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caasbrey.bsky.social
caasbrey
@caasbrey.bsky.social
3.2K followers 2.6K following 1.6K posts
C. A. Asbrey is a Scottish mystery author. Fan of all things Victorian, obscure, forensics, jaywalking, ordering the best meal, and dropping out of society. I re-share Mon-Friday.

https://caasbrey.com/

https://www.facebook.com/mysteryscrivener/
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caasbrey.bsky.social
caasbrey @caasbrey.bsky.social · 8d
My last publisher closed, but The Innocents Mysteries Series has a new home, fresh edits, and new covers. Find part one of a series of 19th century mysteries here www.amazon.com/dp/B0GBPFVDR6
Link to author page for the rest of the series
www.amazon.com/stores/C.-A....
It's exciting to be back.
Reposted by caasbrey
talesofavixen.bsky.social
Zail, a slave who becomes a sky pirate, must work with Tadgh, a dragoon of the holy empire to follow the Witch of the Sea and find a map holding the power of the stars. Along the way they teach each other that freedom isn't something you're given; it's something you take.

#Questpit #HF #LGBT #Q
A black flag with the title What God Made Shark in white lettering. A crow sits atop the 'G' and the background shows a starry night sky
January 31, 2026 at 4:52 PM
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maggiesbooks.bsky.social
Thread of my #questpit pitches bsky.app/profile/magg...
maggiesbooks.bsky.social m 🌸 @maggiesbooks.bsky.social · 15h
Heartbroken summer camp staff Sage and Nico start a casual relationship to get over their recent heartbreaks. Nico realizes he wants this to be more than a summer thing, but Sage has some unfinished business back at school that she won't let go of so easily.

#questpit #q #na #r
January 31, 2026 at 2:58 PM
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mraemaciver.bsky.social
The only location I have written about in my novel so far that is still standing more or less as it was at the time, the Temple of Hercules in Rome.

#Hercules #Rome #Roma #AncientRome #AmWriting #HistoricalFiction #HistFict
July 25, 2025 at 6:39 PM
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m-lemoine-drake.bsky.social
The Trump administration not just lying about January 6th. They're performing clinical, state-sanctioned surgery on the truth itself. If a violent insurrection can be officially called a "peaceful protest," what can't be rewritten?

open.substack.com/pub/lemoined...
January 31, 2026 at 1:02 PM
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m-lemoine-drake.bsky.social
Honing my child acting skills. New Hollywood, circa 1971. SCHLOCK, directed by John Landis
December 7, 2024 at 8:13 AM
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wisteraverse.bsky.social
🗡️Murdered in cold blood & resurrected through forbidden powers, Quill becomes a formidable assassin. As her latest mission sparks a higher power’s wrath, Quill must avenge the death of her people and her own murder. Failure will cost more than just her life.🪶
#questpit #P #A #SFF #F #LBGT #BIPOC
Book cover: Killer Quill by Shida Ketzer Themes & tropes: crossed out "Romance", replaced with "Found Family" Assassin FMC Color Magic Epic Fight Scenes Touch her & you'll die! Fantasy Heist Feral Feminine Rage BIPOC & LGBTQIA+ Shida Ketzer Killer Quill (Colors Eternal) 5-star rating Message on the right: "Get Killer Quill. Cheaper than coffee & lasts longer!" Book cover: A (badass-looking!) woman in a red coat holding a silver quill in one hand (black smoke swirling around it), and a bloody dagger in the other. Many daggers are strapped to her belt. The cover is black & red, with black veins. It's a gorgeous cover, trust me! Made entirely by humans. An open book symbol below which is the kindle (e-book) edition price is a bit above 3 £ Available instantly A steaming cup of coffee below which is the Paperback price 9.91 £
January 31, 2026 at 1:09 PM
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wisteraverse.bsky.social
An empress with disability. A Dragon hoarding romance novels. A dysfunctional family of gods. Not the start of a joke, but Sy's undoing. When her ex, the chosen one, is murdered, feisty Sy fights the gods to escape a fate worse than death: becoming their eternal slave.
#questpit #Q #F #BIPOC #LBGT
Pitch: When the chosen Empress is assassinated, her disabled and gutsy ex-girlfriend must triumph over a dysfunctional family of ancient gods or submit to fulfilling the chosen’s grim fate as the gods’ eternal slave and weapon against mortals. 94,000 words Crossover Fantasy Comps: T. Kingfisher’s Nettle & Bone Damsel (2024 film) Hannah Kaner’s Godkiller Margaret Owen’s Little Thieves Moodboard: Dark fantasy Victorian vibes with purple color composition. Top row, left-to-right: a Byronic handsome man in black, a palace, a dark figure burning in hellfire, a masked female assassin of dark complexion holding a dagger, a serpentine forest trail at night marked with red flowers. At the center, next to a silver plume, is the text: “This world, my dear, is the slaughterhouse of noble ideals.” Bottom row, left-to-right: a dark gaslit street, a gaslit city blanketed in coal smog at night, a young woman in a Victorian gown, wrought-iron gates opened to a foreboding foggy estate in the dark, a trail of red petals leading to a dark stone temple gate. Themes & Tropes: - Forbidden Love - Hot Banter - Feminine Rage - Anti-Chosen - Found Family - Second Chances - Dark Humor - Identity - Friends-to-lovers - Faustian Bargain - Choosing vs. being chosen - Dual-Timeline Representation: - LGBTQIA+ - BIPOC - Mental Health - Disability - Neurodivergence - Chronic Illness Excerpt: A gaunt mouse snatched bread crumbs from my lunch tray. I did not have the heart to give her a name, afraid I might lose her, too. The lingering scent of mud and mildew hung in the air, a long-forgotten tomb. The bed’s cast-iron rods dug into my ribs through the thin mattress. I clenched my jaw to keep my teeth from chattering and pulled the threadbare blanket tighter around my body, hugging my knees to my chest. It did little against the chill creeping into my bones. The raging blizzard had transformed the courtyard into a churning white sea, rattling the broken window shutters hanging askew. I was not allowed visitors or to set foot outside. The faded floral pattern of the peeling wallpaper was my only reminder of life beyond these walls. The medications I was forced to swallow left a cotton taste in my mouth and a dull ache in my skull. At least no screams echoed through the halls today.
January 31, 2026 at 1:09 PM
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lakenbrimicombe.bsky.social
Writers! What are you all working on this weekend?✍️
January 31, 2026 at 5:57 PM
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wintersleep85.bsky.social
NAUSICAÄ X FF7

