Carla Hennes ❌ 👑 🐸
LightNews LightNews
banner
tempestteapot.bsky.social
Carla Hennes ❌ 👑 🐸
@tempestteapot.bsky.social
850 followers 1.1K following 340 posts
Tempest Teapot: energy coiled in small space
Epic Fantasy novel Demon’s Bargain
#AmQuerying #F #R #YA #A
Kahyla Tamrin faces a demon’s bargain where all the options are bad: fight with soul-destroying magic or lose her family, her beloved, and her life.
Posts Replies Media Videos
Pinned
tempestteapot.bsky.social
Carla Hennes ❌ 👑 🐸 @tempestteapot.bsky.social · Jul 13
A bastard gentrywoman, Kahyla protects her siblings against assassins, demon-eaten mages, and rivals intent on the throne. She faces a DEMON’S BARGAIN where all the options are bad: fight with soul-destroying magic or lose her family, her beloved, and her life.

#BluePit 📖 #F #R #YA #A #Q
Graphic shows silhouette of couple filled with courtyard, leather armor, and a structure consumed by flames. Six of Crows X Witch King Demon's Bargain A bastard gentrywoman, Kahyla struggles to protect her siblings against assassins, demon-eaten mages, and political rivals intent on the throne. She faces a demon's bargain: fight with soul-destroying magic or lose her family, her beloved, and her life. 120k Epic Fantasy Novel. Tropes list: Deliberate values dissonance Feminist within patriarchy Heel-face turn Slow burn Forbidden love Powers via Possession Coming of Age Quiet girl finds her voice Target markets: adult fantasy for darker themes, detailed world-building, and a blend of magic and political intrigue. YA for coming-of-age story and slow burn romance, while skewing older for the consequences of difficult life choices. #F #R #YA #A #Q Body count 11, proposals 4, weddings 2
tempestteapot.bsky.social
#WIPSnips #WritingCommunity #amquerying #writesky
💙📚 🪐📚

From my short story “My Body as a Spacesuit.” Pim tries to repair her jumpship.
She closed the valves, securing the hoses and her helmet. After a pirouette, she reoriented to the reactor access and opened the hatch. Pim wriggled through the drifting mess of shredded metal plates, praying none of them ripped her suit. When she had overloaded the system with her blind jump, the fusion reactor had buzzed, rattling the fillings in her teeth during her hasty shut down. Now the eerie quiet of the power source picked at her nerves. Remote sensors showed high levels of residual radiation. Enough of the shielding had fallen off to irradiate the access tunnel. The doughnut-shaped plasma chamber clad in rippled magnets kept her safe from the worst of the X-rays during operation. Outside the tokamak containment system, a jacket of coolant tubes snaked around the cramped space. Reflecting off the light from her helmet, water glistened along several breaks, held in place with surface tension. Keep moving, Pim. That’s what you always do. Rose’s advice when Pim broke a leg misjudging a low gravity leap. She’d leaned on Rose to get back to the shelter. The danger from gravity had been invisible and so was the radiation. Stay focused and fast. Fix the leaks so she could restart the reactor and keep the oxygen pumps going. She found the first leak and started working, ripping strips of duct tape to seal the hole. The tape floated while she brushed away the water. Fix, then pull to the next leak, every second radiation bombarding her body. A shadow dimmed her view, a layer filming the inside of her helmet.
November 25, 2025 at 12:59 PM
tempestteapot.bsky.social
#WIPSnips #amquerying #writesky #epicfantasy 💙📚 🪐📚

