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E.L. Lyons, Epic Fantasy Author

@lyonspen.bsky.social
2.4K followers 2.4K following 256 posts

Author of Starlight Jewel, first book in the Gifts of the Auldtree series, no AI Links to book and other SM: linktr.ee/lyonspen?utm_source=linkt…

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E.L. Lyons, Epic Fantasy Author @lyonspen.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
A while ago I wrote this article with links to tutorials on how to make book covers that: - don’t use AI trash - look illustrated-ish - require no skill in illustration lyonspen.substack.com/p/how-to-mak...
lyonspen.substack.com
How to Make a Book Cover
for authors who can't draw good and stuff
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Author C B Lansdell @cblansdell.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
I finished something this year. Nature, technology, and a subdued kind of magic coexist. None of the characters are human. I've been told it has a gothic feel (haunting architecture and tragic monsters). The audiobook for Book 2 is in post production. books2read.com/cblansdell/
The Apidecca Duology is out now. Soulful FMC, hot mess MMC, Dual POV, sci-fantasy blend, new terminology, character focused.
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E.L. Lyons, Epic Fantasy Author @lyonspen.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
Just an FYI, I am still running my AI author list if you’d like to be kept up to date on which authors are using AI and how with receipts 💖 I am also still looking for someone to help with small tasks in the project, mostly the VAMP CREW labels 😅 There is a new channel where anyone can post 🧵
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Matt Falcon @mattfalcon.com · 13/07/2026
I haven't marketed on here lately, because I just didn't want to. Now my FFS people are gonna force me to make something they can help push out into the world. And while this isn't a baby, its emergence was a long and arduous process that I for some reason want to repeat.
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Grimoire Ink Reviews @grimoireinkreviews.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
An Exile of Water & Gold by @joshuawalkerau.sffinsiders.com "Truly, few things are more exciting to me in a book than when real-world natural phenomena are woven into the story in unique ways." Read @lyonspen.bsky.social's review here grimoireinkreviews.wordpress.com/2026/06/10/a...
grimoireinkreviews.wordpress.com
An Exile of Water & Gold by Joshua Walker
Reviewed by E.L. Lyons It is known amongst the people that I love trees. And this book did them great justice, for which I am quite appreciative. The magic system incorporates the mycorrhizal funga…
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Lynn Strong | Cozy fantasy author @lynnstrong.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
Hey #boksky, #writesky, #artsky, #romancelandia... link tree is going to start shoving things into AI without consent. This thread has some alternatives.
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E.L. Lyons, Epic Fantasy Author @lyonspen.bsky.social · 28/04/2026
Y’all know that I have my public genAI author list. But I have never made a call for submissions! If you would like to be included on the list and you feel I might have missed you, please reply here and include what you use it for in your authorly endeavors 💖 🧵
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Grimoire Ink Reviews @grimoireinkreviews.bsky.social · 24/04/2026
Austringer's Wrath by @lyonspen.bsky.social "...this reader was once again seduced by the brilliance of the author and her creativity!" Read Jeremy's full review here! grimoireinkreviews.wordpress.com/2026/04/24/a...
grimoireinkreviews.wordpress.com
Austringer’s Wrath by E.L Lyons
Reviewed by Jeremy Schwab ★★★★½ “Austringers Wrath”, book 2 in the “Gifts of the Auldtree” series by the talented and creative mind of E.L. Lyons has made its way to the surface, from the depths of…
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E.L. Lyons, Epic Fantasy Author @lyonspen.bsky.social · 14/04/2026
If anyone hates AI and has free time, my art discord has a few tasks that need doing that I’m behind on: - looking at the case files and adding names to the tldr AI author list - labeling tldr names with the proper emojis based on the manner of AI use (cover, writing, etc.) shown in receipts 🧵
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Hel ✨ || Untwined is out now!! 🌀🪷 @helynalc.bsky.social · 05/04/2026
Have you heard about my 1st book?👀 🚀🤖 A hopeful, swashbuckling space opera with the honest, colorful camp of Star Wars & the drama and found family of Firefly and Wayfarers. #BookSky 1. loner smuggler captain rescues grieving queen 2. alien apocalypse tech breaks containment 3. ✨shenanigans✨ ensue
A photo of Helyna, a white woman in her 30s with blondish hair and glasses, holding her book, Skylark in the Fog, up.A "trope map" type of graphic with the mockup of Skylark in the Fog in the middle. The book's cover depicts a bright blue, turbulent rift in space in the shape of a bird taking flight on a starry background. A small, cylindrical spaceship is zooming out of the "eye" of the bird, leaving two streaks of light behind it. The main colors are light blue and purple. The author name and title are written on the cover with big white blocky letters.

