iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Jason Bustard @authorjbustard.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Looking for a great read for spooky season? 7 authors, 7 hair raising tales. Witches, werewolves, shapeshifters, vengeful spirits and horrific abominations. Each story is told, at least in part, by the monsters themselves. Short horror treats to kick off your October! books2read.com/u/47K8qq

books2read.com

Available now at your favorite digital store!

The Heart of Elder Horrors by C. Vonzale Lewis, Jessica Cranberry, A.J. Vrana, Jason Bustard, Meg Dailey, Kristin Jacques, Katya de Becerra

000

Jason Bustard @authorjbustard.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Author copies arrived! I am also confirmed as a vendor at the Bone Puppets night market in Salem, OR on October 30th! If you love the strange and macabre, you should check this one out. I have worked with Market for the Strange before and it’s always a great time!

Photograph of a hand holding a copy of the horror anthology “The Heart of Elder Horrors”.

000

Jason Bustard @authorjbustard.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Soon™️ “What’s soon?” You might ask… (and even if you didn’t I am telling you anyway!) The Heart of Elder Horrors is finally coming out on October 6th! My short, “Godsworn” is the second story featured! It’s set in Beregoth like the Seeker’s Kitchen, but has a darker tone. books2read.com/u/47K8qq

books2read.com

Available now at your favorite digital store!

The Heart of Elder Horrors by C. Vonzale Lewis, Jessica Cranberry, A.J. Vrana, Jason Bustard, Meg Dailey, Kristin Jacques, Katya de Becerra

110

Jason Bustard @authorjbustard.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

I have, for better or worse, restarted an Instagram account. You can find me there @AuthorJasonB. I don’t intend to make that my primary social, but rather, I have found it increasingly difficult to get in touch with other local authorities and in some cases to sign up for local maker events.

100

Jason Bustard @authorjbustard.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

All set up for an afternoon of D$D with my daughter and her friends. Running a TTRPG for middle schoolers is a lot like herding cats hopped up on caffeine, but someone has to train the next generation!

Photograph of a pile of TTRPG books behind a Dungeon Master’s Screen. Visible titles are the D&D Player’s Handbook and the One Shot Wonders adventure companion book.

021

Jason Bustard @authorjbustard.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

Done with my personal pass on the new book. One of my beta’s got back to me as well and another is in flight. Jason has editing to do!

A photograph of a preview copy of Old Mother’s Recipes by Jason Bustard with a pen attached to the cover and a pair of reading glasses laying across it.

010

Jason Bustard @authorjbustard.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

There is something deeply satisfying about re-reading words you wrote months ago and being completely amazed by them. “Did I really write that?” There is no imposter syndrome, friends. You brain is just adjusting to the fact that you are really good at something. Keep writing.

000

Jason Bustard @authorjbustard.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

Still editing, also I am attending a funeral for a dear friend this week so writing has been hard. I have a lot to read though, including a beta for one of my favorite indie authors. I think I will do that instead. Stay cool out there, friends!

060

Jason Bustard @authorjbustard.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

In Beregoth, that would probably be the Mord (aka Dwarves). As a species that can not employ magic except through reguli, they have learned to study the world around them logically and with science of a sort. They know about physiology, fungi, toxins, even some bacteria.

120

Jason Bustard @authorjbustard.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

My name is Jason and I make stuff up. Specifically a book series called The Seeker’s Kitchen. Amandine runs away from the Night Sisters and her training as a Bone Guardian because she wants to cook. While working for Chef Brutsche in Manor L’Eau, she finds one of his secret ingredients…

Cover image for The Fae Ingredient by Jason Bustard. Main character Amandine stands back to back with her mentor, Chef Brutsche, in a kitchen setting.

142

Jason Bustard @authorjbustard.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

Editing for Book 3 continues! I am marking up my preview copy and another is with a friend who is doing the same. At some point it will go to an actual copy editor, but with a book this large, it will be quite expensive. I wish books actually made enough money to be at least self sustainable.

