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Nalin Ratnayake

@naratnayake.bsky.social
112 followers 120 following 166 posts

I write SFF as N.A. Ratnayake. I'm also an engineer, runner, and technical program manager. This account is for my creative/literary side. Find me on the web at naratnayake.com.

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Nalin Ratnayake @naratnayake.bsky.social · 15/06/2025
Let it be known that on Father's Day weekend, before he attained even two years of age, my son kicked a soccer ball into the neighbor's hedge and shouted "GOAL!!!". My work on this Earth is finished.
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Nalin Ratnayake @naratnayake.bsky.social · 18/05/2025
Oh hey so, I'm moving to Minnesota. That'll be a change. Happy to have landed on my feet though after a long period of uncertainty. Looking forward to leaning into all four seasons! And definitely finding a house with a fireplace.
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Nalin Ratnayake @naratnayake.bsky.social · 05/05/2025
Here’s my attempt to follow @cricklewoodnature.bsky.social’s Wonder-Filled Wednesday #4, teaching about shadow using a pinecone! I used to consider myself a pretty terrible artist, but it’s amazing. What a few videos and a little practice can do. #nature #naturejournal #drawing
A pencil sketch of a pinecone, paying attention to light and shadow
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Nalin Ratnayake @naratnayake.bsky.social · 29/04/2025
Damn, something in this draft seems off too! The characters keep swerving toward emotional confrontation and deeper human truths. That would involve a lot of difficult self-work to sort out. It can't be right. Surely, this calls for another round of worldbuilding avoidance behaviors! #amwriting
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Nalin Ratnayake @naratnayake.bsky.social · 29/04/2025
So, this caught my eye, not least because fish farming on Mars appears as a concept in the first chapter of my novel Red Soil Through Our Fingers (2016). www.theguardian.com/environment/...
theguardian.com
Sea bass in space: why fish farms on the moon may be closer than you think
The Lunar Hatch project aims to blast eggs into space, hoping that aquaculture will provide protein for astronauts on missions
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Nalin Ratnayake @naratnayake.bsky.social · 28/04/2025
arstechnica.com/culture/2025... "I say this as an ardent science fiction fan. I am not saying that science fiction is the problem. I'm saying that taking science fiction seriously as a vision of the future is the problem."
arstechnica.com
Silicon Valley billionaires literally want the impossible
Ars chats with physicist and science journalist Adam Becker about his new book, More Everything Forever.
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Nalin Ratnayake @naratnayake.bsky.social · 28/04/2025
This interview with Steve Almond on London Writers Salon led me to his book “Truth is the Arrow, Mercy is the Bow”. Honestly, it has been exactly what I’ve needed to hear for the past year of being stuck with this novel project. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/l...
podcasts.apple.com
#139: Steve Almond – The Truth About Creative Failure, Overcoming Ego, and Writing Stories That Actually Matter
Podcast Episode · London Writers' Salon · 04/05/2025 · 1h 1m
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Nalin Ratnayake @naratnayake.bsky.social · 17/04/2025
Actual conversation: "So, are we being consistent about this?" "I mean, sometimes."
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Phantasmagoria @jamielnathan.bsky.social · 16/04/2025
Earthsea > Harry Potter 💙📚
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Nalin Ratnayake @naratnayake.bsky.social · 15/04/2025
[Spends almost two months fuming about where such and such clothes could have gone, annoyed that favorite dress shirt is not available.] [Opens go-to business travel suitcase to discover he never unpacked it after last trip.] 🤦‍♂️
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Nalin Ratnayake @naratnayake.bsky.social · 13/04/2025
I’ve been messing around with ink sketching in my regular journal. I think I’m ready to level up a little bit and try my hand at some #nature #journaling and sketching using charcoal as well, and warranting its own sketchbook.
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Nalin Ratnayake @naratnayake.bsky.social · 08/04/2025
First in-person interview since 2013 tomorrow. I'm not wearing a tie because I don't remember how they work.
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Nalin Ratnayake @naratnayake.bsky.social · 07/04/2025
Alas, another D&D Campaign cut down in its prime.
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Nalin Ratnayake @naratnayake.bsky.social · 03/04/2025
I will be immediately proposing to my writer group that we incorporate this comic into our process somehow.
