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EmmyKtz 🐙 The Pink Hydra

@thepinkhydra.com

690 followers 440 following 1.5K posts

Emmylou Kotzé, demi-bi PhD holder, editor, & writer of SF, F, dark romance, and poetry. Work in Inner Worlds, On Spec, and Dirty Magick. Links at linktr.ee/emmyktz. I run The Pink Hydra, Africa's newest and weirdest webzine. Dropped this 🇿🇦

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EmmyKtz 🐙 The Pink Hydra @thepinkhydra.com · 7d

The Pink Hydra #5 is out today, with fiction & poetry by @hexthervvv.bsky.social, @deeholloway.bsky.social, @jasterwrites.bsky.social, @maryjorabe.bsky.social, @slashnburnett.bsky.social, @sarahgracetuttle.bsky.social, @pixieb.bsky.social & @reasie.bsky.social

www.thepinkhydra.com/issues/0202202510

Cover of The Pink Hydra vol. 2.2, a new magazine of unreality. Cover art is "Corn Fire" by Barbara Candiotti. A black-and-white digital artwork featuring a ghostly figure with slanted glowing eyes waving at the viewer, while standing amongst tall corn stalks. Ghostly flames burn in the foreground.

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elka 🌾 commissions open! @saintsbeware.bsky.social · 18h

just putting Monty in a situation as my resident situation-guy🖤
#ocsky #oc #art

sketch page of my character Monty being slutty against an invisible wall

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EmmyKtz 🐙 The Pink Hydra @thepinkhydra.com · 5h

.... I think most people are unlikely to produce over 250k words a year. Whether it's 12 novellas, 2 romance novels, or 1 single doorstopper fantasy.

Even if it's not AI gen, more than that makes me wonder if it's even been edited beyond the first draft.

EmmyKtz 🐙 The Pink Hydra @thepinkhydra.com · 5h

... I completed half the story by the middle of 2024. That was when I decided it should be a 3-instalment trilogy, so I published book 1 in October.

Even the most prolific tradpub authors of the past (Stephen King, Terry Pratchett) rarely published more than 2-4 books a year. Personally.....

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EmmyKtz 🐙 The Pink Hydra @thepinkhydra.com · 5h

About one per year for the past 3 years, along with 1 short story / novella.

The Broken Knight was first published in 2019. I repubbed it in 2024 with a much needed final edit.

Forest of the Morning was built from 10 chapters I wrote in 2017-2022. When I began writing in earnest in 2023....

Elise (they/them)🇦🇺 @eliseswritings.bsky.social · 13h

Authors, in the interest of helping readers spot gen ai 'authored' books, how many novels do you publish a year?

I publish one 80-100k+ word (epic fantasy) novel, and I can only do that because I drafted 8 novels before I started publishing any. 📚💙

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Astrid (yeehaw) 🤠🌈 ✨ @ansitru.bsky.social · 15h

I'm just saying, we could settle this with swords, instead of 30+ emails. 🤺

#artWIP

A WIP embroidery piece, with a sword and mace chzrm, spikes and letter beads.

The beads read "this email could have been a duel | fight me"

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michiums @ deadlines @michiums.bsky.social · 18d

a reminder ! also I still have so many of these :)! your support helps me scrap by and also be able to support mutual aid efforts when and where I can !

michiums.bigcartel.com

embroidered patch with florals on top of a bouquet that reads “queer existence is eternal”

embroidered floral patch on top of a bouquet of dusty pink and red roses that reads “trans existence is an undying garden”

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Penumbric Speculative Fiction Mag @penumbricmag.bsky.social · 9h

Art from August's #Penumbric: "Raveled Lovers" by Ashley Abigail Gruezo Resurreccion, at www.penumbric.com/currentissue... and pdf www.penumbric.com/currentissue...

#art #artwork #fantasy #myth

"Raveled Lovers" by Ashley Abigail Gruezo Resurreccion, at https://www.penumbric.com/currentissue/resurreccionLovers.html

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Indie Book Spotlight @bookspotlight.bsky.social · 13h

Name your favourite Asian Horror Film.

The main characters in Train to Busan entering a train car, wary of zombies.

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Troy Preston Dillon @troyprestondillon.bsky.social · 18h

I started my novel roughly 30 years ago, putting it aside for ages. Recently I finally finished the story, and have begun this week to submit it to publishers.

I've also published one short story so far, on Orion's Beau, here: www.orionsbeau.com/fantasy-quar...

