iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Jessica writes "some messed-up stuff" @authorlevai.bsky.social · 13/10/2026

Finally got around to hanging up my print from @babeandoak.bsky.social. My photo, as usual, doesn't do the art justice.

A black and white print of a bee and flowers and bats, hanging on an orange wall in a simple plastic frame.

1122 0

Jessica writes "some messed-up stuff" @authorlevai.bsky.social · 13/10/2026

Making a #vampire reading list for spooky season? For your consideration: linktr.ee/authorlevai

A copy of THE NIGHT LIBRARY OF STERNENDACH, which has a book, vampire fangs, and red bat wings on the cover, resting on an intricately molded iron fireplace decoration. It's cool, and so is the book.

142 0

Jessica writes "some messed-up stuff" @authorlevai.bsky.social · 10/10/2026

Turns out I am going to a party the Friday night before… Okay. I'll order the wig.

Bender, the robot from from Futurama, says: Well, if it will make strangers think I'm cool, I'll do it.

110 0

Jessica writes "some messed-up stuff" @authorlevai.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Happy #FridayReads! My two novellas are here to help you pass a chilly autumn evening, whether you like poetry and romance or space exploration and what-happened-to-his-hands?! AND romance. linktr.ee/authorlevai

The poster's two novellas, available for purchase/library borrowing. THE GLASS GARDEN has a kaleidoscopic cover, THE NIGHT LIBRARY OF STERNENDACH: A VAMPIRE OPERA IN VERSE has batwings and a book against a starry sky. They books are resting on a lawn strewn with autumn leaves.

055 0

Jessica writes "some messed-up stuff" @authorlevai.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

This one's a little sad, but not gory. Look at how wonderfully made this little bird was! I'd appreciate help identifying the poor thing.

A dead bird on the sidewalk. It looks like it fell asleep. It has black feathers with a white belly and a fringe of brown between the two.

010 0

Jessica writes "some messed-up stuff" @authorlevai.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

It wasn't all nature. I went shopping, or at least browsing. Never a truer word, right?

A plastic tub on a wheeled cart at Marshall's. The tub is labeled: BEAUTY DAMAGES

110 0

Jessica writes "some messed-up stuff" @authorlevai.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

I celebrated the first of October with a walk. Here are the highlights. Can anyone here tell me 1) what kind of flower this is 2) how it is so perfectly beautiful?

A pink flower with a bunch of petals arranged around the center, like a lion's mane. I think it's a dahlia? Gorgeous.

210 0

Jessica writes "some messed-up stuff" @authorlevai.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

The internet tell me yesterday was National Coffee Day and tomorrow is International Coffee Day so to split the difference, I will post this here today. linktr.ee/authorlevai

The kaleidoscopic cover of THE GLASS GARDEN with arrows pointing to it from words "Coffee" "Adult sibling drama" "Eldritch horror" and "Academics… in space!"

032 0

Jessica writes "some messed-up stuff" @authorlevai.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

In my part of the world, wind is picking up outside. The air has a distinct chill. There's gonna be torrential rain the whole weekend. Sounds like a good time to be cozy with a book in a vampire's library, or perhaps exploring a planet with a dry climate and amazing… artwork. linktr.ee/authorlevai

My two novellas against a starry background: THE NIGHT LIBRARY OF STERNENDACH: A VAMPIRE OPERA IN VERSE, which has batwings, fangs, and a book on the cover. THE GLASS GARDEN has white letters on a kaleidoscope image.

2119 0

Jessica writes "some messed-up stuff" @authorlevai.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Finally turned these useless dishtowels into placemats, where I figure they will serve better.

Two placemats made by the poster from dishtowels. They feature images of Tiny Chef, a small, round, green cook in a toque whose online videos are a delight.

100 0

Jessica writes "some messed-up stuff" @authorlevai.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Just a reminder that it's the perfect season to read my dark, romantic, vampire opera in sonnets. linktr.ee/authorlevai

The Night Library of Sternendach, a book with red batwings, vampire fangs, and a book on its cover, posed against a dark background beside a lit red candle.

