Jess Mahler
LightNews LightNews
jessmahler.bsky.social
Jess Mahler
@jessmahler.bsky.social
58 followers 80 following 100 posts
Not sure how much I'll be using this account.

adopted, queer, disabled, neurodivergent, white settler, Jewish, writer, parent, forager, anti-capitalist. Learning to be anti-racist and learning about decolonization. they/them
Posts Replies Media Videos
jessmahler.bsky.social
Has completed first repeat of Mammen tablet weaving pattern. The grey is popping just like I hoped, though a the black border is blending in except until really bright light.

#FiberArts
Close up of in-progress tablet weaving, dark purple with grey design and black borders
December 4, 2025 at 9:12 PM
jessmahler.bsky.social
Culturally, the two souls are 'siblings' and most get along well together. There are exceptions, but they are rare.

Here's a snippet from the prequel to this WIP, showing Navin and his wolf-sister interacting.
By then, having slept nearly a full day through – their audience with Alfhard had begun shortly after midday – they were not tired enough to return to sleep. The wolf – whose name was warmth in a blizzard and sharp teeth to guard – worried at Navin. Navin had never been as good at relaxing as his soul-sister. In an instant, they'd gone from being responsible for their pack and fighting a two-front war to having nothing to do and no responsibilities. It was a bit jarring, even for the wolf. Unwilling to let Navin come to the fore again when he would only fret himself into harm, she investigated the space they had been given. When she found a corner where the bright summer sun spilled in through a window, she dragged one of the pillows over to it and curled up. It was nice to sit in the warm sun without any cares. (We don't deserve it, Navin whispered) The wolf snorted at him. Who needed to deserve a warm patch of sunlight? Sooner or later, they would be summoned by the human pack leader. (The Queen.) Until then, they need only wait. In the sun.
December 3, 2025 at 6:36 PM
jessmahler.bsky.social
#WIPWednesday #L3
Karen's timelines help her cope while Natalia and her team try to make plans for dealing with their enemies.

#WhyChoose #Vampire #romantasy
Carving helped. So did going over other timelines, such as the timeline of everything that happened between Nivele and Lună that had gotten them there. But there was a hole in that timeline too. A pretty big one. “Need to know why,” Karen said. “What?” “Huh?” “Explain.” Karen shrugged. “We said it before. Nivele suddenly changed their SOP and went from harassing attacks to frontal assault. Why? What happened or changed? Will they do it again? Why didn't they do it sooner?” For a moment, there was silence around the table. “You're right,” Natalia said. “We need to know. Until we do, I can't risk bringing Lună clan back into the open — because there's nothing to stop them from attacking us immediately when I do.” “One more question on the pile,” Leyla said, “It almost makes me wish we'd been able to take one of the attackers alive.” “What the hell would we have done with a prisoner to drag around?” Marcus said with a snort. But Karen saw where Leyla was coming from. “Gotten answers, maybe. Maybe we should see if we can find a Nivele we can grab?” “I've heard worse ideas,” Victor said. “But here and now isn't the place or time.” Marcus grunted. “If we connect with Lună, they might have a safe spot to take a prisoner and try to get answers, but it's absolutely not something we can try now. Even if we want to.” “I think,” Natalia said thoughtfully. “I think it's a good idea. We'd need to get someone of a high enough rank to actually know what's going on. But it would be nice to have real answers.” Marcus sighed, but nodded. “If that's what you want, we'll see if we can find a way to do it.” “Good.” The meeting slowly broke up after that, the team spreading out through the apartment to try to get comfortable and get some rest. Natalia stayed at the table, moving her chair around to sit next to Karen. “What are you making?”
December 3, 2025 at 3:27 PM
jessmahler.bsky.social
Planting Life in a Dying City is a chosen-family fantasy set in a bronze age world. Including polyamory, agender societies, challenging the status quo, autistic characters, and second chances.

Amazon: www.amazon.com/dp/B0FRSKL729
Other: books2read.com/u/3JOR5E

#BookSky #WritingCommunity 🌈📚
Image is split in half. Left side says “Seven strangers. One chance to make a family.” Dark blue text on yellow background, surrounded by dark blur border. Right side is a book cover. Central image is a seedling growing out of a small pile of dirt, surrounded by a golden oval. Text: “Planting Life in a Dying City” “Jess Mahler”. Background is a faded image of an ancient city.
December 3, 2025 at 2:18 PM
jessmahler.bsky.social
Finally finished my ace pride band. Total is about an inch wide and 10 feet long.

Had planned to do trans flag next but can't afford more string right now, so need to go back to the drawing board, see what I can do with what I have on hand.

#fiberarts
A woven band striped purple, white, grey and black. Most of it is coiled up with about a foot pulled out from the coil and laid flat. On a tan background with sparkles.
December 3, 2025 at 1:22 AM
jessmahler.bsky.social
Twelfth Night is Shakespeare’s queerest play
But what if you could make it queerer?

What You Will: A Queer-er Shakespeare

Amazon:
www.amazon.com/dp/B0C815H9DY
Other retailers: books2read.com/u/4D8qkQ
#Queer #WriteSky #Shakespeare 🌈📚
On the right in black text: A trans egg and a bisexual disaster wash ashore in Illyria. Nothing is ever going to be the same. On the left, Cover of What You Will: Black calligraphy on 'parchment' background, "What You Will" -- capital letters backed by rainbow squares. "A Queer-er Shakespeare" black quill on rainbow square "By Jess Mahler"
November 30, 2025 at 1:19 AM
jessmahler.bsky.social
Left alone after a tsunami destroyed eir village, Lefeng would have walked into the mountains and not looked back. A child redirected eir course and another survivor planted the seed of an idea – a new family.
Amazon: amzn.com/dp/B0FRSKL729
Other retailers: books2read.com/u/3JOR5E
#WriteSky #SFF 🌈📚
Image is split in half. Left side says “Seven strangers. One chance to make a family.” Dark blue text on yellow background, surrounded by dark blur border. Right side is a book cover. Central image is a seedling growing out of a small pile of dirt, surrounded by a golden oval. Text: “Planting Life in a Dying City” “Jess Mahler”. Background is a faded image of an ancient city.
November 28, 2025 at 1:26 AM
jessmahler.bsky.social
Okay, lets' try to do this properly.
I'm Jess,
I write queer fiction. Mostly SFF chosen family, some kink, lots of fucking-with-tropes.
On a personal, I'm nonbinary (they/them), Jewish, autistic, disabled, parent, polyamorous, radical, and talk about all of it.

#Introduction
White person facing right, wearing black cap, glasses, green polo and black & purple vest.
November 15, 2024 at 5:47 PM
jessmahler.bsky.social
Taking some time this evening to get some weaving done. My goal was to make a whole bunch of bands before next years pride and hand them out to folks who wanted. But next month I'll be working on a personal project instead -- leash for the service dog I'll be getting soon.

#weaving #threadcraft
Tablet weaving on a board loom, a one inch band in ace flag colors. Photograph shows both woven band and unwoven warp that's still on the loom.
November 14, 2024 at 11:26 PM