iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Kira Bruner

Victoria L. Bilstein is ✨ ON SUB @victoriabilstein.bsky.social · 19/04/2026

Check out Chapter 80 of Literary Blend! Thanks so much to Demi for having me on!

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Kira Bruner @kirabruner.bsky.social · 10/04/2026

New #agentsguide to my MG manuscript, Nora and the Nightmare King (currently #querying). This manuscript recently made the 2025 Gertrude Warner Finalists for MG Fiction and I'm hoping to find an agent who loves it as much as I do.

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Kira Bruner @kirabruner.bsky.social · 13/02/2026

I'm excited to share that my manuscript, Nora and the Nightmare King (currently querying), is a Gertrude Warner Middle-Grade Fiction Finalist!

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Kira Bruner @kirabruner.bsky.social · 05/11/2025

Just found out I made the 2025 Gertrude Warner Long List for Middle Grade Fiction (as did a friend of mine) 📚 very exciting in the midst of waiting to hear back from queries. Now we wait to see if I’ll make the short list 👀

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Vicky Weber - Agent, Author, Educator 📚 @vickyweberbooks.bsky.social · 13/10/2025

You can’t control when trends hit. The only thing you can control is finishing the book.

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Victoria L. Bilstein is ✨ ON SUB @victoriabilstein.bsky.social · 13/09/2025

A STRANGER KIND OF MORTUARY SCIENCE ✨elements include: 🍄 Found family 🌲 cozy, atmospheric small town 🍂 Spooky, whimsical vibes 🗡️ If I touch her, she could die 🪦 funeral parlor & embalming room settings 🧪 FMC is a woman in STEM 🌈 queer MCs 🧡 Characters in their 30s & 40s Soon to be on sub!

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Kat Tenbarge @kattenbarge.bsky.social · 10/09/2025

As a public figure himself, Kirk did not restrict himself to politeness. He was incredibly crude and cruel about the deaths of other people. Reflecting on his life should reflect the truth.

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Holl🌞 @willows-song.bsky.social · 10/09/2025

This explains it better than I can

Dave Portnoy tweet saying ‘absolutely disgusting and disturbing video from Charlie Kirk shooting today. Hoping for the best for him and his family. Anybody who is happy about this is a disgusting human.’

Pop Crave Tweet: ‘Barstool Sports CEO Dave Portnoy says he hopes a missile hits Greta Thunberg’s boat as she sails away with aid: “I hope they hit a f*cking, like, a missile on her boat. Knock that boat down. Greta or whatever her name is”

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Kira Bruner @kirabruner.bsky.social · 09/09/2025

Yes! I also love, during editing, when I re-read a chapter I haven't touched in a while and discover a favorite line I forgot I wrote. Did this recently with my WIP.

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Kira Bruner @kirabruner.bsky.social · 08/09/2025

Waiting for agents to open this fall like 👀 because my MG manuscript will be best read in October 🖤🕸️🕷️🕯️🖇️🖋️🗝️

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Anna Metz 💋🔪🖤 @annametz.bsky.social · 01/09/2025

Opening line of VIGILANTES ANONYMOUS, my 76k adult spicy dark rom-com that blends the all-consuming, boundary-pushing spice of LIGHTS OUT, with the dark humor and murderous thrill of BUTCHER & BLACKBIRD 🔪🖤 #editors #bookpitch #darkromcom #darkromance #romcom #onsubsoon #onsubmissionsoon

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Victoria L. Bilstein is ✨ ON SUB @victoriabilstein.bsky.social · 01/09/2025

I’m thrilled to introduce my manuscript soon to be on submission, A STRANGER KIND OF MORTUARY SCIENCE, a cozy, adult fantasy novel 🌈⚰️🍄🧚‍♀️💀🪦✨ #editors, I’m represented by the wonderful Ciara Smith at Spencerhill Associates! #editorsguide #cozyfantasy #bookpitch #amagented #soontobeonsubmission

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Anna Metz 💋🔪🖤 @annametz.bsky.social · 11/08/2025

An #editorsguide to VIGILANTES ANONYMOUS, my high heat adult dark rom-com on submission to editors soon! 🔪🖤💋 #editors if you're ready to experience the chaos that is Lana and Nic, feel free to interact or reach out to Aurora Fernandez at Trident Media Group #amagented #writingcommunity #pitch

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Kira Bruner @kirabruner.bsky.social · 01/08/2025

I want to read this, agents, please

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Kira Bruner @kirabruner.bsky.social · 25/07/2025

Readers definitely judge books by their covers. When you're looking at books on the shelf at the store, or online, the cover is the first thing you see and it acts as an ad for the book itself.

