iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Cara M Bassett (Author) @carambassett.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

My goal this week is to finish writing my July entry for @magicinprogress.bsky.social ! (Don't forget you can read previous issues for free & vote your fav stories thru the end of June!) 💙📚 #lgbtqwriteathon #queerwriters #pride #writesky #writingcommunity #litmag #indieauthor #scifi #supportindie

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Cara M Bassett (Author) @carambassett.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

A collection of thought-provoking or endearing short fictions that made for excellent reading at meals or before bed. Many stood out to me as memorable, a few lacked substance. Overall, the collection was varied &engaging 7.5/10 💙📚 #booksky #bookish #booklover #fiction #shortstory #flash #anthology

Flash Fiction Forward
Edited by James Thomas & Robert Shepard
80 Very Short Stories

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Cara M Bassett (Author) @carambassett.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

I think around midday, like sometime between 11-2:30, often while snacking on my lunch😊 #junejottings #writingprompts #writingcommunity #writesky #amwriting #authorslife

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Cara M Bassett (Author) @carambassett.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

I'm trying to stop getting distracted by books and lock in at work but my verification test is sending me mixed signals🤔 💙📚😋 #booksky #booklover #bookish #read #readmore #reading #books #fiction #scifi #fantasy #readers #writingcommunity #readnotreede #stayinschool #haha

Captcha test that says the letters "reeDe"

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Cara M Bassett (Author) @carambassett.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

An imaginative #alternatehistory #novella following one simple premise: what if cowboys rode hippos? Strikingly fun and left me hungry for more 8.5/10 💙 📚 #booksky #bookish #booklover #cowboy #western #hippo #althist #scifi #queer #lgbtqia #riverofteeth #sarahgailey #audiobook #hoopla #readharder

"Man-eating hippo mayhem is my new favorite mayhem. Gailey's debut is a gift of violent, unexpected glee." -Kevin Hearne

River of Teeth
Sarah Gailey

Read by Peter Berkrot

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Cara M Bassett (Author) @carambassett.bsky.social · 08/06/2026

This was my 3rd year in a row reading all of the nominees in preparation for the best #novella at the #nebulaawards ! They were such a joy to read, everyone really deserved the praise👏👏👏 💙📚 #booksky #scifi #fantasy #sff #nebula #awards #bookish #booklover #readmore #sfwa #61stnebulas #fiction #read

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Reposted by Cara M Bassett (Author)

Magic in Progress: Moonlight Coven Publishing @magicinprogress.bsky.social · 08/06/2026

Read these stories and more on Moonlightcovenpublishing.com/magic-in-progress and press the green "Vote Now" button to rank your favorites! #vote #scifistories #scifireaders #supportindieauthors #freereads @carambassett.bsky.social

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Cara M Bassett (Author) @carambassett.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

In #AGreaterCloseness (which you can #read for FREE this month at Moonlightcovenpublishing.com The main opposing forces are the Resistance, aka "the Houses," & the Federation Marco has always been loyal to the Feds, but his confidence is shaken by his sister, Maya #writesky #juniplex #sff #litmag

moonlightcovenpublishing.com

Moonlight Coven Publishing

Sharing Stories of Love, Friendship, Community, and Magic

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Cara M Bassett (Author) @carambassett.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

For my shorter wips, I find inspiration from word prompts or paintings. For longer wips, I find myself inspired by dreams or thinking of scenarios in my head and the circumstances that would lead to them ( #POE started as a dream!) #lgbtqwriteathon #queerwriters #pride #writesky #writingcommunity

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Cara M Bassett (Author) @carambassett.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

I found this quick #audiobook on #Hoopla and decided to give it a listen in the hopes of learning more about #FridaKahlo Although it was short, I was impressed by what I was able to learn 5/10 💙📚 #booksky #bookish #biography #booklover #history #icon #artist #art #kahlo #brilliantbio #history #nf

Brilliant Bio
Frida Kahlo
Narrated by
Tyler Perkins

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Cara M Bassett (Author) @carambassett.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

