Several weeks ago in Dark Tidings, I teased a subscriber-only giveaway. As the prize, I commissioned Joe Allgaier to create a one-of-a-kind Raven Queen-themed nightmare catcher for me. (I’ve always thought the term dreamcatcher was a mistranslation or just misnamed—nobody wants them to catch good dreams, just the bad ones. Right?) The inspiration came fromContinue reading “The Raven Queen Nightmare Catcher”
Category Archives: dark fantasy
First Fight Scene ~ Raven Queen, Arise
The story up until this point in Chapter 4: Illyria is sharing a memory with Z’nnek to explain why she must be returned to the sun-kissed lands to right egregious wrongs. The other sexual playthings, men and women, were all adorned with scars and bruises in addition to the chains and phallus brand of theirContinue reading “First Fight Scene ~ Raven Queen, Arise”
Spoiler: The goddess of secrets and lies, frenemy of the Raven Queen
⚠️ Here be spoilers. You have been warned. ⚠️ The story so far Goerranu first appears in Death Descends when she tries to tempt Z’nnek from his quest to rescue Ru’mael’s shade from the demon lords of the underworld. Despite her power as the goddess of secrets and lies, she is unable to enthrall him,Continue reading “Spoiler: The goddess of secrets and lies, frenemy of the Raven Queen”
Spoiler: The bedslave who became the first priestess of the Raven Queen
⚠️ Here be spoilers. You have been warned. ⚠️ The story so far Conseca maern Azzar first appears in Raven Queen, Arise when Saeverra tempts Illyria with salvation from the slaughter planned for the highland clans. Conseca is a bedslave who is being sexually abused by Saeverra’s older brother, Deffaen. Without knowing who Conseca is,Continue reading “Spoiler: The bedslave who became the first priestess of the Raven Queen”
Book Recommendation: Sons to Keep by A.S. Etaski
You think you want the Matriarchy? You can’t handle the Matriarchy. Born a healer into a culture obsessed with power, Irrwaer had few prospects beyond changing bandages and emptying bedpans. Among the matriarchs, sex is power. Sex is magic. Irrwaer knows nothing of either. But she longs to… Etaski delivers a portrait of drow societyContinue reading “Book Recommendation: Sons to Keep by A.S. Etaski”
We are all shapeshifters.
You don’t have to be a writer or storyteller for this to resonate. Let’s discuss how we all shift between archetypes and why it’s important to recognize this aspect of ourselves. Within the context of story, of course. We are all simply the sum total of the stories we tell ourselves. As humans, we tendContinue reading “We are all shapeshifters.”
Barely Controlled Chaos
In writing milestones, I’ve finished the next novella in the Temple of Vengeance series and it’s off to my editrix. Once she’s had her way with it, the ebook will ship to YOU and to my lovely and talented narrator to produce the audio book for those of you who prefer them. Novellas are partContinue reading “Barely Controlled Chaos”
To airt or not to airt: Some thoughts
As someone who has spent thousands and thousands of dollars to commission art surrounding and inspired by my novels, I’m deeply committed to human artists. Caterina Kalymniou, J-P Mavinga, and Epic Made have all produced some amazing commissions for me. Such as my covers (by Caterina) and the Kickstarter art cards by J-P and E-M.Continue reading “To airt or not to airt: Some thoughts”
Next in the ongoing saga… Art reveal!
Last January, I commissioned my friend and super-talented artist, J-P Mavinga, to create a piece of art for the Raven Queen, Arise Kickstarter. The “Thunderbird and the Priestess” was inspired by a sequence of the story that didn’t make it into the final novel—because Illyria isn’t in it at all. However, it will (soon!) beContinue reading “Next in the ongoing saga… Art reveal!”
Women in the Grimdark: Surviving a Cruel World
In a world where might makes right, you’d expect the protagonist to survive if he’s brawny, muscular, and can outfight and out-Machiavelli his opponents. But … what if the protagonist isn’t a brawny beefcake that can cleave anyone in twain with a battle axe or a claymore? What if they’re not in the position toContinue reading “Women in the Grimdark: Surviving a Cruel World”