#Arista Holmes

[author-a-holmes]

The Indie Ink Awards Are OPEN FOR VOTING!!

The voting period runs until the end of December, so head on over to the Indie Story Geek website and cast your votes!

This is also a great way to find indie books you may not have read yet. I know I've definitely got a few new books I want to read in 2024 from the list of nominations!

In case you need a reminder, you guys nominated Changeling for four categories! (Thank you so much!) Those categories are;

Best book cover and cover artist

Best Friendship

Prettiest Book Interior

Side Character MVP

As a nominated author I’m unable to vote, but there’s some truly phenomenal books from my fellow indies throughout ALL the categories, so be sure to browse and maybe add some more books to your TBR piles!!

Check out all the nominations, and cast your votes, over on the Indie Story Geek website; https://indiestorygeek.com/a/indie-ink-awards-2023

[author-a-holmes]

My Icon is actually the author logo I had made for my branding package from Getcovers

When I was ordering the branding package, I mentioned that my pen name, Arista, was an old name for "Spica" the brightest star in the virgo constellation. And the designer spotted that little throwaway comment, and ran with it!

So my logo is a star in the colours of my author branding. I use this logo basically everywhere I have an author account, for brand consistency.

hello I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately. The anonymity of tumblr means that I associate my idea/image of you with your icon and sometimes I look at people’s icons and I’m like ‘hmmm….what is that and why?’ 

so pls reblog this and comment in the tags the meaning behind your icon and why you chose it. this is a social experiment. do it for science pls.

[myvinylplaylist]

Santana: Smooth Single (1999)

Arista Records

[lacloverkingdom]

Perfect Teamwork [Sirius Star and Arista Holme]

Sirius [Clover] -

Sirius stores his magic in the stars because his magical reserves are relatively small. Even basic spells is tiring. In order to combat this he's developed a way to store all his magic into the stars so he doesn't have to cast spells.

Arista [Ally] -

Arista does the opposite; she has great magic reserves, but as she needs to portion it, she uses a crystal necklace so spells take less effort.

[ettawritesnstudies]

[Image ID: The cover of Changeling by Arista Holmes on a dark blue background with gold borders. White text at the top reads "On sale for $1.99!" The cover is a textured blue background with gold root filigree and a tree design. It is the first in the Fey touched trilogy and has the tagline "Fey go missing in the mortal realm. Everyone knows that." End image ID.]

Check out this book by @author-a-holmes! We had a lovely interview which I'll be posting on Friday but in the meantime you can grab you copy on Smashwords through August 30th! Use the code E5Y9M at checkout. Thank you Arista for sharing this sale!

[author-a-holmes]

This has such strong Lizzy & Booker vibes, I cannot even.

These two don't have a braincell to rub together between them, and I'm living for it :D

They also love giving each other shit about things.

Changeling snippet beneath the cut... (Disclaimer: All my snippets are taken from my first drafts, so spelling and grammar errors may be present. To view my fully edited work, I'm afraid you'll have to purchase Changeling from your preferred store)

Lizzy hesitated, glancing around as she tried to find something vaguely familiar, but each direction looked the same. Rows of buildings stretched out into the night, further than she could see, their doors sealed and the windows dark in the middle of the night and Lizzy felt her fingers tighten on the strap of her bag, as a wave of doubt crashed over her. "You have no idea which way to go, do you?" Booker groaned, and the threat of his imminent teasing banished her hesitation. Booker wouldn't let her live it doubt if she admitted to being lost, so she did the first thing she could think of. She lied. "Of course I do," she answered quickly, clearing her throat and pointing towards the nearest row of or orange lights, "it's this way." Without looking at Booker to see if he'd bought her bravado, Lizzy started off across the green, hoping that they would stumble over something she actually recognised before he called her on her bluff. "And what makes you so sure?" he asked, scattering her hopes to the winds, even as he fell into step beside her. Lizzy forced herself to roll her eyes like the answer was obvious, and that she wasn't making everything up on the spot. "There are lights," she told him, "and where there are lights, there are people. If there are people, Booker, then there's going to be an inn—" "A hotel." "—a hotel, and then we can stay there for the night, and figure out where to go next in the morning." "What what money, Lizzy?" Booker prompted, and she shot him a glare. "I have gems to trade, of course. I'm not a complete idiot." "Did you fail the class on the Mortal Realm, by any chance?" "Why?" she asked sharply, coming to an abrupt stop, her suspicion rising at the amusement she could hear in Booker's voice, and when she turned to face him, his green eyes were almost glimmering with barely restrained laughter. "Because humans don't work in trade anymore. Unless we can find some kind of jewellers to sell them to tomorrow, those gems of yours are worthless here." Lizzy stared at Booker for a long moment, disbelief battling with despair in her chest, before her shoulders slumped and her eyes slid closed.

