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Nick Wilford

@nickpwilford.bsky.social

400 followers 360 following 510 posts

Speculative fiction author, making the impossible reality | Freelance editor and formatter | THE BECALMER released by Creative James Media August 2023

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Nick Wilford @nickpwilford.bsky.social · 2d

After witnessing a murder by a man who bears her former face, a trans girl who transitioned by her DNA being changed from male to female uncovers a sinister cloning scheme and must expose the culprits to stop further abuse of trans people. #GhostPit #YA #SF #Q #agentguide

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Nick Wilford @nickpwilford.bsky.social · 18h

Didn't have any ancestors, nearest was plain old Mum and Dad. In "Mirror Me", we get a glimpse at the trauma surrounding Ella's transition. #WIPSnips #amquerying #WriteSky #writingcommunity

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Nick Wilford @nickpwilford.bsky.social · 1d

Corin's reached a low point in her VR adventure where her idol has plummeted from grace. Not something she foresaw going in. From "Artificial Life" #WIPSnips #amediting #WriteSky #writingcommunity

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Nick Wilford @nickpwilford.bsky.social · 2d

Ella thought she’d left her old life behind when she transitioned using a high-tech DNA-based procedure, but after seeing a man with her former face committing a murder, she uncovers a sinister cloning scheme and must use all her wits to stop further mayhem. #GhostPit #YA #SF #Q #agentguide

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Reposted by Nick Wilford

liv @livalcott.bsky.social · 2d

👻EVERY CRUEL CORPSE is a YA/NA urban fantasy about two reapers who kill instead of guide for a government in the afterlife, forced to perform magical manipulation rituals when they begin to be haunted by the ghosts of their victims. #GhostPit #Q #F #PN

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Natalie is ✨ seeking new rep ✨ @natalielouise83.bsky.social · 2d

When a freak storm wrecks his island’s passenger steamer, sparing only a strange girl believed to be one of the monstrous Finfolk, a grieving musician must uncover who she really is before more of his people die. 👻

#GhostPit #A #His #M #H #Q

Image of a woman dressed in black looking out over a cliff. A rotting skull and seaweed motif bleeds from the left side. Text reads: The Ballad of Agnes Day, The Sirens X The Lost Apothecary.

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Catherine Winters @catherinewinters.com · 2d

F/NB WAYFARERS x MURDERBOT x SOMEONE YOU CAN BUILD A NEST IN

Everything fell apart when the human came aboard. Instead of nice meals and quiet cargo runs, Tai's stuck with bickering crewmates, sinister criminals, explosions, and worse, a human who wants to be friends. #GhostPit #A #Q #R #LGBT

Mood board/Agent's guide for my novel CARGO - a queer SF/heist/romance - 110,000 words

"Did you hear? There's a human on board."
A graphic of the wall of a spaceship with sticky notes and polaroid photos taped up. There are twinkle lights hanging from the ceiling.
alien ship's cook (fussy, anxious) + terrifying monster (ordinary human)

PITCH:
Tai’s terrified of humans. Everyone is. Violent pack hunters, humans are notorious for their strength, sharp teeth, and carnivorous appetites. But the ship’s cook is safe among the multispecies crew of the cargo hauler Coreward Baker: everyone knows the warrior species rarely leave their own space. Then Captain Raz hires Clarke, a human horticulturist.
Even after Tai overcomes their fear, they can’t stand Clarke. She’s bossy. Annoying. Useless in the galley, bad in a space suit. She might as well be cargo. Worse, she’s intent on befriending Tai—and why can’t they stop thinking about her, anyway?
That’s when things go wrong. As Tai starts to realize their feelings for Clarke, they’re horrified to learn that nobody on their crew of dropouts and runaways is quite who they seem, least of all Clarke. And it’s no coincidence. Raz reveals they’ve each been handpicked for a heist he’s spent years planning—and no one’s allowed to say no.

PRIORITIES:
make dinner
remain cozy
haul cargo
go for drinks
pull off one last score
try not to fall in love

FIRST PAGE:

“Did you hear? There’s a Human on board.”
I choked on my noodles and turned to stare at the diners at the next table. Like most of the restaurant’s patrons, the pair had hidden their profiles, a halfhearted attempt at anonymity.
“Gross,” the speaker’s crewmate said, oblivious to my alarm. “I hope it leaves soon.”
“Don’t let it hear you say that,” the first worker laughed. She made a show of looking for Humans, her eyes darting from table to table.
It. I frowned. I knew the workers’ language distinguished between people and things, and ‘it’ was an unkind choice of words at best.
The second worker shuddered. “I don’t know why we let them come here.”
The first laughed. “Are you going to stop them?”

