Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Jacquelyn Benson @jbensonink.bsky.social · 18h

Ahhh jealous! I'm so excited to read Death-Made Prince!

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Jacquelyn Benson @jbensonink.bsky.social · 20h

Loved this read!

Stephanie Burgis @stephanieburgis.bsky.social · 1d

A quick reminder for everyone in the UK (and mainland Europe, too!) that Wooing the Witch Queen's British edition is currently on sale in ebook for 99p!

Snap it up: www.panmacmillan.com/authors/step...

#romancelandia

An open e-reader shows the gorgeous UK cover of Wooing the Witch Queen in color on its screen. The e-reader is set on a rustic wooden table beside candles and a pine cone and a cup of hot chocolate with marshallows. A bubble reads: 99p!

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Jacquelyn Benson @jbensonink.bsky.social · 20h

Joined a live reading of George Orwell's 1984 this morning in honor of #bannedbooksweek.

"Power is in tearing human minds to pieces and putting them together again in new shapes of your own choosing."

Reposted by Jacquelyn Benson

Noam "Free Link" Law-msky @noamlaw.bsky.social · 4d

want to close your Wells Fargo account because you want to punish them for siccing ICE on a building of impoverished immigrants that Wells Fargo execs wanted to foreclose and sell?

here's how

Mama Murphy☘️ @mamamurphy.bsky.social · 4d

Here’s how you can close your account:

Call 1-800-TO-WELLS (1-800-869-3557)
Visit a Wells Fargo branch near you.
You can close most accounts immediately when:

The account has a positive or zero balance.
All deposits, outstanding and pending items are posted.

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Jacquelyn Benson @jbensonink.bsky.social · 5d

Bahahahahaha perfect

Jacquelyn Benson @jbensonink.bsky.social · 5d

Any guesses? 🔥

ARCs for Arrow of Fortune are coming soon. Apply for my Street Team now to get in on the fun. forms.gle/86HLXFgpnTeL...

Illustration of Constance, a British-Indian debutante in a white lawn dress, with quote "We just need to find a way to pass the time that doesn't involve contemplating our possible slow and painful deaths."

Illustration of Neil, a scholar with spectacles and a tweed suit, with text "Like what?"

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Jacquelyn Benson @jbensonink.bsky.social · 8d

The vintage-inspired hardcover for Arrow of Fortune features:

✨ Four new scene illustrations
✨ Deckled page edges
✨ Historically-inspired interior layout
✨ Patterned end papers with bookplate
✨ Ribbon bookmark
✨ Sewn lay-flat binding with colored end bands
✨ Hand signed by me

All three 1898 editions of the raiders of the arcana books in purple, blue, and green on a textured background with text "add to your collection or collect all three"

Jacquelyn Benson @jbensonink.bsky.social · 8d

It's here! We have cover art for the 1898 Edition of Arrow of Fortune!

Gold and black foil design on purple cloth by Averil. And I love that we're featuring Neil and Constance on this one.

Follow the campaign at jacquelynbenson.com/1898

Standard Arrow of Fortune paperback book on purple background with purple clothbound gold and black foiled special edition. Text reads "New 1898 Edition" with list of features.

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Jacquelyn Benson @jbensonink.bsky.social · 9d

your regular friendly reminder that algorithms are the devil

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Reposted by Jacquelyn Benson

Stephanie Burgis @stephanieburgis.bsky.social · 16d

It's our monthly party day on the Lamplighters gaslamp fantasy Discord! Join in by subscribing to the Patreon of any of the author-hosts, including me: patreon.com/stephanieburgis

Other awesome hosts include @booksbyintisar.bsky.social , @oliviaatwater.com , @jbensonink.bsky.social , & more.

Creating Stories and Book Recs

patreon.com

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Jacquelyn Benson @jbensonink.bsky.social · 15d

So ACOFAE podcast did an episode on Empire of Shadows and I cackled. A few favorite quotes. Find it here: beacons.ai/acofaepodcast

Empire of Shadows on green background with quote "I've read this four times and I'm not ashamed to say that."

Empire of Shadows on green background with quote "So like you have Ellie being like f*** marriage and then you have Adam being like f*** money and f*** marriage."

Empire of Shadows on green background with quote "I think it would be fun swimming with manatees even though it's illegal to touch manatees now."

Empire of Shadows on green background with quote "it is not closed door on the internet. No it is not."

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Jacquelyn Benson @jbensonink.bsky.social · 16d

My lovely PA put this list together for me, and I was so delighted to see some friends and favs on there... but really it's like X-Men and Sherlock had a moody, spooky book baby.

Series complete. Find it anywhere they have books.

Book covers for One Dark Window, Night Circus, A Study in Drowning, Chain of Gold, and Half of Soul with tropes "dashing mmc" "supernatural" "gothic vibes" "romance" "badass fmc" "mystery" and text "Then you need to check out the London Charismatics series!"

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Reposted by Jacquelyn Benson

Stephanie Burgis @stephanieburgis.bsky.social · 17d

Only 5 days from wide publication day, this week's Wednesday snippet comes from A Honeymoon of Grave Consequence!

Preorder now for the special advance price of $2.99/£2.49: books2read.com/honeymoonGrave

#romancelandia

The illustrated cover for A Honeymoon of Grave Consequence, by Stephanie Burgis, shows the silhouette of an elegant traveling carriage over the title and a bat with wings outstretched underneath, all of it framed by apples and with mirrors at the top and the bottom of the image. Above and beside the cover is this snippet of text: For a long moment, the undead creature simply gaped at her in what appeared to be wordless disbelief.
Then they dropped their curled fists to their sides and said in a far less sinister but infinitely more petulant tone, “You’re supposed to be frightened of me!”
“Pah,” said Margaret, and went back to her work.

