iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Emily Barlow, Author @emilybarlowauthor.bsky.social · 10h

Why yes, I did run down this path with my arms flung out behind me like a good anime character. #bamboo #anime #trails

A dirt path between tall bamboo stalks as big around as my forearm. (You don't have a reference for my forearm, but it's not terribly large.) Overall it looks like a place you should see two ninjas running sideways mid-fight.

Emily Barlow, Author @emilybarlowauthor.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Less than two weeks before this book comes off of KU! Don't worry; it'll be available elsewhere afterward, including direct from me, so you'll still be able to pick up a copy. There's a good chance it'll also be in Kobo Plus (for those who use Kobo). #booksky #indiefantasy #kindleunlimited

A mood board with four sections, each container either a pack of wolves, a large brown bear, a stooping eagle, or an anvil and hammer, with the cover for The Raven's Children in the middle of all of them. It's white and contains the title and author's name in black text with translucent Norse runes in the background and the silhouette of a raven on a branch in front of a golden moon.

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Emily Barlow, Author @emilybarlowauthor.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

GUESS WHERE I'M GOING TO BE AT THE END OF THE MONTH?? I am BEYOND excited about this event, and not just because I'll be there selling books. It looks amazing! HORSEBACK RIDES IN COSTUME! LARPing, if you're into that! More LotR nerds than TN has room for! Come out and see!

A flyer with four people in cloaks on horseback in the background, riding toward a beautiful mountain sunset, announcing that Veterans Equine Time and The Dragon's D have teamed up to create an event called Middle Earth in Middle Tennessee. It runs October 23-25 in Clarksville, TN, and will include kids' games, axe throwing, live demonstrations, horseback rides, archery, and a host of vendors. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for ages 12-17, and kids 12 and under are free.

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Emily Barlow, Author @emilybarlowauthor.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Somebody "checked out" the copy of The Raven's Children I left in this Little Free Library! It took less than a week! Whoever you are, I hope you're enjoying it, and please pass it on to someone else who will!

A wooden Little Free Library box painted light blue with a haphazard stack of books inside, none of which are mine. You can see my reflection in the glass of the door as I take the picture.

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Emily Barlow, Author @emilybarlowauthor.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

I can't take any credit for this picture. It's all up to nature and my phone camera, but this sunrise was absolutely gorgeous.

Sunrise looking down my street with just the treetops visible and every color from bright yellow to deep purple shining off of the clouds.

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Emily Barlow, Author @emilybarlowauthor.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

I'm sorry, is this the best seat in the house? It's mine now.

My dog, Chloe, a 60-pound mixed breed with a black mask and back and mottled white on her nose, chest, and belly, laying comfortably in the corner seat of our couch, looking at the camera as if to say, "I got here first."

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Emily Barlow, Author @emilybarlowauthor.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Maury County Fall Fest was a success! I sold enough to break even and met some pretty cool people. Got some ideas for the next event, too, which will be in October (more deets to come when I have them officially).

A picture of me, a short, brown-haired, middle-aged woman, wearing a brown leather corset with gears and latches and such on it and a puffy off-white shirt and skirt. I'm standing underneath a tent in front of a table with a blue cloth over it and various things for sale: all four of my books, some small crochet items my daughter makes, and some bath items a friend of mine makes and sells.

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Emily Barlow, Author @emilybarlowauthor.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Only one month left to read this title on KU! It comes out of the program October 27th. It's technically the second in the series, but they can be read standalone. (You've got more time on Sunchaser, though!)

The cover for Stormkindler (slate gray with the stormkindler symbol at the top and a small, red wax seal at the bottom with a lighthouse inside it and a twist of rope behind it) with the tropes "mystery," "weatherworking," "magic school," "hidden danger," and "alarm donkey" around the cover. The background is white, puffy clouds with a few storm clouds mixed in.

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Emily Barlow, Author @emilybarlowauthor.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

If you're close to Columbia, TN, come see me tomorrow at Maury County Fall Fest! It's downtown from 3-8 PM and will have a chili cook-off, vendors, and live music. Should be a great time!

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Emily Barlow, Author @emilybarlowauthor.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Got the second layer! Now to work out the last…

A Rubik's cube showing the red and blue sides with the first two layers solved. It's sitting on my admittedly messy convertible standing desk, with a silver bell and a red and blue spiral fidget in the background.

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Emily Barlow, Author @emilybarlowauthor.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

We have a local Lego store that has a little free library inside!

