iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Heather Novak 📖🏳️‍🌈 @heathernovak.bsky.social · 03/12/2025

Me, when I haven’t slept enough: …do you ever think about how blankets are deconstructed stuff animals?

Heather Novak 📖🏳️‍🌈 @heathernovak.bsky.social · 02/12/2025

Absolutely feral over this fluffy Heartstopper Christmas fic! 📖 I'm in Love, Actually PhoenixSpring 🍂Nick is excited to bring his best friend Charlie home for Christmas. He just wishes people would stop making odd comments. #Heartsky archiveofourown.org/works/75040411

archiveofourown.org

31 Days: I'm in Love, Actually - Chapter 1 - PhoenixSpring - Heartstopper (Webcomic) [Archive of Our Own]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

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Heather Novak 📖🏳️‍🌈 @heathernovak.bsky.social · 30/11/2025

I’ve been complaining about hot flashes overnight for years and more recently, consistent hip pain. Doctors tried different diets and meds… finally someone said, “check your mattress.” Absolutely freaking wild. #hypopara #raredisease hypoparathyroidismnews.com/columns/hypo...

hypoparathyroidismnews.com

With hypopara, curiosity about worsening symptoms is crucial

Columnist Heather Novak has learned not to chalk all her symptoms up to hypoparathyroidism. Her recent pain is a reminder of that.

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Heather Novak 📖🏳️‍🌈 @heathernovak.bsky.social · 30/11/2025

I miss the days when I used to have to subscribe to marketing emails with a double opt in, instead of being automatically subscribed when I even glance at a website one time. 😐 (I’m aware I sound 100 years old)

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Heather Novak 📖🏳️‍🌈 @heathernovak.bsky.social · 24/11/2025

Thank you my friend!! I adore this so much 💖

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Heather Novak 📖🏳️‍🌈 @heathernovak.bsky.social · 22/11/2025

📖 THE RULES WE FAKE Literally my favorite fic I’ve read this year! And not just bc I got a shoutout 🤭🥰 Absolute magical voices and characterization and 🔥🥵. I know it’s a rare pair, but I promise it’s worth it #Heartsky !! Based on this tumblr prompt. archiveofourown.org/works/73314661

* jaydick-hell
"We're fake-dating and I'm supposed to publicly break up with you but you've been irritating me lately so instead of dumping you I publicly proposed to mess up your plan and now we're getting married, fuck" au

caffeinewitchcraft
"And now you're supposed to call off the engagement because it'd be tacky if I did it since I proposed, but you're picking out cake and flowers for the reception, wtf are we doing this" sequel au
#fave

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Heather Novak 📖🏳️‍🌈 @heathernovak.bsky.social · 20/11/2025

Another fluffy fanfic rec for #Heartsky ! 📖 Laundry Letters by oreoritz About: Charlie leaves a Post-it sticky note on the faulty washing machine in the laundry room of his uni building. Then a mysterious someone happens to leave a note in response. archiveofourown.org/works/74463656

archiveofourown.org

Laundry Letters - oreoritz - Heartstopper (TV) [Archive of Our Own]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

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Heather Novak 📖🏳️‍🌈 @heathernovak.bsky.social · 09/11/2025

This fic is very special to me. 🩷 Nick & Charlie have been best friends and roommates since they met at PT. To cheer Nick up after a hard week, Charlie volunteers to draw a new tattoo design on Nick’s shoulder. They’re both SUPER chill about it. #Heartsky archiveofourown.org/works/68318176

archiveofourown.org

Under My Skin - Bi_panic_actually - Heartstopper (TV) [Archive of Our Own]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

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Heather Novak 📖🏳️‍🌈 @heathernovak.bsky.social · 07/11/2025

Does my column today have a line from Lavender Fields, written by my favorite Heartstopper fanfic author and dear friend ScienceIsRealYo?? Yes. Yes it does. hypoparathyroidismnews.com/columns/life... #heartsky #chronicillness

Graphic for Hypoparathyroidism News column. The lifesaving advice my 40-year-old self would give my teenage self
Lessons for navigating life with hypoparathyroidism
By Heather Novak

Picture of Heather around 11, with short light brown hair, and a pink and black polkadot dress.

