iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Ivy Lin | Querying Author @ivy-lin.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

"Everyone's a little autistic." I know I'm not the only one who's heard this. So I wrote an article about it! 💖 ivylinwrites.substack.com/p/everyones-...

ivylinwrites.substack.com

“Everyone’s a Little Autistic”

Why this phrase doesn’t help the way some people think it does

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Ivy Lin | Querying Author @ivy-lin.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Good news: three editors are interested in The Love In Your Words! However, I'm confused as to why I'm not allowed to see who's interested. Pitch events allow us to see their names, so why won't @litconnect.bsky.social ? 🫤

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Ivy Lin | Querying Author @ivy-lin.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

I met so many talented writers, agents, and editors at the Undiscovered Voices anthology launch party yesterday. I will never forget this moment. ❤️

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Ivy Lin | Querying Author @ivy-lin.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

I'm on Substack now! Follow me at ivylinwrites.substack.com Just published a little article about why I write, and my autism diagnosis and stuff. Also, there are coding puns. #writing #writers #querying

Title: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Writing

Why I started writing my weird, quirky stories about autistic girls and romance. And everything in-between.

ivylinwrites.substack.com

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Reposted by Ivy Lin | Querying Author

Azi is revising a cat POV revenge dark fantasy @aziossman.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

My agent's guide to GODCAT, a PIRANESI x SOMEONE YOU CAN BUILD A NEST IN fantasy/horror (with big 5 editor interest + an award)! I'm #amquerying in a few weeks, so if you've liked a pitch for this, expect mail soon 👀 And if you'd like to see it too, let me know! 🐈‍⬛🫀🐦‍⬛ #writingcommunity

An Agent's guide to GODCAT, by Azi Ossman. 81k Adult Dark Fantasy/Horror with Big 5 Editor interest + The Word's 2026 Editor-Writer Mentorship Finalist

Pitch: Marsh, a black cat, is drowned by her owner. Reborn as a human-shaped godling, she compets to ascend to godhood in limbo for revenge--until she meets another godling who reveals things only her owner could've known. For fans of: Piranesi, Someone you can build a nest in, H.P. Lovecraft, Severance, The Eyes are the Best Part, Chainsaw Man.

A moodboard with different black cats with glowing eyes in creepy settings, plus tropes including body horror, liminal spaces, revenge plot, unreliable narrator, cat/monster pov, hard magic system, deadly competition, narrative whiplash, messy friendship, depression rep.

First 250 words: I am six months old when my owner drowns me.
I think. It’s what the godservant explains to me. That I, a female juvenile black shorthair cat, die of asphyxiation by drowning at 2:53A.M. on Sunday, May 31st, 2015, in Poppyfield, Michigan, in a puddle formed in my owner’s front lawn by a recent flash flood.
But it’s not what I remember. I remember shaking, thrashing, screaming for the hands forcing me down to stop until the muddy water flooding into my lungs buys him my silence. That I have no strength anyway, a sack of bones in fur and some cracked keratin for claws grazing hairy, damp skin. That I’m going to die, and that as my life slips from me, so too does my pain.
Until I wake up again. I lie on the lawn once more, my neck still raw. The sun’s beams bleach everything around me, from the short dry grass to the house’s peeling white paint.
Except there is no peeling. Why do I know what peeling is?
The house stands as new as an office shirt before morning coffee. Why do I know what morning coffee is?
The building towers an extra story. A dog barks from somewhere within. He has no dogs.
I push off the grass, shaking away foggy drowsiness, but the blades prickle me. I assess my arms—flesh. Pinkish hands, like the ones that killed me.
I jolt. My spine doesn’t flex the way I remember. Panic courses through me.
“Do you want to become a god?”

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Ivy Lin | Querying Author @ivy-lin.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

Think you know a lot about languages like the polyglot love interest in my book? 🤔🤔 Take the quiz to find out! ivylin.co.uk/language-quiz

Question 1: How many official UN languages are there?
A. 4
B. 5
C. 6
D. 7

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Ivy Lin | Querying Author @ivy-lin.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

I'm very proud to announce that I've built and launched my own author #website: ivylin.co.uk I am a professional web dev, unfortunately laid off, and available for freelancing! More info on the Services page 🙂

ivylin.co.uk

Ivy Lin - About the Author

Ivy Lin is an aspiring author currently querying YA contemporary romance. She is published in Someone Like Me, an anthology of autistic experiences.

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Ivy Lin | Querying Author @ivy-lin.bsky.social · 23/04/2026

I just sent my manuscript for my 13th full request and honestly I'm so nervous and excited 🫣 I hope an agent loves my book as much as I do!

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Ivy Lin | Querying Author @ivy-lin.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

Still buzzing!! Thank you so much for this opportunity. What a wonderful competition and resource!