[author-a-holmes]

∞ 👀

Thank you for the ask! <3

The original ASK post can be found HERE

Rules; Put an "∞" in my inbox, and I'll shuffle my music player, and give you my favourite lyric from the song that comes up.

"Here's the night, where's the stars? 'Cause I need some guiding. And it cuts like a knife as I watch you walk away."

Cher - Alive Again

[writeblrcafe]

Digital interview with Arista Holmes @author-a-holmes

Arista Holmes comes into Writeblrcafé and orders a coffee. With a hot mug of coffee in hand, they sit down on a bench. We start talking about their writing journey. They are currently writing a book and sometimes flash fiction in their favourite genres fantasy and fiction.

What got you into writing?

Honestly, I don't truly know. I've been telling stories since my earliest memories, so around the age of 2, where I'd pull out old second hand toys and use them as characters. The first time I remember actually writing down one of my stories, I was about 7 or 8, and wrote a story for class called "Rosie the Rabbit Goes On An Adventure".

What inspires you to write?

I get my inspiration from all over the place. Observing the world. An interesting character trait. Overheard snippets of conversation. But what usually starts an idea is something that makes me wonder: "What if... XYZ happened?"

Which are recurring themes in your writing?

Slow burn romance, found family, and protagonists getting into more trouble than they know how to handle alone!

How would you describe your writing style?

Oooh, that's a tough one. I know how I hope my style comes across; clear, fun, whimsical, realistic. But whether I successfully pull that off? I think that's up to the readers to decide.

How do you deal with writer's block?

Depends on the source of the block. The first thing I usually try is stepping away from the manuscript for a couple of days in case it's the start of burn out. If I recover quickly, that's usually what it was, and I can get back to work. If I'm still feeling blocked a couple of days later, that tells me there's something wrong with the manuscript. I've gone wrong somewhere, and need to tweak something. I'll usually read back over the current chapter, or if I'm near the start of the previous chapter, and see if I can spot where I went off the tracks. As a last resort, I'll rewrite the previous chapter from another point of view. More often than not, this trick solves my block, either because it's given me a different perspective on the scene, or because it's just managed to get the words flowing for me again.

Do you have a wip? Tell us about it:

I do! My current work in progress is called 'Darkling' and it's book two of my debut series, The Fey Touched Trilogy. Book one launched last month, and is available at all the major stores e-book stores, and as a paperback and hard cover via Amazon.

Have you already published your writing?

Changeling (book 1 of the Fey touched trilogy)

You can tell us more interesting stuff about you here:

I'm an English writer living in the south-east of England. When I'm not cuddling my demon cat, or drinking coffee, I'm usually writing, reading, or playing computer games to relax.

Thank you for the good talk and keep writing!

Get interviewed by Writeblr Café!

Any writer can participate. Just fill in this form by clicking on the link below. Maybe we will host interviews in an audio format if you are more interested in listening to an interview than reading it.

[words-of-the-witches-if]

The development blog for 'Words of the Witches', an 18+ Twine coded Interactive Fiction game by Arista Holmes.