debut vibes

From my Epic Fantasy novel Demon’s Bargain. Kahyla's introduction to Princess Lualih.
As the princess paused before Kahyla’s House name, her eyes widened. With a shake of her head, she asked, “Who are you?” Kahyla swept her hands away from her face. “I present myself as Gentlemistress Kahyla Tamrin, eldest daughter of Lady Maret Tamrin and natural child of Baron Seberon Grath.” “You don’t claim the title of Lady Grath?” Kahyla raised her chin higher. “I dispute his claim to a secret marriage. The land and title belong to my brother, Lord Tebfin Tamrin.” Behind the princess, the prattle ceased as heads turned to consider Kahyla’s bold claim. “Does Baron Grath know you’re here?” asked the princess. Kahyla inhaled sharply. Someone would bring her father the news and the attacks would resume. “He will soon.” Princess Lualih exchanged a glance with the badged official, who waved her to continue. “As the eldest daughter, you would hold a daughter’s cottage. You claim the title of Tamrin, so you’re unmarried. Would you consider marriage, if your Paer allowed it? Is Baron Grath your Paer?” Kahyla clenched her jaw. No mention of safety for Tebfin, only grasping at a way for the princess to have her Gooseport lover. “I’m not your pawn, Your Highness.” Malgrim touched her lightly on her wrist. Kahyla relaxed before speaking again. “I don’t seek a marriage at this time, Your Highness.” The princess’s frown deepened. “Who is your Paer, Gentlemistress?” She couldn’t risk Despard. “Not my father.”
November 24, 2025 at 2:15 PM
tempestteapot.bsky.social
#WIPSnips #amquerying #writesky #epicfantasy 💙📚 🪐📚

global = world

From my Epic Fantasy novel Waking the Saints. Never trust someone convinced of the righteousness of his cause. A saint spoke during her Mage's Ordeal and the demon-hunter is trying to obey the saint's command.
“Please, Kahyla, remember the other part of the saint's command: The demons are coming and the sleepers must awaken. Bring me a mage: powerful and ambitious.” Zorrik laughed bitterly. “I need to find a powerful and ambitious mage. Not to kill him but hand him a Saint’s power. I may be a demon-hunter, but my own staff could never know what I was doing, working with a mage, to wake a saint that could bring the end of the world.” A shadow dimmed her smile. The sunbeams from the window picked out the remains of magefire burns on her cheek. “You know a mage, Kahyla. Someone instructed you, or you never would have survived against your father,” Zorrik said. Despard rubbed his hand down his thigh. “Why should she hand over this mage to you? You’re a demon-hunter. It’s your job to kill any mage you find.” “My work protects Huxen from demons. Even Ferruth and the rest of the world would fall to the flood of demons. If a mage’s greed for power were unchecked, we would drown in the demon-eaten and their thirst for blood, enslaving whole villages without a Saint to free them.” “Mages in Ferruth seem to do just fine without your Ordeals,” Despard said. “Not as powerful as Kahyla, but they get by without any bloodletting.” “I don’t expect a heathen to understand,” sniffed Zorrik. “ As followers of Parkith, we have a responsibility.”
November 23, 2025 at 5:14 PM
tempestteapot.bsky.social
Late post because I was at Fables and Flames con.

#WIPSnips #amquerying #writesky #epicfantasy 💙📚 🪐📚
From my epic fantasy, Waking the Saints, Queen Lualih holds an audience with her ex-BFF.
“You should have many allies in House Gorel, as the mother of their heir. You left with much fanfare.” “I was alone,” Tepaya snapped. “The tien-wife resented my displacing her as the favored Eis-wife. She made sure any gathering with my ladies-in-waiting included an equal number of her cronies. The elderly baron eventually stopped visiting my bedchamber once I conceived. The midwife forbade any horse riding, further closing in the walls.” Storytelling was thirsty work. Lualih brought her servant closer and gestured for the girl to offer cider to Tepaya. A ruby bracelet flashed as Tepaya gulped down the rare vintage before returning the crystal goblet. “You succeeded in producing a single heir,” Lualih said. “I’m surprised the baron didn’t demand more.” Tepaya showed her teeth. “The baron lacked an understanding of women’s courses. He returned to his tien-wife, who was happy to leave him ignorant. Free of scrutiny, I stayed with Dodi. Playing with him, nursing him, suffering through teething with him on long cold nights. Falling asleep with his warmth, his body limp with trust.”
November 22, 2025 at 11:36 PM
tempestteapot.bsky.social
#WIPSnips #amquerying #writesky #epicfantasy 💙📚 🪐📚

From my Epic Fantasy novel Demon’s Bargain. The Tamrins reach some modicum of safety in the Huxen capital. Neither couple has recognized any tension - if there were any more elephants in the room, they could open a zoo.

