iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

John Copenhaver @johncopenhaver.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

New Substack dropped! I’m excited about this one; it’s my first interview for the newsletter. I sat down with Richmond Bookstagrammer Alison Andrews to talk about how she became a book influencer, what makes Richmond’s literary community so vibrant! johncopenhaver.substack.com/p/how-book-i...

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John Copenhaver @johncopenhaver.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

On October 8, I’ll be at Shelf Life Books with Jennifer Pashley to moderate a discussion of *The House Guest,* her new psychological thriller about a young chef who takes a live-in job with a bestselling author and gets tangled in his marriage. See you there! shelflifebooksrva.com/event/2026-1...

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John Copenhaver @johncopenhaver.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Hey, Richmond! Join me October 7 at Shelf Life Books, where I’ll be moderating a conversation with Danny O’Dea about his debut, PACKAGES, a suspenseful queer coming-of-age novel. Come hang out and bring your questions! shelflifebooksrva.com/event/2026-1...

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John Copenhaver @johncopenhaver.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

In this week's Substack article, I write about new pressures on MFA students, what federal funding changes mean for programs like UNO’s, and why the arts and humanities are the future. Read/follow/subscribe! johncopenhaver.substack.com/p/the-arts-a... #unomfa #mfainwriting #arts #humanitiesmatter

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John Copenhaver @johncopenhaver.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Writing might begin as a solitary act, but writing books is about building community. This week I’m out talking crime fiction around Richmond—including Thurs. at Fountain Bookstore with the marvelous Margot Douaihy. Read more in my new Substack post: johncopenhaver.substack.com/p/writing-is...

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John Copenhaver @johncopenhaver.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Federal aid changes are already forcing some graduate students to leave programs like UNO’s MFA. If 35 people give just $5 by noon CT on Oct. 8, it unlocks a challenge gift. Every dollar supports student fellowships. Please consider helping: givingday.unomaha.edu/campaigns/mf...

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John Copenhaver @johncopenhaver.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Always trying to keep it chewy! ❤️ Thanks for sharing, my friend!

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John Copenhaver @johncopenhaver.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Are we losing our tolerance for ambiguity? This week on my Substack, I’m exploring “new literalism,” Barthes’s readerly/writerly texts, and the pressure on writers to make every moral meaning soooo obiv! 😊 Subscribe/follow! johncopenhaver.substack.com/p/what-we-ta...

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John Copenhaver @johncopenhaver.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Such a blast chatting with David Corbett about the ethics and complexities of writing across cultural, ethnic, religious, and gender differences. Check it out on Writer Unboxed. We’d love to hear from you! writerunboxed.com/2026/09/11/j...

writerunboxed.com

Writing Across Difference

I met John Copenhaver several years ago when I moderated a panel on politics in fiction. I was struck by his intelligence, his heart, and just his overall menschiness, qualities I rediscovered when…

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John Copenhaver @johncopenhaver.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Check out my new Substack post about another term we bat around in the reading/writing world: “slow burn.” What do we actually mean when we call a mystery or thriller a slow burn? Is it really about being slow, or is it about the way tension builds? johncopenhaver.substack.com/p/what-we-ta...

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John Copenhaver @johncopenhaver.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

RVA friends! Margot Douaihy will be in town for the James River Writers Conference, and she’s coming to Fountain Bookstore to talk with me about Divine Ruin, the newest Sister Holiday mystery. If you love gritty, gorgeous (and queer) crime fiction, don’t miss it! 📚🖤 withfriends.co/event/285060...

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John Copenhaver @johncopenhaver.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

GODDESS OF LOVE concludes my Nightingale Trilogy, following THE SAVAGE KIND and HALL OF MIRRORS. Set in 1964, it asks: What does trauma do to who you become when it’s inflicted because you’re a woman, gay, or Black? Out March 2, 2027. Preorder now! johncope.squarespace.com/order-goddes...

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John Copenhaver @johncopenhaver.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

This week on my Substack: Do characters really need to be “likable”? It’s a word readers, writers, agents, and editors toss around constantly, but I’m not sure we always mean the same thing by it. Read the full piece at my Substack. It’s free! johncopenhaver.substack.com/p/what-we-ta...

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John Copenhaver @johncopenhaver.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

I'm so thrilled to be moderating “Putting the Story in History: Integrating Research into Your Work” at the James River Writers Conference with panelists Denny S. Bryce, P. Djèlí Clark, and Sullivan Summer. See you there!

