#merry arlan: breaking the curse

[nopoodles]

Prompt: Lost

OCs: Merry + Kalik From: Guardian Cadet Series Spoilers: Mild (They’re in a relationship here, which doesn’t happen until the end of the first book, but I’ve told you now so)

Title: A Misunderstood Performance

“Okay,” I hissed into Kalik’s ear. “I’m lost. What’s happening now?”

The way his cheek moved under my mouth told me he was smiling that specific smile that meant he was about to tell me I’d opened his world up… again. He leaned over, pressing his own mouth to my ear. “Haven’t you heard this story before?”

“No.”

“It’s a tragic romance. Their families are feuding but they fall in love anyway.”

“I got that part. It’s where we are now that I’m struggling.”

“I’ll tell you at the interval.”

I didn’t ask him what an interval was. No need to open that particular jar of magic. The idea of going on a date to see a show had been appealing when I had thought it would be more like Lior’s shows at Jhoto's – not specifically that after her decree that I was no longer welcome in the bar but something akin to it. A show that happened for people to dip in and out of, the purpose to put some background to the outing, to fill any silence that might otherwise become uncomfortable.

This, however, was an entirely different beast. Rows of seats lined one behind each other, too close for my personal comfort levels and with an uncomfortable arm rest between me and the only person in the entire building I wouldn’t have minded sharing space with. And we had to be quiet and watch the story play out in front of us, with melodramatic and archaic human language. Maybe it if had been in ancient Elven I might have stood a better chance.

Thankfully it wasn’t too long before the performers disappeared into the wings and the lights came up in the seating area. I lurched to my feet, desperate to move, even if it wasn’t the end yet.

“Let’s get some air,” Kalik suggested, taking my hand and leading me past the other audience members with some difficulty. Seriously, who put these seats so close together? I’d waited tables and it was easier than this.

The night air was pleasantly cool. I leaned against the rough sandstone of the building and let out a soft groan. “Okay, explain it to me.”

“You’re not having fun,” Kalik said instead.

“What?”

“I thought you would like it. I thought it would be an accessible story for you. Like your Tale Of The Moon Prince but… We don’t have to go back in.”

The offer would have been tempting but the way Kalik’s shoulders had dropped told all too well that not subjecting myself to another hour or more of confusing melodrama would seem like a rejection. Would hurt him. And I didn’t want to hurt Kalik. “Just try explaining it to me again,” I insisted.

“It’s an old Human story. These two kids meet and fall in love but their families won’t let them be together.”

I nodded. Again, I understood that part. But now we’d reached a different stage of it where all the different characters with unfamiliar names were running around with apparent purpose that I couldn’t understand.

“They’re both supposed to be engaged to someone else and they want to leave their fiance’s to be together. We just watched them sneak away to get married without telling anyone.”

I frowned. Didn’t seem like legitimate marriage as far as I understood it but this was an old Human story so maybe their rules were different.

“But I brought you because I thought, since reading isn’t your favourite but you like stories, and you used to work at Jhoto's, that a play might… I should have picked a musical.”

“Musical?”

“Music and play all in one. The characters sing when their emotions get too much to bear.”

“That does sound more… But the tiny chairs, Kalik!”

“What?”

“The chairs, they’re tiny. And people keep giving me looks.”

“Because you came in normal day clothes.”

I looked down at my baggy hooded overtop and trousers. “What’s wrong with my clothes?”

“People tend to dress nicely for dates.”

My head jerked to take in his outfit. Now that he mentioned it, he wasn’t in Uniform either. He wasn’t even in one of his might-as-well-be-Uniform outfits of white shirt and black trousers. Instead Kalik had donned a purple buttoned shirt. He’d even plaited his hair off his forehead.

“I didn’t know,” I whispered.

He smiled that soft smile. The one that carried just a little guilt. “I should have said.”

“I should have asked someone. I told Kitty I was going on a date and he didn’t say anything!”

