iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

SZ Estavillo @szestavilloauthor.com · 19/09/2026

My 11 yr old drew this on a napkin while we were eating breakfast at a restaurant. She did it in 5 minutes, just sitting at the table. She’s been taking art classes for years. The painting on right she did in class. Love watching how naturally art comes to her. She’s so talented. #ArtSky #Art

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SZ Estavillo @szestavilloauthor.com · 16/09/2026

Have you ever had someone hate-follow your author career? 2x the same account has waited until my books hit #1 during a free promo, then dropped a 1-star review to lower my rating. Didn't read it. Thought they’d leave me alone. Nope. They did it 2x & to 54+ other thriller authors. #AuthorSky

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SZ Estavillo @szestavilloauthor.com · 12/09/2026

A day late posting this because Fresno’s 9/11 Memorial was so packed yesterday. I still can’t believe it’s been 25 years. My husband and I remember exactly where we were, and I had family in NYC serving as police officers at the time. Some things you simply #NeverForget. 🇺🇸 #September11

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SZ Estavillo @szestavilloauthor.com · 11/09/2026

Been a while since I’ve been engrossed in a book. What I LOVE about Afterlife by Marcus Sakey is its unique blend of FBI detective work + supernatural elements. It’s refreshing to read a story with an original spin. And now it’s being made into a movie. I can absolutely see why. #BookSky

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SZ Estavillo @szestavilloauthor.com · 09/09/2026

Loving yourself means learning to put yourself first. We give so much to everyone else. Your health, your peace, your boundaries, your well-being. YOU have to matter in your own life, too. Choosing yourself means protecting the space, energy, and peace you need to write. #AuthorSky #HealthSky

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SZ Estavillo @szestavilloauthor.com · 08/09/2026

I was never really into snake jewelry, but ever since writing my Serpent Series, I’ve become oddly fond of anything that reminds me of the books. Found this stainless steel snake ring at Bass Lake over Labor Day weekend and, obviously, it had to come home with me. 🖤 #AuthorSky #BookSky

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SZ Estavillo @szestavilloauthor.com · 07/09/2026

I spotted some classic typewriters in antique shops & they made me think about how differently writers once worked. No luxury of endless revisions. A mistake, a change, even a better idea could mean retyping an entire page. The tools may change, but the need to tell stories doesn’t. #AuthorSky

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SZ Estavillo @szestavilloauthor.com · 05/09/2026

At Bass Lake today. My husband and kids jumped in the water. I stayed on the boat with my laptop, writing of course. 😂 We all work so hard. Downtime is part of self-care. Rest matters. Don’t let work or life burn you out. Take the time to rest before life forces you to. #AuthorSky #LaborDayWeekend

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SZ Estavillo @szestavilloauthor.com · 05/09/2026

Hit 30k in my #WIP. Spending time with my family at Bass Lake. We don't realize just how precious mental space is for creativity & how valuable it is for our well-being. For me, Labor Day reminds me of how vital it is to put ourselves above anything including a job. #AuthorSky #LifeSky

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SZ Estavillo @szestavilloauthor.com · 25/08/2026

Some people can tolerate you struggling much more easily than they can tolerate you succeeding. It’s like they want to see you lose. They want to see you fail. And sometimes the best fuck you is to succeed. #AuthorSky #LifeSky

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SZ Estavillo @szestavilloauthor.com · 23/08/2026

This made my morning: THE SERPENT’S ORDER (Book 4) is currently: 🖤 #1 in Assassin Thrillers 🖤 #1 in Vigilante Justice 🖤 #2 in Crime Thrillers So many incredible authors & books out there. Grateful to be competing alongside them, especially doing all my own marketing. #AuthorSky #BookSky

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SZ Estavillo @szestavilloauthor.com · 22/08/2026

My assassin crime thriller is #4 in Amazon’s Free Kindle Store and #1 in Organized Crime, Romantic Suspense & Military Romance. 😂 I didn’t pick those categories. Romance is very much the B-story, but Amazon has spoken. Still, THREE #1 & #4 overall. Shit, I’ll take it.🔥 #AuthorSky #BookSky

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SZ Estavillo @szestavilloauthor.com · 21/08/2026

