Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

C A Malin

@camalin.net

#FantasyIndiesJanuary | #9

Free Friday! As I'm certainly not an adept user of social media, I can offer no tips of astonishing wisdom, so instead, here is a snippet from my #Regency #Romance X #Fantasy crossover #Ellamir

Ella meets an elf for the first time, an unsettling experience...

A snippet from Ellamir by C A Malin:
"It is a pleasure overdue that I should meet one who could rightly be called neighbour," said Taluniel. "I have lived often, and then long, within short wander of the settlements of your people."
"I am honoured…" Ella began, searching urgently for the correct form of address, and failing, "…honoured indeed, and pleased, most pleased to make your acquaintance. You… you say you have lived long in these parts?"
"Long in mortal reckoning, yes," said Taluniel, with something like amusement in their strange eyes, "so long as to see the change of the stars and the lifetime of many trees. Time was, when the sea itself flowed high amid this vale, and brought the ships of the firstborn to a haven long abandoned by the waves, deep only now in forest. There it was they opened a door, and many of our oldest and greatest came. They saw the saltwater fall, and the fresh flood forth. Myself, I came into being here."
"Indeed? So you might be called a native of Theangal?"
"Not rightly," said the elf. "Of this material plane, I am, born under the trees at a time when the door was shut, but it was not your king who claimed lordship then. They tell me five houses and forty scions have held the sceptre of men since the first mortal laid claim to the hill on which would be built the city of Wyrchta, the smith-lord of your furthest fathers, and by then I had already lived longer than the eldest of men.”

January 9, 2026 at 10:03 AM

Reposted by C A Malin

Tara S Geir

@tarasgeir.bsky.social

A bit of backstory for one of the side characters, Blas, who sees pregnancy as a hindrance to her working. #WIPSnips #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts

January 9, 2026 at 9:46 AM

Reposted by C A Malin

Charlotte Francis

@cfranciswrites.bsky.social

TW: Suggestion of sexual violence

Ess is a con artist with forbidden magic, able to control minds through touch in a world where skin is taboo. Forced into a plot to infiltrate the forum, she tries to escape, but the antagonist reveals he's been one step ahead all along.

#WIPSnips

Galen didn’t blink. “You get one more chance.”
Ess slumped back in her seat. Warmth flooded her extremities; it almost felt like hope.
But then Galen added, “This time it will be on my terms. You’ve demonstrated how little I can trust you. I require assurance you will not try to undermine my plans again.” He tapped the vial. “Tarda Mors. It lingers in the tissue of the body for a full week. Fatal, unless you consume regular doses of antidote.”
From his coat, he produced a second vial, gold in the lamplight. He let her look at it, let her see how he held the balance of her life in his grip.
Ess stared into his cold eyes, at the truth she’d been too blind to see. He never planned to kill her. He wanted her fully under his control.
“It’s quite simple, Essian,” he said, quiet and measured, “control your impulses, follow the plan, do as you’re told, and you’ll live. The choice is yours.”
He laid the antidote beside the poison on the table.
Ess trembled.
Why do you resist?
Damn it, why? She could do it, could lunge for his hand, steal inside his mind, subdue him while she rammed the poison past his teeth, laugh as he choked on it.
But there was his other hand, resting on the gun.
Slowly, she looked up and met his gaze, “I bet you’re well known down Skin Street,” her voice a deep rasp.
He said nothing.
“I’ve heard about men like you. Leave the girls so battered, they can’t walk for weeks. Nothing’s ever enough, is it? You need complete control. Not just of me, but the majestor… the state. You want it all.”
He drew in a slow breath through his nose. “And you are going to give it to me.”

