iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Refe Tuma @refe.blue · 21/07/2026

Today is the day! WHAT THE DINOSAURS DID ON HALLOWEEN is officially in stores and online wherever you buy books. Sequel to our best-selling and award-winning WHAT THE DINOSAURS DID series, featuring a stegosaurus dressed like a taco and a mechanized 9' yard skeleton. Don't miss it!

Book cover with orange title text over a purple background reading, What the Dinosaurs did on Halloween" featuring three colorful plastic dinosaurs leaning greedily over a bowl filled with candy. Below them, the text reads, "Authors of What the Dinosaurs Did Last Night, Refe and Susan Tuma."

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Refe Tuma @refe.blue · 20/07/2026

I mean look at this spooky little beauty.

Book cover with three colorful plastic dinosaurs leaning over a pot of candy. WHAT THE DINOSAURS DID ON HALLOWEEN in bold, orange text on a misty purple background. Test near the bottom reads, "AUTHORS OF WHAT THE DINOSAURS DID LAST NIGHT, Refe and Susan Tuma."

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Refe Tuma @refe.blue · 20/07/2026

Ok people. WHAT THE DINOSAURS DID ON HALLOWEEN rises from beyond TOMORROW. So if you don't want to miss mischievous plastic dinosaurs piloting a mechanized 9' yard skeleton to steal candy from children, preorder a copy now.

Two plastic dinosaurs lower a third into a cauldron filled with colorful candy using a toy fishing pole while a child dressed as a witch tries to pull it away. Bold, shining text reads, "LAST DAY TO PREORDER!! Find it wherever you buy books."

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Refe Tuma @refe.blue · 08/07/2026

Well hello gorgeous 🤩

Copies of What the Dinosaurs did on Halloween with three colorful plastic dinosaurs leaning over a cauldron filled with candy agains a purple background and orange foil lettering for the title. The books are stacked inside a cardboard box.

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Refe Tuma @refe.blue · 08/07/2026

Oh hey what is this big box on my doorstep...

A large cardboard box roughly the space and shape of 25 copies of What the Dinosaurs did on Halloween, labeled 'Hachette Book Group'

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Refe Tuma @refe.blue · 21/04/2026

The first trade review for WHAT THE DINOSAURS DID ON HALLOWEEN is in, and it's already going to Rex's head. open.substack.com/pub/refe/p/g... #kidlit #picturebooks

White text over a purple background: "Great, now Rex thinks he's Tom Cruise. refe.substack.com" and an image of a purple dinosaur mugging in front of the Hollywood sign.

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Refe Tuma @refe.blue · 26/03/2026

WHAT THE DINOSAURS DID ON HALLOWEEN is now available for preorder! open.substack.com/pub/refe/p/t...

The cover of WHAT THE DINOSAURS DID ON HALLOWEEN featuring the title in orange lettering across the top, a misty purple background, and three colorful plastic dinosaurs leaning over a bowl of candy, grinning mischievously.

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Refe Tuma @refe.blue · 16/01/2026

Shipped a cool new feature on FlipCraft this week: authors can now share a draft of their story with trusted readers and view their comments. Also made a bunch of smaller tweaks and enhancements. If you write picture books, check it out! flipcraft.app #kidlit #picturebooks #amwriting

A screenshot of the FlipCraft UI showing the reader preview pane which includes a flip book style reader and a comment form for reader feedback.

A screenshot of the FlipCraft UI showing the Share for Feedback modal, which displays a secure link that authors can forward to trusted readers to get feedback on their story draft.

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Refe Tuma @refe.blue · 08/01/2026

Made some big updates to FlipCraft.app this week, including: - Autosave w version history (don't lose your work) - Scratch pad (jot down unstructured notes & ideas) - Themes (Sage, Sepia, or Slate; light & dark modes) - Better export (submission-ready formatting) #picturebooks #kidlit

An image showing the FlipCraft story editor featuring all three theme options (green, brown, and blue).

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Refe Tuma @refe.blue · 05/10/2025

Democracy is dying but don't worry we have

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Refe Tuma @refe.blue · 06/08/2025

Final night at the lake.

An orange moon shimmers on the dark blue waters of a large lake at night.

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Refe Tuma @refe.blue · 05/08/2025

Boris the water dog* *definitely NOT a water dog

A white dog with black patches around its eyes sits regally on a sandy beach with the lake behind him and clear skies.

