Sign in

Anthony Francis

@xenotaur.bsky.social
181 followers 24 following 97 posts

By day, Anthony teaches robots to learn; by night, he writes science fiction and draws comic books. Anthony lives in South Carolina with his wife and cat but his heart will always belong in Atlanta.

PostsRepliesMedia
Anthony Francis @xenotaur.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
I'll be at Dragon Con this year! I've got panels Friday through Sunday on writing technique and alternate history! dresan.com/blog/2026/09... #dragoncon
010
Anthony Francis @xenotaur.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
My updated Worldcon schedule! guide.lacon.org/people/05eb0...
010
Anthony Francis @xenotaur.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
I'll be at #WorldCon in LA next week! I'm on six panels, will be giving a talk on "The Shape of Science Fiction", and will be at the academic poster session! guide.lacon.org dresan.com
010
Anthony Francis @xenotaur.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
Thinking Ink Press's books are available with free shipping at bookshop.org/shop/TIP as part of bookshop.org's Anti Prime Day Sale! This runs through Friday!
000
Anthony Francis @xenotaur.bsky.social · 07/06/2026
Embodied AI 7 is over! We had nine speakers, two highlight sessions, posters, and a debate. It went well and Lewis Chiang's talk on "Why Are Robot Agents So Hard?" packed the room. Papers will go up on the website in ~1 week, and videos after 3 months. #embodiedai #cvpr embodied-ai.org/cvpr2026/
Anthony, Lewis and Dinesh at the debate
010
Anthony Francis @xenotaur.bsky.social · 04/06/2026
The Embodied AI Workshop at CVPR is starting in ~1 hour at Room 107 of the Colorado Convention Center! Hope to see you all there! #embodiedai embodied-ai.org/cvpr2026/
The poster for the Embodied AI Workshop, showing the schedule below a robot climber.
010
Anthony Francis @xenotaur.bsky.social · 14/05/2026
The Seventh Annual Embodied AI Workshop's will be June 4th, 2027 and our schedule is now live: embodied-ai.org/cvpr2026/#wo... We've got great speakers lined up! We hope you can join us! Also, our paper deadline is tomorrow, May 15 AOE: embodied-ai.org/cvpr2026/#ca... #eai7 #embodiedai
000
Anthony Francis @xenotaur.bsky.social · 01/04/2026
The Embodied AI Workshop is returning for its seventh year at CVPR! embodied-ai.org We'll have several speakers, embodied AI challenges, and presentations of accepted papers. The date will be June 2 or 3, still waiting for final confirmation. Please join us un Denver! #eai7 #embodiedai
The banner for EAI7, featuring a robot rappelling down a cliff face with Denver in the background.
032
Anthony Francis @xenotaur.bsky.social · 10/11/2025
The Kickstarter for Writing Memoir in Flashes just funded, but there's still time to get some of the great rewards! This book will help make writing memoir accessible. The campaign ends today! #thinkinginkpress www.kickstarter.com/projects/thi...
010
Anthony Francis @xenotaur.bsky.social · 21/10/2025
Nothing like noticing a typo a few days after the protest. I stand by my position! My spelling, not so much. #nokings
You know what else democracy requires? Proper spelling. The image shows a sign with the missing "u" in requires added.
050
Anthony Francis @xenotaur.bsky.social · 19/10/2025
Wow! What a successful #nokings protest! There was a massive turnout down at Falls Park Amphitheater, but since we had some mobility-limited people with us, our group actually stayed up on Main Street so we could share our signs with passing cars! Lots of positive energy at a peaceful protest
Me holding a sign that says "Democracy requires limits to power."
031
Anthony Francis @xenotaur.bsky.social · 18/10/2025
Thinking Ink Press has just launched a Kickstarter for the next book in our writing line, Writing Memoir in Flashes! This is a great way to tell your story one bite at a time! www.kickstarter.com/projects/thi...
040
Anthony Francis @xenotaur.bsky.social · 18/10/2025
Remember, if you do choose to go to a protest, stay safe! Here are a few tips how: www.hrc.org/resources/ti... #NoKings
hrc.org
Tips for Preparedness, Peaceful Protesting, and Safety
Safety and preparedness are essential in uncertain times. Whether you're preparing for an emergency or participating in a peaceful protest, these…
020
Anthony Francis @xenotaur.bsky.social · 18/10/2025
My friend in words Nisi Shawl is working on a book called "The Five Petals of Thought" which will be a real version of a philosophy book she's written about fictionally. If you want to help make it happen, she's got a Go Fund Me which is still accepting donations: www.gofundme.com/f/help-nisi-...
gofundme.com
Donate to Help Nisi Shawl write the book of her dream!, organized by Eileen Gunn
Nisi Shawl, a wise and wonderful writer of science fiction and fantasy, had a… Eileen Gunn needs your support for Help Nisi Shawl write the book of her dream!