“Merry, do you even own other clothes?”

“I… don’t.” I’d never seen the need to expand my wardrobe past what was appropriate for work at Jhoto's – where the rule had been ‘wear black’ and then my Guardian Uniforms. I rubbed my face. “I feel like I’m making a mess of this already.”

“You’re just unique.”

I levelled a soft glare at him. “That has never proved a positive trait so far.”

“Well, I like you anyway.”

“For now.”

“Hey.” He brushed soft fingers across my cheek, encouraging but not forcing me to look at him. “Not just for now.”

I pressed my lips to his. “Tell me what’s going to happen in the next bit and we can go back in. If I know the story I’ll follow it easier.”

“I’m not a great storyteller.”

“Can’t be worse than me.”

He laughed. “That’s true.”

This has been A Misunderstood Performance by Will Soulsby-McCreath. Feel absolutely free to reblog around Tumblr but don't copy and paste to anywhere else (c) Will Soulsby-McCreath

#ockiss24 #oc kiss week #writeblr #writing #fiction #short story #fantasy #lgbtqia+ #lgbt characters #guardian cadet series #merry arlan: breaking the curse #merry arlan: finding the heir #a misunderstood performance

[qbdatabase]

I was wondering if you would be able to add my books to the database. Author: Will Soulsby-McCreath

Books include

Merry Arlan: Breaking The Curse (Guardian Cadet Series 1) - bi MC, pan LI, nonbinary best friend, mlm roommates. Casually inclusive fantasy world

Merry Arlan: Finding The Heir (Guardian Cadet Series 2) - as above plus Elven Queen is a wheelchair user.

Welcome To Humanity - nonbinary protagonist (Blue), allegorical narrative for trans rights and disability rights, disabled protagonist (Ravi).

And coming out in October 2023, Unlicensed Delivery, Inter-Planetary Alliance novels 1 - nonbinary bi and disabled protagonist (Matter), mlm husbands as protagonists (Basti and Dimae), and bi-polyam romance (bi4bi in book 1, bi4bi4bi later in series)

Yes! We have all three of the currently-published titles available as ebooks through hoopla, so I can list those. I'll have to wait and see if we acquire the last title before I can list it though, since the database connects back to an irl public library.

I've got the three titles we do have queued to be added to the database when I update it next month. Could you specify how Ravi is disabled? I'll add that in, but for now, it will just say "disabled male MC" for him.

Thanks for the ask, and I'll keep an eye out for your upcoming title!

#ask #anon #answered

[writing-with-olive]

We've got action, adventure, and lots of magic - not to mention a super cool premise that you should absolutely check out!

#writing #writers on tumblr #writeblr #writing community #new writer guide #thank you! #boosting #writblr #writing life #merry arlan: breaking the curse #ma:btc

[nopoodles]

“How about this,” he offered. “Since we’re at a tie. If I beat you in the next match, you have to help Miss Valencia. If you win, I stop asking.” It wasn’t much of an offer. He’d only asked me once, but the implication was pretty clear. If I refused his wager he would keep seeking me out for the purpose of requesting my help. “Can you not find some other Sensitive?” “Why find someone else when you’re right here and almost willing to help?” “Almost?” I snorted. “Almost,” he grinned. I hesitated. Could I beat him again? There was no specific reason to assume I couldn’t. Would helping Rakael Valencia really put me in that much danger? Sure I had panicked the previous day when he’d mentioned the word Embassies, but maybe it would be the Dragon Born Embassy, or the Human one. And if I beat him it wouldn’t be an issue. “Okay.” “Think of it this way,” Kalik said, helping me up. “Helping me with this is great practice for becoming a Guardian.”

Merry Arlan: Breaking The Curse by Will Soulsby-McCreath is part one of the Guardian Cadet Series

Available in signed paperback, and via other retailers in both eBook and paperback.

