#Whatever Happened to Madeline Hail?

[author-a-holmes]

Hi detective

How do you prefer to start scenes? With dialogue, or emotion, or action, or description, or a secret option?

Okay, you know what, I have never once thought about this question Lol! My instinct is to say "Whatever the scene needs" but that implies I actually put any thought into this whatsoever.

My second instinct is to say description. I know I have a habit of mentioning character names withing the first paragraph, if not the first sentence, because I write dual POV in third person close and I like to make sure the reader is aware of whose POV they're following as soon as possible.

But now you've made me curious, so hold please while I go and check the start of each chapter in my books :D

.... *Elevator Music*....

Whatever Happened To Madeling Hail - 5 Chapters

1 Secret Option (Character Introduction)

1 Action Opening

3 Description Openings

Changeling - 40 Chapters, 16 Mid-chapter Scene Breaks

7 Dialogue Openings

10 Emotion Openings

12 Action Openings

27 Description Openings

Stolen - 32 Chapters, 16 Mid-chapter Scene Breaks

2 Secret Option (Character Introduction)

4 Dialogue Openings

8 Emotion Openings

11 Action Openings

23 Description Openings

Totals; 109 Openings

3 Secret Option (Character Introduction)

11 Dialogue Openings

18 Emotion Openings

24 Action Openings

53 Description Openings

So I think we can safely say that I favor descriptive openings, by about 50%.

Although I feel like it's skewed a little because Stolen is still in a draft stage, and I do want to rewrite it. Some of those opening are sur to change. I noticed far too many scenes where characters were waking up from the night before.

[author-a-holmes]

aristaholmes over on Instagram (Thank you for the tag @avrablake!)

If you like making reels, then you can crosspost to tiktok too (Like Etta, I greatly dislike making them so that's all my advice on that subject)

But, honestly, I post on every platform I'm comfortable using, and Etta's got some of the more commonly seen marketing style posts listed above :D

As for all the other platforms, I post here on tumblr, and on Instagram of course, as Avra said. I have a Facebook page for my author pen name, and some arc reader or indie author groups I'm a member in. Also a blog on my author website. A tiktok account I should use more often (@author.a.holmes), and a youtube channel I've barely touched. Also Cohost. Mastodon... I should probably look at bluesky, but...

I have tried blazing posts but, as far as I can tell, it's random. It doesn't appear to show your blazed post to people based on the tags you input, and if that's actually the case it's more like throwing a pebble into the ocean and hoping you knock out a fish for dinner.

Despite that, I've still consistently found the most frequent, and active, engagement here and on Instagram. Your mileage WILL vary, but the most important resource I've found is that I also have and utilise a newsletter.

It means once people HAVE found me, on whatever platform, they can sign up to have my news and updates delivered directly to their inbox. No effort on their part required.

I do make sure to give my subscribers little bonuses every month though, as thanks for their support. Currently, signing up for my newsletter is the only way to access and read the prequel novella "Whatever Happened To Madeline Hail?" And I also include exclusive snippets from Darkling, and early information on sales and cover reveals and the final blurb, etc.

And if I'm very, very, lucky, they will like it enough to hype my books for me to their friends. Word of mouth is still super powerful.

How DOES one hype an indie book they're about to publish these days? Like book Twitter is dead, so what happened to the book review community over there? Did it all just....stop? Are they on here somewhere?

Do I just wait till the book is out and Blaze a post or what???

[fey-touched-trilogy]

Fey Touched Stories;

Prequel - Whatever Happened To Madeline Hail? (Newsletter Exclusive; Sign Up Here)

Book One - Changeling (Available In All Formats Now!)

Book Two - Darkling

Book Three - Fey Touched

Seasonal Special - Once Upon A Fey Touched Holiday

The Fey Touched Trilogy is a Portal Fantasy and planned to be my debut novel series. Book One, Changeling, was published on March 16th 2023 as a birthday present to my mum, and the second book, Darkling, is also expected to be published later in 2023.

My Newsletter is up and running! Sign up HERE if you'd like to download and read the series prequel, 'Whatever Happened To Madeline Hail?' and keep up to date on my publishing journey.

Keep reading beneath the Read More for currently revealed blurbs & covers...

Whatever Happened to Madeline Hail?

When Madeline Hail makes the journey from the fey realm of Arbaon to the mortal realm, she thinks the greatest danger is to her heart. Instead, she finds herself quickly fighing for her life against rabid kavians intent on claiming her magical fey-blood for themselves.

When she is inevitably outnumbered and overpowered, making an unthinkable bargain might be the only way to save her life, but being alive doesn't mean she's safe.

'Whatever Happened To Madeline Hail?' is Newsletter Exclusive: Sign Up Here

Changeling

Fey go missing in the mortal realm. Everyone knows that. When Lizzy's mother is the next to vanish she is 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 is 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 that 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 answers they seek are worth risking their lives for. The longer they remain with the vampires, the more Lizzy begins to suspect that her answers instead lie amongst the deadly kavians.

Available In All Formats Now!

WARNING: READING FURTHER YOU MAY ENCOUNTER SPOILERS

YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

PROCEED AT YOUR OWN RISK

Darkling

Fey go missing in the mortal realm. This time, it’s intentional.

Blurb Reveal Pending

Fey Touched

Fey go missing in the mortal realm. Everyone is about to find out why.

Blurb Reveal Pending

Seasonal Special: Once Upon A Fey Touched Holiday

Blurb Reveal Pending

[odinsonsobsessed]

Home For Christmas ▪Part Seven▪

Pairing: Tom Hiddleston/OFC

Rating: M

Word Count: 1.4k

Summary: Two years ago, in order for Maddie to stop her mom’s nagging for her to settle down, she told her that her best friend, Tom Hiddleston, was her boyfriend! Now, she wants her to bring him home for Christmas, which Tom thankfully agrees to go along with. But what happens when their “pretend” feelings start to become real?