120

Jason Bustard @authorjbustard.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

So, completely unrelated to my books, but rather, one of my nerdy hobbies (I am a long time FF14 player). If you get the joke, we can be friends. If you don’t, we can still be friends, but magical adventures in Eorzea are off the table. #FF14

Photo of a custom coffee mug featuring the black sillouhettes of Gaius van Baelsar and the Ultima Weapon from Final Fantasy 14. Printed with the words “SUCH CAFFEINATION!” Angle 1

020

Jason Bustard @authorjbustard.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

I escaped the Empire only to end up in this strange place.

020

Jason Bustard @authorjbustard.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

As things proceed towards book three of Seeker’s Kitchen, I feel like I should remind those that follow me of the first two novels: The Fae Ingredient and A Taste of Darkness and Life. Both can be ordered or purchased wherever books are sold!

Cover image for The Fae Ingredient, by Jason Bustard. Characters Amandine and Chef Brutsche stand back to back in a kitchen setting.

Cover image for A Taste of Darkness and Life, by Jason Bustard. Characters Amandine and Fredderick are depicted exploring a cave filled with luminous crystals and mushrooms. Grendel the cat is poking his head out of Amandine’s shoulder satchel. Fredderick is using a spell that makes a blue light in his palm.

020

Jason Bustard @authorjbustard.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

I would be writing this weekend, but unfortunately I have been detained as rebel scum.

A photo of Jason’s blue hat with a menacing array of Imperial Stormtroopers in the background.

010

Jason Bustard @authorjbustard.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

I want to take a moment to shout out a cover reveal for one of my colleagues at Midnight Tide! Priya Vox always wanted adventure. She just never thought it’d come with a curse attached.

Cover image for “When Stars Fall Curses Bind” by Whitney L. Spradling

120

Jason Bustard @authorjbustard.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

First proofs! 385 pages before copy editing. Plus 5 or so pages of notes I left in by accident at the end that I’ll need to yank from the final draft. Cover is a placeholder until art is done. Starting to get excited!

Photo of the book “Old Mother’s Recipes” by Jason Bustard. It features a generic cover as a placeholder for future artwork.

120

Jason Bustard @authorjbustard.bsky.social · 18/07/2026

Portland area folks: Set up and selling copies of the Seeker’s Kitchen series as well as A. Parise’s “The Fork” in support of Lobos Gym in Oak Grove (McLoughlin Ave). Come and say hello! There is a huge rumage sale with all kinds of great stuff!

010

Jason Bustard @authorjbustard.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

Formatting (Finally) done! ISBN: Aquired! Temp Cover slapped in place Amazon forms drafted Proofs ordered! Cover art still won’t happen until November and the cover reveal request date is for mid December, which means if all goes well, Book 3 is looking at a March 2027 release! 🎉

190

Jason Bustard @authorjbustard.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

“AI text reads like Ben Stein sounds” is the most hilarious explanation/metaphor for generative text I have seen yet. 🤣🤣🤣 Say no to AI in creative work!

000

Jason Bustard @authorjbustard.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

Reveal and release dates submitted to Midnight Tide for approval and planning! Getting an ISBN soon! Once I finish this tedious formatting (shakes fist at Atticus) it’s going off to a proofreader friend. It’s starting to feel real!

100

Jason Bustard @authorjbustard.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

Ok, Atticus, we need to talk. I like you lots, you have made formating my novels so easy. You say no to AI, good on you! But where is my Find and Replace funtion? No, really. It’s 2026. Even VI had this. WHERE IS MY FIND AND REPLACE FUNCTION?

010

Jason Bustard @authorjbustard.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

Wow, so many weird messages about “editing” services and paid promos. I don’t know what kind of market these folks are aiming for. Suckers, probably. Because let’s be honest. Selling books, unless you are like a NYT bestseller (and sometimes not even then), are not huge revenue generators.

