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Anthony Francis @xenotaur.bsky.social · 4h

I'll be at Clockwork Alchemy this coming weekend: schedule.clockworkalchemy.com I'll be talking about airship pirates, rogue makers and scriptwriting for audio! #clockworkalchemy

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Anthony Francis @xenotaur.bsky.social · 5h

Hey folks, I'm happy to announce that Kenneth Moorman and I have an article in an edited volume from the Worldcon Academic track! www.lacon.org/academictrack/ "The Cognitive Science of Scenes and Sequels" digs into the real cognitive science behind writing craft! www.amazon.com/Building-Yes...

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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

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Anthony Francis @xenotaur.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

My updated Worldcon schedule! guide.lacon.org/people/05eb0...

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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

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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!

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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/

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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.

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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

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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.

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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...

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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.

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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."

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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...

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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!

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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!

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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...

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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

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Anthony Francis @xenotaur.bsky.social · 15/08/2025

Day 3 at Worldcon! Some great costumes! dresan.com/blog/2025/08...

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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...

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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...

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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.

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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.

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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

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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

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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/

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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

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Anthony Francis @xenotaur.bsky.social · 18/02/2025

Also, my own "Shadows of Titanium Rain" in the Neurodiversiverse anthology is also eligible ... please check it out and take appropriate action as needed ... :-)

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Anthony Francis @xenotaur.bsky.social · 16/12/2024

I took two naps with two different cliques of cats today. It was wonderful. But I'm reminded of the proverb: "A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber." I just don't know how to balance self-care and responsibility. :-/

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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.

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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.

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Anthony Francis @xenotaur.bsky.social · 13/12/2024

Would neurodiversity be an advantage in an encounter with aliens? Let's find out! THE NEURODIVERSIVERSE: ALIEN ENCOUNTERS has 40+ stories, poems and art from (mostly) #ownvoices creators, including Tobias S. Buckell, M.D. Cooper, Ada Hoffman, Jody Lynn Nye, and Cat Rambo! neurodiversiverse.com

neurodiversiverse.com

The Neurodiversiverse: Alien Encounters | Thinking Ink Press

A diverse, hopeful book of neurodiversity-themed science fiction short stories, poetry, and art for anyone who loves science fiction.

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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

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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...

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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.

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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

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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’…

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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.

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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"!

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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

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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.

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