Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Walker Harris

@walkerharris.net

1.4K followers 820 following 3.8K posts

He/him. Aspiring author still leveling up his skills. Anti-AI, Pro-LGBTQIA+. Pen name. Current WIP is Felcrown, fantasy adventure about a megadungeon that becomes a city. Avatar by @ruiiplume.bsky.social

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

Walker Harris @walkerharris.net · Nov 6

Take care of yourself.
Take care of your loved ones.
Take care of the vulnerable and in need.

We need to work together to get us all to the other side of this because there will be an other side of this someday.

7 50

Walker Harris @walkerharris.net · 4h

Funny you should mention that, other than the introduction, that was the only instance in finished text that I had! 🤣

It appears plenty in my notes and some unfinished "get the thought down" text, but you're right, people don't generally talk about it being a dungeon. It took an outsider to say it!

Walker Harris @walkerharris.net · 6h

Thank you! I really appreciate that. 🥰

I was hoping to show that. The confines of a screen and distance can sometimes be freeing and help people make a connection they struggle to make in person.

1 1

Walker Harris @walkerharris.net · 9h

Definitely! 🤣

I can see Pyntal's mothers asking, "Maybe if we paint the ceiling of our stone hovel sky blue with little clouds, would that help?" 😅

Walker Harris @walkerharris.net · 9h

LOL! So true!

Walker Harris @walkerharris.net · 9h

#Kinktober Day 8: Webcam

Jumping back in time, here is Katie & Kyle having their first intimate time together over a video call (Katie still struggles with physical contact). They are, of course, sweet & nervous goofs.

Ao3: archiveofourown.org/works/72137716 (4k words)
#PhlQueens #IndieKinktober

Screenshot of a work-in-progress manuscript.

Her eyes close slightly, and her smile becomes wicked. I notice her hand trembles slightly. She's nervous but pushing through it.
"And while I pleasured myself during that photoshoot, I imagined you watching... and enjoying it so much you pleasured yourself... both of us watching each other."
"That sounds very nice." My breath is getting heavier and I lick my lips. I'm really tempted to just lightly rub the outside of my jeans a little. But I doubt I could stop at just a little like that.
I am so turned on and so comfortable around her that I'm losing my inhibitions. Plus she asked me to help her stretch her limits, become more comfortable with increasing intimacy. But I don’t want to push too far, too hard. I hope I won’t regret this but I say it anyway. "Maybe sometime, if you want, you wouldn't have to imagine me watching. All you have to do is ask."
"I am asking now."

1 1 2

Walker Harris @walkerharris.net · 11h

Daryus despises Phraxxiz but he just wants to be friends. He even brought snacks!

They will use their powers to fend off monsters, but fail at fending off their feelings. 🧚‍♂️❤️😈

Plus, I love the image of back in civilization, these two familiars just banging each other invisibly on rooftops. 😅
3/3

Walker Harris @walkerharris.net · 11h

…who has a bow that can enchant, the ability to magically see people's emotions, and can turn invisible. (Yes, I'm going straight #DnD with these guys).

His love interest is a sunshine-personality Imp named Phraxxiz who can also turn invisible as well as shapeshift into a rat, raven, or spider.
2/3

1 1

Walker Harris @walkerharris.net · 11h

#Caulktober Day 7: Is a shapeshifter
Day 8: Has magical powers

Combined these up since busy AND are same ones. In the fantasy romance I'm writing, there are two warlock familiars who are shipwrecked on a monster-filled island and need to escape.

One is a grumpy sprite named Daryus Maplethorn…
1/3

Walker Harris @walkerharris.net · 2d

#Caulktober Day 6: In a poly relationship

Eventually it looks like Kyle/Katie/Rachel will be a poly relationship. Initially I focused on Katie/Rachel side as Friends-to-Lovers, but in the writing, with the Rachel/Kyle aspect a deeper, more trauma-based/spiritual connection surprisingly developed.

Screenshot of a work-in-progress manuscript.

"Now, I do not want to talk about all of… that, ok? But it is like two people who have been through shit and Hell but found their way through. And you just need to live and savor every touch, every happy moment and... and only someone else who has been through that can begin to understand and offer that bond and comfort." I look up at him trying with everything I have to keep the tears in. "A closeness more of souls than hearts?"

1 2

Walker Harris @walkerharris.net · 11h

Pyntal is not pleased about having had to move back to #Felcrown, the megadungeon that became a city. She'll learn to love it, tho - especially a certain friend she meets. 🥰

#WIPSnips

Screenshot of a work-in-progress manuscript with the word 'dungeon' highlighted.

Stepping out into the hallway where her parents waited, she was reminded that a dress wasn’t the only thing keeping her from running. Running anywhere just to feel the wind in her face. Running away. Back to her real home.
“Ugh, there’s even more of them sleeping in the hallway,” she whispered. A family of dragonborn had set up a make shift tent next to a similar one that housed three duergar dwarves. The dragonborn parents and their two small children were playing a dice game of some sort. They seemed happy, but Pyntal had no idea why.
Not only was this massive dungeon of caverns and carved tunnels ridiculously calling itself a ‘city’, but it was a poorly run one at that. Cities didn’t have one room she had to share with her mothers and communal washrooms and cafeterias she shared with hundreds of others. Cities didn’t have families living in hallways.
Cities had streets. Cities had buildings and trees… and sky! There was nothing but stone here, and no area open enough for even a jog.

