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🎉🎁WordHerder Gifted & Discount Membership Offer🎉🎁

Hello all! As part of the holiday season, I will be offering a discount on WordHerder content as well as a limited number of FREE sign-ups. In case you missed it: I am writing a WLW fantasy novel Hymn of Sand and Stars, which is currently publishing monthly chapters on Patreon under the name WordHerder. If any of you have been wanting to read my new work but haven't been able to commit to subscriptions, now is your chance! In whatever way you feel able to join me for the story, it'd mean the world to me to have YOU there! Keep reading below to find the links for each promotion.

Please note: all discounts and gifts apply to the first month of subscription only and all links/promo codes will not be valid until the 1st of December 2024 PST 09:00.

I will be gifting a month's membership at the Recruit tier which gets you access to ALL previously published chapters as well as December's one for FREE. The offer is running from 1st December 2024 to 1st January 2025 (PST 09:00) and up to TEN people can claim it on a first-come first-served basis. This is the link to claim your GIFTED membership. 2. If you miss out on the gifted promotion, there is still the option of a 30% Discount across ALL tiers for your first month. This means in addition to published chapters, you can access artwork from @ehay, @mercisnm and @shiningbean as well as other cool BTS content for 30% less than usual. This offer can be used by new members as well as existing members looking to upgrade their tier. The offer is running from 1st December 2024 to 1st January 2025 (PST 09:00) and has an unlimited number of spots to claim. Enter this promo code at checkout: FB307. 3. Lastly, Patreon now offers the option for you the readers to gift membership to someone else. So, if you're already a member and there's someone in your life who you know would LOVE to read the story then you can gift them with up to a year's membership. Here is the link for you to set this up. NB: This link has no time limit and can be used with immediate effect rather than waiting for 1st December. For those of you who may not know how Patreon subscriptions work, it is similar to platforms like Netflix (although your money goes directly to creators rather than a giant corporation). You can cancel at any time and if you cancel before your free/discount month is finished, you can keep reading until the end date. If you feel able to continue supporting me after your free/discount month, you can choose to keep your existing membership or to upgrade to a higher tier for more exclusive benefits.

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Artwork & Chapter dropped!

Remember, if you sign-up for any paid membership tier then for the monthly price you get access to ALL previous chapters (& artwork depending on your tier). There is also an automated promo-code running at the moment where some free members will get a discount of up to 50% on their first month of paid membership.

If you're interested in queer fantasy or know you've enjoyed my writing on other platforms, then drop by my Patreon and join the story!

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The Travels of Brother Marcus

Shared here as part of the worldbuilding for my wlw novel Hymn of Sand and Stars. Another page from the journals of Brother Marcus, a wandering priest from Salta sworn in service to Mirastír the Creatress. Though even the indomitable Brother had little success in reaching the shores of the elusive Grey Isle, he shares some insights on the custom of Tokens.

Few outsiders can claim to have set foot on the Grey Isle of Liathilean and, despite my best efforts, I cannot count myself among them. I once spent a sennight on the rock they call The Threshold, hoping to negotiate passage with a local boat. I might as well have been holding a flame while doused in oil, the Cerddaini captains were so reluctant to carry me across. In the shadow of a whalebone arch, I observed what I could of the Liathilean folk whenever they came ashore. None would speak to me except to trade and even then they mostly remained hooded and reticent. I did learn of their Tokens, however, from a Maiden’s Cove trader who fed his family by selling interesting trinkets at the Threshold for the Liathileani to weave into their hair.

Every adult on Liathilean, male or female, wears their hair long and hung with decorations called Tokens. Strands at the temples are braided,-

To turn the page and keep reading, visit my Patreon and become a FREE member to access all of Brother Marcus' writings, the first chapter of Hymn of Sand and Stars, and other short stories.

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Today is double art day - hurrah! A character portrait with incredible detail from @mercisnm.

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Some marvellous artwork from @ehay dropped today on Patreon along with chapter three of my queer fantasy novel. Join for free to get a taster, and sign up at any paid tier to get access to all currently published chapters.

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The Travels of Brother Marcus

Introducing Brother Marcus, a wandering priest of Salta, who keeps extensive journals as he travels both West and East of the Surmaran Sea. Worldbuilding excerpts for Hymn of Sand & Stars will be shared here on Tumblr with the full versions available for free on my Patreon. Today's excerpt is on Sphere-Stones, an important custom with the Azekhari Empire.

The most significant choice a child who has come of age in the Eastern Lands must make is that of their allegiance to one Sphere over the other. Sphere-Stones are more than decoration, they are a declaration, one that can determine which trades are open to an individual, where they may take shelter at Zenith, whom they may woo, and how much a fresh horse will cost at an oasis.