Graphic with column banner and excerpt. Column banner: precious, not fragile. Heather Novak.

On left, a woman with purple hair is lying on her back, head propped in books, and is reading. A tea cup is next to her. On right a skeleton with purple hair, sitting with knees up, is holding a coffee cup and reading. Center is column title over solid purple bubble.

Excerpt: My therapist asked me what 40-year-old Heather would tell teenage Heather to guide and support her. This is what I came up with.

Anyone who belittles our rare disease, our health, or our safety does not need to be in our life. It’s OK to love someone and walk away, to miss someone and not reach out. Honor who we are and the right people will find us. As our dear friend says, “There is enough, so ask for more.”

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Heather Novak 📖🏳️‍🌈 @heathernovak.bsky.social · 05/11/2025

If you’re looking for some lovely fluff to read tonight while awaiting election results, I recommend: 📖 Love Notes In My Notebook by oreoritz When Charlie goes to study, he keeps finding surprise love notes in his notebook #Heartsky archiveofourown.org/works/73678926

archiveofourown.org

Love Notes In My Notebook - oreoritz - Heartstopper (TV) [Archive of Our Own]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

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Heather Novak 📖🏳️‍🌈 @heathernovak.bsky.social · 04/11/2025

US Friends! I need you to vote today. Resistance and change starts at the local level. So many seats up for grabs, and several could be the start of serious change. Visit Vote.org and vote as if the country depends on you! It does #vote #voteblue

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Heather Novak 📖🏳️‍🌈 @heathernovak.bsky.social · 31/10/2025

Just a photoshoot with me and my grim reaper wearing a skeleton onesie 🤭 Happy Halloween from my and Poppy! (From Grim and Bear It) 👻 #happyhalloween #grimreaper

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Heather Novak 📖🏳️‍🌈 @heathernovak.bsky.social · 30/10/2025

If you love pop music/The Eras Tour, this is a story told in tweets about trans Charlie dropping a new album (the lyrics are all big pop hits) and his boyfriend Nick being his # 1 fan. Loved this one so much!! #Heartsky archiveofourown.org/chapters/188...

archiveofourown.org

#Boyfriend Material - Chapter 1 - orphan_account - Heartstopper (TV) [Archive of Our Own]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

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Heather Novak 📖🏳️‍🌈 @heathernovak.bsky.social · 28/10/2025

Another fluffy Heartstopper fanfic read with a surprise twist! Loved this so much, I read it twice. 📖 A little liquid courage By springylocke “The more Nick drinks, the more he feels the need to get closer to his best friend Charlie Spring” archiveofourown.org/works/70444916 #heartsky

archiveofourown.org

A little liquid courage - springylocke - Heartstopper (TV) [Archive of Our Own]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

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Heather Novak 📖🏳️‍🌈 @heathernovak.bsky.social · 25/10/2025

Happy Saturday #Heartsky! This author dropped their first Heartstopper fanfic and it has me kicking my feet and giggling! I had the BEST time reading it. Can’t recommend it enough for those who love fluff! 🍂💙💛 📖 Spring forward, fall back by clottedcreamfudge archiveofourown.org/works/72431371

archiveofourown.org

New Session | Archive of Our Own

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

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Heather Novak 📖🏳️‍🌈 @heathernovak.bsky.social · 24/10/2025

2 weeks ago, I was absolutely blown away by Ban This Book Fest Detroit! After years of focusing on my Hypopara advocacy work as we fought for a treatment, the book community welcomed me back with open arms and said “we missed you, welcome home!” hypoparathyroidismnews.com/columns/book... #writer

Graphic for Hypoparathyroidism News column. A book signing reminded me of my hypopara strength
I don't have to choose between being an author and an advocate. By Heather Novak

Photo: Heather (a white woman in her 40s with purple hair, glasses, and a cherry red blazer with zippers) stands in front of her signing table. The table has sequined purple table cloth, sliver glitter book stands, and a large banner with a couple almost kissing.

