iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Allison Pottern @apottern.bsky.social · 29m

Let's get it over the line! Time loop stories! You know you love 'em!

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Allison Pottern @apottern.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Sometimes we have to break the industry rules to make our voices heard. In this Book Marketing Now interview, author Peter Watts lays bare the faults of a degenerating publishing industry and his unorthodox approach for reaching readers. pottern.substack.com/p/book-marke...

pottern.substack.com

Book Marketing Now: Peter Watts

An interview with PETER WATTS, author of FOLD CATASTROPHES, on the faults of book publishing and benefits of rule-breaking.

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Renay⁷ @renay.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Awhile back I asked people for their favorite space opera book/series and compiled the list on my blog. Is your favorite missing? 👀 🔗 ladybusiness.dreamwidth.org/2026/09/26/l...

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Allison Pottern @apottern.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

pottern.substack.com

Book Marketing Now: Peter Watts

An interview with PETER WATTS, author of FOLD CATASTROPHES, on the faults of book publishing and benefits of rule-breaking.

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Gillian "JENNY WILL EAT YOU NOW" Daniels @gillianlynndaniels.bsky.social · 23/02/2026

She’s here. 💀 Jenny Will Eat You Now is available for pre-order wherever books are sold. www.simonandschuster.com/books/Jenny-... #coverreveal #coverart #horror #JennyWillEatYouNow #debut

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Allison Pottern @apottern.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Cover Reveal! Through an unusual twist of fate, my story “Black Envelope” will also be published in @thequietones.bsky.social 5th annual issue (ahhh my name‘s on the deliciously spooky cover!!) This collection of “quiet horror“ releases for free in one month, stay tuned! #wearethequietones

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Undertow Publications 🇨🇦 @undertow.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Are you an editor or publisher with an original short fiction project of weird fiction out this year? Anthology? Magazine? Collection? Get it in for consideration in The Best Weird Fiction of the Year.

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Tom Gauld @tomgauld.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Author Simulator. My latest books cartoon for @theguardian.com

Title: Author Simulator

Level 1: Get to desk and begin! (Platform video game-style image of an author jumping from a block onto a cloud with desk and computer) Result: success!

Level 2: Press on despite distractions! (Author typing as the desk/clod moves past a ghost and a spider) ) Result: success!

Level 3: Deliver manuscript to editor! (Author jumping over fire pit onto platform where editor waits) Result: success!

Level 4: Accept minor criticism! (Author lying ded in fronto of editors desk) Result: better luck next time!

Along the bottom are controls for:
Left right jump crouch read write nap coffee

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Matthew Kressel @matthewkressel.net · 27/09/2026

FYI: We had to switch hosts for the KGB reading series mailing list (too much spam), so if you didn't receive an email announcement just now from us, please resubscribe to our mailing list here! www.kgbfantasticfiction.org/mailing-list/

kgbfantasticfiction.org

Mailing List – Fantastic Fiction at KGB

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Sorrowscopes @sorrowscopes.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Libra: Your season is here! Touch grass! Pet a dog! Toss that corpse that’s just been gathering dust in the woodshed into the bog! Skip rope!

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Brigitte Winter @brigittewinter.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

The Goodest Girls, my sitcom-inspired game about aging shelter animals living their best lives together, won the 2026 CRIT Award for Best GM-less TTRPG!! I’m floored! And now you can get the game for 20% off through 10/4 (the discount code is my pup’s name 🐕 🩷). scryptidgames.com/discount/FABLE

scryptidgames.com

Scryptid Games

At Scryptid Games, we make story games for cryptids. We love strange, liminal, punk, and outsider stories—and players who find meaning and community beyond the mainstream. From trash animals to alien ...

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Allison Pottern @apottern.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Y'all, this book is fire. @brigittewinter.bsky.social's debut has genuine characters, slow burn sapphic romance, spooky-true-crime, cryptids, humor and horror, oh and if you can't tell from this incredible cover, there are cicadas. Lots and lots of cicadas. And now YOU can pre-order it!!

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Allison Pottern @apottern.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

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Undertow Publications 🇨🇦 @undertow.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Publishers and Editors! I'm taking subs for Vol. 3 of the award-nominated "Best Weird Fiction of the Year" til end of the year. Writers! You'll get a chance to submit your 2026 stories in January. bestspecfic(at)gmail.com

Esteemed Editors and Publishers,

I am now taking submissions of original 2026 short fiction projects — magazines, anthologies, single-author collections — for consideration in The Best Weird Fiction of the Year, Vol. 3. (Publishing Sept. 2027). Vol. 1 is a World fantasy Award Finalist.

