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P.A. Cornell (She/Her) @cornellwriter.bsky.social · 20m

Today’s lovely words about SHOESHINE BOY & CIGARETTE GIRL come from @elianeboey.bsky.social. Thank you so much Eliane. 🥹

"A heartfelt story about trust, love, and the other unsaid things that light the path to our dreams; even to the moon. I read it in one sitting!"
— Eliane Boey, author of Club Contango

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P.A. Cornell (She/Her) @cornellwriter.bsky.social · 3h

I’m SOUTH American. Beans are life! Lol (and I love a full English breakfast. Beans are a must with that)

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Reposted by P.A. Cornell (She/Her)

Catherine Tavares @cjtavares.bsky.social · 18h

Do you like awesome spec fiction? Do you like awesome spec magazines? Are you yourself awesome*?

If you answered yes to any of the above, then please consider donating to Apex's Kickstarter because they make the world awesome!

*Pro Tip: Awesome people donate to Apex. 😁

Apex Magazine (is funding for 2026!) 🎉 @apexmag.bsky.social · 2d

NEW KICKSTARTER TIER UNLOCKED! At 110%, each backer will receive a NEW BRAIN 🧠 with zero microplastics*🚮, a normal amount of dopamine**😃✨, and the ability to see shrimp colors***🦐🌈!

* okay maybe a few microplastics
**what is “normal” anyway?
*** 9 out of 10 shrimps recommend!

Apex Magazine 2026

An award-winning digital literary magazine of science fiction, dark fantasy, and horror.

www.kickstarter.com

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P.A. Cornell (She/Her) @cornellwriter.bsky.social · 9h

SHOESHINE BOY & CIGARETTE GIRL would smell like shoe polish, smoke, rocket fuel and diner coffee. Hmm… @starsandsabers.bsky.social I think it might be best to skip this particular marketing strategy.

L. D. Lewis, Peach Jolly Rancher 🍬 @ldlewiswrites.blacksky.app · 18h

What would *your* book smell like if you engaged in a mega weirdo scented pages promotional campaign?

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P.A. Cornell (She/Her) @cornellwriter.bsky.social · 9h

Can you ever go wrong with beans on toast? No, you cannot.

Anne Mo 😷 @toughestfrail.com · 14h

What's your favorite low effort meal?

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P.A. Cornell (She/Her) @cornellwriter.bsky.social · 19h

ICYMI some more lovely blurbs from @omgjulia.bsky.social and Jesse Reid. Thank you both so much. 😊

P.A. Cornell (She/Her) @cornellwriter.bsky.social · 2d

It’s Thanksgiving in Canada and one thing I’m thankful for are the people who’ve taken time out of their lives to read my novelette ahead of its release in February. Blurbs are starting to come in and I’m thrilled early readers are enjoying it. Here are a couple of the nice things they’re saying.

Praise for Shoeshine Boy & Cigarette Girl
"It's impossible not to fall in love with Shoeshine Boy's earnest hope and Cigarette Girl's scrappy sweetness. A charming retrofuture Toronto is the perfect backdrop for the story of this delightful couple. P.A. Cornell promises us the moon, and she definitely delivers!"
- Julia Rios, Hugo and Bram Stoker Award-winning editor

"Shoeshine Boy & Cigarette Girl feels like a classic tale with a delightful sprinkling of retro space dreams. In this zingy and charming story, you can't help but fall in love with Cigarette Girl and Shoeshine Boy and will quickly find yourself rooting for their sweet nature against the harsh realities of the world. The writing is filled with vivid descriptions that make the story pop right off the page."
- Jesse Reid, author of Bran Finds His Feathers

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P.A. Cornell (She/Her) @cornellwriter.bsky.social · 21h

Congrats!

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P.A. Cornell (She/Her) @cornellwriter.bsky.social · 21h

Sorry for your loss, Rhonda.

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P.A. Cornell (She/Her) @cornellwriter.bsky.social · 22h

Blurbs continue to come in for SHOESHINE BOY & CIGARETTE GIRL so I figured I’d share them one at a time in no particular order. Today’s selection comes from @paulcornell.bsky.social because the final line just made me laugh. 😀 Too kind, Paul.

"A hard-worn romance that means it, the hope and commitment we need right now, from the best writer called P. Cornell."
— Paul Cornell, author of I Walk With Monsters, the Lychford novels, and writer on Doctor Who

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Reposted by P.A. Cornell (She/Her)

Apex Magazine (is funding for 2026!) 🎉 @apexmag.bsky.social · 2d

NEW KICKSTARTER TIER UNLOCKED! At 110%, each backer will receive a NEW BRAIN 🧠 with zero microplastics*🚮, a normal amount of dopamine**😃✨, and the ability to see shrimp colors***🦐🌈!

* okay maybe a few microplastics
**what is “normal” anyway?
*** 9 out of 10 shrimps recommend!

