#women's fiction author

[thewriteadviceforwriters]

10 Ways to Add Sizzle to Your Boring Writing

Writing that sizzles captures the reader's attention and keeps them engaged from start to finish. Whether you're an experienced writer or just starting out, there are several techniques you can use to make your writing more exciting and dynamic. Here are ten detailed ways to add sizzle to your boring writing:

1. Use Vivid Descriptions

Vivid descriptions bring your writing to life by creating a rich, immersive experience for the reader. Instead of relying on generic or bland language, use specific details that appeal to the senses. Describe how things look, sound, smell, taste, and feel to paint a vivid picture.

In Detail:

Visual Descriptions: Use color, shape, and size to create a mental image. Instead of saying "The car was old," say "The rusty, olive-green car wheezed as it pulled into the driveway."

Sound Descriptions: Incorporate onomatopoeia and detailed sound descriptions. Instead of "The music was loud," say "The bass thumped, and the high notes pierced through the night air."

Smell and Taste Descriptions: Use sensory language. Instead of "The food was good," say "The aroma of roasted garlic and herbs filled the room, and the first bite was a burst of savory flavors."

2. Show, Don't Tell

"Show, don't tell" is a fundamental writing principle that means revealing information through actions, thoughts, dialogue, and sensory details rather than straightforward exposition. This approach makes your writing more engaging and allows readers to experience the story.

In Detail:

Actions Over Exposition: Instead of telling the reader "Jane was scared," show her fear through her actions: "Jane's hands trembled as she fumbled with the lock, her breath coming in shallow gasps."

Dialogue: Use conversations to reveal character traits and emotions. Instead of "John was angry," show his anger through his words and tone: "John's voice was a low growl as he said, 'I can't believe you did this.'"

Internal Thoughts: Reveal characters' inner worlds. Instead of "Emma felt relieved," show her relief: "Emma let out a long breath she didn't realize she was holding and sank into the chair, a smile tugging at her lips."

3. Create Relatable Characters

Relatable characters are crucial for keeping readers invested in your story. Characters should have depth, including strengths, weaknesses, desires, and fears. When readers see aspects of themselves in your characters, they're more likely to care about their journeys.

In Detail:

Character Flaws: Give your characters realistic flaws. A perfect character can be boring and unrelatable. Show how these flaws impact their decisions and relationships.

Character Arcs: Ensure your characters grow and change throughout the story. A well-crafted character arc can turn a good story into a great one.

Background and Motivations: Provide backstories and motivations. Why does your character act the way they do? What drives them? This adds depth and makes them more three-dimensional.

4. Add Dialogue

Dialogue can break up large blocks of text and make your writing more dynamic. It reveals character, advances the plot, and provides opportunities for conflict and resolution. Ensure your dialogue sounds natural and serves a purpose.

In Detail:

Natural Speech: Write dialogue that sounds like real conversation, complete with interruptions, pauses, and colloquial language. Avoid overly formal or stilted speech.

Purposeful Dialogue: Every line of dialogue should have a purpose, whether it's revealing character, advancing the plot, or building tension. Avoid filler conversations that don't add to the story.

Subtext: Use subtext to add depth. Characters might say one thing but mean another, revealing their true feelings through what they don't say directly.

5. Use Strong Verbs

Strong verbs make your writing more vivid and energetic. They convey action and emotion effectively, making your sentences more powerful and engaging.

In Detail:

Action Verbs: Choose verbs that show precise actions. Instead of "She went to the store," say "She dashed to the store."

Avoid Weak Verbs: Replace weak verbs and verb phrases with stronger alternatives. Instead of "He was walking," say "He strode."

Emotionally Charged Verbs: Use verbs that convey specific emotions. Instead of "She was sad," say "She wept."

6. Vary Sentence Structure

Varying sentence structure keeps your writing interesting and prevents it from becoming monotonous. Mix short, punchy sentences with longer, more complex ones to create a rhythm that engages readers.

In Detail:

Short Sentences for Impact: Use short sentences to create tension, urgency, or emphasize a point. "He stopped. Listened. Nothing."

Complex Sentences for Detail: Use longer sentences to provide detailed descriptions or explain complex ideas. "As the sun set behind the mountains, the sky transformed into a canvas of oranges, pinks, and purples, casting a warm glow over the serene landscape."

Combine Different Structures: Mix simple, compound, and complex sentences to maintain a natural flow. Avoid repetitive patterns that can make your writing feel flat.

7. Introduce Conflict

Conflict is the driving force of any story. It creates tension and keeps readers invested in the outcome. Without conflict, your story can become stagnant and uninteresting.

In Detail:

Internal Conflict: Characters should struggle with internal dilemmas, fears, and desires. This adds depth and relatability.

External Conflict: Introduce obstacles and challenges that characters must overcome. This can be other characters, societal pressures, or natural forces.

Resolution: Show how conflicts are resolved, leading to character growth and plot progression. Ensure resolutions feel earned and satisfying.

8. Use Metaphors and Similes

Metaphors and similes add creativity and depth to your writing. They help readers understand complex ideas and emotions by comparing them to familiar experiences.

