iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Mackenzie @mackenziewrites.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

I love having preorders show up but I also don’t like how it throws my reading list into chaos because I never remember they’re coming but oh yay! New book! 🤩

A hand holding a hardcover copy of Daggerbound by T. Kingfisher

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Mackenzie @mackenziewrites.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

Lowkey one of the funniest, coziest, most enjoyable surprises of the year. Is the man the main character? Or is the chicken? Great for those who loved Legends and Lattes! Or who want the level-up mechanics of DCC but w/ low stakes and good vibes #booksky

A hand holding a paperback copy of Beware of Chicken by Casualfarmer, art by Tsuu

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Mackenzie @mackenziewrites.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Low stakes hot take: the best reading I do is procrastinating some other reading (my library book is due back in two days). Perfect time to pick up Ornamental Women, first novel by a cohost of @badbooksbadppl.bsky.social who should be so proud of that cover #booksky

A hand holding a paperback copy of Ornamental Women by Jack Shear

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Mackenzie @mackenziewrites.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

Literally six years after starting to watch keyboard sound tests (a soothing Covid-era activity for me) I got my first mechanical keyboard to write my books with! #writing #clickyclack

A 75% size mechanical keyboard with rainbow light flashing behind the keys

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Mackenzie @mackenziewrites.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

I started this one but think I’m going to back up and read the first two so I can really revel in the leviathan vibes. I read the first two multiple times last year! #booksky

A hand holding a hardcover copy of A Trade of Blood by Robert Jackson Bennett

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Mackenzie @mackenziewrites.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

Funny how a Murderbot can become comfort reading. Interesting to watch how Wells starts to insert evidence of its emotional healing through this book #booksky

A hand holding a hardcover of Platform Decay by Martha Wells

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Mackenzie @mackenziewrites.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

I read this. Then the author’s note. Now I want to know: what’s a cozy, anyway? All the stakes in this book are emotional, about friendship and purpose. Sure, swords too, and some battle. And it’s not predictable. But to me it’s still cozy rather than high fantasy. #booksky

A hand holding a paperback copy of “Brigands and Breadknives” by Travis Baldree

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Mackenzie @mackenziewrites.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

Other appeal factors include: j’accuse scene, amateur detective, fast pacing, wry tone, closed circle puzzle mystery #booksky 3/2

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Mackenzie @mackenziewrites.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

By academic writing, I mean that the whole thing is awash with references to classic literature and old mystery authors. It feels like the author NEEDS to show off how well versed they are in the OGs. #booksky 2/2

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Mackenzie @mackenziewrites.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

Finishing up this mystery novel and here’s who I think would love it: people who love Christie, puzzle mysteries, and academic writing. That last takes some explaining. #booksky 1/2

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Mackenzie @mackenziewrites.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

Picked this series up after listening to All About Agatha (a chronological examination of Christie’s books). Book one: what if a ghostwriter helped Hillary Clinton solve a murder? Book two: what if ghostwriter is now trapped on a cruise ship where murders happen? #booksky #librarylife

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Mackenzie @mackenziewrites.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

My hold came in at the library, and when I stopped by I had to browse the bookshop. (My library puts weeded books and donations out for sale) I snagged this one for $2! Dimaline is on my list of “I want to read everything you’ve ever written” authors #librarylife #booksky

Cover of “empire of wild” by Cherie dimaline. Cover art is tall tree trunks crowded close together with starry sky behind.

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Mackenzie @mackenziewrites.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

On loan from a friend. Perhaps the perfect palate cleanser from Dungeon Crawler Carl? I know nothing except the author also wrote Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries #booksky

Cover of “Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter” by Heather Fawcett.

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Mackenzie @mackenziewrites.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

I remain flabbergasted that this series isn’t taking the romantasy world by storm. Or the cozy fantasy world. Appeal factors include: yearning; light-hearted prose; protagonists who are midlife; mundane jobs in fantastical worlds; a berserker paladin who knits socks for his bros; cleric = lawyer

Paladin’s Grace book cover. Black background with purple and green swirls which hide little mice and potion bottles. A sword floats in the center.

