iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

a.j. parker ✨ is writing ✨ @authorajparker.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

anyone got some advice for how to be lovable? no? ok

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a.j. parker ✨ is writing ✨ @authorajparker.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

i have accidentally coined the "whiny scale" at book club. it's where we rate how whiny the main character is 🤣

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a.j. parker ✨ is writing ✨ @authorajparker.bsky.social · 12/06/2026

so excited to have my short story "pony" published in space & time magazine today! this piece means a lot to me as i pondered after therapy appointments what life would look like if our inner children followed us around. would she listen to what i told her? the answer: most likely, probably, no.

Text: Pony by A.J. Parker. "My inner child throws a fit on the subway."

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a.j. parker ✨ is writing ✨ @authorajparker.bsky.social · 11/02/2026

having an amazon author page feels kinda crazy ngl

images: copies of After Dinner Conversation literary magazine

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a.j. parker ✨ is writing ✨ @authorajparker.bsky.social · 23/11/2025

the dialogue tag that goes the hardest? [blank] lied.

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James A Lyons @jalwrites.bsky.social · 11/11/2025

Half the World Away is now yours. HEARTSTOPPER meets BOY LIKE ME Set in the midst of Section 28, the BBC launch an inter-school pen pal project. Theo writes. Alex replies. This is what happens next. Thanks to those who have written such wonderful reviews. I really hope you all love it ✉️🌎

The front cover of the book, with the characters of Alex and Theo nearby. The text reads: Available now. Half the World Away. When Theo joins Year 9 at his local state school, he reluctantly agrees to take part in a new national pen pal project. After losing hope of a reply, an unexpected letter arrives from Alex, a confident private school boarder, sparking a connection that could change everything. www.linktree.com/jamesalyons

Reviews - “Would fully recommend. It was such an easy read, and I absolutely loved it. The flow of the writing between Alex's letters and Theo's day were really well done and made it seamless to the point that you knew exactly what was going on.” ~ ARC review

“A gorgeous, heartwarming, fuzzy book. I adored this from start to finish. I would have loved to have read more books like this growing up - so much about this book was wholesome and at the same time thought provoking. I would highly recommend this book! Absolutely gorgeous” ~ ARC review

“Half the World Away explores love, distance, and identity in such a heartfelt way that I found myself smiling one minute and tearing up the next. It was tender, funnny, and quietly powerful. The themes of belonging, queer identity, and self-discovery shine through with warmth and emotion.” ~ ARC review

“Half the World Away is a gorgeous, heartwarming story and I know you’ll just FALL IN LOVE with it! If you liked Heartstopper, you’ll love this! Sweet, wholesome and everything you need in a book.” ~ ARC review

SEPTEMBER 1995

According to Nan, I’m four times more likely to be eaten by a shark than I am to win the National Lottery. Well, the joke is on her. I have never paddled deeper than my shins in the sea, and in front of me sits a winning lottery ticket.
It may only be three matching numbers and worth a tenner, but I will take any positivity I can get. Life has been one kickback after another recently. Ten pounds won’t change that, and I often wonder if I’ll ever get a real lucky day.
Today is my second ever first day of school. With the way Mum has been making a fuss, I should have an adventurous excitement flowing through my veins with each ripple from my heartbeat. The truth is my stomach is knotted as I stare down at three soggy Weetabix. They swim around my bowl, turning to mush, whilst Take That remind me from the radio to never forget where I came here from.

Heartstopper meets Boy Like Me.

Theo has been home schooled for three years, but his mother’s terminal illness forces him into Year Nine at his local school. Struggling to adapt, he’s persuaded to join a national pen pal project.

His letter lands on the desk of Alex—a confident, private school boarder, and aspiring county rower—everything Theo is not. Despite their differences, the two begin to secretly confide, sharing struggles with grief, loneliness, and the pressures of a society demanding conformity.

As their correspondence intensifies, Theo realises he has fallen for the boy in the letters. Concerned the outside world remains unwelcoming, and with Alex set to move to France, Theo must express his true feelings before they miss their chance to meet.

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arlen ren ✨ @arlenrenwrites.bsky.social · 05/11/2025

the end of the first act of this book made me want to chuck my reading device out the window (complimentary) there's so much to love here 🌹

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a.j. parker ✨ is writing ✨ @authorajparker.bsky.social · 05/11/2025

An #AgentsGuide to WAYS TO FOOL ME: ⚔️ total-opposite twins ⚔️ arranged marriages ⚔️ blood magic ⚔️ grumpy x sunshine ⚔️ lovers to enemies #Q #YA #F #RF #Questpit

text: This 74,000-word YA fantasy novel with romantic elements subverts the classic princess-stuck-in-a-tower trope.