I am seeking material first published this year, in 2026. To be clear, only weird fiction FIRST published in 2026 is eligible for inclusion in this volume. I will accept translated work as long as the first English-language publication was 2026.

Stories should be between 500 and 17,499 words. Audio only stories are also ineligible, unless they also appeared as text.

Publishers and editors are encouraged to send electronic or digital copies, via the email address below. (I am not accepting hard copy submissions.) ePubs are preferred, but I will also accept text files (Word), Mobi, or PDF. Please do not cherry-pick selections. Send the entire book, journal, or magazine to:

bestspecfic@gmail.com

Thank you for your time and kind consideration.

Warm Wishes,

Michael
--

Michael Kelly / Publisher / Editor-in-Chief
undertowbooks@gmail.com

Undertow Publications
https://undertowpublications.com/

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Annie Cardi @anniecardi.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Allison is SO GREAT at writing, editing, and marketing. That's a rare combination and I'd highly recommend her consulting services for any of these.

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Clarkesworld @clarkesworldmagazine.com · 22/09/2026

Our subscription drive is still going and is now 70 new subscribers short of its goal. We had hoped to reach that in time for our 20th anniversary issue in October so we could give everyone their raises as part of that celebration. It's going to be close. clarkesworldmagazine.com/subscribe/

clarkesworldmagazine.com

Subscribe to Clarkesworld Magazine

Clarkesworld Science Fiction and Fantasy Magazine and Podcast.

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LK @lkcreations.art · 20/09/2026

MY BOOK IS OUT!! 🥷🐈‍⬛️📖 Can you spot the Cat? Vol. 1 is officially available worldwide! 🙏 My little daily drawing project is now a REAL BOOK. 56 pages and a whole lot of hidden Cats. Thank you, Catana Seekers, for everything 🫂 Get your copy → ko-fi.com/lkcreations/... Now… go find the Cat 🐈‍⬛

Photo of my book with art supplies around it.

Photo of my opened book with art supplies around it.

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Charles (Cy) Payseur @cypayseur.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

TELL ME YOUR 🏳️‍🌈QUEER SHORT SFF🏳️‍🌈 OUT IN AUGUST 2026!!! Originals only pls, up to novella in length, indie okay. Just reply with the author, title, and a link to read and/or buy and I'll get them on the list. Here's July's list for context & more info: www.patreon.com/quicksiprevi...

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John Wiswell @wiswell.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

If you have a favorite thing I've written? I bet this moment of uncertainty happened while writing it. We all struggle, fellow buddies. 🖤🩶🤍💜

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MurderBotBot @murderbotbot.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Maybe I had been watching too much media.

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Allison Pottern @apottern.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Huge congrats to all the Rhysling finalists! Can't wait to dig into all these speculative poems 😍

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Cat Rambo @catrambo.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

For newer F&SF writers, here's a resource you may not be aware of, the Submission Grinder. It helps you find markets and track your submissions - and even publishes some fiction. Free to use, but if you use it a lot, consider supporting their Patreon. #booksky thegrinder.diabolicalplots.com

thegrinder.diabolicalplots.com

The Submission Grinder

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Allison Pottern @apottern.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

"Between this and the aforementioned “Black Envelope,” Pottern shows an impressive range. While “Black Envelope” was literary and devastating, "Cryptid Car Rental” is a breezy, delightful humor piece about cryptids, demons, the deep Abyss, vegan art, and unexpected friendships born on the Internet."

magazine.trollbreath.com

Cryptid Car Rental - Trollbreath Magazine

by Allison Pottern

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Allison Pottern @apottern.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

"In this science fiction future, an actuarial AI can calculate the date of your death and send you advance notice... A gut-punch of story, a literary science fiction flash that packs an impressive amount into a tiny space." Honored @vanessafogg.bsky.social rec'd TWO of my stories! And what company😍

talesmoonlitpath.com

Black Envelope by Allison Pottern | Tales from the Moonlit Path

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Trollbreath Magazine @trollbreathmag.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Allison is good people and we highly recommend her services if you're in need.

