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October 31, 2026

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2009
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May 2009

A Hidden Place book cover

A Hidden Place

Christy Mannering18 years ago2 years ago09 mins

Sometimes, I judge a book by its cover. If the cover appeals to me but I know nothing about the…

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Christy at scrink.com

A quirky blend of Tink and Scrappy, sharing insights on music, movies, TV, and all things geeky since 2005.

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The pause before replying. The message you've rewritten seventeen times. The spectacular inconvenience of caring about someone.

Elle Belle's new single "Sommerville Girls" gives me a reason to think about the love songs that leave the nerves in. I looked into Christopher Pappas' songwriting, the response to his 2023 album How Do I Feel?, and the appeal of a romantic narrator willing to admit that he cares.

My latest Scrink piece explores the space between complicated feelings and a plain sentence: "I love you."

Read more on scrink.com, link in the bio.

#ElleBelle #SommervilleGirls #ChristopherPappas #LittleRecordCompany #IndieRock

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The pause before replying. The message you've rewritten seventeen times. The spectacular inconvenience of caring about someone.Elle Belle's new single "Sommerville Girls" gives me a reason to think about the love songs that leave the nerves in. I looked into Christopher Pappas' songwriting, the response to his 2023 album How Do I Feel?, and the appeal of a romantic narrator willing to admit that he cares.My latest Scrink piece explores the space between complicated feelings and a plain sentence: "I love you."Read more on scrink.com, link in the bio.#ElleBelle #SommervilleGirls #ChristopherPappas #LittleRecordCompany #IndieRock

3 weeks ago

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1/9

Content warning: Sexual assault and trauma. Please choose whether you want to keep reading.

Years later, I am still walking a tightrope between what I need to say and what I am ready to share. I think about who my words might affect, especially my children, and the questions I cannot yet answer. Something someone else chose to do to me still asks something of me.

The Cornell case prompted me to write about that weight and the complicated realities behind decisions people too easily judge from the outside. Survivors deserve room to question accountability without being made to feel responsible for someone else's reluctance to report.

I have a beautiful life, and I still carry what happened. Both are true. I should not have to stay quiet about one to prove the other.

My full essay is on my website at scrink.com

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Content warning: Sexual assault and trauma. Please choose whether you want to keep reading.Years later, I am still walking a tightrope between what I need to say and what I am ready to share. I think about who my words might affect, especially my children, and the questions I cannot yet answer. Something someone else chose to do to me still asks something of me.The Cornell case prompted me to write about that weight and the complicated realities behind decisions people too easily judge from the outside. Survivors deserve room to question accountability without being made to feel responsible for someone else's reluctance to report.I have a beautiful life, and I still carry what happened. Both are true. I should not have to stay quiet about one to prove the other.My full essay is on my website at scrink.com

1 month ago

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2/9

If you've been curious about the Fern Glade Series, this is the perfect time to step into the woods.

"I Know What I Saw," Book One in the Fern Glade Series, will be FREE on Amazon Kindle September 10-12, 2026.

Fern Glade is a small town with secrets, old stories and truths that refuse to stay buried.

Start the series here:
https://amzn.to/4xqEGGQ

The free Kindle promotion begins Thursday, September 10 at 12:00 a.m. PDT and ends Saturday, September 12 at 11:59 p.m. PDT.

If you know a reader who loves atmospheric mysteries, small towns and stories where seeing something is only the beginning, please share this with them. 📚🌿

#FernGladeSeries #IKnowWhatISaw #BookRecommendation #IndieAuthor #FreeEbook

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If you've been curious about the Fern Glade Series, this is the perfect time to step into the woods."I Know What I Saw," Book One in the Fern Glade Series, will be FREE on Amazon Kindle September 10-12, 2026.Fern Glade is a small town with secrets, old stories and truths that refuse to stay buried.Start the series here: https://amzn.to/4xqEGGQThe free Kindle promotion begins Thursday, September 10 at 12:00 a.m. PDT and ends Saturday, September 12 at 11:59 p.m. PDT.If you know a reader who loves atmospheric mysteries, small towns and stories where seeing something is only the beginning, please share this with them. 📚🌿#FernGladeSeries #IKnowWhatISaw #BookRecommendation #IndieAuthor #FreeEbook

2 months ago

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3/9

I have more than 20,000 emails in my inbox, so it takes quite a bit these days for one subject line to make me stop and open it.

