Jayde Holmes
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jaydeholmes.bsky.social
Jayde Holmes
@jaydeholmes.bsky.social
81 followers 51 following 180 posts
Hi I'm Jayde. I am a science fiction and fantasy writer of questionable talent and a book connoisseur with a habit of buying more books than I ever get around to reading.

You can read my stories at my website http://jaydeholmes.com
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jaydeholmes.bsky.social
#bookbingo update! Filled the "Written between 1930-1950" square with 'The Case of Charles Dexter Ward' by #Lovecraft. Found out after starting it was actually written in 1927 but first published in the 40s. I'll call it close enough this late in the year. Top Tier Lovecraft.

#reading #books
A five-by-five bingo card with the following challenges, In the heading is the title ‘2025’, and the website address jaydeholmes.com/book-bingo-cards/ It has the following challenges, listed row-by-row and left-to-right: Row One: 1. Written by Terry Pratchett (Hogfather) 2. Locus Award for Best Horror Novel Winner 3. Breaking a Curse (Someone You Can Build a Nest In) 4. Translated from Russian (Monday Starts on Saturday) 5. Written in Your Year of Birth Row 2: 1. Set on a Spaceship 2. Told from a ‘Villain’ POV (The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes) 3. World Fantasy Award Winner 4. Been Adapted into a Movie (Redwall) 5. Been Sitting on the Shelf for More Than a Year (Runaways: Teenage Wasteland) Row 3: 1. Title Starts with O 2. Has Dragons (Onyx Storm) 3. Free Square 4. Afrofuturism (After the Flare) 5. Written Between 1930 – 1950 (The Case of Charlse Dexter Ward) Row 4: 1. Set During the Cold War (Three Miles Down) “ 2. King Arthur (Retelling, Inspired, or Original) (Spear) 3. Has Witches 4. Has Immortality (A Court of Mist and Fury) 5. Australian, Canadian or New Zealand Author Row 5: 1. Translated from Japanese (The Liminal Zone) 2. Non-Marvel or DC Superheroes (Dreadnought) 3. Has Ghosts (Haunt Sweet Home 4. Title Starts with P (Penric and the Bandit) 5. Short Fiction Magazine (Dirty Magick Magazine Jan 2025)
November 15, 2025 at 8:57 AM
jaydeholmes.bsky.social
#bookbingo update. Filled the "Set during the Cold War" square with "Three Miles Down" by Harry Turtledove. Interesting ideas and characters, felt very relevant to today, but felt way too long and slow for me.

#readingchallenge #alternatehistory #books
A five-by-five bingo card with the following challenges, In the heading is the title ‘2025’, and the website address jaydeholmes.com/book-bingo-cards/ It has the following challenges, listed row-by-row and left-to-right: Row One: 1. Written by Terry Pratchett (FILLED by “Hogfather” by Terry Pratchett) 2. Locus Award for Best Horror Novel Winner 3. Breaking a Curse (FILLED by “Someone You Can Build a Nest In”) 4. Translated from Russian (FILLED by “Monday Starts on Saturday”) 5. Written in Your Year of Birth Row 2: 1. Set on a Spaceship 2. Told from a ‘Villain’ POV (FILLED by ‘’The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’) 3. World Fantasy Award Winner 4. Been Adapted into a Movie (FILLED by “Redwall”) 5. Been Sitting on the Shelf for More Than a Year (FILLED by “Runaways: Teenage Wasteland”) Row 3: 1. Title Starts with O 2. Has Dragons (FILLED by “Onyx Storm”) 3. Free Square 4. Afrofuturism (FILLED by “After the Flare”) 5. Written Between 1930 - 1950 Row 4: 1. Set During the Cold War (FILLED by “ 2. King Arthur (Retelling, Inspired, or Original) (FILLED by “Spear”) 3. Has Witches 4. Has Immortality (FILLED by ‘A Court of Mist and Fury’) 5. Australian, Canadian or New Zealand Author Row 5: 1. Translated from Japanese (FILLED by “The Liminal Zone’ 2. Non-Marvel or DC Superheroes (FILLED by “Dreadnought” 3. Has Ghosts (FILLED by ‘Haunt Sweet Home’ 4. Title Starts with P (FILLED by 'Penric and the Bandit') 5. Short Fiction Magazine (FILLED by “Dirty Magick Magazine Jan 2025)
November 13, 2025 at 12:45 AM
jaydeholmes.bsky.social
Got another #bookbingo, filling 'Translated from Japanese' with #horror master Junji Ito's 'The Liminal Zone'. Even when just taking a stab at old un-used ideas, Ito still makes creepy stories. Contains 4 short stories in comic form. I liked 'Weeping Woman Way' and 'Slumber' best.

