AJ Van Belle/Alexandra Vivelo
@ajvanbelle.bsky.social
3.6K followers 2.2K following 1.7K posts
Writer and scientist who cuddles dogs, builds worlds. Rep: Lauren Bieker. www.ajvanbelle.com. Rhysling & Best of the Net nominee. Junior literary agent at The Booker Albert Agency. Nonbinary/transmasc 🏳️‍⚧️
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Reposted by AJ Van Belle/Alexandra Vivelo
apexmag.bsky.social
Good morning! We're only ONE PERCENT(1%!!) away from Apex Magazine opening to nonfiction submissions for the FIRST TIME! our nonfiction is full of new voices, fresh perspectives, and is scientifically*-proven to regrow brain cells ⚡🧠🌱

*probably. just trust us 👽👇

www.kickstarter.com/projects/ape...
a cow being lifted into space in a UFO tractor beam. An astronaut floats in the corner, staring at the UFO in surprise. The cow's thought bubble reads, "$5, 797!"
ajvanbelle.bsky.social
A second WIP line of the day:

"What a thin imagination you have, to see so little of what’s real. Haven’t you seen enough by now …to understand you never knew anything?"
ajvanbelle.bsky.social
WIP line of the day: "You’ll keep your precious life too, even though you do insist on sticking it places it doesn’t belong."
ajvanbelle.bsky.social
Every eldritch horrorscape needs some threshold guardians that fall deep in the uncanny valley, amirite?

Just came to the introduction of two of my favorite side characters in rereading my manuscript and I love them so much. In a slimy kind of way.

Image credit: Theo Felton
Bare trees seen from below. The central one looms over the viewer
ajvanbelle.bsky.social
There's something to this. Every person I've ever known who thinks of themself as "smooth" and "socially skilled" is, in fact, constantly making people around them uncomfortable.

Whereas the ones who think of themselves as "socially awkward" are kind, considerate, and easy to get along with.
swilua.bsky.social
I know neurodivergent people are supposed to be the awkward ones, but has the rest of the world considered they are Simply Unaware of how EXTREMELY AWKWARD they are
ajvanbelle.bsky.social
Or preorder and get to read ALL the pages 👀👀👀
danaiwrites.bsky.social
🥀🖤6 months until VILE LADY VILLAINS comes out in the UK (just over 7 months in the US) 🖤🥀

To celebrate this exciting but also nerve wracking milestone, I’m sharing some sneak peeks from the first pages of the book. Want more? Give me a page number and I will give you a line
Reposted by AJ Van Belle/Alexandra Vivelo
Reposted by AJ Van Belle/Alexandra Vivelo
othersidespec.bsky.social
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
ajvanbelle.bsky.social
My client @millieabecassis.com's beautiful historical fantasy comes out this month!! 🎉
millieabecassis.com
Preorder my book, get freebies!

If you preorder A LEGACY OF BLOOD AND BONE (release date: 10.21.2025) you'll get beautiful art prints and other freebies! Go to millieabecassis.com/preorder/ to learn more about the campaign and fill out the form.

Available worldwide! Free stuff! Beautiful art!
A collage of illustrations and text in the middle reading "preorder campaign" A visual reading "preorder A Legacy of Blood and Bone and receive free art prints (and more) in your mailbox. A visual reading: Go to millieabecassis.com/preoder (link in description and in author's bio) to learn more and submit your proof of purchase by October 21, 2025. A visual showing the book cover and text reading: Coming 10.21.2025 at Brick and Bloom, an imprint of Row House Publishing + six labels around the book reading Historical Fantasy, Belle Epoque, Sapphic romance, Dangerous magic, Set in France, Politics and intrigue.
Reposted by AJ Van Belle/Alexandra Vivelo
whistberry.bsky.social
It's here!

Roadkill is out in the world. I can't in good conscience recommend it to all readers. A sad and angry book. 90% of the animal characters are dead at the outset & the humans don't fare much better. But if you're in the mood for an unconventional eco-horror experience, links in comments!
Book cover for Roadkill by Helen Whistberry showing a bird, raccoon, and snake skeleton sprawled across a dark asphalt highway with yellow dotted line. The title is in large yellow letters that have blood streaming down them and out onto the road and animals. There is a dark and stormy sky in the background. Black and white illustration of the head and neck of a howling wolf in profile. Its mouth is wide open and a dark liquid is trickling from its mouth, snout, and eye.
Reposted by AJ Van Belle/Alexandra Vivelo
angelaliu.bsky.social
Hey y'all, OTHERSIDE is smashing their Kickstarter goals. Help them get fully funded for their second year!

And if you've ever wanted me to critique your poetry, that's one of the add-ons, alongside tons of great reward options.
othersidespec.bsky.social
WE'RE LIVE! AND WE ARE SO EXCITED! Back now to support a new magazine of speculative fiction by 2SLGBTQIA+ authors and artists! Snag some amazing rewards, including discounted subscriptions! Support queer art! And help us SMASH DAY ONE!

www.kickstarter.com/projects/hyb...
OTHERSIDE Kickstarter art. Text says OTHERSIDE Kickstarter LIVE NOW! over our purple and banner art with the Wanderer, a small figure on floating rocks, on the right.
ajvanbelle.bsky.social
Interesting! Not sure any observations about the patterns of AI-generated text will hold true for long because it evolves so rapidly; but for now, the author makes their point extremely well with that final paragraph! 😉
ajvanbelle.bsky.social
It is! And there doesn't seem to be much out yet for kids on this topic, even though it is, fortunately, one of the climate issues where individual actions can make a pretty decent difference.
ajvanbelle.bsky.social
Doing an image search for HOT CITIES (Orca Books 2027), my middle grade nonfiction book on the urban heat island effect. So cool (pun intended?) to be at this stage!

Each chapter has lots of pics, & I get to choose them!

(The free & royalty-free photo here is courtesy of Pixabay)
A cityscape seen from above, bathed in amber light.
ajvanbelle.bsky.social
Also I didn't realize I wasn't following you back! Rectified! 😅
ajvanbelle.bsky.social
But it has a happy ending! The sun has now come up!! ☀️