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James L. Sutter

@jameslsutter.bsky.social
1.1K followers 267 following 1.2K posts

Co-creator of the Pathfinder & Starfinder TTRPGs. Author of the queer romance novels HEARTS AGAINST THE MACHINE (2027), DARKHEARTS, and THE GHOST OF US, plus fantasy novels, comics, video games, and more. Musician. ME/CFS husband.

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James L. Sutter @jameslsutter.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
I don't know who needs to hear this, but the "ts" in a "boots'n'cats" beat is a hi-hat being hit open and then closed with the left foot in time with the snare. (Was just remembering how I spent *years* wondering how the heck to make that noise before finally learning to play the drums.)
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James L. Sutter @jameslsutter.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
I love trad publishing, but it's wild how we tell each other "DON'T WRITE FOR EXPOSURE! GET PAID!"—and then sign contracts where we get 5-10% of a book's price. We do it in hopes publishing will make us famous enough that we can start earning decent money—so in a way, we're all writing for exposure.
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James L. Sutter @jameslsutter.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Apparently I missed Bi Visibility Day yesterday, but since it's still Sapphic September, maybe you need a queer fake-dating rom-com about a teenage ghost hunter who finds an actual ghost? jameslsutter.com/novels-ghost...
A hardcover copy of THE GHOST OF US by James L. Sutter, showing two girls kissing in front of a full moon, positioned among some fall leaves.
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James L. Sutter @jameslsutter.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
@zackdavisson.com A friend just invited me to a yokai lecture for her birthday and I thought "I bet it's Zack" and then I googled it AND IT TOTALLY IS! Looking forward to seeing you speak!
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James L. Sutter @jameslsutter.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Making an author read their book after they're no longer able to revise it should be banned by the Geneva Conventions.
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James L. Sutter @jameslsutter.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
There's a dwarf blueberry in our back yard that's been there for nine years. In all that time—despite plenty of water and fertilizer—it's never produced a single berry. This year, for no reason I can discern—blueberries! Tons of them! So don't give up, okay?
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James L. Sutter @jameslsutter.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
This just in: 66% of straight women *missing out*
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TW @twesq.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
this is fantastic and I learned something new
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James L. Sutter @jameslsutter.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Today in Why Publishing is Nuts: My new novel, HEARTS AGAINST THE MACHINES, is going to be published simultaneously in hardcover and paperback—but Barnes & Noble will apparently only be looking at the paperback preorder numbers to determine if they should carry the book. Hardcover doesn't count. 😵‍💫
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Capn Borscht @capnborscht.bsky.social · 22/03/2024
The best thing about this planet is that every few days I'll learn about an animal I've literally never seen or heard of before, like the Nilgai which is just a stupidly massive antelope
A nilgai standing loud and proud
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James L. Sutter @jameslsutter.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Bluesky has been chock-full of book recommendations recently, and I am HERE FOR IT.
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James L. Sutter @jameslsutter.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Anybody got a good craft book recommendation for writing mystery novels?
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James L. Sutter @jameslsutter.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Did not expect the second paragraph in this article to mention the time I got China to write for Pathfinder! Fun fact: after he turned in the draft of his intelligent-angler fish society, I had to send a note explaining why we shouldn't call their bioluminescent lures "fleshlights"... 😅
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James L. Sutter @jameslsutter.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
The kids are alright.
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James L. Sutter @jameslsutter.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
"This song speaks perfectly to all my grief around aging and illness, and our attempts to carry on regardless." *loads up music video* *sees cartoon cat vomiting on a keyboard* "That... was a choice."
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James L. Sutter @jameslsutter.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
This whole thread is worth a read.
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James L. Sutter @jameslsutter.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Just realized I'm the old man out watering the garden in his bathrobe. How did this happen.
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James L. Sutter @jameslsutter.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Some authors' careers launch like rockets, but for most of us, publishing is like being a lungfish: heaving ourselves out of the sea and gasping "LOOK AT ME!" until we're on the verge of asphyxiation, then flopping back into the water to recharge for the next attempt.
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James L. Sutter @jameslsutter.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Some of the best advice my literary agent has given me is to just ask for what I want. He's always happy to be the enforcer if needed, but most of the time, there's no need—editors, art directors, etc. all *want* you to be happy with your book, and will do their best to help!
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Nathan Edwards @grackle.space · 22/09/2025
dudes rock
Tumblr post from every-lemon 
Sep 8

