#absit omen

[ao-kit]

[smidgeonpress]

Absit Omen, 2012, 12 x 8 7/8 inches (plate); two-plate, two-color etching. Much to my regret, I only ever printed one of these with this beautiful torinoko chine-collé. I pulled 3 with an okawara chine-collé, but those prints are not as rich and crisp as this one.⁣

This is the only artwork I've ever dreamed into being: in my dream, I had completed the dark border of cawing crow-heads and was working out a sketch for the central image (though it was far less resolved than the woman sitting primly on the ruins' stairs shown in the final print). The dream was intensely and minutely visual. In my waking life, I had been reading darkly comic Slavic folk tales and regularly hiking past the so-called Witch's Castle in Forest Park, which no doubt inspired my subconscious. (The ruin began its life in the 1930's as a public toilet, a fact that makes its colloquial name charmingly absurd.) This and other prints are included in an online exhibition presented by UPFOR through March 17, 2021. Go take a look at bit.ly/birdsong-stories.⁣

[fayeisnowwriting]

Meet the writer Tag

Soooo @toboldlywrite did this and she was like “Give it a go if you wanna!” and I was like “ok!” so here you go!

1. Have you killed anyone in your WIP? How did they die?

Sort of.

In Laws of Immortals: Revolution I already killed Derek’s whole family (bomb planted on the house), a vampire named Moisey Kovalevsky (shot by Derek), a storeowner whose name I don’t remember (murdered in cold blood in his own store, Julius’s target), and Sophie got fatally attacked (I think I’ll change that one, though). So there’s 7 deaths. More to follow.

Coded starts with Keith and Thaddeus awaiting their execution, so during the escape they shoot at the guards, they kill one. Maggie’s sister is dead. So far, Coded has the least amount of deaths with 2, but that’ll change once the plot advances because the story is literally “let’s hunt and eliminate this list of people” and there’s a merc so. There’s 2 deaths, more to follow.

With Absit Omen I’m counting the rams/cats/rats/whatever that had to be sacrificed to summon The AngerPassion, so so far it’s 7 or 8.

Vanishing Act has no deaths (for now, because there’s one death that advances the plot).

2. How many words approximately do you write in a good, productive day?

I try not to count words, otherwise I get tense about “aaaah but yesterday I wrote x amount!!”. I just try to focus on writing. With that being said, I do want to try writing 500 pages daily for a month to see how much will I progress in my WIPs.

3. Which one of your OCs do you relate the most too? (Describe them)

Probs Sophie or Xitlali (both from Laws of Immortals) for similar reasons.

Sophie grew up in a high class family in London and there’s a lot of things she’s naive about, but she’s also optimistic and doesn’t like to give up at all. Some of these qualities I have as well. Sophie is also loyal to her clutch and wishes the best for Derek, she sees him as a friend, so when conflicted interests arise she panics and doesn’t know what to do.

Xitlali had to grow up in a toxic, patriarchic family in Mexico way back in the 50′s and it was a constant fighting with her stepfather and mother, she realized this is bullshit and moved to Los Angeles before going to New York and meeting Vincent, and I relate to her because ever since I was a girl I’ve had deep desires to leave my home, to make a name of myself out there, to do what I love and not take crap from anyone. Honestly, Sophie is me now and Xitlali is what I want to become.

4. Favorite line/paragraph/dialogue from your WIP?

This one in Coded:

“Wait wait, your- what?” Keith asked, stranged. Thaddeus stopped, looking at the group as if they’d become stranged about the weather.

“My husband.” he repeated, hands still intertwined with Dante’s, “I have a husband and children.”

”Huh, the more you know.” Watson said, “Mansson has a family.”

5. Which genre does your WIP belong to?

Coded is a cyberpunk sci-fi novel

Laws of Immortals is an action & fantasy YA series

Absit Omen is some sort of occult, psychology and religion novel

Vanishing Act is a mystery & romance YA novel

6. Which author do you look up to?

I don’t think I have an author that I look up to? I mean, Suzanne Collins managed to lock me up in the Hunger Games series, I think some classic authors are mad good and I think @garrettauthor is a mad good example of our job as writers to transmit our fantasy worlds and stories while making them accessible to everybody by making them diverse, but that’s it.