The "tropes" around point with arrows at the book.
- a prickly space pirate with commitment issues
- a runaway queen with AI powers
- a half-brainwashed soldier trying to find himself
- wormhole machine shenanigans
- cute robots & alien BFFs
- shady galactic empire vs rebels
- the cycle of hate and war, the meaning of home
- humanity sucks
- humanity rules
- Star Wars and Firefly vibes with awesome women and strong platonic bonds
- a swashbuckling adventure, now with extra trauma! (and perhaps healing)
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E.L. Lyons, Epic Fantasy Author @lyonspen.bsky.social · 05/04/2026
No one is trying to take y’all’s serial commas. Please chill.
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Joel Flanagan-Grannemann @servantand.bsky.social · 05/04/2026
From Queen of Thorns. This scene was sort of inspired by my little cousin who would make chainsaw noises at the dinner table. I don't drink coffee, but we do have mugs that we collect and display. But my knee is aching so I can't go and find one right now.
“Would you stop that!” Spear cried, her frustration finally bursting free. Alexander stared at her for a breath, then resumed beating alternately on the table, his bowl, and his chair with his spoon. They had done their best to ignore it. Urged by Lily’s sharp glare, they had all eaten while Alexander beat on the table. “He only wants attention,” Lily had explained, eating her porridge calmly. “Ignore him.” Spear did her best, truly she did. She’d focused on Aurora, feeding her porridge watered down with Mother’s Milk. After each bite, she’d wiped her daughter’s mouth with a cloth. Then she’d wave another spoonful, flying it into a laughing Aurora’s mouth. But her eyes kept darting toward Alexander, who beat louder whenever she looked at him. Canin had tried to distract the boy, offering drops of their precious honey or pieces of fruit if he would just eat. Alexander had ignored him, letting his breakfast go cold in silence, except for the drumming. Lily had appeared to remain calm. The only evidence of her tension was her white knuckles gripping her mug. Finally, Aurora, picking up on Spear’s anger, had begun to fuss, and knocked a spoon full of porridge back at her mother.
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E.L. Lyons, Epic Fantasy Author @lyonspen.bsky.social · 05/04/2026
Zero authors have been mobbed or canceled for using em-dashes or serial commas Zero I am begging the book community to stop falling for slopaganda meant to make it sound like witch hunting is some huge issue
media.tenor.com
a man in a suit and tie says it 's not real on a screen
ALT: a man in a suit and tie says it 's not real on a screen
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Premee Mohamed @premeemohamed.com · 01/04/2026
I've seen people trying to defend it today by saying "No, no, I just use it to brainstorm, bounce ideas, I do the actual writing" and with all the kindness in the world I need to tell you: if there is a stage of writing you are not good at, you need to get good, not use the plagiarism machine.
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E.L. Lyons, Epic Fantasy Author @lyonspen.bsky.social · 29/03/2026
Just a reminder that I have an art discord 🧍‍♀️ -public AI-using author list with receipts -non-AI artist and author list -free ebook covers -diy cover tutorials -AI in the news -in defense of things accused of AI -other shenanigans discord.gg/9wvaXFnH
discord.gg
Join the LyonsArt Discord Server!
Check out the LyonsArt community on Discord - hang out with 49 other members and enjoy free voice and text chat.
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E.L. Lyons, Epic Fantasy Author @lyonspen.bsky.social · 28/03/2026
If you would like to see my latest how-to cover video, it’s over on my twitter, IG and tiktok. I turned this photo into this cover, pretty much exclusively with the smudge tool and my finger in procreate pocket, plus a sepia filter in adobe express.
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Matt Falcon @mattfalcon.com · 28/03/2026
Here’s a hardback and a couple of paperbacks. There’s emotion magic, dragons, magic drugs, a dystopian-type world, more creatures, family issues, friendship, loss… I could go on, but don’t you already want to read this??
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Matt Falcon @mattfalcon.com · 27/03/2026
What’s the best way to tell people I have a book they can get on amazon, itch, kobo or mattfalcon.com?
mattfalcon.com
Matt Falcon - Fantasy Author
Matt Falcon is a Dutch fantasy author, writing in English. His debut novel released in December 2025 and he's currently working on book 2!
