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J. Sydney Morris ✨is querying ✨

@jsydneymorris.bsky.social

220 followers 230 following 210 posts

✍️ Author of Romance, Fantasy, & Historical Fiction (usually a combo of all three) jsydneymorris.com 🇺🇸&🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 American Living in Scotland 🐈 Crazy Cat & Chicken Lady (mom) ✈️ Owner of The Boho Traveller Luxury Travel Agency bohotravel.org

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J. Sydney Morris ✨is querying ✨ @jsydneymorris.bsky.social · Feb 26

Society said to sit down and shut up, so she became a privateer, joining the revolution.
#WSPit #WSPitQ #A #F #R

🧡Lovers to Enemies
⚔️Swashbuckling Adventure
🧙‍♀️Witches & Faerie Folk
⚔️Overthrowing the Patriarchy
🏰 Castles & Pubs
⚔️ Based on the War of 1812

Vibe: Pirates of the Caribbean meets Poldark

Beduäfan - a 95k word fantasy novel
💪 Strong Willed FMC
⚔️ Swashbuckling adventure
🖤 Love triangle
🫂 Found family
🗡️War & Social Revolution
📖 Historical Allegory
🏰 Castles, taverns & pubs
🏴‍☠️ Pirates
✨ Unique Magic System
🌍 Unique fantasy world
✨ Magical Transformation

Tales of townsfolk burning those with magical powers are spreading through Beduäfan, but more concerning are the rumors that The Crown is behind it all.

When Moira’s father is suddenly arrested and thrown into prison, she willingly takes over her family’s merchant marine business...but she quickly learns her father was involved in more than just trading goods and supplies.

Moira and her crew sail west to seek trade and answers in the neighboring country of Sildha, where magic is welcomed and the country is wild and ready for growth.
Along the way she finds love with an old friend, makes a few new enemies, and begins to hone her new magical prowess with the help of another weilder of night magic.

Moira must choose to live her life simply, and ignore the impending war, or to join the revolution and help save her people from persecution.

the vibes are witches dancing around a fire, musicians playing in pubs, midnight trysts with wine, sailing ships. and gothic castles.

She wished she could bottle the moment and return to it in the years to come. But no such power existed - or if it did, the gods didn’t share it with her.
The night passed between them. None came to relieve them of their watch. Perhaps again, this was the hand the gods. Or perhaps their companions were simply tired.
An easy silence fell, sparked only by the cracking of a log, the hiss of the fire. Alwyn never let go of her hand.

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J. Sydney Morris ✨is querying ✨ @jsydneymorris.bsky.social · Sep 4

Our FMC in #Beduäfan loves some coffee (I mean, same) #WIPSnips #Romantasy

“No, no - I’ll dine in the hall, I just need some coffee to get me going before I see anyone else. For their sake as well as mine.”
Elise gave her a knowing smile and scuttled from the room. Moira quickly patched up her face with her handy kit of powder, kohl, and rouge, and then used some of the basin water to tidy up her hair.
Moira was poised in a chair by the window watching the comings and goings of the inner courtyard when Elise returned.
“Oh thank you. I’ll drink this and put on my stays and I’ll be ready.” Elise nodded at her and bustled about the room, tidying up. Moira drank her coffee quickly, feeling the consciousness of life slowly return to her brain. She set the cup down, put on her boots, and then let Elise lace her up into her stays.
In the dark ensemble, she looked every bit the deadly witch.

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J. Sydney Morris ✨is querying ✨ @jsydneymorris.bsky.social · Aug 30

FINALLY sharing some of my FMCs description - two noses are being described here though in today's #WIPSnips from #Beduäfan

She stared off towards the ocean, chewing the inside of her lip, wondering if she was a fool for what she was about to try and do.
It didn’t help her nerves that Ambrose was indisputably good looking. His jawline was next to perfect, his cheekbones high, and a nose that turned up at the end she would kill to have on her face. Nothing like the straight and slightly large breathing apparatus she’d been dealt by the gods.
No, Moira knew she was striking, but not in the way they said women should be.
Moira looked like the sea on a day when it can’t decide if it should storm or not. The left side of her face had blonde eyelashes, a blonde eyebrow and a light seaglass-green eye. The other side, dark lashes, red brow, and a dark green eye - the colour of forest moss. It was as though the sun forgot to shine halfway across her face the morning of her birth.
Kissed by a sea nymph, her mother used to say. Cursed by demons, if you asked her uncle - or many of the village folk in Newlyn. Her strange features no longer set her at the receiving end of bitter looks in town, though outside of Newlyn she acquired strange stares wherever she went.

