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J A Bowler @jabowler.bsky.social · 20h

Name a book that doesn't fit neatly into any one #genre

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Dani Finn 🏳️‍⚧️ 📚 @danifinnwrites.bsky.social · 2d

Self-publishing transparency post:

I make the most on an Amazon paperback.

I make the 2nd-most on an ebook from itch.

I make the 3rd-most on an ebook from anywhere else.

I make the least when you order a paperback through a bookstore.

tbc there’s no judgment on readers here; just facts ✌️

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Philip K. Allan - Author @philipkallan.bsky.social · 2d

HMS King George V on arctic duty in WW2. Churchill called the convoy route to Murmansk in the Soviet arctic the “worst journey on earth,” with good reason. U-boats, air attack, surface raiders and of course the cold.

My novel 'The Wolves in Winter' is set here.

#Arctic #WW2 #RoyalNavy

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J A Bowler @jabowler.bsky.social · 1d

I'll be at Southam Book Fest, Sun 12/10 and yes I'll be #masked again! I don't want to. I'm not anxious. I have to remember the science to maintain my resolve. It doesn't help sales; people don't understand I'm the person definitely not infecting anyone. #Covid levels high; local hospital is full.

A woman is standing looking to camera behind a table on which there are books. Other tables with books in the room books indicate that it is a book fair. She has a poster board showing a book series entitled 'Ice Cooper'. The woman is wearing a black T-shirt over a red top. She is also wearing a black FFP3 face mask

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Sunkissed Peaks @sunkissedpeaks.bsky.social · 12d

Please don’t unfollow me

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Anna Holmes @annabookwriter.bsky.social · 12d

I would like everyone involved with books—reviewers, librarians, booksellers, readers—to read this article and understand that what you’re being served is incredibly skewed by capitalism.

There’s a pernicious idea that publishing is a meritocracy. It hasn’t been in a long time, if ever.

Tajja Isen @tajjaisen.bsky.social · 13d

I spent the summer reporting this essay on why it seems harder than ever to sell a book right now—especially if it isn't a debut and comes with the dreaded "sales track." I'm grateful to the writers, agents, editors, publishers & experts who spoke to me for this piece: thewalrus.ca/the-publishi...

The Publishing Industry Has a Gambling Problem | The Walrus

Companies keep betting on the next bestseller. Literature is poorer for it

thewalrus.ca

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Dani Finn 🏳️‍⚧️ 📚 @danifinnwrites.bsky.social · 19d

Reading is great and wonderful.

Watching video content is also great and wonderful!

For some people, like my intellectually disabled kids, it’s a lot more accessible and it’s amazing what they learn from what they watch.

Vocabulary, science, human relationships, you name it.

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J A Bowler @jabowler.bsky.social · 19d

At the #southwarwickshireliteraryfestival. @southwarkslitfest.bsky.social everything going smoothly. #mask worn for insurance, though IAQ not actually bad. It hasn't gone above 600ppm.

A woman with long hair, partly green, wearing a black ffp3 mask, is in a selfie next to a stand of her books and a poaster. These are the Ice Cooper series, The Improbable Adventures of Dexter Duckworth, and the Handy Booklet for Writing.

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💫Meagan Thompson-Mann is zhushing up her manuscript 🌿 @thecrumpet.bsky.social · Aug 30

August 30 #WIPsnips – “nose”

In this snip from my #WIP “Surface Tension,” a visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art is on the agenda. Gregory’s taken with El Greco’s “Vision of St John” while Jenny ponders whether Christ exited this earthly realm in a more undignified manner than she'd thought.

Despite an ever-flowing stream of people reminding her of Grand Central Terminal at midday, there was no urgency here. No one on the staircase had to rush before an artwork departed from Track Nineteen, headed for New Haven, making all local stops after Stamford. Everyone here was in the right place, whichever part of the museum that might be, because all here was wonder, all here was delight.
In the European galleries, the ceilings were lower than in the Great Hall, the sound duller, softened by fabric walls and polished wood floors.