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Grimoire Ink Reviews @grimoireinkreviews.bsky.social · 25/03/2026
Starlight Jewel by @lyonspen.bsky.social "E.L. you may as well efface me now, because I don’t think I could enjoy anything more in this world of yours, than what I just read..." Check out the full review from Jeremy grimoireinkreviews.wordpress.com/2026/03/25/s...
grimoireinkreviews.wordpress.com
Starlight Jewel by E.L. Lyons
Reviewed by Jeremy Schwab ★★★★½ “Starlight Jewel” book 1 in E.L. Lyons ‘Gifts of the Auldtree’…let’s call this book what it really is, absolute elegance in written form! From the cover,…
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Grimoire Ink Reviews @grimoireinkreviews.bsky.social · 09/03/2026
Your Blood and Bones by @jpatriciaanderson.bsky.social "This reads like a dark—perhaps a little grotesque—fairytale. Gauzy prose on a delicate frame." Read @lyonspen.bsky.social's full review here! grimoireinkreviews.wordpress.com/2026/03/09/y...
grimoireinkreviews.wordpress.com
Your Blood and Bones by J. Patricia Anderson
Reviewed by E.L. Lyons I’ve been too overwhelmed by my to-do list to read much of anything lately, and this ended up being the perfect little bite of something that I needed. I think it qualifies a…
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HL Tinsley @hollytinsl3y.bsky.social · 22/02/2026
Credit has to go to @lyonspen.bsky.social for being the first person I've ever interviewed in arctic conditions 🥶check out this awesome panel with @stevepannett.com @skbalstrup.bsky.social and @authoriseult.bsky.social
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Grimoire Ink Reviews @grimoireinkreviews.bsky.social · 05/11/2025
Austringer's Wrath by @lyonspen.bsky.social "Some of the characters are just so damaged, that all I wanted to do was hug them, and give them a home where they can feel they belong." Read Lesley's full review grimoireinkreviews.wordpress.com/2025/11/05/a...
grimoireinkreviews.wordpress.com
Austringer’s Wrath by E.L. Lyons
Reviewed by Lesley Bennett-Chaney ★★★★★ I read this as an ARC, and wow…it is a stunner!!  I was so ready for this follow up to Starlight Jewel, and to see where Axly and co. would go. We…
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Author C B Lansdell @cblansdell.bsky.social · 06/11/2025
#FantasyIndiesNovember Day 5: Last, current and next reads Last: Austringer's Wrath – @lyonspen.bsky.social Current: Serpentus – @ajcalvin.bsky.social Next: Unlucky Evans, Cursed Odds – @williamjadams3.bsky.social and I really want to get to Daughters of Tith by @jpatriciaanderson.bsky.social
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J. Patricia Anderson @jpatriciaanderson.bsky.social · 24/10/2024
Introduction thread! 🥰🍁🌳 Hello, I am an indie fantasy author with one chonky, very different high/epic fantasy series starter (will be 5 books when done) 🌳✨ and one standalone dark fantasy with horror elements novella 🩸🐦‍⬛☠️ published so far 😎 1/X
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Natalie Kelda @nataliekelda.bsky.social · 04/10/2025
Proof copy arrived and it's looking gorgeous 🤩 10 days until I have a finished trilogy out in the world! If you need a dark spacey fantasy series with slow burn romance and mental health rep, give it a go! 📚 💙
Hand holding paperback book which has a green cover with a dark forest on a spacey sky. A glowing blue bird soars above and the title is in gold lettering across the bottom: Verselva Blues.
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Grimoire Ink Reviews @grimoireinkreviews.bsky.social · 22/09/2025
Austringer's Wrath by @lyonspen.bsky.social "The gritty, painful ordeals that Axly endures over the course of this book are enough to cause a lot of angst." Read Vivian's full review here grimoireinkreviews.wordpress.com/2025/09/22/a...
grimoireinkreviews.wordpress.com
Austringer’s Wrath by E.L. Lyons
Reviewed by Vivian Cicero ★★★★★ Stepping back into this realm was just what I needed. If by that, I meant that I was in want of suffering, angst, bittersweet tragic MC’s, and their star-crossed pat…
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Author C B Lansdell @cblansdell.bsky.social · 08/09/2025
Some special deliveries arrived earlier than expected. I thought I'd do a spring photoshoot. @nataliekelda.bsky.social and @lyonspen.bsky.social
Reflections of Lilje Damselfly among yellow and black flowers.Austringer's Wrath among crane flowers and lavender.
