iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Charm City Spec Official

Vajra Chandrasekera @vajra.me · 30/09/2026

My third novel, HERO COME HOME, officially has a cover! Preorderable from the usual places us.macmillan.com/books/978125...

The cover of my third novel, HERO COME HOME. Four human figures centred, the main image being that of a bearded man looking back over his shoulder (that's Oro, the protagonist), with a circle of symbols behind him. We can see a swan and a key. In the foreground are three people: two women, one with a mysterious marking? scar? who knows!? on her cheek and the other carrying a sword, flanking an older, balding man holding up a pistol. The possibly-scarred woman looks ever so slightly amused, and that is certainly very like her. Everybody else is not happy to be here, or indeed, anywhere

56586199

Reposted by Charm City Spec Official

Sarah Pinsker @sarahpinsker.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Chatting before @charmcityspec.bsky.social we had the sudden realization that the conversation included three @clarionwest.bsky.social grads and one instructor/hanger-on. Rutendo Chidzodzo, Justin C. Key, Carolyn Ives Gilman all looking lovely in the Ivy Bookshop garden.

A bunch of very photogenic writers on a patio taking a selfie with a selfie-inept photographer.

1274

Reposted by Charm City Spec Official

John Wiswell @wiswell.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Did you ever wonder what the dragons are thinking in all those dragon rider novels? Well I wrote a story about exactly that. One curmudgeonly dragon has snuck into the academy and has to keep his identity secret. That means pretending to be tame. No matter how much he wants to devour his rider.

bookshop.org

The Dragon Has Some Complaints

"The dragon may have some complaints, but readers won't. By turns silly, sweet, and subversive, this novel has all of Wiswell's characteristic blend of tension and heart." —Caitlin Rozakis, New York T...

414237

Charm City Spec Official @charmcityspec.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Join us when Justin C. Key uncorks his new novel, a sci-fi medical thriller, at this Friday's Charm City Spec! He reads live with an all-star lineup of authors: James Simmons, Mary G. Thompson, Rutendo Chidzondo, and Riley Black. Don't miss them!

In a large hand-drawn script, "Justin C. Key reads Charm City Spec". An author photo of a smiling Mr. Key appears alongside the text. Fine print: 6pm September 25th, 2026, The Ivy Bookshop, 5928 Falls Road. Everyone is welcome!"

032

Charm City Spec Official @charmcityspec.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Come out and hear the talented and accomplished Rutendo Chidzodzo on her Charm City Spec debut! Admission is free, and everyone is welcome!

Rutendo Chidzodzo reads Charm City Spec, 6pm Friday September 25th, 2026, at the Ivy Bookshop, 5928 Falls Road in Baltimore

110

Charm City Spec Official @charmcityspec.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Come join us this Friday, September 25th, when Mary G. Thompson reads live from her new novel, Precious Children, along with a full program of authors: Justin C. Key Riley Black Rutendo Chidzodzo James Simmons

Mary G. Thompson Reads Charm City Spec
6PM Friday September 25th
The Ivy Bookshop
5928 Falls Road (in Baltimore)

133

Reposted by Charm City Spec Official

Christiane Knight @christianek.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Just started and I'm already invested! [really, your reading at @charmcityspec.bsky.social sold me]

022

Charm City Spec Official @charmcityspec.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

James Simmons reads Charm City Spec! 6pm Friday September 25th at the Ivy Bookshop, on the patio. All are welcome!

122

Reposted by Charm City Spec Official

John Picacio @johnpicacio.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Baltimore Homies: Mark your calendars for @charmcityspec.bsky.social’s September 25th author extravaganza featuring @marygthompson.bsky.social @justinkey.bsky.social @restingdinoface.bsky.social and more at The Ivy Bookshop. cc: @sarahpinsker.bsky.social @nottenst.bsky.social @capclave.bsky.social

Graphic promoting Charm City Spec’s September 25th author reading lineup at the Ivy Bookshop (featuring peacock feather background).

