Lesley Conner
@lesleyconner.bsky.social
Editor in Chief at Apex Magazine. Coffee drinker. Book reader. She/Her
Why does this dog insist on licking my furniture!?! I can't tell you how many times the words "Stop licking the couch!" have come out of my mouth. Then he just looks at me like this, as if to say "Why? I like licking the couch."
February 6, 2026 at 8:43 PM
Why does this dog insist on licking my furniture!?! I can't tell you how many times the words "Stop licking the couch!" have come out of my mouth. Then he just looks at me like this, as if to say "Why? I like licking the couch."
Just finished scheduling the original fiction for @apexmag.bsky.social issue 153 and WOW! This is issue is *heavy*. The stories are all fantastic, but I feel like I should apologize ahead of time for all of the heartache.
February 6, 2026 at 4:02 PM
Just finished scheduling the original fiction for @apexmag.bsky.social issue 153 and WOW! This is issue is *heavy*. The stories are all fantastic, but I feel like I should apologize ahead of time for all of the heartache.
Reposted by Lesley Conner
New @apexmag.bsky.social issue is here! New fiction by @jordankurella.com and @mariahaskins.com and lots of other good stuff: weightlessbooks.com/apex-magazin...
February 3, 2026 at 12:43 PM
New @apexmag.bsky.social issue is here! New fiction by @jordankurella.com and @mariahaskins.com and lots of other good stuff: weightlessbooks.com/apex-magazin...
Every time I get up, I come back to Pax begging for belly rubs.
January 30, 2026 at 5:32 PM
Every time I get up, I come back to Pax begging for belly rubs.
In an effort to keep up with submissions and be open on a consistent schedule, we've decided that @apexmag.bsky.social will be open to short fiction subs on an every other month schedule. We will be open in Jan, March, May, July, Sept, and Nov. We're closed the other months.
January 29, 2026 at 3:41 PM
In an effort to keep up with submissions and be open on a consistent schedule, we've decided that @apexmag.bsky.social will be open to short fiction subs on an every other month schedule. We will be open in Jan, March, May, July, Sept, and Nov. We're closed the other months.
Reposted by Lesley Conner
A friendly reminder that submissions CLOSE for our upcoming issue this Saturday. Keep them coming! Share with a Black SFF writer in your circle 🖤🖤🖤
Guidelines here: fiyahlitmag.com/submissions/
Guidelines here: fiyahlitmag.com/submissions/
January 26, 2026 at 3:27 PM
A friendly reminder that submissions CLOSE for our upcoming issue this Saturday. Keep them coming! Share with a Black SFF writer in your circle 🖤🖤🖤
Guidelines here: fiyahlitmag.com/submissions/
Guidelines here: fiyahlitmag.com/submissions/
Reposted by Lesley Conner
We Who Hunt Alexanders is on the longlist of nominees for the BSFA Awards in the Best Shorter Fiction category!
Many thanks to everyone who loved the novella and all the members of the British Science Fiction Association who nominated it! @apexmag.bsky.social www.bsfa.co.uk/bsfa-awards-...
Many thanks to everyone who loved the novella and all the members of the British Science Fiction Association who nominated it! @apexmag.bsky.social www.bsfa.co.uk/bsfa-awards-...
January 22, 2026 at 9:54 PM
We Who Hunt Alexanders is on the longlist of nominees for the BSFA Awards in the Best Shorter Fiction category!
Many thanks to everyone who loved the novella and all the members of the British Science Fiction Association who nominated it! @apexmag.bsky.social www.bsfa.co.uk/bsfa-awards-...
Many thanks to everyone who loved the novella and all the members of the British Science Fiction Association who nominated it! @apexmag.bsky.social www.bsfa.co.uk/bsfa-awards-...
Reposted by Lesley Conner
Listen: if you haven't read this story of mine yet, you should. There might be an Important Reason that I can't talk about yet and to bear under the weight of such an exciting secret, I'll have to live vicariously through my readers.
