Scarlet Mitchell
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scarletvmitchell.bsky.social
Scarlet Mitchell
@scarletvmitchell.bsky.social
2.8K followers 1.4K following 11K posts
Writer in multiple genres (pen name of Kristine Page), eclectic pagan polytheist, Bowie fan, Aikidoka, cooking and baking, recently took up guitar, she/her
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scarletvmitchell.bsky.social
All that talk of deviled eggs this week and I didnt have any yesterday, so I made some for lunch.

Verdict: I am bad at making deviled eggs (too salty, not creamy enough, too much mustard), but they at least cover the craving🤷‍♀️
A cute mushroom-themed plate with 6 roughly made deviled eggs on it.
November 28, 2025 at 6:20 PM
scarletvmitchell.bsky.social
#NovemberThrills

This clip of chapter 5 is based in a true story 🤣

Ashmore really be like that.
Novemberthrills day 28 snippet river Chapter 5 Friday, 12:35pm - Ashmore, IL It was a two-hour drive to Mattoon, Illinois, accompanied only by a chocolate shake and Shania Twain. From there it was another thirty minutes to find her way to the rural address on the card, where the main roads turned to unpaved gravel. She found herself in such deep back-country hinterland that people would wave lazily at her from their front porches as she drove past their lonely farmhouses, then suddenly lean forward and squint at her as if to say, “Wait, who is that?” Crossing the Embarrass river, a narrow stream through secluded wilderness, she had officially reached the middle of nowhere. She worried the GPS on her phone would give up in frustration before she found her destination, but suddenly her phone announced that she had arrived… somewhere?
November 28, 2025 at 3:47 PM
scarletvmitchell.bsky.social
#FantasyIndiesNovember

I try not to hoard or collect junk, but I have a little weakness for dainty little bottles. This is about 1/3rd of my collection, my favorites.
Fantasyindies day 28 do you collect anything? A shelf neatly displaying 8 small bottles. The largest is a hip-flash with Latrec’s Tournee la Chat Noir poster image on it. The rest are much smaller dainty glass bottles, most looking like minuature perfume bottles.
November 28, 2025 at 3:38 PM
scarletvmitchell.bsky.social
#WIPSnips

A city in Hell…
Serasthial lead on again, through streets that zig-zagged up the mountain. There were few people out, and those Helena saw were strange. People with the faces and heads of animals, hybrid creatures, people whose proportions were swollen or shrunken in unusual ways all passed quietly by them, disappearing into dwellings or courtyards as they went, minding their business. They passed by sections that looked torn out of the mountainside by massive claws and the road ended abruptly once, forcing them to clamber up a rock face where hand-holds had been rubbed clean by the occupants of the city. Another hole in the road was ringed by a jaundiced yellow substance that fizzled on the rock. Someone had placed a set of rickety boards to bridge this gap and locals passed over it breezily, as if they didn't notice. The higher they got, the wider the streets and the grander the homes.
November 28, 2025 at 2:32 PM
scarletvmitchell.bsky.social
#WIPSnips

Talia learns a bit about the titular Gerzean Blade…
“Oh, my gosh, Talia, these things… they’re impeccable, just the height of flint-knapping craftsmanship. They were carefully pressure flaked along both sides to get a perfect edge… You can see the beautiful wave pattern here…” He picked up a printout from a nearby pile after a moment of disorganized searching, then pointed and leaned towards her, getting too close. “…but the other side…” “It looks damaged. Where’s the pattern on that side?” Talia pointed out, leaning away and causing the leather of her jacket to squeak against the leather of the sofa.
November 27, 2025 at 2:45 PM
scarletvmitchell.bsky.social
#FantasyIndiesNovember

Ugh! 😓

I might make a big list of important themes, key story elements, mcguffins, locations, etc.
Then I'll play a loose word-scramble with them until I find something that sounds like a title in my genre.

Unless I had a spark of inspiration before I started.
FantasyIndies day 26 how do you come up with titles?
November 26, 2025 at 3:46 PM
scarletvmitchell.bsky.social
#WIPSnips

Checkov’s Portal opens…
She recognized the army *redacted*, or what was left of them, as they pulled themselves over the edge of the roof and rallied to join the battle against this huge form. Nothing seemed to impede the slow progress of the horror that was rising through the portal. A tremendous maw became visible above the surface of the platform, jaws appearing as bolts of lightening in rows from the depths of its coalescing bulk. This, Helena realized, was not going according to anyone’s plan. Whatever this thing was, it was clearly beyond the scope of the ritual
November 26, 2025 at 12:48 PM
scarletvmitchell.bsky.social
#FantasyIndiesNovember