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Allison Pottern @apottern.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

magazine.trollbreath.com

Cryptid Car Rental - Trollbreath Magazine

by Allison Pottern

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Allison Pottern @apottern.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

talesmoonlitpath.com

Black Envelope by Allison Pottern | Tales from the Moonlit Path

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Allison Pottern @apottern.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Apparently my lil' blue stationwagon needs new brakes AND new tires. So I'm once again looking for a few extra fall clients/workshops. I'm a writer, editor & marketing coach. My sweet spot is helping authors w forthcoming titles navigate the book marketing engine + plan for launch. (pottern.com) 🧵

"Writing and Marketing consults with Allison Pottern Hoch. You've spent years crafting your book to get it out into the world — and I've spent 20+ years helping authors develop and market theirs. Now let me help you! Does publishing or marketing overwhelm you?
Are you a debut author with book launch jitters?
Does it feel like your publisher isn't giving you the marketing guidance you need?
Do you need help getting your speculative fiction novel over the finish line?
Are you struggling to figure out what publishing path is right for you?
Book a consult today: pottern.com/book-a-session"

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Caroline✦ @carolinejamhour.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Be inconsistent! Do it wrong! Don't meet expectations! Make mistakes on purpose!

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Nefarious Bat Press @nefariousbatpress.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

We weren't expecting to be posting this quite so soon... but good news: we're reopening to submissions! 🎉

WE'RE REOPENING TO SUBMISSIONS!
WE WEREN'T EXPECTING TO WRITE THIS QUITE YET. BUT OWING TO A BIT OF UNEXPECTED GOOD FORTUNE - WE'RE OPENING BACK UP TO SUBMISIONS!

WE'RE LOOKING FOR QUEER HORROR NOVELS OF AT LEAST 50,000 WORDS FOR A LATE 2027 EARLY 2028 RELEASE
IN EXCHANGE, WE'RE OFFERING A SMALL ($250) ADVANCE AND A LOT OF LOVE, CARE AND ATTENTION

IF YOU KNOW US, THEN YOU KNOW THE SORT OF THING WE LIKE, AND THE SORT OF THING WE DON'T. (IF YOU DON'T KNOW US: WORTH HAVING A QUICK READ AROUND TO MAKE SURE WE'RE THE RIGHT FIT)

PLEASE:
• NO "AI"-GENERATED ANYTHING
• NO RACISM, HOMOPHOBIA OR TRANSPHOBIA, ABLEISM OR MISOGYNY - TRUST US, WE CAN SMELL THEM ALL A MILE AWAY
• NOTHING THAT ISN'T QUEER HORROR

THINK YOU'VE GOT SOMETHING FOR US?
EMAIL IT OVER TO
INFO @NEFARIOUSBATPRESS.COM
WITH A COVER NOTE AND SYNOPSIS, MARKED
"QUEER HORROR SUBMISSIONS"

CHEERS! ~ THE BATS

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Emmie Christie @emmiechristie33.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

New week, new author thread! This week I'm so excited to review Jennifer Hudak! @jenniferhudak.bsky.social 1. “A Promise” | WYSR Review @apparitionlit.com A ghost tries to keep a promise she made to her son. inkfoundry.net/review/why-y...

inkfoundry.net

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Lightspeed Magazine @lightspeedmagazine.com · 15/09/2026

The 2026 LIGHTSPEED + NIGHTMARE Kickstarter is NOW LIVE! Check out our star-studded lineup of authors & peruse our rewards: subscriptions, signed books, rare magazine collectibles, t-shirts, mugs, and other fun stuff. Thank you in advance if you're able to offer your support.💖 bit.ly/LS-NM-26

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Emerald Star @justemerald55.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Throwing my hat into the ring with black creatives who deserve some love. If you follow me or happen to see this and wanna be included, reply below mmmk😌 And of course, if you don’t wanna be included, also lemme know❤️ go.bsky.app/NxuoyyD

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Allison Pottern @apottern.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Trying to wrap your brain around writing and publishing short fiction? Snag one of the final slots in Stephanie Malia Morris's "From Brainstorming to Submission" from Metrowest Writers Guild - 6 classes and submission-ready short story for only $100! metrowestwriters.myshopify.com/products/mul...

metrowestwriters.myshopify.com

Multi-Week: Stephanie Malia Morris teaches From Brainstorming to Submi

A multi-week for the writer who wants to deep dive into short fiction! An intensive, generative six-week workshop that supports writers through the process of brainstorming, drafting, workshopping,...

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KJ Charles @kjcharleswriter.com · 13/09/2026

Create things, and enjoy things that other people have created. Those things will keep your humanity fed and watered. And God knows we need more of that.

