Jessica Mary Best
@jesserbest.bsky.social
She/her. Writer/creator of audio dramas THE STRANGE CASE OF STARSHIP IRIS and KEEP IT STEADY. Staff writer on UNWELL and WORLD GONE WRONG. Buy my novel STARS, HIDE YOUR FIRES wherever books are sold! Preorder my novel YOU PIERCE MY SOUL available 5/5/26!
It will come as no surprise to anyone who knows me that I am AMPED (pun partly intended) for this rocking paranormal musical audio drama. Please back it if you can!
WE ARE LIVE!!!
Help us bring this story about music, queer found family, love, and death to life.
Head to the Kickstarter to, at minimum, look at the absolutely STUNNING art and our wonderful cast!!! And please consider giving if you're able!
www.kickstarter.com/projects/aty...
Help us bring this story about music, queer found family, love, and death to life.
Head to the Kickstarter to, at minimum, look at the absolutely STUNNING art and our wonderful cast!!! And please consider giving if you're able!
www.kickstarter.com/projects/aty...
PHANTOM PULSE - a 90s audio drama musical
PHANTOM PULSE is a rock audio drama about love, death, and everything in between from Lauren Shippen, creator of The Bright Sessions.
www.kickstarter.com
November 5, 2025 at 10:05 PM
It will come as no surprise to anyone who knows me that I am AMPED (pun partly intended) for this rocking paranormal musical audio drama. Please back it if you can!
Reposted by Jessica Mary Best
Food banks need extra support this month! We've got a bundle with the Re: Dracula audiobook & concept album & blooper reel, and the Re: Carmilla super cut & score.
All for $20, which will be donated to Feeding America and will feed over 200 people!
ko-fi.com/s/e6a726eeae
All for $20, which will be donated to Feeding America and will feed over 200 people!
ko-fi.com/s/e6a726eeae
Feed 200 people! Get gothic audio! - Tal Minear's Ko-fi Shop
$1 donated to Feeding America feeds at least 10 people. Donate $20, feed 200 people, and get the Re: Dracula & Re: Carmilla supercuts and albums. And ...
ko-fi.com
October 28, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Food banks need extra support this month! We've got a bundle with the Re: Dracula audiobook & concept album & blooper reel, and the Re: Carmilla super cut & score.
All for $20, which will be donated to Feeding America and will feed over 200 people!
ko-fi.com/s/e6a726eeae
All for $20, which will be donated to Feeding America and will feed over 200 people!
ko-fi.com/s/e6a726eeae
All my love to everyone out there doing creative work whose success depends on self-promotion in the middle of, uhh, all of this.
October 28, 2025 at 1:11 AM
All my love to everyone out there doing creative work whose success depends on self-promotion in the middle of, uhh, all of this.
The final ever episode of my sci-fi audio drama The Strange Case of Starship Iris is here! (If you haven't listened yet, start from the beginning. Trust me.)
Summary: the aftermath
Transcript: www.procyonpodcastnetwork.com/post/starshi...
Link: playlist.megaphone.fm?e=FAFO738312...
Summary: the aftermath
Transcript: www.procyonpodcastnetwork.com/post/starshi...
Link: playlist.megaphone.fm?e=FAFO738312...
Starship Iris 3.08 Rejoice
THEME3.08.01 RADIO DOCUMENTARY. SANASo, is that everything you need from me?JUNIPERJust one or two more questions, if you don’t mind, and then you can get back to all the many things waiting for you. ...
www.procyonpodcastnetwork.com
October 23, 2025 at 12:23 PM
The final ever episode of my sci-fi audio drama The Strange Case of Starship Iris is here! (If you haven't listened yet, start from the beginning. Trust me.)
Summary: the aftermath
Transcript: www.procyonpodcastnetwork.com/post/starshi...
Link: playlist.megaphone.fm?e=FAFO738312...
Summary: the aftermath
Transcript: www.procyonpodcastnetwork.com/post/starshi...
Link: playlist.megaphone.fm?e=FAFO738312...
Reposted by Jessica Mary Best
#NoKings is today! Absolutely not too late to find your local rally and show up! Have fun and stay safe! gregpak.net/2025/10/17/g...