#manga #reading
A five-by-five bingo card with the following challenges, In the heading is the title ‘2025’, and the website address jaydeholmes.com/book-bingo-cards/ It has the following challenges, listed row-by-row and left-to-right: Row One: 1. Written by Terry Pratchett (FILLED by “Hogfather” by Terry Pratchett) 2. Locus Award for Best Horror Novel Winner 3. Breaking a Curse (FILLED by “Someone You Can Build a Nest In”) 4. Translated from Russian (FILLED by “Monday Starts on Saturday”) 5. Written in Your Year of Birth Row 2: 1. Set on a Spaceship 2. Told from a ‘Villain’ POV (FILLED by ‘’The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’) 3. World Fantasy Award Winner 4. Been Adapted into a Movie (FILLED by “Redwall”) 5. Been Sitting on the Shelf for More Than a Year (FILLED by “Runaways: Teenage Wasteland”) Row 3: 1. Title Starts with O 2. Has Dragons (FILLED by “Onyx Storm”) 3. Free Square 4. Afrofuturism (FILLED by “After the Flare”) 5. Written Between 1930 - 1950 Row 4: 1. Set During the Cold War 2. King Arthur (Retelling, Inspired, or Original) (FILLED by “Spear”) 3. Has Witches 4. Has Immortality (FILLED by ‘A Court of Mist and Fury’) 5. Australian, Canadian or New Zealand Author Row 5: 1. Translated from Japanese (FILLED by “The Liminal Zone’ 2. Non-Marvel or DC Superheroes (FILLED by “Dreadnought” 3. Has Ghosts (FILLED by ‘Haunt Sweet Home’ 4. Title Starts with P (FILLED by 'Penric and the Bandit') 5. Short Fiction Magazine (FILLED by “Dirty Magick Magazine Jan 2025)
November 2, 2025 at 1:04 PM
jaydeholmes.bsky.social
Just got my copy of the "Madam, Don't Forget Your Sword" anthology from #DeadFishBooks. It's full of good stories about various sidekicks and minions. And I'm not just saying that because my story 'Lucky Charm' is in it. But my story is in this book and you should check it out.

#bookhaul
A white hand holding up a paperback book copy of "Madam, Don't Forget Your Sword" edited by H. Davis and E. Davis. Has the tagline "Tales of the Companions, Sidekicks, and Minions" and a cover illustration featuring a man in a hooded robe holding out a sword. Photo of a book page with the heading "Lucky Charm by Jayde Holmes" at the top. The first paragraph is visible and reads; "The claxons roared and dozens of heroes flew out the blast doors, their glitzy costumes bringing colour to the ruined world. Aircraft and artillery were already engaging patches of complete darkness, swimming through the grey sky above the valley, but we all knew from painful experience that they wouldn't be enough. To fight a supernatural threat, you needed supernatural abilities."
October 29, 2025 at 1:55 PM
jaydeholmes.bsky.social
Been offline a bit, but guess who turned seven on Monday? My fluffball Knight did. He loves his birthday boxes.

