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chezza.bsky.social
Chezza
@chezza.bsky.social
780 followers 780 following 290 posts
SFF writer | cat lady | biracial CN/ENG | cdrama fangirl | she/her | Rep: Alex Land at MWLA | ✍️: Heartlines Spec, AWW Into the Dark, LSQ, ApCon | First reader at Small Wonders | SmoochPit 25 Mentor | SFWA/Codex | chezzalee.com
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chezza.bsky.social
Here's how much I wrote the first week of November! Trying to finish the first draft of my latest project by the end of this month 💪 Wish me luck!
Photo of woman in purple sweater. Text reads: How much I wrote the first week of November Total word count 13,540 from Nov 1 to Nov 7.
November 9, 2025 at 5:48 PM
chezza.bsky.social
SONG OF THE SIX REALMS x YOU
A courtesan with no emotions ventures to an immortal’s palace to heal her broken soul—but the palace is hiding seven imprisoned women, and they all look exactly like her.

🔥Soul dualism
🔥Obsession/entitlement
🔥Self-destruction

#questpit #AG #F #W
Photo of a woman in red robes with her back to the camera. There are two copies of her. TO POSSESS THE FLAME. Quote: “A bee alone cannot produce honey,” she said, turning to catch his gaze. A breath of wind caught the soft scent of the tree’s blossoms. “And I am not willing to be your flower."
November 5, 2025 at 2:02 PM
chezza.bsky.social
THE JASMINE THRONE x THE HURRICANE WARS
Captured in the palace of her nemesis, a demon queen plots her revenge. If only the woman who killed her mother wasn’t so irresistibly alluring…

🪻Blood poison magic
🪻Detestable immortals
🪻Food as seduction

#questpit #AG #RF
Photo of two women, one in red robes and one in blue. There is a graphic of monkshood on the side. BLOOMS IN POISON. Quote: “I suppose that debt can only be repaid with my life,” said Jing. “I’m afraid I cannot pay it just yet, little queen.” “I shall ensure that you will.”
November 5, 2025 at 5:24 AM
chezza.bsky.social
IMMORTAL x A SONG TO DROWN RIVERS
A reincarnated immortal and an emotionally damaged cowherd must escape the heavenly forces intent on tearing them apart.

✨A love destined to fail
✨A jealous Celestial Empress
✨An underworld filled with both torture and hope

#questpit #AG #RF
Photo of a man and woman in hanfu holding a red string. A FATE WOVEN IN STARLIGHT. Quote: “I meant it when I said I feel a connection between us, Shizhi. Like we’re meant to be together, but the feeling has an edge of uncertainty. I can’t explain it.”
November 5, 2025 at 5:12 AM
chezza.bsky.social
New guide for A FATE WOVEN IN STARLIGHT!✨
A Cowherd & Weaver-inspired romantic fantasy about fate, storytelling, love, and freedom.
🕊️Star-crossed lovers (HFN)
🕊️Myth retelling
🕊️Diverse world // 3 realms
🕊️Hell quest

Rep: Alex Land at MWLA✨
#editorguide #readerguide
A guide to A FATE WOVEN IN STARLIGHT by Chezza Lee. Represented by Alex Land at MWLA. Pitch: an epic love story across lives. In a feminist reimagining of an Asian folktale, rebellious Shizhi runs away with the farmer she's forbidden to marry, but when a jealous Celestial Empress forces her to live a past life that spans three realms, Shizhi must confront madness, tragedy, and hell itself to reclaim her freedom and save the man she loves. Comps: IMMORTAL, ARIADNE, A SONG TO DROWN RIVERS, THE SCORPION AND THE NIGHT BLOSSOM. Tropes/themes: romantic fantasy, non-linear narrative, cdrama vibes, journey through hell, female friendships, forbidden love, Asian myth retelling, spiritual magic, mythological beasts, generational trauma, red thread of fate, angst and blood. Snip: “A troublemaker, and a clumsy one at that.” Mingniu inspected my palm as I relished the feel of his fingers on mine. His hands were warm and soft, still new to the work that would form a lifetime of calluses and cracked skin. I momentarily glanced at the place where our hands were joined, but my eyes were drawn back in an instant. A ghost of a thin red line was tying our wrists together, almost too faint to see, as if the moonlight was playing tricks on my eyes. I blinked, and it was gone. Drawing a handkerchief from his robe, Mingniu looked at me with eyes full of intensity, and my breath caught in my throat, the red line forgotten. “This will hurt.” All I could do was nod.
November 2, 2025 at 2:46 PM
chezza.bsky.social
New substack post is up! Some musings on writing short fiction and submitting to lit mags. And yes, some of my humble stats from the past couple of years 💜

