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R. A. Ruhl is Querying🌙 @raruhl.bsky.social · 2d

Half Sick of Shadows is a gothic where horror never comes from characters' identities. Modern audience shouldn't find diversity scary! Instead, horror comes from the wealth inequality, environmental issues, & medical field hurdles of the 19th cent that remain relevant today. #DVPit #H #A #DIS #LGBT

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R. A. Ruhl is Querying🌙 @raruhl.bsky.social · 2d

Half Sick of Shadows: Gothic! 2 disabled & queer friends accept work from literal bloodsucking capitalists. The closer they get to uncovering the truth, the worse their symptoms get, & they must learn to trust their instincts to oppose both monsters & dismissal from doctors. #DVPit #A #H #DIS #TV

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R. A. Ruhl is Querying🌙 @raruhl.bsky.social · 3d

Fantasy mystery is so interesting!

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R. A. Ruhl is Querying🌙 @raruhl.bsky.social · 3d

Half Sick of Shadows: queer escapist 19th century horror with:
Subverted gothic gender expectations
Disabled MCs
Platonic love
Community vs Capitalism
Study of dark family secrets
Enemies to lovers in an aroace way
Rants against light pollution
October setting🌚
#DVPit #A #H #LGBT #TV #DIS #CI #ND

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R. A. Ruhl is Querying🌙 @raruhl.bsky.social · 3d

Half Sick of Shadows: The vampire is explored newly through a disability lens & is a symbol for mystery diagnosis!
If a chronically ill character got a flareup, why would they assume blood loss? It's then a fight to be believed by doctors that new symptoms aren't imagined.
#DVPit #A #H #DIS #TV #CI

R. A. Ruhl is Querying🌙 @raruhl.bsky.social · 4d

Novel I'm querying: 1897, in late October, in an opulent manor in a mountainous place where it's always cloudy.

Novel I'm drafting: the distant future, aboard a spaceship heading for a diplomacy summit in a distant star system.

#writesky #queerwriters

AmaraJLynn💎🌌🌺GEMS & STAR FLOWERS coming soon! @amaralynn.bsky.social · 4d

#LGBTQWriteAThon October 7:

What is the setting and/or time period of your WIP?

#writesky #queerwriters #writers #lgbtqwriters

Image: a burnt orange background with two jack o' lanterns. Text: #LGBTQWriteAThon Use the tag and follow the feed on BlueSky! Tag @LGBTQWriteAThon in photos on Instagram! October 7: setting/time period. BlueSky: @amaralynn @rebeccafrostwrites.com Instagram: @LGBTQWriteAThon @amarajlynn @krakengoddess

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R. A. Ruhl is Querying🌙 @raruhl.bsky.social · 4d

I gotta shift into Halloween mode

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R. A. Ruhl is Querying🌙 @raruhl.bsky.social · 4d

“You may think I’m a stiff leader. I figure that if I act cool and collected, no one will know how close I come to falling.”

From my current cosmic horror/mystery WIP 🌌🔍

#writesky #lgbtqwriters

AmaraJLynn💎🌌🌺GEMS & STAR FLOWERS coming soon! @amaralynn.bsky.social · 6d

#LGBTQWriteAThon October 5:

Line share day! Today's theme: fall

#writesky #queerwriters #writers #lgbtqwriters

R. A. Ruhl is Querying🌙 @raruhl.bsky.social · 8d

Gothic horror and cosmic horror are my favorites. I focus on disabled and queer characters, and often eco themes. I'm querying a novel in which the vampire is a symbol for mystery diagnosis and also is a literal bloodsucking capitalist.
There's more about my horror writing on my site! #writesky

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R. A. Ruhl is Querying🌙 @raruhl.bsky.social · 8d

My horror writing takes a disability lens.

You don't know what's causing new symptoms.
You're told your pain is all in your head.
You're told not to trust your body.
"It's just you."
You start to worry if you're really not sick. You still keep feeling worse.

It's chilling!
#writesky #pretendpanel

Hiria Dunning @hiriadunning.bsky.social · 8d

#pretendpanel, I'm thrilled to be bringing you a month (of weekends) of questions by @longwaydownbook.bsky.social. Here's the first...

October 3rd: What's the scariest thing for you to write?

#WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts

#pretendpanel
a daily prompt tag hosted by @hiriadunning.bsky.social
October 3rd: What's the scariest thing for you to write?
Please support your fellow #pretentpanel posters with replies, likes and reposts
New #pretendpanel questions every Friday and Saturday. Hop in any time!

