iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Ella Crean - Querying Author

Solaris Books @solarisbooks.bsky.social · 07/04/2026

ROLL UP! ROLL UP! Our very own @dtmooreeditor.bsky.social and @shaykauwe.bsky.social (author of THE KILLING SPELL) will be appearing @britfantasysoc.bsky.social 's next event day, focussing on Language in SFFH! Sat 18th April 2026, 10am to 6pm (BST). Grab your £5 ticket now FREE for BFS members!

britishfantasysociety.org

BFS Online: Language in SFFH

Language is vast and flexible, providing writers a broad platform on which to build their world. From creating new words to entire languages, the written word is an unbound medium to bring to life all...

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Reposted by Ella Crean - Querying Author

British Fantasy Society @britfantasysoc.bsky.social · 10/04/2026

The British Fantasy Awards have begun! Learn more about how you can get involved below...

The graphic provides information about the British Fantasy Awards. The suggestions list closes April 12th. We crowd source titles that are eligible for the awards. You can add your own works at this stage. If no-one knows your work is eligible, they won't know they can vote for it when voting opens. The voting period is from April 16th - May 3rd. This is when voting properly opens. You cannot vote for your own works, but you can campaign. BFS members and Fantasycon ticket holders can vote. Shortlists announced May 19th. Jury panels are May 19th - September 1st. Unlike many other SFFH awards, the BFAs are not just a popularity contest. Once the public voting is tallied, each category goes to a jury of peers for final decision making. Awards are announced at Fantasycon. Learn more at britishfantasysociety.org/about-the-bfs/the-british-fantasy-awards

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Reposted by Ella Crean - Querying Author

British Fantasy Society @britfantasysoc.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

Our third panel of BFS Online: Language in SFFH takes place Saturday 18th April 2026, 4pm to 5pm (BST). Origins & culture Ticket: tinyurl.com/sffhlang @rsagarcia.bsky.social @justmarvewrites.bsky.social @stephenembleton.bsky.social @byzantienne.bsky.social

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Reposted by Ella Crean - Querying Author

British Fantasy Society @britfantasysoc.bsky.social · 03/04/2026

BFS Online: Language in SFFH, taking place Saturday 18th April 2026, has readings throughout the day. Please check for listings. Ticket: tinyurl.com/sffhlang @willwiles.bsky.social @matthewspalmer.bsky.social @man0words.bsky.social @aemlai.bsky.social

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Reposted by Ella Crean - Querying Author

British Fantasy Society @britfantasysoc.bsky.social · 07/04/2026

BFS Online: Language in SFFH is excited to announce our interview. BFS Chair Shona Kinsella interviews Dr Alex Carabine on Saturday 18th April 2026, 12:15pm to 1:15pm (BST). Ticket: tinyurl.com/sffhlang @shonak.bsky.social #AuthorInterview #WritingCommunity

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Reposted by Ella Crean - Querying Author

British Fantasy Society @britfantasysoc.bsky.social · 07/04/2026

Giveaway time! In collaboration with Troubador Publishing we are excited to offer two fantastic novels. To take part in the giveaway, make sure you: 💌 Like this post 💌 Share this post 💌 Tag a friend so they can get involved! The winner will be announced on Monday 13th April. Good luck!

The graphic offers more information about The Diary of Derek Drummond by Katelyn Emilia Novak. Once a proud Scottish nobleman, Derek Drummond has spent 124 years caught between day and night, hiding from the world — and from himself. A shadow among shadows, he has watched time unravel, love vanish, and hope fade into myth.
Until Megan MacKenzie looks at him — and sees more than she should. With haunted eyes and a quiet, stubborn kindness, she stirs the man he used to be. But the past never stays silent. Some curses won’t break. And some ghosts refuse to let go.
If you believe in second chances — even after death — open the diary.

The graphic describes Slipped Again by Julie Walker. Having gathered all 12 of the 16/87s – those who slip through time on each full moon – together, Jess still feels alone. It seems each of their lives are falling apart, and she still doesn’t know what to do with the information they found out from the timeslip.
Jess also doesn’t know what role ‘The Chronos Club’ is going to play, other than their members all experience full moon disappearances too, with each group born a decade before the next. Dieter from the 15/44s seems to be the key, but Jess has no idea how the pieces of the jigsaw fit together.
They know what’s coming and they’re going to try to stop it.

