iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

J. D. Hellen @jdhellenwrites.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

In case you're low on nightmare fuel

Cat toy - small, hot pink, furry mouse missing eyes, a nose, and patches of fur

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J. D. Hellen @jdhellenwrites.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

This weather calls for finally bringing out the good socks. 🌧️💨

Magenta crew socks with yellow stripes and toe tips that say I LIKE BOOKS MORE THAN PEOPLE

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J. D. Hellen @jdhellenwrites.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

I occasionally use tarot and oracle cards for self-reflection and guidance, but I haven't used them for story inspiration and planning. Maybe THE SNAIL ORACLE will fix that. 🐌🔮 Shout out to Aleia Murawski and Sam Copeland! I also own SNAIL WORLD, SNAIL WORLD 2, and the "Slime Shop" puzzle.

THE SNAIL ORACLE oracle deck: cover of the deck box (a garden snail looking into a mirror), the deck guidebook (a garden snail at a table with cards, a crystal ball, candles, and tea), and a drawn card (an image of a garden snail on a swan boat, going into a "tunnel of love"—the word DEVOTION at the bottom of the card)

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J. D. Hellen @jdhellenwrites.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Looking forward to this one! It was recommended to me by another horror writer, and it just so happens to be this month's horror book club pick at my local independent bookstore. ☺️ I'm ready to get disturbed.

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J. D. Hellen @jdhellenwrites.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

Sundays are for coffee and short stories. ☕

Foreground: a Kindle Paperwhite with a screensaver image; background: a white mug that says, "SCROLL LESS READ MORE"

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J. D. Hellen @jdhellenwrites.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

Picked up some new reading material and met some great people at the Bucks County Zine Fest today!

A spread of zines and lit mags of different colors and sizes, including BOOKWORMS, KRYPTA, WAXEN, and MOURNING PAPERS. Stickers, pins, and bookmarks are arranged on top of the spread. Pins include Squidward's "Bold and Brash", and stickers include "The owls are not what they seem."

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J. D. Hellen @jdhellenwrites.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

I finished this and absolutely loved it—I think partly because it's my very first legitimate comp title.❗ I enjoyed the characters, their rules, and the ride and now have a lot to think about. Look out for a blog post in the future because I'm not done sharing thoughts about imaginary friends.

Foreground is J. D. Hellen holding a hardcover copy of I WILL KILL YOUR IMAGINARY FRIEND FOR $209 by Robert Brockaway. Background of the image is stuffed animals.

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J. D. Hellen @jdhellenwrites.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

Thrifting score! My first book with Bachman on the spine!

J.D. Hellen shows the spine of THINNER by Richard Bachman in a second-hand shop

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J. D. Hellen @jdhellenwrites.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

Finally started this and am having so much fun

I WILL KILL YOUR IMAGINARY FRIEND FOR $200 by Robert Brockaway. Publisher's Weekly statement says, "Stephen King meets Sesame Street in this delightfully unhinged, mind-bending horror novel."

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J. D. Hellen @jdhellenwrites.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

I forgot this was a 4th of July party.

Black and white photo from The Shining (1980): Party at the Overlook Hotel with Jack Torrance front and center. Text reads: Overlook Hotel July 4th Ball 1921.

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J. D. Hellen @jdhellenwrites.bsky.social · 27/06/2026

Also, great find in the used book store!

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J. D. Hellen @jdhellenwrites.bsky.social · 27/06/2026

Why, of course I'd choose the puzzle of a photo of writing utensils while I'm on vacation. ✏️

White Mountain 1000 piece puzzle: Pencils

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J. D. Hellen @jdhellenwrites.bsky.social · 14/04/2026

Have any of you seen Dream Scenario? I watched it last night and keep thinking about it. . . . And no, I haven't seen him in my dreams.

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J. D. Hellen @jdhellenwrites.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

Sometimes, you need the reminder.

Green tea bag wrapper that says: Take this moment just for you - The Bigelow Family

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J. D. Hellen @jdhellenwrites.bsky.social · 04/04/2026

Picked this up today at South Jersey Geekfest! It's been on my TBR for a while.

CUJO by Stephen King – an old cover of the book that refers to King as "the author of Firestarter"

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J. D. Hellen @jdhellenwrites.bsky.social · 27/03/2026

Grateful to have seen and met Percival Everett today at a nice author talk and reception at Rutgers University–Camden!

