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Kat Simons/Isabo Kelly

@katsimons.bsky.social

Writer of fun stuff, including kissing books, science geek, gadgets, food. Sometimes sports. she/her

490 Followers  |  397 Following  |  97 Posts  |  Joined: 26.11.2023  |  2.2099

Latest posts by katsimons.bsky.social on Bluesky

I've known s.e. for years, ever since we met at
@sirensconference.org, and they are really good at what they do. If you can, I suggest supporting this excellent feminist journalism outlet they, along with friends, have founded and poured their hearts into.

31.10.2025 20:25 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 4    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Well now, would you look at that?

A massive, 26-YEAR-LONG study of MORE THAN 2.4 MILLION people in Sweden found found NO EVIDENCE to support a causal link between acetaminophen (the API in Tylenol) use during pregnancy and increased risk of autism, ADHD, OR intellectual disability in children.

30.10.2025 16:00 β€” πŸ‘ 3856    πŸ” 1292    πŸ’¬ 59    πŸ“Œ 24
What is the most spook-tacular nebula in the galaxy? One contender is LDN 43, which bears an astonishing resemblance to a vast cosmic bat flying amongst the stars on a dark Halloween night. Located about 1400 light years away in the constellation Ophiuchus, this molecular cloud is dense enough to block light not only from background stars, but from wisps of gas lit up by the nearby reflection nebula LBN 7. Far from being a harbinger of death, this 12-light year-long filament of gas and dust is actually a stellar nursery. Glowing with eerie light, the bat is lit up from inside by dense gaseous knots that have just formed young stars.

What is the most spook-tacular nebula in the galaxy? One contender is LDN 43, which bears an astonishing resemblance to a vast cosmic bat flying amongst the stars on a dark Halloween night. Located about 1400 light years away in the constellation Ophiuchus, this molecular cloud is dense enough to block light not only from background stars, but from wisps of gas lit up by the nearby reflection nebula LBN 7. Far from being a harbinger of death, this 12-light year-long filament of gas and dust is actually a stellar nursery. Glowing with eerie light, the bat is lit up from inside by dense gaseous knots that have just formed young stars.

Astronomers sure do conjure up a lot of spooky images when they look out into deep space. A short Halloween thread:

Let's start with the Cosmic Bat Nebula (LDN 43). πŸ§ͺπŸ”­

apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap24102...

31.10.2025 14:44 β€” πŸ‘ 79    πŸ” 27    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 4
Early voting stickers with a pigeon holding a trick or Treat pumpkin in its mouth and it's wearing a witch's hat. Some flying bats on orange background behind pigeon. Text: Halloween Voter 2025

Early voting stickers with a pigeon holding a trick or Treat pumpkin in its mouth and it's wearing a witch's hat. Some flying bats on orange background behind pigeon. Text: Halloween Voter 2025

I got my sticker!! Happy Halloween, all. Here's to hoping for sweet treats and no fecking tricks.

31.10.2025 15:11 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Available now at your favorite digital store! Ishq Factors by Suleikha Snyder

My first story collection, which includes things I wrote around 2012-2013, has a f/f Indian zombie story and a f/f story set in space, inspired by "Down in the Boondocks" by Billy Joe Royal. Because, yes, my brain has always been this weird.

books2read.com/u/mqzx01

30.10.2025 19:03 β€” πŸ‘ 7    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

I have been purposefully waiting to vote until tomorrow in the hopes of a Halloween voting sticker!! I waaaannnnnttttt it! And also Zohran for Mayor. 🀞

30.10.2025 19:21 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

We've also got a network of community fridges here in Baltimore; @redemmas.org has great info on this & a community fridge of their own

29.10.2025 17:07 β€” πŸ‘ 12    πŸ” 10    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

This collection brings together some of Gini’s best-loved short stories for the first time. Grab it now but be prepared – laughter is definitely on the horizon @ginikoch.bsky.social
Amazon: www.amazon.com/dp/B0CG6WPNQ4
Barnes & Nobel: www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-happy-...

