🌚Sam (SK Kelley)🌝
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skkelleywrites.bsky.social
🌚Sam (SK Kelley)🌝
@skkelleywrites.bsky.social
1.7K followers 470 following 6.7K posts
Sam (30, she/they), author of Sidetracked
currently editing Sunrise #FirstDraftFall
weird/queer/INTP/artist/mom/part-time furry
my characters haunt me incessantly
read my books 👉 linktr.ee/skkelleywrites
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skkelleywrites.bsky.social
"Picture the magical energy coalescing in your core—your lungs, perhaps—then move it from your core to your hands. Imagine the energy traveling through currents inside your body, through your nervous system or bloodstream."
(from Something Familiar)
#WIPSnips
He smiled before crawling closer to sit at my side. He then held out one hand. "Picture the magical energy coalescing in your core—your lungs, perhaps—then move it from your core to your hands. Imagine the energy traveling through currents inside your body, through your nervous system or bloodstream. Now, try again, and I'll do my best to aid you in the process." I met his gaze uncertainly, and his eyes began to brighten and glow. The sudden influx of magical energy caught me off guard and left me short of breath. The sensation was new and uncomfortable. A strange tightness in my chest. The energy felt warm as it welled inside me, bringing with it the tingle of static electricity. I felt lighter somehow. Is that what Daniel felt like all the time?
November 25, 2025 at 5:04 PM
skkelleywrites.bsky.social
new convention hat

I’m such a loser lmao
it’s me wearing a stupid blue hat that says “make hell great again”
November 25, 2025 at 3:33 AM
skkelleywrites.bsky.social
It’s kinda cheating since he’s a cat shifter already, but Ice, out of all of the immortal characters, is the most cat-coded. Impulsive, temperamental, hates cold/wet weather, avoids swimming if at all possible, very funny (in an obnoxious way), and…likes…shrimp???