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John Copenhaver @johncopenhaver.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Ann McMan’s “Red Dirt and Regret” from Crime Ink, iconic and inspired by Dolly Parton, is 99¢ on Kindle, and every penny supports Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. Read a terrific mystery and help put books in kids’ hands! ❤️🏳️‍🌈https://loom.ly/ruvQnjY

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John Copenhaver @johncopenhaver.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

For my next series of Substack articles, I'm going to take on words used by the writing world that are slippery—or even misleading. This week: "authenticity." To what degree do we mistake authenticity for excellence ... or conflate the two? Enjoy! johncopenhaver.substack.com/p/what-we-ta...

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John Copenhaver @johncopenhaver.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

This year’s Underrepresented Authors Event at Bouchercon Calgary (2026) will be a blast! All crime writers attending Bouchercon who identify as marginalized are welcome to apply to be featured. ⤵️ forms.gle/7UHRNhPcSAWD... Sign-ups accepted until 9/16. Apply now and help spread the word!

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John Copenhaver @johncopenhaver.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Hey, my final post in the Writing Across Difference series has dropped! It’s about sensitivity readers—when to hire one, what they can offer, and why they’re neither “don’t cancel me” insurance nor a substitute for doing your own research. Check it out! johncopenhaver.substack.com/p/sensitivit...

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John Copenhaver @johncopenhaver.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

I'm thrilled to be donating signed copies of Hall of Mirrors and The Savage Kind to the Crozet Book Fest Silent Auction! Every bid supports local writers and helps grow the Crozet Book Fest. Check out all the offerings here: www.bluebirdcrozet.com/pages/cbfauc...

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John Copenhaver @johncopenhaver.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

Hall of Mirrors is #1 on this incredible list (I don’t even know what “#1” even means in a list with Atwood’s masterpiece and many truly outstanding fellow writers—like really?—but I’ll take it 😄). I’d love for you to preorder its follow up: Goddess of Love: johncopenhaver.com/order-goddes... ❤️

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John Copenhaver @johncopenhaver.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

Thanks Annie! ❤️ As you know, I think our ability to control and use language effectively is the heart of great writing.

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John Copenhaver @johncopenhaver.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

Another Writing Across Difference post just dropped on Substack! This one explores how significant details can transform stereotypes into complex, believable characters. If you haven’t read the earlier posts in the series, I recommend having a look! johncopenhaver.substack.com/p/how-detail...

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Reposted by John Copenhaver

Karen Odden @karenodden.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

OMG. Delighted to see DOWN A DARK RIVER on this OPRAH DAILY list w/ Atwood's ALIAS GRACE, one of my fave novels ever. (HOW am I on this list?) and with brilliant writer friends @mariahfredericks.bsky.social & @johncopenhaver.bsky.social. #DownADarkRiver @crookedlanebooks.bsky.social bit.ly/4bnuOVZ

oprahdaily.com

12 Historical Mysteries That Make the Past Feel Dangerously Alive

Come for the period detail; stay for the betrayals, disappearances, and bodies.

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John Copenhaver @johncopenhaver.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

Wow, what a list! So honored to see HALL OF MIRRORS on this list in Oprah Daily with brilliant writer pals Mariah Fredericks, Karen Odden, and Cheryl Head. And Margaret Atwood?! Being on a list with Alias Grace is insane. That's one of my favorite novels of all time. A masterpiece. bit.ly/4pLN6Gp

bit.ly

12 Historical Mysteries That Make the Past Feel Dangerously Alive

Come for the period detail; stay for the betrayals, disappearances, and bodies.

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John Copenhaver @johncopenhaver.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

New post is up: the stock characters we inherit as writers, and what we do with them. From the gay best friend to the final girl. Some of these types are just narrative shorthand. Others carry a lot more baggage than, sometimes, we admit. johncopenhaver.substack.com/p/start-with...

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John Copenhaver @johncopenhaver.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

CrimeReads just published our Queer Crime Writers summer reading list! Check out the list and fill up your beach bag. crimereads.com/queer-crime-...

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John Copenhaver @johncopenhaver.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

New Substack delivery! Part 3 of Writing Across Difference. Before you write a character from a marginalized group, learn the story the culture already tells about them, so you can complicate and push back on the dominant narrative. Check it out! johncopenhaver.substack.com/p/question-t...

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John Copenhaver @johncopenhaver.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

Giving the first talk in a new lecture series at my hometown library, named for my mother. I’ll talk about setting and character — how place shapes who a character can be. Free, Sat July 25, 4-6pm, Marion Public Library. scplva.net/events/2026-...

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John Copenhaver @johncopenhaver.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

Part 2 of Writing Across Difference is live. It's about the research that comes before all the rest: looking hard at the stories that shaped you. Give it a read and subscribe—it's free. Sharing is nice too. My mother taught me that. 😜 johncopenhaver.substack.com/p/research-s...

