Allison Pottern
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apottern.bsky.social
Allison Pottern
@apottern.bsky.social
950 followers 950 following 420 posts
Writer, reader, marketing coach, tea drinker | Grub Street & Metrowest Writers Guild instructor | VP '23 | Digging: fennel tea, dragons, salted caramel, revision | she/her #specfic #sff

linktr.ee/newyearnewyoustories
pottern.com | pottern.substack.com
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apottern.bsky.social
Allison Pottern @apottern.bsky.social · Sep 2
Just booked a writing retreat, so, er, I'd love to fit in a couple more clients/workshops for fall to help offset the cost!

I'm a writer, editor, & marketing coach. My sweet spot is helping authors w forthcoming titles navigate the book marketing engine + plan for launch. (pottern.com) 🧵
"Writing and Marketing consults with Allison Pottern Hoch. You've spent years crafting your book to get it out into the world — and I've spent 20+ years helping authors develop and market theirs. Now let me help you! Does publishing or marketing overwhelm you? Are you a debut author with book launch jitters? Does it feel like your publisher isn't giving you the marketing guidance you need? Do you need help getting your speculative fiction novel over the finish line? Are you struggling to figure out what publishing path is right for you? Book a consult today: pottern.com/book-a-session"
Reposted by Allison Pottern
alyssaharad.bsky.social
I once asked a bookseller at a large indie store how many people would have to buy a book for it to get the attention of the store buyer and cause an additional order and they said: Three.
blipstress.bsky.social violet allen @blipstress.bsky.social · 2d
I see some book piracy discourse, and, to make a positive argument in favor of buying books, your marginal ability to influence what books get published and support the careers of writers you like is massive compared to most other forms of media.
November 25, 2025 at 11:07 PM
apottern.bsky.social
You've been kidnapped. The characters from the last TV show you watched are trying to rescue you. Who's coming to save you?
November 25, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Reposted by Allison Pottern
apexmag.bsky.social
What does the ECO series have in common with pears and plums? They all grow back stronger every spring 🍐✨

THANK YOU SO MUCH for supporting ECO24! Don't forget to grab your copy of the first in the ECO series, and watch your bookshelf grow year after year 🌱📚💚

www.apexbookcompany.com/products/eco...
"Start your collection today! The ECO series RETURNS in 2026. ECO24: Out Now! ECO25: Nominations open Dec 1st-Jan 31st"
November 21, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Reposted by Allison Pottern
hugobookclub.bsky.social
Canada is releasing a set of stamps celebrating the nation's graphic novelists.

These stamps feature Kate Beaton, Jimmy Beaulieu, Guy Delisle, Julie Doucet, Bryan Lee O’Malley and Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas, alongside some of their famous works.
Stamps featuring Kate Beaton, Jimmy Beaulieu, Guy Delisle, Julie Doucet, Bryan Lee O’Malley and Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas
November 21, 2025 at 7:06 PM
apottern.bsky.social
True story: just found out that not one but TWO new bookstores are opening in my town (which hasn't had one for like, 20yr) just a few blocks from each other. Neither knew about the other until just a few weeks ago.

Is this:
a) a rom-com
b) a psychological thriller
c) a fantasy novel
d) AWESOME
November 21, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Reposted by Allison Pottern
apottern.bsky.social
It's been pointed out to me that I should take more credit: I designed our new cover, drawing on the original tremendous cover art by @sciencegeekmel.bsky.social + inspo from the gripping stories within. Get the ebook on sale today and see if you can connect the dots! books2read.com/newyearnewyo...
The shiny new cover of New Year, New You: A Speculative Anthology of Reinvention, edited by Chris Campbell with stories from Elizabeth Bear, Daryl Gregory, and more! The title is depicted as a cut-out through a navy-blue starfield, with faded images in pink and purple showing through. Images include: a clock, clouds, pomegranate cross-section, mushrooms, an astronaut, a manta ray, a circuit board, smoke, a woman's face lifting away from a robotic skull, and octopus tentacles emerging from the letter "u". There is also an award badge in the upper right corner.
November 16, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Reposted by Allison Pottern
mattielubchansky.com
work on the creative project that pays me money and that i am under contract for and that people like????? no thanks, im busy thinking about my creative project that im kind of bad at and somehow costs me money and that nobody asked for
November 19, 2025 at 2:38 AM
Reposted by Allison Pottern
alecjmarsh.bsky.social
Reposting again to emphasize that we won an award!!! Librarians picked the anthology out for best indy scifi.

