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JamesKMoran

@jamestheballadeer

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Writer, reviewer. Fear Itself collection and Town & Train horror novel (Lethe Press). Moon, cryptid enthusiast. Librarian-adjacent.
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Last stretch of August. Time to turn to reflecting, producing work, filing a grant report and getting my freelance work (reviews, interviews) in order. More to announce for September. Meanwhile, I kindly blame @savoircare for inspiring my return to my writin' notebook. How I missed it so. by @jamestheballadeer

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a year ago

The spooky season is upon us! A PSA for those new here-just introducing myself, a writer/editor/reviewer/comic aficionado and film lover.
Town & Train is my small-town Canadian horror novel and Fear Itself is my debut Lethe Press short-story collection.
Pic: @photosbyjamesottawa at @canconsffh.
www.publishersweekly.com/9781590217436 by @jamestheballadeer

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a year ago

Winnipeg writer @davidjonfuller posted a very flattering comment about my debut 2014 horror novel, Town & Train from @lethepress Press. I am quite appreciative of his shot of the railroad tracks, which puts me in a mind of the tracks in my hometown of Cornwall, which I fictionalized in the novel, as they skirted through the woods of my neighbourhood of Riverdale. I also included, for good measure, in my small city of Brandon, Ontario, the Seaway International Bridge, the Domtar Pulp and Paper Mill, and even Brookdale Mall, including Brookdale Cinemas.

Thank you kindly, David. I was having one of those stretches where these words landed just at the right time. And this photo may be new favourite thing to turn to during times of doubt.

It should be noted that @turnstone_press is publishing Fuller’s debut speculative fiction novel, Venue 13, in spring 2026 under the Ravenstone imprint. by @jamestheballadeer

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a year ago

Hey y'all! Try to make me feel better about my case of Zoom Blues and check out the recorded presentation I did today with Ottawa’s Village Legacy Project historian Glenn Crawford for the Canadian Pride Historical Society.

We presented Queer Ottawa at Night: A look at the History of Ottawa’s Gay Village. We looked at bars from the 1950s to now.

Link in bio. by @jamestheballadeer

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a day ago

Coming right up at 3:40 pm today!

I'm teaming up with Ottawa’s Village Legacy Project historian Glenn Crawford for the @canpridehistory Oct. 16-17 virtual conference.

We will host a presentation, Queer Ottawa at Night: A look at the History of Ottawa’s Gay Village at Pride History in Canada, on Sat., Oct. 17, 3:40pm Ottawa time.

Thank you for this opportunity, Canadian Pride Historical Society.

Please note, @ariel4somersetward, @martycarrottawa, @cmckenneyndp,
@maxottawa.ca,
@hartsgrovegeorge, @tspub_ottawa.

Register at;
https://events.zoom.us/ev/Auveyy8ZtSjAEcgLWAKurjwTxg5Ap3R60Pdcb9QWHeOe7E5X0388~AsryrsfDap2vqWIpLRrLccFtqqD8a9Kkdx3GR7fEa0e0T0In4tAk8AJktj6qXt_Lif-P2qp1vvxkcgFM6l_mLDnm0Q?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social

Since 2003, Glenn Crawford is a self-employed graphic/Web designer [www.JackOfAllTradesDesign.com]. Previous work experience includes retail, education, and journalism, among other professions. His advocacy to designate a section of Bank Street as Ottawa’s queer Village led to being named the 2007 Community Activist of the Year and the grand marshal of the 2010 @fiertecappride In 2015, he became the researcher/developer of the Village Legacy Project, which documents local queer history through a Web site and public art along Bank Street. As an authority on the topic, he’s conducted several speaking engagements and created several documentaries for the Project.