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Reposted by Ivy Lin | Querying Author

Undiscovered Voices @uvcompetition.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

Delighted to announce our #UV26 WINNERS!! 👏🥳🙌 @cmundywrites.bsky.social @rburrows.bsky.social @ivy-lin.bsky.social, Monica Gutierraz, Caroline Wigg, Zoe Dixon, Kirsty Hammond, Alicja Bagier, Claire Gordon, Dominic Yoboue, Claire Mowat and Alana Warbrick CONGRATULATIONS on your amazing stories ❤️

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Ivy Lin | Querying Author @ivy-lin.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

So excited to announce that I am a shortlisted winner for Undiscovered Voices 2026! @scbwi.bsky.social

Undiscovered Voices Winner 2026
The Love In Your Words by Ivy Lin
YA Contemporary Romance

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Reposted by Ivy Lin | Querying Author

Undiscovered Voices @uvcompetition.bsky.social · 13/03/2026

The #UV26 longlist is live at undiscoveredvoices.com/longlist 🙌 More than 250 of you entrusted us with your stories and the standard was very high - it was a thrill to read them. The longlist was chosen by our judges for their originality and quality of writing. Congratulations all 👏

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Ivy Lin | Querying Author @ivy-lin.bsky.social · 12/03/2026

I am so happy to announce that THE LOVE IN YOUR WORDS has been longlisted for the 2026 Undiscovered Voices competition! @scbwi.bsky.social @uvcompetition.bsky.social

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Ivy Lin | Querying Author @ivy-lin.bsky.social · 21/02/2026

This CNY I met author Maisie Chan who visited #Liverpool to promote her #book, Nate Yu's Blast From the Past. Highly recommend it—it's a positive take on the city and the British Chinese diaspora! She also bought a copy of Someone Like Me 😄

Maisie Chan and Ivy Lin in Waterstones holding up copies of their books—Nate Yu's Blast from the Past, Danny Chung Does Not Do Maths, Tiger Warrior, Someone Like Me

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Reposted by Ivy Lin | Querying Author

Dallas Rose 🌹 @dallasrosebooks.bsky.social · 31/01/2026

When budget cuts threaten her dream job, new high school English teacher Jules must compete with her annoying(ly handsome) rival to keep her place. But when they start to bond through group projects and a work karaoke league, her heart—and her career—are on the line. #QuestPit #A #R #Q

Hazy yellow themed moodboard with photos of books, an apple, various teaching-themed images, a karaoke microphone, and a cute pup!

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Reposted by Ivy Lin | Querying Author

Loren 🦇 FORMERLY CIRCUSLOLLIPOP @vesperanth.bsky.social · 31/01/2026

ANATHEMA x THE SPIRIT BARES ITS TEETH A fledgling vampire, tension between vampires and monster hunters, a realm of eternal night, a mysterious elven priest, and a sinister plot that threatens everything held dear. #questpit #W #DF #A #LGBT

3x3 moodboard of the main character from my WIP featuring red themed gothic and dark romantic imagery

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Ivy Lin | Querying Author @ivy-lin.bsky.social · 26/11/2025

I just received my eleventh request, in the form of very effusive fanmail. 😵 The entire agency read it and said I write well and they are rooting for my characters?? I am shocked. This is SO surreal.

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Ivy Lin | Querying Author @ivy-lin.bsky.social · 25/11/2025

I finally beat my personal record!! Just received my tenth agent request 😄

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Ivy Lin | Querying Author @ivy-lin.bsky.social · 24/11/2025

OK WOAH FOURTH FULL REQUEST TODAY AND IT'S ONE OF MY DREAM AGENTS SHE REPS ONE OF MY LITERARY HEROES WHAT

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Ivy Lin | Querying Author @ivy-lin.bsky.social · 24/11/2025

Last week was a week full of rejections and I literally just got 3 full requests today bringing my total to 8 omg

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Ivy Lin | Querying Author @ivy-lin.bsky.social · 18/11/2025

Why are the ghouls at Reform complaining about autistic kids wearing ear defenders when we should be tackling social, economic, and health inequalities that autistic people face every day?

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Reposted by Ivy Lin | Querying Author

Azi is revising a cat POV revenge dark fantasy @aziossman.bsky.social · 12/11/2025

An #agentsguide to STARSENT, my MISTBORN x HOUSE OF THE BEAST friends-to-enemies YA secondary world Fantasy, or “Friendtasy”, complete at 106k words, already with Big 5 Editor interest! I’m now officially #amquerying so if you’d like to see this, lemme know! 💫

An agent's guide to STARSENT, by azi ossman

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Ivy Lin | Querying Author @ivy-lin.bsky.social · 11/11/2025

I just got a fifth agent request and at this point I think I need to say something. First of all: *EXCITED SCREAMS*. Now that that's out of the way... A few weeks ago, Elle McNicoll @ellemcnicoll.bsky.social posted a message on Instagram: "I just want people to buy autistic books." ...