28.10.2025 21:58 β€” πŸ‘ 8    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Leanna excitedly holds a copy of AMERICA'S MOST GOTHIC: HAUNTED HISTORY STRANGER THAN FICTION by Leanna Renee Hieber and Andrea Janes in front of a red "Just arrived Non-Fiction" sign at one of the first floor tables at The Strand in NYC

Leanna excitedly holds a copy of AMERICA'S MOST GOTHIC: HAUNTED HISTORY STRANGER THAN FICTION by Leanna Renee Hieber and Andrea Janes in front of a red "Just arrived Non-Fiction" sign at one of the first floor tables at The Strand in NYC

We're on the front table at The @strandbookstore.bsky.social, NYC! 2 Signed Copies now available! AMERICA'S MOST GOTHIC: HAUNTED HISTORY STRANGER THAN FICTION examines real, haunted history through the lens of Gothic Literature! An "Instant USA Today Bestseller!" πŸ–€πŸ‘»πŸ–€

28.10.2025 21:15 β€” πŸ‘ 213    πŸ” 29    πŸ’¬ 6    πŸ“Œ 2
A creepy artwork of a crow with teeth smiling at the viewer opening it's claw hands and pointing at the viewer with the text: You will be overpaid and underworked.

A creepy artwork of a crow with teeth smiling at the viewer opening it's claw hands and pointing at the viewer with the text: You will be overpaid and underworked.

You will suffer the curse of caw!
Share if you care to spread the curse even further!Β 
#fishcrow #art

28.10.2025 16:22 β€” πŸ‘ 2859    πŸ” 1248    πŸ’¬ 15    πŸ“Œ 17

Chatbots β€” LLMs β€” do not know facts and are not designed to be able to accurately answer factual questions. They are designed to find and mimic patterns of words, probabilistically. When they’re β€œright” it’s because correct things are often written down, so those patterns are frequent. That’s all.

19.06.2025 11:21 β€” πŸ‘ 36858    πŸ” 11374    πŸ’¬ 640    πŸ“Œ 963
Preview
Nonfiction History Authors: Leanna Renee Hieber and Ilise S. Carter | Swamp Fox Bookstore An independent bookstore in Marion, Iowa

Dears! Book tour for AMERICA'S MOST GOTHIC: HAUNTED HISTORY STRANGER THAN FICTION continues apace! Thanks for continued support! Online tonight! Joining @theladyaye.bsky.social at @swampfoxbookstore.bsky.social to discuss ghosts, spiritualism & spooky things! swampfoxbookstore.com/events/32664...

27.10.2025 15:12 β€” πŸ‘ 8    πŸ” 6    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 2
All four seasons of ROADTRIP Z are $1.99USD-$2.99USD (and CAD) apiece in ebook until 10/31

All four seasons of ROADTRIP Z are $1.99USD-$2.99USD (and CAD) apiece in ebook until 10/31

Big spookytime sale! All four seasons of ROADTRIP Z are $1.99-$2.99 (USD & CAD) apiece in ebook until 10/31. Come get your zombie apocalypse!

books2read.com/cottoncrossing
books2read.com/intheruins
books2read.com/pocalypseroad
books2read.com/atlantabound

25.10.2025 15:22 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
America’s Most Gothic Instant USA Today BestsellerFrom the Bram Stoker nominated author team who penned A Haunted History of Invisible Women, the first book of its kind to investi...

AMERICA'S MOST GOTHIC - HAUNTED HISTORY STRANGER THAN FICTION by @leannareneehieber.bsky.social www.kensingtonbooks.com/978080654374...

23.10.2025 19:27 β€” πŸ‘ 7    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
The cover of the spicy historical romance "Waiting for a Scot Like You" by Eva Leigh. The cover shows a jacked Scottish man with most of his shirt off as he grips the back of the neck of a woman with streaks of gray in her hair. She's wearing a pink dress, and the couple is standing a distance from a manor house at sunset.

The cover of the spicy historical romance "Waiting for a Scot Like You" by Eva Leigh. The cover shows a jacked Scottish man with most of his shirt off as he grips the back of the neck of a woman with streaks of gray in her hair. She's wearing a pink dress, and the couple is standing a distance from a manor house at sunset.

That one time when a 40+ y.o. widow went on a road trip with a younger, gruff Scottish soldier and it turned out he was a Dom...

It's on sale for $1.99!

books2read.com/u/31YQY7

23.10.2025 18:50 β€” πŸ‘ 32    πŸ” 15    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 4
Preview
Apocalypse Witch, FINAL NOVEL in the Demon Witch Series All the danger and magic in Angie Jordan's world erupts in this heart-stopping final book in the dark Urban Fantasy Demon Witch series!