Notes/Warnings: Fluff

You didn't really think I was going to just end it there, did you? One last installment before this actually ends. Enjoy!

*The lyrics do not belong to me.

Beta’d by the lovely @mrshiddleston-uk

Master List

One Year Later…

“What's your name?”

“Valerie.” The young brunette giggled, holding her hands together against her mouth in excitement. As Maddie wrote her name out, Valerie began to blurt out compliments. “I am so in love with this book. All of your books, really! But this one… the characters, the way you capture their relationship and how it develops even though they're hit with so many obstacles… It's truly brilliant!” Maddie signed her name at the bottom of the book and smiled, handing it off to her.

“Thank you so much! You're too kind, really! Have a great night, okay?”

“Oh, I will! You too! Thank you, it was so nice to meet you!” She gushed, enthusiastically shaking her hand.

Maddie sighed in relief after she left, capping her pen and setting it down. “God, is my hand tired.” She flexed her right hand, holding it with her left.

“Well, if you weren't so darn famous…” Harry grinned.

Maddie laughed through her nose. “Yeah, whatever.” She glanced at the clock and her eyes widened. “Oh my God!! I'm late! Harry, I've gotta go! Can you…?”

“Yeah, yeah, go on. I'll lock up.”

“Thanks Harry!” She sent Tom a text that she was on her way and quickly put on her coat, threw her purse over her shoulder and ran out the door. She would have taken a cab, but it would be faster to go on foot. It was a few blocks away, the coffee shop. She walked quickly, taking half of the time it would have if she'd hailed a cab and sat through traffic.

She rushed into the coffee shop, preparing to look for Tom. However, she didn't have to search for very long. There he was, standing in the middle of the empty shop with a smile, wearing blue slacks with a long sleeved white shirt underneath a matching blue vest.

“Tom.” Maddie smiled, crossing the floor to greet him with a kiss. He lingered on her lips before pulling back. “You look so handsome.” She ran her fingers along the smooth fabric of the vest. “You know this is my favorite suit.” She glanced up at him with a smirk, which made Tom chuckle.

“I'm fully aware, love.”

Maddie pulled Tom down for another kiss, which made him groan. She giggled and finally looked around, realizing the store was completely empty. “Where is everyone?”

“I've rented the shop out. More privacy that way.”

Maddie giggled, “Alright. What's this all about then?”

“What? I can't have a romantic coffee date with my girlfriend to celebrate her first book signing event?” Tom gestured to the nearby table set with a tea lit candle, mugs set on each side.

She laughed, taking a seat at the table and took a sip of the hot coffee. “Mmm… Hazelnut.” It was just how she liked it.

Tom took the seat across from her and sipped his tea. “How did it go?”

“Great! Though I wish you could have stayed longer.” She smiled as she looked down at the steam rising out of her hot beverage.

“Darling, people were starting to recognize me, even with the hat and glasses. I can't hide from them anymore.” Tom cracked a smile, causing Maddie to giggle into her mug as she took a sip.

“True… Gosh it’s a weird feeling, people coming up to tell me how much they like my work and how much of a fan they are. Does it get easier?”

“Yes and no. I mean, it's not as weird to me as it used to be, but I'm still flattered by their words. Some fans are more intense than others, you'll probably get that too, but they mean well.” He chuckled.

“I still can't believe you flew my entire family out for it.”

“How could I not? They all wanted to be there to support you. Your mum's really trying, you know.”

“I know she is… I think it helps that she's head over heels for that baby… She loves her so much. I think she's mellowing her out.”

“Kristen is truly adorable. Who wouldn't?”

They talked for a while while they finished their beverages. A familiar tune played on the speakers and Tom rose from his chair, moving to stand next to Maddie, holding out his hand. “Dance with me.” His dazzling, inviting smile took her breath away.

Wise men say

Only fools rush in

She smiled, laughing through her nose as she placed her hand in his and stood up, following him to the middle of the open floor.

But I can't help falling in love with you

He slid his arm around her back, holding her hand in his. He began to sway their bodies with the music.

Shall I stay?

Would it be a sin

If I can't help falling in love with you?

Tom leaned down to kiss Maddie. It was gentle and sweet, totally befitting the mood of the dimmed lights and the words lightly echoing around them.

Like a river flows surely to the sea

Darling so it goes

Some things are meant to be

Maddie slipped her hand out of his and brought them around his neck as they kissed. She loved how romantic he was, how he always seemed to charm her even after knowing him for this long, how he always surprised her. She felt so lucky to be his, and that he was hers.

Take my hand, take my whole life too

For I can't help falling in love with you

Tom pulled back to look at her, his heart beating quickly. Love reflected his own in her eyes. If he was going to do this, now would be the perfect time. It was a perfect moment.

Like a river flows surely to the sea

Darling so it goes

‘Once the song is over.’ Tom tried not to tremble with nervousness and excitement. ‘Play it cool.’, was his mantra.

Some things are meant to be

But what if it didn't go as planned?

Take my hand, take my whole life too

No, he couldn't think this now.

For I can't help falling in love with you

Holding back is where they went wrong in the first place. He wouldn't do that again.

For I can't help falling in love with you

He just had to do it.

His eyes settled on her necklace, the one he had given her on the Christmas before last. He picked it up and held it on his fingertips with a smile. “Maddie.” Tom began, dropping the pendant. It was now or never.

“Yes?” Maddie smiled at him, waiting for him to continue.

“Do you realize where it is that we are?”

Maddie let out a giggle. “The coffee shop?”

“I mean exactly here, in this very spot.”