James K. Moran is a writer of many bi lines. His speculative fiction and poetry have appeared in Burly Tales: Finally Fairy Tales for the Hirsute and Hefty Gay Man, Bywords, Glitterwolf, On Spec, and elsewhere. Moran’s collection Fear Itself and small-town Canada horror novel Town & Train were published by Lethe Press. For over 15 years, he was a freelance contributor for @xtramagazine (née Capital Xtra!). Moran agonizes—or, rather, writes—across the genres about grief, love, nomadic superheroes and drag-queen warlocks. His reviews appear in @arcpoetrymag, @plenitudemagazine and @strangehorizonsmag. Findable at jameskmoran.blogspot.ca & jamestheballadeer.bsky.social on Bluesky. by @jamestheballadeer

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2 days ago

And in other news, tonight at work, I screened Wes Craven's 1984 A Nightmare on Elm Street. Woot.
#nightmareonelmstreet by @jamestheballadeer

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3 days ago

Say...@rob_mclennan_writer...will also tell you in person, but congratulations on winning the Archibald Lampman Award!
(It's about time, eh?)
Woot.

(For those unfamiliar, the Lampman recognizes an outstanding book of English-language poetry by an author living in the National Capital Region.)

And thanks, @pearlpiriepoet, for sharing this news on bluesky.
Woot. Woot. by @jamestheballadeer

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3 days ago

Pssst! Behind the scenes, I'm working with Glenn Crawford, fab graphic designer/Ottawa Village Legacy Project historian, on a presentation, Queer Ottawa at Night: A look at the History of Ottawa’s Gay Village for the @canpridehistory virtual conference. Sat., Oct. 17, 3:40pm Ottawa time.

Register at;
https://events.zoom.us/ev/Auveyy8ZtSjAEcgLWAKurjwTxg5Ap3R60Pdcb9QWHeOe7E5X0388~AsryrsfDap2vqWIpLRrLccFtqqD8a9Kkdx3GR7fEa0e0T0In4tAk8AJktj6qXt_Lif-P2qp1vvxkcgFM6l_mLDnm0Q?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social by @jamestheballadeer

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6 days ago

Well, I did not see this coming in my storied writing and freelance career. Proud to say that I am teaming up with Ottawa’s Village Legacy Project historian Glenn Crawford for the @canpridehistory Oct. 16-17 virtual conference.

We will host a presentation, Queer Ottawa at Night: A look at the History of Ottawa’s Gay Village at Pride History in Canada, on Sat., Oct. 17, 3:40pm Ottawa time.

Thank you for this opportunity, Canadian Pride Historical Society.

Please note, @ariel4somersetward, @martycarrottawa, @cmckenneyndp,
@maxottawa.ca,
@hartsgrovegeorge, @tspub_ottawa.

Register at;
https://events.zoom.us/ev/Auveyy8ZtSjAEcgLWAKurjwTxg5Ap3R60Pdcb9QWHeOe7E5X0388~AsryrsfDap2vqWIpLRrLccFtqqD8a9Kkdx3GR7fEa0e0T0In4tAk8AJktj6qXt_Lif-P2qp1vvxkcgFM6l_mLDnm0Q?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social

Since 2003, Glenn Crawford is a self-employed graphic/Web designer [www.JackOfAllTradesDesign.com]. Previous work experience includes retail, education, and journalism, among other professions. His advocacy to designate a section of Bank Street as Ottawa’s queer Village led to being named the 2007 Community Activist of the Year and the grand marshal of the 2010 @fiertecappride In 2015, he became the researcher/developer of the Village Legacy Project, which documents local queer history through a Web site and public art along Bank Street. As an authority on the topic, he’s conducted several speaking engagements and created several documentaries for the Project.

