James L. Sutter
@jameslsutter.bsky.social
Co-creator of the Pathfinder & Starfinder TTRPGs. Author of the queer young adult romance novels DARKHEARTS and THE GHOST OF US, plus fantasy novels, comics, video games, and more. Musician. ME/CFS husband.
Pinned
James L. Sutter
@jameslsutter.bsky.social
· Nov 23
OBLIGATORY INTRO POST: Hi everybody! You might know me as a co-creator of the Pathfinder and Starfinder roleplaying games, but these days I'm mostly writing queer young adult rom-coms. If you need some grumpy teen kissing in your life, maybe check 'em out? jameslsutter.com/novels.html
Reposted by James L. Sutter
I once asked a bookseller at a large indie store how many people would have to buy a book for it to get the attention of the store buyer and cause an additional order and they said: Three.
I see some book piracy discourse, and, to make a positive argument in favor of buying books, your marginal ability to influence what books get published and support the careers of writers you like is massive compared to most other forms of media.
November 25, 2025 at 11:07 PM
I once asked a bookseller at a large indie store how many people would have to buy a book for it to get the attention of the store buyer and cause an additional order and they said: Three.
Being in a band in your forties is just posting this to the group chat forever.
November 26, 2025 at 1:32 AM
Being in a band in your forties is just posting this to the group chat forever.
We're entering the Era of Convenient Theft.
Anything digital can be pirated. Anything posted will be reposted by an aggregator. AI can give anyone perfect simulacra or deepfaked porn of anybody.
With no logistical barrier, the only thing inhibiting constant theft is our own internal ethics.
Anything digital can be pirated. Anything posted will be reposted by an aggregator. AI can give anyone perfect simulacra or deepfaked porn of anybody.
With no logistical barrier, the only thing inhibiting constant theft is our own internal ethics.
November 20, 2025 at 8:01 PM
We're entering the Era of Convenient Theft.
Anything digital can be pirated. Anything posted will be reposted by an aggregator. AI can give anyone perfect simulacra or deepfaked porn of anybody.
With no logistical barrier, the only thing inhibiting constant theft is our own internal ethics.
Anything digital can be pirated. Anything posted will be reposted by an aggregator. AI can give anyone perfect simulacra or deepfaked porn of anybody.
With no logistical barrier, the only thing inhibiting constant theft is our own internal ethics.
I just searched for Death Cab for Cutie and the first thing that came up was a playlist called "Dad Rock Essentials." 💀
November 20, 2025 at 4:07 AM
I just searched for Death Cab for Cutie and the first thing that came up was a playlist called "Dad Rock Essentials." 💀
You can now *listen* to my new story, "Make of Your Chest a Place for Birds," on the latest episode of the @nightmare-magazine.com podcast! It's dark fantasy about love and grief and birds nesting in your thoracic cavity.
November 18, 2025 at 6:53 PM
You can now *listen* to my new story, "Make of Your Chest a Place for Birds," on the latest episode of the @nightmare-magazine.com podcast! It's dark fantasy about love and grief and birds nesting in your thoracic cavity.
Reposted by James L. Sutter
Who needs some wonderful stories featuring birds? Here are a couple I listened to recently. Loved them both.
Make of Your Chest a Place for Birds by @jameslsutter.bsky.social in @nightmare-magazine.com
The Crow's Second Tale by @marissalingen.bsky.social in @bcsmagazine.bsky.social
Make of Your Chest a Place for Birds by @jameslsutter.bsky.social in @nightmare-magazine.com
The Crow's Second Tale by @marissalingen.bsky.social in @bcsmagazine.bsky.social
November 18, 2025 at 12:50 AM
Who needs some wonderful stories featuring birds? Here are a couple I listened to recently. Loved them both.
Make of Your Chest a Place for Birds by @jameslsutter.bsky.social in @nightmare-magazine.com
The Crow's Second Tale by @marissalingen.bsky.social in @bcsmagazine.bsky.social
Make of Your Chest a Place for Birds by @jameslsutter.bsky.social in @nightmare-magazine.com
The Crow's Second Tale by @marissalingen.bsky.social in @bcsmagazine.bsky.social
In classic fashion, last night's D&D heist began with five hours of subtle plotting, which then immediately turned into the monk punching a guard in the face 13 times. 🙃
November 17, 2025 at 5:20 AM
In classic fashion, last night's D&D heist began with five hours of subtle plotting, which then immediately turned into the monk punching a guard in the face 13 times. 🙃
Trying to buy health insurance is like the Holy Grail scene in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, where you're presented dozens of similar cups but know if you choose the wrong one you'll immediately crumble into dust/medical debt.
November 16, 2025 at 8:46 PM
Trying to buy health insurance is like the Holy Grail scene in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, where you're presented dozens of similar cups but know if you choose the wrong one you'll immediately crumble into dust/medical debt.
