SZ Estavillo
@szestavilloauthor.com
Crime Thriller Author | The Serpent Series |@OliverHeberBooks | MA: TV, Radio & Film | Multi-Genre Reader
The Serpent’s Bridge (📚1)
The Serpent Woman (📚2)
Twilight of the Serpent (📚3)
The Serpent’s Order (📚4)
amazon.com/dp/B0CW6KP433
The Serpent’s Bridge (📚1)
The Serpent Woman (📚2)
Twilight of the Serpent (📚3)
The Serpent’s Order (📚4)
amazon.com/dp/B0CW6KP433
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SZ Estavillo
@szestavilloauthor.com
· Nov 17
The Serpent Series
Visit Amazon's The Serpent Series Page and shop for all The Serpent Series books. Check out pictures, author information, and reviews of The Serpent Series
www.amazon.com
5 years ago, I had an agent and big dreams but zero book deals. After 150+ rejections, I parted ways with
my agent & signed with a small press. The duology they said would “die on sub”? Now it’s a 6-book deal.
Rejection isn’t the end. Keep going.
#WritingCommunity
my agent & signed with a small press. The duology they said would “die on sub”? Now it’s a 6-book deal.
Rejection isn’t the end. Keep going.
#WritingCommunity
I feel the pain of sci-fi writers now.😅 My standalone is still a crime thriller, but the techno-thriller/speculative elements could easily make it 150K.
I’m aiming for 95K, so I’m constantly deciding what actually needs to live on the page.
#AuthorSky #BookSky
I’m aiming for 95K, so I’m constantly deciding what actually needs to live on the page.
#AuthorSky #BookSky
October 7, 2026 at 9:47 PM
I feel the pain of sci-fi writers now.😅 My standalone is still a crime thriller, but the techno-thriller/speculative elements could easily make it 150K.
I’m aiming for 95K, so I’m constantly deciding what actually needs to live on the page.
#AuthorSky #BookSky
I’m aiming for 95K, so I’m constantly deciding what actually needs to live on the page.
#AuthorSky #BookSky
I’m at 78,400 words on my WIP, and for the first time, I’m actually sad about finishing a book. I’ve grown so attached to these characters that I’m not ready to say goodbye.
I’ve loved writing them, and I think a part of me just wants to stay in their world a little longer.
#AuthorSky #BookSky
I’ve loved writing them, and I think a part of me just wants to stay in their world a little longer.
#AuthorSky #BookSky
October 7, 2026 at 3:33 AM
I’m at 78,400 words on my WIP, and for the first time, I’m actually sad about finishing a book. I’ve grown so attached to these characters that I’m not ready to say goodbye.
I’ve loved writing them, and I think a part of me just wants to stay in their world a little longer.
#AuthorSky #BookSky
I’ve loved writing them, and I think a part of me just wants to stay in their world a little longer.
#AuthorSky #BookSky
I think I may have accidentally written a crime thriller with techno-thriller and speculative sci-fi elements. 😂
The technology is complex but grounded in reality, and somehow I’ve hit 78,400 words in 66 days while revising every chapter as I go.
Comp title: Blake Crouch territory.
#AuthorSky
The technology is complex but grounded in reality, and somehow I’ve hit 78,400 words in 66 days while revising every chapter as I go.
Comp title: Blake Crouch territory.
#AuthorSky
October 5, 2026 at 10:26 PM
I think I may have accidentally written a crime thriller with techno-thriller and speculative sci-fi elements. 😂
The technology is complex but grounded in reality, and somehow I’ve hit 78,400 words in 66 days while revising every chapter as I go.
Comp title: Blake Crouch territory.
#AuthorSky
The technology is complex but grounded in reality, and somehow I’ve hit 78,400 words in 66 days while revising every chapter as I go.
Comp title: Blake Crouch territory.
#AuthorSky
I’ve been writing all day and somehow I’m still going tonight. I just hit 76k words, and I’m starting to realize this book may go over my target word count.