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Reposted by Ella Crean - Querying Author

British Fantasy Society @britfantasysoc.bsky.social · 31/03/2026

Our first panel of BFS Online: Language in SFFH takes place Saturday 18th April 2026, 10:10am to 11:10am (BST). Building believability Ticket: tinyurl.com/sffhlang @mkhardywrites.com @cannotbegrouped.bsky.social @dtmooreeditor.bsky.social #WritingCommunity #Language #Worldbuilding #BookSky

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Reposted by Ella Crean - Querying Author

British Fantasy Society @britfantasysoc.bsky.social · 01/04/2026

Our second panel of BFS Online: Language in SFFH takes place Saturday 18th April 2026, 2:30pm to 3:30pm (BST). What’s in a name? Ticket: tinyurl.com/sffhlang @annasmithwrites.bsky.social @rtorrubia.com #BritishFantasySociety #FantasyBooks #HorrorBooks #WritingCommunity #Language #BookSky

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Reposted by Ella Crean - Querying Author

British Fantasy Society @britfantasysoc.bsky.social · 30/03/2026

The British Fantasy Society is excited to announce our next event day, taking place on Saturday 18th April 2026, 10am to 6pm (BST). BFS Online: Language in SFFH Language is vast and flexible, providing writers a broad platform on which to build their world. Ticket: tinyurl.com/sffhlang

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Reposted by Ella Crean - Querying Author

British Fantasy Society @britfantasysoc.bsky.social · 19/11/2025

The British Fantasy Society and Lian Connect are excited to announce our next event day, taking place on Sunday 30th November 2025, 11am to 5pm (BST). Imaginarium II: A Festival Celebrating ESEA Speculative Fiction and Authors Tickets here: tinyurl.com/bfslian (1/5)

Shown is a graphic that has a lined, pale green and white background. On the top is the name of the event, ‘Imaginarium II’ followed by a small, slightly askew banner of the theme this year, ‘Dystopian Hope’ in grey. Underneath that is the date of the event - 30th November 2025. In the middle is a graphic of a brown snake set in a black oval. It is coiled around some leaves and two pink chrysanthemums in the top left and bottom right corners, respectively. This is set into a rectangular, mottled green background that is further layered over two pink rectangles of different shades of pink. The initials of the artist, Juliette Yu-Ming Lizeray, JYML. The bottom of the graphic is a white panel that has the 4 logos of the organiser and sponsors: Lian Connect, BFS, Writing Our Legacy, and Difference Engine SG.

The second image has the same green and white background. A black banner names the theme of the festival for 2025, which is ‘Dystopian Hope’. Below that is a central pink box which has the explanation of the theme. It reads: “In a time when mainstream media spews out news that seems darker than the dystopian volumes on our shelves, hope might seem far-reaching… utopian even. However, in reality, hope is not the antithesis of dystopia, rather, it can be the effect of—a consequence of—or even an inevitability of it.

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Ella Crean - Querying Author @ellacreanauthor.bsky.social · 25/10/2025

For anybody attending the World Fantasy Convention in Brighton next week, this year I'll be the 'Roving Reporter' for the British Fantasy Society. If you want to do a short interview for the BFS socials, let me know! Or feel free to find me while we're there 😄 @britfantasysoc.bsky.social

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Ella Crean - Querying Author @ellacreanauthor.bsky.social · 24/10/2025

I'm pretty sure I know which of the #RevPit #10Queries posts is about The Trail of Blood Red Stars... It's been so much fun reading through all of the feedback, and I've learned a lot! Looking forward to hearing from the editor who read the query letter / opening pages. Thank you for your thoughts!

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Ella Crean - Querying Author @ellacreanauthor.bsky.social · 10/10/2025

I'm about to enter #RevPit #10Queries Enter now for a chance to win free feedback on your query and first 5 pages 😄 Fingers crossed!

