Happy #SummerofStories 21! I have attended WriteHive twice, as an attendee and as a panelist. It's a virtual conference, which is nice because most of the panels are recorded and saved so you can watch later, but I don't think I got as much of the networking as I might have for an in-person.

Happy #AwesomeCharacters! I tend toward multiple sub-antagonists, with a main arch-antagonist. (The Buffy influence allegations...) For example, in EYES SHINE SILVER, Lionel Price is a cult leader and big bad. But we also have dangerous ex girlfriend, creepy priest, and dick dad to contend with!

No exceptions. If you use Gen A I in any capacity whatsoever, you suck. Yes, the way you're using it too. You're not special. "She probably doesn't mean me" I do.

Happy #SummerofStories 20! I'm extremely fortunate to have a lot of IRL supportive friends & family who beta read & design covers for my book ( @kitschmyarts.bsky.social for more gorgeous art!) I'm also incredibly grateful for the online community I've found on Bluesky & elsewhere!!

Happy #SummerofStories 18! Despite aggressively hanging my hat on horror, I've always been a Fantasy girlie. I grew up on Tanith Lee, Brian Jacques, Bruce Coville, Eva Ibbotson, Patricia C. Wrede. Not to get too neurospicy on main, but fantasy elements felt more real to me than other stories. 1/6

Happy #AwesomeCharacters! Edie, unfortunately, very much has "foot in mouth" disease. She gets the bluntness from her mother, and the awkwardness from her father 😭

I'm on a mini writing break, but finishing my RETURN TO BLUDEYE BEACH draft has been thinking about future designs 😂

Happy #SummerofStories 17! For BLUDEYE BEACH, I always wanted Edie to be someone who was fully out of her depth; she hates scary stories, and there isn't anything inherently special about her - no powers, no special skills. All she can do is her best to deal with the weird shit happening to her 🤷‍♂️

Finished the word count massacre draft of Return to Bludeye Beach!! 🎆👁️🐈 I feel really good about this draft, and the line edits I was able to make ❤️ (I'm also being so brave about the last two chapters not hitting the arbitrary word count goal since I went well over in the total cut)

Snag this book! I just did! I was lucky enough to ARC this one and it's a real fun read with a fantastic voice and lovely cast. Hope has written something truly wonderful that will keep you turning pages. ❤️🔥🔥🔥

Getting close to the end of this RETURN TO BLUDEYE BEACH draft; I know I've shared pieces of this scene before, but it's definitely hitting me particularly hard this go-through.

I'm excited to announce that signed and unsigned copies of THE DEVOURING are available at The Crafty Bookstore, an online indie bookstore with a focus on supporting indie authors. Check them out and get your copy today! #BookSky 💙📚 #WritingCommunity www.thecraftybookstore.com/product-page...

Happy #SummerofStories 16! I haven't seen Widow's Bay yet, but I'm pretty sure I should pre-emptively use that as a comp for BLUDEYE BEACH 😂 Other than that, my go-to comps are Gravity Falls x Buffy the Vampire Slayer x Stardew Valley 😂

Happy #AwesomeCharacters! In BLUDEYE BEACH, for Edie, Milo always makes her feel safe ❤️

THE GODS OF ATALANTIS by @professoremily.bsky.social features two of the cutest MCs we've ever seen! Have you had a chance to meet Kena & Mireia? You can find a copy of Emily's book here: books2read.com/b/bP21wz #thegodsofatalantis #hqpress #indiewriters

A little update on why I've been busy lately! The Gheist family is getting bigger, four paws at a time. But which four paws? #catsky #newkitten #catsofbluesky

The sky has been consistently dark amber all morning, because of the fires going on in Canada - and I'm all the way down in upstate NY. Stay safe, everyone 💔

Happy #SummerofStories 15! It depends on the block. For me, water is my thinking space, and a hot shower (or swim or soak) is an A+++ way to get my brain problem-solving. If the block is closer to burnout, do anything that's not writing. Look at art. Read. Watch movies. You have to fill your cup ☺️

Thanks so much to @cmrosens.com for this kind review! Interested readers can check out the first two chapters of THE DEVOURING for free on my website, and purchase a copy from most major book retailers. amshilling.com/books/the-devouring #BookSky #WritingCommunity #IndieBooks

I am 3/4 of the way through this RETURN TO BLUDEYE BEACH draft, and I've passed the 5k word cut goal for the manuscript! Of course, the word cut goals are just an excuse to clean up language and line edits, but the numbers are making my brain go brrrr

Happy #SummerofStories 14! It usually starts with a simple little moment or concept, and then I start asking questions around it. For example, BLUDEYE started with the idea of a girl returning to a place where there was someone she used to love. (Most of these core concepts are romance-based 😂)

Turn off this Meta setting before someone generates AI images of you On July 7, Meta launched its AI image generation model, Muse Image. It integrates with public Instagram accounts. www.malwarebytes.com/blog/ai/2026...

THE DEVOURING An adult cosmic horror thriller novel about the monsters we choose. For fans of Lovecraftian mythos, John Wick-style action, and married villain protagonists. Read a free sample at amshilling.com/books/the-de... and get your copy today! #Bluepit #📖 #P #A #H

I laughed so hard 😂😂 I need this book on my shelf!!!