Which is great… except I’m already dreading the part where I have to go back and cut things.
#AuthorSky
Which is great… except I’m already dreading the part where I have to go back and cut things.
#AuthorSky
October 5, 2026 at 4:57 AM
I’ve been writing all day and somehow I’m still going tonight. I just hit 76k words, and I’m starting to realize this book may go over my target word count.
Which is great… except I’m already dreading the part where I have to go back and cut things.
#AuthorSky
Which is great… except I’m already dreading the part where I have to go back and cut things.
#AuthorSky
Yes, I do hear voices.
I went to bed thinking about my characters and woke up at 5 a.m. thinking about them, so I got up to write.
There’s something magical about reaching the point where your characters start speaking to you before you even open the manuscript.
#AuthorSky #BookSky
I went to bed thinking about my characters and woke up at 5 a.m. thinking about them, so I got up to write.
There’s something magical about reaching the point where your characters start speaking to you before you even open the manuscript.
#AuthorSky #BookSky
October 4, 2026 at 3:01 AM
Yes, I do hear voices.
I went to bed thinking about my characters and woke up at 5 a.m. thinking about them, so I got up to write.
There’s something magical about reaching the point where your characters start speaking to you before you even open the manuscript.
#AuthorSky #BookSky
I went to bed thinking about my characters and woke up at 5 a.m. thinking about them, so I got up to write.
There’s something magical about reaching the point where your characters start speaking to you before you even open the manuscript.
#AuthorSky #BookSky
Looks like I’m not as much of a procrastinator as I thought. 😂
I started this standalone crime thriller/techno-thriller on August 1 and just hit 70k words. Personally, I think that's average pace.
Hoping to crank out another 25k and finally have the first draft complete this month.
#AuthorSky
I started this standalone crime thriller/techno-thriller on August 1 and just hit 70k words. Personally, I think that's average pace.
Hoping to crank out another 25k and finally have the first draft complete this month.
#AuthorSky
October 2, 2026 at 6:30 PM
Looks like I’m not as much of a procrastinator as I thought. 😂
I started this standalone crime thriller/techno-thriller on August 1 and just hit 70k words. Personally, I think that's average pace.
Hoping to crank out another 25k and finally have the first draft complete this month.
#AuthorSky
I started this standalone crime thriller/techno-thriller on August 1 and just hit 70k words. Personally, I think that's average pace.
Hoping to crank out another 25k and finally have the first draft complete this month.
#AuthorSky
What’s your biggest clue that you’re procrastinating on a hard chapter or stubborn sentence?
Mine is suddenly deciding I absolutely need to play Monopoly on my phone.
Apparently buying imaginary property is easier than figuring out what happens next in my own book. 😂
#AuthorSky
Mine is suddenly deciding I absolutely need to play Monopoly on my phone.
Apparently buying imaginary property is easier than figuring out what happens next in my own book. 😂
#AuthorSky
Jensen Ackles Procrastination Meme
ALT: Jensen Ackles Procrastination Meme
static.klipy.com
October 2, 2026 at 12:07 AM
What’s your biggest clue that you’re procrastinating on a hard chapter or stubborn sentence?
Mine is suddenly deciding I absolutely need to play Monopoly on my phone.
Apparently buying imaginary property is easier than figuring out what happens next in my own book. 😂
#AuthorSky
Mine is suddenly deciding I absolutely need to play Monopoly on my phone.
Apparently buying imaginary property is easier than figuring out what happens next in my own book. 😂
#AuthorSky
I started my stand-alone #WIP on August 1, and I’m at 66,254 words in.
A lot of those words were written late at night, and some weeks I’ve written
more than 10k. I’m hoping October is the month I finally finish this one.
#AuthorSky #BookSky
A lot of those words were written late at night, and some weeks I’ve written
more than 10k. I’m hoping October is the month I finally finish this one.