Jenny and Gregory drifted past serious Italian Madonnas dandling fat baby Jesuses on their laps, and floppy-nosed Florentine merchants in even floppier velvet hats. Gregory took his time explaining something about El Greco’s “violent modernity,” but Jenny found herself distracted by a depiction of the Ascension which showcased Jesus’s feet at the top of the canvas, as if God were nearly done yanking him out of the frame by his armpits.

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Laura Ruth Loomis @lauraruthless.bsky.social · Aug 30

“Where’s the rest of the crew?”

The four of them looked at one another, counting noses and/or noseless faces, then looked back at me.

I pictured the crew that served with my parents in the military. “Navigator? Engineer? Medical officer? Cook and bottle washer?”

-The Cosmic Turkey
#WIPSnips

✨#WIPSnips✨ A Daily Writing Share Tag @wipsnips.bsky.social · Aug 30

The #WIPSnips word for August 30th is "nose"

#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts

#WIPSnips a bluesky writing community tag
August 30 - nose
Share a line from your WIP with the daily word for inspiration
Use #WIPSnips. Don't forget Alt Text for graphics
Synonyms, variation and vibes are fine.
Support others on the #WIPSnips tag!
Hosted by rosie-j-potter.bsky.social

The image behind the text is a border that is black with stars with a light blue rectangle highlighted by a fuchsia line. An illustrated caticorn holding a pencil and writing in a book with a rose behind one ear is in the lower right corner

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Author James C Struck @curioussnowflake.bsky.social · Aug 30

#WIPSnips for 8/30: Nose

This issue isn’t what Tim’s mom is hiding from him, it’s what’s being hidden from her….and that’s all I’m telling you. 😝

#WriteSky #YAFantasy #QueerWriters

Tim sat in the chair facing the desk. Instead of parking his bulk behind it, Dan wheeled his chair around the desk and set it next to Tim. Then with another sigh he sat, leaned forward, and rested his elbows on his knees, staring at the wall.
“I’m going to be as straightforward as I can with you, Tim. I usually am, as a rule. Teenagers may not know half as much about the world as they think they do, but they do have exquisite noses for bullshit, pardon the profanity. So I avoid the masculine bovine excrement as much as I can, and with you I shall do so even more than usual. Mostly because I get the sense you’ve gotten more than your fair share of it over your lifetime." He turned to look at Tim, eyebrows raised, waiting for confirmation. Almost involuntarily, Tim nodded. Hadn’t he always felt his mom hid things, brushed things aside, avoided things?
“Now, I’m not trying to turn you against your mom, far from it. The fact that she got in touch with me first shows she’s actually pretty far ahead of the curve. I’m sure that’s why you have a nice anger/guilt war going on inside over this whole situation, am I right?”
After a moment, Tim nodded. “Yeah.”

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P J Harvey @tigerears.bsky.social · Aug 30

She stood like that, quite still, hood draped just below her nose, for a comedic beat, then craned her neck back to peek at Ludo through what little gap she could find with a silly, self-amused grin.

#WIPSnips #WriteSky #WritingCommunity

✨#WIPSnips✨ A Daily Writing Share Tag @wipsnips.bsky.social · Aug 30

The #WIPSnips word for August 30th is "nose"

#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts

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✨#WIPSnips✨ A Daily Writing Share Tag @wipsnips.bsky.social · Aug 30

Repping #WIPSnips at #DragonCon today!

A picture of Rose in a purple WIPSnips shirt

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Author DL White @booksbydlwhite.com · Aug 30

#WipSnips #BlackSky #bookSky

Yvette sat cross-legged at her desk, her boots kicked off, reading glasses perched on her #nose. This was my favorite version of her—guard down, comfortable in her own space.

open.substack.com/pub/authordl...

#WipSnips Aug 30: nose

#WIPSnips is a daily writing share tag est. Sept ‘23. Share a snippet from your work using the word, a synonym, a variation or ✨vibes✨

open.substack.com

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Racthoh @racthoh.bsky.social · Aug 30

#WIPSnips Nose. Our hero assesses the injuries on a fallen lad, but notices something abnormal about his breathing...