A girl goes missing at a summer camp in 1975, igniting unspoken prejudices and unrighted wrongs, including the buried memories of the missing brother she never knew. Interwoven stories of varying interest, a 5/10 for me 💙📚 #booksky #bookreview #bookish #booklover #mystery #lizmoore #crime #thriller

New York Times bestselling author of Long Bright River
The God of the Woods
A Novel
Liz Moore

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Cara M Bassett (Author) @carambassett.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

This may not be a full trope/anti-trope, but I am a sucker for a bittersweet ending. Both in the stories I read and those I write. I like when people are happy and sad at the same time in the simple, real-life, inextricable way. #mememay #writesky #booksky #writingcommunity #bookish #tropes

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Cara M Bassett (Author) @carambassett.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

39 women and 1 young girl wake up in a bunker with rationed resources & no memory of how they got there. After years, they finally get their chance to escape to find a landscape that answers few questions. 9/10 💙📚 #booksky #booklover #bookreview #horror #jacquelineharpman #bookish #surrealism #scifi

I Who Have Never Known Men
Jacqueline Harpman

Translated by
Ron Schwartz

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Cara M Bassett (Author) @carambassett.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

My favorite main character opted for a job deep in the mines when given the option of that or fresh desert air. BUT! He also famously preferred to escape into the desert wasteland rather than face certain capture so🤷 #writesky #writingcommunity #writingprompt #awesomecharacters

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Cara M Bassett (Author) @carambassett.bsky.social · 19/05/2026

The interwoven story of a modern female #playwright as she uncovers and tells the story of her ancestor- a female playwright who wrote for #shakespeare. At times the emotional scenes felt melodramatic, but overall I enjoyed 6.5/10 💙📚 #booksky #histfic #jodipicoult #bookish #booklover #bookreview

#1 New York Times bestselling author

Jodi Picoult
A Novel

By Any Other Name

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Cara M Bassett (Author) @carambassett.bsky.social · 15/05/2026

I had heard lots of praise for this book, but I knew nothing about the story. It is a breathtaking historical tale of a fictional movie star's life, the glamorous, the tragic, and the downright ugly. 8/10 💙📚 #booksky #bookish #booklover #bookreview #audiobook #libby #storygraph #lgbtqia #histfic

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
Taylor Jenkins Reid
The international bestseller

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Cara M Bassett (Author) @carambassett.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

A beautiful reimagining of a classic. I read this a couple years ago and gave it a 9/10. I loved it so much, it took me two years to work up the courage to finally read her other novel #Circe (which of course, did not disappoint)

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Cara M Bassett (Author) @carambassett.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

I read this a few years ago as a part of my annual challenge to myself to read every #novella nominee of the #NebulaAwards and really enjoyed it! I gave it an 8/10😁

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Cara M Bassett (Author) @carambassett.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

Vern would be a #Dove. Delicate, elegant, and the same as a pigeon in his heart. Aunt Marion would be a discerning and hoarding #Raven Check out my pinned comment for more info on how to find their story! #awesomecharacters #writesky #writingcommunity #writingprompts #VforVern #birds #booksky #ya

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Cara M Bassett (Author) @carambassett.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

I got this as a #BlindDateWithABook from an #IndependentBookStore and didn't realize it was a sequel until after I started it. Still, I enjoyed the individual stories & overarcing narrative 9/10 💙📚 #booksky #elizabethstrout #compositenovel #booklover #bookish #anthology #novel #fiction #oliveagain

#1 New York Times bestselling author
Elizabeth Strout

Winner of the Pulitzer Prize

Olive, Again

A Novel

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Cara M Bassett (Author) @carambassett.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

I love when novels include homegrown #folksongs or #lullabys and today's #wipsnips happens to pull from one I wrote for D&D campaign and was later repurposed for a story 😁 #writesky #writingcommunity #writingprompts

North of the valley
If you know where to look
My bonnie’s sweet blossoms
And a babbling brook

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Cara M Bassett (Author) @carambassett.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

This third installment was perhaps my favorite so far🐉! I enjoyed the travel and adventure and forbidden love trope💘. Was surprised to learn many fans dislike it for those exact reasons😅 7.5/10 💙📚 #onyxstorm #romantasy #spicy #booksky #booklover #bookish #bookreview #rebeccayarros #reading #readmore

