Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Lorraine Birnita

@lorrainebirnita.bsky.social

Any #agents or #editors looking for a similar concept in story form, I have just the manuscript. ##amquerying

Chris Miller @thelittlepakeha.net · Jun 6

African developers make a game where African characters steal back actual artefacts that are actually kept in Western museums and private collections while teaching you about the artefacts. This looks awesome.

Relooted on Steam

Reclaim real African artifacts from Western museums in this Africanfuturist heist game. Recruit crew members, plan escape routes, acquire the precious cargo, and bounce out of the joint as fast as you...

store.steampowered.com

June 10, 2025 at 8:09 PM

Reposted by Lorraine Birnita

Rachel Burrows

@rburrows.bsky.social

Shortlisted!
Absolutely made up! 😊😱🥳
Thank you so much @saranaidinecox.bsky.social and all the readers involved!
Congratulations to everyone who entered!

Cheshire Novel Prize @saranaidinecox.bsky.social · Apr 15

We are so excited to announce our Cheshire Novel Prize Kids Shortlist 2024/25. There was so much talent this year. Congratulations to all our listed writers; we wish you could all have gone through. And a massive well done to these 9 who made it past 1000+ entries!

April 15, 2025 at 1:15 PM

Lorraine Birnita

@lorrainebirnita.bsky.social

Exciting times!

I'm thrilled to have made the shortlist for such a fabulous prize! Thank you to all the readers and the judges! I'm absolutely chuffed! Happy dance!💃 🥳🎉🎊

Cheshire Novel Prize @saranaidinecox.bsky.social · Apr 15

We are so excited to announce our Cheshire Novel Prize Kids Shortlist 2024/25. There was so much talent this year. Congratulations to all our listed writers; we wish you could all have gone through. And a massive well done to these 9 who made it past 1000+ entries!

April 15, 2025 at 1:56 PM

Reposted by Lorraine Birnita

EllenMulholland is hopeful ✨

@ellenmulholland.bsky.social

Editor's Guide to THE LOST ENCHANTRESS OF STARFELL
#MG #F #JV soon #OS #QuestPit

When a Qhaotic sorcerer threatens to plunge Starfell into shadow, young witch Keila Greenleaf must unlock ancient Jewish magic and recover a legendary amulet before her world is lost forever.

Contact: Rebecca Angus

Title: an editor's guide to THE LOST ENCHANTRESS OF STARFELL, a middle grade fantasy, by Ellen Mulholland; fox face

Pitch copy: Keila Greenleaf has always struggled with magic, but when her enchanted homeland of Starfell is threatened by Qhaotic forces intent on upsetting its harmony, she has no choice but to rise to the challenge.

Starfell’s ancient Kho’mik magic has fallen under the disruptive powers of Malakai Shadowcaster—a once-hero turned Qhaotic sorcerer.

To stop him, Keila must unravel Starfell’s history, steeped in Jewish lore, and retrieve a legendary amulet before Malakai destroys everything—and everyone—she loves.

But the journey is treacherous. Guided by cryptic riddles, a blind fox companion, and a shifting grimoire, Keila uncovers hidden truths about her family’s connection to sacred magic.

Malakai, however, is always one step ahead.

Excerpt: ... the thought of facing this malevolent sorcerer alone sent a shiver down Keila’s spine. And the prophecy's cryptic lines about balancing harmony and chaos…?

If both were essential, how was she to discern the right amount of each?

Keila could only hope the answers would reveal themselves before it was too late.

Meanwhile, deep in the woods, not far from the grove of sacred trees, a figure lurked. Malakai Shadowcaster had sensed the young witch. He caressed his wand of dried snake skin and fossilized rodent bones and waited for her.

Comps and Vibes: book cover of ANYA AND THE DRAGON (Jewish lore): book cover of SWEEP: A GIRL AND HER MONSTER (power and friendship); book cover of NIC BLAKE AND THE REMARKABLES (identity)

February 12, 2025 at 4:10 PM

Reposted by Lorraine Birnita

Manuscript Wish List®

@manuscriptwishlist.bsky.social

Hello Friends! Welcome to #MSWL Day 2025! 🎉

This is our first #MSWL Day on Bluesky, and we have new features to share!

Rather listen than read? Here’s a how-to! vimeo.com/1055984106

Here’s our Bluesky search guide: youtu.be/LnZt1MCjKZE?...

#MSWL Day 2025: Search Tips & Features

This is "#MSWL Day 2025: Search Tips & Features" by The Manuscript Academy on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

vimeo.com

February 12, 2025 at 1:47 PM

Reposted by Lorraine Birnita

J.W. Gant

@johnwgant.bsky.social

Please consider:

JESIPEDIA THE KID DETECTIVE - 23K #MG
Encyclopedia Brown Reimagined 1of4 Series

THE HOLLOW - 98K #H #HF

SNOW FALLS IN APRIL - 73K #A #LF

RUNNING UNTIL TOMORROW IS GONE - 65K #AA #SF
2of2 Series

HOW TO STEAL FROM THE PRESIDENT WHILE SAVING A FOSTER HOME - #W

#2025Pit #Q #UW

Summary images of manuscripts by J.W. Gant including: The Hollow (horror), Snow Falls in April (Upmarket Contemporary), Running Until Tomorrow is Gone (Action, Hardboiled, Crime, Sci-Fi), Jesipedia The Kid Detective series 1 of 4 (Middle Grade), and a WIP titled How to Steal from the President While Saving a Foster Home.

J.W. Gant / Humble Teller of Stories

January 27, 2025 at 8:50 PM

Reposted by Lorraine Birnita

( ♡ ) ( 🌙 miraculous witch of fate )

@basicbaka.bsky.social

New to town, witch Celeste is determined to think up an original potion for her shop! But when her generational powers finally awaken, she must turn to Derek -- the distracting fortune teller next door -- for help. #questpit #W #F #R #A

February 12, 2025 at 1:47 PM

Reposted by Lorraine Birnita

J.P. Flynn

@jpflynn.bsky.social

THE IMMORTAL'S ASSISTANT

📚 dark academia
🍃 nature magic
🩸 blood magic
👻 hauntings
🕯️ found family
⚔️ reluctant hero
🩶 hurt/comfort romance

#QuestPit #Q #PR #F #A

#agentguide #amquerying #querying #writingcommunity #litagents #writersky #booksky

February 12, 2025 at 1:40 PM

Reposted by Lorraine Birnita

E.K. Vanberg

@ekvanberg.bsky.social

As a lady mechanic, Clare keeps a hard exterior, and no journalist is going to crack her story, unless that woman’s life is threatened by the same man determined to destroy Clare’s career.

#questpit #Q #A
#feminist #MY #sapphic
Lady Mechanic, Endangered

February 12, 2025 at 1:51 PM

Lorraine Birnita

@lorrainebirnita.bsky.social

FOURTH WING + ACOTAR

In a realm of monsters, humans are food.

A human princess on the hunt 4 the last dragon eggs must fight 4 survival and save her people while trying not to lose her heart to the vampire prince who craves not only her blood but her soul.

#questpit #NA #RF #W