She looked around the room, confused. “This is where… we wait in line for coffee?”

Tom chuckled nervously. She was just too cute. “Right here, is where we met 3 years ago.”

“Oh.” Realization hit her as she recalled the memory of when she turned around and saw him for the first time.

“Right here, is where you unknowingly rejected my advances on you.”

Her cheeks flushed in embarrassment.

“Right here, is where I realized I loved you.” A memory of them meeting there after a few months of them having been friends flashed through Tom's mind as he continued.

Tom took a shaky breath and mentally cursed at himself for it. He dug into his pocket and pulled out a small box. “And right here, is where I ask you, Madeline Rose Wilson, to marry me.” He lifted the box, opening it to face her, revealing a ring as he knelt down on his knee.

Maddie gasped and her hands flew to her mouth in shock. She genuinely wasn't expecting it and the longer she stared at it, the more worried Tom grew.

“I can't believe…” She choked out a giggle. “Of course I'll marry you!” She laughed through her tears, holding out her left hand.

Maddie watched in anticipation as he slipped the ring on her ring finger with a shaky hand. As soon as it was on, before even inspecting it, she tackled him to the ground in a hug, not bothering with her dress getting wrinkled and dirty. She didn't care. She was now engaged to marry her best friend, the love of her life, Thomas William Hiddleson. And she couldn't be any happier.

@fandom-and-feminism @igotloki @mrshiddleston-uk @nikkalia @manager-of-mischief @spidey-bites @kcd15 @furstinnajoelle @its-funny-til-its-not @liloshko @redfoxwritesstuff @winterisakiller @dangertoozmanykids101 @javelinamilk @geminiloveca @mandapanda8 @givemecocoaa @alexakeyloveloki @catalinaacosta @trubluepensfan @crowloki @silverhart93 @love-is-all-you-need-13 @atomiccharmer @michelegurl @theoneanna @ironstrangemischief @kitsuneharo12 @xletmetaste-yoursmilex @theccentricsworld @teatimewithhiddles @crushed-pink-petals @little-blue-popsicle @set-in-fire @tinchentitri @hakimo2015 @aimcattycorner @lowcarbgem @just-the-hiddles @doodlepip81 @vertdragain @fandoms-unite1344 @runningawaywithloki @devilbat @jessiejunebug @bloodycorpsess @nod-over-sleeping-waves @onlystylesangels @xxloki81xx

[author-a-holmes]

Fantasy Indies April 6th

1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th | 10th | 11th | 12th | 13th | 14th | 15th | 16th | 17th | 18th | 19th | 20th | 21st | 22nd | 23rd | 24th | 25th | 26th | 27th | 28th | 29th | 30th

(Today's post includes a Darkling Snippet, so I'm tagging the taglist <3 If you want to be added or removed from the taglist, just let me know)

@faelanvance @noirepersonal @queen-kass-the-writer @athenswrites @thelaughingstag @minamoroz @bardic-tales @outpost51 @talesfromaurea @jezifster @ettawritesnstudies

Stumbled over a prompt list for Fantasy Indies on Instagram, so I thought it'd be fun to take part in the list of April's prompts and questions...

April 6th - Saturday Snippet! Word to Find is: "Demand"

This works pretty much like a "Find The Word" tag game, but with only one word to find. So without further ado, a Darkling Snippet...

When Lizzy felt the ground beneath her feet slow to a stop, it took a moment for the world to come back into focus and she stumbled. It was only Connor's grip still firm on her arm that kept her from falling over entirely and she had to bend double and gasp for breath to keep her lunch. "Breathe deeply, Lizzy. I'm sorry," Connor said softly. "It's always jarring for fey to blur, but I needed to accommodate your companions' demand." The reminder that she'd been forcefully removed from the hall, when [Redacted] had the answers she'd been seeking for months, had her struggling, wrenching her arm away from Moore's grasp with a snarl of her own. "She's my mum! I have a right to know what's—" "And if she has been tortured? Brutalised? If she was alive, but is now dead? Do you wish to hear these things directly? Or do you wish me to find the information and relay it to you after I am certain there is nothing further being concealed from you?"

(Promptlist for the rest of April can be found at the bottom of this post)

Hey there!

Do you like the sound of my projects? Feel like supporting me so I can write some more?

Check out my debut fantasy novel ‘Changeling’.

It’s available in Ebook at all your favourite online retailers, and in Paperback, and Hardcover from Amazon.

https://books2read.com/Fey-Touched-Changeling

Would you like to read more of my writing for free?

You can grab the prequel novella to Changeling, “Whatever Happened To Madeline Hail?” by signing up for my newsletter.

http://subscribepage.io/y7a9w8

I also send out Flash Fiction pieces exclusive to my newsletter subscribers, and you’ll be the first to hear about sale prices, cover reveals and blurbs for all my future book releases.

[author-a-holmes]

Hello Moshke!

First of all, I'm glad the people I credited in the copyright was useful to someone else!

Secondly, I know I'm a bit late in responding (Sorry about that!) but I hope you're feeling better now too <3

And finally, Newsletters! (And blogs)

I'm going to caveat this by saying I don't know if I'm doing it right *shrugs* but this is what I do...

I took a look at "The periodic table of content marketing" and decided that what I was able to offer was my writing. I'm also working on the theory that if readers sign up for my newsletter it's because they like my writing.

So I knew I wanted to give readers updates on my progress, and then also samples of my writing.

Idea 1) Create A Reader Magnet

A Reader Magnet is a short story, a map, artwork, free chapters, or some other form of free, bonus content, that is exclusively available to your newsletter subscribers. The idea is that it tempts and entices people to give you their email address in exchange for the freebie.

