tryslora

[tryslora]

PM: [Podfic] Draconis Affectionitis by tryslora

Drarry | Rating: Teen And Up Audiences | Length: 00:11:36

AO3 link here

Author: @tryslora

The order in which I'm going through to record my thoughts won't necessarily seem obvious as I've decided that it makes sense to me to go chronologically in the order that I recorded as opposed to shared and posted on ao3/ia. This was my 4th recorded/15th shared pod.

Unfortunately due to my stupidity, I didn't share this podfic until more than a year after tryslora had generously given permission to do so - I can only claim an inability to understand written English at the time *smh and apologize to tryslora. Sharing isn't the be all and end all for me for podfics that I record as I podfic for myself, the only exception is Lily's Boy so I do remember my slight disappointment at my first rejection(not) at not being able to share this gem but as long as I get to listen - it's okay ^.^

I know that a lot of people hate listening to themselves and I thought think it would be true of me apart from the fact that something odd happens in that my recorded 'natural' voice seems to get shifted a tone or two up - even my OH of over two decades didn't recognize me.

The other thing that surprised me was how more RP my voice sounded; which isn't a term i had ever heard of to describe accents when growing up. I always just considered my accent to be a fairly neutral south-west accent. Also recording makes me sound a lot more refined than what I have always considered a generic common voice. Anyway I decided that even my voice is preferable to the TTS phone app that I have, particularly when it comes to listening to scenes of heightened emotions or smut - hearing the dry, male voice, reminiscent of my Physics teacher, read about 'rimming' is something else ^_^

I'm not sure how I discovered this delight of a fic, was thinking that maybe it was going down the rabbit-hole of tattoo tagged fics but then I'm fairly sure that I had considered recording another tryslora fic that I love but discounted on the account that it had more than two characters.

What I love about drarry is that there are so many age settings from Hogwarts, post-Hogwarts etc with so many different scenarios that one can dream up so this was my first pod of Harry and Draco post-Hogwarts. My first podfic does have Harry and Draco at Hogwarts but Harry's upbringing is very different so the voice I used there wouldn't be suitable; and the voices for mpte obviously couldn't be used. This is the first time that I tried lowering my voice and having Draco have a more refined accent; wasn't sure what to do with Harry but with a cast of two, I think if the listener (me) can distinguish one character then all's good.

I can tell that from listening where I am wrt what I know about Audacity, which is an amazing DAW given that it's free. I hadn't learnt about removing plosives nor using spectral delete at that point so when I do listen, I do cringe when I hear a plosive or mouth smack. Knowing I mouth smack has been a horrifying realization for me.

I think because Christmas had recently occurred, and when I was looking for Soho photos to use as cover art - I just plumped for the So Ho Ho Ho one off wikimedia. There was a pub that I remember as a very young child, fascinated with the colour scheme of cream and blackened windows, I think near Chinatown but it moved and couldn't for the life of me remember it. I don't think I was aware that it was a gay pub until much later but it's always stuck in my mind and couldn't find a image that matches my memory. Cover art is not my forte but I loathe having that empty space in the media player, and I find it easier to find an album, book if I have some image to go with it in the list.

There's such a joy to be had reading one-shorts - the skill and technique of the writer being able to put you instantly into a scenario and tryslora's opening paras are delicious with the way that you're instantly transported to a sweaty, Friday night on the pull with your arm propped on a sticky countertop.

I do love the dragon opening Harry's mind to possibilities he wouldn't otherwise consider and even if it's wrong, they both won't be losing out for that one night of fun and debauchery. Also the characterization of Harry and Draco in the dialogue are so in-keeping with how I imagine them. Lol I want a tattoo like Harry's ^.^

#podfic of my work #my fanfiction

[tryslora]

WIP Wednesday

From my to-be-indie-published book, coming next week!

“We can’t go anywhere until you’re dressed like Angela again, instead of a taffeta monster ready to attack a wedding aisle.” “Oooh, I like that image, Daddy.” He really shouldn’t put ideas in her head. Caylin will kill him if anything happens during the wedding.

#wip wednesday

[tryslora]

*SIGHS*

Another AO3 app that's pretending to be official when it's not (or at least isn't making it clear its unofficial.) They're using AO3's name and logo, and embedding ads.