020
Anthony Francis @xenotaur.bsky.social · 18/10/2025
Justice demands due process! The No Kings protest is happening today to remind everyone that democracy requires limits to power! Find your protest here: www.nokings.org #NoKings
nokings.org
No Kings
As the president escalates his authoritarian power grab, the NO KINGS non-violent movement continues to rise stronger. We are united once again to remind the world: America has No Kings and the power ...
020
Anthony Francis @xenotaur.bsky.social · 01/09/2025
Dragon Con day five! The Cruxshadows didn't go on until 230am last night(!), so getting a late start on the last few panels today! #dragoncon
000
Anthony Francis @xenotaur.bsky.social · 31/08/2025
Dragon Con day 4! Tonight at 7, the Atlanta Radio Theater Company will perform Jeremiah Willstone and the Time of Ghosts, adapted for audio by my friend Tony Sarrecchia ! #dragoncon #artc #jeremiahwillstone
ARTC performing the Hour of the Wolf.
000
Anthony Francis @xenotaur.bsky.social · 30/08/2025
Day 3 at Dragon Con! My reading is going on right now in the Learning Center in the Hyatt. #dragoncon #jeremiahwillstone
010
Anthony Francis @xenotaur.bsky.social · 29/08/2025
Dragoncon, Day 2! At 7pm in Hyatt Regency VI-VII, ARTC will perform my story Jeremiah Willstone and the Hour of the Wolf, adapted for audio by Tony Sarrecchia (seen moderating an audio panel below). Come join us for two fisted steampunk adventure! #dragoncon #artc #jeremiahwillstone
010
Anthony Francis @xenotaur.bsky.social · 28/08/2025
Heading to Dragon Con! I'm super stoked that two episodes of Jeremiah Willstone and the Plague of Gears will be performed by the Atlanta Radio Theater Company (adapted for audio by Tony Sarrecchia)! dresan.com/blog/2025/08... #dragoncon #artc #jeremiahwillstone
Dragon Con fans interacting with Star Wars robots and a robot broom!
001
Anthony Francis @xenotaur.bsky.social · 18/08/2025
Worldcon, Day Five! Even though it was an abbreviated day, I got to see a lot of great talks and met with a lot of great people. You know you're where you need to be when you run into someone you wanted to see, but missed, at the con! #worldcon dresan.com/blog/2025/08...
Me at the photo booth of the con
010
Anthony Francis @xenotaur.bsky.social · 17/08/2025
Day four at Worldcon! My talk went well and the Hugo Awards ceremony was a blast! dresan.com/blog/2025/08... #worldcon
Fan tables at Worldcon with a sunbeam
020
Anthony Francis @xenotaur.bsky.social · 15/08/2025
Day 3 at Worldcon! Some great costumes! dresan.com/blog/2025/08...
040
Anthony Francis @xenotaur.bsky.social · 14/08/2025
Worldcon, Day Two! The Neurodiversiverse is selling out at the Liminal Fiction table, and lots of people have come by the Clockwork Alchemy / Milford table! #neurodiversiverse #worldcon dresan.com/blog/2025/08...
030
Anthony Francis @xenotaur.bsky.social · 13/08/2025
Worldcon Day One! Lots of people have come by the Milford Writing Workshop / Clockwork Alchemy shared fan table! #worldcon dresan.com/blog/2025/08...
010
Anthony Francis @xenotaur.bsky.social · 30/05/2025
Hey folks, I'm at Con Carolinas this weekend! I'll be on four panels: “Playing with AI”, “Science Fiction, Science Fact, Science Future”, “Neurodiversity in Science”, and “There and Back Again: A Doctor Who Tale”. dresan.com/blog/2025/05... #concarolinas
Lobby of the Con Carolinas 2024 hotel along with a banner.
010
Anthony Francis @xenotaur.bsky.social · 11/05/2025
Also coming up later this month is the workshop on Advances in Social Navigation: Planning, HRI and Beyond at #icra2025 socialnav2025.pages.dev ... AI is changing rapidly, and we will be discussing how that expands what we can do with socially navigating robots.