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Mackenzie @mackenziewrites.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

Appeal factors include hot-shot pilots, mysteriously powerful unnamed people pulling strings, and alien relics. #booksky 2/2

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Mackenzie @mackenziewrites.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

About 25% through and so far I would pitch this book to you as, “first contact with alien artifacts told through interviews.” The format makes it kind of slow-paced though the plot line is a thriller. I think the doorway is plotline, maaaaybe setting as a secondary. #booksky

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Mackenzie @mackenziewrites.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

Being intentional and reflective about my work is sometimes so annoying 😂

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Mackenzie @mackenziewrites.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

After a truly stressful day, at least I can say I’m not in the dungeon. Yet.

Cover of Parade of Horribles by Matt Dinniman. Depicts Carl riding on the roof of a fast food truck driven by Princess Donut.

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Mackenzie @mackenziewrites.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

I’m not just a mom (sneaking protein and fiber into my children’s diet by way of delicious smoothies) I’m a fun mom (once in a blue moon I put whipped cream on top)

Photo of a tropical fruit smoothie with whipped cream on top

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Mackenzie @mackenziewrites.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

I haven’t seen anyone in my circles talk about this book so let me pitch you! Sapphic, Lovecraftian, the real horror is Wall Street and the patriarchy. This prose is dense, visual and full of $10 words (Mieville but no grapeyness)

Book cover of The Dead Take the A Train. Black background with the main image a Statue of Liberty bisected by a screaming head whose mouth is full of tentacles and rows of tiny needle-like teeth.

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Mackenzie @mackenziewrites.bsky.social · 30/06/2025

Writing desk reminders: because it is fun, I worry that it doesn’t matter. Write anyway. #writingreminders #firstdraft #amwriting #writersofbluesky

An index card rests on a sketchbook. The sketchbook has a sticker that depicts an upset goose and says “all of my systems are nervous.” The index card says: writing desk reminders. Because it is fun, I worry that it doesn’t matter. Write anyway.

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Mackenzie @mackenziewrites.bsky.social · 26/06/2025

Writing Desk Reminders: bad art still matters. It makes the world better because EVERYONE should be allowed to embrace their creativity. Also, it’s just a first draft. #amwriting #writersofbluesky #writing

A post-it note that says Writing Desk Reminders: bad art still matters. It makes the world better because EVERYONE should be allowed to embrace their creativity. Also, it’s just a first draft.

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Mackenzie @mackenziewrites.bsky.social · 25/06/2025

Sometimes I need someone to be my hope keeper. This podcast ep helped today! #creativepeptalk #amwriting #writersofbluesky

Screenshot of podcast called Creative Pep Talk. This episode is called A Message for the Sensitive Creatives who are Struggling Right Now.

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Mackenzie @mackenziewrites.bsky.social · 02/02/2025

Sick. Read a lot in January, though.

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Mackenzie @mackenziewrites.bsky.social · 07/01/2025

This is probably the closest I’m ever going to get to a flock of birds. Immediately tempted to put a close bird encounter into my book. #amwriting #booksky

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Mackenzie @mackenziewrites.bsky.social · 22/12/2024

Our own Christmas miracle. Actual snow that stuck to the actual ground. Brisk air woke me enough to get 1,000 words down!

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Mackenzie @mackenziewrites.bsky.social · 16/12/2024

Robust creativity is a process - I’ll die on that hill. Still, this book is annoying me by the sheer privilege of the artists included. Only one so far has to have a day job and raise kids. Also way too many are morning people 😅 #booksky #amreading

Photo of a book cover. “Daily Rituals: how artists work,” by Mason Currey

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Mackenzie @mackenziewrites.bsky.social · 15/12/2024

Just finished this one - a fast, engaging book. Killer premise. A little too quick. Great for a weekend full of other social plans, though, when I won’t get any writing done anyway. #booksky #amreading

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Mackenzie @mackenziewrites.bsky.social · 12/12/2024

Too stressed out lately to do much writing, so am reading instead. This riveting piece of journalism makes me wonder: where’s the actual line between “non-murder-y true crime” and just “history book”? #booksky #amreading

A book cover of “the woman who fooled the world: Belle Gibson’s cancer con and the darkness at the heart of the wellness industry.”