There is no official AO3 app

Someone else is gathering your data, potentially your log in information etc and making use of it how they please. (They say they're not but their privacy policy says otherwise)

They are making money from the ads without the fic writer's consent.

They've also rated it Pegi 3 (which is ludicrous)

Please, even if you care about nothing else, for the safety of your data, please don't use this app. Certainly don't give it your AO3 log in details.

I've told AO3 that it's infringing on its copyright. I will be requesting they remove access of my work as I do not consent to my creative content being used to generate ad revenue for them.

I will be reporting it as incorrectly rated.

The only email address I can find is [email protected] which is included in their privacy policy, and [email protected] as their developer.

[tryslora]

So I just saw a post by a random personal blog that said “don’t follow me if we never even had a conversation before” and?????? Not to be rude but literally what the fuck??????????

I’ve had people (non-pornbots) try to strike conversation out of nowhere in my DMs recently, and now I’m wondering if they were doing that because they wanted to follow me and thought they needed to interact first. I feel compelled to say, just in case, that it’s totally okay to follow this blog (or my side blog, for that matter) even if we’ve never talked before.

Also, I’m legit confused. Is this how follow culture works right now? It was worded like it’s common sense but is that really a thing?

[tryslora]

Welcome to What I’m Reading Wednesday on a Thursday, because yesterday was chaos and while I got as far as making my little graphic, I didn’t get to do a proper writeup!

I also managed to finish three things between yesterday and today, but that’ll get discussed next week—this is being done as if I were posting it on Wednesday morning as I should have done! Preparing AHEAD OF TIME is apparently the new name of the game for future!me.

Audiobook

I finished reading Heat Wave, the third book in the Incredibles trilogy by TJ Klune, and DAMN that was an awesome ride. Do you love YA books? Queer books? Superheroes? Complicated gray areas but also villains who are villains? Non-neurotypical POV? This is that series. I adored Nick—our POV narrator in all his ADHD glory. I adored the story. It was just so much fun, and angsty in moments, and SO GOOD.

I then started the non-fiction writing advice book Never Say You Can’t Survive by Charlie Jane Anders, narrated by the author herself. This book is wonderful, like having a conversation with the author, and it makes me feel SO GOOD. Even unfinished, I’ve been screaming about it every chance I get. It’s great to read a self-help book and come out feeling energized and motivated rather than shamed.

Physical Book

My physical book is continuing The Marann by Christie Meierz. I have a few quibbles with the book, but overall, I’m enjoying it. There are some trigger warnings that should be included, so be prepared for that. I continue to enjoy the difference in culture between the aliens and humanity. This is definitely a romance, and has that vibe and happy feel.

Ebook

I have a huge collection of ebooks in my Kindle library, many of which I am not entirely sure how I obtained. Some are freebies that Amazon gives to Prime members monthly. Either way, I’m not certain how I got Love Among the Stars by Claerie Kavanaugh but I’ve been enjoying the romance. It’s a quick, easy read, but too light and quick to be great.

Manga & Graphic Novels

My journey through Elfquest continues with The Complete Elfquest, volume 2 by Wendy & Richard Pini. I’ve reached things that are definitely not familiar! I completed the Seige at Blue Mountain arc and am in the middle of the Kings of the Broken Wheel arc (hopefully I’m remembering that title correctly). Continuing to love it. I fully admit, I want to kick Rayek often and do hope to get to see some character progression as it goes on. I’m very much enjoying getting to see the new things. My excitement grows and it’s hard to hold myself to only one chapter a night!

Since I received the latest volume of Black or White by Sachimo (Vol 8), I sat down and read it right away. I mean. It’s BL, pretty much what it says on the tin. Jealousy between two men—both actors—who can’t be out, but there are an awful lot of people in the know about their relationship. That said, they really have settled in to their relationship and that part continues to improve.

Spoiler for next week… Between Wednesday morning (when this should have been written) and Thursday afternoon (when I am writing it), I finished three of the above books… so expect some new things next week! I may have also discovered that audiobooks make thick unwieldy highly descriptive prose accessible to me, when I struggle to read it in a physical book. So that’s cool!

