Casey P. StJohn

We’re thrilled to share the stunning cover for The Ghost of Avalon, Casey P StJohn's debut novel, coming January 27th, 2026!

Pre-order your signed copy now at readnovabooks.com

@cpstjohn.bsky.social

#CoverReveal #FantasyBooks #PreOrderNow #StrongFemaleProtagonist #MurderMysteryBooks #Bookstagram

After 3 offers, I decided I wanted to work with NOVA again!

You can find out more about A Wayward Balance in my pinned post!

#publishing #writing #AWaywardBalance #fantasy #fiction

I just wrote *The End* for The Ghost of Avalon for one of the last times. After a quick read through it will be off to my editor to see if any other developmental changes need to happen, then it's on to line edits.

#publishing #WritingCommunity #theghostofavalon

Between Wed and Thurs I recieved an agent full request (off a query submitted after unhingedpit--request came 18 minutes after sending the query!), a small press full request (makes three out right now), and another smallpitch request!

It's been a good week in the trenches!

Thank you everyone for all of your support during #UnhingedPit !

DOUBLE IVY: M4F, 31, tenure track (finally). 6'4", dark blond hair, former 7 seat in men’s 8 at Yale (kicked off for spurious reasons and NOT for bullying the cox), Ph.D. from Penn. Fluent in Keats, Byron, Coleridge and Shelley (esp. “Mont Blanc”). Seeking intellectually gifted undergrad for intense mentorship, lyrical balladry, disquisitions upon the sublime, and select indoor recreational activities. Turn ons: Quoting “Kublai Khan” during foreplay, women who ask smart questions and don’t expect real answers, the phrase “I’ve never done this before.” Turn offs: Boundaries, undergraduates who quote Judith Butler to win arguments, and anyone who calls me "Greg." No strings. Except, you know, all of them. Poughkeepsie area.

AN EDUCATION x OLEANNA x YOU

Please do not answer this personal ad from Dr. Gregory Shipp. I beg of you. He’s ridiculously handsome, overeducated, and will buy you jeroboams of Billecart-Salmon, but please. Just say no and swipe left. (But swipe right on SURFACE TENSION!) #UnhingedPit #A #WIP #UM

Blue-green background. Text: The Sun Diamond Princess & the Blind Assassin by Elise Betz The Pitch - badly poorly (badly and poorly are struck through) snarkily written Horny as f*ck Princess Myra is taken to a brothel by her f*ckably hot best friend/sword master to end her female equivalent of blue balls. What a coinkidink! There is a mix-up, which interferes with Myra losing the big V. The shaggable blind assassin, Arzhang, saves her from the real assassin sent by her psycho-b*tch mom who wants her dead. What better way to overthrow her mom than to run away with Arzhang, offer her virginity up to the incel, Emperor Zviad, ruling the country they are warring with and broker peace with a marriage, then kick mom off the throne. What could go wrong? Besides being in love with cinnamon roll Arzhang and hating the sexist, petulant douche-bag of a snack Zviad.

Blue-green background. Text: The Sun Diamond Princess & the Blind Assassin by Elise Betz Why should literary agents represent my book? The romantacy market is already saturated. Let’s add another to the pile! Pretty princess? F*ck no. She’s tall, a bit butch, has a short temper, and swears like a Black Sun pirate. We’re sick of weak, helpless women who can’t properly swing a sword. It’s Disability Pride month and my romantic interest is blind. He falls in love with the princess at first sniff. We need more smell kink representation in literature.

Blue-green background. Text: The Sun Diamond Princess & the Blind Assassin AITA: Princess Myra Edition Myra wants to overthrow her mother, the Queen Regent, just because the Queen sent an assassin to kill her, started a war based on a false flag, and is profiting off the perpetuation of war. F*ck the Military Industrial Complex! Myra gives sex education books to the women of the court to subvert to sexually repressive patriarchal culture of her fiancé’s country. F*ck repression of sex ed! Once Myra becomes Pro tem Queen, she ends Voluntia’s 1,572 year history of hereditary monarchy and changes it to an elected position. F*ck the monarchy!

Blue-green background The Sun Diamond Princess & the Blind Assassin Princess Myra’s To-Do List Lose my virginity to the hot blind prostitute, Arzhang (and former assassin), bought for my 18th birthday. Don’t die from real assassin queen-mom sent. Next time I set an assassin’s body on fire, don’t leave behind the bottle of birth control when going on the run. Avoid getting preggers from Arzhang! Oral only. Offer up virginity as bargaining chip to marry douchey Emperor Zviad, who can help me over throw psycho mom & end war with his country. Don’t lose my sh*t when walking up the aisle to marry Zviad (he kisses like a dead fish). Send Thank You note to Zviad for backing out and letting me marry sex-god, cinnamon roll Arzhang instead.

The #UnhingedPit #AgentsGuide to The Sun Diamond Princess & the Blind Assassin
#A #R #F #RF #Q #LMNOP

📗Who has the 12th century tale of Tristan & Isolde with an HEA for a comp? 👉THIS👈 author.
🛌🛖 One bed at the shepherd's hut.

