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dancingstarpress.com
Dancing Star Press
@dancingstarpress.com
330 followers 16 following 120 posts
Micro press publisher of science fiction and fantasy novellas. Jennifer Crispin, publisher. Lansing, MI.
www.dancingstarpress.com
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dancingstarpress.com
This is a video that Tanvir Ahmed shared with me when we were talking about cover design for the book, and I must have watched it dozens of times while reaching out to potential artists and creating an inspiration board for the project.
Harkalay | Coke Studio Pakistan | Season 15 | Zahoor x REHMA
YouTube video by Coke Studio Pakistan
www.youtube.com
February 7, 2026 at 8:11 PM
dancingstarpress.com
The wonderful @mariahaskins.com also provided a lovely blurb for The Night Sweeps the Mountains Away!
Promotional image for The Night Sweeps the Mountains Away by Tanvir Ahmed Contains the cover image for the book, which features a woman in a headscarf, a white dog at her side, seated on hill overlooking a valley, the mountains and the night sky in the background. Text in image: "The Night Sweeps the Mountains Away is an exquisitely crafted novella about two people, both scarred and changed by the pain violence inflicted on them, who meet and change each other's lives. It's a spellbinding vampire story that will break, and mend, your heart." — Maria Haskins, author of Six Dreams About the Train and Wolves & Girls Cover Design by Guoldu Dancing Star Press
February 7, 2026 at 12:53 AM
dancingstarpress.com
Add The Night Sweeps the Mountains Away to your to-read shelf on the StoryGraph!
The Night Sweeps the Mountains Away by Tanvir Ahmed
One evening at summer’s end, in a town where nomads and caravans prepare to cross the mountains,...
app.thestorygraph.com
February 5, 2026 at 11:43 PM
dancingstarpress.com
@bogiperson.bsky.social gave us such a lovely review for this book, which we sadly had to truncate for the back cover of the book, but I wanted to share more of it here!
Promotional image for The Night Sweeps the Mountains Away by Tanvir Ahmed Contains the cover image for the book, which features a woman in a headscarf, a white dog at her side, seated on hill overlooking a valley, the mountains and the night sky in the background. Text in image: "THE NIGHT SWEEPS THE MOUNTAINS AWAY is a gracefully written novella that delights all the senses — I could feel the breeze on my face, smell the flowering plants and the coppery tang of a blade dripping blood. But as the story pulls you in, it also asks hard questions. What happens after a failed revolution?" — Bogi Takács, Hugo and Lambda award winning author, editor and critic Cover Design by Guoldu Dancing Star Press
February 4, 2026 at 9:25 PM
dancingstarpress.com
When I first read The Night Sweeps the Mountains Away by Tanvir Ahmed in my slush pile, what grabbed me immediately was the evocativeness of his storytelling. The scene-setting. The establishment of character by tone of voice.

The first three paragraphs of the book:
Screenshot of text, which reads: The first time I met Mina, I saw the story written at the corner of her eye. A diamond in four dots, nested between her right temple and the edge of her eyebrow. To most it would look like a beauty mark. I knew better. I met her toward summer’s end, as the winds began to settle and the markets swelled with the year’s last eastbound caravans. At the time, I was making a living as a water carrier. I spent most days loping between the public wells and my clients’ houses, waiting with the women and nomads to fill my leather bag, hauling it through the dust and cla­mor of the streets, forcing a smile as doors opened for me. I made enough for my daily bread, and did not have to ask for alms. I had several clients in the area of the Gulistan Gate, a quiet neighborhood shaded by fragrant olive trees. The air there was sweetened by birdsong and scents from unseen gardens. I was near to an invisible presence myself, part of the neighborhood’s heartbeat, no different from its sparrows or strays. No one asked who my people were, where I was from, what my story was. It was better that way, I would tell myself: to be forgotten, and to forget.
February 3, 2026 at 4:23 PM
dancingstarpress.com
It has come to my attention that a few people were having trouble with payment processing on the press site. I have cleared up some issues, and transactions are now going through. If you were unable to make a pre-order before, please try again now!

I apologize for the inconvenience.
February 2, 2026 at 7:01 PM
dancingstarpress.com
The Night Sweeps the Mountains Away by Tanvir Ahmed, now available for pre-order!