open.substack.com/pub/chezzawr...
New substack post: On Short Fiction. Writing and submitting short stories (with stats!)
October 8, 2025 at 1:14 PM
chezza.bsky.social
Wishing you all a wonderful and bright Mid-Autumn Festival! 中秋节快乐！🥮🐇🌕 I'll be making my very alright gf mooncakes this afternoon 😂
White rabbits on lanterns with a moon in the background - Mid-Autumn Festival celebration
October 6, 2025 at 6:20 PM
chezza.bsky.social
A snip from my short, "The First Woman of the Qingyan Sect," in the @awwlitmag.bsky.social Into the Dark anthology 🖤 10 days left to get kickstarter rewards, such as digital/hard copy issues, stickers, bookmarks, digital art, and more! www.kickstarter.com/projects/all...
Snippet from "The First Woman of the Qingyan Sect" by Chezza Lee in the All Worlds Wayfarer Into the Dark anthology: "We were taught to protect this town from the forces that lived in the shadows. As I grew, the memories of blood, the iron-lashed stench of death, lessened in intensity. I reiterated Shifu’s words so often, they became my own personal mantra. Fight evil. Save the innocent. But it wasn’t until I descended the mountain that I realized my choices would never be that simple."
October 4, 2025 at 10:06 PM
chezza.bsky.social
The @awwlitmag.bsky.social Into the Dark anthology Kickstarter is live! Tons of goodies up for grabs: ebook/hardcover editions, bookmarks, stickers, pins, & more!

So excited to have my wuxia fem rage story in this anthology 🥹 and to be in such excellent company ❤️
www.kickstarter.com/projects/all...
Front and back cover of the All Worlds Wayfarer Into the Dark anthology, a collection of dark fantasy stories
September 15, 2025 at 1:32 PM
chezza.bsky.social
All day I dream about Haidilao hotpot 🍲 #yvr
At Haidilao
September 14, 2025 at 9:37 PM
chezza.bsky.social
My SmoochPit Ask Me Anything is up on my story over on the 📸 app! I'll be answering qs for the next 24 hours, so feel free to reach out if there's anything you want to ask!

Instagram.com/chezzawrites
SmoochPit Ask Me Anything on Instagram story
September 4, 2025 at 2:17 PM
chezza.bsky.social
Happy Qixi Festival! 🐦‍⬛💖 七夕快乐
My book, A FATE WOVEN IN STARLIGHT, is based on the Qixi legend/Chinese Valentine's Day: the epic love story of the Cowherd and Weaver--ripped apart, forced to inhabit different stars, and able to meet only once a year atop the magpie bridge✨
Artwork of Zhinu/Shizhi and Niulang/Mingniu from A FATE WOVEN IN STARLIGHT by Chezza Lee. Art by Hisurii ❤️
August 29, 2025 at 3:03 PM
chezza.bsky.social
I'm so excited to be a SmoochPit mentor this year! As a former mentee, I had an amazing experience and want to be able to support writers the same way! Full MSWL link below--I'm looking for ANGST💔🔥!! Applications open Sep 8. Send me all your beautiful words! 💖🎉
SmoochPit Mentor: Chezza Lee. Open to YA, NA, Adult. Sub genres: contemporary romance, historical romance, SFF, dark romance, paranormal, fiction with strong romantic elements.
August 17, 2025 at 4:03 PM
chezza.bsky.social
Demon queen Zhao Yao wants revenge on her mother's murderer, rival queen Gui Jing. But Jing's icy beauty and poisonous magic are too alluring, and soon Zhao Yao can't decide between stabbing the woman she's always hated...or seducing her.

Art by hisurii💙♥️
#PosterPit #AG #F
Poster for Blooms in Poison by Chezza Lee, an enemies-to-lovers romantic fantasy with xianxia cdrama vibes. The line between love and hate is drawn in blood.
August 16, 2025 at 2:15 PM
chezza.bsky.social
DAUGHTER OF MOON GODDESS x SONG TO DROWN RIVERS

Falling in love shouldn't be this difficult. When family and fate are trying to keep them apart, how far will Shizhi and Mingniu go to defend their love? To the stars above...or hell itself?

Art by hisurii❤️
#PosterPit #AG #F
Movie poster for A Fate Woven in Starlight by Chezza Lee. A feminist take on an epic Chinese love story about fate, sacrifice, and women reclaiming their place in their own stories.
August 16, 2025 at 6:58 AM
chezza.bsky.social
Some snip moodboards (and fan casting) for my current writing projects!
STARLIGHT: feminist retelling of Cowherd and Weaver✨
BLOOMS: poisonous enemies-to-lovers demon queens🩸
SHATTER: new dark fantasy thing?👀
#amwriting #writingcommunity #xianxia
July 25, 2025 at 3:49 PM
chezza.bsky.social
I'm thrilled to share the stunning cover of @authortrmoore.bsky.social's dark romantic fantasy, THE GODS MUST BURN 🔥🔥 This is such a gorgeously written book with a powerful message; I can't wait for everyone to fall in love with it 😍 Out Feb 2026 with @solarisbooks.bsky.social - pre-orders open now❤️
Cover reveal for THE GODS MUST BURN by T.R. Moore, out Feb 2026, Solaris Books
July 19, 2025 at 1:39 PM
chezza.bsky.social
SO EXCITED to be part of the street team for @authortrmoore.bsky.social's gorgeous book!!!! ✨🌲

I can't wait to share more about this story because I love it so, so much. Stay tuned!

