Rue Sparks (They/Them)
@ruesparks.bsky.social
📚 Author 🎨 Artist ❤️🩹 Advocate
Queer Adventurer | Stubborn Spoonie | Mental Health Rebel “Just be kind.”
https://www.ruesparks.com/links
Queer Adventurer | Stubborn Spoonie | Mental Health Rebel “Just be kind.”
https://www.ruesparks.com/links
Pinned
Hello ladies, gentlemen and gentlethems!
I’m an author, artist, and advocate creating primarily science fiction, fantasy, science poetry, and zines.
I have several books out in print, ebook and audiobook formats.
I focus a lot on the themes of grief, mental health, disability, and found family.
I’m an author, artist, and advocate creating primarily science fiction, fantasy, science poetry, and zines.
I have several books out in print, ebook and audiobook formats.
I focus a lot on the themes of grief, mental health, disability, and found family.
No one:
Me in my copyright page: So fun fact, the Luddites weren’t really anti ALL technology. They were pro workers rights and evaluating technology based on whether it increased the quality of the product and made workers jobs easier. Funny, huh? I wonder why that would be relevant right now…
Me in my copyright page: So fun fact, the Luddites weren’t really anti ALL technology. They were pro workers rights and evaluating technology based on whether it increased the quality of the product and made workers jobs easier. Funny, huh? I wonder why that would be relevant right now…
November 26, 2025 at 10:22 PM
No one:
Me in my copyright page: So fun fact, the Luddites weren’t really anti ALL technology. They were pro workers rights and evaluating technology based on whether it increased the quality of the product and made workers jobs easier. Funny, huh? I wonder why that would be relevant right now…
Me in my copyright page: So fun fact, the Luddites weren’t really anti ALL technology. They were pro workers rights and evaluating technology based on whether it increased the quality of the product and made workers jobs easier. Funny, huh? I wonder why that would be relevant right now…
“What kind of #neurospicy are you?”
Me: *researching the evolution of European helmets on a random Sunday*
Me: *researching the evolution of European helmets on a random Sunday*
November 23, 2025 at 8:33 PM
“What kind of #neurospicy are you?”
Me: *researching the evolution of European helmets on a random Sunday*
Me: *researching the evolution of European helmets on a random Sunday*
Reposted by Rue Sparks (They/Them)
Copyright page train. 🖋️📖💰
I like mine from "Even If We're Broken" because I felt like I should state the archaeology sites were fake so folks don't go looking for em 😂
I need to update its language to include the clause about genAI that I started adding to my later books.
I like mine from "Even If We're Broken" because I felt like I should state the archaeology sites were fake so folks don't go looking for em 😂
I need to update its language to include the clause about genAI that I started adding to my later books.
November 16, 2025 at 5:54 AM
Copyright page train. 🖋️📖💰
I like mine from "Even If We're Broken" because I felt like I should state the archaeology sites were fake so folks don't go looking for em 😂
I need to update its language to include the clause about genAI that I started adding to my later books.
I like mine from "Even If We're Broken" because I felt like I should state the archaeology sites were fake so folks don't go looking for em 😂
I need to update its language to include the clause about genAI that I started adding to my later books.
Treatment for my hearing loss failed. It’s permanent.
The constant ringing in my ear is likely due to my brain looking for auditory input that isn’t there. It’s may or may not eventually fade.
Sometimes I think about how so much of growing older is learning how to lose.
#artProcess #HearingLoss
The constant ringing in my ear is likely due to my brain looking for auditory input that isn’t there. It’s may or may not eventually fade.
Sometimes I think about how so much of growing older is learning how to lose.
#artProcess #HearingLoss
November 16, 2025 at 6:13 AM
Treatment for my hearing loss failed. It’s permanent.
The constant ringing in my ear is likely due to my brain looking for auditory input that isn’t there. It’s may or may not eventually fade.
Sometimes I think about how so much of growing older is learning how to lose.
