Hel ✨ || Untwining... 🌀🪷
@helynalc.bsky.social
author of SKYLARK IN THE FOG (2022) and IMBUED (2024) • she/they ✨ // #SFINCS judge 2025 // • we reach forward • // NO genAI or LLMs
All links in one place: helynalclove.com/links
All links in one place: helynalclove.com/links
Pinned
BlueSky re-intro! 📚💙
I'm Hel, astrophysicist & author of sci-fi, fantasy, and all that's speculative.
✨ currently residing in rainy, rainy Wales
✨ bookworm, slight nerd, very online, very tired, still somewhat hopeful
✨ love cooking, cross-stitching, D&D, video games, my kitty Puddle, and space
🧵
I'm Hel, astrophysicist & author of sci-fi, fantasy, and all that's speculative.
✨ currently residing in rainy, rainy Wales
✨ bookworm, slight nerd, very online, very tired, still somewhat hopeful
✨ love cooking, cross-stitching, D&D, video games, my kitty Puddle, and space
🧵
today's mood is me making a neat little (big, actually) to do list and marking what needs to be done today, and tomorrow, and after that...and then promptly not doing anything at all and deciding I'll just rest today lol
tomorrow
tomorrow...
tomorrow
tomorrow...
November 25, 2025 at 3:37 PM
today's mood is me making a neat little (big, actually) to do list and marking what needs to be done today, and tomorrow, and after that...and then promptly not doing anything at all and deciding I'll just rest today lol
tomorrow
tomorrow...
tomorrow
tomorrow...
Reposted by Hel ✨ || Untwining... 🌀🪷
My birthday is this friday! Which means my gift to you is that Songs of Broken Bells is on sale for the whole week!
Universal Link: buy.bookfunnel.com/rktaq3muij
Payhip: payhip.com/b/hKG10
Itch: voicesofvalhoon.itch.io/songs-of-bro...
Universal Link: buy.bookfunnel.com/rktaq3muij
Payhip: payhip.com/b/hKG10
Itch: voicesofvalhoon.itch.io/songs-of-bro...
November 24, 2025 at 9:26 PM
My birthday is this friday! Which means my gift to you is that Songs of Broken Bells is on sale for the whole week!
Universal Link: buy.bookfunnel.com/rktaq3muij
Payhip: payhip.com/b/hKG10
Itch: voicesofvalhoon.itch.io/songs-of-bro...
Universal Link: buy.bookfunnel.com/rktaq3muij
Payhip: payhip.com/b/hKG10
Itch: voicesofvalhoon.itch.io/songs-of-bro...
Reposted by Hel ✨ || Untwining... 🌀🪷
Not a ton of time for self-promo lately, but . . . here are my books! Two of them! Whole books with themes and characters and shit--they even have beginnings, middles, and ends!
November 24, 2025 at 8:44 PM
Not a ton of time for self-promo lately, but . . . here are my books! Two of them! Whole books with themes and characters and shit--they even have beginnings, middles, and ends!
For my birthday, I'd love a couple more readers and reviews for my books! :3
*closes eyes, blows out candles*
(I don't have candles)
*closes eyes, blows out candles*
(I don't have candles)
November 24, 2025 at 12:29 PM
For my birthday, I'd love a couple more readers and reviews for my books! :3
*closes eyes, blows out candles*
(I don't have candles)
*closes eyes, blows out candles*
(I don't have candles)
Today is my birthday! Sweet 37! (which is the best number ever)
Gonna get nice food, read a lot, write some reviews, and perhaps video game/movie during the evening.
And cake!! 🍰
Gonna get nice food, read a lot, write some reviews, and perhaps video game/movie during the evening.
And cake!! 🍰
November 24, 2025 at 10:50 AM
Today is my birthday! Sweet 37! (which is the best number ever)
Gonna get nice food, read a lot, write some reviews, and perhaps video game/movie during the evening.
And cake!! 🍰
Gonna get nice food, read a lot, write some reviews, and perhaps video game/movie during the evening.
And cake!! 🍰
Reposted by Hel ✨ || Untwining... 🌀🪷
On one hand the unending horrors
On the other sometimes you see a small animal
On the other sometimes you see a small animal
November 24, 2025 at 2:45 AM
On one hand the unending horrors
On the other sometimes you see a small animal
On the other sometimes you see a small animal
Reposted by Hel ✨ || Untwining... 🌀🪷
This is my poorly-drawn meme pitch for you all to read Asunder by @kerstinhall.bsky.social aka My Favorite Book I Read This Year And It's Not Even Close. I actually NEED more people to read this book so we can yap about it together!!!!!!
