Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Arden Powell 🎄❄️✨

Duchess of Doom

@kilagreene.bsky.social

The Smashwords End of Year Sale is on, and the dauntingly long list can be hard to wade through (especially with all the gen AI these days). I’ve curated a list of books I recommend or am interested in, all AI free to the best of my ability, and all under $3! 🌈📚

kilagreene.dreamwidth.org/7990.html

Cover of Marie Cardno’s book HOW TO GET A GIRLFRIEND (When You’re a Terrifying Monster), featuring art of an eldritch being holding a bouquet of flowers in one of her tentacles.

Cover of Halli Starling’s book COUP DE COEUR, which features a sort of still-life scene of a table covered in things such as flowers, a spool of thread, oyster shells, a pearl necklace, scissors stabbed into a pomegranate, and a still-smoking candle.

Cover of Tamara Jeree’s book A WOLF STEPS IN BLOOD, featuring art of a young Black woman with red eyes and short white hair, gently touching the muzzle of a wolf that’s looking at her affectionately. The woman is wearing a leather jacket and a choker necklace, and her earlobes are gauged.

Cover of the book SEA SWALLOW ME by Craig Laurance Gidney, which features slightly abstract art of a Black man’s face pointed upward with a planet behind him and waves below him.

December 10, 2025 at 1:05 AM

Reposted by Arden Powell 🎄❄️✨

jade 🫀 comms open

@yellghoul.bsky.social

i wanted to play with colours toooo

cropped illustration of "borehole"
illustration of a group of 3 characters walking through the root system of an overgrown borehole. white birds fly around them. the illustration is purple toned with pale yellow highlights.

overlayed is a light purple square with text reading "Kola Superdeep Borehole purple #775e97"

cropped illustration of a sheep herder, a dragon made of clouds floats behind her. a small flock of sheep follow at her feet, she carries a sheppard's hook, and is set against a dark blue background with an orange moon.

a dark blue square is overlayed on top with text reading "Unknown error #003786"

cropped illustration of a knight half consumed by black flames wielding a large sword. the knight has glowing eyes, and an overall teal colour palette, and rides a golden yellow horse against a red sun and black background

overlayed on top are a blood red square, and a light teal square with text reading "Arterial bleed #630402" and "Jade armory #619c80"

cropped illustration of a devil's bridge, in the foreground an angel and a fairy duel with rapiers. the illustration is framed by a border of birds

overlayed is a pale yellow square with text reading "Fairy sun #f5d29a"

December 9, 2025 at 10:57 PM

Reposted by Arden Powell 🎄❄️✨

Arden Powell 🎄❄️✨

@ardenpowell.bsky.social

Every book I have discounted at Smashwords this month until Jan 1st!

✨Southern gothic horror
✨Western horror-romance
✨SFFH short story collection
✨Action/adventure fantasy romance
✨Choose-your-path horror
✨Everything is queer
✨All under $2.99

www.smashwords.com/profile/view...

The Bayou $2.99 USD. Words: 32,680.
A queer southern gothic horror novella set in Louisiana, 1935. Haunted journalist Eugene Reveur is held hostage by a deadly and charismatic bank robber as his childhood memories of a missing girl unravel, and his town disappears one person at a time.

Flesh and Bone $1.49 USD. Words: 14,470.
A queer western-gothic horror-romance set in the shadows of the Canadian Rocky Mountains, 1889.

The Carnelian King and Other Stories $1.99 USD. Words: 58,560.
A collection of 15 queer fantasy short stories introducing dazzling new worlds.

Obsidian Island $2.99 USD. Words: 93,260.
Four shipwrecked sailors. An island of unimaginable beauty. And a nightmare determined to hunt them down and consume them, bodies and souls. A multi-POV MM action/adventure fantasy romance with horror elements.

In the Pit of Your Stomach $1.49 USD. Words: 17,380.
You are being hunted by a bloodthirsty monster. Your choices: Escape to survive another day. Romance your best and only friend while you both still have the chance. Meet a violent death, ripped apart by the creature's needle-sharp teeth. Succumb to infection and give in to your new cannibalistic urges. A short, interactive choose-your-own-horror story with 18 possible endings.

December 9, 2025 at 5:26 PM

Reposted by Arden Powell 🎄❄️✨

Angela M Cowan

@angelamcowan.bsky.social

I love these weekly prompts because I always find new people to follow

Arden Powell 🎄❄️✨ @ardenpowell.bsky.social · 7h

I spent a month in the Highlands watching the clouds. I roamed to stretch my legs, but mostly I sat. They drifted. I didn't catalogue them or look for shapes or shelter from the rain. No one knew I was there.

Then I decided to start collecting beetles, just because I'd never done it before.

Tales & Feathers Magazine @talesfeathers.bsky.social · 9h

Being turned is not so bad, once you adjust. The first century is excruciating; mind still racing with fleeting mortal urgency. But when you learn to relax into the long slow breath of the cosmos, the anxiety settles. What do you choose to do with this gift of time?

