Ali Ives

Author of The Epitome of Science trilogy: The Winding, The Ticking, and The Tolling

[aliiveswrites]

My book The Winding and some of the things you’ll find therein!

E-book - Publisher Bookshop - Order it through a North American indie bookshop!

[aliiveswrites]

things are getting JUICY. In da clerb we all fam

Oh man, I've been so excited for you to meet Angus! They were A LOT of fun to write :D As was the Finch possession scene.

[aliiveswrites]

everyone being cheerful and happy in Hartland really giving

Hahahaa oh we in danger kids

hehehehehehe

I can definitely see the Ba Sing Se vibes!

[aliiveswrites]

The Tolling has entered the chat and I'm having a BLAST. WE'RE ON A BOAT

Yaaaaay, I love seeing your notes! I'm really glad you're enjoying it!

Zane and Antimony's scene together was one of my favourite to write, same it the boat chapters.

[aliiveswrites]

OKAY SO. I've been very bad at reading and have been so bad at remembering things so I started a running notes for my reactions to the Epitome of Science books that I always intended to text you (I started this note about 3 years ago) so here is a VERY disjointed stream of consciousness of my reactions to parts of the Winding and The Ticking that have been living in the back of my phone 😅. I also only vaguely remember what some of these were in relation too cause I never noted where in the book it was. So. That's a mystery for us all. The Tolling reactions will be incoming soon now that I'm actually catching up 😆 Enjoy!

ahhh I cannot stress enough how happy this makes me! I'm really glad you're enjoying it!! Will definitely be looking forward to hearing your thoughts on The Tolling :D

[aliiveswrites]

✨ Surprise question ✨

🎤

What would be the main cast of the Epitome of Science film adaptation?

🎥🎬🎞️

younger versions of now older (or dead) actors count! time doesn't matter after all!!!

(I suddenly had this thought and I was so curious about it I had to stop what I was doing to come here and ask)

Oh man, a most excellent question!

A lot of the characters I don't have a super definitive answer for, but I did manage to come up with some options/picks for most of the main cast:

Mikalai Gloucester - Mawaan Rizwan or Akshay Khanna

Zane Zephyr - Kirby Howell-Baptiste

Cassus Finch - Max Bowden (dyed redhead) or Mikey North

Antimony Jones - Katheryn Winnick

Denken - Ken'ichi Matsuyama

The Gambler - Rami Malek

The High Minister - Clark Gregg

Toby Mulligan - Christian Slater

[aliiveswrites]

This was a really fun question to answer, and now I'm wondering: Who would YOU GUYS cast for the different characters in the Epitome of Science? I'd really love to know!

[meevling]

Gloucester - Braeden Clarke

Zane - Aisha Dee

Finch - Brennan Lee Mulligan

Antimony - Saoirse Ronan

Denken - Kyoya Honda

The Gambler - Joshua Heuston (but blond)

The Highminister - Liam Cunningham

Mulligan - Smithers from the Simpsons (it's like who framed Roger Rabbit)

Jokes aside, if I HAD to make him human Edward Norton

BONUS:

Angus - Ellie Desautels (with white hair)

Gear - Anna Lambe

Harrison - D.B. Woodside

[aliiveswrites]

I just know with utter certainty that Brennan would absolutely nail it as Finch.

[konoko]

[luna-azzurra]

I genuinely cannot explain to a non-writer what it feels like when a chapter suddenly clicks. it's not satisfaction. it's not relief. it's this horrible specific feeling like you just remembered something you never knew. like the story was already there and you finally stopped being in the way of it. i don't know what to do with that feeling. i just close the laptop and stare at the wall for a bit.

[shinesurge]

Guys if you want queer shit written by queers on our own terms you're going to have to start seeking out weird independent media. I'm sorry that's the only place you can regularly find it idk what to tell you, we can't keep acting like there's nothing if we're not getting blockbusters and triple A titles or whatever it is we're waiting around for. The thing you keep saying you want is already being offered for free by one person making a passion project on the internet and you would both benefit enormously if you interacted with it instead of lamenting that the only options we have for representation are pandering afterthoughts from corporate shit

[shinesurge]

This is always the thing that people come back with when I bring up the topic, and I absolutely get it, but the way to help this occur less is to make an effort to support these projects when you find them! Independent creators live and die by their audience's support, if there's some funky little project that you're in love with please consider making an active effort to help keep it alive. Financial support is the big one obviously, but it's just as important to help foster an enthusiastic community around it! Make fanart, post meta, be visibly excited! If the creator knows what they're doing they will tell you what they need to continue getting you your fix.

[walk-up-songs]

[one single bloodcurdling agonized scream] ok time to lock in

[meevling]

[meevling]

[talesfromtoyland]

You sure about that buddy? ... something doesnt add up ...

[zalaznyart]

a magician of some infamy

Cassus Finch

[kosmogrl]

[gay-hrithik-roshan]

[aliiveswrites]

Happy Ace Day!

Seeing asexuality in stories is always really nice and right from the start it was important for me to include ace characters in my own books. If you want to meet some of them read on! (and maybe check out my Epitome of Science trilogy!)

Zane Zephyr is a clock technician and shopkeeper in the city-state of Frettchen. She's aro/ace, big-hearted and smart as a whip. She really has no time for anyone's romantic drama, especially when there's the whole 'saving the world from rampaging demigods' thing to deal with.

The Gambler is the Personification of Choice, an immortal demigod with an ability to see the futures (plural) and a mild coffee addiction. Despite his fondness for humanity, he has no interest in engaging with any of them in a physically intimate way. While ace, he isn't aromantic, and there is a certain someone who catches his eye (which is difficult, when it comes to his eyes specifically)...

Gear is a cheerful clockwork-human hybrid construct, or automaton. A quite recent recipient of good ol' sentience, the world is endlessly fascinating to her. Though she can be naive, she's as smart as the woman who created her and an extremely quick study. She's the sort who likes almost everyone she meets, but there is a particular demigod who she grows very fond of. Ace and demi-romantic, Gear is simply out to discover the wonders of the world around her. Which is easier to do if she can help her friends stop the imminent destruction of it.

[aliiveswrites]

The Epitome of Science E-BOOKS

The entirety of my Epitome of Science Trilogy is now available to read in e-book form, if that's your jam!

If you're in the mood for a fun action-adventure urban fantasy series full of magic and mystery, and featuring a colourful, queer cast of characters, please check them out!

Book One - The Winding

Book Two - The Ticking

Book Three - The Tolling

[aliiveswrites]

They're also all available as paperbacks! People in the States can order them from Literary Wanderlust's website, and if you're outside of the States like me, you should check out your local bookshop to see if they're available to order!

[enochianribs]

important personality test: mario kart main, gas station order (candy, drink, chip), animal you were obsessed with when you were 8, lightsaber color, and lastly: vampires, werewolves or dragons?