#WINGING IT

[molagboop]

Don't feed bread to birds, kids.

[wheeloffortune-design]

The cover reveal for the sapphic western is Saturday!!

January 11, 2025, 1pm EST

I'll be sharing the screen with my dear friend @edhelwen1 , who's also announcing her next novel, Winging it. The cover art is drawn by @pinkpiggy93 so you know it'll be beautiful!

Come hang out and get exclusive news about the publishing of Mrs. Victoria Buys a Brothel :D

[aldendrake-author]

Alright, I inhaled both seasons of Arcane in 2 days, now I can, in good faith, write a proper jayvik fic. A jayfic if you will. A vikkyficcy.

(okay, cringe over, time to actually write)

[spookysalem13]

Going with the flow ✨️

[queer-book-character-tournament]

Character, book, and author names under the cut

Tiernan/Hyacinthe- The Stolen Heir Duology by Holly Black

Caleb Canto/Buck Haverd- The Twelve Points of Caleb Canto by Sam Starbuck

Ji Yushi/Song Qinglan- Mist [Unlimited] by Wei Feng Ji Xu

Gabe Martin/Dante Baltierra- Winging It by Ashlyn Kane and Morgan James

[haveyoureadthisbook-poll]

[edhelwen1]

"Winging It" is a queer YA portal fantasy romance.

A wedding and a summer camp that Tommy and Carter are never going to forget.

The only way they, and their relationship, can survive is if they start Winging It!

Cover artist: @pinkpiggy93

Universal book link: https://www.jeneric-designs.ca/UBL-WingingIt

[agentsterling]

“what are you doing here?” -- @deafarcher

TO THE RESCUER.

Sterling holstered his gun and pulled out a small knife to cut Barton's restraints. His movements were rushed and he kept looking over his shoulder as he worked at the rough ropes. It was too familiar a sight. This base. This setup. He was eager to get out of there.

"Shhh. Nevermind that. We don't have a lot of time. Do you think you can walk?" He whispered to his captive friend.

Damn, he never thought he would be back here again. Spending 3 months undercover in Hydra at this very base after SHIELD fell had been hard enough for Sterling. Coming back after having turned on them in a rather public and damning way... He hadn't been one to volunteer for field work since his daughters was born but he had been the only agent who knew the layout well enough to slip in and break Barton out. It hardly felt like a choice.

[ebandgrow]

Winging a caption just beak-ause

[queereads-bracket]

Queer Fiction Free-for-All Book Bracket Tournament: Round 1B

Book summaries and submitted endorsements below:

Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender

Felix Love has never been in love—and, yes, he’s painfully aware of the irony. He desperately wants to know what it’s like and why it seems so easy for everyone but him to find someone. What’s worse is that, even though he is proud of his identity, Felix also secretly fears that he’s one marginalization too many—Black, queer, and transgender—to ever get his own happily-ever-after. When an anonymous student begins sending him transphobic messages—after publicly posting Felix’s deadname alongside images of him before he transitioned—Felix comes up with a plan for revenge. What he didn’t count on: his catfish scenario landing him in a quasi–love triangle.... But as he navigates his complicated feelings, Felix begins a journey of questioning and self-discovery that helps redefine his most important relationship: how he feels about himself. Felix Ever After is an honest and layered story about identity, falling in love, and recognizing the love you deserve.

Contemporary, romance, young adult

Winging It by Ashlyn Kane and Morgan James (Hockey Ever After #1)

Endorsement from submitter: "First book of a loosely connected mlm hockey romance series. Humourous, with characters that feel incredibly real and have various relationships with their queer identities. The struggles are relatable and the communication issues very authentic. The first book is a slow burn friends to lovers. Dante Baltierra is such a gun character and his recurrence through the series is perfect."

Gabe Martin has a simple life plan: get into the NHL and win the Stanley Cup. It doesn’t include being the first out hockey player or, worse, getting involved with one of his teammates. But things change. Dante Baltierra is Gabe’s polar opposite—careless, reckless… shameless. But his dedication to the sport is impressive, and Gabe can overlook a lot of young-and-stupid in the name of great hockey. And Dante has a superlative ass in a sport filled with superlative asses. Before Gabe can figure out how to deal, a tabloid throws him out of his comfortable closet into a brand-new world. Amid the emotional turmoil of invasive questions, nasty speculation, and on- and off-ice homophobia, his game suffers. Surprisingly, it’s Dante who drags him out of it—and then drags him into something else. Nothing good can come of secretly sleeping with a teammate, especially one Gabe has feelings for. But with their captain out with an injury, a rookie in perpetual need of a hug, and the race to make the playoffs for the first time since 1995, Gabe has a lot on his plate. He can’t be blamed for forgetting that nothing stays secret forever.

