iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Crow & Cross Keys || SUBS OPEN @crowkeys.bsky.social · 18h

If you're very quiet & if you stay very still, the tower might talk to you. We can't repeat what it whispers, that's reserved for the listener, but we invite you to try for yourselves. Maybe, it'll whisper this story: "Upstairs Neighbours" by D.S. Burton crowcrosskeys.com/2026/09/30/u...

A muted greyscale banner for short story, Upstairs Neighbours by D.S. Burton published on crowcrosskeys.com, featuring a mass of clay hands reaching upwards.

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Paula Gilfillan @paulagilfillan.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

I'm delighted that Crow & Cross Keys has reprinted my poem, The Fourth Sister Of Eskrigg, in their webzine. It was inspired by the oak trees at #eskriggnaturereserve and how nature ultimately takes the old, to make new. Thanks to #LockerbieWriters for supporting me in the development of this poem.

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Crow & Cross Keys || SUBS OPEN @crowkeys.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

The tower is circled by trees. The circle is impenetrable. We're unsure when the trees will let us leave, but luckily, we have excellent poetry to read in the meantime. "The Fourth Sister of Eskrigg" by @paulagilfillan.bsky.social crowcrosskeys.com/2026/09/23/t...

A muted greyscale banner for poem, The Fourth Sister of Eskrigg by Paula Gilfillan reprinted on crowcrosskeys.com, featuring bark covered in lichen.

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Crow & Cross Keys || SUBS OPEN @crowkeys.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

All of the taps in the tower are running with tea today. We're not complaining though. The kettle is having a well-earned day off. While we drink tea-on-tap, we're reading flash fiction: "Empty Nest Syndrome" by Mugdhaa Ranade crowcrosskeys.com/2026/09/19/e...

A muted greyscale banner for flash fiction, Empty Nest Syndrome by Mugdhaa Ranade published on crowcrosskeys.com, featuring a cup of tea amongst foliage.

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Crow & Cross Keys || SUBS OPEN @crowkeys.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

An entity handed us an orange earlier. It was the most perfect orange we have ever seen. We are dedicating a room in the tower to what remains of its peel. While we memorialise, why don't you read today's poem? "The Iron Queen" by Amanda Reck crowcrosskeys.com/2026/09/16/t...

A muted greyscale banner for poem, The Iron Queen by Amanda Reck published on crowcrosskeys.com, featuring a macro shot of pomegranate seeds.

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Crow & Cross Keys || SUBS OPEN @crowkeys.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

We're overwhelmed by the scent of baking here at the tower. Curiously, there is no one in the kitchen and nothing in the ovens. We're going to read today's flash and pretend not to think about it. "He Will Sustain You" by Xavier George crowcrosskeys.com/2026/09/12/h...

A muted greyscale banner for flash fiction, He Will Sustain You by Xavier George published on crowcrosskeys.com, featuring a box filled with food items including Cheerios.

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Crow & Cross Keys || SUBS OPEN @crowkeys.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

If you look closely, you will see galaxies running through the mortar of the tower. The galaxies, and thus the tower, keep expanding. We've no idea how big the tower is now. It's hard to fathom. So we're concentrating on poetry: "narrative" by Kate Choi crowcrosskeys.com/2026/09/09/n...

A muted greyscale banner for prose poem, narrative by Kate Choi published on crowcrosskeys.com, featuring a black hole.

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Crow & Cross Keys || SUBS OPEN @crowkeys.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

Every time we open a door in the tower, we find another door. We have been opening doors for hours. So many, many doors. Luckily, we have today's short story to keep us company. "The Only Way Out" by Liam Kiyashka crowcrosskeys.com/2026/09/05/t...

A muted greyscale banner for short story, The Only Way Out by Liam Kiyashka published on crowcrosskeys.com, featuring a close-up of a white horse with an eerie bright eye.

