iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Alex Luco

Alex Luco @alexluco.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

For those of you who don’t follow me over on Threads, I am nonbinary and now using she/they pronouns. Please be patient with me as I navigate my transition to new pronouns and explore options 💞🏳️‍⚧️

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Alex Luco @alexluco.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

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Alex Luco @alexluco.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

My characters as albums 💽🎶 Whose vibe resonates with you more? Jae or Iro?🔮🌊 📖: You Cannot Drown a Shadow by Alex Luco (forthcoming)

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Alex Luco @alexluco.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

This is not escape. This is a mirror.🪞 📖: You Cannot Drown a Shadow by Alex Luco (forthcoming)

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Alex Luco @alexluco.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

Shadow 🔮 | Sea 🌊 Two best friends. Torn apart by tragedy. Reunited when an ancient evil resurfaces. Meet Jae & Iro from You Cannot Drown a Shadow, the debut novel by Alex Luco coming later this year. 🎨: sakdraws

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Alex Luco @alexluco.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

“Stain the sacred seas red in my name.” 🌊🩸 Apply now to join the test audience for You Cannot Drown a Shadow, my debut epic fantasy novel, this summer. 🔗⬇️

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Alex Luco @alexluco.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

It’s hard to reduce multiple hundreds of pages of epic fantasy & slow-burn romance to a bunch of tropes, but I did my best. This one’s out in late 2026 & you don’t want to miss it. YOU CANNOT DROWN A SHADOW by Alex Luco Which of these things most piques your interest? 👀

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Alex Luco @alexluco.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

How does one become a full-time rock & metal producer? 🎛️🎸 I interviewed my friend Anthony Potenza about his career, his love for metal and working with metal bands you’ve probably heard of, and what you can expect to see from him next. ⬇️ open.substack.com/pub/alexluco...

open.substack.com

How Anthony Potenza became a full-time rock & metal producer

Anthony's journey to bringing artists' visions to life

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Alex Luco @alexluco.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

CHARACTER REVEAL 😱 This is Iro, the aquatic half of the leading pair from my upcoming epic fantasy/MM romance novel, You Cannot Drown a Shadow. 🌊📖 Thank you to nikkotari for depicting him so beautifully! 🥰 Swipe for a sneak peek! ➡️

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Alex Luco @alexluco.bsky.social · 07/05/2026

✨ how I use chapter epigraphs as an author ✨ How can authors more fully immerse their readers in high-context secondary worlds? Using examples from my epic fantasy novel, You Cannot Drown a Shadow, I propose chapter epigraphs. 🌊📖 open.substack.com/pub/alexluco...

open.substack.com

What are chapter epigraphs and how do I use them?

Immersing readers in the world I created & how you can use epigraphs, too

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Alex Luco @alexluco.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

If you’re looking for an unknown indie artist to support this Bandcamp Friday, might I suggest Alex Luco? 😇 alexluco.bandcamp.com/album/passen...

alexluco.bandcamp.com

Passenger Prince, by Alex Luco

6 track album

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Reposted by Alex Luco

Josiah (J.D.L. Rosell) 🏹 SPFBO 9 Finalist @jdlrosell.bsky.social · 20/04/2026

Behold, new titans! 🦣🕷️ Anderson Magalhães has done it again as the master behind this piece. What do you think of our latest titans, the rain mammoth and Gorge spider? Do those soldiers stand a chance of survival? #fantasyart #fantasyartwork #fantasyillustration

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Alex Luco @alexluco.bsky.social · 20/04/2026

Y’all are going to freak out when the YCDAS cover drops

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Alex Luco @alexluco.bsky.social · 09/04/2026

There’s a fantasy book coming out in late 2026 that you should know about 🥰 YOU CANNOT DROWN A SHADOW by Alex Luco 💞 Best friends to lovers 🎸 Metal guitarist protagonist 🌊 Aquatic horror ✍️ Introspective narration 🏳️‍🌈 Gay MC/bi LI 📚 For fans of The Will of the Many, Arcane, & BL

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Alex Luco @alexluco.bsky.social · 09/04/2026

Starting to break out my summer wardrobe and almost every shirt is cropped… what does this say about me? 🫣

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Alex Luco @alexluco.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

🌊 MAIN CHARACTER REVEAL! 😱 Jae, protagonist of You Cannot Drown a Shadow, depicted by @duranch.bsky.social I’m so happy to finally introduce you to this character who has meant the world to me for years 🥹🖤 My debut epic fantasy/MM romance novel, You Cannot Drown a Shadow, releases in late 2026.

