iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Pen & Pier @penandpier.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

Hey, look at the amazing event we have planned for the third weekend in September!

An informative poster held in mostly beige and green. The text reads:

Pen & Pier
Unearthed Imagination
Retreat 2026
September 18th - 20th
FRIDAY! "Murder on the Air"
Great American Melodrama
1863 Front St., Oceano, CA 93445 6:30 pm - 10:00 pm

SATURDAY! Morning Write-in
Fire and Vice
3580 Skyway Dr, Santa Maria, CA 93455 8:00 am - 12:00 pm

Traitors of Time -- Murder Mystery Game
Big Rock Tabletop
620 Quintana Rd, Morro Bay, CA 93442 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Bonfire on the Beach
Grover Beach, CA
Drive down Grand Ave till you hit water! 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm

SUNDAY! Farewell Brunch!
Kitchen & Vine
3897 S Higuera St, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 10:30 am - 1:00 pm

Brought to you by Pen & Pier

Come plant the seeds and watch your stories grow

Pen & Pier @penandpier.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

What is happening this summer at Pen & Pier? So glad you asked. The links you'll need: discord.gg/tA8yG7WQU (invite link) and Penandpier.com

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Pen & Pier @penandpier.bsky.social · 20/02/2026

Get to know our writers: substack.com/home/post/p-...

Portrait of the writer Ute Orgassa. She has short, red hair, is wearing glasses and dragon earrings. She is resting her chin on her hands and is smiling.

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Pen & Pier @penandpier.bsky.social · 12/01/2026

Thank you for the review, @michaeljriser.com ! It is very much appreciated!

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Pen & Pier @penandpier.bsky.social · 23/12/2025

If you want to read the full story, you can order our anthology 'Rough Seas & Strange Yarns' here: www.amazon.com/Rough-Seas-S...

A photo of a small sailboat on a calm ocean with blue skies. Several people are on that boat, hanging out. The overlaid text reads:

Fiddler's Green
by R. Jean Mathieu

That galled Stitch, in her belly each morning, next to the certainty that she was indeed the last sailor. She turned her borrowed sampans and outriggers out farther, asked after charts, tattooed on sailor's backs, yarned aboard the fishers for tall tales of geography ... always, she somehow pulled back into port at Fiddler's green, with the rum-bottles ripe on the trees and the pub door open and inviting. The hypersphere where sailors go when they don't go to hell.

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Pen & Pier @penandpier.bsky.social · 22/12/2025

If you want to read the full story, find our anthology 'Rough Seas & Strange Yarns' here: www.amazon.com/Rough-Seas-S...

A photo of a calm, blue ocean with a blue, lightly clouded sky overlaid with text. The text reads:

Elusive Needs

By Kristina Larkin

But come on, it's just a little harmless water. What is it going to give me? A disease that eats at your kidneys and turns your pee blue? Or one that shrivels your fingers into crab claws, but for some reason, not your toes?

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Pen & Pier @penandpier.bsky.social · 21/12/2025

If you want to read the whole poem, find our anthology 'Rough Seas & Strange Yarns' here: www.amazon.com/Rough-Seas-S...

A photo of crashing waves, overlaid with text. The text says:

Turbulent Waters

By Barbara Swihart Miller

Her body shakes like and earthquake,
Causing a tsunami in my heart to rise.
A wall of fear is flooding my heart and mind.

We have to ride it out.
I will be the skipper to her captain.
The swells will grow further and further apart before finally ceasing.

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Pen & Pier @penandpier.bsky.social · 17/12/2025

If you want to read the whole poem, order our anthology 'Rough Seas & Strange Yarns' here: a.co/d/bkUKMyY

A ceramic frog figurine overlaid with text. The frog is wearing a crown and is smiling. The overlaid text reads:

Mother Frog
by Gabriella Melton

Driving home,
the ocean twists and turns around us.
Though waves crash and roar,
silence floods her car.
The sea takes no prisoners,
but I wish she'd take me

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Pen & Pier @penandpier.bsky.social · 02/12/2025

If you want to read the full story, you can order our anthology 'Rough Seas & Strange Yarns here: www.amazon.com/Rough-Seas-S...

A picture of a sailboat facing a rough and stormy ocean and sky. Overlaid text reads:

The Drowning of Edward Black
By Alastair Hightower

The deck rose under my feet, and the sea mist splashed across my face as the dark bow broke though another wave; snapping me out of the sour memory. I held firm to the rope, for fear of being tossed over the railing. The captain was in a mood. She stood at the helm, red hair braided with shells and sea glass, violently tossed to the wind. Her hat hung by the thin cord around her neck, green eyes wild as she searched the storm; mad Maggie, they called her, mistress of the Masquerade.

