iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

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Janna Layton @jannalayton.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

I am so happy that my story “The Corn Maze” found a home in the new Illustrated Worlds. Wimp confession: this story originally had a darker ending, because I was trying to be a Real Horror Writer, but it made me too sad! 😂 You can get a digital or hard copy at www.illustratedworldsmagazine.com

The world’s most handsome cat, Bruce, my white and brown tabby boy, sitting behind a copy of Illustrated Worlds. On the cover is a man with a pumpkin head.

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Luna Station Quarterly @lunastation.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

What does an LSQ editor do? Read 10–12 submitted stories a month to find the best and proofread them before they go out into the world. Sound fun? Apply by Oct 16: forms.gle/WcYfVWHxkx... #EditorsWanted #SFF #WomenWriters

Deep teal night-sky illustration with a glowing crescent moon and scattered stars. Large cream serif text reads "Editors Wanted." Below it: "What the work looks like." then "Read 10–12 stories a month. Help choose what we publish. Proofread accepted stories." Smaller text: "Volunteer, about 3–5 hours a week." Gold text: "Apply by Oct 16." Footer: Luna Station Quarterly.

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Janna Layton @jannalayton.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

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Janna Layton @jannalayton.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Went out birding today and saw these migrants who have recently arrived for the season: White-crowned Sparrows (adult and juvenile plumage) and a Lincoln’s Sparrow. #birds #birdsky

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Jesse Raub @jesseraub.online · 05/10/2026

King Darius looking down at Daniel in the pit:

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Roses and Wildflowers @rosesandwf.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

“No cat out of its first fur was ever deceived by appearances, unlike human beings, who seem to enjoy it.” -Peter S. Beagle, The Last Unicorn From all of us with Roses & Wildflowers, we are excited to share our Autumn 2026 edition, An Alternate History... With Cats! #stories #poems #writers #cats

societyforritualarts.com

Roses and Wildflowers Autumn 2026

Roses and Wildflowers imagines that the fiction featured in this journal form a beautiful garden of creativity where the wild heart of our souls lives steadfastly with grace and fortitude in all of the pathways and corners. So the journey begins…

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Janna Layton @jannalayton.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Hooray, Cool Duck Season is back! Today, along with Northern Shovelers and Gadwalls, I saw other migratory ducks like this Green-winged Teal drake and (I think) Cinnamon Teal hen. #birds #ducks #birdsky

Male green-winged teal standing at water’s edge by reeds

Female duck sitting at water’s edge by reeds

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Janna Layton @jannalayton.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

A poem honoring my precious girl.

The world’s most adorable white and gray cow cat with a cute pink nose with her head on my knee, getting skritchies.

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Luna Station Quarterly @lunastation.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

We're now open for submissions for our March issue! duotrope.com/duosuma...

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Mara Lynn Johnstone @marlynnofmany.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Hey, who wants a song stuck in their head? Guess what day it is. You're welcome.

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Moby Dick @mobydickatsea.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

They are fighting Quakers; they are Quakers with a vengeance.

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Janna Layton @jannalayton.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Gall Week September 2026 has concluded. My favorite image I got was this one of a parasitic Torymus wasp ovipositing in the galls of a Feron crystallinum wasp. Her babies will have F. crystallinum larva to snack on and cozy galls to grow up in! #gallweek #gallsky #insects

A female Torymus wasp, black-bronze with reddish eyes, laying eggs in a hall covered in white and pink hairs.

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Janna Layton @jannalayton.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

I have a short story out in @curtissandsm.bsky.social! ⚔️🔮 A few years ago, I went on a deep dive on Andrew Lloyd Webber’s doomed Cinderella musical, and started thinking about how I would write a Cinderella story. swordsandsorcerymagazine.com/the-trials-o...

swordsandsorcerymagazine.com

The Trials of Lady Pearlina – Swords & Sorcery Magazine

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Janna Layton @jannalayton.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

I have a short story out in Swords & Sorcery!

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Janna Layton @jannalayton.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

It’s Gall Week September 2026! I saw these pretty Live Oak Bud Galls on Coast Live Oak today. Inside of these, tiny wasp larvae (Callirhytis quercusagrifoliae) are developing. #gallsky #oakgalls #gallweek

Two spherical plant galls, one green-tan and one green, on a coast live oak

Spherical plant gall, light green with yellow speckles, on coast live oak

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iNaturalist @inaturalist.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

This adorable jumping spider is Fuentes yucatan — and you're looking at the first-ever iNaturalist record of the genus Fuentes! From the observer: "It's also the first record of the genus (and species) from Guatemala. Existing records are from Mexico, Belize, Honduras, Costa Rica, and Panama."

