iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

CJ Powers @cjpowerswrites.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Crucially this is NOT how the actual conversation went but I made myself laugh with this thought.

Four panel comic of faceless bean people
Therapist: Based on what you've talked about, I think you'd benefit from EMDR.
Me: I thought that was for people who needed to work through trauma
Therapist: pointed silence
Me: Ah, beans.

CJ Powers @cjpowerswrites.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

I know I'm late to the party but I recently rewatched @drawfeeshow.com "Four artists draw characters from one description" with @rebeckeronie.bsky.social and the need to draw these four big-titted baddies was undeniable but I did NOT do Naruto's outfit justice

Sierra, sitting on Naruto's shoulders, flirtatiously hangs onto Nevada's strong arm, while Rory prepares to torture... I mean experiment on Luce in the background. Naruto is just happy to be involved.

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CJ Powers @cjpowerswrites.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Artist's rendition of the excellent dog I saw today

Sketch of an extremely large bulldog being pushed in a stroller

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CJ Powers @cjpowerswrites.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

I do enjoy keeping my loved ones abreast of my life events in the most cryptic ways I can think of

Text conversation:
OP: At my pre-op appointment before my uterus gets into a knife fight next week
Friend: I'm sorry???

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CJ Powers @cjpowerswrites.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

I'm so bad at promoting this but I am a founding member of a queer theater group in the Twin Cities and we're putting on our first production next month! If you'd like to support weird queer theater made by weird queer folks, you can buy tickets or donate here! www.mixfittheatre.org/tickets

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CJ Powers @cjpowerswrites.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

What did I do with my long weekend, you ask? Well I spent an inordinate amount of time test-formatting Lest We Forget because I wanted to see what it might look like in print. I love this book so much.

A photo of a computer screen showing the first page of Lest We Forget, formatted for paperback.

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CJ Powers @cjpowerswrites.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

This isn't how I expected to be told of the second coming but here we are

A handwritten note shoved under the door of a office lunch room with the text "God's here. Repent." written on it

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CJ Powers @cjpowerswrites.bsky.social · 24/05/2026

Yo did someone leave their octopus out it's on my arm for some reason?

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CJ Powers @cjpowerswrites.bsky.social · 03/04/2026

Without any plot hints or links to anything, quote post a dream cast for your WIP (or one of them) (The ideal adaptation for Lest We Forget is actually animation BUT I feel like these folks would do it justice)

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CJ Powers @cjpowerswrites.bsky.social · 28/03/2026

Important to note: my hat was made from the Melt the ICE pattern based on a Norwegian Nazi resistance hat and I saw so many other people wearing the same or similar. Proud to add my voice and presence to this demonstration of resistance

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CJ Powers @cjpowerswrites.bsky.social · 18/03/2026

Every day when I get home from work I am BESET by an elderly black cat who yells at me until I cradle him like a baby and the thing is he's not even my cat, he belongs to my roommate. (I love him though he's my buddy)

Photo of a person with short blue hair, looking at the camera while the majority of the photo is taken up by a very smug black cat sitting directly on their tits

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CJ Powers @cjpowerswrites.bsky.social · 09/03/2026

Well it's my birthday and my coworkers just proved they know me well

A frog sits contemplatively, staring into the distance while the text above its head reads: Rage consumes me

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CJ Powers @cjpowerswrites.bsky.social · 06/02/2026

What are we thinking, new author photos? (photos by @kaylaswickedvisuals on Insta)

A woman in a black dress on a red background seated on a throne

A woman in a black dress facing away from the camera holding a sword

A woman in a black dress sitting on a throne pointing a sword in front of her and looking down the blade

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CJ Powers @cjpowerswrites.bsky.social · 14/01/2026

#FantasyIndiesJanuary Day 8: Your writing strengths Dialogue! It's probably my favorite part of doing a scene, and I feel like I do a pretty darn good job of making it feel like someone could actually say it. I also feel pretty confident in my comedy skills.

A list of prompts for Fantasy Indies January compiled by @ChesneyInfalt and @LydiaVRussell

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CJ Powers @cjpowerswrites.bsky.social · 13/01/2026

#FantasyIndiesJanuary Day 7: The first line of your WIP, aka Jindor has no idea he's about to have the worst two days of his life.

