Steve Ammidown

@stegan.bsky.social

6491 Followers 1071 Following

Vivant (sans bon). Archivist-for-hire, romance novel historian, freelance writer about romance history. Every story deserves to be heard. He/Him. Blog: romancehistory.com Podcast: blackromancehistory.com

Garden of Hosta plants with a green and white metal sign that reads “Hostas of The Year”.
Screenshot reads: “ROMANCE WORLD, 929 E. Main St., El Cajon When bookseller Don Shultz opened Romance World six years ago, it was the only store of its kind in the nation, according to Romantic Times magazine. Today, clients all across the county --and country -- buy and trade its mostly used stock of about 30,000 romance novels. In the tiny store in a strip mall just east of the intersection of Main and Mollison, paperback titles, grouped by imprint or author, fill floor-to-ceiling shelves. Current titles beckon from a center display and a token "Men's Corner" of science fiction and thrillers is tucked in the back. What's hot? "Paranormal romances," said manager Rita Cope. "I have seven or eight shelves of them, and as fast as I fill them, they go out."
Image of Rodri about to lift the World Cup trophy in front of his ecstatic teammates and coach. No extraneous political figures are visible.
Screenshot reads “424 - Hazardous Air quality index is 424, which is similar to yesterday at about this time.”
Screenshot reads: “421 - Hazardous Air quality index is 421, which is worse than yesterday at about this time.”
Cover of “Wild Rain” by Beverly Jenkins. A Black man and woman embrace in a field as a dazzling sunset happens behind them. She is in a white button down shirt that is falling off her shoulder, and tan riding pants. He is also in a white button down shirt falling off his shoulder, with black pants. She has a long dark braid down her back, he is bald.
Two paperbacks on a green corduroy fabric.
Titus Kaphar WATCHING TIDES RISE Oil and tar on canvas, 2012 The 2019 TMA Board of Directors recognizes this work in honor of Director Brian Kennedy and his efforts to both develop strengths and expand directions in the permanent collection. Purchased with funds from the Libbey Endowment, Gift of Edward Drummond Libbey, 2018.25 Titus Kaphar's art challenges established art history and who it represents. Kaphar begins his works by either copying or recreating a painting in the style of 17th- to 19th-century American and European masters. He then stages interventions directly on the canvas by tarring, slashing, silhouetting, whitewashing, or erasing parts of his paintings to introduce new and hidden narratives, exposing the racial exclusions and inequities in our constructed stories of the past. In this epic seascape in the tradition of early 19th-century American and 17th-century Dutch marine painting (see Willem van de Velde's Ships on a Stormy Sea in this galley), the wind propels a six-sailed ship toward the viewer. The painted illusion, however, is literally folding in on itself. The canvas has been removed from the stretcher in the upper left corner, exposing the blank wall. Kaphar has also coated the lower portion of his painting in tar, an evocative material he has used in a variety of ways in his works, including to conceal and to emphasize. These interventions disrupt the illusion both in Kaphar's seascape and in the telling of history itself from a primarily white, male, Eurocentric perspective. What connections between song and painting do you find?
Plain tan book cover with text “Unpopular Opinions- Twenty-one Essays- by Dorothy L. Sayers”
Black and white photo by Monte Fresco of footballer Vinnie Jones reaching back and grabbing Paul Gascoine by the crotch. Jones looks furious. Gaza looks um, surprised? Added text next to Jones that reads “What we want from Democrats” and text next to Gascoine that reads “What we keep getting”.
Screenshot reads: “Last Monday, America's Test Kitchen decimated its staff, laying off at least 10% of employees— both union and non-union. More than 20 people from nearly every department and level of seniority were let go. Some had served the company for decades; with them went irreplaceable institutional knowledge, honed skill, and heart that can never be regained. We are devastated at the loss of our brilliant, talented colleagues, and we will channel that grief and anger into our next contract. The union is here to support one another in good times and bad. Get involved.”
A black masking tape dispenser, similar to a regular tape dispenser, with a cup in the back to hold two sharpie pens.
Cover of The Midas Touch by Katherine Kendall. The couple is on a boat in a tight embrace. The blonde woman in a yellow one piece has one hand wrapped around the back of his head and the other around his back. The mustachioed dark haired man is shirtless and has one hand around her back and the other gripping her right shoulder hard, for some reason? It’s a lot.
Cover of Wishtree by Katherine Applegate. We are looking at the lower trunk of a red oak tree in pale moonlight. Bits of cloth are tied around many of its branches. A crow, owl and possum can be seen in its branches.
Image from digital weather station where the temperature reads -0.6 degrees.
Cover of the Spaceballs novelization, with a flying RV zooming across the cover. Text reads: “SPACEBALLS: THE BOOK A novelization by Jovial Bob Stine. Based on the screeplay written by Mel Brooks & Thomas Meehan & Ronny Graham”
A black cat stretched luxuriously out on my legs.
