Two years ago, a forest burned, and an inescapable shadow was cast. Last week, my readers voted to get a tiny excerpt from my debut epic fantasy & MM romance novel, You Cannot Drown a Shadow, in this week’s Substack. Would be honored to hear your thoughts. 🌊🖤 open.substack.com/pub/alexluco...

At long last, it’s here. Last week, my readers voted to get a tiny excerpt from my debut epic fantasy & MM romance novel, You Cannot Drown a Shadow, in this week’s Substack. Would be honored to hear your thoughts. 🌊🖤 open.substack.com/pub/alexluco...

What’s it like to write the same book twice from scratch? ✍️ Are there beta reading opportunities for You Cannot Drown a Shadow? I answer these & more of your questions in my latest Substack article. substack.com/@alexluco/no...

Sometimes I like making moodboards for my characters 📖 This one’s for Iro, a water mage central to the plot of You Cannot Drown a Shadow, my debut epic fantasy/fantasy romance novel due for late 2026 release! 🌊 Guess you could say he’s the ultimate book boyfriend 🥰

🌊 Aquatic horror 🔮 Haunted artifacts that speak 💞 Best friends to lovers romance 🎸 Metal guitarist protagonist with a big attitude ⚔️🏳️‍🌈 For epic fantasy & BL lovers My debut novel You Cannot Drown a Shadow is expected for late 2026 release! Ask me anything about it! ⬇️

I am in perpetual awe of artists of the visual variety. 🎨 Musician and (soon to be) author here—I love working with you guys to bring my art to life and I wouldn’t have it any other way 🥹🥰

You Cannot Drown a Shadow 📖 In late 2026, the tides will rise to swallow you. 🎸 Musician protagonist 🌊 Aquatic horror ⚔️ Murder mystery 💞 Friends to lovers romance 🔮 A haunted, vengeful artifact 🩸 Sacrifices to the sea 🏳️‍🌈 For epic fantasy & BL readers

A certain song by a certain band called Omenwright 👀 (Yes, my debut epic fantasy novel has a tie-in project I did vocals for and haven’t officially announced yet!)

You Cannot Drown a Shadow 📖 In late 2026, the tides will rise to swallow you. 🎸 Musician protagonist 🌊 Aquatic horror ⚔️ Murder mystery 💞 Friends to lovers romance 🔮 A haunted, vengeful artifact 🩸 Sacrifices to the sea 🏳️‍🌈 For epic fantasy & BL readers

🌊 Aquatic horror 🔮 Haunted artifacts that speak 💞 Best friends to lovers romance 🎸 Metal guitarist protagonist with a big attitude ⚔️🏳️‍🌈 For epic fantasy & BL lovers My debut novel You Cannot Drown a Shadow is expected for late 2026 release! Ask me anything about it! ⬇️

“If he is the sparkling sea that gallops for the coast, I am the black cloud that rolls in to rain down all my sorrows on him—simply because I can.” You Cannot Drown a Shadow by Alex Luco (2026)

If you’ve been looking for a sexy, sweet, and protective book boyfriend… 🥰 Might I propose Iro from my upcoming debut novel, You Cannot Drown a Shadow? 🌊 🎨 by artkblo

Am I the only person using beta readers AFTER editing? 🤔 I have my reasons, but am curious because I’ve never heard of anyone else doing this

“If he is the sparkling sea that gallops for the coast, I am the black cloud that rolls in to rain down all my sorrows on him—simply because I can.” You Cannot Drown a Shadow by Alex Luco (2026)

All I’ve ever wanted is to be a real author. Please let this work out 🤞🥺

Thinking about You Cannot Drown a Shadow and I’m so curious which of my leading men most of you will vibe with more 🌊 There’s one of them I relate to personally, but the other is the kind of man I dream of having for a husband😅

Strange Houses is a trip so far! Architectural horror?! 🏠😱 Need to find more books like this ASAP

1st person/present tense POV is not only valid storytelling, but happens to be my favorite to write—it takes exceptional skill to effectively put the reader in the head of a character. I will never get the vocal aversion to it that transcends preference & crescendoes to whining

I want so badly to tease the YCDAS cover art but I promise it’ll be worth the wait. It’s absolutely unreal. Thematic, dark, aquatic, beautiful.

Yeahhhh I’m gonna need this

Tempted to write a standalone fantasy book that’s basically a battle royale The Bachelor but make it gay

My MC gets a second chance quite early in the book. He is convinced doesn’t deserve it, and only accepts out of desperation. It’s actually one of arguably two major inciting incidents in You Cannot Drown a Shadow.

Excited for the day I can, at long last, get my book in your hands so you get a sense for me as an artist and not just me as the person who posts about it 😭

Hey new followers! Guess it’s time to reintroduce myself! I’m Alex 👋 I wrote an epic fantasy/romantasy called You Cannot Drown a Shadow that’ll be out in late 2026 🌊 My new band, Omenwright, is wrapping up tracking our debut single that serves as a narrative tie-in for the book.

