Shelly Jones (they/them)
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shellyjones.bsky.social
Shelly Jones (they/them)
@shellyjones.bsky.social
1.5K followers 1.6K following 240 posts
English Prof. Editor at Analog Game Studies.

Writer, gamer, nature nerd. BLM

Game Over - Releases Nov 24!
Player Elimination & Murder, She Rolled - Out now!
https://tulepublishing.com/series/a-wren-winters-mystery/

https://shellyjonesauthor.com/
Posts Replies Media Videos
shellyjones.bsky.social
Kind praise indeed for Murder, She Rolled! #bookreviews #cozymysteries

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“Jones has a real talent for crafting mysteries that are both clever and satisfying, and this book is no exception. I highly recommend Murder, She Rolled to anyone who enjoys cozy mysteries with a sharp twist!” - Elaine on Goodreads
November 10, 2025 at 12:02 AM
shellyjones.bsky.social
Having a blast at the @necrimebakecon.bsky.social #Writing #writersconference #mystery
Cover of New England Crime Bake program.
November 8, 2025 at 2:45 PM
shellyjones.bsky.social
Do you love #boardgames and a #cozymystery ? Then you're in luck because we're doing a #goodreadsgiveaway for Game Over!

☠ - Gaming convention turns deadly
🧙‍♂️- #cosplay
🐈- cozy cat named Pip
🕵️‍♀️- amateur sleuth
🌈- diverse cast
📆- Releases Nov 24

www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sho...
Cover of Game Over on a red background. Goodreads Giveaway 10/30 to 11/21.
October 30, 2025 at 2:30 PM
shellyjones.bsky.social
Had a great time at my first solo book signing at the Vestal B&N yesterday!
White person signing books
October 19, 2025 at 5:11 PM
shellyjones.bsky.social
I'm in the spotlight over on @nanreinhardt.bsky.social 's blog! Head on over for a chance to win a copy of #MurderSheRolled, some shiny dice, and other goodies!

nanreinhardt.com/author-spotl...

#booksky #giveaway #cozymystery

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Author Spotlight - photo of Shelly Jones and the cover of their book, Murder, She Rolled.
October 8, 2025 at 12:09 PM
shellyjones.bsky.social
My September reads included "The Last Line" by @scottlyerly.bsky.social (kept me guessing at every turn!) and then I got hooked onto the Widow's Island suspense/thriller series. Almost done with it... Got any book recommendations for October?

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September Reads - book covers on an orange background.
October 4, 2025 at 5:19 PM
shellyjones.bsky.social
Looking forward to this event. Can't afford to buy a book or don't have any shelf space? Ask your library to carry the book. Post a quick review. Share or like an indie author's posts to help with the evils of the algorithm. Support comes in lots of ways and doesn't have to be financial.

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Poster for the Author Expo in Oneonta, NY on Sunday Oct 12
October 2, 2025 at 12:32 AM
shellyjones.bsky.social
More praise for "Player Elimination" - a five star review!

#BookReview #CozyMystery #Goodreads #Whodunit #MustRead #GamerGirl

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“Player Elimination hit all the right buttons for me: cozy vibes, clever twists, and a heroine who doesn’t crumble under pressure, even when her whole world is collapsing one clue at a time. [...] If you're into cozy mysteries with brains, heart, and a heroine who feels like your fiercely loyal bestie, Player Elimination is your next must-read..” - Rebel on Goodreads Five stars Available now on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and other retailers!
September 29, 2025 at 11:40 PM
shellyjones.bsky.social
Cover of the game Waffles for Esther with the caption: Esther’s Pick - Waffles for Esther - In this charming solo journaling RPG, you play a waitress whose regular customer (Esther) has gone missing. Use your waitressing and detective skills to solve the mystery on your own! Cover of the game Teatime Adventures with the caption: Jo’s Pick - Teatime Adventures - This cozy mystery roleplaying game is as whimsical as it is fun. Full of heartwarming encounters, magical baked goods, and even a few recipes, this adventure is sure to delight! Cover of Wanderhome with the caption: Pip’s Pick - Wanderhome - A pastoral fantasy built around Belonging, this game has no dice, no math, no Game Master, and no difficult rules...easy enough to bring to the table so that everyone, even a cat like Pip!, can play.
September 25, 2025 at 3:38 PM
shellyjones.bsky.social
Many folks know what #DungeonsAndDragons or #DnD is, but there are so many great indie tabletop #roleplaying games out there! Just sharing a few here that Wren and her friends would like to play #TTRPG #Cozy #GameRecommendations

