iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Alex Luco @alexluco.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

I’m nonbinary/transfemme and gay and a musician and a soon to be author 🏳️‍⚧️🥰 Ask me anything! ⬇️

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

Yes that’s right! 🖤🥰 I still very much resonate with the gay male experience but am testing out new pronouns.

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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

docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

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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

He’s such a beauty 🥹🫶 Plenty more to come! Y’all are not ready for the cover art 😮‍💨

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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

He’s so cute isn’t he?! 🥹🥰 Goes insanely hard with the guitar concept too

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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

You are too kind. Thanks so much for checking it out! ☺️ Would love to hear your thoughts on the excerpt

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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

I’m really having fun with it 🖤

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

Completely understandable! 🫶 We make do with what the resources we have (and there are certain respects I definitely am out of necessity)

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

Yes, that’s definitely my intention! Using them as a “test audience” of sorts before I finally move on to ARCs

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

Probably should have clarified, I meant after the professional editing pass.

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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

I’ve (roughly) outlined the first five chapters of Omenwright II this weekend 🥰 Super weird but fun & exploratory experience considering I’ve known the ending for many years, but almost nothing about the beginning and middle

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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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