In Crumbling Walls, we return to the Larian settlement, beneath a battered sky and behind a fractured wall. The tension amongst the defenders is coiled tight, ready to snap. Strange creatures mill about just beyond the damaged walls, regrouping their numbers as they prepare a fresh charge. Despite the dangers to his people, a lone commander clings to a fragile sliver of hope. Their resources are low. The morale is even lower. Yet they must hold the line to buy time for the soldiers who ventured into the forest in search of allies...

The moment I finished Invited Seat and Westward Trail, I turned my attention to the final story of the month for my patrons—a thriller. While I’ve created characters more naturally suited to lead this genre, I wanted to continue Samuel’s journey. Originally, I planned to pick things up further down the line, but a last-minute change to Westward Trail opened the door to a more satisfying thriller payoff, at least in my eyes. Since I only possessed a skeletal outline, I shelved the story to focus on projects with more pressing deadlines.

Once I finished or mostly completed them, I returned to this tale. While the core concept came together quickly with a bit of help from ChatGPT, it didn’t take long for me to crack that shell open and shape it into a richer, more suspenseful story...

When I finished the first picture prompt for the month, I turned my attention to the new image I wanted to use. You can check out the image on DeviantArt or scroll down to see the inspiration for yourself. While the image sparked my imagination, it wasn’t as focused as I would have preferred. My mind immediately saw the wolves, or hounds if you prefer, as summoned beasts composed of living shadow. While that would make for an interesting story point, the underlying story eluded my mental grasp. So instead of puttering along with an undeveloped concept, I shelved the idea and shifted my attention to other tales.

Yet as the month drew to a close, I knew I needed to write something for this image. Deadlines have a way of stirring creativity. With a trio of stories stacking up, ideas for each surfaced, including this one...

Once again, this past week’s drops were to my Man’s Best Friend collection, a premium gallery that’s available for a single purchase. The point of this little photo shoot was to capture the dog’s joy with the water. Unfortunately, in the beginning, both were indifferent to the ocean. However, after a brief exploration of the sandy shore, Goose braved the water. The resulting series of shots highlight a vivid exploration of movement, energy, and unfiltered joy.

The images themselves remain exclusive to patrons and my premium gallery. Yet these written glimpses offer a window into the playful, almost poetic, moments captured within each frame. With the careful use of watercolor effects, these images are transformed...

In Path of the Willow, a young girl awakens on Christmas morning eager for gifts, but instead finds a mysterious red thread. Rather than leading her to toys or treats, it guides her through a closet and into an enchanted forest. What begins as a joyful morning quickly transforms into a magical journey across snow-covered landscapes, where each step tests her courage and heart. In a world where animals speak and ancient magic sleeps beneath the snow, she must search her soul to discover her true self...

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...