Today's trope: only one bed
After they reached another gate, Kahyla asked for directions to the apartments for smaller Houses. They left their horses at a stable. The group continued on foot, down an alley to a door marked with the Tamrin stag, which Kahyla opened with her key. Despard squeezed around her to inspect the room, sparsely decorated with a few benches and tables. Past an archway, he found a kitchen that shared a chimney with a single bed chamber. “I guess I’ll be sleeping on the floor.” Despard stretched and twisted his back. He caught Kahyla watching him before looking away, so he twisted in the other direction very slowly. Kalev leaned on the door jamb. “I won’t get much better at the Terrick apartments.” Despard crossed his arms. “Right, the heir to the house wouldn’t get a bed.” “The Lord and Lady get the bed. Everyone else will be lucky to get a mat by the kitchen stove. Or the unlucky, a pile of hay in the stable loft.” Abber glided through the open door and deposited her travel cloak on the bed. “You could stay here. You don’t have to go to the Terrick apartments.”
November 21, 2025 at 2:13 PM
tempestteapot.bsky.social
#WIPSnips #amquerying #writesky #epicfantasy 💙📚 🪐📚

From my Epic Fantasy novel Demon’s Bargain. Abber used forbidden magic to light the stove. Kahyla worries demons will follow.

Yesterday's snip had a later scene where Kahyla unexpectedly has a Paer. She can't reveal it's heathen Despard.
“Magic makes me happy,” Abber said. “Gives me something I can control, something that makes me special. I’m not lord of the manor, like Tebfin, or the perfect and responsible Kahyla.” Abber rubbed the side of her head at the growing backlash headache from her rushed fire-lighting. Pain goaded her to lash out at Kahyla. “But you’re not so perfect, are you?” Abber said. “You’ve got mage blood, like me. You shattered the scrying ball when I spied on you with Despard.” “I’m not like you! Isn’t it bad enough you’re cursed with mage blood? I don’t want to lose you.” Her shoulders loosened. “Why can’t you let me be happy that I found Despard?” Kahyla settled on the floor beside her, reluctant to meet Abber’s glare. “I asked Despard to stand as my Paer.” Abber stared at her sister. “Kahyla, that’s not bending the rules, that’s breaking them completely. An unrelated stranger, a foreigner, and a heathen as your Paer?” Tebfin dropped his soup pot with a clang. “I should be your Paer,” he said, puffing out his chest. “I’m your brother.”
November 20, 2025 at 2:07 PM
tempestteapot.bsky.social
#WIPSnips #amquerying #writesky #epicfantasy 💙📚 🪐📚

From my Epic Fantasy novel Demon’s Bargain. After snatching her off the street with armed soldiers, Bizal inspects Kahyla. The color of her coolan, or headscarf, means she already has a Paer, or spiritual guardian, who controls who she could marry.
Bizal stepped out from behind his desk. “I’m honored you would be concerned with my welfare, Your Excellency,” she said. “May I assume you want my good health to continue?” “I would guarantee it! You wouldn’t have to worry about your safety, or your estates, or anything ever again,” he said. His gaze traveled along her body, pausing uncomfortably long to ogle at her breasts. Survival was a small part of her safety. “You are even more beautiful than your father described. I would love to see you in the latest fashions of Escala. I promise to find the right shade of turquoise to bring out your eyes.” “I don’t understand, Your Excellency.” “Gentlemistress Kahyla, I offer you marriage as my third wife!” Vetal twitched. “I’m surprised and honored, Archduke Bizal, but I can’t.” A marriage bed with this man, older than her father, all joy crushed under his weight and control. She would rather he killed her. “Of course you can, my dear,” Bizal assured her. “I have sent for my priest who can marry us immediately. Parkith will bless the union and you can return to Huxen safely.” A marriage blessed by a priest, if she chose it. Would Bizal sending her in pieces to her father be a better choice? “No, I can’t marry without permission, Your Excellency.” “I think you’ll find that a Paer can marry his ward so all I need–” Bizal seemed to notice her red coolan at last. “All I need is your consent.” “I do not consent.”
November 19, 2025 at 2:46 PM
tempestteapot.bsky.social
#WIPSnips #WritingCommunity #amquerying #writesky
💙📚 🪐📚

