iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Marco Michelutto @marcomiki.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Do you see that little sliver of colour on the fifth star? that's Goodreads new feature, something I am pretty happy about. Every little helps. #BookSky #Goodreads

screenshots of a Goodreads review for my book, the score is 4.25. Review reads as: "This book is a magical journey! The story starts very strong and from the first chapter, I knew this would be a very good book.

Interesting storyline, intriguing characters are the perfect mix and the writing style adds an extra touch to this wonderful book!."

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Marco Michelutto @marcomiki.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Kobo rankings for New Zealand, who would have known that my first number 1 would be there, and for Science Fiction? (my book is not science fiction, but I'll take it) #BookSky

screenshot of kobo rankings for my novel. it says number 1 for Science Fiction&Fantasy: Science Fiction, number 7 for Science Fiction & fantasy: Fantasy and number 29 in Fiction & Literature.

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Reposted by Marco Michelutto

David Green @davidgreenwriter.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

Special sale just in time for Fantasycon and the @britfantasysoc.bsky.social awards :) Get your free book and maybe check out the (discounted) sequel too! Shares greatly appreciated! mybook.to/magicmapsand...

fantasycon special sale
oct 6th till Oct 10th
Magic Maps and Mischief is Free
Charms Charts and Conspiracies is 2.99

Magic Maps and Mischief
Nominated for Best Fantasy Novel at the British Fantasy Awards and winner of two Indie Ink Awards 2025

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Marco Michelutto @marcomiki.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

A local used books store closed very suddenly and essentially left their inventory in a skip outside. This is what I managed to rescue today, but so much was pretty much inaccessible :( may go back tomorrow to see if others dug some layers out

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Marco Michelutto @marcomiki.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

I do the same but I track word count on my spreadsheet. I am a spreadsheets guy.

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Marco Michelutto @marcomiki.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

If you wanted to get my book in digital format, now is the time #BookSky #IndieAuthor #IndieFantasy

a screenshot from BookBuk showing my book, The Shape of Magic, as a featured deal. The price is 0.99 instead of 3.99 for a limited time.

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Marco Michelutto @marcomiki.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

There is no “right” way to become an author, but I wish to believe that it is possible to prioritise your creative intent and still eventually find an audience. Smaller? In a much longer timeframe? Possibly never profitably? Sure, sure, sure. But you get satisfaction from your art along the way.

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Marco Michelutto @marcomiki.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Ultimately I think the trope approach is valid if someone wants to prioritise finding an audience early, but to me it always seemed like a deal with the devil (and not one that guarantees success either).

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Marco Michelutto @marcomiki.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Finally got Nebula because I wanted to watch the romantasy essay by @lindsayellis.bsky.social and the final question: “if not discovery by trope, then what” hits pretty hard as an indie author that is in fact trying to be discovered and does not intentionally use tropes. Wish I had an answer.

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Marco Michelutto @marcomiki.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Setting aside the eldritch horror that reading minds would be, that's not how writing books work. It's not like we writers have a fully formed world in our mind that we get to live in and from which we take selected stories down for mere mortals to enjoy on paper. At least I don't, am I missing out?

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Marco Michelutto @marcomiki.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Just started Shroud yesterday because I believe in starting with an author's latest work, but Children of Time is in my Kobo already :D

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Marco Michelutto @marcomiki.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

as long as the spaceships are powered by *magic* then it's fantasy. Maybe throw in an elf or two, just to make sure.

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Marco Michelutto @marcomiki.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

October will be a very important month for me, as I will come up to the 2nd anniversary of me starting my book on the 31st. To celebrate the price will be 0.99 everywhere for the month! on amazon and kobo, the promotion is already live :) #BookSky #IndieFantasy #indieauthors books2read.com/u/b59XOk

books2read.com

Available now at your favorite digital store!

The Shape of Magic by Marco Michelutto

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Marco Michelutto @marcomiki.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Teaching your dogs “tricks” is useful, especially if they like being trained and it becomes a bonding moment. The idea that your goal is to have a dog that performs on command and that’s how you get them to “behave” is, imho, absurd and leads to accidents down the road.

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Marco Michelutto @marcomiki.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

This here is the most important thing about dog training: understand your dog’s emotional state and learn how to regulate it. This means learning to “read” your dog, and communicate to the extent that it is possible. Also build up their confidence so they can learn how to self regulate a bit.

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Marco Michelutto @marcomiki.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Even then, it would be much much worse than physical buttons you can feel with your hand without having to look.

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Marco Michelutto @marcomiki.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Even as a tertiary screen it doesn't work, too far from where your main ones are. It's absolute nonsense to the point where it's fun to try and think of uses for it. Maybe as an alternative for function keys on your mouse? If the touch can be turned on and off somehow...

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Marco Michelutto @marcomiki.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

I started working on the second one, but that one is begging to be turned into a novella so we'll see. I do want to start on my second novel soon too, so I may have to put short fiction to the side for a while. Exciting times!

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Marco Michelutto @marcomiki.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

... the story competition. Either I win, or I get to share it with you all even sooner! Either way it's a win, and I really do like that story. It's what the kids these days call Science Fantasy, and part of what one day may be a collection of stories set in a floating city at the edge of space.

