J.A. Jablonski
LightNews LightNews
banner
jajablonski.bsky.social
J.A. Jablonski
@jajablonski.bsky.social
1.4K followers 230 following 1K posts
Indie author, multi-genre: Academic Mystery, Speculative SF, & Magical Realism | One-time academic & librarian | Style guide nerd | NO AI | No autofollows | Alt Text used

My other online activities: https://jajablonski.com/linktree/
Posts Replies Media Videos
Pinned
jajablonski.bsky.social
J.A. Jablonski @jajablonski.bsky.social · Oct 11
Setting the stage: J.A. Jablonski (Jude) writes in three different genres (mystery, speculative SF, and magical realism) while keeping one foot in the academic scene by researching material culture in utopian fiction. (She/They/Dr/Ms/Mx)

For more about me, see jajablonski.com/linktree/

#PinnedPost
Against a closeup backdrop of fire are two square images: one of a vivid red/orange/yellow sunset, the other a graphic of a red skull wearing a red academic mortarboard against a black background. The tag "Speculative SF" overlaps the first image while the tag "Academic Mystery" labels the second. When I focus on my day job, the hashtag "Am Writing" is included in the corner of a post. Closeup color portrait of a middle-aged. female-presenting white person with dark brown eyes. They have a white pageboy hairstyle and are wearing large-ish blue-framed eyeglasses. They look directly at the camera with an amused expression. Header image from J.A. Jablonski's website shows her name printed in white in a serif typeface against a starry night sky with a horizon of fir trees.
jajablonski.bsky.social
📚💙 ⚡📚
nevemaslakovic.com Neve Maslakovic @nevemaslakovic.com · 14h
I've got 3 books in this, but there are 100+ titles included! 📚📚📚
#scifi #fantasy #BookSky
December 8, 2025 at 4:53 PM
jajablonski.bsky.social
📢 👇👇👇
pretensesoup.bsky.social E. H. Lupton @pretensesoup.bsky.social · 13h
Cheap books! The whole Wisconsin Gothic series is 75% off in the Smashwords winter sale!

Dionysus in Wisconsin was shortlisted for a Lammy, and Lazarus, Home from the War was one of the Fated Mates podcast best books of 2025.

www.smashwords.com/books/byseri...
Wisconsin Gothic book 1: Shortlisted for Lammy Award The cover is black figure art of two men, one seated and dressed as Dionysus, one standing, wearing jeans and a leather jacket. Arrow pointing to Dionysus: Turning into a god. Arrow pointing to leather jacket: Definitely going to fix this. Wisconsin Gothic book 2 Cover of Old Time Religion by E H Lupton. Done in Greek red figure style, two men are standing side by side, one dressed as Dionysus supporting one shirtless in jeans, holding an athame. Arrow pointing to man in jeans: His ex-girlfriend's new husband is dead... Arrow pointing to man dressed as Dionysus: ...and she's making it his problem. Now available! General '70s vibe to art/text. Book 3: Troth by EH Lupton A man dressed as Dionysus points at a spider. The man in the leather jacket holds up a hand in warning. He has a dagger in his other hand. Technically it's black figure art but they're red; I don't remember what the amphora I got the color scheme from was listed as. Arrow pointing to both of them: true love forever Arrow pointing to spider: spiders White text on black background; at the bottom are four stripes in blue, red, orange, and goldenrod, and the cover of the book, Lazarus, Home from the War, by E. H. Lupton. Arrow picture: Arrows pointing at the cover of Lazarus, Home from the War, by EH Lupton. The words are white on a black background, and they say Art Criticism, Tea Breaks, Solving zero problems through moral philosophy, dybbuks, Radical Freedom, PTSD, and Snake.
December 8, 2025 at 4:51 PM
jajablonski.bsky.social
Then there's Zoë van Dijk's fantastic character renditions for the Folio Society's special edition of Chambers' book.

IG images here: www.instagram.com/p/C4gMdIAxP2q/

Chambers' reactions to the images are quite special too: lithub.com/becky-chambe...