November 23, 2025 at 10:07 PM
This is my poorly-drawn meme pitch for you all to read Asunder by @kerstinhall.bsky.social aka My Favorite Book I Read This Year And It's Not Even Close. I actually NEED more people to read this book so we can yap about it together!!!!!!
Reposted by Hel ✨ || Untwining... 🌀🪷
Was gonna take some individual pics and actually get these up on ko-fi but the course of the evening darkness is upon us and all pictures turned out terrible.
Guess that'll be the project next weekend.
If anything catches your eye let me know.
Starting at $12 (incl shipping <3)
Guess that'll be the project next weekend.
If anything catches your eye let me know.
Starting at $12 (incl shipping <3)
November 23, 2025 at 8:17 PM
Was gonna take some individual pics and actually get these up on ko-fi but the course of the evening darkness is upon us and all pictures turned out terrible.
Guess that'll be the project next weekend.
If anything catches your eye let me know.
Starting at $12 (incl shipping <3)
Guess that'll be the project next weekend.
If anything catches your eye let me know.
Starting at $12 (incl shipping <3)
Reposted by Hel ✨ || Untwining... 🌀🪷
I guess it's about that time of the year where I should mention I've got a short christmas fairytale for you to read.
I wrote it back in highschool almost 20 yrs ago and found it by accident a few years back, gave it a basic edit, and here you go.
It's free on Ko-Fi and Itch!
ko-fi.com/s/5f3400a90d
I wrote it back in highschool almost 20 yrs ago and found it by accident a few years back, gave it a basic edit, and here you go.
It's free on Ko-Fi and Itch!
ko-fi.com/s/5f3400a90d
November 23, 2025 at 4:59 PM
I guess it's about that time of the year where I should mention I've got a short christmas fairytale for you to read.
I wrote it back in highschool almost 20 yrs ago and found it by accident a few years back, gave it a basic edit, and here you go.
It's free on Ko-Fi and Itch!
ko-fi.com/s/5f3400a90d
I wrote it back in highschool almost 20 yrs ago and found it by accident a few years back, gave it a basic edit, and here you go.
It's free on Ko-Fi and Itch!
ko-fi.com/s/5f3400a90d
One of my fave Hungarian sci-fis got translated to English!!
www.amazon.com/dp/B0G3LVNWKZ
I've been planning a series re-read, might do it next year. If you like space opera that is really a family drama with themes of religion and morality with flawed, amazing characters, check it out! #BookSky
www.amazon.com/dp/B0G3LVNWKZ
I've been planning a series re-read, might do it next year. If you like space opera that is really a family drama with themes of religion and morality with flawed, amazing characters, check it out! #BookSky
A Time to Heal
Amazon.com: A Time to Heal (Wondertimes Book 1) eBook : Raas, Raana, Suhajda, Etelka, Székács, Judit: Kindle Store
www.amazon.com
November 23, 2025 at 6:03 PM
One of my fave Hungarian sci-fis got translated to English!!
www.amazon.com/dp/B0G3LVNWKZ
I've been planning a series re-read, might do it next year. If you like space opera that is really a family drama with themes of religion and morality with flawed, amazing characters, check it out! #BookSky
www.amazon.com/dp/B0G3LVNWKZ
I've been planning a series re-read, might do it next year. If you like space opera that is really a family drama with themes of religion and morality with flawed, amazing characters, check it out! #BookSky
I like space.
(I think my brain needed to leave far, far away even when I couldn't. too angsty? too angsty. I like space!)
(I think my brain needed to leave far, far away even when I couldn't. too angsty? too angsty. I like space!)
November 23, 2025 at 5:33 PM
I like space.
(I think my brain needed to leave far, far away even when I couldn't. too angsty? too angsty. I like space!)
(I think my brain needed to leave far, far away even when I couldn't. too angsty? too angsty. I like space!)
I'm trying to catch up on reviewing the novellas I have read for #SFINCS so far. I posted one today, check it out! ✨
My seventh review for #SFINCS Round 1 is up! #SFINCS3 #TheWIPs
I read Parasitic Omens by Jessica A. McMinn, a fantasy horror where a detective stumbles into a monstrous plot of greed and fanaticism on the gaslamp-lit streets of Copperton. #BookSky
helynalclove.com/2025/11/23/s...
I read Parasitic Omens by Jessica A. McMinn, a fantasy horror where a detective stumbles into a monstrous plot of greed and fanaticism on the gaslamp-lit streets of Copperton. #BookSky
helynalclove.com/2025/11/23/s...