retrograde vibes

From my short story “My Body as a Spacesuit.” Pim tries to repair her jumpship.
Jagged spars interlaced the scorched shell that remained of the airlock now open to raw space. Instead of infinite black with a chalk dusting of stars, a brilliant green planet crawled through the tiny frame. Can't be Neptune. Never again. I jumped way beyond Neptune. Blind jump where they couldn’t follow. Remote beyond any rescue from Earth. No going back to pour water over her hand, straight to ashes. No wreath of roses for gentle Rose. All my fault, all my fault again. An irregular blob eclipsed the planet. Let me in.
November 18, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Reposted by Carla Hennes ❌ 👑 🐸
graptopetalum.bsky.social
#WIPSnips November 17 spend
I went with "cost" and "expensive" instead.
Eleprin is asking her parents how her friends can disappear and obtain false identities the way her family did.
From "Tales of Midbar: Heretical Gods" - www.inkitt.com/stories/497649
Background: A teenage girl of South Asian appearance with short hair and wearing a sari with a light floating near her. "Why have you got a mage ..?" asked Dad. "Why the feces are you associating with people who get into this sort of trouble?" "What, hotel guests who don't want to be Temple Prostitutes?" "I don't think the priesthood would send magi to assassinate people for that," said Dad. "It's a bit more complicated but it's probably best if you don't know the details." "What's the time?" asked Mum, "it isn't sapphire light yet?" "These people are expensive," said Dad. "It cost us nearly everything we had!" "Yeah, well this is the backup plan." "What's the main plan?" asked Dad. "Best if you don't know."
November 17, 2025 at 9:12 PM
tempestteapot.bsky.social
#WIPSnips #WritingCommunity #amquerying #writesky #epicfantasy 💙📚 🪐📚

From my Epic Fantasy novel Demon’s Bargain. Despard gets his payment for betraying Kahyla’s location to the Huxen Ambassador. Vetal and Despard haven’t gotten along well before.
A lean soldier, the same veteran from the tavern, sauntered to a wooden chest and returned with a leather pouch. Despard took it and peeked inside. Several coins clinked as it shifted in his hands. Each coin had the stamped face of a crowned man, presumably the recently deceased Huxen king. “I have to agree with the vintner. Where am I going to spend these?” Bizal’s smile didn’t reach his eyes. “Why, in Huxen, of course. I’m offering an extension of your employment.” “I gathered from Tav that someone like me wouldn’t be welcomed in Huxen. Because of my long vowels,” Despard said, emphasizing the drawl of his Ferruthan accent. He could refuse the job. Let Kahyla return to Huxen hidden in the caravan and go back to his life in Bivmiav. Bizal’s demeanor slipped from neutral businessman into a sneer of contempt. “Keep your mouth shut and follow Vetal’s orders.” The soldier’s mustache twitched with a smile before his face resumed a blank attention.
November 17, 2025 at 1:53 PM
tempestteapot.bsky.social
#WIPSnips #WritingCommunity #amquerying #writesky #epicfantasy 💙📚 🪐📚

A Demon’s Bargain where all the options are bad: fight with soul-destroying magic or lose her family, her beloved, and her life.

One of my favorite tropes: quiet girl finds her voice.
“Teach me to fight so next time I won’t be helpless,” she said. Her horse blew hard, sensing the tension in her rider’s body. “Next time, I’ll fight instead of kneeling, waiting, wondering if the blade is coming. Abber could be dead already and I want to hurt them for it.” “They’ll always be stronger, Kahyla.” Despard let out a breath in a huff. “You’re safer running. Run fast and far.” “No. I’m done running. We ran to Bivmiav and we weren’t safe there either. Maybe I won’t fight with a battle axe, but you can teach me daggers and short swords. Teach me the bow so I can shoot them before I run away.” “Going up against a professional soldier only half-trained won’t end well.” “With no training, it ends worse.” Despard plopped his head back on the grain sacks. “How do you think this all ends, Kahyla?” “With everyone I love dead or out of reach.” The rattling wagon wheels and discordant minstrels filled the silence. Despard sighed. “You’re not going to let this go, are you?” Kahyla shook her head. “Fine. Get off the horse,” said Despard.
November 16, 2025 at 5:19 PM
tempestteapot.bsky.social
#WIPSnips #WritingCommunity #amquerying #writesky #epicfantasy 💙📚 🪐📚

A Demon’s Bargain where all the options are bad: fight with soul-destroying magic or lose her family, her beloved, and her life.