Jindor Tideson, was, as always, perfectly on time . . . and perfectly convinced he’d somehow missed a critical part of the Rite of High Tide as he felt the weight of the entire Cerulean Cathedral’s congregation’s eyes on him.

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CJ Powers @cjpowerswrites.bsky.social · 12/01/2026

#FantasyIndiesJanuary Day 6: Platonic love that's completely platonic and just as devoted and sometimes more unhinged than romantic love. Also more buff women please and thank you.

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CJ Powers @cjpowerswrites.bsky.social · 11/01/2026

#FantasyIndiesJanuary Day 4: MC's Goals: Jindor: Become a perfect paladin like everyone wants him to be Norn: Follow their fate to their destined end Prentyss: Make a name for herself as the first half-devil on the Queensguard Irileth: Win her son back from the fey realm

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CJ Powers @cjpowerswrites.bsky.social · 07/01/2026

#FantasyIndiesJanuary Day 1 (shhh I'm late): Intros! Hello, I'm Christine (or CJ) Powers and I'm a queer writer from Minnesota. LEST WE FORGET is a multi-POV adult fantasy novel about how a chosen one is the person who chooses to act, and also about a horrible octopus god trying to eat the world.

A list of prompts for Fantasy Indies January, hosted by @ChesneyInfalt and @LydiaVRussell

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CJ Powers @cjpowerswrites.bsky.social · 09/12/2025

Made my brother's girlfriend a hat because he asked nicely. #knitting

A blue knit hat with cabling resembling a pine tree

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CJ Powers @cjpowerswrites.bsky.social · 23/11/2025

Highly recommend having your very own nefarious overseer to keep you on track while you edit

A grey and white cat with facial markings that look distressingly like a penis glares tiredly at someone editing a book.

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CJ Powers @cjpowerswrites.bsky.social · 01/11/2025

One of my coworkers brought in a bunch of cat ear headbands and I put one on and apparently I was sitting in such a way that perfectly emulated a cat and it absolutely cracked my other coworker up. Artist's rendition:

A doodle of me sitting in an office chair, wearing a face mask and cat ears, with my hands folded like a cat loafing

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CJ Powers @cjpowerswrites.bsky.social · 20/09/2025

I finally have my grubby little hands on my editing notes

An extremely simplified self portrait of CJ, looking down at her overly detailed hands. Text says: These horrible, gnarled hands

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CJ Powers @cjpowerswrites.bsky.social · 19/08/2025

My coworker made me this little rotund frog and no joke it's done WONDERS for my mental health

A fat crocheted frog with a crocheted mug of coffee

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CJ Powers @cjpowerswrites.bsky.social · 11/08/2025

Here's an actual photo of me waiting for my editing notes because I'm cool and chill like that

A rotund cat approximately six feet off the ground and clinging to a screen door, staring intently outside

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CJ Powers @cjpowerswrites.bsky.social · 08/08/2025

Behold! The stinkiest boy in all the realms

A husky avoiding eye contact as he holds OP's hand

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CJ Powers @cjpowerswrites.bsky.social · 02/07/2025

#FantasyIndiesJuly Day 1: Hi everyone, I'm CJ (or Christine, I'm not picky), and I'm a theater kid DND nerd who wrote a book about four strangers teaming up against an eldritch abomination that eats memories

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CJ Powers @cjpowerswrites.bsky.social · 11/06/2025

Me watching my Strahd party roleplay with each other with minimal input from me

An extremely oval seal with folded human hands photoshopped onto it so it looks contemplative

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CJ Powers @cjpowerswrites.bsky.social · 21/05/2025

Repost with a picture of what brings you joy. Don't forget the Alt Text!

A grey and white husky sitting on the couch next to the photo-taker, with one paw firmly in my hand while he refuses to look at me

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CJ Powers @cjpowerswrites.bsky.social · 29/04/2025

My late birthday present from my little brother arrived and I'm so happyyyyyy

Two of Kate Beaton's anthologies: Hark! A Vagrant and Step Aside Pops

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CJ Powers @cjpowerswrites.bsky.social · 25/04/2025

Without downloading any pics, where are you mentally?