Check it out! 😊

Summer 2025, Efim

Orion's Beau is a free digital arts & literary journal specializing in LGBTQ+ works of fantasy and speculative fiction. By publishing short stories, poems, and illustrations by LGBTQ+ authors and crea...

www.orionsbeau.com

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EmmyKtz 🐙 The Pink Hydra @thepinkhydra.com · 1d

That's... just asking for pay-to-publish outfits to attend. The more predatory the better I guess 😵‍💫

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Rune Hrafnagaldur @lunegrimm.bsky.social · 1d

#WerewolfWednesday 🐺📚

Illustration of a "Werewolf" sitting at lectern

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Literally @garrettcarrollpoet.bsky.social · 1d

#whistpr
Prompt: #CRIMSON

When people called Greg
the bird-watcher, they
forgot the inverse—that
the bird watched him
too, waiting and watching
through an entanglement
of branches and shrubs.
They waited for the day
for him to transform
and join them in flight.
#poet #vss365 #writing

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TrueRef by Abbey Esparza @trueref.bsky.social · 1d

TrueRef: Real references for real artists. 💕

art references of a woman with pink hair crouching.

art references of a woman with pink hair sitting.

art references of a woman with pink hair sitting while looking bored.

art references of a woman with pink hair making a sad face.

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Dirigible Designs @dirigibledesigns.bsky.social · 1d

This necklace has returned to us after a long hiatus. It is sterling silver with rough tourmaline, labratory grown opal and hypersthene.

❤️

#contemporaryjewelry #handmadejewelry #asymmetricaljewelry

stunning necklace with lab grown opal and black stones.

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The Broken Spine @thebrokenspine.co.uk · 1d

Something Gothic this way comes… Submissions are OPEN for The Havisham Steps: Modern Gothic Poetry. We want poems of neon dread, fractured love, haunted minds.

Closing date: October 31st

#PoetrySubmissions #SubmissionWindow #TheHavishamSteps #ModernGothicPoetry

Something Gothic This Way Comes: Submit to The Havisham Steps: Modern Gothic Poetry - The Broken Spine

Submissions Open Throughout October 2025 | Publication in 2026

thebrokenspine.co.uk

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vincent @vincentlalalau.bsky.social · 1d

trailer for my new comic! @shortboxcomicsfair.bsky.social

www.shortboxcomicsfair.com/shop-sq4wj/p...

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Glasgow SF Writers' Circle @gsfwc.bsky.social · 2d

It's October, so it must be Gothic season! Check out this splendid new queer horror romance from our Heather Valentine, only available on The Pink Hydra.

@thepinkhydra.com @hexthervvv.bsky.social

www.thepinkhydra.com/issues/02022...

The Pink Hydra | Four Flowers in Formaldehyde - Heather Valentine

Four Flowers in Formaldehyde by Heather Valentine

www.thepinkhydra.com

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Shivikai @shivikai.bsky.social · 9d

Firebrand got into a Wizard's Orb (like a ball, but wizards) on a technicality, he knows one spell.
This was for an art dome (design an outfit for a Wizard ball).

#glorious #shadewalk #firebrand #elf

Firebrand is once again looking fine as fuck, wearing a costume for a Wizard's Orb. His collar recalls the sun, his sleeves with elven lace take the form of clouds, with crystal droplets of rain hanging from silver chains. The lace on his midriff is like gusting wind, and all this is hanging above the dark drow silk cape with its twinkling night stars. His body is the only ray of light to pierce through the darkness, and he moves on shoes of wind and feather.
He is also casting the single spell he knows, a spark of light.

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Shivikai @shivikai.bsky.social · 5d

Thirstober 04 - bewitched

For once it's the vampire getting seduced!

#witches #guysbeingguys #bros

an elf witch smiles and holds the face and head of a vampire, the poor undead dude is just head over heels for the witch consentingly.

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Shivikai @shivikai.bsky.social · 3d

Thirstober 6: cuddle!

"You make an old bat feel young again"
#cuddle #elves #creature

an elf man cuddling an older female bat-elf creature, he's gently giving her long-ass neck a lil smooch and she holds her hair out of his way. The remaining arms hold each other in an embrace.

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Aubrey 💖🏳️‍🌈 @clericofthevoid.bsky.social · 3d

This past month was so busy I’ve been neglecting my book promos, so how about a little sale?

🌸✨Name Her Holy ebook for $1✨🌸 only on my kofi from now through Friday!

Get yourself a slowburn sapphic space fantasy novel for your weekend read 🍂☕️

ko-fi.com/s/748ece637a

Cover for Name Her Holy by Aubrey Ennis, a crown of dusty mauve and earthy flowers surround a black swirling void. Behind the cover is a split image of a red haired woman in armor and a woman with dark short hair covering her face.

