iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Hah, another same hat we're wearing then! Our conversation definitely has me staring off into that far distance like it's gonna be YEARS at this pace before I finally get to meet gryphon you and firecat Glenn... Maybe I'll cheat for just that one lol.

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I hope it's okay to talk about all this in our recording of Magic's Pawn today (hopefully I can manage it without tearing up). I'm assuming so after you mentioned "for your podcast" even before I was thinking about using things you've said on the podcast lol, but we'll remove it if I'm wrong <3

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Now I'm even more excited to read your work <3

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I am still learning how to navigate this wide blue sky and my neurodivergence is tripping out over the way feed-chat is formatted especially in responses. Thank you for your patience as I potentially navigate this with an astounding amount of...grace lol

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Okay, just casually heap on some more twinsies labels lol (demi/pan/trans/millennial too). I don't think I should speak for Tel, but I'm the gender-fluid side of nonbinary. All over the map. This comment makes me happy for another reason, being able to infer that I can mention all this lovely info.

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Also love the confirmation Misty is still doing bird rehab and having even more evidence that she's still a kind person. Escaping my own traumas through her stories is certainly part of what inspired me to write my own, even if I never publish. Thank you so much for reaching out with all this <3

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I have seen that bit of advice! Even though I haven't published (or really edited) anything, I have found it to be very true. I'm at least to a place where I really enjoy re-reading the stuff Tel and I have written together. We've been writing/roleplaying together for just over a decade now

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Those are some good, caring first words to hear and I'm glad you've made it at least to your 40s if I pieced together posts right. Hopefully you are in for many more years ahead! Can't even see Glenn's mouth and I can just see the happiness in that picture - I love it!

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Also I need to make my ADHD read the whole post before I reply as I can safely conclude you were the female gryphon love interest and Glenn is the firecat - which one solved. I'm vicariously excited for Glenn that he got to be a firecat and you too for getting to be nicknamed too :D

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As for your friends' comments, I literally laughed out loud. I mean...it's a good point lol. I would assume though if Misty did you like that you might not be so eager to share :D

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OMG I caught this in passing but now that I'm reading it word for word ONE OF YOU GOT TO BE A FIRECAT?! T_T I love that so much! Now I'm triple-excited for Gryphon in Light. Oh so sweet and cute, I love it <3 I actually haven't gotten to meet a firecat yet in memory, but I know I will love them!

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The other part of me is like, you already kind of froze when you realized you made a one degree of separation contact with one of your favourite authors. I might've frozen in stage fright much sooner if I already knew your work too! Never too late *pokes my libraries to get all your books*

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That is absolutely the best use of your last Skan stationary and such a touching story. I know I've seen Eyrie around and I'm of two minds that I hadn't yet picked up a copy. Part of me wishes I wasn't so clueless about your work until I tried to steal your shirt.

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I would absolutely adore just reading something like this. Man that sounds like great memories! I pretty much read Misty books all on my own back in the day. Didn't have someone to talk about them with until Tel came along and we finally decided to take this Valdemar challenge and record it for fun.

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K. Vale Nagle @kvalenagle.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

I love knowing that! It's just so wonderful to hear stories like this about her, knowing one of my top favourite authors is such a powerful ally, helpful to our community even beyond the stories. I'm so glad I decided to steal your shirt, even just for this story alone :D

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Reposted by The NB Podcast

Because of the nonbinary nature of your podcast, you might appreciate this: when my spouse was figuring out being trans and nonbinary, he went out there for two weeks to talk about it with Misty (and help out) since we mostly learned about queerness through their books. Misty was a big help.

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The NB Podcast @nextbookpod.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

I became a pumpkin after DND way sooner than expected. The day job takes a lot of energy out of me sometimes. I promise we're loving all the messages and welcoming communication - and so immediately too! I have every intention of replying on my upcoming days off (Sat & Sun). Possibly even tomorrow!