31813

Reposted by Charm City Spec Official

Scott Edelman @scottedelman.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

ICYMI: Eating the Fantastic's Worldcon Donut Divertissment episode went live this morning. Eavesdrop and learn about Ursula K. Le Guin’s reply when asked if she was an anarchist, how hanging out in the halls can often be the most fun of all — plus much more. www.scottedelman.com/wordpress/20...

scottedelman.com

Welcome to the wonderful world of Worldcon donuts on Episode 292 of Eating the Fantastic ‹ Scott Edelman

1259

Charm City Spec Official @charmcityspec.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Full house of talented writers eager to slip their sumptuous words into your ears! Come out and give us a listen, you won't regret it! Friday September 25th, 6pm at The Ivy Bookshop! All are welcome!

Background is all iridescent peacock feathers. In various brightly colored fonts: "Charm City Spec. Rutendo Chidzodzo, Mary G. Thompson, James Simmons, Justin C. Key, Riley Black. 6 pm September 25, The Ivy Bookshop"

122

Charm City Spec Official @charmcityspec.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Wanted to wish CCS alumnus @alansmale.bsky.social congratulations on his winning the Sideward Alternate History Award for his story "Caesar at Sea", in the SKULL x Bones #pirate anthology! Congratulations to all the folks at Zombies Need Brains, especially editors David B. Coe & Joshua Palmatier!

Cover art for the Skull x Bones anthology, edited by David B. Coe & Joshua Palmatier. The image is of a traditional pirate captain similar to Blackbeard, but instead of an eyepatch he wears a laser monocle, charged and ready to fire.

030

Charm City Spec Official @charmcityspec.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

Mark your calendars now—it's going to be a frabjous evening!

September 25th Charm City Spec
Readers: Mary G. Thompson, James Simmons,
Justin C. Key, Riley Black, Rutendo Chidzodzo
The Ivy Bookshop, 5928 Falls Road, 6pm 9/25/26
ALL ARE WELCOME

063

Charm City Spec Official @charmcityspec.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

The Outer Rim Festival, a celebration of speculative films, is happening next weekend! Premieres, panel discussions, local creators and cinema from 10 different countries! Don't miss it!

"THE Outer Rim Film Festival 2026, Aug 28-30c Baltimore Maryland, premier cinema from across the multiverse" Image: humanoids in spacesuits overlooking an alien landscape in vivid colors.

111

Charm City Spec Official @charmcityspec.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

Come hear Mary G. Thompson read at the next Charm City Spec, September 25th at the Ivy Bookshop in Baltimore—it's going to be a frabjous night!

012

Reposted by Charm City Spec Official

Christopher Mark Rose @chrisrose.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

Great night at the Greedy Reads in Remington, hearing solid gold repartee between authors John Wiswell and Jo Miles! That place is a gem, and so are these two!

051

Reposted by Charm City Spec Official

Jo Miles @jomiles.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

Today and tomorrow, WARPED STATE is on sale for $0.99! A sci-fi thriller with activists taking on an evil corporation, plus a lovable sentient spaceship and a dash of M/M interspecies romance. First in a completed trilogy! books2read.com/warpedstate #bookSky #scifibooks #ebooksale

$0.99 Ebook sale: Warped State. Labels read: Activists in space! Hijinks galore. Hopeful and defiant. Sentient spaceship with anxiety issues. M/M interspecies relationship. Evil corporation being evil.

073

Reposted by Charm City Spec Official

Jo Miles @jomiles.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

2 days away! Baltimore folks, will we see you there? #booksky #baltimore

152

Charm City Spec Official @charmcityspec.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

Join us for Charm City Spec this Saturday, when Hugo and Locus Award winning author Ray Nayler reads from his incandescent new novel, THE PALACE OF THE CROW.

A crow with several additional wings is depicted in a half-cloudy sky. The text says "Ray Nayler reads Charm City Spec, 6pm Saturday July 11th, at the Ivy Bookshop, 5928 Falls Road in Baltimore. All are welcome."

