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Atara Blake

@strangeisthenight.bsky.social
266 followers 656 following 134 posts

Artist, PhD in cancer biology, and writer of weird fiction and poetry. Seeking the strange and wondrous in a dying world. She/Her 🌈. Portland, OR. Work appearing or forthcoming in Marrow Magazine, Strange Horizons, and Gavagai. www.atarablake.com

PostsRepliesMedia
Atara Blake @strangeisthenight.bsky.social · 14/10/2026
Excited to read your thoughts on this. Fisher has been my go-to definition of the weird for a while but after reading some of your columns I’m thinking I need to expand my views! I’m sure you’ve read it but there’s a great exploration of apophatic media in Thacker’s “In the Dust of this Planet”.
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Atara Blake @strangeisthenight.bsky.social · 11/10/2026
The alt text 😂
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Atara Blake @strangeisthenight.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
Congrats @erikgrove.com can’t wait to read it!
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Atara Blake @strangeisthenight.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
"The Tooth" is an outlier in Shirley Jackson's collection "The Lottery". It's weirder, more plausibly supernatural, and more threatening than the rest. Read on for my analysis of how Jackson melds the everyday and the otherworldly in this story to explore the prison of identity. tinyurl.com/yydbhmt3
strangeisthenight.substack.com
Farther than Samarkand: The Commonplace Weird and the Supernatural in Shirley Jackson’s “The Tooth”
As the only tale in Jackson's first collection to include potentially supernatural elements, "The Tooth" blends the commonplace weird with the otherworldly to examine the prison of identity
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Tenebrous Press @tenebrouspress.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
RELEASE DAY! YOUR BODY IS A FEVER DREAM, featuring New Weird Cosmic Horror from 30+ trans & gender nonconforming creators, is OUT NOW WHEREVER BOOKS ARE SOLD. Direct from us: store.tenebrouspress.com Prcoeeds benefit the Trans Doe Task Force & Trans Legal Services Network. Hail the Weird🖤☠️🏳️‍⚧️
Cover art by Mx Morgan G Robles, a swan alights on a cosmic sea, flanked by the colors of the trans flag.
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Atara Blake @strangeisthenight.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
As part of my month of writing about weird media, I reviewed Shirley Jackson's classic collection "The Lottery and Other Stories", exploring its place within the traditions of horror and weird literature. strangeisthenight.substack.com/p/weird-horr...
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Atara Blake @strangeisthenight.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Ah, mistyped that, the second Aickman is “The Hospice”.
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Atara Blake @strangeisthenight.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Just read a great vampire story in Weird Horror- Kay Vaindel’s “Kettleman”. I also really love “The Lost Art of Twilight” by Ligotti. For the second two, I would go with Evenson (my favorites are “A Collapse of Horses” and “Seaside Town”) or Aickman, maybe “Ringing the Changes” or “The Hostel”
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Atara Blake @strangeisthenight.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Oh no kidding! I had no idea it was in that collection too, I read it in “A Collapse of Horses”. Such unsettling vibes throughout, it’s so good. Will definitely have to check out the rest of “Aickman’s Heirs”.
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Atara Blake @strangeisthenight.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Have you ever read Brian Evenson’s “Seaside Town”? It’s an Aickman-esque weird hotel/town story and one of my all time favorites of his. Definitely sounds in line with what you’re describing!
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Atara Blake @strangeisthenight.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
“Temu future” damn if that doesn’t capture our whole sordid situation!
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Atara Blake @strangeisthenight.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
As part of my attempt to write some kind of media criticism every day in October, here's my review of Joseph Fink's new novella "The Nudge", a fast-paced, bite-sized piece of weird horror. substack.com/home/post/p-...
A black and white image of a classic motel sign reading "Bluebird Motel" where the 'o' is slightly askew. Over the image is the title "The Nudge" and below it in smaller serif font, "A review of Joseph Fink's new novella, "The Nudge", a work of weird horror about a man fleeing home after a sinister unknown force takes control of his wife." The byline below reads "Atara Blake".
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Atara Blake @strangeisthenight.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
I’m not sure what’s more terrifying and depressing: the fact that this dude has half a million followers or the MANY comments on his post asserting the FDA is lying about radiation being bad 🥲
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Atara Blake @strangeisthenight.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Asking the important questions outside the HP Lovecraft film festival in Portland today!
A mannequin in a yellow robe on a rooftop next to a sign reading “have you seen the yellow sign?”
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Atara Blake @strangeisthenight.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Working my way through the latest issue of Weird Horror from @undertow.bsky.social and this piece from @kayv.bsky.social is an absolute banger. Timely, poignant, and filled with vivid, weird prose. www.weirdhorrormagazine.com/kettleman
weirdhorrormagazine.com
Kettleman — Weird Horror Magazine
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Atara Blake @strangeisthenight.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
I decided to undertake a delusional project to write a piece of weird media criticism every day for the month of October! Disregarding that I'm already a day behind, I hope you'll follow along with me as I explore some great works of weird media across various formats!
strangeisthenight.substack.com
31-ish Days of Weird Criticism
An ink drawing or horror movie a day was too easy. Instead, I’m kicking off a delusional attempt to write about a piece of weird media every day for the month of October.
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Atara Blake @strangeisthenight.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Don’t use AI for your cover, hire an artist! Lots of cool premade options from @addi.social!
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Eric Raglin @ericraglin1992.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
The course is half full! Interested? Reach out ASAP! Multiple free scholarship slots are still available.
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Three-Lobed Burning Eye magazine @3lobedmag.com · 18/09/2026
We won’t get any funds if we don’t reach our goal in the next 12 days. For the love of horror, fantasy, and science fiction—back us so we can bring you more stories in 2027! kck.st/4x4r1oz
A bar chart showing 42%, along with the 3LBE masthead
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Atara Blake @strangeisthenight.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Congrats! So excited to read this!!
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Darker Times @darkertimes.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Backrooms, Walter Benjamin, AND Freud?! @emilyhughes.bsky.social covers the magic of liminality, memory, and capitalism in her latest piece, The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Hallucination: www.darkertimes.com/walter-benja...
darkertimes.com
The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Hallucination
Or, why I stopped worrying and learned to love Walter Benjamin in the Backrooms.
