iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

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B. Engstrand @beesmahclouds.bsky.social · 05/11/2025

#questpit is on bluesky too?!?😱 Her life for a dream—that's the forgotten bargain Isla made with the god of sleep. 🩸Dracula, but immoral gods 💀Find you in every lifetime 🫀Dealing w/ Trauma & Abuse via Body Horror 🩶You came, you called 🥀Contemp, Gothic Fantasy & Historical themes #Q #A #LF #R #H

Title image: An Agent’s Guide to Where Heaven’s Teeth Grow; a horror-romantic literary fiction complete at 74,000 words.

The pitch:
Her life for a dream.
That's the forgotten bargain Isla made with the god of sleep.

Haunted by an enamoring, cruel god and the gruesome nightmares of her past, Isla must sacrifice her life to save her friends from a mysterious viral plague, all while ensnared into more bargains to sustain the god's vitality.

Snippet of the opening chapter:
PART ONE: BONE OF MY BONES
CHAPTER ONE

We spend our lives protecting our bodies from the rot we chase in death. But there is peace in decay. It marks the quiet end to a life that’d finally perfected the art of letting go.
Death comes for us all. It’s life we should fear.
“Get in your room, Isla.”
My wrist burned where my uncle squeezed, nausea clawing up my throat. He grasped my fist and held it in front of his face, my bones aching from the pressure.
He towered over me, his eyes glazed over.

Comps & Vibes—cover photos of Ethel Caine album, Rhapsodic, Dracula, The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, and Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit.
Quote: “His voice was a candlelit dinner, a raw slab of still-bleeding meat awaiting to both kill and satisfy.”

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Bee 🐝 has a BOOK DEAL! @beemorris.bsky.social · 05/11/2025

My #AgentsGuide for ✨ALICE & THE AFTERLIFE✨ #QuestPit #Q #PR Reluctant medium Alice accidentally lands a job cleaning haunted houses & exorcising spirits... 🏡 cleaning haunted houses 🌊 ghosts by the coast 🎭 dark humour 🔪 serial killer plot 🧠 autistic herione 🌈 queer & trans rep

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Natalie is ✨ writing a new thing✨ @natalielouise83.bsky.social · 05/11/2025

When a freak storm wrecks his island’s passenger steamer, sparing only a strange girl believed to be one of the monstrous Finfolk, a grieving musician must uncover who she really is before more of his people die. #questpit #A #His #M #H #Q

Image of a girl floating beneath the ocean, blowing bubbles towards the surface. A seaweed motif sits behind bright green text that reads, ‘The Ballad of Agnes Day’.

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Catherine Munro @catherinemmunro.bsky.social · 05/11/2025

⭐️⭐️⭐️BOOK GIVEAWAY⭐️⭐️⭐️ To celebrate the return of #Shetland detective series I am giving away 2 signed copies of Ponies at the Edge of the World with 2 wish bottles with Shetland shells or seaglass. To enter just like, share and comment on this post

Image shows hands with blue nail Polish holding a copy of Ponies at the Edge of the World

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Max Gruff @maximilliangruff.bsky.social · 05/11/2025

Oh thank you! It’s part of a pair.

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Sally Bromley @sallybromley.bsky.social · 05/11/2025

Presenting my #agentsguide for 'Beauty is a Brittle Glass' BLUE SISTERS X THE PUSH X THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY. 🪞 Adult 82k 🪞 Dual POV 🪞 Speculative Elements 🪞 Beauty & Fashion 🪞 LGBTQ 🪞 Friends to Lovers 🪞 Disability Rep #questpit #A #Q

Green background. Images of a woman's face in a gold picture frame. Splashes of gold.

A woman with long dark hair turning sideways, hair blowing in the wind, eyes closed. Splashes of gold paint. A gold handprint.

Background is the close up of a woman's face, splashed with gold paint. Three bookcovers. Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors, a young woman's sad face, The Push by Ashley Audrain and The Picture of Dorian Gray and a young handsome man with a partially diseased face.

Green background splashed with gold paint. Images of a model on a Catwalk, a woman having injections in her face, a group of spooky trees, a photographer and an evil hand reaching out for a pale woman's hand.