Go to your local No Kings rally this Saturday, 10/18! - gregpak.net
I frequently say you don’t need to protest to make a difference in 2025. You don’t! There are a thousand other ways to push back on fascism if protesting doesn’t … Continue reading Go to your local No...
gregpak.net
October 18, 2025 at 12:35 PM
#NoKings is today! Absolutely not too late to find your local rally and show up! Have fun and stay safe! gregpak.net/2025/10/17/g...
SO many things are terrible right now so here are some things that rock:
1. The musical OPERATION MINCEMEAT. If you can't see it live on Broadway or in the West End, listen to the whole soundtrack in one go and try to keep in mind that the whole thing is performed by just five people.
1. The musical OPERATION MINCEMEAT. If you can't see it live on Broadway or in the West End, listen to the whole soundtrack in one go and try to keep in mind that the whole thing is performed by just five people.
October 18, 2025 at 2:12 AM
SO many things are terrible right now so here are some things that rock:
1. The musical OPERATION MINCEMEAT. If you can't see it live on Broadway or in the West End, listen to the whole soundtrack in one go and try to keep in mind that the whole thing is performed by just five people.
1. The musical OPERATION MINCEMEAT. If you can't see it live on Broadway or in the West End, listen to the whole soundtrack in one go and try to keep in mind that the whole thing is performed by just five people.
The second-to-last ever ep of Starship Iris is out now!
Summary: Doing the mission.
Link: tinyurl.com/59u2h64d or wherever you get your podcasts!
Transcript: www.procyonpodcastnetwork.com/post/starshi...
Summary: Doing the mission.
Link: tinyurl.com/59u2h64d or wherever you get your podcasts!
Transcript: www.procyonpodcastnetwork.com/post/starshi...
October 9, 2025 at 1:11 PM
The second-to-last ever ep of Starship Iris is out now!
Summary: Doing the mission.
Link: tinyurl.com/59u2h64d or wherever you get your podcasts!
Transcript: www.procyonpodcastnetwork.com/post/starshi...
Summary: Doing the mission.
Link: tinyurl.com/59u2h64d or wherever you get your podcasts!
Transcript: www.procyonpodcastnetwork.com/post/starshi...
Reposted by Jessica Mary Best
Wouldn't it be cool if someone adapted Frankenstein with an entire cast of trans actors?
Oh hey, we're doing that! But we need your help to fund it!
igg.me/at/refrank
Oh hey, we're doing that! But we need your help to fund it!
igg.me/at/refrank
Re: Frankenstein
An audio drama adaptation of your favorite gothic sci-fi novel, from the team behind Re: Dracula! | Check out 'Re: Frankenstein' on Indiegogo.
igg.me
October 4, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Wouldn't it be cool if someone adapted Frankenstein with an entire cast of trans actors?
Oh hey, we're doing that! But we need your help to fund it!
igg.me/at/refrank
Oh hey, we're doing that! But we need your help to fund it!
igg.me/at/refrank
Reposted by Jessica Mary Best
Queer kidlit editor here! 🫡🌈 I edited a sapphic dystopian YA book titled You Pierce My Soul by audio drama writer @jesserbest.bsky.social and I just think everyone should preorder it and/or request it at their local library!
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/799767...
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/799767...
October 4, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Queer kidlit editor here! 🫡🌈 I edited a sapphic dystopian YA book titled You Pierce My Soul by audio drama writer @jesserbest.bsky.social and I just think everyone should preorder it and/or request it at their local library!
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/799767...
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/799767...
Tip: a lot of things in the world right now are very very bad, but if you live in the Northern hemisphere and you wanna really lean into Autumn, you could do worse than baking this smittenkitchen.com/2016/10/pump... while listening to Neko Case's FOX CONFESSOR BRINGS THE FLOOD.
pumpkin bread
This is a towering, craggy pumpkin bread with a crisp cinnamon sugar lid that is impossible not to pick off in deeply satisfying bark-like flecks.
smittenkitchen.com
September 27, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Tip: a lot of things in the world right now are very very bad, but if you live in the Northern hemisphere and you wanna really lean into Autumn, you could do worse than baking this smittenkitchen.com/2016/10/pump... while listening to Neko Case's FOX CONFESSOR BRINGS THE FLOOD.
