Jon Sparks
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jonsparksauthor.bsky.social
Jon Sparks
@jonsparksauthor.bsky.social
1.8K followers 1.8K following 2.4K posts
After more than 30 years, and 60 books, as an outdoor writer and photographer, I’m now fully focused on fiction with the Shattered Moon series. AI-free (and I mean free).
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jonsparksauthor.bsky.social
#WIPSnips 20/2:
#WIPSnips are from Book 8 of The Shattered Moon.
There are14 instances of light’.
#books #writing #WriteSky #writingcommunity
Carrying her own drink, she followed him through the Buscoe gavotte, an improvised dance as complex as any ballroom staple, to the corner where Fedwyn waited. "You took your time," he began. "What were you doing, scrounging coins off the floor where—" He broke off as Kell, having deposited the drinks, stepped aside to give Fed a first glimpse of his companion. He savoured Fed’s surprise for a moment before saying, "Fedwyn of Pikethron, may I present Lady Torvyn of Skilthorn?" Surprised before, Fedwyn was flabbergasted now. For a moment he merely gaped; then, abruptly recalling his manners, he lurched to his feet. Only a reflex grab by Kell saved the table—and with it the brace of full glasses—from upset.
February 20, 2026 at 8:07 AM
jonsparksauthor.bsky.social
#WordWeavers 20/2: What tropes are in your current project?
Don’t know, don’t think in those terms. (See also ‘story structure’.)
#books #writing #WriteSky #writingcommunity
February 20, 2026 at 7:59 AM
jonsparksauthor.bsky.social
#WIPSnips 19/2:
#WIPSnips are from Book 8 of The Shattered Moon.
It’s a world that doesn’t even have electric light yet, let alone lasers (though watch this space). Still, 30 instances of light’.
#books #writing #WriteSky #writingcommunity
"What about you?" Kell asked Lerring. "Photosensitivity," he answered without hesitation. "What’s that?" Asking him an incautious question like this could precipitate a lengthy discourse, as it did now; Kell thought ironically of Fed’s verdict on Professor Devney. But he gathered the essentials; many materials were sensitive to light—"even your own skin changes colour after prolonged exposure—yours much more than mine"—and scientists were busy experimenting with ways to exploit this property. The ultimate aim was to focus light with a lens—cue references to telescopes and camera-obscuras. This, added Lerring, was the easy part. The hard part was finding a way to fix an image so that it could be viewed again later, preferably in a portable form.
February 19, 2026 at 7:21 AM
jonsparksauthor.bsky.social
#WritersCoffeeClub 19/2: What’s your biggest challenge when crafting a satisfying ending?
Knowing when to stop. Life goes on, the characters go on, but books have to end somewhere.
#books #writing #WriteSky #writingcommunity
February 19, 2026 at 7:13 AM
jonsparksauthor.bsky.social
#WordWeavers 19/2: Does your antagonist believe in the supernatural?
Perriad does not. And therein lies one of the few points on which she and Jerya would wholeheartedly agree.
#books #writing #WriteSky #writingcommunity
February 19, 2026 at 7:13 AM
Reposted by Jon Sparks
kirstimiller30.bsky.social
What does the science say about transgender women in sports?

With all the talk about "men" in women's sports, it's time to take a look at what scientific studies say.

A brilliant article 👏👏

www.advocate.com/news/transge...
What does the science say about transgender women in sports?
<p>With all the talk about "men" in women's sports, it's time to take a look at what scientific studies say.</p>
www.advocate.com
February 18, 2026 at 7:10 AM
jonsparksauthor.bsky.social
#WritersCoffeeClub 18/2: How balanced are your finished works? What do you do to achieve that balance?
The books are perfectly balanced. You can hold them in your hands for hours.
#books #writing #WriteSky #writingcommunity
February 18, 2026 at 7:25 AM
jonsparksauthor.bsky.social
#WordWeavers 18/2: Can your MC carry a tune?
The only direct evidence is in Three Kinds of North, when Jerya joins in the Dawnsong for the first time. She’s praised for her effort, which suggests the answer is yes, though when you remember…
#books #writing #WriteSky #writingcommunity
February 18, 2026 at 7:25 AM
jonsparksauthor.bsky.social
#WIPSnips 17/2:
#WIPSnips are from Book 8 of The Shattered Moon, still untitled, but well advanced.
There are eight occurrences of ‘value’.
