Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Lesley Conner @lesleyconner.bsky.social · 6h

We added a few more flash fiction critiques with @retreasure.bsky.social to the Apex Kickstarter, because the first 5 went super fast! If you've ever wanted Apex's queen of flash to give you pointers on your piece, now is the time to snag a critique. www.kickstarter.com/projects/ape...

Apex Magazine 2026

An award-winning digital literary magazine of science fiction, dark fantasy, and horror.

www.kickstarter.com

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Lesley Conner @lesleyconner.bsky.social · 10h

This interview is 🔥🔥🔥!

If you haven't read the story yet, be sure to do that first, but don't miss out on Marissa's interview!

Apex Magazine (is funding for 2026!) 🎉 @apexmag.bsky.social · 10h

"I’m interested in how we can use the tools of speculative fiction to talk about the post-truth world." 🔮📚

New interview today by @marissavu.bsky.social: "Author Anita Moskát and Translator Austin Wagner"

Read it here: www.apexbookcompany.com/a/blog/apex-...

"Interview with Author Anita Moskát and Translator Austin Wagner, By Marissa van Uden. Apex Magazine Issue 151."

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Lesley Conner @lesleyconner.bsky.social · 10h

The @apexmag.bsky.social 2026 Kickstarter is currently sitting at $6,717 of our $20K goal! That means we're a third of the way to funding four issues of Apex for next year! Can we hit 50% before the end of the week? www.kickstarter.com/projects/ape...

Apex Magazine 2026

An award-winning digital literary magazine of science fiction, dark fantasy, and horror.

www.kickstarter.com

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Reposted by Lesley Conner

Charles (Cy) Payseur @cypayseur.bsky.social · 11h

Short SFF Reading Update #quicksipreviews

Apex #151 @apexmag.bsky.social (8 originals)

The issue starts strong with Anita Moskát's "Liecraft" (translated by Ausitn Wagner) which packs a heavy emotional punch and features some fascinating and devastating world building and character work.

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Lesley Conner @lesleyconner.bsky.social · 10h

It's exciting to be back in the @apexmag.bsky.social slush!

a little girl is making a funny face while wearing a blue shirt with a leopard print .

Alt: a little girl is making a funny face while wearing a blue shirt with a leopard print .

media.tenor.com

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Reposted by Lesley Conner

David M. Perry @lollardfish.bsky.social · 21h

We need these kinds of magazines to publish nonfiction. It's a tough time for literary criticism, essays about ideas, creative non-fiction, and I'm thrilled to see Apex is going to take pitches. Support if you can!

Apex Magazine (is funding for 2026!) 🎉 @apexmag.bsky.social · 1d

WE'RE 30% FUNDED!! 🎉🎉🎉 Apex will be open to nonfiction pitches FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER! ✨

Want to unlock the next chapter of Apex? Please consider backing our Kickstarter and help us keep publishing the strange, surreal, shocking, beautiful stories you love!

Apex Magazine 2026

An award-winning digital literary magazine of science fiction, dark fantasy, and horror.

www.kickstarter.com

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Reposted by Lesley Conner

Jason Sanford @jasonsanford.bsky.social · 2d

Exciting news! My novel Plague Birds, which was a finalist for the Nebula & Philip K. Dick Awards, will be rereleased by Apex Books @apexmag.bsky.social in an new edition with extra content in June 2026. And a sequel will be published by Apex in Oct. 2026. 1/
www.apexbookcompany.com/products/pla...

Cover of Plague Birds by Jason Sanford, which was a finalist for the Nebula and Philip K. Dick Awards.

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Reposted by Lesley Conner

Catherine Tavares @cjtavares.bsky.social · 2d

It's here! @apexmag.bsky.social issue 151 is out now and contains my story "Ghosts of Summer"!!! The end of summer and the beginning of spooky season collide as two witches try to beat the summer heat. But high temperatures and magic are a dangerous combination. 👻☀️

Check out the full issue below:

Apex Magazine Issue 151

EDITORIALMusings from Maryland by Lesley Conner ORIGINAL FICTION"Liecraft" by Anita Moskát, translated by Austin Wagner"Ghosts of Summer" by Catherine Tavares "Code Green" by Rebecca Johnson "We Used ...

www.apexbookcompany.com

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Reposted by Lesley Conner

Apex Magazine (is funding for 2026!) 🎉 @apexmag.bsky.social · 2d

WE'RE 30% FUNDED!! 🎉🎉🎉 Apex will be open to nonfiction pitches FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER! ✨

Want to unlock the next chapter of Apex? Please consider backing our Kickstarter and help us keep publishing the strange, surreal, shocking, beautiful stories you love!

www.kickstarter.com/.../apexpu.....