so my spouse is part of a weirdly intense but mostly benign men's workout group that meets at like, 5:30am outside every day, even in winter. they do a lot of burpees and lugging cinder blocks up hills and stuff.
they take turns leading the workouts and tomorrow is his turn. I asked what he was planning. he handed me a sheet of William Carlos William poems from a large stack he'd printed.
I said "what" and he explained, helpfully, "it's a William Carlos William themed workout." I asked what inspired it and he said "l've been planning this for months."
Follow up tumblr post 
every-lemon
Sep 9
it was a smash hit.
a dozen guys showed up (more than usual). spouse brought a red wheelbarrow and they took turns bringing cinder blocks up the hill with it. then they broke up in teams and did a relay with an "icebox" (cooler filled with 40lbs of ice). at the end he opened the cooler to reveal it was full of beach plum lacroix and all the guys cheered. they drank sparkling water as he read 'approach of winter' out loud.
he was home by 6:30am.
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James L. Sutter @jameslsutter.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
Alright, friends: I'm trying to remember the name of a current fantasy artist who I believe has a whole series set in a creepy, surrealist gaslamp-style city he made up—the style is kinda Wayne Barlowe-esque. Ring any bells?
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James L. Sutter @jameslsutter.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
Passed a beautiful and devastating graffiti note, tagged on a sign along a bike trail between cities: To S—, I DIDN'T RUN! They told me you OD'd. Find me at [address]. Still faithfully yours, D—
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James L. Sutter @jameslsutter.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
If you're excited about my new book HEARTS AGAINST THE MACHINES, please consider preordering it now for 25% off from Barnes & Noble! Preorders determine whether a book thrives or dies before it ever hits shelves, so if you know you want this one—snag it now! www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hearts-aga...
A snippet of a book cover sketch showing a flying killer robot with the words:
Barnes & Noble Preorder Sale
Get 25% off HEARTS AGAINST THE MACHINES with code PREORDER25 September 9-11 only
Includes Ebooks, too!
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James L. Sutter @jameslsutter.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Getting impatient and chugging the half-dissolved Nuun tablet is the outdoorsy equivalent of drinking the tequila worm.
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James L. Sutter @jameslsutter.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
It's official: I've got a new novel coming in 2027! HEARTS AGAINST THE MACHINES is M*A*S*H meets Terminator, but as a gay romance between a young medic and a newly paralyzed soldier in a field hospital for humanity's doomed human resistance after the robot apocalypse. bookshop.org/p/books/hear...
Publisher's Marketplace Deal Report:

HEARTS AGAINST THE MACHINES by James L. Sutter

Imprint: Alcove Press

Author of DARKHEARTS James L. Sutter's HEARTS AGAINST THE MACHINES, pitches as M*A*S*H meets Terminator, a gay romance between a young medic and a newly paralyzed soldier in a field hospital for humanity's doomed resistance after robots massacre civilization, to Marcy Harris at Alcove Press, for publication in summer 2027, by Josh Adams at Adams Literary (NA). josh@adamsliterary.com