#caturday #cat #tuxedocat #catpictures
Looking down at the front of a large brown box, where a black and white cat has rolled onto his back, sticking one paw and his head out the front of the box. The cat looks content.
October 15, 2025 at 12:49 PM
jaydeholmes.bsky.social
Exciting #frogpond update. After a few false starts, we definitely have legs now. Saw this #froglet zipping around. Looks like a #StripedMarshFrog. Also still have some #tadpoles who are not making the leap into froghood yet. They have really grown up.

#australianwildlife #backyard #frog #garden
Looking down at a pond, a brown froglet with four legs, tail, and frog-shaped body is under the water clearly visible to the left of the image. There is a large black tadpole to the right, underneath a thin green stick-like leaf, but it is very difficult to see. Looking down at a pond, a large black tadpole can be seen beneath the water, hovering over a white rock. It has not yet grown any visible limbs.
October 10, 2025 at 2:20 PM
jaydeholmes.bsky.social
#bookbingo update! Filled 'Sitting on the Shelf for a Year' by Continueing Marvel's #Runaways Series with Teenage Wasteland by Vaughn, Alphona and Miyazawa. The relationships are being speedran, but the action, plot, and art are so cool.

#readingchallenge #books #reading #Marvel
A five-by-five bingo card with the following challenges, In the heading is the title ‘2025’, and the website address jaydeholmes.com/book-bingo-cards/ It has the following challenges, listed row-by-row and left-to-right: Row One: 1. Written by Terry Pratchett (FILLED by “Hogfather” by Terry Pratchett) 2. Locus Award for Best Horror Novel Winner 3. Breaking a Curse (FILLED by “Someone You Can Build a Nest In”) 4. Translated from Russian (FILLED by “Monday Starts on Saturday”) 5. Written in Your Year of Birth Row 2: 1. Set on a Spaceship 2. Told from a ‘Villain’ POV (FILLED by ‘’The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’) 3. World Fantasy Award Winner 4. Been Adapted into a Movie (FILLED by “Redwall”) 5. Been Sitting on the Shelf for More Than a Year (FILLED by “Runaways: Teenage Wasteland”) Row 3: 1. Title Starts with O 2. Has Dragons (FILLED by “Onyx Storm”) 3. Free Square 4. Afrofuturism (FILLED by “After the Flare”) 5. Written Between 1930 - 1950 Row 4: 1. Set During the Cold War 2. King Arthur (Retelling, Inspired, or Original) (FILLED by “Spear”) 3. Has Witches 4. Has Immortality (FILLED by ‘A Court of Mist and Fury’) 5. Australian, Canadian or New Zealand Author Row 5: 1. Translated from Japanese 2. Non-Marvel or DC Superheroes (FILLED by “Dreadnought” 3. Has Ghosts (FILLED by ‘Haunt Sweet Home’ 4. Title Starts with P (FILLED by 'Penric and the Bandit') 5. Short Fiction Magazine (FILLED by “Dirty Magick Magazine Jan 2025)
September 27, 2025 at 11:38 AM
jaydeholmes.bsky.social
#bookbingo update! Read Dreadnaught by April Daniels for 'Non-Marvel or DC Superheroes'. Amazing superhero and trans coming of age story that was impossible to put down.

