iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Dawn Kaufman (She/Her) @dawnkaufman.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

Ezra didn't need to #shift to follow the murderer's scent. His eyes closed as he parsed nearby smells. His eyes sprung open and his gaze focused on a rooftop to their left. He pointed for the benefit of his companions. "She's up there." "She?" Polly asked. He nodded. #vss365

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Dawn Kaufman (She/Her) @dawnkaufman.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

The #road leading out of the city and into the forest was a temptation for Serephina. Those woods were filled with elves like her. Well, not like her. Using magic and magic based tech to solve crimes made her an outsider. That didn't stop her desire to return home. #vss365

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Dawn Kaufman (She/Her) @dawnkaufman.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

A strong #tailwind pushed the airship faster than expected. Percival and Polly found themselves in New Exmouth, Massachusetts an hour early. "Are you sure taking this job was the right move?" Polly asked. "If it wasn't, we'll know soon enough," Percival replied. #vss365

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Dawn Kaufman (She/Her) @dawnkaufman.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

Join me on the journey through the final year of the MFA program at Lindenwood University, the completion of my thesis manuscript (a steampunk police procedural with supernatural elements), and the querying process. open.substack.com/pub/dawnmkau...

open.substack.com

Welcome to the Speculative Laboratory

Experiments in genre fiction of the speculative variety

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Dawn Kaufman (She/Her) @dawnkaufman.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

" #Turn around!" Ezra screamed. "Head for the woods!" Ezra took too long killing the hunters. When he found Aemon, the boy cowered against a tree clutching his gut. A hunter stood over him, about to shoot. Ezra shifted and leaped for the hunter's throat. Too late. Aemon was already dead. #vss365

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Dawn Kaufman (She/Her) @dawnkaufman.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

Cordelia paused on a narrow unenclosed walkway linking two airship docking bays. She turned and threw a disorientation spell bomb at the feet of the two men chasing her. She resumed her careful trot, grinning when she heard the surprised scream as one of the men lost his #balance and fell. #vss365

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Dawn Kaufman (She/Her) @dawnkaufman.bsky.social · 27/05/2025

#vssdaily The gondola floated serenely down the #canal, giving no hint of the assassin hiding in its depths. She peeked around the edge of the canopy toward the gondolier, who signaled their imminent arrival. The Doge would speak in the square soon, offering her only opportunity to take him out.

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Dawn Kaufman (She/Her) @dawnkaufman.bsky.social · 26/05/2025

#vss365 The mighty #predator stalks his prey, tracking the glowing red dot through the forest of furniture legs. He crouches down preparing to pounce, when a hand reaches down from above, scooping him up to be nuzzled against the smooth, chubby cheeks of his young human. "Hello kitty," she croons.

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Dawn Kaufman (She/Her) @dawnkaufman.bsky.social · 25/05/2025

#vssfantasy "We could travel lighter if we relied more on rain water and less on carrying so many water skins," I said. "Given the frequency of droughts, I'm not comfortable counting on rain." I grimaced ruefully. "Good point. I guess the pony will just have to slosh when she walks."

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Dawn Kaufman (She/Her) @dawnkaufman.bsky.social · 25/05/2025

#vssdaily "Is there anything better than beer and #pizza after a battle?" Shayna asked. "It'd be better if battles weren't necessary at all; we could enjoy a pizza without needing to fight first," replied Jemma. "That would be great, but in this day and age there's always something to fight for."

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Reposted by Dawn Kaufman (She/Her)

Dr Steve Fleischer @stevefleischer.bsky.social · 25/05/2025

hateful #toxic trait limitless overthinking slowly poisons me #vss365 #senryu

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Dawn Kaufman (She/Her) @dawnkaufman.bsky.social · 25/05/2025

#vss365 I stare out the window at the #toxic rain falling past the neon glow of business signs onto the abandoned streets below. Shelter in place directives are in force for the entire city. But I can still link to my favorite VR simulation, "Matrix Plugin." Why can't life be more like the Plugin?

