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Fay Irwin (pen name) @fantasyscience.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

CHEMICAL SOLUTIONS FOR LONELY HEARTS He’s uptight. She likes to blow things up (literally). They do NOT get along. Too bad it’s up to them to save the world. 👫Slow-burn enemies to lovers 👺Mistaken identities 🧠Neurodivergent and LGBTQ rep 🤣Awkward humour #DVPit #RomCom #A #Q

A very well-executed sketch of a woman and a man arguing in front of a fume hood. The woman wears safety glasses and a lab coat. The man is tall and skinny with a bit of a beard and regular glasses.

In the fume hood, an Erlenmeyer flask sitting on a hot plate shoots out red flames (or liquid, hard to tell) that turn into little hearts.

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Fay Irwin (pen name) @fantasyscience.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

THE LOVE HYPOTHESIS x PROJECT HAIL MARY Make ammonia, save the world, fall in love. Easier said than done when your world doesn’t have the required technology, your bosses and their greedy corporate sponsors want you to fail, and the cults are getting violent. #DVPit #RomCom #A #Q

A moodboard on a teal background. "Chemical Solutions for Lonely Hearts" is written in the centre.

Images (rastering top to bottom from top left):

A woman welding; two women eating together and laughing; a bat hanging from a tree; the Toronto night skyline as viewed from one of the islands; an explosive warning sign; gas regulators; a notebook with crumpled paper and a pen ("Dear Boss, You suck" is written on the page); a man and a woman talking on the phone (the woman is shouting); a man and woman hugging; an explosion; a fancy plate of food with two wine glasses.

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Fay Irwin (pen name) @fantasyscience.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Two awkward scientists just want to be left alone to build a lawnmower. Instead, they must battle powerful corporations and doomsday cults to save the world from starvation. Plus, they’re catching pesky feelings… #DVPit #RomCom #SF #A #Q

Ombre poster (indigo-pink-orange).
A silhouetted man and woman face away from each other in argument. In the background, an Erlenmeyer flask spills a pink liquid that gathers into a heart in the air.

Text:

Chemical Solutions for Lonely Hearts
F. Irwin
a sci-fi rom-com with real chemistry
(in a laurel wreath) 2026 RevPit winner

Chemical Solutions for Lonely Hearts"

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Fay Irwin (pen name) @fantasyscience.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

I should be preparing #DVPit pitches. Oh well. Here's a dog who deserves all the raspberries. (No, he's not angry, that's just his face.)

A reddish-brown puppy glares at the camera. He's sitting beside a raspberry bush.

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Fay Irwin (pen name) @fantasyscience.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

I've been absent for a while since I'm incapable of keeping up with 2 accounts at the same time. Anyway, I'm back. With a puppy.

A brown dog lies on a carpeted floor, staring balefully at the camera. He has chardin his mouth.

010

Fay Irwin (pen name) @fantasyscience.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

In CHEMICAL SOLUTIONS FOR LONELY HEARTS, two awkward scientists must overcome their mutual dislike to save the world. #QueerPit #A #RC #SF - Mistaken identities - Enemies to lovers - Fake dating - Black cat and porcupine - Explosive chemistry (both kinds)

Poster of a silhouetted man and woman facing away from each other, looking annoyed. Behind them is an Erlenmeyer flask leaking a pink liquid that turns into a heart. The background fades from blue through pink to orange. To the right, a wreath contains the words "2026 RevPit winner"

Title: Chemical Solutions for Lonely Hearts
Author: F. Irwin
Logline: a sci-fi rom-com with real chemistry

21221

Fay Irwin (pen name) @fantasyscience.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

I've been pitching the romance side of CHEMICAL SOLUTIONS FOR LONELY HEARTS, so here's the science side. Apologies for profanity. My character's just like that. #UnhingedPit #A #R #SF #Q (almost) Uh, if any chemists look at this, please excuse my terrible electrochemical cell. Oops.

Two chemical formulae I don't want to write here without the ability to do sub- and superscripts. They're both about producing ammonia from nitrogen gas.

Then there's a (terribly incorrect) sketch of an electrochemical cell and the words "project fertile-as-fuck".

Then "Will a pressure cooker work?"