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Kira Bruner @kirabruner.bsky.social · 24/07/2025

As a writer who also works as a designer / in marketing, I would invest in your website, your cover, and getting your book in the hands of readers that can make a difference (whether that is sending PR boxes to content creators who would be a good fit or attending book events in your area).

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Kira Bruner @kirabruner.bsky.social · 21/07/2025

Just coming on here to say, if you can afford to hire an illustrator to bring your manuscript to life, it’s a magical experience.This one is for my MG project, NORA AND THE NIGHTMARE KING. And do not, please do not, use AI. Support human beings 💕 Illustration by Savannah Lazo! (Savannahlazo.com)

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Kira Bruner @kirabruner.bsky.social · 21/07/2025

Full rejections hurt. ❤️‍🩹

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Linda Holmes @lindaholmes.bsky.social · 30/06/2025

Do not ever do this under any circumstances. You will be held to the actual contract, not the AI summary, and the AI summary has no way of knowing which terms you might personally care about or have questions about. Dooooo notttttt dooooo thissssss.

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Kira Bruner @kirabruner.bsky.social · 20/06/2025

In this post, I talk about what I did differently this time around and share some of the feedback, rejections, and positive comments I received throughout this process.

substack.com

Writing & Querying My Second Manuscript

Part Three of How I Got Here

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Kira Bruner @kirabruner.bsky.social · 11/06/2025

Including the query letter I sent out and my query stats 🫣

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Kira Bruner @kirabruner.bsky.social · 11/06/2025

My second Substack post is up: Writing & Querying My First Manuscript open.substack.com/pub/kirabrun...

open.substack.com

Writing & Querying My First Manuscript

Part Two of How I Got Here

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Kira Bruner @kirabruner.bsky.social · 06/06/2025

I currently have so many books that I want to read bad enough that I've considered just reading them all simultaneously. It's an incredible and also stressful position to be in. Is this how agents and editors feel all the time?

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Kira Bruner @kirabruner.bsky.social · 04/06/2025

Hmm… I'm gonna go with plot epiphany for my new WIP. There are a couple chapters that could use some love and I haven't decided how I want them to play out yet.

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Kira Bruner @kirabruner.bsky.social · 01/06/2025

My first ever Substack Post is live! In my next post, I'll talk about writing and querying my first manuscript, including the query I sent to agents, what I did wrong, and querying stats. Let me know if there's anything specific you guys would love to know about!

substack.com

How I Got Here

Part One

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Kira Bruner @kirabruner.bsky.social · 30/05/2025

If any literary agents or editors see this, I'd love to know your thoughts on writers querying in the summer 👀 It seems like so much has changed over the years when it comes to querying. Is summer still considered a "bad" time to query?

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Kira Bruner @kirabruner.bsky.social · 27/05/2025

Repost w/ the five shows you would be happy to rewatch over and over again for the rest of your life, as your sole TV diet: Parks and Rec Madmen The Wire Game of Thrones Buffy the Vampire Slayer What an insane list I just created.

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Kira Bruner @kirabruner.bsky.social · 27/05/2025

Did they adopt his beliefs as well? lol

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Gabino Iglesias @gabino.bsky.social · 25/05/2025

I don’t want to “streamline” my writing. I don’t want to “increase my output.” I don’t want to “write a novel with one click.” I want to write stuff only I can write. I want to read and write novels with soul and heart and a unique voice. Fuck AI. Long live real writers.

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Kira Bruner @kirabruner.bsky.social · 24/05/2025

I was going to say that I wish I knew exactly how many hours I've wasted just staring at my queried agents list, but I really don't want to know.

