Jem Spears/Jacquelyn Merrill

PAPER ROADS | IndieReader A tender, character-driven romantic road trip novel in which two former lovers unexpectedly reconnect in Scotland and find themselves traveling across the U.K. together. They are forced to confront th...

Two posts in one day, I know, but IndieReader just gave "Paper Roads" a really great review and I had to share! They also rated it 4.6/5, making all three books in the series officially IndieReader Approved! indiereader.com/book_review/...

A close-up picture of a pile of freshly baked Swedish cardamom buns, the dough twined delicate braids, pearl sugar sprinkling the tops. They rest atop a blue and white striped tea towel. They look delicious and very Scandinavian.

My baking adventures are usually more adventure than success, but these Swedish cardamom buns came out fuckin perfect and I'm so proud, I had to share. I don't know who I became in the hours it took to make them, so I'm gonna take this brief win while I can.

Book giveaway for Paper Roads (International Love and Misadventure) by Jem Spears Jan 31-Mar 01, 2026 Enter to win one of 20 free copies available. Giveaway dates from Jan 31-Mar 01, 2026. Enter to win the final book in the contemporary queer romance seri...

Want to read "Paper Roads" a week before anybody else? Enter its Giveaway on GoodReads before it ends on March 1! You can find it here: www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sho...

I ate an entire burrito so I'm ready to share my newest hot take: pickleball is some White People Shit that should have remained a fake sport in 30 Rock. I know it wasn't in 30 Rock. But it's as ridiculous as all its other jokes.

I was tired of seeing GenZ hating on my mid-low rise jeans and ankle socks so i got some high-rise jeans and calf socks thinking these kids don't know what they're talking about and I'm proof old people can change their minds because they're both really fucking comfy lol

Donate to Relief for Jenn & Michael's Housing Crisis, organized by Jenn Arent Hi everyone, This is not something I ever imagined having to write, but … Jenn Arent needs your support for Relief for Jenn & Michael's Housing Crisis

If anybody can donate something here, we can help Jenn and Michael out of a truly awful situation. gofund.me/c8a8414cb

An author event poster on a pink and purple heart background. The poster features a picture of the author, Jem Spears, a white woman with purple hair; the covers of her three romance novels, and a QR code to her linktree. The poster text reads: Author event; Local romance authors including Jem Spears at Mulberry St Books, 46 E Mulberry St, Lebanon, OH 45036, Saturday, February 14, 2026, 1-3pm. Stop by for books, chocolate, and Pride ribbons; meet your local romance authors; and visit Winnie the shop cat. Scan for more info. www.jemspears.com

VALENTINE'S DAY!

Ya girl (gender neutral) is dedicated to this romance writing thing, so Valentine's is a work day. I'll be at Mulberry St Books in Lebanon, OH this Saturday from 1-3pm, signing my romance novels and eating the chocolate hearts meant for customers. Stop by to show me some love!

An author info poster with a picture of Jem Spears, a white woman with purple hair, and covers of her three romance novels and three poetry collections. There's a QR code that leads to her linktree. Text reads: "local romance author and poet Jem Spears, www.jemspears.com"

Come see me in Mason today! February 7, 1-3pm, I'll be at Half Price Books in Mason, OH signing and selling my books. The poster is a little misleading because Paper Roads isn't out yet, but everything else will be available today. Hope to see you at HPB later!

My cat's hyperthyroidism was controlled on meds for like 3 years before they stopped working; radiation therapy is also a good option but it's a little pricey!

I am begging publishers to hire and fairly compensate good editors. The last three trad books I read were plagued by frequent grammatical and narrative errors, pulling me out of the story to mumble "needed another editing pass" so many times. And I'm not even good at editing! Authors deserve better!

THIS SATURDAY!
Half Price Books in Mason, Ohio is hosting me February 7th from 1-3pm. I'll have all my books for sale, Pride ribbons, "Courtship"-branded hand sanitizer, and "Starlight"-adjacent candy. Come visit me!

Saturday, February 7, 1pm-3pm, I'm doing an author event at Half Price Books in Mason, Ohio! Get your queer romance fix to prepare for Valentine's Day, and poetry that's more likely to prepare you for surviving a lockdown with several cats or passing a pop quiz on Greek mythology.

A trope map for Jem Spears' upcoming contemporary queer romance novel, "Paper Roads," available March 11, 2026. The book cover is a blond man and a redheaded nonbinary person driving in a rundown blue car. The tropes listed are "second chance romance," "disastrous road trip," "dual POV," "only one bed," "M/NB relationship," and "himbo/uptight."

How is it almost publishing day for Paper Roads?? It comes out March 11, but you can preorder it here: books2read.com/paperroads/
If you're on GoodReads, you can enter to win an advanced reader copy, starting January 31, here: www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sho...

Saturday, February 7, 1pm-3pm, I'm doing an author event at Half Price Books in Mason, Ohio! Get your queer romance fix to prepare for Valentine's Day, and poetry that's more likely to prepare you for surviving a lockdown with several cats or passing a pop quiz on Greek mythology.

