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Jared Leys

@jaredleys.bsky.social
796 followers 506 following 2.5K posts

Ducks | Books | Hibiscus

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Jared Leys @jaredleys.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Something a little different than most past October Music shorts. Good stuff! I’ve really enjoyed the first two days so far.
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AC Cross @aaronccross.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
If you like The October Music daily stories, why not pick up the collection from the first three years available on Amazon (I know, I know)? www.amazon.com/October-Musi... If that doesn't work for you, how about a Lovecraftian book written all in letter form? www.amazon.com/Boddicker-Le...
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Jared Leys @jaredleys.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Duck of the day! This is a mallard. Photo by Casey Suter.
Male mallard flying over water
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Jared Leys @jaredleys.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
“She checked the pistol on her belt with one wing and secured her cattleman with the other. The sun slid behind a passing wispy cloud. She stepped from the cliff edge, catching the air with her wings held wide.” Could I interest you all in a duck western?
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Jared Leys @jaredleys.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Duck of the day! This is a smew. Photo by MPF.
Female smew on the water
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Jared Leys @jaredleys.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Duck of the day! This is a Chiloé wigeon. Photo by Charles J Sharp.
Male Chiloé wigeon on the water
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Jared Leys @jaredleys.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
As a duck-appreciator, I find this to be shocking content. SHOCKING. Also, the two ducks you’re thinking about are named Phil and Tammy. They have an affinity group.
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Jared Leys @jaredleys.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Duck of the day! This is an American wigeon. Photo by Greg Sellentin.
American wigeon on frosty ground
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Jared Leys @jaredleys.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Thinking about what I need to write. Which is the same as writing, I’m told. I’m having a very productive day.
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Jared Leys @jaredleys.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
That’s still not public domain? Dang it.
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AC Cross @aaronccross.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Okay, I'm finalizing the track listing for this year's October Music. If you have song or artist recommendations, drop them below and I'll add them to the list.
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Jared Leys @jaredleys.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Lose Yourself Atrophy Happy Birthday
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Jared Leys @jaredleys.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Heading into Friday like
Spaceman Spiff crashing on rocky planet
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Jared Leys @jaredleys.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Duck of the day! This is a Chubut steamer. Photo by Hugo Hulsberg.
White-headed Chubut steamer duck on rocks by the water
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Jared Leys @jaredleys.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Adding to my list. Thanks!
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Jared Leys @jaredleys.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Any good short stories I should know about? I’m lining up several to read.
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Jared Leys @jaredleys.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Duck of the day! I believe this is a pekin. Photo by Sandy Millar.
White pekin close up headshot
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Jared Leys @jaredleys.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Duck of the day! This is a northern pintail. Photo by Mathew Schwartz.
Northern pintail on the water
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Jared Leys @jaredleys.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
static.klipy.com
Duck Says Nope
ALT: Duck Says Nope
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Jared Leys @jaredleys.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Sorry.
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Jared Leys @jaredleys.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Thanks! And you’re probably right. You should run with it if you find an idea for it!
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Jared Leys @jaredleys.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
I was thinking about being afraid of dying.
Dancing on My Grave

Fleet of foot
full of grace
might try a new move
might try a new day

They say the water
falls. And falls
flow down to the ocean.

The dirt flows down around me
my grave, my flowers

And I tiptoe through the peonies and I
dance upon my grave
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Jared Leys @jaredleys.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Duck of the day! This is a pekin. Photo by Alejandro Correa Bayardo.
White pekin duck looking at the camera near some water
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Jared Leys @jaredleys.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Duck of the day! This is a spectacled eider. Photo by Berit.
Male spectacled eider in eclipse plumage
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Jared Leys @jaredleys.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Been thinking too much about gas prices. #poetry
Gah! So Lean.

gas light blinking
as I drive past the station

and thinking maybe
I’ll let it run dry—
     see how far I get!

