FantasyIndiesJuly I've been super overwhelmed working on the blurbs for my already published stories, & trying to figure out grammar stuff. In the end it comes down to: "is english consistent enough that 1 *can* write correctly?" "& is it worth it?" (I've got a lot to think about)

JulyThrills I've been super overwhelmed working on the blurbs for my already published stories, & trying to figure out grammar stuff. In the end it comes down to: "is english consistent enough that 1 *can* write correctly?" "& is it worth it?" (I've got a lot to think about)

#FantasyIndiesJuly #JulyThrills
I've been overwhelmed working on the blurbs for my already published stories, & trying to figure out grammar/spelling stuff.

In the end it comes down to:
"is english consistent enough that 1 *can* write correctly?"
"& is it worth it?"
(I've got a lot to think about)

Julythrills monthly wrapup

FantasyIndies monthly wrapup

#JulyThrills
#FantasyIndies

Dug into writing HermitageWIP. Drafting fever has settled in.
I have no thots, no feelings, just HermitageWIP.

*dribbles down her chin, eyes glazed.*

JulyThrills day 30 (I'm being lazy & using this 1 I've shared before, from Blood's Power: Broken) It was odd, yet it felt right to use one's last words to mock one's murderer.

#JulyThrills
day 30 (I'm being lazy & using this 1 I've shared before, from Blood's Power: Broken)

It was odd, yet it felt right to use one's last words to mock one's murderer.

Julythrills day 30 one line wednesday

#JulyThrills

"Anger rattled around with heartbreak in the big empty husk that walked around wearing his uniform."

One thing and one thing only mattered. In the coldness of fear that thing settled inside him so fully that it seemed to weigh a thousand times the weight he had thought it merited– like when Ilivan's eyes seemed to take up the world, no, to be the only world there was to Jewel, as though the one he had murdered, who now owned him, was a god not a mortal. Even as the coldness settled in Jewel into a desire so simple, so untainted, simply to please Ilivan, to be what Ilivan would have him be, what Ilivan would be, it seemed to sink even deeper, ‘til even if there were no Ilivan Jewel would have wanted simply to be good. This is more like being born than like dying. Relief took him deeper. Never in all Jewel's life had he been part of anything so simple. Never had he been so simple. Now the simpleness of his own desire made him both free and safe, free and safe as he had never believed freeness and safety could be. This could have been the end– And he could not have complained. For he knew for once that there was no difference between being himself and being good. At last he was himself and nothing in all the world could change him.

#JulyThrills

Okay, this time I'm sharing the mess that Blood's Power: Broken is.

Yes, I'm not sure what to do with the 'til but don't want to change it.
& yes, the story is published, & I don't entirely regret it.

Julythrills day 29 snippetshare

hapter 5 Bayle turned his head to look out the great dome of the Orangerie. The Avalonian sun burned endlessly outside, spiraling around the peak of the dome as the Hermitage spun around its central axis. The spiral would tighten until it paused, spinning at its noontime high point, and then begin to spiral back out again until it slipped mostly out of view at nightfall. The fifth ring was less a ring and more a disk, no ceiling but for the dome on one side and the tremendous mosaiced wall on the other, with a wide hamster-wheel of a pathway through the center. He still got a little dizzy sometimes looking up to find the path arching above him, his stomach trying to figure out which way was up

#JulyThrills

Just a quiet scene of Bayle working in the greenhouse at the top of the space station that is the Hermitage.

Rough/unedited

Black background with gray stars, #JukuThrills at the top, and a list of prompts below.

#JulyThrills 27: Oddly Specific Sunday: who likes green?

Max's favorite color is green and Nix's green eyes enchant him. Meanwhile, the first thing Nix notices is that Max always wears green, so Nix wears green to get Max's attention. Green is something that bonds them in the book.

JulyThrills day 27 Dance wears green, & is a gardener, so I think it's safe to say he likes green. He's not in my main WIP though, & I don't plan to publish Healing's Stand.

An art piece of my OCs, Dance & Florinarth.

#JulyThrills
day 27

Dance wears green, & is a gardener, so I think it's safe to say he likes green.

He's not in my main WIP though, & I don't plan to publish Healing's Stand.

JulyThrills I mean Jewel burns his parents' house, (many years after he ran away, but still) I think that counts as a homewrecker? In Lawcket's WIP I don't think there any are homewreckers. Fjored can be destructive, but he's just a child & he doesn't do anything horrible.

#JulyThrills

I mean Jewel burns his parents' house, (many years after he ran away, but still)
I think that counts as a homewrecker?

In Lawcket's WIP I don't think there any are homewreckers. Fjored can be destructive, but he's just a child & he doesn't do anything horrible.

Julythrills day 26 any homewreckers

#JulyThrills

Homewreckers? As in the person someone voluntarily chose to cheat with? Hardly the ones to deserve the blame for ruined homes, but 🤷‍♀️

In Mudlarks, Jeanie, the widow of Jack’s best friend, was certainly present when Jack fucked up and tore down his own whole damned house.