210

Jason Bustard @authorjbustard.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

Beta readers engaged! Artwork set for November! Need to schedule copy edits! Also, how is Jason going to pay for this? 🤪😭🫠

660

Jason Bustard @authorjbustard.bsky.social · 27/06/2026

Hoodland Farmers Market time! It’s rainy AF, so keeping the display small today to protect the books. #Oregonlife

020

Jason Bustard @authorjbustard.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

Thought about leaving a comment on the altNOAA account about their recent AI post and decided to just block then instead. I’m just going to say it plain here: I support humanitarian efforts and animal welfare, but if you have to use AI to try and manipulate my emotions, you are part of the problem.

000

Jason Bustard @authorjbustard.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

Hey, Portland peeps! It’s Alberta Street Fair time! I am with author and rockhound A. Parise selling rocks and books! Come and say hello!

Angled photo of table setup at the Alberta Street Art Fair in Portland OR

010

Jason Bustard @authorjbustard.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

Book 3 update! Dev edits and revisions are complete! I moved the manuscript bacj into Atticus to begin the typesetting process. It still need a cooy edit pass and cover art, so today’s tasks will be to get quotes and timelines for those. Money’s tight. Time more so. Still looking at a 2027 release.

340

Jason Bustard @authorjbustard.bsky.social · 18/06/2026

Very strange. I found a listing for my first Seeker’s Kitchen book “The Fae Ingredient” on ebay. The seller has three copies and is selling them for 5+ dollars over retail plus shipping. I am looking at past sales reports and wondering where they got them? Overstock from Ingram or Barnes and Noble?

120

Jason Bustard @authorjbustard.bsky.social · 06/06/2026

All set up for the Hoodland Farmers Market! It’s rainy today, so I guess we will see who is willing to brave the weather for the artisans here. It is Oregon after all! 😀

Table setup at the Hoodland Farmer’s Market on 6/6/2026

140

Jason Bustard @authorjbustard.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

Day 2 done! Back home and worn out. Was it a success? I only made half my table fee back, but there was a lot of interest in my upcoming anthology short, A. Parise’s novel, and the Midnight Tide co-op as a whole. @jerseyoutwest.bsky.social @midnighttidepub.bsky.social (/1)

240

Jason Bustard @authorjbustard.bsky.social · 31/05/2026

One of the artists did a quick sketch of my characters, Amandine and her cat Grendel!

Pencil sketch of Amandine and Grendel from The Fae Ingredient

020

Jason Bustard @authorjbustard.bsky.social · 31/05/2026

Day 2 of yhe Beaver State Comicon is GO!! Was late yesterday so I was trapped at my table, but got to walk around today and see the other artists. So much fun stuff!

Photo of street tacing car painted with characters from Arcane

Photo of parody poster with an ewok holding a storm trooper helmet and the caption “Cocaine NubNub”

Cosplayer in a Little Shop of Horrors costume with an Audrey II puppet

020

Jason Bustard @authorjbustard.bsky.social · 31/05/2026

Day one of the Comicon is done. Aside from the trash-teir internet, it went well. Sold some books, met some really cool people, and an author I signed with at Barnes and Noble last year was there. It’s nice to begin seeing familiar faces. Now, I’ll go be unconscious for a while so I can do it again!

030

Jason Bustard @authorjbustard.bsky.social · 30/05/2026

All set up for the Beaver State Comic Convention! There are several great indie authors here and more comics than you can shake a cape at! Come say hello!

Full table display at Beaver State Comic Convention

Author name plate - Jason Bustard, featuring art by Natalie Bernard of the cat, Grendel

Image of books 1 and 2 of The Seeker’s Kitchen

Promo Cover Print of the anthology “The Heart of Elder Horrors”

060

Jason Bustard @authorjbustard.bsky.social · 30/05/2026

All set up for the Beaver State Comic Convention, but Bluesky appears to be having image upload issues again. Stuck in draft purgatory.

