Hi! Itās been around 2.5 years since I was last around. Heck, apparently it was just before COVID. Isnāt that wild?
I thought Iād stop by and see how you all are doing. I hope youāre doing well and youāve been writing lots.
As for me, Iāve finally gotten a safe home by myself. I recently adopted a cat - his name is Karel and he is a chonk with a personality as big as his body - and have been tending to my ever-growing collection of succulents. I never did stop being obsessed about gemstones and minerals either; my collection has expanded massively.
Writing-wise, the past few years have been as hard as always, but Iām close to finishing my second novella-length manuscript ever. Itās queer and gay historical fantasy. Because in the past 2.5 years, Iāve also discovered Iām queer as hell. Hi, Iām nonbinary, go by they/she (genderfluidity go brr) and am aro/ace.
If you knew me back in the day, feel free to send a message. Iāve missed you all.
Yes, I still remember you! Iām honestly amazed at how many usernames I remember, with my medical amnesia and all. Did you become a manga illustrator or did you find one you like?
Oh, neat!
Howās writing been on your end? I vaguely remember you having trouble sticking with ideas - which, to be fair, can be really hard. Has it gotten any better?
Like a phoenix rises from the ashes, except more queer with each iteration /lh
Your profile pic seems familiar! I was pretty active in the werewolf forums back in the day, and generally out and about. Thatās so long ago now. Werenāt the forums shut down in fall of '18?
Yep! A Blaze in the Darkness. I still hope to one day return to that project and turn it into a proper novel now Iām older and more experienced, but the list of planned projects is incredibly long.
And ooh, youāre going self pub? Whatās the story about?
Same here. I try to focus on the ones that need immediate attention.
What are the stories that you want to focus on now?
Yep! I already have a cover
Lunar Heart, Shadow Bound is a story about a bipedal feline named Pinti who is protective of her little sister. Sheās also the last Kattaluna with lunar magick. The Kattalunae are surrounded by a poisonous barrier and controlled by shapeshifting shadow beasts. Pintiās magick is the only thing that can destroy the barrier, so she tests it out one day. She only means to open a small hole but her magick explodes and she ends up shattering it. Shadow beasts come pouring in, attacking every Kattaluna that tries to escape.
When most survivors are captured, including Pintiās sister, the beasts tell her they will free her kind if she returns with a powerful moonstone that only answers to her magick. Sheās given two weeks. Pinti ventures out into the world for the first time. The beasts come after her to make her fail. She tries to be brave for her sister, but sometimes even the toughest hearts shatter.
I tried blurb style. I take every chance I can get to try blurb style story explanation Howād I do, you think?
Ha, felt. No ongoing projects currently, then?
I thiiiink we may have, but just in case, nice to meet you
one of us?? Iāve met other genderthil folks but never ones aro/ace too.
Hmmm. Several years ago at the very least. Itās been a hot while.
Iām currently on the last chapter of a historical fantasy queer romance novella about a disabled mage caught up working under the wrong people. After that, Iāll be working on a high fantasy novel about a manipulative chimaera whoās forced to work together and trust others to escape a tyrannicalgodās domain. Then Iām returning to the novella and making it a novel. Then itās time for chimaera book #2, aka āthe past has come to haunt himā
I think itās pretty good! It sounds like a really interesting story. If Iād be allowed to give some advice, Iād try to cut out some of the extra words to make it as brief as possible. For example:
Sheās also the last Kattaluna with lunar magick. The Kattalunae are surrounded by a poisonous barrier and controlled by shapeshifting shadow beasts. Pintiās magick is the only thing that can destroy the barrier, so she tests it out one day. She only means to open a small hole but her magick explodes and she ends up shattering it. Shadow beasts come pouring in, attacking every Kattaluna that tries to escape.
Could be
One day, she tries her lunar magick on the barrier surrounding her people, but it completely shatters. Shadow beasts come pouring in, attacking every Kattaluna that tries to escape.
Feel free to ignore this, though Iāve been out of the publishing and blurb-ing game for a while
ONE OF US
yes
go solidarity
how is it for you to be aro/ace and genderfluid? could you share your experiences pls? (feel free to dm me if youāre more comfortable doing it that way tho)
God, that name is olllld. So so old. I was so edgy back then, ugh.
MARI!! Iāve missed you!!! How have you been?
Hmmā¦ Mostly, the genderfluid thing was very confusing at first. Learning the whole āgender isnāt static for everyoneā and then being confused why I never felt masculine, because thatās what genderfluid is, riiight? Yeah no. I was so glad thereās a name for it, otherwise I wouldāve kept thinking I was insane. Now Iām mostly good with it. Occasionally, I will check the genderfluid and see what pronouns feel good at the moment. Itās usually fairly instinctive how Iāll refer to myself or what clothes I wear. It just makes me flinch a bit every time someone refers to me as she/her when Iām agender.
As for being aro/ace, ever since I found the label, it just clicked. It was a bit weird since I can have crushes on fictional characters and be attracted to their appearance, but only romantic interest, nothing beyond that. Real people though? Ew ew ew, no matter the gender. No attraction in any way.
The other day I went to see Les Mis, and I found I was attracted to one of the characters in the theatre too. But then as soon as I think of him as just an actor, as a real person, thatās gone again. I only like the character. Although he was damn handsome and also I want his coat.
Other than that, being aro/ace is mostly a pain in the way that romance and sex are completely unavoidable in literally all media. Music? Almost all songs are love songs. Books? All SF/F books have romance in them to be marketable. Movies and series? Donāt get me started. Iāll just have to make aro/ace-proof stories myself
I remember you! Donāt you have a book with a fox on it?
Howād I do, you think?
one of us?? Iāve met other genderthil folks but never ones aro/ace too.