SFINCS3 Round 1 Review – Jessica A. McMinn: Parasitic Omens
I read this novella for the indie novella competition, SFINCS. The following review is my own personal opinion as a judge and does not reflect the views of the team as a whole. Find out more about …
helynalclove.com
November 23, 2025 at 4:56 PM
I'm trying to catch up on reviewing the novellas I have read for #SFINCS so far. I posted one today, check it out! ✨
Reposted by Hel ✨ || Untwining... 🌀🪷
If you watched HTTYD and thought Hiccup should be a sword-lesbian firebender and Toothless bigger than a house, then have i got the ✨complete series✨️ for you! Get the Fireborn series now! 🌈📚 #booksky #QueerAdultSFF #IndieAuthor #CompleteSeries
books2read.com/rl/fireborn-...
books2read.com/rl/fireborn-...
November 21, 2025 at 9:30 PM
If you watched HTTYD and thought Hiccup should be a sword-lesbian firebender and Toothless bigger than a house, then have i got the ✨complete series✨️ for you! Get the Fireborn series now! 🌈📚 #booksky #QueerAdultSFF #IndieAuthor #CompleteSeries
books2read.com/rl/fireborn-...
books2read.com/rl/fireborn-...
Reposted by Hel ✨ || Untwining... 🌀🪷
Today's the day! Here is the cover for the paperback edition of METROPOLIS DOWN! Done by the amazing @kjetll.bsky.social, it is everything that I wanted and more besides.
Pre-Order today at: ko-fi.com/vesperdoom
Pre-Order today at: ko-fi.com/vesperdoom
November 23, 2025 at 11:32 AM
Today's the day! Here is the cover for the paperback edition of METROPOLIS DOWN! Done by the amazing @kjetll.bsky.social, it is everything that I wanted and more besides.
Pre-Order today at: ko-fi.com/vesperdoom
Pre-Order today at: ko-fi.com/vesperdoom
#AMoRaR #BookSky
Breaking the rules a bit because it's not strictly indie (is it? it's by Solaris I think) but y'all, not enough people know about The Iron Children by Rebecca Fraimow.
It's honestly everything that I love in sci-fi, and one of the best novellas I've read, ever.
Breaking the rules a bit because it's not strictly indie (is it? it's by Solaris I think) but y'all, not enough people know about The Iron Children by Rebecca Fraimow.
It's honestly everything that I love in sci-fi, and one of the best novellas I've read, ever.
November 23, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Reposted by Hel ✨ || Untwining... 🌀🪷
Never forget you can get all of my books through a Kobo Plus subscription! And there's a -lot- of them, too, if you're the type of reader who loves to dig into a series all in a row.
www.kobo.com/ca/en/plus
🌈📚
www.kobo.com/ca/en/plus
🌈📚
November 22, 2025 at 2:18 AM
Never forget you can get all of my books through a Kobo Plus subscription! And there's a -lot- of them, too, if you're the type of reader who loves to dig into a series all in a row.
www.kobo.com/ca/en/plus
🌈📚
www.kobo.com/ca/en/plus
🌈📚
Reposted by Hel ✨ || Untwining... 🌀🪷
The Cardplay Duology ebook box set is on sale for $0.99! With the holidays around the corner, it could make a great gift for the YA Urban Fantasy reader in your life (or for yourself 😉✨)
♠️ amazon.com/dp/B0FC6Y3W51
♥️ amazon.co.uk/dp/B0FC6Y3W51
#BookSky #WritingCommunity
♠️ amazon.com/dp/B0FC6Y3W51
♥️ amazon.co.uk/dp/B0FC6Y3W51
#BookSky #WritingCommunity
November 17, 2025 at 2:40 PM
The Cardplay Duology ebook box set is on sale for $0.99! With the holidays around the corner, it could make a great gift for the YA Urban Fantasy reader in your life (or for yourself 😉✨)
♠️ amazon.com/dp/B0FC6Y3W51
♥️ amazon.co.uk/dp/B0FC6Y3W51
#BookSky #WritingCommunity
♠️ amazon.com/dp/B0FC6Y3W51
♥️ amazon.co.uk/dp/B0FC6Y3W51
#BookSky #WritingCommunity
Reposted by Hel ✨ || Untwining... 🌀🪷
It’s widely known (and, I think, pretty uncontroversial) that learning requires effort — specifically, if you don’t have to work at getting the knowledge, it won’t stick.
Even if an LLM could be trusted to give you correct information 100% of the time, it would be an inferior method of learning it.
Even if an LLM could be trusted to give you correct information 100% of the time, it would be an inferior method of learning it.