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Cover of Murder, She Rolled with the caption: Wren Winters and her friends love to roll the dice and roleplay. Check out these great cozy indie tabletop roleplaying games to play with your besties today! Cover of the game Starcrossed with the caption: Wren’s Pick - Starcrossed - A captivating two-person game in which you play starcrossed lovers. To add to the “will they, won’t they?” tension, players pull bricks from a Jenga-like tower...will you fall for each before the tower falls? Cover of Brindlewood Bay with the caption: Charlie’s Pick - Brindlewood Bay. Murder, She Wrote meets Cthulhu in this cozy murder mystery tabletop roleplaying game. Low prep and easy to pick up, this game will have you roleplaying your favorite elderly amateur sleuth.
September 25, 2025 at 3:38 PM
shellyjones.bsky.social
What do you do when you're a #writer procrastinating on edits? Make a #booktrailer of course! (Apologies to my editor...)

#mystery #actualplay #ttrpg #dice #cozymystery #nerdy #gamer #rpg #indie #writerslift #writingcommunity #comingsoon #booksky

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September 18, 2025 at 9:19 PM
shellyjones.bsky.social
Want a chance to read Murder, She Rolled before it officially releases on October 6? You're in luck! Sign up now to be an ARC reader.

booksprout.co/reviewer/rev...

#booksky #bookreview
#arcreaders #arcreaderswanted #mysterynovel #cozymystery #nerdy #gamer #actualplay #ttrpg

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Orange book on a green background: Arc Sign Ups Available Now for Murder, She Rolled.
September 17, 2025 at 4:36 PM
shellyjones.bsky.social
Happy Cozy Mystery Day (aka Agatha Christie's birthday)! Snapped this photo of Clue while at the Strong Museum this weekend. It's the perfect seque for my class as I introduced their next assignment: updating Clue to a modern setting of their choice. What setting would you pick?
An old Clue board behind glass at an exhibit at the Strong Museum of Play.
September 15, 2025 at 8:51 PM
shellyjones.bsky.social
Having a blast at the #BIPOCGAMES2025 at the Strong Museum.
The outside of the strong museum You can't use up creativity. The more you use the more you have. Maya Angelou
September 13, 2025 at 12:46 PM
shellyjones.bsky.social
One of my many #TBR piles. What are you reading today for #NationalReadABookDay ?
A stack of books
September 6, 2025 at 2:16 PM
shellyjones.bsky.social
Do you love #books #rpgs and a #whodunnit ? Then you're in luck because we're doing a #goodreadsgiveaway for Murder, She Rolled.

Check out the link below for your chance to win a copy of this #cozymystery from @tulepublishing.bsky.social

www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sho...

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Green background with an orange book cover of Murder, She Rolled. Goodreads giveaway advertisement: 9-1 to 9-30. Cozy mystery, book 2 in the series, roleplaying games, LGBTQIA+ and disability representation, releases Oct 6, found family of friends.
September 1, 2025 at 8:29 PM
shellyjones.bsky.social
Today's the day! Player Elimination is available today on ebook and paperback from Amazon and Barnes and Noble. (Link in bio) I'm so grateful for everyone's support and encouragement on this long journey!

