iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

S. Y. Coffelt @skywatcher76.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Another sunset from another year. I'm too busy for words. A short story coming out soon. A new blog to write. A query packet to edit. And my basement--the water problem is solved but now what do I do with all the stuff? I've half a mind to box it up and give it away.

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S. Y. Coffelt @skywatcher76.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

A sunset from September 2022. Here we are at mid-month already. Working on a short story for Yule.

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S. Y. Coffelt @skywatcher76.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Stormy season. The September Newsletter will be out on the 20th. To subscribe, go to sycoffelt.com. There, you'll find a list of most of my published short stories and updates on my novel progress. The newsletter comes out every other month newsletter and the blog, monthly.

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S. Y. Coffelt @skywatcher76.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Sedum brilliant in bloom - a sure sign of fall on the way. Working on my query and synopsis (again) and short story submissions. The newsletter resumes on September 20. A TLSQ update, a Tarot wild card draw, and maybe some info on the goddess Eris. #BookSky

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S. Y. Coffelt @skywatcher76.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

The photo: a reminder of my garden in summers past. Happy September! I've published my August blog at sycoffelt.com and hope to see you there. Comments welcome. #BookSky

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S. Y. Coffelt @skywatcher76.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Pink clouds at sunset from 2022. The new blog is scheduled for 8-31. My thoughts about being in author in the age of AI. I'd love to see you at sycoffelt.com. Waiting on beta reader feedback for The Last Summer Queen and making decisions about how to publish. #BookSky

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S. Y. Coffelt @skywatcher76.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

A short story acceptance this morning (yay!). Details to follow when available. Oh, and this is my cat, Fat Boy, cheering. #BookSky

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S. Y. Coffelt @skywatcher76.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Haven't seen this sunbeam photo for a while, a lucky shot from 2020. I especially like the cows in the upper left-hand corner of the photo. No planning, just wanted to snap the cloud forming over the creek. Today that's how I feel about my query letter. I need to be more mindful. #BookSky

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S. Y. Coffelt @skywatcher76.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

Goodness. I'll have to let Fat Boy know he gets a day.

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S. Y. Coffelt @skywatcher76.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

It's rose season. And weeds. I need to edit the garden but I'm inside working on writing a new query. Priorities! #BookSky

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S. Y. Coffelt @skywatcher76.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

Today is our thirty-first wedding anniversary. Still here, still in love.

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S. Y. Coffelt @skywatcher76.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

A Girl Scout friend lent me this book when I was at sleep-away camp. At age ten, I was already a reader and never forgot this one. Returned the book to her, then spent 30 years haunting used bookstores, looking for a copy. What's your favorite reading story? #BookSky

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S. Y. Coffelt @skywatcher76.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

A sunset from this day in 2022. I've read the Rose Horowitch's "The Age of Reading is Over" in the August Atlantic. Is this the culture war we've already lost? And is AI the end of writing and writers? #BookSky

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S. Y. Coffelt @skywatcher76.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

A sunbeam from this day in 2025. Have folks stopped reading? Will I stop writing? About to read Rose Horowitch's article in the August 2026 Atlantic Magazine. Hoping there's a beacon of hope in it somewhere. I'm pretty sure it's too late for me to learn to be a troubadour. #BookSky

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S. Y. Coffelt @skywatcher76.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

Today's storm cloud. Thunder, lightning, a shower. Looks worse than it is. Chores done, now it's time to get some editing done. #BookSky

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S. Y. Coffelt @skywatcher76.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

A sunset from this day in 2022. Working on a couple of short stories and structuring the sequel to TLSQ. Investigating publishing options. Deciding on a query hook. The writer's life is never dull. #BookSky

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S. Y. Coffelt @skywatcher76.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

Here's Fat Boy after his annual visit(s) to the vet for shots and checkup. For a 14–15-year-old cat, he's in great health and has lost enough weight to be called Pretty Boy. But he's torqued about going to the vet and smacks me with his paw whenever I get too close.

