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Emily Smiley (is on sub)

@emilysmileywrites.bsky.social

83 followers 130 following 86 posts

Horror | Dark Fantasy | Thriller Emilysmileywrites.com Repped by AJ Van Belle at The Booker Albert Literary Agency Threads/IG @Emilysmileywrites Founding member of ContentHospital.org Programming Coordinator: ✍️Studio Bainbridgebarn.org

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Emily Smiley (is on sub) @emilysmileywrites.bsky.social · May 23

On sub: TREADING WATER

Comps: THIS THING BETWEEN US x HELL BENT

Hook: Dallas London's brother has gone missing off the coast of Maui. Back in San Francisco, Dallas does denial in style. But when she sees demons lurking in the shadows, even she can’t pretend she’s fine.

Attached: Vibe board

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Emily Smiley (is on sub) @emilysmileywrites.bsky.social · 24d

High praise from my critique partner on my current WIP. 🥀🖤

In Red is over half way done. Y’all get your mind right.

Reposted by Emily Smiley (is on sub)

John Scalzi @scalzi.com · 24d

I have updated my laptop to MacOS 26. Surely this system update is the thing that will heal us as a nation.

Me on the patio of my hotel room with my laptop, showing off the ginchy new transparent MacOS 26 app icons

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Emily Smiley (is on sub) @emilysmileywrites.bsky.social · Sep 2

I’ve discovered that the key to writing a respectable daily word count is to set my expectations extremely low, and then surprise myself when I exceed those expectations on a regular basis. #writersky

Emily Smiley (is on sub) @emilysmileywrites.bsky.social · Aug 22

Kaitlin edited my book before I queried and I know for a fact that it played a huge part in my landing an agent. Highly recommend!!

Editorial Freelancers Association @efafreelancers.bsky.social · Aug 13

Need an editor for you queer romance? Look no further than EFA member Kaitlin Schmidt! You can know she gets it, as she recently published her own queer romance, The Cartomancer's Curse. Connect with Kaitlin today!

Two photos of Kaitlin included in graphic.

Graphic Text:
www.kaitlin-schmidt.com
Meet EFA member Kaitlin (she/her)
Kaitlin is a teacher-turned-editor who loves working on speculative fiction, especially stories of queer romance.

Recently, Kaitlin published The Cartomancer's Curse, a cozy sapphic romantasy in which a grumpy card-reader and a sunshine thief are forced to work together to undo a curse.

Emily Smiley (is on sub) @emilysmileywrites.bsky.social · Aug 20

My husband 3D printed these Koroks, and for the past few weeks we’ve been hiding them around the house for the other person to find. Where should I put this little guy today?

Reposted by Emily Smiley (is on sub)

C.R. Kellogg @crkellogg.bsky.social · Aug 19

I finished the first draft of my WIP right before WorldCon and it got me thinking about the parallels with my other hobby: sewing. Check out 4 things I've learned from sewing and applied to drafting a novel.

open.substack.com/pub/crkellog...

What Sewing Can Teach Us About Drafting Novels

I always get the bug for drafting in the summer.

open.substack.com

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Emily Smiley (is on sub) @emilysmileywrites.bsky.social · Aug 19

My critique partner perfectly summarized the vibe of my current WIP in one Google Doc comment… #writersky

Emily Smiley (is on sub) @emilysmileywrites.bsky.social · Aug 18

#WorldCon is over, which means I’ll be potato’ing on the couch for the next 2-5 business days. Kthnxbyeeee

Emily Smiley (is on sub) @emilysmileywrites.bsky.social · Aug 17

I was just thinking about context in horror and how the MC’s personality can change the vibe of what is horror and what is romance. And I realized, Belle preferred to live in with a humanoid bison with claws and his haunted flatware than put up with Gaston’s bullshit. You guys, she chose the bear.

Emily Smiley (is on sub) @emilysmileywrites.bsky.social · Aug 17

Last day of #worldcon2025. Struggling to get out of bed. It’s been a great con, but holy cow am I tired.

Anyhoo, I’m on a horror and romance panel today! Come hang out if you’re still around!

Reposted by Emily Smiley (is on sub)

AJ Van Belle/Alexandra Vivelo @ajvanbelle.bsky.social · Aug 16

#PosterPit #AG #SF #A

If you could heal with a touch, what would you give up? And what would you forget?

