A.J. Barber (she/they/none)
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ajbarberbooks.bsky.social
A.J. Barber (she/they/none)
@ajbarberbooks.bsky.social
52 followers 59 following 57 posts
Queer indie fantasy writer and pin maker. Author of the Caelish Order series. Find book one, Hunter's Blessing, on Kindle.

📚🌈/📚🏳️‍⚧️ - Queer & Trans Books
💙📚 - Booksky
🌈🚀💫 - Queer SFF Feed
📚🪐 - SciFi-Fantasy-SpecFic
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ajbarberbooks.bsky.social
Some recs from my recent reads, a thread 📚💙

Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki - 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈 deal with the devil + alien refugees + found family. It's beautiful and poetic and painful and hopeful. Deals with some heavy stuff (particularly transphobia and abuse, including SA) but the ending is worth it
May 4, 2025 at 2:10 AM
ajbarberbooks.bsky.social
First draft is done at 107k!! It's in my alpha readers' hands now. #RivalsWIP #writesky
May 4, 2025 at 1:51 AM
ajbarberbooks.bsky.social
Did you know I sell #Pride #enamelpins over on Etsy? 🌈 I just added two new pin designs in my best-selling flags, but the starburst design that started it all comes in 15 flags!

Everything is 25% off for the month of May so check it out! www.etsy.com/shop/arrowac...

#queerowned #smallbusiness
Image with a pastel yellow background with a rainbow design along the bottom edge. Text reads, "Get ready for Pride with a shop-wide sale! Everything 25% off!" Image with a pastel yellow background with a rainbow design along the bottom edge. Text reads, "Plus two new pins in trans, nonbinary, and aroace flags!" Below the text are six images of pins. The left three are designed like crystal balls surrounded by colored smoke. The right three are octagons depicting a stylized aperture design. Each design comes in the colors of the trans flag (blue, white, and pink), the nonbinary flag (purple, yellow, white, and black), and the aroace flag (orange, yellow, white, light blue, and dark blue.)
May 1, 2025 at 11:28 PM
Reposted by A.J. Barber (she/they/none)
alisonfincher.bsky.social
PLEASE don’t buy into Amazon’s booksale this week.

They are intentionally trying to eat into profits from Indie Bookstore Day this weekend, a really important annual event for our important community institutions.

Check out your local fave or bookshop.org.
Bookshop: Buy books online. Support local bookstores.
An online bookstore that financially supports local independent bookstores and gives back to the book community.
bookshop.org
April 23, 2025 at 1:36 PM
Reposted by A.J. Barber (she/they/none)
bonniegrrl.bsky.social
Everyone is dealing with something. EVERYONE.
Be kinder. 💕
April 23, 2025 at 1:01 AM
ajbarberbooks.bsky.social
Missed a few days, but I'm back with a new snippet from #RivalsWIP (which by the way is getting very close to a finished first draft! Whoo!)

#WIPSnips #amwriting #writesky #queerSFF #queerwriters #indieauthors
Rina spent the dinner instead watching happy faces at other tables, searching for anyone who looked as glum as she felt. Who didn't care about the propaganda that extolled all the wonderful so-called powers that came with a dragon bond. Who didn't want to be a transport pilot stuffed inside a pod twelve hours a day to give her dragon direction and especially didn't want to be a dressed-up weapon the League could brandish to scare every member world into submission.
April 23, 2025 at 2:37 AM
Reposted by A.J. Barber (she/they/none)
lorenzothecat.bsky.social
And now, my favorite Easter tradition.
April 20, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Reposted by A.J. Barber (she/they/none)
discobooks.bsky.social
OR you could read these Black vampire novels:

The Gilda Stories by Jewelle Gomez
Immortal Dark by Tigest Girma
This Ravenous Fate by Hayley Dennings
House of Hunger by Alexis Henderson.