📚💙 🪐📚
December 8, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Reposted by J.A. Jablonski
timgrierson.bsky.social
Glad to see people talking about Penn Jillette. The 2024 interview was done by me. I found him to be a refreshingly reflective, self-critical individual who has remained curious and willing to evolve.
December 8, 2025 at 5:03 AM
jajablonski.bsky.social
OMG, serious cute alert: Next door neighbor boy (3 yrs old & tiny) wanting to help clear the driveway snow just somehow please...parents gave him a tiny broom & he is happily sweeping off the front fender of their parked car. ❄️🧹🧒🏼
December 7, 2025 at 4:31 PM
jajablonski.bsky.social
Of the humanoid characters in Becky Chambers' *The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet* all but one are described as having brown, copper, or olive skin. Came across a drawing that shows them as all Caucasian. Grrrrr. 😠

📚💙 🪐📚 #representation #whitewashing
December 7, 2025 at 12:16 PM
jajablonski.bsky.social
"...grief, in spite of its paralyzing effects, is also a kind of engine. In Bk 1 (forthcoming, Spring 2026), we see that dynamic in play. Death is denied then confronted then ruthlessly pursued, all at a cost, even as the mystery is resolved."

More: tinyurl.com/434w9bjf

#AcademicMystery ⚡📚 📚💙
Sepia-toned close up of a resin replica of one of the eight queen chess pieces from the famed, 12th-century Lewis chessmen. The replica is approximately 4 inches tall. She is shown sitting on a throne, wearing a crown with her right hand resting on her face.
December 7, 2025 at 10:49 AM
jajablonski.bsky.social
Ooooh, so *that's* why the Tumblr feed is suddenly filled with posts shipping NHL players...

...someone just told me about the Canadian TV show HEATED RIVALRY.

🥅🏒 #LGBTQ #IceHockey
December 6, 2025 at 9:21 PM
jajablonski.bsky.social
The number of folks I see on here who are new to writing/publishing/marketing/etc yet who are willing to to pontificate on *how it's done* is a bit mind boggling isn't it? 🫤
pretensesoup.bsky.social E. H. Lupton @pretensesoup.bsky.social · 2d
My second-best nemesis, the guy who quit his lit journal to publish a sad substack about how hard it is to be a Gen X white man who writes Literature, has decided to self-publish his books. Two minutes after that, he decided to give paid zoom consultations to advise people about self-publishing.
December 6, 2025 at 5:40 PM
jajablonski.bsky.social
A gnarly moment: Walgreens clerk helping a man in line before me who is ca. 4'11" notices me (6'3"), announces she is 5'5" & proceeds to tell me *at length* what it's like for me to be tall. Annoying AF.
December 6, 2025 at 3:24 PM
jajablonski.bsky.social
I love the extra bonus of ordering from @bookshop.org. I can designate a local indie bookstore to receive the full profit from my purchase (30% of the book's list price). I rotate among them.

The Rogue Bookshop in Beloit, WI is my current choice. theroguebookshop.com

📚💙 #IndependentBookstores
A hand holds a lovely brown glazed mug branded with the name of The Rogue Bookshop, an indie bookstore in Beloit, Wisconsin. Behind is the wall mural of real books, their pages open and seasonally decorated.
December 5, 2025 at 11:41 AM
jajablonski.bsky.social
A charming tale, well & kindly written.

📚💙 #BookRecommendation
leewelchwriter.bsky.social Lee Welch @leewelchwriter.bsky.social · 4d
Need some kindness and gentleness in your life? Try my m/m romance in which young clergyman Mr Collins from Pride and Prejudice is the hero.

Out on audio or from most online bookshops.
Audiobook cover shows Mr Collins in Love by Lee Welch read by Joel Leslie. Cover is green with white potato flowers and red raspberries, also a blackbird and horse and gig
December 4, 2025 at 9:23 PM
jajablonski.bsky.social
So pleased that someone will find use in the POETS & WRITERS magazines and the GRAPHIC ARTISTS HANBOOK we set out in our #StreetLibrary last week. We've replaced it with a few MYSTERY WRITER mags, a coding book, and Debbie Berne's THE DESIGN OF BOOKS.

#LittleFreeLibrary
#WritingCommunity
📚💙
Handcrafted wooden street library with a collection of kids books, some SFF titles, the books mentioned in the post, and a small toy kite in a plastic canister. We've also decorated the box with a little Yule wreath.
December 4, 2025 at 7:00 PM
jajablonski.bsky.social
Icicles outside my writing room window. It's 16F here (-8C).
Six icicles, each around 12 inches long) hang from the eaves of my writing room window. You can see two of our neighbors' houses in the background across the street.
December 4, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Reposted by J.A. Jablonski
amlibraryassoc.bsky.social
NEWS: The Institute of Museum & Library Services has restored ALL previously canceled federal grants to libraries, following a ruling by a federal judge in Rhode Island last month.

This is a massive win for libraries & communities in every state & territory!