#artProcess #HearingLoss
The constant ringing in my ear is likely due to my brain looking for auditory input that isn’t there. It’s may or may not eventually fade.
Sometimes I think about how so much of growing older is learning how to lose.
#artProcess #HearingLoss
Today I found out the sudden hearing loss in right ear, which is also likely a factor in my 24/7 tinnitus, is unlikely to recover. The treatment failed.
At this point I’m just hoping I don’t continue to lose more. Music is to integral to my day to day. IDEK anymore
At this point I’m just hoping I don’t continue to lose more. Music is to integral to my day to day. IDEK anymore
October 31, 2025 at 1:07 AM
Today I found out the sudden hearing loss in right ear, which is also likely a factor in my 24/7 tinnitus, is unlikely to recover. The treatment failed.
At this point I’m just hoping I don’t continue to lose more. Music is to integral to my day to day. IDEK anymore
At this point I’m just hoping I don’t continue to lose more. Music is to integral to my day to day. IDEK anymore
My favorites stories I started without characters, setting, or plot.
Inspo:
There are biologically immortal jellyfish how cool is that?!
Result:
Story about a scientist trying to avert the death of his husband and all the ethical and moral dilemmas involved but also ✨JELLYFISH✨
Inspo:
There are biologically immortal jellyfish how cool is that?!
Result:
Story about a scientist trying to avert the death of his husband and all the ethical and moral dilemmas involved but also ✨JELLYFISH✨
Does the ending to your stories come naturally or evolve over time? #writingq #WritingCommunity
October 22, 2025 at 7:12 PM
My favorites stories I started without characters, setting, or plot.
Inspo:
There are biologically immortal jellyfish how cool is that?!
Result:
Story about a scientist trying to avert the death of his husband and all the ethical and moral dilemmas involved but also ✨JELLYFISH✨
Inspo:
There are biologically immortal jellyfish how cool is that?!
Result:
Story about a scientist trying to avert the death of his husband and all the ethical and moral dilemmas involved but also ✨JELLYFISH✨
You can pretty much guarantee whatever story I’m working on they’re in some way fighting✨TRAUMA✨
Your characters are preparing to fight monsters in your book's universe. What are they fighting? How are they preparing? #WritingPrompt
October 22, 2025 at 5:56 PM
You can pretty much guarantee whatever story I’m working on they’re in some way fighting✨TRAUMA✨
I f0cking love weird ass #sci-fi and #fantasybooks
I’ve written shorts where:
- MC is followed by a literal tiny rain cloud and just kind of accepts it
- A couple try to reset the universe using black holes after the apocalypse
- Companies find a way to create new colors but CAPITALISM
I’ve written shorts where:
- MC is followed by a literal tiny rain cloud and just kind of accepts it
- A couple try to reset the universe using black holes after the apocalypse
- Companies find a way to create new colors but CAPITALISM
What’s the most unusual element in your fictional world? In my current WIP, the MC has a necklace that tells the future #writingq #WritingCommunity
October 21, 2025 at 10:18 PM
I f0cking love weird ass #sci-fi and #fantasybooks
I’ve written shorts where:
- MC is followed by a literal tiny rain cloud and just kind of accepts it
- A couple try to reset the universe using black holes after the apocalypse
- Companies find a way to create new colors but CAPITALISM
I’ve written shorts where:
- MC is followed by a literal tiny rain cloud and just kind of accepts it
- A couple try to reset the universe using black holes after the apocalypse
- Companies find a way to create new colors but CAPITALISM
Plus we’re in a transitory stage of marketing. A lot of social platforms are in their death throes, generative AI is saturating the market, infrastructure for local communication took a hit with COVID, and US tariffs raised production/shipping costs.
Many authors I know are just writing right now.
Many authors I know are just writing right now.
I’ve said this before, a lot, but when you’re an author and your book doesn’t sell your feelings can default to the premise, “Everyone in the world was offered my book and they all personally rejected it.” The truth is most people don’t know it exists. Awareness is the problem, not you or your book.