In Detail:

Metaphors: Directly state that one thing is another to highlight similarities. "Time is a thief."

Similes: Use "like" or "as" to make comparisons. "Her smile was like sunshine on a rainy day."

Avoid Clichés: Create original comparisons rather than relying on overused phrases. Instead of "busy as a bee," find a fresh analogy.

9. Create Suspense

Suspense keeps readers on the edge of their seats, eager to find out what happens next. Use foreshadowing, cliffhangers, and unanswered questions to build tension and anticipation.

In Detail:

Foreshadowing: Drop subtle hints about future events. This creates anticipation and a sense of inevitability.

Cliffhangers: End chapters or sections with unresolved tension or unanswered questions to compel readers to keep going.

Pacing: Control the pace of your story to build suspense. Slow down for crucial moments and speed up during action scenes.

10. Edit Ruthlessly

Great writing often emerges during the editing process. Be willing to cut unnecessary words, tighten your prose, and refine your sentences. Editing improves clarity, pace, and overall readability.

In Detail:

Cut Redundancies: Remove unnecessary words and repetitive phrases. "In my opinion, I think" can be reduced to "I think."

Focus on Clarity: Ensure each sentence conveys its intended meaning clearly and concisely.

Proofread: Check for grammar, punctuation, and spelling errors. A polished manuscript reflects professionalism and attention to detail.

[coffeetank]

Easy Narrative Techniques That Spice Up your Works

Narrative Technique is, in simple words, the method a writer or author chooses to tell their story. It includes literary and fictional devices that assist greatly in writing literature or fiction.

In this post, I'm going to go into useful details about narrative techniques and how to play them out while writing your project. Here they are:

1. Setting:

You must've noticed that in genres like horror/mystery/crime the story is set in or restricted to just one place. This has an important impact on the protagonists and characters of your story. Settings play a huge role especially in the genre of crime/horror because the plot is carried out within those premises.

For example, in the movie Scream, the whole story is carried out in the town of Woodsboro, which is significant to note as it adds more thrill given that the killer is on the loose and within very close proximity.

Settings are also vital in genres like fantasy/adventure where the conflict is carried out in an unusual environment as it creates a sense of fight-or-flight hence gripping you into the story.

2. Cliffhanger:

Cliffhangers are common, and rightfully so because they are essential in a fair amount of stories. A cliffhanger is when the author ends a chapter or a book in suspense, often hinting at event that is due in the later part of the book or series.

Cliffhangers can either introduce the possibility of a newer event, or will create a gap before something is resolved, which makes your reader want more in order to find a solution. This encourages your reader to stick by and through, until a satisfactory answer is given.

Cliffhangers are also more effective in the genres of crime, horror, mystery, adventure, and fantasy. In genres like romance or slice of life, cliffhangers can be used, but it needs to be ensured that it doesn't deviate from the light-hearted mood of the story.

3. Multiperspectivity:

This one can be so interesting if used right. Multiperspectivity, as the name suggests, is when there are more than 1 or 2 perspectives in the story.

This pumps up the interest factor as different characters will see things differently. When you show the story being carried out in a variety of POVs, you give your readers the chance to read the story in a new light with every character.

This can also affect the plot, as different characters will have different goals by the end of the story. Multiperspectivity can also help you resolve conflict between different characters. In addition, you can use this to introduce a hidden villain/a hidden hero.

4. Sensory Detail:

Sensory details are the visual images you create for your readers while writing descriptions. This helps in the famous ‘show, don't tell’ and sensory details will visualise the scene for your readers.

This can also be paralleled with imagery (sight, touch, sound, taste, smell).

For example, imagine a hilltop. Instead of just writing about the fact that you see trees and the sun and some animals, you could put down your senses to make the description more visual. It would go like – “As she stood on the hilltop, her eyes took in the verdant swathes before her. The soft breeze tickled her skin while she basked in the warmth of the sun. Deer galloped across the lush, green grass, calling and prancing in carefree freedom. The scent of the earth hit her nose, and it was there that she felt she was home."

5. Foreshadowing:

It's common, it's effective, it's fun. Foreshadowing is when the author is implicitly trying to hint at a forthcoming event. It creates a suspicion in the reader's mind, which keeps the interest alive.

Foreshadowing and cliffhangers can be mixed to create a lot of questions in your reader's minds, which further keeps them hooked into your work.

6. Analepsis & Prolepsis:

Fancy words for plain terms. It's nothing but flashbacks and flash-forwards.

Analepsis (flashback) is when the author breaks the chronology of the story to bring light to an important event in the past. This either has an impact on the plot or the main character.

Prolepsis (flash-forward) is when the author breaks the chronology to go into the future. This can be used to highlight an important event (or events) that are likely to happen in the future.

It's important to note that these are not the same as time skips, which are just a leap from one time to another to not lose grip of the eventfulness of the story.

7. Chekhov's gun:

Chekhov's gun keeps your writing in check. Chekhov's gun is a principle that says any and every element in a narrative should have a purpose. If it doesn't, it get's removed.

