iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Arley Sorg @arleysorg.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Was in Seattle for the weekend for the kt literary agency retreat! Seriously wonderful to spend time with a couple of my clients, and so cool to hang out in-person with my colleagues! Didn't get to wander around much but Seattle is a lovely place for a get-together! 💛

Selfie of Arley and a ferris style wheel in the background with a bit of sea or something

huge mural on the side of a gray building of two people jumping towards each other each other

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Arley Sorg @arleysorg.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

Love this PW photo of the day, from Leslye Penelope's book launch!💖 www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/lesly...

Text in photo (copy/pasted, incl typos...) - Leslye Penelope (r.) celebrated the launch of her paranormal thriller, The Inevitable Undoing of Zahara Douglass (Redhook), on August 13 at MahogonyBooks in Oxon Hill, Md., where Penelope was in conversation with fellow author Cerece Rennie Murphy (l.).
Phoot: Dominick Rabrun

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Arley Sorg @arleysorg.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

My Worldcon Schedule❤️‍🔥 Thursday! 16:30: Breaking Into Traditional Publishing As a New, Older Author Friday! 09:00: Why You Need Sensitivity Readers 12:00: Alpha, Beta, ARC Readers, and Editors: Know the Differences 15:00: Subverting Harmful Tropes in Spec Fic Monday! 10:30: Table Talk

image of excerpt of worldcon programming showing Arley's schedule

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Arley Sorg @arleysorg.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

Went to a wine bar (Crush Pad) to continue doing work over the weekend, and ran into a book club which is doing wine pairings with their discussion of Jeff VanderMeer's Annihilation - so cooooool! They do a fair amount of SFF reading apparently 😁 www.crushpadwinebar.com www.lvpageturners.com

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Arley Sorg @arleysorg.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

Beautiful oatmilk matcha latte at Gäbi Coffee & Bakery! Getting some work done : )

Interior shot of Gäbi Coffee & Bakery, with string lights and an inviting atmosphere

Selfie of Arley looking a bit tired, with the granite wall of Gäbi Coffee & Bakery behind him

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Arley Sorg @arleysorg.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

Lunch! Made myself mushroom cream pasta!

Pasta dish with a cream sauce and vegetables

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Arley Sorg @arleysorg.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

Oatmilk matcha latte at Gäbi Coffee & Bakery! Getting some work done before today's meetings! www.gabicafe.com

Vibrant green and white of an oatmilk matcha latte in a brown ceramic mug on a wood table.

Indoor shot of the coffee shop, with lights strung up and a cozy vibe

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Arley Sorg @arleysorg.bsky.social · 13/06/2026

Getting some work done at Exit Zero Coffee Shop🐶 www.exitzerocoffeelv.com Quick reminder for my writers out there: rejection DOES NOT MEAN you are a bad writer!!! keep telling the stories that only you can tell. keep honing your craft; & find your readers! they can't wait to see what you do❤️‍🔥

Exit Zero Coffee shop interior, cozy with some soft lighting, wood tables, and a musician setting up for his set.

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Arley Sorg @arleysorg.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

Status: in Pittsburgh for StokerCon

Shot of river and bridges taken while driving over a bridge

Shot of hills and buildings from a hotel bedroom

shot of bridges at night lit up in colors, through the window which also reflects the hotel hallway

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Arley Sorg @arleysorg.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

Getting some work done at Gäbi Coffee & Bakery! It's... (checks phone) Sunday! Writers: Rejection *does not mean* you are a bad writer! You got this ❤️‍🔥

Oatmilk matcha latte, with green, glistening, smooth foam with a traditional "leaf" design in white.

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Arley Sorg @arleysorg.bsky.social · 07/05/2026

I'll be out and about pretty soon - the Locus Awards StokerCon Readercon Gen Con Worldcon Colorado Gold Writers Conference Can-Con Surrey International Writers' Conference My updated calendar is here - arleysorg.com/calendar-con...

graphic for Arley Sorg's Master Class at Colorado Gold Writers Conference, happening Oct 1 to 4, 2026

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Arley Sorg @arleysorg.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

I saw *A LOT* of cool things in China that I just haven't encountered here, or that do exist here but in a different way or on a different scale. One example (pictured) are these pods for napping! Saw these at a "smaller" city's airport! There was an attendant who maintains and cleans between uses!

four square-ish pods, large enough to stand in or lay down in, with large digital readouts that show if they are in use or not

a square-ish pod, large enough to stand in or lay down in, with a digital readout and labels with instructions