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Ivy Lin | Querying Author @ivy-lin.bsky.social · 10/11/2025

A third full manuscript request! 😄 Needless to say I am positively overwhelmed!

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Ivy Lin | Querying Author @ivy-lin.bsky.social · 08/11/2025

Another full request 😅 I'm loving these fast responses!

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Ivy Lin | Querying Author @ivy-lin.bsky.social · 03/11/2025

I'm getting whiplash. That partial request just turned into a full. I submitted it last Friday. That was SO fast!

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Ivy Lin | Querying Author @ivy-lin.bsky.social · 31/10/2025

Three days in the trenches and I got a personalized rejection and a partial request! Can't wait to hear from more agents! 😁

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Ivy Lin | Querying Author @ivy-lin.bsky.social · 30/10/2025

I am officially querying THE LOVE IN YOUR WORDS, a YA Romance complete at 70,000 words! Here is my up-to-date Agent Guide. #ya #romance #neurodiverse #ownvoices #agentguide #agentsguide

Title: “The Love In Your Words”
Genre: YA Romance
Word Count: 70,000 words
A picture of Lena and Alistair walking underneath an umbrella together, wearing blue and grey school uniforms. The Royal Liver Building is in the background as red paper lanterns float in the sky.

Comps
“Something More” by Jackie Khalilieh (Autism & Neurodivergence)
“Never Thought I’d End Up Here” by Ann Liang (Language, Heritage & Chinese Diaspora)
“Komi Can’t Communicate” (Overcoming Loneliness & Communication Difficulties)

Opening
Words don't come easily to me. Before they reach my lips, they fade like the smoke rising from a joss stick in front of my mum's shrine. My lighter brightens her portrait's uncanny youthful beauty, gazing out as if she's still alive, inviting me to speak. But when I extinguish the flame, the image slips back into shadow, a reminder that she's gone.
I kneel and clasp my hands, wanting to say what I should've said before she passed almost a year ago. Words that weren't, "I wish I had more friends." But my teeth close like gates, keeping my thoughts captive, even when I'm alone in my tiny, brick garden, surrounded only by a bin and a rusty barbecue.
For now, all I can do is wish, so I bow and whisper a message in my mind. I want Mum back, as impossible as it may seem. If I can't have that, then I want someone like her to enter my life—someone to sweep away the loneliness and help me speak... or even accept me when I'm silent.

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Ivy Lin | Querying Author @ivy-lin.bsky.social · 08/10/2025

16yo Lena Mei falls in love with an autistic polyglot who helps her reclaim her Chinese heritage, but is their bond strong enough to survive a devastating family secret? 🔥 Slow Burn 🧠 Neurodiversity 👥 Overcoming Loneliness 🌍 Immigration & Diaspora #DVpit #YA #CR #OWN #POC #IMM #DIS #ND #MH #Asian

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Ivy Lin | Querying Author @ivy-lin.bsky.social · 08/10/2025

When 16yo Lena Mei befriends an autistic polyglot to learn Mandarin, she doesn’t expect to fall in love or learn that she, too, is on the spectrum. ❤️ Friends to Lovers 🔥 Slow Burn Romance ☀️ Grumpy/Sunshine 🏠 Found Family 😶 Forbidden Romance #DVpit #YA #CR #OWN #POC #IMM #DIS #ND #MH #Asian

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Ivy Lin | Querying Author @ivy-lin.bsky.social · 08/10/2025

With her grandma visiting from China—maybe for the last time—16yo Lena Mei enlists an autistic polyglot for help learning Mandarin so she can speak to her. As their bond deepens, she begins to question whether she is autistic too. #DVpit #YA #CR #OWN #POC #IMM #DIS #ND #MH #Asian

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Ivy Lin | Querying Author @ivy-lin.bsky.social · 08/10/2025

TO ALL THE BOYS x KOMI CANT COMM Selectively mute 16yo Lena Mei has one last chance to connect with her aging grandma, who only speaks Mandarin–a language she doesn't know. A half-Chinese autistic polyglot might be the key to her voice and her heart. #DVpit #YA #CR #OWN #POC #IMM #DIS #ND #MH #Asian

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Ivy Lin | Querying Author @ivy-lin.bsky.social · 08/10/2025

SOMETHING MORE x NEVER THOUGHT I’D END UP HERE When 16yo Lena Mei turns to an autistic polyglot to learn Mandarin, she doesn’t expect to fall for him—or uncover a painful connection between their families that could uproot their growing love. #DVpit #YA #CR #OWN #POC #IMM #DIS #ND #MH #Asian

