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Michael Spearwater @michaelspearwater.bsky.social · 1d

#WIPSnips Oct.14, and it's time for the "ultimate"... what?

Looking through, I see that the only time that word appears for me is at the end of a villainous conversation

How appropriate.

excerpt from "Monsters Among Us : Teenage Wasteland" by Michael Spearwater
the word 'ultimate' is highlighted
---

“Again, yes. A behemoth to dwarf behemoths, a leviathan in fact. Completely unnecessary for our ultimate goals, but what do I know, I’m just the one with the brain…” The man stood calmly in the center of the room, unperturbed by shakes and cracks. “Now, I have said my piece, and you two have had a nice breather, so it is time for us to kill each other, I’m afraid.”

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Michael Spearwater @michaelspearwater.bsky.social · 1d

#WIPSnips for Oct. 13, and some characters are 'push'-ing their luck a little too far

The heroine of this #upcoming #creaturefeature is finding nearly-ex-boyfriends more annoying to deal with than things that go bump in the night

an excerpt from "Monsters Among Us : Teenage Wasteland" by Michael Spearwater
The word 'push' is highlighted
--

“And the rumor?” she pressed. Her eyes were stabbing at him.
“Um…” He had this nervous pose sometimes, where he folded both his arms behind his back and somehow reached up to scratch the nape of his neck at the same time. “I… didn’t actually say it that way, or at all. Um, I was still a bit sore that morning, y’know, but I couldn’t really explain it to the guys. Like, where to even start? So they had fun making their own guesses and… and… I didn’t say no to any of ‘em. The whole team came up with the final product, I guess you could say.”
She stared at him, daring him to say more, but he maintained his embarrassed silence. The sigh that departed her lungs was only the ghost of her annoyance, given limited voice in the world, but it still made him jump. “I can imagine that, unfortunately,” she said.
“So you’ll forgive me?” He practically bounced at the thought.
“I’ll keep it under consideration,” she said. “That much pissed-off ain’t vanishing so easily. But.” Regina extended a hand. “Make peace, not war, and all that.”
“I thought it was ‘Make love, not war’?” And that damn grin was back.
“Don’t push your luck.”

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Michael Spearwater @michaelspearwater.bsky.social · 1d

You beat it by having little chocolate pellets in a paper box designed to look like a rabbit or hamster, and have them pop out the back...

And yes, I know where to buy those >_<

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Michael Spearwater @michaelspearwater.bsky.social · 3d

For #selfpromosaturday, it'd be nice if someone took a look at this one

I know my marketing skill stats have a negative value, but it'd still be nice to see

#romantasy #travelogue #needreaders

Michael Spearwater @michaelspearwater.bsky.social · Jul 9

My author's copy is in!
My #romantasy #travelogue, A Wager for Wanderlust, is ready and waiting, available 7/31!

This title is something of a departure for me, including a new pen name for less child-friendly material

#AskMeAnything? (If you feel like it?)

www.amazon.com/dp/B0FBZMX7MP

Front cover of "A Wager for Wanderlust" by Michael Spearwater
cover art by LykosVTuber

It shows an artistically messy gentleman's desk with sketches of fantastical nudes, a pocket watch, various writing implements, etc.

In the background there are statues and portraits, a bookshelf, and books on the floor

Back cover of "A Wager for Wanderlust" by Michael Spearwater
cover art by LykosVTuber

It shows a gentleman's personal office with various navigational implements, artwork, a letter, and books strewn across the floor. A frilly pink item of lady's apparel can be seen on the floor near the spine of the book

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Michael Spearwater @michaelspearwater.bsky.social · 8d

Mine is "Around the World in 80 Days" a la fantasy world, so while it starts in a cognate to London, it doesn't stay there long

But really, I'm mainly commenting to say, RORO-CHAN and STERK-SAMA!!!

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Reposted by Michael Spearwater

Michael Spearwater @michaelspearwater.bsky.social · 11d

It's #selfpromosaturday for me (hurray for time zones)

So it's time to promote my #travelogue #romantasy!

