I didn't think I would finish book two but I got the final files TODAY. 🎉 I just need to upload them and wait to be able to order copies (gotta let the changes take). I'm so happy. (1/2)
Author Alexa Shay
@authoralexashay.bsky.social
YA Indie Author of Spice-Free, Inclusive Fantasy AlexaShays.com | she/her | 🏳️🌈 | PNW Based | 🚫 Gen AI
From that other site, but it is now OFFICIAL!!!! [whoot!] links in alt text
📢 NEW BOOK ALERT! 📢 Check out the new anthology that I and members of the Rainer Writers put together. There's a wide range of fantastical genres in here and something for everyone. Ten delightfully different tales of the holidays, from Thanksgiving through Chinese New Year. a.co/d/05tioX78
Here is my indirect commentary about some of the things I saw people say about Taylor Swift's new music.
As an ace person, I have a question for my fellow romance readers. When there's a life/death issue, the couple are STILL checking each other out and might even do some spicy things. Is that what it's like being allo? Is it all the time? I thought it was an exaggeration. Now that I know I'm ace...
Yes and I prioritize seeking out trans people’s creative services first (editing, art, etc)
jazzrat2000 AKA Bonsai anonymous@jazzrat2000.bsky.social · 2w ago
Join me for a bookish crash out! I'm very tired of bookish drama. I'm tired of having to vet every single little thing for AI. I sometimes dream of becoming a guerrilla author where I drop titles randomly and then dissappear. 🤣 #booksky #authorsky
Take more family photos. Take lots of them. The whole family. Do it before you can't anymore.
My grandma learned how to open my monthly newsletter and likes to compliment my monthly freebies. She says they're very well written. So yeah. You should subscribe too. 🤣 #booksky alexashays.com/newsletter
Author Alexa Shay
Alexa Shay is an indie author, focusing on YA Supernatural Romance.
alexashays.com
Writing and reading things CAN help one process trauma. So yes, I agree with people saying dark romance books can be healing and no, I'm not against them. I give my characters things I wish I'd gotten during my less than ideal childhood. It helps me process. So why can't dark romance help others?
One month update on my more analog life! I'm really enjoying the changes I've implemented and have seen a lot of benefits. The main drawback is my fashion is leaning more retro lately, which is hardly a drawback at all. 🤣
I may be a spice-free author, but I am NOT anti-spice and I do NOT like all the puritanical censorship I've been seeing in the bookish space. #booksky #authorsky
IDENTITIES ARE NOT TROPES OR GENRES. I went back and checked and this problematic person didn't say they dislike it when queer people are main characters in books but when they're a main part of the plot, which is somehow worse. Unfollow me if you're a bigot please! #booksky
IDENTITIES ARE NOT TROPES OR GENRES. I went back and checked and this problematic person didn't say they dislike it when queer people are main characters in books but when they're a main part of the plot, which is somehow worse. Unfollow me if you're a bigot please! #booksky
Do you have any strong opinions about book cover design? I've seen people who *hate* people on covers or who *hate* illustrated (they say cartoony) covers. I only *hate* AI covers. But I also don't like stickers you can't remove or when the book becomes a movie and they change the cover. #booksky
I think all Americans, but especially us white ones, should read Black AF History by Michael Harriot. When I was in school learning about propaganda, I remember thinking, "Who would fall for this?" Turns out it's really easy to when it's all you've ever been taught. #booksky
NEWS ABOUT BOOK 2 OF THE SHIELD SERIES: -It's with the proofreader and should be out this fall. ARCs coming soonish! -I have a copy of the proof-- cover reveal coming. -The blurb is done, newsletter subscribers (AlexaShays.com) will see it first.
What's a harmless bookish opinion you have? I don't like magnetic bookmarks. I don't like any thick bookmark that distorts the book.
Update on my analog life! My new record player is all set up and I am OBSESSED. I have more vinyls coming direct from some of my favorite artists and I went to a record store for the first time ever. 💙 (1/2)
I've been enjoying being more analog in my life! It's helped my mental health. Changes I've made: 💙My phone is a "landline" for most of the day and stays in a holder on a wall and isn't allowed in parts of my house.
I'm tired of the AI witch hunts happening in the bookish space. I'm also tired of people not holding their friends to the same standards as strangers. If you wouldn't work with someone you don't/barely know because they used AI, you should also hold your friends to the same standard.
Social media is intensely hard for me to navigate as an author. On one hand, I need it. It helps me make connections and I have a lot of fun. On the other, it's addictive, made to be that way, and is hard on my mental health.
I know this isn't bookish, but what kind of music do you like? I like almost everything. I have yet to dislike a genre of music.
What are your thoughts on time travel? I generally don't like it in my stories be it in books, movies, or on TV. It's usually done in a way that makes things confusing. I also don't particularly want to time travel myself unless it's purely as an observer.
The literacy crisis and overdependence on AI are terrifying to me. We have got to get more people reading and less people outsourcing their thinking or we're cooked.
Where do your creative ideas come from when you set out to create? Writing, drawing, whatever- where do you get that spark from?
What's a genre or genres that you rarely, if ever, pick up? I'm not a fan of horror, thrillers, space sci-fi, or westerns. Stories in those genres aren't necessarily bad or anything, they're just not my preferred genres. 🤷🏻♀️ #booksky