Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Sara Omer

VeroOoOnica Wraith @veronicarothbooks.com · 7h

When people ask me what I think about using AI in writing I’m going to send them this screenshot

A screenshot of a post that reads David Simon, creator of *The Wire*, being interviewed by Ari Shapiro, NPR

And then a screenshot of a conversation that goes like this:

SHAPIRO: OK, so you've spent your career creating television without Al, and I could imagine today you thinking, boy, I wish I had had that tool to solve those thorny problems...
SIMON: What?
SHAPIRO: ...Or saying...
SIMON: You imagine that?
SHAPIRO: ...Boy, if that had existed, it would have screwed me over.
SIMON: I don't think Al can remotely challenge what writers do at a fundamentally creative level.
SHAPIRO: But if you're trying to transition from scene five to scene six, and you're stuck with that transition, you could imagine plugging that portion of the script into an Al and say, give me 10 ideas for how to transition this.
SIMON: I'd rather put a gun in my mouth.

8 110 380

Reposted by Sara Omer

Vermillion @byvermillion.bsky.social · 2d

I’m getting review bombed (by my own characters)

Ty to @omersarae.bsky.social for signing them up for goodreads 😫

A digitally drawn ocean background with a fake goodreads review pasted over it. It’s a one star review from Connor which says: “
The author lacks heart!
Setting a MMC up for repeated embarrassment as a stand in for plot should be illegal. You'll be hearing from my lawyer.
Would read more about the FMC, though...”

A digitally drawn ocean image with a fake goodreads review pasted over it. The review is from Regula and it’s a one star. It reads”
Insipid excuse for a book
Can't believe how much time I wasted reading about a pirate's disheveled golden hair, amber eyes struck just right by sunlight, callused hands and lightly muscled forearms.
I have better things to do. Maybe I'll write my own book
Thanks for the gifted copy.”

A digitally drawn ocean image with a fake goodreads review pasted over it. It’s from
Rory and it’s a one star. It reads “Connor’s lawyer here. Cease and desist or else. Not enough smut either.”

A digitally drawn ocean background with a fake goodreads review pasted over the top. It’s from Odette and it is a 5 star. It reads “
Oh, what a treat!
Read it in 24 hours and I swear I was holding my breath the entire time.
Cannot wait for book two... there's this one character who deserves the world and I think she'll get it!”

1 1 2

Sara Omer @omersarae.bsky.social · 2d

I hate this 🙃

1

Reposted by Sara Omer

Lindz McLeod - THE UNLIKELY PURSUIT OF MARY BENNET is out now! @lindzmcleod.bsky.social · 3d

🎉🎉 COVER REVEAL TIME 🎉🎉

I am so, so hyped to bring you THE MISEDUCATION OF CAROLINE BINGLEY 🥳 coming May 2026!

7 22 86

Reposted by Sara Omer

Elias Eells- Bar Cart Bookshelf @eliaseells.bsky.social · 5d

Enter to win THEE hiking fantasies of the year, if not the decade!!

Elias Eells- Bar Cart Bookshelf @eliaseells.bsky.social · 12d

Hear my full review of THE WITCH ROADS by @kateelliottsff.bsky.social (available now from @torbooks.bsky.social) and see how the drink is made at Bar Cart Bookshelf on YouTube. PLUS, ENTER TO WIN A COMPLETE DUOLOGY SET!!

youtu.be/6Y1J8-Ssepk

GIVEAWAY!! Cocktail Recipe & Book Review: Deputy Courier (THE WITCH ROADS by Kate Elliott)

YouTube video by Bar Cart Bookshelf

youtu.be

1 2 5

Sara Omer @omersarae.bsky.social · 4d

Hoping it will be so soon! 👀

Cat Changing The Clock Changing The Time GIF

ALT: Cat Changing The Clock Changing The Time GIF

media.tenor.com

1

Reposted by Sara Omer

Elias Eells- Bar Cart Bookshelf @eliaseells.bsky.social · 5d

NEW VIDEO ALERT! Today on Bar Cart Bookshelf we're talking about SUMMER IN THE HOUSE OF THE DEPARTED by Josh Rountree. A sere novella of death & haunting in east Texas, a mournful & moving read, cut through with ghosts & the dry burning heat of surreality. Our drink, a mocktail, is the Safeheart.