For me that ended up being a 12,000 word prequel story for my trilogy, called "Whatever Happened To Madeline Hail?". It has no spoilers for the series, but it does give the readers insight into what happened when Maddy went Missing that Lizzy doesn't have at the start of the book.

Once the Fey Touched Trilogy is complete, I'll make WHTMH available for sale in paperback format, but the ebook will always be available for free via newsletter signup, and then the "reader magnet" I used to tempt people onto my mailing list will change to be linked to/tie into my next series.

Idea 2) Figure out an email format/layout so you can save the template and reuse it, saving yourself time.

What held me up with making a newsletter for ages was; What the heck do I say? I'm talking into a void!

Ultimately, what you do to trick yourself into this is probably personal, but the way I write my newsletters is I pretend that my best friend and I haven't spoken for a month and then I write out what I'd tell her in a quick email if I knew I was going to meet up with her for lunch the following week. So just enough to give her context, without going into all the details I'm *going* to tell her at our lunch date.

This breaks down into 3 headers for me

The Intro (Hello, how are you, I'm fine/not fine/major life events. Are we ready to talk about writing, let's go then...)

What I've Done Since My Last Email (Any progress reports. Word count progression on current projects. Any art commissioned, any editing done, any covers purchased, have I been working on formatting, etc)

What I Plan To Get Done In The Next Month (These are the plans I hope to complete. The following month under the "what I've done since my last email" heading, I'll inform everyone on whether I was successful... or not! Sometimes I don't make my goals, and that's okay too. I'm honest about that)

Idea 3) Figure out what, if anything, you want to send in addition to your basic updates.

This is going to be personal and dependant on your skills and time too. Some months this is going to be easy. Cover reveal months. Blurb reveal months. Preorder dates. those sorts of things can all come in under this section. It's the quieter months that are harder when you're busy outlining or editing, or drafting.

For me, I decided to make this an exclusive piece of flash fiction. I can usually write a piece of flash fiction in one 20-minute sprint that averages around 500 words.

So every newsletter I have readers vote on a selection of 6, seasonally appropriate prompt words, and then I write the winning prompt with a 20 minute timer going and it get sent out in the *next* email.

Idea 4) Book Reviews! you don't have to be an anyone, or a professional, or even have an audience to tell people about what you'ree reading and whether you'r enjoying it, but I also understand not wanting to ARC review (If you do want to give it a try Booksprout and Booksirens are free for readers to sign up so you can go grab a book and give it a try)

Idea 5) And finally this isn't so much an idea as a resource that I've heard touted about on basically every reputable writing group I know of.

Newsletter Ninja by Tammi Labrecque

It's supposed to tell you EVERYTHING you could possibly need to know about building a successful author mailing list. I can't speak to it personally as I've not been able to afford it yet, but it is sitting in my Amazon basket waiting for me (Or possibly black friday!)

Hope some of that helps!

I made so much progress in figuring stuff out today! Like when I want things to be released (2025 seems reasonable for Cold Iron and Blade of Ice, end of this year for my middle grade story). I started designing a website! I’ll put it up next month when I have the money to order banners for all my upcoming stories.

(Side note but thanks so much to @author-a-holmes because I discovered so many relevant resources just from those mentioned on the copyright page of Changeling!)

Anyway. I feel really weird today, and I’m hoping it’s a poor reaction to fasting yesterday and not actually getting sick, so all this might be phrased weirdly. But: @ anyone who actually has an author newsletter or blog, what do you write about?? All the advice I seemed to find reads like “No one wants to hear about your writing but don’t forget to mention your writing,” Which confuses me. How much is ok vs is just for tumblr posting? What else about your life do you say? Especially when you’re not important enough to like do ARC reviews for other writers and such, but without seeming boring and selfish?

Ok some of these worries might be me projecting my insecurities because I lose some control when I feel this bad. We took our cat to the vet today (just for a checkup) and even though I usually do all the in town driving my partner had to because I was too unsteady. So that’s where I’m coming from.

But it is a genuine question. Everyone says a newsletter is important, and a monthly thing seems doable, but all the instructions for it are too vague for my autistic brain to parse in relation to myself.

[donnie-triton-blog]

look.. im not saying i want a matt/delilah kid but.. i want a matt/delilah kid

Meet LORAND BIESTE, a SIXTEEN year old who resembles URIAH SHELTON. He hails from VILLENEUVE FRANCE, where he lives with his parents, MATTHIEU BIESTE & DELILAH DUNCAN.

And, meet MADELINE BIESTE, an EIGHT year old who resembles BAILEE MADISON. She hails from VILLENEUVE FRANCE, where she lives with her parents, MATTHIEU BIESTE & DELILAH DUNCAN.

Name: Lorand Lavelle Bieste

Gender: Male

General Appearance: Lorand is the spitting image of his father in his youth, except taller and more gangly. His thick, brown hair is often a mess in the morning, and throughout the day due to lack of effort. Even his eyes are blue, like his father’s. Delilah knew Matt when he was younger, due to her visiting the castle to hang out with his sister, Jolie, and is reminded of those days each and every time she sees Lorand.

Personality:

+ loyal – He developed this trait out of principle more than anything else. He shows unwavering loyalty to his friends and family, and would never do anything to hurt them intentionally. In fact, he goes out of his way often to show just how much they mean to him, and often develops a close and strong bond with people.

+ audacious – This he definitely got from Delilah. An experiment that failed to work on Matt, Delilah decided to sculpt Lorand into a bit more of a risk-taker than his father. He loves to do things that might not necessarily be the safest route, but pay off in the long run, whether it be enjoyment, education, or spending.

+ mannered – Of course a prince must develop the mannerisms of royalty, and he has mastered this skill at the young age of sixteen. When in front of people that deserve respect, or merely people of note including those in the kingdom, Lorand speaks in the most proper and well-learned manner that he knows how, and never offends a soul. That being said, when in front of family and close friends, he can kick back and relax on occasion, as well.