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Ella Crean - Querying Author @ellacreanauthor.bsky.social · 25/06/2025

This week I had my first (ever!) author interview! It was a joy to discuss Fantasy with Phasmid Press and unpack how I approach my own writing (as well as my complicated relationship with The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim 🐉) Read here: tinyurl.com/2s4b97kw #WritingCommunity #WriteSky #AuthorInterview

$“Fantasy writer Ella Crean joins us to talk about writing as a process of proximity, resistance, and repair. From fanfiction to formal training, from Skyrim’s narrative gaps to the fractured lyricism of immersive prose, her work explores what happens when stories break - and why that’s where the magic begins. In this conversation, we explore fantasy’s shifting shape. When a story’s rhythm stumbles, when world-building overreaches, and how inspiration often arrives through the cracks. Head over to The Empty Set at #linkinbio to read more about fantastical immersion, the editorial rhythm of breath and break, and why a good story haunts you long after the last page.”$

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Ella Crean - Querying Author @ellacreanauthor.bsky.social · 05/06/2025

I've kindly been given an agent referral for The Trail of Blood Red Stars! I'm not sure what influence a referral has upon querying, but it's exciting either way 💌 #amquerying #querying #WritingCommunity #WriteSky #WriterSky

The Trail of Blood Red Stars: today's querying updates. A young woman is possessed by a demon that hides in her shadow. When her only friend is kidnapped by gladiator traders, she begins a quest to save him - by striking a bargain with the demon that has possessed her. For fans of One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig and The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent. Agents queried today: 2. Outstanding queries: 10. Adult fantasy novel. 104,000 words.

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Ella Crean - Querying Author @ellacreanauthor.bsky.social · 28/04/2025

During EasterCon, I was (kindly!) ordered to query the agents of my comp titles, so I made sure to do that today! This brings the total number of outstanding queries to 9 - who knows what'll happen? 💌 #amquerying #querying #WritingCommunity #WriteSky #WriterSky

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Reposted by Ella Crean - Querying Author

Lauren Beukes @laurenbeukes.com · 28/04/2025

Happy Terry Pratchett Day! We're so grateful to @rhi.bsky.social and @terryandrob.bsky.social for digging up a signed first edition of Monstrous Regiment for the Genre Creators for Trans Rights charity auction. It's up to £6005! Which means we've raised over £13k! www.32auctions.com/organization...

32auctions.com

Monstrous Regiment (Signed 1st edition)

Auction item 'Monstrous Regiment (Signed 1st edition)' hosted online at 32auctions.

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Ella Crean - Querying Author @ellacreanauthor.bsky.social · 27/04/2025

Yesterday ended with 3241 words written and the chapter I started before EasterCon finally finished! Through the power of more tea, hopefully I can pull off a similar writing sprint today 🍵 #amwriting #writesky #writersky

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Ella Crean - Querying Author @ellacreanauthor.bsky.social · 26/04/2025

2230 words later, and we're getting... Somewhere?! I'm having a lot of fun with this project, at the very least! We'll see about finishing that chapter today though 🤔

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Ella Crean - Querying Author @ellacreanauthor.bsky.social · 26/04/2025

Today I'm working on the first draft of my next book - I'm never entirely sure of what's going on in opening chapters, but it's nothing a cup of tea can't fix! I'm hoping to finish this chapter before the end of the day, so we shall see what happens...

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Ella Crean - Querying Author @ellacreanauthor.bsky.social · 24/04/2025

I didn't take part in #PosterPit because I was at EasterCon, but here's my poster for THE TRAIL OF BLOOD RED STARS: When her only friend is kidnapped by gladiator traders, Nuada begins a quest to save him - by striking a bargain with the demon that has possessed her... #PosterPitQ #F #A #NA

A movie poster about a book titled The Trail of Blood Red Stars. A silhouetted woman with a quiver of arrows over her shoulder stands before an inferno. The text reads: queer-normative worldbuilding, mother-daughter relationships, childhood friends to doomed lovers to... The Exorcist meets Gladiator. The author's MA Novel Writing Dissertation (First-Class Honours). An adult fantasy novel by Ella Crean. One Dark Window x The Serpent and the Wings of Night. 104,000 words. Book one of a proposed trilogy. Querying now!