January 9, 2026 at 9:30 AM

C A Malin

@camalin.net

#JanuaryWorldBuilders | #9
Miss #Ellamir Oakhall is an eminent lady in her village, being the daughter of one the richest men in the village, second only to Lady Lamont whose late husband was a Knight of the Realm. It's extremely important to her, and she is at pains to maintain this position
🧵1/2

Kira of the Wind (Erika McCorkle) @kiraofthewind.com · 8h

#JanuaryWorldbuilders, tell me about your MC's (or another important character if you don't do MCs) role in society. Are they upper or lower class? What job/tasks do they do as part of this society? Are they even a member of a society?

MonthlyWorldbuilders prompts daily feed card
#JanuaryWorldbuilders
Hosted by Kira of the Wind
Week 2: Society
9. What is your MC's position in society?

The background image shows a blurred magic tree with a waterfall coming down between two halves of its trunk. It’s nighttime and the night sky is magical with lots of blues and pinks and purples

January 9, 2026 at 8:52 AM

C A Malin

@camalin.net

Happy Friday, #WIPSnips!

I'm pretty certain I've used this snippet before, but I feel like a little Hannah & Maqine cuteness is what I need to start my day today! Hannah is about to see her life in a whole new way...

From my #JaneAusten style #Regency #Romance X #Fantasy crossover novel #Ellamir

A snippet from Ellamir by C A Malin:
"Oh! goodness, no," said Hannah, quite taken aback, "a lady does not ask a gentleman if he will dance with her; she must be asked by him. And there are not so many gentlemen in the village, so ladies must often go without partners, and then… being what I am… there is little inducement…"
"What you are," said Maqine, suddenly and rather warmly, "is a very pretty and sweet young woman who any worthless fellow from the village should be glad to dance with. Why should they care where your parents are, or where you grew up? What's that got to do with anything?"
"I…" whispered Hannah, "you see…"
"And while we're at it, what's it got to do with some Brothers at the Temple to tell a woman how to be pure and perfect? I bet you anything you like they're just as sinful as the rest of us. It seems to me like everybody spends all their time trying to tell you you aren't good enough for them, unless you do just what they tell you to do!"
With this, Maqine stopped to take a breath to prevent herself from becoming angrier, and it was as well that she did because Hannah looked as if she might be about to cry: she was very good at putting on a brave face almost all of the time, but she wasn't used to such forthright opinions, forcibly expressed, and undeniably just. It so happened that she had recently been feeling the weight of her misfortune particularly acutely, and even though she surely had much to be thankful for, and even though it must be abominably ungrateful to The Lady of Purity whose blessings, she was told, had been most generously poured upon her, she could not help feeling sometimes that her future happiness was by no means assured.
This must have been clearly evident to Maqine: adopting a kinder expression, she reached across the table and to Hannah's astonishment, took her hand and gave it a tender, comforting squeeze.

January 9, 2026 at 8:42 AM

Reposted by C A Malin

Ange

@gunsmile.bsky.social

I am beyond excited to reveal the cover for THE DEVOURING, my cosmic horror/revenge thriller. If you like married villain protagonists, John Wick-style action, and occult conspiracies, you will love this book.

Preorder today! books2read.com/u/mvDRWX

#WritingCommunity #booksky 💙📚

The digital representation of a book cover: red with a black Rorschach-style inkblot. The title in jagged white text says THE DEVOURING. White text above it says, "What doesn't kill them better run." Below the title, in white text, is the author's name, A. M. Shilling. The background behind the book cover is cracked gray concrete. Text to the right of the cover says:

WHAT DOESN'T KILL THEM BETTER RUN.

COMING APRIL 9
EBOOK PREORDERS NOW LIVE
PAPERBACK TO FOLLOW

January 8, 2026 at 11:01 AM

Reposted by C A Malin

Nicole "Ashrah" Hidalgo

@sayaashrah.bsky.social

#WIPSnips 8. "Canvas"

Thanks to Askaly for providing the only instance of the word in EF so far.

CW for blood and dead people.

#ChroniclesOfTheRealms #BattlemageAskaly #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #QueerWriters

Askaly squinted as the portal opened to blinding white. Beside her, Fujin gasped, and she didn’t understand why until her eyes adjusted to the light.