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Alex Luco @alexluco.bsky.social · 06/04/2026

I’m taking more reader questions for this week’s issue of OmenWRITE, my Substack where I document my journey toward becoming a published author at the end of this year ✍️ Feel free to submit them by replying here ⬇️

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Alex Luco @alexluco.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

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...

open.substack.com

Excerpt from You Cannot Drown a Shadow

If you’ve been keeping up with these newsletters, you’ll know my debut epic fantasy/fantasy romance novel, You Cannot Drown a Shadow, is due out in late 2026.

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Alex Luco @alexluco.bsky.social · 01/04/2026

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...

open.substack.com

Excerpt from You Cannot Drown a Shadow

If you’ve been keeping up with these newsletters, you’ll know my debut epic fantasy/fantasy romance novel, You Cannot Drown a Shadow, is due out in late 2026.

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Alex Luco @alexluco.bsky.social · 26/03/2026

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...

substack.com

Reader questions & writing update! March 2026

I finished the second draft—what's next?

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Alex Luco @alexluco.bsky.social · 25/03/2026

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 🥰

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Reposted by Alex Luco

Alex Luco @alexluco.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

🌊 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! ⬇️

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Alex Luco @alexluco.bsky.social · 24/03/2026

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 🥹🥰

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Reposted by Alex Luco

Alex Luco @alexluco.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

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

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Alex Luco @alexluco.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

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!)

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Alex Luco @alexluco.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

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Alex Luco @alexluco.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

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Reposted by Alex Luco

Alex Luco @alexluco.bsky.social · 22/03/2026

“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)

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Alex Luco @alexluco.bsky.social · 22/03/2026

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

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Alex Luco @alexluco.bsky.social · 22/03/2026

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

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Alex Luco @alexluco.bsky.social · 22/03/2026

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Alex Luco @alexluco.bsky.social · 22/03/2026

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

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Alex Luco @alexluco.bsky.social · 21/03/2026

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😅

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Alex Luco @alexluco.bsky.social · 19/03/2026

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

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Alex Luco @alexluco.bsky.social · 19/03/2026

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

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Alex Luco @alexluco.bsky.social · 19/03/2026

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.

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Alex Luco @alexluco.bsky.social · 18/03/2026

Yeahhhh I’m gonna need this

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Alex Luco @alexluco.bsky.social · 18/03/2026

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

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Alex Luco @alexluco.bsky.social · 18/03/2026

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.

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Alex Luco @alexluco.bsky.social · 17/03/2026

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 😭

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Alex Luco @alexluco.bsky.social · 17/03/2026

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.

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Alex Luco @alexluco.bsky.social · 17/03/2026

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

Jae’s order of elite mages blames him for the untimely death of his mentor. Convinced a heroic act will clear his name, he enlists his estranged best friend and a haunted artifact on a mission to investigate rumors of a bloodthirsty ocean cult on a remote island. Will he brave the depths of the seas, his past, and his heart—or will he step into the shadow his enemies have cast for him?

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Alex Luco @alexluco.bsky.social · 16/03/2026

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

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Reposted by Alex Luco

Alex Luco @alexluco.bsky.social · 01/02/2026

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

A shadow mage, Jae, conjuring a purple shadow spell against a mountainous desert background. He has dark brown skin and a shoulder length black hair that blows in the wind. He’s posed to the side with his arm outstretched to cast the spell. He wears a flowing purple cape over his cropped black and gold top that shows his toned belly, and on the bottom he wears a white sarong.

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Kavin Narke - Space Mage Press | Open for line editing @spacemagepress.com · 14/03/2026

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

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Alex Luco @alexluco.bsky.social · 13/03/2026

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

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Reposted by Alex Luco

duRanch [Commissions open] @duranch.bsky.social · 10/03/2026

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

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Alex Luco @alexluco.bsky.social · 11/03/2026

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

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