#readingchallenge #books #reading
A five-by-five bingo card with the following challenges, In the heading is the title ‘2025’, and the website address jaydeholmes.com/book-bingo-cards/ It has the following challenges, listed row-by-row and left-to-right: Row One: 1. Written by Terry Pratchett (FILLED by “Hogfather” by Terry Pratchett) 2. Locus Award for Best Horror Novel Winner 3. Breaking a Curse (FILLED by “Someone You Can Build a Nest In”) 4. Translated from Russian (FILLED by “Monday Starts on Saturday”) 5. Written in Your Year of Birth Row 2: 1. Set on a Spaceship 2. Told from a ‘Villain’ POV (FILLED by ‘’The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’) 3. World Fantasy Award Winner 4. Been Adapted into a Movie (FILLED by “Redwall”) 5. Been Sitting on the Shelf for More Than a Year Row 3: 1. Title Starts with O 2. Has Dragons (FILLED by “Onyx Storm”) 3. Free Square 4. Afrofuturism (FILLED by “After the Flare”) 5. Written Between 1930 - 1950 Row 4: 1. Set During the Cold War 2. King Arthur (Retelling, Inspired, or Original) (FILLED by “Spear”) 3. Has Witches 4. Has Immortality (FILLED by ‘A Court of Mist and Fury’) 5. Australian, Canadian or New Zealand Author Row 5: 1. Translated from Japanese 2. Non-Marvel or DC Superheroes (FILLED by “Dreadnought” 3. Has Ghosts (FILLED by ‘Haunt Sweet Home’ 4. Title Starts with P (FILLED by 'Penric and the Bandit') 5. Short Fiction Magazine (FILLED by “Dirty Magick Magazine Jan 2025)
September 20, 2025 at 1:34 AM
jaydeholmes.bsky.social
For those who liked my tiny sketchbooks, here's some more drawings from my recent #canberra roadtrip. I drew the Australian War Memorial, Telstra Tower, and the view near Lake George.

#art #travel #sketchbook #travelsketches
A tiny book being opened with a thumb. It is open to a pen drawing coloured with pencils and markers of the Australian War Memorial. The domed building housing the Tomb of the Unknown Australian Soldier is in the centre, with the rectangular Pool of Reflection in front of it. A flame is floating on the pool. A tiny book being opened by a thumb. It is open to a drawing of the silhouette of Telstra Tower Canberra, with a sunset sky coloured in with pencils. A tiny book being held and opened by a thumb and fingers. It is open to a sketch done with pen and markers of cars driving on a road lined with golden wattle trees, with a lake and white windmills in the background.
September 11, 2025 at 3:12 AM
jaydeholmes.bsky.social
Exciting news. Spring is here and my tadpoles have reappeared. They're so good at hiding and have gotten so big. There are at least three left, and after 11 months there are still no legs.

#backyard #frogpond #frogs #australianwildlife #tadpole
A large black tadpole leaning against a white pebble underwater and surrounded by leaves and plant roots. A large black tadpole with a big tail rests at the edge of a blue children's pool full of water. A tree branch is next to it, as well as a dead leaf, which is roughly the size of the tadpole's body.
September 7, 2025 at 6:26 AM
jaydeholmes.bsky.social
More #BookBingo progress! Read 'Spear' by Nicola Griffith for the 'King Arthur' challenge. Beautiful queer retelling with a female Perceval. Then I got a bingo with the classic #Redwall by Brian Jacques, which has actually been adapted into a movie, in a roundabout way.

#reading #books
A five-by-five bingo card with the following challenges, In the heading is the title ‘2025’, and the website address jaydeholmes.com/book-bingo-cards/ It has the following challenges, listed row-by-row and left-to-right: Row One: 1. Written by Terry Pratchett (FILLED by “Hogfather” by Terry Pratchett) 2. Locus Award for Best Horror Novel Winner 3. Breaking a Curse (FILLED by “Someone You Can Build a Nest In”) 4. Translated from Russian (FILLED by “Monday Starts on Saturday”) 5. Written in Your Year of Birth Row 2: 1. Set on a Spaceship 2. Told from a ‘Villain’ POV (FILLED by ‘’The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’) 3. World Fantasy Award Winner 4. Been Adapted into a Movie (FILLED by “Redwall”) 5. Been Sitting on the Shelf for More Than a Year Row 3: 1. Title Starts with O 2. Has Dragons (FILLED by “Onyx Storm”) 3. Free Square 4. Afrofuturism (FILLED by “After the Flare”) 5. Written Between 1930 - 1950 Row 4: 1. Set During the Cold War 2. King Arthur (Retelling, Inspired, or Original) (FILLED by “Spear”) 3. Has Witches 4. Has Immortality (FILLED by ‘A Court of Mist and Fury’) 5. Australian, Canadian or New Zealand Author Row 5: 1. Translated from Japanese 2. Non-Marvel or DC Superheroes 3. Has Ghosts (FILLED by ‘Haunt Sweet Home’ 4. Title Starts with P (FILLED by 'Penric and the Bandit') 5. Short Fiction Magazine (FILLED by “Dirty Magick Magazine Jan 2025)
September 5, 2025 at 12:44 AM
jaydeholmes.bsky.social
I skipped my monthly promotions. Nothing bad happened, I just went on a nice little road trip to Canberra. Here, enjoy some photos of the Australian capital instead of a featured story.

