iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

I guess it sounds kind of sad to put a monetary angle on it, but artists deserve to get paid for their labor, too. Artists should be able to make viable careers out of being artists.

Ultimately, my goal is to make an income doing something I enjoy that doesn't feel as soul-crushing as previous career paths I've been down. I don't expect huge success or anything. I just want to feel like I'm pulling my weight for the household. #SpoonieAuthChat

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Aspen Rayne - The Colors That Haunt Us out now! @aspenrayne.com · 08/10/2026

Levi smells like ceremonial incense and anointing oil.

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Reposted by kae

IT’S OUT!!! The Colors That Haunt Us is officially a real book that people can buy and read and have opinions about. And, because apparently one major life event at a time wasn’t enough, today is also my birthday. Happy book birthday to both of us. #TheColorsThatHaunt #BookSky #QueerBooks

Out Now
The Colors That Haunt Us
by ASPEN RAYNE
Haunted art, Queer longing, Grief, Obsession

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Thank you! I love that in 1st person POV books, the main character IS the narrator, and that can (should!) really color how the story is told. <3

The Last Firstborn is a dystopian fantasy about brotherhood, personal agency, and resisting authority. Levi is forced to choose between his morals and his brother's safety. Spoiler: he does not always make good choices. Release day is Oct 13! Next week!! buff.ly/BsO8xW5 #Fantasy 🪐📚💙 #Prophecy

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kae @krholton.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

I recognize that this snippet from Firstborn's Legacy (book 2) makes no sense without context, but I still like how it turned out. #LitHodgepodge

Her toes break the surface of the water and it is righteous. Everything in history has been leading to this moment, the moment the goddess can return home. She descends into the pool, and the water sighs like an old lover, a divine companion. The goddess fits here. She belongs here. This place exists for her.
She floats on the surface of the water, her hair drifting out in fluid, golden plumes.
She is home and everything is right.
I can breathe a little now, though the air is also sacred. I am merely an observer, an intruder, and I have witnessed the most holy moment. I am blessed.
I am—
Oh! I am!
I pull back up, up, up, and collect into myself. I remember. I gasp in a breath now, hands on knees that exist without bones.

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One week left until The Last Firstborn is out! There's still time to get a signed copy from my website or get the discounted #ebook from #smashwords. Get all the links plus a #review of the book below! buff.ly/w5MOGBt 📢📚💙📚🪐 #BookReviews #IndieBooks

buff.ly

One Week 'til Release Day!

Review & discount link inside!

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kae @krholton.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

In The Last Firstborn, Eno has a major Robin Hood complex. He does as much to disrupt Merx operations as he can while protecting is crew of unsavory characters. He also wears his heart on his sleeve and can be convinced of anything with a good enough lost-puppy face 😆 #LitHodgepodge

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Reposted by kae

Aspen Rayne - The Colors That Haunt Us out now! @aspenrayne.com · 06/10/2026

THREE DAYS. The Colors That Haunt Us comes out October 8, which is close enough that I’m alternating between extremely excited and staring at the calendar like it has personally done something to me. #TheColorsThatHaunt #BookSky

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kae @krholton.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

One week left to get The Last Firstborn at a discount! I'm running a #Smashwords presale, which means not only do you get a few bucks off the ebook, you also get early access to the book to read it before anyone else! buff.ly/WZSPLXf 📢📚💙📚🪐 #dystopian #fantasy #ebook

buff.ly

The Last Firstborn

As Firstborn, Levi is blessed with the power of prophecy. As Firstborn, he is cursed to live under the Merx. Prophet Levi has two jobs: be the mouthpiece of the Goddess and make sure the Merx…

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The Last Firstborn's first ARC review has landed! Thank you so much, Alex! #BookReviews 💙📚🪐

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Then you'll have to figure out a different solution for book three, unless you can find a way to justify the rules themselves changing

If we're talking about making changes during revisions, then the reader will never know

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For Levi, he dreams of having a normal family--a family that isn't bound up by politics and where he isn't the prophet. He's always wondered what his relationship could have been if he weren't himself. #LitHodgepodge

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LFB is officially out in the wild because I was paranoid about shipping times and sent my pre-orders very early 🤣 #IndieAuthorLife #IndieAuthors

Discord screenshot.
Photo of a long haired, white Chihuahua with a copy of The Last Firstborn by KR Holton in the foreground. Caption: here, with dog tax!

K: AHHH omg, it got there early, yay! And what a cutie to read with!

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No way. That's a revision problem 😂

Sab 🔮 @sgkhan.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Reposted by kae

A question for @krholton.bsky.social for #LitHodgePodge 4: in The Last Firstborn how did you go about constructing the mechanics of prophecy? I loved the execution and wondered how you created the rules of your magic system; did you know from the start or did it develop along with the drafts?

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Whatever that is becomes true, and then the rules work around that from there on. 🤣 It can be messy for sure!

How he starts to effect the future in tiny ways, like he does with Rhaz. That came in a later draft once I knew how I wanted the ending to go. So, kind of both! I usually just operate under the "rule of cool" while drafting. What would be the coolest/most dramatic thing to happen in this scene?

Gosh, the first draft of LFB was so long ago, I'm having trouble remembering haha. I think the bulk of the How was just pantsed the first go round and then whenever I said something, I just made sure to remember the "rules" I had created along the way. The exception was (spoilers below)

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My friend has a bird blog! 🐦‍⬛ But just calling it a bird blog doesn't do it justice--each post starts with a short narrative experience of how *you* found the bird, and the writing is lovely. Plus, the photography is gorgeous. #blog #raven #birds

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Trad Wife was awesome too!

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Majima is a wheezy kitty and we're still trying to figure out why. He was such a good boy at the vet 😭 #caturday

photo of a one-eyed gray cat on the vet's counter. He's sitting very pretty.

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Even prophet Levi has no idea what's in store in this review

I just finished Voidwalker by SA Maclean and really enjoyed it! The characters had great chemistry and the setting was fun. The author had a great way to twist all the common romantasy tropes without the plot getting bogged down. Can't wait to read the next one! 💙📚💛⚔️

Cover of Voidwalker by S. A. Maclean. Woman with multi-colored hair faces the front holding an energy sword. Behind her, the silhouette of a shadowy figure with antlers and red eyes reaches for her.

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Ohh, they both have a fierce side-eye which makes me think they're competitive. Maybe they do fencing or martial arts sparring in their spare time.

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She def looks like she's got a lot going on in this image <3

The dark elf maybe has a part-time gig at a piercing and tattoo parlor. Elves deserve more piercings on their ears. They have so much extra real estate to work with.

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The blindfold is a life-long thing, but the candlemaking would take getting used to 😆

Vocalist of a metalcore band

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Hm, is swimming too on-the-nose?

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oh fun! he would burn himself a lot, but yes, smells are super important to him. ❤️

I could totally see Levi getting into dancing!!

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She looks long-limbed. Maybe long distance running or swimming?

I have art of Levi!! @dominolucky.bsky.social made it!! This portrays Levi at the beginning of The Last Firstborn when he's so hopeful and naive. His current hobbies include running on the treadmill and arguing with his brother. New hobbies though..? #LitHodgepodge

Sketch of a young man wearing a blindfold and priest's cassock. His hair falls past his ears and is somewhat messy. Art by LuckyDomino.

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