My Obsessions

I enjoy so many random things in life but when I fall in love with an anime or manga, it's pretty much for life and sometimes I just can't keep it all in my head so I need to let it out. =] This personal blog is pretty much dedicated to everything I love: anime, fashion, space, gaming, reading, and random humor.

[cover-story-bindery]

This is not the first fic I bound - I definitely bound one of my own fics first, accidentally glued the spine to the case, and then hid it in the back of my craft desk never to be seen again

But I’m posting these binds first because, to be quite frank, they’re curséd.

I have redone the covers FIVE times. Unclear how much of the endpaper I have gone through. I have printed both text blocks AT LEAST three times. Volume II doesn’t have tapes, because I forgot them.

I don’t know what kind of blood sacrifice I was supposed to make for this to go smoothly but I obviously didn’t get it right.

Anyway, these are for @sammialex. We first collaborated on these binds way back last summer, when she was looking for an artist to do cover art and I poked at @maevemauvaise because she’s super talented and it seemed like her sort of thing. The end result is stunning!

The printed hardback from [redacted company] was (in my opinion!) NOT PRETTY ENOUGH

So when I decided, sure yeah, bookbinding, 1000 hobbies in a trench coat, sounds like fun, I knew I wanted to make Sammi a more beautiful copy of her work because I know how much love and attention went into the story.

I learned, at minimum, five specialty skills just to make these.

The bookcloths are Hollander’s Verona line in Merlot and Forest, the cover design was created by @maevemauvaise and hot foiled directly onto the book cloth using a foil quill and my cricut, the endpapers are Hollander’s Thai marble in “Firestorm” and “Forest”, and the paper is Neenah classic linen 8 1/2 x 11, in natural white, which has a really nice heft and texture and feels sort of old-fashioned in a way that vibes with the setting. The ribbon is black velvet which is probably impractical but I’m in charge here.

I designed the typeset using Affinity Publisher and I definitely went ham with green vines and blood drops, but I don’t regret it. It looked like A Lot on the screen but in person I think it’s exactly the right amount.

These babies are going in the mail next week, as soon as I get back from my trip, where I hope the curse won’t follow! @sammialex thanks for letting me play with your work, for your patient guidance with Affinity, and for giving me the opportunity to make every common mistake and several uncommon ones trying to bring these fics to life 💜

Upon What Soil series, by SammiAlex (mind the tags)

Volume I: Vessel at the Launch

Volume II: Last Restraint

[masteraqua]

i flipping hate ao3's layout there's too many goddamn words

[masteraqua]

you know what i deserve this

[masteraqua]

a lot of mean things have been said about me on this post, but none of them hurt as much as this

[shower-thoughts-last-responder]

This websites hatemail game is insane

[sammialex]

It sounds dramatic, but Upon What Soil had an urgency to it, like it was asking to be told. And while the story spoke through me, it was the epitome of what I see as the best part of fandom…a brilliantly community effort.

I owe so many thanks, to more people than I can name, but I’ll tag a few… @savage-magpie, who was the first to hear about “dark Neville” and was with me every step of the way. @noxnthea who talked me off multiple cliffs when I was wrapping up the ending. Every cheerleader, beta reader, and spice reviewer. Every commenter. And when I decided I wanted to hold it in my hands, @kangofu-cb helped me work with the talented (and patient, and collaborative, and insightful) @maevemauvaise to design stunning covers and art that fit the vibe absolutely perfectly.

And now, here they are. What a ride.

If you have a manuscript you want bound, highly recommend both www.onpressbookprinting.com and https://press.barnesandnoble.com/.

[maevemauvaise]

So happy I could help you make this a reality! It was such a fun project!

[kangofu-cb]

For the fic writer "Never Have I Ever" -- I don't think you've written A/B/O?

More of the: Send me an ask about whether I’ve written a thing [ship, trope, dynamic, category of fandom, etc.] and if I’ve written it, I’ll link you. If I haven’t written it, I’ll tell you how I would write it if I did

I have not ever written Omegaverse, you're right!

