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Reposted by L.L. Stephens

L.L. Stephens @triempery.bsky.social · 22h

#WIPSnips The word for October 13 is PUSH

Breadcrumbs throughout the six books of the Triempery series have questioned the identity of Hans's father. In this snip from THE RILL LORD he directly confronts Emyli, his mother, about that.
#WritingCommunity #WriteSky #Triempery

Screenshot of a text excerpt from THE RILL LORD, sixth and final book (April 2026) of the Triempery Revelations series by L.L. Stephens. Snip is of a conversation Hans has with Emyli, his mother, about the facts of his birth:

“Where was I born, Mother?” he asked softly. “Stefan was born here, but I wasn’t. The old servant woman I talked with last night told me that. You brought me here later.”
She nodded but would not look directly at him. “You were born at Permephedon. I spent a year in seclusion. I—I had my reasons.”
“Gignastha?” Hans prompted.
Pride alone kept tears from filling Emyli’s eyes, but he sensed them lying in wait behind the look that fled to the window, as if she could escape through it into the clear light of the morning outside this room. “Yes. I had much to forget—and for which to atone. I cleansed my body and my soul at Permephedon.”
How far dare I push her? I should have asked these questions last night, while Marenthro was with her. Hans noted movement along the road toward the river, knew that barges had begun to arrive, bearing supplies and men. Soon the business of war and empire would call him away, and there would be too many others around for him to have many more conversations like this. He forged ahead with another question. “Then Gignastha is where my father died?”
She did not move, except to close her eyes. “Erwan died in my arms there.”
She did not say ‘your father.’ His heart beat hard and slow. “Your husband. But was he my father?”

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L.L. Stephens @triempery.bsky.social · 10h

#FantasyIndiesSpooktober 13: Spooky Shelfie

How about a little Plague? This miniature from a board game looks plenty creepy! (One of the Four Horsemen from a game. I painted this one.)
#miniaturepainting #TTRPG

White text on spooky gray background bordered by ghosts, blood, and ghouls; text offers a list of daily writing prompts for authors of fantasy fiction.

Painted miniature of Plague from the Four Horsemen for Massive Darkness II board game. A crowned figure wearing a plague mask astride a white horse. The creepy spectre holds a bow and has a quiver of arrows… probably to shoot deadly disease at the heroes.

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Reposted by L.L. Stephens

Mary Robinette Kowal @maryrobinettekowal.com · 16h

My hot take is that none of these are structure. These are all recipes that describe structure.

Structure is the Salt, Fat, Acid Heat of writing.

3-Act/Hero's Journey etc are recipes.

You can make great meals without using a recipe if you understand the principles of structure.

Mx. D. D. Ward (they/them) @ddwardiswriting.bsky.social · 1d

So #WritingCommunity how do we feel about structure?

Do you use the 3 act structure? The 5 act?

Hero's Journey? Save the Cat? Super Structure Method? Story Genius Method?

Something else?

What have you got?

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Reposted by L.L. Stephens

Tru Skies @trudieskies.readindiefantasy.com · 20h

Today is the 4th anniversary of The Thirteenth Hour, the first book in my Cruel Gods series. This book went on to become a SPFBO & BBNYA finalist AND Indie Ink award winner for best setting/wittiest character!

To celebrate, I've put the ebook up for FREE for today only! 🥳

mybook.to/TheThirteent...

A promo image for the Thirteenth Hour's 4th anniversary featuring the book cover with funky glasses over the characters, and the text: Fantasy of bad manners, tea, and naughty words - four years! Cruel gods demand worship from their mortal subjects in this gaslamp fantasy featuring magical portals, gothic cosmic deities, quaint Britishisms, and steampunk vibes.

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Reposted by L.L. Stephens

Tessa Hastjarjanto @tessahastjarjanto.com · 1d

Doing another call to #booksky for participation in an event we're doing in November!

If you're a book blogger, reviewer, book lover, I'd love for you to join us with a review of an indie book or guest post about any book-ish topic.

More info ⬇️⬇️⬇️

www.readindiefantasy.com/announcing-a...

Announcing a Month of Rain and Reads… Coming this November! – Read Indie Fantasy

www.readindiefantasy.com

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Reposted by L.L. Stephens

Arina @readingrogue.bsky.social · 12d

Authors with books coming out in 2026 or pre-order campaigns set up, please shout them out ⬇️

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L.L. Stephens @triempery.bsky.social · 21h

😃 It's in the book!