It will appeal to those who enjoyed the complicated relationships in Gwen & Art are Not in Love by Lex Croucher and the sinister magic in One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig, as well as the class dynamics in The Gilded Age.

text: On the verge of their respective engagements, 17-year-old royal twins Lark and Clarión Blaivetramis both have their reservations against their fathers' political ploys. When their father unexpectedly switches Lark’s betrothal, she must embark to a foreign country with a mysterious prince, leaving Clar to contend with his inability to love his wife-to-be. Befriending a curious servant boy is a welcome relief, but a risk Clar isn’t sure he can take.

Meanwhile, as Lark’s brazen charm and her betrothed’s hesitancy clash, Lark struggles to know if she’s falling in love with the prince or just pretending to fall in love. The farther she gets from Kaiselle, the more she unlocks about her deceased mother’s history, and the darkness Lark has inherited in her blood, a truth her father meant to keep hidden. Lark and Clar must reconcile their personal desires with their required duties before they lose their freedom, or their lives, to forces beyond their control forever.

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a.j. parker ✨ is writing ✨ @authorajparker.bsky.social · 05/11/2025

WAYS TO FOOL ME is a gender-bent take on the classic princess-stuck-in-a-tower story, following a pair of twins in a fantasy kingdom as they navigate their respective love interests–and the political repercussions that result. #Q #YA #F #RF #Questpit

images: greek columns, white dress, red roses, beam of light in a temple, silver dagger, candlelit dinner

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Round Table Mentor @roundtablementor.bsky.social · 24/10/2025

Manuscript wishlists are live! We recommend popping over to our website to peruse mentor profiles before mentee applications open on Nov 6th 👀 Important note: Contrary to previous rounds, we are only accepting complete manuscripts this year! www.roundtablementor.com/mentors

A blue circle that says, "MSWLS ARE UP!" Around it are graphics of books, and then a line at the bottom reads, "MENTEE APPLICATIONS OPEN ON NOVEMBER 6TH."

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a.j. parker ✨ is writing ✨ @authorajparker.bsky.social · 08/10/2025

When Lark’s father unexpectedly switches her arranged marriage, the princess must embark to a foreign country with a mysterious prince, leaving her twin brother to contend with his inability to love his wife-to-be. #DVPit #YA #F #MH #LGBT

images: blue dress, gold crown, sunlit castle, silver sword, golden ballroom, candles on a dining table, marble statues embracing, man in royal regalia.
text: "you want battle? i'll give you war"

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a.j. parker ✨ is writing ✨ @authorajparker.bsky.social · 08/10/2025

WAYS TO FOOL ME is a gender-bent take on the classic princess-stuck-in-a-tower story, following a pair of twins in a fantasy kingdom as they navigate their respective love interests – and the political repercussions that result. #DVPit #YA #F #R #MH #LGBT

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a.j. parker ✨ is writing ✨ @authorajparker.bsky.social · 08/10/2025

Ways to Fool Me is ONE DARK WINDOW meets GWEN & ART ARE NOT IN LOVE meets THE GILDED AGE, including: 💥 total-opposite twins 💍 arranged marriages ❤️‍🩹 blood magic 🌥️ grumpy x sunshine ⚔️ lovers to enemies #DVPit #YA #F #R #MH #LGBT

images: marble columns, red roses, white dress, beam of sunlight, dagger, candle-lit table

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a.j. parker ✨ is writing ✨ @authorajparker.bsky.social · 08/10/2025

A princess who wants to fight. A prince who loves a boy. Threatened by their mother’s buried secrets, inescapable family charades, and political malefactors, the Blaivetramis twins fight to forge their own paths despite their upcoming marriages. #DVPit #YA #F #MH #LGBT

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#DVpit - Diverse Voices Pitch @dvpit.bsky.social · 07/10/2025

TOMORROW (Oct 8th) is #DVpit! Any unagented Marginalized writer or artist seeking out representation is invited to participate from 8AM - 8PM ET! Please make sure you review our rules & guidelines before the event: dvpit.carrd.co#faq #writersky #booksky #artistsky #weneeddiversebooks

#DVPit Rules
-#DVpit (Diverse Voices Pitch) is a Bluesky event for marginalized creators that have been historically underrepresented in publishing to pitch their work to agents & editors
-Post your pitch on Bluesky on Wednesday, Oct 8, 2025
between 8AM ET - 8PM ET
-Only post once per hour (6 max pitches per project)
-Must have a polished, query ready manuscript or art portfolio.
-Pitch must include the #DVpit hashtag (illustrators pitching their art must use the #DVArt hashtag)
-A like from an agent = a query request
-A repost from an editor = interest in submission once you've signed with an agent
-A like from an editor = editor who takes unagented submissions
-Please do not like or repost a pitch if you are not an agent or an editor. Support other creators by replying to their pitch or
quote-reposting their pitches
-Visit dvpit.carrd.co for more detailed guidelines.