Bodies half-buried in snow. Lost hands and legs sticking out of the ice, frost and necrosis gnawing at the dead flesh. Blots and dashes of crimson against the white as if a painter who, frustrated with their rebellious muse, had daubed in anger at their empty canvas.

January 8, 2026 at 11:22 AM

Reposted by C A Malin

Nicole "Ashrah" Hidalgo

@sayaashrah.bsky.social

#JanuaryWorldbuilders #ChroniclesOfTheRealms 8. The Netherrealm basically only has two classes: slaves and rulers.

Within the slaves, we have more layers. The bottom of the hierarchy are the low-level demons who compose the bulk of a ruler's army. Above them, we have spies and scouts and the (1/3)

Kira of the Wind (Erika McCorkle) @kiraofthewind.com · 1d

Welcome to the second week of #JanuaryWorldbuilders! The theme of this one is SOCIETY. Again, relatively broad for now. We'll delve into more weeds later in the year. Today's Q: Talk about social classes. How are they handled? Do they have hierarchies? Nobles and commoners? Or is it classless?

MonthlyWorldbuilders prompts daily feed card
#JanuaryWorldbuilders
Hosted by Kira of the Wind
Week 2: Society
8. How are social classes handled in your world?

The background image shows a blurred magic tree with a waterfall coming down between two halves of its trunk. It’s nighttime and the night sky is magical with lots of blues and pinks and purples

January 8, 2026 at 11:33 AM

Reposted by C A Malin

Laken Honeycutt 💫 Star of Shalik releases Feb.1st💫

@mycelialwriter.bsky.social

I’m considering hosting a virtual release party on Zoom for Star of Shalik and wanted to gauge interest 💫
It would be very casual—
Tentatively thinking Sunday 2/1 at 2pm.
If this sounds like something you’d enjoy, drop a 💜 or comment below!
#BookSky #BookRelease

January 8, 2026 at 5:01 PM

Reposted by C A Malin

Laken Honeycutt 💫 Star of Shalik releases Feb.1st💫

@mycelialwriter.bsky.social

Hello! I’m excited to join #BluePitHype and connect w/fellow writers.

I’m Laken, fantasy author of celestial wonders & dark histories. Outside writing, I work w/refugees. My fictional worlds draw from a deep regard for nature & the spirit world, w/threads on the ills of colonizer culture.
#BookSky

#BluePit - A Storytelling Hype & Pitch Event @bluepit.bsky.social · 1d

Welcome to the first day of #BluePitHype! It's only 5 days to #BluePit on January 13th! So, join us for our Q&A!

DAY ONE: Introductions

Tell us who you are! Make some new friends!

We can't wait to meet you and your stories!

#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #GameDev #TTRPG #Comic #AmQuerying

#BluePitHype
Q & A
JANUARY 8th

Introductions

Tell us about yourself ahead of #BluePit! What inspires you, what genres do you write in, how did you become a writer?

Pitch contests are also a great way to make/reconnect with friends. Remember to us the #BluePitHype tag!

5 DAYS TO #BLUEPIT ON JAN 13TH!

@BLUEPIT.BSKY.SOCIAL

January 8, 2026 at 11:01 PM

Reposted by C A Malin

Tara S Geir

@tarasgeir.bsky.social

Hey there #Bluepithype guys. I’m Tara and I mainly write fantasy but dabble in sci fi. Thanks to lots of lovely people on here I’ve gained the confidence to write again after years of…well…not! I try to write cosy stuff with a slash of grim. #WriteSky #WritingCommunity

#BluePit - A Storytelling Hype & Pitch Event @bluepit.bsky.social · 1d

Welcome to the first day of #BluePitHype! It's only 5 days to #BluePit on January 13th! So, join us for our Q&A!

DAY ONE: Introductions

Tell us who you are! Make some new friends!