Tldr librarians think we’re cool ✨ 🥈 🥰 📚
apottern.bsky.social Allison Pottern @apottern.bsky.social · 11d
It's been just over a year since this enthusiastically crowd-funded anthology was released by the coolest SFF writers I know. Our contributors have won accolades and the book itself has won an IAP award! Check out it's hot, new cover + pick it up this weekend for $5!
books2read.com/newyearnewyo...
"Celebrating sucess with a $4.99 book sale, this weekend only!" across the top in a blue banner. Below is an image of the new cover of New Year, New You on a black tablet: the letter of the title cut away from a starfield to reveal faint images of sea creatures, time pieces, and other tory elements in pink behind, including an octopus tentacle emerging from the final "us". Next to the book is a large, shiny badge that reads "Runner-up in the 2025 Annual Indie Author Project Contest" with "2025 Runner-up Science Fiction" below. Finally, in a rainbow banner across the bottom reads "Plus a swanky new cover!" Across the top: New Cover, Same Cutting-Edge Speculative Fiction. Below is a mock-up of the book New Year, New You: A Speculative Anthology of Reinvention in which the letters of the title cut away from a starfield to reveal faint images of sea creatures, time pieces, and other story elements in pink behind, including an octopus tentacle emerging from the final "u". Next to the book are endorsement quotes: "I read the whole thing twice... meticulously crafts." —Myna Chang, Microverse "Nuanced..." —Locus Magazine "Intense and beguiling..." — Sherwood Smith "Complex and experimental..." — SF Book Reviews "Delightful, thought-provoking, and multi-faceted..." — Naseem Jamnia In the bottom right corner, is a peel-away corner that reveals the words "$4.99 ebook sale! This weekend only!"
November 17, 2025 at 4:57 PM
apottern.bsky.social
It's been pointed out to me that I should take more credit: I designed our new cover, drawing on the original tremendous cover art by @sciencegeekmel.bsky.social + inspo from the gripping stories within. Get the ebook on sale today and see if you can connect the dots! books2read.com/newyearnewyo...
The shiny new cover of New Year, New You: A Speculative Anthology of Reinvention, edited by Chris Campbell with stories from Elizabeth Bear, Daryl Gregory, and more! The title is depicted as a cut-out through a navy-blue starfield, with faded images in pink and purple showing through. Images include: a clock, clouds, pomegranate cross-section, mushrooms, an astronaut, a manta ray, a circuit board, smoke, a woman's face lifting away from a robotic skull, and octopus tentacles emerging from the letter "u". There is also an award badge in the upper right corner.
November 16, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Reposted by Allison Pottern
ccastellani.bsky.social
Oh how I love our new cover. (Can't figure out what to buy your weird nephew for Xmas/Hannukkah/It's Winter Here's a Present? This.)
apottern.bsky.social Allison Pottern @apottern.bsky.social · 11d
It's been just over a year since this enthusiastically crowd-funded anthology was released by the coolest SFF writers I know. Our contributors have won accolades and the book itself has won an IAP award! Check out it's hot, new cover + pick it up this weekend for $5!
books2read.com/newyearnewyo...