A little free library with Lego pieces on either side in bright colors, sitting between the shelves in a store selling Lego sets.

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Emily Barlow, Author @emilybarlowauthor.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Final watermelon update: they ripened! Never got much bigger, but they did get ripe. And they taste…like watermelon. Pretty decent watermelon. Maybe next year we can get them to grow more.

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Emily Barlow, Author @emilybarlowauthor.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Do you guys like book trailers? Are they helpful? Catchy? I have fun making them, but I'm always unsure what folks like these days.

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Emily Barlow, Author @emilybarlowauthor.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Fun fact: tea and Macbooks don't mix. At what point is it permissible to day drink on a Friday? Asking for a friend. It's me. The friend is me.

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Emily Barlow, Author @emilybarlowauthor.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

My favorite breakfast at the moment is an omelet on a whole wheat, low-carb tortilla. This week we got the BIG tortillas instead of the small ones, so they no longer fit over the omelet in the pan; they creep up the sides. And get stuck. To the top. #AdventuresInCooking

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Emily Barlow, Author @emilybarlowauthor.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

PREORDERS ARE UP! Right now it's available via the 'Zon, B&N, Kobo, and direct from me (via Square for payments and BookFunnel for delivery), but if you prefer Play Books, you'll have to wait a bit while they confirm my account. #historicalfantasy #booksky #whattoread #fantasy #preorder

A nighttime winter scene with trees, mountains, and snow in the background and the cover for Gatekeeper, Spy in the foreground. Text above the image says "Coming soon!" and text below the image says "January 5, 2027."

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Emily Barlow, Author @emilybarlowauthor.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

I finally remembered to bring one of my books for the Little Free Library in the park where I run sometimes! It's a copy I can't sell, since it's personalized and the person didn't buy it due to a misunderstanding, so this felt like a good use for it. I hope someone enjoys it.

The glass door of a wooden Little Free Library cabinet with stacks of books inside, one of which is a hardcover copy of The Raven's Children. You can also see my reflection throwing a peace sign, because why not?

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Emily Barlow, Author @emilybarlowauthor.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

We're one day less than a month out from this title coming out of KU! If you like Norse-inspired stories of intrigue and natural magic, go pick it up and give it a read.

The cover for The Raven's Children (a white cover with gold corner accents, faded gold runes, and black text with the title and author's name, plus a silhouetted raven sitting on a branch in front of a golden, full moon) sits on top of a background of semi-abstract pine trees, with tropes on each of the corners. Clockwise from the top left, they read "shapeshifting," "Norse gods and goddesses," "coming of age," and "political intrigue." Text at the bottom informs that it's available on Amazon.

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Emily Barlow, Author @emilybarlowauthor.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

This little swallowtail wanted to come say hi.

A not-well-framed picture of a black butterfly, the bottom of whose wings look like they were dipped in iridescent blue paint. It's sitting in the grass in my yard and is a bit hard to see given the messy nature of said yard.

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Emily Barlow, Author @emilybarlowauthor.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

I took a good flower picture the other day.

Some purple (fuchsia?) flowers with tiny petals arranged in a cylinder with a rounded top that grow on individual stalks, but with lots of them throughout the plant. I don't know what it's called, but our neighbors have a really pretty one.

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Emily Barlow, Author @emilybarlowauthor.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

That's right—starting this fall, all of my books will be available across multiple platforms! Still working on the particulars, but I'll have some universal book links here in the near future as I transition things. First up is The Raven's Children, which will go live sometime in October.

A dark sky with a mountainous background and a sandy plain in the foreground with a square doorway made of golden light, the text "I'm going wide!" superimposed on top in white Uncial script. Meant to be read like Bilbo Baggins says "I'm going on an adventure!" in The Hobbit.

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Emily Barlow, Author @emilybarlowauthor.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

WE HAVE A RELEASE DATE! If you're part of my newsletter, you already know this, but for everyone else: Gatekeeper, Spy will release on January 5, 2027, 961 years to the day after the death of Edward the Confessor started a chain of events England would never forget. #booksky #historicalfantasy

A colorful Celtic background with a parchment scroll rolled out atop it carries the following text: "January 5th, 1066. King Edward the Confessor has died without a natural successor, leaving the kingdom in turmoil as claimants compete for the throne. But the king’s lack of children–and his death–are tied to mysterious circumstances."