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Heather Novak 📖🏳️‍🌈 @heathernovak.bsky.social · 17/07/2025

I HAVE AN AGENT!! I’m so thrilled to be represented by Sara Megibow at Megibow Literary Agency. Sara LOVED the book I wrote for my late grandma, and the book is now on submission to publishers! #booksky #romancelandia

graphic with selfie of Heather smiling at the camera in front of a bookcase. Heather is a white woman with glasses and purple hair. Agent announcement. I’m so excited to share I have a new agent: Sara Megibow! Text against purple background that fades into photo

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Heather Novak 📖🏳️‍🌈 @heathernovak.bsky.social · 11/07/2025

Never miss my news because of the algorithm! Join my newsletter, get two short stories. It’s a good day to do it. HeatherNovak.net/newsletter

selfie of Heather—white woman with purple hair, glasses, and tattoos, is giggling with her hand over her mouth. She’s wearing a black tank and light jeans in front of a book case

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Heather Novak 📖🏳️‍🌈 @heathernovak.bsky.social · 08/07/2025

🪶DEARLY DEPARTED audiobook is 50% off through my custom link! ♥️ Sapphic (bi4bi) 💖 Second chance romance 💙 Allergy and anxiety rep 💜 Single Parent 💛 Redemption arc 💚 Paranormal investigations 🧡Nosy ghosts 🖤Sweater loving dem0n #booksky #romance Link: www.audiobooks.com/promotions/p...

Who would you betray to save a life?

After discovering one was responsible for unaliving the other's fiancé, two heartbroken, psychic exes-one who can write letters to ghosts and one who has prophetic dreams-must find a way to trust each other again while they unravel a conspiracy involving a life-altering, supernatural dr^g that threatens everyone they love.
Dearly Departed HeatherNovak.net

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Heather Novak 📖🏳️‍🌈 @heathernovak.bsky.social · 04/07/2025

22 years ago, I woke up from a “routine surgery” knowing something was wrong. My life changed forever. Here’s my surgically-induced rare disease story hypoparathyroidismnews.com/columns/refr... #hypopara #disabilitypridemonth

Hypoparathyroidism news
Reframing my hypoparathyroidism diagnosis anniversary
This year, I'm acknowledging the anger while focusing on gratitude
By Heather Novak
Graphics are a nod to Taylor Swift’s song “22”, with red heart sunglasses and red balloon numbers 22

Column banner with two excerpts

Column banner: precious, not fragile. Heather Novak.

On left, a woman with purple hair is lying on her back, head propped in books, and is reading. A tea cup is next to her. On right a skeleton with purple hair, sitting with knees up, is holding a coffee cup and reading. Center is column title over solid purple bubble.

Excerpts:
On July 2, my surgical hypoparathyroidism turned 22 years old. It’s wild to think that I’ve had this disease for over half of my life, and that I’ve been sick longer than I’ve been healthy. That one day in 2003 changed everything.

When I woke up after the surgery, I knew something was wrong. I had a breathing tube down my throat, sharp static under my skin, and no voice.

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Heather Novak 📖🏳️‍🌈 @heathernovak.bsky.social · 20/06/2025

My grandma’s last wish was for me to write her a book that “wouldn’t give her nightmares.” Here’s the story of what happened and the aftermath— hypoparathyroidismnews.com/columns/vici... #Booksky #hypopara #raredisease #romancewriter

Column header: precious, not fragile. Heather Novak.

On left, a woman with purple hair is lying on her back, head propped in books, and is reading. A tea cup is next to her. On right a skeleton with purple hair, sitting with knees up, is holding a coffee cup and reading. Center is column title over solid purple bubble.