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Janna Layton @jannalayton.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

This Great Horned Owl I saw yesterday was NOT making its signature haunting “hoot.” It was making a sound like a crow/turkey/goat. 😂 It took me a long time to get eyes on it in the dense blue oak canopy, but I’m glad I did! #birds #owls #birdwatching

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Janna Layton @jannalayton.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Today I was cleaning my hummingbird feeder, and look who I found inside: this gorgeous cuckoo wasp! It accidentally got rinsed into the sink, but was rescued and relocated outside. #bugsky #cuckoowasp #insects

Close-up of a beautiful iridescent green-blue cuckoo wasp on a paper towel

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Penumbric Speculative Fiction Mag @penumbricmag.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

We've already received 108 of 200 written submissions for this "month" (potentially lasting through 15 September). I anticipate we'll be full before the end of August, so if you want to submit before this subs period ends, do it soon! See our guidelines at www.penumbric.com/subs.html

penumbric.com

Penumbric announcement - Submission Guidelines

Edgy speculative fiction magazine

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Biodiversity Heritage Library @biodivlibrary.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

BHL needs ongoing support to grow, improve, and remain open to everyone. 🥚 Like the eggs in these historic plates, recurring gifts can be Swallow-sized, Puffin-sized, Falcon-sized, or anything in between. 🧪 📚️ What size BHL Sustainer will you be? ancrywkv.donorsupport.co/page/BHLSust... #ILoveBHL

Two historic illustrations of different sized eggs.

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Janna Layton @jannalayton.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

I spotted this female Vivid Dancer the other day. Look at those eyes! #bugsky #insects

A gray and black Vivid Dancer, a type of damselfly, with huge eyes, sitting on a rock

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iNaturalist @inaturalist.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

You're looking at the first and only iNaturalist record of a Puno Shade Lizard (Alopoglossus andeanus)! Reptile identifier Pete Zani noted the keeled scales on the side of its neck, smooth and bluntly pointed belly scales, and a few other features that align with the description of this species.

A brown lizard with detailed scales and large black eyes rests on black netting.

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Dominica Phetteplace @fetaplace.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

My friend and longtime editor Sheila Williams could use your support. This woman is brilliant, kind and hilarious. An icon. Let's help her make an incredible comeback. Please please please donate or share. gofund.me/d7722781a

gofund.me

Donate to Help Irene's Parents Get Skilled Nursing Care, organized by Irene Bruce

Hi - This is Irene and Juliet, the daughters of Sheila and David. As many of… Irene Bruce needs your support for Help Irene's Parents Get Skilled Nursing Care

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Ruadán Books @ruadanbooks.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

TOMORROW, AUTHORS! We can’t wait to see your novel submissions on Moksha. Don’t forget: we’re excited to read horror thrillers and crime noir/neo-noir this period, but we’re also always open to horror, thrillers, & crime fiction in general. Guidelines: links.ruadanbooks.com/Novels26 #WriterSky

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Janna Layton @jannalayton.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

Got an especially cute photo of Meat Loaf, my male Johnson’s jumping spider, today! #spidersky #bugsky

A black jumping spider on the base of a metal laptop stand, looking up with his big, round eyes

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norikonbuchan.bsky.social @norikonbuchan.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

I guess I’m back in the business…

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Galling, @galling.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

Gall of the week is caused by the gall midge Kiefferia pericarpiicola on several dozen umbellifers, in this case wild carrot, Daucus carota. Photo by Graham Calow.

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ZYZZYVA @zyzzyvamag.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

ZYZZYVA submissions open August 5! We can’t wait to see your latest work… Plus, to explore what we’ve been loving, grab a recent issue or subscribe: 3 issues for $35 zyzzyva.org/subscribe + code SAVE7

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Penumbric Speculative Fiction Mag @penumbricmag.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

We're open for our second batch of written submissions for this subs window! Already up to 54 out of 200 ... wow. 🥰 Keep track on our subs page (www.penumbric.com/subs.html) #fiction #poetry #submissions

penumbric.com

Penumbric announcement - Submission Guidelines

Edgy speculative fiction magazine

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Janna Layton @jannalayton.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

Inspired by Phoebe Bridgers’s new song “Lost Boys,” I’m sharing again my short story “He Grows Up.” ✨ www.abyssapexzine.com/2026/02/he-g...

abyssapexzine.com

“He Grows Up” by Janna Layton | Abyss & Apex

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iNaturalist @inaturalist.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

Just a few of the many spectacular friends seen during this year's #MothWeek celebrations!

