val - V.M. Ayala 🏳️🌈
@spacevalkyries.bsky.social
📝sci-fi/fantasy writer V.M. Ayala (she/they) 🎮streamer, indie games, TTRPGs ✨anxiety/ADHD, chronic pain 🏳️🌈queer biracial Mexican American 🪐🗡️co-founder of @othersidespec.bsky.social
🌈 https://www.spacevalkyries.com/
💌 [email protected]
🌈 https://www.spacevalkyries.com/
💌 [email protected]
Pinned
it's award nomination season! here is my award eligibility post for 2025. I had one short story out, and I'm so proud of this queer cyberpunk/anti-corporation piece.
🌆"To Access Seven Obelisks, Press Enter" by V.M. Ayala - Lightspeed, Aug 2025 (Issue 183)
www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/to-a...
🌆"To Access Seven Obelisks, Press Enter" by V.M. Ayala - Lightspeed, Aug 2025 (Issue 183)
www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/to-a...
Made a little vlog style video of my wandering through the PAXU expo hall (my first attempt at this format and style!) looking for solo/GMless/ general TTRPGs to stream with my chat!
I hope bsky doesn’t eat the quality but #PAXUnplugged was great this year and I met so many lovely TTRPG creators 💜
I hope bsky doesn’t eat the quality but #PAXUnplugged was great this year and I met so many lovely TTRPG creators 💜
November 25, 2025 at 12:46 AM
Made a little vlog style video of my wandering through the PAXU expo hall (my first attempt at this format and style!) looking for solo/GMless/ general TTRPGs to stream with my chat!
I hope bsky doesn’t eat the quality but #PAXUnplugged was great this year and I met so many lovely TTRPG creators 💜
I hope bsky doesn’t eat the quality but #PAXUnplugged was great this year and I met so many lovely TTRPG creators 💜
I know I've been yelling about PAXU a lot (and am about to some more! AND I'D DO IT AGAIN!!) but if you're a queer writer please go submit your fiction reprints and nonfiction to OTHERSIDE thank youuu!
but please read the guidelines first. then, you know, gimme your reprints and your nonfiction ✨
but please read the guidelines first. then, you know, gimme your reprints and your nonfiction ✨
We're officially OPEN TO NONFICTION AND REPRINT SUBMISSIONS! We are looking for full nonfiction pieces (not pitches) and reprints of stories currently unavailable for free online.
🪐See our guidelines for details: othersidespec.com/guidelines
🗡️Submit here: hybrispress.moksha.io/publication/...
🪐See our guidelines for details: othersidespec.com/guidelines
🗡️Submit here: hybrispress.moksha.io/publication/...
November 24, 2025 at 8:04 PM
I know I've been yelling about PAXU a lot (and am about to some more! AND I'D DO IT AGAIN!!) but if you're a queer writer please go submit your fiction reprints and nonfiction to OTHERSIDE thank youuu!
but please read the guidelines first. then, you know, gimme your reprints and your nonfiction ✨
but please read the guidelines first. then, you know, gimme your reprints and your nonfiction ✨
I'm home (we met some local-to-PA friends on the way back!) and it has been SUCH a journey—I forgot the adrenaline crash from a convention is so much. I also forgot to take photos with most people 😭
BUT!! PAXU 2026 is Dec 4-6 which is the day after my birthday SO maybe I stay til Monday next time 👀
BUT!! PAXU 2026 is Dec 4-6 which is the day after my birthday SO maybe I stay til Monday next time 👀
Leaving early Sunday always gives me emotions, and the marathon making it very difficult to get over to the convention from my hotel just makes it worse 😭
This PAXU was a delight, I’m sorry to so many folks I didn’t get to say hi to—hopefully next year! Will have photos and blog posts up soooon 💜
This PAXU was a delight, I’m sorry to so many folks I didn’t get to say hi to—hopefully next year! Will have photos and blog posts up soooon 💜
November 24, 2025 at 12:52 AM
I'm home (we met some local-to-PA friends on the way back!) and it has been SUCH a journey—I forgot the adrenaline crash from a convention is so much. I also forgot to take photos with most people 😭
BUT!! PAXU 2026 is Dec 4-6 which is the day after my birthday SO maybe I stay til Monday next time 👀
BUT!! PAXU 2026 is Dec 4-6 which is the day after my birthday SO maybe I stay til Monday next time 👀
Leaving early Sunday always gives me emotions, and the marathon making it very difficult to get over to the convention from my hotel just makes it worse 😭
This PAXU was a delight, I’m sorry to so many folks I didn’t get to say hi to—hopefully next year! Will have photos and blog posts up soooon 💜