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The NB Podcast @nextbookpod.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

All the new connections are super exciting! I absolutely plan to get to some replies and checking things out after DND tonight. Time for Diem to go be the changeling that started the name and Tel to bring our little dnd group together again for some group storytime :D

The NB Podcast @nextbookpod.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

Next Wednesday's episode will be a between-trilogy break where we talk about Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas. A story about a trans brujo proving himself to his family. Intending to help solve the murder of his cousin, he summons the spirit of a boy his own age instead. #booksky

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The NB Podcast @nextbookpod.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

My libby libraries now know all about them and will hopefully follow suit with some copies sooner than later :D

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The NB Podcast @nextbookpod.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

That's both wonderful to know (super romantic <3 ), and intimidating (laughing as I say that) in a stage fright way. Just out here minding our own business talking about books and first day I'm talking to someone who had a character named after them, helped with repairs, did a personal interview.

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The NB Podcast @nextbookpod.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

AH! I'm so excited! We'd love to read that if you find it, but no pressure :D I can't believe you were listening to us before I even happened upon your posts. I totally reacted without realizing how closely connected you are beyond just another fan and I'm excited to read the rest of your comments!

The NB Podcast @nextbookpod.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

It was truly lovely to revisit Amberdrake and Skandranon - as well as their kids. #skandranon #theblackgryphon #thewhitegryphon #thesilvergryphon #booksky

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The NB Podcast @nextbookpod.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

Apparently we're not EVERYWHERE you find podcasts yet - Spotify and iTunes are delayed for whatever reason. This announcement includes youtube as well. You can find our first 3 episodes for this debut covering Mercedes Lackey & Larry Dixon's Mage Wars Trilogy. www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvie...

youtube.com

NBP #1 - The Black Gryphon

YouTube video by NBP

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The NB Podcast @nextbookpod.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

I would like to steal your shirt.

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The NB Podcast @nextbookpod.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

The helpful reminder from Tel I needed to relisten to in episode three: "You also get some grace." Old favourites teaching me yet another lesson I should absorb. I have too many formative experiences where I didn't get grace from others and only gave. So thankful for the people I have now, like Tel!

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Reposted by The NB Podcast

Steamtech @steamtech.bsky.social · 12/11/2025

Mercedes Lackey's "The Black Gryphon." Spectacular bit of fiction, the character of Amberdrake remains inspiring to this day.

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Reposted by The NB Podcast

Gildedtongue @gildedtongue.bsky.social · 07/08/2025

So, the book is from 1994, so I'm not expecting major queer characters. However, With how much Skandranon and Amberdrake play "The Pronoun Game" when talking about their previous lovers, I think it's apparent they're both very bisexual.

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Reposted by The NB Podcast

🍁🎃Eski🎃🍁 @eskiworks.bsky.social · 09/02/2026

I was reading my childhood diary and this was one of the earliest entries. I dumped a boy, finished my homework super fast, and drew gryphons. Then spent the entire next day drawing more gryphons. 😎

A child's handwriting in pencil, dated 4/25/95 and 4/26/95. "Today I dumped Levi and finished my homework really fast. I also made a cool picture of skandranon. Today I stayed home and drew awesome pictures of gryphons."

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Reposted by The NB Podcast

Fidik Vien / Thalin's Talons 🔜 Furpoc @fidik.net · 17/05/2026

Bonus points if you know who Skandranon Raskae is!

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The NB Podcast @nextbookpod.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

I'm going to have to do that now that I've just finished reading it!

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Reposted by The NB Podcast

Foz Meadows @fozmeadows.bsky.social · 06/08/2025

I just finished my first ever read-through of Magic's Pawn by Mercedes Lackey, then listened to Free from Kpop Demon Hunters while stacking the dishwasher, and if ever there was a Vanyel and Tylendel song -

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The NB Podcast @nextbookpod.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

.....and we're live! The first three episodes are up and available in most podcasting listening spaces! #books #podcast #Theblackgryphon #mercedeslackey #bookreviews

The NB Podcast @nextbookpod.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

When we officially debut, we will be posting the first three episodes all at once, each one covering Mercedes Lackey and Larry Dixon's complete Mage Wars trilogy.