Apex Magazine 2026

An award-winning digital literary magazine of science fiction, dark fantasy, and horror.

www.kickstarter.com

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P.A. Cornell (She/Her) @cornellwriter.bsky.social · 1d

Share a cartoon from the past kids today probably never heard of. 📺

Once Upon a Time…Man.
Shows several cartoon people dressed in clothing from different historical eras.

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Reposted by P.A. Cornell (She/Her)

Jendia Gammon @jendiagammon.bsky.social · 2d

You're gonna LOVE this darling sci-fi romance, out next Valentine's Day! Just wait until you see the cover...
@cornellwriter.bsky.social is awesome.

Stars and Sabers @starsandsabers.bsky.social · 2d

Be our Valentine! Not long until the cover reveal for Nebula finalist @cornellwriter.bsky.social’s SHOESHINE BOY & CIGARETTE GIRL, out just in time for Valentine’s Day 2026! This retrofuturistic, sci-fi romance novelette will charm you to the moon and back.
#scifi #books #scifiromance #2026books

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Reposted by P.A. Cornell (She/Her)

P.A. Cornell (She/Her) @cornellwriter.bsky.social · 2d

It’s Thanksgiving in Canada and one thing I’m thankful for are the people who’ve taken time out of their lives to read my novelette ahead of its release in February. Blurbs are starting to come in and I’m thrilled early readers are enjoying it. Here are a couple of the nice things they’re saying.

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P.A. Cornell (She/Her) @cornellwriter.bsky.social · 1d

I concur.

Thomas Ha @thomasha.bsky.social · 1d

short stories

Rachel Feder @rachelfeder.bsky.social · 2d

Tell me your most unhinged literary opinion, as a little treat

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Reposted by P.A. Cornell (She/Her)

Pauline Barmby @pbarmby.bsky.social · 1d

Finished reading Year’s Best Canadian Fantasy & Science Fiction Vol 3 - so many amazing stories!*

My favorite: Sophie Gazarian’s “The World in Our Hands,” from @fusionfragment.bsky.social.

You should get this book: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B...

*(Also one by me which may or may not be amazing.)

Year’s Best Canadian Fantasy and Science Fiction: Volume Three

Year’s Best Canadian Fantasy and Science Fiction: Volume Three - Kindle edition by Kotowych, Stephen. Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading Year’s Best Canadian Fantasy and Science Fiction: Volume Three.

www.amazon.com

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P.A. Cornell (She/Her) @cornellwriter.bsky.social · 1d

I hope you feel better soon.

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P.A. Cornell (She/Her) @cornellwriter.bsky.social · 1d

Thank you.

P.A. Cornell (She/Her) @cornellwriter.bsky.social · 1d

And to you as well.

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P.A. Cornell (She/Her) @cornellwriter.bsky.social · 1d

If you need me, I’ll be over here crawling into my grave before I completely crumble to dust.

bleary @bleary.off-the-records.com · 2d

If anyone needs me I will be in the museum, lying down next to the bog bodies.

Did people really memorize phone numbers before cell phones, or is that just a movie thing?
2? Questions
I was watching some old shows from the 90s and noticed people would just dial numbers from memory - like they'd call their friends or family without looking anything up.
Made me wonder if that was actually normal back then? Did people genuinely have all their important numbers memorized, or did most folks keep a little address book or written list nearby?

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P.A. Cornell (She/Her) @cornellwriter.bsky.social · 1d

Dealing with stress-related neck and shoulder pain for like a week now. Always fun. (Not looking for advice, just venting)

a man is crying with his mouth open and the words `` it hurts !!! '' written on the bottom .

Alt: a man is crying with his mouth open and the words `` it hurts !!! '' written on the bottom .

media.tenor.com

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P.A. Cornell (She/Her) @cornellwriter.bsky.social · 1d

This is the cutest. Love it. Wish I‘d had this when my kids were little. Hmm…do you make them large enough for 18-year-olds? Lol

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P.A. Cornell (She/Her) @cornellwriter.bsky.social · 1d

Thanks for the shoutout!

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Reposted by P.A. Cornell (She/Her)

Rod Mannix #WritingCommunity @rodmannix.bsky.social · 1d

#WritingCommunity
It's #Thanksgiving in Canada. Perfect time to check out the work of these authors from Canada.
@theelleboyd.bsky.social
@natehendley.bsky.social
@cornellwriter.bsky.social
@wendybayne.bsky.social
@timothyforner.bsky.social
@reneegendron.bsky.social
@taggartrehnnauthor.bsky.social

Check out the work of these highly-rated writers.

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P.A. Cornell (She/Her) @cornellwriter.bsky.social · 2d

Happy birthday!

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Reposted by P.A. Cornell (She/Her)

Stars and Sabers @starsandsabers.bsky.social · 2d

Be our Valentine! Not long until the cover reveal for Nebula finalist @cornellwriter.bsky.social’s SHOESHINE BOY & CIGARETTE GIRL, out just in time for Valentine’s Day 2026! This retrofuturistic, sci-fi romance novelette will charm you to the moon and back.
#scifi #books #scifiromance #2026books

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