Releasing spring 2026 with Solaris Books!
July 1, 2025 at 7:10 PM
chezza.bsky.social
My latest substack post comes from the heart. The mixed-race identity crisis is very real, and imo isn't explored enough. This one's for all the multiracial people (and writers!) who have ever struggled with a sense of belonging.

chezzawrites.substack.com/p/the-identi...
The identity crisis: writing as a biracial author
June 2, 2025 at 3:17 PM
chezza.bsky.social
Commissioned more art from @hisurimei.bsky.social for my latest wip and IT'S PERFECT❤️❤️

BLOOMS IN POISON is an enemies-to-lovers fantasy in which two demon queens with a centuries-old grudge are forced to ally against a greater enemy: the heavenly realm seeking to destroy the demon race.🗡️🩸
Art by Hisurii featuring two demon queens in otome style, one in red hanfu and one in blue. The red queen is holding a dagger to the blue queen's throat.
May 22, 2025 at 4:46 PM
chezza.bsky.social
Y'all like querying stats, right? Also hey, I started a substack 🎉

chezzawrites.substack.com/p/querying-s...
May 21, 2025 at 8:02 PM
chezza.bsky.social
I’m delighted to share that I am now represented by @alexbrownwrites.bsky.social at MWLA!✨

I’m so grateful to be able to work with Alex; her vision for my myth reimagining w/ Cdrama vibes exactly aligns with my own and I'm humbled by her enthusiasm for my work 🥰 SO EXCITED to get started!
Announcement graphic: Chezza Lee is now represented by Alex Brown at Mad Woman Literary Agency Commissioned art for BRIDGES OF MAGPIES by Hisurii. Featuring a woman and man in hanfu holding hands and looking into each others eyes, with blossom trees and a pink river of stars in the background.
April 18, 2025 at 5:33 PM
chezza.bsky.social
I got some art for my #amquerying book, BRIDGES OF MAGPIES...and HI, I AM FLOORED by how gorgeous it is 😭❤️ This is exactly how I imagined Shizhi/Zhinu and Mingniu/Niulang AHHHH

Huge thank you to @hisurimei.bsky.social for their amazing talent in bringing my characters to life!!❤️❤️
Ancient Chinese danmei-style art of original characters Shizhi and Mingniu wearing hanfu and standing on a bridge, with blossom trees and purple stars behind them. Art by Hisurii
March 19, 2025 at 2:15 PM
chezza.bsky.social
春节快乐! Happy Chinese New Year / Spring Festival / Lunar New Year! 🎊🧧 I spent my evening eating semi-burnt nian gao and playing otome games woo 😂😭 Wishing everyone peace, good health, and prosperity for the year to come! ✨
January 29, 2025 at 2:22 PM
chezza.bsky.social
“I will always be destined to love you, in every life.”

🕊️Feminist reimagining of Cowherd + Weaver myth
❤️Past lives
🌹Mortal-immortal love
⛓️Social expectations of women
🧧Epic/historical Asian-insp. fantasy
🧵Red threads of fate
👹Diyu/spirit world

#YouDeservepIt #Q (after SmoochPit) #A #RF #OwnVoices
An agent's guide to BRIDGES OF MAGPIES by Chezza Lee Pitch: In a feminist reimagining of a Chinese folktale, rebellious Shizhi runs away with the farmer she’s forbidden to marry, but when a jealous Celestial Empress forces her to relive a past life that spans three realms, Shizhi must confront madness, tragedy, and hell itself to reclaim her freedom and save the man she loves. Snippet: “He swiftly pulled the needle from my palm and the sharp pain bit me again. But as I winced, a bright light flashed behind my eyes—a roiling pink gap in the stars. A glimpse of feathers tinged with blood. The heat of cracked lips against mine. The pain of my hand was lost in a wave of agony surging deep inside, from a part of myself I hadn’t known existed. Swells of bliss tainted by brokenness. The duality of joy and sorrow. I felt it all, as if I’d always been one with these feelings. I knew I should be afraid, but instead I lingered in the raw grasp of these emotions.” Comps: IMMORTAL, A SONG TO DROWN RIVERS, THE NIGHT ENDS WITH FIRE. Tropes/themes: Female agency vs. internalized misogyny; Star-crossed lovers; Morally grey FMC + MMC; Celestial immortals; Three realms / past lives; Female friendship; Diyu and the eighteen levels of hell
January 24, 2025 at 4:00 PM