JulyThrills day 25 I think this goes to Aisferk again. He's not one to assume the worst until it's in his face, & he tries to be in a good mood & cheer others up. Which doesn't mean he never gets depressed & grumpy (sometimes life catches up) but he tries.

#JulyThrills
day 25

I think this goes to Aisferk again. He's not one to assume the worst until it's in his face, & he tries to be in a good mood & cheer others up. Which doesn't mean he never gets depressed & grumpy (sometimes life catches up) but he tries.

JulyThrills day 24 In book 1 Lawcket has to babysit his little sister when his leg is hurt after he got lost & Looccup brought him home, but he's strictly forbidden from letting his little siblings near Looccup, because his Mom's afraid the dragon will hurt her children.

#JulyThrills
day 24

In book 1 Lawcket has to babysit his little sister when his leg is hurt after he got lost & Looccup brought him home, but he's strictly forbidden from letting his little siblings near Looccup, because his Mom's afraid the dragon will hurt her children.

JulyThrills day 23 The voice within him had never been clearer, yet even now it was hard to tell whether it was his own thoughts or another voice speaking from within him.

#JulyThrills
day 23

The voice within him had never been clearer, yet even now it was hard to tell whether it was his own thoughts or another voice speaking from within him.

Julythrills day 23 one line Wednesday

#JulyThrills

HermitageWIP

"They worked silently together in the kitchen, reading each other's body language to avoid clashing, almost like a dance."

JulyThrills day 22 Defiance gave the child's trembling voice a touch of anger. “Do you think I don't know you'll do that to me anyways? . . .

#JulyThrills
day 22

Defiance gave the child's trembling voice a touch of anger. “Do you think I don't know you'll do that to me anyways?
. . .

Julythrills day 22 snippet

Then he gestured to a large painting hung in the center of the wall. "And that, is the lady herself. Erduna Berton, 4th duchess of Southwater." Inside a gold frame carved with intertwined ferns and flowers, stood a woman wearing an old-fashioned deep-space hardsuit. Her head emerged from a wide collar with helmet clips visible, artfully framing her rosy face, auburn hair tied into a ponytail that exploded into thick tousled curls at the back of her head. She held a shining space helmet to her chest, one hand gently resting atop its gleaming visor. The duchess stared out with a soft imperiousness, nobility and grace radiating aggressively from the portrait. Bayle restrained a shiver. He doubted the woman had ever actually spent much time spacewalking, but hardsuits had never been especially cheap, and hers would have been top of the line in her era, worth showing off. "Daughter of Elroy Berton 3rd Duke of Southwater, who built the station to

#JulyThrills

Another very rough snippet stolen from my fevered notes for HermitageWIP...
An introduction to a very important historical figure, dead 150 years, but still in the hearts and minds of Avalon and The Hermitage.

Julythrills day 21 who loves games?

#JulyThrills

Lewis, interestingly, finds games to be a useful tool for connecting with his patients. It can set someone at ease enough to let them talk it out.

Charlie is up for a lot of games.

JulyThrills day 20 Lawcket is generally good with kids, though he hasn't been around many kids other than his siblings, & he found his little brother annoying to babysit because Fjored was a destructive toddler.

#JulyThrills
day 20

Lawcket is generally good with kids, though he hasn't been around many kids other than his siblings, & he found his little brother annoying to babysit because Fjored was a destructive toddler.

Julythrills day 20 who's good with kids?

#Julythrills

Most of my MCs, actually, in their own way.

Nora, in spite of her dour, unsmiling, and serious mannerisms, is great with kids. They like her honesty, and she is capable of making a joke or two.

JulyThrills 19 I think Lawcket's Dad is pretty good at lightening the mood.

#JulyThrills

I think Lawcket's Dad is pretty good at lightening the mood.

Julythrills day 1 “fun”

“I had a doll when I was really little,” she finally broke the silence, some miles down the road, releasing her story in a quiet monotone, sounding distant. “One of these baby-dolls that’s supposed to be lifelike. You press a button on the hand and it says stuff. You know, like ‘I love you’ or ‘I’m hungry’ or ‘let’s play’.” Jack nodded. He was familiar with creepy talking dolls. “Anyhow, it was fun for a little bit. I’d hold it and it would say ‘I’m hungry’ so I’d pretend to give it a little bottle. It would say ‘let’s play’ so I’d clap it’s little hands together like patty-cake. It would say ‘I love you’ and so I’d give it a nice long cuddle. But it only knew, maybe, five sentences and they’d just repeat over and over again at random. I’d give it the bottle and a second later it would claim to be hungry again. It would just keep repeating its script. It just started to sound so empty. It wasn’t reacting to me at all, or to the real world around it. It was just a machine…. I mean, I knew that, but the illusion was completely gone.” “But that’s like my Dad. You push a button and some banal encouragement or platitude comes out.  Like he’s empty, not reacting to reality.  It’s not a big thing, but it starts to hurt after a while, that's all, makes you feel small and pointless.  I know it's silly.  I love my Dad.  I just hate being around him. It wasn't nice growing up here.  People always think it must have been like some kind of paradise, like I grew up in a cozy bed and breakfast or something, cuz that's what they think of when they think of the cotswolds.  I think that's what my parents thought it would be like when they first came out here.” “But I grew up on a working farm.  It's not a relaxing, quiet life.  There's always something to do, something that needs fixing or a problem to solve and the margin for error can be slim and consequences very costly.  Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the work.  I liked working with