Episode 3.06 of Starship Iris is out now!
Summary: With one night to go before the culmination of the mission, some things need to be said.
Listen: tinyurl.com/37ed6z6b (or wherever you get your pods)
Transcript: www.procyonpodcastnetwork.com/post/starshi...
Summary: With one night to go before the culmination of the mission, some things need to be said.
Listen: tinyurl.com/37ed6z6b (or wherever you get your pods)
Transcript: www.procyonpodcastnetwork.com/post/starshi...
September 25, 2025 at 3:09 PM
Episode 3.06 of Starship Iris is out now!
Summary: With one night to go before the culmination of the mission, some things need to be said.
Listen: tinyurl.com/37ed6z6b (or wherever you get your pods)
Transcript: www.procyonpodcastnetwork.com/post/starshi...
Summary: With one night to go before the culmination of the mission, some things need to be said.
Listen: tinyurl.com/37ed6z6b (or wherever you get your pods)
Transcript: www.procyonpodcastnetwork.com/post/starshi...
I'm so glad you've enjoyed Starship Iris, and if it's any consolation, I intend to keep making things (including sci-fi stories with queer characters and strong friendships) for a long long time!
This helps with the hole Starship Iris ending leaves.
(Ends are natural. Also sad.)
(Ends are natural. Also sad.)
September 25, 2025 at 3:00 PM
I'm so glad you've enjoyed Starship Iris, and if it's any consolation, I intend to keep making things (including sci-fi stories with queer characters and strong friendships) for a long long time!
New book coming in May! I invented a whole new genre of music for this one. It's called grotto rock and it is dear to my heart.
You Pierce My Soul includes:
- regency vibes x dystopian YA
- queer yearning
- banger worldbuilding
- very cool nuns
- did i mention it's gay 🌈
I loved editing @jesserbest.bsky.social -- this book is so hopeful and heartfelt. Highly rec!
Preorder here! 📚 www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/799767...
- regency vibes x dystopian YA
- queer yearning
- banger worldbuilding
- very cool nuns
- did i mention it's gay 🌈
I loved editing @jesserbest.bsky.social -- this book is so hopeful and heartfelt. Highly rec!
Preorder here! 📚 www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/799767...
You Pierce My Soul by Jessica Mary Best: 9781683695004 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books
Packed with shocking plot twists and sapphic yearning, this romantic and thrilling queer dystopian YA is perfect for fans of Rachael Lippincott. In the utopian city of New Ionia, everyone gets a soul...
www.penguinrandomhouse.com
September 25, 2025 at 1:44 AM
New book coming in May! I invented a whole new genre of music for this one. It's called grotto rock and it is dear to my heart.
Hello and welcome to another edition of Get Me Through Thursday. Today what's getting me through is that my cousin is visiting! They are a professional trapeze artist who spends much of the year traveling the US with various circuses (and yes, they are as cool as that makes them sound).
September 11, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Hello and welcome to another edition of Get Me Through Thursday. Today what's getting me through is that my cousin is visiting! They are a professional trapeze artist who spends much of the year traveling the US with various circuses (and yes, they are as cool as that makes them sound).
Episode 3.05 of Starship Iris, "Reconnect", is now here! You can listen here tinyurl.com/4ndcs2j5 or wherever you get your podcasts.
Summary: Another voice on the island.
Content warning: This episode contains discussion of animal death.
Transcript: www.procyonpodcastnetwork.com/post/starshi...
Summary: Another voice on the island.
Content warning: This episode contains discussion of animal death.
Transcript: www.procyonpodcastnetwork.com/post/starshi...
Transcripts | Procyon Podcasts
www.procyonpodcastnetwork.com
September 11, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Episode 3.05 of Starship Iris, "Reconnect", is now here! You can listen here tinyurl.com/4ndcs2j5 or wherever you get your podcasts.
Summary: Another voice on the island.
Content warning: This episode contains discussion of animal death.
