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Joshua Parkes

@crackedactor.bsky.social

730 followers 930 following 920 posts

British-born, free-range American raised. Writer and theatre professional. Chaotic Neutral turned Neutral Good. Always strive to be kind. He/Him https://joshuaparkes.com/

joshuaparkes.com

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Joshua Parkes @crackedactor.bsky.social · Feb 12

Agent's Guide to THE DUST BEHIND THE DOOR

👫Best Friends
💪Bully to Friend
🐉Dragons!
🎭Theatre!
💗Budding Romances
🏳️‍🌈LGBT Characters
👿😇Evil Teacher/Good Teacher
📚Heroine Librarian
🗺️Other Worlds
🧚‍♂️Non-Traditional Fantasy Peoples
#Questpit #F #YA #Q

If Danny can save a captured dragon, he can save the world!
The Dust Behind the Door is a YA portal fantasy about friendship and prejudice filled with fantastic adventure (and a little Shakespeare, too)

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Joshua Parkes @crackedactor.bsky.social · 12h

#FantasyIndiesSpooktober
Day 12

Danny thinks the villain in our world hates him and is totally unfair. He's right. They also know Danny is easy to manipulate.

The villain in Empaeria sees Danny as a tool to get to Lia.

#WritingCommunity #BookSky

Joshua Parkes @crackedactor.bsky.social · 12h

#FantasyIndiesSpooktober
Day 11 Catch Up

Snippet. We meet Lia's brother, Sadoq.

#WritingCommunity #BookSky

Joshua Parkes @crackedactor.bsky.social · 2d

Well played!

Joshua Parkes @crackedactor.bsky.social · 2d

Unsolicited Tick pic

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Joshua Parkes @crackedactor.bsky.social · 2d

For when your intelligence isn't artificial.

Merriam-Webster @merriam-webster.com · 11d

We are thrilled to announce that our NEW Large Language Model will be released on 11.18.25.

Reposted by Joshua Parkes

Bella Dunn @belladunn.bsky.social · 2d

It's Friday folks! Read that book. Drop that review. Make an author smile!
#booksky

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Joshua Parkes @crackedactor.bsky.social · 2d

That's a rough week!
I hope the peaceful weekend helps you to deal with the rest.

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Joshua Parkes @crackedactor.bsky.social · 2d

#FantasyIndiesSpooktober
Day 10

"The Dust Behind the Door" as told by Emojis:

📓👊🐉📚🔍🧌💪💔🎭💫🐲🌳🗺️⚔️💫🎭👫

Joshua Parkes @crackedactor.bsky.social · 3d

Some days are stressful.
And you need two women to get you through the night.

A bottle of New Glarus Brewing "Two Women" lager that acts as the punchline for a suggested threesome.

Joshua Parkes @crackedactor.bsky.social · 3d

I'm not familiar with Peppie!

Joshua Parkes @crackedactor.bsky.social · 3d

#FantasyIndiesSpooktober
Day 9

Here in Wisconsin, we're fond of the Hodag. And we know to beware of the Wendigo.

I enjoy all kinds of "paranormal creatures." Werewolves, vampires, griffins, dragons. Elves, dwarves, the fae. Tell me a good story.

#WritingCommunity #BookSky

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Joshua Parkes @crackedactor.bsky.social · 4d

Shirt quote credit, the incomparable LeVar Burton.

Joshua Parkes @crackedactor.bsky.social · 4d

I'm thrilled and honored to be the Cultural Consultant for a local high school production of "The Diary of Anne Frank."

The shirt was deliberately chosen for today's rehearsal.

#BannedBookWeek

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Joshua Parkes @crackedactor.bsky.social · 4d

#FantasyIndiesSpooktober
Day 8

I'm not much of a horror reader.
I recently read "The Hound of the Baskervilles" by Arthur Conan Doyle for my new manuscript prep. Great atmosphere for October.
I'm currently reading "Something Wicked This Way Comes" by Bradbury.

#WritingCommunity #BookSky

Joshua Parkes @crackedactor.bsky.social · 5d

#FantasyIndiesSpooktober
Day 7 Villain Goals

In the immediate term, the baddies want to capture Lia as a tactic to win the war in Empaeria. As evil grows there, it rises in our world, too, and beyond.

#WritingCommunity #BookSky

Joshua Parkes @crackedactor.bsky.social · 6d

This reminded me of "Pathetic Geek Stories" from the 90s-00s.
Apparently, they're still around.

patheticgeekstories.com

Pathetic Geek Stories

Pathetic Geek Stories, true tales of humiliation and awkwardness. Submitted by readers, drawn by Maria Schneider, formerly in The Onion.

patheticgeekstories.com

Joshua Parkes @crackedactor.bsky.social · 6d

#antasyIndiesSpooktober
Day 6 - Monsters!

Lia is a dragon.
Danny encounters many different peoples in Empaeria. Gnoles are somewhat monstrous. Poruk he meets is downright evil.

In this world Danny deals with bullies and snobs. Monsters, indeed.

#WritingCommunity #BookSky

Joshua Parkes @crackedactor.bsky.social · 7d

#FantasyIndiesSpooktober
Day 5 Fears

Danny is afraid of bullies and monsters, of course. But he's mostly afraid of what the world will become if evil wins.
Lia's afraid of failing to help win the war.
Enzo is afraid of being forced to do dishonorable things.

#WritingComunity #BookSky #WriteSky

Joshua Parkes @crackedactor.bsky.social · 7d

#FantasyIndiesSpooktober
Day 4 Snippet (Catch Up)

Bullies can be monsters. No, really.

#WritingCommunity #BookSky #WriteSky

Joshua Parkes @crackedactor.bsky.social · 9d

...and I thought September was rough!

Joshua Parkes @crackedactor.bsky.social · 9d

#FantasyIndiesSpooktober
Day 3 Free Friday/Pride

I'm proud of my kids.
My son is building his smithing hobby into a cottage business.
My daughter is finishing her studies to be a remarkable teacher.
They are both kind, courageous, and generous.

#WritingCommunity #WriteSky #BookSky

Joshua Parkes @crackedactor.bsky.social · 10d

#FantasyIndiesSpooktober
Day 2

I like horror books but not movies- my imagination runs with them far too much.

Danny would think some horror is fun, especially cheesy slasher movies. Lia thinks she's above such things. Enzo would grunt at the unrealistic violence.

#WritingCommunity #WriteSky

Joshua Parkes @crackedactor.bsky.social · 11d

#FantasyIndiesSpooktober
Day 1

Hi, I'm Josh & my WIP is "The Dust Behind the Door," a MG to YA portal fantasy.

Danny is an unpopular freshman at Bayshore HS. When his friend, Lia, saves him from bullies, he learns she is a dragon hiding from war in her native Empaeria.

#WritingCommunity #BookSky

Joshua Parkes @crackedactor.bsky.social · 12d

Post you from a different era.

In the 90s I had long hair and abs.

Joshua Parkes @crackedactor.bsky.social · 12d

#FantasyIndiesSeptember
Day 30

This hashtag was a welcome bit of enjoyment this month. I met some new online friends, got to consider my characters in new ways, and had some fun waiting for me every morning.
Thank you all!

#WritingCommunity #BookSky