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John Celestri

@johncelestri.bsky.social
788 followers 365 following 519 posts

Writing a Fantasy-Horror novel that, in the words of a literary agent, "is a little too scary for me!" Co-author of the Noir Historical crime fiction novels “LITTLE MEXICO” and “IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER”. johncelestricomics.square.site

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John Celestri @johncelestri.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
I was surprised by the mixed response. johncelestri.substack.com/p/degrees-of... @darickr.bsky.social @annetibbets.bsky.social
johncelestri.substack.com
Degrees of Horror?
This Author wants to know!
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John Celestri @johncelestri.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Yes!
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John Celestri @johncelestri.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Knowledge is power! johncelestri.substack.com/p/self-editi...
johncelestri.substack.com
Self-Editing For Fiction
How I Learned To Think Like An Editor
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John Celestri @johncelestri.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
This is My One Paragraph Pitch for a historical crime fiction noir novel. It takes a lot of "killing your little darlings" to do that! johncelestri.substack.com/p/the-one-pa... @darickr.bsky.social @annetibbets.bsky.social
johncelestri.substack.com
The One Paragraph Pitch
Maximum of 1000 Characters
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John Celestri @johncelestri.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
open.substack.com/pub/johncele...
open.substack.com
Fantasy Rules #1
As creator of my fantasy world, I find that I can do anything with my story if I set the right rules in the beginning pages.
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John Celestri @johncelestri.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
open.substack.com/pub/johncele...
open.substack.com
Hitting the Mark
For me making my word quota of 400 useable words a day is a success.
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John Celestri @johncelestri.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
open.substack.com/pub/johncele...
open.substack.com
Blending Genres into Your Own Voice
But still touching all the bases for readers
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John Celestri @johncelestri.bsky.social · 05/07/2026
johncelestri.substack.com/p/how-things...
johncelestri.substack.com
How Things Have Changed...
Some things are Better...Some things are Worse!
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Reposted by John Celestri
DrunkDuck (The Duck) NSFW MONTH! @theduckwebcomics.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
In the dismal digital landscape where Sexuality and Adult themes are constantly being restricted and banned, WE CHOOSE TO CELEBRATE THE ART! So July is #DDNSFWMonth! 31 days, 31 DD-hosted #NSFW #webcomics, one per day, every day! Enter at your own risk if you're 18+, and enjoy #adult #comics!
static.klipy.com
Censored Pixel Cat Anime Meme
Alt: Censored Pixel Cat Anime Meme (zoomed in anime hands setting a pixelated-censored kitten on the bed between their legs as they're kneeling on it.
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John Celestri @johncelestri.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
I uploaded a rough page layout of one of my comics. www.theduckwebcomics.com/Bloodwing_Fi... @patrickcotnoir.bsky.social @theduckwebcomics.bsky.social @darickr.bsky.social
theduckwebcomics.com
Bloodwing Fire Fist Angel on The Duck : Page Rough Thumbnail Layout For Page 159
It's been a while since I've posted something,so I thought I'd show a rough thumbnail of a previous page. This shows my thought process.
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John Celestri @johncelestri.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
Perfect!🤣
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John Celestri @johncelestri.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
I’m out for my morning walk, when suddenly I realize the paragraphs I’d thought was good for my first draft were awful. So, I count this page as somewhere between a first and second draft. @annetibbets.bsky.social @darickr.bsky.social @theduckwebcomics.bsky.social @helenlane.bsky.social
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John Celestri @johncelestri.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
Thank you for selecting my comic!😃
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John Celestri @johncelestri.bsky.social · 13/06/2026
Newport, Kentucky of the 1940s and 1950s (aka Little Mexico), is the illegal gambling capital of the United States, years before Las Vegas is a twinkle in Bugsy Siegel’s eye. @darickr.bsky.social @theduckwebcomics.bsky.social
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John Celestri @johncelestri.bsky.social · 13/06/2026
26 years ago many years before ebooks, my wife Cathie and I wrote noir historical crime fiction novels publishing them (under the name Cathie John) in hardcover and trade paperback editions. 13 years ago, I uploaded them on Amazon Kindle editions. I think they still hold up. a.co/d/00DZRfMY
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John Celestri @johncelestri.bsky.social · 07/06/2026
I’ve been noodling around my agent query letter. I found it’s best to cut out a couple of lines that can create potential stumbling blocks for agents to trip over. So, I cut out my logline that I wanted to start with but is basically unnecessary. (The pic is my collection of pencil stubs 😄)
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John Celestri @johncelestri.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
Hopefully, you’ll be open again later this year when my Dark Fantasy-Horror novel is completed. 🙏
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John Celestri @johncelestri.bsky.social · 04/06/2026
Congratulations! 👏👏
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John Celestri @johncelestri.bsky.social · 31/05/2026
I’m also scribbling/handwriting my first drafts in sections and finding I connect more strongly with what I’m writing. Then when I type it into my computer, I find I’ll see it with a fresh pair of eyes. What’s your working method? @annetibbets.bsky.social @comicbookyeti.com @darickr.bsky.social
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John Celestri @johncelestri.bsky.social · 31/05/2026
I developed as a writer while working on animated TV shows. You pre-edited in the storyboard phase before making the first drawing. I approach novel writing the same way, hitting my story-beats at a certain point in the script and make sure to pace it so the reader doesn’t get restless.
