Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Amanda Turek👻Headless Horsewoman

@acturek.bsky.social

780 followers 800 following 2.2K posts

Writes character driven adult fantasy. WIP: Brother’s Keeper, epic fantasy sibling story Lives with bipolar disorder - @siegeofthespirit Clinical Laboratory Scientist Mountain backcountry horsewoman Every trail’s the one true home.

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Amanda Turek👻Headless Horsewoman @acturek.bsky.social · 3h

Shadows streak the #trailsign as the morning sunlight percolates through the spruce boughs. Start the day early! #trail #forest #trailride #hike #nationalforest #saveourpubliclands

Wooden trail sign seen at an angle of riding past it on a horse. Say: Eagle Peak Trail NO.629. Bushes all around and spruce trees

Amanda Turek👻Headless Horsewoman @acturek.bsky.social · 4h

#WIPSnips #fantasy #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #welcome

Even a simple introduction is demeaning.

Rushak is brought to the king’s hall for the first time by his father.
POV: Chalmalch, Druid.

- Brother’s Keeper, book one of my fantasy WIP about two brothers bound by a misunderstood power.

Lord Deran glanced at the slight figure on his
left as if he were a small rodent half out of its hole. “And Rushak."

The name was familiar, thorn-prick, dashing
deer familiar. A single stark word, a root that meant “songbird" with the tail of falsehood. No family designation completed it. Lord Deran's voice held a dangerous edge and Rushak flinched at hearing his name pronounced, so slightly that only the Ra'am
himself, being what he was, noticed. The word itself, so uttered, was a blow. But the false little bird remained motionless. The king shared an enigmatic smile with the princess and then offered encouragement, his voice kind, soft, his words unwontedly slow and distinct. Be WELCOME. Rise. Take
courage.

So Rushak stood, and began to speak out of a
face uplifted, as pale and still as moonlight.

Brother's Keeper
A.C. Turek

3 17

Reposted by Amanda Turek👻Headless Horsewoman

Finn McLellan @saranadosfiction.com · 7h

#WIPSnips | welcome

Fire in the Sky, and very heavily into spoiler territory here, so mind how you go.

(Also a reminder that Archer's a vampire, which means most ways of killing him don't stick and he and Sabbat are both very well aware of that)

( saranadosfiction.com/2025/09/27/f... )

*[...] gods, Sabbat, just say something, will you? Please.*

But the silence stretched out between them, thick and impenetrable as the fog, until it seemed like the whole world was holding its breath, and Archer’s own heartbeat sounded like the loudest thing in the universe.

And then Sabbat moved.

He didn’t say anything, and there was no shift in his stance to warn Archer that he was about to act – one moment he was standing still, brows furrowed as though he was trying to puzzle his way through something, and the next he was in motion, lunging forward in a single fluid motion that carried him up inside Archer’s guard before he could even consider moving to defend himself.

Archer froze, halfway anticipating the blade against his throat and finding that, oddly, he almost welcomed the idea. *It’s honest, at least. And, I have to admit, very much him.*

*You never were one for doing things by half-measures, were you?* he thought, and closed his eye in acceptance as the assassin’s fingers tightened against the back of his skull. *Get it over with, then.*

And then Sabbat’s lips were pressed hard against his, and the assassin’s other hand was cupping his jaw, and somewhere deep in the back of his mind, under all the mingled confusion and relief and joy and something a good deal more physical besides, *all he could think was of course you’d* have *to be the one to make the first move, if it was ever going to happen. You’d never allow for anything else.*

1 3 23

Reposted by Amanda Turek👻Headless Horsewoman

Sage like the Pumpkin Spice @sagecollins.bsky.social · 7h

A short one to make up for yesterday’s long one.

But I won’t tell you whose POV we’re in.

#WIPSnips #WriteSky #WritingCommunity
From Summer’s Cruel Warmth, Winter’s Gentle Chill 🌞❄️

Black text, green background, “welcome” highlighted blue:

"Welcome home, Mother Nature," I say,
then kiss him again.

