#man it took me fucking forever to be happy with Iraq's design

[peonycats]

BEHOLD..... THE LONG AWAITED KURDISTAN INTRO POST (wow tumblr preview looks like ass pls click on it)

He is very charming and affable, and can make anyone feel welcome. Even around people he dislikes, he remains friendly; however, his amicability gains an edge of passive-aggressiveness and hostile snark. He's also incredibly tough and proud, and isn't afraid to show it.

Fun Facts:

Married to the mountains

Brags about Saladin whenever he gets the chance

Can be extremely stubborn

Had a pet fox in the past; it attacked Iran on multiple occasions

Pals with Afghanistan! (Kurdistan🤜dealing with Iran🤛Afghanistan)

Deeply distrustful of others

Ive been planning this post for a while and what better time to post it than Day 10 of @aphasiaweek for OCs!

Notes and References:

The left half is mostly Kurdistan's interactions with the four main countries (Iraq, Turkey, Iran, Syria) his ppl are spread across- as you can imagine, he doesn't get on particularly well with any of them.

Foxes are a widely recurring element in Kurdish folklore as trickster figures who defeat much more powerful opponents; the fox furry thing is an inside joke between me and my friend LOL

Kurdistanball is holding a dolma! Dolmas are stuffed dishes, commonly made by wrapping leaves around the filling. They're commonly found in the cuisines of the Balkans, South Caucasus, Central Asia, and the Levant.

Bijî bijî means "Long live ...!" and it would make more sense if Kurdistanball said "bijî bijî Kurdistan" (cuz bijî bijî by itself doesnt really make any sense) but I ran out of room 😔

Roasted sunflower seeds are a popular treat in the region, especially in the Levant!

The lady in white is a tentative design for Miss Yazidi/Miletê Tawûsê Melek! Yazidi clothes are just so beautiful.... She'll prbly pop up with Miss Assyria later ^^

I share this Kurdistan OC, Iraq OC, Syria OC (mentioned), and Yazidi OC with @hammyletto!!

[proudbookaddict]

Title: Thirty Days - Part One Author: BT Urruela Genre: Cover Design: Cassy Roop / Pink Ink Designs Release Date: February 28, 2017

ADD TO GOODREADS

BLURB

Gavin is a struggling writer with a complicated past, who's reeling from the loss of the only woman he's ever loved. More than a year after the breakup, he's still suffering major heartbreak and a serious case of writer's block. In an attempt to help him out of his funk, Gavin's best friend and fellow writer, Bobby, sets up an account for him on the new dating app SwipeDate. After a few unsuccessful dates, Bobby challenges him to thirty more dates in thirty days. If Gavin can complete the challenge, Bobby will give him a check for twenty-five thousand dollars. Does Gavin have what it takes to complete the challenge? Or will the trials and tribulations of modern dating prove to be too much? Find out in thirty days... WARNING: This is Part One of Gavin’s story, so it does end in a cliffhanger

EXCERPT

"While I told Dr. Thresher the dream comes but a few times a month, it’s more like a couple times a week. Only instead, the man, or ‘mystery savior’ as I like to call him, never comes to my rescue in the dream. He never hops off his bike and climbs over the barrier and onto the ledge himself. He never talks to me about his own battle with depression, his abusive father, his ugly divorce. He doesn’t convince me to give life another go. Instead, I jump. And unlike what many go their whole lives believing, I do die in my dreams. I do feel the nerve-rattling fall that seems like forever. And I feel the concrete like water as my skull splits against it. I smoke a few bowls of Mary Jane to hinder the onslaught of feelings, confusion and desperation the dream always brings. It’s a time I’m not proud of, in a situation I never saw myself in, without an ounce of strength to deal with it all. I’m thrilled to be out of it. I’m even more thrilled to know, in my heart of hearts, that I’ll never be there again… never… but it doesn’t mean I’m not still affected by it all. If only we could erase those heart thrashing memories of our past. If only Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind was based on reality. I’d erase every last one of them. I’d get along through life just like everyone else; content and without worry. I know others suffer too. But I also know, regardless of all that, depression doesn’t give two shits about any of it. It doesn’t give a fuck about how your peers are getting along, or whatever the fuck it says in the latest self-help book you’re reading. It only cares about you… and how it can tear you apart bit by fucking bit." 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

BT URRUELA was an infantryman in the US Army from August 2004 until February 2011. At the end of a year long tour to Baghdad, Iraq, his vehicle was hit by two roadside bombs, which took his right leg below the knee and the life of his commander. He was awarded a Purple Heart for his wounds, an Army Commendation Medal, and Combat Infantryman's Badge. He medically retired from the Army in 2011 and moved to Tampa, FL where he currently works as a Director and Brand Ambassador for VETSports, a veteran community sports nonprofit he co-founded in 2012. He also conducts motivational speeches, works as a cover and fitness model and he's a personal performance trainer. He co-wrote the novel 'A Lover's Lament’ with author KL Grayson in 2015. He released his first solo novel, 'Into the Nothing' in June 2016, ‘Wicked Little Words’ with author Stevie J. Cole in October 2016, ‘Alphas & Fairytales: A New Year’s Eve Anthology’ and ‘Into the Blood’ in December 2016. He lives in Tampa with his dogs, Kiko and Scout, and is writing full-time. 

Author Links

Amazon Facebook Twitter Website  Goodreads Twitter (Author photo by Christopher John / CJC Photography)