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Reposted by Ella Crean - Querying Author

Lauren Beukes @laurenbeukes.com · 21/04/2025

So in the midst of the chaos and joy of Eastercon, @ngjeannette.bsky.social and I have set up a charity auction: Genre Creators for Trans rights in the UK and South Africa as a small personal response to what's happening in the world. You can bid on cool things here www.32auctions.com/genrefortrans

32auctions.com

Genre Creators for Trans Rights in the UK and SA

Silent auction 'Genre Creators for Trans Rights in the UK and SA' hosted online at 32auctions.

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Ella Crean - Querying Author @ellacreanauthor.bsky.social · 22/04/2025

I had a wonderful, wonderful time at my first EasterCon! My sincere thanks to everybody involved in organising the event - I can't wait for next year! 💌

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Ella Crean - Querying Author @ellacreanauthor.bsky.social · 05/04/2025

A week had passed since Nuada's exorcism. Her fingertips were black with rot. She rubbed them against her restraints, staring at the roof of the hut. With her arms bound above her head, her body had stiffened and numbed, but dull pain pulsed through her hands. #1stLinePit #Q #Querying #A #F

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Ella Crean - Querying Author @ellacreanauthor.bsky.social · 01/04/2025

Nuada has abandonment issues at the best of times, so she might've not handled this particularly well... #ChaosPit #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #Fantasy #Querying

A meme of a man reacting to text on a clipboard. The text reads: My only friend gets kidnapped by gladiator traders. I bargain with a demon for the power to save him. After seven years I find him in an ancient gladiator tournament. He hates me. I enter the tournament and attack him in front of thousands.

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Ella Crean - Querying Author @ellacreanauthor.bsky.social · 01/04/2025

Breaking news from the world of THE TRAIL OF BLOOD RED STARS - an unknown gladiator has stunned crowds during the Festival of Violets! Reporters approached her for comment, but she disappeared into thin air - literally... #ChaosPit #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #Fantasy #Querying

A fake newspaper article pitching the novel 'The Trail of Blood Red Stars'. It reads: Breaking news. Unknown gladiator stuns crowds. A human gladiator has earned the praise of the Goddess of the Stellar Eclipse after fighting alongside demigods in the opening round of the Festival of Violets. Who is the mystery woman? The Lord of Saltcairn stunned crowds when he offered the newcomer an alliance. Rumours wonder if these warriors have met before...

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Ella Crean - Querying Author @ellacreanauthor.bsky.social · 01/04/2025

THE EXORCIST X GLADIATOR A young woman is possessed by a demon that hides in her shadow. When her only friend is kidnapped by gladiator traders, she begins a quest to save him - by striking a bargain with the demon that has possessed her... #ChaosPit #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #Fantasy #Querying

The cover of the film 'The Exorcist' - a man stands silhouetted beneath a pale street lamp.

The cover of the film 'Gladiator' - a man holding a sword stands solemnly before an arena.

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Ella Crean - Querying Author @ellacreanauthor.bsky.social · 31/03/2025

My #AgentGuide to THE TRAIL OF BLOOD RED STARS: 🎭 A young woman possessed by a demon 💔 A quest to save a stolen friend ⚔️ An ancient gladiatorial tournament 📚 Adult fantasy (with a romance subplot!) If you're an agent who would like to hear more, do like this post! I'd love to query you 💌 #WriteSky

An agent's guide to The Trail of Blood Red Stars: an adult fantasy novel by Ella Crean.

The Trail of Blood Red Stars: The pitch: A young woman, Nuada, is possessed by a demon that hides in her shadow.

As her exorcism fails, her only comfort is her friend Setanta. The two have a sacred bond that allows them to share magic, but despite Nuada’s efforts to resist the demon, she knows it’s a matter of time before it kills Setanta too.

When her exorcist betrays her, Nuada is left for dead and Setanta sold to gladiator traders. Desperate, Nuada begins a quest to save Setanta - by striking a bargain with the demon that has possessed her.

The traditional comps: The shadowy, eldritch companion and political conspiracies of ONE DARK WINDOW. The life-or-death tournament and complicated romance of THE SERPENT AND THE WINGS OF NIGHT. For fans of The Exorcist - what if the exorcist was corrupt? For fans of Gladiator - what if demigod gladiators battled ancient monsters in the arena?

The details:
Adult Fantasy novel.
104,000 words.
Book One in a proposed trilogy.
The opening of the novel was my MA Novel Writing Dissertation.
Themes, tropes and traits:
Queer-normative world building.
Loved ones can share magic.
A complicated romance.
Mother-daughter relationships.
Religious corruption.
Political conspiracies.

