Jen Willis 💫🎃
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jenwillis.bsky.social
Jen Willis 💫🎃
@jenwillis.bsky.social
810 followers 430 following 1.1K posts
Writer. Editor. @SkyandTelescope columnist.
Chronic illness/pain/optimism. ND. Astronerd. Fangirl of trees, otters, & more. She/her.
jennifer-willis.com
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jenwillis.bsky.social
Just got notification that my ballot has been accepted.
Blue outline (and fill) of the state of Oregon against a white background, with "I Voted" in yellow. "#oregonvotes" in smaller yellow type.
October 31, 2025 at 6:50 PM
jenwillis.bsky.social
But do you think we have enough candy for trick-or-treaters? Our quiet neighborhood has become a high-traffic Halloween area.
Two orange bowls filled to the brim with assorted Halloween candies, with two more plastic bags of candy at the ready.
October 30, 2025 at 8:22 PM
jenwillis.bsky.social
Our jack-o-lanterns didn't make it to Halloween.
Two jack-o-lanterns, looking rather sad as they sit side by side in the window and decompose. A pair of decomposing jack-o-lanterns as viewed from above.
October 30, 2025 at 8:19 PM
jenwillis.bsky.social
The newsletter is out!

The Eight Nights of Samhain are upon us! -
Reflections on Halloween, a book launch, and a cat in a blanket -

mailchi.mp/013c76729fc8...
Pierre, a brown tabby cat, bundled in my hand-knitted Cincinnati Bengals blanket — perfect colors for Halloween!
October 29, 2025 at 7:32 PM
jenwillis.bsky.social
For #Caturday, I present Pierre wrapped in a blanket, or perhaps trying out imperial robes.
A brown tabby cat sits facing the camera. A handknitted orange, black, and white blanket is draped over him.
October 25, 2025 at 5:01 PM
jenwillis.bsky.social
From a real-life email I sent to a fellow writer and good friend just now.
Text reads: "RE the unfolding American shitshow: Every single fucking day is worse than the day before — and so much darker than I'd previously imagined. I am (mostly) at a loss for words over the destruction of the White House East Wing, though that pales in comparison to the continued atrocity that is ICE, the lawsuits, the layoffs, the unending shutdown, and the endless parade of grift and outrage. So, yeah, focus can be a bit of a challenge."
October 23, 2025 at 10:20 PM
jenwillis.bsky.social
About a month ago, our dog had his pal come stay with us for a week.
A black danelab and a golden mutt snoozing on their respective beds.
October 22, 2025 at 5:47 AM
jenwillis.bsky.social
I'm nearly done putting up Halloween decorations.
Neighborhood yard decorated as a Day of the Dead Pet Cemetery for Halloween, with ghost lights, wraiths in a tree, lots of skeletons, and an inflatable crow.
October 21, 2025 at 12:56 AM
jenwillis.bsky.social
Had a great brainstorm with @rstefoff.bsky.social and @wnwagner.bsky.social. Now I'm extra excited to start first-drafting Haunted Coast book 8 next month!

. . . Book 5, Poison Pen, just released today, in case you like murder, mystery, and cranky ghosts at the coast! :)

books2read.com/u/3JBkNQ
The cover for "Poison Pen," Haunted Coast book 5 by Jennifer Willis. A young woman stands on the shore with the stars and a disgruntled ghost behind her.
October 9, 2025 at 8:11 PM
jenwillis.bsky.social
Happy book birthday to me!

"Poison Pen" (Haunted Coast 5) brings a celebrated author to the Oregon coastal hamlet of Grady — along with fireworks, surfers, special election shenanigans, a Tom Wolfe wannabe, and of course murder.

Also, there are recipes in the back!

books2read.com/u/3JBkNQ
The cover for "Poison Pen," Haunted Coast book 5 by Jennifer Willis. A young woman stands on the shore with the stars and a disgruntled ghost behind her.
October 9, 2025 at 3:26 PM
jenwillis.bsky.social
Only a few more days until Poison Pen comes out!

You can pre-order this fifth book in the Haunted Coast paranormal cozy mystery series from your favorite retailer for spooky season. 🎃

books2read.com/u/3JBkNQ

#booksky
Against the backdrop of a stormy and rocky coastline, the Poison Pen book cover appears — featuring an illustration of a young woman smiling and holding a book while a discontented ghost hovers behind her. Text reads: "Murder, mystery, and cranky ghosts at the Coast! The Haunted Coast series continues October 9, 2025." Poison Pen, Haunted Coast Book 5, by Jennifer Willis.
October 6, 2025 at 6:07 PM
jenwillis.bsky.social
Guess what? My new book, Poison Pen, launches in a week! Just in time for spooky/spoopy season, too. You can pre-order this fifth book in the Haunted Coast paranormal cozy mystery series via your favorite retailer! Yay!