I haven't commissioned any art yet for my characters, but I sketched this pic of Helena from the fantasy in a 60sec challenge. (I maybe technically took 120 seconds 🤫)

And despite her hair coming out more traditional than planned, I think it captures her.
FantasyIndies day 25 share art or artwork A sinple sketch in charcoal, a girl with short hair and sad eyes.
November 25, 2025 at 7:13 PM
scarletvmitchell.bsky.social
#WIPSnips

Bayle grew up and lived most his life in space. His instincts are tuned to ships and stations. He gets sent for some R&R and fresh air on-world…

”Weather” is a bit alien to him still…
*** For a half-second, when he first got out of the air-conditioned shopping center at the bottom of the elevator in St. Gilbert armed with a new pair of sunglasses and a straw hat, he thought something had gone terribly wrong with the life systems. Then he remembered that it was the middle of summer. Fresh air indeed. He hadn’t anticipated the stuffy heat of the city. He checked the weather in Brasshill. The heat and humidity
November 25, 2025 at 1:01 PM
scarletvmitchell.bsky.social
Thought Id experiment with this Canva method for snippetshares cuz I wanted to fit this whole scene in, but Im not sure I like the process😬

Anyways, I love this scene. I tend to love any scene Chef shows up in 🥰 but I think it’s cute…
(Bayle, the butler, has had a demanding day at the banquet.)
“Sit. Eat.” “I did. I had the mushroom soup.” “Soup don’t count. Dat soup was for dem skinny nerds. You a big man, Boss. Sit.” “I have to check the D.J…” “You. Have. To. Sit!” Chef playfully pushed Bayle down into a chair at the little table huddled in the far corner of the kitchen. “I’ve got the D.J., Sir,” Mr. Nguyen promised, zipping out of the kitchen quicker than Bayle could argue with him. Bindi Wu, Chef’s new assistant, was already slumped over a bowl of stew. She flung a shallow bowl of the same in front of him. She’d called it ‘Duke Berton’s Hunting Lodge Stew.’ “Ms. Nora told me to feed you before you fall down.” It was a convincing argument, if only because the blame for it was placed on someone who was not here for him to argue with. He didn’t recognize all of the vegetables that shared space with the tender chunks of venison, but it smelled incredible. He quickly tucked a napkin over his shirt and eagerly took a bite, stomach groaning loudly in anticipation as soon as it was in his mouth. “Good, innit! Heh!” She cackled, eyeballing him for a reaction. He nodded enthusiastically and gave her an approving hand gesture, then hunkered over it to finish the rest. She was beside him with the pot perched on her hip and a ladle in hand as he scraped the last from the bottom. The barest nod on his part filled the bowl again and she tossed him a slice of freshly made bread to sop up the remains. “That was drillbit stew,” He accused, wiping his mouth with a napkin. Chef’s eyes crinkled in amusement. “See, I like you, Mr. Penguin Man! You pays attention!” She cackled. “Best I’ve had in a long time, thank you.”
November 25, 2025 at 1:13 AM
scarletvmitchell.bsky.social
#FantasyIndiesNovember

Can't claim I ever really had it. I interpret to mean "feeling undeserving of the recognition you receive" and either Im arrogant or haven't received much recognition 😅

Either way, look at the crappiest art/writing you can find. Its gorgeous, isn't it? And yours is better.
FantasyIndies day 23 advise for beating imposter syndrome.
November 23, 2025 at 5:46 PM
scarletvmitchell.bsky.social
Straight-laced secretary, Nora, can't afford to fall in love. She can't afford to lose her house to a corporate land-grab, either.
When she lands a cushy job on a luxury space station and meets the hot butler, she may have to choose one or the other.

🫖Cozy sci-fi
👫Friends-to-lovers❤️

#WIPPIT
#R #SF
Moodboard for The Moon and Mr. Rabbit, Cozy sci-fi romance A star, a space station, an intricate boroque sitting room, a butler standing in front of a grand.staircase, a cyberpunk corridor, an old-fashioned secretary at her desk, a sunset, a quaint thatched-roof cottages, an apple orchard.
November 23, 2025 at 4:58 PM
scarletvmitchell.bsky.social
Wild wolves haven't been seen in the UK in centuries.
When a renaissance faire finds itself hunted, witch-priest Jack and adrenaline-junkie Charlie are on the case.

She fears a deadly conspiracy, but Jack suspects something more 🔥infernal🔥.

Stay out of the forest. It bites back.