Excerpt: It’s strange how hypoparathyroidism and grief sometimes intermingle, but also perhaps not at all. Grief affects the entire body, sometimes causing inflammation, fatigue, immune system changes, increased pain, and upset stomach. Hypopara is a rare endocrine disorder caused by low levels of parathyroid hormone that also has far-reaching symptoms, including muscle spasms, fatigue, compromised immune system, and digestive issues — all similar to grief. Combine the two, and it starts a vicious cycle that’s hard to break.

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Reposted by Heather Novak 📖🏳️‍🌈

Jenni Lafleur @jennilafleur.bsky.social · 03/06/2025

💛 happy pride 💙 if you see this, qrp with queer art! #pride #prideart

A pencil drawing of Kit Connor and Joe Locke as Nick Nelson and Charlie Spring in Heartstopper. The drawing is of a photobooth picture of the two boys kissing each other. Charlie’s hand is partially visible on Nick’s neck. Charlie is wearing an unbuttoned plaid patterned long sleeved button down shirt with a t-shirt underneath. Nick is wearing an Adidas t-shirt with stripes on the shoulders. Both boys have their eyes closed and look like they’re smiling.

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Heather Novak 📖🏳️‍🌈 @heathernovak.bsky.social · 02/06/2025

My favorite grim reaper Poppy wants to remind all the bisexuals that your partner doesn’t change your sexuality. You’re still bisexual, whether you’re with someone of the same sex or a different sex. She also told me to tell you her book is free this week. #booksky #pride heathernovak.net/grim/

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Heather Novak 📖🏳️‍🌈 @heathernovak.bsky.social · 01/06/2025

Happy Pride Month! 🏳️‍🌈 In celebration my book Grim and Bear It is free for the next two days 😍 This grim reaper / human romance has a bisexual heroine, a pansexual and disabled hero, and an entire forest worth of pining😍 HeatherNovak.net/Grim #booksky #pridereads #queerromance #freebook

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Heather Novak 📖🏳️‍🌈 @heathernovak.bsky.social · 30/05/2025

I LOVE LOVE LOVE getting library photos of my books from around the world! A queer book series being loved on in a red state hits different in 2025. 🩷 #readztule #queerromance #paranormalromance #bisexualromance

bookshelf with spines of books facing camera. Blood Thinners and Grim and Bear It are nestled among other books. Spotted in Oklahoma. Graphic of the US with Oklahoma in red and a red pin

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Heather Novak 📖🏳️‍🌈 @heathernovak.bsky.social · 30/05/2025

Our girl owns all her music again!! 🥹🥰🤩 *Turn Reputation volume up to window shaking* #TaylorSwift

Taylor swift now owns her masters
Photo of Taylor with her vinyl records TS, Fearless, speak now, red, 1989, reputation. On left letter that is on her website. Post by pop base

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Heather Novak 📖🏳️‍🌈 @heathernovak.bsky.social · 23/05/2025

“Why do you still wear a mask?” 1) I’m at higher risk of infection due to my rare disease 2) Infections put me at a higher risk of disease complications ➡️ hypoparathyroidismnews.com/columns/why-... #hypopara #disabled #masking

graphic with photo of Heather, 40 year old white woman with purple hair, glasses, and a black mask with pink hearts. Header says Hypoparathyroidism News. Why I still wear a mask as
someone with hypopara
IT HELPS PROTECT MY IMMUNE SYSTEM AND PREVENT
DISEASE COMPLICATIONS BY HEATHER NOVAK.

column header and excerpt.
Column header: precious, not fragile. Heather Novak.

On left, a woman with purple hair is lying on her back, head propped in books, and is reading. A tea cup is next to her. On right a skeleton with purple hair, sitting with knees up, is holding a coffee cup and reading. Center is column title over solid purple bubble.

