Dreading the switch away from Google? I've been experimenting for a couple of months. My main takeaway: Take your time. Switch one product, then another. This stuff is ingrained in our lives and it can be a grating experience to move away from them. Here's some alternatives that work for me:

You know all those articles advising readers to buy from brick and mortar because online books could be AI slop? To my great shame, I gifted a book for Christmas last year that had an AI cover. I know the author personally, heard him read a chapter of his debut novel and decided to buy. 1/3

POV: The MC is smuggling a little kid across dystopian theme park Mageland, commenting on how to the kid Mageland must seem like it has always been there, when she knows it was built less than thirty years ago. Full story on itch: sharkiatwrites.itch.io/gray-geese #snippet #booksky #writesky

Hey, the English isn't even my 1st language bundle is really close to reaching its goal! Don't miss out on all these books from authors whose 1st language isn't English!

Have you checked out the Dracula's anniversary bundle yet? So many great bloody works for only $25!

Happy book birthday!!

Yes! The #OliveArtClub strikes again! Definitely check out all the other participants, this is such an amazing outpouring of creativity and all different art styles. Mine is digital art, done in Clip Studio Paint. Those leaves were trouble!

I just applied for copyright for the vampire book! The three amazing readers who applied for an #ARC should be hearing from me soon. (Psst: If you like vampires, and epic fantasy, and lots of spooky monsters, you are missing out. Apply for an ARC immediately: tally.so/r/KYD9j8)

Friends, at this point I'm almost afraid to tell you that the signups for the Summerween Bundle are open for 2 more weeks. tally.so/r/xX9xzJ We have 31 submissions so far, a good mix of books and games. If you're excited for this bundle, mark your calendars. It will go live July 1st. 💙📚📦

The English isn't even my first language bundle is still available this week, featuring 15 authors with first languages ranging from Italian, German, Czech, Malayalam, Dutch, Maltese, to Brazilian Portuguese, and Mandarin. itch.io/b/3658/engli... 💙📚📦

Thread.

I have a new short story on itch. It's pay what you want, donations optional, but always appreciated. The story was originally published in Toad Shine Zine, under the theme dystopian theme parks, so if you like my story, consider getting the whole of issue #3. sharkiatwrites.itch.io/gray-geese 📚💙

Okay, I need suggestions for indie books with books on the cover. I'm drawing a blank. Gen- AI NOT welcome, but give me all other indie suggestions! #indieauthors #readindie #booksky

Now also available on itch! devan-barlow.itch.io/sting-of-the...

The Farm at the End of the World by @stevewestenra.bsky.social Forever Night by @tessahastjarjanto.com Blade of Castrial by @ormakal.bsky.social Carry On by A. Winchester Path of the Crescent Moon by Isa Ottoni

Not Yours to Save @joharraharper.bsky.social Demon Marked @katkinneywrites.bsky.social Rotten Roots @sharkiatwrites.bsky.social Tower of Memories @alyssalouttit.bsky.social The Shoreline @harperac.bsky.social Undergrounder @jaeeglass.bsky.social The Neglected @rebeccaamissauthor.bsky.social

I have a new short story on itch. It's pay what you want, donations optional, but always appreciated. The story was originally published in Toad Shine Zine, under the theme dystopian theme parks, so if you like my story, consider getting the whole of issue #3. sharkiatwrites.itch.io/gray-geese 📚💙

Horror creators, there's still spots open for June if you have a project you would like featured in the #SpookySpotlight!

I'm looking for ARC-readers for my upcoming vampire novel. Free ebook in exchange for an honest review. Sign up if you like: 🦇epic fantasy with a vampire MC 🦇calculating witches, scary monsters & cute spirits 🦇multiple POVs 🦇war, betrayal, & complicated family dynamics tally.so/r/KYD9j8 💙📚🪐 🩸📚💀

Joining the Olive art club. I've been been experimenting with a more penciled look in Clip Studio Paint lately. #OliveArt

Lazy afternoon drinking coffee, listening to Japanese music, texting with my mom about all the thoughts that go into cover art. (She's confused why I drew my black-haired MC with red-looking hair. In my defense, it's a very red color scheme.)

Have you checked out the English isn't even my 1st language bundle yet on Itch?

Happy Sunday! Just spotted this perfect dandelion in my garden this morning. #bloomscrolling

I'm looking for ARC-readers for my upcoming vampire novel. Free ebook in exchange for an honest review. Sign up if you like: 🦇epic fantasy with a vampire MC 🦇calculating witches, scary monsters & cute spirits 🦇multiple POVs 🦇war, betrayal, & complicated family dynamics tally.so/r/KYD9j8 💙📚🪐 🩸📚💀

Come join the Read Indie Server where we talk about indie books, indie writing, soup, and dont actually care what channel anyone is in 😂

Horror creators, there's still spots open for June if you have a project you would like featured in the #SpookySpotlight!

does ANYBODY need 650 fonts? no, obviously not am i buying 650 fonts? yes, obviously so *swims with Rob in our fonts*

