iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Kate Hyers & J.C. Smith @hyerssmith.com · 08/07/2025

RELEASE DAY! 🎉 She's here. She's finally here. This beaut—it ties together 4 years of writing & refining the same 105k words until we wanted to feed it to our dogs. But we made it. We persevered. And we're so, so glad we did. Thank you to @conquestpublishing for partnering with us on this journey!

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Kate Hyers & J.C. Smith @hyerssmith.com · 10/04/2025

ARC READERS WANTED! Ready for a dark fantasy filled w/ enemies-to-lovers tension, disaster bisexuals, and the ultimate "touch her & die" moments? 😏💀 Sign up for an ARC of 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘁𝗲𝘀𝗮𝗻'𝘀 𝗘𝘆𝗲: storyoriginapp.com/reviewcopies... @conquestpublishing.bsky.social Cover by @annalisejensen.bsky.social 💜

The cover of THE COURTESAN'S EYE, featuring the following tropes:
- enemies-to-lovers
- "touch her and die"
- grumpy/sunshine
- disaster bisexual
- forced proximity

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Kate Hyers & J.C. Smith @hyerssmith.com · 13/03/2025

📚 Must-Haves! 🖋 For a little extra challenge, try and match the author to their top 3 picks. 👀 #writingcommunity #writersky

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Kate Hyers & J.C. Smith @hyerssmith.com · 12/03/2025

‼️👀 COVER SNEAK PEEK 👀‼️ This is all we can show you for now, but trust us—there's way more where this came from. Think magic, danger, romance, & a bit of sass. HUGE thank you to @annalisejensen.bsky.social for creating a cover that's as bold as our titular courtesan. @conquestpublishing.bsky.social

Image of a wrapped book cover with a tear that shows the top half of a woman's face and a lily in a vase.

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Kate Hyers & J.C. Smith @hyerssmith.com · 11/03/2025

Two redheads, one dark fantasy, and a whole lot of long-distance teamwork. Meet the authors behind 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘁𝗲𝘀𝗮𝗻'𝘀 𝗘𝘆𝗲 – coming this summer from @conquestpublishing.bsky.social! 📚✨ #WritingCommunity #FantasyBooks #Bookish #BookLovers #AuthorLife #ComingSoon

Two authors (Kate & J.C.) looking at each other with the following text:

Things to Know About Us
- We started writing together because of D&D
- Kate is addicted to tattoos and Mike Flanagan shows
- J.C. loves Cate Blanchett and sharks, all the sharks
- Our novel, THE COURTESAN'S EYE, debuts this July!

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Kate Hyers & J.C. Smith @hyerssmith.com · 05/03/2025

July release date means we have to hold our beautiful cover hostage for several more months before the ✨reveal✨ But we couldn’t resist sharing the beautiful typography hand drawn by @annalisejensen.bsky.social (1000000/10 recommend ❤️) #writersky #booksky

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Kate Hyers & J.C. Smith @hyerssmith.com · 28/02/2025

Ending on a high note 😏😏😏

A snippet from the upcoming novel THE COURTESAN'S EYE featuring the word "throb."

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Kate Hyers & J.C. Smith @hyerssmith.com · 28/02/2025

Last day of #ValenTales! Post a snippet from your WIP with the word "throb." #writersky

A #ValenTales writing prompt calendar for the month of February.

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Kate Hyers & J.C. Smith @hyerssmith.com · 25/02/2025

#ValenTales Day 25! Using emojis, describe the build-up of romantic tension in your WIP. #writersky

A February writing prompt calendar called #ValenTales

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Kate Hyers & J.C. Smith @hyerssmith.com · 18/02/2025

#ValenTales Day 18 🎶 Post a song one of your MCs would sing to their significant other during karaoke. #writersky

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Kate Hyers & J.C. Smith @hyerssmith.com · 17/02/2025