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Arley Sorg @arleysorg.bsky.social · 12/04/2026

Have been *extremely* out of town (see pic for proof!), but I'm back! Soooo Very Sleepy...! BUT! Some April "stuff": My Lightspeed Magazine aka @lightspeedmagazine.com review of Sauúti Terrors edited by Eugen Bacon, Stephen Embleton, and Cheryl S. Ntumy www.lightspeedmagazine.com/issues/light...

shot of terracotta warriors Terracotta Army in Xi'an, China: Life-sized, highly detailed figures dating from 200s BCE, standing in four columns, in fifteen or so rows, all in head-high trenches

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Arley Sorg @arleysorg.bsky.social · 05/04/2026

Baihe Tower in Wuzhou looks over the Gui and Xun rivers, as well as where they meet and become the Xi river. Part of a park dedicated to celebrating freedom from British colonialism. Worth a visit if you happen to be in Wuzhou, China!

Baihe Tower seen from a bridge, it sits on a tree covered hill

A massive golden statue in the distance, seen from Baihe Tower

Part of a roof, trees, and the river, seen from Baihe Tower

Plaque in Mandarin detailing the history of Baihe Tower

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Arley Sorg @arleysorg.bsky.social · 05/04/2026

Breakfast - delicious, freshly made rice noodle dish, steamed in a round bamboo palette! The kind of tiny place locals go but otherwise you'd walk by without knowing the wonderful food you're missing.

Freshly made steamed rice noodle dish, with bits of green veggies and corn, in a light brown sauce.

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Arley Sorg @arleysorg.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

Currently alllll the way out of town! All the same... if you haven't yet, check out this piece on the experiences of authors of color in SFF publishing! arleysorg.com/by-the-numbe...

This image shows the Yongningmen (South Gate) of the ancient city wall fortifications in Xi'an, China. A massive wall with an archery building behind it.

Shot from the ancient fortification wall of Xi'an looking towards the historic Bell Tower of Xi'an, with tall buildings framing the central road.

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Arley Sorg @arleysorg.bsky.social · 27/03/2026

Had green tea in the mountains... With the actual guy who roasted it... In the actual village that grew it...!

Tray of just roasted green tea next to the pot they use to roast it

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Arley Sorg @arleysorg.bsky.social · 15/03/2026

"Random Books At My Desk" Call and Response Beyond the Glittering World As The Earth Dreams We Will Rise Again Fantasy & SF, Summer 2025 The Inevitable Undoing of Zahara Douglass A Study in Ugliness If We Cannot Go at the Speed of Light Myth

Photo of nine books arranged on a carpet. The books are:

Call and Response, Christopher Caldwell
https://www.neonhemlock.com/books/call-and-response

Beyond the Glittering World, Darcie Little Badger, Stacie Shannon Denetsosie, and Kinsale Drake
https://www.torreyhouse.org/product-page/beyond-the-glittering-world

As The Earth Dreams, Terese Mason Pierre
https://houseofanansi.com/products/as-the-earth-dreams

We Will Rise Again, Malka Older, Annalee Newitz and Karen Lord
https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/We-Will-Rise-Again/Malka-Older/9781668095959

The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, Summer 2025, Sheree Renée Thomas
https://analogsf.com/product/the-magazine-of-fantasy-science-fiction-subscription/

(This is the issue with By the Numbers 10! https://arleysorg.com/by-the-numbers-10 )

The Inevitable Undoing of Zahara Douglass, Leslye Penelope
https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/leslye-penelope/the-inevitable-undoing-of-zahara-douglass/9780316594691/

A Study in Ugliness, H. Pueyo
https://www.lethepressbooks.com/product-page/a-study-in-ugliness

If We Cannot Go at the Speed of Light, Kim Choyeop
translated by Anton Hur
https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/If-We-Cannot-Go-at-the-Speed-of-Light/Kim-Choyeop/9781668049457

Myth, Terese Mason Pierre
https://houseofanansi.com/products/myth

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Arley Sorg @arleysorg.bsky.social · 24/02/2026

Haven't had cherimoya in quite a while! This one is *sweet*!

A big, whole cherimoya on a white cutting board

A large cherimoya cut into four quarters on a white cutting board, with a knife next to it

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Arley Sorg @arleysorg.bsky.social · 22/02/2026

My first "By the Numbers" was in the Mar/Apr 2021 F&SF! Each entry examines an aspect of genre publishing - magazines, awards, publishers, etc. This one asks: What are the experiences of people of color in the publishing industry? (Not counting my experiences LOL) arleysorg.com/by-the-numbe...

