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Skyla Dawn Cameron

@skyladawn.ca

3.4K followers 140 following 18K posts

Mystery/UF/Horror writer of an unsocial, taciturn disposition, unwilling to speak unless she expects to say something that will amaze the whole room. Also a cat lady. Very tired. skyladawncameron.com patreon.com/skyladawncameron Cranky Canadian

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Skyla Dawn Cameron @skyladawn.ca · 8d

My big sale for the month is live! Ghosts both real and imagined feature this month--save on tons of books when buying direct, including print and audio:
payhip.com/skyladawncam...

A promo graphic that says "October Scares" against a night sky and leafless tree branches. Stories of hauntings and horror on sale all month long including audio, print, and bundles." There are several book covers for some of the included titles.

Skyla Dawn Cameron @skyladawn.ca · 15m

*adds to log: “at 4am this bougie cat decides he has to drink filtered water out of the palm of my hand”*

Skyla Dawn Cameron @skyladawn.ca · 37m

Hard to say what did the greatest damage to my brain. Miss Dinah Fantastico dying of a sudden blood clot while I waited for a ride? Waking to find Gus in heart failure? I think trauma is cumulative, but this is the cat WHOSE JAW HAS RANDOMLY LOCKED OPEN BEFORE and I will not take my eyes off him.

Skyla Dawn Cameron @skyladawn.ca · 41m

He hasn’t been to the box in almost 90min, he’s been napping and eating and drinking and seems FINE but also lol I am not sleeping, I will not be lulled into trusting because that’s when an emergency happens. 👀

A long-haired black cat with green eyes is still curled up on his purple carrier, which is collapsing under his weight.

Skyla Dawn Cameron @skyladawn.ca · 1h

Just want to have everything out in case I have to try to get a hold of someone to rush to the emergency vet at 3am and Mr. Shawn has decided to be “helpful” and crush his carrier.

A long-haired black cat with green eyes, lying atop a soft purple carrier that he has partially collapsed under his weight.

Skyla Dawn Cameron @skyladawn.ca · 3h

Continually shaving years off my life in the hopes I die the same time he dies in 10-15 years, I guess.

Skyla Dawn Cameron @skyladawn.ca · 3h

I’m stressed about Libby (no one to pick up her new steroid so it’s just sitting at the vet office paid for), worried about Rodney, and then not content to not be the centre of attention, her is Shawn.

Skyla Dawn Cameron @skyladawn.ca · 3h

Nothing but problems with this cat’s butt since he was a few weeks old, I guess we’re doing an in/out log like he’s a neonate again and staying up all night. 🙄

A long haired black cat with green eyes is lying on a bed and looking to the side unamused.

Skyla Dawn Cameron @skyladawn.ca · 6h

👀

Kitty, my DMs are always open.

Skyla Dawn Cameron @skyladawn.ca · 6h

I know we’re all on someone’s petty list and I just hope I’m there for something funny.

Skyla Dawn Cameron @skyladawn.ca · 6h

“Said something shitty about shelter animals” was a big one for me, I will never get past that.

Skyla Dawn Cameron @skyladawn.ca · 6h

My list of pettiness is VAST and goes from “said something I didn’t like on social media once” to “scammed a writer friend out of thousands of dollars”.

Skyla Dawn Cameron @skyladawn.ca · 6h

Warn about them being a transphobe or sex pest or MAGA? Sure! But most of us have long lists of petty that only comes out with select group. It does cut out a lot of otherwise viable book recommendations though lol.

Skyla Dawn Cameron @skyladawn.ca · 6h

A not talked about but weird part of being a writer is how often you’re in a group talking books and you virtually smile and nod when a recommendation comes up for someone you dislike for a petty reason like they were rude to a friend at a once, but saying so would veer on unnecessary gossip.

Reposted by Skyla Dawn Cameron

Anthony Hurd @anthonyhurd.bsky.social · 8h

My coloring book proofs arrived today and they look so good! Can’t wait to get the full order and start shipping them out in a few weeks!

Skyla Dawn Cameron @skyladawn.ca · 8h

I really like seeing two people work at it and learn about each other and evolve and behave like adults while figuring their stuff out, and would like to see more of that in fiction as a romantic subplot.

Skyla Dawn Cameron @skyladawn.ca · 8h

Raelle Logan (I am pretty sure you'd be able to tell, it's the same stuff all over her profile)

Skyla Dawn Cameron @skyladawn.ca · 8h

I also dig that. Kelley Armstrong's Rockton novels have a normal couple going through normal couple things while also investigating murder in the Yukon. I also liked Simone St. James' Murder Road because it starts with a newlywed couple and deals with them getting to know one another (also, murder).

Skyla Dawn Cameron @skyladawn.ca · 8h

There are digital artists who do the same look, so you have to watch for other tells, but that's the first one that should make you question what you're looking at. Glossy plastic people from a distance, and close up tons of tiny inconsistencies.

Skyla Dawn Cameron @skyladawn.ca · 8h

That's badly phrased but whatever, you know what I mean and I'm tired.

Like think of every photo auto-editor from the past six or so years that gave every woman's photo a tiny chin, small nose, big vacant eyes, small mouth but with full lips slightly parted--all this shit was trained on those.

Skyla Dawn Cameron @skyladawn.ca · 9h

I know it can be hard to tell if you don't know what you're looking for, but >95% of covers/promo for romance books that is AI generated is female characters with a porn-star baby face. Vacant eyes a little too big, narrow chin, plastic skin, lips slightly parted. That should raise red flags.

Skyla Dawn Cameron @skyladawn.ca · 9h

Someone just sent me an author promo and asked if it's AI and yes it's 100% AI so I went to block the author and was sort of horrified at the number of RTs her shitty AI promo had. Then I noticed tons of RTs were by people who follow me.

So folks: I am begging you to be a bit more discerning.

Skyla Dawn Cameron @skyladawn.ca · 9h

I will take better pictures tomorrow when it's light out and put her next to a "BUY MY BOOK" sign so that is 100% a promotional expense.

Skyla Dawn Cameron @skyladawn.ca · 9h

If this convinces you to buy Waverly’s books and/or the Official Murder Journal, I think I can write Waverly Barbie off on my taxes as a business expense, so please lmk 🤣

Custom Barbie doll with long dark hair, wearing a red and black plaid jacket and blue jeans. She has a messenger bag and is holding a camera in one hand and a coffee cup in the other. Behind her is a mini corkboard with red string and notes about evidence. Cider is a workstation with a laptop, phone, coffee, and replica murder journal.

Skyla Dawn Cameron @skyladawn.ca · 9h

Waverly Barbie working out theories in her murder journal because making a mini replica of the murder journal is an excellent use of my evening.

A custom Barbie doll with long dark hair wearing a red and black plaid jacket is holding a journal. She has a messenger bag and a camera. Behind her is a mini corkboard with maps and notes and evidence, and beside her is a workstation with a mini light shining on an open laptop, papers, phone, and coffee.

A tiny replica of the official Waverley Jones murder journal on a black desk.

Skyla Dawn Cameron @skyladawn.ca · 11h

I simultaneously want to put sex scenes into everything because I'm so sick of people complaining about sex scenes now but also kill every love interest.

We can form the I Hate Money Club, though unfortunately we cannot afford membership dues. 🤣