“just ask ChatGPT” first of all no but second of all I couldn’t even if I wanted to because they BANNED GOBLINS. now I can’t even think about AI without invoking an arcane warding spell

NEW PODCAST ALERT This week's episode of our Critical Friends podcast features Hana Carolina @hanacarolina.bsky.social and Alex Kingsley @alexyquest.bsky.social alongside Dan Hartland @danhartland.bsky.social discussing reviews of debut books and authors. Link ⬇️ strangehorizons.com/wordpress/po...

This most recent ep is specifically about reviewing debut books, and whether this tonal line is placed differently there. @alexyquest.bsky.social: We want to say something that is useful and productive for the readers and for the writer while not saying, you know, “Here’s what needs to change.”

🗣️ NEW CRITICAL FRIENDS PODCAST! This month, @hanacarolina.bsky.social and @alexyquest.bsky.social talk to me about reviewing debuts: are there extra responsibilities a critic has to new writers, and if so what are they? Hana and Alex also recently wrote debuts of their own, so it's a rich chat.

listen, if you're going to run an ai book promotion scam, at least get creative with it. you don't have to poorly summarize my own book at me. i know what happens. i wrote it. and honestly i wouldn't hire you to promote it even if this WASN'T a scam because you made it sound fucking boring

i just backed it!!! im so excited about this hehehe i love it when my friends do cool stuff

IVE WAITED YEARS FOR THIS!!!!!

just overheard someone on the bus explaining pinky and the brain to her friend and the friend asked, “are the lovers?” i love that that’s the first question

Friday's review at @strangehouse.bsky.social is from @alexyquest.bsky.social, who writes about Allee Mead's Isaac (out via @wctracy.bsky.social's Space Wizard Science Fantasy). AI, robots, romance: "Despite its brevity," says Alex, "Isaac manages to add another layer of narrative to all this."

YIPPEE!!!!! 🦀

Wednesday’s review is from @alexyquest.bsky.social, on AD Sui’s The Iron Garden Sutra (@erewhonbooks.bsky.social), which “manages to weave poignant relationships and psychological realism into a gripping thriller.” Some proper genre-mashing here.

Proud to be the 21st backer 😎 on @BackerKit Crowdfunding for Lesbians in Space Comes to Audiobook!! www.backerkit.com/c/projects/s...

Oh hey I have a story in here :) ☄️🛰️🚀

was thinking about this bit today. can’t believe this special came out a decade ago and the zombification of media has only gotten worse. what are we DOING youtu.be/Dg-f9OCn7Cc?...

Some titles from @wctracy.bsky.social for your Nebula and Hugo consideration 👀...

If you’re at @capriconsfcon.bsky.social , you can get my books in the dealers room!

Oh wow!!! My incredible spouse who’s running for office is on BlueSky!!!!

First review in @strangehorizons.bsky.social ! This time my FULL review (as opposed to my lil blurb) of WE WILL RISE AGAIN edited by @older.bsky.social @drkarenlord.bsky.social @annaleen.bsky.social strangehorizons.com/wordpress/no...

Second review of the week is the first for @strangehorizons.bsky.social by @alexyquest.bsky.social. We Will Rise Again is "a thought-provoking, polyphonic collage which manages to engage authentically with nuanced issues, leaving the reader feeling optimistic and empowered." On "visionary fiction":

!!!!!!🥰

Interview with @lnholmeswriter.bsky.social about the @specawards.bsky.social ! lnholmeswriter.wordpress.com/2025/12/29/a...

Only a few more days to vote for EMPRESS OF DUST for Best New Book by a Chicagoan in the Chicago Reader! chicagoreader.com/best-of-chic...

New interview in Mixed Media Magazine about @specawards.bsky.social ! mixedmediamagazine.news.blog/2025/12/27/i...

The award for "Turning the Frogs Gay" goes to "Empress of Dust" by Alex Kingsley! @alexyquest.bsky.social

Thanks @armedwithabook.bsky.social for featuring EMPRESS OF DUST in your @specawards.bsky.social post! armedwithabook.com/2025-ssba-sc...