Hana is sure she’s the chosen one, meant to save the world, even if her magic is resisting her and the previous chosen one insists she isn’t. Pursued by enemies, she must learn if this is her destiny or if it was a mystical mistake. #questpit #F #A #Q #agentguide
Dark forest. An agent's guide to The Blessing Returned. Adult fantasy. 98,000 words. Dark forest. Pitch. Idealistic Hana Hahl lives in a world that is slowly dying after a failed quest to bring back magic. The only ones left with power are self-serving royals and dark mages, while desperation has given rise to an anti-magic order. Caught up in a mystical event, Hana is blessed with an immense power that could restore nature to the world. As Hana struggles to control the overwhelming force, Lady Kalyn Nossi, the only known survivor of the disastrous quest, directs her to the one person who can help her. Matthias Azel, the failed chosen one, reluctantly agrees to teach Hana while concealing his past from her. Accompanied by Kalyn and a charismatic prince with a dangerous secret, they journey to seek answers about Hana’s destiny. They fend off demonic threats and the anti-magic forces as Hana struggles with magic that seems to resist her and a growing fear that the world isn’t meant to be saved. A dark forest. Snippet. She took a cautious step forward, unaware she was in a spectral form. Little drops of shimmering light followed her path, dissolving into the ground. “But this has to be a sign?” Grass grew where the light fell, delicate bits of nature that should be impossible. “Maybe it’s returning!” The young woman spoke with such bright reverence as if life was a fairy tale and magic was all they needed for a happy ending. It was as if she couldn’t see the shadows approaching her. The inevitable death. “Magic should never return.” After speaking those words, he sprang forward and shoved her away from the shadows. Pain rocked him as soon as he touched her. The scorching mystical agony tore a scream out of him, but it kept her away from the unearthly menace, and the shock did what he intended. Sent him back to his body. A dark forest. Comps. Nausicaä. One Dark Window. The Starless Crown. Godkiller. Final Fantasy VII Remake. Tropes. Chosen One (s)? Ecofantasy. Dieselpunk. Grumpy/Sunshine. LGBTQIA+. Multi POV.
January 31, 2026 at 6:19 AM
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chrisakins.bsky.social
chrisakins.bsky.social MechaniChris @chrisakins.bsky.social · 14h
EARTHLINGS!

BODY SNATCHERS x THE RUNAWAYS

When a 2nd generation alien sleeper cell is ordered to abduct her human friend, she saves her and goes rogue instead. Now her fellow operatives must track her down, but will the help her to sabotage the coming invasion instead?