#what i'm reading #am reading #books

[tryslora]

🌄📝

I have been putting off answering this because I had a week of Mondays so let's have some small nice things

Fresh strawberries

A new tea mug

The coffee at the local cafe is really good this week (they rotate roasts)

The cherry blossoms smell amazing (let us not speak of what they do to my sinuses)

A current WIP

I and my fellow Viable Paradise alums put together an anthology of SFF stories! We kickstarted it and it will go to print this summer. I'm so proud of it, mostly because of all the incredible work everyone else has put in. The editors have been kind and thoughtful and helped me make my somewhat chaotic story into a beautiful gut punch.

The theme is "New Year New You," and it has all kinds of weird magic and science and space to explore. My story is about Persephone and growing up and seasonal depression and how delicious pickles are.

If you're curious, it's still available for preorder https://new-year-new-you-anthology.backerkit.com/hosted_preorders

And an excerpt

When the earth ruptured and Hades dragged her down, she fought the way the young fight aging, the way a warrior fights death. Remember the Greeks on the wine dark sea, remember the sea they loved could drown them. Persephone, too, drowned. Her husband’s arm was an anchor and her chiton was a heavy weight. Rich black earth filled her lungs, she tasted loam and copper on her tongue. When she landed in the underworld, she could neither see nor hear. Everything had a sheen of unreality, bleached of color and sound and joy. Pity her, of course. Pity all young girls, forced into an adulthood that had always seemed eons away, suddenly caught in the river of time. Never again would her joy be uncomplicated. Always, there would be darkness on the edges, a promise that life would turn and turn.

[tryslora]

One time I was explaining to my dad how unfair it is that every big city has at least a couple gay bars but there are only like 20ish lesbian bars left in the country and he responded with "That's cause gay men have a good party culture. Lesbians don't have time to party, they're too busy debating the sociological implications of things and studying for postgrad degrees" and as much as I wanted to tell him he was out of line for that, as a lesbian who spends all her free time on Tumblr debating sociological implications and messaging other lesbians in discord servers where everyone has a PhD or masters for some reason I felt like I might not be the best person to make that argument

[tryslora]

Just found out that The Japan Foundation has an awesome free library accessible to folks in the US, works basically the same way the Queer Liberation Library does except it's all, like, books about Japanese culture and history, manga, fiction, language learning books, and more, in both English and Japanese!

There's even a whole section of LGBTQIA+ stuff, including manga, language stuff, books, audiobooks...

Anyway, I filled out the sign-up form over the weekend and got my log-in info last night and I AM EXCITE and wanted to share.

Another free-to-folks-in-the-US library with lots of awesome books!!

Shout out to enigmalea on Mastodon, for making the post that let me learn this exists!

[tryslora]

WIP Wednesday

“I’m hungry,” Chelsea whispers. She hisses softly when Mattie lays a hand on her shoulder. “I know,” Mattie says reassuringly, patting her shoulder. “You’d do anything for a bright soul, and believe me, these are some of the brightest. Such beautiful Talents… they are so strong and effervescent. But someday maybe you can eat chocolate instead.”

From my recent continued editing of Into the Split. I love my Shadows. I think they are very much my nod to my early vampire fandom.

#wip wednesday #welcome to phu #phuverse #am editing

[tryslora]

Cover reveal!!

Have you been wondering what I'm up to? Along with editing the first three PHU books for publication with Duck Prints Press, I've been preparing the first book in my new Seven Lakes (queer mildly spicy paranormal romance) series for independent publishing!

My cover was created by the wonderful Flore Picard (@florilege-studio) and I am delighted to be able to share it now!

Keep an eye on this space for more information. I'll post when the book is up for pre-sale! It'll be available in ebook, trade paperback, and hardcover editions.

#seven lakes #cover reveal #my fiction #upcoming book #queer fiction #paranormal romance

[tryslora]

two things that make me happy today

​ONE!​

I have the cover art for my upcoming indie release paranormal queer romance! Keep an eye on social media for a cover reveal coming soon, and if you are interested in receiving an e-arc in exchange for an honest review, and haven't already let me know, please do! (I have to figure out how to get it on GR and SG before that, though... part of this weekend's tasks...)

...and TWO!