I wrote about WE WILL RISE AGAIN, edited by @older.bsky.social @drkarenlord.bsky.social and @annaleen.bsky.social , for @ancillaryreviewofbooks.org 's 2025 Notable Books! ancillaryreviewofbooks.org/2025/12/22/a...

Okay it's award eligibility time! If you're a voter in any of these, please consider some of these things I've written this year. More info on each in 🧵

Another lovely interview with @alexyquest.bsky.social, this time with @marybuchanan.bsky.social over on the Her Ghosts blog. Read their conversation about representation, vulnerability, and mutual aid as treatment for mental health crises.

Thanks for your review of EMPRESS OF DUST by @alexyquest.bsky.social, @margaretadelle.bsky.social!

My friend Riley is getting top surgery and I’m so excited for them!! They need help covering rent while they recover. If you’re able, please donate what you can! gofund.me/55bfaf936

I got to chat with @indiosyncrasy.bsky.social about sci-fi and disability and transgender crabs during my interview about the @specawards.bsky.social 🙈 open.spotify.com/episode/3Jsf...

This interview between the @specawards.bsky.social winner in science fiction, @alexyquest.bsky.social, & SSBA influencer & BOOKED podcast creator/host, Saffron Asteria, is fantastic! Listen to their conversation about giant crabs, shower writing, alternative D&D, & more! youtu.be/OpdsOSMyYHs?...

🤣🤣🤣

I was so excited to find out that EMPRESS OF DUST is nominated for Best New Novel by a Chicagoan in the Chicago Reader's Best of Chicago poll! chicagoreader.com/best-of-chic...

Congratulations to all the winners and finalists, and especially to @alexyquest.bsky.social!

YIPPEE YIPPEE YIPPEE!!!!

😱😱😱

Wrote this article about @undertale.com for @interstellarflight.bsky.social ! It had been running around in my brain for so long that I had no choice but to put it into words. magazine.interstellarflightpress.com/dreamers-dem...

We've got a new show! Grace and @alexyquest.bsky.social discuss the intersections of romance and sci-fi in our new podcast, Queer Eye for the Sci-Fi! Cover art by @penofsteele.bsky.social

This is why it's important for you to remove source identifiers from links!!

EMPRESS OF DUST (Space Wizard Science Fantasy) by @alexyquest.bsky.social is a semifinalist for the 2025 Small Spec Book Awards! Congratulations! #SSBA #SSBA2025

Crab party for the release of Relic of Haven by @alexyquest.bsky.social! 🦀🎉

my husband said “I don’t really understand things, it turns out.” I asked him what he meant and he just said, “Sabrina carpenter.”

TODAY IS THE DAY!!!! Book #2 of The Bastion Cycle, Relic of Haven, is OUT NOW from Space Wizard!!!! www.spacewizardsciencefantasy.com/book/relic-o...

If you weren't at @alexyquest.bsky.social's last book launch, you missed this! 🦀 Celebrate the release of their new book, Relic of Haven, with us this Saturday at 6pm!

I HAVE NEWS: I am now represented by Sara Megibow at Megibow Literary Agency! 🎉✍️

Monthly newsletter is out!! open.substack.com/pub/alexking...

Very cool list, & big congrats to ARB contributors @alexyquest.bsky.social & @inkstainedwreck.ca!

Semifinalists for SCI-FI A TRUTH BEYOND FULL by Rosie Oliver at @elsewhen.press EMPRESS OF DUST by @alexyquest.bsky.social at @wctracy.bsky.social HER GILDED VOICE by @kcaegis.bsky.social at @knighterrantpress.bsky.social

So many great books here, and I'm so excited that FOUR Space Wizard books are semifinalists! Congrats to @jalexandercohen.com for Talio's Codex @jawerner.bsky.social for The Witch and the Ostrich @alexyquest.bsky.social for Empress of Dust @robincmduncan.bsky.social for The Rigel Redemption