Tess is Surviving the Horrors
@mothmother.com
Neurospicy disabled trans girl, Ph.Dyke
Writes with @drtanenbaumii.bsky.social, @catblackard.bsky.social, & @jessicamudd.bsky.social
EggPrimeDirective.com
Music—Books—Games—Poetry MothMother.com
Ink—Art CauldronFireStudios.com
Theory TessTanen.com
Writes with @drtanenbaumii.bsky.social, @catblackard.bsky.social, & @jessicamudd.bsky.social
EggPrimeDirective.com
Music—Books—Games—Poetry MothMother.com
Ink—Art CauldronFireStudios.com
Theory TessTanen.com
Pinned
Hi new folks following me! I'm a multidisciplinary-artist who refuses to pick a single medium/discipline! Follow me for:
🎵—Long vibey instrumental music
📝—Handcrafted Journalling TTRPGs
👭—Sapphic, ENM, T4T romance novels
🎨—Homemade black walnut ink & illustrations
💌—Poetry
🎲🎭—Queer AP Audiodrama
🎵—Long vibey instrumental music
📝—Handcrafted Journalling TTRPGs
👭—Sapphic, ENM, T4T romance novels
🎨—Homemade black walnut ink & illustrations
💌—Poetry
🎲🎭—Queer AP Audiodrama
PLEASE BOOST & SHARE!
I spent some time this week reworking my Patreon
I'm shifting away from monthly poetry-posting & towards behind-the-scenes & early-access stuff connected to new writing, illustration, game design & music projects.
Only $2/month for full access!
I spent some time this week reworking my Patreon
I'm shifting away from monthly poetry-posting & towards behind-the-scenes & early-access stuff connected to new writing, illustration, game design & music projects.
Only $2/month for full access!
The New Moth Mother Patreon! | Theresa Jean Tanenbaum | Moth Mother
Hi y'all! I took a chunk of August and September off to to travel for WorldCon and think carefully about the future of this Patreon. I also
www.patreon.com
September 16, 2026 at 5:35 PM
PLEASE BOOST & SHARE!
I spent some time this week reworking my Patreon
I'm shifting away from monthly poetry-posting & towards behind-the-scenes & early-access stuff connected to new writing, illustration, game design & music projects.
Only $2/month for full access!
I spent some time this week reworking my Patreon
I'm shifting away from monthly poetry-posting & towards behind-the-scenes & early-access stuff connected to new writing, illustration, game design & music projects.
Only $2/month for full access!
This goes double for any business that adds me to an email list just for using my credit card at their physical point of sale system.
I just wanted to buy some juice, brohime. I'm not here to enter into a committed relationship with your brand.
I just wanted to buy some juice, brohime. I'm not here to enter into a committed relationship with your brand.
if you make me open an account to use your product and do not immediately provide me an option to receive zero (0) emails I believe you should go directly to jail
September 14, 2026 at 9:52 AM
This goes double for any business that adds me to an email list just for using my credit card at their physical point of sale system.
I just wanted to buy some juice, brohime. I'm not here to enter into a committed relationship with your brand.
I just wanted to buy some juice, brohime. I'm not here to enter into a committed relationship with your brand.
Reposted by Tess is Surviving the Horrors
a coalition stands together, that's how it generates and wields power in the political arena. on top of being basic human decency, standing up for trans people is politically expedient.
We're being told that if we sacrifice the rights of some people, then the rest of us get to keep our rights.
We all know that's some BS.
We all know that's some BS.
September 13, 2026 at 7:49 PM
a coalition stands together, that's how it generates and wields power in the political arena. on top of being basic human decency, standing up for trans people is politically expedient.
"vote blue no matter who" undermines the project of representative democracy just as much as voter suppression & gerrymandering do. It gives politicians carte blanche to take your vote for granted. If you aren't demanding that your representative in government EARN your vote, you're enabling abuse.
September 13, 2026 at 8:37 AM
"vote blue no matter who" undermines the project of representative democracy just as much as voter suppression & gerrymandering do. It gives politicians carte blanche to take your vote for granted. If you aren't demanding that your representative in government EARN your vote, you're enabling abuse.
September 13, 2026 at 1:09 AM
This call has inspired me to try digital drawing for the first time. I have a phone with a stylus that has been unused up till this week. So far I am having WAY too much fun!!
H/T to @jellyfishlines.itch.io for sending this my way and @goodtrailcams.bsky.social for amazing reference images!🫶🏻🙏🏻
H/T to @jellyfishlines.itch.io for sending this my way and @goodtrailcams.bsky.social for amazing reference images!🫶🏻🙏🏻
September 12, 2026 at 7:10 PM
This call has inspired me to try digital drawing for the first time. I have a phone with a stylus that has been unused up till this week. So far I am having WAY too much fun!!