There's just like. It's such an interesting concept in so many ways? Like I can see (and have honestly read) some really good fics where it explores the way that reproduction and gender intersect and bisect, when biological sex and gender and reproductive ability have a completely different perspective. I think it's a really interesting way of exploring complex social issues outside what we'd consider the 'norm'.

I struggle with the inherent dubious consent involved, personally.

And if I were to write it, I would really want to dig into the social aspects more than just like. The pornographic aspects (although let's be real, it's me, I'd definitely dive into that too probably).

But also the mpreg aspect of it gives me the ick, because one time someone (@maevemauvaise I am looking at you), semi-forced me to consider how... for lack of a better term... assbabies would be mechanically/biologically possible, and because I have a medical background, I... figured out a workaround and freaked myself out! SO!

But if I WERE to write an Omegaverse fic, I think I would want to explore more about how the perception of Alpha vs Omega vs Beta would be perceived societally, and how to subvert those expectations. I read something once where nearly all relationships were poly, with Alpha, Beta, and Omega all in one relationship, which kind of made it more balanced and... anyway it was an interesting take.

Or maybe I would write some really hot pornography. That's also a possibility. But with explicit consent.

[maevemauvaise]

Tbf, I didn't expect you to go quite that detailed about the butt babies and make it like totally possible that's what I get for challenging someone as smart as you lol.

[fuckyeahjupiterascending]

The Jupiter Ascending Drinking Game

Want to use Jupiter Ascending as an excuse to get heavily inebriated? If so, look no further!

Take one drink when…

‘Mother’ is mentioned.

Caine rescues Jupiter from falling.

Jupiter changes clothes.

A new detail is added to Caine’s origin/back-story (so one for half-albino, one for runt of the litter, etc.)

A spaceship enters/exits a portal.

Take two drinks when…

Balem screams/shrieks/shouts.

Balem tears up and starts talking about his mother.

Jupiter initiates an awkward flirting session with Caine.

Jupiter’s ‘children’ invade her personal space and intimately touch her face.

Take three drinks when…

Jupiter actually gets called ‘Jupe’.

Nesh (your favourite elephant splice pilot) blows his trumpet.

Mr Night gets drunk. (For verisimilitude, this shot MUST be premium-grade Russian vodka.)

Disclaimer: This is meant purely in fun. Please be aware that taking up the above challenge may cause serious damage to your liver. Drink responsibly, kids! 

[kangofu-cb]

@remsyk-blog @maevemauvaise

💀💀💀

[maevemauvaise]

@kangofu-cb .... we would end up in with alcohol poisoning lol

[gollancz]

I can finally reveal the cover of our GORGEOUS edition of MORTAL FOLLIES by Alexis Hall.

You can pre-order this phenomenal sapphic regency fantasy romance now!

[gollancz]

Gollancz pre-empts three titles from Yamamoto in six-figure deal

Three titles by Makana Yamamota have been pre-empted by Gollancz in a six-figure deal, including her debut novel Hammajang Luck.

Pitched as an exciting gateway science fiction heist novel, “Ocean’s 8” meets Gideon the Ninth (Tor), Hammajang Luck will be released in hardback, e-book and audio in January 2025.

Its synopsis reads: “Eight years in prison changes a person. Particularly when you’re only there because your partner, your best friend, your all-but-sister, sold you down the river. That’s why Edie knows they’ll turn down Angel’s offer of a job. One last big score. A chance to take down the man who put them away: Joyce Atlas. But Edie’s lost too much time with their family. There’s not a question."

Acquired this bad boy in December, have been making memes to restrain myself from SHOUTING ABOUT IT ever since. (Graphic design is my passion)

SO excited to be working with @makana-yama to bring this book to you - it's fun, sexy, chaotic and most of all full of shenanigans in space. Edie is the buff NB chaos bae you always wanted, Angel is the sexy genius who overdresses for every occasion, and the two of them are constantly bullied for being Old by their crew. And then they go a take out Space Elon Musk while kicking ass and taking names.

1000/10, wonderful book.