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L.L. Stephens @triempery.bsky.social · 22h

#WIPSnips The word for October 13 is PUSH

Breadcrumbs throughout the six books of the Triempery series have questioned the identity of Hans's father. In this snip from THE RILL LORD he directly confronts Emyli, his mother, about that.
#WritingCommunity #WriteSky #Triempery

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L.L. Stephens @triempery.bsky.social · 22h

#OctoberWorldbuilders 13: History/famous figure involved in sport/game

Derlon, one of the Three who later transformed into the Rill, was a famed rider of horses. He also ran "faster than the wind" and challenged one of the Aryati to a race, procuring one of their diadem enhancers. #epicfantasy

Yellow highlighted text on a background of dark brown and autumn trees; text offers a list of daily worldbuilding prompts for authors of fantasy fiction.

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L.L. Stephens @triempery.bsky.social · 1d

#WIPSnips The word for October 12 is HOPE

"Hope" is such a powerful word. Finding a use in THE RILL LORD that didn't spoil too much was tricky. But here is one that merely hints. A conversation between Hans and Levyathan, Dorilian's brother/son.
#WritingCommunity #WriteSky #Triempery

Screenshot of text excerpt from THE RILL LORD, sixth and final book (April 2026) of the Triempery Revelations series by L.L. Stephens. Snip is of a conversation between Hans and Levyathan, Dorilian's son who has the memories of the first of his name. They discuss Dorilian's relationship, and antagonism, with the Rill god:

Hans crouched down beside the boy. “That path Dorilian rejected… he may need to take it. You understand what I mean. I need your help if I’m going to save him.”
“Bring their battle to an end.”
“I’m willing to gamble on the victor.”
In the quiet of the observatory, snow hit the glass in soft slithers. Levyathan’s anguish touched Hans’s conflicted hope and, if anything, amplified it. “So am I. From my first childhood, my experience of him…. I will help you however I can, Handurin, though I am young and incomplete. I have no powers to contribute.” Frustration showed through his clear-eyed misery. “My body has yet to undergo the changes puberty will bring. I cannot access devices as my brother can, nor can I become one. Perhaps I will never possess that talent.”
“Can you talk to the Rill?”
“No. Few ever have.”
Another question raised a possibility. “How do the Epoptes do it?”
Levyathan cocked his head and paused a moment in thought. “Music. Tonal wands. Fahme has studied their methods. Leur raised the Cities with song and bound the Rill by it. I could teach you some of those notes. Just know that though music summons Derlon, it does not truly interact with him.”

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L.L. Stephens @triempery.bsky.social · 1d

#OctoberWorldbuilders 12: Equipment/pieces

Pelekys requires a horse trained for the game; most players (nearly all of whom are noble or rich) will have more than one horse.

The axe used in the game is heavy; it has a stout wooden handle and a stone or metal head.

Riders wear pads.
#epicfantasy

Yellow highlighted text on a background of dark brown and autumn trees; text offers a list of daily worldbuilding prompts for writers of fantasy fiction.

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L.L. Stephens @triempery.bsky.social · 1d

#FantasyIndiesSpooktober 12: What do your MC and villain think of each other?

Nammuor's initial disdain of Dorilian (a "diminution" of Highborn blood) has been replaced by hatred and grudging admiration.

Dorilian's hatred of Nammuor is strong. But he respects Nammuor's ability.

White text on a spooky gray background bordered by ghosts, blood, and ghouls; text offers a list of daily writing prompts for authors of fantasy fiction.

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Reposted by L.L. Stephens

Diane Youngblood @dmyoungblood.bsky.social · 2d

Day 11 of #FantasyIndiesSpooktober

Another unedited snippet from my Oracle of Delphi series WIP, Book 7. Flamininus had been a friend to Delphi.

#WritingCommunity

Just before the first snows of Winter, High Priest Abas's Roman spy sent what was expected to be the last report until Spring.

There was only one sentence contained in the report.

"The Roman Titus Quinctius Flamininus has died, only months before his sixtieth birth day, while enjoying his retirement. "

The last Abas had heard of the man, he'd been in Bithynia, sending his men after Hannibal, who'd killed himself rather than be taken captive and paraded in chains in Rome.