MYSTERIOUS STUFF HAPPENING
MYSTERIOUS STUFF HAPPENING
"One by One" by @lindzmcleod.bsky.social (issue 148).
"My best friend’s desk was empty on Monday morning."
Oof! This story! Queer, and beautiful, and heartbreaking, I swear I tear up just thinking about it. ❤️
www.apexbookcompany.com/a/blog/apex-...
"My best friend’s desk was empty on Monday morning."
Oof! This story! Queer, and beautiful, and heartbreaking, I swear I tear up just thinking about it. ❤️
www.apexbookcompany.com/a/blog/apex-...
One by One
My best friend’s desk was empty on Monday morning.
www.apexbookcompany.com
January 20, 2026 at 4:06 PM
Listen: if you haven't read this story of mine yet, you should. There might be an Important Reason that I can't talk about yet and to bear under the weight of such an exciting secret, I'll have to live vicariously through my readers.
MYSTERIOUS STUFF HAPPENING
MYSTERIOUS STUFF HAPPENING
Reposted by Lesley Conner
"I found an old god in the woods, shivering, starving, forgotten. With eyes of gold, skin the color of old loam hardened and wrinkled as time, fingers the roots of trees, and a tongue of moss, tā begged for help." A lovely lyrical story from @montelin.bsky.social, Apex Magazine @apexmag.bsky.social
January 19, 2026 at 1:50 AM
"I found an old god in the woods, shivering, starving, forgotten. With eyes of gold, skin the color of old loam hardened and wrinkled as time, fingers the roots of trees, and a tongue of moss, tā begged for help." A lovely lyrical story from @montelin.bsky.social, Apex Magazine @apexmag.bsky.social
Anxiety is absolutely walloping me this morning. To the point that I'm questioning whether I took my meds last night. I remember taking them ... but holy wow, it sure doesn't feel like it.
January 19, 2026 at 3:28 PM
Anxiety is absolutely walloping me this morning. To the point that I'm questioning whether I took my meds last night. I remember taking them ... but holy wow, it sure doesn't feel like it.
Reposted by Lesley Conner
Crystal clear prose transports you into the story and small, unique details make the characters feel alive! If you haven't read it yet, I recommend you do.
"One by One" by @lindzmcleod.bsky.social (issue 148).
"My best friend’s desk was empty on Monday morning."
Oof! This story! Queer, and beautiful, and heartbreaking, I swear I tear up just thinking about it. ❤️
www.apexbookcompany.com/a/blog/apex-...
"My best friend’s desk was empty on Monday morning."
Oof! This story! Queer, and beautiful, and heartbreaking, I swear I tear up just thinking about it. ❤️
www.apexbookcompany.com/a/blog/apex-...
One by One
My best friend’s desk was empty on Monday morning.
www.apexbookcompany.com
January 19, 2026 at 1:09 AM
Crystal clear prose transports you into the story and small, unique details make the characters feel alive! If you haven't read it yet, I recommend you do.
Reposted by Lesley Conner
A friendly reminder for HWA members: the deadline to recommend/nominate works for the Stoker Awards is January 15! Get your recs in now!
bramstokerawards.horror.org
bramstokerawards.horror.org
The Bram Stoker Awards – Horror’s premier literary award
bramstokerawards.horror.org
January 12, 2026 at 4:09 PM
A friendly reminder for HWA members: the deadline to recommend/nominate works for the Stoker Awards is January 15! Get your recs in now!
bramstokerawards.horror.org
bramstokerawards.horror.org
Reposted by Lesley Conner
@apexmag.bsky.social made me a pro, and now they’ve made me an essayist as well :). So excited to have my essay “Not a Scab, but a Wound,” set to appear in their February issue! I hope you’ll all check it out once it’s available and let me know what you think of it.