I started listening to the audiobook of Never Say You Can't Survive by Charlie Jane Anders, as read by the author herself. I have found a writing advice book I like. I love how she reads, how it feels like a conversation. I love how what she says feels like what I need to hear, and falls in line with how I feel about writing. She's not preaching to me. She's not demanding that I do things a certain way. She's talking frankly about everything, and about writing through tough times. I don't want to put it down. I'm about 20% in and still in love with it, which is a great sign.

It makes me sad I didn't get the chance to go to Capclave where she was guest of honor and get to meet her. It also makes me determined to buy the audiobook of the third in her Unstoppables trilogy because my libraries aren't getting it and I really need to know how that series ends (the first two books are amazing).

[tryslora]

Tag game

RULES: Post the last sentence you wrote (fanfic / original / anything) and tag as many people as there are words in the sentence (unless you’re like me and write enough run on sentences to where you can’t possibly tag that many people for words).

I'm editing, so this is the revised last sentence from chapter 7 of the Havenhill arc of Into the Split (as I edit it before it gets more editing and eventually published by @duckprintspress!).

Someone has to believe it’s going to work out the way they need it to.

Ah, Nik, so full of hope.

Uh. I suck at tagging, so if you see this, consider yourself no pressure tagged! Because my swiss cheese brain isn't going to come up with 15 people I know are writing...

Tag game

Thanks for tagging me, @my-cabbages-gorl!!

RULES: Post the last sentence you wrote (fanfic / original / anything) and tag as many people as there are words in the sentence (unless you’re like me and write enough run on sentences to where you can’t possibly tag that many people for words).

from the still untitled fic i'm writing for the zukaang bingo, you get this fantastically ominous three-word sentence:

This is war.

No pressure tagging: @okamirayne, @richardcampbellganseytheiiird, @likealittleheartbeat and anyone else who wants to join the fun ✨

#writing #editing #welcome to phu #tag game

[tryslora]

poison girl

[tryslora]

Become a Duck Prints Press Patron and Help Us Pick Our Next Anthology Theme!

The Duck Prints Press Patreon includes a lot of awesome perks for people depending on their backer level, and one of the coolest? Every single backer, from the lowest $3/month level to the highest $25/month level, gets a say in deciding themes for our anthologies!

Starting yesterday, and for the next week (ending April 19 2024), we’re running a poll to pick the theme for our next General Imprint anthology!

What are the choices?

The common element is cozy. We love our debut anthology Add Magic to Taste, and we wanted something with a similar feel-good vibe for this collection. With that in mind, the DPP staff discussed a lot of options, and we narrowed it down to five – and picking between those five is where the backers come in!

cozy cottagecore (cabins and farms count as “cottages” – think Stardew Valley and Slime Rancher vibes)

cozy critters (any setting, cozy stories that include non-human characters)

cozy libraries/museums/colleges (take the central idea of “dark academia” as a genre…and turn it cozy. “Light academia” if you will)

cozy vacations/travels/trips (let’s take a journey together, and it’s soft and happy, and includes a lot of tropes like There Was Only One Bed)

cozy sword-and-sorcery/action adventure in a fantasy setting (self-explanatory. )

Which will win?

Time will tell!

Want to vote? You can! Become a Duck Prints Press Patreon supporter TODAY!

Interested in applying to contribute to this project, once we’ve settled on a theme? We anticipate opening recruitment for this anthology in July, 2024. You can make sure you hear about it when we do by signing up for our mailing list!

[tryslora]

whoops

I had a bunch of things saved in my email to reply to/comment on on Tumblr and um. I just removed that list of things, because time has passed, and I have not done them, and I know I'm not going to get to them.

If there is something I missed that I really really need to see/respond to, please nudge me again!

[tryslora]

Y'know, I'm not in the 9-1-1 fandom (my husband watches it, but I haven't) but I am genuinely thrilled for those who are, and the joy they have in current events. This is the best of Tumblr being multifandom--I get to watch people flail happily over Good Things.

#9-1-1 #not my fandom #happy for people

[tryslora]

I see "zippered foot" and now I want the story of how she carefully undoes the invisible zipper and peels away her human skin. So many different ways she could be beneath the surface.

It seems like such a polite revealing instead of the body horror my brain goes to right after that.

The way each of these suggestions completely changes the genre of this sentence...