A fantasy series with action adventure, heapings of magic, and a delightful slow-burn heart-warming romance.

More info at WillSoulsbyMcCreath.com

#writing #fiction #fantasy #lgbtqia+ #lgbt characters #guardian cadet series #fantasy books #swords and sorcery #indie fantasy #indie books #queer indie books #2021 releases #indie author #bi characters #bi romance #bi4bi #not to shamelessly self promote but... #merry arlan breaking the curse #merry arlan: breaking the curse

[nopoodles]

I've just seen a post and it's made me think, once again, about relationships in fiction.

Lots of people really like the slow burn, the build up, the aching intensity of not knowing a relationship will work. And I get it. I've put that in Merry Arlan: Breaking The Curse. I love reading books and fanfic with slow burn romance in it.

But I kinda hate it when an 8 book series (or whatever) only lets the relationship come to be at the very end. I do think after a certain point, it's just frustrating to see these people who think they can't be together AND won't dare to risk it. Especially when they're risking so much else in other pieces of the narrative.

And that always gets me thinking about how, most authors who decide to let the relationship form in book one (or even just not the absolute final book), tend to write the love interest OUT of the next few books. Your MC moves away or goes on a mission their love interest can't join them on (for some convoluted or never explained reason).

And sometimes I wonder if the reason people don't love a resolved slow burn is because they don't get to enjoy a well utilised love interest.

Like, as someone who has been with their partner going on for 10 years (technically 9 but it's nice and rounded this way), you absolutely can have drama when you're in a relationship. You can be literally right next to your partner who is offering all the support they have to give and it's not enough. It's normal and human. And dramatic in a narrative.

Anyway, I'm not sure where this is going, but I tried not to do this with Kalik in the Guardian Cadet Series. I guess we'll see how well I did when that book comes out.

#its just some author ramblings #guardian cadet series #merry arlan: breaking the curse #merry arlan #slow burn romance

[nopoodles]

Today marks me as an author thrice over

3 books out, 1 ready to go, 2 in the feedback stage, and more than I can begin to count rattling around in the chaos zone that is my brain.

I kinda can't believe it. 3 years ago I had 0 books fully finished let alone published.

#writerblr #merry arlan: breaking the curse #merry arlan: finding the heir #guardian cadet series #welcome to humanity #welcome to humanity novel

[nopoodles]

“How about this,” he offered. “Since we’re at a tie. If I beat you in the next match, you have to help Miss Valencia. If you win, I stop asking.” It wasn’t much of an offer. He’d only asked me once, but the implication was pretty clear. If I refused his wager he would keep seeking me out for the purpose of requesting my help. “Can you not find some other Sensitive?” “Why find someone else when you’re right here and almost willing to help?” "Almost?" I snorted. "Almost," he grinned. I hesitated. Could I beat him again? There was no specific reason to assume I couldn’t. Would helping Rakael Valencia really put me in that much danger? Sure I had panicked the previous day when he’d mentioned the word Embassies, but maybe it would be the Dragon Born Embassy, or the Human one. And if I beat him it wouldn’t be an issue. “Okay.” “Think of it this way,” Kalik said. “Helping me with this is great practice for becoming a Guardian.”

Merry Arlan: Breaking The Curse by Will Soulsby-McCreath, Part one of the Guardian Cadet Series, available now:

eBook link

Signed paperback link (includes extra goodies too)

It's also available in unsigned paperback but not in any reliably linkable kind of way, but here's a BookFinder link anyway

It's an adult fantasy with action adventure, heapings of magic, and a delightful slow burn heart-warming romance, and book 2 is in the works already.

More info? Head over to WillSoulsbyMcCreath.com

#Guardian Cadet Series #merry aran breaking the curse #merry arlan: breaking the curse #merry arlan #writeblr #booklr #buy links #indie author #original fiction #fantasy novels #fantasy #sword and sorcery #lgbt characters

[nopoodles]

Things I learnt from doing a book/craft fair

Know Your Pitch and be comfortable saying it.