Let's say you've introduced a character. Chekhov's gun requires you to assign a purpose to that character. Unless they are contributing to the story, they are useless. If they can have any sort of impact, then you keep them. If they don't, then they get executed from the plot. The same thing applies to objects as well. If your protagonist has found a box, something better come out of it or it's getting thrown in the trash.

8. Title Drops:

We love these, let's be honest. As the name suggests, title drops are when the author writes the name of the title in a line, or adds it in a dialogue, or uses it as a description to finish the story with a cherry on top.

Example: In the 90s romcom She's All That, there's a scene during their prom preparations where two guys are rapping and one of them says, "she's all that" as lyrics. This is a title drop.

9. Antithesis:

Antithesis uses two opposite ideas and puts them together to amplify the message you're trying to send. Antithesis can be done in two cases: contrast and parallelism.

With respect to CONTRAST, antithesis uses two polar opposites to highlight a certain point. For example: "In an instant, all the colour was gone. He was left with black. He was left with white." Here, you have ‘black’ and ‘white’ being used as opposite colours to signify the lack of vibrance.

With respect to PARALLELISM, antithesis puts forth a contradiction but in parallel structure. This means that the grammatical structures of your opposite phrases/sentences are the same. For example: "He was left with black. He was left with white." These two sentences have the same grammatical structure. Infact, the only difference between these two sentences is the colour, but then it amplifies the message.

I hope this helps those reading this. If you're a beginner or even stuck with your work, try implementing some of these to help yourself!

- ashlee

[shannonpurdyjones]

Short sample clip because Tumblr is being a butt and refusing to upload the full video without crashing (hellsite my beloved and beloathed)

Here's the link if you want to see the full in-hand spinning demo video with captions (you don't have to subscribe or download anything to watch...I mean it's lovely for me if you do subscribe obviously, but don't let Substack bully you. It's a link. You can open it with no strings, no matter what they say lol.)

More about the textile history inspiration behind my historical fantasy novel Wyrd Weaving below the cut!

When I first conceived of the idea that is now becoming Wyrd Weaving, an historical fantasy novel set between Northumbria and Svealand in the tumultuous early 9th century, I only knew two things for certain. I knew I wanted to write a story centering the lives of women, queer people, and gender-nonconforming people in the 800s. So often stories set in the “Viking Age” center only the pursuits of men (wealthy men especially), and I wanted to dig for what other stories were buried there, waiting to be told. I also knew without doubt that fiber arts would somehow comprise a significant portion of the story’s magical realism elements.

I’ve knitted since my late teens, and have harbored and interest in all sorts of fiber arts for even longer than that. When I decided to get serious about writing a story centering the lives of medieval women (in Europe primarily, though several other unique period cultures factor into the story as well), I knew I had to do a deep dive into historical spinning and weaving. Women at all levels of society spent more time on aspects of cloth production than any other chore during this period, yet arts like spinning and weaving are almost never shown in novels, movies, or TV set in the early Middle Ages.

That wasn’t going to fly for Wyrd Weaving, a story inspired by the countless forgotten fiber artists who quite literally wove the history of our society. This first short video about my (mis)adventures in historical textile research gives you a glimpse at how and why I learned in-hand or “twiddle” spinning, the style of spinning prominent in early 9th century northern Europe. Enjoy!

[leechjuice]

MY ANGSTY GAY CANNIBAL BOOK IS OUT NOW!

IN THE END, YOU KILL US BOTH is a novel about a lesbian arsonist rebuilding her life after a violent trauma, and the texan loner that inspires her to seek revenge on her abusers. it's also a story about relentless grief, hunger, and the unending staircase of healing.

🩸

[formulatedphrase]

Oh hi

I am stagnate in my writing, so I thought a nice little side blog would help with that. Looking for other writing folks to interact with. If I follow you, you'll see me under my main blog @tearosewater

More about me and my writing

I'm in my 30s. I've been on Tumblr for a loooonggg time. Writing wise, I started young, telling stories through storyboards I would draw out before I could write letters. I learned to read young, my mother was a writer and emphasized literacy.

I wrote fanfiction and original fiction for many years, and started college with the aim to be a journalist. I hated journalism, so I switched to English halfway through. I have a degree in creative writing.

I've never been published anywhere important, mostly for lack of trying. A thing here or there has been published, but sparingly. I find the traditional publishing scene exhausting. I am not a marketer, nor do I enjoy having a "social media presence" which is vital in selling your work these days.

I work an office job from home, and after college I got back into fanfiction and was pretty popular among a certain scene. However, work and life events have made it nearly impossible for me to feel or be creative the last few years.

I am trying to mend that, hence the blog.

Hi!

[the-ellia-west]

HEY! YOU!

Please take a moment to Read This

Artist or Writer, Rich or Poor, Man or Woman, feeling loved or lonely,

You are a creation of God whom he loves and does not regret. You are an amazing person no matter where you are or what you've done, and I love you.

There is someone out there who wants to see your projects and see you. You've got this. You are Natural and you are wonderful.