Watching Halloween baking championships after making black frosting & folding laundry (before getting back to edits). So to be even more random, gonna flog my Kickstarter for the LAST book in my Demon Witch series!

www.kickstarter.com/projects/kat...

23.10.2025 19:48 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Unless you're boycotting, this is a good time to buy from indie authors on Amazon. October's the last month with sales paying out in 2025. Payments hit on Dec. 29, giving your faves some much-needed end-of-year income!

Suleikha: www.amazon.com/stores/Sulei...

Kali: www.amazon.com/stores/Kali-...

21.10.2025 15:34 β€” πŸ‘ 49    πŸ” 29    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 3
Five JAL historical romance covers, Like No Other Lover, I kissed an earl, a notorious countess confesses, between the devil and ian eversea, and how the marquess was won, advertising a $1.99 sale.

Five JAL historical romance covers, Like No Other Lover, I kissed an earl, a notorious countess confesses, between the devil and ian eversea, and how the marquess was won, advertising a $1.99 sale.

Lovelies, a variety of #Pennyroyalgreen titles are $1.99 at ebook sellers. If you're missing a few or if you or a buddy have been meaning to dive into the series, now might be the time to snag 'em. Hot vicars, drinking games, temperamental cats, pirates, rogues, take your pick. :) πŸ’™πŸ“š #romancelandia

21.10.2025 18:48 β€” πŸ‘ 25    πŸ” 15    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 2

Thanks for the boost!

21.10.2025 18:54 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
Apocalypse Witch, FINAL NOVEL in the Demon Witch Series All the danger and magic in Angie Jordan's world erupts in this heart-stopping final book in the dark Urban Fantasy Demon Witch series!

Fans of Urban Fantasy / action / adventure / magic / romance, all of the above! My brilliant friend @katsimons.bsky.social just launched a modest Kickstarter for her final installment in a fantastic series! All kinds of great options in reward tiers, check it out! www.kickstarter.com/projects/kat...

21.10.2025 16:38 β€” πŸ‘ 6    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
The cover of Splinter by Jasper Hyde and the cover of Fall Into You on a spooky background with a sticker that says that its 50% off.

The cover of Splinter by Jasper Hyde and the cover of Fall Into You on a spooky background with a sticker that says that its 50% off.

ICYMI πŸ‘» Snag all my diverse romance eBooks (from More to Love to A Vicious Thirst) for 50% off this Halloween! Support a Black trans author and binge something steamy, spooky, and swoony. Use code at HALLOWEEN7376 at check out! payhip.com/TheMagnifice... #BlackBooksky #SpookyReads #Romance

18.10.2025 15:45 β€” πŸ‘ 13    πŸ” 13    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Worth a read if you have a uterus. Or have friends with a uterus. You don't always plan to get pregnant, and it can be extremely overwhelming (especially right now) when so much is stressful and you don't know how to trust. We keep us safe.

16.10.2025 16:56 β€” πŸ‘ 261    πŸ” 158    πŸ’¬ 3    πŸ“Œ 0

Friends, help me out! Are there any newer Indigenous romance authors that I might not know about (especially in the indie zone), or heck, any veteran authors with tribal heritage that I might have just missed?

16.10.2025 17:12 β€” πŸ‘ 17    πŸ” 12    πŸ’¬ 5    πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
Cuomo’s controversial CUNY record resurfaces as affordability concerns dominate mayor’s race Advocates, union leaders and lawmakers have criticized his previous push to cut state aid.

CUNY is the nation’s largest urban public university system and an engine of social mobility for the city's working class.

But like so many of our public institutions, Andrew Cuomo subject it to years of disinvestment and neglect as Governor. That record cannot be forgotten.

15.10.2025 18:28 β€” πŸ‘ 2466    πŸ” 617    πŸ’¬ 42    πŸ“Œ 28

The Fifth Season by @nkjemisin.bsky.social is also on US ebook sale for $3, and I got 6 copies of that for random giveaway.

Sunshine by Robin McKinley is also on US Kindle sale for $3, and I got 6 of those for random giveaway. Sunshine is probably my favorite vampire book.