010

Jason Bustard @authorjbustard.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

Getting ramped up for the Beaver State Comicon this weekend! I’ll be there selling books 1&2 of The Seeker’s Kitchen and promoting the anthology I will be featured in this October. If you are near Redmond, OR, and love comics and pop culture, then come and check it out! www.beaverstatecomiccon.com

beaverstatecomiccon.com

Home | Beaver State Comic Con

Pop culture and comic convention in the Bend, Oregon area

010

Jason Bustard @authorjbustard.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

Finished my short for the ‘zine submission, but it’s about 200 words over the submission guidelines. Hopefully my readers can help me identify what to trim before the 30th. I had forgotten how difficult short form is. Getting a complete story in so few words is a trick!

010

Jason Bustard @authorjbustard.bsky.social · 24/05/2026

Having a chill weekend up on the mountain with the fam. Working sporadically on a 3k word side project for a ‘Zine. Rewrites based on dev editor comments begin this next week, and next weekend is the Beaver State ComicCon!

120

Jason Bustard @authorjbustard.bsky.social · 23/05/2026

All set up for yhe Hoodland Farmer’s Market! The Hoodland Library has been a big supporter of my work and I am pretty sure I have some readers in the area. If you can, stop by Mt. Hood Village and say hello!

Table set up at Hoodland Farmer’s Market for Jason Bustard - Author

020

Jason Bustard @authorjbustard.bsky.social · 19/05/2026

Brain wash time! Cobbling together a 3k word short for a Zine submission. I forgot how hard short form can be. Every word has to lift. Once I get this done it will be time to address my dev editor comments and the off to early readers book 3 will go! Happy Monday!

020

Jason Bustard @authorjbustard.bsky.social · 09/05/2026

Dev editing continues apace. No major changes (yet), but no book yet has escaped initial inspection without some rewrites! Fellow authors, yell me about the biggest rewrite you had to do after editing? I had to extend the entire ending of my first book and insert a new chapter and character.

020

Jason Bustard @authorjbustard.bsky.social · 07/05/2026

Book 3 is with my dev editor and her comments sometimes crack me up. Most are simply good advice or continuity callouts, but then Mister Green with show up on page and the all caps fangirling commences. This part of the process is probably my favorite. Where the rough gets polished and refined.

010

Jason Bustard @authorjbustard.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

I had an excellent time at Market for the Strange this weekend. I mean, it’s hatd not to have a good time when you are between the artisinal mead and rum booths giving out free samples! But seriously, I will do this market again at some point. I got to talk to some great people and sold books!

Photo of sandwich board for Market for the Strange

050

Jason Bustard @authorjbustard.bsky.social · 02/05/2026

Hey, Jason! What is that on the corner of your table? Not only is it a market day it’s also time for an exciting announcement! Today is the cover reveal for the anthology I will be featured in this fall! My short “Godsworn” will be the second story in the collection and you can already pre-order!

Photo of the cover for the upcoming book “The Heart of Elder Horrors”

141

Jason Bustard @authorjbustard.bsky.social · 02/05/2026

All set up! I guess I don’t have to show up early to these things, but I do it anyway. There are some really interesting vendors here, setting up around me. More to come!

Photo of table set up for Jason Bustard - Author, at the Oregon Market of the Strange.

030

Jason Bustard @authorjbustard.bsky.social · 02/05/2026

Getting set up for another market! This time its Market of the Strange in Albany, OR at the Lynn County fairgrounds. Largest venue I have been in yet!

Interior photo of the Santam building of the Lynn County fairgrounds

030

Jason Bustard @authorjbustard.bsky.social · 28/04/2026

I just wrote the final line of book 3. What a journey this one has been. There is a little more to do. Proofing and a few chapter headers, but the story, for now, is finished. I want to cry. And I need a beer. Perhaps in that order.

150

Jason Bustard @authorjbustard.bsky.social · 26/04/2026

Farewell, Salem! Until the next time! The foot traffic was somewhat sluggish, but I met some truly excellent arists and humans at this event. Next stop, Albany, OR on the 2nd of May for the Market of the Strange!

Night photo of the famous church spire in Downtown Salem, OR. Taken from the street near the Liberty intersection.

020