⚔️ Failed rebellions & exile
🏠 When home is another person
⛰️ Set in 19th century Afghanistan
🐫 Caravans & travel by mule
🐕 A very good doggo (who lives!)
🩸 Strange appetites

dancingstarpress.com/product/the-...
Cover image of The Night Sweeps the Mountains Away by Tanvir Ahmed. The illustration is of a woman in profile, wearing a dark headscarf, sitting on the ground with a lantern on her left and a dog at her right. The dog is white, with long legs and a long, curved tail. They are seated on a hill overlooking a valley, with mountains and the night sky in the distance.
February 2, 2026 at 6:57 PM
Reposted by Dancing Star Press
guoldu.bsky.social
It's finally here!!!!!! Getting the opportunity to design this cover was such a specially targeted delight for me. Thanks to Jennifer and Tanvir for their amazing insight and enormous trust in this process 💓 Get yourself a copy!
dancingstarpress.com Dancing Star Press @dancingstarpress.com · 6d
It is cover reveal time!

The next book from Dancing Star Press is The Night Sweeps the Mountains Away by Tanvir Ahmed.

The cover was designed by the incredibly talented @guoldu.bsky.social, who was absolutely fabulous to work with and whose commissions are currently open!
Cover image of The Night Sweeps the Mountains Away by Tanvir Ahmed. The illustration is of a woman in profile, wearing a dark headscarf, sitting on the ground with a lantern on her left and a dog at her right. The dog is white, with long legs and a long, curved tail. They are seated on a hill overlooking a valley, with mountains and the night sky in the distance.
February 1, 2026 at 8:09 PM
dancingstarpress.com
It is cover reveal time!

The next book from Dancing Star Press is The Night Sweeps the Mountains Away by Tanvir Ahmed.

The cover was designed by the incredibly talented @guoldu.bsky.social, who was absolutely fabulous to work with and whose commissions are currently open!
Cover image of The Night Sweeps the Mountains Away by Tanvir Ahmed. The illustration is of a woman in profile, wearing a dark headscarf, sitting on the ground with a lantern on her left and a dog at her right. The dog is white, with long legs and a long, curved tail. They are seated on a hill overlooking a valley, with mountains and the night sky in the distance.
February 1, 2026 at 7:38 PM
dancingstarpress.com
I do not use this account often enough, but I hope you all are ready for me to be posting EVERY SINGLE DAY the month of February for our next book release: The Night Sweeps the Mountains Away by Tanvir Ahmed!
February 1, 2026 at 1:57 AM
Reposted by Dancing Star Press
mariahaskins.com
I'm currently reading an eARC of Tanvir Ahmed's book and (as usual) his prose is like a spell - I feel literally spellbound while reading.
greeniezona.bsky.social Jennifer Crispin || Dancing Star Press @greeniezona.bsky.social · Dec 10
I am about to have eARCs for two books I will ACTUALLY be publishing in the new year!

The Night Sweeps the Mountains Away by Tanvir Ahmed:
historical fantasy in 19th century Afghanistan, monsters, the costs of survival, and what home means
January 10, 2026 at 4:59 PM
Reposted by Dancing Star Press
greeniezona.bsky.social
I am about to have eARCs for two books I will ACTUALLY be publishing in the new year!

The Night Sweeps the Mountains Away by Tanvir Ahmed:
historical fantasy in 19th century Afghanistan, monsters, the costs of survival, and what home means
December 10, 2025 at 10:29 PM
dancingstarpress.com
Are you shopping small this Saturday?
dancingstarpress.com Dancing Star Press @dancingstarpress.com · Nov 26
Looking for gifts? Last minute #Novellavember reads? A rage-filled quest for justice to read surreptitiously on your phone at family gatherings? We've got you covered!

Get 30% off through November 30 with the coupon code shopsmall!

dancingstarpress.com/product-cate...
November 29, 2025 at 6:47 PM
dancingstarpress.com
Looking for gifts? Last minute #Novellavember reads? A rage-filled quest for justice to read surreptitiously on your phone at family gatherings? We've got you covered!

Get 30% off through November 30 with the coupon code shopsmall!

dancingstarpress.com/product-cate...
November 26, 2025 at 9:35 PM
dancingstarpress.com
Looking for some weekend reading?

Check out this short story on Kaleidotrope by Tanvir Ahmed for god-drunk pigeons, dervishes, and being driven from your road by love.

(and keep your eye out for Ahmed's book, The Night Sweeps the Mountains away, coming February 2026!)
“Wilayat in Seven Saints” by Tanvir Ahmed
kaleidotrope.net
October 10, 2025 at 8:26 PM
dancingstarpress.com
For NO PARTICULAR REASON WHATSOEVER, we are running a promotion to encourage you to support small businesses and small publishers this week! Use the code shopsmall to get 20% off everything at the Dancing Star Press shop! Offer good through July 14th!

dancingstarpress.com/product-cate...
July 9, 2025 at 7:34 PM
dancingstarpress.com
Tonight I am feeling some kinda way about Bride of the River God in particular. By the amazing, multi-talented @killianfantasy.bsky.social! Modern myth energy about a young woman chosen to marry a god, but finds a way to choose her own path. Deserves its own Muppet movie.
Bride of the River God | Dancing Star Press
dancingstarpress.com
May 23, 2025 at 1:12 AM
dancingstarpress.com
It's time for yet another installment in the series Tiny Press Press!