COMPS:
Murderbot by Martha Wells
Someone You Can Build a Nest In by John Wisewell
The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers

TROPES:
Non-binary narrator masking anxiety with sarcasm
lying to themselves
non-human perspective (afraid of humans)
neurodivergent main characters
metaphorically disabled protagonist
slow-burn friends-to-lovers and enemies to lovers in the same relationship
disabilitynorm and queernorm setting
found family
loveable pet/terrifying monster

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Reposted by Nick Wilford

K.A. Hela ✨ Final edits?✨ @jundlife.bsky.social · 2d

"HatWIP"

The Babadook X The Exorcist

He has been tormented by Shadow people since almost dying at age six.
They are increasing in frequency.
The Red Eyed God in the woods speaks of a great change.
Now, a man in a hat, who speaks the language of hate, wants him too.

#GhostPit #W #Horror #A

Picture of a shadow person. Text: "I am nothing more than a husk, waiting to be filled by something greater than myself. A great change is upon me. A great change is moving through the world. It is already in motion. It cannot be stopped." Coming to beta winter 26. Querying Spooky Season 26

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Reposted by Nick Wilford

Sara Duran ✨is querying✨ @saraduran.bsky.social · 2d

ANNIHILATION x BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN

⭐ two exiled men (+ their secrets)
🌙 one lunar prison (+ its horrors)
⭐ a government that wants their data
🌙 a cosmic entity that wants them dead
💫 the love they’ll lose if they don’t make it out alive

#ghostpit #SF #H #R #LGBT #WIP

A moodboard for my sci-fi horrormance WIP, BABEL ON CALLISTO. On the top left is a glowing humanoid figure with a planet and rings orbiting its head. In the center, white glitchy text reads: "NOT ALL ENDINGS ARE THE END. SOMETIMES THEY ARE THE BEGINNING," repeated multiple times. Beneath that, a figure walks into a starry void shaped like another person, reaching toward each other. Other elements include a flatworm floating in a grid-like space, a silhouetted couple reaching toward each other in a virtual tunnel, and hands weaving a glowing galaxy-like thread.

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Reposted by Nick Wilford

MechaniChris @chrisakins.bsky.social · 2d

GRIM PORTENTS

HITCHHIKER’S GUIDE X CONSTANTINE

A man is murdered by a hell-beast on his wedding day. Now, with the help of the reaper who collected his soul, he must uncover who is releasing monsters from Hell if he wants to return to the life he was robbed of.

👻 #SP #F #H #PN #OWN #GhostPit

Grim Portents cover featuring a skeleton hand holding a feather and emerging from an open book. The title is on a burning banner that envelops the feather and a large beast looms over it all. At the top, the tagline reads: Welcome to the first day of the end of your life…

"I HAD ALWAYS TOLD MYSELF IT WAS A FIGMENT OF MY IMAGINATION, THE MIND PLAYING TRICKS.
IT WAS JUST A SHADOW. BUT NOW THE MONSTER HAD BEEN GIVEN A NAME, AN IDENTITY.
IT WAS REAL."

Bill Baker wants nothing more than to marry the woman he loves, but when his wedding is interrupted by a rampaging hell-beast, his life is thrown into disarray.
Desperate for a second chance, he will do anything to set his future back on track.
Now, with the help of a soul-collecting reaper named Sonny, he must uncover who is releasing monsters from Hell, in order to earn back the life that was stolen from him and prevent the oncoming end of days.
Faced with the choice between what is right and what is easy, Bill may have to sacrifice all he holds dear for one last shot at life.

Black and white sketch of characters Bill and Sonny. Bill is a dark featured man in a suit and kind of a Mark Ruffalo vibe. Sonny is a rotting corpse man with a cardigan.

Ad for Grim Portents, featuring a print copy of the book and an ebook on an iPhone. A QR code that takes you to my website and the words “Scan to learn more about debut paranormal fantasy novel Grim Portents” below it. Under that, it says “Available online anywhere books are sold!” And above it all is the tagline “Welcome to the first day of the end of your life”

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Reposted by Nick Wilford

B. van Bodegom 📃is querying & writing @bvbodegom.bsky.social · 2d

BLACK MIRROR × SEVERANCE × THE GOOD PLACE

Having a happy death is a luxury service for the rich and Wren is the rising top salesman—until a cynical coworker and a depressed billionaire force him to rethink it all in a world where even your last smile has a price tag.

#GhostPit #A #DS #SF #W

Made from non-AI free stock images.

This image is a book cover design for a novel titled "Happy Death Inc." by B. Van Bodegom. The cover is divided into three distinct horizontal sections:

1. Top Section: Features a cartoonish blue sky with white clouds and a bright sun. At the top, a tagline reads:
"How much would you pay to die with a smile?"
The word "HAPPY" appears in large, playful, hand-drawn-style font, partially overlapping the sky background.

2. Middle Section: A photograph of a deceased man in a suit, lying in a casket. He has an exaggerated smile on his face, almost unnaturally wide and clean, suggesting artificial enhancement or post-mortem alteration. Overlaid on this image is the word "DEATH" in the same large font as the previous word.

