iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Elle S. Hodge, Author

W. James Chan, Author @wjameschan.bsky.social · 02/12/2025

Each chapter of Gildenhammer I narrate for the book club, my voice and delivery breaks a little more. Sure, I could edit it and dozens of takes, but why not give my closest readers a proper expression of how thoroughly the process of writing dismantles me until nothing but a fervid rasp remains?

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Elle S. Hodge, Author @elleshodge.bsky.social · 30/11/2025

Every now and then a reader will come across a book which changes them - which irrevocably alters their view of themselves, their life, or the world around them. Four times this has happened to me. Bridge to Terabithia, The Giver, The Fifth Season, and Blackcloak: A Man Of His Sword.

Orange cat seated on a bed, in front of a red painting. In front of the cat are two books - Blackcloak: A Man of His Sword, and Gildenhammer: The Beating of Her Heart, both by W. James Chan. The cover of Blackcloak features a black background with a full moon, and a black semi-circle just visible behind it. A black cross cuts diagonally across the moon, trailing blood.
Gildenhammer's cover is similar except there is no blood, the moon is darker, and there is a light shining behind it - like an eclipse.

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Elle S. Hodge, Author @elleshodge.bsky.social · 28/11/2025

I said: "I need imaging on my neck. It hurts, I have headaches on one side of my head, tinnitus in one ear, dizziness and nausea when I look up, and two different physicians have said this is all related to my neck and posture." The doctor said: "It's probably due to stress."

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Elle S. Hodge, Author @elleshodge.bsky.social · 25/11/2025

Chronic pain is one of those things I never get tired of complaining about, and the only reason I stop is because I feel guilty for dragging down the people around me. And because I'm not talking about it, it plays out in my head as bleak fantasies of acknowledgement.

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Elle S. Hodge, Author @elleshodge.bsky.social · 23/11/2025

Customer basically said I looked like shit today. He was right, but still.

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Elle S. Hodge, Author @elleshodge.bsky.social · 01/11/2025

It's 10.15 on a random Saturday, and the neighbours have loud music playing. I'm way too much of an old lady to have neighbours. I mean good for them, they sound like they're having a great time, but ergh.

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Elle S. Hodge, Author @elleshodge.bsky.social · 28/10/2025

Nobody swings around a butane-powered lantern like a mother who's feeling defensive.

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Elle S. Hodge, Author @elleshodge.bsky.social · 25/10/2025

On the plus side, I still have one shoulder, one knee, one thumb, and nine toes that DO work!

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Reposted by Elle S. Hodge, Author

W. James Chan, Author @wjameschan.bsky.social · 25/10/2025

Please remember that "understandably" is a perfectly valid modifier to your being upset. Empathy is not a sin. It is real. It is everywhere: afraid and uncertain, yes, but weirdly hard to kill. And it is the *only* thing that is going to get us through this.

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Elle S. Hodge, Author @elleshodge.bsky.social · 24/10/2025

"In an open world economy, it is almost always cheaper to trade for a particular natural resource or industrial product than to take it by force. But with foreign markets locked away behind insurmountable tariff walls, conquest once again became thinkable and even profitable."

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Elle S. Hodge, Author @elleshodge.bsky.social · 18/10/2025

"What's your book about?" "It's an exploration of the shifting nature of political divides, set in a post-apocalyptic dystopia, as experienced through the eyes of a deeply unwell woman with a misguided hero complex." "...Oh." Follow me for more tips on how to avoid follow-up questions.

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Elle S. Hodge, Author @elleshodge.bsky.social · 18/10/2025

"Where wealth accumulates, and men decay."

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Elle S. Hodge, Author @elleshodge.bsky.social · 11/10/2025

Well. I think that's enough depression for one day.

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Reposted by Elle S. Hodge, Author

Nicolette Jones @nicolettejones.bsky.social · 10/10/2025

#NewIllustrationOfTheDay by Katherine Child, debut author-illustrator of The Notted Island, a fantasy novel about an island in black-and-white which is waiting to be coloured, and about a deity who is in charge of the night sky. Skilled and lovely work. Flying Eye 9 Oct. @flyingeyebooks.bsky.social

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Reposted by Elle S. Hodge, Author

Aaron Apollo Camp @campaaronapollo.bsky.social · 10/10/2025

The Nobel Peace Prize winner is María Corina Machado Parisca, an opponent of the Maduro regime in Venezuela.