SEATTLE! Come say hi TODAY at the grand opening of the Beguiled Books all-romance bookstore in Pioneer Square! I'll be there from 4:00-4:45, signing books, answering questions, and just generally hanging out!
www.beguiledbooks.com/opening
www.beguiledbooks.com/opening
November 16, 2025 at 6:17 PM
SEATTLE! Come say hi TODAY at the grand opening of the Beguiled Books all-romance bookstore in Pioneer Square! I'll be there from 4:00-4:45, signing books, answering questions, and just generally hanging out!
www.beguiledbooks.com/opening
www.beguiledbooks.com/opening
I did a scarily personal interview about how grief and chronic illness influenced my new dark fantasy/body horror story, "Make of Your Chest a Place for Birds," over at @nightmare-magazine.com:
Interview: www.nightmare-magazine.com/nonfiction/a...
Story: www.nightmare-magazine.com/fiction/make...
Interview: www.nightmare-magazine.com/nonfiction/a...
Story: www.nightmare-magazine.com/fiction/make...
November 15, 2025 at 10:02 PM
I did a scarily personal interview about how grief and chronic illness influenced my new dark fantasy/body horror story, "Make of Your Chest a Place for Birds," over at @nightmare-magazine.com:
Interview: www.nightmare-magazine.com/nonfiction/a...
Story: www.nightmare-magazine.com/fiction/make...
Interview: www.nightmare-magazine.com/nonfiction/a...
Story: www.nightmare-magazine.com/fiction/make...
I think the worst life lesson grade school taught me was that it's possible to meet all expectations and get 100% on every assignment if you just work hard enough.
November 12, 2025 at 8:22 PM
I think the worst life lesson grade school taught me was that it's possible to meet all expectations and get 100% on every assignment if you just work hard enough.
SEATTLE! Come hang out with me this Sunday at 4:00pm as part of Beguiled Books' grand opening of their new all-romance brick and mortar bookstore in Pioneer Square! www.beguiledbooks.com/opening
November 12, 2025 at 4:56 PM
SEATTLE! Come hang out with me this Sunday at 4:00pm as part of Beguiled Books' grand opening of their new all-romance brick and mortar bookstore in Pioneer Square! www.beguiledbooks.com/opening
Art is a way more stable foundation for a career than influence.
We're often told to build a platform so we can sell our art, but the art *is* the platform. Focus on making things people love and they'll follow you. Fame can evaporate in a blink, and often doesn't translate to sales anyway.
We're often told to build a platform so we can sell our art, but the art *is* the platform. Focus on making things people love and they'll follow you. Fame can evaporate in a blink, and often doesn't translate to sales anyway.
November 11, 2025 at 8:32 PM
Art is a way more stable foundation for a career than influence.
We're often told to build a platform so we can sell our art, but the art *is* the platform. Focus on making things people love and they'll follow you. Fame can evaporate in a blink, and often doesn't translate to sales anyway.
We're often told to build a platform so we can sell our art, but the art *is* the platform. Focus on making things people love and they'll follow you. Fame can evaporate in a blink, and often doesn't translate to sales anyway.
To this day, my geographical instincts remain hamstrung by the bone-deep knowledge that west Philadelphia and Bel Air can't be farther than a cab-ride apart.
November 9, 2025 at 6:26 PM
To this day, my geographical instincts remain hamstrung by the bone-deep knowledge that west Philadelphia and Bel Air can't be farther than a cab-ride apart.
A fantasy-themed cabaret called Moulin Rogue.
November 8, 2025 at 8:53 PM
A fantasy-themed cabaret called Moulin Rogue.
Want to volunteer but too exhausted? You can help humanitarian workers reach those affected by Hurricane Melissa by categorizing satellite images and identifying road blockages. Super easy, important, takes less than a minute each, stop and start whenever you like: www.zooniverse.org/projects/ali...
Zooniverse
The Zooniverse is the world’s largest and most popular platform for people-powered research.
www.zooniverse.org
November 7, 2025 at 12:21 AM
Want to volunteer but too exhausted? You can help humanitarian workers reach those affected by Hurricane Melissa by categorizing satellite images and identifying road blockages. Super easy, important, takes less than a minute each, stop and start whenever you like: www.zooniverse.org/projects/ali...
My story "Make of Your Chest a Place for Birds" just went live on @nightmare-magazine.com—it's about grief, love, and birds nesting in your thoracic cavity, and I think it's one of the best things I've ever written.
You can read it for free right now: www.nightmare-magazine.com/fiction/make...
You can read it for free right now: www.nightmare-magazine.com/fiction/make...
November 6, 2025 at 12:28 AM
My story "Make of Your Chest a Place for Birds" just went live on @nightmare-magazine.com—it's about grief, love, and birds nesting in your thoracic cavity, and I think it's one of the best things I've ever written.
You can read it for free right now: www.nightmare-magazine.com/fiction/make...