H/T to @jellyfishlines.itch.io for sending this my way and @goodtrailcams.bsky.social for amazing reference images!🫶🏻🙏🏻
H/T to @jellyfishlines.itch.io for sending this my way and @goodtrailcams.bsky.social for amazing reference images!🫶🏻🙏🏻
Reposted by Tess is Surviving the Horrors
Thinking of that TV series where the villain is the lead characters’ own money
< nested threads >
< nested threads >
September 12, 2026 at 3:52 PM
Thinking of that TV series where the villain is the lead characters’ own money
< nested threads >
< nested threads >
The event horizon in a singularity is the point at which the gravitic pull of its mass is so great that not even light can escape any more.
Money has an event horizon that billionaires live inside of where the weight of their accumulated capitol is so great that they literally can't get rid of it.
Money has an event horizon that billionaires live inside of where the weight of their accumulated capitol is so great that they literally can't get rid of it.
the problem is that she can't actually give away all of her money because she gave away everything she got but still has more because our system is broken, evergreen
bsky.app/profile/most...
bsky.app/profile/most...
whenever someone talks about MacKenzie Scott an edgy poster always rolls up to condescending point out she's also an evil billionaire, and it drives me crazy because they're missing the point.
she gave away 26 billion and she keeps making more faster than she gets rid of it. THAT'S FUCKED UP
she gave away 26 billion and she keeps making more faster than she gets rid of it. THAT'S FUCKED UP
September 12, 2026 at 3:36 PM
The event horizon in a singularity is the point at which the gravitic pull of its mass is so great that not even light can escape any more.
Money has an event horizon that billionaires live inside of where the weight of their accumulated capitol is so great that they literally can't get rid of it.
Money has an event horizon that billionaires live inside of where the weight of their accumulated capitol is so great that they literally can't get rid of it.
As an outsider artist making art with my hands and handmade ink whose work lives in that messy imperfect space that AI will never colonize, I support this message!
I'm dipping my toe in the water of accepting commissions if anyone wants to buy some of my inky scribblings!
ko-fi.com/c/1b4143d846
I'm dipping my toe in the water of accepting commissions if anyone wants to buy some of my inky scribblings!
ko-fi.com/c/1b4143d846
September 12, 2026 at 3:22 PM
As an outsider artist making art with my hands and handmade ink whose work lives in that messy imperfect space that AI will never colonize, I support this message!
I'm dipping my toe in the water of accepting commissions if anyone wants to buy some of my inky scribblings!
ko-fi.com/c/1b4143d846
I'm dipping my toe in the water of accepting commissions if anyone wants to buy some of my inky scribblings!
ko-fi.com/c/1b4143d846
These Democrats! You'd think they actually AGREE with the conservatives about how much they all hate trans people, amirite!?
But of course they're actually on our side, right?
...right?
They make unforced errors like this because they genuinely agree with their opponents about us.
But of course they're actually on our side, right?
...right?
They make unforced errors like this because they genuinely agree with their opponents about us.
i don't care what the issue is, if your election opponent is running millions of dollars in ads about one single issue, you cannot, under any circumstances, say that your opponent is right about the issue.
September 10, 2026 at 1:16 PM
These Democrats! You'd think they actually AGREE with the conservatives about how much they all hate trans people, amirite!?
But of course they're actually on our side, right?
...right?
They make unforced errors like this because they genuinely agree with their opponents about us.
But of course they're actually on our side, right?
...right?
They make unforced errors like this because they genuinely agree with their opponents about us.
Continuing to prepare art for my October show. This is the biggest piece I've done so far in this style and I just can't get over how cool it turned out!
#traditionalart #mixedmedia #acrylics #blackwalnutink #painting #art
#traditionalart #mixedmedia #acrylics #blackwalnutink #painting #art
September 9, 2026 at 10:42 PM
Continuing to prepare art for my October show. This is the biggest piece I've done so far in this style and I just can't get over how cool it turned out!
#traditionalart #mixedmedia #acrylics #blackwalnutink #painting #art
#traditionalart #mixedmedia #acrylics #blackwalnutink #painting #art
I'm framing and mounting some of my paintings for an upcoming show and had a fun idea that I think has turned out SO cool!!
(Posting in reverse order so the finished piece is at the front and then the process works backwards...)
(Posting in reverse order so the finished piece is at the front and then the process works backwards...)
September 9, 2026 at 2:21 AM
I'm framing and mounting some of my paintings for an upcoming show and had a fun idea that I think has turned out SO cool!!