#DVpit 2025 has 70+ Agents & Editors committed to participate & boost marginalized creators from the following literary agencies and publishers:
Andrea Brown Lit
Ash Literary
Azantian Literary Agency
Dystel, Goderich & Bourret
Folio Literary Management
Gallt & Zacker Literary
Gelfman Schneider Literary
Hachette
Grand Central Publishing
Little Brown Books for Young Readers
Harper Collins
Harlequin
Hanover Square
HG Literary
Inked in Gray Press
Jill Grinberg Literary
Jean V. Naggar Literary Agency
Macmillan
Feiwel & Friends
Farrar, Straus & Giroux
Roaring Brook Press
Saturday books
Wednesday books
Mad Woman Literary
Neighborhood Literary
New Leaf Literary & Media
Open Book Literary
Page Street Publishing
Park, Fine & Brower
Penguin Random House
Ballantine
Berkley
Delacorte
Labyrinth Road
Penguin Workshop
Viking
Root Literary
Simon & Schuster
Aladdin
Atheneum
Atria
McElderry
Sheldon Fogelman Agency
Sourcebooks
Stonefruit Studio
Triada US
Writers House
Zando

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a.j. parker ✨ is writing ✨ @authorajparker.bsky.social · 06/10/2025

hello #dvparty friends, i am late to the party (haha) as usual BUT have this one (1) meme as my first contribution #DVPit #YA #F #R

text: down with found family. UP with FOUND DIVORCE!!!!!!!!!!!!

getting many questions about FOUND DIVORCE. FOUND DIVORCE is when TWO PEOPLE who were NOT EVEN MARRIED are already DIVORCED. thank you.

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a.j. parker ✨ is writing ✨ @authorajparker.bsky.social · 02/10/2025

my latest poem, “fine dining,” for the quarter press 🤍

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Quarter Press @quarterpress.bsky.social · 27/08/2025

A gut punch of a poem from A J Parker today! . Remember, you can grab one of the few remaining hard copies of vol. 14, What We Do With the Ashes, that has this poem and many more amazing works! . #thequarterly #poems #poemoftheday #indiepress #poetry #poetryread #poet #booktok #booksky

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a.j. parker ✨ is writing ✨ @authorajparker.bsky.social · 17/08/2025

My interview with @afterdinnerconversation.com is out! 😄 Read here: afterdinnerconversation.substack.com/p/q-and-a-wi...

Image: After Dinner Conversation March 2025 Cover

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a.j. parker ✨ is writing ✨ @authorajparker.bsky.social · 06/08/2025

ONE DARK WINDOW x GWEN & ART ARE NOT IN LOVE x THE GILDED AGE 💥 total-opposite twins 💍 arranged marriages 👑 a curse from the gods 🌥️ grumpy x sunshine ⚔️ lovers to enemies #questpit #ya #f #rf #wip

text: This 70,000-word YA fantasy novel with romantic elements subverts the classic princess-stuck-in-a-tower trope.
It will appeal to those who enjoyed the complicated relationships in Gwen & Art are Not in Love by Lex Croucher and the sinister magic in One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig, as well as the class dynamics in The Gilded Age.

text: On the verge of their respective betrothals, 17-year-old royal twins Lark and Clarión Blaivetramis both have their reservations against their fathers' political ploys. When their father unexpectedly switches Lark's betrothal, she must embark to a foreign country with a mysterious prince, leaving Clar to contend with his inability to love his wife-to-be. Befriending a curious servant boy is a welcome relief, but a risk Clar isn't sure he can take.
Meanwhile, as Lark's brazen charm and her betrothed's hesitancy clash, Lark struggles to know if she's falling in love with the prince or just pretending to fall in love. The further she gets from Kaiselle, the more she unlocks about her deceased mother's history, and the darkness Lark has inherited in her blood, a truth her father meant to keep hidden. Lark and Clar must reconcile their personal desires with their required duties before they lose their freedom, or their lives, to forces beyond their control forever.

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a.j. parker ✨ is writing ✨ @authorajparker.bsky.social · 06/08/2025

A princess who wants to fight. A prince who loves a boy. Death threats and a dark omen follow the Blaivetramis twins as they fight to forge their own paths, threatened by a curse from the gods, inescapable family charades, and political malefactors. #questpit #wip #YA #F #RF

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a.j. parker ✨ is writing ✨ @authorajparker.bsky.social · 28/07/2025

i’ve been really into onomatopoeia lately. like come on, say it: whooosh. it’s so fun. underrated literary device fr

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a.j. parker ✨ is writing ✨ @authorajparker.bsky.social · 20/07/2025

i just put something wild together…i have six series and one stand-alone novel planned (18 books total) with 400,000 words written between them so far i never counted until now, but i’m flabbergasted with myself. no wonder i feel the way i do about getting published one day!

