#2023 Spotlights

[ginaraemitchell]

Outsider: Making Sense of My Journey as a Survivor by Monica Buchanan | Spotlight ~ $10 Gift Card #Memoir #Excerpt @GoddessFish @TheDrBuchanan

Outsider: Making Sense of My Journey as a Survivor by Monica Buchanan | Spotlight ~ $10 Gift Card #Memoir #Excerpt @GoddessFish @TheDrBuchanan Monica Buchanan grew up in Jamaica. She revisits her lived experiences of abuse and neglect in early childhood and her younger adult years. Buchanan takes the reader on a palatable path that allows for reflection on one's own life. She writes about her survival journey, while looking through descriptive lens, she carefully details how exposure to early childhood abuse and neglect within her family helped form patterns, influenced choices, and shaped decisions in her adulthood. @dr_monicab @drmonicabuchanan

Outsider: Making Sense of My Journey as a Survivor by Monica Buchanan | Spotlight ~ $10 Gift Card #Memoir #Excerpt @GoddessFish @TheDrBuchanan A book blog tour from Goddess Fish Promotions. Thank you to the author, publisher, and Marianne & Judy at Goddess Fish for providing me with the information for this tour. Book Details   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Excerpt from Outsider: Making Sense of My…

[vocaju]

obsessed with raph casually putting donnie aside

[art]

Creator Spotlight: GDBee Art (@prinnay)

Geneva Bowers is inspired by the wonders of the natural world around us, and enjoys manipulating colors to create art full of mood and feelings.

Check out our interview with Geneva below!

How did you get started with art? Did you originally have a background in art?

I’m going to say yes because that’s all I’ve known how to do. It started because I wanted to draw better horses than my sister, and it just spiraled from there. People started asking me to draw things because they saw me drawing horses. I was like, well, I can draw things that aren’t horses, and then it was just kind of all I did. 

Have you ever had an art block? If so, how did you overcome it?

I have one right now! Honestly, with time, and I also collect art books; I think I have a couple hundred. If I really want to draw something, then I just flip through those and try to steal some ideas.

Which three famous artists (dead or alive) would you invite to your dinner party?

I mean, of course Van Gogh…I’m really inspired by Impressionism and Post-Impressionism, so I would invite Van Gogh, Monet, and Julie Dillon to a dinner party.

Have you ever wanted to dive into another medium before?

Yeah, actually, I currently am! I’m trying to do more traditional painting. I used to do a lot of acrylics, but I haven’t done it in years, and now I’m kind of bad at it. I’m trying to get into actual impressionistic art with oils and oil pastels. I’m like failing, but you know, you get there. Just fail until it looks presentable. 

If there is one thing you want your audience to remember about your work, what would it be?

I guess it’s more of a feeling. I create art because I’m inspired by things around me, like certain video games. For example, I have been inspired by a Japanese RPG called Chrono Cross on PlayStation 1. They make me feel a certain type of inspiration to create something, so that’s kind of like what I’m hoping to leave behind. 

Have any of your projects surprised you with their outcome?

Yeah! I did this Weapon Faerie series where I took three prompts: a weapon, a winged insect, and an herb, which I combined to make different characters. So, a faerie with a spiked club or a butterfly faerie with a katana. I made 13 of those, and they kind of took off! I wasn’t expecting that at all.

What is the hardest part of your process?

My whole art style is coloring, like the way it’s colored… but I hate the coloring process, haha. I like doing the color combos, but I don’t like the blending and shading. That takes like one-trillion years. It’s the part where I’m most likely to give up. You know how art kind of looks ugly before it looks good? I’m trying to trust that process. 

What do you wish you knew when you started creating art that you know now?

I guess one big thing would be knowing how to use lights and darks. When I do color, it is definitely colorful, but when you switch it to black and white, you see that everything’s the same tone of gray. I’ve learned that if you just use some brighter colors and some darker shades, you create a bigger impact in the end. So, now, when I paint something digital, I make it black and white for a moment to see where all the hues are, and if something is weirdly dark or not dark enough, I can change it.

Who on Tumblr inspires you and why?

Oh, @feefal definitely inspires me. She does a lot of spooky art.

[kugisakiss]

watched m26 hehe, sorry for the word vomit

if anyone was wondering how i was counting how many movies they appeared in, i made a little timeline when i was trying to figure it out for myself ↓

all dcmk movies are released on golden week which is in april. shout out to the detectiveconanworld wiki i couldn't have done it without you x

the real enemy is conan because he's got a perfect 100% movie spotlight

[jascurka]

The chessboard landscape ai image is haunting me. stop sharing it please and redirect your attention to actual artists.

Here are some works by Jacek Yerka, a traditional painter and a big inspiration for me since I first discovered his paintings.

Sourced from Yerkaland official page of Jacek Yerka and Polish Masters of Art

Edit: I accidentally included one work by a different artist!

