NOTE: MY INBOX IS CURRENTLY NOT WORKING
Official Blog for the Interactive Fiction Games writer J.V. Cruz
Current WIP: Bethroned (prologue demo out now!)
Upcoming Games: Binary Stars | Bloody Prophecies
I track the tags: #bethroned if, #barracuda shark games, #binary stars if, #bloody prophecies if
My name is J.V. Cruz and I am an aspiring writer, currently focused on the Interactive Fiction genre.
Links: F.A.Q. | Ko-fi | Patreon | Linktree | CoG forums
I have two major projects planned: Binary Stars and Bloody Prophecies. Stay tuned for more information on those!
I am currently working on my first title, Bethroned, which just published its alpha version on September 12, 2024!
Alpha version available to play here!
Latest update: 2/7/2025
You are a royal heir, third born to the King of Arevikland, yet tenth in line for the throne. While your older siblings were being groomed for politics, you were being wielded into a weapon of war. Your coming of age ceremony was followed by a declaration of war on a neighboring empire; your gift: you were placed in command of your father's troops.
It's been 12 long years of a bloody war with no end in sight, and everyone knows that this war would have ended poorly years ago if it weren't for your leadership. Yet suddenly your father is pulling you from the frontlines... a betrothal to the enemy is on your horizon.
In Bethroned, you will play as a customizable (male or female; gay, bi, straight, asexual and/or aromantic) spare heir in a fictional world, living amongst the people with whom your homeland had until recently been warring for over a decade.
Play the cards you've been dealt as you try to shape your destiny. Will you befriend those who were once your sworn rivals? Or will you pull strings in hopes of granting advantages to the homeland that used you as its pawn?
Uncover a plot that could destabilize the peace between your homeland and the empire you married into. Will your royal spouse become your greatest ally, against all odds? Or will they rue the day they agreed to your father's terms?
You might even find love in the unlikeliest places, with six unique romanceable and befriendable characters:
- a loyal bodyguard who is as sensitive as he is brave
- an austere advisor who keeps her bleeding heart closely guarded
- a noble knight whose trust is hard-won
- a cunning spymaster whose only blindside might be her own feelings
- a kind priest whose dedication to his faith mirrors his dedication to his loved ones
- a charming noblewoman who offers more than meets the eye...
Hello! I've been working on a new game alongside Bethroned, while placing both Binary Stars and Bloody Prophecies on an indefinite hiatus. The reason for this is that all three of these games are pretty heavy, and I wanted to do something light on the side for when the writing gets too heavy for me. That way, rather than falling into a slump and spiraling, I am still working and writing. As someone diagnosed with PTSD, writing characters who have it, too, can be cathartic but it can also be very draining, so I'm finding I need to space it out more with Bethroned. (This is also why it's taking a lot longer than I had anticipated -- that and coding is and adventure and I can be a bit of a perfectionist.)
Basically, when I'm in the right headspace for writing the heavy stuff, I write Bethroned; when I'm not, I write for the new project: Chivalry is Dead.
Read the official summary and details for free on Patreon!
I fear my inbox issues will never be resolved, it seems like Tumblr Support just... is barely functioning and is severely understaffed to the point it can take over a year for them to get to you. :')
Anyway, if you have any questions or bug reports, please report them via Bluesky, email, or CoG Forums!
When I post the chapter 1 update, I'll be sure to update all the links for bug reports.
Hello! My inbox is still not working and there's been no word from support. I fear this problem will be indefinite.
The plan is still to release a snippet of chapter 1 this week for Patreon subscribers. Paid members will get access a week earlier; for everyone else, it will drop next week.
Writing is slow and steady... sometimes I need to take a break because the scenes can be so emotionally charged. :')
February is coming to a close, and my goal is to have a snippet of chapter 1 available to play in early March.
Unfortunately, my inbox is still inaccessible on here. If you have any bugs to report, please report them on the CoG forum post for the game, or you can email me at [email protected] !
Here's my plan for March...
First Two Weeks:
A link will be shared to Patreon of an early version of Chapter 1. This version will allow you to play up to the first 'mingling' part before you arrive at your wedding destination. The only character unlocked for mingling at this time will be Eda. Paid members will get access a week early as a thank you, and it will be available to all other members afterwards!
All Patreon members will be able to play this portion of Chapter 1 for a month before it's open to the general public in April. You won't need to pay for this access (unless you want it a week early for $1 USD).
Following Weeks:
Other mingling scenes will become available and shared on Patreon as they are finished. The other characters will include Ailbe, Kinborough, and Duke Clairmont.
Once all the mingling scenes are complete and have been out for a month, the plan is to update the demo so that it includes Chapter 1 leading up to the wedding itself.
In Summary:
Patreon members will get early access to each character's mingling scene as it becomes available. These scenes will be separate from the game demo itself, so that you can play them without having to worry about replaying the prologue or save files. Once all the scenes are complete, the demo will be updated to include Chapter 1 leading up to the wedding.
Our second edition of the Black History Month Author Spotlight series features beloved author, C.C. Hill (@when-life-gives-you-lemons-if)!
(CC is an absolute institution. What better way to celebrate Valentineâs than by doing a feature of the slice-of-life romance queen herself? CC is one the most inspiring, supportive IF writers out there, and it was a great honor to pick her brain! Read on for pandemic-setting feel good stories and Creole-based spells!)
Author: C.C. Hill
I'm from Haiti, born and raised. I love red wine, ice cream, and I'm obsessed with true crime podcasts.