Today's feature is about Ryszard Merey of the amazing @traumbooks.bsky.social

Please check out the interview to learn a little more about him, then give them a follow!

dancingstarpress.com/2025/05/22/1...
Text in image reads: tiny press press presents: tRaum Books, fluid, queer, trans lit Main image is of a hardback book, open with its spine flat against a table, two of its pages curled into to form a heart. Inset is the tRaum Books logo, which features a capital T in pixelated bubble font.
May 22, 2025 at 12:51 PM
Reposted by Dancing Star Press
bydhiyanah.bsky.social
"Tiny publishing spreads joy. It saves lives, in the most literal of ways. I believe that we are our stories, so to me, nothing is more important." - @edebell.com @atthisarts.com 💖 #IndiePress #books #BookSky
dancingstarpress.com Dancing Star Press @dancingstarpress.com · May 8
It's time for another installment of Tiny Press Press — a series of Q&As with the people behind tiny presses publishing speculative fiction!

This piece features Emily of @atthisarts.com
Go check out the interview and give eir a follow!

dancingstarpress.com/2025/05/08/1...
text in image reads: tiny press press presents: Atthis Arts, Detroit Michigan primary image is of a hardback book, laid open spine down on a desk, with two of its center pages curled in to form a heart shape. image on Atthis Arts logo is of a hummingbird perched on a branch.
May 9, 2025 at 4:24 AM
dancingstarpress.com
It's time for another installment of Tiny Press Press — a series of Q&As with the people behind tiny presses publishing speculative fiction!

This piece features Emily of @atthisarts.com
Go check out the interview and give eir a follow!

dancingstarpress.com/2025/05/08/1...
text in image reads: tiny press press presents: Atthis Arts, Detroit Michigan primary image is of a hardback book, laid open spine down on a desk, with two of its center pages curled in to form a heart shape. image on Atthis Arts logo is of a hummingbird perched on a branch.
May 8, 2025 at 1:52 PM
dancingstarpress.com
Boosting for the evening folk!
dancingstarpress.com Dancing Star Press @dancingstarpress.com · Apr 30
It's time for a second installment of Tiny Press Press — a series of Q&As with the people behind tiny presses publishing speculative fiction!

This first piece features Catherine of @qospress.bsky.social
Go check out the interview and give her a follow!

dancingstarpress.com/2025/04/30/1...
text of image reads: tiny press press presents: Queen of Swords Press image is of a hardbound book opened with its spine flat against the table, two of its central pages curved in on each other to form the outline of a heart. the Queen of Swords Press logo is of a woman in profile, holding a sword.
May 2, 2025 at 12:24 AM
dancingstarpress.com
It's time for a second installment of Tiny Press Press — a series of Q&As with the people behind tiny presses publishing speculative fiction!

This first piece features Catherine of @qospress.bsky.social
Go check out the interview and give her a follow!

dancingstarpress.com/2025/04/30/1...
text of image reads: tiny press press presents: Queen of Swords Press image is of a hardbound book opened with its spine flat against the table, two of its central pages curved in on each other to form the outline of a heart. the Queen of Swords Press logo is of a woman in profile, holding a sword.
April 30, 2025 at 11:21 AM
Reposted by Dancing Star Press
atthisarts.com
Dancing Star Press is doing this *wonderful* series. We hope you'll follow them for the posts, and check out Dancing Star's books - and all the small presses they'll be featuring! ❤️

We walk together.

dancingstarpress.com
April 23, 2025 at 4:25 PM
dancingstarpress.com
Welcome to Tiny Press Press — a series of Q&As with the people behind tiny presses publishing speculative fiction!

This first piece features Claire of @duckprintspress.com
Go check out the interview and give them a follow!

dancingstarpress.com/2025/04/23/t...
tiny press press presents: Duck Prints Press, we print diversity Image is of a hardback book, opened flat against the table, with the two central pages of the book curved to make a heart shape. There is an inset of the logo of Duck Prints Press, which is a white duck with duck prints in all the colors of the rainbow.
April 23, 2025 at 10:53 AM
dancingstarpress.com
I was in an activism workshop today that made excellent use of music, and it reminded me of this fantastic playlist @ellethevillain.bsky.social to go with A Ruin of Shadows, which I had not listened to in too long. If you need a soundtrack for your weekend, I recommend it.
Daynja Edo
Playlist · Ellethevillain · 10 items · 12 saves
open.spotify.com
April 18, 2025 at 6:15 PM