It's too much fun making visuals for my sci-fi novella #APalmEdgeLikeAKnife 🚀🖤

Movie poster. Image of a woman with a cybernetic arm. Text: A Palm Edge Like a Knife.If you could heal with a touch, what would you give up? What would you forget? A hopepunk novella by Rhysling finalist A.J. Van Belle. Represented by Lauren Bieker of Fineprint Lit

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Reposted by Emily Smiley (is on sub)

AJ Van Belle/Alexandra Vivelo @ajvanbelle.bsky.social · Aug 16

#PosterPit #AG #SF #A

150 years from now, a girl notices a boy living on the streets. She feeds him, teaches him, and eventually loves him.

35 years later, the girl is a criminal wanted by the interstellar military, and the boy is the veteran soldier sent to terminate her.

Movie poster with a woman holding a gun against a starry sky backdrop. Text: A Billion Paper Stars. Firefly meets Outlander in space. The galaxy’s not ready to meet Eleanor Close. "Beautiful." -a reader. A novel by Rhysling finalist A.J. Van Belle. Represented by Lauren Bieker of FinePrint Lit.

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Reposted by Emily Smiley (is on sub)

AJ Van Belle/Alexandra Vivelo @ajvanbelle.bsky.social · Aug 16

#PosterPit #AG #C #HF

In this dual-timeline novel, a feminist retelling of Beowulf is intertwined with modern scholars uncovering the truth behind the legend.

A fast-paced literary puzzle that rages against the silencing of women.

#WeBlameTheWildThings #OnSubmission

Movie poster that's an image of a warrior woman carrying a sword that rests on her shoulder. The text is: By Rhysling finalist A.J. Van Belle. A feminist retelling of Beowulf. Peril in modern academia. Rage against the silencing of women. "A masterpiece." - A close friend of the author’s who has excellent taste. Badass women, past and present. We Blame the Wild Things. In this dual-timeline upmarket novel, a feminist retelling of Beowulf is intertwined with modern scholars uncovering the truth behind the legend. On submission.

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Emily Smiley (is on sub) @emilysmileywrites.bsky.social · Aug 16

Dallas London’s brother drowned off the coast of Maui. Oddly enough, her diet of whiskey, cigarettes, and Twinkies is not helping her cope. But when she hallucinates demons—and they try to kill her—what’s a train wreck with a death wish to do?
Deny… Deny… Deny…

#posterpit #H #A #onsubmission

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Emily Smiley (is on sub) @emilysmileywrites.bsky.social · Aug 8

Anyone else already have their World Con schedule downloaded to their calendar or is it just me? #writersky

Reposted by Emily Smiley (is on sub)

Ryan H. @ryan.blacksky.app · Jul 31

morning mood

Art of sailor moon with the words 'my tummy hurts and I'm mad at the government'

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Emily Smiley (is on sub) @emilysmileywrites.bsky.social · Jul 29

I have never hated writing a chapter more than this one.

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Emily Smiley (is on sub) @emilysmileywrites.bsky.social · Jul 26

Became a @sgj.bsky.social convert after reading The Only Good Indians. I’m positive the POV switches in that book were literary magic. Thanks for signing my new book tonight! It was a great to meet you!

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Emily Smiley (is on sub) @emilysmileywrites.bsky.social · Jul 8

Me: Ugh, this chapter is too long.

*Writes another 1,000 words in said chapter.*

Me: There that’s better.

🤦‍♀️

Reposted by Emily Smiley (is on sub)

C.R. Kellogg @crkellogg.bsky.social · Jun 26

My friend the INCREDIBLE @serenabellbooks.bsky.social has a book coming out 7/14 "Running Hott" and Barnes and Noble just listed it as one of the most anticipated indie July releases!!!!!!

press.barnesandnoble.com/bnpress-blog...

The Most Anticipated Indie Book Releases of July 2025 | Barnes & Noble Press Blog

Discover the most anticipated indie book releases of July 2025! From thrilling suspense to heartwarming romance, explore new must-read indie titles hitting the shelves this month.

press.barnesandnoble.com

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Emily Smiley (is on sub) @emilysmileywrites.bsky.social · Jun 25

Almost 3 full months after I signed with my agent and I’m still getting Query Tracker response emails even though I closed all outstanding requests. 🫠

Emily Smiley (is on sub) @emilysmileywrites.bsky.social · Jun 25

Actually hit my daily word count today. First time in probably a week and a half. So, that’s exciting. #writersky

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Emily Smiley (is on sub) @emilysmileywrites.bsky.social · Jun 21

This week’s must listen story-based horror pods are: Radio Rental and Don’t Mind’s Sealskin Rock. Sweet dreams!

Emily Smiley (is on sub) @emilysmileywrites.bsky.social · Jun 13

Man I love late birthday presents

Emily Smiley (is on sub) @emilysmileywrites.bsky.social · Jun 10

Happy late birthday to meeeee