📖 #questpit #W #YA #SF
The Title EARTHLINGS! over the planet fl group of second generation aliens sleeper cells have spent their entire lives assimilating to human culture and gathering intelligence for the home world. To them, the eventual overthrow of farth has always been a distant goal meant for future generations. Now, when ordered to abduct and replace a human girl they have betriended, one of the alien operatives realizes that they have grown to care more for their found home and family than they do for their own people. She sabotages the abduction and goes on the run with the human girl. Her friends are ordered to track her down; but now questioning their own mission, they find themselves wondering if the entire invasion is a mistake and if they have more in common with these Earthlings than they ever thought...
January 31, 2026 at 6:28 PM
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chrisakins.bsky.social
Do you like horror? Comedy? Fantasy? Road trips? Ghosts and the paranormal? Satire of government institutions and stories about hope in the face of overwhelming adversity?

Well that’s a lot, but luckily, I have JUST the book for you!

Order Grim Portents today!

#writingcommunity #writesky #booksky
Grim Portents — Christian Akins
www.christianakins.com
October 23, 2025 at 1:33 PM
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sueclaremont.bsky.social
I've just added a feature about Gran Canaria to my website. It's an intriguing island. Some refer to it as The Miniature Continent because of its diverse habitats, but whatever it is called, I know I had a great time there.
wordloft.co.uk/themes/trave...
#grancanaria #canaryislands #spain #travel
January 29, 2026 at 9:18 AM
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bvbodegom.bsky.social
SWEENEY TODD × TRUE ROMANCE × NATURAL BORN KILLERS

When two serial killers accidentally prey on each other, Cupid should've aimed for their throats. Killing together is double the fun. But when one of them wants out, the choice is either stay or slay.

#QuestPit #A #H #DR #W
Non-AI. Black book cover with a white rectangular border. At the top, small handwritten-style text reads “A (very) dark rom-com.” The title “TWO, PLEASE” is centered, with “TWO,” in white and “PLEASE” in bold red, rough brush lettering. Below the title, a black-and-white illustrated anatomical heart pierced by a dagger radiates stylized lines. In the foreground, a man and a woman are shown from the shoulders up against the black background. Both have wide, anxious expressions and their mouths are covered with duct tape—black tape on the man, silver tape on the woman. The man wears a light gray sweater; the woman wears a coral-orange top. At the bottom, white text reads: “By the author of Dad Bodies: B. van Bodegom.”
January 31, 2026 at 2:22 PM
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bvbodegom.bsky.social
CABIN IN THE WOODS × JOHN DIES AT THE END

When their detective friend is murdered at their annual gaming retreat, 5 dads must rely on years of #TTRPG experience—and puns—to solve the crime before they're all killed off like NPCs in a badly written supernatural campaign.

#QuestPit #A #H #MY #Q
The image, made with free non-AI stock pictures, shows a horror-comedy novel cover titled "DAD BODIES." The top of the cover reads "THE GAME JUST TOOK A DAD TURN" with "DAD" in a different color. The background features a haunted house with multiple towers and illuminated windows against a dark backdrop. At the center is a 20-sided die (D20) used in tabletop role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons, with visible numbers including 1, 7, 13, and 19. The die is surrounded by red blood splatter effects. At the bottom of the cover are six men with expressions of terror and shock. One man is wearing a white shirt over his head. These men are the dads referenced in the title.
January 31, 2026 at 8:21 AM
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adropofmagick.bsky.social
ONE DARK WINDOW X KATABASIS

Nocturne Collegiate is celebrated as a sanctuary from warring Queendoms and brutal vampires, but Alyss knows better—its guardian murdered her sister, and now she's come for revenge.🌙🦇⚔️

