At the time I didn't have steady employment so it kept my mind busy and out of depression. Well, to the best of my ability at the time.

Some of the world building came from input from my friends I play with too.

The very start of the campaign, roughly 7 or 8 years ago, was a pre-made adventure that I found. I added world elements as needed. Then I expanded the world with my own ideas over time.

The world itself i took aspects I liked from my other fantasy stories and meshed it in as needed.

In Project Phoenix, I like to write Tezzy's. He is a demi god but he acts alot like a mortal. He sympathizes with them often.

For Mielea's Lost, Valerian literally gets thrown into the deep end and it was fun to watch him figure things out on his own.

To be honest, its new territory for me. So, its an experiment.

Like right now, both have to depend on eachother to get out of the situation they're in.
From that the story will kinda show me where it wants to go.

I'm currently outlining an apocalypse Sci-Fi romance and outlining/world building a hockey romance. Both will be M/M.

Both are slow process in between editing two other books. 😅

#FantasyIndiesApril
Ask about my WIPs.
So I have several.
-Mielea's Lost is the first in a Sci-Fi series im working on. The second book is being drafted.
-Project Phoenix is set in a D&D world I made for a D&D campaign I DM.
I have a few concepts for 'romance' books.

I love the title A Mountain Tiger's Scream.

#FantasyIndiesApril
What words do you overuse in your writing?

Recently I noticed 'look' way too often while editing.
I'm sure I have other overused words. This one is just most recent.
#writersofbluesky #fantasy #sci-fi #writesky #booksky

#FantasyIndiesApril
How do you choose your next WIP?
Most of the time the WIP chooses me. Sometimes, I love the concept but with my current skills I dont think I can do it justice. Other times it will just push the others aside and go 'I'm next. Notice me'. #writersofbluesky #Sci-Fi #fantasy

#FantasyIndiesApril
Preferred reading format
I prefer paperbacks but since I have limited space, I get alot of ebooks. I buy the books I know I want to hold onto.
#writersofbluesky #Sci-Fi #fantasy #booksky #writesky

#FantasyIndiesApril
How would your characters describe themselves?
Jokull would say he's loyal and reliable. Also stubborn when regarding his back.

Tezzy would say he rather help others first and his needs take a backseat.
#writersofbluesky #Sci-Fi #fantasy #booksky #writesky

#FantasyIndiesApril
MC's childhood
Jokull's first couple years of his life weren't too great. When his grandfather gained custody, it was 💯 better.

For Tezzy, things were good until his mother died. Then his father wasn't fully coherent with the world around him.
#fantasy #sci-fi #writesky

#FantasyIndiesApril
First started writing
My first attempts at writing were fanfics as a tween. My original works started in high-school. Some of it was boredom between classes but mostly I was bored out of my mind with the reading material around me. So, I made my own. #Sci-Fi #fantasy #writesky

#FantasyIndiesApril
What do your characters take for granted?
Even though Jokull is a capable captain, it could be said that he takes Jaxton for granted. The man is a second father to him and his mentor.
#writersofbluesky #Sci-Fi #fantasy #booksky #writesky

#FantasyIndiesApril
Do you reread books?
I will skim books i have read to find what I need. I have reread scenes in some of my favorite books to see how they structured sentences and rediscover words I forgot existed.
#writersofbluesky #Sci-Fi #fantasy #booksky #writesky

#fantasyindiesapril
Animals in WIPs
In Mielea's Lost most of the characters can shape shift into various animals, reptiles, and birds.
In Project Phoenix, Robin is an anthropomorphic Kitsune and wyvern and pegasus are common place in Asgard. #writersofbluesky #Sci-Fi #fantasy #booksky #writesky

#FantasyIndiesApril
How do you come up with book titles?
Most of my WIPs dont have titles.
Mielea's Lost formed itself after the third draft. The Mieleans are looking for lost colonists.
Three other WIPs have tentative titles.
Project Phoenix is just a placeholder title. 😅

#fantasyindiesapril
I'm Jade McStar. I'm working on several Wips.
Mielea's Lost is book 1 of a Sci-Fi series. Drafting the second book of the series. ❤️
Project Phoenix (working title) is a fantasy story tied into the world I made for my D&D campaign. It's in second draft phase. #fantasy #sci-fi

Promo picture of 8 ebooks by Karen Lykkebo. Top row: The Palace of Winds trilogy. Too the right: Heir to The Sun. Bottom row: Dirt You Shall Become, Now and the Hour of Death, Drowned Hearts. Bear MyHeart

Had planned to do a lot more stuff today, but headache says no.

So I'm just dropping my pretty book covers. More info on my webpage along with neat little craft things in my shop.

It's my birthday so do me a favor and just check it out:
www.karenlykkebo.com

Here's to another year ✨

#FantasyIndiesMarch
Monthly wrap-up
- Mielea's Lost edits done, sent to editor for second pass
- continued second draft/edits of Project Phoenix.
- made some progress on Mielea's Lost sequel
- made progress on other unnamed WIPs
#writersofbluesky #Sci-Fi #fantasy #booksky #writesky

#FantasyIndiesMarch
Magic system in WIP
In Mielea's Lost, the shifters have an affinity for one element, and occasionally another ability like telepathy.
One species of aliens have magical capabilities equivalent to a sorcerer but they cannot shift form. #writersofbluesky #Sci-Fi #fantasy

#FantasyIndiesMarch
Classic books you recommend
Shakespeare's works
Sherlock Holmes
Fahrenheit 451
Of Mice and Men

I remember these the most from my youth. There are likely others but these stick out the most.
#writersofbluesky #Sci-Fi #fantasy #booksky #writesky

#FantasyIndiesMarch
Compromises in WIP
In the second book of my Sci-Fi series, there is a small compromise.
The junior Captain doesn't feel comfortable in beaming down to planet side for he is unfamiliar with the planet. Jokull being senior Captain goes in his place. #Sci-Fi #fantasy #writesky

#FantasyIndiesMarch
Lucky object
He never calls it lucky, but Tezzy always carries a dagger that has been passed down through his bloodline.
#writersofbluesky #Sci-Fi #fantasy #booksky #writesky

#FantasyIndiesMarch
Last, current, next read
Last read- Wraith and the Revolution by @ajcalvin.bsky.social . Great read! Totally recommend if you love her work.
Current- Dissolution, first book of the War of the Spider Queen.
Next: no clue.

#FantasyIndiesMarch
Free Friday
I was having a good streak this month editing two different books at once.
Though, that was cut short. I fell yesterday landing hard on both wrists and a knee. Im sore but okay. So been resting wrists only doing what I need to at work.
#writersofbluesky

#FantasyIndiesMarch
Which character has the worst luck?
Javier is just an accident prone person. It could be a simple task and he will get hurt.
Valerian gets put through the ringer the entire book, so I think he has it worse.
#writersofbluesky #Sci-Fi #fantasy #booksky #writesky

#FantasyIndiesMarch
Prophecy in WIP
In my Sci-Fi series, which Mielea's Lost is the first book, there is a prophecy. Though it's not mentioned in Mielea's Lost, the chain of events have already started that will lead to it coming true.
#writersofbluesky #Sci-Fi #fantasy #booksky #writesky

#FantasyIndiesMarch
Surprising fact about your MC
Like most alien races featured in Mielea's Lost, Jokull has a longer life span than a human. With this he has several degrees in different fields of study. He has a medical degree and has practiced law.
#writersofbluesky #Sci-Fi #fantasy #writesky