3 5 27

Walker Harris @walkerharris.net · 12h

But that naturally adversarial side to philosophy holds the field back so much and has unsurprisingly rewarded and elevated some really awful people - especially men.

And then they wonder why it is one of the least diverse academic fields! Huh, I have no idea why that might be. 🤷

Walker Harris @walkerharris.net · 12h

Oof, that's so rough and unnecessary - and I say this as a philosophy grad and part-time professor!

Thankfully my undergrad dept was so tiny they were elated for anyone to major in it. Then I really lucked out with the profs I worked with in my grad program who were much more collaboration focused.

1 1

Walker Harris @walkerharris.net · 12h

After some rough beta feedback last summer, I shelved it but am hoping to unshelf it Dec or Jan and *maybe* start publishing next summer. But we'll see. Definitely looking for beta readers at some point that get the story since at least one really seemed to not be the target audience.

1 2

Walker Harris @walkerharris.net · 12h

Sorry, it's not out yet. It's going to be a weekly serial. I have a rough 4-year plan and this scene is from about halfway. I have much of year 1 written (but it needs *heavy* revising), as well as a bunch of scenes like this from the later years that popped into my head and I wanted to capture.

1 1

Walker Harris @walkerharris.net · 14h

I apologize for falling behind in reading your Kinktober posts (and Cori's, and everyone's!), but I definitely have them queued up for when work eases up starting tomorrow!

1 1

Walker Harris @walkerharris.net · 14h

a man in a suit and tie is wearing glasses and smiling

Alt: Rainn Wilson as Dwight Schrute in the Office. He is crying and says, "Thank you."

media.tenor.com

1 1

Walker Harris @walkerharris.net · 14h

Also, as for being in Rachel's position, when the idea first occurred to me, I had no clue if a receiving both a deep tissue massage and oral sex at the same time would be awesome or distracting but I would absolutely volunteer as tribute to find out! LOL! 🤣

Walker Harris @walkerharris.net · 14h

There's another 1k to the chapter about later that night that gets more into showing the relationship dynamics, especially Kyle/Rachel which is a relationship that I didn't plan but arose organically. I didn't include it since it was well past the kinktober aspect, but I can share if anyone wants.

2 1

Walker Harris @walkerharris.net · 14h

Oh my goodness, thank you!!! That is wonderful to hear especially from someone in a similar relationship! It's an aspect I want to make sure to get right (and might ask about picking your brain when the story gets there).😉

2 1

Walker Harris @walkerharris.net · 1d

I love that for you!!!!!

I still remember walking through there and making a little space where my books would go alphabetically, hoping someday they’d be there.

That’s awesome having it listed there! You did that! You!!!

Reposted by Walker Harris

Zeggy @infernulls.bsky.social · 1d

This is going to sound nerdy, but when I was a teenager, I bought most, if not all, my books from @barnesandnoble.com and I told myself "One day, you'll be here. Somewhere." You have no idea how teared up I am seeing my book on their website.

Edited and reposted: Think I tagged a fake before?

Infernulls The Golden Letter|Paperback

www.barnesandnoble.com

6 10 35

Walker Harris @walkerharris.net · 1d

Thanks! I was really happy with that Picrew!

Hopefully will see about getting some art someday soon of her and the whole gang.

1 3

Walker Harris @walkerharris.net · 1d

Me, too! Her family went above ground and Pyntal lived from age 5 to 21 on the surface and then was yanked back into this bunch of dungeons. She hates it (at first) especially since she's a bit long-limbed for a gnome and loves nothing more than to *run*. But it's so crowded in Felcrown, she can't.

Walker Harris @walkerharris.net · 1d

🥰

That fits and Pyntal feels similar! I have this idea for a silly little drawing I might try of Digs saying to the others, "We need to do this as a team. I believe in you. You can do this!"

And behind her is Pyntal with a sign that says, "If you disappoint her, I will hunt you down and kill you!"

Reposted by Walker Harris

Sage T. Greene, Author @sagetgreene.bsky.social · 1d

Thanks to everyone who liked my cover in the AllAuthor Cover of the Month Contest 🥰

Made it thru round 1, which was my main goal 😅

If u already voted, you're allowed to vote again in round 2! If u don't want to make an account, you can do the anon vote (see 2 at a time and pick ur fav each time)

3 8

Walker Harris @walkerharris.net · 1d

Multi-romance, queer normative. Currently shelved after rough beta feedback until I feel my skill is up for it. But it keeps itching my brain. Hopefully I can get the beginning of Felcrown drafted, edited, & published by the end of the year and feel better about pulling Phl Queens off that shelf.