Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Vanessa Jae

@vanessajae.bsky.social

1.2K followers 200 following 52 posts

writing horrifically beautiful anarchies. (scifi, dark fantasy and other horrors) Poetry Editor for Strange Horizons vanessajae.com

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

Vanessa Jae @vanessajae.bsky.social · Jan 15

I've been dreading posting this because it was incredibly hard to curate, but: I made a (some of) The Best Speculative Poetry of 2024 list for people trying to get into poetry and looking for poems to nominate for awards. 💙📚

vanessajae.com/the-best-speculative-poetry-of-2024/

The Best Speculative Poetry of 2024

A list of the best science fiction, fantasy and horror poetry of 2024 for people who are looking to nominate for speculative poetry awards.

vanessajae.com

1 43 67

Reposted by Vanessa Jae

Strange Horizons @strangehorizons.bsky.social · 1d

If you can, please donate to help one of our regular contributors in this time of need.

Indrapramit Das @indrapramitdas.bsky.social · 2d

Fellow Calcuttan writer/editor Archita Mittra is in desperate need of financial help. She recently lost her father, her home was damaged in the recent rains, & her mother's in hospital. They don't have insurance, & she's a freelancer. I can vouch for her. Please share widely & donate:

Donate to Help Archita and Her Mom Rebuild Their Lives, organized by tehseen baweja

Hey Everyone! My name is Tehseen and I publish an online magazine called T… tehseen baweja needs your support for Help Archita and Her Mom Rebuild Their Lives

www.gofundme.com

37 28

Vanessa Jae @vanessajae.bsky.social · 1d

!!!!!

The Flytrap @theflytrapmedia.com · 1d

We're also thrilled to announce that thanks to support from our readers, we are partnering with Bitch Media to republish selected classic posts from their archives that will never be behind a paywall, because we believe in preserving feminist media for future generations to enjoy.

Reposted by Vanessa Jae

Lesley Conner @lesleyconner.bsky.social · 1d

We have 10 days left in the @apexmag.bsky.social 2026 Kickstarter and we've crossed 60% funding! Help us get to 100%! www.kickstarter.com/projects/ape...

Apex Magazine 2026

An award-winning digital literary magazine of science fiction, dark fantasy, and horror.

www.kickstarter.com

48 36

Reposted by Vanessa Jae

Vanessa Jae @vanessajae.bsky.social · 12d

Hey guys, @thecosmicbgr.bsky.social only needs a little bit more to reach their fundraising goal. They pay pro rates for fiction and $100 (!!!) for poetry and authors get an amazing piece of art for their published work
www.gofundme.com/f/support-th...

Donate to Support The Cosmic Background's Diverse Voices, organized by Sam Asher

For two years, The Cosmic Background has been the world's premier venue for f… Sam Asher needs your support for Support The Cosmic Background's Diverse Voices

www.gofundme.com

4 2

Vanessa Jae @vanessajae.bsky.social · 9d

congratulations!!

Reposted by Vanessa Jae

The Ignyte Awards @theignyteawards.bsky.social · 9d

Congratulations to Fasasi Ridwan who wins the #2025IgnyteAwards for Outstanding Speculative Poetry for RELIVING: POST TRAUMA OF THE LEKKI TOLLGATE MASSACRE strangehorizons.com/wordpress/po...

2025 Winner: Outstanding Speculative Poetry:
RELIVING: POST TRAUMA OF THE LEKKI TOLLGATE MASSACRE by Fasasi Ridwan

1 20 84

Reposted by Vanessa Jae

OTHERSIDE - Kickstarter is LIVE! @othersidespec.bsky.social · 12d

We have some lovely rewards for you over on Kickstarter! Snag a subscription + poetry critique from the wonderful @angelaliu.bsky.social! Angela is a Nebula, Hugo, Astounding, Locus, AND Ignyte finalist—as well as a Rhysling Award recipient! And also the best.

www.kickstarter.com/projects/hyb...

7 15

Vanessa Jae @vanessajae.bsky.social · 12d

Donate to Support The Cosmic Background's Diverse Voices, organized by Sam Asher

For two years, The Cosmic Background has been the world's premier venue for f… Sam Asher needs your support for Support The Cosmic Background's Diverse Voices

www.gofundme.com

4 2

Reposted by Vanessa Jae

Apex Magazine (is funding for 2026!) 🎉 @apexmag.bsky.social · 20d

Apex Magazine 2026 is A Project We Love on Kickstarter!! ❤️🍾🥂🎉

Thank you to everyone who's donated so far! If you haven't checked us out yet, don't be shy! There's room for everyone at the monster mash 👻🪦

www.kickstarter.com/projects/ape...

2 47 48

Vanessa Jae @vanessajae.bsky.social · 23d

I hated that guy in the beginning but he's my favorite character now

Reposted by Vanessa Jae

Vanessa Jae @vanessajae.bsky.social · 26d

catch me at @flightsoffoundry.bsky.social this weekend!

2 1

Vanessa Jae @vanessajae.bsky.social · 26d

catch me at @flightsoffoundry.bsky.social this weekend!