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Reposted by Pen & Pier

Epistemic Literary- Read Issue 8: Righteous Rage now! @epistemiclit.bsky.social · 01/12/2025

ISSUE 7: INTEGRITY is now LIVE! Please read, share, and discuss! And watch this space all week for lots of spotlights. Thank you to everyone who is a part of this issue and our wonderful #EpistemicLitFamily! epistemiclit.com/current-issue/

epistemiclit.com

Current Issue -

digital literary anthology accepting submissions based on theme to open conversations aimed at interpersonal understanding.

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Pen & Pier @penandpier.bsky.social · 29/11/2025

If you want to read the full story, our anthology 'Rough Seas & Strange Yarns is available here: www.amazon.com/Rough-Seas-S...

Photo of a view down a cliff into the ocean overlaid with text. Text reads:

"Her toes inch closer to the edge.
A cascade of tiny pebbles launches from beneath her feet. They roll to the edge, teeter momentarily, and then surrender to the fall."

From 'The Tern of the Tide' by Katherine Bonn
Excerpted from 'Rough Seas & Strange Yarns', a Pen & Pier anthology

penandpier.com

Photo: Sarcastic Cat Creative@gmail.com

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Pen & Pier @penandpier.bsky.social · 28/11/2025

If you want to read the full story, you can order our anthology 'Rough Seas & Strange Yarns' here: www.amazon.com/Rough-Seas-S...

An image of an underwater ocean landscape with coral and plants. A water swirl is the central focus. The overlaid text reads:

Of Seas and Solitude
By Blair Livolsi

"You'll all go back there one day, I promise. Besides, you aren't as separate from the sea as you think you are. You're not something lesser, and you aren't something more either. You're just... Different."

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Pen & Pier @penandpier.bsky.social · 27/11/2025

If you want to read the full story, you can order our anthology 'Rough Seas & Strange Yarns' here: www.amazon.com/Rough-Seas-S...

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Pen & Pier @penandpier.bsky.social · 26/11/2025

If you want to read the full story, you can order our anthology 'Rough Seas & Strange Yarns' here: www.amazon.com/Rough-Seas-S...

An image of the surface and underwater of the ocean overlaid with text. The text reads:

Swimming Too Close to the Sun
By Siddhi Upadhyaya

As I move through the water, I can tell that light - or rather the absence of it - is going to be my biggest obstacle. Darkness presses down on me from all sides. Only the beam of my dive light cuts through it. The stalactites and stalagmites come up higher, closer to the middle where I'm swimming, like teeth in an endless mouth.

How is this the cave that killed Clarissa Claire? The fact that I'm doing fine so far should comfort me, but it doesn't. She was more prepared than me, had a dive team, but still managed to disappear here.

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Pen & Pier @penandpier.bsky.social · 25/11/2025

If you want to read the full story, you can order our anthology 'Rough Seas & Strange Yarns' here: www.amazon.com/Rough-Seas-S...

A drawing of a room with a painting on a wall and an open guitar case on the floor, overlaid with text. The text reads:

The Mule And The Magpie
By Kevin Carver

Entering, I stand there side by side with him, looking at everything he owns, all that's left. There's an air mattress with a sleeping bag. Some bent cardboard boxes overflowing with clothes. A TV without a stand. My eyes dart to a hard shell guitar case leaning against a wall. Above the case I scan the walls and find mostly nail holes, but I eventually stop at a painting. Ocean waves crashing into rocks on canvas. "Okay," I say. "Give me 10 minutes." "And there's some junk in the kitchenNot junk, you know what I mean. Good stuff." I nod, wanting him to leave. "I'll double check every room and cupboard. 10 minutes. You can wait outside.

"I need a smoke anyway."

Benny leaves. I'm sure his face shows suspicion, but I make it a point not to see it. I wait. When I hear the front door open and close I pull latex gloves out of my back pocket and begin.

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Pen & Pier @penandpier.bsky.social · 24/11/2025

Today is the day! Happy book birthday to our very own anthology! You can order your hard copies and your kindle copies here: www.amazon.com/Rough-Seas-S...

A poster, in blue color, advertising the anthology. On top it says: Finally available for purchase! Then comes a picture of the book cover. Which is an inverted picture of an ocean wave crashing on a rock with orange sunlight at the bottom. The title read: Rough Seas & Strange Yarns. On the bottom of the cover it says: A Pen & Pier Anthology Edited by Ute Orgassa, Michelle Dornish, And Katherine Bonn. Under the book cover it reads: Click Here To Buy Your Copy Today

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Pen & Pier @penandpier.bsky.social · 23/11/2025

If you want to read the full story, you can preorder the digital copy of our anthology 'Rough Seas & Strange Yarns' for one more day and then order both digital and hard copy, starting tomorrow! www.amazon.com/Rough-Seas-S...

Image of waving kelp in the ocean overlaid with text. The text reads:

The Sacrifice
By ute Orgassa

The steady rain lasted all night. Imogen woke in the early morning hours to a bone-marrow-freezing scream. It was followed by faint splashing. Then quiet, underscored only by the constant tapping of raindrops on the roof.