A similarly colorful Celtic background with the same parchment scroll has the following text: On his deathbed, the king extracts a promise from Elric, his most trusted spy, to carry an unnatural burden King Edward alone has shouldered most of his life. But can a middle-aged agent of espionage, armed with a curious pouch and a shaggy mountain pony, thwart a plan to destroy not only England, but the world?

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Emily Barlow, Author @emilybarlowauthor.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Little crab spider says there might be some big news in the offing about my next publication shortly…you should keep an eye out. Maybe tomorrow. Maybe the day after. Yep.

A tiny yellow crab spider, about the size of my pinky nail, sits in the middle of the web it's repairing. There's a big gap in between the major spokes just beneath the spider. In the out of focus background stands a tree, bark dappled with sunlight and clusters of green leaves showing patches of blue sky.

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Emily Barlow, Author @emilybarlowauthor.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Today's labor: the blurb. Every author's nemesis. I've been avoiding it for weeks, but finally sat down Tuesday and knocked out a first stab that I cleaned up yesterday and have put out for critique. Cover is done; initial beta comments are in. Time to go address those…

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Emily Barlow, Author @emilybarlowauthor.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Watermelon Watch 2026: and then there were three. One is relatively new and the other two haven't really grown much since my last post. The vines are looking peaked despite watering (it's been very dry where I am), and I did feed them this morning. We'll see if it helps.

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Emily Barlow, Author @emilybarlowauthor.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Remember that big news I mentioned was coming up in my latest newsletter? You're curious about it, right? Then stay tuned!

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Emily Barlow, Author @emilybarlowauthor.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

This bestest girl just wanted some mandarin orange slices. Just a few. We can spare one or two, right?

Pictured is our sweet puppy, a 60 pound mutt with tan points, a black mask, and spotted neck that's white with brown and black spots. Her back is black with brown on her legs and her feet are spotted like her neck. The very tip of her black tail is white, and she likes to chase it when she's bored.

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Emily Barlow, Author @emilybarlowauthor.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Icarus update: I was right. Multiple burns from the grow lights, but it refuses to stop. Unsure if just plant bravery or stupidity. Also we need to use more fresh basil.

Pictured is my hydroponic setup with two basil plants extending up past the grow light that hovers a full 18" above the surface. Multiple leaves have brown spots from the lights, yet still it grows...

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Emily Barlow, Author @emilybarlowauthor.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

BIG NEWS in this month's newsletter! Lots of it! You should sign up if you want to be in the know early. (Sign up on my website—link in bio.)

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Emily Barlow, Author @emilybarlowauthor.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Need something to read over the long weekend? I gotchu! All are available in ebook and paperback, and the Weatherworker Chronicles are in audiobook, too. (I may have some codes left so you can listen for free… ;) )

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Emily Barlow, Author @emilybarlowauthor.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

I've largely been quiet about my current work in progress, but it's time for an update. If you haven't been following along, I'm working on the next installment in what I'm lovingly calling the Bagiverse—the world from Involuntarily Immortal.

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Emily Barlow, Author @emilybarlowauthor.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

I give you: the longest egg I've ever seen. That's all.

My hand holding an egg that's longer than it should be, almost as long as one of my fingers, and far more narrow than the rest I've seen. It's brown and has small lines running across the shell.

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Reposted by Emily Barlow, Author

Tru Skies @trudieskies.readindiefantasy.com · 01/09/2026

After a few years of hard work, The Chosen One Con is out now on ebook with paperbacks to follow soon! Available on Kindle, Kobo, Itch and more to come. books2read.com/thechosenone... But of course, I couldn't publish this book without help, and I have a lot of people to thank! 👇

A promo image for The Chosen One Con, out now on Kindle, Kobo, and Itch. It shows the book cover to the Chosen One Con (a young white man in a trench coat holding a glowing blue potion bottle as though trying to steal it) and the following text: Magic spoke to me, whispering promises of fortune and fame. It spoke when I switched on the old MV and the screen came alive with the blue glow of magic, the faint spark and pop of aether flowing through the cables.

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Emily Barlow, Author @emilybarlowauthor.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

I have rediscovered pour-over coffee. I'd like to say it's because I'm elevating my coffee game since I can't have much of it, but it's really because I lost the reusable filter for my Keurig. Still, it's tasty.

Pictured is my chrome-colored pour-over filter with dark roast ground coffee inside. There's a bit of foam on top of the coffee/water mixture because I like to use water that's hotter than all the coffee snobs tell me to use.