We can't wait to meet you and your stories!

#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #GameDev #TTRPG #Comic #AmQuerying

January 8, 2026 at 5:44 PM

Reposted by C A Malin

Teisha just wants to fix the world 😁💪🐛🔥🖖💖🚀

@teisha42.bsky.social

Hello! I'm Teisha. I'm a biologist, geek, baker, pianist, & writer. Wrote my 1st novel in 2025; querying.

Writing #scifi to be inclusive, hopeful, character-driven, & kind.

I write to try and make the world a better place. To excite others about something that excites me.

#BluePitHype #hopepunk

#BluePit - A Storytelling Hype & Pitch Event @bluepit.bsky.social · 1d

Welcome to the first day of #BluePitHype! It's only 5 days to #BluePit on January 13th! So, join us for our Q&A!

DAY ONE: Introductions

Tell us who you are! Make some new friends!

We can't wait to meet you and your stories!

#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #GameDev #TTRPG #Comic #AmQuerying

January 8, 2026 at 6:11 PM

Reposted by C A Malin

Sage T. Greene, Author

@sagetgreene.bsky.social

I'm Sage 👋 I write mostly non-fiction, usually in the New Adult range with fantasy elements.

I've published a romantasy novella & an action/adventure fantasy trilogy. My WIPs include a rom-com, a cryptid mystery, a whodunnit, & a CYOA.

I write for fun! No sticking to a niche here 😅🤣

#BluePit - A Storytelling Hype & Pitch Event @bluepit.bsky.social · 1d

Welcome to the first day of #BluePitHype! It's only 5 days to #BluePit on January 13th! So, join us for our Q&A!

DAY ONE: Introductions

Tell us who you are! Make some new friends!

We can't wait to meet you and your stories!

#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #GameDev #TTRPG #Comic #AmQuerying

January 8, 2026 at 6:00 PM

Reposted by C A Malin

Neha🍉Reader | Writer | Dessert Person

@nehayazmin.bsky.social

Hi, I’m Neha😊 I write fantasy and contemporary romance, though my current WIPs are standalone contemporary romances with British-Bangladeshi FMCs💕

I’m excited to take part in my first #BluePit and to hear about everyone’s amazing projects on the day✨

#BluePitHype #writesky #writingcommunity

#BluePit - A Storytelling Hype & Pitch Event @bluepit.bsky.social · 1d

Welcome to the first day of #BluePitHype! It's only 5 days to #BluePit on January 13th! So, join us for our Q&A!

DAY ONE: Introductions

Tell us who you are! Make some new friends!

We can't wait to meet you and your stories!

#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #GameDev #TTRPG #Comic #AmQuerying

January 8, 2026 at 5:54 PM

C A Malin

@camalin.net

#JanuaryWorldBuilders #8

OMG, #Ellamir is *all about* social classes. Theangal and Mearca are monarchies, similar to that of post-Norman Britain: royals, nobles, peers, gentry, merchantry, yeomanry, peasantry... all distinct in the social hierarchy and everyone understands their place in it...
🧵1/2

Kira of the Wind (Erika McCorkle) @kiraofthewind.com · 1d

Welcome to the second week of #JanuaryWorldbuilders! The theme of this one is SOCIETY. Again, relatively broad for now. We'll delve into more weeds later in the year. Today's Q: Talk about social classes. How are they handled? Do they have hierarchies? Nobles and commoners? Or is it classless?

January 8, 2026 at 5:23 AM

Reposted by C A Malin

Aud Connelly

@audconnelly.bsky.social

Sold 3 paperbacks AND an ebook this month?? and it's only the 7th?

My average is 1-2 books sold in an entire month. and not usually paperbacks!!! that's crazy?!

i hope you like them, whoever you are 🥹. unfortunately i must now hunt you all for sport.

