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S. A. Chant 🏳️‍⚧️ is writing sword & sorcery

@essaychant.bsky.social

2.4K followers 390 following 930 posts

Author & transsexual menace. He/they. Find my books on my website: https://austinchant.com/

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S. A. Chant 🏳️‍⚧️ is writing sword & sorcery @essaychant.bsky.social · Aug 25

who wants to see pics of the FANCY ILLUSTRATED EDITION OF PETER DARLING by @rainbowcrate.bsky.social !!

Dust jacket + edges by @olyfrogg.bsky.social
Endpapers by @mspencerdraws.bsky.social
Hardcase by @nong247.bsky.social

The special edition cover of Peter Darling by S. A. Chant, featuring a moment of homoerotic swordplay between Peter and Hook. Peter's dagger is under Hook's chin and Hook's claw is held up to Peter's face and they are smiling at each other.

The endpaper illustration for the special edition of Peter Darling, a colorful watercolor spread. It shows Peter sitting on a mossy tree with a knife and Tinker Bell by his side, looking out over a beautiful vista of Neverland while Hook, in his cabin, smokes and plays piano with his luscious chest hair out.

The special edition hardcase, which is white with a black ink illustration with gold foil accents of a tallship being ripped apart by the tendrils of a kraken.

The back of the hardcase, showing the quote "Dreamers are always welcome here, whatever their reasons." in an elaborate gilt frame.

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Gorey Cask of Amontilladoing @coreybrickley.bsky.social · Aug 5

if you see this, post sword! ⚔️

person holding sword on back and skull on head with middle fingers together

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🌿viktor aleksander🌿 @ commissions open! @nooskadraws.bsky.social · 2d

good morning #PortfolioDay !

i'm viktor, a trans gay illustrator, looking for work in books, ttrpgs, and comics. 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈 historical fiction, fashion, and fantasy is my cup of tea ✨🌿🌸🍵 would love to work with more queer authors and fantasy book boxes!

🖼️ www.nooska-art.com
✉️ [email protected]

A digital illustration of a scene from AV Wilkes' 'All the White Spaces'. Jonathan, a trans man and the protagonist, stands in the centre, facing the viewer. He stares ahead in horror, his right hand clutching his throat. From his left eye, strands of bleeding red aurora stretch outwards. These auroras show visions of Jonathan's brothers on the Western Front of the First World War:
- A moustached officer smokes a cigarette in a trench, looking away.
- A soldier is twisted in the remains of barbed wire.
- Three soldiers wear gas masks, emerging from clouds of mustard gas.
- No Man's Land exploded to all hell. A tank is submerged in a shell hole in the distance.
- A skull pressed into the earth.
- A soldier holds a rifle and makes his way across the strait of No Man's Land.

Two portrait aligned digital illustrations of book covers.
Left: An illustration of Afaeran and King Galdor from the webcomic Wundor. They stand in the centre, facing each other. They are bordered by Ancient Greek inspired white columns and an arch above them. The columns are covered with grapevines, vine leaves, and hanging purple grapes. Afaerun is an oche skinned elf with flowing light pink-white hair, and wears a curved silver and ruby tiara, he smiles as he looks at King Galdor. King Galdor is a purple skinned monarch with a single white horn growing from his head. He has flowing dark purple hair, and wears a red leaf laurel. He holds Afaerun's cheek in a romantic embrace.
Right: Two male characters stand in front of each other, staring at the other. One is shorter, and wears a mustard yellow jumper, looking annoyed. The other is taller, with frizzy blonde hair, a purple hoodie, and looks smug. A border of cat toys surrounds them. A cat lies down, arching over the two men, and has a smile on his face.