Paperback of ERASURE by Percival Everett on top of a flyer about Rutgers–Camden Writers House

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J. D. Hellen @jdhellenwrites.bsky.social · 26/02/2026

The detour is still there. I may not drive down Haunted Lane, but one day, I will at least drive BY it.

Black and white photo: road sign along a highway, before an overpass, that reads HAUNTED LANE DETOUR

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J. D. Hellen @jdhellenwrites.bsky.social · 26/02/2026

This seized me. I'm here, and I'm watching. And I don't want to look away. The MC is (I think) using nihilism to cope with grief, making her pretty difficult to stomach, but I love stories with miserable characters. 🙀 What does this say about me?

Focus is on hardcover of JUST WATCH ME (A Novel) by Lior Torenberg. The book is near a cappuccino and bud vase, on a wooden surface.

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J. D. Hellen @jdhellenwrites.bsky.social · 30/01/2026

My next read. Will I feel more prepared, more anxious, or somehow both?

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J. D. Hellen @jdhellenwrites.bsky.social · 29/12/2025

No surprises here! My #GoodreadsYearInBooks top genres for 2025: • Horror • Memoir & Biography • Literary Fiction I'd say "speculative" covers my top slot if I factor in all the weird short stories I read.

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J. D. Hellen @jdhellenwrites.bsky.social · 11/11/2025

This was taken around 4:15 p.m. I've had worse days. I've had better days. But this explains why evening writing doesn't work for me. (So many hours lost!) How's your energy at the end of your work day?

Smartwatch face showing "body battery" at 15/100.

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J. D. Hellen @jdhellenwrites.bsky.social · 09/11/2025

Something you book lovers (and miniatures fans!) may appreciate. This is one of the many creative, skillfully crafted displays I saw yesterday at Philadelphia Miniaturia! Take anything and make it miniature, and I'm fascinated.

A diorama depicts a cozy room overflowing with miniature books. A sign above reads "I AM SIMPLY A BOOK DRUNKARD." The room features a patterned rug, a comfortable armchair with a plaid blanket, a small table, and shelves packed with books. Stacks of tiny books are piled everywhere—on the floor, on the table, and even next to the chair. A miniature chessboard is also visible.

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J. D. Hellen @jdhellenwrites.bsky.social · 10/09/2025

Something super fun came in the mail! Grateful for Margot Atwell starting the Kickstarter and all the backers getting this project out there! Looking forward to reading these pieces. It's always RHPS season in my book, but it's especially fun this time of year. 👄👠🕸️

ABSOLUTE PLEASURE: QUEER PERSPECTIVES ON ROCKY HORROR edited by Margot Atwell, foreword by Carmen Maria Machado

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J. D. Hellen @jdhellenwrites.bsky.social · 29/08/2025

My husband's drink for tonight. It's amazing outside. 🐙🍋‍🟩 #InverteFest

Can of Dogfish Head SEAQUENCH ALE. Art shows a cephalopod with a lime.

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J. D. Hellen @jdhellenwrites.bsky.social · 29/08/2025

This was hard to capture. What's going on here? #InverteFest

Two black ants of different sizes. A smaller ant is dragging a larger ant (on its back) across asphalt. Image is close up.

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J. D. Hellen @jdhellenwrites.bsky.social · 16/08/2025

Something exciting came in the mail today—a bunch of zines from @cursedmorsels.bsky.social! If you've read them, do you have a favorite?

A fanned stack of zines from CURSED MORSELS. TECH BRO TERRORS is on top of the stack.

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J. D. Hellen @jdhellenwrites.bsky.social · 03/08/2025

How many of you have taken a trip to Lonesome Dove? I'm finally getting around to reading this. I wanted something that would completely immerse me in a world.

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J. D. Hellen @jdhellenwrites.bsky.social · 22/07/2025

A happy little blob in my office from geekboypress.com at Blobfest

Small, red, smiling blob-shaped (reminiscent of an ice cream scoop) enamel pin on cubicle wall

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J. D. Hellen @jdhellenwrites.bsky.social · 09/06/2025

Iced tea season is here! (Spooky season is year-round.)

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