Turned in Book 5 of my series yet to be published to my acquisition editor, who’s believed in me from the beginning. I wasn’t prepared for this response. I honestly got emotional reading it.😭 Sometimes we’re so hard on ourselves, we don’t see our own growth until someone else does. #AuthorSky

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SZ Estavillo @szestavilloauthor.com · 18/08/2026

There’s something special about night writing. Reading a good book can keep you up way past your bedtime, and writing one can have the same effect. You hit that zone where the story takes over, the words keep flowing, and suddenly you just have to see what happens next. #AuthorSky

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SZ Estavillo @szestavilloauthor.com · 14/08/2026

Author warning: scammers are impersonating Big 5 editors and asking for manuscripts. They do not reach out to authors like this. Deals go through agents. Never send your work to an unverified email. These losers are targeting vulnerable authors. Protect your work. #AuthorSky

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SZ Estavillo @szestavilloauthor.com · 11/08/2026

Finally turned in Book 5 of my series to my publisher & it feels good. I went through this manuscript line by line, carefully catching every little thing I could. There’s something so satisfying about hitting send and knowing I did the work. Now come revisions. Hopefully not too many. #AuthorSky

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SZ Estavillo @szestavilloauthor.com · 05/08/2026

Being an author means my brain never really has an off switch. When I’m not working full-time or editing freelance videos, I’m revising book 5, drafting a standalone or reviewing audiobook corrections for book 2. Somewhere in there, I should probably remember to breathe. #AuthorSky #LifeSky

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SZ Estavillo @szestavilloauthor.com · 02/08/2026

Everything clicked with my new standalone, so I started drafting it yesterday and already wrote 750 words. Credit goes to my 11-year-old daughter, an advanced avid reader who read Harry Potter at 6. She came up with the high-concept techno-thriller idea, & it all came together so fast. #AuthorSky

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SZ Estavillo @szestavilloauthor.com · 24/07/2026

One thing I’ve learned as I’ve gotten older: there’s a difference between being direct & being straight-up rude & nasty. I’ve also learned that maybe things won’t change. But you won’t know unless you speak up & say something. Silence rarely changes anything. Speak up. #AuthorSky #LifeSky

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SZ Estavillo @szestavilloauthor.com · 18/07/2026

I love the writing side of being an author. The business side can be brutal. Even with 15 years of marketing experience. It’s exhausting. This week, I came closer to giving up than I ever have. An author friend reminded me not to. Sometimes you need people like that in your corner. #AuthorSky

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SZ Estavillo @szestavilloauthor.com · 16/07/2026

I wrote The Serpent’s Bridge about undocumented immigrants targeted by a serial killer cause they’re vulnerable. One reviewer called it “woke.” Another turned the review into criticism of immigrants. What’s so wrong with empathy? I’m not apologizing for writing a woke book. #AuthorSky #BookSky

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SZ Estavillo @szestavilloauthor.com · 15/07/2026

I’ve read lots of Harlan Coben’s books, but Home is the first one I’ve read in his Myron Bolitar series… and it’s Book 11. 😅 I’ve had readers do the same thing with my Serpent Series. Do you ever jump into a series out of order, or do you always start with Book 1? #BookSky #AuthorSky

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SZ Estavillo @szestavilloauthor.com · 14/07/2026

Writing “rules” are guidelines, not absolutes. Yes, unnecessary filler words should usually be cut. But sometimes removing one changes the meaning, rhythm, or emotion of a sentence. Learn the rules first. Then break them with intention. Great writing is all about execution. #AuthorSky

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SZ Estavillo @szestavilloauthor.com · 12/07/2026

Editing while hungry doesn’t mix. I asked my daughter to make me peanut butter toast and tried to say, “I like my peanut butter with cheese.” What actually came out was, “I like my peanut butter with a semicolon.” I think that’s my cue to eat before editing again. 😅 #AuthorSky #AmEditing

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SZ Estavillo @szestavilloauthor.com · 11/07/2026

In a digital world, it’s sad to see print slowly disappear. #Newspapers and magazines once came to life on presses like this one inside the old Fresno Bee building. Now it’s being demolished, with its final pages still frozen mid-run. #AuthorSky #Journalism

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SZ Estavillo @szestavilloauthor.com · 05/07/2026