Learn more: www.ala.org/news/2025/12...
ALL IMLS grants restored in every state & territory. In response to a ruling from a federal judge in Rhode Island, the Institute of Museum and Library Services reinstated all previously canceled grants in every state and territory. It's a huge win for libraries and our communities. "The reinstatement of all IMLS grants means that libraries across the country will be able to resume vital services for learning, imagination, and economic opportunity. We are breathing a sigh of relief, but the fight is not over." ALA President Sam Helmick. Show up for our libraries, American Library Association.
December 3, 2025 at 10:18 PM
jajablonski.bsky.social
It cracks me up when someone doesn't like a book then gets all bent when people disagree with their opinion.
📚💙
December 3, 2025 at 9:57 PM
jajablonski.bsky.social
📢 New reference source from my long-time colleague Kip Currier (PhD, JD, MLIS) for folks teaching, studying, or practicing in

#AcademicSky
#InformationTechnology
#EmergingTechnology
#AIEthics
#InformationEthics
#ComputerEthics
#LibraryScience

📚💙
jajablonski.bsky.social J.A. Jablonski @jajablonski.bsky.social · 5d
Congrats to Kip Currier on the release of ETHICS, INFORMATION, AND TECHNOLOGY.

"...tackles a broad array of existential information issues that face a society devoid of ethical & institutional guardrails necessary to ensure productive uses of emerging technologies."

INFO: tinyurl.com/558my7f9
Cover of ETHICS, INFORMATION, AND TECHNOLOGY by Kip Currier (NY: Bloomsbury Publishing, 2025). ISBN: 9781440856662. Review of Currier's book by Brian S. Butler, Dean of the University of Alabama College of Communication and Information Sciences: "Navigating the ethical minefield of our digital age is not optional -- it's a critical competency for every librarian, archivist, and professional. This unique book goes beyond abstract theory, providing intellectual tools for developing the nuanced understanding essential for meeting the varied information needs of today's communities and organizations. Whether you're an instructor shaping the next generation or an individual seeking clarity, this invaluable resource will empower you to confidently engage the challenging ethical landscape of our information-driven world." Review of Currier's book by Nancy C. Kranich, Teaching Professor at Rutgers University School of Communication and Information: "At a time when serious policy debate has disappeared, we owe it to ourselves and future information professionals to grapple with some of the most pressing and contentious problems confronting us today--problems such as the power of AI to replace human activities and how private information will profile us. Kip Currier tackles a broad array of existential information issues that face a society devoid of ethical and institutional guardrails necessary to ensure productive uses of emerging technologies. He offers tools to navigate moral dilemmas, as well as the immediate issues that dot an uncomfortable information landscape. He calls on us to participate in shaping the future by addressing nuanced principles, value conflicts, and power dynamics in meaningful ways. This is an ideal, well-researched text for students, information professionals, and anyone else concerned with choosing ethically responsible approaches to ensuring the future of humanity in a morally challenged world."
December 3, 2025 at 4:24 PM
jajablonski.bsky.social
Congrats to Kip Currier on the release of ETHICS, INFORMATION, AND TECHNOLOGY.

"...tackles a broad array of existential information issues that face a society devoid of ethical & institutional guardrails necessary to ensure productive uses of emerging technologies."

INFO: tinyurl.com/558my7f9
Cover of ETHICS, INFORMATION, AND TECHNOLOGY by Kip Currier (NY: Bloomsbury Publishing, 2025). ISBN: 9781440856662. Review of Currier's book by Brian S. Butler, Dean of the University of Alabama College of Communication and Information Sciences: "Navigating the ethical minefield of our digital age is not optional -- it's a critical competency for every librarian, archivist, and professional. This unique book goes beyond abstract theory, providing intellectual tools for developing the nuanced understanding essential for meeting the varied information needs of today's communities and organizations. Whether you're an instructor shaping the next generation or an individual seeking clarity, this invaluable resource will empower you to confidently engage the challenging ethical landscape of our information-driven world." Review of Currier's book by Nancy C. Kranich, Teaching Professor at Rutgers University School of Communication and Information: "At a time when serious policy debate has disappeared, we owe it to ourselves and future information professionals to grapple with some of the most pressing and contentious problems confronting us today--problems such as the power of AI to replace human activities and how private information will profile us. Kip Currier tackles a broad array of existential information issues that face a society devoid of ethical and institutional guardrails necessary to ensure productive uses of emerging technologies. He offers tools to navigate moral dilemmas, as well as the immediate issues that dot an uncomfortable information landscape. He calls on us to participate in shaping the future by addressing nuanced principles, value conflicts, and power dynamics in meaningful ways. This is an ideal, well-researched text for students, information professionals, and anyone else concerned with choosing ethically responsible approaches to ensuring the future of humanity in a morally challenged world."
December 3, 2025 at 1:27 PM
jajablonski.bsky.social
Beginning a re-read of Ann Leckie's Imperial Radch series after many years. I'd forgotten how rich her world building is and how thoroughly it grounds the Breq character. Unlike some SF/space opera, it seems natural & vividly real.

