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Zig Zag Claybourne @zzclaybourne.bsky.social · 20h

Hey #booksky, you in? www.kickstarter.com/projects/obs...

Blurb banner from author Jeffrey Ford for the upcoming fantasy novel KHUMALO TALES stating:
"Zig Zag Claybourne's Khumalo Tales continues to chart the lives of the benevolent witches of Erah through a dark, mystical quest to save their culture and homeland. Terrific writing in both scenes of action and emotion. A perfect culmination to this epic of love, family and magic."

Zig Zag Claybourne @zzclaybourne.bsky.social · 21h

Rain this morning doesn't sound orderly at all. Arrhythmic plips. Sections hitting the roof a little behind the beat. Wind keeps fumbling tempo changes. I see what nature's doing, tho. It's a Miles Davis morning. Making me hear the silences between sound as music instead of emptiness. Well played.

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Zig Zag Claybourne @zzclaybourne.bsky.social · 10/10/2026

ICYMI - "I knew when Zig decides to do something, it's not gonna be the way that other people do it..." - M. Davis www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydKG...

youtube.com

EQ Special Edition Zig Zag Claybourne - Khumalo Tales

YouTube video by MVmedia

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Zig Zag Claybourne @zzclaybourne.bsky.social · 10/10/2026

Almost the plot of Afro Puffs Are the Antennae of the Universe. Which Anthropic vacuumed up in their Great Theft Event. So, you know, do it.

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C. S. E. Cooney @csecooney.bsky.social · 10/10/2026

That cover! TRILOGY COMPLETE! And a grace to any bookshelf.

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Zig Zag Claybourne @zzclaybourne.bsky.social · 10/10/2026

I don't have any readings today, no appearances, interviews. Not a single authorly obligation. Pronouncement forthcoming: "I," said his soul, "am going to make hand pies, apple, and enjoy the taste of sugar on the air of my house. I will read chapters of a good book. If I nap carefully, I'll dream."

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Zig Zag Claybourne @zzclaybourne.bsky.social · 10/10/2026

Y'know, the set makes a great gift for an eager book lover. And there's a convenient BACKER LEVEL for just that. I. AM. JUST. SAYING. www.kickstarter.com/projects/obs...

All three novels in the Khumalo Family trilogy side by side. Breath Warmth and Dream, Amnandi Sails, and Khumalo Tales.

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Zig Zag Claybourne @zzclaybourne.bsky.social · 10/10/2026

ICYMI - Eden Royce, Emma Gibbon, Christa Carmen, Steve Gibbon, Nadia Bulkin, A.T. Sayre, Francesca Forrest, Virginia Mohlere, Amanda McGee, me, and the threat of cats murdering sundry unsuspecting authors. Last part might not be too out of the bounds of suspicion. www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTuI...

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A Very Witchy Reading

YouTube video by CSECooney

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Zig Zag Claybourne @zzclaybourne.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Good people, good times, good stories.

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Joshua Mannix @joshuamannix.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

One of the best things about short fiction is the wide net of authors you get with it all. Ive read Tade Thompson, Tlotlo Tsamaase, Jendayi Brooks-Flemister, and so many more.

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Zig Zag Claybourne @zzclaybourne.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

I'd say "Just go search" but AI would have you believing Brandon Sanderson wrote AFRO PUFFS ARE THE ANTENNAE OF THE UNIVERSE, so instead *splays hands*

geraldcoleman.com

Beginner's Guide to Black Science Fiction & Fantasy part iii

This is a beginner's guide to black science fiction and fantasy.

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Zig Zag Claybourne @zzclaybourne.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

...L.D. Lewis, DaVaun Sanders, Justin Key, Gerald L Coleman, Brandon O'Brien, LaShawn Wanak, Kinni Ibura Salaam, Sheree Renee Thomas, Andrea Hairston...

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Zig Zag Claybourne @zzclaybourne.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

And how it's a crime we're not contracted by hundreds

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Zig Zag Claybourne @zzclaybourne.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

...Tananarive Due. Tade Thompson, Tatiana Obey, Nicole Givens Kurtz, Nisi Shawl, Terence Taylor, DK Gaston, Milton Davis, Maurice Broaddus, Cerece Rennie Murphy, Minister Faust, Errick Nunnally, Karen Lord, Alex Jennings, Emmy Jackson...

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Zig Zag Claybourne @zzclaybourne.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

BLACK SPECULATIVE FICTION MONTH Approaching the 2nd weekend of the annual October celebration of the Black Fantastic, gotta ask if you've read anything by Charles Saunders, L.A. Banks, or -contemporarily- Veronica Henry, Malon Edwards, Tana Jenkins, Leslye Penelope, Rob Cameron, Linda Addison...

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Zig Zag Claybourne @zzclaybourne.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Fekkers up, down, & around, like flames on our faces. Time to pump up the good stuff and do our best to keep every sweet sweet dream fekker free.

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Mari Ness, writer of things @mariness.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Seems like a good time to note that Barnes and Noble sells individual issues of Clarkesworld, Apex, Lightspeed, Nightmare, Three-Lobed Burning Eye, Uncanny, and other zines, usually for under $5 per issue. Beneath Ceaseless Skies sells some "best ofs" for under $5 as well.

