Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

M. L. Rio

@mlrio.bsky.social

1.2K followers 680 following 280 posts

Bestselling author of HOT WAX, GRAVEYARD SHIFT, IF WE WERE VILLAINS. Vinyl nerd, recovering academic, road tripper, dog lady. Pre-order HOT WAX here: https://linktr.ee/mlrio

linktr.ee

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

M. L. Rio @mlrio.bsky.social · Feb 5

⚡ IT'S HERE ⚡ Pre-order:

www.simonandschuster.com/books/Hot-Wa...

1 3 18

M. L. Rio @mlrio.bsky.social · 17h

LA, you hungry? Treats on me. @booksoupofficial.bsky.social tonight at 7 🍜 booksoup.com/event/2025-1... #booksky @simonbooks.bsky.social

M. L. Rio @mlrio.bsky.social · 1d

UK + Ireland! Coming your way with as much swag as I can carry, only available on tour 😎 Snag your pass before the show's sold out 🎟️ @headlinebooks.bsky.social @wildfirebooks.bsky.social #booksky linktr.ee/HotWaxEvents

2 4

Reposted by M. L. Rio

Spines And Spoilers @spinesandspoilers.bsky.social · 3d

I'm housesitting right now and just getting over being extremely sick, but sitting outside with the dogs for a bit, enjoying the autumn weather, and doing a bit of reading on @mlrio.bsky.social 's newest novel has me feeling much more human 🧡🖤🧡

#booksky #autumn #reading

2 1 16

M. L. Rio @mlrio.bsky.social · 3d

That is the primary object of good literature! Thanks so much for reading xx

1 2

M. L. Rio @mlrio.bsky.social · 3d

Good news If you need a Scooby snack for spooky season -- digital editions of GRAVEYARD SHIFT are discounted this month in the US (Kindle) and the UK (Kindle/Apple Books) and from October 7-8 the US print edition is 66% off 🐀🐀🐀 @flatironbooks.bsky.social @headlinebooks.bsky.social #booksky

2 8

M. L. Rio @mlrio.bsky.social · 4d

West Coast! Next week, come get yer freak on 🪩 mlrio.com/events/ #books #booksky @simonbooks.bsky.social

1 3

M. L. Rio @mlrio.bsky.social · 4d

HOT WAX is "an electrifying triumph of a novel" in today's @irishexaminer.bsky.social 🎸 @headlinebooks.bsky.social @wildfirebooks.bsky.social #books #booksky www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/ar...

Book review: Facing the music of the past

'Hot Wax' is an electrifying triumph of a novel with a raw, emotional core, finely crafted by the talented M. L. Rio.

www.irishexaminer.com

2 8

M. L. Rio @mlrio.bsky.social · 5d

Some hard truths about publishing in 2025 and the infernal sales track in the 'stack today mlriodiscursions.substack.com/p/hot-wax-to... #books #writing #booksky

HOT WAX Tour Diary, 3 October 2025

Back from somewhere

mlriodiscursions.substack.com

M. L. Rio @mlrio.bsky.social · 6d

Oh hey, I’m in a video game? My 90s-kid heart loves this. What a perfect little slice of soothing in a completely crazy world. www.pockettactics.com/tiny-booksho... #books @tinybookshopgame.com @flatironbooks.bsky.social

We asked Tiny Bookshop's designer about Game of Thrones, genres, and greedy seagulls

Tiny Bookshop welcomes us all with open arms, so we asked what went into the game, where the inspiration came from, and if we can expect more.

www.pockettactics.com

7 32

M. L. Rio @mlrio.bsky.social · 7d

Last night at @parkbooks.bsky.social was a trip! What better way to finish off this leg of the HOT WAX tour than a pop-up record shop and an absolutely bitchin' vinyl score? I know how I'm kicking back the next few days before I'm off to the West Coast 📀😎📀 @simonbooks.bsky.social #books #vinyl