Fiction: Sci-Fi/Fantasy
September 8, 2026
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Goodnews @goodnews.computer · 04/09/2026
This all starts with a secret handshake between writers and yard workers, a mutual understanding that if writers don't leave cans behind, and they don't touch the identifying numbers on the cars, then there's largely no harm. Writers will go to meticulous lengths to respect the latter rule.
Blue and white graffiti on the side of a train with the numbers 110798 meticulously left alone and untouchedGraffiti with the freight car identification, CTTX 692054, untouched on the bottom left. The graffiti is black and white on a mostly bare metal car with yellow highlights.Graffiti avoiding the markings TTGX 697986Graffiti avoiding markings on both the inner part of the piece and also going up and around the numbers with the blue highlight color. The markings are FB OX 50 52 84.
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James L. Sutter @jameslsutter.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
The fact that *every* state fair doesn't have a llama/alpaca costume contest is a national tragedy, and something we need candidates to address. www.twincities.com/2018/08/30/c...
twincities.com
Check out these llamas and alpacas, all cute in costume, at the Minnesota State Fair
The Minnesota State Fair’s Lama Costume Contest pitted 4Hers and their llama or alpaca partners from across the state, gussied up in complementary costumes and parading through the Fair’s Compeer Aren...
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James L. Sutter @jameslsutter.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
This is amazing, but also, given that Bigolas Dickolas did such good work, I'm not sure we can write off Treasure Dicknatty just yet.
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James L. Sutter @jameslsutter.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
The problem with electing political opportunists who follow the polling and try to do whatever their constituents want is that you then have to spend every day trying to convince them of what you want.
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ceej @ceej.online · 03/09/2026
I do think “every rich person went insane during covid because it was the first time they’ve been inconvenienced in decades” felt a little reductive at first but damn if isn’t more and more compelling as the years drag on
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Cat Rambo @catrambo.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
For newer F&SF writers, here's a resource you may not be aware of, the Submission Grinder. It helps you find markets and track your submissions - and even publishes some fiction. Free to use, but if you use it a lot, consider supporting their Patreon. #booksky thegrinder.diabolicalplots.com
thegrinder.diabolicalplots.com
The Submission Grinder
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Matsci @matsci.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
pelcan Mouth perfect size for put baby in to n\ap! inside very Soft and Comfort baby sleep soundly put baby in Pelican Mouth.
Put Baby In Pelican Mouth. no problems ever in peliccan mouth because good Shape and Support for baby neck weak of big baby head. Apelican Mouth yes a place for a baby put baby in pelican mouth can trust pelican for giveing good love to baby. friend pelican
Source: Flickr / pominoz68
105,140 notes
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James L. Sutter @jameslsutter.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
When I spend twenty minutes looking up evidence to fight a copyeditor over a hyphen, only to realize they're right.
static.klipy.com
Sylvester Stallone Cheers Toast
Alt: Sylvester Stallone Cheers Toast
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James L. Sutter @jameslsutter.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
Did you know that the *asset* cap for a disabled person to get help paying for longterm care via Medicaid is $2000? If a single car repair couldn't empty your bank account, you're apparently too rich to deserve help in America. (For reference, a studio apartment in Seattle is $1500+ a month)
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James L. Sutter @jameslsutter.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
I know I'm an old-man yelling at clouds, but I can't stand that there's a very successful genre of TikTok/Reel "reaction video" that is just people reading aloud the screenshotted replies to someone else's post with their own face superimposed and also FOLLOWING ALONG WITH THEIR FINGER
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Margaret Owen @what-eats-owls.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
As one of this year's Lodestar nominees, I would love to see this too! I don't think we have to change the name or invent a new category; the Lodestar just would need to be recognized as a Hugo the way the Andre Norton award is a Nebula.
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James L. Sutter @jameslsutter.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
For some reason people are up in arms this week about HOOK, a movie almost as old as I am, so I'll just say this: As an extremely picky child, that imaginary food scene was second only to the Redwall books in making me want to eat a bunch of bizarre things I'd never encountered before.
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Phil Lewis @phillewis.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
An island mysteriously appeared — then disappeared — on British Columbia’s largest reservoir By Aug. 5, the island was no longer showing up in satellite data
cbc.ca
An island mysteriously appeared — then disappeared — on B.C.'s largest reservoir | CBC News
B.C. Hydro says it's monitoring for the reappearance of a mysterious island first spotted by boaters 100 kilometres from the W.A.C. Bennett Dam in northeastern B.C.
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James L. Sutter @jameslsutter.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
This! I've said to friends several times recently that I'd always rather see a mostly-good movie with style and vision than perfectly executed pablum. Let your work have a flavor, even if not everyone will like it.
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James L. Sutter @jameslsutter.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
Strategy is overrated. We spend so much time agonizing over the exact right way to do something, or optimizing which thing to do first, when the better answer is to just pick something and do it. Investing energy toward literally any goal pays off better than anxious wheel-spinning.
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Joseph Laycock @josephlaycock.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
Dallas Morning News reported that Texas has suspended 6% of registered voters without telling them Texans can use this link to check their voting status: goelect.txelections.civixapps.com/ivis-mvp-ui/... People who have been purged can still register before October 5. Tell everyone you know.
goelect.txelections.civixapps.com
IvisMvpUi
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James L. Sutter @jameslsutter.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
A little wire choir action with my band Rabbit Prince from last Friday's show. I love this group so much.
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James L. Sutter @jameslsutter.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
One of the best lessons I've learned from playing shows was from a band called Mirror the Ghost who, seeing the teen center was mostly empty, brought their gear down off the stage and played on the floor. It was amazing how removing the barrier between us turned a lackluster show into a *party*.
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James L. Sutter @jameslsutter.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
A society where everything is a rental/subscription service, where you don't actually own the things you buy, makes it impossible to build personal wealth. The owners retain all ownership, and you work for them in order to pay for the privilege of using the tools of your labor. It's feudalism.
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James L. Sutter @jameslsutter.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
Researching chronic illness on forums is wild because I'll see "Kublaxanib cured my ME/CFS!" and then the first reply will be "Kublaxanib made bees fly out of my anus." And I just tab over to my notes and put tally marks next to "helpful" and "anus bees," because this is what we're working with.
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jess @jessfrom.online · 22/08/2026
optimist: the cup is half full pessimist: the cup is half empty ttrpg editor: here you refer to the cup as half full, but in the next chapter, you refer to it as half empty. for clarity, we should standardize on one of them in the rules text, even if players might use both descriptions at the tabl
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Zach Weinersmith @zachweinersmith.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
Amazing
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James L. Sutter @jameslsutter.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
TONIGHT! I can't wait to play this show.
Show flyer for the bands Rabbit Prince and Estate Plan
Friday 8/21
Doors @ 8, show @ 8:45
Free
Georgetown Liquor Co
5501 Airport Way S
21+
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James L. Sutter @jameslsutter.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
The first CD I ever bought for myself was a tie, because I bought them at the same time: Rammstein's SEHNSUCHT and the Les Miserables 10th anniversary cast recording. Kinda says it all, really.
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Ned Pyle @nedpyle.com · 20/08/2026
LFG!
The Elmo raises his arms in triumph in front of a wall of flames meme but now it’s drawn by a young girl in colored pens it’s awesome
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