000
Anthony Francis @xenotaur.bsky.social · 11/05/2025
Hey folks! The call for papers for the Embodied AI Workshop is open through Friday: embodied-ai.org/cvpr2025/#ca... ... we welcome submissions on the themes of embodied AI solutions, advances in simulation, generative methods, foundation models, and related areas of #embodiedai #cvpr2025
The Sixth Annual Embodied Artificial Intelligence Workshop banner image
000
Anthony Francis @xenotaur.bsky.social · 08/04/2025
The Neurodiversiverse is a finalist for the IBPA Book Award! We were selected as one of the three finalists for the "Neurodivergent Communities" category! www.ibpabookaward.org/winners-neur... We'll find out May 16 whether we won gold or silver ... #neurodiversiverse
ibpabookaward.org
Winners: Art & Photography | IBPA Book Award
031
Anthony Francis @xenotaur.bsky.social · 01/04/2025
Hey folks! I'm proud to announce the Sixth Annual Embodied AI Workshop will be held June 12th this year at CVPR 2025 in Nashville! Please stay tuned as we announce our speakers, challenges, sponsors and other special events associated with the workshop! embodied-ai.org/cvpr2025/
000
Reposted by Anthony Francis
Thinking Ink Press @thinkinginkpress.bsky.social · 25/02/2025
Some Time Later: Fantastic Voyages Through Alternate Worlds is a Deal of the Day at Drive Thru Fiction! ⛭💖⛭ Get the ebook for $2.40 here tinyurl.com/2e64scec Please share to spread the word! #BookSky #steampunk #ebooksale
064
Anthony Francis @xenotaur.bsky.social · 18/02/2025
The Hugo and Nebula award nominations are still open, and by a crazy coincidence, Thinking Ink published a whole anthology of great (and eligible!) short stories! Check them out here: www.thinkinginkpress.com/2025/02/tip/... #neurodiversiverse #HugoAwards #NebulaAwards
thinkinginkpress.com
SFF Awards Eligibility Post | Thinking Ink Press
Hello, science fiction fans! It’s awards season in the science fiction community, in which the Hugo, Nebula, and other awards collect eligible works for consideration – generally, stories and novels p...
201
Anthony Francis @xenotaur.bsky.social · 16/12/2024
This is the longest Loki (short for Loquacious(ness)) has stayed in the same room with Loli(pop(kins)), Lily(pad(skis)) and Luna(tic(les)). Yes, their common names are all 4-letter words starting with L (Loki Lily Loli Luna), so I call them the L^4. The search for detente continues. #loquaciousness
A large black cat sitting on a chair next to a small black kitten.
030
Anthony Francis @xenotaur.bsky.social · 16/12/2024
So, here's a sentence I never expected to write: A car ran over the Internet. I wonder what happened. But the impact was ... kinetic. The neighbor's mailbox was reduced to brick shrapnel and the AT&T equipment box was hurled all the way into our yard, along with a piece of the assailant's car.
A part of a car, a long trail of debris, and a dead AT&T equipment box looking like a tombstone.
020
Anthony Francis @xenotaur.bsky.social · 04/12/2024
Whoops, forgot to signal boost ... Erin Garcia on the Autism Support and Knowledge podcast interviews me and co-editor Liza Olmsted about our work on neurodivergent representation in the #neurodiversiverse anthology: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dhlk...
youtube.com
Neurodivergent Representation in Literature with Liza Olmsted and Anthony Francis
YouTube video by Erin Garcia
041
Anthony Francis @xenotaur.bsky.social · 04/12/2024
I liked this essay on "how to be gentle with yourself as a writer" by my #neurodiversiverse co-editor Liza Olmsted on the Insecure Writer's Support Group: www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/2024/11/i-wa... I could have used this essay during work on the book, but then, we'd need a time machine.
insecurewriterssupportgroup.com
I Want You To Be Yourself, and To Be Gentle with Yourself
Hi writers! I'm Liza Olmsted, a writer, editor, and publisher at Thinking Ink Press. I'm also neurodivergent* and I have invisible disabilit...
020
Anthony Francis @xenotaur.bsky.social · 04/12/2024
The season has started again ... and even at Thanksgiving last Sunday (our family does our collective Thanksgiving the Sunday before, because the kids at the kids table when I was growing up now have kids and grandkids of their own), the Christmas decorations were already up! There is no escape.
Thanksgiving dinner with Christmas decorations already up.