#books #writing #WriteSky #writingcommunity
"I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your offer. How much I… value you for making it. But it’s all come on us very suddenly. We can take a week to think about it, can’t we? And I won’t think less of you if you have second thoughts." "Then you’re more forgiving of me than I would be of myself." They said farewells, and he mounted up, but just as he was ready to move she rested a hand on his thigh. "Kerriel… You’re a very dear man. You said 'best friends', but I’m not sure… not sure that tells the whole story." She took a step back, and then, with a flashing mischievous grin, gave the horse a good slap on the hindquarters. He was in motion before he’d had chance to conjure a reply.
February 17, 2026 at 7:42 AM
jonsparksauthor.bsky.social
#WordWeavers 17/2: Would you still write if you had to use a typewriter or pen and paper?
That’s how I started. My first published articles were done on a manual typewriter. I didn’t get a proper computer (Mac IIsi) until seven or eight years…
#books #writing #WriteSky #writingcommunity
February 17, 2026 at 7:37 AM
jonsparksauthor.bsky.social
#WritersCoffeeClub 17/2: How do you write about ecstasy, in a spiritual, artistic, or sensual context?
I don’t ‘write about’ emotions. There’s no ‘ecstasy writing kit’. I aim to be open to whatever the characters are feeling at any given moment and…
#books #writing #WriteSky #writingcommunity
February 17, 2026 at 7:36 AM
jonsparksauthor.bsky.social
Latest Substack Post considers two short novels (novellas?) by my favourite writer.
And there’s a positively Pratchettian plethora of footnotes.
The Eye of the Forest
In praise of short novels (with a positively Pratchettian plethora of footnotes).
open.substack.com
February 16, 2026 at 11:58 AM
jonsparksauthor.bsky.social
#wordweavers 16/2: If your MC had a statue put up in their honour, what would it be for?
Jerya would be mortified by the very idea. Since her daughter’s an artist, she can’t very well refuse to sit for at least an informal portrait, and…
#books #writing #WriteSky #writingcommunity
February 16, 2026 at 7:33 AM
jonsparksauthor.bsky.social
#WritersCoffeeClub 16/2: What’s the most ridiculous place you’ve tried to sneak in some writing?
I don’t know about ‘ridiculous’… How about two places I *can’t* write: in a moving car, or on a bus. Any attempt to write (or read) leads to nausea. Trains…
#books #writing #WriteSky #writingcommunity
February 16, 2026 at 7:32 AM
Reposted by Jon Sparks
tomgauld.bsky.social
A romance cartoon for the @theguardian.com
A large Regency house. Two sisters named Emilia and Charlotte talk on an upper floor. "Mister Blackwell has come to call again." says Emilia as she looks out of the window "Oh, how I despise his uncouth manners and electric bicycle!" Charlotte says "Sister, you will end up a spinster if you insist on a historically accurate suitor." and continues "The romance novel has changed, Emilia, and so must we." Emilia replies "Easy for you to say. You are engaged to the richest werewolf in the county!" They are walking through the house. Charlotte says "Look at Cousin Lucy: She is quite plain, yet made a most advantageous match with the dragon queen of nalthrax." "True." says Emilia opening the door. The tall, solid figure of Miuster Blackwell stands at the door wearing a top hat and tailcoat: "Ladies, I triumphed In my ice hockey match and won ten thousand a year in sponsorship! Miss Emilia, will you be my bride?" he is holding a hockey stick. Emilia swoons into Charlotte's arms.
February 15, 2026 at 10:30 AM
jonsparksauthor.bsky.social
#WIPSnips are from Book 8 of The Shattered Moon, still untitled, but well advanced.
There are 163 occurrences of ‘never’. You’ll be shocked to hear that I haven’t gone through them all to find the ‘best’.
#books #writing #WriteSky #writingcommunity
"I think I may have done something rather stupid," he said. Ysutèni gave him one of her sharpest looks. "Are you going to tell me what it is?" He explained the background, perhaps at rather more than necessary length. After a while, Ysu said, "Ever since I first arrived, yesterday, I’ve had the impression that money was tight. I never knew what that looked like, not in the Zenana, not at Skilthorn; not until I visited a couple of friends’ houses when I was a bit older. And I saw… it was clear enough they’d made sacrifices to give their girls an education. In one case, I won’t say who, she was the one who’s gone on to University, while her brother’s stayed home to help run the estate. It’s very unusual, of course, to put a girl’s education ahead of a boy’s, but they were all proud of it, including the brother, and they talked freely about it."
February 15, 2026 at 8:16 AM
jonsparksauthor.bsky.social
#WritersCoffeeClub 15/2: How big are your settings?