#AuthorSky #BookSky
October 1, 2026 at 4:54 AM
I started my stand-alone #WIP on August 1, and I’m at 66,254 words in.
A lot of those words were written late at night, and some weeks I’ve written
more than 10k. I’m hoping October is the month I finally finish this one.
#AuthorSky #BookSky
A lot of those words were written late at night, and some weeks I’ve written
more than 10k. I’m hoping October is the month I finally finish this one.
#AuthorSky #BookSky
What I learned from a free BookBub promo on a series book: Your rating may dip with a broader audience.
Some love it. Some don’t. Some hate an unresolved ending.
Fair enough.
Most standalones resolve neatly at the end, but with a series, a cliffhanger ending is the point.
#AuthorSky #BookSky
Some love it. Some don’t. Some hate an unresolved ending.
Fair enough.
Most standalones resolve neatly at the end, but with a series, a cliffhanger ending is the point.
#AuthorSky #BookSky
September 29, 2026 at 10:28 PM
What I learned from a free BookBub promo on a series book: Your rating may dip with a broader audience.
Some love it. Some don’t. Some hate an unresolved ending.
Fair enough.
Most standalones resolve neatly at the end, but with a series, a cliffhanger ending is the point.
#AuthorSky #BookSky
Some love it. Some don’t. Some hate an unresolved ending.
Fair enough.
Most standalones resolve neatly at the end, but with a series, a cliffhanger ending is the point.
#AuthorSky #BookSky
Wrote 2,227 words today and hit 64K on my #WIP. I’ve been averaging about 1,400–2k or more words a day.
Started Aug 1st. Some writers move faster, but considering how much life stress I’ve been dealing with, I feel good about this pace. Two more days in this month to see how far I get.
#AuthorSky
Started Aug 1st. Some writers move faster, but considering how much life stress I’ve been dealing with, I feel good about this pace. Two more days in this month to see how far I get.
#AuthorSky
September 29, 2026 at 3:32 AM
Wrote 2,227 words today and hit 64K on my #WIP. I’ve been averaging about 1,400–2k or more words a day.
Started Aug 1st. Some writers move faster, but considering how much life stress I’ve been dealing with, I feel good about this pace. Two more days in this month to see how far I get.
#AuthorSky
Started Aug 1st. Some writers move faster, but considering how much life stress I’ve been dealing with, I feel good about this pace. Two more days in this month to see how far I get.
#AuthorSky
Writing the book isn’t always the hardest part. If you’re trying to query agents or reach a bigger publisher, sometimes it’s everything that comes after.
Rejection is scary, but you can’t let fear stop you from putting the work out there and trying.
#AuthorSky
Rejection is scary, but you can’t let fear stop you from putting the work out there and trying.
#AuthorSky
September 27, 2026 at 7:41 PM
Writing the book isn’t always the hardest part. If you’re trying to query agents or reach a bigger publisher, sometimes it’s everything that comes after.
Rejection is scary, but you can’t let fear stop you from putting the work out there and trying.
#AuthorSky
Rejection is scary, but you can’t let fear stop you from putting the work out there and trying.
#AuthorSky
Weekend warrior time. Hit 60K on my WIP tonight. Started August 1st, and it feels damn good.
I wasn’t sure I had it in me to write a standalone between books in my series because I was feeling pretty burnt out, but somehow, the story came together.
#AuthorSky
I wasn’t sure I had it in me to write a standalone between books in my series because I was feeling pretty burnt out, but somehow, the story came together.
#AuthorSky
September 27, 2026 at 5:19 AM
Weekend warrior time. Hit 60K on my WIP tonight. Started August 1st, and it feels damn good.
I wasn’t sure I had it in me to write a standalone between books in my series because I was feeling pretty burnt out, but somehow, the story came together.
#AuthorSky
I wasn’t sure I had it in me to write a standalone between books in my series because I was feeling pretty burnt out, but somehow, the story came together.