Your product won't come easy to you, nothing beautiful ever really does. And you are not an Ai, you are real, you are human, you are a person, and being human is to struggle, and to work hard.

And remember. Your work will take time. It will take blood, sweat, and tears. But remember to take rests. No matter how beautiful and wonderful your work will be, you are the thing that matters more. You are the source of your story, and you are the Wonder, the triumph in your creation that matters so much more.

You are loved and you can do this, if not now then one day. I'm cheering for you!

GO GET 'EM YOU MASTERPIECE!

[apolline-lucy]

Any tips for writing sapphic romance

I don’t think writing sapphic romance is much different from writing any kind of romance. Feelings are feelings, and human beings are human beings. We all experience love in very different ways, and yet it renders us crazy and desperate all the exact same.

I don’t write romance, but romantic fantasy; the nuance is that rather than having the plot gravitate around a relationship, the relationship supports my plot (usually a magical adventure of sorts). And whether i write wlw, mlm, or else, I don’t change my formula. I make every character unique and imperfect, regardless of their gender or sexual orientation.

What I like is putting them in uncomfortable situations (aka hell) and then watching them suffer, really. I put together people that originally don’t belong together + forced proximity + having them face their fears + having them help & rely on one another + slow burn + making them actually get to know one another + making them doubt and cry and get real with their emotions and feelings + having their beliefs being ripped apart, twice, because betrayals + pain pain pain

Too often, I read romances that start with a physical attraction and never elaborate much deeper. Attraction is great for just dating, it’s great for erotica, but if you want a much stronger story and a relationship to seem believable, they have to go through rough patches, they have to test their limits and see the worst of each other. No one’s perfect. That’s cliche, but that’s true. Your characters can’t (and shouldn’t) be perfect either—that’s boring and no reader will identify with them. Us readers are like our characters, we want someone who will keep on loving us when we’re bleeding and screaming and hurting and making mistakes (deadly or else).

That being said, writing sapphic literature, and not necessarily romance, allows me to get more chances to explore some topics that are important to me: feminism, feminine rage, women’s sexuality, inclusiveness, friendships between women, trans women, women of colour, women being women, women supporting women, etc.

These can all be written into non-sapphic stories, of course, but the more you make space for women into your pages, the more characters are women, the more voices you give them. And us women have so many things to say.

When people ask me why I choose to write sapphic stories, here’s my answer: I simply love writing about women because women can be anyone and everything, and that’s enough for me.

Hope this helps🖤✨

[veryrealauthorthings]

[notsocheezy]

Brain Curd #100

Brain Curds are lightly edited flash fiction - practically first drafts - posted daily and sometimes written with the express intention of being terrible… but, you know, in an endearing way. Now there are a hundred of them! Kind of a lot of pressure to make #100 special, huh? Here's to a hundred more... and then some.

Nearly fifty things you can do in one-hundred days:

Write every morning

Laugh

Drive to your appointments

Get that ‘check engine’ light looked at

Help your friends

Fall in love again

Cook dinner

Make a nice birthday gift for your fiance

Kiss for the final time, not knowing

Live

Mop the floors

Go to therapy on occasion

Sign up for life insurance, get denied

Survive

Cook dinner

Volunteer for a good cause

Spend too much money

Battle dysphoria

Get jealous

Fool your friends

Watch an eclipse

Fool yourself

Forget to claim your free scoop of ice cream

Become single

Cry at your twenty-fifth birthday party

Go to therapy, but not enough

Write every morning

See a concert

Try not to think about it

Have a stomach ache

Cook dinner again

Throw up

Finish making a film, sort of

Show it to ten people

Go see Rocky Horror again

Help your friends, but too much

Catch COVID

Cry alone in the darkness

Stagnate

Decay

Try to breathe

Try to sleep

Try to hold down a bite

Think about it, dammit

Get high

Cry some more

Try going outside again

Make some phone calls

Say goodbye from afar

Move on?

Stay tuned today as I reblog my ten favorite one-offs from the first hundred Brain Curds.

[weaselle]

i'm not the kind of person who pays much attention to the personal lives of the artists i like

C. J. Cherryh has a large selection of sci-fi/fantasy to read from (she's been publishing books forever and she just had one come out this month (book number 22 in a series, out of 80 published books) and even though i've loved her work and been reading her books for years and years, i didn't know that much about her

but i just looked her up a little bit ago, and it turns out that she lives with her wife :) who is a sci-fi and fantasy artist with a few published books of her own! which really warms the heart.

She got her start writing fanfic of Flash Gordon as a young girl and was first published in the late seventies and i really like her as an author

Some books written by C. J. Cherryh that i particularly enjoy:

Cyteen and Regenesis

These two books together tell one story from her Alliance - Union universe, in which she has set 18 novels, so there will be interesting cross overs if reading the rest.