Today, that email was about Isobel Waller-Bridge’s @isobelwb score for Apple TV’s *Last Seen*. @appletv

What kept me reading was her description of the story as one shaped by absence and uncertainty, and the way she approached music that does not always offer a neat emotional resolution. I ended up writing about the series, her work, the people left behind in stories of disappearance, and why a score can sometimes understand something before dialogue ever says it out loud.

Also, for the record, my inbox remains completely unrepentant.

New on Scrink.com, link in the bio.

#LastSeen #IsobelWallerBridge #AppleTV #OriginalSoundtrack #TVMusic

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I have more than 20,000 emails in my inbox, so it takes quite a bit these days for one subject line to make me stop and open it.Today, that email was about Isobel Waller-Bridge’s @isobelwb score for Apple TV’s *Last Seen*. @appletvWhat kept me reading was her description of the story as one shaped by absence and uncertainty, and the way she approached music that does not always offer a neat emotional resolution. I ended up writing about the series, her work, the people left behind in stories of disappearance, and why a score can sometimes understand something before dialogue ever says it out loud.Also, for the record, my inbox remains completely unrepentant.New on Scrink.com, link in the bio.#LastSeen #IsobelWallerBridge #AppleTV #OriginalSoundtrack #TVMusic

2 months ago

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4/9

Savory Swerve is almost open for business.

The grilled cheese is questionable. The owner’s judgment is usually better.

No Fixed Address: A Savory Swerves Mystery is getting close.

If you’ve read my Fern Glade series, you know my writing style, but this one takes a swerve into something a little different.

The first draft, or maybe the fourth, who’s counting?, is currently sitting with my parents, and I can’t wait to hear what they think.

More soon. 🧀

•

Savory Swerve is almost open for business.The grilled cheese is questionable. The owner’s judgment is usually better.No Fixed Address: A Savory Swerves Mystery is getting close.If you’ve read my Fern Glade series, you know my writing style, but this one takes a swerve into something a little different.The first draft, or maybe the fourth, who’s counting?, is currently sitting with my parents, and I can’t wait to hear what they think.More soon. 🧀

3 months ago

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5/9

There are 58 days until fall.

But the shadows in Fern Glade are already moving.

Enter a magical village where the woods watch, family secrets have teeth, and three young people refuse to let fear write the ending.

Begin with I Know What I Saw. Follow the mystery into The Shadow Ledger. Then prepare for the final fight over who gets to write the rules in The Ink Witch.

Your spooky season starts here. 🍂

What pulls you into Fern Glade first: the hidden town, the shadow mystery, the friendships, or the magic?

You can buy the book series from a variety of online retailers, including my website afterlightpress.com, if you would like a signed copy, let me know!

#FernGladeSeries #SpookySeasonReads #WitchyReads #FantasyMyster

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There are 58 days until fall.But the shadows in Fern Glade are already moving.Enter a magical village where the woods watch, family secrets have teeth, and three young people refuse to let fear write the ending.Begin with I Know What I Saw. Follow the mystery into The Shadow Ledger. Then prepare for the final fight over who gets to write the rules in The Ink Witch.Your spooky season starts here. 🍂What pulls you into Fern Glade first: the hidden town, the shadow mystery, the friendships, or the magic?You can buy the book series from a variety of online retailers, including my website afterlightpress.com, if you would like a signed copy, let me know!#FernGladeSeries #SpookySeasonReads #WitchyReads #FantasyMyster

3 months ago

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6/9

Some paintings make you stop scrolling. Some make you stop and think.