January 15, 2026 at 5:19 PM
@apexmag.bsky.social made me a pro, and now they’ve made me an essayist as well :). So excited to have my essay “Not a Scab, but a Wound,” set to appear in their February issue! I hope you’ll all check it out once it’s available and let me know what you think of it.
This is the face of a dog who ate all my blueberries. He keeps coming to check if I have more. Sadly, I didn't run to the grocery store and come home in the 30 seconds since he last checked.
January 15, 2026 at 6:09 PM
This is the face of a dog who ate all my blueberries. He keeps coming to check if I have more. Sadly, I didn't run to the grocery store and come home in the 30 seconds since he last checked.
My friend has a co-worker who invited everyone in their office to a Zoom presentation of what they read in 2025. It included a slide show and statistics and can I say I have never wanted to be friends with someone so fast! I want an invite to the 2026 Zoom presentation!
January 14, 2026 at 6:44 PM
My friend has a co-worker who invited everyone in their office to a Zoom presentation of what they read in 2025. It included a slide show and statistics and can I say I have never wanted to be friends with someone so fast! I want an invite to the 2026 Zoom presentation!
Reposted by Lesley Conner
RT if you've never had a tab of ChatGPT open 'just to do quick research'
![You’ve got super fans pausing and zooming in on individuals frames of your documentary. One allegedly shows one of the Duffers with a ChatGPT tab open on their computer. In your presence, what did they use ChatGPT for?
I mean, are we even sure they had ChatGPT open?
I’m personally not, but the internet seems sure.
Well, there’s a lot of chatter where [social media users] are like, “We don’t really know, but we’re assuming.” But to me it’s like, doesn’t everybody have it open, to just do quick research?
I do.
How can you possibly write a storyline with 19 characters and use ChatGPT, I don’t even understand.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:7t2urmt3i33jl6tjgiolio6g/bafkreidw2tmcr2ayq74oqmjm5pn2tdox6hlxnpqevhuqqj6oa7nsslx3oi@jpeg)
January 13, 2026 at 8:45 PM
RT if you've never had a tab of ChatGPT open 'just to do quick research'
I'm trying to not buy new books but every time I see something I'm interested in, I add it to my cart and then not check out.
a woman is standing in a room with the words `` is it like , dangerous or something ? '' written on the screen .
Alt: a woman is standing in a room with the words `` is it like , dangerous or something ? '' written on the screen .
media.tenor.com
January 13, 2026 at 4:47 PM
I'm trying to not buy new books but every time I see something I'm interested in, I add it to my cart and then not check out.
Reposted by Lesley Conner
Dr. @chesyaburke.bsky.social and I are editing an anthology surveying the evolution of Black literary horror. Tentatively titled Black Horror, Then & Next: We Have Always Dreamed in Darkness (FlameTree Press), here are the guidelines…
blog.flametreepublishing.com/fantasy-goth...
blog.flametreepublishing.com/fantasy-goth...
Black Horror | Call for Submissions
We are very excited to announce a new call for submissions which is now open!
blog.flametreepublishing.com
December 19, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Dr. @chesyaburke.bsky.social and I are editing an anthology surveying the evolution of Black literary horror. Tentatively titled Black Horror, Then & Next: We Have Always Dreamed in Darkness (FlameTree Press), here are the guidelines…
blog.flametreepublishing.com/fantasy-goth...
blog.flametreepublishing.com/fantasy-goth...
Reposted by Lesley Conner
Strange Horizons fiction submissions open next Monday!
The window will be open for 48 hours from 3 p.m. UTC on January 19th 2026 to 3 p.m. UTC on January 21st 2026.
There will be no cap.
More information on submitting, including the link to our Moksha portal ⬇️
strangehorizons.com/submit/ficti...
The window will be open for 48 hours from 3 p.m. UTC on January 19th 2026 to 3 p.m. UTC on January 21st 2026.
There will be no cap.
More information on submitting, including the link to our Moksha portal ⬇️
strangehorizons.com/submit/ficti...
