iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

CONIUM @conium.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

Conium Press is still open for submissions through August 31st! Submit your weirdest books and chapbooks here: www.coniumpress.com/guidelines

coniumpress.com

Guidelines — CONIUM

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CONIUM @conium.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

Submissions are open now through August. Fiction only. Word count is flexible (chapbooks to full-length books considered). We like strange, genre-defying work. Check out the full guidelines here: www.coniumpress.com/guidelines

coniumpress.com

Guidelines — CONIUM

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CONIUM @conium.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

Cover reveal for "houses we die in" by Morghen Tidd! This triptych of experimental stories will be released in Fall 2026. Pre-orders go on sale next month. #books #writing #smallpress #reading #fiction #stories #shortstory #publishing

Cover reveal for Morghen Tidd's "houses we die in." Cover art features bold title typography and a young woman underwater.

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CONIUM @conium.bsky.social · 14/06/2026

Conium Press re-opens for submissions on July 1st. Get your weirdest manuscripts ready. I wanna read them. www.coniumpress.com/guidelines #writing #authors #smallpress #books #fiction #publishing

coniumpress.com

Guidelines — CONIUM

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CONIUM @conium.bsky.social · 06/11/2025

Find us at the Twin Cities Book Festival! Exhibit hall table 619 on Nov 8th at Union Depot in St. Paul, MN. Discounts on books all day long, and author signings too: @jamesrgapinski.bsky.social at 1:00pm @rebeccafishow.bsky.social at 2:00pm Hope to see you there! twincitiesbookfestival.com

Decorative text over a white background reads "Find Conium Press at the Twin Cities Book Festival, table 619, November 8th, Union Depot in St. Paul, MN."

Decorative text over a white background reads "Sale prices and book bundle offers! Plus author signings: 1:00pm, James R. Gapinski, author of The Museum of Future Mistakes; 2:00pm, Rebecca Fishow, author of How to Love a Black Hole. Table 619, November 8th, Union Depot in St. Paul, MN."

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CONIUM @conium.bsky.social · 04/11/2025

We’re gonna be at the Twin Cities Book Festival on Nov 8th! Discounts for #tcbf attendees and author signings at the table: twincitiesbookfestival.com We’re also hosting an after party with @paranoidtree.bsky.social. 7pm at Dual Citizen Brewing: dcbc.com/event/shapes...

twincitiesbookfestival.com

Twin Cities Book Festival

Rain Taxi’s Twin Cities Book Festival is the annual Minnesota gathering for readers, writers, publishers, and purveyors of literature.

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James R. Gapinski @jamesrgapinski.bsky.social · 20/10/2025

Chicago! I’ll see you tomorrow at @madstreetbooks.bsky.social. 7pm. Celebrating my new book. In conversation with @mallorysmart.bsky.social, author and editor at @maudlinhouse.bsky.social Be there. It’s gonna be rad. madstreetbooks.com/events/34263...

madstreetbooks.com

Author Event with James R. Gapinski | Madison Street Books

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James R. Gapinski @jamesrgapinski.bsky.social · 21/10/2025

Want to read my book but don’t want to part with your hard earned cash? You could win a free copy at @thestorygraph.com Enter the giveaway here for a chance to win: app.thestorygraph.com/giveaways/97...

media.tenor.com

a woman says " not in this economy " in yellow

Alt: a woman says " not in this economy " in yellow

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Paranoid Tree Press @paranoidxtree.bsky.social · 08/10/2025

🎉🎉🎉 Party Alert! In partnership with @conium.bsky.social, we will be hosting Shapes & Sound, a reading event & book/zine party. Come hang with us at Dual Citizen Brewery on 11/8. Beverages will be available for purchase and we’ll have some snacks for y’all to enjoy! No RSVP and totally free. ❤️

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CONIUM @conium.bsky.social · 08/10/2025

It’s publication day for “How to Love a Black Hole,” by @rebeccafishow.bsky.social Get your copy today. The author will be celebrating this book at @madstreetbooks.bsky.social in Chicago this Thursday! 🎉🎊 www.coniumpress.com/how-to-love-... #books #reading #writing #authorevent #pubday

Graphic advertising “How to Love a Black Hole,” by Rebecca Fishow, available now from CONIUM Press. Text also mentions a launch event on October 9th, 2025 at 7:00pm at Madison Street Books in Chicago. The advertised book cover features a cockroach on a white circle.