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Ivy Lin | Querying Author @ivy-lin.bsky.social · 08/10/2025

Selectively mute 16yo Lena Mei wants to read a Chinese poem to honour her late mother, but she can’t read it. A half-Chinese autistic polyglot offers to help—not only with her speech but also in discovering love and her own autism. #DVpit #YA #CR #OWN #POC #IMM #DIS #ND #MH #Asian

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Ivy Lin | Querying Author @ivy-lin.bsky.social · 06/10/2025

I'm officially a #PUBLISHED (but still unagented) #writer!! SOMEONE LIKE ME, an anthology of #autistic experiences, is now available online and in stores. Thank you so much VERVE Books, @waterstones.bsky.social and @waterstoneslpl.bsky.social for sharing our stories with the world.

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Ivy Lin | Querying Author @ivy-lin.bsky.social · 04/10/2025

#DVParty Day 2: First Line Missed day 1, but I'm here for day 2! Here are the first two lines of my YA Romance. It's about a selectively mute girl who falls in love with an autistic polyglot through learning Chinese!

Words don't come easily to me. Before they reach my lips, they fade like the smoke rising from a joss stick in front of my mum's shrine.

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Ivy Lin | Querying Author @ivy-lin.bsky.social · 30/09/2025

#preDV was fun!! Thank you all for your support and feedback!

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Ivy Lin | Querying Author @ivy-lin.bsky.social · 29/09/2025

TO ALL THE BOYS x KOMI CAN'T COMMUNICATE When 16yo Lena Mei turns to an autistic polyglot to learn Mandarin, she doesn’t expect to fall for him—or uncover a painful connection between their families that could uproot their growing love. #YA #R #preDV #OWN #POC #IMM #DIS

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Ivy Lin | Querying Author @ivy-lin.bsky.social · 29/09/2025

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Ivy Lin | Querying Author @ivy-lin.bsky.social · 29/09/2025

With her aging grandma visiting from China—maybe for the last time—16yo Lena Mei enlists an autistic polyglot for help learning Mandarin so she can speak to her. As their bond deepens, she overcomes speech problems and questions whether she is autistic too. #YA #R #preDV #OWN #POC #IMM #DIS

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Ivy Lin | Querying Author @ivy-lin.bsky.social · 23/09/2025

TO ALL THE BOYS x KOMI CANT COMMUNICATE 16yo Lena Mei discovers her neurospiciness while learning Mandarin with a cute autistic polyglot #UnhingedPit #YA #R #W

2 autism creatures communicating. Autism to autism communication. Autism to autism conversation.

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Ivy Lin | Querying Author @ivy-lin.bsky.social · 13/09/2025

Feeling a bit socially hungover, but I woke up this morning feeling so grateful for the wonderful talk I had yesterday with Lucy Rose, Sarah Cook and Clem Bastow. I got to talk about two of my special interests: #autism and #writing! Thank you VERVE Books for the opportunity!

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Ivy Lin | Querying Author @ivy-lin.bsky.social · 04/09/2025

Someone Like Me preorders are being sent out and reviews are trickling in. I'm so honoured and ecstatic to be included in an anthology alongside amazing writers with diverse autistic experiences. #books #autism #neurodiversity #neurodivergentwomen

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Ivy Lin | Querying Author @ivy-lin.bsky.social · 16/08/2025

Selectively mute 16yo Lena Mei wants to read a Chinese poem to honour her late mother, but she can’t read it. A charming autistic polyglot offers to help—not only with her speech but also in discovering love and her own autism. #YA #R #PosterPit #W

Imagined Movie Poster for The Love In Your Words, featuring Jay Chang as Alistair Wong, Xiaotung Guan as Lena Mei and Anita Yuen as Ms Tao

The characters are surrounded by roses and lilies. An illustrated image of the Liver Building is in the background (art by People Will Always Need Platse).

Genre: YA Romance
Tropes & Themes: Friends to Lovers, Slow Burn Romance, Autism & Neurodivergence, Chinese Diaspora

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Reposted by Ivy Lin | Querying Author

James A Lyons @jalwrites.bsky.social · 15/08/2025

Here We Go Again x Kinky Boots An adult contemporary, drag, gay road trip RomCom. Follow Harri as he joins crush Jack on a chaotic trip to find the iconic 1980's drag friends of Wilma Cockburn. Will their secrets about his adopted family's past change his life forever? #Queerpit #A #CON #editors

A poster with three drag queens looking up to a bright blue sky. Across the centre is the text East End Boys and West End Girls, a novel by James A Lyons. The character names Harri Forrester, Wilma Cockburn, Princess Thigh-Ana and Jack Montague are across the top. All main text is yellow. a sticker on the bottom right says on sub this September

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