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nonmoochingartist.bsky.social @nonmoochingartist.bsky.social · 29/08/2025
Book mail today!! And you honor me @lyonspen.bsky.social!!🎉🥳💜
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Bearded Book Beast @beardedbookbeast.bsky.social · 02/09/2025
What's up, Beasties!? Join me LIVE tonight at 7pm EST for Beast Friends Forever! My guest will be the creative, talented, and hilarious author E.L. Lyons ( @lyonspen.bsky.social )! It is going to be so much fun, see you there! #booksky #live #interview #podcast www.youtube.com/live/g8nHaE_...
youtube.com
Live Chat with Author E.L. Lyons (Beast Friends Forever #82)
YouTube video by The Bearded Book Beast
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Anthony Ryan @anthonyryan.bsky.social · 26/08/2025
“Cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war.” Born of an Iron Storm -Age of Wrath Book 2 - is now available. #BookSky anthonyryan.net/2025/08/26/b...
anthonyryan.net
Discover 'Born of an Iron Storm': Epic Norse Fantasy
Dive into 'Born of an Iron Storm', the thrilling second book of 'The Age of Wrath' trilogy, filled with intrigue and epic battles.
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Grimoire Ink Reviews @grimoireinkreviews.bsky.social · 15/08/2025
Austringer's Wrath by @lyonspen.bsky.social "It’s a world that does not feel crafted at all. It feels like EL Lyons was peeking at it and simply translating what she saw into the pages." Read @andresstein.bsky.social's full review grimoireinkreviews.wordpress.com/2025/08/15/a...
grimoireinkreviews.wordpress.com
Austringers Wrath by E.L. Lyons
Reviewed by Andrés da Silveira Stein ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I told EL late last night as I was finishing the book, it’ll be a nightmare to review it. And I stand 100% behind this statement 🤣. (Kind of) J…
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Spotlight Indie @spotlightindie.bsky.social · 06/08/2025
#IndieAuthorSummer day 37: Ready to discover a new author? Check out @lyonspen.bsky.social author of Starlight Jewel at t.co/egeugEhgxc. Already read the author's work and loved it? Consider sharing this post to help boost their books. #IndieAuthors #WritingCommunity #IndieBooks
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E.L. Lyons, Epic Fantasy Author @lyonspen.bsky.social · 26/07/2025
Austringer’s Wrath, first book of its name, sequel to Starlight Jewel, second book in the Gifts of the Auldtree trilogy - ARCs available (link below) - Cover reveal on July 30th with @sffinsiders.com - Releases August 26th ARC link: dl.bookfunnel.com/jnkovm9015
dl.bookfunnel.com
Looming war, fading boundaries, and outstanding debts
Graphic violence, death of dog-like creatures (basilisks and wardogs) who are kind of like bad dogs—no worries though, Cleatus will not die Minalav is in pieces, needs are high but trust is low. After...
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jay kang romanus @jelliclejay.bsky.social · 27/06/2025
publication day! my story "desert silver blue" (a western inspired by the folk song, but with a fungal twist) and 28 others are out today in @gravesidepress.bsky.social's cosmic horror anthology KOSMOS OBSCURA. links below ⬇️
an angel-like being with six wings, four arms, no face, and a halo made of the moon rises in front of a small human figure, with the words "Kosmos Obscura: A Cosmic Horror Anthology" printed on the image
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E.L. Lyons, Epic Fantasy Author @lyonspen.bsky.social · 19/06/2025
Please give this a read 🙏 lyonspen.substack.com/p/war-on-tic...
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Grimoire Ink Reviews @grimoireinkreviews.bsky.social · 26/05/2025
Starlight Jewel by @lyonspen.bsky.social "This book is a lot more than what it seems, but above it all, this is a book about love and self-discovery." Read @andresstein.bsky.social full review grimoireinkreviews.wordpress.com/2025/05/26/s...