The story itself follows a girl in a big space lab that genetically designs humans, who discovers that not only is she the clone of the Top Lab Director Super Genius Lady, but TLDSG Lady's pet project is to recreate not just her own body but also her mind, by closely controlling how her clone is raised, trying to mimic the same basic childhood, matched to a computer tutor program written by her, so her clone can grow up to continue the super genius work of TLDSG Lady... but also, not everyone on the space lab is happy about the project, and there have been murders

i personally love this story even more than the other 18 Alliance - Union universe books, all of which are worth a read

The Morgaine Cycle, 4 books

Imagine if Sauron and the one ring never existed and Legolas and Aragorn were combined into one character who discovered his realm was one of many realms that were linked by a sort of Ancient Alien Stonehenge Star Gate system, because on the worst night of his life he meets a woman from the legends of his people riding out from the stones and acting as if the Big Battle she disappeared from happened only minutes before. Her armor is in the old style, her sword is deeply cursed, and he'll have to learn how to pronounce "laser pistol" because there's no translation for it in his language

chefs kiss

The Chanur Series, 5 books

listen to me very carefully:

Cat Alien Space Pirates

okay? but if you need more, it's told entirely from their point of view, and they find the only human anyone has ever seen

wait actually, i should tell you a small running gag that slowly becomes an examination of social themes is the human keeps thinking the cat aliens are "he" because they go shirtless and there's no obvious breasts, but they keep offhandedly correcting the human, telling him "she" because actually the cat alien men aren't legally allowed off planet at all because they are too emotional and prone to fits of rage, and generally thought to not be cut out for complex math. Also (because the cat aliens are based on lions) the cat alien men are alarmingly huge.

there is also a sort of gorilla alien species, but don't worry there are a few really wild and out there alien species too

read up friends!

[thewriteadviceforwriters]

50 Character Personality Traits + Meanings (For writers, worldbuilders, and artists) Part 1

Adventurous - Enjoys trying new experiences and exploring the unknown.

Ambitious - Driven to succeed and achieve their goals.

Analytical - Tends to think critically and examine things in-depth.

Artistic - Highly creative and expresses themselves through artistic mediums.

Assertive - Confident in expressing their thoughts and feelings.

Caring - Shows compassion and concern for the well-being of others.

Charismatic - Has a natural charm and appeal that draws people in.

Clever - Able to come up with creative solutions and make astute observations.

Compassionate - Displays empathy and a desire to help those in need.

Confident - Believes in their own abilities and is self-assured.

Conscientious - Reliable, responsible, and attentive to detail.

Curious - Eager to learn new things and explore the world around them.

Cynical - Tends to be skeptical and distrustful of others' motives.

Dependable - Can be counted on to follow through on their commitments.

Determined - Persistent in pursuing their goals and overcoming challenges.

Diplomatic - Skilled at navigating social situations and resolving conflicts.

Eccentric - Displays unconventional or unusual behaviors and interests.

Empathetic - Able to understand and share the feelings of others.

Ethical - Guided by a strong moral compass and a sense of right and wrong.

Extraverted - Enjoys being around people and draws energy from social interactions.

Flexible - Adaptable to changes and open to trying new approaches.

Forgiving - Willing to let go of past hurts and give people second chances.

Friendly - Approachable and enjoys building positive relationships with others.

Grounded - Practical, down-to-earth, and focused on the present.

Hardworking - Diligent and dedicated in their efforts to achieve their goals.

Honest - Values truthfulness and integrity in their words and actions.

Idealistic - Driven by a vision of how the world should be and a desire to make a difference.

Imaginative - Possesses a rich inner world and creative problem-solving abilities.

Independent - Prefers to think and act for themselves without relying on others.

Indecisive - Struggles with making decisions and often second-guesses themselves.

Introverted - Finds energy and fulfillment in solitary activities and introspection.

Jealous - Experiences feelings of resentment or insecurity towards others.

Kind - Gentle, considerate, and thoughtful in their treatment of others.

Leaders - Able to inspire and guide others towards a common goal.

Logical - Approaches problems and decisions through a rational, analytical lens.

Materialistic - Highly values the acquisition of possessions and wealth.

Organized - Maintains order and efficiency in their personal and professional life.

Perfectionistic - Strives for flawlessness and can be overly critical of themselves and others.

Pessimistic - Tends to focus on the negative aspects of situations and expect the worst.

Resilient - Able to bounce back from setbacks and adapt to changes.

Risk-taker - Willing to take chances and step outside of their comfort zone.

Sarcastic - Uses irony and witty remarks to convey their thoughts and feelings.

Sensitive - Deeply affected by the emotions and experiences of themselves and others.

Stubborn - Unwilling to change their mind or compromise on their beliefs and opinions.

Suspicious - Inclined to doubt the motives and intentions of others.

Thoughtful - Considerate of the impact their words and actions have on others.

Timid - Shy, reserved, and hesitant to take risks or assert themselves.

Trustworthy - Reliable, honest, and worthy of confidence.

Unpredictable - Displays an element of surprise and spontaneity in their behavior.

Witty - Possesses a quick, clever, and humorous way of expressing themselves.

Hey fellow writers! I'm super excited to share that I've just launched a Tumblr community. I'm inviting all of you to join my community. All you have to do is fill out this Google form, and I'll personally send you an invitation to join the Write Right Society on Tumblr! Can't wait to see your posts!