cat for sure
#Novmemeber
decade old artwork of me popping out of a trash can holding Ice Monroe over my head extremely old artwork of Ice’s white cat feline form
November 24, 2025 at 5:07 PM
skkelleywrites.bsky.social
I finished in one-third of the time I set aside to work on it, and it is a proper novella length!!!
Screenshot of my pacemaker.press overview Sunrise Drafting 2025 (Novella Writing) Goal: 19,512 words over 61 days between November 1 2025 and December 31 2015 11/1/2025 41,751 words complete 39 days left 108% complete You Did It! Average Daily Words: 967 Longest Streak: 22 days
November 23, 2025 at 5:49 AM
skkelleywrites.bsky.social
The FMC’s name is Crystal, so perhaps it’s cheating, but I think this snippet from Something Familiar’s sequel, Something Different, is fun.
#WIPSnips
"Okay, we have two options: fake your death and run away or go home and act normal." "I'm going home, obviously." "Obviously," he agrees, but his brows furrow as he holds his chin in his hand. "Right. Obviously." "How is that not the obvious answer?" I snap. He blinks before gesturing at me. "Well, this will all be rather difficult to explain to your mundane family and friends, won't it?" "Who cares? You're my familiar; just slap a glamour on me or something! I at least have to graduate before I fake my death and run away with you or whatever." His blank expression cracks as he stifles a laugh, his shoulders relaxing. Still frustrated, I ask why he's laughing, and he looks up at me with a timid smile. "Your human priorities are charming as always, Crystal."
November 22, 2025 at 9:25 AM
skkelleywrites.bsky.social
driving in big cities is stressful, ok
#WIPSnips
"Let's take Highway 1 the rest of the way down," I suggest. "Oh?" James' wide eyes remain focused on the road ahead—we're in the city now. "That's a good idea. Can you navigate for me?" "Of course." I search for directions to Pacifica and read them aloud while James navigates the busy city streets. "I hate driving in the city," he says, hands firm on the steering wheel. "You want to move to the city," I reply dryly. "I'm sure I'd get used to it eventually..."
November 21, 2025 at 8:27 PM
skkelleywrites.bsky.social
Jayde sucks at improv, as always.
#QueerPrompts
"What made you choose social work?" my dad asks. My mind blanks. I was totally prepared to reveal my major, but I've only ever talked about why I chose social work with people who know—or immortals like my academic counselor at RCC. I never considered what I'd say to my human family if they asked. "She wants to help people," James says mildly. "Get her Masters and work for...HHS or whatever." Robbie makes a face. "HHS? Like the government?" "That's what I said," James exclaims, looking up from the table. "Who wants to work for the government?"
November 21, 2025 at 5:07 PM
skkelleywrites.bsky.social
nothing has changed
screenshot of a post I made 3 months ago Jayde: passable deviled eggs James: stops by the store to grab something last minute (even though he can cook) Night: 3 perfectly executed dishes she spent hours making Ice: walks in carrying one of Night's dishes, plus a bottle of liquor he won't share with anyone (he doesn't want to be there) (continued) Even several years down the road, I imagine that Ice drinking an entire bottle of liquor at the same potluck Jayde & James are attending would end very embarrassingly for everyone involved. I think Jayde & James could be normal enough about it or at least pretend he isn't there, but Ice would spend the entire time feeling like he's being burned alive. He'd have to take Xanax in advance just to survive the humiliation of being perceived by them. Alcohol might turn it into a disaster. catch 29yo Ice Monroe crying and breaking mirrors in a public restroom at a potluck while everyone else is just trying to have a good time
November 21, 2025 at 2:49 AM
skkelleywrites.bsky.social
“…this stolen power doesn't make you special, and I am merely a reflection of you—your thoughts and dreams and fears. Everything you desperately long to hide from yourself."
(from Resignation: Sidetracked Part 4)
#WIPSnips
My dream-self, hair still long, regards me with contempt. Smug smile, sharp eyes, arms folded over her chest. She's wearing a wine red button up that doesn't fit her-being a men's shirt and too large. Ice's shirt. Ugh. "The future is unknowable," she says. "Surely, you understand that better than anyone by now. But this stolen power doesn't make you special, and I am merely a reflection of you—your thoughts and dreams and fears. Everything you desperately long to hide from yourself." Her left eye, cracked green and blue, leaves me feeling on edge, and my teeth click together as my jaw sets. How can I trust her?
November 20, 2025 at 8:10 PM
skkelleywrites.bsky.social
from Something Familiar
#WIPSnips
While I was fumbling over a sentence, a third chair pulled up to the table next to Aaron, and we both watched Daniel take a seat. I more-or-less ignored him in an attempt to act casual. "Forgive the intrusion," he said, offering us a hesitant smile, "but Monsieur Hardy suggested I work with you. Si tu veux bien?" It begins, I thought gravely. "..Bien sûr," Aaron agreed. "Daniel, right?" That surprised me. Daniel laughed. "Yeah, but how weird is this? I have first period with you, second with Crystal, and third with you both." It hadn't occurred to me when I initially read his schedule, but he had the same Fine Arts period as Aaron. What are the odds, indeed.
November 19, 2025 at 9:12 PM
skkelleywrites.bsky.social
made a chicken pot pie
a 9” chicken pot pie with a smily face cut into the top crust
November 19, 2025 at 3:47 AM
skkelleywrites.bsky.social
Quote post with you being a hottie in a dress (if you feel like it)
it’s me wearing fem human bill cipher (gravity falls) cosplay
November 19, 2025 at 3:13 AM
skkelleywrites.bsky.social
I haven’t used “retrograde” in any of my books/projects, but this snippet from Sidetracked Part 1 contains “backward” AND embodies retrograde vibes 😅
#WIPSnips
I finally made a move. He said he likes me, and I kissed him, but... Oh, god. I screwed up. Stumbling backward, I cover my mouth with my hands. "I'm sorry," I gasp. "I— I don't know why I did that just now. I'm, uh...” He averts his eyes and presses a couple fingers to his lips. Both his posture and expression are unreadable. Neutral. Blank, almost. Until he takes a deep, even breath and regains his composure. As he meets my gaze, he clears his throat. "It's okay," he says. "It was nothing, right?" Nothing? This was clearly a mistake.
November 18, 2025 at 5:06 PM
skkelleywrites.bsky.social
I feel bad for Jayde, but this line (from Afterglow) is so funny out of context
It's great to know that just about everyone has been speculating about my nonexistent sex life all summer.
November 18, 2025 at 3:00 AM
skkelleywrites.bsky.social
Unedited snippet of Jayde & James talking about what Ice was like back in middle school. (from Sunrise)
#WIPSnips
"Ice was never real with me—until it was way too late, at which point it was just kind of creepy." That makes him laugh. "Oh, yeah, no, that's just how the real Ice is. He was always weird with boundaries. Inconsistent, friendly one moment and standoffish the next. Acted like he knew what everyone around him was thinking. Said—and did—the most insane shit just to see how you'd react. He always liked pushing buttons, seeing what he could get away with. Feeling in control." A control freak, huh? Can you blame him? You remember how good it felt to be in control—to finally watch Ice squirm—after spending weeks wallowing in helplessness. It wasn't...really a good feeling.
November 17, 2025 at 8:29 PM
skkelleywrites.bsky.social
Your last saved meme is your moral philosophy.
a marshmallow-like blob character smiling with their hands on their hips and the caption “I will succeed because I am insane.”
November 17, 2025 at 1:42 AM
skkelleywrites.bsky.social
remember that one time I wrote & published a 4-book contemporary fantasy drama series about cat shifters?