"A Wager for Wanderlust", like what Jules Verne would've written if he were into high fantasy and playful #spicy content

Still legal to own in most states!

www.amazon.com/dp/B0FBZMX7MP

A portrait of a satyr-like girl, topless and poised for dance. With one hand, she beckons someone to join

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Michael Spearwater @michaelspearwater.bsky.social · 11d

And despite what the auto-labeler says, the images are not sexually explicit. The young lady is simply lacking in clothing and not caring what the prudes in moderation are thinking.

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Michael Spearwater @michaelspearwater.bsky.social · 11d

It's #selfpromosaturday for me (hurray for time zones)

So it's time to promote my #travelogue #romantasy!

"A Wager for Wanderlust", like what Jules Verne would've written if he were into high fantasy and playful #spicy content

Still legal to own in most states!

www.amazon.com/dp/B0FBZMX7MP

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Michael Spearwater @michaelspearwater.bsky.social · 15d

The #WIPSnips for Sept. 29 is 'bear'

The MC of this #creaturefeature has to bear with his father all too often

excerpt from "Monsters Among Us 1: Teenage Wasteland" by Michael Spearwater
the word 'bear' is highlighted
---

Navigating through the rear of the store was an art. The shelves were balanced on wheels that allowed them to be pushed and pulled whenever it suited Pop. Rarely did it convenience anyone else. Today, the best path to the front lay through the vintage miliary apparel selection, because old coats were easier to push through. JB’s current jacket had come from there, same as the ones before it.
As expected, Pop was leaning on the counter by the cash register, schmoozing with the latest wallet on legs to mistake this fine establishment for a serious place of business. From the looks of it, the guy was loading up for bear, or maybe elephant.
“Boy!” Pop shouted as soon as JB stepped up. “Where the hell ya been?”

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Reposted by Michael Spearwater

Michael Spearwater @michaelspearwater.bsky.social · 17d

And it is #selfpromosaturday once more

We have a #romantasy #travelogue which is, to the best of my knowledge, still legal to purchase in at least 47 out of 50 US states. That may change in the future, so be prepared.

It's not even that #spicy... okay, maybe a little

www.amazon.com/dp/B0FBZMX7MP

A Wager for Wanderlust

Amazon.com: A Wager for Wanderlust eBook : Spearwater, Michael: Kindle Store

www.amazon.com

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Michael Spearwater @michaelspearwater.bsky.social · 17d

And it is #selfpromosaturday once more

We have a #romantasy #travelogue which is, to the best of my knowledge, still legal to purchase in at least 47 out of 50 US states. That may change in the future, so be prepared.

It's not even that #spicy... okay, maybe a little

www.amazon.com/dp/B0FBZMX7MP

A Wager for Wanderlust

Amazon.com: A Wager for Wanderlust eBook : Spearwater, Michael: Kindle Store

www.amazon.com

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Reposted by Michael Spearwater

Maikel Yarimizu @maikelyarimizu.bsky.social · 19d

The #WIPSnips for Sept. 26 is 'mire', and you'd think a deep-sea #mermaid epic WIP wouldn't have that word in there, but to be honest, sometimes you just have to take the words that fit

excerpt from Mer Manoa, book I (Canto II, verse XII), by Maikel Yarimizu
the word "Mires" is highlighted
--

Verse XII

The Mires. The word had meant nothing to Ardenne when she'd heard it in Baba's chamber. It was one more word in a long day's worth of words unknown to her. The brief explanation Sera had furnished did little to help her understand its meaning. From what was said, it had not sounded much different from the shelf-lands of her home waters, no matter how much distaste the red mer had shown towards it. The next morning, however, Ardenne knew the answer first-hand. They had left Bryndoon that in the late afternoon, slept in a tussock of grass east of the city, and arrived just as the firmament turned its morning silver. Ripples of light flowed across the flats before her, only to be swallowed by the dark browns, greens, and purples.
The Mires, as she now saw, were a broad stretch of thick mud and slime that had flowed from the heights and down into a natural hollow in the shelf-lands east of Bryndoon. A row of mounts, barely high enough to kiss the firmament at low tide, prevented the mess from continuing into the deeper waters of the abyss. The mud was broken here and there by small patches of grass or kelp, but other than that her eyes could not make out any signs of life. There were no large creatures to be found, and the smaller fishes were hidden in the scant foliage. Sera had told her that things lived in the muck itself, but she couldn't see any of them, either.