Kahyla negotiated for protection by Royal Blues, but kept it secret from her beloved.
Despard grabbed her arm as she crossed to open the door. “Who the hell is Master Vayhne? Dammit, Kahyla, talk to me! I can understand hiding things from Vetal but don’t shut me out.” “Please, I can’t—” She pulled away. “Later, I promise.” Vetal had relaxed his stance. “I don’t think she trusts either of us, Despard, but I don’t think Master Vayhne would want to kill her.” Kahyla had already opened the door and progressed quickly through formal greetings, accepting a perfect plum from the fiftyish man in a blue tunic and trousers. Behind Vayhne stood two Blues. One, a blond in his thirties, took note of the armed men in the room. The other, a fresh-faced brown-haired soldier in his twenties, watched the alley. As Kahyla gestured for them to enter, Despard stepped close behind her. He brushed against her Tamrin red skirts, still tucked at her hip. “Is it later yet?” Kahyla took a long breath but didn’t move away. “Master Vayhne, my bodyguard, Master Despard of Bivmiav.” Master Vayhne swept his eyes across the room, taking in Vetal and the other Tamrins peeking out of the back room. “Good day to you, Master Despard,” said Vayhne. “You’ve done an excellent job so far of protecting Gentlemistress Kahyla.” Vayhne stepped into the room and nodded to the younger Blue. “Corporal Niklos will be in charge of her security now.” Kahyla tried to step back, but bumped into Despard.
November 15, 2025 at 6:40 PM
tempestteapot.bsky.social
#WIPSnips #WritingCommunity #amquerying #writesky #epicfantasy 💙📚 🪐📚

A Demon’s Bargain where all the options are bad: fight with soul-destroying magic or lose her family, her beloved, and her life.

Demon-hunter Zorrik hears Kahyla’s confession before her Mage’s Ordeal.
Her breath shuddered as she struggled to hold onto her dignity. Not even the chance to say goodbye, his white bloodless face lost in the flames. “You’ve been here three days. Your ordeal will begin after I decide your confession is complete,” said Zorrik. “Baron Gooseport pushed for your ordeal as soon as possible. He’s convinced that any magic you’ve done would be trivial enough for a single blood draw.” She had an hour, maybe less. She could try to drag out her confession, but no doubt Zorrik had dealt with prisoners desperate to delay. Three days: the Baron’s Moot would be two days from now. But Tauno was far too confident in her innocence. He had cost her weeks of life. She would join [redacted] soon. “How much magic have you used, Kahyla?” Zorrik asked softly.
November 14, 2025 at 2:18 PM
tempestteapot.bsky.social
#WIPSnips #WritingCommunity #amquerying #writesky #epicfantasy 💙📚 🪐📚

A Demon’s Bargain where all the options are bad: fight with soul-destroying magic or lose her family, her beloved, and her life.

The Mage's Ordeal continues with blood draws until the haven’s light goes dark.
Kahyla decides. For a while, she had. Despite the demon’s bargain of bad options, she had decided. If she held on until the saint declared her purified, what kind of life could her decisions build? “Relax your arm, Kahyla,” said Zorrik after checking the level in the cup. Kahyla splayed her fingers. Her stomach flopped as he withdrew the spile from her arm. After pressing a wad of linen on the cut, he deftly wrapped a strip around her arm. He returned to the altar with the cup of her blood. The first draw done. Could she survive two or even three more? Zorrik slid the ring from the bag and held it above his head at the altar. Light from the ruby brightened the rounded walls. No, best not to hope. The haven was a long way from dark.
November 13, 2025 at 1:58 PM
tempestteapot.bsky.social
📚 🪐 💙
From DEMON’S BARGAIN where all the options are bad: fight with soul-destroying magic or lose her family, her beloved, and her life.