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J. Sydney Morris ✨is querying ✨ @jsydneymorris.bsky.social · Aug 29

oooohhhhh we've got a little baby "who hurt you" trope that ties into today's #WIPSnip

The tension is building in #Beduäfan 🔥

“Let me see your arm.”
She held out the arm where the guard in Ceenguled had grabbed her - bruises mottled her wrist, and it was tender to the touch.
Alwyn’s eyes darkened. “Is this the only place he hurt you?”
She swallowed, nodding. “How is your leg?”
“It’s fine.”
Moira cleared her throat and dunked under the water, face burning under Alwyn’s scrutinising glare.
When she resurfaced she began to scrub at her feet.

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J. Sydney Morris ✨is querying ✨ @jsydneymorris.bsky.social · Aug 28

I *could* have posted the obvious and gone for a broad shoulders mention (is it a romantasy without at least one set?) BUT the #WIPSnips words lately have been very conducive to ship snips! Today we are setting course on a broad reach on The Avontuur

As dusk started to settle, they hauled the anchor and sailed north, per Alwyn’s instructions. The indigo sky accompanied them and the wind offered its favour, allowing McKay to set them on a broad reach, swiftly moving the ship along the coast to the sea stacks.
As promised, just past the rocky pillars, Moira saw a small flame, the grey waters churning between the ship and the lantern’s faint glow.

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J. Sydney Morris ✨is querying ✨ @jsydneymorris.bsky.social · Aug 27

How much do I give away 😂 I'll say that we have a little bit of a love triangle happening, with one of our MMCs being tall, dark, and handsome, the other being a slightly depressed golden retriever hahaha

I won't give away which one is the trouble maker lol

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J. Sydney Morris ✨is querying ✨ @jsydneymorris.bsky.social · Aug 27

I think it depends on how they feel about the character - I think readers know something is coming, but not what...readers have either loved or hated the character

my last beta to read the twist emailed me to say she was mad for a full 24 hrs after reading that part and had to put the book down 😂

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J. Sydney Morris ✨is querying ✨ @jsydneymorris.bsky.social · Aug 27

First time sharing something from this scene, but I feel like I never share any of the actual pirate vibes of #Beduäfan (at let me say, they are there!)

Today's #WIPSnip is stand, and I'm using it in the context of "stand by" aka get your a**es in line lads, sh*t is about to go down!

“Well, we’re bloody fucking privateers, aren’t we?”
For the first time since they met, Alwyn gave her a genuine beaming smile. “Aye. That we are.”
She ran over to the helm. The time was nigh.
“STAND BY!” she bellowed. The shoal lie directly ahead, the Beduäfanish brig threatened them off their starboard bow.
Seconds passed, feeling like hours, the men taught with anticipation.
“COME ABOUT.”
Moira threw her body weight into the helm, spinning hard to starboard as her crew let the lines run, sending the boat into purgatory as the sails luffed.

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Reposted by J. Sydney Morris ✨is querying ✨

Author Krishna Prasanth Guttikonda @krishna-author.bsky.social · Aug 24

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J. Sydney Morris ✨is querying ✨ @jsydneymorris.bsky.social · Aug 26

All your WIPSnips make it seem like Cavern Clipper is one big adventure.

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J. Sydney Morris ✨is querying ✨ @jsydneymorris.bsky.social · Aug 26

Honestly.... I kind of like the tease. (this whole book might be one big tease, lol) I think I've hidden the biggest plot twist pretty well though.... 😈

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J. Sydney Morris ✨is querying ✨ @jsydneymorris.bsky.social · Aug 26

This entire book is one big adventure, but I do have a few instances of the actual word "adventure". This is one of my favourite scenes in the whole dang thing....and maybe were things start to change for our (anti?) heroine.

