Elisa Winther

Black specilative fiction author and freelance editor located in The Netherlands. Current WIP is titled SALANDRINE, a high fantasy with science fiction and romance elements, starring an autistic protagonist (ownvoices). Send an ask or visit my Website or Twitter for more information.

[therealvagabird]

The City Before the Wall - by Klaus Pillon

“I remember the days when the light was unfettered, and shone like a bonfire,

Before it was encaged by the high walls, even to protect it from the gales.”

—Vagabird

[elisawinther]

Finally know what I'm going to do about keeping people from traveling off the continent (for now). Will need to think up some new deities now too, but I'll focus on the culture's that are in Salandrine first.

[elisawinther]

He glanced at the passenger’s seat. Haily was fast asleep, head resting in the nook between the car door and the seat, mouth agape and drooling on her blanket. Auburn curls sprung free from the two braids he’d made for her before bedtime and she was still wearing her unicorn and rainbows pajamas.

Whenever he looked at her, he felt his regrets in his marriage melt away. At least I got one good thing out of this hellhole of a relationship.

[elisawinther]

The closeness to the fire entranced her, as if awakening a slumbering fire inside, invigorating her, filling her with glee. She dipped her knees, arms swaying along the beats and thrill of the music as her hips rocked along with hypnotic ease.

[elisawinther]

The lands were dying and it was dragging down its spirit along with it. Buildings gradually grew bald spots between their tropical foliage. Subterranean neighborhoods appeared like cracks and crevices between the land.

[the-bookshop]

Source.

[elisawinther]

A sweet voice softly awoke Salandrine. “Hey, sleepyhead.” She opened her eyes. Waking up to seeing Amal right there with her was the best. Salandrine smiled and pulled her closer for a snuggle. 

[elisawinther]

She sat back down on the floor by the table and laid her head between her folded arms. She wanted answers, but with her mind crowded to the point she couldn’t process any of them, she sighed and decided she needed a distraction.

[elisawinther]

Ways of Measuring Time in High Fantasy

Candles, bells, heartbeats and prayers – a look at alternative ways of telling time and date in fantasy.

[elisawinther]

She bit back her tears as she remembered how she’d gently repeat her teachings when other’s had lost their patience. The tight embrace as she rocked her to sleep at night after mother’s scolding for being too brazen in court. It pressed her with the wish to feel it again.

[elisawinther]

Working on Salandrine has been a whole new endeavor for me. I’ve accepted that it’d grown into a larger project than intended and that I needed to focus on finishing it before other WIPs. It’s been hard though. As I learn more about my writing process and what I need to put out good work, I… Read More Writing Progress Update

While I was away this weekend, I had another writing progress update scheduled. Some more talk about Salandrine, about side projects, and the upcoming camp NaNoWriMo.

[elisawinther]

I have another writing update I need to write about a short story, but wanted to let you guys know I haven't forgotten about Salandrine. I'll be working on it during Camp NaNoWriMo  this April. The outline has been updated and returning with fresh eyes should do the trick.

[elisawinther]

onceuponapurplemoon heeft gereageerd op je bericht “We were away for the weekend. It was brief (1,5) days, but it was very...”

congrats on the new job ��

Thank you! :D

[elisawinther]

We were away for the weekend. It was brief (1,5) days, but it was very nice and quiet :) Felt a bit like a reward since I'm starting a new job soon and I got the news the day last Friday :D

[elisawinther]

Lyssa, the Fire Dancer by Tyler Walpole

Description from the artist:

This piece actually started out as part of an art contest for The Art Order.  I liked it so much, and got a great response to her from my fans, that I decided to incorporate her into Blood of Dragons. I haven't quite figured out how she fits in, but I have faith that she's going to let me know at some point.

[elisawinther]

Read "Writing Progress Update: Enchantress" from my website

A few weeks ago I started a new side project. It was supposed to be mostly for fun and to do some word-vomiting so I wouldn't get rusty from inactivity. The story's grown so much though. It's a little over 10.000 words long now, and I'm not done yet. 3.412 of that was written during the past two weeks. But it's not just the wordcount, it's also in meaning and depth, and that I'm getting quite attached to the story/characters.

Initially, it was just about a girl starting a new life, learning magic, and finding some steamy romance, but I managed to worm myself into emotionally challenging scenes and add themes such as toxic friendship, masking emotions, self-expression, and what it means to be happy.

I guessed that deserved its own hashtag, right? So on Twitter and Tumblr I'll be using the hashtag #EnchantressWIP on little updates and possibly some WIP lines. If I notice any interest from (potential) readers I'll add longer excerpts and a Google Docs with the first draft as well.

Here are the first few lines:

If a year ago someone had told me I’d be learning magic now, I’d have thought they were making a fool of me. No one was knocking on my door and shattering my shitty reality to tell me I had the power to fix it all, even if in the end, it seems so that I do. All I needed to do was leave behind what I thought I needed to be, what people pressed onto me, and grow into my own truths. Be the person I was always supposed to be.

[elisawinther]

Cloudblazer MtG Art by Dan Scott