2 different portrait illustrations side by side.
Left: Alder is a green skinned eladrin elf paladin. He stands nude in a forest. He wears a gold crown of laurels on his head. He looks down at the ground. He holds a sword in one hand, and a sprig of alder branch in the other, he has a shield attached to one arm. He is surrounded by green trees and yellow flowers.
Right: A digital illustration inspired by the pairing Hansry (Hans Capon and Henry of Skalitz from the game series Kingdom Come Deliverance). The illustration is influenced by a scene in the 2005 film Pride and Prejudice. It is separated into 3 panels.
Panel 1: Hans Capon looks behind him in quiet shock at his bodyguard Henry.
Panel 2: Henry has touched Hans' ungloved hand with his gauntleted one in a gentle hold. The panel is surrounded by blooming flowers: herbs and plants that Henry can forage on his journey. Marigold, St John's Wort, Valerian, Sage, Chamomile, and Dandelion.
Panel 3: Henry meets Hans' eyes with an unreadable expression. He quietly yearns beneath it.

A double page spread of a comic. The first page shows a twisted tree in the centre, the space between each branch a panel showing a plague blighting a kingdom. The protagonist called Wolfgang is engulfed in the blighted roots of the twisted tree in the throes of a nightmare. A voice tells him "Take heed, young Durward. These lands know only death, and within its centre, a horror festers. It feasts on all its roots can teach, and what life remains dwindles."
The second page shows a close up of the branches of this twisted tree. Between its panels are images of rot, bodies in body bags, dead fish floating, and the branches are infested with maggots. The voice continues "Soon, there will be naught to satisfy its hunger. But for every poison, there is an antidote."
A double page spread of a comic. The first page shows a twisted tree in the centre, the space between each branch a panel showing a plague blighting a kingdom. The protagonist called Wolfgang is engulfed in the blighted roots of the twisted tree in the throes of a nightmare. A voice tells him "Take heed, young Durward. These lands know only death, and within its centre, a horror festers. It feasts on all its roots can teach, and what life remains dwindles."
The second page shows a close up of the branches of this twisted tree. Between its panels are images of rot, bodies in body bags, dead fish floating, and the branches are infested with maggots. The voice continues "Soon, there will be naught to satisfy its hunger. But for every poison, there is an antidote."

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S. A. Chant 🏳️‍⚧️ is writing sword & sorcery @essaychant.bsky.social · 22h

This thread is a phenomenal example of why you should go over your contracts with a fine-tooth comb even with a publisher you think is trustworthy. Losing these kinds of rights isn't trivial, and "no publication" is better than "a publication that jeopardizes ownership of your work".

🌈 Romie glows in the dark 📽 @romiesays.bsky.social · 3d

Props to Benjamin for sharing the details of his contract. Unfortunately no props to MRM because there's a lot of extremely outre stuff in here that I'd refuse to sign. Let's run it down. (Context: If you're negotiating a contract with Strange Horizons, I'm the person you're negotiating with.)

Benjamin C. Kinney @benjaminckinney.com · 3d

New neuroscience short story forthcoming in @analogsf.bsky.social! Which also means a story of - ultimately successful - negotiations with their new publisher.

Includes full final text of my contract for all to use while they finish rewriting their boilerplate.

benjaminckinney.com/analog-negot...

S. A. Chant 🏳️‍⚧️ is writing sword & sorcery @essaychant.bsky.social · 22h

👀I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT NEW ALBUM

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S. A. Chant 🏳️‍⚧️ is writing sword & sorcery @essaychant.bsky.social · 1d

if I see a Robert Galbraith book in a little free library it's on sight

Kate Violette @kateviolette.com · 2d

If a book really sucks, it's ok to throw it in the recycle bin instead of donating it

People are probably gonna yell at me for this one but I don't care--there's some truly shoddy stuff out there that should be vigilante taken out of circulation bit by bit

Rachel Feder @rachelfeder.bsky.social · 3d

Tell me your most unhinged literary opinion, as a little treat

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GHOULLIKEHELLMACHINE @golikehellmachine.com · 1d

by this time next year, we want ICE agent to be one of the most miserable, soul destroying, hated jobs in america, we want parking enforcement to look like a dream job by comparison

GHOULLIKEHELLMACHINE @golikehellmachine.com · 1d

the thing is, all that knock off amazon operator gear you bought to look tough and scary just looks fucking silly when you are being gyrated at by someone wearing an inflatable frog costume and being mooned by a naked bagpiper on a unicycle, it just doesn’t work, the self image cannot hold

Schnorkles O'Bork @schnorkles.bsky.social · 1d

It should not be understated how much clever shit like this actually annihilates morale at places like ICE/CBP.

