I’d like to introduce my MC, Tessa Finch. A young university researcher, back from the foreign sandscape of Merrisk. Grandchild of an ethnic minority within the Fantasy world of ‘An Affinity for Hope’, evidenced by her Asheer marks scattered across her body and face. Excerpt from ‘An Affinity for Hope’ "Her grandfather had been Asheer by birth, a race of people born into darkness that existed entirely on a nocturnal time scale, pale in complexion, they originated from a mountainside heritage. They were one of the more abstract races that walked this earth, smattered across their skin were strikes of chard white marks, like sparks from a flame imprinted on skin. In the darkness these sparks would glow like embers of fire. Some thought them to be beautiful, a rare exhibition of reactive biology that changed as the sunlight set and the darkness descended. Yet not all appreciated the threats that the Asheer faced, this adaptation to the darkness came at a cost and was realised in a violent display. Should an Asheer step into the sunlight, their skin would alight in flame, burning out to leave a coal black scar, and to be consumed by this scar would ultimately lead to their untimely death. Tessa’s exhibition of this biology came in the smattering of pale marks, much like small burns across her body and face, scattered prettily enough, they weren’t nearly as reactive as her grandfathers, instead just sensitive to the light and prone to burning, even under the weakest sun, of which the rays of Merrisk were not. This was one of the reasons Tessa wore face coverings and long sleeved garbs to coat her arms and legs, but the reason she obscured her Asheer marks from onlookers in the darkened streets of Merrisk was far more depressing." . . A large part of Tessa’s biology plays a key element in the novel and will become an advancing and limiting theme throughout the book. . . . . . . . #AugustWritingGoals #WritingCommunityChallenge #amwriting #writingprocess #writer #writerchat #writerslife #authorlife #writing #fictionwriter #fantasywriter #romancewriter #fantasy #romance #writinginspo #womeninsff #womenwriters #workinprogress #authorchat #writers (at Bath, Somerset) https://www.instagram.com/p/CD_6Lg0AHAT/?igshid=1f292gzqd6235
