, more briskly. “No, thank you. I would rather not go for a drink with you. He was my husband, you see. It’s only been a few months. I’m… I’m flattered.” His eyes trailed rapidly down Kit’s face, across Kit’s body, and then up again, almost in a single blink, and Kit saw him swallow. “I am. But no. No. It’s too soon. I couldn’t _possibly_. Thank you though. For the thought I mean.”

And he peered up at Kit almost owlishly, with a kind of dazed disbelief in his eyes, one part as if he couldn’t quite believe what he was seeing in front of him. The other part as if he didn’t know why Kit would be trying to pick him up in a cemetery. While he was sobbing over the grave of his dead husband.

Kit flushed, and he felt his mouth fall open. “No!” He almost barked it out, appalled by the misunderstanding. “I wasn’t asking you out! On a date, I mean. I _wouldn’t_… And especially not, not _here. Like this._” He swept a hand around to indicate the grave of Luca Parigi, and all the other headstones surrounding them.

The man nodded his head, still looking owlish and surprised. “Yes, quite. It’s not the usual place, is it, to make an approach?” He sounded baffled, rather than insulted.

130

Mae Tang 董美妍 @maetangwriter.com · 09/09/2026

If you see this, I IMPLORE you to post a picture from whatever device you're using without explanation.

A large, cute dog sculpture located near a set of ticket gates at Central Station in the Tyne and Wear Metro system. The dog's ears are cocked forwardcuriously. It is painted mostly black, blue, white and yellow, with white starbursts ringing its eyes. It has "Rocket" written on its side, and in yellow is a design replicating Robert Stevenson's Rocket locomotive.

030

Mae Tang 董美妍 @maetangwriter.com · 09/09/2026

I'll take that childhood nightmare fuel, and I'll raise it by Katherine Briggs' Nuckelavee, in her Abbey Lubbers, Banshees and Boggarts.

A colour illustration of a Nuckelavee, its skinless torso emerging from the back of a white horse, standing amidst the waves and wrack of the sea.

031

Mae Tang 董美妍 @maetangwriter.com · 08/09/2026

It's not every day you get to see Paddington without his usual hangers on. He's usually mobbed on that bench. But today was the day.

A sculpture of Paddington Bear, holding a marmalade sandwich, perched on the end of a wooden bench in Dean's Park behind York Minster. Next to him is a large plant pot with red flowers. Behind him you can see part of the Chapter House, and some of the walls and roofs of the cathedral.

030

Mae Tang 董美妍 @maetangwriter.com · 07/09/2026

My favourite bit of dialogue from today. Ray is showing Gerry to the home they'll share going forwards. Ray's been trying to spruce the place up for a fortnight, to get it ready for Gerry's arrival, and Ray's clearly been anticipating and running through that moment in his head.

A screenshot of text reads:

After that, both of them walked up to the front door, arm-in-arm. Here Ray paused, and said a little diffidently, “I feel almost as if I should carry you over the threshold, Gaoyang. It being your new home and all.”

“I would be the bride then,” Gerry asked him with a smile. “And you the bridegroom, Ruilin?”

“Oh! I had not thought it through… I confess I have no notion of what might be apposite, for two men entering into a new domicile together. I wonder how my late uncle went about it with his companion?” Ray looked sad and wistful for a moment, and Gerry briefly wanted to kiss him again, before Ray continued, “But of course, it could be the other way round too, if that suited you better, Gaoyang.”

“I believe I carried you more than once, Ruilin.”

“Yes. Yes, that is true.” They both flushed and smiled at each other, and at their shared memories.

“But to be honest,” Gerry confessed, “I am not sure I would have the strength to do it now, because you cut such a fine figure, Ruilin. I am still lanky and light in comparison. So you might return the favour, if you prefer… In fact, I wish you would.” Gerry felt his voice veer deep and rough with sudden hunger.

000

Mae Tang 董美妍 @maetangwriter.com · 07/09/2026

My favourite little paragraph from today. I finished drafting the epistolatory chapter yesterday. But late last night it occurred to me that it would be nice to give Ray a small, wordless gesture, before heading into the next chapter where I finally reunite him and Gerry.

A screenshot of text reads:

Ray, sitting alone in his room, raised Gerry’s letter to his lips. He pressed a long, yearning kiss to the writing on the page, before he folded it up and slipped it into a pocket. He would keep it on his person until Gerry arrived, he decided. And then Ray might kiss the letter writer too, and not just his missive.