This PAXU was a delight, I’m sorry to so many folks I didn’t get to say hi to—hopefully next year! Will have photos and blog posts up soooon 💜
November 23, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Leaving early Sunday always gives me emotions, and the marathon making it very difficult to get over to the convention from my hotel just makes it worse 😭
This PAXU was a delight, I’m sorry to so many folks I didn’t get to say hi to—hopefully next year! Will have photos and blog posts up soooon 💜
This PAXU was a delight, I’m sorry to so many folks I didn’t get to say hi to—hopefully next year! Will have photos and blog posts up soooon 💜
Some assorted photos from PAXU so far! I tried to also get video for a cute vlog but we’ll see how that worked out 😂
Feels like this PAX Unplugged I’ve been running around the expo hall a bunch! If you briefly saw me I’m glad—sometimes I’m too shy to say hi long but I always cherish the meeting 💜
Feels like this PAX Unplugged I’ve been running around the expo hall a bunch! If you briefly saw me I’m glad—sometimes I’m too shy to say hi long but I always cherish the meeting 💜
November 22, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Some assorted photos from PAXU so far! I tried to also get video for a cute vlog but we’ll see how that worked out 😂
Feels like this PAX Unplugged I’ve been running around the expo hall a bunch! If you briefly saw me I’m glad—sometimes I’m too shy to say hi long but I always cherish the meeting 💜
Feels like this PAX Unplugged I’ve been running around the expo hall a bunch! If you briefly saw me I’m glad—sometimes I’m too shy to say hi long but I always cherish the meeting 💜
Saturday wandering the expo hall of PAXU! If you spot me or my new fun goose pin, yell VAL and wave!!
Also if you have any solo, two player or GMless 1-2 playable TTRPGs, I’m hunting around for some for streaming potential 👀
Also if you have any solo, two player or GMless 1-2 playable TTRPGs, I’m hunting around for some for streaming potential 👀
November 22, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Saturday wandering the expo hall of PAXU! If you spot me or my new fun goose pin, yell VAL and wave!!
Also if you have any solo, two player or GMless 1-2 playable TTRPGs, I’m hunting around for some for streaming potential 👀
Also if you have any solo, two player or GMless 1-2 playable TTRPGs, I’m hunting around for some for streaming potential 👀
Reposted by val - V.M. Ayala 🏳️🌈
Just hit the expo floor at #PAXU #PAXUnplugged and wandering around, being trolled on cam by @spacevalkyries.bsky.social and roasting them in return! 💖
(Also testing the limits of upload speeds and signal inside the hall.) 😂
(Also testing the limits of upload speeds and signal inside the hall.) 😂
November 21, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Just hit the expo floor at #PAXU #PAXUnplugged and wandering around, being trolled on cam by @spacevalkyries.bsky.social and roasting them in return! 💖
(Also testing the limits of upload speeds and signal inside the hall.) 😂
(Also testing the limits of upload speeds and signal inside the hall.) 😂
IT’S DAY 1 OF PAXU!!
If you spot me in the expo hall yell VAL!! and I will maybe not hear you so please just come up and wave if that doesn’t work 😂 EXCITED FOR DAY 1 OF PAX UNPLUGGED!!
If you spot me in the expo hall yell VAL!! and I will maybe not hear you so please just come up and wave if that doesn’t work 😂 EXCITED FOR DAY 1 OF PAX UNPLUGGED!!
November 21, 2025 at 3:27 PM
IT’S DAY 1 OF PAXU!!
If you spot me in the expo hall yell VAL!! and I will maybe not hear you so please just come up and wave if that doesn’t work 😂 EXCITED FOR DAY 1 OF PAX UNPLUGGED!!
If you spot me in the expo hall yell VAL!! and I will maybe not hear you so please just come up and wave if that doesn’t work 😂 EXCITED FOR DAY 1 OF PAX UNPLUGGED!!
Reposted by val - V.M. Ayala 🏳️🌈
For what remains of Puerto Rican Heritage Month, I wanted to share work by other Puerto Rican authors
Today, I wanted to shout out @boriscrito.bsky.social whose novella, Sordidez holds up Taínofuturism as a corrective against imperialism
www.stelliform.press/index.php/pr...
Today, I wanted to shout out @boriscrito.bsky.social whose novella, Sordidez holds up Taínofuturism as a corrective against imperialism
www.stelliform.press/index.php/pr...