January 7, 2026 at 4:29 PM

Reposted by C A Malin

S. Morgan Burbank

@anotherindiewriter.com

Hi everyone. The first game in this series is one of my favorite games of all time. The Kickstarter for the sequel is in a rough situation. If you can afford to do so, please consider pledging. If not, please share widely. I want to see them succeed.

Plottwist Studios LLC @plottwiststudios.bsky.social · 2d

Sorry, folks. Seven days to go and 50% funded. We'll need a modern internet miracle to see these lovely ladies get their sequel. I was always worried that the visuals were not appealing to most VN gamers, but... ouch

www.kickstarter.com/projects/pro...

#indiegame #Kickstarter #Gaming #pcgame #free

Women of Xal II

Original Game Free! The revolution begins. Can Xjena survive rising violence and The Great Silence— Xal's final extinction event?

www.kickstarter.com

January 7, 2026 at 2:29 AM

Reposted by C A Malin

Laken Honeycutt 💫 Star of Shalik releases Feb.1st💫

@mycelialwriter.bsky.social

Want to stay connected beyond social media?

My newsletter is where I share book updates, what I’m reading, behind-the-scenes peeks, etc. It’s the best way to stay in touch with me and my stories.

I’d love to have you there 💛 
👉 Subscribe here: www.lakenhoneycutt.com
#BookSky #FantasyAuthor

January 7, 2026 at 1:59 PM

C A Malin

@camalin.net

#FantasyIndiesJanuary | #7

First line of #Ellamir:

"There can be few occasions in the communal life of a respectable village more likely to excite comment than that of the imminent arrival of a new and as yet unknown neighbour."

Fantasy Indies @fantasyindies.bsky.social · 9d

❄️ #FantasyIndiesJanuary ❄️
All genres welcome! You can use the prompts for WIPs or published books.
Feel free to ask the hosts questions!

Love,
Faeries at Fantasy Indies
@lvrussell.bsky.social @chesneyinfalt.bsky.social

Fantasy Indies January prompts by @ChesneyInfalt & @LydiaVRussell

1. Introduce yourself & WIP
2. Free Friday or what are you looking forward to this year?
3. Saturday Snippet
4. MC’s Goals
5. Writing Habits
6. Tropes you’d like to see more often
7. First line of your WIP
8. Your writing strengths
9. Free Friday or Social Media Tips
10. Saturday Snippet
11. Interesting lore in WIP
12. Shout out other indies!
13. MC’s pet peeves
14. What do you most wish to improve on this year?
15. Last, Current, & Next Reads
16. Free Friday or How do your characters handle stress?
17. Saturday Snippet
18. Aesthetic Boards
19. Characters’ weaknesses
20. Your hobbies
21. Who does your MC look up to?
22. Where do you draw inspiration from?
23. Free Friday or New beginnings in WIP
24. Saturday Snippet
25. Animals in WIP
26. Memories that your characters cherish
27. How has your WIP changed since you first came up with it?
28. MC Habits
29. Favourite Fictional Characters
30. Free Friday or WIP subgenres
31. Monthly Wrap Up

January 7, 2026 at 2:43 PM

C A Malin

@camalin.net

#JanuaryWorldBuilders #7
I think it was my first DnD setting as a DM - instead of an end-to-end journey, I opted for a hub setting which could act as a base for quests, provide space for players to establish homes and businesses etc. I settled on an abbey as an ideal self-contained community.
🧵1/3

Kira of the Wind (Erika McCorkle) @kiraofthewind.com · 2d

Good morning #JanuaryWorldbuilders! A very broad question that I have no doubt is difficult to answer: What was YOUR beginning of worldbuilding? What was your inspiration? Your initial spark? Another work of fiction? Boredom? A powerful imagination seeking an outlet?

MonthlyWorldbuilders prompts daily feed card
#JanuaryWorldbuilders
Hosted by Kira of the Wind
Week 1: Beginning
7. What inspired you to create your world?