Cover of the March April 2021 issue of The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, with Harry Turtledove, Cat Rambo, Marie Brennan, C.L. Polk, and Molly Tanzer's names on the cover. The image features a strange assemblage of discordant pieces, forming a composite face, and an astronaut walking up to the massive face.

Cover of The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction Volume 1, Summer 2025, with Nnedi Okorafor, Maurice Broaddus, Justin C. Key, Matthew Kressel & Mercurio D. Rivera, John Shirley, Inda Lauryn all listed on the cover. A Black cyberpunk-ish figure is in the front, full, long dreadlocks, trench coat, having pulled a sword with an umbrella handle from its sheath, against a futuristic cityscape and a stunning orange-red sky with turquoise touches.

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Arley Sorg @arleysorg.bsky.social · 18/02/2026

Just posted "By the Numbers 10: Why We Need To Count on Each Other" to my site! arleysorg.com/by-the-numbe... This was published in the recent F&SF (Summer 2025, edited by the amazing Sheree Renée Thomas aka @shereereneethomas.bsky.social ) and is posted with permission of the publisher.

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Arley Sorg @arleysorg.bsky.social · 10/02/2026

Tian Tian is VERY skeptical about the ethics of not letting kitties sit on my lap while I'm working...

young cat Tian Tian staring up at my lap from under my desk, looking like a pounce might be in order

young cat Tian Tian looking up at me from beside the chair, calculating the jump from floor to lap, factoring in the arm rest for good measure

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Arley Sorg @arleysorg.bsky.social · 06/02/2026

Didi is our most cuddly cat! If we sit anywhere he can get to, he will snuggle up in our lap!

Didi - young cat, gray with some white on his face and legs, snuggled up on a blanket in a lap, with hands gently touching him

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Arley Sorg @arleysorg.bsky.social · 11/12/2025

Behold! Leslye Penelope's new book! The Inevitable Undoing of Zahara Douglass! lpenelope.com/book/the-ine...

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Arley Sorg @arleysorg.bsky.social · 23/10/2025

It's not even noon and I already have eight scam calls So much energy and technology is devoted to taking advantage of people, often in ways which are legal We really have to take care of each other, support each other, and do our best to find, develop, and maintain joy

Image of phone numbers representing voice mails from today's scam callers

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Arley Sorg @arleysorg.bsky.social · 25/09/2025

VERY excited to have Jabari aka @goblinprincete.bsky.social on the Fantasy team! This is the first cover they've curated for Fantasy Magazine @fantasymagazine.bsky.social and it's stunning! Check out their art: goblinprincete.com

The cover for Fantasy Issue 98! A brown-haired, light-skinned figure kneels next to a giant golden bird, tending to an arrow wound. The cover is awash in autumnal shades of orange, cream, and brown.

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Arley Sorg @arleysorg.bsky.social · 17/09/2025

I posted some thoughts on Facebook which come out of very recent conversations, as well as my publishing industry observations, plus experiences at industry social events. These posts are never easy to write, and even harder to actually put up, but... 🤷🏽 www.facebook.com/profile.php?...

facebook post beginning: some people would describe me as "white passing" but I have many stories about experiencing racism of different kinds, from very basic "othering" to being singled out in ways that white friends were not. in fact, my first few years at conventions, I experienced a lot of race based/skin color based "othering" - since those spaces were very predominantly white. it happens less often these days, but I still have a lot of gut reactions or preset expectations when entering a range of situations because of things that happened in my personal past.
my mother and sisters were all darker than me - I sometimes saw them experience worse, even more direct racism; or experience subtle racism in situations where the racism wasn't sent in my direction.
I'm not bringing this up out of any desire for sympathy - pls, I don't need anyone to say, "I'm sorry you went through that" or similar.
if you are not in some group (gay, Black, Latine, etc) it is very easy and even likely that you can live a long life without personally seeing these things, or being aware that they happen.
racism (and other ~isms & ~phobias) has been and still is a part of US culture; moreover, I have seen, personally witnessed, and been told about racist things that people have said or done in the publishing industry. all of this is to say: the playing field isn't level and fair. even if you personally do not see it or understand it, racism is a thing which happens in publishing, as well as throughout the US in general, in impactful and deliberate ways, as well as in small "unconscious" ways.
folks who "don't see color" enable systems, as well as bad actors in various positions of power, to continue to disadvantage Black authors, Indigenous authors, and many others. occasionally someone tries to point out these disparities (such as the BlackSpecFic Report) but it falls on each of us to make daily decisions about what we read...