"Full of action, suspense, and intrigue, this is the ride you've been waiting for. Hold on tight" Daily Mirror

Onyx Storm

Rebecca Yarros
The number one bestselling author

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Cara M Bassett (Author) @carambassett.bsky.social · 05/05/2026

Hello everyone! A new part of my #scifi series #AGreaterCloseness is live in the literary magazine #MagicInProgress Check it out and use my code "Bassett" for 20% off your first payment! #litmag #writesky #readsky #scififantasy #writingcommunity #booklover #bookish #shortstory #ad #indieartist

Read more in the 11th issue of Magic in Progress on MoonlightCovenPiblishing.com/magic-in-progress

Available now for paid subscribers

Use code "Bassett" for 20% off your first payment.

He found himself dawdling outside the nursery a little longer every day, as if going inside that room somehow constituted a betrayal against his father. As if someone would be able to see just how much he longed to crawl into the safety of the sleeping pads and comforting arms of the nursery maids and attend school no longer.

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Cara M Bassett (Author) @carambassett.bsky.social · 03/05/2026

A bit of a #ReadingWrapUp of #April. I've been busy at my day job these past few months, hence the hiatus, &haven't had as much time to read but I did try to #read at least a little bit everyday☺️ Looking forward to sharing my #bookreviews &other projects moving forward! #reading #booksky #bookish 💙📚

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Cara M Bassett (Author) @carambassett.bsky.social · 29/04/2026

I'm looking forward to a full return in May. In the meantime, here is an #ad for the anthology I was in & a message addressing the AI usage. Thank you for supporting me as I learn & grow as an author. Email me if you'd like a limited edition copy shipped to you! #scififantasy #writesky #books

Limited Time Offer- while supply lasts!
Help Wanted: Inquire Within
An anthology by Strange Moon Press
With a limited-editiom cover
(Free sticker)
Designed by Cara M Bassett-
Author of V for Vern

$15 with local delivery
Additional S&H for non-local orders

Contact me on FB or at carambassett@gmail.com for orders or with questions

A note to audiences:

I do not condone the usage of generative AI for art, especially art meant to be sold. I was unaware when I submitted to this anthology that the art being used was generated with AI. I have learned from this experience and will know better in the future. I discovered the cover art was made using AI after I’d already placed my order for copies. I have already spoken with the publisher privately regarding the usage and future projects.

After selling copies to family and friends who were eager to support my work, I sat with the rest of my inventory, unsure of how to proceed ethically.

Eventually, I came up with a plan for the books I have remaining: a free sticker used as a limited-edition recovering, designed by myself and printed locally. By purchasing one of these books, you support me as a local author. I have already paid for these and have no intention of buying more from the publisher, but am still really proud of the work I put into the story inside.

You may purchase copies from the publisher’s website, but only the copies bought from me will come with the new cover and will support me directly.

Thank you and I hope you enjoy my work, as well as the work from the authors included in the anthology.

Praise for V for Vern
"It's REALLY good!"
"Vern is such a vibe. I loved all the descriptive language... You could really feel the mystery of it"
"It left me wanting more"

With the curveballs he’d been thrown throughout the night, staying positive felt like quite a challenge, but he was determined to try. Facing adversity with a positive attitude was just the kind of thing top recruiters looked for in applicants. Plus, this summer was bound to make one hell of an admissions essay.

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Cara M Bassett (Author) @carambassett.bsky.social · 14/04/2026

Breaking my brief hiatus to announce that I will be attending the #UnboundBookFestival & #WriteOnWorkshop this weekend, & that I have been selected as a winner of the #FirstPageRodeo 🤠 You can read my entry & the other 4 amazing winners at unboundbookfestival.com/write-on-workshop #writesky #booksky

unboundbookfestival.com

Write On! Workshop — Unbound Book Festival

Join Unbound for a daylong writing workshop. Some sessions open to the public.