#JulyThrills
Apologies for this meaty chunk thats not even double-spaced, but Ive always loved this little monologue from Charlie about her childhood and a creepy doll and her complicated relationship with her Dad…

My latest re-write of the blurb for Bound By Heart. Recently rescued from prison and torture, Rider makes his way alone into the magic-guarded mountains. His respect for magic’s personhood makes him fearless to travel higher, seeking to find his purpose. For he will live unto death to free magic from enslavement to his race. When his touch hatches a baby feather-dragon bonded to a child born in the palace of enchantment and slavery, Rider gives everything to help his little friend. He betrays his own heart, forsaking his service to magic– And Death is least of the things he may suffer.

#JulyThrills #FantasyIndiesJuly

Well it's Free Friday, & I haven't been online much, so I guess I'll share the main thing I've been working on.

A lot of feedback & a very kind editor helped me re-write the blurb for Bound By Heart, though I'm not yet certain it's final.

Knowing it wasn't something he would have to worry about attending, Jamie laughed. "Sounds like someone's idea of fun." Meecham chuckled again, "Now, now, I know that isn't your thing, you like playing behind the scenes." She sipped her wine, "If I'm honest, I haven't been too focused on it. I've left it to my secretary. The attacks have taken my attention over all else. The Ungovernables are getting worse. I'm beginning to think I need to change a few policies, but my power base isn't quite there," she sighed, "that's the downside of politics. I can't take the gloves off the Agency's officers until the bureaucrats fall in line." "If anyone can get them there, Ma'am, I have no doubt it's you."

Day 18: #JulyThrills

It's only *slightly* concerning that Meecham is trying to do this...

From Ungovernables book 2 (unedited)

JulyThrills day 15 (I may have shared this line before, from Bound By Heart) was not rejecting one's creation dangerously close to being unmade

#JulyThrills
day 15 (I may have shared this line before, from Bound By Heart)

was not rejecting one's creation dangerously close to being unmade

Day 16: #JulyThrills
I was being mean to Scion yesterday, so here's a happy line from him:

"Mother can see that the Commander’s star is on the rise, and you are close with Quinn.
Perhaps this is her way of bidding for you to be the one who Quinn marries.”

@jadeblack21.bsky.social

Julythrills day 16 one line Wednesday

#JulyThrills

HermitageWIP-

"He eyed the deep space hard-suit standing in the alcove like a knight's suit of armor. The suit eyed him right back through the light cobwebs and dusty glass, accusingly."

JulyThrills day 15 (this is between mother & child, not romance) Somehow he reached out his hand, trying to touch her face, to find her hand– anything. “I'm okay,” he managed in a weak whisper, the world fading away again. “No– no– You're not okay.” She bent over him, weeping, and kissed his face.

#JulyThrills
day 15 (this is between mother & child, not romance)

Somehow he reached out his hand, trying to touch her face, to find her hand– anything.
“I'm okay,” he managed in a weak whisper, the world fading away again.
“No– no– You're not okay.” She bent over him, weeping, and kissed his face.

It can only mean one thing... he hiccupped, but Quinn could not... he would not. Sadness flowed from his heart through his eyes, and no words came from his trembling lips.. His sobs echoed through his chamber, and Scion gave in to the crushing weight of despair. He ran away from the Queen and Lethello, ignoring their attempts to make him return, and while he doubted they would follow, a part of him wished they would. Or that someone might appear to soothe him. Ache, doubt, longing, and uncertainty confused him. Quinn was his brother. The King's heir, and precious firstborn. The kingdom looked to him as the future. They barely recognized Scion's existence.

Day 15: #JulyThrills
Scion can be a little whiny, but I think his heartbreak today justifies it a little bit.

Unedited from Anhelos Bound

#snippet #writesky

#JulyThrills

I just realized I somehow messed up my hashtag paste for the last few days.

Should I quote everything I messed up with the proper hashtag, or just live with my mistake?

JulyThrills day 14 Rider's mother is an adoptive parent, not to his sister but to him. She's not a huge part of his story, & is now dead, though she is mentioned in Bound By Heart, particularly the letter she wrote to him before her death.😢

#JulyThrills
day 14

Rider's mother is an adoptive parent, not to his sister but to him. She's not a huge part of his story, & is now dead, though she is mentioned in Bound By Heart, particularly the letter she wrote to him before her death.😢