grimoireinkreviews.wordpress.com
Starlight Jewel by E.L. Lyons
Reviewed by Andrés da Silveira Stein ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A precious jewel foundThis book is a lot more than what it seems, but above it all, this is a book about love and self-discovery.It’s a book wi…
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Adam Bassett @adamcbassett.com · 08/05/2025
One interesting thing about publishing an audiobook: each retailer seems to publish it just kind of whenever they feel like it. The rollout has been slower than I hoped but we're making progress. On the bright side, it's available on Spotify, where you can listen for free with Premium! 💙📚
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Adam Bassett @adamcbassett.com · 10/05/2025
DIGITAL EXTREMITIES is available for pre-order on @libro.fm! My sci-fi/slice of life short story collection will be out May 19th. 🔗 libro.fm/audiobooks/9...
libro.fm
Digital Extremities Audiobook on Libro.fm
A collection of eight stories, Digital Extremities shines a spotlight on ordinary people in a callous yet hopeful future. Set across small towns and remote islands, where neon flickers against old bui...
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J. Neira - cozy horror author & slush reader @jneiraauthor.bsky.social · 09/04/2025
#HorrorWritersChat Q1 Hi! I'm J. Neira, cozy horror author & a self-righteous hicklib. I slush read for Graveside Press! I write a scene where a parasitic ball of blood living inside a college student attempts to influence the student to kiss a corpse - to unite with the living blood in the corpse.
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E.L. Lyons, Epic Fantasy Author @lyonspen.bsky.social · 08/05/2025
I’ve made a discord server that’s exclusively for sharing social media/blog posts related to books 📖 no chatting, just keeping up with books and helping fellow readers and authors share their content when the algo doesn’t shine on them 💖 discord.gg/JvVrpSDq
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E.L. Lyons, Epic Fantasy Author @lyonspen.bsky.social · 14/04/2025
This morning for the art forum, I recreated the upcoming Sando cover with 2 free phone apps 🎉 No AI used. About 25 minutes. I did need a chip clip to pin my hair in the photo. To procrastinate more, I made a similar one with different colors angles. For details join the discord ⬇️
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E.L. Lyons, Epic Fantasy Author @lyonspen.bsky.social · 13/04/2025
Today’s experiment for the create-your-own-cover channel on the art discord: Making a photo look like an illustration Also turning yourself into an elf… Do I write or read about elves? No. I am elfed out. But there will always be room in my heart for Lord of the Rings. Time: 30 minutes 🧵
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Author C B Lansdell @cblansdell.bsky.social · 11/04/2025
Not yet finished with the replay, but I'm having fun unpacking grammar. And @lyonspen.bsky.social gave me a catchy new review to use in marketing: "Beautiful, dark prose. Horrible, horrible story" 🙌 www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGil...
Screenshot of interview with Tim McKay, Isaac Anderson and E. L. Lyons.
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E.L. Lyons, Epic Fantasy Author @lyonspen.bsky.social · 07/04/2025
Interior art reveal for Austringer’s Wrath by the amazing @charlottehusseyart.bsky.social open.substack.com/pub/lyonspen...
open.substack.com
Interior Art Reveal
An Ode to Baj
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E.L. Lyons, Epic Fantasy Author @lyonspen.bsky.social · 07/04/2025
I completed my SPFNO project (reading all the first chapters of the books that were not randomly selected for SPFBO) and here are my thoughts on each one (passes were anonymous), which ones I recommended, and which ones I added to my TBR: lyonspen.substack.com/p/spfno-comp...
lyonspen.substack.com
SPFNO Complete
The Full List of SPFNO Reads
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HMH Murray @nillcord.bsky.social · 24/10/2024
Navvy Dreams: A Space Opera (Tales From a Stinking, Star-Crossed Milky Way Book 1) a.co/d/0j1jJvQa TAKE A JOB. FALL IN LOVE. TRY NOT TO BLOW UP SUNS.
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E.L. Lyons, Epic Fantasy Author @lyonspen.bsky.social · 15/03/2025
Me: *having my 3rd small meltdown of the day, this time cause I broke my favorite kitchen shears* My boss: dude you need to calm down. I can’t handle you today. Me: I can’t handle me today either, that’s the whole reason I can’t calm down 😂
media.tenor.com
a stuffed white cat is sitting on a box with its hands outstretched .
ALT: a stuffed white cat is sitting on a box with its hands outstretched .
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E.L. Lyons, Epic Fantasy Author @lyonspen.bsky.social · 14/03/2025
I was looking through my photos for something else and found this. I feel like I have a talent. Idk what use it is or how to apply it properly to marketing, but it’s something 😅 I feel like I should be trying to sell this concept to an exterminator lol “A long time ago, from a country far🧵
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