Sordidez by E.G. Condé ⋆ Stelliform Press
Learn about SORDIDEZ by E.G. Condé, an indigenous futurist science fiction novella set in Puerto Rico and the Yucatan named a Publishers Weekly Top 10 Book.
www.stelliform.press
November 20, 2025 at 2:45 PM
For what remains of Puerto Rican Heritage Month, I wanted to share work by other Puerto Rican authors
Today, I wanted to shout out @boriscrito.bsky.social whose novella, Sordidez holds up Taínofuturism as a corrective against imperialism
www.stelliform.press/index.php/pr...
Today, I wanted to shout out @boriscrito.bsky.social whose novella, Sordidez holds up Taínofuturism as a corrective against imperialism
www.stelliform.press/index.php/pr...
I finally updated both OBS and my Steam Deck right before I leave for PAXU, nothing bad can happen with that. nope!! not at all!! when I get back there will be zero errors, zero issues.
November 20, 2025 at 2:09 PM
I finally updated both OBS and my Steam Deck right before I leave for PAXU, nothing bad can happen with that. nope!! not at all!! when I get back there will be zero errors, zero issues.
Reposted by val - V.M. Ayala 🏳️🌈
November 20, 2025 at 4:06 AM
am I avoiding packing for PAXU? maybe so. I'm so good at this 😂
November 20, 2025 at 2:24 AM
am I avoiding packing for PAXU? maybe so. I'm so good at this 😂
got to attend an event that had a reading (streamed online, yay) of "Wilayat in Seven Saints" by Tanvir Ahmed and also had an awesome presentation by @jennahanchey.bsky.social!
absolutely in awe of this piece AND Jenna's presentation, and I'm going to be chewing on both for a good long while!
absolutely in awe of this piece AND Jenna's presentation, and I'm going to be chewing on both for a good long while!
There is, as it happens, a brand new issue of Kaleidotrope.
November 20, 2025 at 1:21 AM
got to attend an event that had a reading (streamed online, yay) of "Wilayat in Seven Saints" by Tanvir Ahmed and also had an awesome presentation by @jennahanchey.bsky.social!
absolutely in awe of this piece AND Jenna's presentation, and I'm going to be chewing on both for a good long while!
absolutely in awe of this piece AND Jenna's presentation, and I'm going to be chewing on both for a good long while!
Reposted by val - V.M. Ayala 🏳️🌈
"The story is tense, the danger and the anticipation mixing deliciously... The piece is heavy with denied justice and the promise that the bigger a corporation is, the more satisfying its fall."
Thank you @cypayseur.bsky.social for the recommendation of "To Access Seven Obelisks, Press Enter" 😭
Thank you @cypayseur.bsky.social for the recommendation of "To Access Seven Obelisks, Press Enter" 😭
“Bloody Muddy Water” by @jduckwriter.bsky.social from @bcsmagazine.bsky.social, “To Access Seven Obelisks, Press Enter” by @spacevalkyries.bsky.social from @lightspeedmagazine.com, and more short fic recs from @cypayseur.bsky.social
Small Wonders, Beneath Ceaseless Skies and Lightspeed: Review by Charles Payseur
Small Wonders 7/25 Beneath Ceaseless Skies 8/7/25, 8/21/25 Lightspeed 8/25 The July Small Wonders features some great poetry, including Courtney Floyd’s “Renfield at His Windowsill”, which captures…
locusmag.com
November 19, 2025 at 3:00 AM
"The story is tense, the danger and the anticipation mixing deliciously... The piece is heavy with denied justice and the promise that the bigger a corporation is, the more satisfying its fall."
Thank you @cypayseur.bsky.social for the recommendation of "To Access Seven Obelisks, Press Enter" 😭
Thank you @cypayseur.bsky.social for the recommendation of "To Access Seven Obelisks, Press Enter" 😭
raise your hand if you're surprised I, in fact, did no coworking and just yapped for 3 hours. good none of you raised your hand 😂
NEXT STREAM: Wednesday, Nov 26 @ 10:30am Eastern! will do a brief 1-1.5 hour PAXU recap (I leave tomorrowww!!)!
games return Friday, Dec 5 with some Dispatch!