0117 0

Jessica writes "some messed-up stuff" @authorlevai.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

Amazing what you can accomplish when you should really be writing. The patch is by @houndsaint.bsky.social. The shirt is from Goodwill. The sewing was all me.

The poster, a middle-aged (sigh) white lady, takes a mirror selfie in a purple plaid flannel shirt, to which she has just sewn a large patch depicting a peryton, or heraldic deer, that she just got off etsy.

020 0

Jessica writes "some messed-up stuff" @authorlevai.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

I've been collecting the scraps of my shampoo bars and today I tried melting, mushing, and melding them into a new bar. I don't know if it'll work. At least it's festive.

A cake of light green soap, in the shape of a smiling jack o’ lantern, on a red plate.

070 0

Jessica writes "some messed-up stuff" @authorlevai.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Took this picture on my phone after 11, so it was shown in black and white. Decided I like it that way.

Black and white photo of my backpack with its assorted enamel pins: princess Leia, a few Draculas, a swordpen that says “Write Every Day,” merch pins for CHESS, THE LOST BOYS, and BLACK SWAN musicals, and more.

030 0

Jessica writes "some messed-up stuff" @authorlevai.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

Happy Friday! My latest short story dropped and to celebrate, I'm giving away a copy of the hardcover book containing it. Click the link below for details: buttondown.com/AuthorLevai/...

A copy of Of Swords and Roses, an anthology of romantasy short stories from Flame Tree Press. The cover has vines in gold leaf and the image of a warrior with a long braid in a medallion at the center. The edges, which you can’t see here, are sprayed with a pink floral design.

01111 0

Jessica writes "some messed-up stuff" @authorlevai.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

Hello, Gabino! Happy Friday! Summer is still here, so if you want to cool off, you could do worse than a cave of wonders on an uncharted exoplanet with a crew of friends and great coffee. Nothing bad will happen, probably. linktr.ee/authorlevai

8 copies of THE GLASS GARDEN, arranged so you can see the kaleidoscopic effect of the cover repeat and repeat and repeat…

064 0

Jessica writes "some messed-up stuff" @authorlevai.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

Saw this yesterday in Boston and looking forward to the recording.

A stage in a black box theater with mics and instruments in front of a scrim that says Captain Vampire presents A SAILOR’S GRAVE: A FOLK-PUNK EPIC POEM in old timey font.

020 0

Jessica writes "some messed-up stuff" @authorlevai.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

Happy Friday Gabino and everyone! It's a great weekend to check out my novellas. There's Lord Ruthven-winning romance and rhyme. There's Shirley Jackson-nominated "what-happened-to-her-eyes?!!!" Pick your poison, or try both! linktr.ee/authorlevai

01513 0

Jessica writes "some messed-up stuff" @authorlevai.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

There's a bookstore in Wilmington, NC with a neat non-English language section. The Nesbit book is in English.

Two finds from the bookstore in Wilmington: A copy of ROMEO AND JULIET in Hungarian, which has a woman in Italian Renaissance dress on the cover. The other is MAN-SIZE IN MARBLE by E. Nesbit, which has a monochromatic drawing of a suit of armor.

020 0

Jessica writes "some messed-up stuff" @authorlevai.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

Bought some journals I don't need at Goodwill. The green one was fate, though. I saw it weeks ago and was waiting for its orange tag to be discounted. It had siblings, which are lost to time, but I got this one. The other is just cool. What do you call that type of binding?

Two journals I picked up at Goodwill. The first is a paperback with a green cover full of text. The other has a tiger on the cover, which snaps closed.