Those who favour the Moon and her silver face can be seen decorated in pearls or nacre, white opals, ivory, and selenic crystal (commonly called moonstone). The particularly devout may even- The page ends here. To turn the page and keep reading, become a free Member and join the story!

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Discord Server Available

Hello all! As further adjustments to my Patreon tiers after seeing how subscriptions shape up, I am pleased to say that access to the dedicated Discord server is now available to all paid members at ANY tier. This means if you were at the Recruit or Apprentice tier, you now get the added benefit of Discord access. My hope is this will help build a community where people can chat about the stories. For more information on how to link your Pateron and Discord accounts, here is a handy guide . And if you're not yet a member but would like to see what it's all about, my Patreon is linked here. Cheers, WordHerder

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Patreon Tiers Adjusted - Art now available

Hello everyone! Following some feedback, and seeing how the first month of subscriptions has shaped up, I have decided to swap some tier benefits around. This now means that everyone at the Apprentice tier (US$10/month) gets access to all the written chapters AND all the artwork. (Discord benefits continue to be available from Adept tier onwards.) I'm hoping this change means more of you will get to see the incredible work from featured artists like @ehay and @mercisnm. There's already several pieces available and more art is due to drop throughout the month so come see what these talented folks have produced!

Any questions or suggestion, please feel free to DM via Patreon or here.

Cheers, WordHerder

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For members at the Adept tier or higher, new artwork has dropped! Drawn by @mercisnm and full of gorgeous detailing that brings Ruan to life on the page.

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Chapter Two has dropped, available to all members at the minimum amount. If you join this month, you'll gain access to both chapter one and chapter two and the prologue is available to read for free. Come and meet my new story, we'd love to have you with us!

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Two artworks from the Prologue of Hymn of Sand & Stars, drawn by the marvellously talented @ehay. A full-scale piece with the shield-bearer saying her farewell, and a flag design for Liathilean. Both are now available on Patreon at the Adept tier or higher. For these and more content to come, click here to join!

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New Chapter released

Chapter One of my new queer novel Hymn of Sand and Stars is now available on Patreon from $5 USD. A full colour map also dropped today with more artwork due to release shortly.

The Prologue continues to be available for free!

Any and all support, including signal boosting, is hugely appreciated.

Cheers, WordHerder

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Patreon Launched: Queer Novel released

Hello everyone! I am pleased to say my patreon is now live (click here to visit and have a look around). Clicking on the 'About' tab will bring further instructions on how best to navigate the page if you're new to Patreon.

The prologue of my new queer fantasy novel, Hymn of Sand and Stars, is now available to all members for free along with some previously published complete stories. Chapter one will release tomorrow 9th August at 11:00 PDT and will be accessible to all paid members at the minimum amount. Further chapters will drop on a monthly basis.

The dedicated Discord server is now also live and you can get an invite link by signing up on Patreon at the Apprentice tier or higher. For those of you who feel able to contribute at higher tiers, artwork will also drop tomorrow 9th August and BTS content will release throughout the month.

Whether you already know my writing or are just willing to signal boost a new queer story, please reblog and help spread the word on any platform you can. It would mean the world to me if you'd come on this wander through words with me!

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Countdown to Patreon Launch

I am thrilled to announce my Patreon page will launch on 8th August at 08:30 PDT (UTC-7). A link will be provided here once the page is live.

The prologue of Hymn of Sand and Stars will be available for free from that point on. Chapter one will drop on 9th August (time TBC) and will be available to all paid members at the minimum amount. Subsequent chapters will be released on a monthly basis. For those of you who feel able to contribute more, there will be artwork and all sorts of behind-the-scenes content.

If you've read my work before, thank you so much for your comments and support. I look forward to sharing this new story with you all!

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WLW Novel: Hymn of Sand & Stars

My new fantasy novel featuring queer characters will soon be available on Patreon. Stay tuned for launch dates and news on chapter drops. Here's a short blurb for the story:

'In a world where Sphere Paths dictate how many days of light or dark each region receives it was inevitable that Sun and Moon become deities. Some people celebrate the harmony and balance between the Spheres, others choose one as superior and revile its counterpart.

The Azekhari Empire was born from this divisiveness and the sunburst banner now covers most of the east. In the west, isolated islands and fractured kingdoms exist in a fragile tolerance under no unifying force other than their distrust of the Empire.

In the port-city of Iskerad, gateway between east and west, two women meet, and their worlds collide. Ruan is a fiery-haired Liathilean spear maid, daughter of chieftains but exiled from the island she calls home. The Veiled Lady is a mysterious figure who lives in a gilded prison and wears the veil of a moon-priestess, guarded at all times by a retinue of warrior women. Ruan joins their ranks but soon discovers she has sworn to protect far more than she might have imagined.'