150 publishers rejected The Serpent’s Bridge & The Serpent Woman on sub with my former agent. They were supposed to die there. Instead, they landed in my contracted Serpent Series & hit #1 in Amazon’s Free Store. Sometimes the story they passed becomes the one that proves them wrong. #AuthorSky

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SZ Estavillo @szestavilloauthor.com · 04/07/2026

We traded liberal L.A. for conservative Central California where churches are on every corner because homeownership was finally possible. I didn’t expect one of my favorite sights to be this: “God’s doors are open to all.” That’s a message I think the world could use a little more of. #LifeSky

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SZ Estavillo @szestavilloauthor.com · 01/07/2026

The moment I saw this #bookish DIY kit, I had to have it. My 11-year-old put it together, and I’m honestly obsessed with how it turned out. Whoever designed this knew their audience. Tiny books ✔️ Tiny bookstore ✔️ Tiny coffee cup ✔️ Tiny sleeping cat ✔️ Book lovers never stood a chance. 📚 #BookSky

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SZ Estavillo @szestavilloauthor.com · 30/06/2026

Never thought I’d say this, but I prefer Kindle books. People act like reading a physical book is somehow the “real” reading experience. I disagree. The words & story are the same. If a book makes me laugh, cry, scares me, or keeps me up, I don’t care what format it’s in. #AuthorSky #BookSky

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SZ Estavillo @szestavilloauthor.com · 28/06/2026

What I’ve learned since becoming an author under contract: As a writer, I could write at my own pace. As an author, the deadline sets the pace. When you’re writing a series, the work never really stops. It’s incredibly rewarding, but it also asks for sacrifices most people never see. #AuthorSky

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SZ Estavillo @szestavilloauthor.com · 27/06/2026

One thing I’ve realized lately… I don’t lack work ethic. I work full time, freelance, & write books. There’s always more work. Working hard is easy. Avoiding burnout is the hard part. You can’t pour your best ideas onto the page if you’ve emptied yourself everywhere else. #AuthorSky #HealthSky

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SZ Estavillo @szestavilloauthor.com · 24/06/2026

Funny how a character can accidentally age 2 years between chapters or their name suddenly decide it has a different spelling. That’s why revisions matter. Reading & rereading your manuscript may be tedious, but it’s the only way to catch the little details that quietly slip through. #AuthorSky

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SZ Estavillo @szestavilloauthor.com · 23/06/2026

Started editing my book and realized I needed a break. So tonight, I’m trading revisions for a game night with my kids. The manuscript will still be there tomorrow. Sometimes the best thing for creativity is to unplug, be present, and refill the well. #AuthorSky #FamilySky

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SZ Estavillo @szestavilloauthor.com · 21/06/2026

To all the amazing dads who read the bedtime stories, made the library runs, bought the books & encouraged a love of reading. My daughter read Harry Potter at 5 & is reading Gone with the Wind at 11. #HappyFathersDay to the dads who helped spark a lifelong love of reading. ❤️📚 #BookSky #AuthorSky

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SZ Estavillo @szestavilloauthor.com · 20/06/2026

One thing that keeps me grounded is nature. 🌿 We planted two red tip photinia trees in our backyard, and they transformed the space. When so much of life is spent on screens, it’s nice to step outside, recharge, and remember that some of the best inspiration grows quietly. #AuthorSky #NatureSky

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SZ Estavillo @szestavilloauthor.com · 17/06/2026

Yesterday I swam 100 laps in our pool & felt so much better afterward. Cut out wine. 70 days sober, lost 18 pounds, & excited that my wedding ring fits again. Between revising Book 5 + juggling work, I’m learning that small, healthier choices really do add up over time. #AuthorSky #HealthSky

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SZ Estavillo @szestavilloauthor.com · 16/06/2026

When the pool is already 86° and we haven’t even hit the peak heat of summer yet, you know it’s going to be a hot one. 🥵 My goals this summer: stay cool, get my book edits done, and try not to melt into a puddle somewhere between Chapter 1 and “The End.” #AuthorSky #SummerBreak

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SZ Estavillo @szestavilloauthor.com · 14/06/2026

Apparently “Liane Moriarty” has been emailing me repeatedly. Spoiler: it’s not actually her, just a loser scammer pretending to be a famous author. Blocked & created a filter to auto delete their email. Indie authors have enough shit to deal with. Leave us alone & get a real hobby. #AuthorSky