Transcript: www.procyonpodcastnetwork.com/post/starshi...
Summary: Another voice on the island.
Content warning: This episode contains discussion of animal death.
Transcript: www.procyonpodcastnetwork.com/post/starshi...
If you love heists, snarky POV characters, locked room mysteries in space, bantery sapphic romance, AND deals, then check out my debut novel, Stars Hide Your Fires, available for all of September as an ebook for just $1.99! tinyurl.com/3fbp8yu9
Stars, Hide Your Fires
Check out Stars, Hide Your Fires - <b>“A delightfully mischievous adventure full of intrigue, betrayal, and a touch of romance. Get ready to join your new favorite rebel crew.”—Dahli...
tinyurl.com
September 8, 2025 at 7:06 PM
If you love heists, snarky POV characters, locked room mysteries in space, bantery sapphic romance, AND deals, then check out my debut novel, Stars Hide Your Fires, available for all of September as an ebook for just $1.99! tinyurl.com/3fbp8yu9
Reposted by Jessica Mary Best
Help fund this so we can meet some of these lovely people and some of YOU lovely people!
The Audio Fiction Convention Kickstarter IS LIVE! Get your tickets to the event here!
www.kickstarter.com/projects/taf...
www.kickstarter.com/projects/taf...
TAFCON: The Audio Fiction Convention
A one-day in-person con for creators and fans of audio fiction.
www.kickstarter.com
September 7, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Help fund this so we can meet some of these lovely people and some of YOU lovely people!
Reposted by Jessica Mary Best
Links from @amalelmohtar.com’s newsletter to help the people of Gaza.
Gaza Soup Kitchen: www.gofundme.com/f/Hot-meals-...
***
The Butterfly Effect Project: docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
***
And @mommunism.bsky.social’d whole timeline.
Gaza Soup Kitchen: www.gofundme.com/f/Hot-meals-...
***
The Butterfly Effect Project: docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
***
And @mommunism.bsky.social’d whole timeline.
Donate to Hot meals 4 Starved Palestinian Kids in north Gaza, organized by Hani Almadhoun
Do you know what it’s like to watch your family starve? I do.
My… Hani Almadhoun needs your support for Hot meals 4 Starved Palestinian Kids in north Gaza
www.gofundme.com
September 6, 2025 at 1:37 AM
Links from @amalelmohtar.com’s newsletter to help the people of Gaza.
Gaza Soup Kitchen: www.gofundme.com/f/Hot-meals-...
***
The Butterfly Effect Project: docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
***
And @mommunism.bsky.social’d whole timeline.
Gaza Soup Kitchen: www.gofundme.com/f/Hot-meals-...
***
The Butterfly Effect Project: docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
***
And @mommunism.bsky.social’d whole timeline.
Reposted by Jessica Mary Best
In honor of #SapphicSeptember, I present for your consideration: Stars, Hide Your Fires by Jessica Mary Best, a sci-fi YA which I would pitch as "queer Knives Out in space" and is just delightful ✨🌈
Check it out here 🔗 bookshop.org/p/books/star...
Check it out here 🔗 bookshop.org/p/books/star...
September 5, 2025 at 7:06 PM
In honor of #SapphicSeptember, I present for your consideration: Stars, Hide Your Fires by Jessica Mary Best, a sci-fi YA which I would pitch as "queer Knives Out in space" and is just delightful ✨🌈
Check it out here 🔗 bookshop.org/p/books/star...
Check it out here 🔗 bookshop.org/p/books/star...
Starship Iris 3.04.5 is available now!
Summary: Nearly out of options, the crew reflects on the path ahead.
Transcript (and content warnings) available here: www.procyonpodcastnetwork.com/blog/tags/th...
You can listen here tinyurl.com/2jvxznjm or wherever you get your podcasts.
Summary: Nearly out of options, the crew reflects on the path ahead.
Transcript (and content warnings) available here: www.procyonpodcastnetwork.com/blog/tags/th...