Text in the alt. TW/CW

I couldn’t assess the severity of his condition, be he merely resting or breathing his last. He simply laid there with his chest struggling to pull in the air to breathe. The longer I watched, however, the more I noticed. Consistent were his breaths, to the smallest measurement of time. If no one had intervened then surely there would be the occasional struggle within this beaten body. I placed my hand over his nose and mouth. The breathing continued, no struggles for air, but I couldn’t feel anything being expelled from him.
“No, I refuse to believe Tyrinal has reached this far. Not to this land.”
I withdrew a blade, and with my other hand, I began to choke the lifeless body. In and out the breathing continued like the freshly wound clock. Harder my grip began until I began to feel the bone crumble underneath. Nothing would stop the breathing.
“Foul tricks yet… is it him? Is it Tyrinal?”

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J A Bowler @jabowler.bsky.social · Aug 30

"Ice took a reluctant step forward, stopping six feet away and wrinkling her nose as the acrid odour intensified." #WIPSnips I'm suprised by the number of occurrences of #nose in my WIP!

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Simon Pittman @libraryplayer.bsky.social · Aug 30

Written (or writing) a book, and wondering where to publish?

My new guide to self publishing platforms is for you!

Made this available on Monday.

Compares the different options, and the advantages/disadvantages of each. Plus hints and tips.

Only £7 - get your copy at: ko-fi.com/s/0227bef820

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Reposted by J A Bowler

South Warwickshire Literary Festival @southwarkslitfest.bsky.social · Apr 23

Hello! With so much to choose from the #westmidlands is a hive of activity! From @writingwestmids.bsky.social to @jerichowriters.bsky.social & u can't go wrong with #writing mentor extraordinare #author @shelleywilson.bsky.social Plus #leamingtonspa 's best and only lit fest is getting closer! 😻

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South Warwickshire Literary Festival @southwarkslitfest.bsky.social · Jul 11

Step into a gorgeous 19th-century building and spend the day on one of these oh-so comfy sofas networking with talented authors in #Leamingtonspa. Saturday 20/09 for workshops talks 121 sessions and books signed by the author! @franhill123.bsky.social @markedwardsauthor.bsky.social

#swlitfest

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South Warwickshire Literary Festival @southwarkslitfest.bsky.social · Jul 17

We're chuffed to bits to have #authors Janet Gover & Alison May at the festival this year discussing how to #write collaboratively. We just know it will be a delightful and insightful! Join us at The Fold Leamington 20/09/25
Tickets from just £22 through our website #writingcommunity #leamingtonspa

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Arnaud Keller @arnaudkeller.bsky.social · Jul 18

Astrale Part I ✨❤️ arnaudkeller.com/product-cate... #astrale #AmbientMusic #SpiritualVibes #IndieComposer

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South Warwickshire Literary Festival @southwarkslitfest.bsky.social · Jul 21

Good #mentalhealth has never been so important, and none so than for our children. If you write for #children then why not come along to Kay Brophy's workshop Finding your way through emotions, where she will be offering a How To session on supporting #childrensmentalhealth thu creative writing🖋️

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J A Bowler @jabowler.bsky.social · Aug 30

It's good to know that the third and final book in the #IceCooper trilogy is coming soon! If you think you might like YA character-driven fiction, grounded in reality but with a supernatural edge, I recommend reading the first two now! Available in various places! Links at www.jabowler.co.uk

The three books in the Ice Cooper series. They are shown standing against a wasteland background. Each book has an illustration within circular frame: Ice Cooper and the Depton Shadeling has a frame of tangled branches on which sits a catlike creature with yellow eyes. Inside the frame a girl walks her boxer dog among standing stones in the rain; Ice Cooper and the Beast of Bale has a frame of starlings on which sits a black panther with orange eyes. Inside the frame two teens and a boxer dog are standing in a field. In the distance is a plume of smoke rising into the sky; Ice cooper and the Daughter of hte Sea has a frame of rounded rocks on which sits a girl with long hair. Inside the frame four teens are standing in deep snow. In the distance is a stone circle.

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J A Bowler @jabowler.bsky.social · Aug 20

Just got to edit rigorously now. The third book was way harder than the first and so much more infodumping!

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J A Bowler @jabowler.bsky.social · Aug 17

I enjoy the editing!