RJ Benda

“Photo of an open laptop on a desk. On the screen is a Word document showing the beginning of Chapter 13 of the author’s thriller manuscript. The laptop keyboard is visible below, and the room is softly lit behind the screen.”

“Deep in the unsettling heart of my new psychological thriller today… I love when a characters surprise me.
Do you prefer thrillers that start slow and eerie or open with a punch?”

#AmWriting #ThrillerWriter #FictionWriting

Thrillers own my heart—nothing beats a killer opening line. 👀
One of my favorites:

“Alicia Berenson was thirty-three years old when she killed her husband.”

What first line hooked you?

#ThrillerBooks #PsychThriller #AmWriting#WritersOfBluesky

Snow-covered forest with tall bare trees dusted in white. Fresh snow blankets the ground, and soft flakes fall through a calm, bright winter sky.

First real snowfall of the season. Quiet, soft, and a little magical before tomorrow’s big storm. The dogs want to play, and I just want to write under a heated blanket and pretend shoveling isn’t in my future. ❄️✨

#WinterVibes #NorthDakotaLife #AuthorLife #WritingInWinter #Communitywriting

Starting a new book while my memoir is in production, and the creative spark feels so good. ✨
Writers—how often are you writing, and how do you balance it with a full-time job?

#AmWriting #WritingCommunity #AuthorLife

I swear the timing of life is wild. 😂

Right after my cover reveal and committing to self-publish…
an email pops up from a literary agent asking for the first 50 pages.

Whatever happens, I’m just excited (and slightly stunned). 💜

#WritingJourney
#AuthorLife
#BigLittleMoments
#Booksky

It will be official out the end of February. I will keep you posted!

A book cover mock-up featuring the title Built From the Broken. The image shows a woman from the shoulders down, holding the edge of her shirt slightly open to reveal a heart-shaped mechanical device embedded in her chest—gears, cogs, and metal parts forming a steampunk-style heart. The lighting is warm and soft, with rich shadows. The subtitle reads A Journey Through Lupus, Love, and the Fight to Stay Alive, and the author name, RJ Benda, appears at the bottom.

Cover mock-up reveal.

“A sharp, rhythmic click-click… steady as a metronome. I searched the room for the noise. But it wasn’t the clock. It wasn’t the house.
It was me.”

Every part of this book comes from surviving what tried to break me.
#Lupus #Booksky #WritersOfBluesky

A close-up of a teal planner with a colorful skeleton sticker that reads “Killing them with kindness is taking longer than I expected,” next to a keyboard and a red holiday Starbucks coffee cup.

Planner open, coffee close, and a reminder that compassion for others and myself takes time.

Writing a memoir means sorting through emotions and the messy parts of being human. Today I’m giving myself space to breathe. Reminder,one page at a time.

#AuthorLife #BuiltFromTheBroken #WritingJourney

Robyn sits at her desk in the library, smiling brightly while holding a decorated coffee cup. Behind her are windows, shelves, and soft morning light, creating a cozy workplace atmosphere.

Last one out, first one in.
Still glowing from our Beginner Sourdough class — 112 people showed up! 💛
Off to Good Samaritan for a pop-up library visit. Hope I can sneak in some writing today. ☕️📚

#LibraryLife #CommunityLove #SourdoughClass #PopUpLibrary #MorningCoffee #BuiltFromTheBroken #AuthorLife

Wanna avoid responsibilities while appearing responsible?

Wanna escape your mess of a life while looking like you have it all together?

Wanna stave off people without coming across as rude?

Try reading a book in public! 📖

#WritingCommunity #BookSky

A thick printed manuscript clipped together on a desk. The cover page reads “Untitled Memoir” with the author name Robyn Johnson Benda beneath it. A keyboard and a coffee mug sit in the background.

Day 2 of stepping into this new author life.
This was my manuscript before it even had a title — just a stack of pages and a story I hoped mattered.
Now it’s becoming Built From the Broken, and it finally feels real.

#Memoir #AuthorJourney #AmWriting

Have you ever thought of joining a support group? They offer a place to build community in an understanding environment where people with #lupus come together to share & help each other. Find out more about our support group network: buff.ly/LTFhDUC

A woman with long, dark wavy hair stands outdoors next to a building. She has light skin, a soft smile, and is wearing a light gray top. Behind her are blurred trees and an apartment-style building, creating a calm, natural background.

Hi Bluesky! I’m Robyn — a memoirist writing about lupus, trauma, resilience, and rebuilding a life piece by piece.
I’m here to share my writing journey, connect with other authors, and learn from this community.
If you’re into real stories and honest conversations, I’m glad to meet you.