iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Lacey N. Dunham (she/her) @bookbent.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

82 Sentences, Each Taken from the ‘Last Statement’ of a Person Executed by the State of Texas Since 1984 by Joe Kloc www.nybooks.com/articles/202...

nybooks.com

82 Sentences, Each Taken from the ‘Last Statement’ of a Person Executed by the State of Texas Since 1984 | Joe Kloc

a poem

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Lacey N. Dunham (she/her) @bookbent.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Happy October and happy spooky story season from my black cat and my gothic novel!! 🍁🍂🐈‍⬛ 🖤🖤🐈‍⬛ 🍂🍁

A black cat purchase on a stool and looks off camera while a hand holds the book the bells beside him

A black cat sniffs a book called the bells while he sits on a stool

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Lacey N. Dunham (she/her) @bookbent.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

My novel THE BELLES has been out in paperback for almost two months, but if you're a hardcover reader, Amazon is selling it for $10. That's basically the price of a pumpkin spice latte. Except my book lasts longer and is even more delicious. www.amazon.com/Belles-Novel...

The jacket of THE BELLES, with a pink statue that is silenced by a black ribbon

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Lacey N. Dunham (she/her) @bookbent.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Just me holding a signed copy of the paperback edition of my book THE BELLES and laughing. At East City Bookshop in Washington, DC!

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Lacey N. Dunham (she/her) @bookbent.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

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James Hell Brooks @kleinman.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

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Lacey N. Dunham (she/her) @bookbent.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

This is a vague but not-so-subtle post if you know me and work in publishing/arts nonprofits/literary awards space: HELL F****** YEAH THE TIMES THEY ARE A’FINALLY CHANGING. 🎉

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Lacey N. Dunham (she/her) @bookbent.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Caspar is ready for spooky season (and so am I). 🎃👻🍂🧡🖤

An orange and white cat sits near an orange pumpkin. Behind him is a tote bag that says scary story season on it.

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Nicole Chung @nicolechung.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Periplus, a mentorship collective serving US-based early-career writers of color, is now accepting applications for our 2027 class of fellows! Apply by Oct. 11: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F... You can learn more about Periplus (including fellowship eligibility requirements) at bit.ly/periplusfaq

docs.google.com

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Lacey N. Dunham (she/her) @bookbent.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

I received an invite to a local event that describes the dress code as “DC polished but with a bit of sparkle” and I’m gonna need someone to tell me what this means.

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Josh Cook @joshthelibromancer.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Bumping these threads again because there is even more AI malarky going around today. Protect your one wild & precious mind; read a book

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Adam Morgan @adamm0rgan.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

If you work for a book publisher that has introduced AI at any point in the publishing process, I'm working on a story and would like you speak with you, on-record or off-. Same goes if you're an author and you've witnessed your publisher using AI at any point in the publishing process.

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Lacey N. Dunham (she/her) @bookbent.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

DC folks—let’s jump into fall together with a discussion about gothic lit, women in horror, and what haunts us. 👻🥀🖤 This Wednesday 7pm at Lost City Books!

A black and white creepy house is overlaid with the author photos of three white women and their books (Kerry Cullen, House of Beth; Lacey Dunham, The Belles; Mary Berman, Until Death). The words at the top of the image are: Lost City Books presents... Women Running from Houses, Three Gothic Horror Novelists. The event date is 9/16 at 7pm

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Lacey N. Dunham (she/her) @bookbent.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Next Wednesday, 9/16 at Lost City Books! Gothic babes, let’s hang. 🥀🥀

A graphic with a black-and-white creepy house in the background and three white women authors with their book covers in the foreground. The text says women running from houses three Gothic or novelist at lost city books.