#travel #australiantravel #canberra #roadtrip #australianwildlife
Australian Parliament House. A long white modern building with a giant flagpole on top, reflected perfectly in a fountain pond. A front on shot of a mother grey kangaroo eating grass next to a green picnic table. A tiny joey's head can be seen poking out of her pouch. A shot down a side walkway at the Hall of Memories of the Australian War Memorial. Concrete arches on the right wall show the reflecting pond and let in sunlight. The left wall has is lined with black panels full of names, with lines of vertical red poppies wedged between each panel. A view of Canberra at sunset, with Parliament House in the centre of the shot, and the lake, and ANZAC avenue leading to the Australian War Memorial at the bottom of the picture. Bush and mountains surround the city.
September 4, 2025 at 10:08 AM
jaydeholmes.bsky.social
Got a #BookBingo, with Hogfather by #TerryPratchett. My first Pratchett book and OMFG, I see why people love him, this was absolutely amazing. Mind is BLOWN. So funny, and such a beautiful message.

#reading #fantasy #books
A five-by-five bingo card with the following challenges, In the heading is the title ‘2025’, and the website address jaydeholmes.com/book-bingo-cards/ It has the following challenges, listed row-by-row and left-to-right: Row One: 1. Written by Terry Pratchett (FILLED by “Hogfather” by Terry Pratchett) 2. Locus Award for Best Horror Novel Winner 3. Breaking a Curse (FILLED by “Someone You Can Build a Nest In”) 4. Translated from Russian (FILLED by “Monday Starts on Saturday”) 5. Written in Your Year of Birth Row 2: 1. Set on a Spaceship 2. Told from a ‘Villain’ POV (FILLED by ‘’The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’) 3. World Fantasy Award Winner 4. Been Adapted into a Movie 5. Been Sitting on the Shelf for More Than a Year Row 3: 1. Title Starts with O 2. Has Dragons (FILLED by “Onyx Storm”) 3. Free Square 4. Afrofuturism (FILLED by “After the Flare”) 5. Written Between 1930 - 1950 Row 4: 1. Set During the Cold War 2. King Arthur (Retelling, Inspired, or Original) 3. Has Witches 4. Has Immortality (FILLED by ‘A Court of Mist and Fury’) 5. Australian, Canadian or New Zealand Author Row 5: 1. Translated from Japanese 2. Non-Marvel or DC Superheroes 3. Has Ghosts (FILLED by ‘Haunt Sweet Home’ 4. Title Starts with P (FILLED by 'Penric and the Bandit') 5. Short Fiction Magazine (FILLED by “Dirty Magick Magazine Jan 2025)
August 20, 2025 at 5:07 AM
jaydeholmes.bsky.social
I haven't posted about #tadpoles lately because I haven't seen them in ages. Maybe they turned to frogs while I was away, or the pond turned inhospitable. I like to think they're frogs.

I have a lot of work to do to get this pond ready for the next generation. And no more water celery.
#backyard
Two overgrown frogponds - one in a brown pot with a fern and a branch inside it, and one in a blue plastic pool full of water celery - sit in a garden bed surrounded by lily-like plants and blades of yellow and green plants. Decorative fairy houses are scattered throughout the garden bed.
August 5, 2025 at 2:49 AM
jaydeholmes.bsky.social
I've been drawing things I've seen whilst travelling in teeny tiny sketchbooks I made. I want to show one off. Art is a great way to capture and relive adventures.

Now that I'm between adventures, maybe I'll make a fanart tiny sketchbook next.