Chapter 7: Minstrel’s Dance, p. 69

Quill suspended over the parchment, Bizal allowed a ripple of disgust to mar his face at the mention of minstrels.
shadowsparkpub.bsky.social Shadow Spark Publishing @shadowsparkpub.bsky.social · 13d
It's Hump Day, folks, and our friend demands a sacrifice. Let's get a page from your wip. Maybe it's the middle for you? Give us a line from PAGE 69?

If you haven’t gotten to that page, how about a post from page 6 instead?

#booksky #writesky 📚 🪐 💙
Wednesday Hump Day Two humped camel judging you
November 12, 2025 at 6:24 PM
tempestteapot.bsky.social
#WIPSnips #WritingCommunity #amquerying #writesky
💙📚 🪐📚

From a short story “A Brief Stop on the Way to Sheol.” Specialist Coric Pullman didn't like being legally dead so he bought the ID of a dead guardswoman. A Sci-Fi murder mystery with a Jewish thread.
The ubiquitous gray metal walls enclosed the small apartment in the Officers Quarters. A brightly colored rug-hanging with two triangles making a star appeared to be the only decoration in her private domain. Standard issue blankets covered the bed. A peek in the closet revealed a supply of uniform pieces: gray trousers, black jackets and red shirts. The boots were incredibly small and polished clean. Coric firmly avoided rummaging in the underwear drawers. Curious, he fingered the delicate cascade of fringes on a white square of fabric folded neatly on the top shelf. I wonder what she was like. A fellow recruit, with her own reasons for joining the Guard. Assigned to this ice hole, probably as a reprimand. Or too good of a Weather Specialist to be running the circuit with the rest of the Colony Guard. Dr. Rosolvic mentioned something about nixing the harvest, so she must've worked at one of the Tuapsian Weather Towers.
November 12, 2025 at 1:50 PM
tempestteapot.bsky.social
#WIPSnips #WritingCommunity #amquerying #writesky #epicfantasy 💙📚 🪐📚

A Demon’s Bargain where all the options are bad: fight with soul-destroying magic or lose her family, her beloved, and her life. Despard leaves his guard post to rescue someone drowning in the river.
Cursing his stupidity for getting involved, Despard swam closer and tried to grab the drowner. Backing away when the figure clawed at his arms, he re-aligned behind them. He tried again, holding out his arms to sandwich them into a horizontal float. Bumping against an unexpectedly soft chest, he got bashed with an elbow and let go. She dropped lower. A surge of water pressure against his legs signaled her location within the center channel. He spat out river water, tasting rotten pennywort and mud. How much longer could she last? Dredged for cargo boats, the river here was deep but slow. Even late in the season, disturbed mud clouded the water, making it impossible for him to find her if she didn't surface. Would she bump against a canal skiff or wash up on a sandbar with the kelp, drowned like his cousin? When the search party pulled the lost fool from the reeds, his face was gray and swollen. A ghostly swipe skittered across his shin. With a deep breath, he dove under, followed the touch and shoved hard to swing her onto her back. Scissor-kicking and pushing with his head, he forced her up before sliding out from under her. He yanked her soggy hair covering and he managed to bring her into a back float position. One arm firmly under her chin to keep her mouth above water, Despard swept back with the other arm toward the raft and shore. His passenger choked on the occasional dunking but didn't resist his rescue efforts.
November 11, 2025 at 2:08 PM
tempestteapot.bsky.social
#WIPSnips #WritingCommunity #amquerying #writesky #epicfantasy 💙📚 🪐📚