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Lacey N. Dunham (she/her) @bookbent.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

If I’m gonna bail my a$$ out of bed before dawn in a Saturday to go birding, the least the birds could do is show up 🪶

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Lacey N. Dunham (she/her) @bookbent.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Celebrating 1 year of my debut novel in the world feels pretty incredible. It’s been a whirlwind, and I’m so grateful to everyone who showed up for me and my book during this year. THE BELLES is now in paperback if you want to support! bookshop.org/p/books/the-...

bookshop.org

The Belles: A Novel

In this richly atmospheric, dark academia debut novel, a young woman with a secretive past will risk everything—including her life—to fit in. Belles never tell… It’s 1951 at Bellerton, a secluded all-...

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Lacey N. Dunham (she/her) @bookbent.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Next Wednesday, 9/16 at Lost City Books! Gothic babes, let’s hang. 🥀🥀

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Lacey N. Dunham (she/her) @bookbent.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

It might be 83 degrees outside today where I live, but I still appreciate my local Trader Joe’s putting out all the pumpkin products.

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Lacey N. Dunham (she/her) @bookbent.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

I’m gonna need the Grim Reaper to start making better choices.

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Authors Against Book Bans @authorsabb.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

We've posted about this before, but I think it's important to remember that not so long ago Moms for Liberty looked invincible. We can take all of our schoolboards back. We can protect the right to read EVERYWHERE.

cbs12.com

Moms for Liberty candidates falter in Florida school board elections

Moms for Liberty is facing signs of fading influence in Florida after candidates aligned with the group suffered notable losses in the school board elections.

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Lacey N. Dunham (she/her) @bookbent.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Thunder and rain during my horror writing workshop today — great timing for a dark and stormy afternoon. ⚡🌧

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Lacey N. Dunham (she/her) @bookbent.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Wendell Berry had passed. Here’s a favorite quote of his that’s taped above my writing desk: “It may be that when we no longer know what to do, we have come to our real work and when we no longer know which way to go, we have begun a real journey.”

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Lacey N. Dunham (she/her) @bookbent.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

My first workshop of fall is this Wednesday, and it’s a snack-sized 1-hour horror writing session. I’d love for you to join me. loft.org/classes/fall...

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Lacey N. Dunham (she/her) @bookbent.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

My first workshop of fall is this Wednesday, and it’s a snack-sized 1-hour horror writing session. I’d love for you to join me. loft.org/classes/fall...

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Lacey N. Dunham (she/her) @bookbent.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Workshops galore! Writing, book clubs, and generally leaning into your creative desires. The first one is $12 NEXT Wednesday, 9/2—a midday one-hour you can do on your lunch break! www.laceyndunham.com/links

A graphic providing details for single session workshops running September 4, October 20, and October 24. Clicking the link in the post will send you to the registration page.

A visual of multi week workshops happening in September October, November, December. Clicking the link in the post will take you to info and registration.

A graphic highlighting the workshop next Wednesday, September 2. The graphic says online horror writing workshop 2-3 PM Eastern. There is an image of a white sheeted ghost in the background.

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Lacey N. Dunham (she/her) @bookbent.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

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Lacey N. Dunham (she/her) @bookbent.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

The thing about the lunar eclipse is that I would have needed to stay up waaay past my 9:30pm bedtime to have seen it.

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The Washington Post @washingtonpost.com · 28/08/2026

U.S. District Judge David Hittner struck down a Texas law restricting drag shows, ruling that it was unconstitutional and offering a “relatively simple solution” to those who might find the shows offensive: “Just don’t go.” wapo.st/4wU6S4m

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the Mountain Goats @themountaingoats.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

97 is good innings. Her work is so generous, when people see it they’re happy and they talk about it. A blessing to have been on the planet while she was here

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Lacey N. Dunham (she/her) @bookbent.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

If you're an #AWP27 event organizer and need a panelist for your event, hit me up! I can talk about speculative fiction, trad 5 publication, publishing without an MFA, writing from a low-income / working-class background, managing writing and non-academia jobs, teaching workshops, and more!