SUMMER IN THE HOUSE OF THE DEPARTED by Josh Rountree, a coffee colored book alongside a coffee drink on a bookshelf.

2 4 10

Reposted by Sara Omer

On Wednesdays We Read Pod @owwrpod.bsky.social · 4d

Today we have a BONUS EPISODE! We spoke with @nghivo.bsky.social, one of our favorite authors (and panelists!). Listen to OWWR talk on A Mouthful of Dust, part of the Singing Hills series! @tordotcom.bsky.social #booksky #singinghills #pubday
linktr.ee/OwwrPod?utm_...

3 8

Sara Omer @omersarae.bsky.social · 4d

My sequel has a title and a cover (coming very soon!). You can add The Harpy Knight on Goodreads and read The Gryphon King now if you’re interested in zombie ghouls, man-eating horses, ravenous beasts, Southwest Asian inspired worldbuilding, or princess knights.

1 1 5

Reposted by Sara Omer

Elias Eells- Bar Cart Bookshelf @eliaseells.bsky.social · 11d

Monthly round up! We covered five books on Bar Cart Bookshelf this September: time travel shenanigans, parallel worlds, gods, monsters, & mortals, the raddest & radish of wives, clever foxes, deadly assassins, & stalwart couriers. Have you seen all this month's episodes? Have you tried the drinks?

[image desc: a stack of books in front of several bottles of absinthe (bottom to top): THE WITCH ROADS by Kate Elliott, A RUIN, GREAT AND FREE by Cadwell Turnbull, THE DEAD CAT TAIL ASSASSINS by P. Djèlí Clark, STARSTRUCK by Aimee Ogden, AUDITION FOR THE FOX by Martin Cahill.]

1 6 25

Reposted by Sara Omer

M. R. Robinson @mruthrobinson.bsky.social · 10d

If you love gift-giving (or just love queer art) but don’t have a specific recipient in mind, you can add a gift subscription to your pledge and we’ll make that sub available to someone who wouldn’t be able to afford one otherwise.

OTHERSIDE - Kickstarter is LIVE! @othersidespec.bsky.social · 10d

There were requests for an option to gift someone else an OTHERSIDE subscription—and now you can! We've updated our add-ons to include gift subscriptions! For those who want to lovingly throw OTHERSIDE at friends and family AND support our Kickstarter 👀

www.kickstarter.com/projects/hyb...

OTHERSIDE 2026: A New Magazine of Queer SFF!

A new queer-led literary magazine devoted to speculative fiction, poetry, and art by 2SLGBTQIA+ authors and artists.

www.kickstarter.com

1 13 25

Sara Omer @omersarae.bsky.social · 18d

Read my interview with Danai! Learn about vile ladies and Vile Lady Villains!

Danai Christopoulou | Pre-order VILE LADY VILLAINS @danaiwrites.bsky.social · 18d

Thank you so much to @omersarae.bsky.social for interviewing me for her Substack (subscribe, if you haven’t already!)

We chatted all things Vile Lady Villains and my current obsessions.

saraomerauthor.substack.com/p/vile-never...

Vile Never Tasted So Good

Interview with Danai Christopoulou author of “Vile Lady Villains"

saraomerauthor.substack.com

3 5

Reposted by Sara Omer

Sabie🍄‍🟫🍂🤎 @cozysabie.bsky.social · 25d

Check this newsletter for more:

Bindery Books | Read for Palestine: September Readathon...

Here’s something you can do as a reader for Palestine t...

cozysabie.binderybooks.com

1 2

Reposted by Sara Omer

Sabie🍄‍🟫🍂🤎 @cozysabie.bsky.social · 25d

I'm participating in Read for Palestine Readathon & Fundraiser this month.
I'll be donating £2 for each book I've read:
🍉The Gryphon King (re-read)
🍉Love at First Lance
🍉A Witch's Guide to Love and Poison
🍉The Hollow Places
🍉The Angel of Khan El-Khalili
🍉The Haunting of Tram Car 015

📚💙

1 2 3

Reposted by Sara Omer

Elias Eells- Bar Cart Bookshelf @eliaseells.bsky.social · Sep 9

NEW VIDEO ALERT! Today on Bar Cart Bookshelf we're talking about THE DEAD CAT TAIL ASSASSINS by P. Djèlí Clark. A thrilling night journey as an undead assassin grapples with a target she can’t bear to kill, in a fantastical city of clockwork, divinity, and dark sorcery. Our drink is the Eviscerator.