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Cara M Bassett (Author) @carambassett.bsky.social · 10/03/2026

I'm certainly always interested in a good collection of short stories. I'll have to look for this one at the library pretty soon!

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Cara M Bassett (Author) @carambassett.bsky.social · 09/03/2026

This came highly recommended to me as a way to arm myself with the #history of how #OpenAI and #ArtificialIntelligence came to be what it is today. Fascinating, horrifying, & paints a humbling picture of the humans behind the code 8/10 💙📚 #karenhao #nonfiction #booksky #bookish #bookreview #bookish

Empire of AI
Dreams and Nightmares in Sam Altman's OpenAI
Karen Hao

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Cara M Bassett (Author) @carambassett.bsky.social · 26/02/2026

#ParableoftheSower by #OctaviaButler came very highly recommended to me by an old professor of mine and when I finally got around to reading it, I LOVED it! It was a 10/10 for me. #ParableoftheTalents is next ☺️ #TBRuary #booksky #writesky #bookish #booklover #bookrec #bookreview #scifi #dystopian

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Reposted by Cara M Bassett (Author)

Jeff VanderMeer @jeffvandermeer.bsky.social · 25/02/2026

your emergency moment of calm: baby opossum eating a grape

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Cara M Bassett (Author) @carambassett.bsky.social · 24/02/2026

Waldo is an underaged girl infatuated with her HS teacher & convinced a love like his is all she needs to make her world right. Similar to her memoir, McCurdy is curt & detached while achieving a whirlpool level of vulnerability. 6/10 💙📚 #booksky #bookish #booklover #jeanettemccurdy #halfhisage #COA

Half His Age

Jeanette McCurdy

#1 New York Times Bestselling Author of
I'm Glad My Mom Died

A Novel

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Cara M Bassett (Author) @carambassett.bsky.social · 23/02/2026

My goals for the week are to write 3 more short stories/poems as a part of my "10 shorts/poems a month" goal, and to finish edits on my March submission for #MagicInProgress ! Excited to be back to writing #AGreaterDistance 😁 💙✍️ #Writinfcommunity #lgbtqwriters #queerwriters #writingprompts #Writesky

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Cara M Bassett (Author) @carambassett.bsky.social · 19/02/2026

Went in blind only knowing the #FanningSisters were going to be in the film. #TheNightingale is a grueling wartime #drama following two sisters in the nazi occupation of #Paris during #WW2. Not what I expected but beautifully written 7/10 💙📚 #booksky #booklover #historical #fiction #kristinhannah

Kristin Hannah

The #1 New York Times Bestseller

The Nightingale

Read by Polly Stone

A Novel

Soon to be a major motion picture

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Cara M Bassett (Author) @carambassett.bsky.social · 18/02/2026

Today's #wipsnips is brought to you by part of my #scifi series #AGreaterCloseness which is published in the #MagicinProgress literary magazine 💙📚 #laser #writesky #booksky #litmag #writingcommunity #writingprompt moonlightcovenpublishing.com/pricing-3 use my code BASSETT at checkout for a discount!

They were close to the rendez-vous Maya had described: a section of the hangar that was marked “under construction” by blinking laser tape.

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Cara M Bassett (Author) @carambassett.bsky.social · 17/02/2026

A soulful, hearty story about a titaness gaining knowledge &power in an age of tumultuous gods and men, despite many attempts to keep her from it. Beautiful and gripping, Miller is a force to be reckoned with 9.5/10 💙📚 #booksky #circe #madelinemiller #booklover #epic #greek #fantasy #bookish #books

"An epic spanning thousands of years that's also a keep-you-up-all-night-page-turner." -Ann Pratchett, author of Commonwealth

By the New York Times bestselling author of The Song of Achilles

Circe

A Novel

Madeline Miller

Unabridged

Read by Perdita Weeks

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Cara M Bassett (Author) @carambassett.bsky.social · 12/02/2026

Another brief hiatus as I recover from a respiratory infection. Tis the season😔 What's everyone reading? I just started #TheNightingale by #KristinHannah after waiting forever to get it off a hold on #Libby Very excited to have a new book to keep me company while sick! 💙📚 #booksky #bookish #qotd

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