Having a leaf through copy is wise. But don't put it on a display stand or people will be too afraid to touch it. Having 2 leaf through copies might be wiser — one for each end of your table. Leaf through copies are designed to get messed up by people flicking through, which allows your sellable copies to be pretty pristine

Download zettle (or similar) onto your phone, don't buy the separate card reader straight away — your smartphone can accept contactless payments with no issues. It is well worth having an easy way people can pay by card

Make sure the box you take stuff in is sturdy enough for all the things in it (Lest it break halfway to the car and you have to put your stuff into the reusable carrier bags in the back of the car, except you haven't actually brought those back out yet so there's only one broken one left)

Business cards are good, free business bookmarks are better. You're an author, they're relevant. Stick something related to your cover on the front and your blurb and contact info/social media on the back. (Put a sign next to them saying they're free, please take one)

Everyone says bring sweets for free but nobody took mine so do with that what you will

Bundle prices are good

Put your prices in big visible places, like right next to the things you're selling - it's okay if they're handwritten on sticky notes, use a thick and dark pen so it's clear from a distance.

Don't look busy, but don't look too desperate for attention either (don't scroll on your phone). Smile and greet people as they pass by or approach, ask them how their day is going or if they're having a good time.

Bring food you don't need to leave your table to eat if you're doing this on your own (bring another human person with you if you can)

If you have a dog under your table, maybe let people know before he pokes his head out from under your table cloth and scares them (oops)

You don't need fancy stands or signs, but table flow is important. I built a tower of books on one side of my table and laid stuff flat on the other. I did have a few book stands, which were useful - I set one up with my bundle, one with my leaf through copy, and one with my short story zines. But I wouldn't say they were necessary, just useful. If I hadn't had them, I'd have propped books up on smaller piles of books.

Take a blanket or duvet cover if you don't own a tablecloth, just make sure you have something to cover your table

Your float of cash should add up to about £50 if you can manage it, make sure you have change. Keep a record of everything that comes in and out as soon as you can but don't do it in front of a customer if you can help it.

If you've been using .99 ends to your prices, bump that up by the penny or do a discount for the fair and drop it down. Nobody wants to deal with pennies.

People will balk at your prices no matter what they are. Try to ignore that.

If you have a dog under your table, think about bringing some of their dry food to let people feed them if they want (think about making a sign relevant to your book genre about the dog)

Table decorations relevant to your genre are helpful if you happen to own anything — I took a shoulder dragon because dragon = fantasy. When my sci-fi books come out I'd consider taking something more sci-fi as well (not sure what yet). You probably don't own a shoulder dragon, but anything you happen to have can be useful (steampunk = goggles, detective = magnifying glass, romance = love heart something, you know, whatevers available if you have anything, I'd you don't then just ignore this one)

Don't be afraid to go to the bathroom when you need to.

Talk to the other vendors, ask them how their day is going (offer them your free sweets if you have them), swap business cards (or bookmarks), find out how their sales are if you can (don't ask about numbers). Use this intel later to figure out if you want to do another fair.

Set a low goal for sales, enough to cover the cost of the table. If you surpass it, great! If you land on it, at least you've made your money back. And if you don't quite get there, call it a learning experience, investigate why it didn't work out for you and make decisions with that info.

People will tell you to stand, you don't have to. It's your choice, listen to your body.

Have fun. It's exciting and you get to chat to people about your book(s)

I didn't intend to start doing book fairs until I had at least 3 books available, but I got an opportunity that would have been foolish to say no to so I gave it a shot. Now I have info to help me make decisions in the future.

#book fair #book fayre #indie author #indie books #guardian cadet series #merry arlan: breaking the curse #merry arlan

[nopoodles]

Hi there 👋 and Happy Saturday.