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Max Gruff @maximilliangruff.bsky.social · 05/11/2025

In We Cut Tongues For Ourselves the pastoral horror of Starve Acre meets the historic sweep of Outlander. If you were torn away from your home, your way of life and your language could you do the same to somebody else? #questpit #LF #OS #Q #H

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Dua Ceren @duaceren.bsky.social · 05/11/2025

On an island quietly haunted by ghosts of grieving women, a depressed chocolatier teams up with five strangers—with scars of their own—to find their killer. Of the six, only five are really alive. Spirited Away x Shutter Island #QuestPit #W #A #F #T #PR

“She makes death taste like chocolate.” Picture of a girl in a white dress in a dark lake with her arm over her chest and white roses over her torso. “Grave of flowers by Dua Ceren Ay”

Grave of Flowers by Dua Ceren Ay Opening Lines: Every sane person knows better than to paint their walls eggshell white, but electric blue? That had to be a crime. Like whoever decided on the color scheme of this place was avoiding the topic altogether; yes, we were all crazy in here, and yes, we all knew they wanted to avoid the clichés.
So, no straitjackets, no padded rooms, no dull hospital gowns, just rooms and rooms and rooms of color until we bored ourselves to sleep or knocked ourselves out from the overstimulation.
We had Kelsie the high schooler folks who had become regulars around here liked to call Iron Fist—to thank for that demonstration.
It was just that the windows didn't open from the bottom, everything had a soft edge or lock, and the nurses had a way of always smiling at us as if we birthed their children. It was the little things that poked me.
So it was even more ridiculous that the early morning hour made the place seem... peaceful.

Comps. A Flicker in The Dark by Stacy Willingham: past repeats itself, small town, investigation. The Midnight Library by Matt Haig: Depressed MC, Magical Realism, Healing and new beginnings. Anxious people by Fredrik Backman: dysfunctional group of friends, social isolation, hope

Tropes: found family, unreliable narrator, treasure hunt/investigation, lost memories, small town. Themes: second coming-of-age, feminism, identity, overcoming trauma, friendship

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𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠 🍃 @charscrawls.bsky.social · 05/11/2025

🎸 daisy jones x knives out 🗡️ the songstress, the high-flyer, the gambler, the sweetheart, the watcher, the matriarch and the rogue. seven suspects. one the killer of renowned rockstar sam corvi. but who? only they can tell you #questpit #Q #A #LF #MY

a moodboard detailing nine images related to my book ALL THE DEVILS aka devilswip. in order from right to left they are: london notably the landmark big ben, a band performing on stage, a sheet of music, a record store, the silhouette of a rockstar, some musical instruments scattered on a bed, two men running, a pile of evidence and finally a hand holding a cigarette

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B. van Bodegom 📃is AGENTED @bvbodegom.bsky.social · 05/11/2025

BLACK MIRROR × SEVERANCE × THE GOOD PLACE Having a happy death is a luxury service for the rich and Wren is the rising top salesman—until a cynical coworker and a depressed billionaire force him to rethink it all in a world where even your last smile has a price tag. #QuestPit #A #S #SF #W

Made from non-AI free stock images.

This image is a book cover design for a novel titled "Happy Death Inc." by B. Van Bodegom. The cover is divided into three distinct horizontal sections:

1. Top Section: Features a cartoonish blue sky with white clouds and a bright sun. At the top, a tagline reads:
"How much would you pay to die with a smile?"
The word "HAPPY" appears in large, playful, hand-drawn-style font, partially overlapping the sky background.

2. Middle Section: A photograph of a deceased man in a suit, lying in a casket. He has an exaggerated smile on his face, almost unnaturally wide and clean, suggesting artificial enhancement or post-mortem alteration. Overlaid on this image is the word "DEATH" in the same large font as the previous word.

3. Bottom Section: A cartoon city skyline in pastel tones, similar in style to the top sky background. The word "INC." is overlaid prominently in the same large font. At the very bottom: A novel by B. van Bodegom

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Demri Redmon @demri18.bsky.social · 05/11/2025

WEYWARD x THE BEWITCHING When two witches in different times find themselves battling the same ancient forest spirit, they must use magic to communicate and find a way to save their covens from destruction. #questpit #Q #A #H #S

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MelonieWithAnO @meloniewithano.bsky.social · 05/11/2025

PJO XTrumanShow Being the gods' pawn isn’t new to 15y/o Mia Miller, an anxious girl w/ music magic. But when a quest to Nashville is derailed by a book where she’s the MC, Mia & BFF must find the author & salvage her quest, before Olympus finds out. #QuestPit #Q #YA #F

Moodboard with alternating images between black and white and vivid color. A greek statue, a raven, a girl crying, a girl with hand lifted, an oracle, a light magic, a face statue, Nashville neon lights at night. Text: Music will be the death of me.

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Natalie is ✨ writing a new thing✨ @natalielouise83.bsky.social · 05/11/2025

When a lonely stained-glass artist is invited to restore a set of windows depicting the haunting story of Tristram and Isolde, he must reassemble the fractured pieces of his memory before his own budding romance ends in tragedy. #questpit #A #G #T #Q

Image of a woman’s face half displayed and cut away to reveal a skull. Floral vines frame the central image. The text reads ‘Woodbine’ with the d and b forming a heart.

