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V. Astor Solomon

@howsweetthewords.bsky.social

1.7K followers 530 following 670 posts

They/them Trans, disabled, neurodivergent, mixed-race Committing expansively queer, often dark, speculative short fiction Living in both Tampa and Seattle Links: https://linktr.ee/howsweetthewords icon: Amelie Lavender

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V. Astor Solomon @howsweetthewords.bsky.social · Nov 13

Hi everyone!
If you don't know me, I'm V. Astor Solomon, an author of queer speculative fiction. I use Vale most of the time, but if you can think of a V name I like, I'll probably respond to it. Names should be a lot more like fancy hats if you ask me.

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Rath Mercury @rathmercury.com · 8d

This post it just the prompt; there's a story in the replies from @howsweetthewords.bsky.social that I loved

Rath Mercury @rathmercury.com · 28d

A mismatched tea set in a box on the corner. 🫖

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V. Astor Solomon @howsweetthewords.bsky.social · 9d

You bring one of the cups downstairs, then make yourself a cup of store-bought chai. It makes your chest feel hollow, but you can't help but hope that maybe, if you have just a little bit in one of the cups, you can dance with ghosts just once too.

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V. Astor Solomon @howsweetthewords.bsky.social · 9d

But she's gone now, and you're sitting here with a box full of teacups you didn’t know she kept, and your heart hurts so much. You want her to tell you a story, or take you out to thrift a new cup so you two can have tea. You want to smell her perfume, or hear her turning on the kettle.

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V. Astor Solomon @howsweetthewords.bsky.social · 9d

When you grew older, she still tried telling you, but you stopped believing. Instead you assumed she bought the cups when she was out, or her sister gave them to her. You'd see them for a few days after she’d tell you another weird story, and then they’d vanish.

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V. Astor Solomon @howsweetthewords.bsky.social · 9d

Places where she’d dance with ghosts, sit in the sky and have deserts with the birds. She told you amazing things, but when you asked why she never took you, she said she had never found one of the cups when you were close, and she only had a few minutes to decide if she wanted to see where she’d go

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V. Astor Solomon @howsweetthewords.bsky.social · 9d

content note: this does deal with parental death.

When you were a kid and your mom told you about the teacups, you believed her. She would whisper stories about all the strange places she'd gone with them.

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V. Astor Solomon @howsweetthewords.bsky.social · 9d

Their brittle bodies will be one and the same, and it makes everything in them embrace what's to come.

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V. Astor Solomon @howsweetthewords.bsky.social · 9d

They feel it calling, reaching, pulling one, and one, and one closer until they’re brought into the depths.
Yet none of them is afraid. They know the kind of darkness that draws them in will bring them closer, crush them until they're the same nothingness.

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V. Astor Solomon @howsweetthewords.bsky.social · 9d

They sing out to each other, not with sound, but with bodies revolving.
All of them dancing, spinning and glittering together, hoping to create something that is bigger than any of them, than all of them.
But there are already things bigger than stars, vast and hungry and reaching.

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V. Astor Solomon @howsweetthewords.bsky.social · 9d

The stars tremble under the weight of blackness. They struggle to keep their light going, their bodies turning, their inhabitants thriving. They reach, reach, reach for each other amidst the infinite spaces. Every moment is a fight.
One of them hums, then another, and another still.

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Dim Shores @dimshores.bsky.social · 22d

Cover design by Shi Briggs. www.etsy.com/shop/grossan...

www.etsy.com

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Nino Cipri @ninocipri.bsky.social · 10d

Just in time to get into the Halloween spirit, I’m teaching a horror writing class with Queens Collaboratory. If you’re in NYC and want to dip your toes into writing horror, this the place to do it. Tickets are $20-$25, and spots are pretty limited. luma.com/9pzyg2tm

Red hands with sharp black nails reach across a dark, smoky background. Text: Horror writing for beginners. October 19, 2-4. LED by Astoria-based author Nino Cipri.

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V. Astor Solomon @howsweetthewords.bsky.social · 13d

I'm so glad. <3 This is why I talk about stories, because I know how much it can brighten someone's day.

V. Astor Solomon @howsweetthewords.bsky.social · 13d

Come hang out with us!

Catherine Tavares @cjtavares.bsky.social · 15d

Come see @kaidelmas.bsky.social, @howsweetthewords.bsky.social, @granades.com, and @dianadima.com talk all things flash fiction at the Speculative Flash Fiction panel Saturday, 9/27 during Hour 26.

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Kurella De'vil is in the Details @kurellian.bsky.social · 14d

"A beautiful read aided by Kurella’s skilled and poetical use of language. This is a story I strongly recommend."

😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

Runalong Womble @runalongwomble.bsky.social · 14d

New Review - a Mountain challenges Death but not quite as you think - a gorgeous novella awaits in The Death of Mountains by @kurellian.bsky.social out now and strongly recommended! www.runalongtheshelves.net/blog/2025/9/...

The Death of Mountains by Jordan Kurella — Runalong The Shelves

I would like to thank the author for a copy of this novella in exchange for a fair and honest review Publisher – Lethe Press Published – Out Now Price – £8.27 paperback £3.00 ebook The lat...

www.runalongtheshelves.net

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Charles (Cy) Payseur @cypayseur.bsky.social · 16d

TELL ME YOUR 🏳️‍🌈QUEER SHORT SFF🏳️‍🌈 OUT IN AUGUST 2025!!! Originals only pls, up to novella in length, indie okay. Just reply with the author, title, and a link to read and/or buy and I'll get them on the list. Here's July's list for context & more info: www.patreon.com/posts/some-q...

Some Queer Short SFF - July 2025 | Charles Payseur

www.patreon.com

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V. Astor Solomon @howsweetthewords.bsky.social · 15d

It's Tuesday! And despite being still a little off my game from travel, I do have a post.

This week we've got @charliehughes77.bsky.social and Kristi DeMeester bringing us some good, good horror stories that made me very pleased

howsweetthewords.com/two-fic-tues...

Two Fic Tuesday

Welcome! Don't mind today's letter being a little late. I didn't set this to post at the right time. Oops! But it's still Tuesday, and I still have stories for you. This week I bring you a couple st...

howsweetthewords.com

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V. Astor Solomon @howsweetthewords.bsky.social · 19d

My theory about SeaTac is that it's trying to embrace that ship of Theseus vibe. Because otherwise there is no good reason for that much construction. So. Much. Construction.

V. Astor Solomon @howsweetthewords.bsky.social · 19d

I regretted so many life choices while I was in the Seattle airport. So. Many.

I'm much better now, but by the time we were running around trying to find my bag, all I wanted to do was lie on the floor.

V. Astor Solomon @howsweetthewords.bsky.social · 19d

I've made it back to Seattle and I'm tired down through my bones. It was a full flight, and six hours, and we had to track down my stuff because it wasn't in baggage. Also, I didn't do great with eating or sleeping beforehand.

I feel like I'm going to be flat for at least the weekend.

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Andi @andiwrites.bsky.social · 23d

Spellcasting On is out now!

Cosy sapphic romance with yarn 🧶 and magic ✨.

Available now on all the usual platforms:

buy.bookfunnel.com/psfdv1soqy

purple cover of Spellcasting On by Andi R. Christopher. It has a range of elements including a witch's hat, a heart shaped ball of yarn with a crochet hook, hammers, and violets.

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R F Daniels (they/them) @rfdwrites.bsky.social · 23d

I've got a story, Unforgettable, in Volume 4 - LIMBO - of @clubchicxulub.bsky.social that I'm super excited to see published! clubchicxulub.com/club-chicxul...

Club Chicxulub Journal Vol. 4, Limbo – Club Chicxulub

clubchicxulub.com

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V. Astor Solomon @howsweetthewords.bsky.social · 26d

Look at this good, good box that is MINE NOW! :D

I love boxes so much, people. I love *pretty* boxes even more.

san @shrikeseams.bsky.social · 27d

Swamp box

A photo of a painted box with a glass pane lid. The pane has been painted with a stained glass design in blue and green. The frame of the lid is pained with grass, small irises and spiderwort, and alligators at each corner.

Reposted by V. Astor Solomon

TJ Berry @tjberry.bsky.social · 28d

Wow... 75% funded in less than a day!! Help us push our sapphic adventure anthology over the finish line!! 🏳️‍🌈😍🦄

William C. Tracy @wctracy.bsky.social · 29d

Another three chapters of Intent Magic edited! Getting close to the climax...
But even more important, the campaign for Lesbians in Space: The Sapphics Strike Back started today and we're almost 60% funded in 6 hours!
#amediting #amwriting
www.backerkit.com/c/projects/s...

Lesbians in Space 2: The Sapphics Strike Back

Enjoy the followup to our bestselling anthology, Lesbians in Space: Where No Man Has Gone Before! Can't get enough? This time we've got another 20 great stories for you in Lesbians in Space: The Sapph...

www.backerkit.com

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V. Astor Solomon @howsweetthewords.bsky.social · 29d

On the off chance you'd like to leave me a tip for whatever reason, you can do so here. It's 100% not required to get your story through.

ko-fi.com/howsweetthew...

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