7. How did you come up with the title? Is there a meaning behind it?

I usually begin with the working title (F.E.A.R, Psycho Circus, Little Children) or a brief description (”the one with the demon and shit”) and then I try to think of what is in the story that I could use for the title. Laws of Immortals is named like this because of the Council in it, and the series are named due to what happens around the Vampire Conclave (a rebellion, a separation/civil war, and resurrection is the coming back of vampires). Vanishing Act got its name the same way: the story is about a circus and disappearances, Victoria is mysterious in her origins, so it went with it. Same with Absit Omen.

I don’t remember how Coded got its name and at this point I’m too scared to remember.

8. Do you talk about your stories with your relatives?

With my sister, yes. But I also talk about them to my boyfriend or my closest friends.

9. Does writing dialogue or inner monologue come easier to you?

Dialogue, for certain!

10. When did you start writing?

Ever since 6th grade for creative class, it developped in high school and now I won’t stop ;P

I’m tagging @lady-redshield-writes @matiasthewriter @barthosprompts @witterprompts and @essie-essex, you too feel free to make this tag if you wish to!

[mahokotei]

Eden Book 1, Absit Omen's cover is here! With and without text. If you look veeeeeery carefully you can see Vimala in between the D and E, haha. Not a lot of symbolism or anything in this one, though Orestes being behind Canaan is an important feature. The logo was fun to design!

I'll be uploading chapter illustrations (except for spoilery ones) next, so keep an eye out!~ What Is "Eden"?

[magictransistor]

[edennovel]

PROLOGUE: AD PERPETUAM MEMORIAM

The castle doors parted and torches were lit as a small group was escorted into a room larger than they could ever have imagined. Wide eyes scanned the room and gasps of awe escaped gaping mouths as they took in their surroundings.

From the shadows emerged a figure, clad in large red robes. It gave a cough, then patted the red velvet seat of the throne, turned, and lowered itself down. The group's leader, a tall, ginger man who wore shining orange armour, stepped forth, and a look of concern overtook his normally calm face. His lip quivered as he forced a smile to return, and he bowed to the figure.

“Sir Joseph, Father, sir,” he stammered, earning a chuckle from a group member, who stood tall, his long black hair tied back and one hand always on the hilt of his sword.

“Lord Canaan,” the response was choked out, but the voice still boomed, echoing throughout the room. “I see you bring the man who has targeted me.”

“Yes, father,” Canaan gave a nod as he stepped back, revealing in full the man who had moments ago laughed at him. The smirk on the man’s face faded as the Lord pushed him forward, and he stumbled a bit, his hand leaving the hilt of his sword.

“Judas,” Sir Joseph’s voice was quieter now, but still stern as he questioned the younger man, “why do you target the man who raised your dear friend?”

Judas scoffed and crossed his arms, his gaze averted as he answered moodily, “I was hired.”

“A sellsword and a traitor! Alas, poor Canaan, his friend shall be executed!” exclaimed another man, this one looking to be an adolescent and a mercenary. This earned him an elbow from one of his companions, which he ignored as he threw one gloved hand to his forehead and continued, “who are we to trust if not our own friends?!”

“Orestes. Calm,” Sir Joseph ordered, raising a hand. “There shall be no execution.” Judas sighed his relief, but stiffened as the King continued, “if he is a sellsword, he may be of use to Elisia.”

“Father,” Canaan shouted, shocked. “You don’t mean--” he cut himself off as he saw his father nod solemnly. He could feel his heart drop.

“You,” Joseph’s hand gesture indicated he meant the whole group, “will take down the Demon who haunts our land.” The elder man got to his feet, hardly managing to stand upright as he hobbled over to the group and rested one worn hand on Canaan’s shoulder, “and you will succeed, my son.”

Before Canaan could utter a word of response, his father’s hand slipped from his shoulder, and the large man collapsed on the floor, his eyes now plain white as they had rolled back. Blood trickled from a corner of his mouth, and Canaan gagged. This was no illness, nor natural selection.

This was the demon’s work.

[edennovel]

CHAPTER 1: EX MALO BONUM

“I simply cannot, dear Icarus,” a young man exclaimed as his group wandered through a small merchant town, one gloved hand pushing dirty brown locks out of his face as he tried to keep the sun from his eyes. “I cannot take another lover! My blood is cursed!”

