The moment I finished Invited Seat, I turned my attention to my patrons’ next story, a historical fiction. Thankfully, the last time we encountered Samuel and Anna, their story paused at a perfect moment for me to pick right up and continue their adventure. While this series takes place during the Old West era, I’ve blended in just enough fantasy to give myself creative leeway as I build their world, though I have and will continue to perform research to remain somewhat grounded.

Despite having a general idea in mind, I needed something more concrete to spark the next installment. So, I gathered my notes and tossed everything into ChatGPT for a bit of inspiration. The initial results gave me a decent springboard, but much of the finer detail clashed with the lore I’d already established...

The moment I finished writing Deferred Reply, I turned my attention to the second piece of micro-fiction I planned for the month. This story picks up after Uninvited Guest and continues the budding romance between Lucas and Elouise. At the outset, I only had the barest shape of where the story might go. With a few notes, past fragments, and a helping hand from AI, I outlined their next step, then sat down to refine it by hand.

There’s something sacred about candlelight...

The year has passed by in a blur. Between a personal issue and my day job cranked to eleven, I saw the genre poll’s conclusion coming, but pulling the results still took time. However, I didn’t start working on the story until this past Friday. By chance, my “note” stories have a decent formula to assist the writing process. While I admit there’s a formula, it’s only used to create the rough framework of the story. Once those beams are in place, the rest comes together at breakneck speed.

I still needed a prompt to create the story, and while I’d intended to use The Story Engine, I ended up grabbing my story cubes and giving them a toss...

Though Imryll forced Darren to reveal his creation, the actual test was always going to be Arlen. After all, she’s the teacher who assigned him the differentiation project. Innovation often begins with obligation, and while not every breakthrough involves a mystical sword or powerful ward, true creativity still rises to meet the need. In Darren’s case, it comes as a sweet-smelling, golden-brown solution that just hangs from a keychain. For this month’s second Wattpad entry, we’re diving into the lighter side of the magical Academy, specifically, a student’s attempt to blur the lines between potion-making and culinary creativity.

After his reluctant debut, Darren finally summons the courage to share his latest magical breakthrough with Arlen, a master of the healing arts...

Typically, my “Artwork” posts are where I highlight what I’ve published over the previous week on DeviantArt. Given the current series being shared, that format is on hold. The following entries come from my Man’s Best Friend collection, which is reserved for those who purchase the gallery. Of course, if you become a patron, you’d also be able to see the images. While the images are locked behind your choice of paywall, the backing stories are for everyone. This trio captures Goose’s first true encounter with the ocean, an experience filled with tension, momentum, and sheer joy.

Though I missed his foray into the salty waters, I managed to photograph the moments that followed...

In Elven Aid, danger looms over the fledgling Larian colony, prompting Tarian to dispatch Keldon in search of potential allies. But when Keldon crosses into forbidden elven territory, he’s met not with open arms, but with arrows, silence, and simmering hostility. Will he crumble under their scrutiny, or spark a battle of words that might sway their aloof attitude?

Step into a world where alliances are fragile and survival demands more than strength, it demands persuasion...

Once again, I’m returning to Magic Forest by postapodcast for an additional picture prompt. When I returned to the list of half a dozen prompts, I selected the next one from the list. “Every thousand years, the “First Light” returns to this ancient forest to choose a new guardian. A reluctant child, guided by a glowing trail only they can see, is drawn into the heart of the woods. As night falls, they must decide whether to accept a destiny they don’t understand—or let the light die out forever.” From the moment I reread those words, I knew where the story would lead.

There are moments when the world shifts beneath your feet, not with a jolt, but with a hush...

In war, ingenuity often becomes the last defense between survival and ruin. This story plunges us into a moment of uneasy recovery, where humans and dwarves patch walls, tensions run high, and history and necessity test an uneasy alliance. The heart of this scene is a pair of leaders with different outlooks on the current situation. One is a pragmatic, rallying his people to create powerful machines, the other is a warrior with little patience for promises.

What follows is not a pitched battle against the ever-present horde, but something far quieter and perhaps more consequential...

Normally, I’d be sharing a roundup of the images posted to DeviantArt last week. However, for the next few weeks, that won’t be the case with this series. All these images are reserved for patrons or those who purchase access to the Man’s Best Friend gallery. That said, the stories behind the images will be open to all. What follows are two quiet moments from Goose’s first time at the beach. While he hasn’t tested the water just yet, his playful energy and curiosity are on full display, amplified by the shoreline’s natural charm. These descriptions aren’t meant to replace the visuals, but to offer a bit of insight into the scenes...

In Doll of Friendship, we witness a touching science fiction short story that blends an emotional story, with an interstellar setting, and the powerful bond between a child and a dying stranger. Amidst the stars, the Gemini traverses the vastness of space. In the moment of shared grief amongst the entire crew, we follow a child named Samantha as she wanders through the hospice ward of the ship...

When I sat down to plan this month’s writing, I knew my micro-fiction pieces would offer the quickest creative wins. Flipping through my notebook, I realized both Ramas Caldwell and Lucas would return to the page. While I still haven’t given Lucas a last name, it’s been some time since I’ve explored his world and his unusual abilities. However, it is the wanderer, Ramas Caldwell, who takes the stage first.

Some messages are urgent...

While exploring the beach before turning my attention to the dogs, a patch of dune grass caught the wind in a way that felt intentional, as if nature was pausing for me to capture it. However, instead of a crashing wave or the expansive sea, simply a windswept patch of wilderness, reaching skyward in golden defiance. In that moment, the beach felt less like a coastline and more like a threshold, one foot entrenched in the familiar, while the other stepped through a doorway, entering a softer and dreamlike wonder.

Once that moment was over, the dogs, specifically Goose, captured my attention...

In Dwarven Aid, a monstrous horde assembles beside the Larian colony. Their constant shuffle shakes the ground and devours the setting sun. As this danger looms over the colonists, Tarian dispatches two colonists in a last-ditch effort to secure allies in their struggle. Among them, Caleb ventures deep into the wilderness, hoping to find support from the group that seemed most willing to help the dwarves...

From the moment I finished Caged Tales and Hidden Effects, I turned my attention to the final exclusive story for my patrons, a fantasy tale. When I first pulled the result, I knew I wanted to blur this tale with a fairy tale so I could explore my Puck inspired character, Gaius. Yet I didn’t know what kind of story I would create, so I reached for my story cubes and gave them a toss. The three pictures that spoke to me for this tale were the mug of ale (my assumption of what filled it), a hooded individual (I assumed a woman), and a toad...

To round out the month, I’m eager to bring another Sebastian & Jimmy tale to the world. This is yet another item I didn’t have on my bingo card for the year. I never would have thought it possible that I’d enjoy writing comedies. However, I’ve found it to be exceptional fun working with these two. There’s a kind of friendship where one person create meticulous plans, correctly sets their expectations, and braces for a likely outcome. Unfortunately their paired with someone who arrives like a parade float with a loose wheel and a blaring foghorn. My Sebastian & Jimmy stories thrive in that contrast. One, Sebastian, is the down to earth, while Jimmy is the figurative foghorn...