"Celebrating sucess with a $4.99 book sale, this weekend only!" across the top in a blue banner. Below is an image of the new cover of New Year, New You on a black tablet: the letter of the title cut away from a starfield to reveal faint images of sea creatures, time pieces, and other tory elements in pink behind, including an octopus tentacle emerging from the final "us". Next to the book is a large, shiny badge that reads "Runner-up in the 2025 Annual Indie Author Project Contest" with "2025 Runner-up Science Fiction" below. Finally, in a rainbow banner across the bottom reads "Plus a swanky new cover!" Across the top: New Cover, Same Cutting-Edge Speculative Fiction. Below is a mock-up of the book New Year, New You: A Speculative Anthology of Reinvention in which the letters of the title cut away from a starfield to reveal faint images of sea creatures, time pieces, and other story elements in pink behind, including an octopus tentacle emerging from the final "u". Next to the book are endorsement quotes: "I read the whole thing twice... meticulously crafts." —Myna Chang, Microverse "Nuanced..." —Locus Magazine "Intense and beguiling..." — Sherwood Smith "Complex and experimental..." — SF Book Reviews "Delightful, thought-provoking, and multi-faceted..." — Naseem Jamnia In the bottom right corner, is a peel-away corner that reveals the words "$4.99 ebook sale! This weekend only!"
November 15, 2025 at 4:19 PM
apottern.bsky.social
It's been just over a year since this enthusiastically crowd-funded anthology was released by the coolest SFF writers I know. Our contributors have won accolades and the book itself has won an IAP award! Check out it's hot, new cover + pick it up this weekend for $5!
books2read.com/newyearnewyo...
"Celebrating sucess with a $4.99 book sale, this weekend only!" across the top in a blue banner. Below is an image of the new cover of New Year, New You on a black tablet: the letter of the title cut away from a starfield to reveal faint images of sea creatures, time pieces, and other tory elements in pink behind, including an octopus tentacle emerging from the final "us". Next to the book is a large, shiny badge that reads "Runner-up in the 2025 Annual Indie Author Project Contest" with "2025 Runner-up Science Fiction" below. Finally, in a rainbow banner across the bottom reads "Plus a swanky new cover!" Across the top: New Cover, Same Cutting-Edge Speculative Fiction. Below is a mock-up of the book New Year, New You: A Speculative Anthology of Reinvention in which the letters of the title cut away from a starfield to reveal faint images of sea creatures, time pieces, and other story elements in pink behind, including an octopus tentacle emerging from the final "u". Next to the book are endorsement quotes: "I read the whole thing twice... meticulously crafts." —Myna Chang, Microverse "Nuanced..." —Locus Magazine "Intense and beguiling..." — Sherwood Smith "Complex and experimental..." — SF Book Reviews "Delightful, thought-provoking, and multi-faceted..." — Naseem Jamnia In the bottom right corner, is a peel-away corner that reveals the words "$4.99 ebook sale! This weekend only!"
November 15, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Reposted by Allison Pottern
crkellogg.bsky.social
I'm so excited that @viableparadise.bsky.social 2023's anthology baby was awarded runner up from the Indie Author Project! Now we have a shiny badge for the cover!
November 14, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Reposted by Allison Pottern
chriscampbell.bsky.social
Wow, look at that fancy new cover!
Wow, awarded runner-up from the Indie Author Project!
Wow, the ebook is on sale now for $4.99!!!
www.amazon.com/New-Year-You...
November 14, 2025 at 8:35 PM
Reposted by Allison Pottern
trollbreath.com
Change is... good? Huh... who knew????