[adrielandanna]

3

Chapter 2

“Mate?” Her voice barely more than a whisper, Anna had to ask. She had to make sure she was not misunderstanding.

Adriel gently nodded, not dropping his eyes from hers. Annabella felt her heart speed and her lungs seemed suddenly unable to draw air. She felt her head spin a bit, the reality of the situation setting in hard and fast. For a second her eyes dropped to the center of his chest, where her hands were now splayed. At the moment, everything about him was affecting her more than she had anticipated him doing so in the beginning, let alone than she wished it did. Setting aside the fact he was Abriella’s father, he was gorgeous and she was finding him far more muscled than she had anticipated judging based solely on his profile in his suit.

When their eyes once again met, her breath and voice stuttered as she tried to put her thoughts into words. “So, I’ll be your first…” Each word was enunciated and came out slowly as she still tried to make sure she expressed herself clearly. Every implication from what she had learned of anglic relationships over the centuries tumbled through her mind and she was failing to grasp them soundly.

Was that really what she was worried about? Adriel’s jaw clenched hearing the words come out and the seeming hesitancy of them. His pride and, if he was honest, heart were more than a little bit wounded that her mind first went to sex and his inexperience. His voice held an edge, no matter how hard he tried to keep it out, “worried that you will not be satisfied due to my lack of experience, Bella?”

The sexual attraction and magnetism between them was strong, and it was all he could do not to ravish her on the table upon which she was sitting, yet that she was concerned about his experience struck at something within him that hurt in a way he could not express. Rarely did he feel vulnerable in any way, but at the moment he felt completely defenseless before her. His jaw tensed more, and he fought snapping. He had wanted to claim her there and then, but she worried that he would leave her wanting greater pleasure then he could provide? Angels did not copulate before they found their mate; but that did not mean he had not provided pleasure in other ways, and would not ensure that she was completely sated when he was through with her. That she would doubt him, and it would be her primary concern; that bothered him. He wanted a mate focused on more than the physical, but it seemed he had been granted otherwise by his father.

“First relationship.” Anna clarified, a bit taken aback and unsure of what else to say, after feeling like she had just been slapped by his reaction. Although she supposed the other was true as well, she was not about to state that from the way he had just spoken to her. She had seen the hurt on his face, and heard it in his voice. She was actually hurt herself now that he had thought she was referring to sex. It had been the last thing on her mind. How could he think she meant that? Relationships were complicated and sometimes messy; it seemed that communication was starting off that way for them in this one.

As soon as Anna spoke, and Adriel realized his mistake, his eyes closed and his head fell forward a bit. Obviously he was trying to process things as she was, and the heightened sexual tension between them, that had been building since their first meeting, was not helping. “I am sorry, my Bella.” He swallowed, unsure what else to say. Curse Div, curse Stennis, curse…fuck…he didn’t know. Maybe he should curse himself for jumping to conclusions after seeing how well that had worked out over the years for Cruz and Abriella. His mind, his body, and his heart seemed to be warring with one another on how to handle everything. This had to be one of the most unique situations when it came to angelic matehood, and nothing had prepared him for it.

Anna brought one of her hands to his cheek to gently caress it, the soft stubble tickling against her soft palm. “Adriel, I’m more worried about disappointing you.” She sighed heavily, now trying to be more careful with her wording and her nerves rising ever higher. “Being your first at everything…it’s a bit overwhelming. I did not mean to hurt you. I’m sorry if my hesitation in being able to put my thoughts together gave you the wrong impression. I’m just overwhelmed with everything, but that’s not a bad thing.” Now it was her thumb that swept slow and soft over his cheekbone as her voice mirrored that softness. She had been in his place more than once; she knew the blow to the ego and the heart. Worse, she had been in the place he thought he’d been in, where she had been a disappointment to someone else, someone who didn’t necessarily care that it caused her an ache.

Her touch almost caused a greater ache in his chest than his realization that he had been an ass to assume and not let her finish her sentence. If Annabella had reacted with anger or hurt, he would have understood and he deserved her reproach; instead she had been understanding and was worried herself. Adriel felt that it was he who did not deserve this female as his mate. His anger, which was indeed legendary amongst the Heavens and Hells, was something he now feared would hurt her and potentially drive her away. If he lost her…the ache in his chest caused him to breathe in sharply. He and Div would talk later.

“I am sorry, Bella. I have a temper, one which I have never had reason to contain nor restrict. I did not mean to offend or hurt you. I promise to do better in the future.” Slowly Adriel’s eyes opened and his head rose to look at her face. “You could not disappoint me.” Softly he kissed her, keeping his eyes on hers, feeling drawn into their cerulean depths and drowning within.

Gently he lowered his hands to her ass and lifted her off of the table. He had an idea, and it required getting in a totally different position than the one they currently were in. Her legs had still been wrapped around him, which helped as he carried her over to a large couch that was a short distance away. “I think we both got wrapped up in the feelings, emotions, and desires, mia bella. How disappointed would you be if we spent the rest of the afternoon,” one hand left her ass and slowly made its way up to the middle of her back, “just talking and becoming more comfortable with one another? Maybe avoiding more miscommunications?” He held her to him, trying to convey he didn’t want to let her go yet, but they obviously were both trying to grapple with this sudden shift in all they knew.