What's your favorite thing about your book series? The thing you're most proud of or excited about or the thing that makes you want to gush the most? (Something like a particular character dynamic, scene, theme, worldbuilding facet or something else?)

My gosh, how long ago did you send this? I genuinely looked at this and said "ah, I'll do that tomorrow" and then Porthos entered a barking at night phase. That was...

Well anyway.

My favourite thing about my book series is definitely Merry learning how to make friends. It starts in book one with Kalik, who becomes her love interest and also with Gergorio and Al. And then into book two she gets to make even more friends despite the horrible circumstances I put her through.

As someone who has always had a hard time making friends, I really enjoy getting to explore the way characters make friends with one another. And I love that some of the feedback I've got from people who have read the books centres that 'learning to make friends as an adult' vibe.

I also absolutely frickin love how people respond to Merry and Kalik's relationship. I always wanted to write a relationship readers would gush over and I'm super jazzed that my first one has gone down so well 💚

Merry and Kalik forever!

#nopoodles asks and answers #guardian cadet series #merry arlan: breaking the curse #merry arlan: finding the heir

[nopoodles]

It's Merry Arlan: Breaking The Curse's Bookiversary!

Merry Arlan: Breaking The Curse has been out for a year as of today (26th October 2022)! I kinda can't believe it because it means I've been a published author for a year too.

What's Merry Arlan: Breaking The Curse?

It's an adult fantasy novel with action adventure, heapings of magic, and a delightful slow-burn heart-warming romance. It's also part one of the Guardian Cadet Series (book 2 coming soon)

It follows Merry who wants to be a Guardian, there's just a few things standing in her way: her gender, her secret heritage, her penchant for questioning authority.

When a Guardian Colonel comes to Merry for help what can she do but agree? She's only risking her entire life.

Available in

signed paperback (link)

ebook (link)

And regular, unsigned paperback (which I do not have an easy link for but you should be able to request it at your local bookstore or library)

#im still no good at video description so if anyone adds one ill reblog that in a heartbeat #indie books #indie author #fantasy book #sword and sorcery #fantasy romance #merry aran breaking the curse #merry arlan: breaking the curse #guardian cadet series

[nopoodles]

First Lines Tag

Tagged by the lovely @saedoeswriting

Rules: Post the fist lines for your WIPs.

(Playing with the rules a little for my own amuselment because the first book is already out so isn't a WIP)

Merry Arlan: Breaking The Curse (Guardian Cadet Series 1) first lines

"No," Commander Whitclé said flatly. "What do you mean no?" I snapped in response.

Merry Arlan: [title TBA] (Guardian Cadet Series 2) first lines

“No,” I said to Commander Whitclé. His shoulders slumped. “What do you mean no?”

Ah, just look at that narrative parallel. There are parallels galore in the Guardian Cadet Series.

Anyway, tagging people with no pressure @avrablake @sylvar-writes-fantasy @emelkae and, uhh, you if you fancy it.

#merry arlan #merry arlan: breaking the curse #guardian cadet series #gcs2 #first lines tag #tag game!

[nopoodles]

Wanna win a copy of this book?

[ID: Porthos, a black spaniel lies on a white windowsill, sniffing a paperback copy of Merry Arlan: Breaking The Curse piled atop a green-gold short story zine, a pale purple short story zine, and two post card maps. /End ID]

Fill out this form

By the end of the month (October 2022) for your very own chance!

(Dog not included)

"But why would I enter to win this mystery prize?"

Merry Arlan: Breaking The Curse is an adult fantasy with action adventure, heapings of magic, and a delightful slow-burn heart-warming romance. It's also part one of the Guardian Cadet Series. It follows Merry (shockingly enough based on the title) who wants to be a Guardian, there's just a few things standing in her way: her gender, her secret heritage, her penchant for questioning authority. When a Guardian Colonel comes to Merry for help, what can she do but agree? She's only risking her entire life.