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Emma Kent-Abate 🌱 @emabate.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

this story builds off the tale of the Witch of North Pepperell, a local legend that may or may not be true but persists in the archive nevertheless. I’m so grateful for @crowkeys.bsky.social giving it a lovely home in such great company. I hope you enjoy it 🩶✨🪾

About the Legend
The village of North Pepperell was founded by colonial settlers in the eighteenth century. It was located in Massachusetts, between the Nissitissit River and the New Hampshire border.

According to local legend, an eccentric woman was banished from the village on allegations of witchcraft. During her flight, she cursed the village, leading to its demise and abandonment.

The tale of "The Witch's Prophecy" survives today through a story recorded by Florence Sibley in 1910.

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Emma Kent-Abate 🌱 @emabate.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

I’m so delighted that my haunted little flash “A Portrait of the Missing Miss Lovejoy as Daphne” is now published with Crow & Cross Keys!

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Crow & Cross Keys || SUBS OPEN @crowkeys.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

The tower is and then it isn't. We can't foretell when it won't be; it's inconvenient, but it's part of the charm. When the tower isn't, we aren't either. This flash, however, is: "A Portrait of the Missing Miss Lovejoy as Daphne" by Emma Kent-Abate crowcrosskeys.com/2026/09/02/a...

A muted greyscale banner for flash fiction, A Portrait of the Missing Miss Lovejoy as Daphne by Emma Kent-Abate published on crowcrosskeys.com, featuring a delta viewed from above.

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Bob DeRosa @bobderosa.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

After an inspiring first visit to @laworldcon.bsky.social where I met so many amazing writers and readers, it was exhilarating to wake up this morning to an acceptance from @crowkeys.bsky.social - a lovely publication that I've long wanted to be a part of. Can't wait to share my new sad ghost story!

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Crow & Cross Keys || SUBS OPEN @crowkeys.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

Portents are pointing towards a storm. It wouldn't be strange. The tower has been drowning in thunder for days now. We do like a bit of atmosphere. And poetry. We really like poetry too. Like this: "Forecast" by Amanda Adrienne Smith crowcrosskeys.com/2026/08/29/f...

A muted greyscale banner for poem, Forecast by Amanda Adrienne Smith published on crowcrosskeys.com, featuring a sparsely clouded sky.

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Crow & Cross Keys || SUBS OPEN @crowkeys.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

If you've noticed that we're posting on Sunday rather than Saturday... No, you haven't. Here, have an excellent short story. It's worth the wait. "Glassheart" by Collette Night crowcrosskeys.com/2026/08/23/g...

A muted greyscale banner for short story, Glassheart by Collette Night published on crowcrosskeys.com, featuring a barn owl overlayed on shards of glass.

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Shona Ray @shonaraywrites.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

I have a little piece in @crowkeys.bsky.social today. Quite proud of this one 😊 Come take a tour of space and time 👇

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Crow & Cross Keys || SUBS OPEN @crowkeys.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

We had an unexpected visitor here at the tower this evening. They didn't say who they were. They didn't say a word. They just sat and read this flash fiction. "She Comes to Me as a Telescope" by @shonaraywrites.bsky.social crowcrosskeys.com/2026/08/19/s...

A muted greyscale banner for flash fiction, She Comes to Me as a Telescope by Shona Ray Ferguson published on crowcrosskeys.com, featuring the eye of a telescope overlayed with an image of a galaxy.

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Crow & Cross Keys || SUBS OPEN @crowkeys.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

We've had a bit of a day here at the tower. Therefore, we have decided to get lost in the wilderness. We will leave you this poem to keep you company. "How does one walk the labyrinth? Remember these four things" by Hachi Chuku crowcrosskeys.com/2026/08/15/h...

A muted greyscale banner for poem, How does one walk the labyrinth? Remember these four things by Hachi Chuku published on crowcrosskeys.com, featuring an ominous photograph of a hedge maze.