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CONIUM @conium.bsky.social · 04/10/2025

Hey, Chicago! “How to Love a Black Hole” releases next week! Celebrate the launch at Madison Street Books with the author and special guest Anne Yoder! Thursday, October 9th at 7:00pm. madstreetbooks.com/events/35069... #books #reading #writing

Flyer advertising an event for How to Love a Black Hole, a new book by Rebecca Fishow. Event date is Oct 9th, 2025 at 7:00pm at Madison Street Books in Chicago, IL.

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David Wojo @mrwojorising.bsky.social · 19/07/2025

This is a lovely, fun and super quick read especially if you are a cat person. Definitely recommend. @conium.bsky.social

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CONIUM @conium.bsky.social · 21/06/2025

Seems like a good time to remind writers that we do not and will not publish AI works. A strict prohibition against AI is part of the contract our authors sign. It’s even printed on the copyright page of our latest books. We publish fiction written by PEOPLE. Feels like that should be obvious…

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Chicago Review of Books @chicagorevbooks.bsky.social · 07/04/2025

"I like to entertain the idea that there are possibilities outside taken-for-granted terms of the real.” @dwhitethewriter.bsky.social's interview with Rebecca Fishow on her new book “How To Love A Black Hole"(@conium.bsky.social) is out now! chireviewofbooks.com/2025/04/07/f...

chireviewofbooks.com

Form and Formlessness in "How To Love A Black Hole": An Interview with Rebecca Fishow - Chicago Review of Books

Prose writer, creative writing instructor, and visual artist Rebecca Fishow’s latest book of short fiction, How to Love a Black Hole, is a rapid, deft, and illusive collection. Moving between narratio...

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CONIUM @conium.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

We’ve got ONE “We Are Still Here” and ONE “Girl & Flame” left! If you want either of these fantastic books, come get ‘em at #AWP25 table T937

Photo of two books: “We Are Still Here,” by Emily Koon and “Girl & Flame,” by Melissa Reddish.

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CONIUM @conium.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

Final day at #awp25. Discounts on everything. Don’t make me carry these books back home! Table T937.

Photo of the CONIUM Press table at AWP 2025

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CONIUM @conium.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

Congrats to CONIUM contributor Trista Hurley Waxali on last night’s reading and the launch of her debut short story collection (also featuring editor and professional microphone holder Chiwan Choi). Copies available at Writ Large (literally right next to our table).

Photo of Trista Hurley Waxali reading from her new book

Trista Hurley Waxali’s book, A Smoke Stained Cab.

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CONIUM @conium.bsky.social · 28/03/2025

Got $30? You could turn that into 3 books! Table T937 at #awp25

Photo of a sign that says “any 3 paperbacks for $30”

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CONIUM @conium.bsky.social · 28/03/2025

Copies of the “How to Love a Black Hole” limited edition hardcover still available at our #awp25 table (T937). We also still have a whopping THREE copies of the limited edition hardcover of “The Butter House” at the table (plus plenty of paperbacks, so take a deep breath if you miss the hardcover).

Photo of the book “How to Love a Black Hole”

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CONIUM @conium.bsky.social · 27/03/2025

Also…my #awp25 hotel room had corner windows on the 56th floor. So know that if you don’t buy any CONIUM books at the bookfair, I will literally be looking down on you in judgement all night long.

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CONIUM @conium.bsky.social · 27/03/2025

Table “T937” at #awp25 is Los Angeles. Come buy some books!

Photo of the CONIUM booth at the AWP bookfair

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CONIUM @conium.bsky.social · 16/03/2025

CONIUM's @jamesrgapinski.bsky.social will be teaching a class on animal characters next month. In-person in Portland, OR. Learn how to step outside your pink, gangly, fleshy selves and into something more fabulous, feathered, fanged, and ferocious. literary-arts.org/event/wild-t...

literary-arts.org

Wild Thing: Animals as Characters

This course features several generative writing prompts where you'll practice writing animalistic short stories, and you can expect to leave with at least one rough draft and several new ideas for fut...

