Hierarchy of the Unseen: Chapter One is now available as a free preview!
This chapter introduces Mitzli, a half-vampire demon hunter traveling a perilous mountain path. Their first assignment in the borderlands isn't hunting demons, per se; it's more about offering blessings to rural communities frightened by their harmless pranks. They reach their destination certain that the hardest part of their job will be convincing the humans to trust a half-vampire—but what they find there is more ominous than they ever expected.
If you want to keep reading, you can sign up at the $4 level for weekly updates (along with access to several concluded serials, bonus & behind-the-scenes content, and more!)
Both Sides of The Moon, my debut novel, is a slow(ish)-burn fantasy romance about a gay vampire and a werewolf cowboy who fall in love. It’s been described as “gorgeously written, full of magic and emotion, very angsty but also very sweet and warm at the same time” (and it almost made me cry). An exploration of love, loss, and belonging, it also features endearingly un-funny monster people, an entirely queer cast of characters, approximately thirty pages of smut, and a comical amount of gay stupidity.
Wanna know more? Here’s the summary:
When a vampire is discovered, unconscious, on the Mahankila family’s ranch, Roa is wholly unprepared to find himself attracted to the handsome stranger—or for the ways in which his life is about to change.
Before the vampire’s arrival, Roa was content with his life. He loves his family and his community, the Licanmos Clan, a society of werewolves that have called the desert their home for millennia; even his ceremonial position as clan Shepherd, while occasionally embarrassing, brings connection and closeness to his deity, the Moon.
But the stranger’s presence begins to change things: for his clan, for his family, and for Roa.
When Fae wakes up in an unfamiliar home, he has no memory of how he got there - and, indeed, very little memory of anything else.
He cannot forget that he is a vampire, and so not to be trusted; or the profound grief burning in his body, surrounded by a shell of terror; or the mysterious, dangerous force pursuing him. Fae’s intention is to stay only until he regains his strength and, if possible, his memories - as long as he’s pursued, his presence puts the Mahankilas at risk.
But how can Fae leave the safety of the ranch with an undead body conditioned to survive at all costs - and a growing attachment to the werewolves, especially Roa?
Both Sides of The Moon is 4.99USD on Kindle, and available for free with Kindle Unlimited.
You can read the first chapter - and half of the second - by downloading a sample or previewing it at the Amazon listing linked below!
https://tinyurl.com/bothsidesofthemoon
Reblogs are always appreciated! Thank you for taking the time to read about my work and support an emerging queer author <3 I love this book, I loved writing it, and I hope you all like it, too!
My collaborative queer urban fantasy novel is out TODAY!
Poised in Either Eye is a lively & lightly-romantic story about two dragons in human form trying to make it on Earth.
Aloof, grumpy punk Mateo left the artless world of dragons for Earth’s subcultures; sweet but mischievous Zephyr arrives in the Human Realm with something to prove. When the two meet, both the stability of Mateo’s human life and Zephyr’s plans to impress his family are thrown into question.
Alternately funny and emotional, PIEE is a slow-ish burn gay fantasy romance in the weird little space between novella and novel, and told from the alternating perspectives of our two protagonists. Wanna check it out? You can...
Read a free excerpt 🎁
Add it on Goodreads and Storygraph 📍
Buy it now on Amazon or the EHLS webstore! ✨🎉
And as always, any reblogs or shares are very much appreciated 😇
Howdy y'all--if you missed the post I made approximately 60 seconds ago, you might not know what this is.
Well, I'm here to tell you: it's a post.
An update post.
An update post that I, FELL A. MARSH, will do weekly on Fridays. Hence, Fell's Friday Roundup.
IT WILL BE SHORT. IT WILL BE SWEET. THERE MAY BE CAT PICTURES.
IT'S HAPPENING.... NOW
So this week I've been digging really deep into my current WIP, Taker of the Third Path. It's been sporadically serialized on our Patreon already, but between dragon boys and life doing it's damn thing, it was kind of slow and painful going. I realized (with B's help) that was because 1. I was writing it in the most insane possible way (half a chapter a week, all written and edited in one day) and 2. Because I started writing it in earnest in the thick of dragon boys, I hadn't actually developed it enough to hold water.
I didn't want to abandon it though; I thought I could still find some passion for this story; and boy has the past five days shown me that, yes, I'm still READY to write this one.
Basically, I needed to make my MC less perfect (I tend to focus character growth in the secondary protagonist, for some reason) and to add another subplot to help cohere all the different threads of the main plot. Once I did that and spent some time fleshing out different odds and ends, I found myself with what I think it a rather nice little narrative! The goal this time around is to tell the story as economically as possible; I tend to overwrite, and want to make something that's nice and tight. Clear, concise, no excess (but plenty of interest; I'll still take my stupidly detailed descriptions and dialogue quirks, thanks.)