October 18, 2025 at 11:06 PM
Plus we’re in a transitory stage of marketing. A lot of social platforms are in their death throes, generative AI is saturating the market, infrastructure for local communication took a hit with COVID, and US tariffs raised production/shipping costs.
Many authors I know are just writing right now.
Many authors I know are just writing right now.
Speculative fiction as a way to indirectly process trauma, grief, and marginalization.
Art Therapy is an incredibly underutilized modality. Most creatives already do it, we just don’t name it as such.
Art Therapy is an incredibly underutilized modality. Most creatives already do it, we just don’t name it as such.
Okay #WritingCommunity...
You've recruited as a teacher at a new writing school. You get to choose a custom class to teach.
What are you teaching?
Mine? How to develop interesting quirky characters that readers will love.
You've recruited as a teacher at a new writing school. You get to choose a custom class to teach.
What are you teaching?
Mine? How to develop interesting quirky characters that readers will love.
October 18, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Speculative fiction as a way to indirectly process trauma, grief, and marginalization.
Art Therapy is an incredibly underutilized modality. Most creatives already do it, we just don’t name it as such.
Art Therapy is an incredibly underutilized modality. Most creatives already do it, we just don’t name it as such.
PSA that has nothing to do with current events whatsoever I “promise.” 🙃
Freedom of speech does not mean freedom from people judging you for your toxic opinions.
You can think and say what you want.
I’m free to think you’re an asshole.
Freedom of speech does not mean freedom from people judging you for your toxic opinions.
You can think and say what you want.
I’m free to think you’re an asshole.
October 18, 2025 at 6:49 PM
PSA that has nothing to do with current events whatsoever I “promise.” 🙃
Freedom of speech does not mean freedom from people judging you for your toxic opinions.
You can think and say what you want.
I’m free to think you’re an asshole.
Freedom of speech does not mean freedom from people judging you for your toxic opinions.
You can think and say what you want.
I’m free to think you’re an asshole.
Define your music taste with 8 artists:
Garbage
Worlds First Cinema
Neoni
Bastille
Linkin Park
My Chemical Romance
MISSIO
Florence + the Machine
(This is too hard I’m polyjamorous y’all…)
Garbage
Worlds First Cinema
Neoni
Bastille
Linkin Park
My Chemical Romance
MISSIO
Florence + the Machine
(This is too hard I’m polyjamorous y’all…)
Define your music taste with 8 artists:
- Saint Mesa
- Riot Music
- Aespa
- Florence + The Machine
- Hozier
- Ramin Djawadi
- Halsey
- Taylor swift (Red to present)
- Saint Mesa
- Riot Music
- Aespa
- Florence + The Machine
- Hozier
- Ramin Djawadi
- Halsey
- Taylor swift (Red to present)
Define your music taste with 8 artists:
- Nothing But Thieves
- Glass Animals
- The Veils
- Florence + The Machine
- The Decemberists
- Maneskin
- Placebo
- My Chemical Romance
- Nothing But Thieves
- Glass Animals
- The Veils
- Florence + The Machine
- The Decemberists
- Maneskin
- Placebo
- My Chemical Romance
October 18, 2025 at 6:38 PM
Define your music taste with 8 artists:
Garbage
Worlds First Cinema
Neoni
Bastille
Linkin Park
My Chemical Romance
MISSIO
Florence + the Machine
(This is too hard I’m polyjamorous y’all…)
Garbage
Worlds First Cinema
Neoni
Bastille
Linkin Park
My Chemical Romance
MISSIO
Florence + the Machine
(This is too hard I’m polyjamorous y’all…)
With everything going on I want to remind everyone & myself in relation to #communityOrganizing:
You don’t need permission to start something.
You don’t need to wait for someone else to say it’s a good idea.
It’s better to start imperfect & perfect it as you get input than always be waiting.-
You don’t need permission to start something.