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CONIUM @conium.bsky.social · 08/03/2025

It's funny how many AWP-related phishing scams exist (AWP warns exhibitors about this every year). Spam folder has so many faux #AWP25 msgs right now! I almost feel bad for the scammers...even if they get a bite, they're gonna learn *most* book publishers are already broke.

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CONIUM @conium.bsky.social · 07/03/2025

"How to Love a Black Hole," by @rebeccafishow.bsky.social is available now! Join the author for a reading at the Rare Nest Gallery in Chicago this weekend. Part of the Lovers Eye Press reading series. RSVPs required. More details here: www.loverseyepress.com/general-8

Flyer advertising The Lover's Eye Press Reading Series, with readings from Shirley Stephenson, Rebecca Fishow, and Margaret Hawkins. March 9th, 5:00 to 7:00pm at the Rare Nest Gallery in Chicago.

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CONIUM @conium.bsky.social · 04/03/2025

The hardcover of @rebeccafishow.bsky.social's "How to Love a Black Hole" drops today! And if you're in Chicago, the author will be reading from the collection at Madison Street Books at 6:00pm tonight. 🎉🍾

Flyer for a reading on March 4th, 2025 at 6:00pm at Madison Street Books in Chicago, IL.

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CONIUM @conium.bsky.social · 02/03/2025

March 4th! Learn more and get a copy of @rebeccafishow.bsky.social’s “How to Love a Black Hole” here: www.coniumpress.com/how-to-love-...

Photo of the short story collection, “How to Love a Black Hole,” by Rebecca Fishow

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CONIUM @conium.bsky.social · 01/01/2025

New year, new reading period! CONIUM is open through the end of Feb., 2025. Fiction only. We lean toward strange, unusual writing. Length is highly flexible, but we lean toward shorter works. Sliding scale reading fee (starting at zero dollars). Full guidelines here: www.coniumpress.com/guidelines

Text-based graphic reading "January 1st, 2025. Conium Press manuscript submissions are officially open."

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CONIUM @conium.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

Pre-orders on sale now for the limited-edition hardcover of Rebecca Fishow's "How to Love a Black Hole." Reserve your copy at most major retailers: bookshop.org/a/88673/9781... www.amazon.com/dp/1942387229 www.barnesandnoble.com/w/how-to-lov...

Photograph of the book "How to Love a Black Hole," with text that reads "coming March 2025 from Conium Press"

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CONIUM @conium.bsky.social · 27/11/2024

Just in time for rampant consumerism season, pre-orders of Rebecca Fishow's "How to Love a Black Hole" are now available (releases March 4th, 2025): amazon.com/dp/1942387229 bookshop.org/a/88673/9781... www.barnesandnoble.com/w/how-to-lov...

amazon.com

How to Love a Black Hole: Stories

Amazon.com: How to Love a Black Hole: Stories: 9781942387220: Fishow, Rebecca: Books

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CONIUM @conium.bsky.social · 03/11/2024

Official release dates for "How to Love a Black Hole," by Rebecca Fishow, with two editions! Hardcover March 4th, 2025 with launch party at #AWP25. Paperback on October 7th, 2025. Pre-orders for the limited-edition hardcover will be available soon! www.coniumpress.com/how-to-love-...

Text-based graphic advertising release dates for Rebecca Fishow's "How to Love a Black Hole." March 4th, 2025 for the hardcover. October 7th, 2025 for the paperback.

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CONIUM @conium.bsky.social · 17/10/2024

Heads-up. Almost done reading the last few manuscripts from last reading period. That means anyone still waiting for a reply will get one any day now. It also means I'll probably re-open the queue and start reading new stuff in November!

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CONIUM @conium.bsky.social · 16/10/2024

You know how those Publishers Marketplace “deal reports” use oddly coded language about money like how it was “a nice deal” or a “good deal” and whatnot? Just once, I wanna see one that declares proudly that it was a “shit deal.”

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Cynthia Gómez @cynthiasaysboo.bsky.social · 02/07/2024

Twenty percent of the U.S. population voted for Trump in the last two elections. This is a white supremacist country, and it's going to produce a lot of white supremacists.

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CONIUM @conium.bsky.social · 31/05/2024

In 2025, our first title will be "houses we die in," by Morghen Tidd. Three stories on grief and loss from the author of "girl thing" (Long Day Press, 2023). More details here: coniumpress.com/houses-we-di...