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Marco Michelutto @marcomiki.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

I will be at #FantasyCon again this year, and this time I am moderating two panels, participating in another and doing a reading! Signed copies of my book will be available at the BFS table too, while stock lasts! A small thing I am excited about, however, is a short story I submitted for...

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Marco Michelutto @marcomiki.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Talk about your book to people, they won't know your book exists if you don't tell them. Today I was chatting with a friend of my wife I see walking my dog multiple times a week, and she asked me if she could read my book. Turns out, she didn't know I released it two months ago #BookSky #IndieAuthor

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Marco Michelutto @marcomiki.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

my vote is for LOSE and LOOSE. Really grinds my gears.

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Marco Michelutto @marcomiki.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Have you talked about your book yet today?! Drop and give us: Title: The Shape of Magic Genre: Back to (Magic) School Fantasy Word count: 92.000 Funniest moment: I can finally read my books! www.marcomichelutto.com/buy-the-book

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Marco Michelutto @marcomiki.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

This may mean losing some readers, but if you know which audience is the most likely to buy, read and enjoy the book you are selling then you give it the best change to get some legs. Worth losing those few readers. They may still read it if the book gains popularity later.

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Marco Michelutto @marcomiki.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

The way I see it, genre is a shorthand for a number of things people will expect to see in your book, and in a landscape where readers have so many choices in front of them, having that initial way of filtering down to fewer books is the only way they will actually give yours a chance.

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Marco Michelutto @marcomiki.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Where I think the problem arises is when an author or a publisher sees a genre or subgenre gaining popularity and decide to stick a book in it even if it's really not the best fit. It may get more sales, but they are more likely to be mismatched sales, which do nobody any good.

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Marco Michelutto @marcomiki.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

I should clarify that I am not arguing what should or should not be labeled as cozy fantasy, David's books fit well in it. I don't market mine as such because I think its primary audience is not with the readers that actively seek cozy fantasy (though I think they would like it too).

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Marco Michelutto @marcomiki.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

David’s are good examples of cozy fantasy where it’s more about a feeling of “I wish I had these friends” rather than “zero worries, all vibes”. I enjoyed both of Greton’s books in fact. My novel is similar, come to think about it, though I promote it as “having cozy moments” instead of cozy fantasy

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Marco Michelutto @marcomiki.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Power move: forward their own email back to them

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Marco Michelutto @marcomiki.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Reminds of how Kevin sleeps sometimes

a picture of a small dog sleeping on his back and in a funny position

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Marco Michelutto @marcomiki.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Definitely going with someone you know or someone that comes recommended is the way to go. I took a leap of faith on my first cover and it went incredibly well, now I am sticking to that artist for life :D

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Marco Michelutto @marcomiki.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

see how you feel about it tomorrow

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Marco Michelutto @marcomiki.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

That sucks :( it's already so hard to be an indie author, setbacks like this one can really hurt. I hope you find a solution somehow.

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Marco Michelutto @marcomiki.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Took a hot minute to go from like 95 to 100, but here we are! 6 and a half weeks in, 100 confirmed sales for The Shape of Magic, my debut novel. It has magic academia, dangerous conspiracies and wholesome friendships. Check it out here! www.marcomichelutto.com available on #koboplus #BookSky #indie

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Marco Michelutto @marcomiki.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Where is he adding the books?!?!

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Marco Michelutto @marcomiki.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Quite frankly, he would be blown away.

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Marco Michelutto @marcomiki.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Come on don't stop now Shona! only 5 body parts to go!

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Marco Michelutto @marcomiki.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

I just self published my first book and even if I was expecting it, the quiet post release is strange, despite better sales than expected. I know it takes time for people to read a book, have opinions, talk about it etc... but still, you want it to spread its wings and fly. More of a crawl really.

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Marco Michelutto @marcomiki.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

2:39! it was a zippy one :D your posts are reminding me to check CluesBySam every day btw

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Reposted by Marco Michelutto

CL Hellisen @clhellisen.com · 14/09/2026

When you get a good editor, it's like being gently guided by a an experienced mountaineer over a deadly crevasse, and it's such a great feeling, knowing both trust each other When you get a bad one, it's like the mountaineer is saying, 'if you don't do things my way, I'll push you off the cliff.'

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Marco Michelutto @marcomiki.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Very much so, a great editor understands the intent behind the book and helps the author realising it. Also they can be firm on things that are better done one way. I would also add that explaining the why behind an editorial note is very useful, and being willing to have a conversation.

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Marco Michelutto @marcomiki.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

You'd think for people that love writing tens if not hundreds of thousands of words we indie authors would be willing to spare a few to promote our books, and yet...

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Marco Michelutto @marcomiki.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

The Shape of Magic is exactly at 99 sales across all channels, do you want to be the 100th to but it? It’s a book about magic, it ought to be good luck for sure #booksky

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Marco Michelutto @marcomiki.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Such a great book, made me want to check out the rest of her work for sure!

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Marco Michelutto @marcomiki.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Looks really interesting! love to see more fantasy inspired by the early Middle Ages. I am intrigued by historical fantasy in general too, I feel like there is so much potential in taking the richness of that pre-modern era and play with it by making the fantastical, which they believed in, real.

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Marco Michelutto @marcomiki.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Good Luck! I love my local Waterstones, and often fantasise about leaving corporate and joining the team :D

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