If you're familiar with the concept of cruft, which comes from programming and means useless, superfluous things, I thought I'd share my list of cruft words I check all my manuscripts for. Most of you authors probably have something similar, but maybe it's helpful for the newbies? #writing

Reminds me of the first time I watched the ending of Neon Genesis Evangelion, the original anime. I loved that show (still do), but I was way too young to watch it and the ending confused the hell out of me. Crucially though, it became a lesson in storytelling. 1/2

You know why I write in English instead of my first language, German? Because when I was about 12, and desperately craving English-language Fantasy books, my mom picked out the Chronicles of Earthsea by Ursula K. LeGuin. 1/3

It's been a while since I've done one of these. This one is a Mexican Orange Blossom that sees no issues growing in Germany. Smells amazing and I guess the June bug likes it, too. What's growing in your garden/on your balcony/on your windowsill? #bloomscrolling

If you haven't seen it yet, there's still plenty of time to join. 💙📚📦

Hi, friends! I need beta readers for book 4 of my series! Looking at a last week of May/first week of June timeline. #kidlit, #spooky

Books I read in April and can recommend by: @premeemohamed.com @sonorataylor.bsky.social @matthewtpritt.bsky.social @mkhardywrites.com @karenlykkebo.com @sharkiatwrites.bsky.social Check alt text for author and title info. My full reviews are available here: www.helenwhistberry.com/blog

I'm looking for stories, games, etc. with a spooky, mysterious, eerie vibe for the #Summerween Bundle. Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Horror are all welcome. Bonus brownie points for anything set in a warm location or during a vacation. The bundle will run July 1st-28th. Signups here: tally.so/r/xX9xzJ

You can get my beautiful collection of illustrated short stories, When Your Heart is a Broken Thing, as part of this wonderful bundle celebrating shorter tales, but today is the last day!

Following on from our spotlight, we've also read and reviewed The Erstwhile Tyler Kyle by @stevewestenra.bsky.social! A queer comedy horror that knows exactly what it is and has a lot of fun with it. www.readindiefantasy.com/book-review-...

Can I get just ONE more sale to hit 20 on Amazon for #IndieApril? 🙏🏻 www.alankdell.co.uk/books 💙📚🪐

Also, those little tricks the dead bird app taught you? -Famous writer quotes -Only ever asking writerly questions, but not engaging with the answers Forget about them. There is no algorithm. Worry about what people may actually want to see. And what might bore them.

Blergh. In the 90s, smoking was still allowed in restaurants here. Every time my family went out for dinner we had to air out our jackets on the balcony for days to get rid of the stench. Not to mention you could barely taste your food with people from neighboring tables blowing smoke in your face.

📢 Only 36 more hours to get a great deal on 30 Awesome Short Stories! itch.io/b/3623/the-a...

We're getting down to the last few days of the short story spotlight bundle on Itch! That is SO MANY short stories for $20!!

A big THANK YOU to all who supported the Ghost Stories bundle. We nearly hit our goal, and I hope the ghost fans among you found a bunch of new books to read, games to play, and creators to follow.

So, since I just got asked how one gets a #SpookySpotlight, I'm guessing some of you have horror books, games, etc. that could use a bit of extra attention. I'm opening signups for June: forms.gle/5cM2xK4KCpSe... Absolutely would love to showcase some art as well if you've got it. 🩸📚💀

Mini #SpookySpotlight: Rotten Roots by Susanne Schmidt Graveyard Keeper Sven and his ghost dog Fi set out to investigate why the faces of the dead are suddenly sprouting from the trees in their smalltown cemetery. A haunted late-summer night's dream. itch.io/b/3601/ghost... 📦📚💙 💀📚🩸

Mini #SpookySpotlight: Black Masquerade by @writertudor.bsky.social 1929. Barbara’s engagement party should filled with booze, good food & friends. But when a spectre of future horrors arrives, her friends get branded by terrible fates. It's on Barbara to stop it. itch.io/b/3601/ghost... 📦📚💙 💀📚🩸

Mini #SpookySpotlight: Gleam by Victoria Audley A gothic Cinderella retelling. Sent from her home to her stepfather's abandoned manor, Beatrice is haunted by spirits and helplessness. But Beatrice is not as easily defeated as her stepfather hopes. itch.io/b/3601/ghost... 📦📚💙 💀📚🩸

📢Today is your absolute last chance to get the Ghost Bundle! It will vanish into the afterlife in just 7 hours. 👻👻👻 itch.io/b/3601/ghost... Thank you to all who have contributed. We've reached at 80% of our goal. 💙📚📦 💀📚🩸

Only 36 hours left on the Ghost Stories bundle! Snatch it up now and get: - 4 video games - 1 TTRPG - 2 writing games - 13 novels All for just $10 ($15 if you're feeling generous) We're at 62% of our goal, help us across the finish line: itch.io/b/3601/ghost...

Progress on the #Draft2Digital front: I've delisted Rotten Roots, because I want to try out #Kobo, and #XinXii (distributes to B&N, Apple & Google Books AND is EU-based). Still, if you can, help me out with Smashwords before I have to buy my own books to be able to withdraw my royalties. 📚💙