Finally, a picture of a bomb exploding and the word "BOOM!" followed by "Just kidding, George")

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Fay Irwin (pen name) @fantasyscience.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

This amazing drawing sums up CHEMICAL SOLUTIONS FOR LONELY HEARTS. #UnhingedPit #AmAlmostQuerying

A sketch of two people standing in front of a fume hood. On the left, a woman in a lab coat and safety glasses has her hands on her hips. She's glaring at the man, who is very tall and skinny. His arms are crossed and he stares at her impassively. He's wearing normal glasses and has a bit of a beard.

In the fume hood, red liquid is exploding out of an Erlenmeyer flask on a hotplate. In the air it turns into little hearts.

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Fay Irwin (pen name) @fantasyscience.bsky.social · 08/06/2026

If Ali Hazelwood and Andy Weir wrote a book, it would be CHEMICAL SOLUTIONS FOR LONELY HEARTS, a sci-fi romcom with real chemistry. Two awkward scientists must overcome their mutual dislike to save the world. But their experiments - and their growing feelings - threaten to explode.

Poster with a blue, pink, and orange ombre background. Title: Chemical Solutions for Lonely Hearts.
Below that is written "F. Irwin" and below that is an award wreath with "2026 RevPit winner" inside. At the very bottom it says, "a sci-fi rom-com with real chemistry".
The image is of a silhouetted man and women facing away from each other (arguing) and an Erlenmeyer flask in the background spilling liquid that turns into a heart.

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Fay Irwin (pen name) @fantasyscience.bsky.social · 20/03/2026

I could never choose a favourite snippet. But I do enjoy it when the MCs interact via snippy memos. (Like an inverted You've Got Mail.)

I scribble a reply.
Dear Dr. Ramos,
You can stuff your synthesis up your ass.
- Reznik
It takes me longer than it should to toss the note into the recycling bin.

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Fay Irwin (pen name) @fantasyscience.bsky.social · 19/03/2026

High pressure chemistry abounds in this explosive sci-fi romcom about two awkward scientists who band together to save the world. Think: Andy Weir x Ali Hazelwood but more chaos. #RevPit #RevPitWaiting #AmQuerying #SciFi #Romance #RomCom

Images are displayed on top of a background of fire. The word “ChemPortal” is written at the bottom. Images clockwise from top left:
- A notebook with a pen resting on it and crumpled pieces of paper. On the notebook is written “Dear Boss, You suck. – N.R.”
- A bat hangs from a tree
- An attractive bearded man cooks food in a fancy-looking kitchen
- The Toronto skyline at night
- A farm field
- A dark-haired woman wearing safety glasses, gloves, and a lab coat examines a test tube with a serious expression

3464

Fay Irwin (pen name) @fantasyscience.bsky.social · 15/03/2026

I submitted my #RevPit materials last night! I may have made some odd choices in my answers to questions. I blame being sick. For the record, I did NOT choose editors because they crochet. I swear. But here's a picture of the first amiguri I made. He has seen the future, and he is afraid.

A crocheted penguin on a hardwood floor leaning against a white background. His belly is not centred. His beady (literally) eyes stare into the distance, full of fear.

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Fay Irwin (pen name) @fantasyscience.bsky.social · 14/03/2026

Do you think they're the same people who make graphs like this for their manuscripts? Not that I'd know any of these people. Just curious. #RevPit

Graph of words per chapter. There are 8 traces. All are varying shades of pink and purple except one which is green. A dotted best fit line is fit to the green trace to show the average number of words per chapter and the trend in word count over the course of the book.

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Fay Irwin (pen name) @fantasyscience.bsky.social · 10/03/2026

If Andy Weir and Ali Hazelwood co-wrote a book, it would be ChemPortal. The love story: 🥸Mistaken identities 💕Enemies to lovers 🫣Awkward MCs 💬Witty banter 💪Family & found family The sci-fi: 🌎Alternate Earth 🌾Impending famine 🥼Synthesize ammonia 💥Explosions 🧪Real chemistry #RevPit #AmQuerying

Moodboard. Centre image is a pressure cooker with "CHEMPORTAL" written across it.