James K. Moran is a writer of many bi lines. His speculative fiction and poetry have appeared in Burly Tales: Finally Fairy Tales for the Hirsute and Hefty Gay Man, Bywords, Glitterwolf, On Spec, and elsewhere. Moran’s collection Fear Itself and small-town Canada horror novel Town & Train were published by Lethe Press. For over 15 years, he was a freelance contributor for @xtramagazine (née Capital Xtra!). Moran agonizes—or, rather, writes—across the genres about grief, love, nomadic superheroes and drag-queen warlocks. His reviews appear in @arcpoetrymag, @plenitudemagazine and @strangehorizonsmag. Findable at jameskmoran.blogspot.ca & jamestheballadeer.bsky.social on Bluesky. by @jamestheballadeer

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10 days ago

Well, I did not see this coming in my writing and freelance career. Proud to say that I am teaming up with graphic/Web designer and Ottawa’s Village Legacy Project historian Glenn Crawford for the Canadian Pride Historical Society Oct. 16 and 17 virtual conference.

We will host a presentation, Queer Ottawa at Night: A look at the History of Ottawa’s Gay Village at Pride History in Canada, on Sat., Oct. 17, 3:40pm Ottawa time.

Thank you for this opportunity, Canadian Pride Historical Society.

Registration the link in the bio is now OPEN! Hit Connect and Conference 2026.
Since 2003, Glenn Crawford is a self-employed graphic/Web designer [www.JackOfAllTradesDesign.com]. Previous work experience includes retail, education, and journalism, among other professions. His advocacy to designate a section of Bank Street as Ottawa’s queer Village led to being named the 2007 Community Activist of the Year and the grand marshal of the 2010 Capital Pride parade. In 2015, he became the researcher/developer of the Village Legacy Project, which documents local queer history through a Web site and public art along Bank Street. As an authority on the topic, he’s conducted several speaking engagements and created several documentaries for the Project.

James K. Moran is a writer of many bi lines. His speculative fiction and poetry have appeared in Burly Tales: Finally Fairy Tales for the Hirsute and Hefty Gay Man, Bywords, Glitterwolf, On Spec, and elsewhere. Moran’s collection Fear Itself and small-town Canada horror novel Town & Train were published by Lethe Press. For over 15 years, he was a freelance contributor for Xtra Magazine (née Capital Xtra!). Moran agonizes—or, rather, writes—across the genres about grief, love, nomadic superheroes and drag-queen warlocks. His reviews appear in Arc Poetry Magazine, Plenitude: your queer literary magazine and Strange Horizons. Findable at jameskmoran.blogspot.ca, jamestheballadeer.bsky.social on Bluesky and jamestheballadeer on Instagram. Moran lives in Ottawa, on the unceded territory of the Anishinaabe Algonquin Nation.. by @jamestheballadeer

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10 days ago

by @jamestheballadeer

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10 days ago

Took in fab @tototootheatre's musical, Jagged Little Pill, from American novelist/screenwriter/producer Diablo Cody's book.

Hadn't been to the @gctclive
in years, since covering local arts as a longtime (about 15 years) @xtramagazine freelancer, at its previous patch. The GCTC is a well-put-together venue with excellent theatre seating.

Did indeed enjoy the play. Initially, though, and in the first act, minor audio glitches made some players' singing difficult to discern.

However, when Jagged Little Pill shifted from its theme of unfocussed suburban malaise to a theme of reacting to sexual assault, the tide turned, with superb dancing, choreography, and stellar performances from main players.

Some standouts include Stefania Wheelhouse as self-medicated mom Mary Jane "MJ" Healey, the familiar (to me, at least) @exhibit.amott as alienated workaholic dad Steve Healy, @kayvukelic as the droit-d'honneur-toting maybe girlfriend Jo, @salemavalentine as angst-ridden maybe boyfriend Phoenix and astonishing everyperson Maggie Paquette as Ensemble/Lily/Courtney/Dr. Gardner/Swing. Some great bi rep in this one, toi, kiddies, in the protagonist Frankie Healy, which @miss_mcleod plays with bi-disaster aplomb.

The cast, crew and orchestra overcome all obstacles, availing well of themselves, earning a packed-house standing ovation on its closing-night performance. by @jamestheballadeer

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15 days ago