did you know you can buy them in paperback & ebook format from most retailers who sell books (or directly from me via itch or ko-fi)?

👉 linktr.ee/skkelleywrites 👈
Sidetracked (a complete series!) FEATURING - magical(?) cat shifters - "fun" summer vibes - secret government program - slow burn idiots to lovers romance - touch-starved sad boy love interest - mental illness & neurodivergent rep - slice of life with an edge - angst for DAYS - "I'm fine; this is fine" - fucked up dream sequences - 20 chapter beach episode - obnoxious smirking bastard knife man two digital promo illustrations of the Sidetracked characters featuring two scenes from book 1 (Jayde & James’ awkward first meeting at the mall AND Ice & Night during the first time Jayde visits their house in Westbrooke)
November 17, 2025 at 1:29 AM
skkelleywrites.bsky.social
I don’t know why most of my MCs have mommy issues, but here we are
#WIPSnips
Our eyes meet as I go to hand off another plate, and I realize that James is crying. Soft, watery eyes and wet streaks down his face. I feel my chest tighten, and, though he moves to take the plate, I set it aside. I rinse my hands in the hot water and plant them on James' cheeks. His eyes widen in surprise—that I reacted that way or that my hands are wet, I'm not sure—but he remains quiet. The sink runs beside me. "You okay?" I ask. He nods, his face sandwiched between my hands. "What's wrong?" He smiles faintly, eyes darting aside. "It's stupid." "I'm sure it's not." "It's just.." He sighs. "I've been thinking about my mom." "Oh."
November 16, 2025 at 8:46 AM
skkelleywrites.bsky.social
I’m doing great—way better than I expected—but I have a sneaking suspicion that my first draft will be longer than 40k words. lol

I gave myself until the end of the year to finish drafting. At this rate, I might finish by the end of November instead.
#PretendPanel
Screenshot of my pacemaker.press project tracker for Sunrise Drafting 2025 (Novella Writing) Goal: 19,512 words over 61 days (between November 1, 2025 and December 31, 2025) 34,461 words complete 5,539 words left 46 days left 71% of goal completed Average Daily Words: 932 Current Streak: 15 days Longest Streak: 15 days
November 16, 2025 at 6:16 AM
skkelleywrites.bsky.social
copyright page train!