Outer images clockwise from top left:
- fancy drinks and food on a table set for 2
- typed text on a page of a book. "Chemistry" is highly visible
- a white woman with brown hair working on a car engine
- the Toronto skyline
- a colourful stack of books
- a bright light shining through a partially open door, obscuring the world beyond
- a bat hanging from a branch
- a stack of latkes

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Fay Irwin (pen name) @fantasyscience.bsky.social · 28/02/2026

In 1909, Fritz Haber invented the process used to create fertilizer to this day. In the world of CHEMPORTAL, he never existed. Andy Weir and Ali Hazelwood are channelled in this tale of two awkward scientists who must overcome their mutual dislike to save the world. #UnhingedPit #Q #R #SF

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Fay Irwin (pen name) @fantasyscience.bsky.social · 28/02/2026

No one knows whether the Chiropteran cult worships bats or just feels bad they're all dying. Doesn't matter, though, since the world's about to end. CHEMPORTAL: a grounded sci-fi romcom with real chemistry #Q #UnhingedPit #SF #R

Image of a pink and silver pressure cooker against a black background. Top says “ChemPortal: a Romantic Sci-fi.” Bottom says: “Two awkward scientists just want to be left alone to build a lawnmower. Instead, they find themselves battling time, powerful corporations, and doomsday cults to save the world from starvation.”

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Fay Irwin (pen name) @fantasyscience.bsky.social · 14/02/2026

What happens when a chemistry professor writes a romance? If that prof is me, you get CHEMPORTAL, in which two awkward scientists battle cults, corporations, and unwanted feelings as they try to invent fertilizer. Plus, feminist takes on science history. And maybe aliens. #CuPit #Q #A #SF #R

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Fay Irwin (pen name) @fantasyscience.bsky.social · 14/02/2026

If Ali Hazelwood and Andy Weir wrote a book, it would be CHEMPORTAL, a sci-fi romcom with real chemistry. Now querying! Two awkward scientists on an alternate Earth must overcome their mutual dislike to save the world. But their experiments - and their growing feelings - threaten to explode.

1304

Fay Irwin (pen name) @fantasyscience.bsky.social · 14/02/2026

Ali Hazelwood meets AndyWeir in CHEMPORTAL: Two awkward scientists must overcome their mutual dislike to save the work in this speculative romcom with real chemistry. #CuPit #A #R #SF #Q

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Fay Irwin (pen name) @fantasyscience.bsky.social · 13/01/2026

Bats are dying, humanity faces mass starvation, and no one seems to care. Antagonistic colleagues Nat and George reluctantly team up to save the world, but face greedy corporations, doomsday cults, and their own explosive chemistry. #BluePit #BluePit📖 #Q #R #SF #A

Moodboard. Text: "ChemPortal," "Fay Irwin," "Sci-fi romcom."

Central image: a steaming pressure cooker

Outer images (clockwise from top left):
- a table set with food and two colourful cocktails
- printed text with "chemistry" bolded
- a woman working on a car engine
- the Toronto skyline
- a colourful stack of books
- bright light shining through a partially opened door
- a bat hanging from a tree branch
- latkes on a plate

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Fay Irwin (pen name) @fantasyscience.bsky.social · 13/01/2026

Currently querying CHEMPORTAL, a grounded sci-fi romance with real chemistry. Two awkward scientists battle time, doomsday cults, corporations, and their own hearts to save the world. - Enemies(ish) to lovers - Mistaken identity - Family and friendship - Not actually about portals

Moodboard. Central images is a steaming pressure cooker worth CHEMPORTAL superimposed. Bottom right says FAY IRWIN - SCI-FI ROMCOM.

Images clockwise from top left:
-a table with food and two colourful cocktails
- typed text on a page with "chemistry" bolded
-a woman working on a car engine
- Toronto's skyline viewed from the Toronto islands
-a stack of colourful books
- a bright light shining through a partially-opened wood door
- a bat hanging upside down from a tree
- a plate of latkes

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Fay Irwin (pen name) @fantasyscience.bsky.social · 05/11/2025

If Andy Weir and Ali Hazelwood co-wrote a book, it would be CHEMPORTAL. This scifi romcom with real chemistry features: 💥Explosions (real and figurative) 📻Science (mis)communication 🥰Enemies to lovers 👨‍👩‍👧‍👧Complex family dynamics ⚛️ #Steminist history 💪ND and LGBTQ rep #QuestPit #A #Q #SF #R

Dark blue poster background with a cartoon of a pink and silver pressure cooker. Text:
ChemPortal
A romantic sci-fi

Two awkward scientists just want to be left alone to build a lawnmower. Instead, thy find themselves battling time, powerful corporations, and doomsday cults to save the world from starvation.