Getting made fun of like this on national television while people laugh at you is.. well, you may call it victory wine, but it ain't.

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S. A. Chant 🏳️‍⚧️ is writing sword & sorcery @essaychant.bsky.social · 2d

No matter what I write, I eventually discover that Rabbit Heart by Florence + The Machine is a perfect soundtrack for some part of it

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Gretchen Felker-Martin 🍉 @scumbelievable.bsky.social · 2d

do not listen to pundits, even trans pundits, who have given up in their hearts on the dream of liberation, who have preemptively sold out in hopes of becoming part of a world which is already dead and rotting

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Ro Salarian @rosalarian.bsky.social · 2d

A sequel to my previous essay. Here's what happened the night a self-proclaimed fascist said he was going to come back and kill us. tl;dr I experienced the best thing in my 15 year career of performing.

www.rosalarian.com/post/transge...

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thank u, hexed @lindsaykingmiller.bsky.social · 2d

Sex scenes are almost never "gratuitous" or "unnecessary." You learn things about characters and relationships during sex that you can't really learn any other way, such as whether they're into fisting.

Rachel Feder @rachelfeder.bsky.social · 3d

Tell me your most unhinged literary opinion, as a little treat

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Erin Reed @erininthemorning.com · 2d

Rest in peace, Miss Major.

We will carry the bricks forward.

ACLU @aclu.org · 2d

The trailblazing transgender rights activist Miss Major has passed away at the age of 78.

Miss Major was a lifelong organizer and participant in the ballroom scene. She took part in the 1969 Stonewall Riots and was injured by the police — but she kept fighting.

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Zohran Kwame Mamdani @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social · 5d

UNTIL IT’S DONE, Ep. 4: Sylvia Rivera

In the 1970s, queer New Yorkers had been pushed to the margins of NYC. Our trans neighbors faced immense cruelty. But in Sylvia Rivera, they found a champion.

As we combat Trump’s politics of darkness, her legacy can light the path forward.

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Juno Rylee Schultz @junoryleejournalism.com · 7d

David Simon, creator of ‘The Wire’, being interviewed by Ari Shapiro (NPR)

SHAPIRO: OK, so you've spent your career creating television without Al, and I could imagine today you thinking, boy, I wish I had had that tool to solve those thorny problems...
SIMON: What?
SHAPIRO: ...Or saying...
SIMON: You imagine that?
SHAPIRO: ...Boy, if that had existed, it would have screwed me over.
SIMON: I don't think Al can remotely challenge what writers do at a fundamentally creative level.
SHAPIRO: But if you're trying to transition from scene five to scene six, and you're stuck with that transition, you could imagine plugging that portion of the script into an Al and say, give me 10 ideas for how to transition this.
SIMON: I'd rather put a gun in my mouth.

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S. A. Chant 🏳️‍⚧️ is writing sword & sorcery @essaychant.bsky.social · 6d

oh god that's a longgg day

S. A. Chant 🏳️‍⚧️ is writing sword & sorcery @essaychant.bsky.social · 7d

omg I just got a surprise KJ arc in the mail, today is ✨blessed✨

(the book is already out, you should go get it)

An advance reader's copy of All of Us Murderers by KJ Charles

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Kat Tenbarge @kattenbarge.bsky.social · 7d

One of the crazy things about the AI bubble bursting is that consumer sentiment toward AI has always leaned skeptical to outright negative but it’s an industry propped up by pure billionaire greed, sycophancy, and childish fantasy

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S. A. Chant 🏳️‍⚧️ is writing sword & sorcery @essaychant.bsky.social · 7d

I'm finishing a sword and sorcery novel with a trans heroine that is, without a doubt, my favorite thing I've ever written

Lilah Sturges @lilahsturges.com · 8d

Trans people, I am once again asking you—nay, begging you—to share something good that is going on in your lives right now!