A gray and white kitten sits behind text: Damn this shit sucks. It's a good thing that I'm indomitable.

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CJ Powers @cjpowerswrites.bsky.social · 22/04/2025

I got sick and it knocked me on my ass ANYWAY April Worldbuilding day 19: There are no laws prohibiting them from doing anything but Djall face quite a bit of prejudice from people due to their devilish features

April worldbuilders day 19: laws rights or discrimination specific to a species/ race

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CJ Powers @cjpowerswrites.bsky.social · 19/04/2025

April Worldbuilding Day 18: Biological trait reflected in culture Djall embellish their horns after personal achievements. Elekin dislike physical touch since it can both hurt others and themselves.

April worldbuilders Day 18: Biological trait reflected in culture

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CJ Powers @cjpowerswrites.bsky.social · 17/04/2025

April Worldbuilding Day 17: What can they do that a human can't do? Djall aren't fire*proof* but they are extremely resistant to it, as are fire elekin. Water elekin can breathe underwater, earth elekin can sense minerals, and air elekin can fall from any height without injury.

April Worldbuilders hosted by Kira of the Wind Day 17: What can they do that a human cannot do?

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CJ Powers @cjpowerswrites.bsky.social · 16/04/2025

April Worldbuilding Day 16: What do they eat? Both Djall and Elekin can eat "normal" food but Djall have a reputation for seeking out extremely spicy dishes. Elekin will snack on pieces of their element. Water and earth elekin have an easier time doing this than fire or air elekin.

April Worldbuilders Day 16: What do they eat?

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CJ Powers @cjpowerswrites.bsky.social · 16/04/2025

April Worldbuilding Week 3 Day 15: Non humans (besides our fantasy standards: elves, orcs, dwarves, gnomes, etc) Djall: half-devils, usually have horns/tails and red/purple skin, naturally resistant to magic Elekin: descendants of elementals, natural magicians

April Worldbuilders hosted by Kira of the Wind Day 15: Non human species/race name and traits

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CJ Powers @cjpowerswrites.bsky.social · 16/04/2025

April Worldbuilding Day 14: SNIPPET: Road/Street Jindor and Prentyss have a heart to heart on the streets of Annomere.

April Worldbuilders, hosted by Kira of the Wind. Day 14: Snippet: Road/Street

An excerpt from Lest We Forget, superimposed on a black and white photo of a cobblestone street: "I don't think you've ever mentioned your mom," Jindor said, after a few more blocks.
"Well, we haven't known each other that long," Prentyss replied, rubbing at her arms. "She died a few years ago."
Jindor nodded slowly. Perhaps he'd been a little harsh on Prentyss, since he didn't really know what to say either.
"She was an adventurer. I guess mercenary is a better word for it. She liked solving puzzles. Finding the clever way around a problem. She taught me everything she knew, when she was, you know, actually here." She kicked a rock and it went clattering down the street.
"When I was a kid, I thought she was gone so much because she didn't want to be around me. Maybe if I was good, she'd stay. That didn't work. Maybe if I was bad, she'd stay. That didn't work either, but I stopped getting bullied by the other kids when I started fighting back."

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CJ Powers @cjpowerswrites.bsky.social · 14/04/2025

April Worldbuilding Day 13: Cleanliness Annomere has a well-maintained sewage and water system, with mages refreshing the filtration spells every year. Keeping the streets clean of trash and such is a little more mundane, but no less important. The sanitation workers are unionized.

April Worldbuilders hosted by Kira of the Wind
Day 13: Cleanliness

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CJ Powers @cjpowerswrites.bsky.social · 14/04/2025

April Worldbuilding Day 12: Architectural style In my head I see something close to a Mediterranean seaside city crossed with San Francisco. Lots of solid stone buildings intended to stand against the frequent storms with sparse wooden structures besides buildings by the docks.