List of daily post prompts for indie fantasy authors for October. Today's is: Saturday snippet

Hosts: @chesneyinfalt.bsky.social and @lvrussell.bsky.social

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Reposted by L.L. Stephens

Jazzpotato @jazzpotato-paints.bsky.social · 2d

Finished the investigators, finally got the whole box done..
#cthulhu #CDMD #miniatures

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L.L. Stephens @triempery.bsky.social · 2d

#WIPSnips The word for October 11 is WELCOME

What is welcome? What is not? Sometimes it's simply a little human company. And finding out what that company might really be about. (In this case, food.)
#WritingCommunity #WriteSky #Triempery

Screenshot of text excerpt from THE RILL LORD, sixth and final book (April 2026) of the Triempery Revelations series by L.L. Stephens. Snippet ends a scene with Dorilian and Robdan, wherein Robdan talks with Tutto about Dorilian... and what comes next.

Dorilian lay in so complete a surrender to sleep that Robdan considered moving him under the blankets. But he decided not to chance waking him and left him as he was.
He notified the captain of the Hierarch’s bodyguard, who notified Tutto, who brought a blanket that together they placed over him. “He’ll be madder than hell when he wakes,” Tutto confided when he and Robdan retreated to near the hearth. His gruff voice was friendlier than it had been. “There was more he wanted to do in these last hours. But Leur knows he needs the sleep. Gifts such as his drain a man, even with his Leur blood. He drives himself harder than any of us.”
“I’m surprised he stopped in to see me.”
“He told Legon he thought you, if anyone, might have something at hand to eat.”
Robdan blinked. “Yes, well…”
“Good thing. He needed that too.” The man’s dark eyes commended Robdan’s consideration. “He doesn’t trust kitchens. Seldom eats without a tester.”
“Me?”
“A sensible move. No one would bother to poison you.”
Robdan’s good feeling about the evening dissipated. Dorilian had done much the same thing at Merath, sleeping in his bed because no one would look there. “I see.”
“If it helps, not even for a royal feast would he endure being with any man whose company he did not welcome.”
“Oh? Well yes, thank you. That does help.”
Tutto nodded. “Good. Because you’re going to be with us a while longer. Catch some sleep yourself. I hope by now you’ve learned to pack light and move like a thief in the dark.”

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L.L. Stephens @triempery.bsky.social · 2d

#OctoberWorldbuilders 11: Cooperative game/sport

The Highborn play games to develop their gifts. These games sometimes entail a high degree of cooperating because individuals might not be in the same room... or even city.
#epicfantasy

Yellow highlighted text on a background of dark brown and autumnal trees; text offers a list of daily worldbuilding prompts for writers of fantasy fiction.

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L.L. Stephens @triempery.bsky.social · 2d

#FantasyIndiesSpooktober 11: Saturday Snippet

Here's a snip to remind readers what kind of person (and villain) Nammuor is. The World has magic in its making, and he's a sorcerer determined to harness those energies. #epicfantasy

Left side of image is a graphic meme. The body of the meme has white letters on a spooky gray background bordered with ghosts, blood and ghouls. The letters are text offering a list of daily writing prompts for authors of fantasy fiction.

The right side of the image is a text excerpt from THE KHELD KING, Book 2 of the Triempery Revelations series by L.L. Stephens. Text shows a malevolent sorcerer, Nammuor, at work in his lab:

A drop of sweat trickled onto the upper lashes at the corner of Nammuor’s right eyelid, where it hung for a moment before sliding down into his eye. The resulting sharp sting pricked his awareness and he blinked. His focus wavered. On the verge of completion, the fine blue energy tube he had been creating between a pair of glowing blood crystals failed to stabilize; the thread of incandescence warped, expanded outward and disintegrated altogether.
“Imbecile!” Removing his hands from the crystals and the glittering, red-jeweled Diadem on which he had been working, Nammuor turned in rage to confront the quivering acolyte at his feet. A dozen cloud-wort wands tipped with spun cotton dropped from the youth’s shaking hand to spread like accusing fingers on the obsidian floor.

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Reposted by L.L. Stephens

A.J. Calvin @ajcalvin.bsky.social · 3d

#FantasyIndiesSpooktober 10
Free Friday / Explain your WIP with emojis

Emojis are about my speed today (my insomnia was bad again last night)

My current WIP goes like this so far:
🎨😭🐉 🎨 🙂 📨 😊 👑 🎨

FantasyIndiesSpooktober prompts list
Day 10: Free Friday or explain your WIP with emojis/gifs

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L.L. Stephens @triempery.bsky.social · 3d

Thank you. But you might be onto something. I mean... yeah. People.

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L.L. Stephens @triempery.bsky.social · 3d

#WIPSnips The word for October 10 is PRIZE

The "prize" of this snip is the Triempery itself, in particular the throne of Essera. Emyli has many regrets, among which failing her father is the most painful. She doesn't regret rejecting Deben.
#WritingCommunity #WriteSky #Triempery

Screenshot of text excerpt from THE RILL LORD, sixth and final book (April 2026) of the Triempery Revelations series by L.L. Stephens. This snip relates a conversation between Emyli and a friend named Kathanos about Emyli's refusal to marry Deben Sordaneon, who later sired Dorilian on another woman.