100

Mae Tang 董美妍 @maetangwriter.com · 07/09/2026

Date yourself with a snap of your first ever computer. Good old squishy keys!

130

Mae Tang 董美妍 @maetangwriter.com · 29/08/2026

It's OK, everyone, Gerry has a plan! Only, OMG... It's killing me too! 😭😭😭 I mean, if you can't decide to kill an entire hunting party of white supremacists in a heroic attempt to protect your boyfriend, IDEK what romance is, you know? But still. Gerry, oh my heart! Oh, nooooooooo! 💔 😭😭😭

At that point, Gerry decided, the best thing he could do would be to try to leave one less future threat for Ray to deal with. If the _fucking_ hunting party remained in the enclosure with him, he would go after them, with everything left to him. He would not drink them or turn them, but he would gladly kill them all. For Ray.

Gerry did not know if he would survive the attempt. But it helped Gerry to have a plan, and to know that he would be doing that much for Ray at least.

000

Mae Tang 董美妍 @maetangwriter.com · 29/08/2026

Destroying myself emotionally over Gerry and Ray. 💔😭

Text reads:

Here, in the darkest of places and the darkest of times, he had found a man worth loving. Could Gerry regret that they would not have a future together? Yes. Would he feel terrible pain at being parted from Ray, at losing him forever? Yes. But could Gerry regret meeting Ray, tumbling with him, and then finding himself in love with Ray? _No_, Gerry thought. He could not. No matter how much pain followed his loss now, he would never regret that there was a man like Ray in the world, and that Gerry had had his friendship, and shared his bed, even for a very brief while.

100

Mae Tang 董美妍 @maetangwriter.com · 24/08/2026

Another reason for trapping them in a blizzard - apart from more fun sexy times; valid in their own right 🥰 - is that it furnishes an opportunity for Gerry to explain to Ray his stance about not drinking human blood. And around that, I also get to lean more into the romcom vibe in their romance 🤣🥰:

A screenshot of text reads:

“All good, Ray?” Gerry asked him as Ray stamped the snow off his boots in their corner. He was slowly stirring the porridge pot with a wooden spoon.

“All well, apart from I nearly froze it off.” Ray confessed with a sheepish grin.

“I must say, I do not miss needing to relieve myself. Especially when the weather is so foul.” Gerry’s eyes crinkled at him over the fold of the neckerchief he had drawn up over his lower face. And then Gerry’s gaze dipped from Ray’s, and he added, a little shyly. “And as for nearly freezing it off… If you like, Ray, I could, uh, help you warm it up after your morning repast.”

Gerry darted a sidelong glance at Ray, and now Gerry looked as if he was flushing so hard that his forehead was reddening. But also, there was a glimmer in his eyes.

Ray’s mouth fell open. “Are you _flirting_ with me, Mr. Lee? Are you _propositioning_ me?”

“Oh! Only if… Well, that is to say, only if you would enjoy my doing so, Mr. Chen. And I hope… Oh, damn me, I am so out of practice! I hope I am not stating my amorous intentions in a manner which might be offensi—”

“I like your flirting, Gerry.” Ray felt his face break into a warm grin as he cut into Gerry’s flustered rabbiting. “And you may certainly also, uh, assist me in thawing out my _full_ person after breakfast. I should enjoy that immensely, Gaoyang.”

They smiled and blushed at each other, and Ray saw that the rate at which Gerry was stirring his porridge had increased; he was clearly eager to get Ray fed and watered now.

020

Mae Tang 董美妍 @maetangwriter.com · 19/08/2026

Wrote 3,218 more words of Teeth. Today Ray and Gerry were shot at, which once more saw Gerry scoop Ray up like a princess and carry him to safety. 😂 Afterwards, Ray had something to say to Gerry. And Gerry had something to say to Ray. I just love these two affable goofballs! I love them so much! 😭🥰

A screenshot of text reads:

“Yes. Yes. Mayhap. But, uh, thank you, Mr. Lee. And for your plan too. It was a good one. And I apologise for my… My churlish assumption earlier, about yourself, uh, possibly feeding upon the horses. Of course, you would not wish to use them so ill. Of course, you must miss being able to spend time in their company. And in that of other creatures. You must have been damned _lonely_ in that regard, Mr. Lee, over all these years.” Ray felt his voice go low and rough, imagining it again. Imagining Lee’s isolation. “I know I make for a poor companion. Like to get poisoned. And shot. And possibly starved, without your kind and generous intercession. But I hope you shall accept the offer of my presence at least. My friendship. For what that is worth, and while we seek to achieve our goal.”