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John Copenhaver @johncopenhaver.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

I’ve already shared my Volume 0 story “Waving Hello, Waving Goodbye,” but here’s the story behind the story: a cemetery clown, a teenage boy, and the ache of wanting to be seen. Also, events: Arlington Thurs at One More Page; RVA Sat at Book People. ➡️ johncopenhaver.substack.com/p/waving-hel...

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John Copenhaver @johncopenhaver.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

Heat dome survival plan: JonnyPop + Issue 14 of Volume 0, featuring my story “Waving Hello, Waving Goodbye,” inspired by the creepy 2015 clown sighting at Rosehill Cemetery in Chicago. In it, I inhabit the clown. Boo! 🤡 Pick up the issue/subscribe: bit.ly/4xZP8Xa

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John Copenhaver @johncopenhaver.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

I'm so glad, and the support is very appreciated. More to come!

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John Copenhaver @johncopenhaver.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

Thank you SO much for sharing this!

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John Copenhaver @johncopenhaver.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

Crossing lines of identity in fiction is an act of empathy, if done right. My new essay is up. The first in a series about writing across difference: why it matters, why it's at the core of fiction writing, and how to do it responsibly. johncopenhaver.substack.com/p/writing-ac...

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John Copenhaver @johncopenhaver.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

20th place on Substack in “Rising in Fiction”… just a few below Michael Chabon! 😃 I’m really loving Substack and proud of the work I’m doing there. Follow and subscribe! ❤️ substack.com/@johncopenha...

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John Copenhaver @johncopenhaver.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

HAPPENING NOW: "The Idea to the Reader: Selling and Marketing Your Queer Mysteries," w/ publisher Salem West (Bywater), editors Alexa Wejko and Taz Urnov (Soho Press), and publicist Brittani Hilles (Lavender PR). Event link: us02web.zoom.us/j/8698562744...

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John Copenhaver @johncopenhaver.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

She’s one of my favorites! Also, she’s a fascinating (and problematic) personality.

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John Copenhaver @johncopenhaver.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

TONIGHT: Don't miss the panel at 7:00 PM ET: "The Idea to the Reader: Selling and Marketing Your Queer Mysteries," w/ publisher Salem West (Bywater), editors Alexa Wejko and Taz Urnov (Soho Press), and publicist Brittani Hilles (Lavender PR). Event link: us02web.zoom.us/j/8698562744...

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John Copenhaver @johncopenhaver.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

I give my students 7 celebrated opening lines and ask them to rank them. The discussion always gets lively. New Substack essay on what great first lines actually do. Which is your favorite? johncopenhaver.substack.com/p/what-great...

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John Copenhaver @johncopenhaver.bsky.social · 18/06/2026

June 23 at 7 PM ET — "The Idea to the Reader: Selling and Marketing Your Queer Mysteries." Publishers Salem West (Bywater), Alexa Wejko & Taz Urnov (Soho Press), and publicist Brittani Hilles (Lavender PR). Moderated by Jeffrey Marks. Register below! 🏳️‍🌈📚 forms.gle/kKVRqifjmwTM...

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John Copenhaver @johncopenhaver.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

Three recent limited series—Boots, Half Man, and DTF St. Louis —gave me more to think about than most think pieces on masculinity have. New essay on male loneliness and the tenderness our culture barely has language for. Enjoy! open.substack.com/pub/johncope...

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John Copenhaver @johncopenhaver.bsky.social · 14/06/2026

June 23, 7 PM ET — "The Idea to the Reader: Selling and Marketing Your Queer Mysteries." How to get your book into readers' hands with editors Taz Urnov & Alexa Wejko (Soho), Salem West (Bywater), and publicist Brittani Hilles (Lavender PR). Register now. 🏳️‍🌈📚 forms.gle/kKVRqifjmwTM...

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John Copenhaver @johncopenhaver.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

Goddess of Love—cover reveal. D.C., 1964. Judy and Philippa were each other's world, then betrayal. Now a murderer from the past is coming for Judy. Pre-order today. Proud of this book—and the reveal video. 😂 Made it myself. No digital natives consulted. a.co/d/04J5K6AJ

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John Copenhaver @johncopenhaver.bsky.social · 08/06/2026

Tomorrow, I’m finally revealing the cover of Goddess of Love—the final book in the Nightingale Trilogy. It’s queer, dark, and, yes, a little ruthless. I’m so proud of this one. Can’t wait until tomorrow? Preorder now for an early look at the full cover: bit.ly/4oktLLW

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John Copenhaver @johncopenhaver.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

The Queer Crime Writers is out for Pride Month. Reading lists, author interviews, and the queer crime fiction community you've been looking for. Subscribe and pass it along. Here’s the link: open.substack.com/pub/queercri...

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