#QuestPit #OS #AG #YA #F
A MEMORY OF MOONKISSED MALICE Fantasy Dark Academia Feminine Rage Vampires Corrupted Moon Magic Villain Era Protag Queendoms Enemies to Lovers Found Family THE PITCH 18-year-old Alyss Veylas wishes to attend Nocturne Collegiate for one reason—revenge. Five long years after her sister was murdered by the school's guardian, she finally gets that chance. Armed with a Moon Fragment granting memory magic and the aid of her ex and his new girlfriend, Alyss must confront the woman who took away the person she loved most. YA Gothic Fantasy 93,000 Words CHAPTER ONE The rain made it easier to rob his grave. My shovel carved through the sodden earth, the water contorting into murky veins around its edge. Desperation drove each labored thrust, the burning ache in my muscles but an afterthought to the prize that lied in wait. Even the Valera Forest held its breath; the fog thick enough to smother the night's whispers. All was silent save for the spilling of soil under the deluge that drenched us. Us. As I lifted my gaze to the boy standing across from me, I found that word had lost all semblance of warmth. FOR FANS OF... The lush, gothic prose of... A fantasy academia setting similar to... A supernatural mystery like...
January 31, 2026 at 12:08 PM
caasbrey.bsky.social
#Questpit #Q #W #MY #HFic
Counter-narrative historical mystery
✨️ Mixed-race detective in 1870s Scotland
✨️ Female criminal gang
✨️Colonial interests running counter to justice
✨️ Complex mystery set around the world of Victorian theatricals
✨️ Woman fighting extradition as Scots law gave her more rights
A guide to Gin and Fog. 87,000 word historical mystery written by a former police officer who has studied early forensics. For fans of; Fingersmith by Sarah Waters, The Alienist by Caleb Carr, The Strings of Murder Oscar de Muriel. Historcial Background. The Pitch 1877 Scotland, and a mixed-race Detective Sergeant. The wife of a well-known psychic claims a mythical Celtic creature intends to kill her, pitting myth against scientific belief. She turns to the Black Heathers, a gang of female criminals for protection, but they have their hands full dealing with governmental colonial interests more corrupt than their own. New research has uncovered at last three mixed-race police officers in the UK from the 1830s onwards. One reached Superintendent rank in the 1840s. In the period in which this book is set Scotland had a mixed-race MP. The book aims cast light on forgotten history, putting new flesh on old bones. “Enough,”McIntosh’s voice hardened. “My sergeant speaks two languages and has a degree in sciences from the Sorbonne. I’m lucky he’s not white, because he’d never do a job like this if he was. No force in the country has a sergeant with such an education. That’s an end to this nonsense, General. He might be your musty-whatever you called him, but he’s our respected colleague. I won’t have it.”
January 31, 2026 at 4:54 PM
Reposted by caasbrey
cjmagus.bsky.social
Thanks for the reposts!

@caasbrey.bsky.social
@profiterole-reads.bsky.social
cjmagus.bsky.social C. J. Magus @cjmagus.bsky.social · 3d
The Other Man, by Farhad J. Dadyburjor

Rich details about Indian culture (and food) spice up this lighthearted tale about a closeted man forced into an arranged marriage—and "the other man" who throws all the plans into question.

#🌈📚 #Authors #books #reviews #lgbtqromance #booksky #queerbookworms
January 30, 2026 at 11:44 PM
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cjmagus.bsky.social
Thanks for the reposts!

@lilemily.bsky.social
@roxxin.bsky.social
@petercbradbury.bsky.social
@caasbrey.bsky.social
@staceylscott.bsky.social
cjmagus.bsky.social C. J. Magus @cjmagus.bsky.social · 2d
“Isn’t life better if we see sexuality as it actually is: A wide, diverse tapestry?” — Alex Liu @alexliu.bsky.social

#queer #gay #lesbian #bi #trans #lgbtq #lgbt #lgbqt #lgbtqia🏳️‍🌈 #lgbtqia🌈 #pride #visibility #quotes #hopecore #queerhope
January 30, 2026 at 11:46 PM
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emersynlaughs.bsky.social
"I don't hate the misunderstood lane. My insert interactions have me there often. The asking to know me, but not really. Asking me questions without listening. It's all words, no exclamation points. Even the emojis run for the hills. I stopped caring about puddles. I'm worth knowing."

#emoetry
January 29, 2026 at 3:37 PM
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emersynlaughs.bsky.social
Gondor calls for aid.
January 29, 2026 at 7:29 PM
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nohomers.bsky.social
January 30, 2026 at 3:51 AM
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julesette.bsky.social
seriously why does he even HAVE arms? To balance so he doesn't flop over?
classic godzilla
January 30, 2026 at 3:47 AM
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jmccrone.bsky.social
Six weeks in politics can be a lifetime. Or the end of one.
bookshop.org/p/books/fait...
August 25, 2025 at 8:39 PM
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jmccrone.bsky.social
Good morning #5amwritersclub!
August 26, 2025 at 9:12 AM
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jmccrone.bsky.social
A talent for low falsehood cuts both ways, and it accelerates the rot in the rotten core.

All three #FaithlessElector books can be found here: bit.ly/3DyRMpx
August 26, 2025 at 9:32 PM