Text reads:

Mr. Lee’s eyes had widened in surprise at Ray’s speech. And then Ray saw them soften and take on a sheen when he reached his conclusion. In fact, he saw something that looked remarkably like tears in the vampire’s eyes. Mr. Lee glanced away from him then, shyly, blinking quickly. He cleared his throat, once, twice, before he turned back again.

“That is… Very decent of you, Mr. Chen. I should be… I should be very honoured to consider you a friend. In this venture certainly, but also because of your… Your kind understanding of my… My predicament. It is a gentle balm, Mr. Chen. A veritable balm of kindness upon such hurts as I have accumulated over the past three years. I thank you for it, Mr. Chen. Thank you.”

And now they were standing and blushing at each other, but also their eyes were soft, and there was a prickling feeling of warmth between them that had not been there before.

120

Mae Tang 董美妍 @maetangwriter.com · 18/08/2026

(Trying to post this one more time, since I keep typoing and there's no edit button. 🙄) That weirdo who has a problem with people reading smut, was already blocked for me, because the account follows Jesse Singal. Pre-emptive blocking works.

A screenshot shows of the bio of @tazz.bsky.social shows the label "User Blocked by "Jesse Singal Followers Blocklist".

110

Mae Tang 董美妍 @maetangwriter.com · 13/08/2026

That was fast, and effective! I got an email back from the Electoral Commission. Good work on their part!

A screenshot of text:

Dear Mae

Thank you for your email to the Electoral Commission.

The Commission is aware of this issue and contacted Bluesky earlier today to rectify it. We understand the trending section has now been updated to correct an error that displayed inaccurate information about the by-election.

We closely monitor social media activity during elections for election-related threats, such as inaccurate polling-day information that could mislead voters about the electoral process. Where content raises serious concerns, we will request removal from platforms.

Kind regards

010

Mae Tang 董美妍 @maetangwriter.com · 13/08/2026

I have just used the contact form on the Electoral Commission website to send in a message about this situation. Apart from it simply being untrue, one potential consequence is that some voters may believe the election is over, and might not vote. www.electoralcommission.org.uk/about-us/con...

"The social media platform, Bluesky, has a list of trending topics in its sidebar. At the moment, one of the trending topics it is listing is declaring that "Farage wins Clacton seat". This is taking place on the 13th of August 2026. It's currently 10:33am in the morning. Clearly the voting in Clacton is still underway and therefore it is premature to declare that Farage has won the seat. This is false information being displayed, and I am concerned that it will affect the election. Please can you look into that? Thank you."

172

Mae Tang 董美妍 @maetangwriter.com · 11/08/2026

Drafted more Teeth, to reach a 19,665 word count. This is my favourite paragraph that I wrote today. I knew at some point Gerry and Ray would speak Mandarin, but I didn't know when they'd first do it. This is Gerry cracking that door very briefly, and Ray feeling affected by it, despite himself.

A screenshot of text:

Ray felt the vampire dip down, and scoop him up again. Now that his body was able to move a little, he couldn’t stop himself from tensing up and flinching away from its foul-smelling chest. The vampire must have felt that, because it muttered, “Ah. Are you recovering your range of motion, Mr. Chen? Recovering? _Good. Good. Very good._” It spoke those last few words in Mandarin – so that they came out as “hǎo, hǎo, hěn hǎo” – which Ray could understand. It was so strange hearing that shared language issuing from its mouth – he hadn’t heard any Mandarin since he had left his family a year ago now – that Ray blinked, nonplussed, and grew still. And as if in answer to his doing so, the vampire suddenly fell silent for the first time since they had begun moving through the darkness. In the quiet that settled over them, he heard it breathing softly above him. He wondered if its face might also show the same startled, uneasy wonder that he could feel on his own brow.

130

Mae Tang 董美妍 @maetangwriter.com · 06/08/2026

Went to Stratford-Upon-Avon today for a preview performance of George R. R. Martin's The Mad King at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. We're not supposed to discuss the plot till regular performances start, so I'll give general impressions for now.

A poster of George R.R. Martin's Game of Thrones: The Mad King, on the outside of Stratford-Upon-Avon train station. A cracked crown is partially submerged into dark mud.

The programme for The Mad King, with the same design as the poster.

A Royal Shakespeare Company brochure, with a "Sworn Shield", anti-camera sticker pasted on its cover.