Games: When Life Gives You Lemons (Slice-of-Life)
Synopsis:
You play as an MC starting a new life in a small town called Lemon. Itâs a story about self-discovery, love, and parenthoodâa comfort story where the love interests want to sweep you off your feet.
Games: The Midnight Saga (Horror)
Synopsis:
After finding yourself trapped in another dimension, you and your friends must fight for survival and defeat the monsters that lurk in the shadows. Make sure to grab a weapon as your quiet Halloween night turns into an out-of-this-world adventure!
Quote from the interview:
What mostly inspired Lemon in particular was the need for a feel-good storyâa story where the character just needs a break. No magic, no monsters, just going through life and having the romance options fall in love with them no matter what.
It was just the need for comfort, for feel-good moments, for romance, and a little bit of drama.
Read on for the full interview!
Tell me more about yourself! What are some things new readers or long-time readers might not know about you?
I'm from Haiti, born and raised. I love red wine, ice cream, and I'm obsessed with true crime podcasts.
Can you tell me a bit about what youâre working on right now and your journey into interactive fiction? What inspired the game/story youâre currently writing?
I'm working on so many things it should be illegal for my brain to operate this way. But mainly, When Life Gives You Lemons. My plan is to focus on the final part in March, do some beta testing, and submit it to Hosted Games in April for my birthday month.
I'm also under contract with Heartâs Choice, writing Spices of the Heart, with hopes of completing it this year. On top of that, Iâm working on publishing my first visual novel, The Wedding. Itâs close to completion, and I have the third quarter of 2025 planned for publication.
I only started writing interactive fiction in 2020. When the pandemic hit, I needed something to keep my brain occupied, and five years later, Iâve published three games and still have a ton of projects in progress.What mostly inspired Lemon in particular was the need for a feel-good storyâa story where the character just needs a break. No magic, no monsters, just going through life and having the romance options fall in love with them no matter what. It was just the need for comfort, for feel-good moments, for romance, and a little bit of drama.
How has your identity, heritage/background, upbringing, or personal experiences influenced your storytelling or writing process? OR How does your work feature aspects of your identity / experience?
My first game, The Midnight Saga, was heavily inspired by my background and where I'm from. The story itself is based on an old Haitian folklore about not staying outside after midnightâif you do, the Keeper of Midnight will eat you. I took that idea and built the characters around it.
I even managed to include some spells written in Haitian Creole. It was a lot of fun to write, and even though Book 2 is currently on hiatus, this story has a special place in my heart because it was my first game. The characters are a representation of my people and the struggles theyâve gone through. Iâm really happy that it was my debut story.
What are some of the most rewarding or challenging aspects of writing Interactive Fiction for you?
For me, itâs branching and being able to write an MC and other characters in a way that readers can truly connect with. Lately, Iâve been writing a lot of feel-good romance and slice-of-life stories, and Iâm starting to feel like this is my comfort zoneâand I want to stay here forever.
I never want to create a romance option that is inherently bad or purposely deceitful. My biggest challenge is writing characters who are flawed and complexâwhere readers can love them or hate themâbut making sure they arenât just villains for the sake of it. Theyâre simply existing in the world they were created in.
What does your writing process look like? Any rituals or habits? Any tips, tricks, philosophies or approaches that have worked very well for you?
My writing process is a mess. My brain gets pulled in so many directions. When I get an idea, I have to code it, shape it, and give it lifeâotherwise, itâs going to bug me forever. Thatâs why I end up with so many WIPs. I need to see them through, at least to a short demo, to see if they make sense.
My desk is also full of notes, and I basically write on anythingâpieces of napkins, tissue boxes, whatever is nearby. One weird habit I have is that some of the best changes Iâve made to my games, those "spark" moments, happen when Iâm in the shower. Itâs weird and strange, but it works.
Whatâre you excited to tackle/implement/work on next? Or anything youâre looking forward to in the year ahead?
Keep writing romance and feel-good slice-of-life stories. Get When Life Gives You Lemons published this year. Focus on doing this full-time. Publish my visual novel.
Overall, just stay busy and be productive.
If you were to say one thing to your readers, other authors, and/or the interactive fiction community: what would it be?
To the readersâus authors donât have all the answers. Sometimes, we start writing a story and end up forgetting certain plots or characters, which is easy to do when writing interactive fiction. So yes, we often write ourselves into a corner and just put a period there so the story can progress.
To the authorsâwrite stories you love, something you would want to read. It makes it easier to keep going because if itâs a story you love, youâll want to see how it ends, and that will push you to persevere.
This-or-that segment: (red = CC's pick)
Coffee or tea?
Early mornings or late nights?
Angsty or Cozy romances? Â
Steady progress or frenzied binge-writing followed by periods of calm?
On today's episode of Behind the Code, the MC mingles with Princess Eda.
Under the cut for significant code & lore spoilers! Read at your own risk. (No significant story spoilers, however.)
Fun fact: the game begins with Eda hardened. There is a single, very specific opportunity to unharden her in the prologue. Mingling with her in chapter 1 will give players a second chance to unharden her. :)
Some non-romanceable side characters in Bethroned have a hardening mechanic (Duke Clairmont and Ser Kinborough are two other examples). Their status as a hardened character will impact their role in the story as well as their interactions with the MC.
In today's episode of Behind the Code, a bit of a puzzle for you...
Your relationship score with a certain RO determines how your character responds to flirtation... but it isn't as simple as whether or not you've flirted with them???
Under the cut for moderate code spoilers.
(Screenshot is cut off from the right, I'm not giving too much away!)