You can read it for free right now: www.nightmare-magazine.com/fiction/make...
Reposted by James L. Sutter
It's the first Wednesday of November, and that means it's time for the first story in Nightmare's annual Dark Fantasy issue! Prepare to have your heart squeezed by @jameslsutter.bsky.social's beautiful & touching "Make of Your Chest a Place for Birds."
www.nightmare-magazine.com/fiction/make...
www.nightmare-magazine.com/fiction/make...
Make of Your Chest a Place for Birds - Nightmare Magazine
The surgery is an aortic something-or-other—you don’t really bother to listen. You don’t need some surgeon barely out of pull-ups to tell you your heart hasn’t worked right since Sam died. They put yo...
www.nightmare-magazine.com
November 5, 2025 at 7:04 PM
This is possibly the most personal story I've ever written, about love and grief and a bird nesting inside your thoracic cavity, and I'm so glad it's out in the world today. ❤️
It's the first Wednesday of November, and that means it's time for the first story in Nightmare's annual Dark Fantasy issue! Prepare to have your heart squeezed by @jameslsutter.bsky.social's beautiful & touching "Make of Your Chest a Place for Birds."
www.nightmare-magazine.com/fiction/make...
www.nightmare-magazine.com/fiction/make...
Make of Your Chest a Place for Birds - Nightmare Magazine
The surgery is an aortic something-or-other—you don’t really bother to listen. You don’t need some surgeon barely out of pull-ups to tell you your heart hasn’t worked right since Sam died. They put yo...
www.nightmare-magazine.com
November 5, 2025 at 4:43 PM
This is possibly the most personal story I've ever written, about love and grief and a bird nesting inside your thoracic cavity, and I'm so glad it's out in the world today. ❤️
Reposted by James L. Sutter
It's the first Wednesday of November, and that means it's time for the first story in Nightmare's annual Dark Fantasy issue! Prepare to have your heart squeezed by @jameslsutter.bsky.social's beautiful & touching "Make of Your Chest a Place for Birds."
www.nightmare-magazine.com/fiction/make...
www.nightmare-magazine.com/fiction/make...
Make of Your Chest a Place for Birds - Nightmare Magazine
The surgery is an aortic something-or-other—you don’t really bother to listen. You don’t need some surgeon barely out of pull-ups to tell you your heart hasn’t worked right since Sam died. They put yo...
www.nightmare-magazine.com
November 5, 2025 at 4:29 PM
It's the first Wednesday of November, and that means it's time for the first story in Nightmare's annual Dark Fantasy issue! Prepare to have your heart squeezed by @jameslsutter.bsky.social's beautiful & touching "Make of Your Chest a Place for Birds."
www.nightmare-magazine.com/fiction/make...
www.nightmare-magazine.com/fiction/make...
Reposted by James L. Sutter
I just read @jameslsutter.bsky.social's "Make of Your Chest a Place for Birds" in the latest issue of @wnwagner.bsky.social's NIGHTMARE magazine and good GODS what a story. I want to go find a quiet spot and stare into space for a while. A perfect depiction of grieving and of being alive.
November 4, 2025 at 9:13 PM
I just read @jameslsutter.bsky.social's "Make of Your Chest a Place for Birds" in the latest issue of @wnwagner.bsky.social's NIGHTMARE magazine and good GODS what a story. I want to go find a quiet spot and stare into space for a while. A perfect depiction of grieving and of being alive.
Voting matters. Even if you think you're just voting for the lesser evil—couldn't we use a bit less evil in our government right now?
November 4, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Voting matters. Even if you think you're just voting for the lesser evil—couldn't we use a bit less evil in our government right now?
"How can we make every dystopian novel a reality at the same time?"
New incredible detail here: ICE says a match in its facial recognition app Mobile Fortify is a "definitive" determination of a person's status, and that this overrides birth certificates. This is an app ICE is using in the field to scan people
www.404media.co/ice-and-cbp-...
www.404media.co/ice-and-cbp-...
October 29, 2025 at 4:31 PM
"How can we make every dystopian novel a reality at the same time?"
I've got a cool (and free!) thing coming out soon—if you don't want to miss out due to the whims of the algorithms, sign up for my extremely sporadic mailing list! eepurl.com/gpPbxX
James L. Sutter
James L. Sutter Email Forms
eepurl.com
October 28, 2025 at 7:24 PM
I've got a cool (and free!) thing coming out soon—if you don't want to miss out due to the whims of the algorithms, sign up for my extremely sporadic mailing list! eepurl.com/gpPbxX
There's still time for a supernatural sapphic YA romance before Halloween! 👻
jameslsutter.com/novels-ghost...
jameslsutter.com/novels-ghost...
October 25, 2025 at 10:38 PM
There's still time for a supernatural sapphic YA romance before Halloween! 👻
jameslsutter.com/novels-ghost...
jameslsutter.com/novels-ghost...