Shelly Jones (they/them)
@shellyjones.bsky.social
English Prof. Editor at Analog Game Studies. Agatha nominee. Writer, gamer, nature nerd. BLM Author of Cozy, Nerdy Mysteries: https://tulepublishing.com/series/a-wren-winters-mystery/ https://shellyjonesauthor.com/
"An intriguing premise and endearing protagonist make this cozy mystery a delight." - Kirkus Review of Player Elimination! Read more here: www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews... 💙📚 💙🎲 ☕️💀📚 ⚡️📚 🔎💀📚
PLAYER ELIMINATION | Kirkus Reviews
The owner of a struggling board game shop must play amateur detective when her grouchy landlord is found murdered—and a beloved employee is considered the main suspect.
kirkusreviews.com
So kind of the trees to remind us to let go of the past and the things that no longer suit you. #ForestFriday
Should I be working on my next novel? Yes. Am I instead obsessed with an idea for my @goldencobra.bsky.social challenge submission and working on that before the October 15 deadline? Yesssssssssss 🐍🐍🐍 #WritersLife #GameDesign #IndieGames
Woohoo!
Scryptid Games@scryptidgames.bsky.social · 2w agoCongrats, @brigittewinter.bsky.social and @natmesnard.bsky.social! Brigitte’s The Goodest Girls won the 2026 CRIT Award for Best GM-less TTRPG and Nat’s Assemblage was a finalist for Best Multiplayer TTRPG! Celebrate with 20% all of our games through 10/4. scryptidgames.com/discount/FABLE
Spruce knows her purrs are good medicine as I fight this infection. 🖤🤍🐈⬛
Player Elimination was long-listed for the 2026 Chanticleer International Book Awards in the Mystery & Mayhem category! Congrats to all the other fabulous mysteries on this list! www.chantireviews.com/2026/09/18/m... 💙📚 💙🎲 ☕️💀📚 ⚡️📚 🔎💀📚
Wasn't sure I'd see these buddies still (there were very few last week), but it was humid and wet this morning so I saw about 30 on my hike. #ForestFriday #ForestFriends #nature
Ca-caw ca-caw! 🐦⬛
The Golden Cobra Challenge@goldencobra.bsky.social · 4w agosssssssss Early Tim Hutchingsss did thiss award-winning game A Crow Funeral for the 2015 contest that runs well with an impromptu group of 5 or 6 friendss. BE LIKE A CROW www.goldencobra.org/pdf/2015/Cro... bsky.app/profile/euph...
An obnoxiously vague post, but: I just saw the mock-up cover of my next novel and it is *so* gorgeous! 👀Can't wait to officially share it soon!! 📚💙 ⚡️📚 🔎💀📚
ssssssssss The Golden Cobra Challenge 2026 is OPEN for sssubmissions. Ssubmit by October 15th! www.goldencobra.org
Golden Cobra Challenge
goldencobra.org
Forest lesson: It's ok to lean on each other and grow together. #ForestFriday #FungiFriday #ForestTherapy
To be honest, August was a blur. Still struggling mentally. Basically had an anxiety attack yesterday while "resting." Hoping the start of school helps provide a familiar, comforting rhythm. And of course there's always the escape to the pages of a book. What's on your #tbrpile for next month? 💙📚
Spotted this teeny fellow on my hike today. A reminder that adventures and adventurers come in all sizes. 🧡
"The thin man is at the door again when Chopin shows me his heart." #wip #firstlines #writingcommunity #shortstory
As fall creeps in, I'm excited to share that my first mini tabletop roleplaying game is coming out in this brilliant anthology from @scryptidgames.bsky.social. In "Cryptid Case Files," you'll play cryptids creating a true crime podcast investigating the disappearance of a fellow cryptid. 🔎 💙📚 🌈📚
Highly recommend both! <3
Scryptid Games@scryptidgames.bsky.social · 2mo agoThe Goodest Girls by @brigittewinter.bsky.social and Assemblage by @natmesnard.bsky.social are Crit Awards finalists! Vote The Goodest Girls as Best GMless TTRPG and Assemblage as Best Multiplayer TTRPG before August 23 & help bring the spotlight to these awesome games: www.critawards.org
"A windchime by the motel office tinkled a soft melody, reminiscent of a Christmas carol." #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts #WIPSnips
✨#WIPSnips✨ A Daily Writing Share Tag@wipsnips.bsky.social · 2mo agoThe #WIPSnips word for August 8th is "melody" #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts
Had to snap this photo this morning because it was giving me #Tolkien vibes. "This is it. If I take one more step, it'll be the farthest away from home I've ever been." 💙📚 📝
Yup, I doubt I'll ever break even. Way more than sales, I think what I really value is engagement. Anyone out there who wants to support authors, please talk about the books you like.
Someone asked me last week if I'm a "millionaire" yet because I'm published. Honestly, between extras (website url, newsletter software, Canva for social media, gas to go to events, giveaway mailings, etc.), I haven't broken even yet on royalties. It's almost like...I don't do it for the money. 🙃
Susan Savage Lee@susansavagelee.bsky.social · 2mo agoWhat’s one question you’re tired of answering as a writer? If I have a book published. Not because someone wants to actually read it, but more so they can classify me as a “real” writer…or not #writingq #WritingCommunity
"Her stomach twisted and she fought back the bile that rose in her esophagus at the sharp scent of Ruth’s perfume mixed with the tinny smell of blood." #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts #WIPSnips ⚡️📚
✨#WIPSnips✨ A Daily Writing Share Tag@wipsnips.bsky.social · 2mo agoThe #WIPSnips word for July 31st is "twist" #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts
Podcast time! Thanks again to @aarontram.bsky.social for letting me pepper him w/ questions for an hour. >:) youtu.be/KCvnLe27MAM
Beyond Solitaire Podcast 241: Aaron Trammell on how D&D Changed the Way We Play
YouTube video by Beyond Solitaire
youtu.be
Looking for feedback on title screen for a game that's a kind of opposite a power fantasy. Aiming for classic #roguelike feel in a survival base-builder. A few seconds of music to go with. Would you click start? #indiedev #Godot #feedback #gamedev #indiegame #PitchYaGame
Love the base game and use it a lot in my creative writing classes. Highly recommend!
Atlas Games@atlasgames.bsky.social · 3mo agoOnce Upon a Time - Seafaring Tales Pre-Orders OPEN! #BoardGames #TabletopGaming
#GenCon friends! Need a #cozy #gamer read while you're traveling or waiting in line? Check out the Wren Winters mystery series including 'Game Over' (in which a #cosplayer mysteriously dies at a #boardgaming #convention...). 💙🎲 🎲✂️ ☕️💀📚 ⚡️📚 🔎💀📚 tulepublishing.com/series/a-wre...
Add in here making coffee, pacing around the house thinking, talking to the cats, rereading what I've already written for the hundredth time, etc. #writerslife 📝 💙📚 ⚡📚