"And, it's free, this entry, no email list sign up requirements or anything?"

It's totally free to enter, you're welcome to sign up to my mailing list if you so desire (if you do and get the secret word from it, you'll get double points to enter), but I'm just celebrating my book having been out for a whole year by offering the chance for people to get a signed copy. I have no intention to keep any of your details longer than necessary to get prizes out ot the winners (unless you sign up to the mailing list, in which case, obviously, your email will be in that protected folder.)

"You mentioned something about a series?"

Yup, book 2 is in the works and will be announced shortly.

"I missed the deadline."

You're welcome to buy a copy for youyrself, I sell signed copies and ship anywhere in the world. Or you can request it from you local indie bookstore, or even use everyone's favourite conglomorate named after a rainforest and also a river.

#fantasy book #indie books #indie author #sword and sorcery #merry arlan #merry arlan: breaking the curse #guardian cadet series

[nopoodles]

Into Touch Thursday

Tagged by the shining star that is @avrablake

Game by @sleepyowlwrites

Let's talk about how our OCs express their affection

Gonna use Guardian Cadet Series characters

Merry

Vulnerability. Merry's mantra, especially in book one is "Weakness will be exploited. Always." -- at first the only person she trusts with her own vulnerability is Lior (her best friend), and even then it's a surprise when she admits things to xem. As the book progressed, Merry and her Love Interest get closer, but she also grows closer to other characters like her roommate Kitty and Kitty's boyfriend Gergorio. Each of these characters is treated to a different level of Merry's internally percieved "weakness".

Love Interest gets a little of Merry's backstory, the admission thatt she doesn't want to do things because it makes her feel vulnerable, and becomes someone she can lean on in a similar way to how she leans on Lior.

Kitty gets to help Merry when she's physically hurt, he can provide her with the care she needs and, as soon as he's able to do that, he can start leaning on her (because care is usually a two way street).

(Gergorio has his own section so I'll talk about him there)

Kalik

Everybody's favourite Colonel. Kalik is perfectly pleasant to everyone he encounters so it can be hard to judge what his acts of affection look like. He is, however, incredibly private. I mean, you literally don't learn his first name over the course of the entire novel and it's not like he's a small character, he's vital to the plots.

He shows affection by letting people into his private past: stories about him being a Cadet, stories about his family, all the things he actively doesn't think about because he puts the Guardian institution above all else. He has a job to do, and that job is to make the world a better place, regardless of his own murky history.

Lior

You know Lior likes you if xe sits down. Lior is described as a flirt, but xe will flirt with anyone, because its not real. What is real is when xe seeks you out, not for any specific purpose, just to be around one another. In Chapter One (I think, maybe chapter 2), Lior sits at the bar where Merry is bartending all night, why? Because they're best friends and xe wants to spend time with her.

Gergorio

Gergorio wants to help more than he wants anything else in the world, it's why he joined the Guardians. Toward the end of the book Merry makes brief mention of the fact that "Gergorio would make tea, so I'll make tea" when Kitty is upset, and that summarizes Gergorio in a nutshell. He likes to provide, he likes to actively show care through service. He will provide food, drinks, company, and conversation. Sometimes he goes a bit deep into it, like accidentally, unofficially moving into Merry and Kitty's flat because he wants to make dinner for Kitty every night but...

Taggos: @emelkae @cherrybombfangirlwrites @saedoeswriting and, you if you fancy it

#into touch thursday #tag games! #Guardian Cadet Series #Merry Arlan: Breaking The Curse #Merry Arlan

[nopoodles]

OC Associations Tag

Tagged by the ever amazing @emelkae(minor, tiny, tiddley almost-spoilers for Merry Arlan: Breaking The Curse. Just friend/relationship stuff, not plot-breaking stuff but if you're against anything spoiler adjacent you may want to skip this post)

Also I'm sorry this took me so long to do - t'was surprisingly challenging.

