Tessera

Fay Irwin (pen name)

@fantasyscience.bsky.social

Chemist by day, sci-fi, fantasy, and rom-com writer by night. My past includes stints as a legal secretary, martial arts instructor, and rock'n'roll clarinettist. Over 50 publications to date, but they're all in science journals. She/her

813 Posts924 Follower 1022 Folgt

Fay Irwin (pen name)@fantasyscience.bsky.social · 3d ago

My dog tried to eat my Emotional Thesaurus. I don't know how feel about this.

Fay Irwin (pen name)@fantasyscience.bsky.social · 3w ago

Congratulations! This is so exciting for you both!

Jaymi@jaymiwrites.bsky.social · 4w ago

Surprise!!! I am thrilled to announce that I am now represented by Sarah Fisk at The Tobias Literary Agency! I can’t wait to make some magic together! ✨ @sarahnfisk.bsky.social @thetobiasagency.bsky.social

Fay Irwin (pen name)@fantasyscience.bsky.social · 3w ago

My family thinks I want to name our (soon!) puppy Thor. It's Tor. So I can say things like: "Tor comes running when I call," and "I have Tor eating out of the palm of my hand." They want to name the dog Charles.

Fay Irwin (pen name)@fantasyscience.bsky.social · 4w ago

Husband, interrupting my editing: "Hi, Darling." Me: "Don't call me darling." H: "OK." H: "Why not?" Me: "Around here, we murder our darlings." #AmWriting #WritingCommunity

Fay Irwin (pen name)@fantasyscience.bsky.social · 4w ago

Just got beta feedback on my first 3 chapters. I can't stop grinning. @chloemarcus.bsky.social is the bestest. "It's funny, unique, and super weird" is an amazing compliment.

Fay Irwin (pen name)@fantasyscience.bsky.social · 4w ago

Wrapping up edits on my sci-fi romcom before querying, I found this essay on anticipated fertilizer shortages. www.science.org/content/blog... I guess my book about chemists working to stop global famine due to a fertilizer shortage is timely! (Way funnier than real life though.)

Nitrogen, Ammonia, and the Strait of Hormuz

science.org

Fay Irwin (pen name)@fantasyscience.bsky.social · last mo.

Really need to stop confusing "epigraph," "epitath," and "epithet." #WriterProblems

Erin Biba @erinbiba.bsky.social · last mo.

The countdown is on!!! You have until 7 PM ET tomorrow to bid on this. Time is running out! The window is closing! Get it while you still can! 😂 www.32auctions.com/organization...

Erin Biba@erinbiba.bsky.social · last mo.

Growing ecstasy face meme: - play D&D with me and @clairewillett.bsky.social - it’s DM’d by @nome.bsky.social - it’s STAR TREK THEMED - Star Trek Discovery writer @carloscisco.bsky.social IS PLAYING TOO -IT’S A MURDER MYSTERY SET ON RISA Bid now!!!

Fay Irwin (pen name)@fantasyscience.bsky.social · last mo.

Tornado warning is over.

Photo of a sky with the top of trees in the foreground. A big cloud is lit up pink with the sunset.

Catherine Winters @catherinewinters.com · last mo.

F/NB WAYFARERS x MURDERBOT Ship's cook Tai is horrified to discover their new crewmate is a terrifying alien: an ordinary human woman. Now Tai's stuck with bickering crewmates, sinister criminals, explosions, and worse, a human who wants to be friends. #QueerPit #A #SF #R #HA

Mood board/Agent's guide for my novel CARGO - a queer SF/heist/romance - 113,000 words

"Did you hear? There's a human on board."
A graphic of the wall of a spaceship with sticky notes and polaroid photos taped up. There are twinkle lights hanging from the ceiling.
alien ship's cook (fussy, anxious) + terrifying monster (ordinary human)

PITCH:
Tai’s terrified of humans. Everyone is. Violent pack hunters, humans are notorious for their strength, sharp teeth, and carnivorous appetites. But the ship’s cook is safe among the multispecies crew of the cargo hauler Coreward Baker: everyone knows the warrior species rarely leave their own space. Then Captain Raz hires Clarke, a human horticulturist.
Even after Tai overcomes their fear, they can’t stand Clarke. She’s bossy. Annoying. Useless in the galley, bad in a space suit. She might as well be cargo. Worse, she’s intent on befriending Tai—and why can’t they stop thinking about her, anyway?
That’s when things go wrong. As Tai starts to realize their feelings for Clarke, they’re horrified to learn that nobody on their crew of dropouts and runaways is quite who they seem, least of all Clarke. And it’s no coincidence. Raz reveals they’ve each been handpicked for a heist he’s spent years planning—and no one’s allowed to say no.

