R. Jean Bell
LightNews LightNews
banner
rjbell.bsky.social
R. Jean Bell
@rjbell.bsky.social
460 followers 210 following 1.5K posts
aka bex. she/her. Reader, writer, poet, editor-ish. Socially awkward. My sense of humor is broken and I tend to hermit. Disabled (chronic pain). US native living abroad. Submissions Editor at Apex Mag.
Posts Media Videos Starter Packs
Pinned
rjbell.bsky.social
R. Jean Bell @rjbell.bsky.social · Jan 14
I never got around to doing a 2024 wrap-up even though I had two things published I am REALLY proud of. First, "Remember Me" appeared in Eye to the Telescope, Issue 52. (36 lines, 190 words)

eyetothetelescope.com/archives/052...
Eye to the Telescope
Eye to the Telescope, the quarterly online journal of SFPA, the Science Fiction & Fantasy Poetry Association, an international organization of speculative poets.
eyetothetelescope.com
1 6
Reposted by R. Jean Bell
jasonsanford.bsky.social
Jason Sanford @jasonsanford.bsky.social · 10d
Less than 24 hours left in the Apex Magazine Kickstarter. If they get a few thousand dollars more the world gets to read a special issue of Apex focused on unpublished authors!
apexmag.bsky.social Apex Magazine and Book Company @apexmag.bsky.social · 10d
Our Kickstarter ends in just 24 HOURS! This is your LAST CHANCE to shop our catalogue of new ebooks, author critiques, and exclusive merch before it's gone for good. Check the 🧵 to see our full selection!

Thank you all for supporting another year of Apex. 🖤👽

www.kickstarter.com/projects/ape...
Cow piloting a UFO. "Kickstarter Countdown: T-Minus 24 HOURS Next Stretch Goal: $1,294 Click the link in our bio to help us fund the next year of Alex Magazine!"
11 13
rjbell.bsky.social
R. Jean Bell @rjbell.bsky.social · 10d
Spider looks sad. I want to snuggle it.
1
Reposted by R. Jean Bell
thecosmicbgr.bsky.social
The Cosmic Background @thecosmicbgr.bsky.social · Sep 2
Hellllooooo from the static! It is fundraising season for many spec mags out there. We are doing things a little differently with a small gofundme to help us into 2026.

We are already at $2 and just need a little boost to help us to our goal of $2400 👻

www.gofundme.com/f/support-th...
Donate to Support The Cosmic Background's Diverse Voices, organized by Sam Asher
For two years, The Cosmic Background has been the world's premier venue for f… Sam Asher needs your support for Support The Cosmic Background's Diverse Voices
www.gofundme.com
2 15 15
Reposted by R. Jean Bell
apexmag.bsky.social
Apex Magazine and Book Company @apexmag.bsky.social · 10d
"It was one of the many fossil houses of dry bones and cured scales that served generations, and still stood in clusters in Old Dodoma, a land of dryness that was once an ocean." 🦴🐟

New ECO24 excerpt by @genni.bsky.social: "The Water Runner"

Read it here: www.apexbookcompany.com/a/blog/apex-...
"Excerpt from ECO24: THE YEAR'S BEST SPECULATIVE ECOFICTION — "The Water Runner" by Eugen Bacon. Apex Magazine, Issue 151." Cover of "ECO24: The Year's Best Speculative Ecofiction. Edited by Marissa van Uden"
6 17
Reposted by R. Jean Bell
authorizedmusings.bsky.social
Jen Donohue @authorizedmusings.bsky.social · 10d
want to buy my ENTIRE DIGITAL CATALOG?

well you can do that AND benefit Apex! It's an add-on!
apexmag.bsky.social Apex Magazine and Book Company @apexmag.bsky.social · 10d
Our Kickstarter ends in just 24 HOURS! This is your LAST CHANCE to shop our catalogue of new ebooks, author critiques, and exclusive merch before it's gone for good. Check the 🧵 to see our full selection!