The scale expands as the series progresses. Book One is entirely within the Sung Lands, which are about the size of England. Book 2 takes us into the Five Principalities, similar in size.
Later books…
#books #writing #WriteSky #writingcommunity
February 15, 2026 at 8:11 AM
jonsparksauthor.bsky.social
#WordWeavers 15/2: Describe your MC’s eyes.
There’s nothing exceptional in Jerya’s eyes—to look at. What matters, as is clear from Chapter One of Three Kinds of North, is what they see. From an early age she’s been unusually watchful and observant.
Oh, …
#books #writing #WriteSky #writingcommunity
February 15, 2026 at 8:10 AM
jonsparksauthor.bsky.social
#WordWeavers 14/2: Who does your antagonist care about?
Perriad will always say she only cares for the Guild of Dawnsingers. Others might say it’s curious how the best interests of the Guild so frequently seem to coincide with the advancement of… Perriad.
#books #writing #WriteSky #writingcommunity
February 14, 2026 at 7:52 AM
jonsparksauthor.bsky.social
#WritersCoffeeClub 14/2: Share a short paragraph of raw prose: the more unpolished the better.
Everyone: What’s the most prominent signature in this draft?
I don’t really do ‘raw’; I could blame my freelance experience, but mostly it’s just the way I am…
#books #writing #WriteSky #writingcommunity
When he’d finished, Torvyn sat silent for long enough to make him shift uneasily in his seat. Finally, she said, "I’d like to say, 'thank you for being honest', but since half of what you’ve told me is an admission that you began your… overtures with the intention of deceiving me, why should I believe you now?"
February 14, 2026 at 7:51 AM
jonsparksauthor.bsky.social
#WIPSnips 13/2:
#WIPSnips are from Book 8 of The Shattered Moon, still untitled, but well advanced.
There are 31 occurrences of ‘serious’.
#books #writing #WriteSky #writingcommunity
Though you’d probably disdain it any other time, somehow you couldn’t beat a soft, floury, white bap as a container for three rashers of bacon, glistening under the lights as Clerry folded them onto the bread, crisp at the edges but still succulent within. A glob of ketchup, and… "Clerry," said Fed after a couple of mouthfuls, "You are a culinary artist of the highest order." "You will have your little jest, sir." "Oh, I’m renowned for it. But on this occasion I’m perfectly serious." "Then I thank you, sir. But I must give most o’the credit to Kallim, as supplies the bacon—and the sausages. And I couldn’t show my face at home if I didn’t give due notice to my missis and her magnificent ketchup." "My compliments to your wife, then, and to Mester Kallim."
February 13, 2026 at 7:49 AM
jonsparksauthor.bsky.social
#writersCoffeeClub 13/2: Do you use maps as reference materials?
Yes. In the current series they were just rough sketches and mental maps for sometime before I drew the world properly, but one way or another, maps are important.
I’ve never quite gone the…
#books #writing #WriteSky #writingcommunity
February 13, 2026 at 7:44 AM
jonsparksauthor.bsky.social
#WordWeavers 13/2: SC POV: You get an unlimited budget to buy one thing. The money can’t be used for other purposes. What will you get?
Railu: oh, this is fantasy, isn’t it? There’s no such thing as an unlimited budget, not in reality: not even for the…
#books #writing #WriteSky #writingcommunity
February 13, 2026 at 7:43 AM
jonsparksauthor.bsky.social
Continuing this serialised novel of murky goings-on in the great outdoors.
Free to read.
The Kanchenjunga Manifesto—Chapter Twenty-eight
Continuing this serialised novel of murky goings-on in the great outdoors.
open.substack.com
February 12, 2026 at 2:19 PM
jonsparksauthor.bsky.social
#WIPSnips 12/2:
#WIPSnips are from Book 8 of The Shattered Moon, still untitled, but well advanced.
There is precisely one occurrence of ‘defence’.
#books #writing #WriteSky #writingcommunity
His face changed and he wrenched himself out of his seat. Kel, bemused, spun around to see Torvyn being confronted by a stranger, and Fed with a hand just taking a grip on the fellow’s arm. He got hastily to his own feet, but before he could arrive the fellow was stumbling away with a swaying irregular gait. Torvyn was smiling as they retook their seats. “—for your intervention. Though I don’t doubt I could have handled that one; he was so drunk he could hardly stand. And we do have self-defence lessons at the Fellowship.” “Ah,” said Fedwyn, grinning at her, “But do they teach you how to defend yourself when carrying a tray of beer? And without spilling any?” She chuckled, and raised her glass to him.
February 12, 2026 at 7:39 AM