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Nalin Ratnayake @naratnayake.bsky.social · 02/04/2025
Oh man, RIP Val Kilmer
media.tenor.com
a man says " you can be my wingman anytime " while wearing a helmet
ALT: a man says " you can be my wingman anytime " while wearing a helmet
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Carmen Wiigwaas Craig @carmunist.bsky.social · 01/04/2025
“Inspiration does exist but it must find you working.” —Pablo Picasso
media.tenor.com
a colorful painting of a woman sitting in a chair with a hand on her chin
ALT: a colorful painting of a woman sitting in a chair with a hand on her chin
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Nalin Ratnayake @naratnayake.bsky.social · 30/03/2025
@rosesandwf.bsky.social I noticed that your submission form *requires* a Google account to use and does not permit the submitter to specify a different (non-GMail) email address on the form. Any chance you could at least add a field for us to type in an alternate, preferred email?
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Nalin Ratnayake @naratnayake.bsky.social · 30/03/2025
Today is the first day of 2025 that I am able to set aside time to write new prose. Officially calling the novel project back on track. #amwriting #fantasy
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Nalin Ratnayake @naratnayake.bsky.social · 30/03/2025
My new year's resolutions of rekindling my literary life and exploring spiritual growth were mysteriously derailed starting on January 21st. However, now that work has at least stabilized to a manageable dumpster fire and not 100% of my discretionary time is job searching, I may be back in action.
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Nalin Ratnayake @naratnayake.bsky.social · 11/03/2025
Really, one of the best parts of the Lunar and Planetary Sciences Conference is the prevalence of nerdy puns and wordplay. I see talks like “Venus: Earth’s Hotter Twin” and “For the Crater Good”. Gotta love #science #nerds.
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Nalin Ratnayake @naratnayake.bsky.social · 08/03/2025
Taxes.
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Nalin Ratnayake @naratnayake.bsky.social · 03/03/2025
TIL that dandelion comes from the French "dent de lion", or "tooth of the lion" for its jagged leaf shape. I think of lions as majestic and fearsome and dandelions as happy and fluffy! The crash of connotations carries an interesting dissonance with me, but now I can't un-know the etymology...
media.tenor.com
a bunch of yellow dandelions with white dandelions in the background
ALT: a bunch of yellow dandelions with white dandelions in the background
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Nalin Ratnayake @naratnayake.bsky.social · 03/03/2025
Oh, this is so cool! So that’s why everyone so hyped up about March madness. I wish someone would’ve told me it’s actually about cheese, all this time I thought it was about some kind of sport ball thing.
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Nalin Ratnayake @naratnayake.bsky.social · 17/02/2025
The Sacramento River is very high right now. So much rain lately.
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Joe Renaud @spacetides.bsky.social · 16/02/2025
Working at NASA is a dream for many around the country and even the world. Positions don't just get created. They are extremely rare and highly competitive. The folks that get them are _the_ best at what they do. What do they do? 1/6
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Nalin Ratnayake @naratnayake.bsky.social · 16/02/2025
Long before all this hit, we booked a couples retreat this weekend in San Diego. It’s been not only a wonderful set of tools for our marriage, but a much needed pocket of escape from all the crazy of the world right now. I feel better prepared for the changes ahead with my life partner by my side!
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Rapunzel Reads #booksky 🌈 @rapunzelreads.bsky.social · 10/02/2025
Libraries are essential. Support your local library, speak up for your local library, love your local library 💙📚 We can never express enough support for libraries!
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Nalin Ratnayake @naratnayake.bsky.social · 06/02/2025
Latest newsletter issue is out! Holiday updates, our status in the current upheaval of government, novel project WIP underway, short stories in circulation, and a long list of reading reviews. Subscribe and I'll send you the latest! www.naratnayake.com/newsletter/
naratnayake.com
Newsletter – N.A. RatnayakeNewsletter – N.A. RatnayakeBlueskyInstagramRSS
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Nalin Ratnayake @naratnayake.bsky.social · 04/02/2025
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Nalin Ratnayake @naratnayake.bsky.social · 02/02/2025
Last night, I attended my first play in years: the opening night of English at Capital Stage: capstage.org/the-plays/en.... While I don't think the cast was quite up to delivering the full power and nuance of what I heard in the (Pulitzer) script, it was a wonderful and thought-provoking experience.
capstage.org
English | Capital Stage
Capital Stage Presents the 2023 Pulitzer Prize Winner for Drama: "English" by Sanaz Toossi. Directed by Torange Yeghiazarian. January 29 – March 2, 2025.
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ncmema.bsky.social @ncmema.bsky.social · 27/01/2025
This is what we all should remember.