30% UNLOCKED!

For the first time, Apex will open to nonfiction pitches. We are expanding our nonfiction editorial team! ZZ Claybourne has been our nonfiction editor for the past couple of years, and is doing a fantastic job. His editorial eye has elevated Apex’s nonfiction and has helped us discover many new voices. Rodney Carlstrom will be joining the Apex team as an associate nonfiction editor to help ZZ manage submitted nonfiction pitches.

cow floating in space with some astronauts next to the current Kickstarter number, "$6,000!"

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Reposted by Lesley Conner

Apex Magazine (is funding for 2026!) 🎉 @apexmag.bsky.social · 2d

You all voted for spooky vibes this month, and we heard you loud and clear! 🎃🌒

Gather round the campfire, because October's flash fiction theme is FOLKLORE! You have until October 31st to submit!

www.patreon.com/posts/octobe...

a silhouette of a person riding a horse holding a pumpkin

Alt: black and white image of the headless horseman riding a black horse

media.tenor.com

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Reposted by Lesley Conner

Apex Magazine (is funding for 2026!) 🎉 @apexmag.bsky.social · 2d

"We want to entertain you, make you think, give you a break from reality, and broaden your reading horizons." 📚🌅

New editorial today by @lesleyconner.bsky.social: "Musings from Maryland"

Read it here: www.apexbookcompany.com/a/blog/apex-...

"Musings from Maryland By Lesley Conner. Apex Magazine Issue 151."

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Lesley Conner @lesleyconner.bsky.social · 2d

Don't forget! We're currently running a Kickstarter to fund Apex in 2026. If you want to see more from Apex in the years to come, consider backing us today! www.kickstarter.com/projects/ape...

Apex Magazine 2026

An award-winning digital literary magazine of science fiction, dark fantasy, and horror.

www.kickstarter.com

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Lesley Conner @lesleyconner.bsky.social · 2d

Or pick you the entire issue now by buying a digital copy direct from Apex: www.apexbookcompany.com/products/ape...

Or through your favorite ebook distributor.

Apex Magazine Issue 151

EDITORIALMusings from Maryland by Lesley Conner ORIGINAL FICTION"Liecraft" by Anita Moskát, translated by Austin Wagner"Ghosts of Summer" by Catherine Tavares "Code Green" by Rebecca Johnson "We Used ...

www.apexbookcompany.com

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Lesley Conner @lesleyconner.bsky.social · 2d

Apex Magazine issue 151 is out now! Check out "Liecraft" by Anita Moskát, translated by Austin Wagner, on the Apex website now! www.apexbookcompany.com/a/blog/apex-...

Cover of Apex Magazine issue 151. Title "Hedge Grandmother"

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Reposted by Lesley Conner

The Deadlands @thedeadlands.com · 3d

it's here, The Deadlands fundraiser 💀

buy your very 2026 coin for the ferryman and help support us

we've got signed books, deadlands issues + psychopomp book bundles, and more coming soon!

please like + RT this to help spread the word

psychopomp.com/the-deadland...

behold!

Illustration of a white skull partially obscured by colorful mushrooms and plants. Different fungi sprout from and around the skull, including red mushrooms with white spots, yellow fan-shaped mushrooms, gray cluster mushrooms, and orange bulbous mushrooms, with green and purple plants filling the background. A ribbon at the bottom of the skull reads “ADMIT ONE.”

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Mari Ness, writer of things @mariness.bsky.social · 3d

....wait, did someone promise* - PROMISE - that I could regrow a couple of brain cells if this Kickstarter funds?

* not legally! or scientifically!

Apex Magazine (is funding for 2026!) 🎉 @apexmag.bsky.social · 3d

Good morning! We're only ONE PERCENT(1%!!) away from Apex Magazine opening to nonfiction submissions for the FIRST TIME! our nonfiction is full of new voices, fresh perspectives, and is scientifically*-proven to regrow brain cells ⚡🧠🌱

*probably. just trust us 👽👇

www.kickstarter.com/projects/ape...

a cow being lifted into space in a UFO tractor beam. An astronaut floats in the corner, staring at the UFO in surprise. The cow's thought bubble reads, "$5, 797!"