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John Celestri @johncelestri.bsky.social · 27/05/2026
Based on what’s happening in the publishing industry with AI creating distrust of debut authors’ novels, I’m going old school. I thought of using my typer, but then I thought, I have hundreds of animation pencils. So…I can handwrite my first drafts faster than I can type. Analog proof it ain’t AI.
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John Celestri @johncelestri.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
I hope you don’t mind my asking, how are you handling ascertaining whether or not someone querying you with a solid debut novel hasn’t used AI to write it?
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John Celestri @johncelestri.bsky.social · 23/05/2026
Thank you. It was a very exciting time for us.
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John Celestri @johncelestri.bsky.social · 23/05/2026
Tissa David was assisted by Eric Goldberg. I was part of that same New York City studio crew as an assistant animator, along with Dan Haskett and Tom Sito.
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John Celestri @johncelestri.bsky.social · 23/05/2026
Get Smart’s version of a tin can and string telephone. “Missed it by that much.”
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John Celestri @johncelestri.bsky.social · 23/05/2026
I finally completed completed my beat sheet/outline for my Fantasy-Horror novel. @patrickcotnoir.bsky.social @theduckwebcomics.bsky.social @bobafettfanclub.com
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John Celestri @johncelestri.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
Mychal keeps running into delays! @darickr.bsky.social @theduckwebcomics.bsky.social @indiecomicszone.bsky.social @imaginarystories.bsky.social www.theduckwebcomics.com/Bloodwing_Fi...
theduckwebcomics.com
Bloodwing Fire Fist Angel on The Duck : Page Page 201
Mychal is ready to go into action!
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John Celestri @johncelestri.bsky.social · 19/05/2026
Submitting your query to an agent is like applying to a University.
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John Celestri @johncelestri.bsky.social · 19/05/2026
In essence, you need the: Hook, Book, and Cook. 😃
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John Celestri @johncelestri.bsky.social · 13/05/2026
Thank you very much.
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John Celestri @johncelestri.bsky.social · 13/05/2026
I have a literary question. What recent Adult Fantasy Horror novels do you recommend? Thank you.😃
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John Celestri @johncelestri.bsky.social · 13/05/2026
Mychal can feel slightly overwhelmed by the intensity of the Combs Family! @darickr.bsky.social @theduckwebcomics.bsky.social @indiecomicszone.bsky.social www.theduckwebcomics.com/Bloodwing_Fi...
theduckwebcomics.com
Bloodwing Fire Fist Angel on The Duck : Page Page 200
Mychal is slowly being accepted into the Combs family.
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Reposted by John Celestri
DrunkDuck (The Duck) NSFW MONTH! @theduckwebcomics.bsky.social · 11/05/2026
This is completely unacceptable. Adult art is art, and very demanding at that. If you can, let Kickstarter know they're alienating part of the art community's core. If possible, do your crowdfunding elsewhere. And come host with us! We celebrate #NSFW!
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John Celestri @johncelestri.bsky.social · 08/05/2026
Mychal the Bloodwing Angel is ow on a bi-weekly upload schedule. @theduckwebcomics.bsky.social @darickr.bsky.social @indiecomicszone.bsky.social @thecomicon.bsky.social www.theduckwebcomics.com/Bloodwing_Fi...
theduckwebcomics.com
Bloodwing Fire Fist Angel on The Duck : Page Page 199
Mychal begins to assume the role of guardian angel!