- independent – Although this might sound like a good thing, it just means that Lorand isn’t easily influenced, and often does not feel like he needs others to thrive. He believes that he can make informed decisions himself without outside influence, and that he knows what’s best for everyone and everything. It would take a lot to get Lorand to understand that he really needs someone when he falls, and that he can not only pick himself up every single time.

- cocky – This goes with his independence and stubbornness. Growing up in a position where it seems that no matter what choices you make, you will never fall to a low point has made Lorand overly-cocky. He doesn’t believe that anything too bad could really happen to him, no matter what mistakes he made (if he even makes any. Besides, he can make decisions all by himself, remember?)

- pretentious – Pretty self-explanatory. He uses his stature, manner, and education to preen himself before others. He knows that he is an important person, and, unlike his father who tended to keep the fact that he was a prince quiet (Matt hadn’t even told Delilah when they first met), Lorand likes to flaunt the fact.

Special Talents: Lorand has the power of magic. This power no doubt came from his mother, who’s magical abilities were so beautiful and ingrained within her soul that it was inevitable, after carrying Lorand for nine months, that they would be passed on to him.

Who they like better: Julian probably likes the royal side of the family more, merely because he loves feeling important and dutiful. His father is the king, for crying out loud. He especially loves listening to stories from Matthieu, Adam, and Belle.

Who they take after more: As much as he’d like to think otherwise, he takes after Delilah a lot more in personality. Matt was nowhere near as outspoken, highly poised, and confident as Lorand. Delilah, on the other hand, loved being a free-spirit and independent agent, and so did her son.

Personal Head canon:

The royal family spoiled Lorand from day one. When he broke a vase, they promised that it was completely okay, an accident, and was not his fault whatsoever. Nothing, really, was ever Lorand’s fault in the palace. Everything was catered to him, and this is what caused him to realize just how important he was.

Lorand actually loves to read, like his father, but keeps the passion secret, for fear that people might see him as a nerd rather than a powerful prince.

This is the first generation in which the werebeast curse has not manifested itself, and likely never will.

Face Claim: Uriah Shelton

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Name: Madeline L’ange Bieste

Gender: Female

General Appearance: Madeline has long brown hair which stretches down past her shoulders, with chocolate brown eyes and a cute little stout nose. There is no doubt that this girl, running about the castle, is descended from the king and queen. She loves wearing dresses, and lets her mother pick out the perfect ones, at times even ordering personal designs.

Personality:

+ energetic – Madeline loves playing outside. She reminds Belle of Matthieu when he was much much younger. Her imagination runs wild, and she loves playing pretend, acting out different scenarios, playing doctor, fighting dragons. The world is her stage, and there are no limitations to what she can come up with when she’s bouncing around the palace grounds.

+ caring – Madeline loves animals and friends, and would never do anything to upset either of these groups. She loves playing with others, and is extremely nice when she does so. If one of her friends is feeling down, she always makes it a priority to cheer him or her up, before going about other business.

+ diplomatic – She makes a good mediator between two parties. Where one person might want one thing, and another person might want another, Madeline is very adept at coming to compromise, making both people not only satisfied, but actually happy in the process. She has high-level reasoning skills, and can practically sell anything to sound good.

- immature – Madeline is, after all, just a kid. She doesn’t quite understand the complexities of grown-up relations and topics quite yet, and finds conversation with people older than her to be a bit mundane. She much prefers the company of kids her age, and enjoys playing and doing other activities rather than merely sitting around talking.

- short-tempered – As nice as Madeline can be, she can also be easily upset. She would never say a mean word, or hurt a soul, but when she gets made she storms off, or gives the silent treatment until amends are made. 

- reckless – Madeline often doesn’t know how much is too much, where boundaries are, or what decisions could possibly get her in trouble. Wandering into the forest alone isn’t seen as something that could potentially be dangerous. Going into town and getting lost isn’t scary, because everyone seems to know her, and therefore she’s not really lost. Playing too close to the lake, even though she can’t swim, doesn’t seem too dangerous, because there’s not that big of a chance that she will fall in. She doesn’t see the consequences of risky actions, and can’t imagine any situation that is too scary to delve into.

Special Talents: Madeline has the power of magic, like Lorand and Delilah. Hers, however, is not as strong as the other two, because she has an additional power which has developed, and nobody knows how or where it came from. Madeline also has the ability to communicate with animals. Nobody really knows if she talks to them in the animal language, or if the animals can understand her english, or if they merely respond to her emotions. Somehow, though, Madeline is constantly able to ride on the backs of deer.

Who they like better: Madeline, of course, likes both of her parents just as much. She could never choose between them. Matt is her strong, smart, loving, and protective father that wraps her into his arms and lifts her high into the air. Delilah is her funny, entertaining, loving, and adventurous mother who showers her in clothes and kisses. 

Who they take after more: Like Lorand, she takes after Delilah more. Although she displays the same youthful bliss and imaginative power as Matt, her recklessness and taste for fun matches her mother’s. This might be because Matt isn’t around much to influence her, since he’s a busy man. It might also just be that she is a kid, and her personality has yet to completely manifest. Whatever the case, she enjoys spending time with her mom, and their interests seem to align.

Personal Head canon:

Madeline likes riding deer, a lot. Countless times have the palace staff seen her on the grounds on the back of a doe, and not known how to remove her safely.

Madeline loves to sing. She gets this from her grandmother, Belle, and learns bedtime songs from her, often singing them in the fields to herself privately. 

When Matt sees Maddy playing, he is always stricken with a woeful nostalgia, longing for those days where he had fewer worries, and more time to live and love life.