But yeah, we got some like, changes coming!

magazine.trollbreath.com/change-to-ou...
Change to Our Submission Periods - Trollbreath Magazine
Longer Submission Period Coming in 2026!
magazine.trollbreath.com
November 3, 2025 at 12:57 PM
Reposted by Allison Pottern
acwise.bsky.social
I'm beyond thrilled that my story, The Dark House, is available for your listening pleasure on the latest episode of It's Storytime with Wil Wheaton! There's a bunch of cool behind the scenes stuff on @wilwheaton.net's patreon as well. Happy Spooky Season!

www.patreon.com/posts/142200...
"The Dark House" by A.C. Wise (Ad-Free) | It's Storytime with Wil Wheaton
Get more from It's Storytime with Wil Wheaton on Patreon
www.patreon.com
October 29, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Reposted by Allison Pottern
sjacksonawards.bsky.social
Submissions for the 2025 Shirley Jackson Awards are now OPEN! (Link in bio, read guidelines)

We are thrilled to announce the jury for the 2025 Shirley Jackson Awards!

Jamal Hodge
Molly Tanzer
Craig Laurance Gidney
Terri Leigh Relf
Mike Arnzen
Sadie Hartmann
October 30, 2025 at 7:16 PM
apottern.bsky.social
A Boston-based initiative, encouraging those who can afford it, to have a box of pantry items available for trick-or-treating families who might need the extra support!

www.facebook.com/share/g/1Yzg...
October 30, 2025 at 3:32 PM
Reposted by Allison Pottern
thespaceshipper.com
Platform Decay, the eighth entry in the Murderbot Diaries series by @marthawells.com , will arrive on May 5, 2026. 🔥

And if you haven't seen it, the first season of the TV adaptation, available since this summer on AppleTV, is very fresh.
October 30, 2025 at 11:39 AM
Reposted by Allison Pottern
freedomreadproject.bsky.social
Leaving a review for a banned book does more than share your opinion; it helps protect the freedom to read.

Every thoughtful review helps ensure that silenced voices are still heard. So if you loved (or even just read) a banned book, leave a review today.

#FreedomToRead #BannedBooks
Graphic that says: want to help a banned author? Leave a review!
October 28, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Reposted by Allison Pottern
timjmajor.bsky.social
Here’s this month’s blog post of open submission calls for #SFF, #horror and #mystery writers! This one features fabulism, tarot, terrifying humans and cheerful apocalypses.

timjmajor.com/2025/10/24/o...

#AmWriting #WritingCommunity
Please share!
Open submission calls for writers: October 2025
Here’s this month’s list of the most interesting open submissions calls for writers I’ve found!Sign up for my email newsletter if you want advance notice of open calls like these. Strange PilgrimsT…
timjmajor.com
October 24, 2025 at 1:27 PM
Reposted by Allison Pottern
trollbreathmag.bsky.social
Fall Cover Reveal! magazine.trollbreath.com/membership-a...
Support our work bringing short fiction, essays, and poetry! Join now at $5 an issue, $20 a year
Trollbreath Magazine Issue 5, Fall 2025 Aimee Ogden Maressa Voss Crystal Sidell Catherine Tevares Image is a hovering old teal Chevy heading down a dirt road of fields toward a futuristic city
August 5, 2025 at 9:41 AM
apottern.bsky.social
Like, maybe a 2? I'm pretty friendly, folx.
shecky.bsky.social Shecky @shecky.bsky.social · Oct 23
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Post from @searodynamic_ quote rt this with how intimidating YOU think you are on a scale of 1–10 and let other ppl reply to it with how intimidating THEY think you are
October 25, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Reposted by Allison Pottern
seananmcguire.bsky.social
When you are a new creator, whether in prose, comics, or other media, it can be very tempting to agree to every convention or other event that you're asked to do. Exposure is great, right? And it's wonderful to be wanted.
October 24, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Reposted by Allison Pottern
starplanes.bsky.social
Considering crowdfunding your podcast? Not sure where to start? Let me help! I'm running an online workshop all about crowdfunding podcasts (which I have done MANY times)!

If you're Trans, BIPOC, or low income, you can DM me for a 50% off code, no questions asked.

ko-fi.com/s/539f5ea152
Crowdfunding Crash Course - everything you need to get started crowdfunding your podcast. 3 hours, $40 (half of proceeds to Daisy's Legal Fund), Saturday Nov 15 10am-1pm PST. You will get access to the recording after. By Tal Minear who has done about 8 audio drama crowdfunds.
October 25, 2025 at 2:12 PM
apottern.bsky.social
What's it like inside your head?
October 23, 2025 at 10:47 PM