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Claire Willett @clairewillett.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

with alt text. this is so beautiful 💕

Dolly Partons IMAGINATION LIBRARY

Dear Imagination Library Graduate,

My, how time flies. It seems it was only yesterday when your family and friends read you your first story. You were just a baby. Now you're five years old and about to go to school. How exciting!
This may be your last book from my Imagination Library but you have to promise me you will keep on reading. If you go to your local public library you will find a great number of books just for kids your age. Every book is a treasure and every time you open one up you will meet new friends and take wonderful journeys to magical places.
I hope you have a great time in school. I bet your school will even have a library where you can check out books. You and all of your friends are very special. There is no limit to what you can do or how far you can go.

Just remember the lessons my family taught me - dream big dreams; learn everything you can learn; and care for all those who care for you. You do all of these things and you can be anyone you want to be.

You are terrific, and remember...
I Will Always Love You,
Dolly

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William Shakespeare @shakespeare.lol · 25/08/2026

[Exit Queen.]

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Lacey N. Dunham (she/her) @bookbent.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Dolly Parton was an icon: feminine and powerful, born in Appalachia, she remained rooted in and grateful for a place too often mocked and derided. She was a generous advocate for children’s literacy. One of the best was taken today. Rest in Power.

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Lacey N. Dunham (she/her) @bookbent.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Folks, don’t do this. 👇🏼If you’re not sure why, or you think we’re being mean or gatekeeper-y, read the whole thread. Especially the last one. 🌸

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Lacey N. Dunham (she/her) @bookbent.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Back on my bullsh!t** (**drafting another novel)

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Lacey N. Dunham (she/her) @bookbent.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

I have received four—yes, FOUR!!—spam marketing/author emails in the last 12 hours. 💀💀💀

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Necessary Fiction @necessaryfiction.com · 19/08/2026

Some opportunities to work with our fiction editor @bookbent.bsky.social

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Lacey N. Dunham (she/her) @bookbent.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

I am teaching several gothic & horror classes this fall, including: 👻 two-hour and multi-week 💀 book clubs and writing workshops 📚 in-person and online I would be thrilled to have you join me. www.laceyndunham.com/links

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Lacey N. Dunham (she/her) @bookbent.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

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Lacey N. Dunham (she/her) @bookbent.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

Let's talk MONEY, writers! Thrilled my #AWP27 panel on Writers + Money was accepted. conference.awpwriter.org/Conference_S...

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Lacey N. Dunham (she/her) @bookbent.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

My favorite Instagram spam comment about my book: "A Southern Gothic mystery with friendship turning into something darker? That sounds intriguing. 📖 Have you read the book yourself?" Yeah, a$$h0le, I wrote the damn book, I've read it.

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Felipe De La Hoz @felipedlh.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

I’m surprised by how little attention this case has gotten. Even I didn’t really register it for a while. This entire family of three permanent residents were summarily detained without even the option of bond, all as collective punishment for one one of them being the son of an Iranian official

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Lacey N. Dunham (she/her) @bookbent.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Personally, I’m grateful for the “vats” of vaccines I received as a child. 🤗

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Chloe Yelena Miller @chloeyelenamiller.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

"In this poetry reading and conversation, Chloe Yelena Miller and Elizabeth Hazen, two DMV poets who write about motherhood and aging among other topics, will discuss not just writing and poetry, but also how loss and struggle can lead to hope."

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Lacey N. Dunham (she/her) @bookbent.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

THE BELLES is out in paperback today!! 🥳 I repeat, my debut gothic suspense novel is officially out in paperback now!! 🥳🥳🥳 Imagine holding one of these paperbacks in your hands!

A quartet of books in a box with a pink statue on the cover and a ribbon across the statue mouth.

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Lacey N. Dunham (she/her) @bookbent.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

THE BELLES is out in paperback today!! 🥳 I repeat, my debut gothic suspense novel is officially out in paperback now!! 🥳🥳🥳 Imagine holding one of these paperbacks in your hands!

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Lacey N. Dunham (she/her) @bookbent.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

DC’s weather today is giving “sobbing because my favorite vegan bakery’s closing day is today” vibes. Devastated, but I paid my respects with $60 worth of vegan pastries. RIP Sticky Fingers. Your cupcakes were good but your almond croissants changed my life.

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