3. Bottom Section: A cartoon city skyline in pastel tones, similar in style to the top sky background. The word "INC." is overlaid prominently in the same large font. At the very bottom, in smaller capital letters, it says:
"A Novel by B VAN BODEGOM"

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Nick Wilford @nickpwilford.bsky.social · 2d

In a world where gender can be changed with one DNA-based op, what happens when your previous identity’s genetic signature is used without your knowledge? After witnessing a murder by a man bearing her former face, Ella finds out the hard way. #GhostPit #YA #SF #Q #agentguide

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Reposted by Nick Wilford

🇨🇦Suzanne’s MG HAUNTED VOYAGE is out on 4 fulls+2 R&R’s!👻 @suzelsonauthor.bsky.social · 2d

#GhostPit #MG #Q #PN #MM #H

CITY OF GHOSTS V GOOSEBUMPS

👩‍👧Sibling rivalry
💘First crush
🪦Psychic tweens
👀Restless ghosts
🚪Disappearing doors
😱Haunted corridors
🛳️Family cruise ship vacay

a painting of a pirate ship with the name erkan yure on the bottom

ALT: a painting of a pirate ship with the name erkan yure on the bottom

media.tenor.com

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Nick Wilford @nickpwilford.bsky.social · 2d

Sounds great! I dig this cover, which would also be a good film poster.

Reposted by Nick Wilford

Sidney Quinn @sidneyquinn.bsky.social · 2d

BOURNE x MR & MRS SMITH (but make it gay)

Kai Tanner is an assassin sent to seduce and kill fashion mogul Jack Starling (an undercover MI6 agent.)

After a (literally) explosive first meeting, they team up to unravel a conspiracy at the heart of the fashion world.

#A #Q #T #R #LGBT #Ghostpit

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Reposted by Nick Wilford

Travis Knight @blueknight2024.bsky.social · 2d

#GhostPit #A #C #Q #LF #T #SF #H #M #SFF
#Moonium

Am I the Asshole if I locked the DMI miners out of their base, leaving them out there without oxygen, so the crew and I can load our rich cargo and save Earth?

YOU BET I AM...

Here comes the Savior!

- Major Scopes

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Reposted by Nick Wilford

Mel | Querying Author @msad3.bsky.social · 2d

Mae never meant to take a life, only a name. Now, trapped in a space-bound program, she must survive deadly trials, fight alternate versions of herself, and keep her secret hidden.

But Nexxus is watching. And reality itself unravels.

#GhostPit #YA #SFF #Q #WNDB #enemiestolovers

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Reposted by Nick Wilford

Allison Wall @awritingwall.bsky.social · 2d

Bree assumes "joining the Dark Goddess" is a lesbian sex club hazing prank—until she kills an evil political candidate with a gush of menstrual blood.

The Goddess has given Bree real power.

Her intentions? Murky.
Her appetite? Insatiable.
Her contract? Binding.

#ghostpit #A #Q #SPEC #H #OWN #LGBT

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Nick Wilford @nickpwilford.bsky.social · 2d

Wow. Brutal!

Reposted by Nick Wilford

AJ Wilder @ajwilderauthor.bsky.social · 2d

In the City, women must have a child by the age of 35 or they will be banished to the wilderness to live or die. No one knows what happens to the banished women. Childless Juniper Briar is about to find out.

✨Romance Sub Plot
✨Found Family
✨Creatures Stalking the Woods at Night

#GhostPit #A #H #W

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Reposted by Nick Wilford

samantha IS QUERYING A YA FANTASY!! @samanthaudrey.bsky.social · 2d

FOR SHE IS WRATH x WILD REVERENCE

After her human lover gouges out her eye for its magic, an angel sets off on a quest to get her vengeance… only to learn he is part of a greater plot to bring about the reign of a demon queen.

#GhostPit #Q #YA #F

A moodboard for "The One-Eyed Angel," which includes photos of lovers in a forest, angel wings, a boy surrounded by fire, a girl with a sword and a suit of armor, bloodied faces and hands, and two sets of eyes with the caption "all this anger used to be love / all this love used to be anger."

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Reposted by Nick Wilford

ChaoticSequence @chaoticsequence.bsky.social · 2d

2151AD. Two salvage divers, living in a floating climate refugee community, think they've hit paydirt when they find a crate of old AI units. But they also find a body, and have to solve his murder, avoid getting killed themselves, and see if the AIs can save their community. #GhostPit #A #C #SF #Q

Deep sea photo of a crusty, rusting shipwreck surrounding by silt and sand. Two divers swim next to the shipwreck

Underwater photograph. A sunken ship with a rusted exposed propeller sits on the bottom. A diver with extra gear shines a light on the propeller.

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Nick Wilford @nickpwilford.bsky.social · 2d

Thank you!

Reposted by Nick Wilford

maggie @maggiesbooks.bsky.social · 2d

Heartbroken summer camp staff Sage and Nico start a casual relationship to get over their recent heartbreaks. Nico realizes he wants this to be more than a summer thing, but Sage has some unfinished business back at school that she won't let go of so easily.

#ghostpit #q #na #r

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jenn (is querying and writing) @kotegentarri.bsky.social · 2d

𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘴 | characters

♱ elsie ♱

to elsie, there is nothing in the world without compassion and courage

#ghostpit #Q #A #G #H #HF

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Nick Wilford @nickpwilford.bsky.social · 2d

Down for the vibes...

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