Next up, J.C.’s characters! Aelus (THE COURTESAN’S EYE) is undoubtably an Oath of Devotion Paladin. Loves pretty things & flowers 💐 Briar (BIND THE NIGHT) is a Psychic Warrior (w/ high cha) who prefers to get down and brutal w/ his bronze knuckles. Craves control, but v v bad at maintaining it 💜

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Kate Hyers & J.C. Smith @hyerssmith.com · 17/02/2025

First up, Kate's characters! Cordè (from our upcoming debut, THE COURTESAN'S EYE) would be College of Dance Bard, no question. Kal (WIP, BIND THE NIGHT) would multiclass Hexblade Warlock/Swashbuckler Rogue bc of the whole air captain thing. Dice-wise, they'd both go ✨glam✨ (Cordè gold, Kal purple)

Beautiful gold leaf dnd dice set with a rose in the center

Glittery purple D20s that say "fuck you" and "fuck me"

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Kate Hyers & J.C. Smith @hyerssmith.com · 17/02/2025

#ValenTales Day 17 🎲 If your MCs played D&D, what would their classes be? Post pics of the dice they'd use! #writersky

A writing prompt calendar for the month of February. Today's reads as follows: #ValenTales Day 17 🎲 If your MCs played D&D, what would their classes be? Post pics of the dice they'd use!

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Kate Hyers & J.C. Smith @hyerssmith.com · 17/02/2025

For our WIP, our two main leads are Richard Madden and Rahul Kohli—who are going to be starring together in Citadel. Believe us when we say we are STOKED about the possibilities 🤩🤩 #ValenTales

Rahul kohli throwing the camera a smoldering look.

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Kate Hyers & J.C. Smith @hyerssmith.com · 17/02/2025

First up: the leads from our upcoming debut, THE COURTESAN'S EYE! The question is kind of irrelevant because Florence would have chemistry with literally anyone 🔥

Florence Pugh looking like a literal work of art

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Kate Hyers & J.C. Smith @hyerssmith.com · 17/02/2025

#ValenTales Day 16 ✨ Give us your WIP fancast! Do you think the actors would have good chemistry? #writersky

A #ValenTales writing prompt calendar for the month of February. Day 16: Give us your WIP fancast! Do you think the actors would have good chemistry? #writersky

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Kate Hyers & J.C. Smith @hyerssmith.com · 14/02/2025

Our second couple would, again, be polar opposite styles. Our assassin would lean fully into 90s Evanescence vibe, while our poor air captain painstakingly plans and sews an ornate outfit that would make Calvin Klein weep. #ValenTales

Picture of a tattooed male wearing black leather

A model walking down the runway in lacy coat and pants. It’s fancy.

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Kate Hyers & J.C. Smith @hyerssmith.com · 14/02/2025

For our first couple, they would have drastically different styles. Our priest would Not Consent to be disarmed and would insist on wearing armor. 🗡️ Our courtesan, however, would get glammed UP. Very demure. Very mindful. Very red. 💋 #ValenTales

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Kate Hyers & J.C. Smith @hyerssmith.com · 14/02/2025

#ValenTales Day 14! What would your MC(s) wear on a Valentine’s Day date? 💃💋 Post pics! #writersky

February calendar with diff valentines prompts

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Kate Hyers & J.C. Smith @hyerssmith.com · 13/02/2025

#ValenTales Day 13! Post a gif describing your characters' first spicy scene 🌶️🌶️ #writersky

A February writing prompt calendar featuring romance-themed questions.

#ValenTales Day 13!

Post a gif describing your characters' first spicy scene.

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Kate Hyers & J.C. Smith @hyerssmith.com · 13/02/2025

For our beloved himbo priest, we have delphiniums: colorful, big hearted, dignified. For our courtesan, we have lilies: inherently feminine, beautiful, and fragrant. #ValenTales #writersky

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Kate Hyers & J.C. Smith @hyerssmith.com · 13/02/2025

#ValenTales Day 12! Which of your MCs would make a great Valentine’s date? Why? #writersky

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Kate Hyers & J.C. Smith @hyerssmith.com · 11/02/2025

#ValenTales Day 11! What flowers do you associate with your MCs? #writersky

A writing prompt calendar for the month of February.