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John Celestri @johncelestri.bsky.social · 28/04/2026
Maybe the trend is to imitate e.e. cummings?
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John Celestri @johncelestri.bsky.social · 28/04/2026
Jotting down basic ideas, gathering my thoughts about what my story points are before outlining my basic plot. This is my “nothing is dumb” stage of writing.
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Reposted by John Celestri
Anne Tibbets - Literary Agent @annetibbets.bsky.social · 09/03/2026
I get that times are tough and landing an agent is ridiculously hard these days, but I will 100% contact that other agent you are trying to use as leverage against me and we WILL compare notes. Don't fib to try and trick us into making an offer. It makes me angry...
media.tenor.com
two men are standing next to each other and one of them is saying " don 't make me angry ... "
ALT: two men are standing next to each other and one of them is saying " don 't make me angry ... "
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John Celestri @johncelestri.bsky.social · 27/04/2026
Lying about getting an offer may be common practice when trying to sell real estate, but publishing is too small and interconnected a community for that to be successful…brands the author as being untrustworthy about everything they say.
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John Celestri @johncelestri.bsky.social · 26/04/2026
I stand corrected. I found out that my novel falls into the category of “Fantasy Horror”.😃
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John Celestri @johncelestri.bsky.social · 25/04/2026
Having fun writing the first draft of my Horror Fantasy novel. I doodled this image representing the coat-of-arms of one group of characters. @darickr.bsky.social
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John Celestri @johncelestri.bsky.social · 25/04/2026
Mychal tries to join in on fighting the demon attack! www.theduckwebcomics.com/Bloodwing_Fi... @darickr.bsky.social @theduckwebcomics.bsky.social @indiecomicszone.bsky.social @thecomicon.bsky.social
theduckwebcomics.com
Bloodwing Fire Fist Angel on The Duck : Page Page 198
Weaving another established plot thread into the story tapestry.
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John Celestri @johncelestri.bsky.social · 18/04/2026
Uh, oh...I fear your client list may be full by the time I finish my Adult Fantasy Horror novel.
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John Celestri @johncelestri.bsky.social · 17/04/2026
There's humor and drama in this fantasy comic!
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John Celestri @johncelestri.bsky.social · 11/04/2026
@darickr.bsky.social @theduckwebcomics.bsky.social @indiecomicszone.bsky.social @thecomicon.bsky.social www.theduckwebcomics.com/Bloodwing_Fi...
theduckwebcomics.com
Bloodwing Fire Fist Angel on The Duck : Page Page 197
This quick flashback is my way of developing Mychal's character and weaving their plot thread through my story tapestry. ;-)
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John Celestri @johncelestri.bsky.social · 11/04/2026
bsky.app/profile/effi...
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John Celestri @johncelestri.bsky.social · 11/04/2026
Thank you very much, Darrick, for the shout out!
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John Celestri @johncelestri.bsky.social · 29/03/2026
Mychal sees what the stakes are! www.theduckwebcomics.com/Bloodwing_Fi... @theduckwebcomics.bsky.social @darickr.bsky.social @indiecomicszone.bsky.social @thecomicon.bsky.social
theduckwebcomics.com
Bloodwing Fire Fist Angel on The Duck : Page Page 196
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John Celestri @johncelestri.bsky.social · 21/03/2026
The cavalry comes to the rescue in the nick of time! www.theduckwebcomics.com/Bloodwing_Fi... @theduckwebcomics.bsky.social @darickr.bsky.social @indiecomicszone.bsky.social @thecomicon.bsky.social
theduckwebcomics.com
Bloodwing Fire Fist Angel on The Duck : Page Page 195
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John Celestri @johncelestri.bsky.social · 14/03/2026
Some action via a flash page. www.theduckwebcomics.com/Bloodwing_Fi... @darickr.bsky.social @theduckwebcomics.bsky.social @indiecomicszone.bsky.social @thecomicon.bsky.social
theduckwebcomics.com
Bloodwing Fire Fist Angel on The Duck : Page Page 194
Action time!
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John Celestri @johncelestri.bsky.social · 07/03/2026
Mychal's potential love interest goes off to defend the home territory! www.theduckwebcomics.com/Bloodwing_Fi... @theduckwebcomics.bsky.social @darickr.bsky.social @indiecomicszone.bsky.social @thecomicon.bsky.social @staxdeadempress.bsky.social
theduckwebcomics.com
Bloodwing Fire Fist Angel on The Duck : Page Page 193
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