1 5 29

Reposted by Amanda Turek👻Headless Horsewoman

Kris Arden @karden.bsky.social · 7h

#WIPSnips "welcome" - when the pacifist aroace vampire's still got to eat

Excerpt from Prometheus, Returned, by Kris Arden
If I could avoid it, I no longer killed my prey. I found I could often get by approaching thralls. There were over one hundred in this court, and though most were attached to particular vampires, some appreciated being fed on so much that they would welcome other interest. Assuredly, though, I did not like to feed this way. These thralls who welcomed other vampiric interest were a bit, well, intense. They would watch me approach, unblinking, an obsessive gleam in their eyes. The moment my fangs broke skin they would begin a symphony of sighs and moans, at which point I suppose I was meant to commence ravishing them against the nearest wall. Instead I drank in furtive, quick sucks, then retracted my fangs and melted metaphorically into shadow, hoping this gave an aura of mystery rather than revealing my awkward dread and desire for escape.

2 13

Reposted by Amanda Turek👻Headless Horsewoman

L.M. du Plessis 🇳🇦 🇺🇦📚💙 ‪✨Drafting New Project✨ @smoking-gnu.bsky.social · 6h

Morning #WIPSnips. Didn't get any writing done yesterday and i think I’m going to take the weekend off from this WIP (gonna work on some Cavern Clipper stuff), buuuuut i do have today and tomorrow's snips ready, so no interruption in services.
#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts

“Can I ask you a favour?” she asks me.
“Do I have a choice?” I respond with genuine confusion. The last hour has not been kind to my mental state
“Yes, you do, but I have an idea and I think I can get you home, wherever that is, but I’d like to take you to someone to talk about what we just talked about. I think there may be some sort of business idea here.” She quickly stands up onto their three legs and walk over to me, and I shrink back onto the cargo containers I’m still slumped against.
She holds out a hand towards me, probably wanting to pull me upright. I stare at it.
“My name is Driona, by the way. Welcome to Trinaru.”

3 21

Reposted by Amanda Turek👻Headless Horsewoman

Kayleigh Diaz @kleighdiaz.bsky.social · 6h

#WIPSnips | (un)welcome ✨vibes

Lennie likes to talk. 😅 Posted part of this in a prompt game, but not WIPSnips, I think…

Origin of Shrimp. 🦐

From my post-apocalyptic #WIP w/ a misfit trio of kids.

#WritingCommunity #WriteSky #amwriting

Writing snippet: “Mama won't let you in. She won't even let in a stray kitten, let alone a full-grown kid.” He tilted his head in question, and she added, “Well, not full grown, but y'know.”

She watched as he carefully set the cricket back in the jar, then offered him a piece of the burnt meat. He wrinkled his nose, and she shrugged, taking his share.

“Alright, well, I know you don't talk, but I gotta call you something other than ‘kid.’” She took a bite and gestured to the jar. “Hey, how about cricket? Or crick? Nah, nevermind, that sounds like you got a crick in the neck.” She narrowed her eyes, scanning him up and down. “But you're small. Say, what about shrimp? You ever had shrimp and grits?” Her stomach roiled. “Mama made it, once. Well, it wasn't real shrimp—come to think of it, I don't know what it was—and the grits were…gritty, I guess. But it sure as hell beats this.” She tugged at the leathery meat, grimacing as she worked it between her teeth. She swallowed with effort and grinned. “What d’ya say, Shrimp?”

He stared at her.

3 7 28

Reposted by Amanda Turek👻Headless Horsewoman

Robin Herbert @peterrobin.bsky.social · 6h

#WIPSnips October 11

"welcome"

From The Hastings Deck

When I put the phone down I said, “I'm going to see him next week. He thought I didn't want anything to do with him.”
My guest smiled and, for the first, moved from the spot where I first saw him. He moved towards the door and as he did, he seemed to grow indistinct and insubstantial. He tried the door handle but couldn't turn it. I went to open it for him, “but you're welcome to stay any time you like“
He smiled and walked out. About halfway across the lawn a light breeze blew him away like a cloud.

2 12

Reposted by Amanda Turek👻Headless Horsewoman

Kira of the Wind (Erika McCorkle) @kiraofthewind.com · 5h

#WIPSnips #WritingCommunity #WriteSky

Shallot greets a new customer, who first stops at the bulletin board and looks at the wanted posters...