Face Claim: Bailee Madison

[author-a-holmes]

Changeling Book Trailer

It's been a long time since I've had access to my main computer and, along with it, my video editing software. But this evening I couldn't resist the urge to put together a Book Trailer for Changeling.

March 16th is the 1 year anniversary of Changeling's Release, and I may or may not have something special up my sleeve...

For now, enjoy this brief glimpse into the world of Changeling ^_^

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 begins to suspect that her answers instead lie with the deadly kavians.

Changeling is available now at all your favourite online stores

To download and read the prequel novella, you can sign up for my newsletter via my website and grab "Whatever Happened To Madeline Hail?" completely free!

Signing up for my newsletter also means you'll hear about sales, cover reveals, and sneak peeks at my work in progress before anyone else.

All media used in the creation of this book trailer are free to use under the licensing terms of their various source sites.

Video Credit & Sources;

Mixkit Free Video License Anderson - Pexel License Sephelonor - Pixabay License

Music Credit & Source;

Tension (Orchestral Music) by Oleksii Kaplunskyi aka Lesfm with Pixabay License.

[author-a-holmes]

I'm currently working on a trilogy called the 'Fey Touched' trilogy.

Book One of the Fey Touched trilogy is called 'Changeling. It follows Lizzy Hail, a fey from the realm of Arbaon, who comes to the mortal realm looking for her mum.

Her mum travelled to the mortal realm a month prior to the start of the book, and vanished. Declared dead by the Court of Arbaon, no one is looking for her, so Lizzy takes it upon her self to find her mum, or at least seek out answers.

But once she arrived in the mortal realm, things aren't as simple as she planned.

Here be vampires.

There is also a prequel novella available for free to my newsletter subscribers, called 'Whatever Happened to Madeline Hail?'. It gives the readers a head start on Lizzy's investigation. You can find out why Maddy never returned home long before Lizzy uncovers all the clues!

Book one is currently in editing. Book two is being written. And if I'm exceedingly lucky, Book One will be released early next year ^_^

If you see this, tell me about your book

Whether it's a published book, a wip, or just something you're imagining for now, I want to hear about it! Share some art, too, if you have some!

Tagging a few people who I don't think would mind, but lemme know if you don't want to be tagged in the future! Fyi, to anyone seeing this, you can always tag me <3

@valeriestorm @rosantha-tindall @kittensartswriting

[author-a-holmes]

Fantasy Indies April

1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th | 10th | 11th | 12th | 13th | 14th | 15th | 16th | 17th | 18th | 19th | 20th | 21st | 22nd | 23rd | 24th | 25th | 26th | 27th | 28th | 29th | 30th

Stumbled over a prompt list for Fantasy Indies on Instagram, so I thought it'd be fun to take part in the list of April's prompts and questions...

April 1st - Fantasy Indies April

Introduce Yourself and Your Work In Progress...

Hello!

My name is Arista Holmes. I’m an author in her 30's, living in the South East of England.

I live with my mum, and my Demon-Cat called Litha, and I spend my days drinking coffee, cuddling said Demon-cat, and writing.

I predominantly write Fantasy, and at the moment my current project is Darkling.

Darkling is the second book in my Fey Touched Trilogy. The series is a New Adult / Reverse Portal / Contemporary Fantasy series, containing Fey, Vampires, and the monsterous, rabid versions of vampires known as Kavians.

The main character, Lizzy Hail, is looking to track down leads on her mother, who has gone missing, and stumbles into the mortal realm, finding vampires, kavians, and potentially new friends in the process.

Changeling, Book One, release on wide platforms on March 16th 2023 for my mum’s birthday, and is currently available in ebook on most online retailers while the paperback and hardcover versions can be found via Amazon.

(Promptlist for the rest of April can be found beneath the ReadMore)

Hey there!

Do you like the sound of my projects? Feel like supporting me so I can write some more?

Check out my debut fantasy novel ‘Changeling’.

It’s available in Ebook at all your favourite online retailers, and in Paperback, and Hardcover from Amazon.

https://books2read.com/Fey-Touched-Changeling

Would you like to read more of my writing for free?

You can grab the prequel novella to Changeling, “Whatever Happened To Madeline Hail?” by signing up for my newsletter.

http://subscribepage.io/y7a9w8

I also send out Flash Fiction pieces exclusive to my newsletter subscribers, and you’ll be the first to hear about sale prices, cover reveals and blurbs for all my future book releases.

[author-a-holmes]

Belated OCKiss24; #1

Prompt: "Almost"

Booker Reed & Cara Evelyn

“And I just wanna tell you. It takes everything in me not to call [for] you. And I wish I could run to you, and I hope you know that everytime I don’t I almost do.” — Almost Do by Taylor Swift

Lila was avoiding him.

Booker had expected it because they’d fought, and despite her unruly temper, there was little Lila hated more than fighting with him.

But that left Booker adrift in a school of vampires, with nothing to ground him, and he found himself drawing closer and closer to the outcast girl they’d encountered their first night at the school. Cara. Lizzy’s roomate.

It had started as a way to check on Lizzy. The girl saw his friend daily, but it was more than that now. He liked her. He liked the way her honey eyes sparkled when he made her laugh. He liked the way her shoulder brushed his as they walked the halls. He more than liked the thought of running his fingers through the thick layers of her hair.

And the worst part was the soft rose-pink blush that made her cheeks glow and pushed Cara to duck her head when their eyes locked for a second too long, because it made him want to pull her into a hug, and kiss the rise of her cheekbone.

This was more than the desire to take her to bed. Or tug her into an alcove and bring them both pleasure. It was feeling, and emotion, and Booker had felt the pain of a broken heart before.