#TinyTalesTuesday #WritingPrompt

December 9, 2025 at 8:54 PM

Reposted by Arden Powell 🎄❄️✨

JuliArtWorld

@juliartworld.bsky.social

the last days of autumn

We already had our first snow a few weeks ago. It’s a beautiful contrast to the colorful landscape and a reminder that winter is rapidly approaching.

Autumn never lasts long enough for my liking

This was the patreon print for november.

digital painting of a hollow tree stump with a sleeping fox inside between the last days of autumn and the first snow. a little robin sits on the stump

December 9, 2025 at 8:32 PM

Reposted by Arden Powell 🎄❄️✨

Felicia Davin

@feliciadavin.com

All my ebooks—various flavors of queer romance in sci fi or fantasy settings—are half price for the Smashwords end-of-year sale: www.smashwords.com/profile/view...

Felicia Davin's books (a vertical slice of each book cover is visible behind the text)

December 9, 2025 at 9:01 PM

Reposted by Arden Powell 🎄❄️✨

Kate Liu Available For Work

@lemonikate.bsky.social

#coastcard 2025

Little plant.

@warriorpainters #gouachepainting

December 9, 2025 at 8:13 PM

Reposted by Arden Powell 🎄❄️✨

Natee (they/them)

@himmapaan.bsky.social

Another piece from my work for Katie Melua's 'In Winter' album, 2016. This illustration accompanies the album's arrangement of the Nunc Dimittis from Sergei Rachmaninoff's All-Night Vigil. Ink & gouache, approximately 300 mm square.

#ArtAdventCalendar

An avenue of white wintry trees on a black ground takes on the appearance of a church nave. At the far end, soft, coloured lights against the black night sky resembles a church's stained glass window.

December 16, 2023 at 1:46 PM

Reposted by Arden Powell 🎄❄️✨

Olivia Waite

@oliviawaite.com

My #RomanceColumn best romances list for the NYT is live today! It’s impossible to pick just a few books from so many, but as the song says, impossible things are happening every day, so let’s get to it! (Gift link)
#Romancelandia #booksky

The Best Romance Novels of 2025

www.nytimes.com

December 9, 2025 at 6:10 PM

Reposted by Arden Powell 🎄❄️✨

Premee Mohamed

@premeemohamed.com

Me: Slow year
Me: Only two novellas, three novelettes, and four short stories out this year, plus a handful of essays
Me: Surely I must flagellate myself for eighty-five centuries

premeemohamed.com/eligibility-...

the covers of one message remains, the first thousand trees, the end of the world as we know it, roots of my fears, cosmic horror magazine, three-lobed burning eye, and a small illustration of a father and child in a square bottle. graphic indicates 2025.

December 9, 2025 at 6:25 PM

Reposted by Arden Powell 🎄❄️✨

mint

@mintaii.bsky.social

i love frankenstein (2025) so much

#art

artwork of the creature from frankenstein (2025). the creature is the central figure, his body abstracted into the swathes of blues and greens, with a tinge of red, with details of furs of his coat and candles lit with red flames. his torso is carved out, exposing red flesh and a heart connected with veins that have some sprouting flowers, and the final scene of the creature embracing the morning sun. framing the creature are various body parts as well as the halves of victor and elizabeth's faces.

December 9, 2025 at 6:04 PM

Arden Powell 🎄❄️✨

@ardenpowell.bsky.social

I spent a month in the Highlands watching the clouds. I roamed to stretch my legs, but mostly I sat. They drifted. I didn't catalogue them or look for shapes or shelter from the rain. No one knew I was there.

Then I decided to start collecting beetles, just because I'd never done it before.

Tales & Feathers Magazine @talesfeathers.bsky.social · 9h

Being turned is not so bad, once you adjust. The first century is excruciating; mind still racing with fleeting mortal urgency. But when you learn to relax into the long slow breath of the cosmos, the anxiety settles. What do you choose to do with this gift of time?

#TinyTalesTuesday #WritingPrompt

December 9, 2025 at 7:06 PM

Reposted by Arden Powell 🎄❄️✨

Bookish Scifi & Fantasy

@bookishsff.bsky.social

My top paperbacks of the year advent for the 8th is @tkingfisher.com's A Sorceress Comes to Call.

What do you do if your mother is controlling, self-centred... & a sorceress?

Regency era with magic, murder, trauma, found family, GREAT characters all the way through. Loved it!

#SFF
#Fantasy
💙📚🪐

A hand holds a copy of the paperback in front of the hardback in a bookshop

December 9, 2025 at 5:56 PM

Arden Powell 🎄❄️✨

@ardenpowell.bsky.social

Every book I have discounted at Smashwords this month until Jan 1st!

✨Southern gothic horror
✨Western horror-romance
✨SFFH short story collection
✨Action/adventure fantasy romance
✨Choose-your-path horror
✨Everything is queer
✨All under $2.99

www.smashwords.com/profile/view...