I present to you todays #WIPSnip from #Beduäfan - querying in October 🧡

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J. Sydney Morris ✨is querying ✨ @jsydneymorris.bsky.social · Aug 22

I had quite a few "recent" options for today's #WIPSnip, however almost all of them gave away huge spoilers. So here is a mini spoiler to tease you on some of the romance that goes down in #Beduäfan

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Reposted by J. Sydney Morris ✨is querying ✨

Juniper Woodbury ✨ is querying ✨ @juniperwoodbury.bsky.social · Aug 16

A romantasy twist on ROMAN HOLIDAY + a dash of MIDSOMMAR

🫟 weird humor
🦎 weirder characters
🩸 light horror elements
🐡 fish-out-of-water hijinks
✨ lyrical prose
🏺 secondary world inspired by ancient Babylon

#PosterPit #Q #F #A

Movie poster depicts two classical paintings: "Dolce Far Niente" (1904) by John William Godward above and "David and Saul" (1885) by Julius Kronberg below, with text overlays. Top: woman with dark hair lies on her side on marble steps, wearing purple and red robes, pink flowers grow nearby. Bottom: a young man sits on a carpet holding a stringed instrument.
Large white text across middle reads "THE UNMAKING OF A MUSE." Three text boxes say: "A MUSE WHO CAN'T TELL SHE'S EMBARRASSING HERSELF IN FRONT OF MORTALS," "WHO ALWAYS ASSUMES SHE'S RIGHT, BUT ALMOST NEVER IS," and "WHO TAKES THE ONLY ONE WHO HELPS HER FOR GRANTED... UNTIL SHE REALIZES SHE CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT HIM."

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Reposted by J. Sydney Morris ✨is querying ✨

Iris Andersi @goodwords.bsky.social · Aug 15

For fans of TJ KLUNE and TRAVIS BALDREE

💚 Chronic Illness Rep
🐈‍⬛ A Snarky Familiar
🌦️ Grumpy X Sunshine
🌿 Plant Magic
💰 Anti-Capitalist Themes
💜 Bisexual Witches

Perfect for anyone who loathes big pharma 💊

#QueerPit #Q #A #FR #Cozy #OwnVoices #ChronicIllnessRep #BiForBi

A Garden of Comps is written on top of a leaf. The background is a soil bed. Green leaves are next to comparable titles in the soil with a caption written in white text. The comps are: The Spellshop, Legends and Lattes, Howl's Moving Castle, Under The Whispering Door, and The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches.

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J. Sydney Morris ✨is querying ✨ @jsydneymorris.bsky.social · Aug 15

It's obscene. I've not posted a #WIPSnips in four months....don't ask me how but I'm gonna say it was the summer travel season & planning a wedding.
Anyways, I'm jumping back in with out even the same word (razor) but shave has the same vibes, right? Right. #Beduäfan #WIP #FantasyAuthor #Romantasy

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Reposted by J. Sydney Morris ✨is querying ✨

Victoria Strauss @victoriastrauss.com · Jul 14

Fake agency alert: Dan Baror International Literary Agency, obviously trying to trick writers into believing they're being contacted by Baror International Inc. (a real agency). The About Us page has been "borrowed", in re-worded form, from the real Baror website danbaror-intliteraryagency.com

danbaror-intliteraryagency.com

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J. Sydney Morris ✨is querying ✨ @jsydneymorris.bsky.social · Jul 6

Hiya authors and readers! I'm looking for beats for my Romantasy Pirate WIP...if you're interested, shoot me a DM!

J. Sydney Morris ✨is querying ✨ @jsydneymorris.bsky.social · Apr 10

Yay!! That’s amazing. Congrats and thank you so much for all the work you’ve put in!

J. Sydney Morris ✨is querying ✨ @jsydneymorris.bsky.social · Apr 10

Share them! 😆😆

kermit the frog and darth vader are standing next to each other . kermit is wearing a black hood .

ALT: kermit the frog and darth vader are standing next to each other . kermit is wearing a black hood .

media.tenor.com

Reposted by J. Sydney Morris ✨is querying ✨

Revise & Resub @reviseresub.bsky.social · Apr 9

Winners and runners up will be announced here on Bluesky and editors will email their individual winners afterward.

Even if not chosen, keep an eye on your email for possible ten queries info!

And stay tuned here for more upcoming fun 👀 #RevPit

Racquel Sims 📚 AM QUERYING @racquel-sims.bsky.social · Apr 9

Curiously wondering how #revpit winners are announced. Is there a post first, does the winner get a quick email prior or should we be obsessing over the refresh button on Monday?