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Reposted by Elle S. Hodge, Author

Kate Rookery @katerookery.bsky.social · 10/10/2025

Dirge-like, her weeping echoed. #7SyllableSentence #Dirge

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Reposted by Elle S. Hodge, Author

Spooky Pickle 🧚‍♀️Beware the Fairy Seasons🧚‍♂️ @spookyxpickle.bsky.social · 07/10/2025

Oh yeah, links! Well, the book is available on tons of sites. For this new one, be sure to get the Rose cover. Otherwise, you'll have an older version of the book. On ko-fi and itch.io for next to nothing. As in, zero dollars. #Booksky #Poetry #Writingcommunity #IndieAuthor linktr.ee/spookypickle

linktr.ee

spookypickle | Instagram, Facebook, TikTok | Linktree

Author. Artist. Weirdo.

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Reposted by Elle S. Hodge, Author

Texas Paul @realtexaspaul.com · 05/10/2025

You are free to post AI videos and I am free to hate you for wasting my time with such worthless useless horribly low quality fictional trash. Your videos are terrible and so are you.

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Reposted by Elle S. Hodge, Author

Yersinia @lizcw.bsky.social · 02/10/2025

"The only correct interpretation of the bible is the one that lets me do whatever I already wanted to do and reinforces my biases" —Assholes 3:16

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Reposted by Elle S. Hodge, Author

W. James Chan, Author @wjameschan.bsky.social · 30/09/2025

I wonder how many of them thought, "If I stand up now, will others in this room join me?" But it doesn't matter. Because not one of them did. They just sat there as an alcoholic and a cholesterol timebomb called them fat. And told them to be ready to make war on their own people. Wow.

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Reposted by Elle S. Hodge, Author

W. James Chan, Author @wjameschan.bsky.social · 30/09/2025

THE WHITE HOUSE USING DEEPFAKE & AI TO MISREPRESENT POLITICIANS AS OFFICIAL VIDEO RECORD SHOULD HAVE ALL OF US VERY VERY VERY VERY FUCKING WORRIED. AND YES I AM SHOUTING WITH MY THUMBS BECAUSE I AM VERY VERY VERY FUCKING WORRIED. DO NOT LET THEM NORMALISE THIS. DO NOT ACCEPT IT AS REALITY. RESIST.

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Reposted by Elle S. Hodge, Author

W. James Chan, Author @wjameschan.bsky.social · 29/09/2025

A satirical pic of my favourite antifa member, who actually said (roughly translated from Aramaic), "Fuck your temples and fuck your monopolies and fuck your markets and fuck your moneychangers and fuck your bankers, I am the LAW!" like Judge Dredd, only with the actual power of God on His side. ✝️✊

Republic Jesus holding a tablet that says "Thou Shalt Not Care"

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Elle S. Hodge, Author @elleshodge.bsky.social · 27/09/2025

104,487 words on the page, 104,487 words! Cut one down, Change the sentence around, 104,486 words on the page.

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Elle S. Hodge, Author @elleshodge.bsky.social · 26/09/2025

Anyone use Firefox and want to disable that pesky AI overview function on google? This website has you covered. Just did it - was easy to follow - and now I can search shit without the AI spitting stupidity at me. gist.github.com/gene1wood/0b...

gist.github.com

How to disable Google Search AI Overview in Firefox

How to disable Google Search AI Overview in Firefox - how-to-disable-google-search-ai-overview-in-firefox.md

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Elle S. Hodge, Author @elleshodge.bsky.social · 26/09/2025

I'm not religious, but you can't tell me God wouldn't kick that stupid orange spongecake out of Heaven after just five minutes alone with him.

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Reposted by Elle S. Hodge, Author

Lisa Catara (official)💎 @lisa-catara.bsky.social · 24/09/2025

Via garyseconomics 💲💲 Here's a short animated video about how wealth inequality affects us. Share it with a friend who might not understand it yet.