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Zig Zag Claybourne @zzclaybourne.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Full-on disingenuous BS response from them. Carbon-dating myself, but this is something Eddie Haskell would have written.

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Zig Zag Claybourne @zzclaybourne.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Joane's felt like a lending library of cool stuff never meant to be taken back. Quiet, orderly, usually staffed by folks who looked like they could get you fully cosplayed in 15 minutes if they felt like it.

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Zig Zag Claybourne @zzclaybourne.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

I used to like wandering Michael's, now it's an in-and-out if I need crafting stuff. Sigh and dang...

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Zig Zag Claybourne @zzclaybourne.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Staples keeps emailing me about $8 I have in rewards to spend, as if I'm going to use actual gas to drive there for a 3-pack of sticky notes and 1 pencil.

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Zig Zag Claybourne @zzclaybourne.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Note of correction to a mention in the piece. Nnedi writes under africanfuturist.

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Wole Talabi | Preorder THE FIST OF MEMORY @wtalabi.com · 09/10/2026

Africanfuturism is an anchor point for science fiction that is not just by Africans, or set in Africa, but about Africa. This is an excellent sampler from my brilliant publisher @dawbooks.bsky.social Its a great deal! www.humblebundle.com/books/africa...

humblebundle.com

African Futurism: Nnedi Okorafor, Wole Talabi, and Adam Oyebanji by DAW Books

Read daring, imaginative science fiction stories in this African Futurism ebook bundle! Pay what you want and support BINC!

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Zig Zag Claybourne @zzclaybourne.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Thanking you for the blessed earworm my Friday needed.

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Zig Zag Claybourne @zzclaybourne.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Reader praise of the 1st 2 books in the saga: "...the most resonating portrayal of a Black woman/Black people in the most creative, enthralling, yet realistic world I've ever read. I feel seen in a way that can last a lifetime..." Entering campaign week 2 www.kickstarter.com/projects/obs...

Silhouette of young Amnandi standing back to back with her teenaged self, a raven perched at their heads. Text from the novel KHUMALO TALES appears beside it, something a much older Amnandi recalls from childhood. "You once told me," she whispered, "that when it comes to gods, we have no dependable way of knowing which is a savior and which sees us as prey."

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Zig Zag Claybourne @zzclaybourne.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Fell asleep around midnight. Popped awake at 2. It's 4:30a. Gotta get up at 6. Free hugs.

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Zig Zag Claybourne @zzclaybourne.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

I don't wear blurbs a lot, but to celebrate the completion of this trilogy? Zoolander Blurb Runway of Advance Readers! About KHUMALO TALES, friend and ice cream connoisseur Michael Warren Lucas had this to say. www.kickstarter.com/projects/obs... (He said more, but this reaction was gold)

Banner featuring heartfelt blurb from author Michael Warren Lucas regarding the upcoming fantasy book KHUMALO TALES. "Holy crap! he said. "HOLY CRAP!"

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Zig Zag Claybourne @zzclaybourne.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

In the past hour I've seen the TV ad for the WHALEFALL movie about 10 times. On the same network. I don't feel so gnarly about sharing my Kickstarter twice a day.

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Laura Keating @lorekeating.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

We have the most dangerous people on the planet insisting the most harmless things are dangerous and the most dangerous things are harmless and anything in-between is exploitable, so yes we should all be very angry and scream Joy for the things that bring us Joy for every day we have them.

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Suzan the chalant goth @sillysyntax.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

This. It's a what's your price question. And I get it. I do. But always finding someone's price is how it continues. There is no price for the future.

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Zig Zag Claybourne @zzclaybourne.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

Every precautionary fairy tale: "Give me your name," said the Gray Fae, "such a small thing, and I will give you *everything*" May we all answer the Gray Fae thus:

Homer Simpson putting his entire soul into the most robust Phhhhhuck (no) ever

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Zig Zag Claybourne @zzclaybourne.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

If more people stood on "Being poor or new does not mean my morals perform inverse to opportunities" ... we would still be poor but have a helluva spite foundation underfoot.

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Zig Zag Claybourne @zzclaybourne.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

They're clearly playing the YOU NEED US MORE THAN WE NEED YOU game of fuckery and are about to find out. (I'm still not convinced 'crash 'n burn' isn't the endgoal anyway. If Paramount could tank Trek, MRM can tank a few imaginative outlets under "plausible loss")

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Zig Zag Claybourne @zzclaybourne.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

When they came out with this generic af umbrella company name and proclaimed all your base are belong to us, trouble was a guarantee.

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Zig Zag Claybourne @zzclaybourne.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

They think they're kings but they're just regurgitists of evil intent.

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Blaze Ward @blazeward.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

Readers: Writers would like to hear from you that you liked their book. A review, a rating, even a quick note on their website. Things like that keep us going in the dark times.

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Like Mucas @mwl.io · 08/10/2026

Great interview with @zzclaybourne.bsky.social! Lots of quotable bits, but I want to hand this to anyone who's #writing: "Ideas are tribbles." YES. Perfect.

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