Romance, contemporary, sports romance, adult

[sbbarnes]

Hockey Romances. Why?

So I was taken out of work a couple weeks ago due to ~pregnancy stuff~ (mostly just stress, the baby and I are fine) which has left me with a lot of spare time on my hands. And as one does, I have been filling my time reading lgbtq+ romance novels. Because I can.

In this time, I have fallen headfirst into the hockey romance novel subgenre, and I ask myself, as I have done every time I see these books advertised, why? I am not a sports fan. One time, my husband was watching football (European), and a team in red kits was playing against yellow kits, and I started laughing because "it looks like ketchup is playing against mustard". His expression was great, but he hasn't taken me seriously since.

So why is hockey of all things such a draw for the mlm romance subgenre? Especially given the NHL's apparent fear of rainbow tape? Why do I now know what the word "celly" refers to and what an "enforcer" is? Why why why?

Here are my answers:

Extremely organic way to set up some of the most classic romance tropes. Forced proximity? Being on the same team takes care of that. There was only one bed? Shared hotel rooms during away games. Enemies to lovers? Rival teams.

Lots of potential for drama given that players lead very transient lives in terms of the constant possibility of trades. In mlm love stories, even more so given that the NHL is so blatantly homophobic.

Perfect level of fame. Fame and wealth as a draw for a love interest are kind of staples of the genre, and NHL players are famous, sure, but not all of them, and they aren't as famous as football stars (either kind of football). They are still filthy rich, which makes great wish fulfillment. You can have the sexy penthouse and the anonymity.

I would go on to talk about how different roles on the team lend themselves to different tropes (goalie = tightly controlled dude who needs someone to help him cut loose; enforcer = misunderstood fighter with a heart of gold; coach for all your forbidden love/sleeping with the boss desires) but that would very quickly reveal my utter lack of hockey knowledge, so let's not. Instead, here's a quick reclist.

Rachel Reid's Game Changers series. It's a classic in the genre for a reason and it has everything. Forbidden love? Got that, maybe the definitive example. Redemption arc? Got that. Misunderstood bruiser with a heart of gold? Got that. Age difference? Got that. Also really excellent sex scenes, not gonna lie, and satisfying endings throughout - sometimes a happy end will come a little suddenly for me, but these books really delivered, and the nice thing about how romance series are structured is that you get a little peek at what comes after for the couples in the other books.

2. Him, Us and Epic by Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy. This one surprised me, I don't generally go for first person POVs, but I did enjoy this! Coming-of-age story turned coming out story featuring a budding hockey star and his best friend. Lots of fun.

3. Scoring Chances series by Avon Gale. This series is fun in that it doesn't focus on the NHL, it actually focuses on the minor leagues in the southeast of the US, a place almost no one associates with ice hockey. As such, there's a chance to tell different stories about professional athletes who aren't super rich and famous, which I appreciate a lot. TBH the first pairing wasn't entirely my cup of tea, but I'm glad I kept going because I especially enjoyed the later books, which tackle tough topics (including eating disorders, abuse etc., so content warning for that). These are still romance novels though, so rest assured that there's a light at the end of the tunnel. What I especially appreciate is that these books don't have relationship drama, in that the main couples communicate and work together instead of a third act break-up-make-up!

4. Hockey Ever After series by Ashlyn Kane and Morgan James. These are just great. Lots of fun to read, lots of cameos from character in later books, just excellent mood all around. Also features my favorite ever trope (secret relationship, sorry, anyone who knows me knows I am a sucker for it I just can't help myself) heavily, which is a win in my book. I especially enjoyed book two, "Scoring Position". Is that because Nico is German and I loved him? Is that because Ryan is my new blorbo? We may never know.

Happy reading and please give me recommendations for more books like these, I'm lowkey obsessed.

[molagboop]

Noise game.

[joannes-journal]

=+=+=+=+=

*Tape begins*

Michael: Stop moving, DIS. You'll make it worse.

DISC0RD: WHY IS J0 IN A CAG3?! WHY AM I IN A MUZZL3?!

[Terrified teapot whistling from a too small cat crate]

Michael: ...Safety precaution. Qui-

???: ORDER.

[The room quiets down.]

???: WE ARE HERE TODAY TO DISCUSS THE CHILDREN OF ABADDON AND JOANNE JANUS. CELESTIAL LAW PROHIBITS NEPHILIMS UNDER PRECAUTION OF DESTRUCTION OF UNIVERSES.

Abaddon: Shit-

???: THE TWO NEPHILIMS, TRINITY AND DAK-

Abaddon: At least get their name right! She has changed her name. Alaska Janus.