#WIPPIT
#U #F
Moodboard for The Hounds of Sherwood, a Mudlarks Paranormal Investigation. A bright glowing red wolvish eye, a dark forest, the legs of a person who has climbed a tree, a growling wolf, a cave in the forest, someone running on a forest trail, victorian row houses, a man in a nice tweed suit, a woman jumping over a wall.
November 23, 2025 at 4:07 PM
scarletvmitchell.bsky.social
People are spontaneously drowning in London, far from any source of water.

On the case are a new-age priest looking for answers and an atheist looking for a thrill.

If they can keep their heads above water, they may find that their city lives and breathes.

#WIPPIT
#U #F
Moodboard for Child of the Thames, a Mudlarks Paranormal Investigation. Two women viewed from behind holding hands, as one pulls ahead of the other. A London manhole cover. An overhead view of the Thames. A woman's face just under the surface of water. In the corner is a man dressed sharply in a tweed suit and a pinup drawing of a laughing blonde woman.
November 23, 2025 at 3:01 PM
scarletvmitchell.bsky.social
#WIPSnips

Chapter 1 of the mystery.
Talia gazes out over southern Illinois from the St Louis arch, thinking about the setting at the heart of the next 27 chapters.
The largest pre-Columbian construction on the continent north of Mexico, no written history remains of the city, abandoned centuries before Europeans colonized the region. It was rarely, if ever, covered in standard history curriculums in the US, which tended to overlook anything but western, European-centered subjects. Some might quaintly call it a hidden treasure, as if it were some darling local diner with excellent coffee and not a striking and fundamental part of global history. Talia had to ask herself, if it was a hidden treasure, who benefited from hiding it for so long? Agitated and having had her fill of the monumental tourist trap, she marched to the boarding area and waited to be taken down to the ground again. ***
November 23, 2025 at 2:31 PM
scarletvmitchell.bsky.social
#NovemberThrills

The three hacker ex-girlfriends (plus Talia makes four) get together to party at a lesbian bar.
But Talia has something weighing on her mind…
Novemberthrills day 22 4s a squad! The group moved to a glossy little high-top table with similarly lurid pink stools, to begin the night, which proceeded much as Brace had intended; a few drinks, a lot of laughter, some reminiscing, flirting with random bar patrons, and good-natured heckling of the performers on the dismal little stage. After a couple of hours, once the group had settled down and gone quiet for a few minutes, Talia sighed. “I saw a dead body today,” she confessed. “There was a murder. I just met her this morning, really nice person, and then this afternoon…” She shook her head, trying to work the trauma out. The three women looked at her with varying levels of sympathy. “Damn,” offered Deebs. “That’s heavy. I’m sorry.” Talia shrugged. Brace reached out to pat her hand. It had felt good to say it, even though it brought the mood down. Amy took a gulp of her fourth pint and pursed her lips sadly, then lifted her glass in silent salute to the dead stranger. They all drank the nonverbal toast. There wasn’t anything else to say, so they sat in silent contemplation for a minute or two.
November 22, 2025 at 11:21 PM
scarletvmitchell.bsky.social
#QueerPrompts

Helena gets a second alone with Kia, talking about their lives…
else. She wondered what life in Hell had been like for Kia. “Did you have a family?” Helena heard how awkward the question sounded on its way out of her mouth. Who doesn’t have a family? Did chimera have families? She winced inwardly. Kia didn’t answer right away and handed the book back. Helena didn’t snatch it this time, trying to pretend it was of little importance to her. Eventually, a small smile came over the woman’s lips. “Yes, I do.” Helena cringed even further, realizing she’d asked the question in past tense.
November 22, 2025 at 2:44 PM
scarletvmitchell.bsky.social
#WIPSnips

Helena finally meets the legendary Lucifer, the charismatic and sparkling king of Hell. Seems a pretty cool dude, actually 🤷‍♀️ Kind of a sweetie, really.
Serasthial stepped aside to indicate her. The man and his smile turned to her eagerly, hands out. Upon seeing her unsmiling face, he toned down his gleam a fraction. “Helena,” he said, almost reverently, the ringleader in his voice dropping off suddenly to an earnest, intimate murmur. His eyes were startling; clear, crystalline irises, twinkling with bright, multicolored light, like faceted diamonds. His magnetism was almost a living thing with a mind of its own. He wanted her to like him, assumed they were friends already. She found herself wanting the same thing. “It is an honor to meet you. I welcome you *redacted*, child.” It felt rude not to take his offered hand, but she was tired and her social acuity had succumbed many hours ago. She hesitated and half-ducked behind *redacted* like a shy toddler. Lucifer took it in a stride, his expressive eyes showing a real understanding and sympathy for her squirrelly state of mind. “You and your companions are all a sight for sore eyes. I am sorry for the trouble you have encountered. Come in and rest for a little while. I am aching to hear about
November 22, 2025 at 2:14 PM
scarletvmitchell.bsky.social
#WIPSnips