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Michael Spearwater @michaelspearwater.bsky.social · 20d

Oh, yes. #WIPWednesday. I forget that's a hashtag

Currently in re-drafts for a #creaturefeature adventure that I've been posting for WIPSnips

I'm working on getting a cover done for it

Michael Spearwater @michaelspearwater.bsky.social · 20d

#WIPSnips for Sept. 24 is 'leave'

JB doesn't get out much, but he's always willing to leave the house for a good reason. Like waffles. Waffles are nice.

#creaturefeature novel in re-drafts

Excerpt from "Monsters Among Us 1: Teenage Wasteland" by Michael Spearwater
The word 'leave' is highlighted
It's also obviously been pieced together in MS Paint, so my apologies for the artifacting along the top
--

“What are you eating right now, huh? Toaster waffles out of the freezer, that’s what I’m betting.”
“What if I am?” The chunks of mediocre breakfast food went down his throat in a self-conscious lump.
“Well, Mom’s got the waffle iron out, and she’s mixing up a bowl of that Belgian batter mix, and Dad’s frying some of the nice sausages, and we’ve got maple syrup…”
There was a time to hold ‘em, a time to fold ‘em, and a time to waffle—or not. “Tell your mom I’ll be there in half an hour,” he said. “Gotta make myself presentable.”
“Yay! I’ll keep Pammy from eating it all before you get here. See you soon!”
After a brief trip halfway up the stairs to the wash his face and other visible parts, then all the way up for a better change of clothes, he felt ready to leave the house. He spent more time in front of the mirror examining his attempt at a moustache than anything else. Reggie was right; it did look like a caterpillar died on his face. He would shave it off, but then she’d be insufferable about it for the next week.

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Reposted by Michael Spearwater

FanAstraea @fanastraea.bsky.social · 22d

as a fan of noncon, dubcon and under/non-negotiated cnc this is honestly one of the most straightforward explanations of this i've ever read?

25 2K 5.1K

Michael Spearwater @michaelspearwater.bsky.social · 22d

#WIPSnips for Sept. 23

Even when you have no 'skill', you can have a 'trick'
Remembering the trick is a skill in itself

an excerpt from "Monsters Among Us 1: Teenage Wasteland" by Michael Spearwater
the word 'trick' is highlighted in place of 'skill'
---

There was a funny thing about jumper cables: it was really hard to give someone a jolt with one. Pop used to do this trick where he’d lick the palm of his hands and press them down on the two electrodes of a car battery, then describe the tingly feeling he got. This had gotten itself a mention in a science class a few years back, and JB had really learned from that one. High amperage, low voltage in a car battery meant that it couldn’t push that hard through flesh and bone, but if you accidentally made a direct contact with a piece of metal, then whoo-ee…

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Michael Spearwater @michaelspearwater.bsky.social · 24d

For #WIPSnips Sept. 21, we can all agree to 'disagree'

From my #creaturefeature story in re-drafts

Suffice to say, but the main character disagrees with his father more often than not

Excerpt from "Monsters Among Us 1: Teenage Wasteland" by Michael Spearwater
The word 'disagree' is highlighted
----
Arthur Collins, known as Pop to his boy and Coll to his friends, was an easy man to get along with, as long as one remembered the ground rules. First, never disagree with him to his face without a smile, a joke, and a pat on the back to distract him until the conversation had moved on.
Second, always be complimentary to his favorite teams, no matter how much they sucked. Coll took great pride in his guys, and only he was allowed to talk shit about them.
Third, buy him a beer—then a couple more after that. A few drinks went a long way towards getting past any difficulties caused by ignoring rules one and two. JB, being a teenage boy with little interest in sports and no legal means of purchasing booze, often got the short end of the stick in their relationship, but the kid had it coming to him, Coll always figured. Be tough, be true, and the boy would straighten out of any nancy habits he’d picked up. It’d worked for his old man well enough, right?