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Reposted by Elle S. Hodge, Author

W. James Chan, Author @wjameschan.bsky.social · 23/09/2025

Between the inevitable reinstatement of Kimmel and that clearly rushed Lone Wolf and Cub In Space trailer, Disney is playing the "oops, you got us" card. The worst thing anyone can do at this point is say "we won!" and pretend things are back to normal. They are not. Stay the course, friends.

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Elle S. Hodge, Author @elleshodge.bsky.social · 21/09/2025

Review for Alec Ireson's "Greenthorne". TLDR: read the book instead, it's fucking good. (Picture is of a man in 1920's shirt, suspenders and brown cap, on a green background. Man is smoking and looking to the left. Title reads, "Greenthorne", by Alec Ireson.) ko-fi.com/post/Review-...

ko-fi.com

Greenthorne, by Alec Ireson (review)

Elle S. Hodge published a post on Ko-fi

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Elle S. Hodge, Author @elleshodge.bsky.social · 21/09/2025

Ergh. Writing reviews is so much easier when the book sucks.

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Elle S. Hodge, Author @elleshodge.bsky.social · 21/09/2025

I don't have my own book to promote, but some of the details other people have posting while chatting sounded really cool. But check out @wjameschan.bsky.social, @willowzane.bsky.social, Greenthorne by Alec Ireson, and of course our host, @spookyxpickle.bsky.social #TBBChat

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Reposted by Elle S. Hodge, Author

Matthew Siadak @backwardsknight.com · 20/09/2025

#TBBChat Q4: Do any of your characters have a connection (or the wish of one) to nature? A total lack thereof? Hmm. You know, the only one who has the barest hint of connection to nature would be Princess Laela, and her desire to run away into the forest. And would, were it not for The Paladin.

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Reposted by Elle S. Hodge, Author

Hazel Budzinski - he/they @hazelbud.bsky.social · 21/09/2025

#TBBChat Morrow ends up getting inhabited by a parasitic river god, with the mashed up appearance of multiple animals that rely on a rivers ecosystem (as well as some fun bugs), so very much so yes! Morrow is also a Druid, which comes with a lot of knowledge needed about the local animals and beasts

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Elle S. Hodge, Author @elleshodge.bsky.social · 21/09/2025

Well the story involves her developing a connection, so I'd say yes to both questions. I was interested in how it'd feel to be let outside after a lifetime of being trapped inside and, conversely, how it would feel to then go back. Would the inside space feel more or less safe than before? #TBBChat

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Elle S. Hodge, Author @elleshodge.bsky.social · 20/09/2025

Oh dear... She has quite a few animals that *aren't* her favourites. Birds. Wolves. Wallabies... I think a bear might be her favourite. She's never seen one, of course, but she imagines this big, lumbering creature as something that might be friendly. Nobody told her otherwise, after all. #TBBChat

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Elle S. Hodge, Author @elleshodge.bsky.social · 20/09/2025

Now you're asking the hard questions. I like different bugs for different reasons. Scorpions are cool, dragonflies are savage, mantids occasionally fly in my face... I guess spiders might be my favourite -- jumping spiders, not the hairy murderers that inhabit the warmer states. #TBBChat

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Elle S. Hodge, Author @elleshodge.bsky.social · 20/09/2025

Off the top of my head, Snow White and Rose Red. I loved that story when I was a kid, and I remembered it the other day when I was thinking about bears. But otherwise, I always loved Rapunzel. The creepy version as well as the delightful Tangled rendition. #TBBChat

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Elle S. Hodge, Author @elleshodge.bsky.social · 20/09/2025

Hi. I'm Elle. I'm an Australian science fiction lover, and I'm nearly two years into writing my first book. #TBBChat #scifi

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Elle S. Hodge, Author @elleshodge.bsky.social · 13/09/2025

You know what's shit? We've never before had so much access to knowledge, and we're still so fucking stupid. We still think religion is righteous, despite how many wars it's started. We still want to stifle individualism. We still think progress can be stopped. Pick up a history book. I dare you.

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Reposted by Elle S. Hodge, Author

W. James Chan, Author @wjameschan.bsky.social · 12/09/2025

Wow, excellent work by the FBI expertly being fully prepared to let the suspect's family just hand him in for a substantial kash reward. Cutting edge investigation right there. You're going to hear the word "hate" a lot in the coming days. Just remember: their every accusation is a confession.