Warning: This project will be slow to update, and no public demo will be available prior to January 2025 as I plan pray hope to enter the game into the 2024 Interactive Fiction Competition.

I may, however, be taking Alpha/Beta testers on at some stage.

The world is full of magic, if one only knows how to see.

All your life you've navigated the supernatural world by pretending that most of it doesn't exist. That you can't see the creatures in the dark, or the ghosts that everyone else walks through blindly.

That changed a little over a year ago when you met Jess, a powerful witch to a local coven, who was able to explain your shared heritage.

Magic.

Slowly Jess, with the help of their coven, has been teaching you how to use your powers and the more you learn, the more you're willing to openly acknowledge the Fae that flicker at the corners of your eye, the Otherkin who give subtle nods to acknowledge your presense, and the ghosts forgotten by the living humans they've left behind.

Everything was going well... until the demons came.

Frantically clawing themselves into existence, teeth gnashing and craving violence, they emerged in force throughout the city through gateways ripped open, like tears in the fabric of reality, pouring magic across the city.

The gateways lit the midnight sky ablaze, dashing streaks of peach, and orange across the gathered stormclouds, and painting dawn colours above the city hours before the sun would rise.

No one was prepared.

Covens across the city went to war.

Witches died by the dozen.

When closing the gateways failed, what remained of the witches of Toding came together in a last ditch effort to stop the demons cascading out into the human world like a plague.

The witches needed time; A way to halt the flow of demons until they could discover a way to banish them all back to the Underealm so they joined their magic, and cast a circle that sealed all magical creatures within the city limits.

And so a stalemate that transformed into a tentative truce fell across the city of Toding that has been reluctantly maintained for the last three months.

But as each day passes it grows ever more fragile.

The demons keep on killing, the witches grow more desperate, and every magical creature confined within the city limits is a powderkeg waiting to explode.

And right in the centre, still new to your magic, is you. A witch unaffiliated with a coven, at least officially, and one of the most powerful witches still alive in a city under the rule of the greater demons.

What you choose to do now, and who you choose to align with, may impact the lives of everyone in Toding; Witches, Demons, Fae, Otherkin, and magic-blind humans alike.

Customizeable MC

Ghostly Roomate & Best Friend.

Four Romance Options /w Player Chosen Genders.

Magical Races!

Choose Your Magical Path! You can learn 3 branches of magic (And possibly a secret 4th branch!)

Current Game Statistics

Wordcount With Code: 9,517

Estimated Word Count Without Code: 8,689

Estimated Word Count Per Playthrough: 2,000

Last Update: April 24th 2023

Brennan/Brenna Keane aka 'Ren

'Ren is a Fae who enjoys exploring the mortal realm. They don't collect true names, like many of their kind, and they sometimes offer their services to witches to help with rituals in exchange for trinkets that others might consider junk items. It was during one such exchange that 'Ren met the MC.

But 'Ren is curious, fun-loving, and flighty, so when the witches bound all magical creatures to the city of Toding, Ren went to ground. They have no love for demons, but they've chafed under the restrictions of the witches spell.

Despite feeling the strain of being chained to the city, that hasn't stopped 'Ren from exploring, watching, and listening as Toding has devolved into a warzone and the things that 'Ren may have overheard could be important.

Or they could be nothing more than unsubstantiated rumors, as valuable as the junk that hangs from chains around the Fae's neck. The value of 'Ren's knowledge is for you to decide, if you can convince them to give up their secrets.

Malekai/Malia Grimoor aka Mal

[text]

Jesse/Jessamine De Membrey aka Jess

[text]

Ashley/Ashleigh Carter aka Ash

Ash is an Otherkin; Specifically a concubus. They work as a bouncer at a local nightclub, and feed second hand from the sexual energy emitted from the dancers and random hookups that occur in and around the club.

They have a carefully cultivated look of "Approach me at your own risk" that helps them in their job, but doesn't do much for their social life, not that Ash particularly minds that.