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Crow & Cross Keys || SUBS OPEN @crowkeys.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

We're feeling a little ritualistic here in the tower. We think it's the heat. Nothing like a nice little ritual to cool you down. Or an excellent piece of flash fiction, like this one. "Black Satin; Cotton Gown" by Savannah Hunsaker crowcrosskeys.com/2026/08/12/b...

A muted greyscale banner for flash fiction, Black Satin; Cotton Gown by Savannah Hunsaker published on crowcrosskeys.com, featuring the cropped figures of girls in white dresses moving through a meadow.

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Crow & Cross Keys || SUBS OPEN @crowkeys.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

We are a little tardy with our social media posts this evening. We have been eating our feelings. 'Morose' was particularly flavourful. Join us now as we consume grief in the form of today's poem. "Grief" by Jessica Tsang crowcrosskeys.com/2026/08/08/g...

A muted greyscale banner for poem, Grief by Jessica Tsang published on crowcrosskeys.com, featuring a glowing white globe in the palms of someone's hands against a textured background.

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Crow & Cross Keys || SUBS OPEN @crowkeys.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

We have returned from our brief slumber. We had unusual dreams. The kind of dreams that follow you around and scritch at your scalp when you're not paying attention. Today's flash is our chosen distraction. "At Dinner with Teeth" by Sophie Daly-Atkinson crowcrosskeys.com/2026/08/05/a...

A muted greyscale banner for flash fiction, At Dinner with Teeth by Sophie Daly-Atkinson published on crowcrosskeys.com, featuring a barely formed clay face with human teeth.

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ClodaghO @iamagnat.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

Chilling and lyrical. As usual, @jamesmontgomery.bsky.social does not disappoint. Find it in the lovely @crowkeys.bsky.social

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Crow & Cross Keys || SUBS OPEN @crowkeys.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

We are taking a small posting break this week, and will be back with more excellent writing on 5th August!

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Crow & Cross Keys || SUBS OPEN @crowkeys.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

We're not certain how it happened; one moment we could see sky outside the tower's windows, and now? We see dirt, and squirmy, wormy things. It's a shock to the system. We're calming ourselves with poetry. "The town below the surface" by Devanshee Soni crowcrosskeys.com/2026/07/25/t...

A muted greyscale banner for poem, The town below the surface by Devanshee Soni published on crowcrosskeys.com, featuring a textured surface with a dripping line of rust.

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Fusion Fragment @fusionfragment.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

Inside the issue, you can find links to Allison's work in @lastsyllablelit.bsky.social, @crowkeys.bsky.social, and @exposedbonemag.bsky.social (among others). You can also find out why she thinks you should read work by Mervyn Peake and Susanna Clarke!

Allison Wall is a queer, neurodivergent writer whose work explores deconstruction, self-discovery, and belonging. She has published short fiction, poetry, and book and film reviews, and works as a dissertation editor. Follow @awritingwall on Bluesky or Instagram, or visit allison-wall. com.

Allison recommends:
Gormenghast by Mervyn Peake
Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

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Crow & Cross Keys || SUBS OPEN @crowkeys.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

The tower is susceptible to flooding. We're not near any water sources. It just happens sometimes. We've learnt not to ask why. For other underwater happenings, today's reprinted flash fiction: "The Lake House" by Keith Hoerner crowcrosskeys.com/2026/07/22/t...

$A muted greyscale banner for reprinted flash fiction, The Lake House by Keith Hoerner published on crowcrosskeys.com, featuring refractions in water.$

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Özge Lena @lenaozge.bsky.social · 18/07/2026

Over the moon to have my poem "Quintessence" published in the fabulous @crowkeys.bsky.social 🖤 #poetry #poetrysky

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Crow & Cross Keys || SUBS OPEN @crowkeys.bsky.social · 18/07/2026

All is quiet in the tower. Too quiet. It makes us nervous. Today's poem makes us nervous too, but only in the very best way. "Quintessence" by Özge Lena crowcrosskeys.com/2026/07/18/q...