January 12, 2026 at 10:44 AM
Strange Horizons fiction submissions open next Monday!
The window will be open for 48 hours from 3 p.m. UTC on January 19th 2026 to 3 p.m. UTC on January 21st 2026.
There will be no cap.
More information on submitting, including the link to our Moksha portal ⬇️
strangehorizons.com/submit/ficti...
The window will be open for 48 hours from 3 p.m. UTC on January 19th 2026 to 3 p.m. UTC on January 21st 2026.
There will be no cap.
More information on submitting, including the link to our Moksha portal ⬇️
strangehorizons.com/submit/ficti...
Reposted by Lesley Conner
Your friendly independent bookstore breaking into your timeline to tell you to take a couple hours this weekend, put your phone in like, a box, or something & read a book. All of this <waves hand> will be here when you come back.
January 9, 2026 at 11:30 PM
Your friendly independent bookstore breaking into your timeline to tell you to take a couple hours this weekend, put your phone in like, a box, or something & read a book. All of this <waves hand> will be here when you come back.
My 'w' key is starting to be finicky. It still works, but you have to hit it just so ... Which means when I'm typing quickly, it's dropping a lot. That's fun.
January 9, 2026 at 4:58 PM
My 'w' key is starting to be finicky. It still works, but you have to hit it just so ... Which means when I'm typing quickly, it's dropping a lot. That's fun.
Reposted by Lesley Conner
i know we're all busy but i just overheard a plumber say "parlez-vous français ? non ? you motherfuckers don't even speak french, do you" to a pair of french bulldogs
January 8, 2026 at 2:18 PM
i know we're all busy but i just overheard a plumber say "parlez-vous français ? non ? you motherfuckers don't even speak french, do you" to a pair of french bulldogs
For health reasons, I've been gluten and dairy free since Thanksgiving. It's been ... okay. Not great, but I'm fine.
Except tonight. Tonight I would kill for a slice of pizza from our local place. I need that pizza!
Except tonight. Tonight I would kill for a slice of pizza from our local place. I need that pizza!
a person is taking a slice of pepperoni pizza
Alt: a person is taking a slice of pepperoni pizza
media.tenor.com
January 7, 2026 at 2:30 AM
For health reasons, I've been gluten and dairy free since Thanksgiving. It's been ... okay. Not great, but I'm fine.
Except tonight. Tonight I would kill for a slice of pizza from our local place. I need that pizza!
Except tonight. Tonight I would kill for a slice of pizza from our local place. I need that pizza!
Me, whispering: Taking time off for the holidays was worth it.
My inbox:
My inbox:
a white speech bubble with the number 898 above it
Alt: a white speech bubble with the number 898 above it
media.tenor.com
January 6, 2026 at 4:07 PM
Me, whispering: Taking time off for the holidays was worth it.
My inbox:
My inbox:
Reposted by Lesley Conner
My next book, Multitude, is open for pre-orders from Apex Books. Paperback pre-orders will receive a cephalopod keychain!
Direct order link: www.apexbookcompany.com/products/mul...
More information on the book: www.apexbookcompany.com/blogs/frontp...
Direct order link: www.apexbookcompany.com/products/mul...
More information on the book: www.apexbookcompany.com/blogs/frontp...
Multitude
Preorder and save 30%! Plus, a preorder exclusive: every paperback preorder will also receive a cephalopod-themed keychain! Release Date 4/28/26 We float to the surface, and we see that there is more ...
www.apexbookcompany.com
January 6, 2026 at 3:18 PM
My next book, Multitude, is open for pre-orders from Apex Books. Paperback pre-orders will receive a cephalopod keychain!
Direct order link: www.apexbookcompany.com/products/mul...
More information on the book: www.apexbookcompany.com/blogs/frontp...
Direct order link: www.apexbookcompany.com/products/mul...
More information on the book: www.apexbookcompany.com/blogs/frontp...