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Elle S. Hodge, Author @elleshodge.bsky.social · 12/09/2025

A lot of things make me sad right now. The death of one man, who cared nothing for the deaths of thousands of others, is not really one of them.

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Reposted by Elle S. Hodge, Author

George Takei @georgetakei.bsky.social · 12/09/2025

If you don’t want to be called N*azis, don’t compare yourselves to N*azis. I don’t make the rules.

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Elle S. Hodge, Author @elleshodge.bsky.social · 11/09/2025

Today has been weird. My small world is changing, the larger world is a shit show, and I spent WAY too much time mentally rewriting the lyrics to "Pieces of You" to be about cooking and eating a co-worker. Don't worry, I sang it to the co-worker. Felt like it was creepy to keep it a secret.

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Elle S. Hodge, Author @elleshodge.bsky.social · 09/09/2025

Nothing has ever made me want to be loud as much as Trump did, telling that reporter to "be quiet!" How fucking dare he.

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Reposted by Elle S. Hodge, Author

Kate Rookery @katerookery.bsky.social · 04/09/2025

Day 4: #FantasyIndiesSeptember I talked about this a bit last month! My antagonists both showcase their hobbies in the current draft of the novel. Galean thinks he's something of a bard and dabbles in song-writing (with a side of cryptomnesia). ... and Mardus' hobby is picking on Galean's songs.

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Reposted by Elle S. Hodge, Author

Kate Rookery @katerookery.bsky.social · 03/09/2025

I've done a lot of snippets recently of the more-developed novel I'm working on, but this opening for the first chapter of the prequel really caught the attention of two of my test readers last month. #WednesdayWIPs #WIP #RookeryWriting #AmWriting

A graphic of a white text field on a blue-grey background. Decorative text at the top reads "Untitled Work in Progress" on the left, and "Chapter One The Shepherd" on the right. A crescent moon frames the text to the right, while the bluesky handle @katerookery.bsky.social is beneath the text on the left in white.

The body text reads:
The shepherd knew that he was dying.

Oh, it wasn’t the ride that was killing him, that was just added wretchedness. He mopped his cheeks and brow with his kerchief and, for the three hundred, forty-sixth time, he cursed his misery to Nelira in the heavens.

Or perhaps it was now the three hundred, forty-eighth time? He had at some point lost track of the number of curses he heaped onto his unhappiness, and that became another curse in itself.

At the start of the journey, he had turned his tongue to curse the short lot he’d pulled from the bundle presented to the crowd. That curse had soon twisted in his mouth to curse the grey horse he’d been loaned by the innkeeper for this journey. Before long, that curse had slithered back into his throat and become apologies to the fine and patient beast, before shifting again to curse his own greenness in the saddle.

By the time he reached curse three hundred, forty-eight—or nine?—he had lost coherent thought about what to attribute his misery to and had simply taken to cursing the misery. The sun beat down onto his head in spite of his hat, and he knew his cheeks beneath its brim would by now be wan and clammy. He had slept poorly for months, lost his appetite and vigour, and had realised only days before this one that death was coming for him soon.

His wife had gone the same way only the year before, just before summer began, and he must be nursing whatever ailment had sent her searching for a rope to end it. Their elder son had been the one to find her in the shearing shed, dangling from a rafter in her bare feet.

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Reposted by Elle S. Hodge, Author

W. James Chan, Author @wjameschan.bsky.social · 15/08/2025

Tired of Amazon getting a cut? Just want to read high quality dark literary fantasy? Grab both BLACKCLOAK and GILDENHAMMER for free/pay what you want here: ko-fi.com/wjameschan/s.... Download once, yours forever. Heck, copy and spread it around! (Paperbacks also available at Barnes & Noble) 📚💙

Get two excellent dark fantasy novels for the price of none!
Add both Blackcloak and Gildenhammer to your digital library today! Free/pay what you want at: https://ko-fi.com/wjameschan

Covers of Blackcloak and Gildenhammer by W. James Chan

"As if David Lynch rewrote the works of George R.R. Martin" Kirkus
"Deep, lyrical, maddening" Self Publishing Review
"A disturbing character study" IndieReader
"Thoroughly absorbing" San Francisco Book Review

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