PRIORITIES:
make dinner
remain cozy
haul cargo
go for drinks
pull off one last score
try not to fall in love

FIRST PAGE:

“Did you hear? There’s a Human on board.”
I choked on my noodles and turned to stare at the diners at the next table. Like most of the restaurant’s patrons, the pair had hidden their profiles, a halfhearted attempt at anonymity.
“Gross,” the speaker’s crewmate said, oblivious to my alarm. “I hope it leaves soon.”
“Don’t let it hear you say that,” the first worker laughed. She made a show of looking for Humans, her eyes darting from table to table.
It. I frowned. I knew the workers’ language distinguished between people and things, and ‘it’ was an unkind choice of words at best.
The second worker shuddered. “I don’t know why we let them come here.”
The first laughed. “Are you going to stop them?”

COMPS:
Murderbot by Martha Wells
Someone You Can Build a Nest In by John Wiswell
The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers

TROPES:
Non-binary narrator masking anxiety with sarcasm
lying to themselves
non-human perspective (afraid of humans)
neurodivergent main characters
metaphorically disabled protagonist
slow-burn friends-to-lovers and enemies to lovers in the same relationship
disabilitynorm and queernorm setting
found family
loveable pet/terrifying monster

Fay Irwin (pen name)@fantasyscience.bsky.social · last mo.

In CHEMICAL SOLUTIONS FOR LONELY HEARTS, two awkward scientists must overcome their mutual dislike to save the world. #QueerPit #A #RC #SF - Mistaken identities - Enemies to lovers - Fake dating - Black cat and porcupine - Explosive chemistry (both kinds)

Poster of a silhouetted man and woman facing away from each other, looking annoyed. Behind them is an Erlenmeyer flask leaking a pink liquid that turns into a heart. The background fades from blue through pink to orange. To the right, a wreath contains the words "2026 RevPit winner"

Title: Chemical Solutions for Lonely Hearts
Author: F. Irwin
Logline: a sci-fi rom-com with real chemistry

Fay Irwin (pen name)@fantasyscience.bsky.social · last mo.

Word has decided my novel is "formal writing," and wants me to expand all contractions. On the other hand, it has no problem with the many expletives.

Olinda Brown @olindabrown.bsky.social · last mo.

A GUIDE TO LIVING WITH DRAGONS. enough said. #unhingedpit #A #F #cozyfantasy #amalmostquerying

Text: hold dragon gentle like hamburger.
Image: small, black dragon being held like a duck.

SonnyZappa @sonnyzappa.bsky.social · last mo.

Hey you! Yeah, you! Don't you want a YA sci-fi where the main character is DUMB? Where heaven is PAY-TO-ENTER? And all the adults are DEPRESSED? Well, fear not, I bring you DANAKE, and you can take a personality quiz to discover which character you are! 🧵 #UnhingedPit

Sam Peil 🧟😈🤡@sampeil.bsky.social · last mo.

#unhingedpit #h #lgbt #r

Text at top: Accidentally waking your great-great grandfather at the bottom of the lake.

Text: Expectation (image-blacksmith working in smithy)

Text: Reality (image-demon in front of water holding balloons)

Sam (but Ennie nominated, though)@msbsandrs.bsky.social · last mo.

A cabal of MK Ultra leftovers tries to make Faith from Buffy the Vampire Slayer into a remote-controlled Captain America. She takes it personally. #unhingedpit #a #sf #t #q Yeah, both of my pitches involve Eliza Dushku. Sue me.

Eliza Dushku as Faith: Tis The Season

Alt: Eliza Dushku as Faith from Buffy the Vampire Slayer standing in front of Christmas lights and saying "'Tis the season."

static.klipy.com

Dierdre Cieran @dmcieran.bsky.social · last mo.

#unhingedpit #A #F #T #W BLACK TOWER OF DESTINY AND DOOM THE DARK CRYSTAL X THE STORMLIGHT ARCHIVES

Dierdre Cieran @dmcieran.bsky.social · last mo.

BLACK TOWER OF DESTINY AND DOOM It's not all war, terror, and keeping your mind out of the hands of the enemy. It's also a love story. FMC sings "Everywhere" and MMC calls out "All You Wanted" both by Michelle Branch, as they navigate "Home By Now/No Matter What" by Meatloaf. #unhingedpit #A #F #W

Fay Irwin (pen name)@fantasyscience.bsky.social · last mo.

I've been pitching the romance side of CHEMICAL SOLUTIONS FOR LONELY HEARTS, so here's the science side. Apologies for profanity. My character's just like that. #UnhingedPit #A #R #SF #Q (almost) Uh, if any chemists look at this, please excuse my terrible electrochemical cell. Oops.

Two chemical formulae I don't want to write here without the ability to do sub- and superscripts. They're both about producing ammonia from nitrogen gas.

Then there's a (terribly incorrect) sketch of an electrochemical cell and the words "project fertile-as-fuck".

Then "Will a pressure cooker work?"

