#support independent creators

[lauravanarendonkbaugh]

The Poet's Eye is coming!

Okay, writeblr friends, it's real: This is a promo and also a request.

BackerKit's first ever Booktopia starts Sept 5, 2024. My new epic fantasy series will be featured! And for Booktopia, there will be additional rewards for backers, bonus rewards for readers who back more than one book project, and more.

If you like epic fantasy that is

intensely character-driven

full of found family and relationships that aren't just romantic

mature and tackling Big Themes

...but without spice or steamy scenes

ace representation

a bit different from the general market, something a little less mainstream or formulaic, something made for a more niche market

then please check out this new series! You can click here to follow it, or I'll tell you about it below. :)

Meet The Characters!

Galen is a farm boy who sacrificed everything to save his family from a threat that turned out to be fake. Now he's trying to stop a magic-wielding queen from saving the world. (Yes, I said save.)

Lisveth was an infamous sorceress highwaywoman, terrorizing the roads with fire and theft. Now she's an itinerant mercenary with her emotional support village idiot.

Kayvin wasn't a good prince, but he was one, and he's lost that. He knows the throne is gone, but the only way to redeem his hostage mother's life is to retrieve a legendary artifact for the usurper. And you're telling him that some random ginger farm boy has it?!

Dielo is professionally gorgeous and a real people-pleaser. But his master isn't interested, and his true master doesn't need his reports, and what's a courtesan-spy to do when no one wants him?

Yovela has finally found a safe place. It's a terrible job description, but her boss treats her better than anyone else has, and that's enough for now. If anyone threatens that, she'll do all in her power, and if she doesn't have enough, she'll recruit help.

I write intensely character-driven fantasy, and this series has more of the same!

The Pitch

Galen was unhappy in his overcrowded farmhouse even before learning his uncles murdered his father for the spoils of a robbery. Now the only way to keep his family from killing each other—again—is to steal the magical amulet they’re fighting over.

By the time he realizes it’s a fake, it’s too late.

Meanwhile, a royal assassination forces two nations together after generations of enmity. With his mother now hostage in an icy prison, Prince Kayvin must collect legendary artifacts to save the lives of thousands. The entrapped prince can trust no one but a beautiful dancer and a young man trained to be the perfect luxurious companion—and perhaps not both of them.

Unlikely allies must work together to defeat an inhuman sorceress bent on saving thousands of lives.

Surely you mean "ending thousands of lives?"

I said what I said.

If you like deeply realized characters, sweeping adventure, and multilayered storytelling, then you’ll love Laura VanArendonk Baugh’s new epic fantasy.

Booktopia

Books which don't match the mainstream book market (like this one!) can do better in crowdfunding than on a more traditional publishing path. BackerKit's new Booktopia is a cross-promotional event that rewards backers with even more swag when they back more than one project, starting with just one additional book.

Read Now: A Midwinter Theft

Want to get to know some of the characters in advance? Pick up the free short story "A Midwinter Theft" (or on retailers here) to meet Lisveth and Galen on one of their hired jobs, going slightly sideways as usual.

(Or, if you picked up a copy of A Trove of Legacies at Origins 2024, you can find another story "A Signet to Save" in that.)

Sound intriguing? Want to help?

Click here to follow the Booktopia project (no commitment). And share this with friends who might like this kind of story.

Thank you!

[aletheoseberlain]

Innuendo Studios has been one of my favorite YouTube channels for years, and Ian Danskin's work has had a profound impact on me.

His analyses have helped shape my views on everything from feminism, politics and power, to writing and language. His channel was my gateway into breadtube, and without Ian's voice I might not be calling myself a communist today.

I don’t have any money, but I can share this. If his work has meant something to you too, please consider donating or sharing the link to the fundraiser.

Whatever the future holds, I'm sure it will still have a Thing of Beauty... and a lot more adventure games.

[hinge]

Hinge presents an anthology of love stories almost never told. Read more on https://no-ordinary-love.co

[ionomycin]

my favorite pieces from 2024

[floydtheflorist]

FINALLY AN INDIE ANIMATION THAT ACTUALLY SEEMS TO BE MADE WITH CARE BY REAL HUMAN BEINGS WHO ACTUALLY WANT TO MAKE SOMETHING GENUINE THAN A BIG STUDIO THAT PRETEND TO BE "INDIE" AND DRINKS OFF THE FANS' MONEY. THANK GOD

[makaramakara]

1950s-inspired bullet bra bag, designed by me.

Take a closer look here

[nevermore117]

yall are all "I want shorter games with worse graphics made by people who are paid more to work less and I'm not kidding" until the guy who made the game dares to try and market it where you can see it huh. The destiel ad is an indie game dev, not Walmart, leave them alone.