continuation of Facebook post, beginning: even if you do not personally see racism in action, even if it hasn't touched your life in some meaningful or obvious way, it doesn't mean it isn't there; the people who are the targets of racism feel it - and it *really* doesn't feel good.
the consequences of racism (and similar) are often obvious to the people it affects, and having to explain these things to folks who are otherwise "friends" is always stressful and exhausting.
if you don't like BIPOC submissions or deliberately inviting people of color into positions or other similar initiatives - okay, cool; what are you doing instead to level the playing field, given that racism has a significant impact on everything from education opportunities, to job opportunities, to book publishing, and more?
the information is out there - you don't need me or the BlackSpecFic Report or anyone else to point out disparity: look through some Tables of Contents and pay attention; look at who gets what awards - look at different awards; look at who is invited to what programs, or who is even welcomed into which social circles. look at who gets supported by publishers, who gets signal boosted by folks with platforms. who gets solicited, put on panels or even what kinds of panels (who gets to talk about craft vs who is only put on panels about diversity), who gets to be a guest of honor, or gets to teach at a program.
again - I don't need anyone's sympathies or apologies or anything else - I need everyone to think hard on disparity, on the fact that disparity can exist whether or not you personally see or understand it, and on the ways that you can help change it, many of those ways as simple as looking for books by Black authors or signal boosting an awesome story by a Latine author or even just looking for a short fic piece by a trans author and giving it a read.
if you are an organizer of an event?...

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Arley Sorg @arleysorg.bsky.social · 04/09/2025

Friday! Gateway to the weekend! My writers: rejection DOES NOT MEAN you are a bad writer!!! Keep going, keep telling the stories you need to tell! Make each story better than the one before it - keep writing!

white alligators cuddling at the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta

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Arley Sorg @arleysorg.bsky.social · 25/07/2025

Today's mood...! : ) But also: it's Friday! Writers...: Rejection DOES NOT MEAN you are a bad writer!!!❤️‍🔥

Arley driving a boat on Grand Lake in Colorado, giving a peace sign and looking tired but content

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Arley Sorg @arleysorg.bsky.social · 22/07/2025

Important update: Cuteness is happening! I'm live on the scene....

Young cat Baozi curled up and napping in a hiding spot

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Arley Sorg @arleysorg.bsky.social · 06/06/2025

It's the weekend! As well as PRIDE! Writers - hopefully you can find time to get some words down. Remember: Rejection DOES NOT MEAN you are a bad writer! Tell the stories you are moved to tell. You got this. Keep going!

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Arley Sorg @arleysorg.bsky.social · 05/06/2025

apologies - I know this is probably not an effective way to share it!!! but again, 🤷🏽 www.facebook.com/profile.php?... blog.dol.gov/2022/02/07/f... www.sfadb.com/Hugo_Awards_...

image of a Facebook post discussing bias in the US, especially (but not exclusively) anti-Black bias - excerpt: "If you feel left out by BIPOC submissions, take that feeling and amplify it, knowing that many Black authors see what is obvious: so many mags just... kinda... don't really publish Black authors. So many agents don't have Black clients. So many book publishers have very few to zero books by Black writers.

Don't get me started on awards - do your own research - see how many Black authors were given a Best Novel Hugo - or even nominated - in a span of SEVENTY YEARS - keeping in mind that voters won't vote for books/authors they haven't read/never heard of."

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Arley Sorg @arleysorg.bsky.social · 05/06/2025

posted to my Facebook - too long to post here but 🤷🏽 ionno www.facebook.com/profile.php?... fiyahlitmag.com/2022-blacksp... www.americanprogress.org/article/afri...

image of a Facebook post discussing bias in the US, especially (but not exclusively) anti-Black bias - excerpt: "DEI and similar efforts for 'inclusivity' are not 'excluding' white people; they are attempting to address what is already (and has been for literally centuries) unfair situations - where bias plays a huge part, often anti-Black bias."