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Nalin Ratnayake @naratnayake.bsky.social · 12/01/2025
This is amazing. I'm going to say Lawful Plantser, and moving in the Chaotic direction towards True Plantser over the course of my current WIP.
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JT Atkinson @jtatkinson666.bsky.social · 12/01/2025
"After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music." Aldous Huxley. #photographer #photography #art #writer #music #gothic #church
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Nalin Ratnayake @naratnayake.bsky.social · 05/01/2025
This evening I will attempt to watch a sportball. My neighbors inform me a band of local quality known as the "Kings" will be waging combat against some warriors from a state apparently made of gold, one that exists down I-80 and is populated by snobby Bay Area yuppies.
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Nalin Ratnayake @naratnayake.bsky.social · 05/01/2025
A little late off the starting block, but I've finally converged on some goals for the year: 1. Perform 200 instances of spiritual practice, defined as an action with no other useful purpose but to instantiate non-directed, open awareness (e.g. meditation, poetry, etc) 2. Finish my damn novel.
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Nalin Ratnayake @naratnayake.bsky.social · 28/12/2024
Peaceful foggy winter morning at Shaw #Nature Reserve, a part of Missouri Botanical Gardens that is out in Franklin County near Labadie. Part first run back out there since the marathon, part slow thinkwalk through the woods and prairie.
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Nalin Ratnayake @naratnayake.bsky.social · 26/12/2024
Dispatches from Missouri Christmas
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C.M. Rosens @cmrosens.com · 22/12/2024
If you want to give your fave authors a gift this holiday season that won't cost <you> anything, one amazing thing you could do is post a wee review for readers saying what you liked about the book. bonus: cross-post to multiple sites! Reviews help with visibility! 👀
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Nalin Ratnayake @naratnayake.bsky.social · 22/12/2024
Oh hey! My mother-in-law apparently bought a copy of my latest anthology publication! Reminds me I need to re-pub this one as a free ebook and on the site with the rest of them. Soon as I find a cover artist to commission…
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Nalin Ratnayake @naratnayake.bsky.social · 22/12/2024
And now… let Midwestern Cozywintermas… begin.
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Nalin Ratnayake @naratnayake.bsky.social · 21/12/2024
Holiday air travel with a toddler. Thoughts and prayers accepted.
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Nalin Ratnayake @naratnayake.bsky.social · 20/12/2024
I have never used a backflow incense burner before. This is strangely fascinating and I kinda love it.
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Rob @robertferry.bsky.social · 20/12/2024
I’m starting to think that a solar + battery “space race” between the USA and China could be the exact thing the climate needs right now. As each builds out domestic supply chains and competes on efficiency we could see $200/kWp utility solar and $50/kWh storage by 2030.
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Michael Hennessy 🇨🇦 @mrhennessy.com · 10/10/2023
Geordi Drake meme:
Geordi says hold on: "Dunking on deliberately ignorant or inflammatory social media posts"
Geordi says that's the way: "Sharing something good instead"
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Nalin Ratnayake @naratnayake.bsky.social · 18/12/2024
Winter vacation morning vibes
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Tosin Fadeyi @tosinfadeyi.bsky.social · 16/12/2024
Reach out to me if you have any questions about your project, or want some guidance for your application! Looking forward to working with you! #scipol #sciencepolicy #science #scienceadvocacy #scienceforpublicgood #environmentaljustice
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Nalin Ratnayake @naratnayake.bsky.social · 15/12/2024
You know it’s real parenting when the toddler craps himself on a walk at the same time the dog corners a skunk in the park and gets hit full in the face and you’re already late for family Christmas brunch. Two hours later and in pajamas rather than nice sweaters, here we are.
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Nalin Ratnayake @naratnayake.bsky.social · 15/12/2024
Ran the Cali International Marathon last weekend here in Sac! Didn’t quite hit my A-Goal, but can’t complain about a PR… with PRs for my half and 10k along the way this season. 7 marathons in 4 years - I need a break! Won’t do one in 2025 but hope to return year after next. #running 🏃🏾💨
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Nalin Ratnayake @naratnayake.bsky.social · 12/12/2024
Life achievement unlocked: got pulled into a back room discussion on quantum computing at a conference ✅
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John Attridge @johnattridge.bsky.social · 27/11/2024
Is there a doctor on the flight? Specifically an English PhD? A passenger is attributing the views of the first-person narrator to the biographical author
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