Ash lives in the flat below the MC and has encountered them in passing, but Ash also does their best to stay out of Witch Business so hasn't interacted with the MC beyond the odd greeting.

[author-a-holmes]

Heya Flower, this is lovely of you! I'll try and keep an eye out for your reviews to reblog them <3

It just so happens I will be publishing my debut novel in March, and although I will be offering free ARC's, since you've specifically requested not to recieve one, I guess I'll fill in the details... :D

Author name: Arista Holmes

Relevant social media: - Website & Newsletter - Tumblr - Instagram - Facebook - Tiktok - Twitter

Book Title: Changeling

Genre: Reverse Portal Fantasy/Contemporary Fantasy

Word count: 111k

Summary:

Fey go missing in the mortal realm. Everyone knows that.

When Lizzy's mother is the next to vanish she's expected to grieve and move on. Instead, Lizzy wants to find out what happened, but the answers she seeks can't be found in the fey realm of Arbaon.

With the help of her best friend, Booker Reed, Lizzy's determined to retrace her mother's final steps... straight through an illegal portal and into the mortal realm.

Whatever leads she expected to find, it wasn't an academy of vampires, and a world stalked by their rabid cousins—the kavians.

Forced to rely on the vampires for protection, and secluded away behind the high walls of Speculo School, it quickly becomes clear not everyone is pleased with Lizzy and Booker's investigation. With danger building the further they dig, the two fey need to decide if the closure they seek is worth risking their lives for.

But the longer they remain amongst the vampires, the more Lizzy suspects that her answers lie with the deadly kavians instead.

Trigger warnings: Mild violence, mild swearing, mild romance.

Publication date: March 16th 2023

and I'll pop the cover beneath a cut too <3

Are you currently published or publishing a novel in 2023? Are you a writeblr or active writer on tumblr?

Hey everyone! I want to dedicate two months in 2023 to reviewing the published works of indie and self-published authors of tumblr. The current state of the publishing industry frustrates me as both a consumer and future author, but I see the imaginative works of so many fellow writers through this app and hope that we can collectively shine a spotlight on the talent showcased here. My reviews will be posted across social media platforms and shared on all major book review sites (like Goodreads, Amazon, B&N, Indigo).

I do not want free ARCs or copies of your work. I personally believe it’s important for us to increase the book sales of smaller, debut authors so they can find a larger audience. I will pay for all of my copies, as I have the means to do so.

I do want you to please reblog this post and share the title, link, genre, and description of the book you have published or will be publishing in 2023.

Feel free to use or adjust the below sample template, or respond with your own.

Please reblog and boost!

Author name:

Relevant social media: (any social media you would want potential readers to seek out)

Book title:

Genre:

Word count:

Summary:

Trigger warnings:

Publication date: (if known)

[ulkaralakbarova]

Follow Ariel’s adventures before she gave up her fins for true love. When Ariel wasn’t singing with her sisters, she spent time with her mother, Queen Athena. Ariel is devastated when Athena is killed by pirates, and after King Triton outlaws all singing. Along with pals Flounder and Sebastian, Ariel sets off in hopes of changing her father’s decision to ban music from the kingdom. Credits: TheMovieDb. Film Cast: Ariel (voice): Jodi Benson Sebastian (voice): Samuel E. Wright King Triton / Shelbow / Additional Voices (voice): Jim Cummings Marina Del Ray (voice): Sally Field Adella / Andrina / Additional Voices (voice): Tara Strong Alana (voice): Jennifer Hale Aquata / Arista (voice): Grey DeLisle Attina (voice): Kari Wahlgren Flounder (voice): Parker Goris Benjamin / Additional Voices (voice): Jeff Bennett Cheeks / Ray Ray (voice): Kevin Michael Richardson Ink Spot / Swifty / Additional Voices (voice): Rob Paulsen Queen Athena (voice): Lorelei Hill Butters Film Crew: Original Film Writer: Ron Clements Original Film Writer: John Musker Additional Writing: Steve Bencich Additional Writing: Ron J. Friedman Additional Writing: Rich Burns Music: Jim Dooley Additional Writing: Tom Rogers Additional Writing: Peggy Holmes Author: Robert Reece Author: Evan Spiliotopoulos Production Manager: Bill Bloom Associate Producer: Mary Ellen Bauder Additional Writing: Thania St. John Foley Artist: John T. Cucci Visual Effects: David ‘Joey’ Mildenberger Art Department Manager: Peter J. Deluca Visual Effects Design Consultant: Dan Lund Art Direction: Tony Pulham Animation: Scott T. Petersen Visual Effects: Noe Garcia Foley Mixer: James Ashwill Production Supervisor: Kip B. Lewis Additional Editor: Richard L. McCullough Production Supervisor: Brian J. Carey Movie Reviews:

[kita-lavellan]

Beyond The Veil Artober; Day Two - Dreamer

Prompt: Dreamer. Word Limit: 500max. Beyond The Veil Discord Artober Prompt, Day Two.

Kita has always been comfortable in the fade, but walking there now, after the breach has torn the sky in two, is perilous. Not just for her, but for the uncorrupted spirits she encounters too.

Ao3 Link: HERE

Read More Under the Cut ^_^

Dreamer

Kita had always felt safe in the fade.

Her control over the environment solid and unwavering, but dreaming in the fade after the conclave explosion, after the breach appeared, was different.

More unstable. More dangerous.

The spirits that usually clamoured to speak with her, or even just watch as she formed the world around her by sheer will, were missing. Fleeing the breach as far into the fade as they could run, or twisted into demons by their proximity to the waking world.

There was a spirit now, she could see it's illuminated form flickering, wavering, as it struggled to hold onto what it knew it's purpose to be and Kita shut down her thoughts and expectations.

The moment she took control of her thoughts, locking up any preconceived impressions that might influence the delicate spirit it turned to her and fled from the glowing rim of the breach to her side.

A small wisp of energy, the spirit swirled around her ankles, and danced through her hair, drawing a smile to Kita's lips.

"Who are you?" she breathed, and a single word impressed itself upon her mind in answer.

"Joy."

Joy, a simple emotion, and yet deep. So close to the breach, Kita didn't allow herself to consider what Joy would corrupt itself into, and gently cupped her hand, allowing the wisp to settle there.

"You should fly, Joy, as far away from here as you can, find the small joys in other parts of the world," she warned, but the wisp just danced in her hand.

"There are Joys to be found here, you bring hope and hope sparks Joy."

The spirits words almost had Kita's control slipping, almost had her emotions spilling free as 'Herald of Andraste' rang through her mind, both an accusation and a cry of rejoice that made her skin crawl.

"There are still greater Joys to be found elsewhere, with less danger to yourself, my small friend" came Solas' now-familiar lilting voice.

The spirit wavered again, but slowly disentangled itself from Kita's hair, lifting itself free of her hand, and drifting deeper into the fade, it's meandering speed indicative of its reluctance.

"Most mages would not choose to aid a fade spirit," the strange apostate mused quietly, and Kita swallowed hard, making sure that her will was still standing strong in their malleable surroundings.

"One less spirit corrupted, is one less I must fight and kill while awake," she offered, but Solas' eyes were fixed on hers.

"This is true, but not the entire truth."

Kita held her silence, merely raising an eyebrow at the mage beside her.

"You are far more comfortable than I would have expected so close to the breach..." Solas continued to prod, but Kita finally allowed herself to laugh softly.

"As are you, Somniari," she challenged, enjoying the flash of surprise in his eyes that she had recognised his abilities, just as Kita felt herself slowly waking, the fade fading around her.

"Until next time, dreamer."

[lacloverkingdom]

Arista please.

[author-a-holmes]

Hello!

If you're looking for a FANTASTIC LGBTQ+ Cozy Fantasy, I highly recommend @ashen-crest's "A Rival Most Vial". Absolutely top tier, A+ storytelling right there. (Their other book, The Stray Spirit is also fantastic!)