Feb. 11: What flowers do you associate with your MCs?

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Kate Hyers & J.C. Smith @hyerssmith.com · 10/02/2025

We have instances of the word "passion" scattered across multiple WIPs, but this one felt appropriate for Valentine's Day week. #ValenTales #writersky

A snippet of Kate & J.C.'s WIP, "The Oathbreaker's Sin," featuring the word "passion."

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Kate Hyers & J.C. Smith @hyerssmith.com · 10/02/2025

#ValenTales Day 10! Post a snippet from your WIP that includes the word "passion." #writersky

#ValenTales calendar with romance prompts through February.

Day 10: Post a snippet from your WIP that includes the word "passion." #writersky

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Kate Hyers & J.C. Smith @hyerssmith.com · 06/02/2025

#ValenTales Day 6! If your MCs had a secret meeting spot for private moments, where would it be? #writersky

#ValenTales calendar for the month of February!

Day 6: If your MCs had a secret meeting spot for private moments, where would it be? #writersky

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Kate Hyers & J.C. Smith @hyerssmith.com · 06/02/2025

Gotta say, one of our favorite tropes is forbidden love 🚫🔥 the tension, the angst, the pining 🤌🤌 #writersky #writingcommunity

A scene describing the moment when a male MC has a Moment with the female MC

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Kate Hyers & J.C. Smith @hyerssmith.com · 06/02/2025

#ValenTales Day 5! Post a snippet from your WIP that demonstrates your favorite romance trope. #writersky

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Kate Hyers & J.C. Smith @hyerssmith.com · 05/02/2025

#ValenTales Day 4! When writing romance, how often do you draw on your own experiences? #writersky

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Kate Hyers & J.C. Smith @hyerssmith.com · 03/02/2025

#ValenTales Day 3! What do you MCs like to do together on a hot day? On a cold day? 🥵🥶 #writersky

A writing prompt calendar for February!

#ValenTales Day 3: What do you MCs like to do together on a hot day? On a cold day? 🥵🥶

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Kate Hyers & J.C. Smith @hyerssmith.com · 01/02/2025

#booksdna J.C. Edition! Lots and lots of fantasy. And mystery. And mythology. And strong female leads. And angst…lots and lots of angst (w/ a dash of romance).

Percy Jackson and the lightning thief book cover

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Kate Hyers & J.C. Smith @hyerssmith.com · 01/02/2025

We've seen writing prompt calendars popping up lately, so we figured...why not give it a shot for February? ✨ #Writersky, we want to hear about your WIPs!! #ValenTales

#ValenTales, a calendar of prompts for the month of February

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Kate Hyers & J.C. Smith @hyerssmith.com · 31/01/2025

All right, what's your #booksdna? The novels that were formative to you. At least four! Go! 👀📚 (Yes, Kate read IT far too young and yes, it fundamentally altered the adult she's become and yes, it might not have been for the better.)

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Kate Hyers & J.C. Smith @hyerssmith.com · 31/01/2025

Good morning, #Booksky! Anybody else feel like this month has been the longest year ever?

Kate's pup on a snowy bluff overlooking the bay.

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Kate Hyers & J.C. Smith @hyerssmith.com · 22/01/2025

Not fairing too much better over here in Maine 😭

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Kate Hyers & J.C. Smith @hyerssmith.com · 21/01/2025

In case your day is a little gloomy and full of dark thoughts, here’s a pic of J.C.’s cute pup Rowan to remind you of all things good and cuddly and warm ✨✨ #booksky #writersky

A cute tri-colored puppy asleep on a blanket.

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Kate Hyers & J.C. Smith @hyerssmith.com · 20/01/2025

Getting pumped for our book release means digging through old art✨✨ gotta love these four (fancy) idiots #booksky #artsky #readersky

Four heroes posing in fancy outfits: two male (one noble and the other wolfish looking) and two female (one blonde and sultry, the other a soldier that looks like Zendaya).