[maevemauvaise]

That is one of the best descriptions I have ever read omg

[gollancz]

Ok so where do you even start reading Le Guin? Because there is SO much!

Also, have any queer SFF recs?

Our Lady Le Guin is one of those authors who wrote across genres, so again YMMV on what you enjoy.

Her EARTHSEA series is probably one of the best known, having been adapted by Ghibli and into a live action movie.

If you want Sci fi, LATHE OF HEAVEN and LEFT HAND OF DARKNESS are both massively acclaimed and generally listed up there with her must-reads. That said, we recently reissued THE WORD FOR WORLD IS FOREST which is a great examination of colonialism, climate change, and the cultural impact of colonisation. It's got a great philosophical issue as to how you defend your culture when your culture is built around pacifism.

As for queer SFF - THE RED SCHOLAR'S WAKE by Aliette de Bodard is a desperately romantic queer enemies to lovers space opera, inspired by Vietnamese culture and with lesbian space pirates.

SEVEN DEVILS/SEVEN MERCIES is a space opera duology by Elizabeth May and L.R. Lam with a trans character, a lesbian romance, and some casual overthrowing of fascism. (It's not actually casual)

Older books, BOLD AS LOVE by Gwyneth Jones and its sequels retell the story of King Arthur around a climate apocalypse, but Arthur, Guinevere and Lancelot are in a polycule.

These are mostly SF, I will update with fantasy tomorrow!

[maevemauvaise]

Yaaassss! Amazing! Love the sound of ALL those! Thanks for adding to my TBR list!!

[gollancz]

AMA

On the late train after an event, happy to answer questions about SFF, publishing, or whatever burning philosophical quandary you may have.

[chronicwhimsy]

I have watched this on repeat like twelve times. I can't stop laughing.

[chronicwhimsy]

For context, the very mild mannered gentleman who looks like Count Rugen might if he got to enjoy retirement is Christian Cameron. He writes historical fiction, fantasy and science fiction, and does a series of videos on how to write accurate historical combat. He's an expert in this because he is a prolific re-enactor, and makes a lot of his own historical clothes using traditional methods. He ran a massive re-enactment in Greece last year, recreating the Battle of Plataea.

He's an absolute delight, the conversations you have with this man will never go the way you expect. And when I ask for promo photos from him, instead of sending me things like this:

He send me things like this:

THANKS CHRISTIAN. VERY HELPFUL. NOTHING TO PROVE YOU'RE IN THERE BUT I'M SURE THAT'S FINE. MARKETING CAN WORK WITH THAT.

Anyway he's a hoot but I also love that his videos are just him and his buddies pleasantly attempting to murder each other in slow motion to explain how it works.

[nerdslikeme]

2021 Tumblr Editing Package

My name is Claire, and I am a science fiction, fantasy and horror editor.

I have been working in publishing since 2018, editing fiction, non-fiction and academic work both with publishing companies and freelance. Since October 2020, I have been an editorial assistant at one of the UK’s leading SFF publishers, working and training with the editors for some of the biggest names in SFF and Horror fiction. I am also a member of the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading.

I completed a Master’s degree in publishing, several courses in copy editing and proofreading, and I have many years of experience as a beta reader in my spare time, offering as required structural editing advice, line and copy editing, and enthusiastic cheerleading. One of my independent authors has reached the final, full manuscript request stage of Pitch Wars two years running. I also have experience writing for publication, as I wrote a number of non-fiction books in my previous role.

You can find more information about me at my blog. Please find the appropriate links in the reblog below!

Christmas is coming up, and train fares are expensive, so I’m opening up my freelance editing services again, and I’m excited!!

Why do I need an editor? What do you do?

Editing is not a mystical art, but it is hard work. You’ve done so much work getting your story written, but now you’ve got to READ IT and FIX IT. And when you’re so close into the story, when you know it so intimately, it can be hard to know where to start. This is where having an outside pair of eyes can really help - to give a fresh look at the plot structure, the pacing, the characters, and take it from this:

to this:

But I have good news - you don’t have to go it alone! I can help you, and I have the experience of editing, the experience of structuring a book, and the can-do attitude to help you knock your work into shape. I am excited to read your work and try to help you work out how to make it really shine! I can tell you whether your message is coming across as strongly and effectively as you would like, I can help you to refine your ideas and make sure your story really pops!