NEXT STREAM: Wednesday, Nov 26 @ 10:30am Eastern! will do a brief 1-1.5 hour PAXU recap (I leave tomorrowww!!)!
games return Friday, Dec 5 with some Dispatch!
hi yes would you like to come chat with me and then maybe do a little coworking/cowriting? I say maybe because last time I just chatted for 3 hours BUT... MAYBE SOME WRITING TODAY AS A TREAT?
let's find out 👀
www.twitch.tv/spacevalkyries
let's find out 👀
www.twitch.tv/spacevalkyries
spacevalkyries - Twitch
✨let's just chat and maybe cowork before PAXU!!✨
www.twitch.tv
November 19, 2025 at 6:51 PM
raise your hand if you're surprised I, in fact, did no coworking and just yapped for 3 hours. good none of you raised your hand 😂
NEXT STREAM: Wednesday, Nov 26 @ 10:30am Eastern! will do a brief 1-1.5 hour PAXU recap (I leave tomorrowww!!)!
games return Friday, Dec 5 with some Dispatch!
NEXT STREAM: Wednesday, Nov 26 @ 10:30am Eastern! will do a brief 1-1.5 hour PAXU recap (I leave tomorrowww!!)!
games return Friday, Dec 5 with some Dispatch!
hi yes would you like to come chat with me and then maybe do a little coworking/cowriting? I say maybe because last time I just chatted for 3 hours BUT... MAYBE SOME WRITING TODAY AS A TREAT?
let's find out 👀
www.twitch.tv/spacevalkyries
let's find out 👀
www.twitch.tv/spacevalkyries
spacevalkyries - Twitch
✨let's just chat and maybe cowork before PAXU!!✨
www.twitch.tv
November 19, 2025 at 3:40 PM
hi yes would you like to come chat with me and then maybe do a little coworking/cowriting? I say maybe because last time I just chatted for 3 hours BUT... MAYBE SOME WRITING TODAY AS A TREAT?
let's find out 👀
www.twitch.tv/spacevalkyries
let's find out 👀
www.twitch.tv/spacevalkyries
Reposted by val - V.M. Ayala 🏳️🌈
I have no joke thought about this story ever since it dropped.
If you want to read "To Access Seven Obelisks, Press Enter" (or consider it for nominations this award season), you can at @lightspeedmagazine.com!
It's got queer longing, lots of anger at capitalism, cyberpunk glass constructs, and biracial emotions ✨
www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/to-a...
It's got queer longing, lots of anger at capitalism, cyberpunk glass constructs, and biracial emotions ✨
www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/to-a...
To Access Seven Obelisks, Press Enter - Lightspeed Magazine
Zan’s supervisor tossed the glass square onto their rusting desk. A glass-rendered construct of a silver ticket hovered in the air, text shimmering. Zan held their breath as they re-read it until they...
www.lightspeedmagazine.com
November 19, 2025 at 4:59 AM
I have no joke thought about this story ever since it dropped.
"The story is tense, the danger and the anticipation mixing deliciously... The piece is heavy with denied justice and the promise that the bigger a corporation is, the more satisfying its fall."
Thank you @cypayseur.bsky.social for the recommendation of "To Access Seven Obelisks, Press Enter" 😭
Thank you @cypayseur.bsky.social for the recommendation of "To Access Seven Obelisks, Press Enter" 😭
“Bloody Muddy Water” by @jduckwriter.bsky.social from @bcsmagazine.bsky.social, “To Access Seven Obelisks, Press Enter” by @spacevalkyries.bsky.social from @lightspeedmagazine.com, and more short fic recs from @cypayseur.bsky.social
Small Wonders, Beneath Ceaseless Skies and Lightspeed: Review by Charles Payseur
Small Wonders 7/25 Beneath Ceaseless Skies 8/7/25, 8/21/25 Lightspeed 8/25 The July Small Wonders features some great poetry, including Courtney Floyd’s “Renfield at His Windowsill”, which captures…
locusmag.com
November 19, 2025 at 3:00 AM
"The story is tense, the danger and the anticipation mixing deliciously... The piece is heavy with denied justice and the promise that the bigger a corporation is, the more satisfying its fall."