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Kate Hyers & J.C. Smith @hyerssmith.com · 20/01/2025

Times like these really amplify Carrie Fisher's absence.

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Kate Hyers & J.C. Smith @hyerssmith.com · 20/01/2025

Good morning, #booksky 💙📚 May we all approach today with the same confident resilience as Kate's 13-year-old, 20-lb. dog trekking through fresh snow.

a small red-and-white dog bravely plowing through a few inches of snow

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Kate Hyers & J.C. Smith @hyerssmith.com · 20/01/2025

🔥 enemies-to-lovers 🏳️‍🌈 disaster bi MC 🫦 celibacy vows 🙏 religious trauma 🃏 tarot readings 🇫🇷 Les Mis—more sex, less Napoleon, kept the sewers! There's blood on the streets & secrets in the sheets in THE COURTESAN'S EYE, hitting shelves this summer 💙📚 @conquestpublishing.bsky.social @skylight.social

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Kate Hyers & J.C. Smith @hyerssmith.com · 19/01/2025

ngl this verbiage makes me want to toss that app in the bin 🗑️ looking forward to carving out our spot on a platform that doesn't propagandize for the person who started the "ban tiktok" movement in the first place. (not even your use of the #oxfordcomma can win me over, tiktok) #booksky #booktok

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Kate Hyers & J.C. Smith @hyerssmith.com · 19/01/2025

#SFFChat Q3! Ngl we love worldbuilding (prolly a bit too much)…and we DEFINITELY DO NOT have a 50 page google doc full of useless info 💀😅 Anyways, here’s a snippet:

A screenshot of a Google doc that details five fantasy legions and their respective roles in society.

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Kate Hyers & J.C. Smith @hyerssmith.com · 19/01/2025

So...is Bluesky now considered a home for all the #booktok videos we never got around to posting? Asking for a friend. ⏰📚📖💙 #booksky

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Kate Hyers & J.C. Smith @hyerssmith.com · 19/01/2025

Good morning to everyone, but especially the booktok refugees! Hoping you find your people amidst the lovely, vibrant bookish folks over here 📖 And for those interested, here's our intro post: Kate & J.C., SFF coauthors w/ a spicy fantasy book debuting this summer! ⏰📚💙 #booktok #booksky #readersky

book in the background, puppy in the foreground. everyone looks very cozy.

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Kate Hyers & J.C. Smith @hyerssmith.com · 17/01/2025

OUR FLAG MEANS DEATH x ARCANE 👨‍👨‍👧‍👦 found family ⚔️ enemies-to-NEMESES-to-lovers ⛓️ spicy interrogations 🏳️‍🌈 he's not disaster bi, he's an omnisexual catastrophe An air captain who wields death magic. A bounty hunter who thirsts for revenge. A floating city on the verge of plummeting. #P2Ppit #WIP #A #F

A collage of black-and-white(-and-purple) images: clouds, flying pirate ships, magic, Richard Madden & Rahul Kohli

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Kate Hyers & J.C. Smith @hyerssmith.com · 16/01/2025

#SFFChat, Kate edition: Even though I write SFF, my favorite genre to 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 is cozy murder mystery. My mom & aunt are big Louise Penny fans, so after some peer pressure, I gave her a shot. One month later, and I'm all in on Armand Gamache—plus it's fun to learn about my northern Québécois neighbors 🇨🇦

Louise Penny's "A Rule Against Murder," featuring a puppy (Piccadilly) in the background

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Kate Hyers & J.C. Smith @hyerssmith.com · 14/01/2025

🍾 1,000 followers! 🍾 Who knew you all liked our weird fantasy stuff this much? To celebrate, here's a sneak peek at the characters and world of THE COURTESAN'S EYE. Can’t wait for you to meet them this summer! ✨ #writingcommunity #booksky #writersky #debut #1000followers

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