My copyright pages are admittedly kind of extra. 😅
Sidetracked: Part I Copyright © 2021 by S.K. Kelley This book is a human-created work of fiction. All references to real people, locations, brand names, and events are used fictitiously. Other people (characters), names, locations, and incidents are products of the author's imagina-tion, and any resemblance to actual persons (living or dead), locations, or events (past or future) is purely coincidental. No form of generative Al was used in the creation of this work. All Rights Reserved The scanning, uploading, or distribution of this book without the author's express permission, including use in generative Al or other machine learning model training, is a theft of the author's intellectual property. If you wish to obtain permission to use material from this book for any reason besides fair use review purposes, please email the author at skkelleyauthor@gmail.com. Cover design © 2021 by S.K. Kelley Grunge texture © by D. Sharon Pruitt Foglihten font family © by Gluk Fonts Arimo font © by Steve Matteson First Edition: July 2021 (Revised August 2025) Library of Congress Control Number: 2021914162 ISBN: (paperback) 978-1-955240-00-0 (hardcover) 978-1-955240-02-4 (digital ebook): 978-1-955240-13-0 Published by Bleeding Heart Books skkelleyauthor.square.site Roseburg, Oregon
November 16, 2025 at 6:03 AM
skkelleywrites.bsky.social
I feel like (if there is a favorite) it’s probably Ice due to exposure alone since I blab about his annoying ass the most. 😭

He may be lacking positive character traits & a discernible personality, but he makes up for it with drama & stage presence.

He’s one of my least likable characters. lmao
hands holding a heart-shaped picture frame with a digital illustration of Ice Monroe inside it, with the caption "i hate you...but i love you...but i hate you."
November 15, 2025 at 6:42 PM
skkelleywrites.bsky.social
lowkey spicy snip 🫣
(from Resignation)
#WIPSnips
"How's your side?" he asks. Don't ask about that now! "It's fine," I mumble, slowly edging his shirt up. "Mm..." His hands rest over mine, curbing my progress and leaving my cheeks cold, and his eyes flick down —toward the stupid incision. "You sure?" His hand brushes my stomach, fingers splayed between my ribs and my hip, his thumb just above the row of staples, separated from me only by my thin camisole. But I feel no pain— only a desperate, annoying ache in my chest, like I'll die if he doesn't kiss me again in the next five seconds. "Yes," I say. "I'm fine."
November 15, 2025 at 8:55 AM
skkelleywrites.bsky.social
Here’s the most emotionally fucked up injury in Sidetracked (Borderline). Jayde spends the rest of the series stressing about it more than any other injury she sustains.

The most physically fucked up injuries in the series are a bit too spoilery to share (even by my low standards). 😅
Only an idiot would leave it like this. Careful, I peel my hand away. My attention follows my hand, and the blood smeared on my stitched palm, hesitant to look aside and assess the damage. But, when I do, my breath catches. My knees buckle, and I fall to the floor. What Ice carved there— The six small cuts on the inside of my wrist form the rough, angular shape of a heart. The wound oozes slowly, dark blood pooling at the bottom point before breaking away and trickling down my arm in a warm stream. What did he say? "So much for your summer romance?" It's almost funny. It's almost... But why?
November 14, 2025 at 8:40 PM
skkelleywrites.bsky.social
I’m writing more than I expected.

I was hoping to reach 40k words by the end of December (I started with just over 20k). At this rate, I’m on track to reach 40k by the end of November. I might actually *finish drafting* DURING a 30-day writing challenge for the first time in my life. wowie
screenshot of my writing tracker overview Goal: write 19,512 words over 61 days (from November 1, 2025 to December 31, 2025) 30,529 words complete 9,471 words left 48 days left 51% toward goal Average Daily Words: 772 Current Streak: 13 days
November 14, 2025 at 7:12 AM
skkelleywrites.bsky.social
This is a James Reid meme if I’ve ever seen one.

I imagine one of his friends (Jayde, Rose, or Matthew, probably) seeing it while scrolling their feed on FaceSpace and showing it to him like “hey, is this you?”

he would turn into dust from shame (but also laugh)
#Novmemeber
a white car with a bumper sticker that says “do NOT honk at me! My life is WORTHLESS I will KILL US both”
November 13, 2025 at 9:43 PM