Firlefanz

Firlefanz, 3 months ago to random

#WordWeavers 22/2 Does reading your own words bring you joy?

Yes, it does.

The other day, I re-read West Falls, because I totally needed a comfort read. And because I love West and how he grows in that story.

Especially that desperate flight from Jungle Fortress and then the final showdown! My most favorite parts of the book. happy sigh

There are times I can't quite believe I wrote that story myself.

West Falls, Winds of Destiny 2

#WritingCommunity
#EpicFantasy

Firlefanz, 3 months ago to random

#WritersCoffeeClub 2/20. What's the secret to writing a good blurb?

I use a system created by Bryan Cohen from Ad School (he has a book out called "Fiction Blurbs the Best Way Forward").

Since learning that, I actually enjoy writing blurbs, both for my books and others.

Biggest thing: Everything that happens in the first half of a book is fair game for a blurb.

And remember: A blurb is to make someone curious about the book, it's not about describing what happens.

#WritingCommunity

Firlefanz, 3 months ago to random

Gute Nacht, Freunde.

No writing today. Definitely a recovery day.

Even so, I researched ways of selling my books directly (more or less), especially after the potential rights grab from Spotify/Findaway Voices.

So I set up a PayHip store (it has only one book atm.), but I'm not nearly done. Will let you know once I have the first series up.

That was pretty intense again, but I'm glad. It's a huge step forward. Hoping for an indie author coop, to replace the tech giants.

#WritingCommunity

Firlefanz, 3 months ago to random

#WritersCoffeeClub 2.18: Do you suffer for your art? Backaches, headaches, writers' cramps, etc.?

Well, I spend my days in front of a computer, and that isn't exactly healthy.

But I'm not in pain. I set up my desk, chair and computer so that I'm not. I use a keyboard tray to avoid getting carpal tunnel again. I have computer glasses.

I hope I can keep writing for many more years, without any major problems.

(But yeah, I do suffer emotionally.)

#WritingCommunity
#AuthorLife

Firlefanz, 3 months ago to random

#WritersCoffeeClub 2.17 — How much of yourself is in your MC, or do you never write this way?

I find that very difficult to determine.

I mean, they all grow out of my soul. In a way, they are all part of me, even the antagonists.

Yet, they are also separate entities, coming to life first through my words, and in the end, through the mind of my readers.

They are not real, but even so, they manage to touch my heart, and hopefully, the hearts of those who get to know them.

#WritingCommunity

Firlefanz, 3 months ago to random

#WordWeavers 2/16. What is your antagonist’s pet peeve?

Let's go with the Head Priest of Jungle Fortress again.

He is really annoyed that the general populace doesn't recognize how much he does for them. I mean, it's not fun having to sacrifice a South every year.

And while the people cheer when he does, they stay away from him the rest of the year, when he doesn't force them to cheer. It's disgusting, really.

Sky Falls, Pillars of the Empire 2
(out now!)

#WritingCommunity
#EpicFantasy

Firlefanz, 3 months ago to random

#WritersCoffeeClub 14/02:
Does your work feature on Goodreads? How do you feel about the platform?

My books are there, yes.

But honestly, that platform is so incredibly clunky, especially for authors, it has massive issues with moderation and it really looks as if it crawled into 2024 from the 1990s and is just waiting to die of neglect.

Let's head to Bookwyrm and put our books there.

#WritingCommunity

Firlefanz, 4 months ago to random

#WritersCoffeeClub 2/13: Do you ever write very short pieces (fifty words, flash fiction etc)?

I haven't in a while, but I used to run a monthly flash fiction challenge on my former forum/message board.

If you're interested, I could revive that on my Lemmy board. (But hey, who am I kidding?)

Flash fiction has taught me the value of finding exactly the right word for something. It always was fun.

#WritingCommunity

Firlefanz, 4 months ago to random

#WritersCoffeeClub 2/11: Are some genres taken more seriously than others? How does this make you feel?

One word: Romance.

And right next on the list of genres not taken seriously is Fantasy. Which I write.

I created my pen name so that my professors in the English department could pretend not to know I was writing Fantasy. Romance authors do the same everywhere to protect themselves.

That should tell you something.

And no, it doesn't feel good at all.

#WritingCommunity

Firlefanz, 4 months ago to Podcast

I had great fun today chatting with @mkucsera about Sky Falls (and a lot of other things that were more or less related to the series and writing in general).

If you feel like listening to us ramble and have fun (and me reading Chapter 3 of Sky Falls), click on the link and pick your favorite source.

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/melinda-kucsera/episodes/Fantasy--Lore---More-Sky-Falls-e2fk820

Sky Falls, Pillars of the Empire 2
(out now)

#WritingCommunity
#EpicFantasy
#podcast

Firlefanz, 4 months ago (edited 4 months ago) to fantasy

Sky takes fate into his own hands - with the help of his lover. They flee the Sacred Square, but they have to separate. Knowing so little of this world, Sky makes a fateful mistake that could land him in the very hands he tried so hard to escape from...

(I just had to add in a favorite pair of characters from earlier books, so if you enjoyed them, have fun meeting them again.)

Sky Falls, Pillars of the Empire Book 2

Choose your favorite store here: https://books2read.com/SkyPillarsEmpire

#Fantasy

Firlefanz, 4 months ago to random

Gute Nacht, Freunde.

Wrote 400 words for Sun today, and I am very happy with that. Hope many more will follow this weekend.

I did get some downloads from Writer Brain for book #9, Spirit Sings. That was a bit of a motivation, as well. Things will get a little more complicated than I thought, but I like the added layer. (Yes, vague, sorry.)

Very tired tonight, will read a bit and crawl into bed.