Relying on ChatGPT to teach you about a topic leaves you with shallower knowledge than Googling and reading about it, according to new research that compared what more than 10,000 people knew after using one method or the other.
Shared by @gizmodo.com: buff.ly/yAAHtHq
Shared by @gizmodo.com: buff.ly/yAAHtHq
November 21, 2025 at 12:49 PM
It’s widely known (and, I think, pretty uncontroversial) that learning requires effort — specifically, if you don’t have to work at getting the knowledge, it won’t stick.
Even if an LLM could be trusted to give you correct information 100% of the time, it would be an inferior method of learning it.
Even if an LLM could be trusted to give you correct information 100% of the time, it would be an inferior method of learning it.
#AMoRaR #BookSky
Maybe not the typical epic fantasy people would think of but both Stargun Messenger by @darbyharn.bsky.social and Bloody Spade (& Bleeding Heart) by @bmwillows.bsky.social felt "epic" to me in their own ways while also succesfully conveying intimate, character-centric moments.
Maybe not the typical epic fantasy people would think of but both Stargun Messenger by @darbyharn.bsky.social and Bloody Spade (& Bleeding Heart) by @bmwillows.bsky.social felt "epic" to me in their own ways while also succesfully conveying intimate, character-centric moments.
November 21, 2025 at 11:16 AM
#AMoRaR #BookSky
Maybe not the typical epic fantasy people would think of but both Stargun Messenger by @darbyharn.bsky.social and Bloody Spade (& Bleeding Heart) by @bmwillows.bsky.social felt "epic" to me in their own ways while also succesfully conveying intimate, character-centric moments.
Maybe not the typical epic fantasy people would think of but both Stargun Messenger by @darbyharn.bsky.social and Bloody Spade (& Bleeding Heart) by @bmwillows.bsky.social felt "epic" to me in their own ways while also succesfully conveying intimate, character-centric moments.
Reposted by Hel ✨ || Untwining... 🌀🪷
Flowers, gouache
November 12, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Flowers, gouache
and the library volunteering people called me on Tuesday but I've been a chicken about calling them back :(
phone :(
I'll do it tomorrow I think
phone :(
I'll do it tomorrow I think
November 20, 2025 at 2:46 PM
and the library volunteering people called me on Tuesday but I've been a chicken about calling them back :(
phone :(
I'll do it tomorrow I think
phone :(
I'll do it tomorrow I think
today continuing to binge watch The Expanse for good scifi vibes counts as writing
November 20, 2025 at 1:08 PM
today continuing to binge watch The Expanse for good scifi vibes counts as writing
#AMoRaR #BookSky
Definitely want to recommend The Erstwhile Tyler Kyle by @stevewestenra.bsky.social, The World Within by @danifinnwrites.bsky.social, and the World Running Down by @al-distortion.bsky.social!
Definitely want to recommend The Erstwhile Tyler Kyle by @stevewestenra.bsky.social, The World Within by @danifinnwrites.bsky.social, and the World Running Down by @al-distortion.bsky.social!
November 20, 2025 at 12:19 PM
#AMoRaR #BookSky
Definitely want to recommend The Erstwhile Tyler Kyle by @stevewestenra.bsky.social, The World Within by @danifinnwrites.bsky.social, and the World Running Down by @al-distortion.bsky.social!
Definitely want to recommend The Erstwhile Tyler Kyle by @stevewestenra.bsky.social, The World Within by @danifinnwrites.bsky.social, and the World Running Down by @al-distortion.bsky.social!
Reposted by Hel ✨ || Untwining... 🌀🪷
I finally finished writing the sequel & closing installment to my dark fantasy duology about a woman with missing memories and hostile magic facing her traumatic origins to save or doom her fractured world.
Coming in 2026! 🥀
Read Imbued:
books2read.com/imbued
helynalc.itch.io/imbued
💙📚💙🪐
#BookSky
Coming in 2026! 🥀
Read Imbued:
books2read.com/imbued
helynalc.itch.io/imbued
💙📚💙🪐
#BookSky
November 19, 2025 at 11:21 AM
I finally finished writing the sequel & closing installment to my dark fantasy duology about a woman with missing memories and hostile magic facing her traumatic origins to save or doom her fractured world.
Coming in 2026! 🥀
Read Imbued:
books2read.com/imbued
helynalc.itch.io/imbued
💙📚💙🪐
#BookSky
Coming in 2026! 🥀
Read Imbued:
books2read.com/imbued
helynalc.itch.io/imbued
💙📚💙🪐
#BookSky