Fay Irwin (pen name)
fantasyscience.bsky.social
Fay Irwin (pen name)
@fantasyscience.bsky.social
Chemist by day, fantasy writer by night. My past includes stints as a legal secretary, martial arts instructor, and rock'n'roll clarinettist.
Over 50 publications to date, but they're all in science journals.
She/her
If Andy Weir and Ali Hazelwood co-wrote a book, it would be CHEMPORTAL. This scifi romcom with real chemistry features:
💥Explosions (real and figurative)
📻Science (mis)communication
🥰Enemies to lovers
👨‍👩‍👧‍👧Complex family dynamics
⚛️ #Steminist history
💪ND and LGBTQ rep

#QuestPit #A #Q #SF #R
November 5, 2025 at 4:43 PM
CHEMPORTAL is what you'd get if Andy Weir and Ali Hazelwood co-wrote a book. It has:
🧪Lots of chemistry (of both types)
👫Enemies to lovers
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦Complex family dynamics
👭Friendship and found family
💪Feminist takes on the history of science
🧠Neurodivergent and LGBTQ rep
🤣Awkward humour

#SFPit #A #Q
October 22, 2025 at 2:14 AM
Two awkward scientists on an alternate Earth must overcome their mutual dislike to save the world from mass starvation. But their growing feelings for each other prove to be as explosive as the chemicals they work with.

#SciFiPit #SFPit #A
October 21, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Antagonistic coworkers try to save the world in ChemPortal.

Obstacles: angry cults, greedy corporations, the laws of physics, themselves.

The stakes: Nothing less than their hearts. (And the future of humanity.)

#UnhingedPit #SF #R #Q

(Character art done by me. I'm sorry.)
September 23, 2025 at 10:22 PM
Looks like most online word cloud generators won't post swears. My book has 150 instances of "fuck." All are necessary.

#UnhingedPit #SF #R #Q
September 23, 2025 at 9:56 PM
A young farmer's magic may be the key to stopping a war. But she doesn't know how to use it.

This adventurous romp features themes of finding one's place and questioning societal expectations, fun tropes (not enough bedrolls!), and a relatable heroine.

#PosterPit #PosterPitQ #Q #A #F
August 16, 2025 at 9:12 AM
George wants to be left alone. Nat wants to blow things up. Faced with a looming apocalypse, they must overcome their mutual dislike to save the world.

#PosterPit #W #R #SF #A
August 16, 2025 at 7:52 AM
PROJECT HAIL MARY x PRIDE AND PREJUDICE

Coming soon to a query trench near you...

#PosterPit #A #R #SF #W
August 16, 2025 at 6:37 AM
A snippet for #QueerPit
#A #F #Q #AmQuerying
August 15, 2025 at 5:48 PM
I'm terrible at visual pitches. But here's another one for my adult fantasy about a farmer-turned-mage who needs to save a prince (while avoiding being murdered by her sentient blanket).

#FromZeroToCompetent
#NotEnoughBedrolls
#AlivingUnaliveThings

#QueerPit #A #F #Q #AmQuerying
August 15, 2025 at 2:47 PM
When a farmer accidentally brings a roomful of golems to life she's thrust into a new life as a mage and spy.

💪Strong heroine
🧪Science-based magic system
🌧️Sentient objects
🫶Forbidden love
🔺Love triangle
💍Arranged marriage
🧻Not enough bedrolls
And yet, not a romance.

#QueerPit #A #F #Q #AmQuerying
August 15, 2025 at 1:41 PM
She was supposed to be a farmer, not a mage. #QueerPit #A #F #Q #AmQuerying
August 15, 2025 at 12:23 PM
THE EMBER AND THE CROWN
Magic follows the rules of science, but Seya’s brings objects to life. Now she’s trying to prevent a war while dealing with mind-controlling mages, complicated romantic entanglements, and political intrigue. Oh, and an angry blanket intent on murder.

#BluePit📖 #Q #F #A #NA
July 13, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Looking up the size of squirrel stomachs (for my novel). I usually ignore the AI suggestions, but this one was so incredibly wrong I had to share.

Given those numbers, squirrels are ~45 m long (close to half a football field). That would be a completely different book.

#Writing #RevSpirations
June 13, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Seya’s magic is out of control.

The apple taunts her, the cloud demands more water, and the gate refuses to let anyone in.

Seya could be a powerful mage. She just needs to figure out how to harness her magic – preferably before the murderous blanket catches her.

#JoyPit #F #AmQuerying
June 6, 2025 at 2:35 PM
PROJECT HAIL MARY x PRIDE AND PREJUDICE

We don't know why or how the portals exist. We do know they're attached to libraries in "other Earth." The books they occasionally spit out have advanced science tremendously. Do they hold the secret for preventing mass starvation?
#WIPPit #SFF #R
May 23, 2025 at 2:03 PM
After a very long day of travel, Seya reaches the palace in the middle of the night. Trying to convince herself she's glad to be back, her thoughts take her in... interesting directions.
#WIPSnips #AmQuerying
May 8, 2025 at 12:47 AM
Querying my fast-paced, humorous YA-crossover fantasy. Loved by 8-year-olds and 73-year-olds alike (small sample size - statistical significance not confirmed).
#FromFarmtoCastle
#FromZeroToCompetent
#BadAssButInsecureHeroine
#RelatableEmbarrassment
#SneakyScience

#QuestPit #YA #F #Q
May 7, 2025 at 11:12 PM
Project Hail Mary x Pride and Prejudice

When the near-extinction of bats threatens the survival of humanity, a profanity-spewing scientist finds herself relying on the boss she hates to save the world. There's plenty of chemistry (and CHEMISTRY) in this romantic #SF novel.
#QuestPit #A #R #W
May 7, 2025 at 7:31 PM
When Seya's life of obnoxious chickens and poor crop yields is suddenly traded for one of mages, royalty, and spies, she must harness her uncooperative magic to stop a war – while navigating an unwanted arranged marriage, forbidden love, and a mage intent on taking over her mind.
#QuestPit #Q #YA #F
May 7, 2025 at 4:51 PM
In this #YA crossover fantasy, a young farmer must learn to control her magic before:
a) she's forced into an arranged marriage
b) an evil mage takes over her mind (again)
c) her country is dragged into war
With help from friends, mentors, and sentient objects, she just might make it!
#QuestPit #F
May 7, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Our heroine, after (another) near death experience:
May 6, 2025 at 7:51 PM
I'm proud of my brand new Chapter 1 for my YA crossover fantasy novel. Huge thanks to @aldajm.bsky.social and @chloemarcus.bsky.social for helping me find my way there. (And thanks always to @eomara.bsky.social.)

My new beginning::
#CampRevPit #CRPWaiting
May 5, 2025 at 3:33 AM
Does anyone else plot their word-count per chapter for each round of manuscript edits? It's normal, right?
#CampRevpit #CRPGlasswings #WritingCommunity
May 4, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Stressing about the election (though less so than earlier). So, here's a painting I finished today. It's not perfect, but it soothes my soul.
April 29, 2025 at 2:59 AM