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Reposted by R. A. Ruhl is Querying🌙

https://kolektiva.social/@noescape_vg 🏴🏳️‍⚧️🇵🇸 @noescapevg.com · 9d

Then what the fuck is the point of you

Important: The Horror Zine does NOT accept any material that contains adult or sexually explicit content; abuse or harming of women or children; any rape scenes; serial killers; slasher; gore for gore's sake, or splatter punk. We do NOT accept any religious or political themes. We do NOT accept any submissions written in Olde English, Victorian, or 19th Century styles. We do NOT accept any submissions told in a diary or letter or journal format, written in numbered chapters, told as memories, or told entirely as dialogue (someone recounting past events). We do NOT accept any submissions created with the use of, or any assistance form, Artificial Intelligence (AI). We do NOT accept fan fiction.

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Reposted by R. A. Ruhl is Querying🌙

Haven Spec Magazine @havenspec.bsky.social · 10d

Haven Spec Magazine is now open to submissions by authors of historically marginalized backgrounds only!

We want to read more works by Black writers, Indigenous writers, disabled writers, gay and lesbian and trans writers, and other folks whose voices must be heard!

www.havenspec.com/submit/

Haven Spec Magazine, Submission Page

Fiction and Poetry for the 21st Century!

www.havenspec.com

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Reposted by R. A. Ruhl is Querying🌙

Leanna Renee Hieber @leannareneehieber.bsky.social · 11d

OMG tomorrow. Out tomorrow. It's been years of research, literal blood, sweat & tears went into this. It's full of heart & very personal stuff. And if I do say so myself, I also think it's very smart & unique. Your support of AMERICA'S MOST GOTHIC will mean the world. Thanks for signal-boosting. 🖤

Leanna Renee Hieber @leannareneehieber.bsky.social · Aug 5

Available for pre-order wherever books are sold!
Kensington/Penguin: www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/781356...
Thank you for pre-orders & signal-boosts, it's a difficult time to promote right now but your support is *dearly* appreciated!

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R. A. Ruhl is Querying🌙 @raruhl.bsky.social · 12d

Most of my characters are on the aromantic and/or asexual spectrums, some without me even setting out to make them that way, because I apparently can't write anything else... do with that what you will. 🖤🩶🤍💜💚

#writesky #aromantic #asexual #queerprompts

🌈CJ Aralore @cjaralore.bsky.social · 14d

#QueerPrompts September 27: National Crush Day: Character who has the most/least crushes?

Graphics: The background is a cat wearing glasses reading a book. The border has books in the colors of the pride flags.
Text: "September 2025" on top and "#QueerPrompts" and "Host: @CJAralore" on the bottom, all in a rainbow font.
Center text is:
#QueerPrompts September 27: National Crush Day: Character who has the most/least crushes?

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Reposted by R. A. Ruhl is Querying🌙

Orrin Grey @orringrey.com · 14d

Two new stories by yours truly, plus a special Halloween framing story. Watercolor art by @patricbates.bsky.social. Numbered first print run of 50 copies, so they will go fast!

www.etsy.com/listing/4376...

The Starlight Theater Halloween Double-feature

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R. A. Ruhl is Querying🌙 @raruhl.bsky.social · 12d

"If you are struggling to feel the tension on the page, consider poisoning your MC."

#writesky #writingcommunity #writingprompt

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R. A. Ruhl is Querying🌙 @raruhl.bsky.social · 12d

I've gotten back to sending queries, slow and steady!

I've also been motivated to work more on my next novel. I want to finish the first draft by December... maybe even a second draft if I'm being ambitious.

#writesky #writingcommunity #queerwriters

AmaraJLynn💎🌌🌺GEMS & STAR FLOWERS coming soon! @amaralynn.bsky.social · 14d

#queerwriters Saturday: Check in Day!

How was your week? Did you accomplish what you set out to do?

Share your progress, encourage, cheer, and support others!

#WritingCommunity #lgbtqwriters

Background: white background with colored pencils along the bottom half.
Text:
#Queerwriters
Check in day! How was your week?

Monday, Saturday, Sunday
All LGBTQIAP writers welcome

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Reposted by R. A. Ruhl is Querying🌙

divine beastmode @gunstreet.bsky.social · 15d

the post office is a public service. it doesn’t need to make money. public transit doesn’t need to make money. the library doesn’t need to make money. some things exist for the public good and we desperately need lawmakers to stop thinking about them in terms of capitalism. these are not businesses.