000
Anthony Francis @xenotaur.bsky.social · 05/11/2024
Today's the day! Get out and vote. Regardless of who you vote for, a vote for our democracy helps preserve it! But my conscience demands I say that regardless of which policies you are for, vote against the man who tried to undermine our democracy once before: www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
theguardian.com
Trump’s dangerous attacks on rule of law have US historical precedents | Corey Brettschneider
Past politicians tried to undermine democracy. They failed because Americans refused to tolerate their wrongdoing
000
Anthony Francis @xenotaur.bsky.social · 04/11/2024
The train hasn't left the station yet. This is your reminder to vote tomorrow! BUT, my conscience demands that I say please don't vote for the authoritarian wannabe dictator. When Trump says he wants to be a dictator on day one, you should believe him ... acoup.blog/2024/10/25/n...
acoup.blog
New Acquisitions: 1933 and the Definition of Fascism
Today we’re going to look at definitions of fascism and ask the question – you may have guessed – if Donald Trump is running for President as a fascist. Worry not, this isn’…
000
Reposted by Anthony Francis
Jennifer R. Povey (she/her) @ninjafingers.bsky.social · 06/08/2024
Okay, so now books2read is working properly, NOW I'm going to post! The Neurodiversiverse: Alien Encounters is now available wherever ebooks and paperbacks are sold. NOT just Amazon, folks! The editors challenged the authors to produce stories about neuroivergent people interacting with aliens.
1116
Anthony Francis @xenotaur.bsky.social · 12/08/2024
Happy to announce that The Neurodiversiverse has launched! This hopeful, empowering science fiction anthology features many #ownvoices stories of neurodivergent folks encountering aliens, and my co-editor Liza Olmsted and I are proud to see it in the world! #neurodiversiverse neurodiversiverse.com
The cover of the science fiction anthology "The Neurodiversiverse: Alien Encounters"!
021
Anthony Francis @xenotaur.bsky.social · 11/07/2024
At RSS 2024 next week, the Unsolved Problems in Social Robot Navigation Workshop will bring robot navigation researchers together to discuss making robots move better around people! The workshop is July 19, 2024 from 1:30 to 6: unsolvedsocialnav.pages.dev #socialnav #rss2024
000
Anthony Francis @xenotaur.bsky.social · 17/06/2024
Using a specially designed camera from the future, we've prepared a picture of what it might look like if you attend the Embodied AI Workshop tomorrow! To learn the latest on open-world embodied AI, join us at CVPR 2024 tomorrow! #cvpr2024 #embodiedai embodied-ai.org
Embodied AI #5 will be held in the Summit 428 room from 8:50 to 5:30 on Tuesday, June 18 2024.
000
Anthony Francis @xenotaur.bsky.social · 05/06/2024
Hey folks, the RSS Workshop on Unsolved Problems in Social Robot Navigation has extended its paper submission deadline to June 14th ... we are interested in both early stage and ongoing projects to improve social robot navigation. The CFP is here: unsolvedsocialnav.org/contribution #socialnav
unsolvedsocialnav.org
Unsolved Problems in Social Robot Navigation
000
Anthony Francis @xenotaur.bsky.social · 18/05/2024
Silicon Valley Open Studios is here! Sandi will be showing off her art this Saturday and Sunday May 18th and 19th from 11-5! You can see some of her art at the SVOS site, and I also did a gallery on my blog: svos.org/product-cate... svos.org/product-cate... www.dresan.com/blog/2024/05...
Our front room, turned into an art gallery for Sandi's art.
031
Anthony Francis @xenotaur.bsky.social · 17/05/2024
Silicon Valley Open Studios is this weekend, and my wife Sandi Billingsley will be displaying her art, furniture and mixed-media sculptures! Most of them, even the large furniture pieces, are made from recycled materials: svos.org/product-cate... svos.org/product-cate...
Three geode tables with colorful resin tops and recycled paper faux stone bottoms.
000
Anthony Francis @xenotaur.bsky.social · 15/05/2024
I now love both those movies more, thinking of Fifth Element as a prequel to Valerian.
000
Anthony Francis @xenotaur.bsky.social · 13/05/2024
Okay, you're going to keep hearing from me about the #neurodiversiverse for a while (it comes out in August) but the Kickstarter is rapidly coming to an end in an hour, so this is the last time you'll hear me say like, back and share for a while! www.kickstarter.com/projects/thi... #neurodiversity
kickstarter.com
The Neurodiversiverse: Alien Encounters - A Sci-Fi Anthology
A diverse, hopeful anthology of empowering neurodiverse sci-fi stories, poetry, and art by and for neurodivergent folks
000
Anthony Francis @xenotaur.bsky.social · 12/05/2024
Wow! The #neurodiversiverse Kickstarter just reached its first stretch goal: bookmarks! Thanks everyone! We're in the last day now, so if you want to help us unlock neurodiversity themed postcards, please like back and share! www.kickstarter.com/projects/thi... #neurodiversity
Neurodiversiverse Postcards
000