Author | Lightnews

Jay Burrell @grumblygoose.bsky.social · 14d

100 years ago, invaders took over Vaniya's home.
Vaniya has had enough.
She is taking her city back, no matter what it takes—
— as long as the woman out to kill her doesn't succeed—
—and Vaniya doesn't get distracted by her new feelings for this assassin...
#DVpit #A #F #R #LGBT

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Jay Burrell @grumblygoose.bsky.social · 14d

Cass wants revenge for her parents' murders, but inadvertently ends up a contract fighter. When the very woman she is searching for buys her contract, vengeance is attainable—if she can ignore the woman's annoyingly noble cause and her own feelings of attraction.
#DVpit #A #F #R #LGBT

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Jay Burrell @grumblygoose.bsky.social · 14d

Vaniya has spent the past decade leading a rebellion against the military occupying her city. Freedom is within grasp, until she realizes someone on her side is working against the rebellion.
#DVpit #A #F #R #LGBT

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Jay Burrell @grumblygoose.bsky.social · 14d

When Cass's parents are killed, she thinks vengeance will help her escape her role as the family disappointment.
On her mission, she sees the scars her ancestors have carved into the city.
Cass must decide: complete her revenge or help the people harmed by her own parents?
#DVpit #A #F #R #LGBT

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Jay Burrell @grumblygoose.bsky.social · 14d

In a city suffering under the boot heel of invaders, a woman fighting for the freedom of her people is confronted with her past when the daughter of the fascist leader she murdered comes looking for revenge.
#DVpit #A #F #R #LGBT

Jay Burrell @grumblygoose.bsky.social · 14d

An adult fantasy about revenge, rebellion, and redemption for readers who enjoyed the star-crossed sapphic lovers caught up in a rebellion of THE UNBROKEN by C.L. Clark and fans of the hit Netflix show ARCANE who are craving more lesbians, more Zaun politics, and more Sevika.
#DVpit #A #F #R #LGBT

Jay Burrell @grumblygoose.bsky.social · May 19

She's perfect 😍 and my favorite critique partner!

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Jay Burrell @grumblygoose.bsky.social · May 11

me and Sevika WHEN

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Jay Burrell @grumblygoose.bsky.social · May 11

what people think I mean when I say my book is an Arcane-inspired sapphic romance vs. what I actually mean

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Jay Burrell @grumblygoose.bsky.social · May 7

👭 Dual POV!

Cass wants Vaniya dead.

Vaniya wants to free her people...and she's going to use Cass to do it.

#QuestPit #Q #A #F

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Jay Burrell @grumblygoose.bsky.social · May 7

The vibes are immaculate

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Jay Burrell @grumblygoose.bsky.social · May 7

For 100 years, Vaniya's city has suffered under the military rule of invaders.

Vaniya has had enough.

She is taking her city back, no matter what it costs.

#QuestPit #Q #A #F

Three funny social media posts that have the same vibe as the book.
Post 1. a hickey mark from her is temporary, a stab scar from her is forever
Post 2. I am a woman who leans in doorways. Relaxes against the counter. Drapes across a couch. Sprawls over an armchair. My spine isn't straight and by gods neither am I.
Post 3. an older man won't save you but that older lesbian will

Reader reactions:
Pulling a Luigi.
Daaaaamn. Cold. Love it.
Goddamn this line gave me chills. She means BUSINESS
She needs to keep it in her pants
I love the dog

A03 tags this would be under: stabbing as flirting | wow much dystopian | fighting instead of talking about feelings | serious mommy issues | welcome to the rebellion | so much dishwashing | physically competent, emotionally inept | the toddler lives | and so does the dog

White Raven, White Lily
By Jay Burrell
Adult fantasy
115K words

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Jay Burrell @grumblygoose.bsky.social · May 7

10 years ago, Cass's mama was murdered.

Six months ago, her other mother was also killed.

Cass knows who is responsible...

...and she is going to get revenge.

#QuestPit #Q #A #F

Writing sample that reads: “You're a traitor,” Cass bit out.
“Damn straight I am,” Vaniya said. “A traitor to you and yours, but a hero to the people down here. Your mama deserved to die.” She stubbed the cigarette out in an ashtray on the desk, folded her arms, leaned forward to peer into Cass’s eyes. “Why are you here, Cass?”
“What, work those muscles so hard they finally popped your brain?” Cass said. “Your goons brought me here.”

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Jay Burrell @grumblygoose.bsky.social · May 7

Revenge. Rebellion. Redemption.

💪 Buff morally gray lesbians who punch + kiss each other
🏦 Downfall of capitalism + colonialism
🗡️ 8 murder attempts
👶 Precocious toddler asking inappropriate questions

#QuestPit #Q #A #F

White Raven, White Lily
Adult fantasy
Sapphic romance
Second world dystopia
Queer normative world

Pitch:
A woman sets out to kill her parents' murderer, who in turn tries to use her as leverage in a rebellion.

First line:
Cass had just knocked the other fighter out to the roaring cheers of the crowd when she saw her.