Rules: Describe your OCs as

TIME

Dawn: Lord Tellyn Smeeten - that painful instant the sun first peeks over the horizon, the way it colours the sky gentle pinks and blues despite the pain of having to adjust to a new, bright, unyielding light.

Noon: Gergorio Valencia - bright, shining and warm. Gergorio welcomes anyone in, he's a calm comfort but disorientatingly persistent. Occasionally too much, especially if you have a headache.

Dusk: Liorellion Folcs - "The Shields at the bottom of the stage glowed with a gentle silver light; it shimmered on Lior's hair and the silver sequins on xyr costume" - Merry Arlan: Breaking The Curse

Night: Colonel Kalik - secrets shared in the darkness of night are always the most precious. The way you can bare your soul outside the expectations of daylight.

RELATIONSHIP

Friend: Gergorio - "Gergorio’s endless ability to make new friends reared its head once again." - Book 2 Guardian Cadet Series

Lover: Kalik - "Only the touch of Kalik's warm hand where it had woven its way into my hair kept me from ending up in the Moon Prince's Realm." - Merry Arlan: Breaking The Curse

Ex: PT - "I'll tell you now, Arlan. Inter-Guardian relationships don't work. I've been there." - Merry Arlan: Breaking The Curse

Enemy: Cadet Aionda Manth - "Manth had decided I was a target for some reason." - Merry Arlan: Breaking The Curse

SEASON

Spring: Kitty Hughes - warmth blooms and flowers and food begin to grow. "He wore a delicate green tunic that offset the green in his hazel eyes, like whole forests full of hidden life set into his pale face." - Merry Arlan: Breaking The Curse

Summer: Lior - "A fluttering red sleeve caught my attention. Lior's hand blurred as xe waved at me, practically glowing in the late morning sunlight." - Merry Arlan: Breaking The Curse

Autumn: Kalik -

"The sun hadn't even risen yet, street lights casting eerie blue and orange glows over the street depending on their magical or fire-based means of operation.

'Here.' He held out a paper bag and silver coloured travel mug." - Merry Arlan: Breaking The Curse

Winter: Merry - "Ice blue eyes, platinum hair that shifted blue in the right lighting, pale skin. He would find an undercurrent of blue that wasn't there, since I wasn't flushed pink to dispute it" - Merry Arlan: Breaking The Curse

DESTRUCTION

Tornado: Commander Jonathan Whitclé - "Did anything come out of Commander Whitclé's office uncrinkled?" - Book 2 Guardian Cadet Series

Wildfire: Queen Kariella - okay, so Kariella is from the second book, she's the Queen of the free Elven people's. I don't want to give too much away but she's a Red Elf and a fire mage. She's passionate and strong and pretty unstoppable.

Earthquake: Kitty - you never really see the potential for anger in Kitty, he's caring and sweet, he gets caught up in projects too easily and sucks at taking care of himself unless someone reminds him that he needs to eat. When I was discussing this tag with my wife she said "Earthquake? Kitty? Are you sure?" But underneath all his sweet, soft, caring, Kitty would tear the world down if someone hurts his loved ones. And you'd never see it coming.

Tsunami: Professor Sorenson - Sorenson doesn't get as much page time as I'd like. She's a big ideas woman, and she likes things done her way. She will absolutely sweep you up in her skirt-tails and bring you along for the ride.

LANDSCAPE

Mountain: Kitty - not to be too literal, but he's from the White Cliffs, which are mountains.

Forest: Merry - deep, dark, mysterious, and if you go too far in you'll find something dangerous.

Ocean: Captain Etta Amaranth - Etta could have her own series and yet she never makes it to the page, at least not in person. She's a Wind Mage, which is very useful if you want to be a pirate. She's also the most mysterious member of the cast (like I said, she never appears on the page and is only talked about). She was the transportation that moved Merry from who she was, into the possibility of becoming Merry Arlan in the first place.