Helena is in a photography class, trying to do her assignment last-minute while walking around campus.
Something hovers in her peripheral vision…
pping even closer, she caught it again just out of her center vision hovering near the gold crowns of a pair of birches. A hummingbird? It was well past the season for those, and this was too bright to be a bird. It darted just beyond her vision. She couldn't track it, but a faint flutter told her it was still there. Something about it bothered her in a way she wouldn’t have been able to explain. It gave her goosebumps, the same intense sense of being watched she’d felt before Mateo had collapsed, the same feeling of being hunted. She raised her camera and took two shots in its direction without even checking the viewfinder before breaking into a run towards the art building. ***
November 21, 2025 at 1:01 PM
scarletvmitchell.bsky.social
My profile page with the words "multiple genres" highlighted.
November 20, 2025 at 10:05 PM
scarletvmitchell.bsky.social
#FantasyIndiesNovember

I dunno 🤷‍♀️

Stuff in my life?
Stuff I see?
Stories I hear?
Feelings I can't escape?
FantasyIndies day 20 where do you find inspiration?
November 20, 2025 at 3:57 PM
scarletvmitchell.bsky.social
#WIPSnips

Helena receives some revelations about the chapel from her crush.
“That’s what I do,” Kiandra continued. “My crew… we are guardians of the rift. We can’t let any of these visitors through. They don’t belong here. Arguably, neither do we. We aren’t really meant to be part of this place. Humans can see us, of course, but usually they don’t remember us any more than they do the demons. I can meet a human one day, even hold a conversation with them, but the next day they don’t remember a word of it, or even that they’ve seen me before. I guess I knew there was something different about you…” There were a few things about this that brought up a confusing assortment of feelings in Helena; first, the thrilling notion that this woman thought she was special, but further, the insinuation that Kiandra herself, did not identify as a human. “Then… What are you?” The question came out of Helena’s mouth before she had a moment to hear what it sounded like. “Warriors.”
November 20, 2025 at 12:59 PM
scarletvmitchell.bsky.social
You asked for a page, you got a page! Nearly all of page 38, in which Helena is lurking near the chapel (where else is a goth girl gonna lurk?) just listening to her music, alone.

Something flutters at the corner of her eye. Her hair?
brushed it back, but the flutter remained until she turned. Nothing there but the back end of a limestone unicorn. A tingle ran down the back of her neck and crept along her spine. The diffuse sense of an unseen watcher that often haunted her near the center of campus had returned. Not a soul meandered across the quad to catch her eye, but every hair on her neck and arms stood on end, like the gathering static of an electrical storm. She pulled out her earbuds to listen more carefully. Were there footsteps approaching? She heard no one shushing through the grass or leaves. “Hello?” She mumbled. The memory of the robed figure inside the chapel resurfaced and she turned, peering up at the elaborately carved walls. Parts of it were mottled and darkened by moss where water often lingered longest after rains. Black stains dripped down the carvings like tears or blood oozing from the stone. Not even a crow stirred. The silence was broken by a sudden soft sound, like the swishing of a horse’s tail and a whicker or snide chuckle. An electric shock ran through her and she jumped, frantically pulling her phone out of her pocket and promptly fumbling it. It dropped to the grass
November 20, 2025 at 2:24 AM
scarletvmitchell.bsky.social
#NovemberThrills

"I may be sticks and stone, but I'm full o lights and lasers! They feedin' me good here. It's my mez-taz-bolism... she angry!"
Chef waved a boney wrist as proof and cackled.
#NovemberThrills day 19 one line Wednesday
November 19, 2025 at 4:04 PM
scarletvmitchell.bsky.social
#WIPSnips

Helena just being her usual self; ungovernable.
Passing the bench, Helena sneered at it. There was a curved bar separating it into two seats, making it impossible for anyone to lie down on it. Did the man she'd seen sitting there have anywhere else in the world to lay down besides the ground? She and Tilly had managed to remove several such bars from public benches around Columbus without getting caught. She eyed the security camera on the lamppost with distain. Vandalism wouldn't go over well with her therapist. Inside, the building was relatively quiet for midday, but not dead. There was murmuring from several of the classrooms she passed and a few students roamed the halls at each level until she reached the third floor. She’d found the roof access her first time in the building and finally had the time to take advantage of it. Helena enjoyed rooftops. They were generally quiet, provided excellent views, and when it came to restricted areas, most people were just happy enough to get her off the roof rather than alert authorities. The math building had a very friendly roof. It was
November 19, 2025 at 12:57 PM