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Lesley Conner @lesleyconner.bsky.social · 3d

The @apexmag.bsky.social 2026 Kickstarter is starting the week at $5,797, only $203 away from 30% of our initial goal and opening to nonfiction submissions! www.kickstarter.com/projects/ape...

Apex Magazine 2026

An award-winning digital literary magazine of science fiction, dark fantasy, and horror.

www.kickstarter.com

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Reposted by Lesley Conner

Apex Magazine (is funding for 2026!) 🎉 @apexmag.bsky.social · 6d

25% THERE!! 🍾🎉 That means we're only 5% away from opening to NONFICTION SUBMISSIONS for the first time EVER! Thank you all so much for your support 💜👽

🌙🐄 Come fly to the moon with us! www.kickstarter.com/projects/ape...

A cow is lifted into space by a UFO tractor beam. Two little ghost friends are following. The cow's thought bubble reads, "$5,140!"

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Reposted by Lesley Conner

Horror Tree @horrortree.com · 6d

The Apex Magazine ( @apexmag.bsky.social ) 2026 Kickstarter is live! Help fund 4 issues of dark speculative fiction. Join the campaign and support the strange!
horrortree.com/apex-magazin...
#WritingCommunity #AmWriting #AmReading

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Reposted by Lesley Conner

A.C. Wise @acwise.bsky.social · 6d

Drinking coffee out of my @apexmag.bsky.social mug this morning, which is the perfect reminder that they're running a Kickstarter right now to support another year of fabulous art, fiction, essays, and reviews!

www.kickstarter.com/projects/ape...

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Catherine Tavares @cjtavares.bsky.social · 6d

I just backed @apexmag.bsky.social 2026 on @kickstarter.com! Apex is such an amazing cornerstone of the SFFH community. If you are able, I encourage you to pledge support as well to keep their fantastic work going next year.

Apex Magazine 2026

An award-winning digital literary magazine of science fiction, dark fantasy, and horror.

www.kickstarter.com

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Reposted by Lesley Conner

Apex Magazine (is funding for 2026!) 🎉 @apexmag.bsky.social · 6d

Hi folks! If you're having some trouble submitting to us right now, the Moksha site is currently having technical difficulties. We're keeping an eye on it and will post an update when it's back online. Thank you for your patience!

Apex Magazine (is funding for 2026!) 🎉 @apexmag.bsky.social · 6d

Thank you for bringing this to our attention! Looks like Moksha itself is currently down. We recommend waiting a bit and then using the link below. We'll also keep checking the status throughout the day and post an update once the site is working again!

apexbookcompany.moksha.io/publication/...

Moksha

apexbookcompany.moksha.io

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Lesley Conner @lesleyconner.bsky.social · 6d

The Apex Magazine 2026 Kickstarter is just over 25% funded! That means we're a quarter of the way to securing another year of dark speculative fiction! Will you help us get there? www.kickstarter.com/projects/ape...

Apex Magazine 2026

An award-winning digital literary magazine of science fiction, dark fantasy, and horror.

www.kickstarter.com

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Reposted by Lesley Conner

💙 Rachel Bolton 👀 @raebolt.bsky.social · 7d

I am truly honored that Apex Magazine and @lesleyconner.bsky.social is reading my story! Being in Apex was a dream goal! ❤️

Apex Magazine (is funding for 2026!) 🎉 @apexmag.bsky.social · 7d

We've unlocked our 20% goal in just 24 HOURS!! 🎉🎉🎉

@lesleyconner.bsky.social will be doing a LIVE STORYTIME of @raebolt.bsky.social's “And She Had Been So Reasonable.” Tears guaranteed! Don't miss it! 💧📖📺

Back our Kickstarter and make Lesley cry (with joy!) at: www.kickstarter.com/projects/ape...

cow being lifted out of a graveyard by a UFO tractor beam, two little ghost friends looking on in dismay. The cow's thought bubble reads: "$4,110!"

20% UNLOCKED!

Lesley Conner will read “And She Had Been So Reasonable” by Rachel Bolton live on YouTube! “And She Had Been So Reasonable” was published in Apex Magazine issue 147, and was a finalist for the Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in Short Fiction in 2024. There is a 100% chance that Lesley will cry during the reading.

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Lesley Conner @lesleyconner.bsky.social · 7d

Also, quick shout out to Apex's social media rockstar Ori for coming up with this incredible graphic! As we get closer to our funding goal, the little cow will get closer to the spaceship and being abducted!!! How freaking adorable! 😍

A wooded field with ghosts and a cow. A spaceship is over the cow with a beam bringing the cow into the spaceship. A bubble says $4,110.

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