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Refe Tuma @refe.blue · 04/08/2025

Oh, hey, another lake photo.

A girl in a dress standing in Lake Michigan silhouetted by the gray sky behind her.

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Refe Tuma @refe.blue · 03/08/2025

Endless gray. Lake Michigan this morning.

A hazy-gray, foggy morning on Lake Michigan. Four kayakers float in the middle distance. The horizon line is barely visible, with the water and the sky nearly the same shade of soupy gray.

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Refe Tuma @refe.blue · 16/07/2025

Apple just recommended my own books to me, so I'd say they have my tastes down pretty well.

An email from Apple Books with the headline, "Want a book you'll love? We've got you covered." Below that, the covers of WHAT THE DINOSAURS DID LAST NIGHT (white with colorful plastic dinosaurs drawing on a wall with crayons,) and WHAT THE DINOSAURS DID AT SCHOOL (green with the same dinosaurs rising paper airplanes and making a mess with glue in a classroom.)

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Refe Tuma @refe.blue · 19/06/2025

I literally gasped when I read the nutrition facts on the packet of tteok bokki my kid brought home from the grocery today.

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Refe Tuma @refe.blue · 04/06/2025

Pretty sure I just sent off the final interior art for WHAT THE DINOSAURS DID ON HALLOWEEN and I am feeling very good about that.

A purple plastic dinosaur holding a green lollipop reclines on a pile of foil candy wrappers that glimmer against a pink background.

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Refe Tuma @refe.blue · 31/05/2025

Pulled a big section of vine off my house and nearly took a small nest down with it. Thankfully, this section was attached securely enough to stay put. I bolstered it with some wire and a few sticks. Fingers crossed it's sturdy enough to hold them until they're ready to fly 🤞

4 newly hatched birds huddled in a tiny nest made from plastic netting.

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Refe Tuma @refe.blue · 25/05/2025

Hiking with Boris and my oldest kiddo. Neither of whom are pictured here. But they were there, I promise.

A panoramic photo of trees in a field of short, green, broad-leafed plants.

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Refe Tuma @refe.blue · 22/05/2025

Last author visit of the year is in the bag. Big thanks to both Prairieview and Elizabeth Ide Elementaries (and their PTOs!) for the double-header this morning!

A selfie by a man with dark hair and beard and a fancy mustache standing in front of a gym full of excited kids.

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Refe Tuma @refe.blue · 22/05/2025

Everyone, please meet Palmilone Platypone (pronounced the vaguely Italian way, in case that isn't clear)

A surreal character in the style of Italian brain rot resembling a palm tree with the head of a grumpy platypus.

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Refe Tuma @refe.blue · 18/05/2025

A very happy, somewhat thirsty Boris.

A large white dog with black patches over his eyes takes a break from hiking on a dirt and gravel trail, framed by green trees in the background.

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Refe Tuma @refe.blue · 13/05/2025

Having a blast at Edison Elementary in Elmhurst, IL! Getting ready for my last session of the day—4th and 5th graders—and signing books. #authorvisit

Stacks of books with yellow post-it notes sticking out of the tops with names on them for personalization.

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Refe Tuma @refe.blue · 06/05/2025

Looks like I'll live to cook another day

A pan full of chicken Parmesan, with golden brown mozzarella cheese and bits of parsley on top.

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Refe Tuma @refe.blue · 02/05/2025

Punta del Este, Uruguay

A green, rocky hillside against a bright blue sky. In the distance, a beach splits the horizon.

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Refe Tuma @refe.blue · 29/04/2025

Ever feel like you're being watched...?

A tiny black cat peeks its head above a red-tile step with the ocean in the background.

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Refe Tuma @refe.blue · 29/04/2025

Breakfast in Montevideo

Espresso in a clear glass cup on a white plate set on a cafe table.

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Refe Tuma @refe.blue · 14/04/2025

Took the oldest kid out to the trails to get some photography in and came across this spiraled lean to.

A vertical panorama of a girl wearing a camera bag on her back kneeling to photograph a large lean-to, with thin pines towering overhead.

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Refe Tuma @refe.blue · 07/04/2025

Not sure we're taking pictures of our food anymore but my breakfast is pretty

A blue plate with cooked green kale, chopped red peppers, and a poached egg.