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S. Y. Coffelt @skywatcher76.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

A sunset from this day in 2022. My edits are finished and now I'm drafting the questions for beta readers. And here's my question. How many beta readers should I aim for given that my offer is always to exchange reads? #BookSky

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S. Y. Coffelt @skywatcher76.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

A breathlessly colorful sunset from July 2022. Halfway through the edits. Learning how to make an exciting scene breathless. And creepy. #BookSky

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S. Y. Coffelt @skywatcher76.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

A photo from 2019. The fruit looks like raspberries, but they'll soon become what they really are--blackberries. Writing and gardening--almost the same. I'm editing and find that the story changes as I see it from a different perspective. Not a lot of change. Just enough. #BookSky

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S. Y. Coffelt @skywatcher76.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

A new to me flowering bush flowered for the first time. Midnight Marvel hibiscus. It's hardy, so should return every spring. Hoping my debut goes as well as this gardening debut. Still deep into edits. I could use an encouraging word. #BookSky

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S. Y. Coffelt @skywatcher76.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

He arrived on our deck one day about 13 years ago and took up residence without so much as a by your leave. Of course, we fed him. He wasn't a kitten. So, long way round to saying we think he's 14 or 15.

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S. Y. Coffelt @skywatcher76.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

This little guy let me get WAY close. Turned his head once to see me take a step (creeping slowly). I don't usually have the patience for wildlife photos, but this one worked. Although, I did warn him (or her), "My flowers are not your salad bar."

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S. Y. Coffelt @skywatcher76.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

Hmm. I start my day in the garden, then turn on my PC, and that's when I most likely look at (post, scroll, respond) social media. But it all depends on when I wake up, which also depends on how needy my Fat Boy has been overnight. Some nights he simply NEEDS me. I'll talk to him about a schedule.

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S. Y. Coffelt @skywatcher76.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

Last night's sunset, July 4, 2026. This followed a huge thunderstorm. Strong winds resulting in no power for three hours. Lucky for me, I didn't lose a single change to my editing document. TLSQ is safe...so far. #BookSky

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S. Y. Coffelt @skywatcher76.bsky.social · 04/07/2026

July 4, 2022. It's storming today too, and the power has gone out once. Working on edits, so hoping the power doesn't go out again. Happy Independence Day and my oldest grandson's birthday. (Happy birthday, Colin). #BookSky

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S. Y. Coffelt @skywatcher76.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

Sunset, July 3, 2022. Editing. What I like about editing is "hearing" how I can improve the story, word by word. #BookSky

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S. Y. Coffelt @skywatcher76.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

Sunset from this date in 2023. Deep into edits. #BookSky

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S. Y. Coffelt @skywatcher76.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

Cone flowers from years gone by. The blog is up at paddlefish-cello-6jf3.squarespace.com/config/website and I have a new short story available at hollowoakpress.com/whump-whump/. Happy last day of June.

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S. Y. Coffelt @skywatcher76.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

Today's lily. Edits back from my editor. Looks like I've written a novel. Off to beta readers by the end of next week. #BookSky

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S. Y. Coffelt @skywatcher76.bsky.social · 21/06/2026

Sunset from June 21, 2022. Today, overcast and rain. Starting the blog for June 30. I'll probably write about genre decisions. Thinking about putting the blog on Substack and uploading all my friends.

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S. Y. Coffelt @skywatcher76.bsky.social · 18/06/2026

Found growing among the weeds at the property line, a hybrid daylily. One of many now blooming. I tossed some rhizomes there last year. Now I'm hoping for an accidental garden. Working on short stories this week and researching my next blog. Waiting on my editor's notes. #BookSky

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S. Y. Coffelt @skywatcher76.bsky.social · 12/06/2026

A sunset from this day in 2012. Still working on clearing out a section of the basement for flood prevention work next week. Scheduling time this weekend to edit two short stories for submission. I've developed a new interest in prehistory. Great info to be used for The Beauty of Kadar. #BookSky

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S. Y. Coffelt @skywatcher76.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

Lost a ten year old American tulip trees in last night’s storm.