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Dawn Kaufman (She/Her) @dawnkaufman.bsky.social · 24/05/2025

#vss365 "What do you mean you're going to create a unicorn? How is that even possible?" I asked. "Genetic experiments with horse and #narwhal DNA. Maybe if I can combine the right traits..." "You're insane!" "Maybe. But one way or another, I will make it work." I shook my head and walked away.

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Dawn Kaufman (She/Her) @dawnkaufman.bsky.social · 24/05/2025

#vssdaily "There was an odd #chunk of metal in the debris that fell to earth last night. It's registering as an unknown material." "Have you done a sensor sweep to see what it might have broken off from?" I nodded. "There's nothing in range to account for it." "It had to come from somewhere."

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Dawn Kaufman (She/Her) @dawnkaufman.bsky.social · 24/05/2025

#vssfantasy Multitudes of global archery contests led to this moment, the final tournament. She sighted down the shaft, released, exhaled. Watched as it traveled toward the target. Bullseye! The crowd erupted in cheers. "Queen of Arrows!" A lifetime of dedication; the title was finally hers.

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Dawn Kaufman (She/Her) @dawnkaufman.bsky.social · 23/05/2025

#scififri " #Extracting the chip isn't an option," said our technomancer. "It controls too many things: credits, ID, doors." "It also lets them track us wherever we go. We're not a covert operation if they can always find us." "I can disable tracking, leave the other functions intact." "Do it."

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Dawn Kaufman (She/Her) @dawnkaufman.bsky.social · 23/05/2025

#vssfantasy The years had passed slowly, but the memory remained. I laid my hand on the tree where we met and saw the face of my handsome elven prince. Cold and haughty til his smile broke through, freeing the kind, compassionate core that few were privileged to know. How I miss my long lost love.

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Dawn Kaufman (She/Her) @dawnkaufman.bsky.social · 23/05/2025

#vssdaily She crossed her legs, gently tugging on the hem of her skirt before sipping her #Manhattan. Being undercover wasn't as scary as she'd thought. A voice in her ear said, "Target approaching. Prepare to intercept." "Acknowledged." She turned away from the bar ready to charm the target.

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Dawn Kaufman (She/Her) @dawnkaufman.bsky.social · 23/05/2025

#vss365 The troll squatted next to his kill and tore loose a femur. He cracked it in half and sucked tits #marrow. "That teach stupid heroes to try killing Throckshar," he mumbled. "Throckshar eat stupid heroes." He gazed down at the remainder of the corpse before him. "Throckshar want stew."

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Reposted by Dawn Kaufman (She/Her)

Punk Rock Kilgore Trout @pkrt.bsky.social · 23/05/2025

*not mine, from Twitter: #SCIFIFRI 05-23-25 Optional Theme: #EXTRACT/#IMPLANT Or choose your own scifi-ish topic OK Let's dazzle them ~!~ @PromptAdvant @XWritingPrompts #scifiart Original Images & Artwork welcomed #amwriting #WritingCommmunity #amwritingscifi Links encouraged, try not to spam * ੈ ✩

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Reposted by Dawn Kaufman (She/Her)

C.S. Voll @stephlepht.bsky.social · 23/05/2025

A sphinx that sucks the #marrow out of life. Each visitor brings a new mind, which she pokes with another fresh riddle, until it bursts like a bubble. A puzzled expression is sweeter than ambrosia. #vss365

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Reposted by Dawn Kaufman (She/Her)

Sara @spauffwrites.bsky.social · 23/05/2025

The seller's sly grin grabs her. Seal skin boots, one of a kind. No price too high for fashion. Preening, she glides through town, but at the beach, she hears her doom: With each step, a #whimper. The weeping boots drag her to the sea, where their #selkie sisters wait, eager for a new skin. #vss365

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Reposted by Dawn Kaufman (She/Her)