You don’t need to wait for someone else to say it’s a good idea.
It’s better to start imperfect & perfect it as you get input than always be waiting.-
October 16, 2025 at 11:36 PM
With everything going on I want to remind everyone & myself in relation to #communityOrganizing:
You don’t need permission to start something.
You don’t need to wait for someone else to say it’s a good idea.
It’s better to start imperfect & perfect it as you get input than always be waiting.-
You don’t need permission to start something.
You don’t need to wait for someone else to say it’s a good idea.
It’s better to start imperfect & perfect it as you get input than always be waiting.-
Libraries before 🏴☠️
PSA: For those of us in rural areas
I was at an adjacent library & mentioned our ebook catalog is small. The librarian gave me a list of local library systems to add that cooperate to expand their patrons #Libby & #Hoopla catalogs. Check and see-
PSA: For those of us in rural areas
I was at an adjacent library & mentioned our ebook catalog is small. The librarian gave me a list of local library systems to add that cooperate to expand their patrons #Libby & #Hoopla catalogs. Check and see-
Also, a load of them are all just pirating books because they are bragging about it on this app.
"Where can I buy instead of Kindle" and the teehee booklover6969 handles were out there linking pirate book sites.
So anyway fuck those people
"Where can I buy instead of Kindle" and the teehee booklover6969 handles were out there linking pirate book sites.
So anyway fuck those people
October 15, 2025 at 8:21 PM
Reposted by Rue Sparks (They/Them)
Facts about Wildforged! Links in bio. #Fantasy #Flyer #Books #NewRelease #LGBTQIA #WheretoFind #Summary #Author
October 15, 2025 at 2:37 AM
Facts about Wildforged! Links in bio. #Fantasy #Flyer #Books #NewRelease #LGBTQIA #WheretoFind #Summary #Author
Reminder to fellow #indieAuthor agonizing over bad reviews:
I am looking at books for research and am absolutely getting some because of the content in their negative reviews.
Sometimes reviews mentioning a Thing a reader didn’t like is a green flag for people who do like the Thing
#bookSky
I am looking at books for research and am absolutely getting some because of the content in their negative reviews.
Sometimes reviews mentioning a Thing a reader didn’t like is a green flag for people who do like the Thing
#bookSky
October 14, 2025 at 9:58 PM
Reminder to fellow #indieAuthor agonizing over bad reviews:
I am looking at books for research and am absolutely getting some because of the content in their negative reviews.
Sometimes reviews mentioning a Thing a reader didn’t like is a green flag for people who do like the Thing
#bookSky
I am looking at books for research and am absolutely getting some because of the content in their negative reviews.
Sometimes reviews mentioning a Thing a reader didn’t like is a green flag for people who do like the Thing
#bookSky
Reposted by Rue Sparks (They/Them)
Yesterday was Indigenous People's Day, but Indigiqueer reads can be enjoyed all year long.
I have recommended quite a few queer books by Indigenous authors in the past, but this week's recs are fresh and full of good stories.
I have recommended quite a few queer books by Indigenous authors in the past, but this week's recs are fresh and full of good stories.
October 14, 2025 at 7:34 PM
Yesterday was Indigenous People's Day, but Indigiqueer reads can be enjoyed all year long.
I have recommended quite a few queer books by Indigenous authors in the past, but this week's recs are fresh and full of good stories.
I have recommended quite a few queer books by Indigenous authors in the past, but this week's recs are fresh and full of good stories.
More #characterArt for #Wildforged with @mementoviverepress.bsky.social
Artists are always chasing the feeling where we get so immersed in the process, ie “flow.”
Working on this #illustration everything just… clicked. Like it was something I’d already made and I was retracing the shape of.
Artists are always chasing the feeling where we get so immersed in the process, ie “flow.”
Working on this #illustration everything just… clicked. Like it was something I’d already made and I was retracing the shape of.