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Michael Spearwater @michaelspearwater.bsky.social · 24d

#WIPSnips Sept. 20 is 'obvious'

The art of not being obvious takes practice

#creaturefeature WIP, currently in redrafts

excerpt from "Monsters Among Us 1: Teenage Wasteland" by Michael Spearwater
the word 'obvious' is highlighted
---

“Just keep your head up and your path straight, young man. None of us would like to see you end up in the bottom of a bottle like your old man.”
“Sir, if I never drink a beer in my life, it’ll be too soon,” he reaffirmed. Most of his classmates liked to laugh and joke through all the public service anti-drug presentations they’d been forced to sit through over the years, but none of them had to live with the reality of a truly bad example. “So, um, Pamela,” he said to Reggie’s little sister. “How’s life in sixth grade?”
“Pretty good. This past week we learned how to properly change the topic of a conversation without being too obvious about it.” The girl stuck out her tongue a blew a quick raspberry at him.
JB shrugged. “Useful thing to learn. Coulda done with that sort of lesson in middle school.”
“I was being facetious, meathead. You even know what that word means?”
Reggie brought her knuckles down on her sister’s head to deliver a noogie like only a family member could get away with. “Hey now, I happen to know he passed that vocabulary quiz, so there!”

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Reposted by Michael Spearwater

Michael Spearwater @michaelspearwater.bsky.social · 25d

It's #selfpromosaturday where I am (yay, time zones!), and all I have right now is a #travelogue #romantasy

And given the way the world's going, it might just be illegal to read in several states in the near future

It's not even that #spicy...

OK, just a bit spicy at times

A Wager for Wanderlust

Amazon.com: A Wager for Wanderlust eBook : Spearwater, Michael: Kindle Store

www.amazon.com

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Michael Spearwater @michaelspearwater.bsky.social · 25d

It's #selfpromosaturday where I am (yay, time zones!), and all I have right now is a #travelogue #romantasy

And given the way the world's going, it might just be illegal to read in several states in the near future

It's not even that #spicy...

OK, just a bit spicy at times

A Wager for Wanderlust

Amazon.com: A Wager for Wanderlust eBook : Spearwater, Michael: Kindle Store

www.amazon.com

2 4

Michael Spearwater @michaelspearwater.bsky.social · Sep 8

For #WIPSnips 2025.9.8, we have 'ability'

Communication is an important ability in a #travelogue #romantasy, but it can't always stretch far enough, given the distances traveled

an excerpt from 'A Wager for Wanderlust' by Michael Spearwater
the word 'ability' is highlighted
--

A loud shout erupted to his left, full of the sharp little syllables of the local tongue. He knew not one word of that language, but he understood “Watch out!” and “Get out of the way!” well enough. Ollover jumped aside as a locomotor carriage puttered past. The driver, a Teocelec of heavy shoulders and thickened arms, bared his fangs as he passed by.
Trouble was a thing to avoid. That should be as easily done as said, and yet he had no confidence in his ability to do so.
“Are you all right?” his lady asked as he stepped to her side.
“Naught damaged save for my dignity,” he assured her. “And that is well-worn at best. Ah, but I should apologise, if I had the words.”
“We have that guidebook with the glossary,” she pointed out.
“Aye, and I sound like I'm gargling rocks when I attempt to read aught aloud from it.”
“Perhaps you should try, in any case.” She was looking past his shoulder as she said it. Did he wish to turn around? No, not at all. He did so anyway.

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Michael Spearwater @michaelspearwater.bsky.social · Sep 5

#WIPSnips for Sept 5 is 'event'

Well, there are events and then there are... events

an excerpt from 'A Wager for Wanderlust' by Michael Spearwater
the word 'event' is highlighted
--

The winding lane took a long curve along a terrace at the base of the King's Seat, the stepped pyramid structure at the heart of the mobile city. Its size was impressive, but basic logic told him that it was certainly hollow on the inside, and the application of deductive reasoning suggested that the immense levator engines which kept the city aloft were housed inside it. With guardsmæn at every entrance, it was unlikely that he would ever have the opportunity to verify it, even if he were to find himself with the need to do so.
Here, they revered the lesser cats of the fields, and so made efforts to provide proper burial in the event that a feline were killed by curiosity. Were he in the cat's place, they would toss the body to the crocodiles in the river below.