I’ll start: I’m working on a new graphic novel and having a blast with the creative team we’ve assembled!

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violent alien @blipstress.bsky.social · 7d

An actual hot take: Too many authors are afraid of editors watering down their voice or whatever and not afraid enough of editors letting you put any old slop on the page.

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S. A. Chant 🏳️‍⚧️ is writing sword & sorcery @essaychant.bsky.social · 7d

Go see Keezy at NYCC!

Keezy Young🌼 @keezyyoung.bsky.social · 7d

all set up!

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emily moonlight @threnody.bsky.social · 8d

hi, cis folks in california!

this headline leaves out that newsom has another 5 days to sign these bills into law. if you’d like to tell him he should do that to protect trans californians, you should to reach out.

he also has a phone: (916) 445-2841

want to know what to say? next post! 🧵

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KJ Charles @kjcharleswriter.com · 9d

I am very excited that ALL OF US MURDERERS has been picked as one of Kobo's Best of the Month!

It's out everywhere today, in e at all platforms, in print at all good bookshops (it's the BA Indie Book of the Month!) and in audio read by Sonny Archer. Have at it!

books2read.com/u/mloE7q

Flyer with ALL OFUS MURDERERS cover and text saying 'One of Kobo's Best of the Month'

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🎃SCARE-sha🎃 @spacethey.gay · 9d

from a purely economic standpoint, thats a 46% return on investment. literally wasting money by not doing it!!!

Mike Sowden @mikeachim.bsky.social · 9d

Damn. This is amazing. £325 per week, paid monthly, for 3 years - and the result was a profit for the Irish economy:
www.citizensinformation.ie/en/employmen...

Post from Threads user rodneyowl: "Ireland has declared the Basic Income for Artists scheme permanent. This will be officially announced in tomorrow’s budget. Details to follow. Congratulations to all who fought for it and the present and future artists of all sorts in Ireland. That includes me 👌We’re just comin to the end of a 3 year pilot scheme. It’s been a roaring success. For every €1 paid out to the 2000 participants, the government got €1.46 back. Can’t argue with that. Other countries are already taking note."

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Dr. Lucky Tran @luckytran.com · 10d

The acting CDC director has finally signed off on the vaccine advisory panel's recommendations for the COVID vaccines.

While the CDC is trying to sell this as a win for antivaxxers, in reality this means that COVID vaccines will be more accessible than they have been in recent weeks.

CDC Immunization Schedule Adopts Individual-Based Decision-Making for COVID-19 and Standalone Vaccination for Chickenpox in Toddlers

ATLANTA—October 6, 2025— The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) today updated its adult and child immunization schedules to apply individual-based decision-making to COVID-19 vaccination and recommend that toddlers receive protection from varicella (chickenpox) as a standalone immunization rather than in combination with measles, mumps, and rubella vaccination.The immunization schedules adopt recent recommendations by the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), which were approved last week by Acting Director of the CDC and Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services Jim O’Neill. The schedules will be updated on CDC.gov by October 7, 2025.

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Ben Applegate @benapplegate.com · 10d

I've met Blessing a few times outside Delaney Hall, where her husband, a home health worker, has been held for months. Her baby Princess is the sweetest—loves being held and grabbing stuff off my snack tray.

This is a VERIFIED call to help a family suffering under ICE terror. gofund.me/02fea4ec8

Donate to Open your heart for this family, organized by Bernard Rous

My name is Blessing Nickerson, and I am a US citizen. My husband is a very gentle, kind h… Bernard Rous needs your support for Open your heart for this family

gofund.me

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S. A. Chant 🏳️‍⚧️ is writing sword & sorcery @essaychant.bsky.social · 10d

It gets so tiring to have to keep jumping platforms over the years and also have no choice in the matter