ROSE OF VERSAILLES ⚔️ LEGO BATMAN Swishy petticoat breeches. 1000 yards of ribbon. Giant hat. Finally, 15-year-old Alexander shines as the flashy nobleman he is inside… Just in time to meet what darkness lives on the underside of that very masculinity. #YA / #A #LGBT #TR #OV #HS #HU #BluePit #📖 #Q

Last-minute reminder that I get to be a panelist for WriteHive 2026, chatting about small presses and trying to rep @HookandQuillPress.com 💖 there are tons of great panels going on this year, hope to see you there! writehive.org #writingcommunity #writesky #writehive2026

Attack #5 for Mylo! 🎭

Attack #4: Togo for Vivid_47🎈

Attack #3: Pyper for Ogoeatarock 🎭 4" x 4" Acrylic on Canvas Board ...may or may not have gone and splurged on a few more POSCAs as a direct result of this silly game xD

Attack #2: Sunny Daze for 100bugs 🎈 4" x 4" Acrylic on Canvas board I wonder if there are canvas boards out there with a bit less intense of a texture... Might be I just need to photograph these from further away

I'm biased, but this line literally came to me in a dream 😂😂

Happy #SummerofStories 9! In all my writing, Kelly Thorne is truly the most exquisitely dressed ❤️🖤

Have you booked your vacation to BLUDEYE BEACH? Surely, this isn't a bad sign for Edie & Milo! You can grab a copy of this book by @eliwoodsgheist.bsky.social here: books2read.com/u/4AVPAp #indiewriter #indiepublishing #booksky

Happy #SummerofStories 8! Very succinctly: I don't like inferior software code determining how I live my life 😂

STRANGE 👽 SURREAL 👽 SHOCKING 👽 BEAUTIFUL Apex Magazine is OPEN TO SUBMISSIONS for the month of July! We're seeking short spec fic up to 9k words. Closing August 1st, reopening in September and November. We can't wait to read your work! 🖤 Submit here: apexbookcompany.moksha.io/publication/...

Happy #AwesomeCharacters! My untitled, unwritten WIP that is still percolating in the back of my head is technically all new characters 😂 the three main characters will be a witch named Ivy, her 16 year old daughter, Summer, and a late-thirties prince named Merric. I've got big plans for them 😄

ICYMI: I'm going to be a panelist for the online writing conference, WriteHive! There are tons of terrific talks going on, but you can also come hear me try to sound like I know what I'm talking about as I try to rep @hookandquillpress.com 😂 Website: writehive.org #writingcommunity

Happy #SummerofStories 7! Ever since @annawwrites.bsky.social coined the term, I consider myself a mapper 😂 I start with strong character ideas and rough plot ideas, and then most of my book prep is worldbuilding the stage I set everything on, whether it's high fantasy or more contemporary. 1/3

Happy #SummerofStories 6! I'm worried this is going to sound really conceited, but writing itself isn't very difficult for me - it *is* a lot of work that requires a lot of patience, time, and planning. And probably the biggest obstacle to that are periods of burnout. (1/3)

Tragically, I didn't have the camera ready when my dog Billy wrapped his leash around the table and then tried to jump onto the couch. So I tried to render said event in the best way I could* *this isn't the most realistic portrayal, but I guarantee the emotional accuracy is 100%

I am very fortunate to have very strong support network. My husband, friends, and family have all given me a lot, and shown up for me in incredible ways ❤️

Happy #SummerofStory 4! Most of my goosebumpy & epic scenes are too spoilery, but I love this moment in EYES SHINE SILVER. It's technically a breath between two epic moments during the climax, but Luke makes a life-changing realization and decision.

Happy #AwesomeCharacters! In BLUDEYE BEACH, for *max* hijinks, I think the identical twins Alexandra and Sandy would have to switch bodies 😂 especially after book 3, for...Reasons. In EYES SHINE SILVER, i would bodyswap the chaotic Ramsey with her best friend's ex and high priestess, Mary Anne 🤣

A quick reminder for the #WritingCommunity — I will be a panelist at @writehive.bsky.social's free, digital conference for writers next weekend. Register today for an invite to the Discord server and join us on Saturday, July 11 for "A Few Strange Things: The World of an Unreliable Narrator"!

Happy #SummerofStories 3! Writing gives me a bigger sense of accomplishment and creation than almost any other activity I have. Weaving together a story and translating/processing my weird thoughts and emotions into something cohesive is extremely satisfying to me.

The RETURN TO BLUDEYE BEACH word massacre continues! I'm three chapters into this revision, and I've already cut over 1000 words from a planned 5k. It doesn't feel like I'm cutting all that much, but it all adds up! Hopefully this will result in a smoother read. #writingcommunity #editing

Have you checked out the HQP itch.io summer sale yet? All of our published work is 50% off, or you can grab two books & a zine for only $9 for a limited time! itch.io/s/190760/sum... #booksky #indiewriters

Happy #SummerofStories 2! I pretty much always lead with character, because most of the time, I'm writing *for* that character. (Hence my addiction to 3rd person limited.) I also tend to prefer a slow burn vs immediately jumping into action, though I try to start with at least some intrigue.

Just one of many reasons why we love Mireia at HQP 💖 Have you checked out THE GODS OF ATALANTIS by Emily Klotz? You can grab a copy here! books2read.com/b/bP21wz #indiewriters #hqpress #bookstagram

Happy #SummerofStories 1! I'm Eliwood, and I write horror/fantasy/romance, not always in that order 😂 Right now, I'm editing a 5th draft of RETURN TO BLUDEYE BEACH, the sequel to my published debut novel, BLUDEYE BEACH 😄 I don't have any promos for RETURN yet...I should change that 🤔 (1/2)