14.10.2025 15:55 β€” πŸ‘ 94    πŸ” 22    πŸ’¬ 4    πŸ“Œ 1
A promo image for the Thirteenth Hour's 4th anniversary featuring the book cover with funky glasses over the characters, and the text: Fantasy of bad manners, tea, and naughty words - four years! Cruel gods demand worship from their mortal subjects in this gaslamp fantasy featuring magical portals, gothic cosmic deities, quaint Britishisms, and steampunk vibes.

A promo image for the Thirteenth Hour's 4th anniversary featuring the book cover with funky glasses over the characters, and the text: Fantasy of bad manners, tea, and naughty words - four years! Cruel gods demand worship from their mortal subjects in this gaslamp fantasy featuring magical portals, gothic cosmic deities, quaint Britishisms, and steampunk vibes.

Today is the 4th anniversary of The Thirteenth Hour, the first book in my Cruel Gods series. This book went on to become a SPFBO & BBNYA finalist AND Indie Ink award winner for best setting/wittiest character!

To celebrate, I've put the ebook up for FREE for today only! πŸ₯³

mybook.to/TheThirteent...

13.10.2025 14:09 β€” πŸ‘ 53    πŸ” 36    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 5

Yay!!!!! Congratulations! Im so excited for you both. πŸŽ‰πŸŽ‰πŸ’ƒπŸ’ƒπŸŽ‰πŸ‘»

08.10.2025 18:58 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
The illustrated cover for A Honeymoon of Grave Consequence, by Stephanie Burgis, shows the silhouette of an elegant traveling carriage over the title and a bat with wings outstretched underneath, all of it framed by apples and with mirrors at the top and the bottom of the image. Above and beside the cover is this snippet of text: 
Her pulse gave a sudden, panicked jolt.
Clearly reflected in the mirror, the ragged duvet was curved in the shape of her husband’s formβ€”but his pillow was empty.
What foolishness! Breathing in and out with slow control, Margaret set her teeth together and forced herself not to follow the instinctive urge to twist around and urgently assure herself that her life’s partner was safe.
The windows were fully shuttered with multiple layers of thick wooden slats. No sunlight could possibly reach inside this chamber, and she was no weak-nerved ingΓ©nue to be taken aback by a perfectly well-known side-effect of vampirism. She had been studying the supernatural for years.
Still, she’d never anticipated quite how unnerving it might feel when applied to the single person in the world who was undeniably hers.

The illustrated cover for A Honeymoon of Grave Consequence, by Stephanie Burgis, shows the silhouette of an elegant traveling carriage over the title and a bat with wings outstretched underneath, all of it framed by apples and with mirrors at the top and the bottom of the image. Above and beside the cover is this snippet of text: Her pulse gave a sudden, panicked jolt. Clearly reflected in the mirror, the ragged duvet was curved in the shape of her husband’s formβ€”but his pillow was empty. What foolishness! Breathing in and out with slow control, Margaret set her teeth together and forced herself not to follow the instinctive urge to twist around and urgently assure herself that her life’s partner was safe. The windows were fully shuttered with multiple layers of thick wooden slats. No sunlight could possibly reach inside this chamber, and she was no weak-nerved ingΓ©nue to be taken aback by a perfectly well-known side-effect of vampirism. She had been studying the supernatural for years. Still, she’d never anticipated quite how unnerving it might feel when applied to the single person in the world who was undeniably hers.

This week's Wednesday snippet comes from A Honeymoon of Grave Consequence, which came out just 9 days ago. β€οΈπŸ¦‡β€οΈ

Snap it up in ebook or paperback now: books2read.com/honeymoonGrave

#romancelandia

08.10.2025 17:23 β€” πŸ‘ 8    πŸ” 5    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

The ebook of THE WITCH ROADS is still on sale on all US and Canadian platforms. You can read it this month and roll over right into the second half of the duology, THE NAMELESS LAND, which releases November 4. No waiting! Plus you'll understand the title of book two once you read book one.

08.10.2025 17:23 β€” πŸ‘ 21    πŸ” 14    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 3
A lesbian book cover

A lesbian book cover

A lesbian book cover

A lesbian book cover

A lesbian book cover

A lesbian book cover

A lesbian book cover

A lesbian book cover

It's International Lesbian Day? Shit. Why didn't you say so?

I've got girlkisser stories to offer.

autumnwolff.myshopify.com

08.10.2025 17:24 β€” πŸ‘ 63    πŸ” 23    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 1

@katsimons is following 19 prominent accounts