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Elise (they/them)🇦🇺 @eliseswritings.bsky.social · 8d

November is Trans Awareness Month. But that title seems ill-fit to current politics, so I chose a better one for the Itch book bundle I'm hosting Nov 1-14.

Authors, if your MC is trans (yes including nonbinary!) and your book meets the criteria bellow, let me know and I'll DM you the sign up form!

Trans People Take on The World Itch Bundle

Background: trans flag

Text: Eligibility & Genre:
At least one Main Character is trans (yes this includes nonbinary!)
Plot-central trans (and LGBTQIA+) themes are welcome, but not required.
Your MC combatting transphobia is welcome, but not required.
MC's who are incidentally trans solving murders, defending their kingdom, curing cancer, fighting a zombie apocalypse etc are very welcome. (So SFF, Thriller/ Mystery/ Crime/ Historical/ Drama etc.)
Romance and NSWF involving a trans MC is welcome.

Categories: Adult Fiction, novellas and full length novels.

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Sapling 🌱 Print shop open! @sacredsapling.bsky.social · 7d

Some close ups! I really wanted to focus on how people with an ASPD diagnosis are almost never given support, because even self-help is all about how loved ones handle people with ASPD.

In reality, Gabriel's just a kid who was neglected by his parents, physically abused by his uncle, and adapted.

A close up on the first panel, of Gabriel stomping around his room, with his monologue reading "trouble—ASPD Diagnosis—mean for me and my family? My baby sis—therapist said it's per... These episodes of...forever?? Terrible! Nasinsilyo my life! No one will trust me. Even Nico. That's over...will my parents call the cops on me again? Put me down—like uloi—."

A close up of the second panel, of Gabriel pacing again, with his inner monologue reading "I blow up—in front of—forbid from ever...having kids? Nasuk—lang ko ganiha an—they loved me in—back in juvie. Fuck this label—I'm not a sociopath. And—am then it's all...they left me with...and expected he would...make me violent too. Be better than‚has to be something—help me not destroy my life."

A close up on Gabriel googling "ASPD support" and the articles that are coming up, one from Everyday Health, are "What is a sociopath?" and "7 ways to cope with someone who has ASPD." Also Gabriel's nails are painted an adorable pink.

A close up on the scatter phone screens, showing more of what Gabriel googled. For ASPD coping, the articles are "Living with a person with ASPD" and "Coping with Sociopaths (ASPD)." The first one is from BetterHelp. Under his search for ASPD dating, the articles is a Quora forum asking "Are there any good points of dating a person with ASPD?" with the top results being "Hell No" and "Sucked into abuse." Other articles read "Dating a Sociopath: What to be Aware of." and "I think I'm dating a 'Sociopath.'" There's a list of "People also ask" with "Can people with ASPD feel joy? What is wrong with ASPD?" and "Can people with ASPD love?"

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MGCoco | Tolkientober 🎨 @mgcoco.bsky.social · 6d

#Tolkientober Day 4: Armor

Life, in defiance of death #art

Adar’s armor on the ground, worn from time. Simbelmynë and other wildflowers grow around it

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EmmyKtz 🐙 The Pink Hydra @thepinkhydra.com · 3d

Incredibly happy to share that my poem "Wild Gardens" will be part of the next @solarpunklitmag.bsky.social issue in November! 😍

What first caught my eye about Solarpunk was the amazing cover arts for every zine: solarpunkmagazine.com/product-category/issues

Here are four of my favourites.

Cover art for Solarpunk Magazine Issue #16, Jul/Aug 2024.

A black man is wearing neon attire similar to traditional (West) African tribal attire. He is flanked by two women, also in futuristic tribal attire, their silhouettes fading into a dark twilight background.

Cover art for Solarpunk Magazine Issue #17, Sept/Oct 2024, titled “Solarpunk Celebrity” by Jessica Antonelli.

A light-skinned Black woman with face paint, pink-and-blue streaked hair, and a colourful hat.

Cover art for Solarpunk Magazine Issue #19, Jan/Feb 2025 by Justine Norton-Kertson.

A collage of shapes representing a city skyline of skyscrapers, but all in shades of green. Flowers and leaves are scattered throughout the city and its "sky."

Cover art for Solarpunk Magazine Issue #22, Jul/Aug 2025 by Amuri Morris.

A Black woman with the top of her head grading into an owl's. There is also an owl on her shoulder. The moon is behind her and she appears to be clothed in the sea.