Excerpt: Why am I still masking? Hypopara, marked by low levels of the parathyroid hormone, affects my calcium and phosphate levels and can make it harder to fight off infections. Calcium plays an important role in signaling the body’s immune response. Parathyroid hormone, calcium, and phosphate imbalances could have a significant impact on the immune system. A cold that would knock out Mr. Heather for a few days can take me down for a month.

column header and excerpt
Excerpt: Not only can hypopara lower my ability to fight infection, but the infection itself can cause hypopara complications. Any illness — especially one that includes fever, vomiting, or diarrhea — can make calcium levels unstable. This means when I get sick, l’m at a higher risk for hypocalcemia (low blood calcium). The dangers of hypocalcemia include seizure, cardiovascular issues, and bronchospasm

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Reposted by Heather Novak 📖🏳️‍🌈

Queerly @thisisqueerly.com · 20/05/2025

National Television Awards 2025 longlist unveiled with LGBTQ+ favourites Heartstopper and RuPaul's Drag Race UK nominated. Netflix drama Adolescence featuring Stephen Graham and newcomer Owen Cooper also contending ahead of the ceremony on 10 September 📺

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Heather Novak 📖🏳️‍🌈 @heathernovak.bsky.social · 19/05/2025

Blood Thinners is in New Zealand!! 🫨😍😭 I’m being completely fine and normal about this. (I am not. I’m crying.) Did you know you can request the Love Me Dead series at your local library around the world? Because you can 🥰 #booksky #queerromance #paranormalromance

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Heather Novak 📖🏳️‍🌈 @heathernovak.bsky.social · 19/05/2025

Good morning #Heartsky ! I’ve missed seeing your updates 🩷 Anyone else reading V6 on Patreon?

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Heather Novak 📖🏳️‍🌈 @heathernovak.bsky.social · 18/05/2025

What are your favorite romances with positive disability rep? “Writing characters with disabilities who get to thrive and be happy, no matter their struggle, is incredibly powerful.” hypoparathyroidismnews.com/columns/why-... #romancewriter #disability #hypopara #bionews

graphic with Heather sitting outside in her rollator. Heather is a white woman with purple hair and glasses. She’s sitting on a walker with a seat and has a cane attached to the front. She has a KN95 mask around her wrist and a purse in her lap containing epi pens. Hypoparathyroidism news banner at top.
By Heather Novak
Why it’s important to me to write books with disabled characters
MY EFFORTS TO NORMALIZE MOBILITY AIDS AND ACCOMMODATIONS

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Heather Novak 📖🏳️‍🌈 @heathernovak.bsky.social · 18/05/2025

So, I disappeared for 2 months to write a book *faster than I ever have in my entire life* bc my grandma, in hospice, asked to read one more. Sent her the book this week. 🩷 Her caregivers are reading it to her and she’s said it’s “very beautiful!” Sometimes, the stars grant wishes ✨

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Reposted by Heather Novak 📖🏳️‍🌈

taylor swift lyrics @tswiftlyrics.swifties.social · 02/03/2025

Black text on white background reading: I think I’ve seen this film before and I didn't like the ending.

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Reposted by Heather Novak 📖🏳️‍🌈

Chronic Illness Humor @chronicillness.bsky.social · 07/01/2025

Source: Scott_Satzer on Twitter #chronicillness #disability #disabled

Source: Scott_Satzer on Twitter

Patrick Bruck @scott_satzer (Twitter) Being disabled is like having a fulltime job that costs you money

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Reposted by Heather Novak 📖🏳️‍🌈

Katee Robert @kateerobert.com · 28/02/2025

ANYWAY, did you know there's an extension you can put on Chrome that will connect with your local library system and when you go look at a book, say on AMZ, it will tell you if that book exists in the library system and if it's available? It's literally called Library Extension.