#art #travel #bookbinding #travelart #craft #drawing
July 27, 2025 at 1:04 PM
jaydeholmes.bsky.social
#BookBingo update! completed 'Afrofuturism' square with 'After the Flare' by Deji Bryce Olukotun. Good story of a Nigerian space program rescuing a stranded astronaut after a solar flare hits Earth. Also features magic-like alien tech and Boko Haram. 3.5/5 stars.

#ReadingChallenge #Afrofuturism
A five-by-five bingo card with the following challenges, In the heading is the title ‘2025’, and the website address jaydeholmes.com/book-bingo-cards/ It has the following challenges, listed row-by-row and left-to-right: Row One: 1. Written by Terry Pratchett 2. Locus Award for Best Horror Novel Winner 3. Breaking a Curse (FILLED by “Someone You Can Build a Nest In”) 4. Translated from Russian (FILLED by “Monday Starts on Saturday”) 5. Written in Your Year of Birth Row 2: 1. Set on a Spaceship 2. Told from a ‘Villain’ POV (FILLED by ‘’The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’) 3. World Fantasy Award Winner 4. Been Adapted into a Movie 5. Been Sitting on the Shelf for More Than a Year Row 3: 1. Title Starts with O 2. Has Dragons (FILLED by “Onyx Storm”) 3. Free Square 4. Afrofuturism (FILLED by “After the Flare”) 5. Written Between 1930 - 1950 Row 4: 1. Set During the Cold War 2. King Arthur (Retelling, Inspired, or Original) 3. Has Witches 4. Has Immortality (FILLED by ‘A Court of Mist and Fury’) 5. Australian, Canadian or New Zealand Author Row 5: 1. Translated from Japanese 2. Non-Marvel or DC Superheroes 3. Has Ghosts (FILLED by ‘Haunt Sweet Home’ 4. Title Starts with P (FILLED by 'Penric and the Bandit') 5. Short Fiction Magazine (FILLED by “Dirty Magick Magazine Jan 2025)
July 26, 2025 at 9:39 AM
jaydeholmes.bsky.social
My World of Green and Black novella "The Strongest in the Forest" is now available for digital download as PDF, EPUB, or MOBI files. Visit this page for links to the files, as well as other World of Black and Green content.

jaydeholmes.com/the-world-of...

#selfpublish #sciencefiction #novella
The cover for "The Strongest in the Forest" by Jayde Holmes. The background is red and covered in dark red splatters like bloodstains. In the four ground is a digital sketch coloured only in black, white and gray of a crumbling square tower with a lone human on top facing down a large dragonlike creature that is clinging to the tower railings, with just a sword. The text is in white, with the book title at the top and the author name at the bottom.
July 22, 2025 at 1:06 PM
jaydeholmes.bsky.social
#BookBingo update! Filled the 'has dragons' square with Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros. Unfortunately, this is where the series loses me. First two books were exciting page turners despite their flaws as fantasy books. This one was a chore to get through.

#ReadingChallenge #Romantasy #Reading
A five-by-five bingo card with the following challenges, In the heading is the title ‘2025’, and the website address jaydeholmes.com/book-bingo-cards/ It has the following challenges, listed row-by-row and left-to-right: Row One: 1. Written by Terry Pratchett 2. Locus Award for Best Horror Novel Winner 3. Breaking a Curse (FILLED by “Someone You Can Build a Nest In”) 4. Translated from Russian (FILLED by “Monday Starts on Saturday”) 5. Written in Your Year of Birth Row 2: 1. Set on a Spaceship 2. Told from a ‘Villain’ POV (FILLED by ‘’The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’) 3. World Fantasy Award Winner 4. Been Adapted into a Movie 5. Been Sitting on the Shelf for More Than a Year Row 3: 1. Title Starts with O 2. Has Dragons (FILLED by “Onyx Storm”) 3. Free Square 4. Afrofuturism 5. Written Between 1930 - 1950 Row 4: 1. Set During the Cold War 2. King Arthur (Retelling, Inspired, or Original) 3. Has Witches 4. Has Immortality (FILLED by ‘A Court of Mist and Fury’) 5. Australian, Canadian or New Zealand Author Row 5: 1. Translated from Japanese 2. Non-Marvel or DC Superheroes 3. Has Ghosts (FILLED by ‘Haunt Sweet Home’ 4. Title Starts with P (FILLED by 'Penric and the Bandit') 5. Short Fiction Magazine (FILLED by “Dirty Magick Magazine Jan 2025)
July 5, 2025 at 5:19 AM
jaydeholmes.bsky.social
For this month's featured story, let's return to an old favourite, "A Taste of Home."

