iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Xan van Rooyen @xanwriter.bsky.social · 12/10/2026

Now a little piece of him will always be with me... My heart feels a little less weighed down by grief today. (excuse the redness, my skin didn't take so kindly to needles and ink today)

Photo of a freshly done tattoo: black pawprint with blue watercolor splashes around it on the shoulder of a pale, white nonbinary person in a grey tank top.

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Xan van Rooyen @xanwriter.bsky.social · 10/10/2026

Just a reminder that these three titles are currently only 99c wherever you buy books! Rowans: books2read.com/u/m2l8xR Robot: books2read.com/u/38dXE7 Obscura Burning: books2read.com/u/bryMWz #booksky #amreading #halloweenhauntfest

books2read.com

Available now at your favorite digital store!

By the Blood of Rowans by Xan van Rooyen

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Xan van Rooyen @xanwriter.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

It's time for the Indievisible Halloween Hauntfest! For the next few days, Obscura Burning, By the Blood of Rowans, and I Heart Robot will be on sale for only 99c wherever you buy ebooks! Get 'em while you can! #booksky #amreading

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Xan van Rooyen @xanwriter.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Wanna know more about Born of Malice and how this novel came to be? You can read all about it at the link below: #booksky

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Xan van Rooyen @xanwriter.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Come join me and Cheryl S. Ntumy chatting about all things Born of Malice in 50 minutes!! Sign up at the link below: #booksky

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Xan van Rooyen @xanwriter.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Reviews like this give me life 😅 and make me wanna keep writing!! #amwriting #booksky

Graphic from a review of the Born in Malice audiobook. Black text in light purple banner reads:
Born Of Malice by Xan Van Rooyen

BORN OF MALICE GRABBED ME BY THE THROAT.
DARK, MESSY, DELICIOUSLY FUCKED UP, AND SOMEHOW HAD ME ROOTING FOR DECISIONS I WOULD NEVER DEFEND IN COURT. XAN VAN ROOYEN... WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU PUT IN THIS BOOK?!
BECAUSE | INHALED IT.

The book cover is on the right of the image against a beige background.

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Xan van Rooyen @xanwriter.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

BORN OF MALICE is now available wherever you buy books! You can also join me online tomorrow for a reading, Q&A, and giveaway by signing up at the link here: links.ruadanbooks.com/BOMLaunch #booksky #amreading #newrelease

Photo of the author (white, brown haired, nonbinary person with short hair flopped over to the right) wearing a black hoodie holding a paperback copy of Born of Malice, staring directly into the camera.

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Xan van Rooyen @xanwriter.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

BORN OF MALICE IS FINALLY HERE!! 🎊🎊🎊 Happy Book Birthday to me!! #amreading #booksky

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Xan van Rooyen @xanwriter.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Born of Malice comes out TOMORROW!!!

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Reposted by Xan van Rooyen

Ruadán Books @ruadanbooks.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Meet the factions of @xanwriter.bsky.social's BORN OF MALICE, coming 10.02.26! Fun fact: Savat may or may not have a sleeping god underneath it. Pre-order in your favorite format from your favorite bookstore! Or direct for a neat set of character art cards: links.ruadanbooks.com/BOM #BookSky

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Xan van Rooyen @xanwriter.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

I hope to see you online this Sunday! I can't wait to chat about my book and answer all your questions. #amreading #booksky

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Reposted by Xan van Rooyen

Ruadán Books @ruadanbooks.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Meet the factions of @xanwriter.bsky.social's BORN OF MALICE, out 10.02.26! The Sodality is no one's idea of a good time. Find this dark epic fantasy in paperback, ebook, & audio formats wherever books are sold. Order direct, get art cards: links.ruadanbooks.com/BOM #BookSky #darkfantasy

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Xan van Rooyen @xanwriter.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Please join me online at 21:00 Helsinki time October 4th for the launch of Born of Malice, my brand new Afrocentric dark fantasy novel which comes out next week!! Register here: links.ruadanbooks.com/BOMLaunch #amreading #booksky

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Xan van Rooyen @xanwriter.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

There is nothing more validating as an author than having a reader tell you a character you wrote made them feel seen! This is why I write. This is why I write queer and neurodivergent characters, and why I will never stop! #amwriting

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Xan van Rooyen @xanwriter.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

When an author you greatly admire blurbs your book 😍😍😍 #booksky

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Xan van Rooyen @xanwriter.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

The best part about participating in cons like LACon and now the @flightsoffoundry.bsky.social event has been how much I've learned from my fellow panelists! So many new books added to my TBR pile, so many new organisations to support, so many new awesome creatives to follow! I am so very grateful!

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Reposted by Xan van Rooyen

CL Hellisen @clhellisen.com · 20/09/2026

Book 23 Exquisite Decay - @xanwriter.bsky.social's extremely queer YA cyberpunk retelling of The Picture of Dorian Gray. And I very much enjoyed - I'm a sucker for the cyber-hedonistic aesthetic, the non-binary prinxes, the cruelty of humanity, and the flicker of revolution

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Xan van Rooyen @xanwriter.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

As always, such a blast getting to chat about all things @sauutiverse.bsky.social

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Xan van Rooyen @xanwriter.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Thank you for the fabulous chat about genre bending today for @flightsoffoundry.bsky.social If you missed it, you can watch the recording on the Flights of Foundry website. Cheers to @genni.bsky.social @stephenembleton.bsky.social and @nerinedorman.bsky.social for an awesome discussion. #booksky

A screenshot from the Flights of Foundry panel on Genre bedning in Afrocentric speculative fiction featuring the four panelists. Top left: Nerine Dorman; top right: Stephen Embleton; bottom left Xan van Rooyen; bottom right: Eugen Bacon.