“Welcome to the Good Thyme Inn,” she said, opening her ledger to the day’s business accounts. “Room for one?”
The man paused in front of the wanted posters. The Plecopteran and the Homopteran with an unpronounceable name stared into their viewer with hard, criminal eyes.
“Dear me, these scoundrels sound dangerous! Have you had any encounters with them?”
Shallot subdued her irritation at the man not getting straight to business. If she claimed to have seen the people on the wanted poster, would he leave?
“I have not,” she replied. “Our town is quite safe, and this is the only inn in either direction of the road for about five hours of riding by horse…”
She hoped he got the hint.

Art of Shallot, innkeeper of the Good Thyme Inn, sitting in her seat in her parlor room. It's dark and the room is lit with green candles and pink glowing lotuses in a vase. Bookshelves are behind her. There are also signs of machinery in the walls

4 22

Reposted by Amanda Turek👻Headless Horsewoman

Prof Emily but Spoopier Now @professoremily.bsky.social · 5h

#WIPSnips #amwriting #writingcommunity #writers #writesky

Big Feelings ❤️❤️❤️

From Book 2 of my #Atlantis trilogy.

Kena was blushing, unsure what to say. He opened his mouth, but before he could get anything out, he was captured from behind by a pair of slender brown arms. Mireia squeezed him tightly, pressing her body against his back, and he felt the pressure of her head against his shoulder.
“Thank you,” she whispered in a husky voice.
His blush deepened, not helped by the fact that Calu’u was looking at them the way one might look at a couple of newborn baby bunnies. She quickly turned away and found something to do elsewhere, leaving them to each other.
Mireia’s arms wrapped tighter around his chest, and from the vibrations of her body he could tell she was either crying softly or had just been a moment ago. He wasn’t sure how to respond, but his heart was pierced with a sudden lance of affection.
“You’re—you’re welcome,” he murmured, placing his hand over one of hers and caressing her fingers.

4 6 29

Reposted by Amanda Turek👻Headless Horsewoman

Samantha Boo-reaux @woodenvelt.bsky.social · 4h

Spencer and Wren have met already but this is the first time they're making proper introductions.

From my romantasy wip about a priest of the dead and a thief with a heart of gold.

#WIPSnips #WriteSky #WritingPrompts #WritingCommunity #Wrencer

“I wanted to return your knife and thank you for your help last night.”
“You are very welcome, Miss…?”
“Wren.”
Like the tiny birds that nested in eaves throughout the city, she was small and dark with her brown hair, brown eyes, and tawny skin. And she certainly held herself like she might take wing at any moment. The name suited the woman, though Spencer doubted it was the one she’d been born with.
He took a deep slug of his tea, hoping he might find clarity and resolve swirling somewhere near the bottom of the mug. This all smacked of intrigue, and like most of the Gray Lady’s faithful, Spencer had little patience for it. He preferred to leave the politicking to the cathedrals and tabernacles in Temple Square. Places with bishops, archdiocese, and actual gold in their coffers, not an overworked priest with one novice and three leaks in the sanctuary roof.
A cold wind stirred behind Spencer, raising the hairs along his neck. Reggie was restless, sensing his unease.
Go back to sleep, Reg. It’s living folk’s business.
“There are no thanks necessary for the aid, Miss Wren. If you feel, however, that a debt is owed, a few fentons in the donation box would be appreciated. We’re trying to get the roof patched on the sanctuary.”

4 22

Amanda Turek👻Headless Horsewoman @acturek.bsky.social · 10h

Not a cover, but I would give my eye teeth for some character art about now.

Reposted by Amanda Turek👻Headless Horsewoman

Nicole L. Soper Gorden / Nicole Leland @nicolelsopergorden.bsky.social · 19h

What kind of prize entices a chaos gremlin? The kind likely to cause more chaos, obviously... 😬

From Tennyson's arc of The Atlas Brothers Break the Multiverse

#WIPSnips #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #AmWriting

“What about a scavenger hunt?” Poe offered. “A list of things you have to find somewhere in the house in order to win.” That seemed like something safe enough, and if he set the rules to be contained within the house, Kip would have no reason to leave.
“Isn’t that a kids’ game?” Kip asked, sounding suspicious.
“Doesn’t have to be. I can make the list hard, if you want. No asking Manny, either.”
“And what happens when I win?”
Right, a prize. What would be enticing enough for Kip that he’d stick with the game and not give up or get distracted halfway through? “If you can find all the items on the list before Byron and Cora get home, I’ll let you push the button on the extradimensional navigation device for our next jump.”
“Really?” Kip asked, eyes wide.