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After Dinner Conversation® @afterdinnerconversation.com · 11/04/2025

We released nine themed books in 2024 and two more in 2025! Everything from #techethics to #bioethics and #justiceethics Now they are all available for sale on our website as well! Pick up the print or ebook version today! buff.ly/wXEZrBY

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a.j. parker ✨ is writing ✨ @authorajparker.bsky.social · 17/03/2025

first draft vs. last draft: “I paid a dollar for a vial of love off a woman on seventh street.” “Finn paid a pound for a vial of love off a woman on Seventh Street.”

Image: published print literary magazine

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After Dinner Conversation® @afterdinnerconversation.com · 05/03/2025

"What if you could buy your emotions?" Read The Apath and other stories in our March, 2025 magazine! buff.ly/pMs6O7P

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a.j. parker ✨ is writing ✨ @authorajparker.bsky.social · 03/03/2025

so honored to be featured in the march issue of @afterdinnerconversation.com for my short story “The Apath” (what WOULD you do if you could buy your emotions?)

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James A Lyons @jalwrites.bsky.social · 26/02/2025

Only three weeks to go until the release of my teen LGBTQ+ novel Out in Greenwood, published by @srlpublishing.bsky.social Still time to pre-order from the SRL website, as well as your favourite bookshop! srlpublishing.co.uk/product/out-...

srlpublishing.co.uk

Out in Greenwood, James A Lyons - SRL Publishing

Out in Greenwood is a Taylor Swift song trapped in the body of a gay teenager. Fifteen-year-old Tim Johnson believed coming out as gay would immediately lead to a whole new multi-coloured life, yet so...

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James A Lyons @jalwrites.bsky.social · 18/02/2025

ONE MONTH TODAY will be the release of my teen LGBTQ+ novel Out in Greenwood, published by @srlpublishing.bsky.social Still time to pre-order from the SRL website, as well as all bookshops. srlpublishing.co.uk/product/out-...

srlpublishing.co.uk

Out in Greenwood, James A Lyons - SRL Publishing

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a.j. parker ✨ is writing ✨ @authorajparker.bsky.social · 18/02/2025

one of my poems featured in issue 7 of pulp lit mag—

Text:

AFTER THE EFFECTS
A.J. PARKER
hand stretched, so dark, it's blue.
cold toes. oh, it's you.
the places where bruises should be. gas station coffee.
4 a.m. aches.
I wake up drowning.
how many times over?
Styrofoam, crunch.
is this what it feels like to be forgotten? shredded rubber.
the fast-food lights are the only things on.

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After Dinner Conversation® @afterdinnerconversation.com · 26/01/2025

Are you a writer/reader that dabbles in #philosophy and #ethics questions? Read our monthly magazine and get short stories delivered right to your inbox every month. Just $4.95 for 12 issues! #literarymag #literarymagazine buff.ly/3AcyPIG

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a.j. parker ✨ is writing ✨ @authorajparker.bsky.social · 26/01/2025

FREE contest for writers of Young Adult Fiction — tinyurl.com/wdwcon1 — Judged by agent Eric Smith, via @writingdayworkshops. Winners get an agent critique of their work

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Manuscript Wish List® @manuscriptwishlist.bsky.social · 16/01/2025

Hello Writing Community! We are delighted to announce our First Official Bluesky *** #MSWL Day *** February 12, 2025. 🎉🎉🎉 Agents + editors can post what they ✨wish✨ they had in their inboxes; writers can find their next best fit for querying. Learn more here: manuscriptwishlist.com/the-next-off...

manuscriptwishlist.com

The Next Official #MSWL Day: February 12, 2025 – The Official Manuscript Wish List Website

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a.j. parker ✨ is writing ✨ @authorajparker.bsky.social · 06/12/2024

wanted to do one of these for my first short story acceptance! total queries sent: 14 re-writes: 1 acceptances: 2 withdrawn: 1 total querying time: 8 months my story comes out in march!

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After Dinner Conversation® @afterdinnerconversation.com · 19/11/2024

Want to try out a free sample #magazine? Seven stories of great #literary #fiction with a focus on #ethics and #Philosophy Just click on the link! buff.ly/3z10ePB #literarycommunity #writingcommunity #reading #freereading #freebooks

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a.j. parker ✨ is writing ✨ @authorajparker.bsky.social · 18/11/2024

hi bluesky friends!! looking to connect with other writers/authors/poets/&creatives 🖤 below is a little bit about where i'm at in my writer journey – exhausted but overall trying to keep a positive attitude

updateswithaj.substack.com

Self-rejecting self-rejecting

Sometimes saying no to yourself feels safer than the alternative

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