110

Mae Tang 董美妍 @maetangwriter.com · 06/08/2026

Just passing through Birmingham train station, but still gotta take a pic of the bull.

A large metal mechanical bull sculpture, wearing sunglasses, in the atrium at Birmingham New Street train station.

131

Mae Tang 董美妍 @maetangwriter.com · 06/08/2026

Setting out so early that the train station is pretty empty.

Morning light filters through the roof of York train station. The bridge across the platforms lies under it. There's almost no one around.

000

Mae Tang 董美妍 @maetangwriter.com · 31/07/2026

Doing research for Cemetery Club. Walked round the graveyard at St Olave's Church, next to the Museum Gardens in York.

A view of St Olave's Church in York, seem through the small graveyard at the back of the church.

120

Mae Tang 董美妍 @maetangwriter.com · 31/07/2026

Ah yes. The 4 genders/genres. 🤷‍♀️ Also, I'll just add that Heist is fantasy, romance, with thrilling capers and danger, and it's in a Regency-like world, so is also a bit historical. Therefore I immediately create a category error for this weird sorting activity.

A screenshot of text from the article reads:

During her study, she used how often someone might engage with a certain genre to match it up with one of the following four clusters:

Epic other-world adventures (action, adventure, science fiction, dystopian/post-apocalyptic, fantasy)

Everyday life and human relationships (comedy, romantic, drama, family, musical)

Threat and danger (true crime, crime/mystery/thriller, horror)

Facts and histories (documentary, biography, historical)

110

Mae Tang 董美妍 @maetangwriter.com · 29/07/2026

My MP is Rachael Maskell. Here's the text of my email, in case anyone wants to adapt that for your own use. I've written to my MP repeatedly before about Gen AI. Sometimes I get replies; she's actually fairly responsive on the issue. But even if I didn't get one, it's still better to write than not.

I am writing to you today to inquire:

1) If this Labour government is indeed investing public funds in companies that violate the copyrights of British creatives without permission?

2) If so, then will the government please explain its rationale for doing so, since violating copyright is illegal in the UK, and actively undermines the work of everyone in the creative industries in this country?

3) Why is the Labour government not conducting due diligence into whether AI companies are violating copyright, and illegally exploiting the work of creatives, before the Sovereign AI Fund invests public funds into those companies?

I hope that you will look into this matter, and get back to me on it. Thank you.

Yours sincerely,

Mae Tang

110

Mae Tang 董美妍 @maetangwriter.com · 29/07/2026

I had an email reply from Unique Vintage today.

A screenshot of text from an email from Unique Vintage:

Hi Mae,

Unique Vintage has always been a welcoming and inclusive place for people who don't fit a mold.

We've listened to your feedback and have decided to move on from the Harry Potter partnership.

As a small business, we plan to sell through our remaining pieces but will focus on promoting other collections.

We're grateful you trust us and we will keep showing up for our community the way you've always shown up for us.

🩷

110

Mae Tang 董美妍 @maetangwriter.com · 26/07/2026

Visited the Cold War bunker in York this morning, and walked past Holgate windmill on the way back into town.

The exterior of the Cold War bunker, behind closed metal gates, set into the side of a hill.

Looking down into the central map section of the bunker. Apparently, blue walls were meant to help people focus on their work with the maps. Light blue walls were meant to create a sense of calm. Walls painted a burnt orange were meant to create a feeling of happiness.

A mural-like metal sculpture, showing men farming grain, with a windmill in the background.

Holgate windmill, surrounded by houses, its louvred sails stationary, a cloudy sky behind it.

010

Mae Tang 董美妍 @maetangwriter.com · 24/07/2026

Nothing to promote this time. I thought I'd just share this photo, from the horror section of Topping & Co, in York. It's the largest independent bookshop in the UK, and look what I found on a shelf there! 😄 Thanks for always taking time to help other authors, Gabino!

It's a copy of House of Bone and Rain by Gabino Iglesias, on the horror shelves at the Topping & Co bookshop in York.

000

Mae Tang 董美妍 @maetangwriter.com · 24/07/2026

A branch of Topping & Co opened in York. It's now the largest independent bookshop in the country. I went in to see copies of "Oaths and Offerings", which is the anthology I have a story in, sitting on the Myths and Folklore shelves. Feels really good to see the physical book in a bookshop!

A copy of Oaths and Offerings on a bookshop shelf in Topping & Co York, next to other books about myths and folklore.

0111