A muted greyscale banner for poem, Quintessence by Özge Lena published on crowcrosskeys.com, featuring a photograph of a plume of smoke.

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Crow & Cross Keys || SUBS OPEN @crowkeys.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

A smattering of constellations have appeared in the tower. They weave their way into whichever room we happen to be reading. Today, they surround us in the sitting room as we read today's short story. "The Girl With Stars in Her Eyes" by Lesley McKenna crowcrosskeys.com/2026/07/15/t...

A muted greyscale banner for short story, The Girl With Stars in Her Eyes by Lesley McKenna published on crowcrosskeys.com, featuring a macro shot of an eye overlaid with an image of a galaxy.

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James Montgomery @jamesmontgomery.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

I have a new flash in the gorgeous @crowkeys.bsky.social! 🐦‍⬛ Loved playing around with the imperative voice for this one. @keychild.bsky.social has been a delight to deal with, too. Send them something bejewelled and dark and bewitching. 🖤 crowcrosskeys.com/2026/07/11/h...

crowcrosskeys.com

Hellcat, They Call You—James Montgomery

Clear your mind. Light the tallow. As your infant mewls from his nest of rags, shrink from his hunger; how the skin has tightened to the skull, its frame as slight as a sparrow’s. Continue reading&…

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Suzanne Hicks @suzannehicks.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

“Decide that, sometimes, your only gift is to lie.” @jamesmontgomery.bsky.social in @crowkeys.bsky.social

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Jenny Wong @jenwithwords.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

“Guide her to the table. Shuffle. Deal. Hush the unlit corner.” Oooh, a dark and quiet tale deftly woven by @jamesmontgomery.bsky.social in @crowkeys.bsky.social

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Crow & Cross Keys || SUBS OPEN @crowkeys.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

You reading this post was foretold in the tower's bricks. It didn't tell us when it would happen, only that it would. And here you are. Here we are. Here is today's flash fiction: "Hellcat, They Call You" by @jamesmontgomery.bsky.social crowcrosskeys.com/2026/07/11/h...

A muted greyscale banner for flash fiction, Hellcat, They Call You by James Montgomery published on crowcrosskeys.com, featuring tarot cards, sage and other mystical accoutrements.

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Shona Ray @shonaraywrites.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

And only a week later it finds a home! Delighted to have this piece accepted by @crowkeys.bsky.social - I love this lit mag so much and can't wait to see my work among its pages! #writersky #writingcommunity

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Crow & Cross Keys || SUBS OPEN @crowkeys.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

It is too warm in the tower. The kitchen keeps making hot drinks regardless. No one is drinking them, but still more appear. We're going to keep ignoring them, and keep reading poetry. Like this: "Porcelain Weather" by Nas Jolaade crowcrosskeys.com/2026/07/08/p...

A muted greyscale banner for poem, Porcelain Weather by Nas Jolaade published on crowcrosskeys.com, featuring a shallow depth of field photograph of a cup resting on a table with steam rising from it.

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James Montgomery @jamesmontgomery.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

‘It’s just visible, through our bedroom curtains. The harsh glow of a bare bulb from the upstairs window, beneath the shadow-puppet branches of the apple tree outside.’ Brilliant storytelling from Elle Symonds in this one in @crowkeys.bsky.social 🍏 crowcrosskeys.com/2026/07/01/t...

crowcrosskeys.com

There’s a Light On in the Murder House—Elle Symonds

There’s a light on in the murder house. It’s just visible, through our bedroom curtains. The harsh glow of a bare bulb from the upstairs window, beneath the shadow-puppet branches of the apple tree…

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Crow & Cross Keys || SUBS OPEN @crowkeys.bsky.social · 04/07/2026

For every word you read in this post, we're stealing something from you. Just little things. The memory of what you did at 4:28pm last Tuesday, for example. To get it back, read today's story: "Robbed" by Jordyn Damato crowcrosskeys.com/2026/07/04/r...