Posted a snippet on my board:
!hannahsdragonriders

#WritingCommunity
#AuthorLife

Firlefanz, 4 months ago to random

#WritersCoffeeClub 2.8 — Which words do you overuse? Be honest.

sighed
grinned
clearly

I'm sure there are more, but those are definitely the worst offenders.

But then, I like making my characters sigh, and I enjoy making them grin. Not really sorry, either.

#WritingCommunity

Firlefanz, 4 months ago to random

#PennedPossibilities 217 — How intelligent is your MC overall? Are they smarter than the average person, or less than? Are they primarily self-taught, or did they acquire most of their knowledge in school? Are they more street smart or book smart?

Sky is really smart, but in a scientific sense. Definitely not street smart at all. Also completely self-taught, in fact, the Priests hid most information from him.

Sky Falls, Pillars of the Empire 2
(out now!)

#WritingCommunity
#EpicFantasy

Firlefanz, 4 months ago to random

#WritersCoffeeClub 7/2 Complete this phrase: I write because…

... the stories in my head become too loud if I don't.

Although recently they haven't been loud, and I miss that more than I want to admit.

#WritingCommunity
#AuthorLife

Firlefanz, 4 months ago to random

A friend of mine is offering the first book in her historical fiction series on sale during February. It's also in KU, so if you have that, you can try it for free.

She's currently writing Book 4 in the series, which will be the last one for Argyle.

Get "At the King's Command" from Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Q2H2QLH

#Historical Fiction
#BookSale

Firlefanz, 4 months ago to random

#BookBirthdayParty

Okay, I'm bad at games and such, but I'll give away an ebook of Sky Falls to someone commenting below (I'll use my dice to roll the winner).

If you could pick a theme song for Sky, what would it be?

(I know I'd be absolutely hopeless with that question, so I'm asking you all.)

Sky Falls, Pillars of the Empire 2

https://books2read.com/SkyPillarsEmpire

#WritingCommunity
#BookGame
#PlayWithMe

Firlefanz, 4 months ago to random

Guten Morgen, Freunde!

Sky Falls is published! 😍

Of course, there's a bit of a catch. Yes, it's up on Amazon, Google and Kobo, but the other stores are still taking their sweet old time. (Looking at you, Apple and Tolino.)

Which means that the link below isn't yet as fully functional as it will be in a couple of days. Apologies!

Even so, I want to start the celebrations!

Sky Falcon is flying live! happy dance

https://books2read.com/SkyPillarsEmpire

#WritingCommunity
#EpicFantasy

Firlefanz, 4 months ago to random

#PennedPossibilities 212 — Has your MC or SC ever had any prejudices that they later came to regret?

Not sure about prejudices, but Sky did believe a lot of the things the Priests told them.

And of course, he has a very hard time trusting any Priest. He learns better once he actually meets... well. Spoiler territory.

Sky does love to learn about the world after he gets to live in it.

Sky Falls, Pillars of the Empire 2
(out today!)

#WritingCommunity
#EpicFantasy

Firlefanz, 4 months ago to random

Today, I will finally upload "Sky Falls", Pillars of the Empire Book 2, which is #6 in the Winds and Pillars series.

I love the cover to bits, so I'll give you a little preview after playing in GIMP with it.

Thing is, I really adore these little pics with the arrows and tropes, so I made one for Sky. I doubt any of that will surprise you.

I'll let you know when it's up in the stores, as usual, this can take a while.

#WritingCommunity
#EpicFantasy

Firlefanz, 4 months ago to random German

#phantastikprompts 30.01
Was denkst du über Fanfictions? ( @AnnaSaultron )

Ich liebe Fanfiction wenn sie dem Original treu bleibt. Es ist einfach wunderbar, wenn man mehr in einer geliebten Welt erleben kann.

Ich hasse sie, wenn es nur darum geht, irgendwelche Lieblingsfiguren zusammen ins Bett zu kriegen. 😬

Und Fanfiction zu meinen Welten wäre... großartig, solange sie zu der ersten Version gehört. Auf das andere kann ich verzichten.

#WritingCommunity

Firlefanz, 4 months ago to random

Gute Nacht, Freunde.

Took care of one more frazzling thing today (yes, even though it's Sunday), read through what I have of the spicy shifter story and realized it still needs quite a few more chapters.

shoves it to the backburner again

(We'll see what Writer Brain says about that...)

And since I promised, I did format Sky tonight. I think it looks good, but see for yourself below.

#WritingCommunity
#AuthorLife

Firlefanz, 4 months ago to random

It hasn't really been making international news, and even our German media have been lazy about reporting this - but I wanted to let you know that hundreds of thousands of Germans are out in the streets and towns, protesting against the right-wing extremists here in Germany.

I was out myself today, along with 15,000 others in my town, for Holocaust Memorial Day. 100,000 in Düsseldorf alone, plenty more across the entire country. More protests are planned for tomorrow.

1/3

Firlefanz, 4 months ago to random

#WritersCoffeeClub 1/28: How do you format a flashback so the reader knows what's going on?

No special formatting.

I try to write them so they work. Sometimes, I don't even want the reader to realize immediately what is going on. But I do make it clear eventually.

Having said that, I use them rarely because they are so often being used as cheap solutions. I want mine to matter.

#WritingCommunity

Firlefanz, 4 months ago to random

#WordWeavers 1.26 — Would you ever co-write a book? Why or why not?

I have, and I wouldn't do it again.

The whole project was pretty much a fiasco, the publisher who wanted the books rejected them after they were written.

Writing was painful, as well. I'm not much of a plotter.

We found a publisher, book isn't selling for many reasons, lots of work for very little result.

It's experience, I learned from it, all good.

#WritingCommunity