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Jacquelyn Benson @jbensonink.bsky.social · 17d

Meet the cast of Arrow of Fortune! Who's your favorite?

Coming at you Nov 18:
🌿 legendary demon haunted forest
🐅 surprise tigers
🧪 experiments in kissing
🏹 epic Indian history
👖 everybody's in trousers
✊ giving imperialists hell
🪩 Bollywood dance moves
⚗️ even more practical chemistry

Illustration of Ellie - freckled suffragette in a blouse and waistcoat - with text "Ellie Mallory. known aliases: “Princess”. English suffragette and scholar. Interested in dead languages, archives, and blowing things up. May have a thing for the muddy surveyor
who broke down her washroom door." Quote at bottom: "It's not as though I have any reputation worth speaking of."

Illustration of blonde scruffy surveyor with machete and fedora. Text reads "Adam Bates. Rugged American surveyor who refuses to keep his shirt on. Deeply attached to his machete. Loves dogs. Might not have changed his socks. Wants to teach Ellie some very important things behind closed doors." Quote at bottom: "I've had my tongue in your ear. I'm pretty sure we can drop the 'Mister'."

Illustration of heiress in white lawn dress. Text reads "Constance Tyrell
known aliases: “Danger Gnome”. Ellie’s best friend. English socialite with family from Indian royalty. Master of self defense. About to discover the delights of wearing trousers. Still debating whether to run away with a Bedouin sheik." Quote at the bottom: "I have taken the precaution of securing a few knives about my person in the usual places."

Illustration of pale scholar with spectacles in tweed suit. Text reads: Neil Fairfax. known aliases: “Stuffy”. Ellie’s older stepbrother and Adam’s best friend. English archaeologist. Wears tweed. Unwittingly acquired a magic sword he has no idea how to use. Would really like
everyone to leave him alone with his books ... except maybe Constance." Quote at the bottom: "Battle? There's no battling in archaeology!"

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Jacquelyn Benson @jbensonink.bsky.social · 17d

... But did he really? 😂🧪🧨🔥

Pick it up now if you like the sound of:

🔥 The Mummy but with more kissing
🌀 Mesoamerican history
✊ fighting the patriarchy
🪲 danger bugs
🌊 oops there's a waterfall
✨ all the witty banter
👕 shirts? Who needs 'em?

Book Three coming in November!

Illustration of male blonde vintage adventurer with text "Princess, you fell on me from a balcony with a gag on... I'm pretty sure I knew how much trouble I was getting into." With picture of Empire of Shadows hardcover.

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Jacquelyn Benson @jbensonink.bsky.social · 19d

Want to curl up with the Raiders of the Arcana on a frosty fall morning? US folks can grab signed copies of Empire of Shadows and Tomb of the Sun King from jacquelynbenson.com ...with Arrow of Fortune coming soon!

Open title page of Tomb of the Sun King with author signature and handwritten slogan "keep choosing courage". Set on a cozy blanket with an oil lamp, vintage eyeglasses and baby's breath flowers.

Tomb of the Sun King hardcover set on a cozy blanket with an oil lamp, vintage eyeglasses and baby's breath flowers.

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Jacquelyn Benson @jbensonink.bsky.social · 19d

I need to find a hot minute for this one. It looks like so much fun.

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Jacquelyn Benson @jbensonink.bsky.social · 22d

Recognize the irony of writing about the joys of Windows Focus Mode while scrolling Bluesky.

But I'm eating a sandwich, guys. You can't Focus Mode while you're nomming chicken salad.

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Jacquelyn Benson @jbensonink.bsky.social · 22d

Have just discovered Windows Focus Mode. The brain squirrels better get ready.

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Jacquelyn Benson @jbensonink.bsky.social · 22d

The first step in conquering your brain squirrels is admitting that you have brain squirrels.

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Jacquelyn Benson @jbensonink.bsky.social · 23d

At laaaaaast! Paperback, hardcover, and ebooks of Raiders Book 3 should be available for preorder now everywhere books are sold! (With some possible stragglers outside the US.)

Get links at books2read.com/raidersarcana3

Coming November 18, or get it early through my Renegade Scholars Club.

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Jacquelyn Benson @jbensonink.bsky.social · 26d

Dying to get your hands on Arrow of Fortune? My Renegade Scholars subscribers on Patreon get the ebook free a month early. Join the club at patreon.com/jacquelynben....

collage showing pictures of Indian foggy mountain countryside, red and gold sari fabric, and a Hindu temple with text "Arrow of Fortune aesthetic"

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Jacquelyn Benson @jbensonink.bsky.social · Sep 10

Here for any of these tropes?

Just still gushing over the London Charismatics series glow-up. These new covers are killing me. 😍

Fire in the Glass paperback with gold art nouveau filigree and illustration of Edwardian woman holding up a red lamp. Book is on a background that is an opaque close-up of the illustration, showing the london skyline. Surrounded by arrows with tropes such as "motorcycle riding badass heroine" "the slowest of slow burns" "edwardian x-men meets sherlock"

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Jacquelyn Benson @jbensonink.bsky.social · Sep 8

well doesn't this sound absolutely delightful

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Reposted by Jacquelyn Benson

Read Indie Fantasy.com @blog.readindiefantasy.com · Sep 4

Today we're excited to host a cover re-reveal with these gorgeous new covers for The London Charismatics series by @jbensonink.bsky.social!

These are a four-book spooky, surreal fantasy series starting with The Fire in the Glass! 🔥

www.readindiefantasy.com/cover-re-rev...

A banner image of a giant hand holding a book in a forest and a blurred cover for The London Charismatics series by Jacquelyn Benson with the words Cover Reveal!

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