A Demon’s Bargain where all the options are bad. Kahyla hopes to negotiate for the release of her sister, with Despard playing the role of Bizal's stupid and obedient caravan guard.
“Bizal won’t thank you for keeping me waiting,” she said. “The Ferruthan minstrel is harmless.” The horseman smiled weakly and gestured for them to follow him into the tavern. An eerily quiet front room greeted them. Doors opened to the kitchen and stables, as well as stairs to private bedchambers. No locals drank or chatted, suggesting that Bizal had paid for the entire enterprise. The horseman led them past rows of scrubbed trestle tables to a door, flanked by guards. The unlucky Tarvel, who had failed to stop Kahyla’s escape, shuffled uncomfortably. No doubt he remembered how she had embarrassed him. Tarvel turned and knocked, waiting for an answer before he opened the door. Hiding the trembling in her hands, Kahyla pressed against Despard’s back to urge him ahead of her. It was a close small room, sided with cheap local pine. Bizal rose from a table strewn with lunch remains. A half dozen soldiers came alert behind him, including Vetal, the guard Kahyla had taunted to shoot her. “May Parkith bless our meeting with friendship, Gentlemistress Kahyla,” crooned Bizal, approaching with hands extended. Her nerve failing, she ducked behind Despard. Bizal scowled and stepped around Despard, who drew an inch of sword. “What do you think you’re doing, Despard?” Bizal asked. “I’m contracted to protect your caravan. She’s part of your caravan,” Despard said, frozen in mid-draw. “Stupid merc, you need to learn how to follow orders correctly,” Bizal snarled. “A sell-sword like you doesn’t get to keep the girl and his fee.” Despard tipped his head. “I chose the girl.” Vetal and another soldier bracketed Bizal with hands on pommels. Kahyla shoved herself between Despard and Bizal. “May Parkith temper your days with virtue, Archduke Bizal.” Bizal stared at her, as though remembering the purpose of their meeting. He gave a curt nod and the soldiers backed up.
November 10, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Reposted by Carla Hennes ❌ 👑 🐸
curioussnowflake.bsky.social
#WIPSnips for 11/8: picture

One of the signs a person is a potential Weaver is the ability to understand the language the Opacaroi call Housetongue. Here, Tim gets to hear it for the first time.

Side note, I think “Taruch vo ma ne’anta ye” would be great on a merch shirt.

#WriteSky
Why do you care?" Like Vee, Tim’s tone was frankly curious. She stared at him, seeming to be gathering her courage or something similar. Then she leaned in closer, and said in a half-whisper: “Taruch vo ma ne’anta ye.” At least that’s what Tim’s ears heard. But what his mind heard was a different story. “Because you can understand me.” “What the… you… I just…" Tim stammered. “Shh,” said Vee, and she put a finger to his lips to shush him. “Ka taruch vo ma oholo nes ye tan feich," she whispered. But again, Tim’s mind heard perfect English. “And because you can feel it when I do this." Goosebumps ran up Tim’s arms, and the lights flickered. “That was weird,” said Mrs Gibson. “In any case, it is now 3:30, your quiet hour begins now.” Vee immediately sat up, hands folded in front of her, the very picture of studiousness if one ignored the impish grin on her face. Tim, on the other hand, remained where he was, turned sideways and leaning in towards her. The expression on his face was similar to someone who has just been hit in the head with a bat, but hasn’t felt the pain yet. What the hell just happened? Was he going nuts? Was Vee messing with him? What in the name of… “Mr. Hansen!”
November 10, 2025 at 2:45 AM
tempestteapot.bsky.social
#WIPSnips #WritingCommunity #amquerying #writesky #epicfantasy 💙📚 🪐📚

A Demon’s Bargain: fight with soul-destroying magic or lose her family, her beloved, and her life.

Opposites thrown together: a gentry refugee pulled from the river by a rough sell-sword with a poet’s heart.
His smooth cheek passed close as he reclaimed his small throwing knife. A mineral scent of polish intermingled with the fish odor. Kahyla wondered how his cheek would feel; most Huxen men wore their beards long out of respect for Parkith. One knee bent to reach the dagger, Despard knelt like a Huxen courtier. Could she picture him as a visiting nobleman and not a dangerous heathen? He wiped his blade on his black trouser leg. His unmarked sword rested in its scabbard, extending from his hip to the floor. Not a courtier, not a liege-sworn soldier, but a mercenary. “Despard, why are you here?” she asked, offering him a hand up. His calloused hand felt rough but warm. “I don’t quite know myself,” he said, resetting the position of his sword. “Instead of scrounging for work after dredging up my sword, I thought about what you said. About honor and generosity. About standing up for your traditions.” “I thought my dream was to earn my place on a privateer’s crew, come home with gold and treasures,” he said, staring off to some imagined future. He chuckled at Tebfin playing with the fish. “I figured you wouldn’t have a scrap to eat.” Despard dug into a rucksack on his back and tossed out a melon-sized wine skin with a gurgle. Two round country loaves and a few apples followed. “I could stay for dinner and hear more of your stories.”
November 9, 2025 at 6:30 PM
tempestteapot.bsky.social
#WIPSnips #WritingCommunity #amquerying #writesky
💙📚 🪐📚