Anna’s hand was still on the side of Adriel’s face and again her thumb caressed his cheekbone, her head tipping to the side as she did. “Horribly…that is if there aren’t snacks and wine included in this snuggling on the couch.” Her lips curved up in a smile as she leaned into him. The passion that had overtaken them previously was waning, and that while the attraction had not lessened, now she wanted to know the man in a way that was far more deep and intimate than carnally. “A girl must have sustenance if she is to bare her soul to her mate, you know.” She was trying to lighten the mood a little. Truly, she wanted the wine more than anything.

When Adriel reached the couch, Annabella finally released her legs from around his waist. Her feet were only on the floor for a brief moment, however. As Adriel sat, he pulled her down with him so that she sat across his lap. Her ass on one thigh, her thighs were perpendicular across the other, with her shoulder tucked under one of his, and her head resting atop his shoulder. By the time they were settled, she was securely wrapped in his arms once more, and it was a toss up which was more pleased at the current situation.

One arm wrapped around her back with his hand on her hip, the other cradling her with his hand buried deep in her golden, silken hair, Adriel’s hold was gentle, yet possessive. How his daughter had found his mate and then matched them up without realizing it confused him, till he realized that Div had assisted her in pairing everyone up. It was true that his father worked in mysterious ways, but sometimes it would be nice if the being gave a heads up when he was about to upend your life. A soft kiss was placed on Anna’s forehead. She was his treasure and for her, he would learn not to explode as much as he had for the entirety of his existence. At least he would learn to temper his anger towards and at her, if not towards others entirely.

“I cannot promise to be a perfect mate. I shall try. There will be failures, but know that you are treasured regardless.” His hold tightened momentarily. “Tomorrow should be more relaxed. What do you think of spending the day together? We can go anywhere you want, or just stay here in Imperium and I can show you around. There are many nice places here on the Palace grounds.” A slow and soft kiss was placed on her forehead, and he inhaled the scent of her perfume as it mixed with her innate scent.

“I tend to snap to judgements and say things without thinking, so we both have things to work on, Addy.” Anna gave him a sheepish smile. Judging from everyone’s reaction at breakfast, she had a feeling that they’d all had run-ins with Adriel’s temper. She hoped not to, at least nothing worse than what had happened today.

Another kiss was placed on her forehead, then Adriel brought his forehead to hers. There was something in his eyes that made her feel that no matter what fights or disagreements that they had, it would end up okay. “Spending the day together sounds great, but how about we stay down here for a while? At least till we figure each other out a little more?” Annabella gave him a small smile, which was rewarded with one of his own and a very soft kiss. She was coming to like both from him exceptionally.

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[myriahsb]

My new book is updating live. It is an LGBT fantasy novel, a villain origin story, and dark fantasy. Please enjoy.

[inopinatus-ea]

3

Chapter 2

The storm after the calm...

After his mother and Adelia’s parents had passed him, Raiden took the opportunity to rescue the obviously stunned and horrified Princess and her escort from the courtyard before his father exploded all over Emery again. Branoc’s rages were legendary, and if there was truly to be a wedding, it was best that Adelia not learn of them until later. Even if his elder brother were telling the truth, what was coming was going to be ugly and brutal. He wondered if Emery would even be able to join the banquet once their father finished with him. This was quite a fine mess they were in, and that didn’t help their father’s disposition any. There was no need for the Princess to witness whatever was coming, it would only add to the disaster that was transpiring. If she did, there was no doubt in his mind that whatever agreement that had been reached between the Kings would be immediately nullified, and she would flee in well deserved fear.

“Princess Adelia, my most humble apology for this upset.” Raiden slightly bowed towards her, a lock of his dark blond hair falling slightly over his forward. It gave him almost a boyish charming look. “I assure you none of us were aware of this disgrace to our family, and I do apologize for all of the upset. I am Prince Raiden,” his head inclined slightly towards her, “please let me escort you inside. Much refreshment has been provided for the evening that will allow you to have a moment to alleviate some of the shock of the moment.” His eyes flicked over to Drach’s. When they met, there seemed to be some understanding between the two men that Raiden meant her no harm, and was just trying to help in the moment when it was clear that things had not gone as anyone in his family had planned. Drach inclined his head towards the Prince in approval, at least for the moment.

Glancing warily towards Drach, Adelia too saw the exchange of looks between the men and nodded slightly to Raiden. “Oh..okay. I apologize, Prince Raiden,” she curtseyed only slightly, still in shock that she was marrying a man who had not only impregnated his former lover, but sent her away in her shame it seemed, “please forgive my rudeness.” What exactly what was the protocol for such a situation? Was there one? She certainly didn’t remember one from her many years of training to be a Queen one day.