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Refe Tuma @refe.blue · 06/04/2025

Okay but my parents are awesome/adorable

A man and a woman holding matching Hands Off protest signs featuring illustrations of themselves holding protest signs.

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Refe Tuma @refe.blue · 05/04/2025

Took the kids for a hike in the woods to get away from it all for a few hours

A panoramic shot of a stand of straight, tall pines warping up to include the canopy above.

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Refe Tuma @refe.blue · 05/04/2025

My parents made protest signs depicting themselves holding protest signs ✊

A photo of two protest signs side-by-side. The one on the left features an illustration of a woman with red hair holding a small dog in one hand and a protest sign in the other that reads "Hands off!" Next to her is a list: social security, medicine, immigrants, lgbtq lives, veteran benefits, schools, penguins. The sign on the right mirrors the first one, but features an illustration of a man with a large gray beard.

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Refe Tuma @refe.blue · 08/03/2025

The world can't be too terrible a place if these little scamps exist

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Refe Tuma @refe.blue · 12/02/2025

Even this frozen glove is done with winter

A frozen glove discarded on the frozen grass, middle finger raised in silent protest.

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Refe Tuma @refe.blue · 03/02/2025

Made Swiss rostï for dinner tonight (my character Frances's favorite food) and it was a big hit. Highly recommended!

A photo of a blue plate on a wooden table. On the plate is a meal of Swiss fried potatoes and red cabbage, with a dollop of sour cream.

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Refe Tuma @refe.blue · 29/01/2025

(The copywriter's last gig was selling suppositories)

A Facebook ad promoting a standing desk, but the copy reads, "Compact size, big movement: Float Mini fits anywhere," and "Compact design, smooth moves."

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Refe Tuma @refe.blue · 25/01/2025

I always buy this sauce when I make spaghetti because I figure with branding like this it *has* to be good

A jar of red tomato sauce called 'Lidia's' with a hand painted portrait of some lady—Lidia, presumably—with short blond hair and glasses on the label

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Refe Tuma @refe.blue · 18/01/2025

Photographer sent me this shot from a panel I did earlier this week and wow the 'stache looks absolutely ENORMOUS from this angle

A man sitting on a stage wearing a grey sweater with dark brown hair and beard, and a rather epic mustache waxed to points

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Refe Tuma @refe.blue · 07/01/2025

Now that you mention it...

A close-up photo of a purple plastic dinosaur grinning widely at the camera

A close-up photo of an elderly but still charismatic-as-ever Dick Van Dyke grinning widely at the camera

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Refe Tuma @refe.blue · 04/01/2025

Poor OG Rex has seen some things at this point. Sorry to say he'll be more pixel than plastic in this next book. If we do any more after this we'll have to swap him out for one of his younger, less chewed-up body doubles. Still charming as ever after his digital glow-up, though! #dinovember

A rather haggard plastic t-Rex with missing treats and muted, brownish scales.

A vibrant, purple-scaled plastic t-rex with a full set of shiny, white teeth.

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Refe Tuma @refe.blue · 13/12/2024

The huntress getting into the holiday spirit

A black cat with glowing yellow eyes is barely visible through the branches of a lit Christmas tree.

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Refe Tuma @refe.blue · 09/12/2024

Watching Elf with the kids and my son just said it looks like Bob Newhart has a 'skin mustache' and now I can't unsee it

A still from the movie Elf of Bob Newhart's character Papa Elf. The way Bob is sitting and his elaborate white fur collar make it appear as though he has a handlebar mustache made of skin.

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Refe Tuma @refe.blue · 05/12/2024

Need a last-minute Christmas gift? Grab WHAT THE DINOSAURS DID THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS, the story of a kid who stays up to see Santa & learns he's actually, probably, maybe a 9" dinosaur w/ a totally real, definitely not fake beard, who's absolutely not up to no good. bookshop.org/a/90738/9780...

Book cover featuring a snowy rooftop and a purple plastic dinosaur dressed as Santa.

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Refe Tuma @refe.blue · 05/12/2024

Didn't even lose a finger. (Pablo for scale.)

Tiny binoculars with their key chain and ring detached next to an absurdly large pair of bolt cutters and the adorable face of a black and white cat.

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Refe Tuma @refe.blue · 05/12/2024

Have to cut the key chain off these tiny binoculars and all I can find to do it is...this

Tiny plastic binoculars with a key chain and key ring next to an absurdly large pair of bolt cutters.

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