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V. Astor Solomon

@howsweetthewords.bsky.social

1.7K followers 530 following 670 posts

They/them Trans, disabled, neurodivergent, mixed-race Committing expansively queer, often dark, speculative short fiction Living in both Tampa and Seattle Links: https://linktr.ee/howsweetthewords icon: Amelie Lavender

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V. Astor Solomon @howsweetthewords.bsky.social · Nov 13

Hi everyone!
If you don't know me, I'm V. Astor Solomon, an author of queer speculative fiction. I use Vale most of the time, but if you can think of a V name I like, I'll probably respond to it. Names should be a lot more like fancy hats if you ask me.

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V. Astor Solomon @howsweetthewords.bsky.social · 9h

But the reward is enough. When someone tries to see if it fits, it gives them enough chance to slip into new skin and exist as they had once been, if only for the briefest moment.

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V. Astor Solomon @howsweetthewords.bsky.social · 9h

Again and again, they streak the sky, the ring clutched between their talons, their eyes scanning the ground.
Then they’ll drop it, and someone will pick it up, and over and over the cycle goes.

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V. Astor Solomon @howsweetthewords.bsky.social · 11h

No one knows how hungry it is, how it yearns to close its doors forever, how all it wants is to fall, fall, fall until it and everyone inside it have become one. All it wants is to hold onto something instead of watching everyone leave.
Maybe one day it will get that chance. Maybe it won't be lonely

Reposted by V. Astor Solomon

Rath Mercury @rathmercury.com · 10d

This post it just the prompt; there's a story in the replies from @howsweetthewords.bsky.social that I loved

Rath Mercury @rathmercury.com · Sep 10

A mismatched tea set in a box on the corner. 🫖

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V. Astor Solomon @howsweetthewords.bsky.social · 11d

You bring one of the cups downstairs, then make yourself a cup of store-bought chai. It makes your chest feel hollow, but you can't help but hope that maybe, if you have just a little bit in one of the cups, you can dance with ghosts just once too.

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V. Astor Solomon @howsweetthewords.bsky.social · 11d

But she's gone now, and you're sitting here with a box full of teacups you didn’t know she kept, and your heart hurts so much. You want her to tell you a story, or take you out to thrift a new cup so you two can have tea. You want to smell her perfume, or hear her turning on the kettle.

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V. Astor Solomon @howsweetthewords.bsky.social · 11d

When you grew older, she still tried telling you, but you stopped believing. Instead you assumed she bought the cups when she was out, or her sister gave them to her. You'd see them for a few days after she’d tell you another weird story, and then they’d vanish.

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V. Astor Solomon @howsweetthewords.bsky.social · 11d

Places where she’d dance with ghosts, sit in the sky and have deserts with the birds. She told you amazing things, but when you asked why she never took you, she said she had never found one of the cups when you were close, and she only had a few minutes to decide if she wanted to see where she’d go

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V. Astor Solomon @howsweetthewords.bsky.social · 11d

content note: this does deal with parental death.

When you were a kid and your mom told you about the teacups, you believed her. She would whisper stories about all the strange places she'd gone with them.

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V. Astor Solomon @howsweetthewords.bsky.social · 11d

Their brittle bodies will be one and the same, and it makes everything in them embrace what's to come.

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V. Astor Solomon @howsweetthewords.bsky.social · 11d

They feel it calling, reaching, pulling one, and one, and one closer until they’re brought into the depths.
Yet none of them is afraid. They know the kind of darkness that draws them in will bring them closer, crush them until they're the same nothingness.

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V. Astor Solomon @howsweetthewords.bsky.social · 11d

They sing out to each other, not with sound, but with bodies revolving.
All of them dancing, spinning and glittering together, hoping to create something that is bigger than any of them, than all of them.
But there are already things bigger than stars, vast and hungry and reaching.

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V. Astor Solomon @howsweetthewords.bsky.social · 11d

The stars tremble under the weight of blackness. They struggle to keep their light going, their bodies turning, their inhabitants thriving. They reach, reach, reach for each other amidst the infinite spaces. Every moment is a fight.
One of them hums, then another, and another still.