2 4 23

Reposted by Amanda Turek👻Headless Horsewoman

C.S. Madsen @csmadsen.bsky.social · 13h

#WIPSnips of the day is #Prize. From my #UrbanFantasy, Begging Your Pardon, Mister Wolfe:
Puckish #Lykaios has some strange coping techniques for her fear of flying. Erik finds insight into her sudden change in behavior, but isn't sure how to act on it.

#Supernatural #Thriller #BYPMW #OftDTftW

🐺

A snippet of a word processor, with the word "prize" highlighted in pastel green. It is separated mid-flow by page number 270. The text reads as follows:

She noticed, or perhaps knew, that I was shocked by her attire. “What?” The word was at once both accusatory and wounded. “You’re surprised that I chose to wear clothing?” Her shoulders arched in an almost dismissive shrug, despite an undertone of discomfort I couldn’t quite place. Ah. I thought. We’re flying again. My realization was cut off by a tone that expressed hurt while still managing to wear a prissy facade. “Sometimes, I exercise my freedom by confining myself. Don’t bother getting used to it.”
It clicked into place, all at once.
The clothes, the fancy hair, her tone. It all came together to tell me that this was her way of armoring herself against her fear. It didn’t make much sense to me, but I knew it the way I knew I’d be physically ill if I bit into a pineapple. There was just something instinctual, something that had collected the clues where I had not, that was practically screaming that this was the answer to a question I didn’t realize I had.
Adroitly leaping over the desktop, she swung her legs around it like a world-class gymnast on a pommel horse. Placing a surprisingly soft fingertip on my nose, she suddenly toppled me backward with a powerful thrust of her finger. Standing over my sprawled form like a bored prizefighter longing for a challenge and finding me lacking, she sighed with a huff that could best be described as… theatrical.

3 10

Reposted by Amanda Turek👻Headless Horsewoman

Chaucer Doth Tweet @levostregc.bsky.social · 18h

Thei did the Mash; thei did the Monstere Mash.
The Monstere Mash: beholde, sepulchral smash!
Thei did the Mash, and it kaughte on moost fast -
Hark, heare the Mash! Forsooth, the Monstere Mash!

2 29 150

Amanda Turek👻Headless Horsewoman @acturek.bsky.social · 15h

Oh this is so sweet and awkward. ❤️

Amanda Turek👻Headless Horsewoman @acturek.bsky.social · 15h

I think that qualifies as Drisal underhandedly trying to give Rush a gift he DIDN’T want.😂

1 1

Amanda Turek👻Headless Horsewoman @acturek.bsky.social · 15h

Lol why yes it did.

1 1

Amanda Turek👻Headless Horsewoman @acturek.bsky.social · 15h

Yep! Done👍 I was already planning to order it this weekend so that worked out! 😂

Amanda Turek👻Headless Horsewoman @acturek.bsky.social · 15h

Awe dang, looks like you can’t ship to Colorado. I was planning to order one.

2 1

Amanda Turek👻Headless Horsewoman @acturek.bsky.social · 15h

And when Bráthal tried to drown him and then changed his mind and revived him, their response was to make him a special gemstone to help focus his prayers. 😂

1 1

Amanda Turek👻Headless Horsewoman @acturek.bsky.social · 15h

Yes they sure do. Light-stones, crystal wind chimes and lanterns.

1 1

Amanda Turek👻Headless Horsewoman @acturek.bsky.social · 16h

I had a feeling she probably didn’t drink.

1 2

Amanda Turek👻Headless Horsewoman @acturek.bsky.social · 16h

Ooh love it!

Amanda Turek👻Headless Horsewoman @acturek.bsky.social · 16h

Otherwise gift-giving in my story is random. Cerel, Drisal and Rush are all easy to please.

1 3