The first draft of a story is always the hardest, but it’s the most fantastic starting point for an incredible work of art.

For £50, I will:

- Read the first three chapters or 15,000 words of your later draft, and a complete synopsis of the whole work OR Read up to 50,000 words of your first manuscript draft (please add an addition £10 for every 10,000 words on top of this)

- Provide overall feedback on your tone, story structure, plot, and characters, focusing on any areas of particular concern to you, but with additional notes based on my experience

- Provide resources I have made to help with planning, writing, editing and submitting your work.

For a further £20, I will also arrange to have a call with you to discuss your feedback in detail and brainstorm any future plans for your work.

 I want to work with you to make sure you’re telling the story you REALLY want to tell, and that it does everything you want it to do! An author-editor relationship is all about teamwork.

You can contact me through tumblr, or through my website, and I am happy to provide more information if you are curious about my qualifications or experience.

You can send me your documents once you have a slot, and we can arrange payment and feedback as necessary.

I love working with stories and writers, and making books the best they can be, so I hope you’ll be happy to work with me, and I look forward to hearing from you!

Please note that this is primarily for structural editing, however if you are looking for a proofreader, or have other editorial needs please get in touch and we can discuss your requirements.

Want to learn more about the business of books?

If you don’t need editorial help, but fancy pitching in and have any questions about publishing or writing, I’ve opened up a Ko-Fi, and will happily take requests for blog posts on any subject you’re curious about, or provide custom book recommendations through there!

Why should you hire me?

I’m a helpful sort of person! If you’re not sure, here’s some feedback - I’d love to work with you on your stories, original or fanfiction, so please get in contact!

Reblogs and boosts are super appreciated!!

[nerdslikeme]

Find herewithin my most magical and pertinent LINKS:

My Website

My Ko-Fi

The Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading

[kangofu-cb]

Claire spent the better part of the last year hand-holding my WHOB fic, A Heart Worth Loving, which is now my longest work to date and one of the fics I am most proud of writing ever. It is over 80k words, and she did me the immense service of not only beta/proof reading it but also plot picking, helping me isolate and emphasize key story themes, improving my characterization, and also she made me a meme. 

Additionally, she has helped me with editing formal school papers at the Master’s level, and I have never had a paper returned with less than an A on anything she’s assisted me with. 

She is, furthermore, a fantastic cheerleader, who will never tell you your idea is crap, but will instead cheerlead you into believing you can write, actually despite the fact what you sent was a 2 page doc that hardly constituted an idea and also was crap and encourage you into 60k words of ridiculous shenanigans that you will love in the end. 

You really could not ask for a better person to help you, I promise. 

[freakygirlsworld]

Reblog if you’ve made amazing friends online and are grateful for their existence

[prettiestcaptain]

The Endgame we deserved, I said what I said

[kangofu-cb]

Please help me see my grandmother one last time, organized by Christina

Hi, My name is Christina. Two days ago, on Christmas Eve… Christina needs your support for Please help me see my grandmother one last time

So this feels… unreal. 

I am deeply uncomfortable asking for help, but between school expenses, injuring my back and having to cut back my work hours, and this unexpected death of someone near and dear to me, I am asking for support if anyone can help. If not, I understand, but I appreciate anything, even if it’s just kind words

[kangofu-cb]

Trust

Artwork in collaboration with @maevemauvaise​ for @hopelessly-me​’s WHOB fic “You’re the song that sings to my soul”, a fic about Clint and Bucky falling in love, obviously. Plot twist, Bucky is a siren!

Thanks to @winterhawk-olympic-bang​ for hosting the event, please be sure you go check out all the great fic and art that’s being produced! 

[maevemauvaise]

My art for @flawedamythyst's fic Hydra's Bite! It's so good guys!