“Yes, I’ve thought of it.” Emyli rose to pace before the fire. Sunlight poured through the tall windows and still the room felt cold. “And I have paid the price for failing my father. Don’t think I haven’t realized how well Nammuor seized the opportunity I created. Had I been Deben’s Hierarchessa and my son next to sit upon the Eagle Throne, would Nammuor have turned his eye upon that prize? What gain to him then to kill my father? Then indeed Essera and Sordan would have been united under a Highborn Sordaneon ruler of Marc Frederick’s blood! How that would have silenced the Seven Houses!” She laughed, the hard laughter of one who sees clearly but too late. That Stefan had not been that Highborn Heir her father had so desired, fell on her rejection of dynastic politics.
“Highborn or Kheld, your sons would still have stood in Nammuor’s path,” Kathanos counseled. “They might have died sooner, not later. None of us know the might-have-beens. I but wish for you to ponder your harshness toward Dorilian and who it is you are truly hating. Consider too the possibility that Handurin sees him more clearly than any of us. To Handurin, Dorilian is not a might-have-been, nor is he a should-not-have-been. To Handurin, Dorilian simply is. And think of this too—that the cleanness of that perception, the clarity, the trueness of it, is what has reached Dorilian’s heart.”

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L.L. Stephens @triempery.bsky.social · 3d

#OctoberWorldbuilders 10: Competitive game/sport

Pelekys is played on horseback by riders vying for a heavy (dull but still deadly) axe. Teams must have at least five riders to contend. First team to score three cracks of the axe against the opposing team's goal post wins. Wagers add excitement.

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L.L. Stephens @triempery.bsky.social · 3d

#FantasyIndiesSpooktober 10: Explain your WIP with emojis

THE RILL LORD: 🏡 🏰/👻🫡 🥣🧸🪄 🔥🎇 🤕😭🔎🩸🌨️❄️📚 ⛰️⚠️ 🔥🪄☠️ 😭🌥️🌟

Ta-Dah!

White text on a spooky background bordered by ghosts, blood, and ghouls; text offers a list of daily writing prompts for authors of fantasy fiction.

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Reposted by L.L. Stephens

Indie Book Spotlight @bookspotlight.bsky.social · 4d

📝 400+ pages
🥀 urban fantasy
🌃 set in washington state
🔥 slow burn
🤍 romance and angst
🗡️ demons and vampires
📕 first in a duology

🔖 universal link: mybook.to/D3rL5
💌 itch.io link: rebecca-crunden.itch.io/the-wish-and...
📖 goodreads: www.goodreads.com/book/show/23...

Cover for The Wish and the Demon, book one in the Half Swallowed by Shadows duology, by Rebecca Crunden. Cover shows three men's silhouettes standing in the middle of a road in winter. There's dark red trees and snow on the ground. One figure is approaching the other two, surrounded by shadows.

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Reposted by L.L. Stephens

Gregory Kontaxis @gregkontaxis.bsky.social · 4d

Signed & numbered editions of The Return of the Knights and The Fall of the Giants — my first two novels — are available now from @TheBrokenBinding.

Each set is hand-signed, individually numbered, and limited to just 100 bundles(link in first comment).

Pre-orders are open!!!

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Reposted by L.L. Stephens

Stephanie Burgis @stephanieburgis.bsky.social · 4d

This week's Thursday snippet comes from Wooing the Witch Queen, which is on sale in the UK this month for only 99p! Snap up my sweet, nerdy hero and the terrifying witch queen he falls for: stephanieburgis.com/books/wooing-the-witch-queen

#romancelandia

An image of the front cover of Wooing the Witch Queen shows a sinister witch queen in a spectacular beaded dress embracing her handsome and adoring new librarian (in a black wizard's robe) inside a library of magic filled with crows and masks and flying books. Above and beside it is this snippet from the book:
Felix had never been more grateful for his concealing mask and cloak than when he'd emerged onto the tower roof to find Queen Saskia with her head thrown back, lips parted, a cloud of crows swirling around her and energy crackling so intensely through the air that it lifted the hair at the back of his neck.
It should have been a terrifying sight: the wicked witch of Kitvaria no doubt summoning a terrible storm of magic to rain down upon her enemies.
But it had stopped his breath for quite a different reason.

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