030 0

Jessica writes "some messed-up stuff" @authorlevai.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

There needs to be another step in this image for a book that does all that AND rhymes. linktr.ee/authorlevai

Cover of THE NIGHT LIBRARY OF STERNENDACH: A VAMPIRE OPERA IN VERSE, which has red bat wings, a book, and vampire fangs on a field of stars

010 0

Jessica writes "some messed-up stuff" @authorlevai.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

It is so cloudy and cool here that my brain is suckered into believing Fall has come, and so is less angry than I should be about all the Halloween crap on the shelves already at Target. Except this. This… I just hope Luke Garroway (the Isaiah Mustafa version from the series) is stocking up now.

On a shelf at Target: Old Spice "Pumpking" fragrance body wash, which features cinnamon sticks, a mug, and a smiling jack o'lantern on its label. "Limited Edition" it promises.

110 0

Jessica writes "some messed-up stuff" @authorlevai.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

Thanks, Gabino! Is it hot by you? It's really frickin' hot by me. I think that means you should spend time in a cool European castle library, or maybe a light-filled cave on a distant exoplanet. (One that's nominated for an award next week.) I mean, that's just my opinion. linktr.ee/authorlevai

0157 0

Jessica writes "some messed-up stuff" @authorlevai.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

Nothing like discovering a musical you've never heard of on a trip to Goodwill.

The original cast album of ERNEST SHACKLETON LOVES ME on CD. Cover shows a man and a woman in winter gear smooching while floating in icy water on an iPhone. I don’t get it, either.

340 0

Jessica writes "some messed-up stuff" @authorlevai.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

You can read my #ReaderCon schedule on my blog, but here's the incredibly basic graphic if you prefer. I'm also planning to be at Meet the Pros(e) and, of course, the Shirley Jackson Awards.

My schedule for ReaderCon:

Friday, July 10, 2026
14:00 Fealty, Knights, and Imperialism
16:00 Autograph session

Saturday, July 11, 2026
11:00 Kaffeeklatsch
14:00 Literary Cannibalism
15:00 Fighting for the Freedom to Read
18:30 Reading from my work

041 0

Jessica writes "some messed-up stuff" @authorlevai.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

ReaderCon is 2 weeks away, and so are the Shirley Jackson Awards. Plenty of time to catch up on the nominated novellas, including this beauty. linktr.ee/authorlevai

Cover of THE GLASS GARDEN, which has the title in white capital letters over a kaleidoscopic red green and blue background.

041 0

Jessica writes "some messed-up stuff" @authorlevai.bsky.social · 12/06/2026

Bookscan tells me 4 people -- 4! -- bought this book last week, so I hope they're enjoying it and tell their friends!

121 0

Jessica writes "some messed-up stuff" @authorlevai.bsky.social · 07/06/2026

Went to see #BlackSwan musical at American Repertory Theater and even splurged on the commemorative beverage. Show was good. Drink was like someone melted ice cream into a can.

A program, a pin, and a can from a commemorative beverage from a production of the BLACK SWAN musical. They all have the title in capital letters. The can calls its contents “a pas de deux of cocoa & fruit"

140 0

Jessica writes "some messed-up stuff" @authorlevai.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

Good journey, Gabino! It's gonna be hot in some places this weekend, so chill with some short, award-nominated novellas, why don't you? I've got some romance, some cosmic horror, plenty of drama and bittersweet twists. Enjoy! linktr.ee/authorlevai

0129 0

Jessica writes "some messed-up stuff" @authorlevai.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

Every year I save the stumps of candles I've burned and turn them into a new candle. I try to make a rainbow one in June. This is gonna drip, it already has, but I think it's pretty. Happy Pride, everyone! (Sorry for the delay; took a while to get a half-decent photo.)

A pillar candle, made of the stumps of other candles arranged in a rainbow. It’s sitting on a counter in a glass jar.

061 0

Jessica writes "some messed-up stuff" @authorlevai.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

Thanks, Gabino! I am super excited that my novella THE GLASS GARDEN, a story of cosmic horror and bickering adult sisters and COFFEE has been nominated for a Shirley Jackson Award! linktr.ee/authorlevai

Book cover with the title THE GLASS GARDEN in white over a kaleidoscopic background in green, orange, and blue.