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Reposted by Xan van Rooyen

Three-Lobed Burning Eye magazine @3lobedmag.com · 18/09/2026

We won’t get any funds if we don’t reach our goal in the next 12 days. For the love of horror, fantasy, and science fiction—back us so we can bring you more stories in 2027! kck.st/4x4r1oz

A bar chart showing 42%, along with the 3LBE masthead

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Xan van Rooyen @xanwriter.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Such a great month of reading for me and I'm so glad to share:

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Xan van Rooyen @xanwriter.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Let me state loudly and unequivocally that I am VEHEMENTLY opposed to the use of genAI for creative endeavours. To be explicit, if you use AI to 'write' a book for you, please don't expect me to read it, let alone blurb it. Is this clear now? #booksky

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Reposted by Xan van Rooyen

Ruadán Books @ruadanbooks.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Meet the major players from @xanwriter.bsky.social's BORN OF MALICE, a dark epic fantasy out 10.2.26. Demigods & their devotees don't play by the rules in this political powder keg of a city by the sea. Brace yourself & hold onto reality—if you can. Pre-order: links.ruadanbooks.com/BOM #BookSky

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Xan van Rooyen @xanwriter.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

When you're home sick, barely slept, and feel like garbage but still want to be productive because you feel guilty for not accomplishing the things on your to-do list because you now have time to do them 😣🙃

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Xan van Rooyen @xanwriter.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

I'll be participating in the Flights of Foundry event this weekend! Check out my schedule below... All the events are held online so you can join in from anywhere in the world. All times below are in Helsinki time. flights-of-foundry.org #booksky #flightsoffoundry

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Ruadán Books @ruadanbooks.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

When the children of Death argue, things get... messy. And you get one captivating, epic family drama, according to @saranorja.bsky.social. @xanwriter.bsky.social's BORN OF MALICE is out October 2, 2026. 🔗 links.ruadanbooks.com/BOM #BookSky #darkfantasy

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Xan van Rooyen @xanwriter.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

If you're a fan of stories focused on familial relationships, check out the titles below: Born of Malice is on the list! My dark fantasy novel all about factious siblings trying not to end the world - even though they'd like to end each other - comes out Oct 2! books.bookfunnel.com/fantasyfamil...

books.bookfunnel.com

Family Ties: Fantasy With Strong Family Bonds (September 2026)

Searching for your next favorite story? Look no further! These bestselling authors have teamed up to offer a delightful selection of new books. Available for a limited time.

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Xan van Rooyen @xanwriter.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

Cannot wait for you to meet my demigod protagonists, Chaos and Nightmare, as they're forced to set aside past grievances in order save an ancient city steeped in magic from certain destruction... #booksky #amreading

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Xan van Rooyen @xanwriter.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

As someone who loves audiobooks, I am so happy Born of Malice is now available as an audiobook too!! You can get the ALC on Netgalley or pre-order from wherever you get your audiobooks! #booksky #audiobooks

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Xan van Rooyen @xanwriter.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Thank you so much!! I'm so glad you enjoyed the panels!

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Xan van Rooyen @xanwriter.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

Just wrapped up my final WorldCon event, moderated by @kashinggiwa.bsky.social - it was an excellent panel and perfect way to end a brilliant weekend. I learned so much & got to meet some amazing, inspiring writers. Thank you to everyone who tuned in virtually and to @laworldcon.bsky.social ❤️

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Xan van Rooyen @xanwriter.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

There's a massive indie book sale happening right now! If you wanna support indie authors, please consider picking up a title or two... indiebook.sale #booksky

indiebook.sale

Narratess Indie August Sale

Narratess Indie Book Sale

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Xan van Rooyen @xanwriter.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

Oof, I have a dilemma! Do I pursue this vampire story and develop it into the novella/novel it could be, or do I restructure it into a short story to fit the word count of a specific anthology call? I am so torn! I see this story's potential but it was meant to be 10k words 😭 #amwriting

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Xan van Rooyen @xanwriter.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Thank you!! It was a great discussion!

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Xan van Rooyen @xanwriter.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

but then I'd be losing my notebooks with ZERO way of recovering the lost words 😭

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Reposted by Xan van Rooyen

The Sauúti Collective @sauutiverse.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

JOIN US @laworldcon.bsky.social! The African Speculative Fiction Society Presents: The Sauúti Collective: A New Model for Creative Worldbuilding Virtual 1 (Online) 10:30 PDT (18:30 BST) with Cheryl Ntumy, J. Umeh, @stephenembleton.bsky.social (moderator), @wtalabi.com and @xanwriter.bsky.social

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Xan van Rooyen @xanwriter.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

But like... This was meant to be a vampire romance story but suddenly riots, rebellion, disrupting the status quo, eating the rich (literally) - why Brain, why must we always!? 🙃 #amwriting

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