Fay Irwin

05127

Fay Irwin (pen name) @fantasyscience.bsky.social · 22/10/2025

CHEMPORTAL is what you'd get if Andy Weir and Ali Hazelwood co-wrote a book. It has: 🧪Lots of chemistry (of both types) 👫Enemies to lovers 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦Complex family dynamics 👭Friendship and found family 💪Feminist takes on the history of science 🧠Neurodivergent and LGBTQ rep 🤣Awkward humour #SFPit #A #Q

Poster with a dark blue background. A pink pressure cooker with a silver lid is the only image. Text:
ChemPortal
A romantic sci-fi

Two awkward scientists just want to be left alone to build a lawnmower. Instead, they find themselves battling time, powerful corporations, and doomsday cults to save the world from starvation.

Fay Irwin

183

Fay Irwin (pen name) @fantasyscience.bsky.social · 21/10/2025

Two awkward scientists on an alternate Earth must overcome their mutual dislike to save the world from mass starvation. But their growing feelings for each other prove to be as explosive as the chemicals they work with. #SciFiPit #SFPit #A

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Fay Irwin (pen name) @fantasyscience.bsky.social · 23/09/2025

Antagonistic coworkers try to save the world in ChemPortal. Obstacles: angry cults, greedy corporations, the laws of physics, themselves. The stakes: Nothing less than their hearts. (And the future of humanity.) #UnhingedPit #SF #R #Q (Character art done by me. I'm sorry.)

poorly drawn cartoon of two people. The man is wearing slacks and a sweater vest. His thought bubble says, "I just want peace and quiet." The woman is wearing jeans, red shoes, and a lab coat. Her thought bubble says, "I'm gonna blow shit up."

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Fay Irwin (pen name) @fantasyscience.bsky.social · 23/09/2025

Looks like most online word cloud generators won't post swears. My book has 150 instances of "fuck." All are necessary. #UnhingedPit #SF #R #Q

Word cloud with too many words to paste here. Big ones: library, book, lab, portal, time, world, reaction, family, synthesis

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Fay Irwin (pen name) @fantasyscience.bsky.social · 16/08/2025

A young farmer's magic may be the key to stopping a war. But she doesn't know how to use it. This adventurous romp features themes of finding one's place and questioning societal expectations, fun tropes (not enough bedrolls!), and a relatable heroine. #PosterPit #PosterPitQ #Q #A #F

Poster with a forest background and a very angry blue and orange blanket floating in the air.

Can Seya save the prince before war breaks out? And before her blanket kills her?

The Ember and the Crown
by Fay Irwin

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Fay Irwin (pen name) @fantasyscience.bsky.social · 16/08/2025

George wants to be left alone. Nat wants to blow things up. Faced with a looming apocalypse, they must overcome their mutual dislike to save the world. #PosterPit #W #R #SF #A

Pink poster with a blue and black portal in the middle. An ombre (pink to yellow) heart is in the middle of the portal.

Text:
What if Andy Weir and Ali Hazelwood co-wrote a Pride and Prejudice retelling?

ChemPortal
A romance with real chemistry

Portals (but only for books) Enemies to lovers Explosions Bats Feminism Science (mis)communication Extreme awkwardness LGBTQ and neurodivergence rep Found family Fertilizer

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Fay Irwin (pen name) @fantasyscience.bsky.social · 16/08/2025

PROJECT HAIL MARY x PRIDE AND PREJUDICE Coming soon to a query trench near you... #PosterPit #A #R #SF #W

Poster with dark blue background and an illustration of a hot pink pressure cooker in the middle.

ChemPortal
A romantic sci-fi

Two awkward scientists just want to be left alone to build a lawnmower. Instead, they find themselves battling time, powerful corporations, and doomsday cults to save the world from starvation.