The smart move was to retreat now, before he no longer had a choice... but then she’d laugh, and he’d almost kiss the sound from her lips. She’d tuck a wisp of hair that had escaped her braid behind her ear, and he’d almost lean forward to kiss the soft curve of her neck. She’d smack at his shoulder in playful disapproval of a joke that was making her eyes glow with mirth, and he’d almost catch her hand and bring the palm to his lips.

Almost. But in the meantime, he’d catch her hand and lace their fingers together instead. Delight in the soft, rose-pink blush that spread across her cheeks, and wonder how many ‘almosts’ he’d be able to get away with.

Hey there!

Do you like my writing? Feel like supporting me so I can write some more? Check out my debut fantasy novel ‘Changeling’.

It’s available in Ebook at all your favourite online retailers, and in Paperback, and Hardcover from Amazon.

Changeling’s Ebook is 50% off between March 16th-22nd 2024, so grab your copy today!

Would you like to check out some more of my writing for free?

You can grab the prequel novella to Changeling, “Whatever Happened To Madeline Hail?” by signing up for my newsletter.

I also send out Flash Fiction pieces exclusive to my newsletter subscribers, and you’ll be the first to hear about sale prices, cover reveals and blurbs for all my future book releases.

[author-a-holmes]

Fantasy Indies April

1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th | 10th | 11th | 12th | 13th | 14th | 15th | 16th | 17th | 18th | 19th | 20th | 21st | 22nd | 23rd | 24th | 25th | 26th | 27th | 28th | 29th | 30th

(Today's post includes a Darkling Snippet, so I'm tagging the taglist <3 If you want to be added or removed from the taglist, just let me know)

@faelanvance @noirepersonal @queen-kass-the-writer @athenswrites @thelaughingstag @minamoroz @bardic-tales @outpost51 @talesfromaurea @jezifster @ettawritesnstudies

Stumbled over a prompt list for Fantasy Indies on Instagram, so I thought it'd be fun to take part in the list of April's prompts and questions...

April 5th - It's FREE FRIDAY!! So let's talk a bit about Darkling...

Have you ever heard someone say that every book’s journey is different? Writing every single book goes through a different process? I thought I knew that until I began writing Darkling.

The differences between writing Stolen and Changeling were obvious to me, but it was more in the way the story took shape, and the time it took me to form the structure to my liking.

Darkling is the first time I’ve written a story where I need to backtrack and add whole scenes. Where I need to insert additional chapters to enhance subplots and character dynamics. It’s the first time I’ve genuinely needed a complete second draft.

I don’t think that means its first draft was worse than usual, but Darkling seemed to need more time to coax into existence.

Check beneath the cut for a Darkling Snippet!!

***

“Pathetic,” came the vampire’s voice, filled with weary exasperation. Or possibly disgust. Olwen made it difficult to distinguish between the two tones more often than not. “You do remember fey aren’t natural fighters, right?” Lizzy panted, trying to catch her breath and carefully rolling her neck to stare at Olwen standing in the middle of the sparring ring, hands on her hips and she sneered down at her three easily felled opponents. “And that we don’t heal like vampires,” Booker groaned.

(Promptlist for the rest of April can be found at the bottom of this post)

Hey there!

Do you like the sound of my projects? Feel like supporting me so I can write some more?

Check out my debut fantasy novel ‘Changeling’.

It’s available in Ebook at all your favourite online retailers, and in Paperback, and Hardcover from Amazon.

https://books2read.com/Fey-Touched-Changeling

Would you like to read more of my writing for free?

You can grab the prequel novella to Changeling, “Whatever Happened To Madeline Hail?” by signing up for my newsletter.

http://subscribepage.io/y7a9w8

I also send out Flash Fiction pieces exclusive to my newsletter subscribers, and you’ll be the first to hear about sale prices, cover reveals and blurbs for all my future book releases.

[author-a-holmes]

Belated OCKiss24; #7

Prompt: "Dare"

Nikalas Greyson & Mallory Forbane

“So tell me to run. Or dare to sit and watch what we’ll become.” — Ivy by Taylor Swift

His hands were shaking.

Clenched into fists so tight, Nik could feel his nails tearing into his palms, the pain allowing him to focus past the burning desire to tear her heart from her chest.

“Get. Out.”

It was a growl. A warning. All he could manage, but she never took orders from without a fight and her blue eyes sparked with indignation that made him want to groan.

She was stunning when she was angry, but if she didn’t listen to him...

Nik had never faced the full power of his mothers’ curse. To kill that which you love. But the madness creeping into his mind now...

“Oh no. I don’t know what ridiculous idea you’ve gotten into your head now, but I’m not—”

Her gasp as he slammed her backwards nearly broke him. Fists crashing against the stone wall on either side of Mallory’s body was the only restraint he could summon.

“For once in your life, could you listen to me?” he snarled. Begged. Snarled.

This weak little human had brought him to his knees, and while there were any number of creatures he could protect her from, Nik couldn’t protect her from himself.

“You idiot,” she muttered, and he snapped his gaze up from her booted feet in time to watch her roll her eyes. No fear. No disgust. Just exasperation.

“Mallory...” he growled, but the woman silenced him with a kiss. Soft and light and unlike any kiss she’d bestowed on him before.

“You won’t hurt me,” she promised, pulling back, and he could feel her power leaking out into the room as her eyes began to glow and the pull of the curse faded. “Magic won’t let you."

Hey there!

Do you like my writing? Feel like supporting me so I can write some more? Check out my debut fantasy novel ‘Changeling’.

It’s available in Ebook at all your favourite online retailers, and in Paperback, and Hardcover from Amazon.

Changeling’s Ebook is 50% off between March 16th-22nd 2024, so grab your copy today!

Would you like to check out some more of my writing for free?

You can grab the prequel novella to Changeling, “Whatever Happened To Madeline Hail?” by signing up for my newsletter.