This one by Linda Murdock did both.

Maybe it's because I genuinely love swimming. Maybe it's because life has felt a little upside down lately. Or maybe it's because that fish sitting behind a desk somehow captures exactly what it feels like to keep showing up while wondering where you're supposed to belong.

I wrote a personal essay about why this painting resonated with me so deeply, and why I think so many of us have felt like "a fish out of water" at one time or another.

If you've ever been in the middle of a transition, wondering what comes next while still doing your best every day, I hope you'll give it a read.

🐟 Read it at scrink.com or the link in my bio.

Thank you, Linda Murdock, for creating a painting that put a picture to something I hadn't yet found the words to say.

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Some paintings make you stop scrolling. Some make you stop and think.This one by Linda Murdock did both.Maybe it's because I genuinely love swimming. Maybe it's because life has felt a little upside down lately. Or maybe it's because that fish sitting behind a desk somehow captures exactly what it feels like to keep showing up while wondering where you're supposed to belong.I wrote a personal essay about why this painting resonated with me so deeply, and why I think so many of us have felt like "a fish out of water" at one time or another.If you've ever been in the middle of a transition, wondering what comes next while still doing your best every day, I hope you'll give it a read.🐟 Read it at scrink.com or the link in my bio.Thank you, Linda Murdock, for creating a painting that put a picture to something I hadn't yet found the words to say.

4 months ago

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7/9

Books, music, movies and art do more than entertain us. They help us understand ourselves, each other and the world around us.

But behind every story, every classroom discussion and every young person who discovers what they love, there is often a teacher, librarian, artist, counselor or mentor who helped open that door.

That is why this issue belongs on Scrink.

New federal loan rules give some graduate professional programs access to higher borrowing limits while leaving many education, social work, arts and humanities programs behind.

The consequences may not show up right away. They may appear later as fewer teachers enter classrooms, fewer social workers serve families and fewer people can afford to pursue the work that shapes culture, strengthens communities and teaches us how to think critically.

When we make it harder to enter these professions, all of us eventually lose something.

Read the full article at the link in bio.

#EducationPolicy #StudentLoans #ArtsAndHumanities #HigherEducation #PublicService

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Books, music, movies and art do more than entertain us. They help us understand ourselves, each other and the world around us.But behind every story, every classroom discussion and every young person who discovers what they love, there is often a teacher, librarian, artist, counselor or mentor who helped open that door.That is why this issue belongs on Scrink.New federal loan rules give some graduate professional programs access to higher borrowing limits while leaving many education, social work, arts and humanities programs behind.The consequences may not show up right away. They may appear later as fewer teachers enter classrooms, fewer social workers serve families and fewer people can afford to pursue the work that shapes culture, strengthens communities and teaches us how to think critically.When we make it harder to enter these professions, all of us eventually lose something.Read the full article at the link in bio.#EducationPolicy #StudentLoans #ArtsAndHumanities #HigherEducation #PublicService

4 months ago

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8/9

Spooky Cat Press Summerween is haunted sunshine for people who never really left October. Not sponsored, just obsessed.

Head to scrink.com to see why Spooky Cat Press rocks and what kind of Summerween swag you can grab from them.

Links are in the bio 👆🔗

#SpookyCatPress #Summerween #Hauntwaii #SpookyTiki

Spooky Cat Press Summerween is haunted sunshine for people who never really left October. Not sponsored, just obsessed.

Head to scrink.com to see why Spooky Cat Press rocks and what kind of Summerween swag you can grab from them.

Links are in the bio 👆🔗

#SpookyCatPress #Summerween #Hauntwaii #SpookyTiki

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Spooky Cat Press Summerween is haunted sunshine for people who never really left October. Not sponsored, just obsessed.Head to scrink.com to see why Spooky Cat Press rocks and what kind of Summerween swag you can grab from them.Links are in the bio 👆🔗#SpookyCatPress #Summerween #Hauntwaii #SpookyTiki

5 months ago

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9/9

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