A yellow moth with brown markings rests on a pale surface.

A vibrant pink and yellow patterned moth rests on a green leaf.

A black, orange, and white patterened moth with striking long antennae rests on a light surface.

A deep emerald green moth with gold flecks rests on a speckled wall.

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iNaturalist @inaturalist.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

Semifinal matchups are here! The Moth Cup continues, and these four moths are up for a spot in the finals. (Psst, the Large Yellow Underwing was our wild card from the first round!) Voting starts the morning of 7/21 Pacific time in our Instagram stories, one match per day. Who's your pick?

Graphic with cream crumpled-paper background showing photos of different moths and caterpillars arranged around the text "iNaturalist Moth Cup 2026, Semifinal Matchups."

Matchup graphic showing the Isabella Tiger Moth (orange moth with black spots, and its black-and-orange woolly bear caterpillar), labeled "Most Observed from North America," versus the Tropical Swallowtail Moth (large brown moth with tailed wings, and its black-and-white patterned caterpillar), labeled "Most Observed from Asia."

Matchup graphic showing the Black Witch moth (large dark brown moth with blue-purple sheen and eyespots, and a mottled brown caterpillar), labeled "Most Observed from South America," versus the Large Yellow Underwing (brown moth with orange and black hindwings, and a grey-brown caterpillar on a leaf), labeled "Most Observed from Europe."

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Laura Blackwell @pronouncedlahra.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

So good, so haunting, I lost all my exclamation points. Do watch. Do.

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Janna Layton @jannalayton.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

I found out yesterday that an old poem of mine, one I wrote about Eponine while she was still alive, has been accepted for publication. I’m happy, of course, but it brought up a bit of melancholy as well.

POV: My beautiful white and gray cat Eponine, her head on my knee, looking up at me while I give her skritches.

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Apex Magazine and Book Company @apexmag.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

STRANGE 👽 SURREAL 👽 SHOCKING 👽 BEAUTIFUL Apex Magazine is OPEN TO SUBMISSIONS for the month of July! We're seeking short spec fic up to 9k words. Closing August 1st, reopening in September and November. We can't wait to read your work! 🖤 Submit here: apexbookcompany.moksha.io/publication/...

"Apex Magazine Submissions OPEN!

We are Seeking:
short sci-fi, fantasy, and horror fiction
short genre-related nonfiction
Up to 9k words

Submissions Close August 1st
https://apexbookcompany.moksha.io/"

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Janna Layton @jannalayton.bsky.social · 27/06/2026

I don’t think I’m ever getting over the final three paragraphs of Hilary Mantel’s The Mirror & the Light. #booksky

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Luna Station Quarterly @lunastation.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

It's June, which means we're already thinking about December. Publishing work is a trip sometimes. What does time mean anymore? LSQ submissions are open now through Aug 15th. Women-identified authors, 500–7k words, genre stuff only please. We'd love to see your work! duotrope.com/duosuma...

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Penumbric Speculative Fiction Mag @penumbricmag.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

We are now open for written submissions (through 15 September)! We are always open for art, graphic narrative, and music submissions. See our submissions page for details! www.penumbric.com/subs.html

penumbric.com

Penumbric announcement - Submission Guidelines

Edgy speculative fiction magazine

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Janna Layton @jannalayton.bsky.social · 18/06/2026

Good news: Theo, whom I’m catsitting, loves Hilary Mantel. Bad news: his magnificent tail makes it difficult to read Hilary Mantel. #books #reading #cats

Kitty’s magnificent tail blocking an open Hilary Mantel book

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Effie Seiberg is a spooky Cyborg @effies.bsky.social · 07/06/2026

Thanks so much to everyone who voted for "Laser Eyes Ain't Everything"!!! The other nominees are amazing & you should read them. Thanks to my husband for helping me make the space to write, to @wiswell.bsky.social and @atgreenblatt.bsky.social for critiquing, & to @diabolicalplots.com for editing.

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Luna Station Quarterly @lunastation.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

Issue 066 has officially docked! 🚀 We’ve got a monster hunter’s union, enemies-to-lovers at magic school, and a witch who is 100% done with everyone’s nonsense. Psychedelic moth venom included at no extra charge. Come hang out on The Station this summer! www.lunastationquart...

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ZYZZYVA @zyzzyvamag.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

Welcoming ZYZZYVA 132! Our newest issue, according to our Editor @ovillalon.bsky.social, might be the most experimental we’ve done in years. We’re so excited to bring you these intrepid pages. Read + subscribe at zyzzyva.org

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