Thank you all for supporting another year of Apex. 🖤👽

www.kickstarter.com/projects/ape...
Cow piloting a UFO. "Kickstarter Countdown: T-Minus 24 HOURS Next Stretch Goal: $1,294 Click the link in our bio to help us fund the next year of Alex Magazine!"
11 11
rjbell.bsky.social
R. Jean Bell @rjbell.bsky.social · 12d
Are you remembering to stretch? With 53 hours to go as of this post, @apexmag.bsky.social has lots of stretch goals yet to unlock. Like a 5th issue dedicated to previously unpublished authors, since Apex loves to support those debuts.

www.kickstarter.com/projects/ape...
Apex Magazine 2026
An award-winning digital literary magazine of science fiction, dark fantasy, and horror.
www.kickstarter.com
2 2
rjbell.bsky.social
R. Jean Bell @rjbell.bsky.social · 12d
Knowing that Apex Magazine will still exist next year brightens my day. As an extra bonus, I get to go to the library today.
1
Reposted by R. Jean Bell
katharinetyndall.bsky.social
Katharine Tyndall @katharinetyndall.bsky.social · 13d
If you're a procrastinator like me time is running out :) just pledged!!
2 4
rjbell.bsky.social
R. Jean Bell @rjbell.bsky.social · 13d
Intriguingly, the Danish name for this is NOT witch's butter. That's a slime mold instead.
1
rjbell.bsky.social
R. Jean Bell @rjbell.bsky.social · 13d
French toast is not frivolous. You deserve more frivolity.
1
Reposted by R. Jean Bell
cjtavares.bsky.social
Catherine Tavares @cjtavares.bsky.social · 14d
Friends, I am currently under the weather, very behind on work, fighting SAD--my heart, it cannot take this. Please, give and get @apexmag.bsky.social to their goal so I can save my dwindling supply of tissues for my nose and not my tears.
www.kickstarter.com/projects/ape...
Screenshot of the Apex 2026 Kickstarter meter that shows they have $19,039 toward their $20,000 goal with 379 backers and 4 days left to give.
13 16
Reposted by R. Jean Bell
othersidespec.bsky.social
OTHERSIDE @othersidespec.bsky.social · 13d
We're officially at 48 hours remaining in our Kickstarter campaign?! This has gone by so fast!! There are still some rewards left:

🎲 play a TTRPG with the co-founders!
📝 short story and query letter critiques—AND we dropped the poetry critique price!!

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
13 13
Reposted by R. Jean Bell
authorizedmusings.bsky.social
Jen Donohue @authorizedmusings.bsky.social · 13d
Apex is at $19,669 (nice) out of their base goal of $20,000 🎉🎉🎉

LET'S DO THIS

www.kickstarter.com/projects/ape...
Apex Magazine 2026
An award-winning digital literary magazine of science fiction, dark fantasy, and horror.
www.kickstarter.com
13 17
Reposted by R. Jean Bell
jasonsanford.bsky.social
Jason Sanford @jasonsanford.bsky.social · 13d
The Kickstarter for @apexmag.bsky.social is only a few hundred dollars from hitting their funding goal. Help push them over the top!

As a reminder, among the add-ons are signed copies of Plague Birds and We Who Hunt Alexanders. www.kickstarter.com/projects/ape...
Apex Magazine 2026
An award-winning digital literary magazine of science fiction, dark fantasy, and horror.
www.kickstarter.com
9 11
rjbell.bsky.social
R. Jean Bell @rjbell.bsky.social · 15d
Okay, I left my hermit cave and went out yo meet new people today. And actually had fun. But then it was a gathering of a specfic book club, so....
1
Reposted by R. Jean Bell
apexmag.bsky.social
Apex Magazine and Book Company @apexmag.bsky.social · 17d
There's only ONE WEEK LEFT to fund Apex Magazine in 2026, and we JUST unlocked our 70% reward!!

The Apex editors will host a live affirmation critique of the Internet's most beloved amateur horror stories! 📸🌲🥩

🎃 Help us reach our funding goal and donate TODAY! www.kickstarter.com/projects/ape...
Cow getting sucked into UFO tractor beam. "Kickstarter Countdown: T-Minus 7 DAYS Needed for Liftoff: $5,669 $14,331/$20,000 Click the link in our bio to help us fund the next year of Alex Magazine!" 70% UNLOCKED! Lesley and Rebecca will be reading CreepyPasta stories selected by our followers and doing a small affirmation critique of the story. This live event is sure to be hysterical!
26 29
Reposted by R. Jean Bell
lesleyconner.bsky.social
Lesley Conner @lesleyconner.bsky.social · 15d
@retreasure.bsky.social and I are watching Night of the Demons over on the Apex Discord. If you're part of our Discord community, jump into the Apex Voice channel and join in the fun!
2 5
Reposted by R. Jean Bell
cjtavares.bsky.social
Catherine Tavares @cjtavares.bsky.social · 15d
Okay, listen: @apexmag.bsky.social is SO CLOSE to their funding goal, but there are only 5 DAYS left. And I know we're all barely able to put food on the table, but whatever you have to give, please consider giving to Apex TODAY so there can be just one more light shining in the darkness in 2026.
Apex Magazine 2026
An award-winning digital literary magazine of science fiction, dark fantasy, and horror.
www.kickstarter.com
14 14
Reposted by R. Jean Bell
authorizedmusings.bsky.social
Jen Donohue @authorizedmusings.bsky.social · 15d
THEY HIT $17,000!!! 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