and then walk off
into the woods
to hunt for something
I can actually eat
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Jared Leys @jaredleys.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Duck of the day! This is a hooded merganser. Photo by Camerauthor.
Hooded merganser on the water
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Jared Leys @jaredleys.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
One morning of slightly chilly weather. Me: Winter is coming.
Duck from duck song wearing stocking hat and scarf
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Jared Leys @jaredleys.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Release day! This looks excellent.
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Rex Burke is SciFiRex @rexburke.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
SCI-FI GIVEAWAY! Launch day tomorrow for Wild Skies & I have a deal for UK-based readers (it's a postage thing, sorry) Pre-order Wild Skies tonight (14/9) by 23.59, tell me you've done it in the comments, & you're in the draw for one of 3 limited-edition paperback copies of book 1, Special Delivery
Paperback copy of Special Delivery by Rex Burke showing four silhouetted figures on a rocky planet in front of a huge yellow moon
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Jared Leys @jaredleys.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
Had the opportunity to go to a local book fest yesterday. It was really encouraging to see how many people showed up. So much fun to meet authors and buy some books!
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Jared Leys @jaredleys.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Duck of the day! This is an American wigeon. Photo by Polinova.
Male American wigeon
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Jared Leys @jaredleys.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
Duck of the day! I’m actually not sure what species this is. Something mallard-related. Photo by Frauke Riether.
Duck with yellow bill, gray head, brown breast, white sides, gray tail. Swimming on water.
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AC Cross @aaronccross.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Just saying. It's September, it's closing in on my birthday (40th...*shudder*), this book has incredible cover art, and I love the little Pringles-style horror stories which - since it's spooky season - should fit right there in your TBR. www.amazon.com/October-Musi...
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Jared Leys @jaredleys.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
I’ve never understood why they think it would make people want to use their products.
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Rex Burke is SciFiRex @rexburke.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
All right, I'm going to need 9 heroes to make this the biggest pre-order ever for me The book is out in 5 days. We can do this! Pre-order here - mybook.to/WildSkies Tell me about it - enormous animated thank-you guaranteed! #SciFi #PreOrder #BookLaunch #NewBook
Promotion says, Wild Skies is Jurassic Park x The Magnificent Seven, pre-order now!
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Jared Leys @jaredleys.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
Thinking about what it would take to extract myself from the internet almost entirely.
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Jared Leys @jaredleys.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
Apparently I should have named my book Crap. Either way, it was neither aided nor abetted by AI.
Slop by Jared Leys book cover. Title and author name of multicolor swirling background
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Jared Leys @jaredleys.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
Drinking another coffee just in case that will do the trick.
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Jared Leys @jaredleys.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
Not sure if there’s any truth to it, but I think I’ve heard that cold weather can bring out the sweetness in grapes. There was a grape vine at a place I once rented, and I seem to remember picking them in October.
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Jared Leys @jaredleys.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
but as he droned on all night and into the next morning, something in me snapped. And I’m not sure what possessed me, but I found perverse joy in ripping off his head, pulling out all of his stuffing, and scattering it across the room. Sorry, Teddy. But no one keeps me from my sleep.
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Jared Leys @jaredleys.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Growing up, Teddy hadn’t been much for talking. In fact, he had never said a word, given he was stuffed toy bear. But that all changed the night he climbed up on the end of my bed and talked and talked and talked and told me all about his day. At first I was afraid, (1/2)
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Jared Leys @jaredleys.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
When you make something cool and you show it to people, but they kinda just shrug at it, it’s disappointing. BUT the nice thing is you already know it’s cool so you can still enjoy it.
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Jared Leys @jaredleys.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
This is what happens when I'm allowed to use powerpoint with no oversight.
Ponds. A duck says: "There's no place like home." A pond clip art, duck clip arts, and other pond-related clip arts.
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Thomas Howard Riley @thomashowardriley.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
THE HEROES WE NEVER WERE is out now! Book 1 of A Tale Of Fools And Legends War looms and a tragic disgraced drunk knight with an affinity for murder must investigate an assassination plot and can’t trust anyone but an arcane child and a huge dog Inspired by Hobb, Abercrombie, Lynch & GRRM
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Jared Leys @jaredleys.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Duck of the day! This is a pekin. Photo by Marcus Ganahl.
Pekin duck showing off wings
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Jared Leys @jaredleys.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
I’ve been having way too much fun writing nonsense poetry.
Poem:

When you fall asleep in your car because you're all out of pennies between the seats and the parking meter wouldn't take them anyway and you're all out of gas and you don't drive a tesla even though you find yourself in that kind of neighborhood
oh uh hey! officer let me uh
*roll roll roll down the window*
sorry wow! that sun's bright what uh— sorry
what time is it?
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Jared Leys @jaredleys.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
That’s good to know! I’ve never had the opportunity to order from them before
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Jared Leys @jaredleys.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
Interesting! Whatever the reason, as an American I’m hoping it helps you push into the market over here!
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Jared Leys @jaredleys.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
Ordered! Been meaning to grab one of your books and this seems like the perfect opportunity. Out of curiosity, why did they decide to offer it tariff-free right now?
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Jared Leys @jaredleys.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
A new short story for you. Fedora Duck The duck mob is not to be trifled with.
Short Story: Fedora Duck promo image. With two muscovy ducks in fedoras
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