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S. Y. Coffelt @skywatcher76.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

Deleting a garden and transplanting while the weather is reasonable. Here's a Brunnera, maybe Jack Frost, transplanted in May. It's still alive! Meanwhile, waiting for my editor to finish what's hopefully the last round of edits for The Last Summer Queen. #BookSky #GardenSky

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S. Y. Coffelt @skywatcher76.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

Last night's blue moon at moonset. Writing short stories? Trying to market? Check out this month's blog at sycoffelt.com for a bit of craft advice from a former slush reader. (Yes, that's me.) #SkyWriter

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S. Y. Coffelt @skywatcher76.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

A 2021 sunset. So, you're submitting a short story. And, of course, you know the three essential elements most story editors look for. That's what I'm writing about in my blog this month. Check out sycoffelt.com on May 31. I'd love to see you there. #BookSky

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S. Y. Coffelt @skywatcher76.bsky.social · 25/05/2026

This is a photo my husband took of a flock of wild turkeys running through our way-back last September. You have to click on the photo to see the entire bird(s). Everything is about the same shade of brownish green. Squinting helps. The joys of #rurallife.

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S. Y. Coffelt @skywatcher76.bsky.social · 24/05/2026

Last night's sunset. The trees have grown way too high for horizon sunsets. I need to search out a different spot to photograph. No where near as convenient as stepping out my front door. And I'm in the throes of outlining. Any outline lovers out there? #BookSky

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S. Y. Coffelt @skywatcher76.bsky.social · 23/05/2026

I'm growing about a hundred of these lilies and, sadly, forgot the name. Anybody know it? Meanwhile, I'm also starting new WIP, decluttering my basement, transplanting wild ginger, and reorganizing my kitchen. Anybody else have an impossible long to-do list? Happy almost summer! #BookSky #gardens

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S. Y. Coffelt @skywatcher76.bsky.social · 19/05/2026

Storms headed our way. We've had lots of thunder, lightning, and rain, but thankfully not the enormous winds. And big news. The first short story acceptance this spring. A dystopian tale with a twisty ending. Details to follow. #BookSky

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S. Y. Coffelt @skywatcher76.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

Been busy the last few days attending my son's graduation with his MS degree. So proud of you, Gordon. You never gave up. Now, back to the new WIP. #BookSky

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S. Y. Coffelt @skywatcher76.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

A sunset from May 2025. Once again, the universe is eating my time. A flooded basement. A couple of hours at the emergency room (not for me, and it could've been worse). Company coming (can't wait to see them). The yard needs hours of attention. Tick tock. Have to fit writing in sometime. #BookSky

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S. Y. Coffelt @skywatcher76.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

I'm deleting this garden. Too much work for too few blooms. Most plants will be relocated. TLSQ has gone to my editor, and I've started a new project, Paisley Clarke's Nine Loves. For a peek at Paisley, check out Spells and Fangs at tinyurl.com/86jbjstw and look for my short story, Blood. #BookSky

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S. Y. Coffelt @skywatcher76.bsky.social · 29/04/2026

This morning's sunrise. Battling with myself over finishing this novel. Still playing with the last 1500 words (or so) to end the final chapter. I'll still have plenty of editing to attack, but as long as it's not finished...what? Anyone else dragging their heels? #BookSky

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S. Y. Coffelt @skywatcher76.bsky.social · 28/04/2026

A stormy sunset, April 28, 2022. April is the month for storms, and I was wondering if the thunder, wind, and rain would stop long enough for me to put the April Blog together. Today was the day. Come visit sycoffelt.com on April 30 as I learn how to submit short fiction for publication. #BookSky

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S. Y. Coffelt @skywatcher76.bsky.social · 23/04/2026

Enquiring cats want to know. The answer is yes; I did... write 2k+ words yesterday. Sometimes, naming the obstacle breaks the cycle. Of course, as I rush to complete my WIP (fewer than 2k words remaining), I now have to figure out what to do about marketing. Sigh. #BookSky

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S. Y. Coffelt @skywatcher76.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

This is Clematis Rebecca. She was planted about fifteen years ago and is dependable. I'm not sure I'm as dependable as Rebecca, but I try. Today my goal is to add 2k words to my WIP. I'm almost done, and where I'm going is in my head. #BookSky

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S. Y. Coffelt @skywatcher76.bsky.social · 21/04/2026

A clematis planted last year. Lots of blooms hiding under leaves. I have 4k words to go before I send my WIP off to my editor. I'm dragging my feet because I can't face marketing these days. Who's with me? #BookSky

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