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Allison Pottern @apottern.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Back in May I had a spooky little Jewish ghost story published in THE GHASTLING, a very cool penny-dreadful-style UK mag. Here's my little author interview where I talk about candles, horror inspo, and a real-life spooky tale from my own family. www.patreon.com/TheGhastling...

In script against a black background, a lit candle flame at the bottom:

The kind of horror I’m drawn to write usually involves tapping into the dissonance between what we think is true and what is actually true, whether it’s about ourselves, our neighbors, or the world at large. The gap may not be a wide one, but it’s usually deep. What are the things that haunt us from the other side or from its depths? That’s where the ghosts and nightmares live.

Allison Pottern — "Soul Candle, Living" (published in The Ghastling, Book 23)

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Allison Pottern @apottern.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

So excited to see this coming together. If you want some wonderful spec fic stories and poems to keep by your bed, including my hilarious romp “Cryptid Car Rental” then pre-order the first ever @trollbreathmag.bsky.social anthology today!

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Jennifer Hudak @jenniferhudak.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Ok y'all -- I have a GIFT MEMBERSHIP for one year of poetry review awesomeness up for grabs! Want a chance to win it? Comment below. I'll choose a winner on Monday at noon Eastern.

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Nico Martinez Nocito 🏳️‍⚧️ @nicowritesbooks.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

✒️✨ Calling all SFF poetry enthusiasts! 🌈💫 Stardust & Verse is a new review site where I read and recommend fantastic free-to-read SFF poems. Here's a sneak peak of what to look forward to in September... #StardustAndVerse www.patreon.com/cw/StardustA...

patreon.com

Stardust & Verse | SFF Poetry Reviews — Positive reviews of new science fiction and fantasy poetry

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Speculative Literature Foundation @speclit.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Working Class Writers Grant open for submissions Sept. 1-30! Learn more and apply at speculativeliterature.org/grants-3/the....

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Kate Elliott @kateelliottsff.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

I am not first and will be far from the last to say this: I have purchased so many books because I saw them recommended or publicized here on bsky. I cannot urge you all enough to KEEP TALKING ABOUT BOOKS. I know it's easier to talk up someone else's book, but this also means you, the shy author.

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Citizen.Coping @propcazhpm.bsky.social · 19/10/2025

Toni Morrison poem "The Dead of September 11" —— Some have God's words or songs of comfort for the bereaved.… I would like to speak directly to the dead… Speaking to the broken and the dead is too difficult for a mouth full of blood … the dead are free, absolute; they cannot be seduced by blitz. …

archive.vanityfair.com

THE DEAD OF SEPTEMBER II | Vanity Fair

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Alina Stefanescu @alinaetc.bsky.social · 18/10/2025

Those who read or hear a poem should remember that a good poem has two audiences; it is addressed to the living and the dead at the same time. If a poet dismisses the living he becomes morbid. If he dismisses the dead he ceases to be a prophet. – Vernon Watkins

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Kat Howard @katwithsword.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

I have openings in my editing calendar. I work mainly as a developmental editor of novels and novellas, in a variety of genres. I don't use AI and don't work with those who do. More info here: www.kathowardbooks.com/editing and feel free to reach out with questions!

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Allison Pottern @apottern.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Every once in away, Am@zon decides to put our beautiful anthology on sale. You can now get it 25% off! Fall is always a time of transition and transformation and reinvention . Also: school and you deserve a treat. Let that treat be a collection of speculative fiction! www.amazon.com/dp/B0DFDJDWNB

Across the top, next to a cyan blue moon, reads: "New school year already? You deserve a new book." Underneath is a cyan stripe with the words "25% off on Amazon" and a little medallion that reads "Oh look, she's on sale"

Below is a mock-up of the book New Year, New You: A Speculative Anthology of Reinvention in which the letters of the title cut away from a starfield to reveal faint images of sea creatures, time pieces, and other story elements in pink behind, including an octopus tentacle emerging from the final "u". To the left of the book are endorsement quotes:

"I read the whole thing twice... meticulously crafts." —Myna Chang, Microverse

"Nuanced..." —Locus Magazine

"Intense and beguiling..." — Sherwood Smith

"Complex and experimental..." — SF Book Reviews

"Delightful, thought-provoking, and multi-faceted..." — Naseem Jamnia

The background is a faint pastel gradient from pink to blue.

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Locus Magazine @locusmag.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

For readers who want it all—industry news, author interviews, and book reviews—#LocusMag is your trusted source in the SFF community. Subscribe today: locusmag.com/subscribe

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