books2read.com/u/3JBkNQ

#booksky
Agains the backdrop of a stormy and rocky coastline, the Poison Pen book cover appears — featuring an illustration of a young woman smiling and holding a book while a discontented ghost hovers behind her. Text reads: "Murder, mystery, and cranky ghosts at the Coast! The Haunted Coast series continues October 9, 2025." Poison Pen, Haunted Coast Book 5, by Jennifer Willis.
October 3, 2025 at 12:16 AM
jenwillis.bsky.social
Photos from the front line?
A tiger at the Oregon Zoo in Portland wakes from his nap, while his brother snoozes in the background. Obviously, they are weary of the war and will welcome Trump's troops. A rhino at the Oregon Zoo in Portland munches on some branches. Clearly, the war has worn him down, his legs ready to collapse from the strain of hostilities. Baby elephant Tula Tu and her mother Rose Tu at the Oregon Zoo in Portland. Elephants have long memories. How will they remember the destroyed, war-ravaged city when all is done? Nora the polar bear snacks on a block of ice at the Oregon Zoo in Portland. Is she sheltering anti-fascists in her den?
September 27, 2025 at 7:14 PM
jenwillis.bsky.social
I'm sitting beneath a dogwood tree and reading. This is my view. Look at this beauty of a tree.
An evergreen tree rises up tall against a blue afternoon sky with puffy white clouds. It is framed by a wild cherry tree and a butterfly bush.
September 10, 2025 at 9:38 PM
jenwillis.bsky.social
This is the kind of "breaking news" I want to see, thank you.
Breaking news alert from The Washington Post. Text reads: Breaking News Sept. 10, 11:02 a.m. EDT Rocks found on Mars are some of the strongest clues yet of past life on the dusty planet Detailed analysis of images of speckled rocks found by NASA’s Perseverance rover has confirmed a “potential biosignature.”
September 10, 2025 at 4:34 PM
jenwillis.bsky.social
A client-friend asked me to experiment with book animations. This one is very simple and done for practice, but I truly love this graphic novel I read over the weekend. So here's my inexpert, animated book rec. :)
September 9, 2025 at 7:02 PM
jenwillis.bsky.social
The lunar eclipse!
Photo of a television showing a live feed of the lunar eclipse on DwarfLab's YouTube channel. With a house plant and some telescopes behind the screen.
September 7, 2025 at 5:46 PM
jenwillis.bsky.social
This hummingbird has been periodically "dancing" in front of our picture window, for several weeks now. I was able to snap this photo when it took a break.
Hummingbird sitting on a thin branch in a dogwood tree.
August 31, 2025 at 10:35 PM
jenwillis.bsky.social
Unconscionable and inhumane.
Breaking News alert from the Washington Post. Text reads: Breaking News Aug. 27, 1:22 p.m. EDT Trump administration moves to bar states and nonprofits, such as Red Cross, from helping undocumented immigrants after disasters The new Homeland Security requirements for receiving federal funds have sparked concern among organizations that provide relief in the aftermath of disasters. The rules also say that states and volunteer organizations must comply with immigration officials and enforcement operations.
August 27, 2025 at 5:26 PM
jenwillis.bsky.social
Tomato numbers 3 and 4 of the season.
Two small and somewhat misshapen tomatoes rest on white tile.
August 27, 2025 at 4:52 PM
jenwillis.bsky.social
Murder, mystery, and cranky ghosts at the coast!

Featuring a disabled sleuth, the first Haunted Coast paranormal cozy is free right now! Book 5 is out in October.

Readers who like spirited ghosts, quirky characters, and magickal mysteries will love Crooked Curse!

books2read.com/u/4joB2D

#booksky
Against a stormy sea background, Crooked Curse displays on an e-reader, alongside the other four titles in the series (Fatal Fundraiser, Tainted Treasure, Sinister Snare, and Poison Pen). Text reads: "Murder, mystery, and cranky ghosts at the coast! The HAUNTED COAST paranormal cozy series. Book 1 free for a limited time! Start reading today"
August 26, 2025 at 4:40 PM
jenwillis.bsky.social
Good morning.
Blue Sky with clouds highlighted by a rising sun, above green treetops.
August 25, 2025 at 1:52 PM
jenwillis.bsky.social
I am so angry and heartsick over this, I don't have the words. So misguided, and so cruel.
A Washington Post breaking news alert, which reads: Aug. 21, 5:17 p.m. EDT Supreme Court clears way for nearly $800 million in cuts to grants for the National Institutes of Health The justices sided with the Trump administration, which argued that research on diseases in minority, gay and transgender communities was unscientific and went against the president’s efforts to eliminate initiatives related to diversity, equity and inclusion.
August 21, 2025 at 9:42 PM
jenwillis.bsky.social
I present the second tomato of the season.

In a week or two, we will be overloaded with ripe fruit. But for now, we wait.
A lone tomato, not even the size of a small adult's fist, rests on a wooden countertop.
August 21, 2025 at 4:04 PM
jenwillis.bsky.social
Kindly fuck all the way off.
A screenshot of a Washington Post breaking news alert reads: "Breaking News: Aug. 14, 6:14 p.m. EDT D.C. police chief expands cooperation with ICE as federal agents ramp up immigration enforcement D.C. Police Chief Pamela A. Smith issued an order Thursday that officers may now assist federal immigration enforcement efforts by sharing information about people not in custody, including those encountered at traffic stops. They may also assist by transporting federal immigration agency employees and their detained suspects."
August 14, 2025 at 10:21 PM