@reviseresub.bsky.social

This has been an epic contest and I’m so sad it’s close to ending!! ❤️‍🩹

a black and white drawing of a stick figure sitting in front of a computer monitor

ALT: a black and white drawing of a stick figure sitting in front of a computer monitor

media.tenor.com

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J. Sydney Morris ✨is querying ✨ @jsydneymorris.bsky.social · Apr 10

We've got a lil yearning man over here. I'm obsessed with this entire passage (before and after) from my WIP #Beduäfan - today's #WIPSnips is TRIP #WIP #WriteSky #FantasyAuthor

$He knew he may very well never again see her after this trip, but gods above and below, she was perfect, if in nothing but this moment. Hair shining in the starlight, eyes gleaming and eager - he wished he could paint a picture to remember the moment forever, but it would not evoke the feelings he held. Her cheeks were flushed from excitement and the sting of the chilly wind. His eyes darted between her and the sky. He held her hand, and she clung to him as though he was the sole lifeline tethering her to the earth. As sleep took her, Alwyn watched as she fought it, trying to keep her eyes open to watch the heavens. But a higher power than even the gods called, and eventually her breath evened out, hand slack in his. He brought her his blanket and draped it over her. Whatever cruel joke the gods may be playing on him, it mattered not. At least this moment, this fraction of a lifetime, belonged to him.$

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J. Sydney Morris ✨is querying ✨ @jsydneymorris.bsky.social · Apr 9

Here is a little bit of a tender moment between Moira and....someome in #beduäfan 😉 for today's #WIPSnips of "CRY"

He brought a hand to her cheek, and tilted her head up towards him. He sat with his legs beneath him, knees on the earth, as though praying before one of the gods.
“You have Bryluen, and Säde, and all your cousins. And you have Ambrose, and Wee Jamie, and Ezra, Gerden - you have so many who love you.”
A single tear slipped from her eyes, down her cheek, and onto the ground between them. He wiped the wet from her face with his thumb.
“And if all that fails, my sweet Moira, you have me, little though that may be.”
He pulled her into his arms, cocooning her in the shelter of his muscles and cloak. The sky blurred as her cheek pressed into his chest, and her eyes filled with water. She wrapped her arms around him and he pulled her into his lap, holding her as the tears fell.
This would be the last time she cried.
This would be the last of her weakness.
She was stronger than those who’d wronged her. She was stronger than the cruelties life thrust upon her.
She was not alone. And even when she was - she would persevere.

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J. Sydney Morris ✨is querying ✨ @jsydneymorris.bsky.social · Apr 9

Hoenstly, I was thinking about £20-25 for a low cost iron board...the only normal one is £40, and that is at the cheaper end! Seriously...if you are out there paying £250 for an ironing board (wild) please tell me who you are any WHY. And on top of that, I went into a physical shop - sold out!

J. Sydney Morris ✨is querying ✨ @jsydneymorris.bsky.social · Apr 9

I am shopping for an iron & ironing board for our Air Bnb - we spent a LOT (more than i am willing to admit) on our personal iron & board bc my fiancé is VERY particular about his ironing (lol) but for one that is going to be beat to all hell I wanted to get a cheapo...this doesn't exist!

J. Sydney Morris ✨is querying ✨ @jsydneymorris.bsky.social · Apr 2

Moira loves to be moody, especially when she can talk down about herself. Our antisocial lass has to build up the courage to talk to her friends...tbh I think many of us can relate to that. While I had a few of "scene"s in my MS, I particularly enjoyed this one #Beduäfan #WriteSky #WIPSnips #A #F

Moira glanced through the window at the scene inside; Ambrose and Bronn discussing something Verdir himself could only know, both with mischievous looks on their faces that meant nothing good; her sister giggling at something Captain Mackay’s son said, bullocks, what was his name? Something that looked sounded like garden, she remembered. He leaned into her sister who batted her eyelashes at him.
A few others were crowded around the small table, sharing a roast duck and vegetables.
Moira felt a pang of envy that she knew it never was that easy for her. She had friends, sure, and people liked her, but she stood out with her mismatched eyes and face, and those not used to her always felt discomforted around her startling appearance, some even after they came to know her. This group wouldn’t be perturbed by her strange features, but she just didn’t feel a mood to be social, yet. The task ahead weighed heavily on her mind.
So she sat at the edge of the sea, where she’d found herself her entire life, staring at the fish swimming by. She had nearly made her mind up to go inside when two finely furnished feet appeared next to her.
“Mind if I join yeh, Moira?” She looked up at a flushed Ambrose, a pipe in hand, a warm earthy smoke wafting from him.
“You know you needn’t ask.” She patted the hard ground next to her and he somehow made the process of sitting on the ground elegant. The rain had stopped earlier, but the evening carried a chill as the sun began to set. The days grew shorter with each one passing, Moira thought grimly. Winter was nearly here. Pinks and purples streaked through the sky, melancholious and reflective of her thoughts..

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