121

Reposted by Charm City Spec Official

Horned Lark Press @hornedlarkpress.com · 08/07/2026

Out now and available to rekindle your sense of wonder: THE FINAL CHRONICLE OF YENEH by @jomiles.bsky.social! This page has a bunch of handy links: hornedlarkpress.com/product/the-...

A copy of the aforementioned book with a trope map:
For grownups who grew up loving Narnia and dreaming of the stars
THE FINAL CHRONICLE OF YENEH
Wonderfully weird
alien plants
Science vs capitalism
Dark family secrets
Unlikely allies
Science fiction in a portal fantasy coat
Terraforming is super problematic, actually

084

Charm City Spec Official @charmcityspec.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

Join us as we welcome back the talented and surprising Jo Miles, to the next Charm City Spec! Jo reads from their new novel THE FINAL CHRONICLE OF YENEH, along with a passel of brilliant authors, at 6pm Saturday July 11th on the patio at the Ivy Bookshop, 5928 Falls Road. You won't want to miss it!

243

Charm City Spec Official @charmcityspec.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

Come to the garden with us when Nicole M. Wolverton uncorks a stunner, her new A MISFORTUNE OF LAKE MONSTERS, at the next CHARM CITY SPEC! It's 6pm Saturday July 11th on the patio behind the Ivy Bookshop, 5928 Falls Road in Baltimore. It's free, and everyone is welcome!

NICOLE M. WOLVERTON READS CHARM CITY SPEC, 6pm July 11th, 2026
The Ivy Bookshop, 5928 Falls Road in Baltimore. Free to everyone, and all are welcome.

101

Reposted by Charm City Spec Official

Meg Elison @megelison.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

Meg lore galore in this one! Arley does a great job on these interviews.

0124

Charm City Spec Official @charmcityspec.bsky.social · 27/06/2026

The amazing Jo Miles reads at the upcoming July 11th Charm City Spec!

030

Reposted by Charm City Spec Official

Kai Ashante Wilson @wildeeps.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

New Kai Ashante Wilson novel! Hopefully this update post rectifies the issues with the earlier one. I want y'all to see it! www.patreon.com/KaiAshanteWi...

33126

Charm City Spec Official @charmcityspec.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

Glad to see Charm City Spec Alumna A.C. Wise in such stellar company here!

120

Reposted by Charm City Spec Official

Jo Miles @jomiles.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

Today at 2pm ET! Come hang out! Ask us questions! Maybe win a book! Join on Instagram (mine www.instagram.com/jomileswrites/ or Kevin's) or on Twitch (twitch.tv/kevinhearne) #bookSky #SFFbooks

11712

Reposted by Charm City Spec Official

John Wiswell @wiswell.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

Final Stop: July 18th, at Greedy Reads in Baltimore, Maryland, to chat with the cozy author and Star Trek specialist Jo Miles (@jomiles.bsky.social)! Baltimore was the first city I ever loved. It’s going to be so good to come back.

greedyreads.com

John Wiswell presents THE DRAGON HAS SOME COMPLAINTS | Greedy Reads Remington

Baltimore's best local indie bookstore. Now with two locations!

3248

Charm City Spec Official @charmcityspec.bsky.social · 07/06/2026

Congratulations to CCS alumna A.C. Wise!! She won a Stoker award last night (actually splitting the win with Nathan Ballingrud) for her story "Wolf Moon, Antler Moon"!

120

Reposted by Charm City Spec Official

Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association @sfwa.bsky.social · 06/06/2026

Today's the day we crown this year's Nebula Award winners! EVERYONE is welcome to join us for the Nebula Awards Ceremony this evening at 8 p.m. CT. SFWA Members and virtual attendees, join us in the SFWA EVENTS THEATER or Flight Crew Watch Party. We look forward to seeing you out! #61stNebulas #SFF

youtube.com

The 61st Annual Nebula Awards Ceremony

The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association is proud to celebrate its Nebula Award Finalists and Special Award Recipients this year in Chicago at the...

03110

Reposted by Charm City Spec Official

Christopher Mark Rose @chrisrose.bsky.social · 06/06/2026

If you see this, post your bird art.