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R. A. Ruhl is Querying🌙 @raruhl.bsky.social · 14d

I've sent a query letter every day this week! Really proud of myself 😁 #writesky

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Reposted by R. A. Ruhl is Querying🌙

American Library Association @amlibraryassoc.bsky.social · 15d

You don’t have to buy it or store it, just check it out at your library. Thanks to ABC News’ Ginger Zee for showing viewers the library of things at the Hoboken Public Library. https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Living/video/abc-news-ginger-zee-visits-library-things-125923181
#LibraryCardSignUpMonth

ABC News’ Ginger Zee visits a ‘library of things’

Zee reports from Hoboken, New Jersey, where residents can go to their local library to rent everything from tools to yard games, board games and telescopes.

www.goodmorningamerica.com

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Reposted by R. A. Ruhl is Querying🌙

AmaraJLynn💎🌌🌺GEMS & STAR FLOWERS coming soon! @amaralynn.bsky.social · 16d

🎃🏳️‍🌈 #LGBTQWriteAThon is back but make it spooky! 🏳️‍🌈🎃

Join us for a month of much needed fun! Prompts will be reposted daily to @queerwriters.bsky.social (turn on post notifications for a reminder!)

Quote the post, use the tag, and make friends!

#queerwriters #writesky #booksky #writingcommunity

Image description: A rusty orange background with two glowing jack o' lanterns.

Text:

#LGBTQWriteAThon
Use the tag and follow the feed on BlueSky!
Tag @LGBTQWriteAThon in photos on Instagram!

Hosts:
BlueSky: @amaralynn @rebeccafrostwrites.com
Instagram: @LGBTQWriteAThon @amarajlynn @krakengoddess

1 Introduce yourself & your goal this month
2 Introduce your WIP moodboard
3 Promo/something you're proud of
4 Check in day
5 Line share - fall
6 Goals day
7 Setting/time
8 Genres
9 Pride flags/moodboards
10 Promo/something that makes you happy
11 Check in day
12 Line share - weather
13 Goals day
14 Introduce your MC
15 MC favorite treat
16 MC favorite mash
17 Promo/your favorite work
18 Check in day
19 Line share - silly
20 Goals day
21 Tingler your title
22 Character costume
23 AITA trick edition
24 Promo/work inspired by something
25 Check in day
26 Line share - scare
27 Goals day
28 Bugbears
29 Skeletons in the closet
30 Was your month a treat or tricky?
31 Promo/trick or treat

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Reposted by R. A. Ruhl is Querying🌙

Weeknight Writers @weeknightwriters.bsky.social · 19d

Looking for something to fill the NaNoWriMo-shaped voice in your life? Check out #FirstDraftFall, our challenge to write a first draft in the fall, separated into three parts:

October - Planning
November - Drafting
December (until the 12th) - Wrapping up

See the full schedule at the link below!

#FirstDraftFall - Weeknight Writers

The Weeknight Writers answer to NaNoWriMo, #FirstDraftFall is a challenge to write a first draft in October - December.

weeknightwriters.com

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Reposted by R. A. Ruhl is Querying🌙

Leanna Renee Hieber @leannareneehieber.bsky.social · 18d

AND I made a Halloween Black Cat choker! 1-of-a-kind!
Bat items support my monthly donation to Lubee Bat Conservancy! End-of-Oct donation to @oddpawsrescue.bsky.social depending on cat-themed sales!
Halloween kitty: torchandarrow.etsy.com/listing/4373...
Shop itself: torchandarrow.etsy.com

This beautiful neoclassical-style resin Cameo of a detailed Black Cat on orange / pumpkin-colored resin sculpted on a 34x40mm oval in textured detail, crafted in a large, bold size, has been set into a modern pewter metal alloy frame in antiqued finish with a rope/cord frame. This lightweight cameo is the centerpiece of a glimmering silver-threaded striped satin ribbon dynamic, lightweight and dimensional with its own detail, handcrafted and clasped with silver-tone clasps and an extension with a fanciful little silver-tone star to finish off the piece. Lobster clasp closure. 14.6 inches of ribbon and clasp, approximately 2.1 inches of extension, to total about 16.2 inches in choker full length.

Cameo pendant itself is approximately 1.6 Inches by 2 Inches.

Only one available, design will not be repeated.

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R. A. Ruhl is Querying🌙 @raruhl.bsky.social · 17d

Half Sick of Shadows but it's musicals:
-Music of the Night, POTO (Original London cast) (album I listened to every day for a month while conceiving the novel)
-The Ball, Great Comet
-Non-Stop, Hamilton
-When the Chips are Down, Hadestown
-Once Upon A December, Anastasia
#UnhingedPit #Q #A #H #LGBT

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R. A. Ruhl is Querying🌙 @raruhl.bsky.social · 17d

If the antagonists of Half Sick of Shadows had Reddit:
Are we the a-holes? My sibling (153NB) & I (112F) want to turn our beloveds (30M & 28F) into vampires so they never have to worry about money or health but they're mad at us for "lying through omission" :(
#UnhingedPit #Q #H #LGBT #A #Disability

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