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Max Gruff @maximilliangruff.bsky.social · 05/11/2025

In the highlands and in the glens, where the volcanic streams tick with waters yet prime, and the corncrake cries and the air is a Gaelic hymn, where blood was ploughed from a crop of people now peregrine. #questpit #LF #historical #OS #Q

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Max Gruff @maximilliangruff.bsky.social · 12/09/2025

Poem written for my daughter Sylvia who turned one today. #poetry #poem #poet

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Max Gruff @maximilliangruff.bsky.social · 10/09/2025

Oh thanks! Yeah I still really enjoy all the character art/ design stuff when I get a chance. Hope you’re doing well

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Max Gruff @maximilliangruff.bsky.social · 27/08/2025

For Trickster’s Net I emulated the work of Carl Otto Czeschka. The first two are mine, all images were envisioned in pairs as the images of Czeschka’s Die Nibelungen were. These first two were envisioned as the primordial origin of the world. #illustration #design #conceptart #trickstersnet #TTRPG

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Max Gruff @maximilliangruff.bsky.social · 27/08/2025

So tricksters net, the project by @playframe.co.uk and Loco Ludus, was an interesting game design exchange project linking German students with Welsh students to help build and define the world of Tricksters Net, a TTRPG. I was only brought on to make some inspirational touchstone art

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Max Gruff @maximilliangruff.bsky.social · 25/08/2025

For anyone who only knows me as someone querying a novel, there have been times when I’ve worked as a concept artist and illustrator on various projects and I’ll probably be sharing a few of these over the next few days

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Max Gruff @maximilliangruff.bsky.social · 25/08/2025

Artworks done for the Trickster’s Net project by @playframe.co.uk and Loco Ludus #conceptart

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Max Gruff @maximilliangruff.bsky.social · 21/07/2025

It’s not CGI? Also have you heard this grinder man song? m.youtube.com/watch?v=bog2...

m.youtube.com

Grinderman - Star Charmer

YouTube video by DawgTanianTheShitketeer

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Max Gruff @maximilliangruff.bsky.social · 07/07/2025

Hey, was wondering if there will be a status update on these January manuscripts soon?

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L. D. Rex is Querying @ldrexauthor.bsky.social · 07/05/2025

When Elizabeth inherits two portraits from her wild grandmother, and stores them in her mother's attic, a phantom begins haunting her, guiding her closer to the truth--one that lies behind the sanatorium of your worst nightmare in the Canadian woods. #Questpit #A #H #R

media.tenor.com

an aerial view of a snow covered building with a tower on the roof

Alt: an aerial view of a snow covered building with a tower on the roof

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Max Gruff @maximilliangruff.bsky.social · 07/05/2025

Thank you so much! I think the posterpit event did a lot for me figuring out some strong imagery

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elizabeth *is agented* @erichardsonbooks.bsky.social · 07/05/2025

🙏🏻Writer Hannah Chambers was just joking when she became the internet’s most infamous trad wife (or at least that’s what she told herself). But as the bit spirals and her following grows (along with her milkmaid dress collection), keeping the lie alive might cost her everything.🙏🏻 #questpit #a #os

A square moodboard with TRAD in the middle and praying hands. The other squares are idyllic photos of trad wife life, with running children, freshly baked bread, and women in milkmaid dresses.

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Sally Bromley @sallybromley.bsky.social · 07/05/2025

'I, SAID THE SPARROW' In WWI Sussex, when a petty criminal is found gutted like a fish, tales of forbidden love, the infamous Fowler Gang, and two young suffragettes, bleed together staining the River Arun red. #Q #A #HR #MY #QuestPit

Images of Peaky Blinders, a dead fish, a man and woman kissing, two women kissing, a soldier in WWI uniform.
Agent's guide to 'I, Said the Sparrow.'

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Max Gruff @maximilliangruff.bsky.social · 07/05/2025

Got two agent likes on my #questpit for my novel! first ever agent likes via a pitch thing. Thanks everyone for support and sharing and all the kind and supportive comments!

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Sara Duran ✨is AGENTED✨ @saraduran.bsky.social · 07/05/2025

Pirates of the Caribbean—if Jack Sparrow were a vengeful sapphic ghost possessing a sapphic princess Elizabeth Swann, Will Turner went on a gender journey, and the curse could only be broken when two hearts meet the light—through love or bloodshed 🫀🗡️ #QuestPit #YA #F #Q #LGBT

A moodboard showing the pirate (Amir), the princess (Mira), and John.