jaydeholmes.com/short-storie...

#sciencefiction #spacetourism #shortstory #fiction #selfpublished
An pen sketch of two people sitting on a lounge holding each other while looking at the Earth through a window. Two drinks stand on a table in the foreground; a can of 'Earth Cola" and a bottle of "Spinaroff's"
July 3, 2025 at 12:53 PM
jaydeholmes.bsky.social
COVER REVEAL TIME!

I'm compiling my novella "The Strongest in the Forest" into an ebook. I've just finished the cover and can't wait to show it off.

You can download the story soon. You can also read the story online here:
jaydeholmes.com/short-storie...

#sciencefiction #selfpublish
The cover for "The Strongest in the Forest" by Jayde Holmes. The background is red and covered in dark red splatters like bloodstains. In the four ground is a digital sketch coloured only in black, white and gray of a crumbling square tower with a lone human on top facing down a large dragonlike creature that is clinging to the tower railings, with just a sword. The text is in white, with the book title at the top and the author name at the bottom.
June 22, 2025 at 3:50 AM
jaydeholmes.bsky.social
#BookBingo Update! Read 'Someone You Can Build a Nest In' by John Wiswell @wiswell.bsky.social , a story where an important character wants to break a curse.
I absolutely love this. Great queer romance and one of the best monster stories I have ever read.
#readingchallenge
A five-by-five bingo card with the following challenges, listed row-by-row and left-to-right: Row One: 1. Written by Terry Pratchett 2. Locus Award for Best Horror Novel Winner 3. Breaking a Curse (FILLED by “Someone You Can Build a Nest In”) 4. Translated from Russian (FILLED by “Monday Starts on Saturday”) 5. Written in Your Year of Birth Row 2: 1. Set on a Spaceship 2. Told from a ‘Villain’ POV (FILLED by ‘’The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’) 3. World Fantasy Award Winner 4. Been Adapted into a Movie 5. Been Sitting on the Shelf for More Than a Year Row 3: 1. Title Starts with O 2. Has Dragons 3. Free Square 4. Afrofuturism 5. Written Between 1930 - 1950 Row 4: 1. Set During the Cold War 2. King Arthur (Retelling, Inspired, or Original) 3. Has Witches 4. Has Immortality (FILLED by ‘A Court of Mist and Fury’) 5. Australian, Canadian or New Zealand Author Row 5: 1. Translated from Japanese 2. Non-Marvel or DC Superheroes 3. Has Ghosts (FILLED by ‘Haunt Sweet Home’ 4. Title Starts with P (FILLED by 'Penric and the Bandit') 5. Short Fiction Magazine (FILLED by “Dirty Magick Magazine Jan 2025)
June 2, 2025 at 3:43 AM
jaydeholmes.bsky.social
I went on an adventure last week. Went to Cairns, got to see a lot of rainforest and reef. Highlight was visiting Green Island and seeing the #GreatBarrierReef both on a boat and by going snorkeling. Was my first time snorkeling, and it was a magical experience.
#travel #Australia #art
A coral reef seen through a glass bottom boat's windows. The water is a clear green-blue, and dozens of different types of corals, mostly green or yellow coloured, cover the seafloor. In the upper window, a giant clam is surrounded by corals. A coral reef seen through the panels of a glass bottom boat. The water is clear and dozens of rounded coral bromies are visible on the seafloor, the most noticable being a bright yellow one towards the bottom of the image. Dozens of fish swim under the panels. Grey fish, white fish and yellow-and-white striped fish school together, swimming in a wave from one side of the boat to the other. A drawing of many colourful fish in a coral reef, done with pen and markers. The focal point is a rock where two silver fish with yellow stripes on their bodies sit whilst two other fish - one the same and one a large green and yellow fish - swim around. Small purple corals grow on this rock, and tiny black fish swarm around them. Other fish and corals, as well as a bouy chain, are in the background.
May 28, 2025 at 6:15 AM
jaydeholmes.bsky.social
You know what I haven't done in a while? Shared how absolutely adorable my cat Knight has been. He really likes going outside for walkies.