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Reposted by V. Astor Solomon

Dim Shores @dimshores.bsky.social · 24d

Cover design by Shi Briggs. www.etsy.com/shop/grossan...

www.etsy.com

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Reposted by V. Astor Solomon

Nino Cipri @ninocipri.bsky.social · 12d

Just in time to get into the Halloween spirit, I’m teaching a horror writing class with Queens Collaboratory. If you’re in NYC and want to dip your toes into writing horror, this the place to do it. Tickets are $20-$25, and spots are pretty limited. luma.com/9pzyg2tm

Red hands with sharp black nails reach across a dark, smoky background. Text: Horror writing for beginners. October 19, 2-4. LED by Astoria-based author Nino Cipri.

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V. Astor Solomon @howsweetthewords.bsky.social · 15d

I'm so glad. <3 This is why I talk about stories, because I know how much it can brighten someone's day.

V. Astor Solomon @howsweetthewords.bsky.social · 15d

Come hang out with us!

Catherine Tavares @cjtavares.bsky.social · 17d

Come see @kaidelmas.bsky.social, @howsweetthewords.bsky.social, @granades.com, and @dianadima.com talk all things flash fiction at the Speculative Flash Fiction panel Saturday, 9/27 during Hour 26.

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Reposted by V. Astor Solomon

Kurella De'vil is in the Details @kurellian.bsky.social · 16d

"A beautiful read aided by Kurella’s skilled and poetical use of language. This is a story I strongly recommend."

😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

Runalong Womble @runalongwomble.bsky.social · 16d

New Review - a Mountain challenges Death but not quite as you think - a gorgeous novella awaits in The Death of Mountains by @kurellian.bsky.social out now and strongly recommended! www.runalongtheshelves.net/blog/2025/9/...

The Death of Mountains by Jordan Kurella — Runalong The Shelves

I would like to thank the author for a copy of this novella in exchange for a fair and honest review Publisher – Lethe Press Published – Out Now Price – £8.27 paperback £3.00 ebook The lat...

www.runalongtheshelves.net

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Reposted by V. Astor Solomon

Charles (Cy) Payseur @cypayseur.bsky.social · 18d

TELL ME YOUR 🏳️‍🌈QUEER SHORT SFF🏳️‍🌈 OUT IN AUGUST 2025!!! Originals only pls, up to novella in length, indie okay. Just reply with the author, title, and a link to read and/or buy and I'll get them on the list. Here's July's list for context & more info: www.patreon.com/posts/some-q...

Some Queer Short SFF - July 2025 | Charles Payseur

www.patreon.com

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V. Astor Solomon @howsweetthewords.bsky.social · 17d

It's Tuesday! And despite being still a little off my game from travel, I do have a post.

This week we've got @charliehughes77.bsky.social and Kristi DeMeester bringing us some good, good horror stories that made me very pleased

howsweetthewords.com/two-fic-tues...

Two Fic Tuesday

Welcome! Don't mind today's letter being a little late. I didn't set this to post at the right time. Oops! But it's still Tuesday, and I still have stories for you. This week I bring you a couple st...

howsweetthewords.com

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V. Astor Solomon @howsweetthewords.bsky.social · 21d

My theory about SeaTac is that it's trying to embrace that ship of Theseus vibe. Because otherwise there is no good reason for that much construction. So. Much. Construction.

V. Astor Solomon @howsweetthewords.bsky.social · 21d

I regretted so many life choices while I was in the Seattle airport. So. Many.

I'm much better now, but by the time we were running around trying to find my bag, all I wanted to do was lie on the floor.

V. Astor Solomon @howsweetthewords.bsky.social · 21d

I've made it back to Seattle and I'm tired down through my bones. It was a full flight, and six hours, and we had to track down my stuff because it wasn't in baggage. Also, I didn't do great with eating or sleeping beforehand.

I feel like I'm going to be flat for at least the weekend.

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Reposted by V. Astor Solomon

Andi @andiwrites.bsky.social · 25d

Spellcasting On is out now!

Cosy sapphic romance with yarn 🧶 and magic ✨.

Available now on all the usual platforms:

buy.bookfunnel.com/psfdv1soqy

purple cover of Spellcasting On by Andi R. Christopher. It has a range of elements including a witch's hat, a heart shaped ball of yarn with a crochet hook, hammers, and violets.

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Reposted by V. Astor Solomon

R F Daniels (they/them) @rfdwrites.bsky.social · 26d

I've got a story, Unforgettable, in Volume 4 - LIMBO - of @clubchicxulub.bsky.social that I'm super excited to see published! clubchicxulub.com/club-chicxul...

Club Chicxulub Journal Vol. 4, Limbo – Club Chicxulub

clubchicxulub.com

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