📚💙 🪐📚
December 3, 2025 at 10:23 AM
jajablonski.bsky.social
Dreamt a David Tennant #DrWho transmorgified into a small, alt-right and self righteous young Doctor (think pre-dragon Eustace Scrubb of Narnia). Their series becomes a redemption arc back to kindness & good.
December 2, 2025 at 9:19 AM
Reposted by J.A. Jablonski
adapalmer.bsky.social
Yes. Legit-sounding book clubs (with web pages and Etsy merch shops and all) say they want to do your book, waste your time with 2 rounds of planning emails, then say they need your headshot, bio, and the “standard $212 administrative fee” or whatever. Scam scam scammity scam scam.
sadiehartmann.bsky.social Sadie Hartmann (Mother Horror) @sadiehartmann.bsky.social · 13d
SCAM ALERT AUTHORS! A book club emails to let you know your book has been chosen. They express an interest in having you join a chat at the end. When you respond, they let you know there is a SMALL FEE and would you like to move forward with next steps? GTFO ‼️⬇️
Dear Sadie, Thank you so much for your wonderful response it truly means a lot to us and to our readers. We are thrilled to have you and your book featured in the London Seasonal Book Club. Our members are already excited, and I know this will be a meaningful experience for everyone who loves your work. To help us move forward, there are just two small next steps: 1. We kindly request a copy of your official discussion guide for the book so our moderators can structure the reading sessions smoothly. 2. As with all featured authors, we require a small placement fee to secure your book's spot in our seasonal lineup. This supports hosting, scheduling, and promotional efforts for the program. In return, your book will be actively read and reviewed by our members, generating thoughtful reader engagement and additional reviews on platforms such as Goodreads support that can truly strengthen the book's presence and reach. We are honored to showcase your work, and I believe our readers will take something lasting and heartfelt from the experience. It's always powerful when a book connects author and reader in a real, human way and we're excited to help make that happen. Before we finalize anything, may I ask, Would you like me to send over the payment details and next steps? Looking forward to hearing from you, Sadie, and grateful to be partnering with you.
December 1, 2025 at 11:34 PM
jajablonski.bsky.social
Our street library after the snowstorm.

#LittleFreeLibrary #StreetLibrary 📚💙
Handcrafted wooden street library viewed from our front window after yesterday's snowstorm. The yard and street are heavily blanketed with soggy snow. The library box, shaped like the angled roof of our house, sports a fat layer of snow that looks like a hat.
November 30, 2025 at 11:41 AM
jajablonski.bsky.social
"What a difference a day makes, just 24 little hours."*

Our backyard after yesterday's snowstorm. About 10-12 inches of wet, heavy snow. It's going to take a while to clear.

*Song lyric by María Grever.
View of a narrow urban neighborhood back yard. It is a sunny day, the fall lawn is sprinkled here and there with yellow maple leaves. To the right is a concrete driveway leading to a small garage. In the back of the yard are two green metal raised gardening containers. A neighbor's garage abuts this gardening area. Over the tops of the garages we see the roofs of several neighboring houses. The same view of the backyatd after 24 hours of snowfall, about 10-12 inches. Everything is covered with a pillow of white.
November 30, 2025 at 11:26 AM
jajablonski.bsky.social
Slowly reading Isaac Fellman's NOTES FROM A REGICIDE (2025). Slow because the story is intense & the writing is so wonderfully, thoroughly wrought. A rich, hard read.

📚💙 🪐📚
November 28, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Reposted by J.A. Jablonski
jajablonski.bsky.social
📢 While researching selling your book to libraries I came across Marie Monteagudo's (@IndieBookGal) superbly detailed info here: www.writersandeditors.com/marketing__p...

Scroll down to the "selling your book to libraries" heading. Monteagudo is a longtime librarian & writer's consultant. 📚💙
Writers and Editors - Marketing, publicity, and promotion
Writers and Editors, linking writers and editors to resources (including each other), markets, clients, and fans; maintained by Pat McNees, writer, personal and organizational historian, journalist, editor.
www.writersandeditors.com
November 26, 2025 at 1:27 PM