October 11, 2025 at 11:18 PM
More #characterArt for #Wildforged with @mementoviverepress.bsky.social
Artists are always chasing the feeling where we get so immersed in the process, ie “flow.”
Working on this #illustration everything just… clicked. Like it was something I’d already made and I was retracing the shape of.
Artists are always chasing the feeling where we get so immersed in the process, ie “flow.”
Working on this #illustration everything just… clicked. Like it was something I’d already made and I was retracing the shape of.
Reposted by Rue Sparks (They/Them)
Word of mouth is so important for books.
If you’ve read something you like, shout it out, leave a review somewhere, ask your library to carry it.
If you’ve read something you like, shout it out, leave a review somewhere, ask your library to carry it.
October 10, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Word of mouth is so important for books.
If you’ve read something you like, shout it out, leave a review somewhere, ask your library to carry it.
If you’ve read something you like, shout it out, leave a review somewhere, ask your library to carry it.
Reposted by Rue Sparks (They/Them)
Almost every writer secretly (or not so secretly) has a playlist that inspires their words. Music can enhance books and give you a peek into an author's head while they are writing a MOOD. Stream the Wildforged playlist by @cryptid-crafted.bsky.social. #LinkinBio #Music #Fantasy #Wildforged #LGBTQIA
October 6, 2025 at 2:41 AM
Almost every writer secretly (or not so secretly) has a playlist that inspires their words. Music can enhance books and give you a peek into an author's head while they are writing a MOOD. Stream the Wildforged playlist by @cryptid-crafted.bsky.social. #LinkinBio #Music #Fantasy #Wildforged #LGBTQIA
Reposted by Rue Sparks (They/Them)
New post on creating.care - staying informed without staying inflamed creating.care/p/staying-in...
staying informed without staying inflamed
some of the independent news sources I keep in rotation, a newish poster and some new book recommendations
creating.care
October 6, 2025 at 12:53 PM
New post on creating.care - staying informed without staying inflamed creating.care/p/staying-in...
To all my #Illustration #graphicDesign #VideoEditing #Animation people-
What are we using instead of the clusterf0ck that is Adobe?
After two decades I’ve cancelled my subscription. Whats next?
Specifically looking at affordability and functionality rather than learning curve.
What are we using instead of the clusterf0ck that is Adobe?
After two decades I’ve cancelled my subscription. Whats next?
Specifically looking at affordability and functionality rather than learning curve.
October 7, 2025 at 6:07 PM
To all my #Illustration #graphicDesign #VideoEditing #Animation people-
What are we using instead of the clusterf0ck that is Adobe?
After two decades I’ve cancelled my subscription. Whats next?
Specifically looking at affordability and functionality rather than learning curve.
What are we using instead of the clusterf0ck that is Adobe?
After two decades I’ve cancelled my subscription. Whats next?
Specifically looking at affordability and functionality rather than learning curve.
My current series is inspired by the “monomyth” aka #HerosJourney as written by #JosephCampbell
The monomyth was an OBSERVATION of the commonalities of myth, not necessarily a guideline for stories. But it’s become this shorthand many authors use as a rule book.
I want to break it.
#indieauthor
The monomyth was an OBSERVATION of the commonalities of myth, not necessarily a guideline for stories. But it’s become this shorthand many authors use as a rule book.
I want to break it.
#indieauthor
Tell me about your work more grounded in the historical. What drew you to that setting? What things did you learn? #WritingPrompt
October 7, 2025 at 4:13 PM
My current series is inspired by the “monomyth” aka #HerosJourney as written by #JosephCampbell
The monomyth was an OBSERVATION of the commonalities of myth, not necessarily a guideline for stories. But it’s become this shorthand many authors use as a rule book.
I want to break it.
#indieauthor
The monomyth was an OBSERVATION of the commonalities of myth, not necessarily a guideline for stories. But it’s become this shorthand many authors use as a rule book.
I want to break it.
#indieauthor