{"id":1708,"date":"2025-09-23T11:23:13","date_gmt":"2025-09-23T15:23:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/victoriafeistner.com\/?p=1708"},"modified":"2025-09-23T14:44:02","modified_gmt":"2025-09-23T18:44:02","slug":"welcome-back","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/victoriafeistner.com\/blog\/2025\/09\/23\/welcome-back\/","title":{"rendered":"Welcome Back 2.0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-dots\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">*cough cough* <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">*throws open shutters*<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Wow, it&#8217;s been a while, huh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Coming back to a blog after *checks notes* FOUR YEARS is a bit like showing up at the family cottage and finding that not only the roof has leaked and there&#8217;s water damage every where but there&#8217;s raccoons in the kitchen and it&#8217;s their kitchen now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Broken WordPress themes are <em>exactly like<\/em> finding raccoons in the remains of your old abode.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So not enough to tear down and start from scratch, but I might have to go to something basic for a while. A lot of the functionality in the old theme came from my wife&#8217;s l33t WordPress skillz, so I haven&#8217;t the first idea how to fix? Undo? those elements. I&#8217;m going to need to poke around for a bit, so please watch your step around the scaffolding and mind the hole(s) in the floor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Four years. Pandemic stuff, obvs, but also depression\/anxiety, unemployment stress, two family members with the Big C., living out of boxes for months because of bed bugs, not to mention *gestures at everything*. So I don&#8217;t feel ashamed for not getting back to the blag before now. On the contrary&#8211;I&#8217;m very pleased that I have the mental \/ creative capacity to even <em>consider <\/em>taking on this project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On the good news side of things, I sold my SF novel, <em>Curve of the Corridor<\/em>, in 2023 to Brain Lag, who published <a href=\"https:\/\/www.brain-lag.com\/product\/blackout-odyssey\/25\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.brain-lag.com\/product\/blackout-odyssey\/25\">Blackout Odyssey<\/a>. At the time, I was debating standing where I am now&#8211;facing down a depreciated website redesign&#8211;so that I could announce the news &#8220;properly&#8221;, but I didn&#8217;t have the time, or the energy, and I wasn&#8217;t really on social media any more because of *gestures* and, and, and. Honestly I can&#8217;t remember what crisis was happening during that time. They&#8217;ve all blended together, tbh. It didn&#8217;t end up mattering; CotC got delayed because of crisises happening behind the scenes at Brain Lag, so it got delayed, and then eventually put on hold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The edits for the manuscript have come back! Covers are being discussed! A launch date has been chosen! July 2026 &#8211; sixteen <em>years<\/em> after I first started the fucking thing &#8211; that&#8217;s neither here nor there. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">CURVE OF THE CORRIDOR<br>JULY 17, 2026<br><br>BE THERE OR BE SQUARE(ly out of chance to go to the launch party.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I can&#8217;t remember the last time I felt this excited? Hopeful? Eager? about something more than two weeks away: if the pandemic and the ensuing years have taught me anything, it&#8217;s that planning too far in advance is very often fruitless. I&#8217;ve learned to ensmallen my goals and my hopes. But maybe that&#8217;s changing1<sup data-fn=\"96ca675e-c919-4343-a587-7ed0753d8852\" class=\"fn\"><a href=\"#96ca675e-c919-4343-a587-7ed0753d8852\" id=\"96ca675e-c919-4343-a587-7ed0753d8852-link\">1<\/a><\/sup>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">*rolls up sleeves*<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Maybe it&#8217;s time to get to work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">P.S. Speaking of renovations, I finally, after 12 years in the same apartment, got rid of the Landlord&#8217;s Delight<sup data-fn=\"a7c1718a-0732-4031-83a8-a8e8c923a49f\" class=\"fn\"><a href=\"#a7c1718a-0732-4031-83a8-a8e8c923a49f\" id=\"a7c1718a-0732-4031-83a8-a8e8c923a49f-link\">2<\/a><\/sup>, and painted everything to go with a more Riven-esque\/Dark Academia feel. A lair, if you will. A friend described the virtual tour as &#8220;it looks like a wizard&#8217;s library&#8221; and honestly I couldn&#8217;t be more pleased. Maybe it&#8217;ll be the new theme of the blog going forward. Stay tuned!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/victoriafeistner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/PXL_20250902_180817999-2.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"1713\" src=\"https:\/\/victoriafeistner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/PXL_20250902_180817999-2-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"The reading nook, showing off the walls painted to look like rustic\/faded plaster, my fiction bookshelf, and a vintage doctor's lamp from the 1930s.\" class=\"wp-image-1713\" srcset=\"https:\/\/victoriafeistner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/PXL_20250902_180817999-2-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/victoriafeistner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/PXL_20250902_180817999-2-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/victoriafeistner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/PXL_20250902_180817999-2-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/victoriafeistner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/PXL_20250902_180817999-2-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/victoriafeistner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/PXL_20250902_180817999-2.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/victoriafeistner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/PXL_20250923_144447166-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"1716\" src=\"https:\/\/victoriafeistner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/PXL_20250923_144447166-1-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"My writing desk, featuring both my vintage model-M keyboard and my homemade writing computer, M.I.D.G.E.