#AuthorSky
I’ve had some down days lately, but writing a dark, offbeat character in my crime thriller has been an unexpected bright spot.
There’s something freeing about finding humor in dark places. Stephen King does it so well. Sometimes dark comedy makes the darkness hit even harder.
#AuthorSky #BookSky
There’s something freeing about finding humor in dark places. Stephen King does it so well. Sometimes dark comedy makes the darkness hit even harder.
#AuthorSky #BookSky
September 26, 2026 at 4:42 AM
I’ve had some down days lately, but writing a dark, offbeat character in my crime thriller has been an unexpected bright spot.
There’s something freeing about finding humor in dark places. Stephen King does it so well. Sometimes dark comedy makes the darkness hit even harder.
#AuthorSky #BookSky
There’s something freeing about finding humor in dark places. Stephen King does it so well. Sometimes dark comedy makes the darkness hit even harder.
#AuthorSky #BookSky
Using your life experiences and channeling them into your work can be incredibly powerful.
The pain. The betrayal. The fears. The trauma.
Finding a way to put those experiences on the page and turn them into something meaningful. There’s no better cathartic experience than that.
#AuthorSky
The pain. The betrayal. The fears. The trauma.
Finding a way to put those experiences on the page and turn them into something meaningful. There’s no better cathartic experience than that.
#AuthorSky
September 25, 2026 at 4:20 AM
Using your life experiences and channeling them into your work can be incredibly powerful.
The pain. The betrayal. The fears. The trauma.
Finding a way to put those experiences on the page and turn them into something meaningful. There’s no better cathartic experience than that.
#AuthorSky
The pain. The betrayal. The fears. The trauma.
Finding a way to put those experiences on the page and turn them into something meaningful. There’s no better cathartic experience than that.
#AuthorSky
Despite a really stressful week, I still wrote 1,892 words today, bringing me to 54K in my #WIP.
Those are the days you should feel the proudest.
Not the easy days when everything is going great, but the hard weeks when life kicks your ass and you still sit down and write.
#AuthorSky #LifeSky
Those are the days you should feel the proudest.
Not the easy days when everything is going great, but the hard weeks when life kicks your ass and you still sit down and write.
#AuthorSky #LifeSky
September 24, 2026 at 3:55 AM
Despite a really stressful week, I still wrote 1,892 words today, bringing me to 54K in my #WIP.
Those are the days you should feel the proudest.
Not the easy days when everything is going great, but the hard weeks when life kicks your ass and you still sit down and write.
#AuthorSky #LifeSky
Those are the days you should feel the proudest.
Not the easy days when everything is going great, but the hard weeks when life kicks your ass and you still sit down and write.
#AuthorSky #LifeSky
I’m dealing with an incredibly stressful situation involving my daughter’s safety.
Bullying in youth sports is REAL & I will NOT put up with it. Period.
Being a parent means sometimes you have to be the loudest voice in the room for your child. I will always be that voice.
#ParentSky
Bullying in youth sports is REAL & I will NOT put up with it. Period.
Being a parent means sometimes you have to be the loudest voice in the room for your child. I will always be that voice.
#ParentSky
September 22, 2026 at 10:08 PM
I’m dealing with an incredibly stressful situation involving my daughter’s safety.
Bullying in youth sports is REAL & I will NOT put up with it. Period.
Being a parent means sometimes you have to be the loudest voice in the room for your child. I will always be that voice.
#ParentSky
Bullying in youth sports is REAL & I will NOT put up with it. Period.
Being a parent means sometimes you have to be the loudest voice in the room for your child. I will always be that voice.
#ParentSky
Last week was rough, but somehow I still managed to write 12,017 words in 6 days.
I’m hoping to carry that momentum into this week, though it’s been hard to focus with my daughter recovering from a concussion after a soccer incident.
Some weeks, you just do what you can.
#AuthorSky #ParentSky
I’m hoping to carry that momentum into this week, though it’s been hard to focus with my daughter recovering from a concussion after a soccer incident.