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SZ Estavillo @szestavilloauthor.com · 13/06/2026

Drove past a place called Club Skin Gym today and for a solid second I thought it was a nudist fitness center. Turns out it’s skincare. Although “Club Skin Gym” still sounds like something I probably shouldn’t Google at work. #RandomThoughts

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SZ Estavillo @szestavilloauthor.com · 12/06/2026

Trying to edit a manuscript with the kids home for summer is an adventure. But today my son, who just turned 5, swam without his floaties for the first time. I’m so proud of him! Building a pool in the backyard was one of the best investments we ever made. ☀️ #AuthorSky #ParentSky

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SZ Estavillo @szestavilloauthor.com · 09/06/2026

Work is busy. The kids are officially out of school. The to-do list keeps growing. And somewhere in the middle of all that, I still need to revise a novel. Being a writer isn’t always about finding inspiration. Sometimes it’s about finding 20 quiet minutes & refusing to give them away. #AuthorSky

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SZ Estavillo @szestavilloauthor.com · 06/06/2026

One of the coolest parts of being an author: meeting a random reader in person. 😊 Started chatting with someone at the mall, he bought my book & later sent me a photo of it. Just a genuine connection between an author & a new reader. Organic reach is still my favorite kind. 🖤 #AuthorSky #BookSky

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SZ Estavillo @szestavilloauthor.com · 30/05/2026

Proud mom moment. My daughter is one of the smallest girls on her soccer team, yet she finished the season with the most goals scored—5 total. Just because you’re small doesn’t mean you can’t do great things. Heart, determination, and hard work matter far more than size. ⚽❤️ #ParentSky

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SZ Estavillo @szestavilloauthor.com · 28/05/2026

My son turns 5 today & already has overcome some health scares. He was born premature & spent 2 weeks in the NICU. At 15 months, he developed streptococcus pneumoniae, became septic & underwent life-saving emergency surgery. He’s healthy today & we couldn’t be prouder. Happy Birthday!💙 #ParentSky

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SZ Estavillo @szestavilloauthor.com · 28/05/2026

I feel so dumb 😂 When The Serpent’s Bridge hit #1 during free promo, I didn’t even know where to find the public Amazon category pages to screenshot it. Another crime thriller author sent me this from a reader group. By then it had dropped to #3, but it really did hit #1. #AuthorSky

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SZ Estavillo @szestavilloauthor.com · 24/05/2026

Spent the day in Yosemite yesterday and honestly needed it after finishing my manuscript and dealing with computer issues. Sometimes you get so caught up in work and life that you forget how good it feels to slow down, breathe fresh air, and just be in nature for a while. 🌲 #AuthorSky #NatureSky

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SZ Estavillo @szestavilloauthor.com · 24/05/2026

I’m not only good at killing bad guys in my books—I kill laptops too.😭 Dropped my MacBook today. Screen stayed black. Thought I lost Book 5 I just finished drafting & had mini heart attack. Thank God for the iCloud. Ended up upgrading to a MacBook Pro since I do so much video editing. #AuthorSky

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SZ Estavillo @szestavilloauthor.com · 23/05/2026

So it’s official. The Serpent’s Bridge is currently: #1 FREE in the entire Amazon Kindle Store #1 in Serial Killers #1 in Vigilante Justice With millions of books on Amazon, seeing my thriller hit the top spot is surreal. Thanks to every reader who gave this series a chance.🖤 #AuthorSky #BookSky

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SZ Estavillo @szestavilloauthor.com · 23/05/2026

Honestly kind of blown away right now. The Serpent’s Bridge just hit: #1 in Crime Thrillers #2 in Serial Killers #2 in Vigilante Justice …and cracked the Top 200 in the entire free Kindle Store. Been a very hard week, so seeing this means more than people probably realize.🖤 #AuthorSky #BookSky

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SZ Estavillo @szestavilloauthor.com · 22/05/2026

I just finished drafting Book 5 in the Serpent Series. There were days where I felt burned out, stuck, or convinced I’d never get through this draft, so finally reaching the end feels pretty surreal. Now comes revisions, but finally typing “The End” again feels incredibly rewarding. #AuthorSky

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