And you know? It's been a lot of fun, actually; this is the first solo project I've worked on since I published BSOTM back in September, and it's actually been really enjoyable to untangle all the problems this WIP had at the beginning of the week and find myself with something much, much stronger here at the end. Lord knows I'm way more excited to write it haha! It's strange how finding your weaknesses can actually sometimes boost your confidence.
This Week's Progress---Taker of the Third Path
Added 13 pages of development notes.
Word count: 3,106 (re-write of TotTP, Chapter 1)
Next week's goal: Script and write TotTP, chapter 3; complete edits on TotTP, chapter 2; script TotTP, chapter 4
Aaaaaay it’s my mom’s favorite trans gay author, back again with a shiny new post for yall!
If you’re familiar with the premise of BSOTM, you know it’s a fantasy romance featuring comical levels of gay stupidity and gay evil - but who are these gays? Why are they so stupid? And what, exactly, is a vampire elf?
Well buckle up buttercup, cuz we’re about to find out!
Roannon Huaywa Mahankila, aka Roa: Nearing his thirties, Roa is content with his life; he loves his mother and his sister, his best friend Ha’Kahn, and the role he plays in his community - the Licanmos Clan, a society of werewolves that has called their desert home for millennia. He feels a close connection to his deity, the Moon, one of the principal Goddesses who created the cosmos and the planet that he calls home. Roa works with his hands, keeping his family’s ranch in good repair and tending to the clan’s herd with his fellow cowboys. He is also the clan Shepherd, a role that in ancient times would designate him the leader of the clan, but in Roa’s time is important only for ceremonial and religious reasons (and is only occasionally a source of embarrassment for him). A sweet man with an appreciation for nature and the beauty found within it, he is the more serious, contemplative foil to his prankster sister and best friend. Roa accepted years ago that romance would not be a part of his life, and is unprepared to find it unexpectedly knocking at his door...
Fun fact: Roa (secretly) has a wonderful singing voice.
[TRUE NAME REDACTED], aka Fae*: Fae wakes up in the Mahankila home with no memory of how he got there, and very little memory of anything else - including his own name. One thing he will never forget: he is a vampire, and so not to be trusted. One thing he cannot ignore: the profound grief lingering in his body, and the shell of stale terror surrounding it. Taking the name ‘Fae’ for himself after Roa’s mother claims his was the arrival of a talented fae foretold to her in a dream, the vampire swears that he will only stay with the kind werewolf family until he can regain his strength, and if possible, his memories... knowing that the longer he stays, the more likely he is to lose control of himself, or worse - because the mysterious and dangerous force pursuing him might show itself at any moment. But how is he supposed to leave the safety of the ranch with an undead body conditioned to survive at all costs, and a growing attachment to the werewolves, especially the gruff but shy Roa?
Fun fact: Fae tells the absolute worst jokes (but everyone is really nice to him about it.) He is also an elf, despite what this picrew might indicate!
*The reason it took me so long to post this is because, honestly, the options to make someone who is both masculine and ethnic enough to make Fae similar to how he actually looks/is described in the novel was impossible. Thankfully it was a bit easier with everyone else (especially the ladies)... but still! Come on! I do really appreciate the artists whose picrews I eventually used - they’re all beautiful, even if they don’t fit how my particular characters look, and they gave me the option to even make this post at all.
Now imagine, if you will, the above Fae but with a much more prominent nose and cheekbones; skin a warmer, darker shade of brown with the same sandy undertones; fuller eyebrows and lips; and then his ‘fantasy’ characteristics, like long pointed ears; a light, iridescent sheen to his skin under the sun; larger fangs; and a bite mark on his neck.
Secondary characters (plus a peek at our villain ;3) under the cut!
Suhi Condor Mahankila (left): Roa’s younger sister, also girlfriends with Ha’Kahn, Roa’s childhood best friend. Outgoing and friendly, Suhi quickly befriends her family’s vampire guest. Clever, observant, and with no tolerance for bullshit, she often knows more about what’s happening than she lets on, and occasionally uses this knowledge to set up elaborate pranks (often with the help of Ha’Kahn, and usually to Roa’s detriment). The reluctant heir to her mother’s powers, Suhi may work hard, but in general she’s rather laid back - ask her about her horses, though, and you’ll see how excitable she can be.
Fun fact: she has a nickname only Roa uses - HiCo.
Lucia Valaine (right): Fae’s best friend, and his vampire ‘sibling’ whose past shares many things in common with his own. She cares for Fae - and anyone else deemed important to her - very deeply, and, as such, holds them to a high standard. A fashionable dresser barely taller than five feet and sporting a soft, curvy physique, one might not know at first glance that Lucia is a fierce, highly skilled fighter, ready to fight tooth and nail for herself and her loved ones.
Fun fact: Before she was turned, Lucia was a well-known dancer.
Jimena Condor Mahankila (left): Mother to Roa and Suhi, and honorary mother to Ha’Kahn, Jimena is not only a clan Elder, but the clan Messenger - a prophetess whose sacred role is to receive and pass on wisdom sent directly from the Goddess, the Moon herself. She predicted Fae’s arrival, but claims to know nothing more about the purpose behind his presence on the ranch. Warm, intelligent, and firm, Jimena uses her magical prowess and wisdom to heal and guide those around her, and to uphold the teachings and traditions of her clan.