Fay Irwin

24722

Fay Irwin (pen name) @fantasyscience.bsky.social · 15/08/2025

I'm terrible at visual pitches. But here's another one for my adult fantasy about a farmer-turned-mage who needs to save a prince (while avoiding being murdered by her sentient blanket). #FromZeroToCompetent #NotEnoughBedrolls #AlivingUnaliveThings #QueerPit #A #F #Q #AmQuerying

Orange background with a cartoon hand holding a (live) chicken

The Ember and the Crown
A fantasy novel featuring chickens, sentient objects, and a woman finding her place in the world

1410

Fay Irwin (pen name) @fantasyscience.bsky.social · 15/08/2025

When a farmer accidentally brings a roomful of golems to life she's thrust into a new life as a mage and spy. 💪Strong heroine 🧪Science-based magic system 🌧️Sentient objects 🫶Forbidden love 🔺Love triangle 💍Arranged marriage 🧻Not enough bedrolls And yet, not a romance. #QueerPit #A #F #Q #AmQuerying

Can Seya save the prince before war breaks out? And before her blanket kills her?

The Ember and the Crown
by Fay Irwin

Image: a cartoon-ish angry blanket floating in the air in a forest.

10418

Fay Irwin (pen name) @fantasyscience.bsky.social · 13/07/2025

THE EMBER AND THE CROWN Magic follows the rules of science, but Seya’s brings objects to life. Now she’s trying to prevent a war while dealing with mind-controlling mages, complicated romantic entanglements, and political intrigue. Oh, and an angry blanket intent on murder. #BluePit📖 #Q #F #A #NA

Comps and vibes:
- unique magic system
- relatably awkward heroine
- sentient objects
- royals, spies, mages, and chickens
- from zero to competent

Photo of cover of Uprooted (Naomi Novik) with text "Heroine with unexpected, quirky magic"

Photo of Assistant to the Villain (Hannah Nicole Maehrer) with text "A fast-paced, hilarious romp"

Background is faded flames

Themes and tropes (often subverted):
- strong heroine
- finding one's place
- underdog hero
- forbidden romance
- love triangle
- arranged marriage
- not enough bedrolls

Background is faded flames

First lines:

Seya strode through the palace as though she belonged; just another servant scurrying to do her master’s bidding. She had no idea what palace servants looked like, or whether they’d scurry, but playing make-believe helped keep her mind off more pressing issues, such as – for example – her impending death.

Background is faded flames

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Fay Irwin (pen name) @fantasyscience.bsky.social · 13/06/2025

Looking up the size of squirrel stomachs (for my novel). I usually ignore the AI suggestions, but this one was so incredibly wrong I had to share. Given those numbers, squirrels are ~45 m long (close to half a football field). That would be a completely different book. #Writing #RevSpirations

Screen shot of an AI overview: "The length of a squirrel stomach is typically about 136 centimeters and accounts for 2.94% of their total body length, according to a study on wild gray squirrels according to CABI Digital Library. The small intestine, in comparison, is about 90.73 centimeters long and accounts for 66.18% of the total length of the digestive tract.

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Fay Irwin (pen name) @fantasyscience.bsky.social · 06/06/2025

Seya’s magic is out of control. The apple taunts her, the cloud demands more water, and the gate refuses to let anyone in. Seya could be a powerful mage. She just needs to figure out how to harness her magic – preferably before the murderous blanket catches her. #JoyPit #F #AmQuerying

Black text over a sunset scene (silhouetted rooftops and trees with an orange, pink, and purple sky).

"THE EMBER AND THE CROWN is a fast-paced, adventurous romp with a heroine you'll cheer (and cringe) for."

Black text over an image of a blooming canola field (bright yellow) with a blue, slightly cloudy sky in the background.

"Following a short, humiliating stint at mage school, a young farmer resigns herself to returning to her family and chickens a failure, but instead finds herself hobnobbing with royals, training to be a spy, falling in love, and trying to stop a war."

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Fay Irwin (pen name) @fantasyscience.bsky.social · 23/05/2025

PROJECT HAIL MARY x PRIDE AND PREJUDICE We don't know why or how the portals exist. We do know they're attached to libraries in "other Earth." The books they occasionally spit out have advanced science tremendously. Do they hold the secret for preventing mass starvation? #WIPPit #SFF #R

Washed-out photo of a barren landscape forms the backdrop for a poster titled "Catalysts Under Pressure."

Main text: "In an alternate Earth, a disaffected chemist with a penchant for engineering explosions reluctantly joins forces with her uptight supervisor to save the world - by inventing fertilizer. With global starvation the cost of failure, they find themselves in a race against time - and against a greedy corporation intent on monetizing the impending tragedy."