April Worldbuilders hosted by Kira of the Wind. Day 12: Architectural style

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CJ Powers @cjpowerswrites.bsky.social · 10/04/2025

April Worldbuilding Day 10: Source of Water There are several freshwater springs either in or close to the city. Additionally some time ago a few wizards were like "hey this city is getting pretty big we should make sure there's water here" and created an aqueduct that goes to a nearby river

April Worldbuilders Hosted by Kira of the Wind. Day 10: Source of water

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CJ Powers @cjpowerswrites.bsky.social · 09/04/2025

April Worldbuilding Day 9: Local government The reigning monarch is Queen Anastasia, the former princess of Cul who married King Stefan of Arnest a decade ago as part of the peace agreement between Cul and Arnest. The landed gentry are part of the country's day to day administration.

April World builders Day 9: Local government

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CJ Powers @cjpowerswrites.bsky.social · 09/04/2025

April Worldbuilding Week 2, Day 8: Name of town/city Annomere, the jewel of the southern coast and the capital of Arnest, sits in a natural harbor surrounded by forests and farmland. If you look closely you can still see the edges of the repairs from the end of the war a decade ago.

April Worldbuilders, hosted by Kira of the Wind. Week 2. Day 8: Name of town/city

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CJ Powers @cjpowerswrites.bsky.social · 09/04/2025

April Worldbuilding Day 7: SNIPPET: Blade/Bow Here's a piece of the first chapter, wherein Jindor becomes a Paladin of the Crashing Wave, one of the holy knights serving the sea goddess Oluvea

April Worldbuilders, hosted by Kira of the Wind. Day 7: Snippet: Blade/Bow

An excerpt from LEST WE FORGET, set on a stormy ocean flanked by two line drawings of swords. Excerpt reads as follows: Strapped to Jindor's left arm was a thick shield, painted azure blue and rimmed with pearly white, and his right hand held a sword unlike any he'd ever seen before, perfectly balanced and shimmering with that same silvery blue along the edge. Both felt like he'd had them all his life, as though they'd been made specifically for him, and he stared at them as the room rippled once more, excitement jumping from person to person like a skipped stone on a lake. This was proof he was special, wasn't it? The goddess had not granted a paladin a holy weapon in almost a century.
(In italics) My son. My paladin. Use my gifts with wisdom and mercy. Protect the weak, and strike back against those who harm the innocent. Remember your oaths. (End italics)
Jindor tightened his grip on his sword, keeping his eyes down, afraid that if he looked up, everyone would see the twisted, ugly expression on his face.
(in italics) And remember that I am proud of you. (end italics)
He looked up at the statue, who, once again, looked as though it was smiling.
"I will not fail you," he whispered.

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CJ Powers @cjpowerswrites.bsky.social · 07/04/2025

Yes I am a very serious artist and I play very serious characters in DND for example here's my warlock, Eve, flirting with a lingerie-wearing cockroach to get information while the party watches in befuddlement

A woman lounges sexily on the ground, giving bedroom eyes to a small, lingerie-wearing cockroach. In the background the four other members of the adventuring party watch with identical expressions of barely disguised disgust.

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CJ Powers @cjpowerswrites.bsky.social · 07/04/2025

April Worldbuilders Day 6: Laws regarding weaponry Like most fantasy settings, carrying weapons is accepted and normal, but you need a special license to carry oversized/odd weapons. Since monster attacks are fairly common there's no law against using your weapon within city limits.

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CJ Powers @cjpowerswrites.bsky.social · 06/04/2025

Sometimes the most hated villain of your dnd campaign is not Tiamat, but your character's shitty older brother who likes to read your mind for fun and already Power Word: Kill-ed your girlfriend

A close up of Finnegan Astor, a blonde human mage flipping a golden double-headed coin and smirking at the viewer. His face is in shadow due to the fire behind him but you can still see the unhealed gash on his right cheek from his previous run in with the party. He says, smugly, "Well well well, what do we have here, little brother?", directed offscreen at Elias Astor, his younger half brother (my character).

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CJ Powers @cjpowerswrites.bsky.social · 04/04/2025

April Worldbuilders Day 4: Material used to forge weapons or armor LEST WE FORGET is at a fun intersection of industry and magic. Iron and steel are common, but you also run into armor and weapons made of living wood, shaped stone, crystal, and even lacquered fabric. #fantasy #queerlit

April Worldbuilders hosted by Kira of the Wind. Week 1, Day 4: Material used to forge weapons or armor

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