Finally, a picture of a bomb exploding and the word "BOOM!" followed by "Just kidding, George")

Fay Irwin (pen name)@fantasyscience.bsky.social · last mo.

Nat likes George but hates her reclusive boss. George likes Nat but hates his rebellious employee. George is Nat's boss. CHEMICAL SOLUTIONS FOR LONELY HEARTS: a sci-fi romcom with real chemistry. #UnhingedPit #A #R #SF #Q (almost)

Fay Irwin (pen name)@fantasyscience.bsky.social · last mo.

Best comps.

Sam Peil 🧟😈🤡@sampeil.bsky.social · last mo.

SLEEPING BEAUTY x FREE WILLY 😈🍕🌊💋🏳️‍🌈🛶 #unhingedpit #h #r

Fay Irwin (pen name)@fantasyscience.bsky.social · last mo.

I love this title. I want to add "Doom" to all my titles now.

Dierdre Cieran@dmcieran.bsky.social · last mo.

BLACK TOWER OF DESTINY AND DOOM THE DARK CRYSTAL x THE BLACK GRYPHON (lbr, Amberdrake 🤤) ⚔️We begin in the middle ⚔️A war story with a love story ⚔️Mentor POV ⚔️Found family ⚔️Magic and sword training montages #unhingedpit #A #F #W

Fay Irwin (pen name)@fantasyscience.bsky.social · last mo.

But these titles aren't bad?? I love Willy. (Not a title, and not a double entendre.)

Sam Peil 🧟😈🤡@sampeil.bsky.social · last mo.

Bad title brainstorm! 🏳️‍🌈HANGRY, HORNY, & POSSIBLY POSSESSED 👴🏻THEY SAY BLOOD 🔥FORGED AT THE BOTTOM OF THE LAKE 💋BLOOD, LOVE, & ALLOY 😈THE NIGHT I ACCIDENTALLY FREED WILLY 🌊FLOODED FORGE 👺HELL’S FORGE 🍕DAY THE DEMON CAME BACK 🪓DEMON BLACKSMITH #unhingedpit #h #r

Fay Irwin (pen name)@fantasyscience.bsky.social · last mo.

We need more unskilled book art. (Though I wouldn't actually call this unskilled.)

SonnyZappa@sonnyzappa.bsky.social · last mo.

INDIANA JONES X AC BROTHERHOOD Do you know those horrible AI "your life as a BLANK" clickbait videos? Here's my Historical Fantasy version! Not featuring 🖍️ -AI -Any kind of artistic skill -Straight characters -Industry engagement - Skills in general #UnhingedPit #F #H

Fay Irwin (pen name)@fantasyscience.bsky.social · last mo.

I love this description.

Sam (but Ennie nominated, though)@msbsandrs.bsky.social · last mo.

Lucy Kills in Her Sleep DOLLHOUSE x TAXI DRIVER What if Frankenstein's monster was a chainsmoking college dropout with an 80s action movie addiction, and Dr. Frankenstein was the entire US government? Sounds like the kind of story where everyone lives happily ever after. #unhingedpit #a #sf #t #q

Fay Irwin (pen name)@fantasyscience.bsky.social · last mo.

This amazing drawing sums up CHEMICAL SOLUTIONS FOR LONELY HEARTS. #UnhingedPit #AmAlmostQuerying

A sketch of two people standing in front of a fume hood. On the left, a woman in a lab coat and safety glasses has her hands on her hips. She's glaring at the man, who is very tall and skinny. His arms are crossed and he stares at her impassively. He's wearing normal glasses and has a bit of a beard.

In the fume hood, red liquid is exploding out of an Erlenmeyer flask on a hotplate. In the air it turns into little hearts.

Fay Irwin (pen name)@fantasyscience.bsky.social · 2mo ago

This is such a great story (by a great author).

Jessica Fisher Riches - is Querying and Drafting@prahajess.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Thrilled to be a part of The Write Launch's June magazine: thewritelaunch.com/2026/06/four...

Laura Galán-Wells @lauragalanwells.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Check Fay’s showcase out here - I LOVE her novel, and know others will too 🥰🥰🥰 Kudos to all of the Revpit winners and their hard work 💪 www.reviseresub.com/showcase/che...

Chemical Solutions for Lonely Hearts

by Fay Irwin (@fantasyscience.bsky.social) Adult SciFi Rom-Com

reviseresub.com

Fay Irwin (pen name)@fantasyscience.bsky.social · 2mo ago

#RevPit showcase starts tomorrow! Today, we thank our editors. @lauragalanwells.bsky.social has helped me temper my chaos just enough to turn CHEMICAL SOLUTIONS FOR LONELY HEARTS into a fast-paced RomCom with strong sci-fi elements that (in my very humble opinion) really shines. 1/n

Fay Irwin (pen name)@fantasyscience.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Tried to write a spicy scene this morning. 1000 words in, it's mostly about electric kettles. #AmWriting