Bullet points:
- Portals (but only for books)
- Chemistry (literal and interpersonal)
- Enemies [this is crossed out] Antagonistic coworkers to lovers
- Dual POV
- Medium spice
- Alternate timeline

03415

Fay Irwin (pen name) @fantasyscience.bsky.social · 08/05/2025

After a very long day of travel, Seya reaches the palace in the middle of the night. Trying to convince herself she's glad to be back, her thoughts take her in... interesting directions. #WIPSnips #AmQuerying

Photo of a cloudy blue sky over a field dotted with hay bales. Trees are in the background, and a fence in the foreground. Text reads:
"Shaking off her thoughts, Seya headed toward the palace. Thinking about chickens reminded her of [name]. Now there was an entertaining association. “Hello, your highness. Chickens make me think of you.” I’m being ridiculous, she decided. Time for sleep. She quickened her pace, thinking of her bed and her friends. The future already appeared brighter."

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Fay Irwin (pen name) @fantasyscience.bsky.social · 08/05/2025

Querying my fast-paced, humorous YA-crossover fantasy. Loved by 8-year-olds and 73-year-olds alike (small sample size - statistical significance not confirmed). #FromFarmtoCastle #FromZeroToCompetent #BadAssButInsecureHeroine #RelatableEmbarrassment #SneakyScience #QuestPit #YA #F #Q

A dark grey background. A title ("The Ember and the Crown"). A badly-drawn picture (done in Word) of a young woman in a blue dress holding a glowing orb in her right hand, a short sword in her left. A photo of a canola field against a blue sky with clouds, and text:
"She hopes her magic will saver her farm. It might just save her country. That is, if she can get it to work."

In white writing on the bottom half of the grey background: "A young woman must harness her unpredictable magic to avert a war - while also dealing with:
- An arranged marriage
- Forbidden love
- The mage who keeps taking over her mind
- The objects she keeps turning sentient

0101

Fay Irwin (pen name) @fantasyscience.bsky.social · 07/05/2025

Project Hail Mary x Pride and Prejudice When the near-extinction of bats threatens the survival of humanity, a profanity-spewing scientist finds herself relying on the boss she hates to save the world. There's plenty of chemistry (and CHEMISTRY) in this romantic #SF novel. #QuestPit #A #R #W

Poster with a backdrop of a desolate landscape against a cloudy sky. Title: "Catalysts Under Pressure"
Text: In an alternate Earth, a disaffected chemist with a penchant for engineering explosions reluctantly joins forces with her uptight supervisor to save the world – by inventing fertilizer. With global starvation the cost of failure, they find themselves in a race against time – and against a greedy corporation intent on monetizing the impending tragedy.

Bullet points say:
- Portals (but only for books)
- Chemistry (literal and interpersonal)
- Enemies to lovers [crossed out and replaced with "Antagonistic coworkers to lovers"]
- Dual POV
- Medium spice
- Alternative timeline

0228

Fay Irwin (pen name) @fantasyscience.bsky.social · 07/05/2025

When Seya's life of obnoxious chickens and poor crop yields is suddenly traded for one of mages, royalty, and spies, she must harness her uncooperative magic to stop a war – while navigating an unwanted arranged marriage, forbidden love, and a mage intent on taking over her mind. #QuestPit #Q #YA #F

A poster titled "The Ember and the Crown"
Top panel is a background of a canola filed with a blue, cloud-dotted sky. "She hopes her magic will save her farm. It might just save her country.
That is, if she can get it to work."

Middle panel is text over a sunset with silhouetted trees and a roof.
"- Strong heroine with fun magic
- Forbidden romance
- Arranged marriage
- Societal expectations
- Coming of age"

Bottom panel is text over a photo of a sun dog in a blue sky. The tops of trees are seen at the bottom of the photo.
"Beta readers say:
'I loved it'
'Hilarious'
'There are some great twists'
'I really like the ending'
'I seriously cried'"

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Fay Irwin (pen name) @fantasyscience.bsky.social · 07/05/2025

In this #YA crossover fantasy, a young farmer must learn to control her magic before: a) she's forced into an arranged marriage b) an evil mage takes over her mind (again) c) her country is dragged into war With help from friends, mentors, and sentient objects, she just might make it! #QuestPit #F

Poster showing a young woman in a blue dress standing on a somewhat desolate plain with a cloud-dotted sky in the background. The scenery is a photo, while the woman is a hastily-doodled drawing made in Word. Her brown hair is blowing in the wind. She holds a blue flame in her right hand and a short sword in her left.