A series of open doorways, with text that reads: "houses we die in, by morghen tidd. Coming in early 2025 from Conium Press."

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CONIUM @conium.bsky.social · 29/03/2024

Conium does/did not use Small Press Distribution (SPD). But A LOT of presses did. The abrupt closure is devastating. Books in limbo. Unpaid invoices that'll likely be referred to bankruptcy court. Small presses operate on tiny budgets. This can sink them. Now is the time to donate and/or buy direct.

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CONIUM @conium.bsky.social · 17/03/2024

I wish more authors knew that publishers pay for Submittable and pricing is tied to quantity of submissions. When you notice some typos, withdraw, and resubmit, it counts as two subs! Contact the publisher, and most will "open for editing" so you can update the file.

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CONIUM @conium.bsky.social · 15/03/2024

Last day to submit to the current open call. Fiction only (hybrid/experimental falls under that umbrella, but no full-on poetry or essays). Flexible word count (though shorter is often better). Sliding scale reading fees (starting at FREE / $0). Guidelines here: www.coniumpress.com/guidelines

coniumpress.com

Guidelines — CONIUM

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CONIUM @conium.bsky.social · 10/03/2024

Still open for submissions through 3/15/24! Full guidelines here (and should be obvious, but please read the guidelines...seems like a higher-than-usual ratio of writers who barely glanced at the guidelines this time around). www.coniumpress.com/guidelines

coniumpress.com

Guidelines — CONIUM

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CONIUM @conium.bsky.social · 08/03/2024

The core elements of our new website are up and running now! Still working on creating some more detailed pages to showcase books in the backlist, and those will come online in a day or two. www.coniumpress.com

coniumpress.com

CONIUM

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CONIUM @conium.bsky.social · 06/03/2024

The CONIUM website is currently undergoing maintenance. While we're upgrading, the most essential stuff for any small press (buying books and submitting manuscripts) is still possible and we've got those links posted on our landing page: www.coniumpress.com

coniumpress.com

CONIUM

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CONIUM @conium.bsky.social · 03/03/2024

Heads-up, the website is currently wonky. Firefox and Chrome work best. Edge is hit or miss. Our web host decided to be like "We're migrating your website to a different server! Yay!" Not even a courtesy "We're moving in X number of days," just literally "this is happening now."

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CONIUM @conium.bsky.social · 23/02/2024

Maria S. Picone's "This Tenuous Atmosphere" got a starred review at Foreword Reviews. Is "starred review" a pun? The book does involve space, so maybe... Book releases on Tuesday, February 27th (still taking pre-orders). Check out the review here: www.forewordreviews.com/reviews/this...

forewordreviews.com

Review of This Tenuous Atmosphere

This Tenuous Atmosphere: Poetic, inventive, and spare, Maria S. Picone’s "This Tenuous Atmosphere" is a meticulous novella about a woman’s search for family and belonging. Asia feels like an outsider ...

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CONIUM @conium.bsky.social · 22/02/2024

Re-opened submissions during the AWP conference earlier this month. Keeping submissions open through at least March 15th. Send me your weirdest, strangest work. No word count cap (but shorter is often better). Fiction only. Sliding scale (starts at $0) reading fee coniumreview.submittable.com/submit

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CONIUM @conium.bsky.social · 10/02/2024

And that’s a wrap! See you all in LA next year for #awp25

Photo showing an empty table with a sign that reads “Conium Press”

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CONIUM @conium.bsky.social · 10/02/2024

Final hours of the #awp24 bookfair! All titles $10.00 each. Don’t make me carry all these books back home. Table T1637. Get ‘em while they’re hot.

Photo of a sign showing all Conium Press titles on sale for $10 each at the 2024 AWP conference.

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CONIUM @conium.bsky.social · 09/02/2024

Day two and Emily Koon’s “We Are Still Here” is sold out at #AWP24 (can still order online, though). Thanks for keeping the backlist titles alive in Kansas City!

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CONIUM @conium.bsky.social · 09/02/2024

Two hours until Maria S. Picone signs copies of “This Tenuous Atmosphere.” Come get yours and meet the author. 2:00pm today at #AWP24 table T1637.

Stack of Maria S Picone’s book, “This Tenuous Atmosphere.”

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