Releasing Drach’s arm, her delicate hand slid onto Raiden’s proffered arm. She had acknowledged he was more muscled than she would have anticipated upon appraising him clothed. Hopefully, that would be the first of many pleasant surprises, given how the day had started. Adelia wasn’t sure that she could take many more surprises like the one that her mother had dropped upon all of them, although she wasn’t sure any of them could

Raiden bowed his head slightly to his father, as Adelia curtseyed, when they passed. To Emery, though, he only met his gaze and slightly shook his head with a look of supreme disdain. How could he do this to their family and to the Princess. He understood that his brother didn’t want to be forced to marry, but the dishonor to all of them was inexcusable, and the poor woman was so shaken by it all. Raiden could see Emery’s jaw was locked, his eyes boring holes in him. Let Emery be mad. It was his own fault this was happening.

Adelia noticed the exchange between brothers and the look or rage upon the King. It only served to cause her nerves to grow even more bubbling up from within her depths. Only knowing that Drach was with her and would give his life for her kept her from running through the door and back to the waiting car. She was not happy about being there, and the current state of affairs was not helping.

Once Drach had closed the doors behind them, Emery barely had time to consider what his father’s actions would be before Branoc’s fist slammed into the side of his son’s head. “How dare you humiliate us in front of the Uchelgais Royal Family like that. You fucked that harlot, got her pregnant, and didn’t think to tell us? Do you really think that King Mavroa is going to let his virginal daughter marry you now? Now that you’re a disgrace to the throne and kingdom? Do you think she can even look at you without feeling a great amount of disgust?” Once more the King’s fist impacted Emery’s face, drawing blood and imparting a great amount of pain.

Dust puffed up around him as Emery hit his knees, blood dripping from his cut lip. When he spit, it was bright red. His head only hung briefly before his chin lifted, and his eyes met his father’s defiantly. He knew better than to say a word, though. Long ago, he had learned that trying to answer Branoc would only bring about more pain. There was no defending himsel, all he could do now was to accept the pain that was coming.

There would be no words that would convince his father that he had not taken Siara to his bed. While he had done nothing to earn the scorn, Branoc had always loathed his eldest. Emery was a reminder of a daliance that had gotten out of hand and became public in the worst way, one that haunted him still. The Queen wanted Raiden as the heir, but as long as Emery breathed, that was impossible.

“Well, what do you have to say for yourself, you little bastard?” His father’s enraged voice rang in Emery’s ears. It was the King’s favorite insult to Emery, because it was the one he could use that he made it through the facade of indifference that Emery had long ago built against the barbs and arrows slung by the King. Branoc ruled through fear and pain; and while he no longer intimidated Emery, he could still cause him pain.

“It is not mine. I didn’t fuck her.” Emery ground out against the pain and a clenched jaw. He was fighting against arguing more, telling his father what he really felt about him, King Mavros, his perfect daughter, and this whole situation that Branoc had contrived. For all he knew, his father or Raiden was the father of Siara’s child. It had come as a complete shock to find out that she had been with someone else, now he had to consider everything.

Emery was not known for being a submissive man, nor for tempering his tongue. He knew that it would do no good to express any opinions to his father. All it would do is bring about more pain and prolong his suffering. Ranting against Princess Adelia, who he did not truly know, could also bring about danger to her as well. Giving his father any idea that she was as not as presented would place her in danger from the violent King. While he didn’t know her personally, he had met enough high born Princesses to have his opinions and ideas, but he’d be quiet for now.

“LIAR!!” Branoc raged again as his foot impacted his son’s head, then his abdomen, once…twice…three times. Emery was curled up in a ball, coughing up more blood at the end. Surely, there was some kind of internal damage from the amount of pain he was feeling. Would this be the time his father finally killed him and his brother got his place in line for the crown?

Branoc was neither a small nor a frail man, so there was little doubt that he was doing damage, and he relished that fact. If he would not have had further revolt from his people, he would have eliminated Emery long ago. “GUARD!”

As they waited, the King glowered down at his eldest son, who lay trembling on cold and gery stones of the drive. Pain wracked his body from the blows he’d sustained, his breathing was labored, and darkness clouded the edges of his vision. This wasn’t the end, though. This was just intermission in the administering of pain for the evening. The guards would finish it, and as always, he wished they would also finish his life. He was sure that they would not. They never did. They weren’t that merciful. Instead, they enjoyed the administration of pain and seeing how loud they could make him scream and cry out. Emery thought that is why Branoc let them.

Two guards came, smirks on their faces when they saw the state of the Prince. They knew the task that they were about to be handed and were looking forward to it. “Take him out to the horse barn. Whip him until he passes out. Afterwards he’ll need to be cleaned up and given fairy blood. Make him presentable for the banquet, and do not disappoint me. He has a duty tonight.” One more good kick to the stomach, and Branoc turned to head inside to his son that wasn’t a degenerate, and the Princess that he might let Raiden have instead of Emery.

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[evilkitten3]

one of the most frustrating things about reading naruto meta is that every now and then you'll run into a post that's absolutely brilliantly thought out, has stupendous points, and pulls out all the stops on almost every level....

and you just have to stop and wonder how someone can simultaneously be so good at media analysis and so fucking bad at accepting that sometimes authors just cannot and/or will not write female characters on any level