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JCM Berne; author of Wistful Ascending

@jcmberne.bsky.social

2.6K followers 2.2K following 2.6K posts

Author of the Hybrid Helix, a space opera; first 5-book arc is complete! https://a.co/d/0XRSsUC https://linktr.ee/jcmberne Usually apolitical here, but if you're curious, I'm so far left that checking out my politics might give you whiplash.

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JCM Berne; author of Wistful Ascending @jcmberne.bsky.social · Nov 21

I'm Joe, a writer of space opera (The Hybrid Helix: DBZ meets DS9 with a touch of B5 and a heaping dollop of Invincible).
Also a martial artist and fan of South Asian pop culture (Tollywood films and Bollywood music).
I only follow back if I can tell we share an interest (art counts).

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JCM Berne; author of Wistful Ascending @jcmberne.bsky.social · 20h

Yeah 8 hrs is too long for chicken. I sous vide chicken thighs for 90 minutes to 2 hours and that's usually plenty.
There's a lot of leeway for cooking longer with sous vide, but it's not infinite.

JCM Berne; author of Wistful Ascending @jcmberne.bsky.social · 1d

Wow!

JCM Berne; author of Wistful Ascending @jcmberne.bsky.social · 1d

LOL I don't even have that. I saw someone else talking about their book birthday and I had to think to remember that my debut anniversary was last month.

JCM Berne; author of Wistful Ascending @jcmberne.bsky.social · 1d

Do you guys remember the dates your first book was released? As in, either think about it on the day, or celebrate or note it in some way the way you'd think about a birthday or anniversary?
Just wondering.

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JCM Berne; author of Wistful Ascending @jcmberne.bsky.social · 1d

That's fantastic!
I had an author I loved growing up read my book and describe it as 'space opera done right' and it made my whole year.

Reposted by JCM Berne; author of Wistful Ascending

James Lloyd Dulin @jamesldulin.bsky.social · 1d

The time has come...

Introducing Ethos by The Arcanist Guild, @benjaminaeveryn.bsky.social, E.J. Doble, @bshgarcia.bsky.social, Jonathan Neves Mayers, Morgan Shank.

A Dark Fantasy Anthology with six novelettes and beautiful artwork.

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JCM Berne; author of Wistful Ascending @jcmberne.bsky.social · 3d

Some people accuse me of being original with my genre - superhero space opera - but then I look at my shelves and see Nexus, Dreadstar, Warlock, Deathstalker . . .
I've been steeped in this stuff for two score years.

JCM Berne; author of Wistful Ascending @jcmberne.bsky.social · 4d

I released a compilation of MY stories, but not everybody else's, so that's not exactly the same thing.

JCM Berne; author of Wistful Ascending @jcmberne.bsky.social · 4d

LOL I think that's a flaw in the accounting system!

JCM Berne; author of Wistful Ascending @jcmberne.bsky.social · 4d

How about orkh?
I like the glottal implication. I might be alone.

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JCM Berne; author of Wistful Ascending @jcmberne.bsky.social · 4d

Should I spell it orc or ork?
Or go for broke and call her an orkh?

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JCM Berne; author of Wistful Ascending @jcmberne.bsky.social · 4d

Tempted to work on "Happy Endings," my cozy fantasy about a retired Ork mercenary opening a massage parlor.
Mayhaps ye old brain seeks a break from world-threatening superheroics.

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Reposted by JCM Berne; author of Wistful Ascending

Sam @sgch.bsky.social · 7d

It’s a new month so let’s talk about everything I read in September:
youtu.be/4PsyITelw1w

Authors mentioned:

@philipchase90.bsky.social
@sigils.bsky.social
@jcmberne.bsky.social
@gameoverstation.bsky.social
@mattdinniman.bsky.social
Philip C. Quaintrell
Philip Pullman

Everything I read in September 2025 | Monthly Wrap-Up

YouTube video by Sam Harrison - Fantasy Book Reviews & Discussions

youtu.be

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JCM Berne; author of Wistful Ascending @jcmberne.bsky.social · 7d

LOL excellent!

JCM Berne; author of Wistful Ascending @jcmberne.bsky.social · 7d

Excellent. Been too long since I read those.

JCM Berne; author of Wistful Ascending @jcmberne.bsky.social · 7d

Excellent!

JCM Berne; author of Wistful Ascending @jcmberne.bsky.social · 7d

That's what I suspected.
It's a Pastafarian tenet, that since piracy and global warming are inversely correlated, pirates must have prevented global warming.
Meant as a joke to point out the absurdity of correlation-implies-causation arguments.

JCM Berne; author of Wistful Ascending @jcmberne.bsky.social · 7d

Good ones!

JCM Berne; author of Wistful Ascending @jcmberne.bsky.social · 7d

If I told you pirates prevent global warming, would you get the reference?

JCM Berne; author of Wistful Ascending @jcmberne.bsky.social · 7d

I want to create a set of default questions for interviewing authors. A lot of podcasts seem to use a similar set, which isn't bad but it's not great either.
Ideas?
I'll start:
What's a darling you killed that you either miss or regret editing out of a book you've released?

JCM Berne; author of Wistful Ascending @jcmberne.bsky.social · 8d

LOL this is a future-you problem! I still have at least 10 books to go, probably more like 15.

JCM Berne; author of Wistful Ascending @jcmberne.bsky.social · 8d

Working on the general outline for Hybrid Helix 9 (tentative title: Show Up or Showdown) while waiting for line edits on Prey of Angels (HH 8).
Actually making progress toward series completion!

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Reposted by JCM Berne; author of Wistful Ascending

Nick Snape 💙🐉⚔️🪐📚 @nicksnapeauthor.bsky.social · 10d

4 amazing writers and me. This was such a great time. Will they keep the sheep in? Should they? Find out by watching!

Spotlight Indie @spotlightindie.bsky.social · 10d

It's Sunday video time! Who wants a sneak preview of one of our prerecorded panels for Spotlight's upcoming Big Indie Weekend? The full video featuring @emilyinkpen.bsky.social @jcmberne.bsky.social @liamjhogan.bsky.social @nicksnapeauthor.bsky.social lands 3rd Oct at 1pm BST! youtu.be/_yuaPzMB1-Y

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Reposted by JCM Berne; author of Wistful Ascending

Spotlight Indie @spotlightindie.bsky.social · 10d

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JCM Berne; author of Wistful Ascending @jcmberne.bsky.social · 10d

Then I eagerly await your video!