If my characters were Jewish foods... Manischewitz Gefilte Fish In JELLED BROTH Ava: Misunderstood but will surprise you if you give her a chance. Rivkah: Bitter, stale, and great if given the right dose. Aiden: Comforting and always there when you need him most. Jonathan: Sweet, fluffy and can be enjoyed at anytime of the day.

Super late to #unhingedpit but wanted to join the party!

#YA #H #LGBT #W #writingcommunity

A green dragon in the arms of a woman who's scowling at a poor knight in full armor! The dragon is pointing an accusatory finger at the knight as if a child telling their mother that someone hurt them. The poor knight is scared. Note: I searched the Internet and did my best to find the artist to no avail. I hope, whoever they are, they don't mind me using it here. If you know who this belongs to, please kindly let me know.

A plucky FMC who must fight a dysfunctional family of gods.
An extremely hot dragon who won't be ridden, except in the bedroom😉
#Q #UnhingedPit #F #writingcommunity

The city's chief Lycan hunters, councilman Masala and V Director Nemhauser join forces vowing to wipe out the Lycan menace in the city. Lycan mind control can strike anywhere, and those sympathetic to the Lycan cause, so-called "hairy travelers" pose a great threat to our city security. #UnhingedPit

🤭

"Grab the chicken!"

Who'd a thought she have to hypnotize a cannibal to get out of this mess?

LOTR x Clan of the Cave Bear, but future

#UnhingedPit 🤪 🫠

#A #Q #Spec #F #CliFi #WritingCommunity #writesky #LOTR #apocalypse

🔥 🌱 🐓

a cartoon character from the emperor 's new groove says when are you going to realize that all of my ideas are good ALT: a cartoon character from the emperor 's new groove says when are you going to realize that all of my ideas are good

AITA: After I (immortal, F, muse recently trapped in a human body) got caught sneaking food from the mortal market without paying, I manipulated someone (25, M, butcher) to take the fall for my so-called theft.

They cut off his hand, and now he’s mad at me?!?!?

#UnhingedPit #Q #A #F #R #Romantasy

Sausage Dog's Book Review of To Ruin the Sky⚡️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Woof woof woof woof woof
*itches leg* woof woof *sniff*
Woof woof woof!

Translation: Excellent Urban Romantasy with supernatural beings, a potential apocalypse, banter & tatted MMC. Would recommend

#UnhingedPit #Q #NA #RF

A fake horoscope magazine page, focusing on the Aries sign, It says. "A time of changes is coming up. A new meeting will sweep off your feet. That project you’ve been neglecting may be the answer, but also cause contrasts with the very person you’re trying to impress. I’d important to take a clear position. Or your love and work life will suffer"

ALADDIN X GREEK MYTH

Greek myth rare pair but romcom!

Peleas, our MC, is an Aries. Let's take a look at his horoscope, shall we?

#UnhingedPit #R #W #Q #A #upmarket

meme with white background. top text says: 21 Years Around the Sun: New Year, New Me. Image below the text is black and white disco balls with a 21 year bday cake and woman holding it in her hands and smiling two images split below: orange jumpsuit woman behind bars, sitting on a bed in a cell; next image: group of young, fresh looking zombies with blood splatter overlay. Text below: Not like that?

#unhingedpit #h #lgbtq #q

LOVE, LIES, AND LETTING GO
Nellie’s newly jobless, broke, and asked to be in her BFF's $$$ wedding party. Oh, and her ex-work rival, Miles, is in the wedding too. She’s totally, perfectly fine though 😰
Life can be a real b****! #UnhingedPit #agentsguide 📌 #amquerying #wf w/ #r

ROMEO & JULIET x THE HUNGER GAMES
Figured I’d pitch my #NA #F #R set in a dystopian world using comments from numerous beta readers. Yes, they're all adults, even the one asking for their mum.
Anti-tropes: Soul mates but drawn together to kill each other.
#UnhingedPit #Q

A still of Preminger from Barbie Princess and the Pauper holding a mock book cover for What Bleeds Beneath by Anna Hirsch

What if Barbie's Princess and the Pauper was a dark, bloody romantasy? Don't worry, I already wrote it.

#UnhingedPit #F #R #Q

Alpha comments from APOCAC’s first rough draft sex scene #UnhingedPit #R

Black text, white background, "smile" in pink l used to be invisible. It's true. My father never noticed me, girls didn't notice me. I was nerdy and quiet, so l had trouble making friends. Maybe I was attractive, I wouldn't know. Mom always said that if I wore contacts, changed my hair, lost ten pounds, l'd look great, but she told me she'd see me later and disappeared on us, so who believes her? Well, I didn't, but now I do. It's amazing what a near-death experience can do for your outlook on yourself and life. Guess what, Mom? I'm a celebrity now. You were right. Contacts that enhance the blue o my eyes; my silvery blond hair slicked back and long; corrected posture; and abs to, well, not-quite-die for. And a smile. Don't forget that. I always forgot it, and that was part of my problem. I smiled maybe once in the five years before the accident, and now I show my pearly whites every chance I get because girls adore that.