@winterhawk-olympic-bang thanks for hosting such an awesome event!

[thessalian]

Thess vs Fae Geasa

So … re-reading The Winter Long, and something that’s been sitting in my head about the Toby Daye series in general pretty much screamed at me to pay some more attention to it:

The Luidaeg says she can’t lie … except to blood of her blood. Mostly she frames that as the Selkies, because they’re technically hers because of them being what they are by virtue of the skins of her children, the Roane. But … “blood of my blood” is a little more general than that. I mean, it literally means “we share the same blood”.

The Luidaeg is the first born daughter of Oberon and Maeve. Amandine the Liar is the daughter of Oberon and Janet … and Amandine is Toby’s mother. The Luidaeg has claimed Toby as her niece time and time again. This means they share blood. “Blood of my blood”. Technically, she can lie to Toby … especially when you consider how much Faerie loves its loopholes. Sure, most of Faerie has the blood of Oberon or Maeve in them somewhere, but it’s noted to be so diluted by now that tracking descendant lines is difficult. Toby’s the daughter of a Firstborn, and claimed as a blood-relation in a way that August never was. And strictly speaking, the Luidaeg did lie to Amandine; she made a liar of herself when she went to get a look at Toby, when Toby was a little girl. She shouldn’t have been able to do that … unless lying to Amandine was okay.

More to the point, in The Winter Long, the Luidaeg says, “I don’t lie to you”. Not “can’t”; “don’t”. When she stresses that she can’t lie, she keeps it general … and usually she’s in the presence of others - Quentin, Tybalt, Janet / Miranda, Poppy, whoever. People she can’t lie around. (Arguably she can lie to Poppy too, since pixies are reputed to be literally formed of Maeve’s blood, but that’s another thing.) She has also, in several conversations with Toby, flagged up the very strong differences between “can’t”, “don’t”, and “won’t”, especially when it comes to the Luidaeg and her dealings with people on the verbal end.

So that’s one of two ways that Toby could get out of the Luidaeg killing her without lifting the geas Titania laid on her. The other - or at least the thing that could buy some damn time - is the debt. Toby literally brought the Luidaeg back from the dead in The Winter Long, and the Luidaeg made damn sure that Toby acknowledged how much that debt was worth. Doing the accounting, Toby asked for a lot of favours of the Luidaeg over the years, but by the Luidaeg’s own admission (in front of witnesses that she literally can’t lie to), those were entirely paid by her actions at the end of The Unkindest Tide. And at the end of Night and Silence, the Luidaeg said that Toby owed her nothing for saving Gillian. Sure, she could claim she was lying, but she doesn’t lie to Toby, and Toby could affirm that in front of witnesses, pointing out that a) Gillian being a Selkie made her transformation of the Selkie to Roane easier, and b) Gillian gave the Luidaeg the impetus she needed to share the Lost Skins, leaving more Roane - more of her own children, in a way - to be returned to her, so what the Luidaeg did for Gillian was way more for the Luidaeg than for Toby. And, waaaaaaay back at the very beginning in Rosemary and Rue, the Luidaeg said that she would not - could not - kill Toby with debts unpaid between them. So long as the Luidaeg owes Toby that hugely unpayable debt, the Luidaeg can’t kill Toby.

And if they can figure out the bloodline thing - which shouldn’t be too hard - the Luidaeg won’t have to, because lying to blood of her blood is allowed.

Look, sometimes I just think too much. Especially when the Fae are concerned. I like the Fae. I like the fun one can have with Blue and Orange Morality. So I pick and twist and turn at the bargains and rules to see where the loopholes are and how far they can be bent. This is why basically all of the things @seananmcguire writes fascinate me; there’s always so much to prod at.

[maevemauvaise]

Ohhhh yes!!! Love this! I just kind of figured that she absolutely will kill Toby but like either it's a weird play of words like 'Sir daye is now dead - severed from knightdom' kind of thing or her human self dies (aka no more human blood) or that she does actually die but then comes back somehow someway because of weird fae magic lol