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Atara Blake @strangeisthenight.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Is any mention of pizza a no-go or are you more concerned about stories with pizza as a central theme or source of the horror?
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Atara Blake @strangeisthenight.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
Woohoo great news, lots more time to make my submission even more grotesque and off-putting. 🥩
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Atara Blake @strangeisthenight.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
Ok you sold me. That blurb was tailor-made to grab my attention lol
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Atara Blake @strangeisthenight.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Beautiful and bittersweet flash, a perfect way to end the evening. Lovely short Gothic piece from @rjaurand.bsky.social!
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Atara Blake @strangeisthenight.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Oh this was so lovely and heartbreaking!
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Atara Blake @strangeisthenight.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Since I saw some folks discussing it recently, I've been pretty pleased with the web building tool on Canva. For the same price I'd pay on other web hosts I get hosting and full use of Canva too. Consequently, I spent way too much time making a new, over-complicated author website. atarablake.com
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Gabino Iglesias @gabino.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
Your monthly reminder: Keep writing. When no one cares, persist. When things appear to be crumbling, keep at it. When it's difficult, push through. When you feel alone, listen to the stories in your blood. Just write. The world needs your stories.
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Atara Blake @strangeisthenight.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
Great I’ll shoot you an email later.
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Atara Blake @strangeisthenight.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
Also man sorry that sounded so much like corporate speak, can you tell I’m taking a break from my corporate day job to scroll? 💀
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Atara Blake @strangeisthenight.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
I am working on something for you for this call but wouldn’t mind a little more time to let it marinate, no pun intended! Would you welcome queries about the content prior to submission to make sure it’s in line with what you’re seeking?
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Atara Blake @strangeisthenight.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
My latest story, “Blue Ribbons for Barbara” is out today at @gavagai.com! This is a quiet retro horror tale about the expectations society places on women and the cost of giving too much. gavagai.com/posts/6611
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Atara Blake @strangeisthenight.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
Thank you very much @gavagai.com and @timhoelscherauthor.com for giving this story a home!
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Atara Blake @strangeisthenight.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
My latest story is live on @gavagai.com! In this quiet horror tale about a society that demands everything from women, a homemaker offers up an unforgettable gift that can’t be returned. Featuring disturbing breakfasts, unrealized dreams, frenzied pie contests, and the dulcet tunes of Nat King Cole.
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Atara Blake @strangeisthenight.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
Phew, it’s just scams all the way down 🙃
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Atara Blake @strangeisthenight.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
Oh, maybe I should have clarified: deeply upsetting (complimentary). 😌 But I will say your story in the collection had me scrambling to find my cat all of a sudden!
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Atara Blake @strangeisthenight.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
Just finished this collection and man what an incredible but deeply upsetting read. 🥲
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Shveta Thakrar @shvetathakrar.com · 20/08/2026
We've let capitalism fool us into believing that every part of life must be efficient. That's not true. Automate my laundry, sure. Wash the dishes for me--yes, please. But dreaming and thinking and learning and just BEING are meant to be slow and meandering. That's where the treasures are found.
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The Deadlands @thedeadlands.com · 19/08/2026
"Emptiness is its own language, but you and I, we have learned to speak it. " TODAY beloveds this poem this poem this poem!!! There are lonely things in the forest by @rukman.bsky.social read it here: psychopomp.com/deadlands/is...
psychopomp.com
There are lonely things in the forest / Rukman Ragas / Psychopomp
Read There are lonely things in the forest, by Rukman Ragas, a poem from Issue 43 of The Deadlands, summer, 2026.
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Atara Blake @strangeisthenight.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
This is so relatable as someone with a day job that starts at 7 am local time 🥲
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Atara Blake @strangeisthenight.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
Just finished it and totally agree, terribly unsettling and so effective!! 👁️👁️👁️
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Atara Blake @strangeisthenight.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
Congrats, can’t wait to read it!
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J.B. Kish @jbkish.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
I wish this had been the HWA newsletter instead
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Erik Grove @erikgrove.com · 05/08/2026
Too many people feel ashamed when they make something the best they know how and fall short of perfection or when they ask others for help. Gen AI protects from that shame and vulnerability. But trying & failing IS HOW YOU IMPROVE and learning from others is GOOD ACTUALLY. Shame & Gen AI are liars.
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Atara Blake @strangeisthenight.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
Thanks a ton for this perspective!!
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Atara Blake @strangeisthenight.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
I was excited about the opportunity to get mentorship through them. Is that worth joining for? I’m also considering if other professional orgs would provide this better and without all the baggage
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Atara Blake @strangeisthenight.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
Love that natural resources are being used to power AI troll accounts.
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Atara Blake @strangeisthenight.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
Also the foaming-at-the-mouth craving for acceptance of AI use as legitimate betrays that most of these folks know deep down that what they are doing is not art, is not ethical, and is not respectable. But they will keep crying that they are being bullied instead of introspecting on that
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Atara Blake @strangeisthenight.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
Blechhh this perspective makes that argument somehow even grosser 🤮
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Atara Blake @strangeisthenight.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
Man this is a huge bummer, I was excited to join HWA as a full member after making my first sale but I guess I’ll look at other professional organizations now.
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