Folks, we have a treat for you: Ace Starr is here! You may have seen him on the cover of Vanity Fair. Or maybe you've swooned each time a Pure East ad comes on. Well, we have the boy & his famous smile right here. Ace, tell us a bit about yourself!

#WIPSnips #UnhingedPit #YA #Q
From Hero/Villain 🦹‍♂️🤩

Meme - Scene from Love Island separated in three pictures between a girl with black hair and a girl with blonde hair. Top picture: black hair, “so what was the date?” Middle picture: blonde hair, “it was just like a SawBot chasing after us in an escape room where we had to sacrifice someone to live.” Bottom picture: black hair, “my dream date. Cute. And he knows that.”

I'm a mommy
Mommy?
I'm a mom.
Mamacita.
No, I'm a mommy.
A mom of what? A bot?
No, of a Love Island romance WIP but it’s set in a dystopian world where they’re appointed soulmates and they make a reality show for those who don’t have one, but it’s a blood bath.

#NA #R #T #SF #H #WIP #unhingedpit

#UnhingedPit #agented

a woman in a barbie costume says hi barbie on the beach ALT: a woman in a barbie costume says hi barbie on the beach

Three and a half Barbie bands (and one Ken) come together at the Dream House for one perfect summer. 💖But a seance unleashes demons, who turn it into a Mojo Dojo Casa House of nightmares… and now it’s Oppenheimin’ time.🔥 #UnhingedPit #A #Q #H

A Shrek meme where an employee is asked if they are feeling degraded or depressed by Shrek. The potion company employee says: “Uhh, kind of? We don’t even have . . .” The word “dental” has been intentionally left from the end of the quote.

A Shrek screenshot says “They don’t even have an evil, magical pharmaceutical company to take down” This replaces the meme content “they don’t even have dental” which jokes that a book should include an evil pharmaceutical company to take down.

A Shrek screenshot says “They don’t even have chronic illness rep” This replaces the meme content “they don’t even have dental” which jokes that a book should include chronic illness rep

A Shrek screenshot says “They don’t even have a snarky familiar” This replaces the meme content “they don’t even have dental” which jokes that a book should include a snarky familiar

An evil potion company with no health benefits? Sounds familiar 👀

My adult cozy fantasy novel POTIONS UNINCORPORATED 🤝 Shrek Memes

#TheyDontEvenHaveDental #UnhingedPit #Q #A #F #R #amquerying #writesky #writingcommunity

Mock 17th or 18th century style title page of a book, including a small illustration of crossed rapiers. The page reads: The Duel in 1660, or, the Adventures of Alexander Aldridge: being a Romance, (not the smoochy kind,) wherein is discovered, stupid japes, man falls over ha-ha!, guys being pals, improbable stunts, rake-hells in slap-fights, surprising sincerity, & excessive quanities of ribbon. (Published) Nowhere, Not Yet.

𝘛𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘗𝘪𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘥, this #UnhingedPit;
THE DUEL IN 1660,
a fine and frolickſome Swashbuckling Farce,
ideal for Enthusiasts of the Book a-hundred years old or more,
but who wish it was a great deal more Gay.

#YA(?) #LGBT #W #HistFic

A fake message exchange on an iPhone overlaid over a picture of Pedro Pascal lying on a cobbled floor, staring at his phone with a subtle smile. The message exchange reads: Hollywood: Pedro, got a new role for you: – Grouchy war vet – Deep trauma – Fighting space fascists Pedro: I'm listening… Hollywood: Guy's an alcoholic, drinks away his grief, but he's funny. Uses humour to deflect from his emotions Pedro: And? Hollywood: He hooks up with the crew he abandoned a decade ago, shenanigans ensue Pedro: Hmm… you almost had me Hollywood: Wait! He also accidentally adopts a mute girl with mysterious powers who drags him into a galaxy-spanning adventure Pedro: When do we start?

Hey, it's not up to me. I wrote a sad space dad with a tragic past and a special child in tow. The casting chose itself.

#UnhingedPit #OS #SF #A

Spooky forest background with cartoon image of a girl on the left with her wrists tied with rope who's massaging between her eyes and has a thought bubble above her head saying, "Why me?" Two arguing stick figures are in the background, one holding a saber and the other a dagger. A badge reading, "Killer Nashville Claymore Finalist" is in the upper right corner.

FMC: *gets traumatically kidnapped*

Love Interest: "That didn't go well."

Foil: "So this is my fault?"

LI: 🤬 "Everything is ALWAYS your fault!"

*LI and Foil devolve into childish bickering*

FMC: 😳 I've been kidnapped by unstable maniacs 🤦‍♀️

#unhingedpit #Q #YA #F #M #R #MH