???: ...MY APOLOGIES. THE TWO NEPHILIMS, TRINITY AND ALASKA JANUS, HAVE EXISTED FOR 13 YEARS. FOR 13 YEARS THEY HAVE GONE UNDETECTED. JOANNE JANUS HAD SOLD HER SOUL TO BIFRONS IN ORDER TO HIDE THEIR IDENTITY AND KEEP THEM HIDDEN.

Jackie: HOLD ON-

???: CONTEMPT OF COURT.

Jackie: NO. LISTEN TO ME. YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE THE ALL LOVING CHRISTIAN GOD, CORRECT? IS THERE NO PARDON?!

GOD: THERE IS NO PARDON WHEN THE REST OF CREATION IS UNDER THREAT.

Jackie: AND YOU DON'T THINK THAT'S BEING BIAS?!

GOD: CONTEMPT. OF. COURT.

Jackie: THIS ISN'T EVEN A REAL COURT! IT'S NOT A FAIR TR- HEY! PUT ME DOWN! THAT'S MY FUCKING FAM-

GOD: AS I WAS SAYING. CELESTIAL LAW STATES THAT SHOULD A NEPHILIM BE BIRTHED, BOTH PARENTS AND CHILD SHALL HAVE THEIR LIFE FORCE TERMINATED.

DISC0RD: WHAT?!

GOD: ABADDON. I AM BEYOND DISAPPOINTED IN YOU. YOU AND THOSE INVOLVED WITH HARBORING THE NEPHILIMS WILL BE TERMINATED. JACKLYNN GROVE WILL HAVE HER MEMORIES OF THE CHILDREN WIPED.

Abaddon: Your honor, please. At least let Joanne, DISC0RD, and the teapot walk free.

GOD: UNDER WHAT CIRCUMSTANCE.

Abaddon: Someone will need to take my place as The Sin of Wrath. Joanne knows the most about my job and abilities, and she already has her own infernal magic from Bifrons. DISC0RD....DISC0RD had nothing to do with this.

GOD: THE RABBIT IS THE IMAGINARY FRIEND OF THE TWO CHILDREN. THEY ARE OVERPOWERED.

Abaddon: DISC0RD has several disabilities. They don't naturally have 5th Dimensional Sight, that watch in their forehead is an aid to help them teleport. It has a bad heart. Trinity had gifted them with a secondary heart to help, but once Trinity is gone they will go right back to having heart problems. Its movement is hindered from the bad leg.

GOD: AND WE HAVE NO PROOF OF THIS.

Abaddon: You are an omniscient being. You know almost everything about them.

GOD: YET I CANNOT PROVE IT.

Abaddon: You're the Christian God themself. How can you not prove it?!

GOD: ORDER.

Abaddon: My point is, if you let Joanne live, she'll need some sort of emotional support. DISC0RD knows her... better than I do.

GOD: AND YOU DO NOT BEG FOR THE LIFE OF YOUR CHILDREN?

Abaddon: Look at them. They're suffering under the effects of an entity you REFUSE to do anything about. At least if their life forces-

GOD: LIFE FORCE. THEY'RE LIFE FORCES HAVE COMBINED INTO ONE.

Abaddon: At least if their life force is terminated, they won't be in pain.

DISC0RD: Y0U'R3 G0ING T0 KILL MY FUCKING KIDS?! AFT3R I SP3NT S0 L0NG-

Michael: Hush, before They sedate you or change Their mind.

GOD: THEN IT IS DECIDED. ABADDON, TRINITY, AND ALASKA AWAIT TERMINATION. JOANNE JANUS WILL OVERTAKE THE SIN OF WRATH AFTER PROPER TRAINING AND REHABILITATION.

Joanne: *Unintelligible distorted noises*

GOD: DISC0RD AND THE TEAPOT WILL BE RETURNED BACK TO THE MORTAL REALM. JACKLYNN GROVE'S MEMORIES WILL BE WIPED AND THE RED DUCK DOG WILL BE RETURNED TO HER.

*Tape ends*

=+=+=+=+=

[ithinkitscami]

starter for: @aurorabaystarter / choose your location

"I just feel like if they wanted to say something that they would, right?" It was foreign to Camille to hear such things. Why would someone not speak up for themselves? What did that help them gain? It wasn't her business, but how could she not wonder? She looked over to who she was mindlessly talking to with a shrug, "Sorry, I'm just blabbing over here." She needed to.

"What's on your mind?" She had enough of hearing herself that she'd rather hear someone else now.

[greeneggssews]

Time to play: "can I make a dress with no instructions? (Because I lost the instructions)"

I had cut out these pieces months ago so I'm going off of pattern notations and ~vibes-

I should note, I don't need this dress and I could wait to find the instructions, but I'm stressed and these pieces were cut, so why not?