#cats #tuxedocat #pets #cuteanimals
A fluffy black and white cat, with a white belly and legs, is rolling belly-up on the grass, with his front paws outstretched.
May 15, 2025 at 3:56 AM
jaydeholmes.bsky.social
Strongest in the Forest drawings continued.
A graphite pencil showing two humanoid figures beneath an umbrella. The figure on the left seems older and hunched over, and has their hands folded in front of them. The figure on the right is feminine and stands tall and holds a spear. Both where plain robes, are barefoot, and have portrusions sticking out of the back of their skull behind their necks. The umbrella they stand under is large and fancy, with strings of beads dangling down from the edges. A graphite drawing of a human woman stepping forward while dropping a sword and a dagger from each hand. There are beads in her hair, scabbards at her belt, and outer garments made of stiff woven bamboo strips. There is a hood, a top that drapes wide over her shoulders and has long leaves sticking out as sleeves, and a skirt/apron combo covering her legs and scabbards, but keeping the scabbards accessible. A human figure wearing bamboo-weave armour, a helmet, and a small braid amongst long dark hair stands atop a dilapidated tower holding a swords whilst facing a massive six-limbed dragon-like creature that is holding on to the railing and digging into the side of the tower with its back claws and a spike at the end of the long bony centre limbs that serve as support for membrane wings. The wing membrane stretches from the back of the front leg to the end of the tail, where eight tail flukes hold the membrane into position. The dragon-like creature and the human are glaring at each other.
May 7, 2025 at 2:51 PM
jaydeholmes.bsky.social
Now that I've had a moment to catch my breath, here are all the pictures I drew for my novella "The Strongest in the Forest" which I published last month here: jaydeholmes.com/short-storie...

Enjoy!

#sciencefiction #art #graphitedrawings
A drawing made with graphite pencil. It shows a flat landscape covered in vines. In the foreground are two trees and a well. The tree to the left is not completely in frame, but we see enough of it to know there are fungi and other strange markings and creatures on it, and that beads are wrapped around its trunk and draping from its branches. The well is in the centre, and it is simply a hole in the vines with a frame coming out of it and a rope tied to the middle. A six-legged lizard sits on top of it. The tree on the right is fully visible, and has a box nest tied around its trunk and striped socks on some of its branches. There is a small structure with a door made of leaves behind it. In the background three more trees can be seen, along with a flag and a windmill. A graphite drawing showing a dragon-like creature sitting behind a wooden box with metal latches and two poles coming out of the side. The creature's front claws are on the box. It's wings are made of a skin membrane connecting its front legs with wig struts at the centre of its body, which then folds over and connects to the hind legs. In this sitting position, the wings appear low on the body. There is an upwards facing spike on the chest. A graphite pencil drawing of a rock with flames on it flying through the air. A winged reptile - a sky-dominator- narrowly avoids it. A graphite pencil drawing of two creatures with rock-like shells and long front tentacles that end in curved blades are hanging over the railing on top of a tower overlooking the valley below. The landscape they view is open grasslands dotted with trees and grazing animals. The ruins of two large skyscrapers can also be seen, as long as a number of other destroyed metal structures. There are rolling mountains in the distance, and a winding river to the right of the picture.
May 7, 2025 at 2:51 PM