A muted greyscale banner for short story, Robbed by Jordyn Damato published on crowcrosskeys.com, featuring a close up of a woman lighting a cigarette.

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Crow & Cross Keys || SUBS OPEN @crowkeys.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

None of the lights in the tower are working. Not one. Most of them are candles. We're collectively baffled. On other baffling lights, today's flash fiction: "There's a Light On in the Murder House" by Elle Symonds crowcrosskeys.com/2026/07/01/t...

A muted greyscale banner for flash fiction, There's a Light On in the Murder House by Elle Symonds published on crowcrosskeys.com, featuring a house at night with a light on in one window.

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Crow & Cross Keys || SUBS OPEN @crowkeys.bsky.social · 27/06/2026

The moon is looking at us funny. We're not sure what we've done to offend her so we're leaving offerings. Offerings in the form of excellent writing. Like today's poem. "Spellwork" by Amanda Adrienne Smith crowcrosskeys.com/2026/06/27/s...

A muted greyscale banner for poem, Spellwork by Amanda Adreienne Smith published on crowcrosskeys.com, featuring plaited hair and a leaf crown on a light background.

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Crow & Cross Keys || SUBS OPEN @crowkeys.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

It is too hot in the tower at present. When we look outside, we expect to see flames or the interior of an oven. To stave off the heat, we're sinking down into soil, where it is damp & cool, & reading today's short story. "No Children" by A. M. Larouche crowcrosskeys.com/2026/06/24/n...

A muted greyscale banner for short story, No Children by A. M. Larouche published on crowcrosskeys.com, featuring a close-up photograph of dew-covered grass.

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R W Owen @iviesofinkribbons.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

New flash fiction in @crowkeys.bsky.social !

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Crow & Cross Keys || SUBS OPEN @crowkeys.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

We've been having strange dreams recently. Desolate pathways that lead nowhere, corridors that never end, disembodied voices telling to... Well, it's best we don't mention that. Have some flash instead. It's excellent. "Liminal" by R.W. Owen crowcrosskeys.com/2026/06/20/l...

A muted greyscale banner for flash fiction, Liminal by R.W. Owen published on crowcrosskeys.com, featuring a long-exposure of a road at night with light trails running down it.

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Crow & Cross Keys || SUBS OPEN @crowkeys.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

The tower has sprouted in the middle of a yard sale. We send our apologies to the yard's owners as the tower has, unfortunately, destroyed their house. For a less disrupted market, today's poem... "Mermaid at the Corner Market" by Nonbeaunary crowcrosskeys.com/2026/06/17/m...

A muted greyscale banner for poem, Mermaid at the Corner Market by Nonbeaunary published on crowcrosskeys.com, featuring a mermaid tail in shallow water.

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Crow & Cross Keys || SUBS OPEN @crowkeys.bsky.social · 13/06/2026

The tower has been undertaking a June cleaning. We have found many things squirrelled away in its walls. Some of those things are, bafflingly and suddenly, alive. Speaking of new life, today's short story... "Making a House a Home" by Katherine Lynch crowcrosskeys.com/2026/06/13/m...

A muted greyscale banner for short story, Making a House a Home by Katherine Lynch published on crowcrosskeys.com, featuring a fox in shallow depth of field.

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Crow & Cross Keys || SUBS OPEN @crowkeys.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

We're coming to you live from... Well, we're not quite sure. The tower has tucked us away for safekeeping. Luckily, we have some excellent flash fiction to read until it decides to set us free. "Vestiges" by Carolyn R. Russell crowcrosskeys.com/2026/06/10/v...

A muted greyscale banner for flash fiction, Vestiges by Carolyn R. Russell published on crowcrosskeys.com, featuring rumpled bedding and check sheets over a white mattress.

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