My current project isn't LGBTQ, but if you're interested in checking out a reverse portal contemporary fantasy with fey and vampires, then my debut, "Changeling" is available for sale basically everywhere.

Self published authors, this one’s for you!

So, I’m looking for some more books to add to my shelf and want to support self published authors at the same time!

I enjoy most genres, tbh, although I do prefer LGBTQ stories! So promo yourself to me and show me your books! ❤️

I’m also looking for more mutuals so I’ll be following all of you back if you choose to follow!

[wayhaven-dates]

31 Days Of Wayhaven - Day 006 - Prompt Bite

Pulling from THIS PROMPT LIST I’ll be doing the 31 Days of Wayhaven, or at least giving it a good go!

All prompts will be about my Canon-Detective, Malia Corvidae (Mason Romancer, Nate BFF)

Day 006 Prompt: Bite Synopsis: When Mason meets Bobby, Malia has to think of a creative distraction, exceedingly quickly, to help Mason, Unit Bravo and the supernatural community as a whole, remain hidden from the local reporter.

AO3 Link HERE

Or keep reading below the cut…

"Your escort home has arrived," Tina teased, her body curved around the doorframe to Malia's office, a grin on her lips. Malia would have scolded Tina for her teasing, except she couldn't help her own smile as she quickly left her office before the computer had finished shutting down.

Mason lingered, with the offer to see her safely home every time his patrol ended in the area, and Tina was forever teasing Malia about his consistent attentions. Their new normal was Malia grabbing her leather jacket before accepting her bag from Tina, who was already holding the door to the station open for her.

This time, though, Tina's grin had been replaced with a grimace.

"What?" Malia asked, eyes widening as she marched over to the door to see what had soured Tina's expression.

"This isn't going to be pretty," the woman warned, hanging Malia's bag on the Detective's shoulder as her friends already pale face lost what little colour it had.

Dashing out of the station, barely checking for cars, Malia made a direct path towards Mason who had been approached by none other than her ever problematic Ex-boyfriend.

Mason saw her approaching, grey eyes settling on her over Bobby's shoulder, filled with irritation and not a shred of patience, but as she stepped closer she watched his gaze snap back to Bobby in an instant.

"What did you say?" the vampire growled. Malia was close enough to see the subtle shift from bored, into Mason readying to attack.

"...any inside dirt on Detective Corvidae, and the paper would be willing to pay you-"

Malia had a strong urge to punch Bobby, but the flash of panic she felt wasn't for the bottom-feeding reporter, it was in response to the growing snarl on Mason's lips, the narrowing of his eyes, and the growl she could feel vibrating through the air.

She ignored Bobby, stepping past him to quickly place herself between Mason's feet, rising up onto her toes to kiss him

A crude method of masking his growing fangs from the reporter, but it was the only option she'd been able to think of. She could hear Bobby spluttering behind her, but her focus was on Mason. Still tensed, and although the growling had stopped he hadn't kissed her back.

Carefully aware of Mason's hyper senses, Malia gently nipped at his bottom lip and was quite suddenly being devoured.

Pulled closer with a bruising grip on her hips, she let her fingers slide soothingly into Mason's hair, stroking gently through the strands until she felt his shoulders settle. He kissed along her jaw until his lips found his favourite spot against her neck where his now blunt teeth settled against her skin, and she somehow knew without a doubt that he was glaring over her shoulder at a stunned Bobby.

"Take me home?" she breathed softly and he agreed with a single soft grunt. Mason pulled back slowly, slung an arm around her shoulders, and led her away.

[ettawritesnstudies]

I had such a great time talking with @author-a-holmes about her YA portal fantasy book, Changeling, which is the first in the Fey touched trilogy! If you want to grab your own copy it's on sale for only $1.99 on Smashwords using the code E5Y9M.

If you want to read a transcript I also have that available on my website.

Thank you so much for taking the time to chat with me, Arista!