2 1

Reposted by Vanessa Jae

Gretchen Felker-Martin 🍉 @scumbelievable.bsky.social · Sep 17

One thing I'll say about DC not only canceling Red Hood, but recalling the first issue and refunding stores for buying it, is that you can still get Neil Gaiman's work through them. They still work with Otto Schmidt. Eddie Berganza worked there for years AFTER the formation of a policy that no women

44 2.6K 6.7K

Reposted by Vanessa Jae

The Cosmic Background @thecosmicbgr.bsky.social · Sep 2

Hellllooooo from the static! It is fundraising season for many spec mags out there. We are doing things a little differently with a small gofundme to help us into 2026.

We are already at $2 and just need a little boost to help us to our goal of $2400 👻

www.gofundme.com/f/support-th...

Donate to Support The Cosmic Background's Diverse Voices, organized by Sam Asher

For two years, The Cosmic Background has been the world's premier venue for f… Sam Asher needs your support for Support The Cosmic Background's Diverse Voices

www.gofundme.com

2 12 12

Reposted by Vanessa Jae

Ai Jiang || 江艾|| 🍃🌬️🏰A Palace Near the Wind Out Now! 🏰🌬️🍃 @aijiang.bsky.social · Aug 27

Another announcement you say? 👀 I’m excited to say that my short story collection 💭MEMORIES ARE ONLY VALUABLE IF THEY CAN BE LOST💭will be forthcoming with @shortwavebooks.bsky.social spring 2027, and will include I AM AI as well! 🙇🏻‍♀️🤍

Screenshot of the publisher’s marketplace announcement of MEMORIES ARE ONLY VALUABLE IF THEY CAN BE LOST by Ai Jiang, a collection on hauntings, loss, and diaspora, across fantasy, dystopian, and horror fiction, sold to Alan Lastufka at Shortwave by Lane Heymont and Danai Christopoulou from The Tobias Literary Agency

21 37 170

Reposted by Vanessa Jae

Sam Asher @samasherwriter.bsky.social · Aug 26

It's officially fundraising time over at @thecosmicbgr.bsky.social, and we're doing things a little differently this year.

Help a pro-paying, deeply-progressive, 100% human magazine continue to thrive. We'll love you for it.

gofund.me/ca0c2b7d

Donate to Support The Cosmic Background's Diverse Voices, organized by Sam Asher

For two years, The Cosmic Background has been the world's premier venue for f… Sam Asher needs your support for Support The Cosmic Background's Diverse Voices

gofund.me

42 52

Reposted by Vanessa Jae

Sam Asher @samasherwriter.bsky.social · Aug 22

@thecosmicbgr.bsky.social is gearing up for our third annual Kickstarter this fall. In the past we've mostly sent out merch and offered 1-1 talks, but is there anything else you like to see from a magazine's Kickstarter?

1 1 4

Reposted by Vanessa Jae

Ai Jiang || 江艾|| 🍃🌬️🏰A Palace Near the Wind Out Now! 🏰🌬️🍃 @aijiang.bsky.social · Aug 19

Direct preorders already up!! 👀✨

Bad Hand Books @badhandbooks.bsky.social · Aug 19

Direct pre-orders of We In/Exhale Odysseys by @aijiang.bsky.social are LIVE at the Bad Hand Online Shop!

badhandbooks.com/preorders/we...

We In/Exhale Odysseys by Ai Jiang — Bad Hand Books

WE IN/EXHALE ODYSSEYS is a collection of poems reflecting on themes of loss and migration, of diaspora identities and environmental concerns, with Ai's unique flair for dazzling imagery and depth. It ...

badhandbooks.com

8 17

Vanessa Jae @vanessajae.bsky.social · Aug 18

whaaat only one year ago??

1 1

Reposted by Vanessa Jae

E. Catherine Octobler @ecatherine.com · Aug 6

Do you review short fiction? Want to add @thedeadlands.com and @fantasymagazine.bsky.social to your rotation? Drop me a dm with your review links.

17 19

Reposted by Vanessa Jae

L. D. Lewis, Peach Jolly Rancher 🍬 @ldlewiswrites.blacksky.app · Aug 7

GOOD MORNING, CAN I INTEREST YOU IN SOME MURMAIDER (get it?)

Year of the Mer cover reveal. Go buy my book.

www.pastemagazine.com/books/l-d-le...

Exclusive Cover Reveal + Excerpt: L.D. Lewis’s The Year of the Mer

Get your first look at the (gorgeous!) cover for L.D. Lewis's sapphic mermaid fantasy The Year of the Mer now --- and read an excerpt!

www.pastemagazine.com

20 53 110

Vanessa Jae @vanessajae.bsky.social · Jul 28

oooh congratulations on your very first poem!!

1 1

Reposted by Vanessa Jae

Lynne Sargent @lynnesargent.bsky.social · Jul 25

In honor of the #PoetryHugo passing and jumping on the current trend 1 like = 1 opinion about #specpo!

1 7 29

Reposted by Vanessa Jae

Holly Lyn Walrath @hollylynwalrath.bsky.social · Jul 25

The motion to add poetry to the Hugo Awards has passed. Thank you to everyone who has shown support, discussed this award, sat through business meetings, and nominated/voted in the Hugo Awards. This is a huge, huge deal to poets. I am actually a bit teary. <3 #poetryhugo poetryhugo.com

Speculative Poetry Initiative

What Are the Hugo Awards and Who Can Participate?

poetryhugo.com

12 39 120

Vanessa Jae @vanessajae.bsky.social · Jul 25

we have a very important editorial in this week's @strangehorizons.bsky.social issue

strangehorizons.com/wordpress/no...

strangehorizons.com