Comps:
Arcane: What if Sevika was the main character?
The Unbroken by C.L. Clark: Star-crossed sapphic lovers caught up in a rebellion
Blood Over Bright Haven by M.L. Wang: Wow this place sucks! Let's burn it all down!

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Jay Burrell @grumblygoose.bsky.social · May 5

Big shout out to cabin leader @cullerpictures.bsky.social for making this a great experience for #CRPFireflies!
And thanks to all that helped organize #CampRevPit! I was struggling with my WIP but because of this experience, wrote 15k in the past week!

Revise & Resub @reviseresub.bsky.social · May 4

𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝟭𝟰: #ShoutOut
#CampRevPit is coming to an end, Campers. Hope you had fun as much as we did!
Today, shout out another writer who's inspired you, helped you along your journey, or just been a great Camp buddy.

Three marshmallow friends on a green campsite. There is an orange blanket on the ground. A marshmallow with a blue backpack is picking up an apple core, another with a red backpack is writing notes in a red notebook, and the third with a purple backpack is sitting on top of a picnic basket eating a sandwich. There is text across the green canopy saying, #ShoutOut

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Jay Burrell @grumblygoose.bsky.social · May 3

Omg, incredible! Let me DM you!

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Jay Burrell @grumblygoose.bsky.social · May 3

Absolutely, please do!

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Jay Burrell @grumblygoose.bsky.social · May 3

Murder attempt 4 of 8:

And then Vaniya felt it, the sharp tip of a knife against her side. “Guess you’ve got me right where you wanted me,” she panted. “Gonna do it, kitten?”
The knife edged closer, point piercing her shirt. “I hate you so much,” Cass said. “The only feeling left inside me is hatred. I trusted you once, Vaniya, and you betrayed me.”
“Boohoo,” Vaniya said, then brought her head back one more time. At the same time, she smashed her fist down atop the knife. It left a shallow scratch down her side. As Cass writhed behind her, Vaniya grasped her wrist and smacked Cass's fist down into the roof, repeatedly, until the knife dropped from her grip. She quickly grabbed it and brought it up to the arm wrapped around her neck.
“Let me go,” she ordered. When Cass didn’t obey, she pressed harder. A single drop of blood ran down the blade.

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Jay Burrell @grumblygoose.bsky.social · May 3

Seeking CPs for my Arcane-inspired adult fantasy: A woman sets out to kill her parents’ murderer, who in turn tries to use her as leverage in a rebellion. 115K
🗡️ Buff morally gray lesbians who punch + kiss each other
🗡️ Down with capitalism + colonialism
🗡️ Everybody's gay
#CampRevPit #CRPFireflies

Revise & Resub @reviseresub.bsky.social · May 3

𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝟭𝟯: #ABCPit
Welcome to #CampRevPit's Mixer Event! Come gather 'round the fire—pitch your project, and tag if you're seeking alpha readers, beta readers, or critique partners.

A well-fed green caterpillar sit on a little hill to the right of the screen, eating a pile of pages labeled with the words “story notes.” On the left, a Camp RevPit flag waves at the end of a flagpole. There is a blue sky with fluffy white clouds in the background.
There is black text in the middle of the blue sky, saying, #ABCPit and "Welcome to #CampRevPit's Mixer Event!"

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Jay Burrell @grumblygoose.bsky.social · May 3

This is me, too! Sometimes I wish I didn't have to write the other stuff and could just write a book that's only dialogue 😜

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Jay Burrell @grumblygoose.bsky.social · May 3

On my fourth manuscript and it's taken me this long to learn how to not get pulled out of the writing flow by the need to research something or come up with the perfect word. Future me might hate past me when I have to fill in those gaps, though 😂

#CampfireConfessions #CRPFireflies

Revise & Resub @reviseresub.bsky.social · May 2

𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝟭𝟮: #CampfireConfessions
Writing is rarely a linear journey, but all the turns and detours make us better. So, tell us: What’s something you’ve struggled with as a writer that has made you better in the long run?
#CampRevPit

On a green hill beneath a starry night sky, the firefly clings to a branch and dangles a tied stack of story notes from a stick with the label “Darlings” written on the top page. The caterpillar reaches for the tied bundle of notes with mouth wide open, ready to chow down. Behind the tree, which still has bite marks from the caterpillar’s previous meal, the mantis holds her claws to her face in dismay. Dawn is beginning to tint the horizon red.
The text #CampfireConfessions is at the bottom.

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Jay Burrell @grumblygoose.bsky.social · May 1

Hahahaha merely that they had a gag attack over eating something gross

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Jay Burrell @grumblygoose.bsky.social · Apr 30

My WIP is for my two beta readers, who say such bizarre things that I then steal and work into my draft (such as "hard gagging sesh")

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Jay Burrell @grumblygoose.bsky.social · Apr 30

#CRPFireflies #MoodboardTwist

The sun and moon are smooching because they are lesbians in love

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Jay Burrell @grumblygoose.bsky.social · Apr 29

On a messy first draft, absolutely! But when I'm chopping to get to a certain word count?? Literal tears 😭😭😭

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