The last painting, Krynica was made by Jacek Szynkarczuk

[gravelsong]

I LOVE this scene so badly because I completely get it. Cliff hasn't stopped feeling guilty for a second over not killing Starscream when he had the chance, and he so badly wants him and Carly to keep being friends (you can TELL he cares about her so much), but Carly's trying so hard to avoid him, to avoid speaking to him, because she just can't understand why he didn't kill Starscream. She lost her father to him, Cliff lost Bumblebee and his clan to him, she just doesn't understand why he didn't take the shot, and because he can't do something that seems so crystal clear to her, she doesn't trust him anymore. And Cliff didn't take the shot because he was suffering, because the weight of everything was crushing him and he didn't want to continue a cycle of violence. The way you don't even clearly see his face in the last couple of panels, he's hurting over this whole thing.

[royalarchivist]

Jaiden: Cucurucho, you have a lot of power, right?

Cucurucho: ...I don't know. Maybe.

Roier: Ah... Yes, you know, don't act like a dumbass, you have it. You have it, man. Eh?

Jaiden: Is there a way for us to protect all the Eggs? Do you know? I don't want anything to happen to the Eggs that happened to Bobby.

Cucurucho: Ha ha ha

Roier: WHAT? [Smacks Cucurucho]

Jaiden: [Bops him] Headpats.

Cucurucho: Maybe.

Jaiden: [Continues to bop him] Headpats. C'mon, I can get it out of you! Headpats! Chin scratches! Belly rubs!

Roier: [Joins Jaiden in bopping Cucurucho, chuckling and laughs]

Jaiden: Yeah? He's comin' around!

[Jaiden and Roier both laugh]

[gazkamurocho]

“The year is 1988. The young Goro Majima is a prisoner in Sotenbori and is forcefully working as the manager at the biggest and most successful cabaret in the city: The Grand.

During his captivity he discovers a way to momentarily forget his predicament. By freeing himself as ‘The Queen of The Night’, Goromi. 

Together with his new-found love, Kazuma Kiryu, the two of them have fun and enjoy each other’s company as much as they can because their time together is limited and it’s almost coming to an end.

Kiryu will make sure to give Goromi and Majima a night they will never forget.”

--

It's finally here! The first look on the opening sequence of 80s Goromi doujinshi ❤ (title still in the works~)

More info about this project under the cut!

--

Different from my usual comic strips, this is a long doujinshi and the total page count will be something around 40~50 pages. Besides Kiryu and Majima, we will also have characters like Sagawa, Yuki-chan, Youda and the Sunshine Club girls making an appearance. The plot, script and scenes are all ready and I’m storyboarding and drawing the pages as I progress through the script!

This is also a R-18 adult doujinshi. There’s a lot of fluff, angst and fun interaction with the other characters but a good chunk (mostly half) of the comic will be dedicated to hentai (so rejoice you horny ones fdsjkfhdj). (For those who are curious about the spicy parts, it’s my established 80s Goromi and Y0 Kiryu’s dynamic: Goromi is the top and dominant one and, as a good and obedient boy, Kiryu will obey all of her orders and will do anything to please his queen. 👀 So basically, Goromi will destroy Kiryu dhsfksd) 

I’ll be sharing the first 4 pages and then some random ones to the public, but after those, all new pages will be exclusive to my patrons on Patreon! I’m gradually posting over there WIPs, behind-the-scenes and new pages as I make them. I’ll always let you guys know on my social media when I post a new finished page on my Patreon!

I expect half a year or a year for the whole doujinshi to be finished. But the more support I have on Patreon, the faster I can make this doujinshi!

Once finished, I’ll make the complete doujinshi available for purchase in one of my online shops! Yes, this will be a paid comic. I’m pouring all my love for Kazumaji and 80s Goromi in this doujinshi but it also takes a lot of time and dedication to give life to this project so I hope you guys understand that decision. ❤ Of course, all the patrons who support the comic on Patreon will have the whole doujinshi available to them from the get-go.

It will first be available as a digital PDF but I’m also planning to release it in physical format down the road.

Making long comics has always been my true passion, ever since I was a little kid. And I also have other long adult doujinshi planned. If everything goes smoothly, this comic will be the first one of a series of Kazumaji doujinshis! ^^

[kizukizine2023]

CONTRIBUTOR SPOTLIGHT

Our sixteenth artist and cover artist is @reineydraws! Their piece in the zine will be featuring Akaza!

[userm4x]

18/11/23, Las Vegas - Max Verstappen stands on the podium after winning the 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix

📸 by Chris Graythen (edited)

[thowawayuntilfurthernotice]

Frida is flawless and you will not be able to convince me otherwise.