Promo graphic for Charm City Spec. A black crow and a white dragonette vie for control of a golden polyhedron. Text says "6pm July 11th, The Ivy, 5928 Falls Road, All are welcome" and lists readers for the event: Jo Miles, Ray Nayler, Nicole M. Wolverton, JB Aris, and Andrew Farkas.

0103

Reposted by Charm City Spec Official

Fran Wilde @franwilde.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

A couple bits and bobs, now that I’ve escaped the Terrible Cold… I’m teaching a 3 hr class this Sunday June 7 - AND there’s still space bc I was too gronky to promote it. Use code LastMinuteSharpening for a 20% discount! www.eventbrite.com/e/sharpening... (thx @rachelgutin.bsky.social 4 the nudge)

eventbrite.com

Sharpening Your Words — a generative writing and editing workshop

A 3-hr generative workshop, using existing work to develop editing skills, better use poet's tools, and make concision your friend.

1146

Charm City Spec Official @charmcityspec.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

Posting this again after we (finally) caught a misspelling in an author's name—our fault not theirs, obviously. Please come out and join us if you can!

Charm City Spec, 6pm Saturday July 11th, The Ivy Bookshop, 5928 Falls Road in Baltimore. Reading at the July event: Jo Miles, Ray Nayler, J.B. Aris, Nicole M. Wolverton, and Andrew Farkas.
—— ALL ARE WELCOME——

010

Charm City Spec Official @charmcityspec.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

Just wanted to say we're grateful to every author who gives, in their author bio, some sense of where they're located, because it clues us in as to who we can reasonably ask to read at a CCS event. It saves us both some time (but HEY! If you live far but might be passing through, hit us up!)

010

Charm City Spec Official @charmcityspec.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

010

Charm City Spec Official @charmcityspec.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

This story punches W-A-A-A-Y above its word count! It's eally worth your time—

163

Charm City Spec Official @charmcityspec.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

Looking forward to this!! If you're at Balticon, please stop by!

121

Charm City Spec Official @charmcityspec.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

Just to alert everyone, the address in the graphic is incorrect. The Ivy Bookshop is at 5928 Falls Road in Baltimore. Regardless, hope to see you there!

Charm City Spec, readings by authors: Jo Miles, Ray Nayler, JB Aris, Andrew Farcas, and Nicole M. Wolverton. 6 p.m. on Saturday July 11th, on the patio behind the Ivy Bookshop, 5928 Falls Road in Baltimore. All are welcome—

000

Reposted by Charm City Spec Official

Fran Wilde @franwilde.bsky.social · 19/05/2026

Oh hey! I’m teaching an online pop-up class again! Sharpening Your Words: Sunday, June 7 from 1pm - 4pm eastern. We’ll work on making your words work harder & more precisely, using a series of generative practices. Register here: www.eventbrite.com/e/sharpening...

eventbrite.com

Sharpening Your Words — a generative writing and editing workshop

A 3-hr generative workshop, using existing work to develop editing skills, better use poet's tools, and make concision your friend.

1114

Reposted by Charm City Spec Official

Amber Sparks @ambersparks.bsky.social · 19/05/2026

For the BW/DR 1976 Issue, I wrote about an unfairly maligned favorite - the remake of King Kong. Insanely good suit acting, dizzyingly beautiful young stars, a goofy sense of humor - and a bleak ending that could only belong to a movie made in 1976 - what’s not to love?

3489

Reposted by Charm City Spec Official

Victor LaValle @victorlavalle.bsky.social · 05/05/2026

Being part of the fiction jury for the Pulitzer Prize means you read A LOT of books. Inevitably, there’s more excellent work than you can count. Since the prize has been announced, I’m recommending five other books that I read and loved during the process. Read ‘em all!

17873175

Charm City Spec Official @charmcityspec.bsky.social · 27/04/2026

It was a real treat to have Mahaila Smith read at the most recent Charm City Spec! Thanks for coming out!

041

Charm City Spec Official @charmcityspec.bsky.social · 21/04/2026

Congratulations to CCS alumni Jo Miles! Come hear her read at the July 11th Charm City Spec! 📖

011