Thank you @cypayseur.bsky.social for the recommendation of "To Access Seven Obelisks, Press Enter" 😭
Thank you @cypayseur.bsky.social for the recommendation of "To Access Seven Obelisks, Press Enter" 😭
I am always so shy about these things but I am attending PAX Unplugged again this year! who all is attending PAXU??? 👀
would love to say hi to folks, even if briefly in the dealer hall while I buy an unholy amount of dice ✨
would love to say hi to folks, even if briefly in the dealer hall while I buy an unholy amount of dice ✨
November 18, 2025 at 5:51 PM
I am always so shy about these things but I am attending PAX Unplugged again this year! who all is attending PAXU??? 👀
would love to say hi to folks, even if briefly in the dealer hall while I buy an unholy amount of dice ✨
would love to say hi to folks, even if briefly in the dealer hall while I buy an unholy amount of dice ✨
Reposted by val - V.M. Ayala 🏳️🌈
I'm at the Target boycott, I'm at the Starbucks boycott, I'm at the combination Target boycott and Starbucks boycott
Beginning Monday, a Frozen Peppermint Hot Chocolate drink will be available exclusively at Starbucks cafés inside Target stores.
The chains are hoping the drink can drum up excitement from customers this holiday season.
🔗https://tinyurl.com/yrshv45s
The chains are hoping the drink can drum up excitement from customers this holiday season.
🔗https://tinyurl.com/yrshv45s
November 17, 2025 at 9:14 PM
I'm at the Target boycott, I'm at the Starbucks boycott, I'm at the combination Target boycott and Starbucks boycott
I hit 10k words on this discovery draft!! this epic fantasy heist book is zooming out of my brain and I fear it—because the last book was complicated and took me 4 years (to plan an elaborate trilogy).
actually maybe this is why this book is happening so much faster, it's a standalone (mostly) 😂
actually maybe this is why this book is happening so much faster, it's a standalone (mostly) 😂
November 18, 2025 at 2:50 AM
I hit 10k words on this discovery draft!! this epic fantasy heist book is zooming out of my brain and I fear it—because the last book was complicated and took me 4 years (to plan an elaborate trilogy).
actually maybe this is why this book is happening so much faster, it's a standalone (mostly) 😂
actually maybe this is why this book is happening so much faster, it's a standalone (mostly) 😂
Reposted by val - V.M. Ayala 🏳️🌈
I just had a silly realization about all the people in this epic fantasy heist novel: they all have wings, so everyone probably sleeps on their stomachs/face-first into a pillow since sleeping on their backs might be uncomfortable.
THINGS I DIDN'T FULLY THINK THROUGH. HILARIOUS MENTAL IMAGES 😂
THINGS I DIDN'T FULLY THINK THROUGH. HILARIOUS MENTAL IMAGES 😂
November 17, 2025 at 1:23 AM
I just had a silly realization about all the people in this epic fantasy heist novel: they all have wings, so everyone probably sleeps on their stomachs/face-first into a pillow since sleeping on their backs might be uncomfortable.
THINGS I DIDN'T FULLY THINK THROUGH. HILARIOUS MENTAL IMAGES 😂
THINGS I DIDN'T FULLY THINK THROUGH. HILARIOUS MENTAL IMAGES 😂
despite taking time off writing for vacation and SOON PAX Unplugged, I managed around 7,500 words on this discovery draft!! hoping to get to 10-20k by end of month!
AND my main pairing have matching Florence + the Machine songs (protag has "My Love" and her love interest has "The Old Religion").
AND my main pairing have matching Florence + the Machine songs (protag has "My Love" and her love interest has "The Old Religion").
November 17, 2025 at 12:43 AM
despite taking time off writing for vacation and SOON PAX Unplugged, I managed around 7,500 words on this discovery draft!! hoping to get to 10-20k by end of month!
AND my main pairing have matching Florence + the Machine songs (protag has "My Love" and her love interest has "The Old Religion").
AND my main pairing have matching Florence + the Machine songs (protag has "My Love" and her love interest has "The Old Religion").
Reposted by val - V.M. Ayala 🏳️🌈
it's award nomination season! here is my award eligibility post for 2025. I had one short story out, and I'm so proud of this queer cyberpunk/anti-corporation piece.
🌆"To Access Seven Obelisks, Press Enter" by V.M. Ayala - Lightspeed, Aug 2025 (Issue 183)
www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/to-a...
🌆"To Access Seven Obelisks, Press Enter" by V.M. Ayala - Lightspeed, Aug 2025 (Issue 183)
www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/to-a...
November 13, 2025 at 4:25 PM
it's award nomination season! here is my award eligibility post for 2025. I had one short story out, and I'm so proud of this queer cyberpunk/anti-corporation piece.
🌆"To Access Seven Obelisks, Press Enter" by V.M. Ayala - Lightspeed, Aug 2025 (Issue 183)
www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/to-a...
🌆"To Access Seven Obelisks, Press Enter" by V.M. Ayala - Lightspeed, Aug 2025 (Issue 183)
www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/to-a...