Darren Gemoets @darrengemoets.bsky.social · 23/05/2025

He visits the aquarium every day, rain or shine, summer or winter. Now an old man, with thinning gray hair and walking with a cane, he wants another glimpse of the #selkie he saw only once before when he was a boy. Each day ends with disappointment. #vss365

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Reposted by Dawn Kaufman (She/Her)

Brooke @bpwrites.bsky.social · 23/05/2025

Ava loved the beach at dusk. She always found something fun, like a sand #castle or shell. Tonight’s find, a bag of #spicy chips, made her #whistle. The sea would be cooling. She slipped into her hidden seal skin, then the water. Ava loved the beach—& being a #selkie. #vss365 #vssdaily #blueskyrelay

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Dawn Kaufman (She/Her) @dawnkaufman.bsky.social · 22/05/2025

#vssdaily We stood on the ramparts of the #castle and stared out at the soldiers, trebuchets, siege engines, and catapults that surrounded us. How could we win against such an incredible force? If our emissary had made it through there was hope. Reinforcements could turn the tide in our favor.

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Dawn Kaufman (She/Her) @dawnkaufman.bsky.social · 22/05/2025

#vssmagic The #number of ways in which even the simplest spell could go wrong were astounding. She tried to impress this fact on all of her students, but none of them seemed to take the lesson to heart. They were often found doing anything and everything except studying and practicing their magic.

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Dawn Kaufman (She/Her) @dawnkaufman.bsky.social · 22/05/2025

#vss365 He watched with a heavy heart as she made her way down the shore and into the sea. He knew a #selkie wouldn't be able to stay with him forever, but he'd hoped for just a little while longer in her company. Would she remember him fondly? Did she even love him the way he loved her?

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Dawn Kaufman (She/Her) @dawnkaufman.bsky.social · 21/05/2025

#vssmagic I slashed into the dense jungle growth with my machete, then paused to wipe sweat from my brow. "Why do you think we'll be able to #find this lost city when no one else has been able to?" "I have something they didn't." "What? Luck?" "No," He paused dramatically. "I found a map."

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Dawn Kaufman (She/Her) @dawnkaufman.bsky.social · 21/05/2025

#vssdaily I lashed out instinctively, my #fist catching him squarely on the jaw. He chuckled ruefully, looking me over from feet to hair. "Spunky, huh? We know just how to deal with that." He looked behind him. "Come on boys, get her tied up and loaded into the van. We've got a bounty to collect."

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Dawn Kaufman (She/Her) @dawnkaufman.bsky.social · 21/05/2025

#vss365 I hugged myself tightly, trying to slow my breathing and my racing heart, to halt the relentless progression of tingles across my face and extremities. A soft #whimper escaped me as the stalking shadow slithered steadily closer. "W-what do you want?" "You," it replied, reaching for me.

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Dawn Kaufman (She/Her) @dawnkaufman.bsky.social · 21/05/2025

#vssmagic She #wrapped her arms around herself as she watched every object in the room rise into the air and whip about as if caught in a vortex. "Not again," she whispered, "please, not again." There was a knock at the door. Everything crashed to the floor. "Wh-who is it?" she asked, trembling.

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Dawn Kaufman (She/Her) @dawnkaufman.bsky.social · 21/05/2025

#vssdaily "It's a simple task," he watched intently as I pulled a stack of hundred dollar bills out of the envelope. "If it's so simple, why #bribe me to do it instead of of just asking?" "Let's call it an insurance policy. To ensure that you do the right thing when the time comes "

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Dawn Kaufman (She/Her) @dawnkaufman.bsky.social · 21/05/2025

#vss365 Alara quickly swept her sword in front of Micah to block the overhead strike of his opponent, Geoffrey. Grateful for the #defense, Micah backpedaled as Geoffrey turned his attention to his Alara. Geoffrey recovered, thrusting at her stomach so rapidly that she barely managed to parry.

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