A title reads: "The Ember and the Crown"
A snippet below that says: "Ripped from her farm and thrust into a world filled with royalty, mages, and spies, a young woman must harness her malfunctioning magic to help prevent a war – while navigating an unwanted arranged marriage, forbidden love, and a mage intent on taking over her mind."

Below that it says "YA-crossover fantasy for fans of:" and there are photos of 3 books: Dragon Gate, A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking, and Uprooted.

On the bottom left are bullet points:
- A fast-paced, humorous romp
- A heroine you'll root for
- A fun world with unique magic

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Fay Irwin (pen name) @fantasyscience.bsky.social · 06/05/2025

Our heroine, after (another) near death experience:

Seya was in a bed. She cracked an eye open then shut it quickly. Yet another room she didn’t recognize. She could write a memoir titled, Beds I Have Woken Up In. No, that sounded like a different sort of story. Waking Up in Other People’s Rooms? Not much better. Maybe she’d get straight to the point: Ways I Have Almost Died.

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Fay Irwin (pen name) @fantasyscience.bsky.social · 05/05/2025

I'm proud of my brand new Chapter 1 for my YA crossover fantasy novel. Huge thanks to @aldajm.bsky.social and @chloemarcus.bsky.social for helping me find my way there. (And thanks always to @eomara.bsky.social.) My new beginning:: #CampRevPit #CRPWaiting

The apple sat smugly in its glass bowl, mocking her. Seya knew inanimate objects didn’t act out of spite – they didn’t act, period. But the way it lounged indolently, its skin shiny and unblemished, felt like a direct taunt. She sighed and picked up the fruit; her inspection showed only a small bruise on the bottom. Scowling, she tossed the apple back in the bowl.

All around her, students transformed apples into juice with an ease born of years of practice and innate magical talent. Talent she was sorely lacking. Seya stared dejectedly out the window, wishing she was at the lake that peeked through the trees rather than in this depressing classroom. The classroom is fine, she chided herself. You’re depressed because your magic is useless. It was true; if she ever managed a successful spell, she’d think this cavernous room, with its beige walls and narrow windows, the most beautiful place on earth.

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Fay Irwin (pen name) @fantasyscience.bsky.social · 04/05/2025

Does anyone else plot their word-count per chapter for each round of manuscript edits? It's normal, right? #CampRevpit #CRPGlasswings #WritingCommunity

A scatter plot of number of words (y-axis) per chapter (x-axis). Traces are in shades of pink and purple apart from the trace representing the current round of edits (round 6), which is green. There are 31 chapters, and the average word count (not shown) is 3700.

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Fay Irwin (pen name) @fantasyscience.bsky.social · 29/04/2025

Stressing about the election (though less so than earlier). So, here's a painting I finished today. It's not perfect, but it soothes my soul.

Acrylic painting of a seascape with a partially cloudy sky. There are some large rocks to the left, and a wave is breaking in the foreground. Blues and greens and browns dominate.

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Fay Irwin (pen name) @fantasyscience.bsky.social · 27/04/2025

I found some things. Details in alt text. 1. My 8 y.o.'s take on my novel. 2. Northern lights - part of my prairie soul A young woman wants to save her farming community with magic, but instead finds herself at the palace, falling in love and trying to avert a war. #CampRevPit #CRPGlasswings

Computer art of a woman wearing a wizard hat casting spells. A man is in the background. Also featured are a sentient blanket and rain cloud.

Northern lights (mostly green with a hint of red) with a cityscape in the background. The foreground is a flat expanse of snow - in fact, it's an experimental farm in the middle of the city. So, relevant to the novel.

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Fay Irwin (pen name) @fantasyscience.bsky.social · 20/04/2025

I shipped Justin and Mrs. Brisby so hard as a kid.

Cartoon (screenshot) of a ray and a mouse walking side by side. The rest wears a blue tunic over a yellow shirt and the mouse wears a red cloak.

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