There was no going back to sleep after that. Imogen tried to convince herself that it had been a dream, a nightmare, but she knew better. The Creature was awake again, after all those years, preying, finding victims in the night. It was filled with wrath and hunger.

Imogen understood both. It used to be a god. It used to be worshipped, celebrated, plied with offerings of good fish and the occasional land animal. It used to have its own day.

Not anymore.

Gray text in the lower right corner reads: Photo:: sarcastic.cat.creative@gmail.com

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Pen & Pier @penandpier.bsky.social · 21/11/2025

If you want to read the whole story, it is in our anthology 'Rough Seas & Strange Yarns', which you can preorder here: www.amazon.com/Rough-Seas-S...

A painting of the ocean at sunset with an island in the background and some coral in the foreground. Overlaid with text saying:

Into the Depths
By Michelle Dornish
"I need to find a way out," Rachel whispered to herself, her heart fluttering with fear again.
"Why are you in a rush?"
The male voice startled her so much that she screamed aloud, but her shout didn't echo in the small space. In fact, the scream was soaked up by the coral so that the sound ended much sooner than she would have expected.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to frighten you maiden," the voice continued.
Rachel spun toward the voice, toward the pool of water, and her eyes locked with the smiling, boyish face of a man with toned arms, resting on the edge of the coral. He set his chin on his folded arms, his wet hair long enough that he had to jerk his head slightly to move the dark strands from his eyes. She couldn't help but linger on his eyes, a startling shade of gray, not unlike a stormy sea. A sparkle of mirth in them that made her feel nervous.
What was making him so happy exactly?

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Pen & Pier @penandpier.bsky.social · 19/11/2025

If you want to read the whole story, it is in our our anthology 'Rough Seas & Strange Yarns' which you can preorder here: www.amazon.com/Rough-Seas-S...

A picture with mostly red text and three pencil drawn sailing ships. The text reads: The Best Captain in The World By Barbara Swihart Miller A competition ensues when two sea captains clash. Who will win? A humorous YA story. "Remember what happened to the last asshole, Strawberry? He ended up in Davie Jones' Locker!" The girls broke out in riotous laughter. " Don't be a fool!" Umbri protested. "No one has ever beaten Blurr! He is the fiercest pirate to ever sail the seas!" " He doesn't even have any facial hair! Goldie, back me up on this! He can't have been sailing for more than a year. I doubt he has even blooded his saber!" "Or fired his pistol!" "Either pistol!"

Under neath in gray text it says: Excerpted from Rough Seas & Strange Yarns, a Pen & Pier anthology.

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Pen & Pier @penandpier.bsky.social · 04/11/2025

We are happy to announce our very first anthology is coming out on November 24th! Rough Seas & Strange Yarns captures short stories, poems, and visual art of fifteen Pen & Pier members, all focusing on the theme: Ocean. You can pre-order the eBook now www.amazon.com/dp/B0FY715J2...

amazon.com

Rough Seas and Strange Yarns: A Pen & Pier Anthology

Amazon.com: Rough Seas and Strange Yarns: A Pen & Pier Anthology eBook : Miller, Barbara: Kindle Store

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Pen & Pier @penandpier.bsky.social · 24/10/2025

A little primer from us about editing: substack.com/home/post/p-...

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Pen & Pier @penandpier.bsky.social · 23/10/2025

Check out a story by one of our members!

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Pen & Pier @penandpier.bsky.social · 11/10/2025

We recently had a productive and fun weekend together at our third writing retreat. You can read all about it here: www.penandpier.com/2025/10/sept...

A group of writers proudly displaying their bookbinding results at a craft place.

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Pen & Pier @penandpier.bsky.social · 10/10/2025

Pen & Pier to me is a place to hone my writing craft. I can tap into the experience and genius of the group to improve on my work. Whether I am getting or giving a critique, I always learn something! –Michelle Dornish @mdornish.bsky.social

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Pen & Pier @penandpier.bsky.social · 08/10/2025

Writing is a multifaceted process of which I enjoy some parts, not all. Joining Pen & Pier helped me find folks with whom I can discuss all parts. Be it brainstorming, editing, publishing, or marketing. I'm in the trenches with friends who know exactly what I'm talking about @uteorgassa.bsky.social

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Pen & Pier @penandpier.bsky.social · 07/10/2025

Before I found Pen & Pier, I felt like I was alone in my writing. Finding a group of people who loved to world-build as much as I do has motivated me to finish what I start and even to branch out into unfamiliar genres. I love our community! –Barbara Swihart Miller @bsmbooks.bsky.social

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Pen & Pier @penandpier.bsky.social · 05/10/2025

Hello! It's Pen & Pier. We finally decided to join social media. Our group's been meeting regularly for 2 years. We do things like annual retreats, critique groups, in-person & online meetings. We're just a bunch of writers helping each other out. Come check out our website and join us on Discord.

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