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Michael Spearwater @michaelspearwater.bsky.social · Sep 5

#WIPSnips for Sept. 4 is 'coffee'

In the #travelogue #romantasy, there's a lot of the stuff, just not by that name. Fantasy world etymologies, etc.

It's actually named for an in-story city that's based on the real city of Mokha, crossed with Java

It's often referred to as 'blend' or 'brew

page from 'A Wager for Wanderlust' by Michael Spearwater
the word 'blend' is highlighted in place of 'coffee'
--

Chapter Five
In Which Ollover Experiences A Change
Of Scenery

At this moment of the year, hardly two weeks into spring as a period of time and even less into it as a season, the rising sun was hardly a morning one, himself. Ollover shared the bright one’s reluctance to rise and shine at the unhealthy hour which he now found himself inhabiting. He had not the need to wake up so early since his days in Moorsdon's 37th, and happily not so. His first task for the morning had been to brew a pot of the young master's preferred javoch bean blend, of which the second cup had been his own. That was another thing he'd not missed since his days in the army: the deep black ichor of morn, as bitter in its truth as the evening's wine was sweet in its lies.
It had him up and moving, at the least, which was how he had come to the dock of Gransails before the sun. The streets along the pier were lit with the iconic Lombarti gas-lamps, whose eternal flickers were fuelled by the ventilation ducts of the sewers below. In passing, he saw his fellow skurlmæn open a drop-hole and descend into the depths at the end of a dæmon-driven wind pump—likely to investigate why a nearby lamp was not remaining lit. It was honest work, but not clean; such was the lot of his kind, more often than otherwise. He felt some pang of guilt as he returned the salute which the maintenance crew sent him as he and the young master walked past.

excerpt from 'A Wager for Wanderlust' by Michael Spearwater
the word 'brew' is highlighted in place of 'coffee'
--

Chapter Twenty-One
In Which Brume Turns Down A Business Proposal

In the fine public schools of Lydigard, the young pupils were given these words of wisdom: Never meet your heroes. Like most such wisdom come from high places, Brume had found it to be true only on occasion. He had met many a personal hero and seen their flaws up close, but with that came the realization that this made them heroic in spite of their faults. Rarely had he regretted the meeting.
He rather regretted this one, or rather regretted being in this place, this ancient city that had lent its name to the bitter brew he so adored. Dzaboq'a might once have been a city of trade and culture, but that was far in the past, before the Kingdom fell. The dzinnemæn used that event as the anchor of their calendar, counting all years from that point as a slide downhill to ruin and iniquity. And Dzaboq'a was a dingy example of the depths of that slide.
“No,” he repeated to the dzinnelyng who had seen fit to interrupt his afternoon cup of brew. “No and a thousand times again no, they are not for sale. What is so difficult about these words, that the lump upon your neck cannot handle them? Are those ears merely for decoration?”

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Reposted by Michael Spearwater

Michael Spearwater @michaelspearwater.bsky.social · Sep 2

Marketing and promotion, the banes of my existence

Yet, is there any other way to let others know about a #romantasy #travelogue novel available for them to read?

Not short of mailing it to their house directly, and if I could afford that, I'd get proper advertising

www.amazon.com/dp/B0FBZMX7MP

A Wager for Wanderlust

Amazon.com: A Wager for Wanderlust eBook : Spearwater, Michael: Kindle Store

www.amazon.com

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Michael Spearwater @michaelspearwater.bsky.social · Sep 2

Marketing and promotion, the banes of my existence

Yet, is there any other way to let others know about a #romantasy #travelogue novel available for them to read?

Not short of mailing it to their house directly, and if I could afford that, I'd get proper advertising

www.amazon.com/dp/B0FBZMX7MP

A Wager for Wanderlust

Amazon.com: A Wager for Wanderlust eBook : Spearwater, Michael: Kindle Store

www.amazon.com

2 1