i got my isbn today for the book. 8 months to go. my mom and i were talking about what the next steps are. i was eating trail mix, standing on one foot, phone tucked into my ear.
"yeah," i said. "the problem is that tumblr as a market is like, not something that can be studied." there's this weird wave of nostalgia and affection for this place that came up over me: how lovely we avoid consumerism. okay, it sucks as a creator. but also? keep stickin' it to 'em.
my mother made the sound at the back of her throat that i also make, the one that means i've got an idea. "you should figure out some kind of reward for presale amounts. maybe you give out poems or a mug or a signed book or something. would your followers like that?" my mother is sweet, and kind, and i have no idea how to explain on this website you can buy someone crabs.
i put more m&ms down the hatch. i had to speak through peanuts and almonds. "if it passes 25 thousand i will print the book out in its entirety and eat it live on camera."
"oh god. no, you don't have to do that." she was anguished. "just tell them that you'd love them to read it, and that they've inspired you to write. you got started on that site, and they helped you keep going. raquel, you love these people. the community? you talk all the time about the other writers and artists and whatever else. tell them that you're hoping for their support, they'll come through."
"no," i assured her. i discovered i had dropped an m&m, but an ant had already found it, so it belonged to him now. i will let his little life have a surprise blue treasure in it, too. "i'm gonna fuckin' eat the book."
The amazing @coloursflyaway wrote this on my prompt and it's 1000 times better than in my wildest dream and I'm still so AAAAHHH about it!!
Read the story here!
Summary:
Edwin had told Charles he loved him in the light of a rising sun or in between cases, when he thought Charles had done something clever and when he was sure that Charles had been very silly, when they were alone and sometimes even when Niko and Crystal were around (never around Jenny, though, and Charles was glad about that).
And it had been like a high, a rush every time, because even if Charles could never forget about that first confession, hearing it again had still felt indescribable.
Even if he couldn’t repeat the words back to Edwin and mean them in the exact same way, the thought that Edwin could love him? Incredible. Close to unbelievable. Almost too good to be true.
Only that now with Peter around, Edwin is suddenly saying it less and less, and never when the other ghost is around.
After saying it several times a day, Edwin stops telling Charles he loves him (as often).
Charles might just draw the wrong conclusions.
And maybe Charles shouldn’t, but he misses it.
My other art
“Two of us riding nowhere, spending someone’s hard-earned pay.”
a long-awaited collaboration between me and my dearest friend, @tomfowlery!!
Had an absolute blast working on this piece; I sketched Sam as well as colored, while Gwyn created the initial thumbnail, sketched Max, did the linework, and added the finishing touches. 🧡