I also send out Flash Fiction pieces exclusive to my newsletter subscribers, and you’ll be the first to hear about sale prices, cover reveals and blurbs for all my future book releases.

[author-a-holmes]

Belated OCKiss24; #4

Prompt: "Lost"

Reilly Mosswolf & Stella Korazon

“And you understand now why they lost their minds and fought the wars, And why I’ve spent my whole life trying to put it into words. ‘Cause you can hear it in the silence. You can feel it on the way home. You can see it with the light out. You’re in love. True love. ” — You Are In Love by Taylor Swift

The silence was deafening.

Reilly hadn’t said anything since they’d escaped the estate by the skin of their teeth. A crossbow bolt had torn through Stella’s cloak, but she’d managed to twist out of its path, dragging Reilly down a side street and using narrow passageways known only to the thieves to escape.

But escape they had, and she couldn’t figure out why Reilly still felt so tense at her side. Why she could practically see the glare being directed at her, even though his face was hidden in the shadows.

It was only when he pulled her to a stop halfway back to the guild, that she began to realise it was fear that had held his tongue. Relief that made his hands shake.

“I thought I’d lost you, darling,” he said, crowding her until her back hit the wall of the nearest building, and Stella’s voice died in her throat.

“Do you know—? Can you understand—?” Reilly’s voice broke. Choked with tears, and Stella felt her heart pound in her chest because, yes. She did. She remembered how it felt to think he’d been killed... but it was still so new, and so fresh, to have that care directed at her.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered, gently lifting a hand to knock back his hood and cradle his jaw, brushing her thumb across the stubble that shadowed his face as she was finally able to meet pitch-black eyes, shimmering with tears he refused to let fall.

They held her trapped, but she waited. Letting him see her, hear her, feel her. Letting him remind himself that they’d got away. That they were alive. That she was alive.

The frozen moment lasted longer than she’d expected, but eventually, Reilly seemed to collapse in on himself. He dropped his forehead to rest on her shoulder, burying his face against her neck and breathed her in as she wrapped her arms around his shoulders, and wordlessly pressed butterfly kisses of love and reassurance everywhere her lips could reach.

Hey there!

Do you like my writing? Feel like supporting me so I can write some more? Check out my debut fantasy novel ‘Changeling’.

It’s available in Ebook at all your favourite online retailers, and in Paperback, and Hardcover from Amazon.

Changeling’s Ebook is 50% off between March 16th-22nd 2024, so grab your copy today!

Would you like to check out some more of my writing for free?

You can grab the prequel novella to Changeling, “Whatever Happened To Madeline Hail?” by signing up for my newsletter.

I also send out Flash Fiction pieces exclusive to my newsletter subscribers, and you’ll be the first to hear about sale prices, cover reveals and blurbs for all my future book releases.

[author-a-holmes]

What part of your wip(s) are you the most excited about? Is there a particular scene that you've been eager to get to? Are there any characters you're super hyped to be able to write about?

-with love and ✨Good Vibes✨ from a friend

Hello darling Anon <3 Thank you for the good vibes! They're much appreciated ^_^

I'm going to answer these for Darkling, because if I include Stolen or Chronicles of Verald in here, this is going to end up being a super long reply (But if you're curious about those specifically, feel free to drop another ask in my inbox :D)

What part of your wip(s) are you the most excited about?

I'm most excited about exploring the way Lizzy is coming out of from behind her walls more now that she's beginning to settle and find her feet in the mortal realm.

Many people noticed that Lizzy is quick to anger, and a large part of that is because the Fey tend to be pacifists. Anger was an easy defence when she was in Arbaon, but it doesn't serve her quite as well in the Mortal Realm.

Is there a particular scene that you've been eager to get to?

For Darkling, I have a few! Some of them are super spoilery so I can't mention them but I cannot wait for the first time Lizzy comes face-to-face with Sethan Blackwood. I won't say more but if you've read Changeling you'll know why this might be an important moment for Lizzy!

There's also a specific moment in the Climax of Darkling that I'm excited to get to. That will reveal more about Lizzy to the readers and to Lizzy herself, that may hint at how she'd going to become further embroiled within the mortal realm throughout Book Three.

Are there any characters you're super hyped to be able to write about?

Sethan Blackwood. I actually have written him a little bit in the free Reader Magnet Novellette, "Whatever Happened To Madeline Hail?" and he's just so much fun to get into the mindset of.

He's completely insane, of course, but so much fun :D

I'm also missing Mia Harris and Nameer Khatri a little bit. This may change in the final draft but as of right now neither of them are due to make an appearance in Darkling, although both should be returning for Fey Touched. Mia is a delight to write because she's absolutely a stereotypical "Queen Bee Bitch" but there's more going on beneath her surface that I'm excited to dive back into.

As for Nameer, he unexpectly became my favourite character to write in Changeling, so I'm missing his light-hearted humor right now. And I had a discussion with mum yesterday that's given me some interesting potential twists and idea's for his character that I'm itching to explore!

[author-a-holmes]

Yes, Maddy being missing will be a huge driving force for Lizzy, my main character.

Maddy is quiet but strong willed. She's untraditional and can think on her feet, and she is willing to go to great lengths to do what she thinks is best for her daughter, even if it's something she really doesn't want to do.

She and Lizzy are very close. She raised Lizzy by herself, and Maddy is the only person Lizzy trusts apart from her best friend, Booker Reed. So, when Maddy goes missing half of Lizzys entire world goes missing with her.

As for what's happening... Well, that would be spoilers :D ;-)

DESPERATE to interact with people and make new friends on writeblr so please tell me about which of your OCs is getting most of your attention right now and why. I want to know, ESPECIALLY if they're not the MC.