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Emily Barlow, Author @emilybarlowauthor.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

Watermelon update: we lost one. Not sure what happened, but I found it on the ground outside of the pot with the stem looking like something either chewed or twisted it off. The other three are doing fine, though I need to feed them to make sure they keep maturing.

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Emily Barlow, Author @emilybarlowauthor.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

There's a massive indie sale going on right now over at the Narratess's site—plenty of great books at wonderful prices! Go check it out!

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Emily Barlow, Author @emilybarlowauthor.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

Editing snippets, part one: Elric and the Bag “See here–” Elric began, and the drawstring on the bag zipped shut with a snap, pinching two of his fingers in the process. “Ouch! You awful, accursed thing…”

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Emily Barlow, Author @emilybarlowauthor.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Lots of heavy news yesterday, both personally and internationally. Even Chloe was low key. Hug your loved ones, and make sure you tell them how important they are to you.

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Emily Barlow, Author @emilybarlowauthor.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

I have named this basil Icarus, as it has grown too close to the grow lights and will likely be burned.

Image is a basil stalk that for some reason reached for the stars and is at least a foot high. It finally leafed out at the top, but it's literally bumping into the grow lights in my hydroponic setup.

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Emily Barlow, Author @emilybarlowauthor.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Our neighbors have a little dog named Tacozz (yes, the z's are important), and I love saying good morning to him, because then when I come in and see Chloe and she sniffs my hands I can tell her I smell like tacos.

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Emily Barlow, Author @emilybarlowauthor.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

When you start making the kids put up leftovers and they're doing their level best to use fewer dishes…this is leftover chicken parm. On top of green beans. In the same container. WITH GREEN BEAN JUICE. I applaud the effort, but we're gonna have a talk.

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Emily Barlow, Author @emilybarlowauthor.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Every time I think I've done enough research on this novel, I run across something else seemingly insignificant that I have to obsess over until I've answered my question. Today's edition: second-floor flooring materials in pre-Norman English castles (first floor if you're not American).

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Emily Barlow, Author @emilybarlowauthor.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Watermelon Watch 2026 update: they're growing! The biggest one on the top right corner doesn't seem like it's grown much until I pick it up and realize it's a lot heavier. Will have to find another place for them to sit and ripen since they should get too big to stay in the pot.

Image is my cream-colored watermelon pot (it's not shaped like a watermelon; it just happens to be holding my watermelons right now, so it's a watermelon pot) with five watermelons: one bigger than my fist, one a bit smaller, one the size of my palm, another that's the size of the end of my thumb, and one the size of my pinky that time I got stung by a wasp a while back. If I were truly dedicated I'd take measurements, but it's way more fun to do it this way.

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Emily Barlow, Author @emilybarlowauthor.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

WHO WANTS A COVER REVEAL?? I'm finally at the point where I feel like I can announce a release date for my current WIP, and as such, it's about time to do a cover reveal for it! …but you'll have to wait a bit for the full version. 😉 #coverreveal #fantasynovel #historicalfantasy #comingsoon

Image is a torn sheet of paper covering most of a book-shaped image containing some calligraphic letters that spell out "Gatekeeper, Spy" in white with brown outline. (I spent a good while getting the outline and shadows right on those letters, too, so appreciate them!) In the background are vibrant dark and medium blues with highlights of red and orange in an abstract pattern.

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Emily Barlow, Author @emilybarlowauthor.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

Because I'm lazy today and don't want to repost again...what do you think about when you #run? youtube.com/shorts/DMM6g...

youtube.com

Running thoughts

YouTube video by Emily Barlow Writes Things

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Emily Barlow, Author @emilybarlowauthor.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

Watermelon update! The biggest one is still thriving, but the next-biggest has some kind of rot thanks to me leaving it on the concrete and I think we'll lose it. We have two more that have cropped up, and I've put them in the planter to avoid the rot issue.

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Emily Barlow, Author @emilybarlowauthor.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

Big news in this one! And if you're not signed up yet, remember you get an EXCLUSIVE bonus chapter plus the first chapter of Involuntarily Immortal just for signing up! Deets at my website, emilybarlowwritesthings.com.

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Emily Barlow, Author @emilybarlowauthor.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Always feels good to type. Pictured: the black background for my word processing app of choice (I prefer dark mode) with the words "THE END" in all caps, centered. And yes, I do most of my writing on my phone.

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Emily Barlow, Author @emilybarlowauthor.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Me: Ooh, Perseid meteor shower peaks tonight! The weather: cloudy, with a chance of thunderstorms EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.

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