Just a thought.
#booksky #blackbooksky
📚💙 📚🏳️‍🌈 📚🤎
April 20, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Reposted by A.J. Barber (she/they/none)
kimbly.bsky.social
Shera x Catra fanart I made after the final season came out. I love this series sooooo much!!! TuT 💖💖💖

#shera #fanart #catra
A drawing of Shera in her white foor-length dress dancing with Catra who's in pants and a red button-down shirt with lapels and a white cape on her left shoulder
April 20, 2025 at 4:52 AM
Reposted by A.J. Barber (she/they/none)
lrlam.bsky.social
If you would like magic trials set in an arcane university in a queernom world (+dragons), that's Emberclaw (though you should read Dragonfall first). I grew up on HP and I know its creator would hate pretty much everything about this series. Once, that would have made me sad.
April 18, 2025 at 12:56 PM
ajbarberbooks.bsky.social
Migraine hit me hard two days ago, but I'm finally feeling human again. Got a bit of writing done today. Hoping tomorrow can be a catch-up day. #amwriting #writesky
April 19, 2025 at 1:49 AM
ajbarberbooks.bsky.social
A little snippet from chapter one.

#WIPSnips #RivalsWIP
Standing here, surrounded by people of half a dozen species, they felt it again. The fear that had plagued their dreams for the last month. The voice that said this would be taken away. They didn't belong here. Only a scant few humans dotted the crowd outside Quinn's own group - and of them all, only Quinn was young enough to compete in the Trials.
April 15, 2025 at 3:08 PM
ajbarberbooks.bsky.social
Still need to read the third book, but the first two are so good!
raccooninthegarage.bsky.social ✨Raccoon in the Garage✨ @raccooninthegarage.bsky.social · Apr 15
I cannot say enough how important the messages in these books are. I wish I had them when I was younger...

#booksky 📚🌈📚💙🎧📚
Sir Callie and the witch's war by Esme symes-smith
April 15, 2025 at 3:01 PM
ajbarberbooks.bsky.social
Lots of instances of the word chill in this WIP, but most of them are spoilers lol.

#WIPSnips #RivalsWIP #writesky #queerSFF #scifi #queerwriters #indieauthors
"They say a dragon's gaze brings the chill of space with it, like a river of ice down your spine. Is it true?"
April 14, 2025 at 10:43 PM
Reposted by A.J. Barber (she/they/none)
acturek.bsky.social
#WIPSnips #fantasy #WriteSky #comply The Rathynian healers’ code limits resuscitation attempts to two. It’s considered inhumane to keep prolonging life in futility. From my fantasy novel in progress, Brother’s Keeper.
“What have you to live for?” the healer shouted. “Rushak!” His eyes cleared, the gray fog dispersed by a scintillating silver green. “Drisal,” he said distinctly. “Daughter,” the healer said with new urgency, “have you the aelath and shadow leaf boiling? You, guard, drag that table over here.” While the guard complied, he looked at his patient. “Live then, Rushak. Be strong. For if you die again, I have to let you go. Do you understand?” He looked up. “Now lift him to the table. Carefully!”
April 13, 2025 at 8:24 PM
ajbarberbooks.bsky.social
Quinn can be a little bit anti-social sometimes, so it's always fun to write a softer moment between them and anyone other than Rina lol

#WIPSnips #RivalsWIP #queerwriters #queerSFF #scifi #writesky #amwriting
Jae heaved a sigh and leaned against the wall, taking the pressure off his broken foot. "Sit," Quinn said softly, joining him away from the crowd. "Before you hurt yourself more." "But Rina and Sthahi--" "Sit." They pressed down on his shoulders until he complied. "I'll go look for them."
April 14, 2025 at 1:51 AM
Reposted by A.J. Barber (she/they/none)
krazyside.bsky.social
Maggie, Titus, and Jack have one finished story and one more planned. They are also featured in a few of the other narratives. 😀 #writingcommunity #WIPSnips #queerwriters #amwriting #writesky #WritingPrompts #lgbtqwriters #writing
Titus admired them for a moment before he leaned in and kissed first Maggie and then Jack. For a moment, he stayed close, his forehead pressed to Jack’s, his lips near Maggie’s ear, “I love you both.” Then he turned them towards the door before heading towards the junk room further down the hall.
April 12, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Reposted by A.J. Barber (she/they/none)
nicolelsopergorden.bsky.social
Can't imagine why Poe's feeling nervous... (He sure hasn't figured it out yet 😉)