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Mackenzie @mackenziewrites.bsky.social · 10/12/2024

“Our ego plays this little trick to keep us from getting started. Instead of allowing ourselves a creative journey, we focus on the length of the trip. “It’s such a long way,” we tell ourselves. It may be, but each day is just one more day with some motion in it” - The Artist’s Way p 139

As blocked creatives, we like to pretend that a year or even several years is a long, long time. Our ego plays this little trick to keep us from getting started. Instead of allowing ourselves a creative journey, we focus on the length of the trip. “It’s such a long way,” we tell ourselves. It may be, but each day is just one more day with some motion in it, and that motion toward a goal is very enjoyable.

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Mackenzie @mackenziewrites.bsky.social · 09/12/2024

My 2025 reading goals are to use tags smarter. I want to see which sources I use to get my books and which year I bought them in. Jazzed and terrified about this project 😂 #reading #booksky

A pie chart: Barnes and noble 8%, library 35%, kazoo books 8%, thriftbooks 13%, podcast 35%

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Mackenzie @mackenziewrites.bsky.social · 06/12/2024

I’m glad I waited almost five years before reading this book. It transports me back to the early months of 2020. The fear, the uncertainty, the surprising way we all made things and cared for one another. The murder of George Floyd. I do recommend the book, though. 10/10. #reading #booksky

A book cover. “Together in a Sudden Strangeness: America’s poets respond to the pandemic,” edited by Alice Quinn

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Mackenzie @mackenziewrites.bsky.social · 04/12/2024

I’m practically an evangelist for StoryGraph. It’s not owned by Amazon! It gives you pretty graphics! Plan challenges, write reviews! It’s so good it fools me into reading 100+ books a year! #reading #storygraph

In November, Mackenzie read 20 books, 5,942 pages. Highest rated books Redshirts, The Art of Slow Writing, The Wild Robot Escapes. Average time to finish a book, 8 days.

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Mackenzie @mackenziewrites.bsky.social · 25/11/2024

Working finishing this during my Thanksgiving break. SUCH a wonderful affirmation of the complexity and depth that we can add to our writing by going slowly. I need that reminder often! #writingcommunity #amwriting

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Mackenzie @mackenziewrites.bsky.social · 22/11/2024

Happy November 22! Wish I could cozy up and work on my book today, but alas, I have to work.

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Mackenzie @mackenziewrites.bsky.social · 20/11/2024

This might be TOO much writing juice 😳 (I meant to order a small, lol) #amwriting #writingcommunity

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Mackenzie @mackenziewrites.bsky.social · 15/11/2024

Dear Writing Friend, Although I love creating fun holidays for the kids, it sucks up an awful lot of my creativity. Do you manage to keeping writing in the holidays? And how?

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Mackenzie @mackenziewrites.bsky.social · 14/11/2024

Deer Writing Friend, I reviewed 6 chapters of my draft in one day! Is there a word for not-editing, but making a review so I know what to edit? (Deer/dear— pun too dumb to live??)

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Mackenzie @mackenziewrites.bsky.social · 12/11/2024

Dear Writing Friend, The birds and I grabbed the last few rays of light today. I thought of them like fish, darting overhead, the blue band in the sky like the waterline. I took a whole day off to work on reviewing my book. Frabjous day! #amwriting #writingcommunity

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Mackenzie @mackenziewrites.bsky.social · 11/11/2024

Dear Writing Friend, I think the sun will come back out, on our world and on our writing work. I’m going to do the smallest thing towards nourishing my creativity and see how it goes. You? Tell me more. #amwriting #writingcommunity

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Mackenzie @mackenziewrites.bsky.social · 10/11/2024

On a silly mental health walk at the end of the world, I felt happy. Only 17 more chapters to review before I know how to tackle my structural edit. #writingcommunity #amwriting

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Mackenzie @mackenziewrites.bsky.social · 07/11/2024

Sometimes the end of the world is really beautiful. I made it through editing one more chapter of my draft. #amwriting

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Mackenzie @mackenziewrites.bsky.social · 03/11/2024

This meadow used to be a pond, before another year of drought.

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