#bookbirthday #bookrelease #cozymystery #booksky
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A blue book cover on a blue background. Available today: Player Elimination
August 27, 2025 at 11:03 AM
shellyjones.bsky.social
Is it cake? Well, it's fondant! I struggle with celebrating things. I really want to but then feel silly/ insecure. Had this in my cart for a month before finally buying these from Oristudios on Etsy. Still have no idea how I'm celebrating in one week, but at least I have a sugary starting point.
Fondant covers of Player Elimination and a tub of frosting.
August 20, 2025 at 8:11 PM
shellyjones.bsky.social
Some early praise for Player Elimination - out Aug 27!

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Early praise for Player Elimination: “Solid mystery, fleshed out and intriguing characters.” - Annarella on Goodreads; “I liked the characters and thought they made a nice team, with each of them having a role in solving the case.” - Julie Howard, author; “What a delightful cozy murder mystery! I loved Wren and her friends. The characters were well developed and complimented each other like only the best and truest friends can.” - Mandy K on Goodreads; “This all comes together nicely. Can't wait to read more from this author.” - Julie B on Goodreads
August 15, 2025 at 3:59 PM
shellyjones.bsky.social
Made this post in June for #Pride and then rebelled because we need #QueerRepresentation and #DisabilityRepresentation all year long. Meet the players of *Player Elimination* including their go to caffeine ☕ and preferred #boardgame styles. 👀

tulepublishing.com/books/player...

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Meet the Players of Player Elimination: Wren - cis, loyal to a fault, cat mom, black coffee, co-op or solo games; Esther - bi, trivia queen, naps, iced coffee, social deduction games; Charlie - non-binary, (over-)committed, neurospicy, lattes, heavy Euro-style games; Jo - Ace, care-giver, logical, chai tea, puzzle-y abstract games. Player Elimination releases 8/27.
August 13, 2025 at 3:06 PM
shellyjones.bsky.social
Had an amazing time with some of the other @upperhudsonsinc.bsky.social authors! I loved that we got to name drinks after our characters. ☕️ (I was really nervous and feeling major imposter syndrome...) Special shout out to @erinkwagner.bsky.social for being a stellar hype person and friend.
Chalk board listing special drinks.
August 10, 2025 at 2:22 AM
shellyjones.bsky.social
Got out on the trails today! Spotted a Kingfisher, a Northern Flicker, and a bunch of bear scat (but thankfully no bears...). Phew!
Two white people hiking on a trail.
August 8, 2025 at 11:34 PM
shellyjones.bsky.social
Cover reveal! We're two months out from the release of "Murder, She Rolled" the 2nd book in the Wren Winters #cozymystery series. This time the gang is playing a #RolePlayingGame #TTRPG when things get dicey. Want to get caught up? Check out "Player Elimination" (link in bio) releasing 8/27. ⚡️📚💙
Cover of "Murder, She Rolled" - an orange book with a green poison bottle oozing a puddle. 2nd book in the series; cozy mystery; roleplaying games; releases Oct. 6; LGBTQIA+ and disability representation. Description of "Murder, She Rolled" - Wren Winters is thrilled when her gaming group is invited to join the town’s new superstar streamer, Noelle Williams, for a live play-through of an RPG. But when Noelle collapses on camera, dead, and another friend falls ill, Wren is suddenly thrust into the investigation. Secrets about Noelle’s life emerge: relentless online harassment, jealous exes, and a sister desperate to pull her offline. With danger closing in, Wren refuses to sit on the sidelines. She’s determined to solve the puzzle before her friend’s game is over for good.
August 6, 2025 at 4:07 PM
shellyjones.bsky.social
New to this whole #booktrailer thing, but here's my first stab 🔪 (pun intended!) for my #cozymystery novel, Player Elimination, out Aug 27.

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July 31, 2025 at 5:29 PM
shellyjones.bsky.social
Looking forward to joining some of the other Mavens of Mayhem up at Mocha Lisa's Cafe for an evening of crime and caffeine on August 9th! @upperhudsonsinc.bsky.social

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#Booksky #Reading #crimefiction #cozymystery #authorevent
Green poster with author photos on it. Poster advertises a Mysteries at Mocha Lisa's reading event on August 9th.
July 29, 2025 at 6:36 PM