Ghost story vibes & feminist journey, “Haint Blue” in VOICES LIKE THESE from @story-forge.bsky.social When you work in a haunted house, the fake monsters are your family and real props open dimensional windows.

Buy indie at bit.ly/4mLwQSw
“Dadddeeeeeeee!” Cassie spun. The whining device no longer showed a copy. Peering into a parallel world, the device worked, but the fire still raged in that alternate timeline. Curled in a ball under the dryer vent hoses, the image of a little boy shimmered and flickered. She stepped closer. “Can you hear me?” The boy’s tear-streaked face popped up. Dear God, he looked like Todd. Baby-fat rounded his face, but there was no mistaking the stormy-blue eyes. “Get away from the fire,” Cassie yelled.
November 8, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Reposted by Carla Hennes ❌ 👑 🐸
fantasyfaction.bsky.social
Today's review:

A sharp, magic-tinged fantasy with a strong opening, a welcome lack of romance, and a prickly protagonist you can’t help but root for.

fantasy-faction.com/2025/anji-ki...

💙📚🪐 #FantasyFaction #SFFbookRecommenfation
Anji Kills a King by Evan Leikam
November 7, 2025 at 10:17 PM
tempestteapot.bsky.social
#WIPSnips #WritingCommunity #amquerying #writesky #epicfantasy 💙📚 🪐📚

In the WIP sequel to Demon’s Bargain, Waking the Saints, Eis-Queen Lualih grants a foreign ambassador an informal audience.
“I grant you one minute of my time,” Lualih said. “If you can keep up.” “Your saints blessed you with generosity, m’am.” Quimmik tried to join her side, but her Blue, Master Ragin, moved between them. “Only a minute,” muttered Quimmik, catching up. “I seek a bride for Chief Bear in exchange for an alliance with our tribe.” “Splendid! I trust you will secure the border on your way out of Huxen territory.” “We are also concerned about the Cat tribe’s movements on your border, but the Bear cannot fight them alone, not within the terms of our treaty.” “Your Northman tribes fight each other all the time. Let both sides weaken before they turn again to Huxen.”
November 7, 2025 at 1:29 PM
Reposted by Carla Hennes ❌ 👑 🐸
aanpress.bsky.social
Excellent thread. I would add one thing I do, a sign for each stack of books stating in brief what the anthology is about and the price.
tychebooks.bsky.social Tyche Books 🇨🇦 @tychebooks.bsky.social · 19d
Saw a thread on table displays the other day, & while I did reply to that directly, I thought it would be fun to do a thread on it, too. Learn from my mistakes!

(photo is from WWC 2025, photo credit: David Kotsibie / Persuasion Photo and Janis Isaman / Photos of People)
1/7
Publisher with long brown hair standing behind the book table, laughing. She is surrounded by books at different heights on various types of shelving. Photo credit: David Kotsibie / Persuasion Photo and Janis Isaman / Photos of People
November 7, 2025 at 2:33 AM
Reposted by Carla Hennes ❌ 👑 🐸
raccoonmoose.bsky.social
The best help I can ask for is more patreons. Right now I’m receiving about $450/mo from Patreon. This supplements the income I get from working at Taco Bell, about $1200/mo. More Patreon = less Taco Bell, more writing, more road trips, more life on my terms

www.patreon.com/sarahwonderw...
Get more from Sarah Moose on Patreon
creating documentation of life during COVID and societal collaps
www.patreon.com
March 17, 2025 at 7:43 PM