Amir silhouetted against a cloudy sky with a sword slung over her shoulder and a group of joyful sailors on a pirate ship. She has this quote:

Continue to love
Continue to forgive
Continue to grow

Mira is shown in the reflection of an ornate mirror. She is wearing long white gloves and a pink ballgown with her hair in a natural updo and the lesbian pride flag is subtly depicted over her photo. There is another photo of two girls kissing in the surf at sunset. Mira has this quote:

We looked at each other a little too long to be “just friends”

John is shown with his bare back to the viewer, facing the sea with the trans pride flag subtly depicted over his photo. He also has a close up of iridescent mermaid scales and this quote:

Go bravely, go deeply, or do not go

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Max Gruff @maximilliangruff.bsky.social · 07/05/2025

Phantom Thread x The Last Witch of Scotland “ In the highlands and in the glens, where the volcanic streams tick with waters yet prime, and the corncrake cries and the air is a Gaelic hymn, where blood was ploughed from a crop of people now peregrine. ” #questpit #LF #H #Q #OS

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B. van Bodegom 📃is AGENTED @bvbodegom.bsky.social · 07/05/2025

CABIN IN THE WOODS×JOHN DIES AT THE END×KNIVES OUT When their detective friend is murdered during their annual gaming retreat, 5 dads must use their years of #TTRPG experience—and puns—to solve the crime before they're all killed off like NPCs in a badly-written campaign. 🎲🥓 #QuestPit #A #H #MY #W

The image shows a horror-comedy novel cover titled "DAD BODIES." The top of the cover reads "THE GAME JUST TOOK A DAD TURN" with "DAD" in a different color.

The background features a haunted house with multiple towers and illuminated windows against a dark backdrop. At the center is a 20-sided die (D20) used in tabletop role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons, with visible numbers including 1, 7, 13, and 19. The die is surrounded by red blood splatter effects.

At the bottom of the cover are six men with expressions of terror and shock. One man is wearing a white shirt over his head. These men are the dads referenced in the title.

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Max Gruff @maximilliangruff.bsky.social · 07/05/2025

Clear x There Will Be Blood Life on the Isle of Kiloran is hard & Floireans longs for adventure in the wider world. When an outsider arrives she sees a chance to change her fortunes. What follows will change her life and the life of her people forever. #questpit #Q #LF #H #OS

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Max Gruff @maximilliangruff.bsky.social · 07/05/2025

#questpit #WIP #LF #H Princess Mononoke x 1917 Shortly after Murenger spots a wolf on Dagö island his life changes forever. He is imprisoned. His submarine and crew vanish without a trace. In his search for answers he meets a woman who claims she can transform into a wolf. Then the war finds them.

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Max Gruff @maximilliangruff.bsky.social · 07/05/2025

Thank you! It’s been amazing to write and to research.

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Max Gruff @maximilliangruff.bsky.social · 07/05/2025

Thank you! You can never have enough folklore

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Max Gruff @maximilliangruff.bsky.social · 07/05/2025

Clear x Blood Meridian A colonial odyssey starting in the Scottish Highlands and concluding in Australian Goldfields. #questpit #OS #Q #LF

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Natalie is ✨ writing a new thing✨ @natalielouise83.bsky.social · 07/05/2025

Twenty-five years ago, men made history. But HER story will change everything… 🌊 Multi-POV 🌊 Feminine rage / ‘Good For Her’ 🌊 Horror elements 🌊 Orcadian folklore 🌊 Atmospheric setting 🌊 Twisty plot 🌊 Editor interest #questpit #Q #A #HF #agentsguide

Text: An agent’s guide to The Ballad of Agnes Day, a 112k upmarket historical novel. Image: Two vintage-style mermaids with their tails entwined and a blood spatter across one corner.

The pitch: When a storms wrecks his islands’s passenger steamer, sparing only a girl believed to be one of the monstrous Finfolk, a grieving musician must uncover who she really is before more of his people die. Moodboard: Evil-looking mermaids, a violin, poisonous mushrooms and passenger steamers on stormy seas, with a moody blue-green hue.

Comps: The Sirens by Emilia Hart, Jamaica Inn by Daphne du Maurier, The Square of Sevens by Laura Shepherd-Robinson as book covers

The snippet: ‘Are you seeing this?’ he cried. ‘Do you see them?’
Dazed, Morton peered around him. All he could see was the black oil spill of the water, its steady surge and release. ‘What do you mean?’ he called back, blood thundering in his ears.
Edward’s eyes grew glossy with tears. Then he began to jerk around like a petrified beast, causing the boat to lurch beneath them. ‘They’re everywhere,’ he said in terror and wonderment. ‘They’re coming for me.’

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Max Gruff @maximilliangruff.bsky.social · 06/05/2025

Text from my Egypt WIP. Currently shelved.

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Max Gruff @maximilliangruff.bsky.social · 20/04/2025

Thank you so much! Glad you think so, it’s always nice when people enjoy the vibes of a project.

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