Fun fact: Jimena has a close (read: gay) relationship with Ha’Kahn’s mentor, Tze.
Ha’Kahn Allca Callañaupa: Roa’s childhood best friend and Suhi’s girlfriend. Ha’Kahn is a non-binary ADHD-having short king; they are high energy, fiercely loyal, easily distracted, and much-loved by the rest of the clan despite (or because of) their unrelenting clownishness. Brave to the point of stupidity, Ha’Kahn is infinitely more emotionally mature than they first appear, and is the first person Roa turns to when he needs advice and support. They also play an important role in the clan - Ha’Kahn is clan Spire, endowed with incredible strength and the ability to transform into a wolf at will, with a sworn duty to protect the clan and advocate for the alienated. Just don’t remind them that they’re still an apprentice, unless you want to be subject to some highly overdramatic pouting.
Fun fact: Ha’Kahn’s greatest wish is to jump off of a waterfall and live to tell the tale; Roa and their two dads have successfully talked them out of this on several separate occasions.
Alaric: An Evil Gay Eccentric whose hobbies include dark magic and murder. B loooves to hate this motherfucker - but if you want to find out why, you’ll have to read the book ;)
It’s finally happening! I’m in the last stages of editing for Both Sides of the Moon!
Publication day for my first novel is approaching (much too) swiftly! I only have major edits left to complete on three chapters, plus another pass or two at the whole thing. If I don’t hit my target of finishing by July 31st - though it shouldn’t be a problem, so long as I can continue wrangling the ADHD demon that lives in my brain - I expect to be done by mid-August.
That means that, soon, (SO SOON WTH) Both Sides of the Moon will be out in the world for anyone who wants to read a fantasy romance about a werewolf cowboy and a vampire elf who fall in love!
Here’s a short summary if you aren’t already familiar with the story:
Roa was not prepared to discover an unconscious vampire on his family’s ranch before dawn one summer morning. He was even less prepared to find himself rapidly developing feelings for the mysterious stranger.
Fae awakens in an unfamiliar house with almost no memory of his past, convinced that he is in mortal danger - only to learn that he’s been taken in by a family of werewolves. Desperate to retain the safety he’s found with the wolves, he fails to tell them the most important thing he remembers: he is being hunted.
Anyways, prepare yourselves for a slew of BSOTM posting - This Time There’s Actually New Content Edition!
I’m almost finished with the first major edit of BSOTM! I’ve been working on a character introduction post (it’s silly - the one thing holding me up is I can’t find a picrew for Fae that I’m satisfied with). Once I start the next pass I’ll post an excerpt of the first chapter for yall!
In the meantime, would anyone be interested in seeing some shorter pieces of writing? Almost certainly poems, because I think all of my short stories are in paper form only nowadays (RIP).
Thanks for tagging me @anavkour! I don’t have a whooole lot of WIPs because I’ve only picked writing regularly up again in the past yearish - plus I’m a pretty slow worker in general lol - but this turned out to be really fun!!
Rules: Post the names of all the files in your WIP folder, regardless of how non-descriptive or ridiculous. Send me an ask with the title that most intrigues you and I’ll post a little snippet of it or tell you something about it! And then tag as many people as you have WIPs.
I don’t technically have a WIP folder and just dump all of my documents together into one folder like the gremlin I am, but here’s what you can find pawing through my current drive if you ignore all the other stuff -
Every iteration of Both Sides of the Moon (I always make a new document for edits and the thing is eleven chapters/120Kish words long so it’s a lot of files lol. I am not very organized)
My copy of all of B’s different manuscripts, for editsing (Incl. Mirrored in Evergreen, Worm in a Jar, Heirloom [Something], and In the Rose Garden)
Taker of the Third Path notes (A novella I want to write after I finish BSOTM)
Poised in Either Eye notes (The collab B and I are starting when I finish BSOTM lol. There’s also a file called Zephyr Notes that’s full of details for my character)
[I am front loading my grief] (The first line of a poem I may or may not get back to)
I Once Burnt the Surface of My Entire Left Hand (Another poem I may or may not get back to lol)
i cried out! ( ...Yeah so I have a lot of partially written poems)
[When did you first/Notice] (Wow I really had no idea there were this many!)
Vampire Husband #1 (A song that might one day have actual music written for it. A companion song to B’s Vampire Husband, which does actually have music for it lmao)
M***songs (A collection of songs that I wrote on my old phone and who knows?? what will happen with them. I like to leave myself little mysteries sometimes u kno? for the spoice. Also the title has my irl name in it so I censored it lol)
Idk who to tag because B already did this one whoops! Anyone seeing this post who wants to do the game should totally go for it and tag me in their post tho, I will thoroughly enjoy it /sparkle emoji