Reposted by M. L. Rio

CLASH Books @clashbooks.bsky.social · 8d

So many friends’ books have come out in the past two weeks. In my trip to Brooklyn & driving back upstate I got to buy their books at fav bookstores: @mlrio.bsky.social, @ericlarocca.bsky.social @raforall.bsky.social @rachelharrison.bsky.social, @pfracassi.bsky.social & @brianmcwriter.bsky.social

2 4 21

M. L. Rio @mlrio.bsky.social · 8d

❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥

M. L. Rio @mlrio.bsky.social · 9d

Thanks so much for letting me cut this one! Always great fun 🤘

Reposted by M. L. Rio

David Gutowski @largeheartedboy.bsky.social · 9d

“I spent nearly a decade writing and re-writing this book, and in that time I racked up thousands of records and ticket stubs...”

@mlrio.bsky.social shared a playlist for her novel Hot Wax largeheartedboy.com/2025/09/29/m...

1 1 8

M. L. Rio @mlrio.bsky.social · 9d

This is a dream endorsement, honestly ❤️❤️❤️

Reposted by M. L. Rio

Chuck Wendig @chuckwendig.bsky.social · 9d

Lemme tell you, I adored HOT WAX by @mlrio.bsky.social. Just the character work ALONE makes that book sing.

R.R. Virdi | Buy The First Binding (from TOR) @rrvirdi.bsky.social · 9d

Recommend a piece of art (any medium) that's not yours that you've recently enjoyed or re-enjoyed. Just something you think might help someone else, cheer 'em up, escapism, w.e.

Just wondering. :)

5 4 31

M. L. Rio @mlrio.bsky.social · 9d

Nice to see HOT WAX in the @nytimes.com again but also nice to resurrect this list of Gothic thrillers I dreamed up earlier this year! If you're ready for some dark and stormy reads, I've got some recs for you: www.nytimes.com/interactive/... @simonbooks.bsky.social @kathy-daneman.bsky.social #books

2 10

M. L. Rio @mlrio.bsky.social · 9d

I collect them on every road trip and use them for all occasions -- birthdays, holidays, just because!

M. L. Rio @mlrio.bsky.social · 9d

Two stops left of the second leg of the HOT WAX tour! Tonight at @oldtownbooks.bsky.social Alexandria Alexandria, tomorrow at @parkbooks.bsky.social Baltimore/Severna Park 🎸 What better way to spend a gray, drizzly day than some sizzlin' new fiction? ❤️‍🔥 @simonbooks.bsky.social #books

M. L. Rio @mlrio.bsky.social · 9d

I love a good postcard!!!

1 1

Reposted by M. L. Rio

Daisy Is Decaying 🥀🪦 @yellowlikedaisy.bsky.social · 11d

MY UK EDITION CAME IN A WEEK EARLY!!!

I can’t wait to read this @mlrio.bsky.social

#booksky #reading

3 2 18

M. L. Rio @mlrio.bsky.social · 9d

So glad it arrived!!

1 1

M. L. Rio @mlrio.bsky.social · 12d

Absolutely not over it

Reposted by M. L. Rio

Titan Books @titanbooks.bsky.social · 12d

It's officially Autumn, aka the perfect time to curl up with a good book! There's no better time of year to read (or reread 👀) IF WE WERE VILLAINS by @mlrio.bsky.social. 🍂

Thank you to romesreads on Instagram for this gorgeous photo! 🎭

1 9

Reposted by M. L. Rio

Lit Hub @literaryhub.bsky.social · 12d

@mlrio.bsky.social explains the enjoyment and peculiarity of writing songs for fictional bands: “Too much granular detail can suck the life out of something.”

M.L. Rio on Writing Real Songs for Fictional Bands

This first appeared in Lit Hub’s Craft of Writing newsletter—sign up here. As any woman who’s ever worn a band T-shirt out of the house can attest, the proprietary indignation at perceived inauthen…

buff.ly

2 7