[hinge]

Hinge presents an anthology of love stories almost never told. Read more on https://no-ordinary-love.co

[vampirecowboylover]

Now available!

Hangman Vs Swerve Deathmatch Shaker!

including the drawing done by hangmans child AND the stapler! 10cm X 10cm keychain made from acrylic and the charms inside move about when shaken!

Relive the deathmatch by shaking it up!

[duckprintspress]

Help Us Pick the Theme for Our Next Explicit Anthology!

Ever wondered how Duck Prints Press picks our anthology themes? The answer is…we don’t! Our Patrons do! Any backer on our Patreon, from $3/month on up, gets a say – and the current poll to pick our next theme is running right now!

Our twelfth anthology will be the second erotica collection. Our first, Many Hands: An Anthology of Polyamorous Erotica, crowdfunded over the summer and we will be completing campaign fulfillment within the next week, with the book to become available to the general public in mid-fall.

For this new set of short stories, we first chatted with folks on our private Press Discord, then the Press staff narrowed that down to a few specific ideas, and now we’re at the last step – where everyone who supports us gets a say!

No matter the outcome of the vote, our next anthology will feature…

stories about explicit sex with non-human creatures, monsters, and the like;

fully consensual liaisons;

unconventional genitalia (not required by highly encouraged);

happy endings; and

queerness!

But that’s not narrow enough to make an interesting thematic collection of stories, so that’s where our backers (and, perhaps, you!) come in. What are the choices for specific themes that are being voted on?

cottagecore (but explicit and with monsters!)

courtship and mating rituals (“how to woo your human”)

underwater settings and underwater creatures

your friendly neighborhood cryptid

ye older high fantasy monsterloving (fairytale/folklore/mythology-inspired encouraged!)

Honestly, I’m glad I don’t have to pick, because it’s a damn tough choice – they all sound awesome. But pick we must, and one will become the theme for our next anthology.

Already a backer? Don’t forget to vote! Not yet a backer? Become one today!

[bendover-productions]

have to say the worst part about me getting into jet lag is that i’m genuinely considering getting a nebula subscription and it’s not even for like. a normal reason.

[fragmentsforms]

[hinge]

Hinge presents an anthology of love stories almost never told. Read more on https://no-ordinary-love.co

[turtwig387]

So baby, can I slide into your DM, ask how your weekend going 🎶

Kelv-X is a young independent artist from Nigeria.

He’s made a handful of songs and I believe is currently working on some more right now.

You can listen to Slide and some of Kelv-X's other music on Apple Music and Spotify!

The picture of the pink phone above was drawn by me. It's an interpretation of the lyrics and an alternate interpretation of the cover art for Slide.

(I don't know who made his cover art, or I'd credit them).

I like to imagine the pink phone as belonging to the girl that Kelv-X is talking about in the song.

You can support Kelv-X by listening to his music on Apple Music and Spotify!

More info after the "Keep reading"!

Kelv-X is a very good friend of mine.

I believe in him and I love his music so very much.

He’s living in Nigeria right now and, to say the very least, life is hard there.

I think his music is good! And music is his passion.

I would love if you go check him out!

Link to Kelv-X on Apple Music

Link to Kelv-X on Spotify

[sasha4books]

I can't wait to add more of my Zines issues!

[viablemess]

Dame maggie smith dying is making me miss the HP universe SO BAD like yes I wanna watch all the movies again and support all the independent creators and dig up old rp sites that I can no longer find and I will roll around in my whimsy and longing and childhood but I can't remember how

[fourteenfifteen]

when i see people going around complaining about the media they consume 9 times out of 10 i’m thinking “please please get into more independently produced work” esp when it’s things like mass media trends or corporate interests or things that seem like they’re made for sanitized mainstream interests like yes those are all annoying but yk what has less of those… yk what has the marginalized focus and the earnestness and the experimentation that you say you want… that’s right. it’s art made by random nobodies

[hinge]

Hinge presents an anthology of love stories almost never told. Read more on https://no-ordinary-love.co

[artofkhaos404]

So I just binged the Everybody's Worried About Owen discography in one sitting.

He's an independent artist whose genre is a mix of emo and folk punk with emotionally charged and metaphorical lyrics... so it's pretty much AK crack. I highly recommend. If you're a mentally ill folk punk and haven't checked him out already it's basically a requirement. I'd recommend a specific track, but I can't even pick one. They're all amazing.

@oncealoseralwaysaloser

[vampirecowboylover]

I was wearing these all week for Dynamite and Collision in Cardiff, and, of course, All In and I got so many compliments and people asking where to buy them! So now is your chance!

(I thought they where already on the website but the website says diffrent!!!)