53522 0

Jessica writes "some messed-up stuff" @authorlevai.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

Hey, who wants to see the cool used prophylactic I found on the sidewalk this morning?

A glass bead decorated with a blue circle in a white circle (aka, the evil eye), with blue and white ribbons adorning it

000 0

Jessica writes "some messed-up stuff" @authorlevai.bsky.social · 19/05/2026

2004. Pizza Hut across from the Giza plateau. Best pepperoni I ever had in my life. Took this photo from our seat.

4461 0

Jessica writes "some messed-up stuff" @authorlevai.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

Happy 1-year Book Birthday to this little number of mine! linktr.ee/authorlevai

030 0

Jessica writes "some messed-up stuff" @authorlevai.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

Happy Friday, Gabino! Look at this lovely pair. A little bittersweet romantic verse on the one hand, a little that's-gorgeous-wait-what-happened-to-her-eyes?!! on the other. linktr.ee/authorlevai

My two novellas: THE NIGHT LIBRARY OF STERNENDACH: A VAMPIRE OPERA IN VERSE, and THE GLASS GARDEN. The first has batwings, fangs, and a book on the cover. The other has white letters on a kaleidoscope image.

01210 0

Jessica writes "some messed-up stuff" @authorlevai.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

Happy last Friday of #NationalPoetryMonth. They say vampires are back. SINNERS at the Oscars, THE LOST BOYS on Broadway. We, of course, know they never left. And we know they're even cooler when they rhyme. linktr.ee/authorlevai

THE NIGHT LIBRARY OF STERNENDACH: A VAMPIRE OPERA IN VERSE. The cover has red bat wings, a book, and fangs.

12319 0

Jessica writes "some messed-up stuff" @authorlevai.bsky.social · 05/04/2026

Time for my family's Easter tradition. We set the eggs up to pickle the first Sunday of Lent, and today they emerge!

Three salsa jars, in each of which are 4 hardboiled eggs and pickling liquid. The liquid is dyed blue, red, and green.

010 0

Jessica writes "some messed-up stuff" @authorlevai.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

April is not only #NationalPoetryMonth, but also sees the 5th birthday of my first novella. If you like rhyme, if you like tasteful gore, if you like bittersweet love stories/coming-of-age tales, this is the book for you! linktr.ee/authorlevai

023 0

Jessica writes "some messed-up stuff" @authorlevai.bsky.social · 31/03/2026

On this last day of Women in Horror Month, I'm pleased to discover my latest, THE GLASS GARDEN, has earned out. Thank you to everyone who gave it a chance, and future thank you to everyone who buys a copy because they simply must know what the fuss is about. #WIHM #WIHM2026 linktr.ee/authorlevai

021 0

Jessica writes "some messed-up stuff" @authorlevai.bsky.social · 27/03/2026

First #FridayReads of spring! Thanks for organizing, as always. The weather is getting warmer (mostly) which means it's a great time to read a tale of exoplanet horror of the most beautiful kind. linktr.ee/authorlevai

01914 0

Jessica writes "some messed-up stuff" @authorlevai.bsky.social · 26/03/2026

Look what came in the mail from @babeandoak.bsky.social! Thank you so much. Bats are my favorite animal and if I had a favorite insect, bees would be up there. Now I just need to find a frame...

A black and white print featuring bees and bats, enveloped in clear plastic, sits on its cardboard shipping envelope, on my floor.

191 0

Jessica writes "some messed-up stuff" @authorlevai.bsky.social · 19/03/2026

I watched PRAGUE NIGHTS last night, and today this showed up. Coincidence? Well, no; I ordered it. But still -- neat! #BookMail

Posed on a crumpled brown paper package is THE WITCH OF PRAGUE, by J. M. Sidorova. The cover has a unicorn in a forest, approached by tiny tanks.

030 0