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Kira Bruner @kirabruner.bsky.social · 24/05/2025

NOT saying Memorial Day isn't important, nobody come for me

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Kira Bruner @kirabruner.bsky.social · 24/05/2025

That's the real holiday this weekend haha

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Kira Bruner @kirabruner.bsky.social · 24/05/2025

AnnenMayKantereit's cover of Toxic, because Feryn's a little obsessive and loves men with deep voices (one man in particular: her very hot, secretive boss) haha

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Kira Bruner @kirabruner.bsky.social · 21/05/2025

I had to miss the after party but loved the event, hopefully I catch the next one!

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Kira Bruner @kirabruner.bsky.social · 21/05/2025

Tell me why on top of my full time job, querying, working on a new project, and just generally trying to stay alive, I decided to start a Substack? Anyway, you can find me there @ kirabruner. Planning to start posting in June, will share updates

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bettebergeron.bsky.social @bettebergeron.bsky.social · 15/05/2025

Starting my day scrolling through the posts in #amquerying... and celebrating ALL the successes that you are having! Even a rejection is a success, because it means that we've completed an amazing project and are brave enough to put it out there to the world! Keep on! 😀💕 #writingcommunity

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Kira Bruner @kirabruner.bsky.social · 15/05/2025

My hopes definitely rose and fell. But, this is my second time querying a project and my first didn't get any requests, so it's progress! Maybe another agent will connect with it more.

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Kira Bruner @kirabruner.bsky.social · 15/05/2025

Got my first rejection on a full request today, and it definitely hurt more than any query rejection I’ve gotten, but it’s all a part of the journey.

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Kira Bruner @kirabruner.bsky.social · 15/05/2025

I'm so happy for you!! Can't wait to see what comes next 💕

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Kira Bruner @kirabruner.bsky.social · 12/05/2025

Feeling sentimental tonight, but sometimes you gotta stop and appreciate where you’re at.

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Kira Bruner @kirabruner.bsky.social · 12/05/2025

I’ve finished 3 manuscripts and queried 2, and even if the world never gets to read those stories, I love them alongside my favorite books and I’m beyond grateful that I got to experience them. All of my characters are with me always, and that is just such an incredible thing.

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Kira Bruner @kirabruner.bsky.social · 12/05/2025

I also love paying other artists! You will never catch me sharing AI art (as long as I know it’s AI art, I won’t lie and say it hasn’t fooled me). But hire artists if you can. It’s worth it.

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Kira Bruner @kirabruner.bsky.social · 12/05/2025

Because I do illustration as well, I sometimes get asked if I would ever do illustrations for my books, and the answer is maybe? But there’s something so special about seeing another artist do their own take on your work. The collaboration is where I find the most joy in it.

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Kira Bruner @kirabruner.bsky.social · 12/05/2025

I hired a friend of mine to do some illustrations for my Middle Grade book and I just saw the rough sketch for one of the illustrations… and I can’t wait to be able to share these. I highly recommend hiring an illustrator if you have the budget for it. Seeing your story come to life is crazy.

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Courtney Floyd @courtney-floyd.com · 10/05/2025

Putting footnotes in my book promo like the absolute nerd I truly am. Anyway! It’s graduation season and maybe you’d like some dark and magic academia in your lives? #BookSky #2025Debuts #BookRecs

A 19th century bookplate featuring an illustration of a library with a bust of Shakespeare alongside a portrait of Darwin, a copy of the Venus de Milo alongside a microscope. The Latin on the bookcase reads "books are friends, nature is God.” The image caption reads 2025 Dark Academia Debuts available to buy or pre-order now. There’s a footnote mark on the word Dark.

A cropped banner version of the bookcase from the last image with the caption Dark Academia Debuts available to buy or pre-order now. A flag that reads adult precedes images of the covers of Higher Magic, The Book of Autumn, The Belles, and Doll Parts. On the next row, the covers of The Art of Exile, The Library of Lost Girls, Boys with Sharp Teeth, and Secrets of the Blue Hand Girls are followed by a flag that reads YA. The footnote beneath the books reads Footnote I. Because genres are mushy and darkness is a matter of perspective, light and magical academia have also been included. Happy reading!

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