On a rainy green background is the trope map for Jem Spears' upcoming contemporary queer romance novel, "Paper Roads." In the middle of the poster is the book cover, which features a blond man and a nonbinary redhead driving in a beat-up blue car. The tropes listed around the book cover are second chance romance, disastrous road trip, dual POV, only one bed, M/NB relationship, and himbo/uptight. At the bottom of the poster is the release date of March 11, 2026.

It's somehow already time to share the Paper Roads trope map with y'all. You can preorder now in eBook and paperback through your preferred store at www.books2read.com/PaperRoads. Or you can wait until March to get a signed copy at one of my events in SW Ohio: details at www.jemspears.com/events

My cat is in the hospital for a mystery illness, but I remembered this morning that boys have written songs about me and girls have written poetry about me, so even though my heart is very heavy, my confidence is in the stratosphere.

On a gray and dreary background that looks like clouds and rain against a window, we have the ebook cover of Jem Spears' contemporary queer romance, "Paper Roads." The cover features a blond white man driving a European-style Ford that's falling apart. In the passenger seat there's a nonbinary person with auburn hair, shaking a map at the man. Their car is the only one on the road, surrounded by green hills and gray skies.

Cover Reveal!

I'm still doing marketing for Courtship, but Paper Roads comes out in two months, and we need some joy today, so allow me to share its cover with you! @veggiesaurus.bsky.social did the illustration and it's amazing. You all are gonna love Luke and Rin. www.books2read.com/PaperRoads

A poster for Jem Spears' signing event at Half Price Books in Mason, Ohio. On a pink/purple/blue background evoking the bisexual flag, there are pictures of romance book covers ("A Courtship in Quarantine" and "Starlight and Cinnamon") and poetry book covers ("The White Stairs," "The Fish, The Twins, The Ram," and "A Year Without A Season"); a photo of the author, who is a white woman with purple hair; a QR code to the author's linktree; and the following text: "Author signing event with local romance author and poet Jem Spears. Saturday, February 7, 1PM to 3PM, at Half Price Books Mason, 8211 Arbor Square Dr, Mason OH, 45040. www.jemspears.com"

"Courtship" came out, I did my book signing, and then I crashed until a few days ago. Re-emerging into chaos, I know, but I have to do it at some point. My next book comes out in March, but you can catch me at Half Price Books in Mason, Ohio on Feb 7 from 1 to 3pm. www.jemspears.com/events

Ohio peeps, ICE is here. Make sure you have your whistle and the Ohio Immigrant Alliance number to snitch on these assholes: 419-777-4357.

This is tonight!

It won't be snowing and sure, it'll be a little cold, but it'll be warm in the store and I'm bringing cookies. If anyone wants to bring me a hot chocolate with soy or oat milk, I'll trade you for a British candy bar.

Don't hesitate! Nobody with reading comprehension needs to scan for an em dash when the first few sentences of AI slop is more than enough to identify it. Anyone judging human-written work for an em dash was never serious about reading it anyway.

A haunted-looking white woman with purple hair and no makeup holds up a paperback copy of Jem Spears' "A Courtship in Quarantine."

Tried to take a selfie with A Courtship in Quarantine on its book birthday and I somehow look haunted in every picture?? This book has been cursed from the start. Get a copy and see for yourself at books2read.com/ACourtshipin...
or visit my haunted self in person at Bell, Book and Comic on Dec 16.

Ahhh, "A Courtship in Quarantine" comes out tomorrow!

This book might have been cursed from the start, but I'm still trying my damnedest to get it into your hands. Check out books2read.com/ACourtshipin... over the next week for different buying options, I swear there will be more than kindle soon.

Woooo! I had no idea A Courtship in Quarantine shares a book birthday with Alexis Hall's newest Winner Bakes All story! Check out these books and the rest in the thread if you want to queer up your December tbr pile.

Ah, Ezio remains my favorite! I replayed all his games a few years ago and they're just as good as I remember, but hooooo boy the sexism! I cringed my way through. Only for Ezio would I suffer that.

Mirage is MUCH smaller than any other AC game, but all it did was make me miss Altaïr. I didn't find Basim very likable. He's my second least favorite, right after Shay from Rogue, man I hated him.

Don't forget parent/child death motivation! Shadows and Valhalla are avenging parent deaths, and wasn't Bayek motivated by his son's death? I'd suggest Odyssey for Kassandra but the game is so massive it quickly turns into a burden.

Singularity, a 21-pound black cat, stares up at you with big, yellow-green eyes. Her face takes up much of the frame and she's begging with her whole face and body for a churu.

The problem with being such a responsible pet owner is that the vet knows who to call when a special needs cat needs a home. Meet Singularity, the newest cat to join our pack.

So, growing up, I never felt like I did "woman" right, even though i wanted to. I wanted to be nurturing and feminine and kind and intuitive. I accept myself now, but (sorry if this is weird to say), you remind me of the woman I always wanted to be. I'm glad she exists, and I'm glad that you're her.

Love the "Jack & Jil FuH Bah #2" with three sinks like in Bob's burgers.