Some weeks, you just do what you can.
#AuthorSky #ParentSky
September 21, 2026 at 7:46 PM
Last week was rough, but somehow I still managed to write 12,017 words in 6 days.
I’m hoping to carry that momentum into this week, though it’s been hard to focus with my daughter recovering from a concussion after a soccer incident.
Some weeks, you just do what you can.
#AuthorSky #ParentSky
I’m hoping to carry that momentum into this week, though it’s been hard to focus with my daughter recovering from a concussion after a soccer incident.
Some weeks, you just do what you can.
#AuthorSky #ParentSky
Finally spoke teammate’s mom who heard the girl who assaulted my daughter say, “I did it on purpose cause I knew she was going to score.”
The assault during a soccer game left my daughter with a concussion. Waiting for police to call back to complete my report.
I’m pressing charges.
#ParentSky
The assault during a soccer game left my daughter with a concussion. Waiting for police to call back to complete my report.
I’m pressing charges.
#ParentSky
September 21, 2026 at 3:48 AM
Finally spoke teammate’s mom who heard the girl who assaulted my daughter say, “I did it on purpose cause I knew she was going to score.”
The assault during a soccer game left my daughter with a concussion. Waiting for police to call back to complete my report.
I’m pressing charges.
#ParentSky
The assault during a soccer game left my daughter with a concussion. Waiting for police to call back to complete my report.
I’m pressing charges.
#ParentSky
My daughter is 11. A player head butted then kicked her in the head during soccer today & was bragging she did it on purpose.
Now she’s in the ER being evaluated for a possible concussion. It’s awful seeing kids learn to be nasty so young. Filed a complaint with the league. I’m furious.
#ParentSky
Now she’s in the ER being evaluated for a possible concussion. It’s awful seeing kids learn to be nasty so young. Filed a complaint with the league. I’m furious.
#ParentSky
September 20, 2026 at 2:08 AM
My daughter is 11. A player head butted then kicked her in the head during soccer today & was bragging she did it on purpose.
Now she’s in the ER being evaluated for a possible concussion. It’s awful seeing kids learn to be nasty so young. Filed a complaint with the league. I’m furious.
#ParentSky
Now she’s in the ER being evaluated for a possible concussion. It’s awful seeing kids learn to be nasty so young. Filed a complaint with the league. I’m furious.
#ParentSky
My 11 yr old drew this on a napkin while we were eating breakfast at a restaurant. She did it in 5 minutes, just sitting at the table.
She’s been taking art classes for years. The painting on right she did in class. Love watching how naturally art comes to her. She’s so talented.
#ArtSky #Art
She’s been taking art classes for years. The painting on right she did in class. Love watching how naturally art comes to her. She’s so talented.
#ArtSky #Art
September 19, 2026 at 3:28 AM
Some writing days surprise you.
I wrote from morning until about 1 a.m yesterday and finished 2 chapters, close to 6k words yesterday. That’s not a normal word count for me, but when the characters are leading, I’ve learned not to fight it.
Sleep is patient. A story on a roll is not. 😅
#AuthorSky
I wrote from morning until about 1 a.m yesterday and finished 2 chapters, close to 6k words yesterday. That’s not a normal word count for me, but when the characters are leading, I’ve learned not to fight it.
Sleep is patient. A story on a roll is not. 😅
#AuthorSky
September 18, 2026 at 11:29 PM
Some writing days surprise you.
I wrote from morning until about 1 a.m yesterday and finished 2 chapters, close to 6k words yesterday. That’s not a normal word count for me, but when the characters are leading, I’ve learned not to fight it.
Sleep is patient. A story on a roll is not. 😅
#AuthorSky
I wrote from morning until about 1 a.m yesterday and finished 2 chapters, close to 6k words yesterday. That’s not a normal word count for me, but when the characters are leading, I’ve learned not to fight it.