If you like the sound of a fantasy book with: 🌊 Aquatic mystery 💞 Best friends to lovers romance 🎸 A metal guitarist protagonist 🏳️‍🌈 Badass gay male leads written by someone with the lived experience Then oh boy, do I have just the book in the works for you. You Cannot Drown a Shadow—late 2026

Hi I’m Alex and I write epic fantasy stories about gay men who don’t fit prescribed social roles and they persevere through impossible odds anyway

A second glimpse. 🔮 Jae, a shadow mage blamed for his mentor’s untimely demise. He enlists his estranged best friend on a mission to clear his name. Will he brave the depths of the seas, his past, & his heart—or will he step into the shadow they cast for him? Art by @rossowinch.bsky.social

Good morning. Am working on editing a debut fantasy for an ambitious client. Enjoying it. Will of the Many inspired, elemental magic, and gay. It's hitting all the right notes for me so far

Starting to outline Omenwright 2. I’ve known how it ends for many years (even longer than I knew the book 1 ending). Just having fun with it at this point and chasing what excites me since it’ll be so different. My only takeaway so far is that damn, these twinks are such a mess

Due to personal reasons, the prices are reduced by 25% until further notice.

The Will of the Many meets A Star is Born and Arcane but it’s metal and gay and a series

Just went through the prologue of my current client job, and I'm ecstatic. I think this project is the kind I've been looking for. Gay, James Islington style narrative, and elemental magic system. Super excited to get back to it

Draft 2 of You Cannot Drown a Shadow is complete and off to my editor as of 3am this morning. This is the second time I’ve written this book all the way through and hit over 160,000 words! Mixed emotions abound, and I’m excited for a second pair of eyes to give me a fresh perspective.

At long last, a writing update. open.substack.com/pub/alexluco...

Art Commission: Jae, protagonist of 'You Cannot Drown a Shadow' #commissionsopen #commissionedart #art

A second glimpse. 🔮 Jae, a shadow mage blamed for his mentor’s untimely demise. He enlists his estranged best friend on a mission to clear his name. Will he brave the depths of the seas, his past, & his heart—or will he step into the shadow they cast for him? Art by @rossowinch.bsky.social

There’s someone I’d like you to meet. Jae Acolyte, Shadow Pillar Visual concept by @duranch.bsky.social Protagonist of You Cannot Drown a Shadow, my debut novel coming in late 2026. I can’t wait for this special guy who’s lived in my head for so many years to capture your heart 🖤

I have thoughts on being a creative and crafting an interconnected universe, and you can read them now ⬇️ open.substack.com/pub/alexluco...

Why are some of us inclined to the speculative in a world built for the rational mind? How can we reframe embarrassing moments as milestones in our creative journeys? ✍️ I wrote about these and more in my first-ever Substack article ⬇️ open.substack.com/pub/alexluco...

What does it mean to be a creative person? How can we reframe embarrassing moments as milestones and find the strength to keep going? My first-ever Substack article is live. You might get some insights into my writing journey, too! open.substack.com/pub/alexluco...

I feel like authors blocking people who gave them bad reviews is completely reasonable. Just like bad reviews are fair game, why should an author be expected not to do what it takes to preserve their peace? Would you rather said author trash talks the reviewer?

cr: 📖 The Strength of the Few by James Islington—65% through my ARC. Trying to finish before it comes out next week. Been stalling on finishing this because I don’t want it to end! 📖 The Second Death of Locke by V.L. Bovalino. 2 chapters in & loving the immersion.

Happy 1 year to the EP everyone slept on I had high hopes for you youtube.com/playlist?lis...

Yesterday, the ETHOS Kickstarter brought in 58 backers and raised $2,100 of the $3,500 we need to produce this amazing anthology! Let's keep it up. Back it now and help us make this book even better!

For those in the US & Canada looking to start Legend of Tal, now's a good time! The ebook is 50% off for the rest of October. As one reader put it (flatteringly!), what you're getting is "Name of the Wind meets Wheel of Time meets Robin Hobb." May you enjoy! #FantasyBooks #booksale

Revision process on You Cannot Drown A Shadow is moving along. It’s so much more work than I expected, especially for the chapters that require full rewrites. At this point, I’m just having fun with the new stuff I get to add while making sure the continuity lines up 🫶

🎨 New Art Reveal! 🎨 This piece features Tal battling a centaur-ish creature called an ijiraq. I love how she turned out! At least 3 more artworks still to come for An Emperor's Gamble - stay tuned for the reveals. 🏷️ Art by Anderson Magalhães #fantasyart #fantasybooks #kickstarter