The background image shows a blurred magic tree with a waterfall coming down between two halves of its trunk. It’s nighttime and the night sky is magical with lots of blues and pinks and purples

January 7, 2026 at 6:55 AM

Reposted by C A Malin

Laken Honeycutt 💫 Star of Shalik releases Feb.1st💫

@mycelialwriter.bsky.social

104 readers are spending their time inside the world of Star of Shalik right now, and I’m so grateful! ✨

Thank you for being here at the very beginning and for choosing to walk this story with me. It truly means the world. 🌙
#BookSky #FantasyBooks #IndieAuthor

January 6, 2026 at 4:40 PM

C A Malin

@camalin.net

The principal (though not worst) antagonist, Lady Lamont, is introduced on the first page, second para, and is the first character to speak

It's clear she is an adversary to MC Ella, but it might not be obvious she's the antagonist as it's Ella who starts out being very rude to her!

#Ellamir

❄️Charlie (Chelizabeth) Delta ☃️ @charliedeltawrites.bsky.social · 3d

Tell me more about your #AwesomeCharacters

Antagonist day! How are we first introduced to your antagonist?

What are they doing when they appear on the page? Is it meant to be apparent that they are a villain?

What is being showcased about them?

#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts

January 6, 2026 at 6:20 AM

C A Malin

@camalin.net

My writing habits are generally mood-based: chill music without lyrics (based on BBC Radio 3's "Night Tracks" playlist), candles, incense, wine and hopefully the right frame of mind

My policy is not to force myself to write if I'm not feeling it, or the quality will suffer
#FantasyIndiesJanuary

Fantasy Indies @fantasyindies.bsky.social · 9d

❄️ #FantasyIndiesJanuary ❄️
All genres welcome! You can use the prompts for WIPs or published books.
Feel free to ask the hosts questions!

Love,
Faeries at Fantasy Indies
@lvrussell.bsky.social @chesneyinfalt.bsky.social

January 5, 2026 at 3:15 PM

C A Malin

@camalin.net

#JanuaryWorldBuilders #5
Perhaps the biggest problem for the protagonists of #Ellamir (tho not the antagonists) is the established religion of Theangal, the Order of the Brothers of the Lady of Purity: a sect which promotes a male-supremacist, heteronormative agenda through social conditioning
🧵1/3

Kira of the Wind (Erika McCorkle) @kiraofthewind.com · 4d

Hey there, #JanuaryWorldbuilders! We're introducing our worlds this week. Tell me about some aspect of your worldbuilding which is a problem for your characters. Is their world infested with monsters? A dystopian government? Or maybe you created a bug that bites them in their sleep?

$MonthlyWorldbuilders prompts daily feed card #JanuaryWorldbuilders Hosted by Kira of the Wind Week 1: Beginning 5. What's an element of your worldbuilding which is a problem for your characters? The background image shows a blurred magic tree with a waterfall coming down between two halves of its trunk. It’s nighttime and the night sky is magical with lots of blues and pinks and purples \$

January 5, 2026 at 3:10 PM

Reposted by C A Malin

Ange

@gunsmile.bsky.social

JOHN WICK x THE COLOR OUT OF SPACE

For readers who like:
🩸 dangerous criminal underworlds
🩸 secret occult organizations
🩸 married villain protagonists
🩸 terrifying body horror
🩸 the threat of an Eldritch God

4 days until THE DEVOURING's cover reveal! #WritingCommunity #Booksky 💙📚

The digital representation of a red and black book cover is being teased through a tear in brown paper wrapping. The background is cracked gray concrete. Text on the right says:

THE DEVOURING
BY A. M. SHILLING

COVER REVEAL IN 4 DAYS

January 4, 2026 at 11:00 AM

Add to Home Screen

Light up
your news

Add to Home Screen

Light upyour news

Sign in to Lightnews

Sign up to start reading

Connect Bluesky

Connect with Bluesky

Light up
your news