Kier Starmer standing at a podium. Closed caption reads “there's a famous slogan in the United Kingdom”
Image of recipe from an old PET Milk cookbook. It reads: Cranberry Slaw — 1. Put into bowl and mash 1/3 cup white cream cheese (3 ounces), 1 teaspoon salt, a few grains pepper. 2. Stir in gradually 1/3 cup PET Milk. 3. Add one tablespoon vinegar. 4. Beat until smooth. Chill. 5. At serving time, wash, then dry on towel 1/2 cup fresh cranberries. 6. Chop, or run through medium knife of food chopper. 7. Fold into mixture of 2 cups chilled, shredded cabbage and 1/2 cup chilled, diced celery. 8. Mix thoroughly with chilled dressing. Serve at once. Serves four. *Diced fresh apple can replace the celery.
The book is called FAFO WOLVES WHISPERING PINES MEMORIAL GROVE PARANORMAL FATED ROMANCE By KC WILDE But that’s only part of the story. The cover has an American flag background with photographs of four humans and three wolves. The wolves are furthest back and are, from left to right: black, white/grey, and brownish. There is then a tanned white man with dark hair and blue shirt unbuttoned. A woman in a black and white suit is in front of him. She has dark hair and slightly darker skin. To her left/our right is a blonde white woman in what might be a firefighter jacket. On the far right of the cover is another tanned white man who might be a sheriff, judging by his short sleeve khaki shirt with a radio pinned to the front.
Pope Leo holding a mic like he’s singing a breakup song three drinks in at karaoke.
Entry from The Romantic Spirit: PERRY, Michalann <hr> (Megan Blythe) Defiant Splendor Fortune's Choice Lakota Trilogy: Untamed Surrender Captive Surrender Savage Rogue Love's Windswept Embrace Rapture's Deception
Beverly Jenkins standing at the front of a room of readers.
Still image of Keith from Try Guys looking thoughtfully into the camera, with subtitles that read “- He's got a nice big butt. - He's got a juicy big butt?”
A black cat half rolled onto her back while sleeping. Her chin is poking out at the top of frame. She is reposed on a light green corduroy fabric ottoman.
Book cover featuring an image of an ereader with a badly cracked screen. Text reads “INEQUALITIES OF PLATFORM PUBLISHING THE PROMISE AND PERIL OF SELF-PUBLISHING IN THE DIGITAL BOOK ERA CLAIRE PARNELL”
Sketch of a grey Hollinger records box with orange and yellow flames coming out of the top.
A square metal pan sitting on tin foil, filled with caramely gooiness and covered with a golden brown crumble.
A white man with brown hair and glasses, wearing a “Cat Dad” t-shirt. He shares five books that legendary romance editor Vivian Stephens played a role in.
Image of Jennifer Coolidge, a blonde haired white woman, in a black dress, with closed caption text appearing over her face.
A rectangular golden brown loaf of focaccia sitting on a cooling rack on a counter.
Screenshot of tweet from Mike Birbiglia: “The Boston accent wasn't designed to say the words "parmesan peppercorn."” Dated Oct 11, 2014
A numbered list of questions that reads: “Music Ask 1. A song you like with a color in the title 2. A song you like with a number in the title 3. A song that reminds you of summertime 4. A song that reminds you of someone you would rather forget about 5. A song that needs to be played LOUD 6. A song that makes you want to dance 7. A song to drive to 8. A song about drugs or alcohol 9. A song that makes you happy 10. A song that makes you sad 11. A song that you never get tired of 12. A song from your preteen years 13. One of your favorite 80s songs 14. A song that you would love played at your wedding 15. A song that is a cover by another artist 16. One of your favorite classical songs 17. A song that would sing a duet with on karaoke 18. A song from the year that you were born 19. A song that makes you think about life 20. A song that has many meanings to you 21. A favorite song with a person's name in the title 22. A song that moves you forward 23. A song that you think everybody should listen to 24. A song by a band you wish were still together 25. A song by an artist no longer living 26. A song that makes you want to fall in love 27. A song that breaks your heart 28. A song by an artist with a voice that you love 29. A song that you remember from your childhood 30. A song that reminds you of yourself”
Baking tray covered with foil that has tomatillos, poblanos, and red onion.
Image of Valterri Bottas in a black Cadillac racing suit with his fists up at his shoulders like he’s either celebrating or promoting an old timey boxing bout.
Storefront of Rita’s Italian Ice in Toledo. Under the Rita’s logo it says “ice-custard-happiness”. A blue sky with puffy clouds can be seen behind the store.
A romance novel from 1979. Cover text reads “A Candlelight Ecstasy Romance GENTLE PIRATE Jayne Castle” The cover has a gold edge and white background. There is a cameo style image in the middle of a dark haired man in a white dress shirt and red tie holding a blond woman tight and pressing his lips against her cheek in a way that is both creepy and weird. She is looking towards the reader with eyes closed and lips parted in a sort of passionate gasp?