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Ella Crean - Querying Author @ellacreanauthor.bsky.social · 28/03/2025

I (23F) got possessed by a demon. My exorcist was a creep, so I ran away before he could exorcise me. He then tried to kill me and sold my ONLY FRIEND (23M) to gladiator traders. I need to save my friend - so I struck a bargain with the demon for help... AITA? #UnhingedPit #Fantasy #WriteSky #Q #F

The image is a GIF. A woman with pale skin and brown hair sits on a white horse. She wears a red undershirt and leather armour. She glances, seemingly irritated, at somebody beside her.

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Ella Crean - Querying Author @ellacreanauthor.bsky.social · 28/03/2025

My final contribution to #UnhingedPit: a handy shopping list of everything you need to make The Trail of Blood Red Stars... #WritingCommunity #WriteSky #A #F #Q #Querying #AmQuerying

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Ella Crean - Querying Author @ellacreanauthor.bsky.social · 28/03/2025

For #UnhingedPit - I present, through my groundbreaking artwork, The Trail of Blood Red Stars... #WritingCommunity #WriteSky #A #F #Q #Querying #AmQuerying

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Ella Crean - Querying Author @ellacreanauthor.bsky.social · 28/03/2025

My first offering for #UnhingedPit - a meme board about the protagonist of The Trail of Blood Red Stars, Nuada. Featuring my fantastic artwork in the middle... #WritingCommunity #WriteSky #A #F #Q #Querying #AmQuerying

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Ella Crean - Querying Author @ellacreanauthor.bsky.social · 24/03/2025

I sent out more queries for THE TRAIL OF BLOOD RED STARS today! I recently rewrote my query package, and I'm feeling optimistic 📖 I can't wait to finally take part in pitch events like #BluePit! Does anybody have recommendations / advice? #amquerying #querying #WritingCommunity #WriteSky

The image is a graphic designed on Canva. It reads: THE TRAIL OF BLOOD RED STARS - Today’s Querying Updates! A young woman is possessed by a demon that hides in her shadow. When her only friend is kidnapped by gladiator traders, she begins a quest to save him - by striking a bargain with the demon that has possessed her. For fans of One Dark Window and The Serpent and the Wings of Night. Agents queried: 5. Outstanding queries: 7. Adult Fantasy. 104,000 words.

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Ella Crean - Querying Author @ellacreanauthor.bsky.social · 23/03/2025

📖 AUTHOR INTRO 📖 Hey! I'm Ella, a writer of adult fantasy novels. My novel, The Trail of Blood Red Stars, is currently being sent out to literary agents! I want to follow querying authors - it's such a tricky process! What are you writing about? 💌 #querying #writersky #WritingCommunity #writesky

The image is an author introduction. It reads: Hi there! My name is Ella, and I’m a fantasy author who recently finished an MA in Novel Writing. My novel, The Trail of Blood Red Stars, is currently being sent out to literary agents - exciting! I’m interested in queer-normative worldbuilding, sensory immersion and non-linear narrative structures. My current WIP is about a fossil-hunter in a fantasy world - she searches for the bones of ancient monsters instead of dinosaurs! What are you writing about? There is also an image of the author next to a ruined amphitheatre which is labelled 'a research trip to see a gladiator arena'.

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Ella Crean - Querying Author @ellacreanauthor.bsky.social · 22/03/2025

THE TRAIL OF BLOOD RED STARS 📖 One Dark Window x The Serpent and the Wings of Night 🎭 A young woman possessed by a demon ⚔️ An ancient gladiatorial tournament 💔 A quest to save a stolen friend 💌 Currently querying agents! 📚 Adult fantasy novel #querying #WIP #WritingCommunity #WriteSky #amquerying

The image is a graphic made on Canva. It reads: an introduction to The Trail of Blood Red Stars by Ella Crean

A young woman is possessed by a demon that hides in her shadow. When her only friend is kidnapped by gladiator traders, she begins a quest to save him - by striking a bargain with the demon that has possessed her. For fans of One Dark Window, Assassin's Creed: Odyssey and The Serpent and the Wings of Night.

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