LET'S GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
apexmag.bsky.social Apex Magazine and Book Company @apexmag.bsky.social · 15d
There's only 5 DAYS LEFT to fund Apex Magazine for 2026, and we just unlocked our 80% goal! 🎉

@lesleyconner.bsky.social will host a LIVE READING of "The Monster Fucker Club" by @avgreenewrites.bsky.social!

Keep weird, wonderful fiction alive and donate TODAY 👽
www.kickstarter.com/projects/ape...
80% UNLOCKED! Lesley will be reading “The Monster Fucker Club” by A.V. Greene live on the Apex YouTube channel. “The Monster Fucker Club” was published in Apex Magazine issue 139 and was a finalist for the Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in Short Fiction in 2023. Cow getting sucked into UFO tractor beam. "Kickstarter Countdown: T-Minus 5 DAYS Needed for Liftoff: $3,085 $16,915/$20,000 Click the link in our bio to help us fund the next year of Alex Magazine!"
9 10
Reposted by R. Jean Bell
apexmag.bsky.social
Apex Magazine and Book Company @apexmag.bsky.social · 15d
There's only 5 DAYS LEFT to fund Apex Magazine for 2026, and we just unlocked our 80% goal! 🎉

@lesleyconner.bsky.social will host a LIVE READING of "The Monster Fucker Club" by @avgreenewrites.bsky.social!

Keep weird, wonderful fiction alive and donate TODAY 👽
www.kickstarter.com/projects/ape...
80% UNLOCKED! Lesley will be reading “The Monster Fucker Club” by A.V. Greene live on the Apex YouTube channel. “The Monster Fucker Club” was published in Apex Magazine issue 139 and was a finalist for the Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in Short Fiction in 2023. Cow getting sucked into UFO tractor beam. "Kickstarter Countdown: T-Minus 5 DAYS Needed for Liftoff: $3,085 $16,915/$20,000 Click the link in our bio to help us fund the next year of Alex Magazine!"
27 19
Reposted by R. Jean Bell
reasie.bsky.social
Marie Vibbert @reasie.bsky.social · 15d
If you donate to the Apex Magazine kickstarter, you could get personal critique from top authors, or a character named after you by me!
www.kickstarter.com/projects/ape...
Apex Magazine 2026
An award-winning digital literary magazine of science fiction, dark fantasy, and horror.
www.kickstarter.com
2 5
rjbell.bsky.social
R. Jean Bell @rjbell.bsky.social · 18d
Please help.
jasonsanford.bsky.social Jason Sanford @jasonsanford.bsky.social · 20d
Support the 2026 @apexmag.bsky.social Kickstarter! Apex publishes amazing SF, dark fantasy, and horror and we need their stories now more than ever.

I'll give an Apex gift subscription and dedication to one random person who promotes this Kickstarter! 1/
www.kickstarter.com/projects/ape...
Apex Magazine 2026
An award-winning digital literary magazine of science fiction, dark fantasy, and horror.
www.kickstarter.com
Reposted by R. Jean Bell
kojiadae.bsky.social
Koji A. Dae @kojiadae.bsky.social · 20d
You don't have to read in your genre and you can absolutely make space to daydream about things not connected to your work-in-progress.
Rest and Restoration and Putting Away the Keyboard
You don't have to read in your genre and you can absolutely make space to daydream about things not connected to your work-in-progress.
kojiadae.ink
1 4
rjbell.bsky.social
R. Jean Bell @rjbell.bsky.social · 20d
Sometimes the slush pile is so depressing--when I am on the no side of a piece that is awesome, that is exploring something about a marginalization that I'm sure will resonate with many others who share it... but when the piece just isn't a fit for the market I'm reading for. *much sad*
2
Reposted by R. Jean Bell
rjbell.bsky.social
R. Jean Bell @rjbell.bsky.social · 25d
I've really been struggling to cope the past few years. Both personally and because of world insanity. @apexmag.bsky.social has been one of the threads keeping me connected to myself and something resembling sanity. If you can, please help make sure they're still around next year for everyone.
1 1 1