December 9, 2025 at 5:26 PM

Reposted by Arden Powell 🎄❄️✨

Johannes T. Evans

@johannestevans.bsky.social

75% off:

- a slowburn, sumptuous romance between an ADHD vampire and his autistic secretary
- a fucked-up dark romance between an unstable angel and a depressed artist
- a horny 1920s erotic romance between a disabled gentleman and his fat new butler

www.smashwords.com/profile/view/JohannesEvans

smashwords annual sale

- heart of stone by johannes t evans, reduced from $4.99 to $1.24
- powder and feathers by johannes t evans, reduced from $5.99 to $1.49
- an uncommon betrothal by johannes t. evans, reduced from $4.99 to $1.24

www.smashwords.com/sale

December 9, 2025 at 2:54 PM

Reposted by Arden Powell 🎄❄️✨

YUE

@yueart.bsky.social

執行者
ELDENRING NIGHTREIGN

December 7, 2025 at 10:18 AM

Reposted by Arden Powell 🎄❄️✨

John Bull

@garius.bsky.social

One of my fave niche history facts is how many loaded pistols your average highwayman had during a hold up.

We're talking four minimum on his saddle, then at least two in his belt. Ideally three or four.

Because fuck trying to reload a 17th century pistol on horseback that's why.

Phil Lewis @phillewis.bsky.social · 11h

Man arrested, accused of robbing Tulsa liquor store with antique gun

Man arrested, accused of robbing liquor store with antique gun

The Tulsa Police Department arrested a man accused of robbing a south Tulsa liquor store with an antique gun on Friday night.

www.fox23.com

December 9, 2025 at 4:16 PM

Reposted by Arden Powell 🎄❄️✨

Lio 🌿 Gravehearts out now!

@kroovv.bsky.social

Lazarus 👑

#art | #OC

A portrait of a purple teifling with darker purple long slightly curly hair. He has yellow irises with black sclera, his horns sit almost like a crown round his head with two little spikes coming out coming out the middle of them. Hes has an almost smile almost snarl slightly smug expression looking down a little on the viewer. Above him js a little sun shape that comes threw his horns. Cracking threw his purple skin he has gold cutting threw him in a Kintsugi kind of way. Hes very pretty and a little bit evil, but thats ok. He also has an eyepatch.

April 19, 2025 at 5:36 PM

Reposted by Arden Powell 🎄❄️✨

Claudie

@clh2oars.bsky.social

I have a lot of books in the Smashwords End of Year Sale! It's likely this is one of the rare last time I drop books below $2.99 there (they will be lowering royalties next year) so if it's your store of choice, now's the time!

Aroace fantasy ~

www.smashwords.com/profile/view...

#EOYsale25

2025 End of Year Sale – Dec 8 – Jan 1
An image with book covers associated with a discount tag as follows:
75% Off: Awakenings, City of Strife, City of Betrayal
50% Off: Flooded Secrets, The Sea Spirit Festival, Stories from the Deep, Motes of Inspiration, Ruined History, Baker Thief, Painted Flock, City of Deceit, City of Exile.

December 9, 2025 at 4:15 PM

Reposted by Arden Powell 🎄❄️✨

Dr Craig R McClain

@drcraigmc.bsky.social

This is a very important scientific outreach project: Hallmark Christmas movies… but in the abyss. High-pressure romance included. Underwater and scientifically questionable. You’re welcome. Expect bioluminescent meet-cutes and emotionally unavailable octopuses.
#Trenchmas

December 9, 2025 at 3:50 PM

Arden Powell 🎄❄️✨

@ardenpowell.bsky.social

"Your power bill this cycle is estimated based on your usage this time last year :)"

Then why is it $200 higher, motherfucker?

"We sent a worker to manually read your meter :)"

Cool, and he misread a 1 as a 7 and put an extra $1300 on my bill. Why are you all so useless!!

December 9, 2025 at 3:44 PM

Reposted by Arden Powell 🎄❄️✨

Arden Powell 🎄❄️✨

@ardenpowell.bsky.social

I have 5 books in Smashwords' big End of Year Sale! Queer horror, fantasy, and romance $2.99 or less all month 🎄✨

THE BAYOU and OBSIDIAN ISLAND - $2.99
THE CARNELIAN KING - $1.99
FLESH AND BONE and IN THE PIT OF YOUR STOMACH - $1.49

www.smashwords.com/profile/view...

Cover art for The Carnelian King and Other Stories by Arden Powell: fantasy illustration of a red and gold dragon with a snakelike head, catfish whiskers and koi scales, looking at a knight in golden armour. The knight is riding a dappled grey horse, who is rearing to meet the dragon. They are against a dreamy, romantic background of painted trees and sky.

The Bayou illustrated cover art: a minimalist black church surrounded by bare trees in front of a full moon or a pale sun, with a staring alligator underneath.

Obsidian Island cover art: title over a golden compass surrounded by flowering crimson tree branches, on a navy blue background of swirling tentacles.

2025 End of Year Sale on Smashwords. December 8-January 1, ebooks discounted between 25-100% off!

December 8, 2025 at 4:28 PM

Reposted by Arden Powell 🎄❄️✨

Michael Whelan

@michaelwhelan.bsky.social

NORTHERN LIGHTS (2005)
Acrylic - 10” x 13”

It’s during the dark times of the year when lights seem most magical…and sought after. I’ve always loved colored lights, especially during winter when things can seem dreary and monochromatic. 1/3