Christienna Fryar on her years as a competitive swimmer and the need for Black people to feel safe and welcomed at public swimming pools.

H.P. Lovecraft won't live in a world where there are boats that aren't the Mayflower.

Raised in a rustic house in the woods of North Carolina by parents who discouraged televisions and other such modern entertainments, Kendra Fortmeyer describes a “gorgeous childhood” complete with a story-telling grandfather who would type the tales she narrated to her dolls. Now a fiction editor for Broad! Magazine and recipient of an MFA from …

It takes a lot of work and a large dose of piety to turn your Avonlea home into a God-fearing sanctuary for orphans.

It's Kids In The Hall Mondays in spirit, but not in name.

The Toast presents a selection of delightful information in the form of a link roundup!

This week's Toast Points.

This week was the full feelings buffet. Remember, you can always come back for more: Celeste Ng called How to Make Yogurt in Manila by Grace Talusan ‘beautiful and moving’ (on the Twitter machine) so you don’t have to take our word for its awesomeness. “Things That Are Meant To Make You Feel Safe And …

"This is Berwhale. The avenger. The weapon of the Chosen One. Tomorrow is your twenty-fifth birthday and you must leave us to go in search of Pewnack."

"I stood in for a thousand ships and you hid behind and conducted them with your pinky finger until I was seduced or abducted (they are not so different)."

The Toast's weekly Friday open thread, hosted by The Bartender.

A profile of this week's writer on fire, Jess Zimmerman.

Erin Ashenhurst on concerts, Marilyn Manson, and adolescence.

The Butter presents a new short story by Terese Marie Mailhot.

Chew chew scream.