This week at A’mara Books:
I’ll start off with the news of my latest Curie upvote – which took me awhile to hear about because of Ginabot’s lag – she was down for awhile earlier in the week and apparently hasn’t caught up yet. Anyway, this one was cool, because my 22nd Curie upvote went to chapter 22 of Name of the Neví!
My actual writing this week was more challenging than last. It took all week to hit my target of 9000 words. I did finally do some leisure writing yesterday just to get the numbers up, but then managed it on my main work in progress. So, overall, I wrote:
Over 10,000 words!
- Janys’ story received almost all of those words and now stands over 34k words. I’m hoping to put at least another 10k on this one, but it’s challenging me now. I’m hoping that as I map out the chapters again, making sure they’re all a suitable-for-sharing length of 1100-1400 words, the added detail will do the job, but I may be lacking a plot point still. I think it now has a title of Voting for Happiness.
Artwork – Encyclopedia
One of the purposes of doing artwork is to add more depth to my stories. If I can see what things look like, then I can describe it better for you. Now that I’m also working with Krita, this is going to a new level. It’s also something I can work on while catching up on Gotham or Norsemen, etc.
One of the things I really want pictures of is my stella’s apothecary kit. This involves knowing which things she has – medicines, antidotes, even poisons. It also involves knowing how the items are used, and kept. Creeping fire, for instance (mentioned in Spice of Strength ) is an extract of the slime fungus used as an antidote. In the bottle, it’s going to look fairly boring, but orange.
Here’s one I did of bird-eater flowers – a paralytic used in hunting and a main ingredient in Assassin’s Cocktail. But it can also be (carefully) used as a medicine to calm muscle spasms. These large petals are dried, then they are kept in a jar like this. (As with all herbs, they should be kept in a dark, cool and dry place.) They can be made into a tea (infusion), ground into powder or extracted into a strong, pure alcohol (like vodka.)
Mapping
I’m finally getting to that map you’re going to need soon for Hailu, X’lea – one of the main settings for Mind of the Neví – scheduled to start in just a couple of weeks now.
As I’ve been working with Krita, I recognized that the vectors layers would probably be great for map-making. Sure enough, this is proving to be correct. I might do a post on this map-making – we’ll see. Anyway, my bottom layer is my land image – which I drew with my graphics tablet. Then, I’m using the vectors layers to draw the actual roads (which should be straight-ish – or have a nice gentle curve when appropriate.) I’m now working on adding buildings and other features. I hope I’ll have something to share with you next week on that one.
Bonus scenes (NSFW)
If you like such things, check out my NSFW artwork which I’ve been posting weekly. The last several weeks, I’ve also included a bonus scene to add some flesh to the pictures. Though 
Coming this week
- 7 more chapters of Sands of Survival on Whaleshares (Please visit if you missed this book the first time around!)
- 6 more chapters of Name of the Neví on Steemit.
- Maybe finish **Voting for Happiness and start thinking about its cover image.
- Finishing the map of Hailu, X’lea for Mind of the Neví.
- Finding the title for the 852 T.C.E. wraparound and start thinking about its cover image.
- Maybe start working on the second section of that wraparound.
Reviews?
If you have liked any of my books, please take the time to leave me a review/rating at Goodreads
Anyway, that’s what’s been going on here at A’mara Books this week! I hope you manage to take a few minutes to immerse yourself in my world of Terrenden – which I’m so delighted to share with you!
Crossposted on Steem, Whaleshares, WeKu and Publish0x.
|
|
Brighid's Blood 2006 and 1200 B.T.C.E. Katja and Rachel are so desperate for love that they cast two love spells one night. But the Guardians do not consider spells "fun", but rather as cries for help from the very depths of your soul. Certainly Katja and Rachel could not have possibly imagined where these spells would take them! |
|
|
Birth of the Neví 829 T.C.E. It is a tumultuous period of Terrenden history. As is all too common, there are those who wish to profit from the misfortune of others. Some of these come together in a new "charitable organization" and step on the toes of the notorious Uugli. Combine this with draconian new measures to combat pollution and Terrenden has a situation ripe for a power struggle. Book 1 in the Rise of the Neví series. |
|
|
Rebound of Power: 850 T.C.E. Collection of Romance Terrenden is being terrorized by a previously underestimated Neví who, through the mysterious “Curator,” have been controlling elections all over the planet. In this collection, we meet some interesting women. Iyva - a homeless teenager in Irola whose untrained power leaves her close to death in Rebound of Power; Marc’la - a breeder of prized caballus in Kasago whose heart lives in the past in Friendship on Fire; Zukie - an abused widow whose heart is afraid to try for future happiness in Courage to Trust; Jenna - an elections assistant manager and masseuse who has a prejudice against A’mara in Elect to Change; Kami - a chola student in Varkevand who has been assigned to protect Ardin, a man who has his own reasons to distrust A’mara in Ocean of Empathy. |
|
|
Acting the Part - 851 T.C.E. Collection of Romance The Neví have infiltrated the Terrenden Freedom Party. Dr. Jarly is on the run and the Curator still dominates the Terrenden stage. Famous actor, Derick Aiden has released his Neví expose film and now the Neví want him dead... In this collection, we meet more interesting women. Kauri - a simple receptionist who doesn’t realize one of her wildest dreams has come true; in Acting the Part Tirry - an elections manager who is always the bridesmaid and never the bride; in Building on Promise Zara - a chef who has all but given up on finding love for herself; and D'zani - who isn’t even looking, but has to chaperone her more vulnerable roommate; in Spice of Strength Soala - an heiress who is expected to marry, but refuses to marry someone she doesn’t love; and Moxara - one whose past griefs have locked away her heart in Sands of Survival. We also get updates on some of the lovely ladies we met previously. |
| COMING SOON | TO AN EBOOK STORE NEAR YOU!!! |
|
|
Rise of the Neví - 830 T.C.E. In this series, the Neví begin their rise in power with the completion of several large housing projects that seem totally charitable, but also hide a great evil within. The draconian measures brought in the previous year has caused major distress throughout the world, perfect for giving the Neví a further foothold on the Terrenden stage. Will the A’mara, now removed from the Council of Peers, be able to shut down the Neví? Titles to include: Name of the Neví, Mind of the Neví... |
|
**(To be Named)** - 852 T.C.E. Collection of Romance... It's confirmed that the Neví are now in all three houses of Parliament and most assemblies throughout Terrenden. Additionally, some are threatening to introduce legislation to severely cripple the A'mara of all their privileges.
In this collection, we will catch up with our fugitives (Iyva/Zilan, D'zani/Elíaz). We will also meet Celna Dellan in X'lea; Peri Harmon, a Peer Councilor in Irola; Janys Tyne, an elections team leader in Atrua; meet a nice (as of yet unnamed) woman in Kasago; and revisit Vissia and Catalia in Towani. |
Writing and artwork copyright myself 2005-2019 – all rights reserved.
If you are interested in helping me publish these works, please contact me on Facebook or Discord, viking-ventures#2883.
Lori Svensen
author/designer at A'mara Books
photographer/graphic artist for Viking Visual
verified author on Goodreads
find me on Twitter
blogging on: Steem, Whaleshares, WeKu, Hyperspace, Publish0x.
Join us in the Official Whaleshares server in the text channel "the-phoenix-project"