\" class=\"wp-image-1716\" srcset=\"https:\/\/victoriafeistner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/PXL_20250923_144447166-1-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/victoriafeistner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/PXL_20250923_144447166-1-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/victoriafeistner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/PXL_20250923_144447166-1-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/victoriafeistner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/PXL_20250923_144447166-1-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/victoriafeistner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/PXL_20250923_144447166-1.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-3 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/victoriafeistner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/PXL_20250923_150915659.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"1714\" src=\"https:\/\/victoriafeistner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/PXL_20250923_150915659-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"A close up of my bookcase \/ room divider\" class=\"wp-image-1714\" srcset=\"https:\/\/victoriafeistner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/PXL_20250923_150915659-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/victoriafeistner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/PXL_20250923_150915659-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/victoriafeistner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/PXL_20250923_150915659-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/victoriafeistner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/PXL_20250923_150915659-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/victoriafeistner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/PXL_20250923_150915659.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/victoriafeistner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/PXL_20250908_165625604.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"1715\" src=\"https:\/\/victoriafeistner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/PXL_20250908_165625604-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"A 3D printed lightswitch plate, spraypainted brass\" class=\"wp-image-1715\" srcset=\"https:\/\/victoriafeistner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/PXL_20250908_165625604-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/victoriafeistner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/PXL_20250908_165625604-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/victoriafeistner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/PXL_20250908_165625604-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/victoriafeistner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/PXL_20250908_165625604-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/victoriafeistner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/PXL_20250908_165625604.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/victoriafeistner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/PXL_20250923_144451879.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"1712\" src=\"https:\/\/victoriafeistner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/PXL_20250923_144451879-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"A close up of my writing computer, which is covered in fake, retro-futuristic-style electronic elements\" class=\"wp-image-1712\" srcset=\"https:\/\/victoriafeistner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/PXL_20250923_144451879-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/victoriafeistner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/PXL_20250923_144451879-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/victoriafeistner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/PXL_20250923_144451879-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/victoriafeistner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/PXL_20250923_144451879-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/victoriafeistner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/PXL_20250923_144451879.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-footnotes\"><li id=\"96ca675e-c919-4343-a587-7ed0753d8852\">Oh god oh god oh god please let this not be me jinxing myself <a href=\"#96ca675e-c919-4343-a587-7ed0753d8852-link\" aria-label=\"Jump to footnote reference 1\">\u21a9\ufe0e<\/a><\/li><li id=\"a7c1718a-0732-4031-83a8-a8e8c923a49f\">Same name and shade of my usual foundation, har har har <a href=\"#a7c1718a-0732-4031-83a8-a8e8c923a49f-link\" aria-label=\"Jump to footnote reference 2\">\u21a9\ufe0e<\/a><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>*cough cough* *throws open shutters* Wow, it&#8217;s been a while, huh. Coming back to a blog after *checks notes* FOUR YEARS is a bit like showing up at the family cottage and finding that not only the roof has leaked and there&#8217;s water damage every where but there&#8217;s raccoons in the kitchen and it&#8217;s their [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"[{\"content\":\"Oh god oh god oh god please let this not be me jinxing myself\",\"id\":\"96ca675e-c919-4343-a587-7ed0753d8852\"},{\"content\":\"Same name and shade of my usual foundation, har har har\",\"id\":\"a7c1718a-0732-4031-83a8-a8e8c923a49f\"}]"},"categories":[179],"tags":[63],"class_list":["post-1708","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","tag-updates"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/victoriafeistner.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1708","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/victoriafeistner.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/victoriafeistner.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/victoriafeistner.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/victoriafeistner.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1708"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/victoriafeistner.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1708\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1728,"href":"https:\/\/victoriafeistner.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1708\/revisions\/1728"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/victoriafeistner.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1708"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/victoriafeistner.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1708"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/victoriafeistner.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1708"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}