Desert: Jhoto Folcs - Jhoto is a complex woman. She has a lot of easily lifted walls surrounding her (and Lior) for protection. She has no qualms about lifting those walls, either, regardless of how close she might have once been to the person now on the other side. But she has a weakness for her exes - all of them. The mirage of water in the desert that just makes everyone else more parched since she'll let those people back in and reinforce extra walls for everyone else when she inevitably gets hurt.

Tagging: oh gosh who to tag? You if you want to do it :)

But also no pressure tags @cherrybombfangirlwrites @avrablake @athenixrose @asher-orion-writes

#OC associations tag #tag games! #Merry Arlan: Breaking The Curse #GCS2 #Guardian Cadet Series #Merry Arlan

[nopoodles]

Made a Merry Arlan: Breaking The Curse mood board, thought I might as well share it. Each of these images relates to the book and I could write an essay on symbolism and how jammy it was that I found a woman in boxing gloves with dual plaits (Merry's perpetual hairstyle) but I wont.

[ID: 9 photots in a grid. Top Left: a yellow tinged clear crystal with light shining through it. Top Middle:A hooded figure stands before a blue tinged mountain range. Top Right: A blue snowflake on a black frosted background. Centre Left: a hooded figure walks on a snowy backdrop. Centre Middle: Blue backgrund with the text Merry Arlan: Breaking The Curse Will Soulsby McCreath. Centre Right: Woman in black boxing gloves punching toward the camera. Bottom Left: A moon partially obscured by blue clouds. Bottom Middle: A silhouetted couple kiss against a black and orange background. Bottom Right: A pair of well worn black boots. /End ID]

#Merry Arlan: Breaking The Curse #Merry Arlan #Guardian Cadet Series #fantasy book #writeblr #booklr #swords and sorcery

[nopoodles]

Last few days before my signed book store closes for a month or so

Merry Arlan: Breaking The Curse is available in signed paperback (with bonus extras -link in reblog for maximum possible visibility) but I'll be closing shop for my move at the end of this week (15th July 2022) and won't open up again until somewhere in August or September depending on how long it takes to get everything sorted in my new house (it's a big move, I'm only panicking a little I promise)

What's Merry Arlan: Breaking The Curse?

It's an adult/new adult fantasy with action adventure, heapings of magic, and a delightful slow burn heart-warming romance. Part One of the Guardian Cadet Series it follows Merry, a uni student and part time bartender in her aims to join the Brotherhood of Guardians. There's just a few things standing in her way: her gender, her secret heritage, her penchant for questioning authority.

When a Guardian Colonel comes to merry for help, what can she do but agree? She's only risking her entire life.

But I don't get paid until after your store closes and I want it NOW!

In that case you can either wait until I reopen for a signed copy, or you can get a copy I don't personally distribute from somewhere else online. Links in my pinned post.

But why are you closing shop for your move?

Couple of reasons. One, I don't know when I'll get WiFi in my new place (this one took 6 weeks, it was painstaking) and my phone has given up the ghost with mobile data so I wouldn't be able to receive orders (and I have no money to afford a new phone). Two, packing things into boxes and then unpacking them is hard, I'm not executive function savvy enough to expect to unpack that fast. Three, post office be where? I don't know where my post office is in my new town compared to my flat so...

Why are you even moving such a supposedly huge distance?

Wife got a new job, and a huge promotion, we're going where the work is. It probably wouldn't count as far to many people. Especially considering we've already moved a whole halfway across the world and back before, but it is a big move still (and we have a cat that meows incessantly when she's in her carrier, she's not distressed, she's just noisy - so the car journey will be at least as painful as our 52 hour series of planes and busses to Wellington, NZ even if it's a tiny fraction of that actual time)

#merry aran breaking the curse #merry arlan: breaking the curse #guardian cadet series #fantasy novel #swords and sorcery #writeblr #booklr