“What,” responded his companion, a slender man with blonde hair, in a smooth, high voice that contrasted his friend's rough, low voice. “Your mother's a princess and your father a potato? Your blood is in no way cursed.”

“But my mother is indeed a princess,” the first man whined, turning to another companion of his. “Marcus,” he pleaded, “tell Icarus of my royal blood!”

A younger-sounding voice laughed, gently yet loudly, before responding, “his blood's cursed 'cuz he's crazy. If Orestes has any kids, they'll catch his crazy too!”

Orestes sputtered, not looking his way as he walked backwards in order to look his companion in the eye. He began to speak again, but was cut off as he walked into his group's leader, the Lord Canaan.

“This is more, much more than your fiction, Orestes,” Canaan scolded emptily, not even bothering to turn to look at the boy who had backed into him. Upon investigation, Orestes noted that his superior's face held no expression, but was blank, his eyes glazed as they focused forward, and his mouth unmoving.

“Fictional or not,” Icarus chimed, stuck his tongue out to lick his lips, then continued, “I'd love a taste of cursed royal blood.”

“Hardly the time for rough play, my friend!” Orestes retaliated with a gesture at Canaan. It had been two moons since the passing of Canaan's father, the ruler of the Aurean Kingdom and the Elisian people's symbol of hope, Sir Joseph Brandeis. The event had deeply shocked Canaan, and rather than take his father's place on the throne, he set off for the neighbouring land of Eden to ask for the aid of its Lord and people. His father's final words were used assuring him that he could take down the Demon who haunted their land, however, Canaan held little faith in himself and was seeking to start a band of mercenaries to assist him. Along for the journey were Orestes, a young warrior-in-training, the swordsman Icarus, Marcus, a young mage of many talents, Virgil, the Tactician and leader of the Elisian army, and Judas, a sellsword and Canaan's childhood friend.

Canaan gave a grunt, then took a breath to recompose himself before he stepped forward. He turned to the Tactician, a forced smile overtaking his blank face as he asked, “Virgil, remind me again why we have brought these young ones along?”

“To avoid seeming a threat, milord,” Virgil responded coolly. He was older than even Canaan, but still in his youth, and though the top of his head bore no hair, his chin was covered. Despite his slightly portly figure, he stood tall, is posture dignified.

Canaan glanced over his shoulder to see that Orestes and Icarus had run off to a nearby stall. He groaned, turning on his heel to approach the two. Icarus was leaning on the stall, a bright, shining red apple held in his right hand as he flirted relentlessly with the shopkeeper. The shopkeeper herself seemed to be roughly the boy's age, with a slim figure. She had gentle, honey-yellow eyes and hair that matched the fruits she sold. While not his type, Canaan could see how Icarus considered her to be a piece of eye candy. Her half-lidded eyes stayed trained on Icarus as she circled him, and as she paused in front of him, she leaned in to whisper something in his ear, much to his amusement and Orestes' dismay.

“Oi!” Orestes grabbed the merchant's shoulder, drawing her attention to him. The two gazed into each other's eyes for a moment, the merchant's eyes flashing a deep red for a moment, but Orestes shook his head and pushed her away, thinking he was imagining it. “That's my man. Icarus, let's go!”

“Oh, Orestes,” the merchant chimed, taking the mercenary aback as she began to circle him, then paused again, and grabbed him, holding his face close. “Your little honeybun is just reserving you folks a nice room in my inn,” she winked, pushing his head back.

Orestes glanced at Icarus, who seemed almost entranced by the red-haired lady, but before he could protest, he felt a hand on his shoulder and jumped in surprise. Canaan had come up behind him while he was distracted, and was now holding him still.

“Miss, I must apologize for these boys. They're--” Canaan began, but was cut off as the merchant replied.

“Oh, no. In fact, I appreciate your companions' patronage! They're attempting to reserve you a room in the inn my father and I run. Well, all of you. We only have the one room, we're poor, but we have some cots and blankets those that don't fit can use, and I don't mind if you sleep in the lobby... We do have some guests but-”

“Enough! It's getting late. We'll take the room. I'll pay. Lead us there,” Canaan commanded as Marcus and Virgil rushed to his side to see what was happening.

“Of course. Thank you, sir.” With that, the merchant quickly closed shop and led the group off towards her inn.

[magictransistor]

Jacques Callot. Temptation of St. Anthony. 1690.