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Arley Sorg @arleysorg.bsky.social · 29/05/2025

VERY SOON...! Timing is Everything - come hang out and chat about information in story! app.inkedvoices.com/event/webina... arleysorg.com/calendar-con...

informational graphic for class "Timing is Everything: Thoughts on Order of Information" - $25 webinar Sun June 1st 2-3:15PM Eastern - description says:

Information is important to nearly every story! What do you tell the reader--and when? Not just bigger "reveals" but details about the world, your characters, and the unfolding of events. How, what, and even when you lay out information can make or break a read. Order of Information--when details are presented--is an often neglected but fundamental story building concept which can smooth out a narrative experience and make a huge difference in the way your work lands for readers. In this interactive course we will talk about delivering information in the context of fiction, particularly Order of Information, and discuss practical methods for improving this element in narrative.

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Arley Sorg @arleysorg.bsky.social · 27/05/2025

Important announcement: the babies like their new perch!

Young cat siblings Tian Tian and Didi resting on the new glass mounted double perch!

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Arley Sorg @arleysorg.bsky.social · 25/05/2025

Sunday morning - getting some work done at Gäbi Coffee & Bakery! A pot of Kenyan black tea and my tablet! Hope your weekend is going as well as possible!

Gäbi Coffee & Bakery - windows in the background, big pictures on the wall from Korean history, a tea pot and tablet on the table, a spacious looking room

Arley looking pensive and awkward and maybe also tired, with glass windows behind him, reflecting strung up lights

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Arley Sorg @arleysorg.bsky.social · 24/05/2025

quick reminder for the weekend - rejection DOES NOT MEAN you are a bad writer! breathe. refocus when you can. keep going!💖

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Arley Sorg @arleysorg.bsky.social · 14/05/2025

writers - quick reminder! (and yes: this is my professional opinion) rejection DOES NOT MEAN you are a bad writer!!! I put three (3) exclamation points so that you'd know how serious I am. keep striving, keep working on your craft, keep getting words down! keep going!💖

nameless vs long sky - scene from the movie Hero, with Jet Li and Donnie Yen attacking and parrying in a courtyard in the rain

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Arley Sorg @arleysorg.bsky.social · 09/05/2025

Basically the cat equivalent of a night at the theatre

four cats (Boba, Baozi, Didi, and Tian Tian) all at the sliding door screen, their rapt attention on the back yard)

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Arley Sorg @arleysorg.bsky.social · 06/05/2025

Since I won't let him sit in my lap while I'm working... LOL

Young cat Didi napping at my feet under my desk

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Arley Sorg @arleysorg.bsky.social · 30/04/2025

The morning musical performances of birds are always well attended

Three young cats fixated on the morning sounds of birds, all looking in the same direction through a screen door

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Arley Sorg @arleysorg.bsky.social · 25/04/2025

that last BlackSpecFic report showed 64 markets, MOST with fewer than 11% of original stories by Black authors 40 magazines had fewer than 6%, 26 venues had zero if you aren't actively seeking them out, you will likely only read a handful (or maybe none) in a year fiyahlitmag.com/2022-blacksp...

graphic from the 2022 BlackSpecFic report showing the "top ten" magazines according to percentage of original stories by Black authors - in order: Anathema, Boneyard Soup, Fantasy Magazine, Apparition Lit, Baffling, The Dark, Strange Horizons, Cosmic Roots, Uncanny, F&SF

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Arley Sorg @arleysorg.bsky.social · 18/04/2025

Friday morning - a pot of Kenyan black tea and getting work done at Gäbi Coffee & Bakery! To my writers out there: Rejection DOES NOT mean you are a bad writer! Keep going! You got this!💖

Strung up lights and a wood table create an inviting coffee shop atmosphere, a tea pot and cup with a tablet create a sense of style and focus

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Arley Sorg @arleysorg.bsky.social · 12/04/2025

Hazy day at Newport Beach! Still, it's nice to get out and do something different!

Newport beach, a bit hazy but not too bad, I'm the morning, with a few people out and the waves coming up onto the sand

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Arley Sorg @arleysorg.bsky.social · 08/04/2025

behold! along with various goodies, the latest Clarkesworld aka @clarkesworldmagazine.com includes my interviews with: Ai Jiang aka @aijiang.bsky.social Natalia Theodoridou aka @nassos.bsky.social clarkesworldmagazine.com

Clarkesworld April cover - which features a robot helping someone out of a space-age vehicle against a futuristic backdrop - and which lists the April contributors

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Arley Sorg @arleysorg.bsky.social · 05/04/2025

big news! just signed Zin E. Rocklyn aka @zinrock.bsky.social and I am SO excited to work with her!!!❤️‍🔥 zinrock.com arleysorg.com/the-team-

photo of author Zin E. Rocklyn wearing a black shirt that says, "Support Black Women Who Write Weird Shit"

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