[image desc: A hardcover copy of THE DEAD CAT TAIL ASSASSINS by P. Djèlí Clark sits on a brick plinth alongside a dark dark drink in a stemmed glass garnished with a cherry]

2 10 35

Reposted by Sara Omer

Augur Society | Augur Issue 8.1 is NOW LIVE ! @augursociety.bsky.social · Aug 31

✨ Press Update ✨

Novella & novelette submissions will remain open until September 15 !!

Get polishing, Augurians 👏👏

2 36 60

Reposted by Sara Omer

Arina @readingrogue.bsky.social · Aug 23

Marvel at them as I did (and ignore the messy shelves which will one day be tidied)

A photo of my bookshelf with several books facing out: An arc of Death of the Author, The Keeper of Lonely Spirits, Fathomfolk, Son of the Storm, The Principle of Moments, Towards Eternity, The Gryphon King and The Last Vigilant

1 4

Sara Omer @omersarae.bsky.social · Aug 22

On the picture place (same name) hosting a little giveaway…

Reposted by Sara Omer

Jamedi @jamreads.com · Aug 20

131.- The Gryphon King, by @omersarae.bsky.social (pub by @titanbooks.bsky.social)

1 6

Reposted by Sara Omer

ADRIAN M. GIBSON 🍄 SFF Author & Book Designer @adrianmgibson.bsky.social · Aug 11

Catching up on my latest books/shows/comics with a REVIEW ROUNDUP
4.25⭐️ - Soul Fraud by @sigils.bsky.social
4⭐️ - The Gryphon King by @omersarae.bsky.social
4.5⭐️ - 100 Years of Solitude
3⭐️ - Hacktivist by Alyssa Milano
4.5⭐️ - The Bear S04
4⭐️ - The Keeper of Magical Things by @julieleong.bsky.social

1 2

Reposted by Sara Omer

Sabie🍄‍🟫🍂🤎 @cozysabie.bsky.social · Aug 10

Readers who love Fantasy books inspired by or located in Middle East and North Africa, we've got you!

Ifrits & Ink picks a monthly book and we read it together in discord! This month is The Gryphon King and we are so excited to discuss it with you

1 2 2

Reposted by Sara Omer

Titan Books @titanbooks.bsky.social · Aug 9

THE GRYPHON KING by @omersarae.bsky.social has been out for one month! The first in a sweeping Southwest Asian-inspired epic fantasy trilogy brimming with morally ambiguous characters, terrifying ghouls and deadly monsters! ✨

Out now! https://tinyurl.com/3udnjazb

1 3 5

Sara Omer @omersarae.bsky.social · Aug 7

Somehow tomorrow yes?! 😭

2

Sara Omer @omersarae.bsky.social · Aug 7

Happy almost one month birthday to my book of angry birds (lion birds, horse birds, bird birds). Celebrate with tea and plotting your enemy’s downfall.

2 4 6

Sara Omer @omersarae.bsky.social · Aug 6

One of my favorite interviews so far! 👇

Ed Crocker @edcrockerbooks.bsky.social · Aug 5

📕🦅🐎 New interview! 🐎🦅

I chat to @omersarae.bsky.social about her dark fantasy epic The Gryphon King for @grimdarkmagazine.bsky.social

We chat about:

🦅New monsters!
👀Slow burn poly spice
⌛Historical SWANA influences
💀Why the secret is to always be stressed
🍽️Her ideal meal

And more!

INTERVIEW: Sara Omer author of The Gryphon King

Sara Omer is a Pushcart Prize-nominated short story writer. Her debut dark epic fantasy novel is The Gryphon King.

www.grimdarkmagazine.com

1 3