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Reposted by Heather Novak 📖🏳️‍🌈

Mia Heintzelman @miaheintzelman.bsky.social · 28/02/2025

📢 Big news! My next romcom THE DIVORCÉTANTE is coming your way with Honey Blossom Press this year!!💕✨ This Black high society romcom is full of luxury, scandal, and second chances—and I can’t wait for you to read it! @honeyblossompress #blacksky #blackbooksky #romancelandia

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Heather Novak 📖🏳️‍🌈 @heathernovak.bsky.social · 28/02/2025

🦋🦓Happy Rare Disease Day! The current state of US politics directly impacts my disease research, which I wrote about in my new column with Hypoparathyroidism News: From butterfly to battle cry Read my column: hypoparathyroidismnews.com/columns/butt... #Showyourstripes #hypopara #rarediseaseday

All graphics had a teal to pink gradient with textured background. 28 FEB 2025, RARE DISEASE DAY
FROM BUTTERFLY TO BATTLE CRY: SWIPE TO LEARN MORE
rarediseaseday.org
#RareDiseaseDay

With today’s political climate in the U.S., the future of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is uncertain. A hold on submissions to the federal register means that researchers can’t secure funding

Learn more by reading my column at hypoparathyroidism news. Hypoparathyroidismnews.com. Please read, share, and comment on the column! Together we can lift the voices of the rare disease community

Article snippet. From butterfly to battle cry:
How Rare Disease Day has evolved
A columnist shares what's at stake for her and others in the community this year
by Heather Novak | February 28, 2025
Happy Rare Disease Day! I'm curled up under my blankets, willing my body to recuperate after traveling for a family emergency, and reflecting on how much heavier this day feels to me this year.
READ MORE AT HYPOPARATHYROIDISMNEWS.COM

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Heather Novak 📖🏳️‍🌈 @heathernovak.bsky.social · 27/02/2025

Being high risk and disabled right now feels a little like playing Jumanji

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Reposted by Heather Novak 📖🏳️‍🌈

Thien-Kim Lam (she/her) @msthienkim.bsky.social · 26/02/2025

Cat's out of the bag! SOMETHING CHEEKY is the March book for Love, Parnassus! I had a chat with Katie of @parnassusbooks.bsky.social about romance writing, sex education, and Vietnamese MCs parnassusmusing.net/2025/02/26/t...

parnassusmusing.net

Getting Cheeky: An Interview with Thien-Kim Lam

Thien-Kim Lam is a power-house romance author and sex educator whose Boss Babes series features Vietnamese MCs that smash stereotypes, blaze new paths and still find their happily ever after. Her m…

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Reposted by Heather Novak 📖🏳️‍🌈

Venessa Vida Kelley @venessakelley.bsky.social · 24/02/2025

Publishing a book in the middle of a f@scist coup feels like the worst timing in the world. But then I think about why I wrote it and for whom, and realize the timing was fated.

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Reposted by Heather Novak 📖🏳️‍🌈

Wendi M Lindenmuth BS, MPH @wendilindenmuth.bsky.social · 17/02/2025

Love Letters for Your Body transforms your mindset about your body through heartfelt letters when facing challenges such as pain, illness, injury, or aging. bit.ly/3QaX832 #aging #chronicpain #illness #injury #healing #body #love #gratitude #mindset #kindness #medical #writing #health

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Reposted by Heather Novak 📖🏳️‍🌈

Katee Robert @kateerobert.com · 24/02/2025

Yeah. That part.

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Heather Novak 📖🏳️‍🌈 @heathernovak.bsky.social · 24/02/2025

Happy Motivational Monday! What are your goals this week? It’s been two weeks since I’ve posted goals, and these are a bit of a stretch with my schedule and emotional state, but gotta start somewhere. #motivationalmonday #booksky

Slide 2: Black slide with pink accents and white text. Did I finish last week’s goals? Yes or no graphic with a question make next to yes.

My goals last week: work ahead at second job, take more naps

Yes checkmark

Any notes? Had to take two weeks off for family emergency, but am hopefully back to work this week

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