(Posting in reverse order so the finished piece is at the front and then the process works backwards...)
(Posting in reverse order so the finished piece is at the front and then the process works backwards...)
I'm as much of an armchair endocrinologist as the next trans femme, but the really niche expertise I bring to my writing is decades of academic service and committee work, all of which fuel the simmering rage of my current (professor) protagonist.
What niche expertise do you have that you've incorporated into your book/wip? #WritingPrompt
September 9, 2026 at 12:48 AM
I'm as much of an armchair endocrinologist as the next trans femme, but the really niche expertise I bring to my writing is decades of academic service and committee work, all of which fuel the simmering rage of my current (professor) protagonist.
Holding this beautiful thing in my hands tonight & I'm so thrilled that my poem "With all due credit to Kafka, etc." was chosen to be a part of it! It's a STAGGERINGLY brilliant collection of writing! Y'all should pre-order now so you don't miss out when it is unleashed upon an unsuspecting world!
September 9, 2026 at 12:14 AM
Holding this beautiful thing in my hands tonight & I'm so thrilled that my poem "With all due credit to Kafka, etc." was chosen to be a part of it! It's a STAGGERINGLY brilliant collection of writing! Y'all should pre-order now so you don't miss out when it is unleashed upon an unsuspecting world!
Y'all, it's been a rough day. Discovered our male duck disemboweled by a predator this afternoon and spent most of the day digging a grave and modifying the duck house so we can shut the rest of the flock in at night.
Also broke up with my new(est) girlfriend. Please send all the hugs!
Also broke up with my new(est) girlfriend. Please send all the hugs!
September 8, 2026 at 4:37 AM
Y'all, it's been a rough day. Discovered our male duck disemboweled by a predator this afternoon and spent most of the day digging a grave and modifying the duck house so we can shut the rest of the flock in at night.
Also broke up with my new(est) girlfriend. Please send all the hugs!
Also broke up with my new(est) girlfriend. Please send all the hugs!
I was a tarot card reader for the Psychic Network in the summer of 2000. Our location was entirely staffed by women (although I didn't realize that at the time) & owned by a married Mormon couple. I worked graveyard shift. My co-workers came & went between long-haul trucking gigs.
The pay was shit.
The pay was shit.
Happy labor day (USA). What's one of the oddest paid job you've had? Mine was probably as a reader for a medical professor at Rutgers, whose eyes were failing. I read him many academic texts, as well as Samuel Butler's "The Way of All Flesh."
September 8, 2026 at 2:19 AM
I was a tarot card reader for the Psychic Network in the summer of 2000. Our location was entirely staffed by women (although I didn't realize that at the time) & owned by a married Mormon couple. I worked graveyard shift. My co-workers came & went between long-haul trucking gigs.
The pay was shit.
The pay was shit.
RT if you've never had a tab of ChatGPT open, period.
RT if you've never had a tab of ChatGPT open, period.
RT if you've never had a tab of ChatGPT open, period.
September 8, 2026 at 2:11 AM
RT if you've never had a tab of ChatGPT open, period.
Absolutely shameful non-response from the #LACon folks here. Mari was one of the first people to welcome me and make me feel like a part of the community at my first worldcon. It's a stain on our community that she was made to feel so unwelcome this year.
One week later, I have an official response from #LACon #Worldcon!
I thought all of you should see the entire thing:
"Summary: Walking participants only
Action Taken: Noted by Listeners team
Current Status: CLOSED"
I thought all of you should see the entire thing:
"Summary: Walking participants only
Action Taken: Noted by Listeners team
Current Status: CLOSED"
....the ongoing delights of being both a Hugo finalist and a wheelchair user.
"The backstage is for walking participants," said directly to my face, as a wheelchair user.
"The backstage is for walking participants," said directly to my face, as a wheelchair user.
September 7, 2026 at 3:35 PM
Absolutely shameful non-response from the #LACon folks here. Mari was one of the first people to welcome me and make me feel like a part of the community at my first worldcon. It's a stain on our community that she was made to feel so unwelcome this year.
Do you want humanity to survive, or do you want human institutions to survive? Because right now we exist inside of a monster that has eaten us, and we're going to either have to cut our way out or sit still and patiently wait for it to digest us.
All institutions need a built-in expiration date.
All institutions need a built-in expiration date.
September 6, 2026 at 6:04 PM
Do you want humanity to survive, or do you want human institutions to survive? Because right now we exist inside of a monster that has eaten us, and we're going to either have to cut our way out or sit still and patiently wait for it to digest us.
All institutions need a built-in expiration date.
All institutions need a built-in expiration date.