From Poe's arc of The Atlas Brothers Break the Multiverse

#WIPSnips #WritingCommunity #WriteSky #AmWriting
“Yeah,” Poe said, glancing at the door then back at Annie. He bit his lip, thinking of a million things he could say, that he wanted to say, but that he lacked the confidence for. Instead, he managed, “Good luck today.” Then, after a moment of indecision, he added, “Don’t let your brother ruin anything for you.” Annie’s expression went soft and warm. “Thanks, Poe. Is it ok if I hug you?” The question caught Poe off guard, and he almost stepped away from her. Instead, he managed to stand his ground and even nod his acquiescence. Annie’s hug wasn’t the fluttery half-touch he had expected, but a real embrace, the kind he wanted instinctively to relax into. “Thanks for wearing the costume. You look nice,” she said close to his ear. Poe’s neck suddenly felt warm. He cleared his throat. “Thanks for helping us get in here.” “Glad to help.”
April 12, 2025 at 6:23 PM
ajbarberbooks.bsky.social
So anyway, Quinn's gay.

💙📚🪐 🌈🚀💫 #WIPSnips #RivalsWIP #queerwriters #indieauthors
Rina tsked and pulled Quinn by the hand to the yoga mats at the side of the room. "Sit," she commanded. "Eat." A protest sprang to Quinn's lips immediately, but Rina was already gone, flitting off in the direction of the first aid kit mounted on the wall by the door. She moved so lightly, footfalls almost too soft to hear, a weightlessness to her that went beyond the physical. She was larger than a full Ket, legs longer and thicker, shoulders broader, but she didn't move like it. So many of the Ket moved like predators. Graceful, yes, but also tense, gathering themselves for a sudden explosion of power and speed. Rina instead moved like a songbird, restless and carefree, gliding from place to place. It was mesmerizing, and Quinn didn't realize they were staring until Rina turned around, first aid kit in hand, and jabbed her finger at the yoga mats.
April 12, 2025 at 6:58 PM
ajbarberbooks.bsky.social
I'm honestly surprised I had the word goodbye in my WIP, but there it is!

💙📚🪐 🌈🧙‍♂️⚔️ #WIPSnips #RivalsWIP #queerSFF
She met no one on the way back to her quarters. Everyone was hiding, no doubt - from Rina and the awkward goodbyes they would have to exchange, from the Ta'Avaari League, looming large over them. From the heavy awareness that had settled over them all that they weren't as off-the-grid as they'd always thought.
April 12, 2025 at 3:52 AM
Reposted by A.J. Barber (she/they/none)
autumnwolff.bsky.social
Even if you don't participate in the Sapphic Book Bingo, check out this week's category because it features free sapphic books!

Jae made a list of 25 sapphic books that are currently free on Amazon or other retailers.

Hot Off The Press is on that list today only!

jae-fiction.com/free-sapphic...
A free book promo graphic A lesbian book cover with two women standing next to each other front of an observatory tower.
April 10, 2025 at 11:31 PM
ajbarberbooks.bsky.social
How do some people read so many books at once? 😭 I swear, if I start a new book while I'm in the middle of another, I just never go back #booksky
April 11, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Reposted by A.J. Barber (she/they/none)
mkdbail.bsky.social
#wipsnips Apr 10 - In this snip from my #spaceopera Thief of Gods, Jaska's just starting into the worst part of his journey... #sff #scifi #amquerying #booksky #writesky #writingcommunity #writingprompts
snip from my space opera Thief of Gods using prompt "trip": Jaska’s back ached, his head ached, his ass ached, all his joints ached. And he was hungry. And thirsty. And bored out of his mind. Here he’d imagined all kinds of tortures, and it turned out the worst torture of all was literal nothingness. That and Miklos’ company. “Come on, talk to me,” Miklos whined. “I’m going crazy.” “Short trip,” Jaska muttered. The echo of footsteps saved him from breaking down and talking to Miklos.
April 10, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Reposted by A.J. Barber (she/they/none)
authorandie.bsky.social
"I must have blacked out during the trip back, for I do not remember the orange blur, the tight pressure, or the noise. All I could hear was the chant of the crowd, baying for blood and fire."

From book 3 in The Laughter of the Sun series.

#WIPSnips #Fantasy #WritingCommunity #WriteSky
April 10, 2025 at 3:35 PM