Screenshot of skeet from "RubinRubin": "Reply to you I'm sure the romance genre research you did led you to this brilliant conclusion"
Video looking down at the shore of Lake Huron as the water laps gently over the many small pebbles.
Looking out from the Michigan shore of Lake Huron on a sunny morning. A few wispy clouds are in the sky, and stones are visible through gentle waves in the clear blue water.
Screenshot of skeet that reads: A Delina_doll @delinadoll.bs... Reply to you You could use a bit of masculinity. It might help define your jawline.
A crude diagram showing a leg stuck underneath the wait and of a kilt.
Top right corner of Kroger magazine. It reads “Best-customer bonus” in white text on a sky blue background.
(8) "Organization" means both of the following: (a) A commercial establishment that, for any form of consideration, has as a significant or substantial portion of its stock-in-trade in, derives a significant or substantial portion of its revenues from, devotes a significant or substantial portion of its content or advertising to, or maintains a substantial section of its sales or online content display space for the sale, rental, or viewing of materials that are obscene or harmful to juveniles; (b) A commercial establishment as defined in section 2907.38 of the Revised Code. An establishment may have other principal business purposes that do not involve selling, delivering, furnishing, disseminating, providing, exhibiting, or presenting any material or performance that is obscene or harmful to juveniles on the internet and still be categorized as an organization subject to this section. The existence of other principal business purposes does not exempt an establishment from being categorized as an organization subject to this section, so long as one of its principal business purposes involves selling, delivering, furnishing, disseminating, providing, exhibiting, or presenting any material or performance that is obscene or harmful to juveniles on the internet.
A deep blue wooden square sits on top of two metal sawhorses on a cement garage floor.
Screenshot of skeet. It reads: “Manisha Sinha @profmsinha.bsky.social 100% I have never watched reality tv shows do not understand the kind of people who do, probably the kind that watched a failing businessman on TV and made him the Dictator of the United States.”
A bingo square that reads “A Why Choose Romance”
A small square sketchbook page with the words “AI IS THEFT” written in thick block letters. “AI” is colored in a green and yellow hombre. “IS” is solid black. “THEFT” is colored in blue and pinkish hombre. A red umbilical cord links each letter to an unseen original work off the edge of the page.
A rainbow Pride flag in a glass frame on a white wall. The description identifies it as a Gilbert Baker creation and provides the meaning of each color: Pink = sex Red = life Orange = healing Yellow = sunlight Green = nature Turquoise = magic (later, art) Indigo = serenity Violet = spirit
Image from the show Arrested Development of a blue and white pickup truck with a staircase on the back, similar to what was once used at airports. It says “Bluth Company” on the side in two locations.
Three large pink peonies in a vase in front of a mirror. The nose of a blue Williams F1 Lego car can be seen at the bottom left.
White text on a red background with the faint silhouette of Liverpool city hall. Text reads: A police press conference has just ended in Liverpool. Twenty-seven football fans were taken to hospital, after a vehicle crashed into a crowd. Agonizingly, four of the injured are children. Two of the patients are seriously injured, according to authorities. Extensive investigations are ongoing but a 53-year-old white British man is in police custody. Police are treating it as an isolated incident, not terrorism. Authorities urged the public not to speculate, spread misinformation, or share clips of the horror on social media. What we do know is that a footballing family event which was an affirmation of life, has now been scarred by horror. Scenes of collective celebration turned to chaos, destruction, and trauma. The greatest party for thousands of football fans turned to darkness. Liverpool is a strong, proud city. A place of true togetherness and mutual support. We wish all there strength, and resilience in this moment of challenge which is too much to process. All we can do now is pray for those who are injured, and send our strength and love. You'll Never Walk Alone.
A pink shrink wrapped board game box sits on a white table. The center of the box cover is a Regency era scene of a blonde woman in a green dress falling into the arms of a dark-haired man in a tuxedo. The text on the box reads: “BARBARA CARTLAND A ROMANCE BOARDGAME BASED ON THE ROMANCES OF BARBARA CARTLAND ©Barbara Cardand 1984. All Rights Reserved. Published by Mayfair Games TM FOR 1 OR MORE PLAYERS AGES 12 TO ADULT”
A black and white newspaper picture from 1966 of a woman in ice hockey goalie gear. She has short brown hair and is staring off camera intently, ready to make a save. Her hockey jersey seems to say “Olympic”. She is wearing white figure skates under her pads.
Andre 3000 wearing a dark blue jumpsuit with a small umbrella print. The jumpsuit has zippers from his feet to his neck. He is wearing a red beret and dark rimmed glasses. He is carrying a black Hefty stretch bag. He has a sizeable baby grand piano on his back attached to his body by white cross-body straps. His shoes are black patent leather. He is making a “hang ten” sign (or ASL y) with his left hand.