Reposted by Tess is Surviving the Horrors
Tonight's update to my rent assistant fundraising goal: NOICE.
ko-fi.com/autumnwolff/...
We're getting closer and closer! Thank y'all so much.
Just about there, and my wife and I can stay housed for another month. #mutualaid
ko-fi.com/autumnwolff/...
We're getting closer and closer! Thank y'all so much.
Just about there, and my wife and I can stay housed for another month. #mutualaid
Buy Autumn Wolff a Coffee
Become a supporter of Autumn Wolff today!
ko-fi.com
September 5, 2026 at 12:34 AM
Tonight's update to my rent assistant fundraising goal: NOICE.
ko-fi.com/autumnwolff/...
We're getting closer and closer! Thank y'all so much.
Just about there, and my wife and I can stay housed for another month. #mutualaid
ko-fi.com/autumnwolff/...
We're getting closer and closer! Thank y'all so much.
Just about there, and my wife and I can stay housed for another month. #mutualaid
Reposted by Tess is Surviving the Horrors
The novel is going to be super fun! As much as I dislike reducing a book down to its tropes, it's useful at this stage when we're still working out the basics: this one will have sapphic rivals to lovers, secret cryptids, dark academia, monsterfucking, and a hidden paranormal world beneath our own!
September 4, 2026 at 2:40 PM
The novel is going to be super fun! As much as I dislike reducing a book down to its tropes, it's useful at this stage when we're still working out the basics: this one will have sapphic rivals to lovers, secret cryptids, dark academia, monsterfucking, and a hidden paranormal world beneath our own!
The lovely thing about being done with edits for the novel is that I get to work on other projects again! Even though I'm still traveling, in the last week I've finished & submitted a new speculative poem, revised an older novelette substantially, & started a new short story & new novel!
September 4, 2026 at 9:25 AM
The lovely thing about being done with edits for the novel is that I get to work on other projects again! Even though I'm still traveling, in the last week I've finished & submitted a new speculative poem, revised an older novelette substantially, & started a new short story & new novel!
In The Egg Prime Directive Kitty and Kyla sing this song to each other in karaoke. It's hecka gay, and hecka adorable!
on.soundcloud.com/Qbg5oAHWelNT...
#SongsOfSeptember
on.soundcloud.com/Qbg5oAHWelNT...
#SongsOfSeptember
September 3, 2026 at 10:45 AM
In The Egg Prime Directive Kitty and Kyla sing this song to each other in karaoke. It's hecka gay, and hecka adorable!
on.soundcloud.com/Qbg5oAHWelNT...
#SongsOfSeptember
on.soundcloud.com/Qbg5oAHWelNT...
#SongsOfSeptember
Without saying your age, what is your favorite movie that came out when you were 20 years old?
y'all, I am way too autistic to choose a single movie from that year (because hierarchies are bullshit) and it was SUCH a good year for movies.
but, also this came out *right* after my 20th birthday...
y'all, I am way too autistic to choose a single movie from that year (because hierarchies are bullshit) and it was SUCH a good year for movies.
but, also this came out *right* after my 20th birthday...
September 2, 2026 at 6:22 PM
Without saying your age, what is your favorite movie that came out when you were 20 years old?
y'all, I am way too autistic to choose a single movie from that year (because hierarchies are bullshit) and it was SUCH a good year for movies.
but, also this came out *right* after my 20th birthday...
y'all, I am way too autistic to choose a single movie from that year (because hierarchies are bullshit) and it was SUCH a good year for movies.
but, also this came out *right* after my 20th birthday...
I have a simple rule when starting a new project: "Does writing this make me cackle with maniacal glee?"
I have to believe I'll find readers who feel similarly, but if I don't it's OK because the writing was joyful.
I think I'd struggle with this, tho, if my rent or healthcare was at stake.
🧵
I have to believe I'll find readers who feel similarly, but if I don't it's OK because the writing was joyful.
I think I'd struggle with this, tho, if my rent or healthcare was at stake.
🧵
One thing about the whole "the thing I want to write isn't popular so I feel forced to write this other thing" complaint is that audiences will pick up on it if you're writing with disdain for their preferences. Write something you actually like, or audiences will leave you for someone who does.
September 2, 2026 at 6:11 PM
I have a simple rule when starting a new project: "Does writing this make me cackle with maniacal glee?"
I have to believe I'll find readers who feel similarly, but if I don't it's OK because the writing was joyful.
I think I'd struggle with this, tho, if my rent or healthcare was at stake.
🧵
I have to believe I'll find readers who feel similarly, but if I don't it's OK because the writing was joyful.
I think I'd struggle with this, tho, if my rent or healthcare was at stake.
🧵