Sleep is patient. A story on a roll is not. 😅
#AuthorSky
Have you ever fallen in love with your villain?
I do it all the time. The best villains are the ones you understand, even when you hate what they do.
Sometimes villains have the most powerful arcs because the distance between who they were and who they become is the greatest.
#AuthorSky #BookSky
I do it all the time. The best villains are the ones you understand, even when you hate what they do.
Sometimes villains have the most powerful arcs because the distance between who they were and who they become is the greatest.
#AuthorSky #BookSky
September 17, 2026 at 6:49 PM
Have you ever fallen in love with your villain?
I do it all the time. The best villains are the ones you understand, even when you hate what they do.
Sometimes villains have the most powerful arcs because the distance between who they were and who they become is the greatest.
#AuthorSky #BookSky
I do it all the time. The best villains are the ones you understand, even when you hate what they do.
Sometimes villains have the most powerful arcs because the distance between who they were and who they become is the greatest.
#AuthorSky #BookSky
Have you ever had someone hate-follow your author career?
2x the same account has waited until my books hit #1 during a free promo, then dropped a 1-star review to lower my rating. Didn't read it.
Thought they’d leave me alone. Nope. They did it 2x & to 54+ other thriller authors.
#AuthorSky
2x the same account has waited until my books hit #1 during a free promo, then dropped a 1-star review to lower my rating. Didn't read it.
Thought they’d leave me alone. Nope. They did it 2x & to 54+ other thriller authors.
#AuthorSky
September 16, 2026 at 7:06 PM
Have you ever had someone hate-follow your author career?
2x the same account has waited until my books hit #1 during a free promo, then dropped a 1-star review to lower my rating. Didn't read it.
Thought they’d leave me alone. Nope. They did it 2x & to 54+ other thriller authors.
#AuthorSky
2x the same account has waited until my books hit #1 during a free promo, then dropped a 1-star review to lower my rating. Didn't read it.
Thought they’d leave me alone. Nope. They did it 2x & to 54+ other thriller authors.
#AuthorSky
Have you ever been a multi-genre reader but discovered there’s one genre you just cannot get into, no matter how many times you try?
Unpopular opinion: for me, it’s YA. The last YA I loved was The Book Thief. Ever since, I’ve tried, but nothing has clicked.
What genre is that for you?
#BookSky
Unpopular opinion: for me, it’s YA. The last YA I loved was The Book Thief. Ever since, I’ve tried, but nothing has clicked.
What genre is that for you?
#BookSky
September 15, 2026 at 6:43 PM
Have you ever been a multi-genre reader but discovered there’s one genre you just cannot get into, no matter how many times you try?
Unpopular opinion: for me, it’s YA. The last YA I loved was The Book Thief. Ever since, I’ve tried, but nothing has clicked.
What genre is that for you?
#BookSky
Unpopular opinion: for me, it’s YA. The last YA I loved was The Book Thief. Ever since, I’ve tried, but nothing has clicked.
What genre is that for you?
#BookSky
There’s no better feeling than being completely in the zone, when the words just keep coming and you don’t want to stop.
Wrote 3k words today, a full chapter, and hit 42K in my #WIP.
When the words are flowing, trust them. Let the characters lead and follow them wherever they go.
#AuthorSky
Wrote 3k words today, a full chapter, and hit 42K in my #WIP.
When the words are flowing, trust them. Let the characters lead and follow them wherever they go.
#AuthorSky
September 15, 2026 at 4:04 AM
There’s no better feeling than being completely in the zone, when the words just keep coming and you don’t want to stop.
Wrote 3k words today, a full chapter, and hit 42K in my #WIP.
When the words are flowing, trust them. Let the characters lead and follow them wherever they go.
#AuthorSky
Wrote 3k words today, a full chapter, and hit 42K in my #WIP.
When the words are flowing, trust them. Let the characters lead and follow them wherever they go.
#AuthorSky