[ginaraemitchell]

Starlight Bender (Starlight Bender Archives #1) by Sofia Nedic | Spotlight ~ Excerpt ~ Gift Card | #Fantasy @GoddessFish @starlight_bender

"Starlight Bender" by Sofia Nedic is a work of fantasy fiction that introduces us to the enchanting world of Imani Stone, a young woman harboring a remarkable secret—the power to bend starlight. Set against the backdrop of the magical hills and ancient city of Lumenor, Imani's life is steeped in star-gazing, potion-making, and tarot-reading. As civil war rages, the city teeters on the brink of destruction, Imani's journey unfolds, and the novel promises a rich blend of magic, friendship, adventure, political intrigue, romance, and diverse characters. With a sequel, "Midnight Rider," on the horizon, readers can look forward to another thrilling chapter in Imani's enchanting adventure. #Fantasy @GoddessFish @starlight_bender

Starlight Bender (Starlight Bender Archives #1) by Sofia Nedic | Spotlight ~ Excerpt ~ Gift Card | #Fantasy @GoddessFish @starlight_bender A book blog tour from Goddess Fish Promotions. Thank you to the author, publisher, and Marianne & Judy at Goddess Fish for providing me with the information for this tour. Book Details “Starlight Bender” by Sofia Nedic is a work of fantasy fiction that…

[meeowna]

the girlfail

day 4 - costume

[figureskatingpenguin]

Zhu Yi (CHN): The Sound of Snow Falling | 2023 Cup of China

[thebedroomblues]

DUBLIN NIGHT TWO (october 17th, 2023) RECAP:

-Miles looking up and pointing at the mirrorball while singing the lines "I stare up to the moon, and my lonely heart goes boom boom boom once again" during “One Man Band”.

-Alex reaching out for and smiling at a turtle plushie somebody threw on stage before they started playing “Arabella”.

-Alex saying: “Let’s hear it for Miles Kane! Wonderful.” before playing “Fluorescent Adolescent”

-Alex adding: “Do you remember? I remember…” while pointing at Miles at the end of “Fluorescent Adolescent” after the lights went out.

-Miles watching “505” from the side of the stage with Alex repeatedly turning to his right side.

-Alex singing “I Wanna Be Yours” turned to his right for the entirety of the song while walking to the corner of the stage. (After adding the line “I DON’T WANNA BE HERS, I WANNA BE YOURS” while the lights were out, the night before, in Belfast.)

-Alex pointing at Miles and then at himself while singing the line “I found out the hard way that here ain’t no place for dolls like you and me” and singing the rest of the verse directly at that side.

[wangxianficrecs]

Rewind 2023 - Proud Author Spotlight

WangxianFicRecs - Rewind 2023

Here are some recommendations from 2023 sent in by our fandom's authors themselves. Make sure to give them much love. PS: Authors, don't be shy! Submit more Proud Author Spotlights!

~*~

I published my first MDZS fic this year.

It's a 60k time travel fix-it fic from the POV of several outsider characters who are all witnesses to Wei Wuxian's change in behaviour and the events following that change.

I tried really hard to stick to canon (novel-only) characterization and I'm really proud of what I wrote so don't hesitate to give it a try (it's complete too!) :D

We'll Build A Dynasty (one the heavens can't shake)

by One_eyed_God (@oneeyedoctogod)

T, 66k, Wangxian

Summary: Wei Wuxian is well-known as a trouble-maker, someone who likes jokes and chaos. He promptly proves this by disappearing without a trace from the Cloud Recesses, in the middle of the Lectures. But when war is on the horizon and tensions boil over, can his actions really be summarized as a simple prank? Or, the unbelievable story of Wei Wuxian, time traveller, told from everyone's point of view but his.

~*~

Hi there! I don’t know if anyone remembers, but I posted my first ever fic on Ao3 this year!

Jailbreaking

by CullenBlue (@cullen-blue23)

T, 21k, NHS & WN

Summary: During the Wen indoctrination, we see everyone escape during the fight with Xuanwu… except Huaisang, who had fainted earlier. So, in short… how TF did he escape?? The story of how Nie Huaisang broke out of Qishan, and the events that happened afterwards

~*~

Mod Kay himself here :D I published a fic this year where novel canon Lan Wangji transmigrates into the CQL-verse and saves post-canon Wei Wuxian, who struggles to keep himself alive during his lonely travels. It goes hard on the It Gets Worse Before It Gets Better, but I promise there's a happy ending.

the roots

by thelastdboy (@thelastdboyy)

E, 30k, Wangxian

Summary: In one universe, Wei Wuxian had been left by the side of the road while Lan Wangji had become the Chief Cultivator. He found himself alone again, discarded and heartbroken. He also found himself to be a target again, as people started hunting the Yiling Laozu once more. He was all alone and just so fucking tired that he couldn't even bring himself to fight back. Some part of him yearned to return to the peaceful oblivion that had been death. In another universe, Lan Wangji's world fell apart in a single day. He was forced to bury not only his son, but his husband as well. Sizhui's Wen heritage had been discovered and Wei Wuxian's past had once again inspired animosity. While Sizhui would hopefully find peace at least, Wei Wuxian's soul had been destroyed and Lan Wangji would rather destroy his own soul than never be re-united with Wei Wuxian again. However, his late husband had left him one last gift: a path into a different universe. Or: MDZS!Lan Wangji transmigrates into the CQL-verse just in time to save post-canon CQL!Wei Wuxian. Together, they grieve and eventually, they find a home for themselves.

~*~

(Please REBLOG as a signal boost for these hard-working authors if you like – or think others might like – these stories.)