You can listen here tinyurl.com/2jvxznjm or wherever you get your podcasts.
the strange case of starship iris | Procyon Podcasts
www.procyonpodcastnetwork.com
August 28, 2025 at 8:28 PM
Starship Iris 3.04.5 is available now!
Summary: Nearly out of options, the crew reflects on the path ahead.
Transcript (and content warnings) available here: www.procyonpodcastnetwork.com/blog/tags/th...
You can listen here tinyurl.com/2jvxznjm or wherever you get your podcasts.
Summary: Nearly out of options, the crew reflects on the path ahead.
Transcript (and content warnings) available here: www.procyonpodcastnetwork.com/blog/tags/th...
You can listen here tinyurl.com/2jvxznjm or wherever you get your podcasts.
Reposted by Jessica Mary Best
Going to the library fucking rules. You can walk in and pick your favorite things and then walk right out without paying anything. It's unbelievable and 100% the kind of thing that won't exist in the future unless you recognize the goodness now before it's too late
Hey, as a librarian I need to tell you:
Our funding depends on usage.
So go ahead and check out that book even if you don't think you'll finish it. No one will know. Check out that DVD even though you might not like it. Get ambitious in your quest for knowledge.
Our funding depends on usage.
So go ahead and check out that book even if you don't think you'll finish it. No one will know. Check out that DVD even though you might not like it. Get ambitious in your quest for knowledge.
August 13, 2025 at 2:09 AM
Going to the library fucking rules. You can walk in and pick your favorite things and then walk right out without paying anything. It's unbelievable and 100% the kind of thing that won't exist in the future unless you recognize the goodness now before it's too late
Reposted by Jessica Mary Best
I filled this out, and hopefully other writer-folk will, too.
Gotham Writers is currently doing a survey of how writers are using AI and if you’re a writer it’s probably worth filling it out.
gothamghostwriters.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?...
gothamghostwriters.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?...
AI and the Writing Profession
Take this survey powered by surveymonkey.com. Create your own surveys for free.
gothamghostwriters.us6.list-manage.com
August 12, 2025 at 4:13 PM
I filled this out, and hopefully other writer-folk will, too.
The right demonizes cities as cesspits of crime but I lived in Chicago for 7 years; the one time I've been mugged was in an affluent little Ohio suburb.
(The first line of "Try That in a Small Town" is "Sucker punch somebody on a sidewalk" which is literally what happened to me, in a small town.)
(The first line of "Try That in a Small Town" is "Sucker punch somebody on a sidewalk" which is literally what happened to me, in a small town.)
August 11, 2025 at 5:43 PM
The right demonizes cities as cesspits of crime but I lived in Chicago for 7 years; the one time I've been mugged was in an affluent little Ohio suburb.
(The first line of "Try That in a Small Town" is "Sucker punch somebody on a sidewalk" which is literally what happened to me, in a small town.)
(The first line of "Try That in a Small Town" is "Sucker punch somebody on a sidewalk" which is literally what happened to me, in a small town.)
Reposted by Jessica Mary Best
They keep asserting they're going to put AI in everything, including critical, dangerous systems. Meanwhile, AI is like, "sure, eat those yard mushrooms, the word strawberry has 88 Rs, I'm Mecha Hitler, here's Taylor Swift naked when you didn't even ask for it and she has eleven fingers lol"
August 6, 2025 at 1:19 PM
They keep asserting they're going to put AI in everything, including critical, dangerous systems. Meanwhile, AI is like, "sure, eat those yard mushrooms, the word strawberry has 88 Rs, I'm Mecha Hitler, here's Taylor Swift naked when you didn't even ask for it and she has eleven fingers lol"
Reposted by Jessica Mary Best
I too have been wondering “what can I do to protest & dismantle ICE.”
👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇
👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇
So many of you wrote asking for a primer on how to push back against ICE's presence where you live! So this week's Tuesday post skips the usual history lesson. Instead, I talked to Oliver Merino of the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, who offered a lot of specifics on how to take action near you.
De-ICEing your town
A local organizer explains how to get involved and protect immigrants near you.
degenerateart.beehiiv.com
August 6, 2025 at 2:43 PM
I too have been wondering “what can I do to protest & dismantle ICE.”
👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇
👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