#Black Sails to Sunward

[jennelikejennay]

I realized I never shared this here.

A Cosplay of the Martian Navy Uniform

From My Upcoming Book, Black Sails to Sunward

So I wanted character art but I can't draw, so instead I spent nine months making this uniform my main character wears in the book.

Imagine, if you will, the high seas and the Age of Sail. The customs. The amazing clothes. Then transplant that whole aesthetic into space. And make it gay.

That's it, that's the book.

Anyway I love historical clothes, so I made ridiculously accurate historical clothes for my character even though she lives in the future.

Here are a few of the pictures, you can find more in the link at the end:

This is all based on late 18th/early 19th century models (ie, what Captain Jack Aubrey would wear) with a few changes to make it spaceworthy. Wool coat, wool hat (purchased), linen shirt, canvas duck waistcoat and breeches.

Here's more about the process, models, where I wore it, and so on. https://sheilajenne.com/2023/06/09/my-imperial-martian-navy-uniform/

[lgbtqreads]

June 2022 Deal Announcements

June 2022 Deal Announcements

Adult Fiction and Poetry Author of the forthcoming THE ROMANCE RECIPE and HOT COPY Ruby Barrett‘s THE LEARNING CURVE, where a bi, down-on-his-luck ex-firefighter joins a cross-disciplinary academic study teaching millennials how to make friends as adults, but an unexpected flirtation with an earnest people-pleasing female participant jeopardizes the study and their hearts, to Stephanie Doig at…

[midnightmeadowpublishing]

DO YOU WANT LESBIAN PIRATES IN SPACE?

Obviously

Black Sails to Sunward is out now. And its sequel, The Sea of Clouds releases in August!

[sapphicbookclub]

Black Sails to Sunward by Sheila Jenné

In a world of frock coats, solar sails, and rigid class boundaries, Lucy joins the Martian Imperial Navy as a midshipman. Mars and Earth are at war, and Lucy hopes for quick promotion. But when she arrives aboard ship, she finds her childhood ex-friend, Moira, already there. Class differences got in the way of their budding romance five years ago, and both of them are nursing grudges.

Those same class differences are threatening the ship, as the enlisted spacers threaten a mutiny and Lucy is forced to support the abusive officers. When Moira becomes a pirate, taking Lucy captive, the tables are turned. Lucy now has to rely on her enemy for her life.

Her oath as an officer forbids her from helping the pirates, but it’s becoming obvious that the Martian Empire doesn’t deserve her loyalty. If she throws in her lot with the pirates, her family is doomed to poverty, but it could give her a chance to reconcile with Moira and claim the love she rejected so long ago.

Genres: sci-fi, romance

Order from Blackwell's here and get free worldwide shipping!

[cuprohastes]

The Black Market

Space is big. I mean... really big. Like even bigger than a really big rock.

And boring.

But sometimes you get an encounter...

Boring is the worst part.

You can go into space and there's all sorts of cool stuff like the microgravity, the amazing view... and after a while it's just dark and the computer goes 'Boop' every quarter time unit, and this amazing experience collapses into the same space as e.g., being in a nursing home until someone tells you that you've arrived, and you can go look at cool stuff again.

Hence Interstellar Cruise Liners.

Space travel is still not cheap - even a run up and down a space elevator needs paying for, so you want to take as much cargo and paying passengers as possible.

With automated shipyards, you can just pour money and resources into building a truly huge passenger module, stack it on top of some cargo modules and clamp on as many drive units and crew modules as you need.

Load everyone in, let them ooh and ahhh at the view for a day then spin up a gateway and fire the whole thing into superluminal space and drop it out around any world you have a beacon for.

The really great thing is even if you lose the beacon in transit, you are a beacon. Just drop out and wait. Anything goes wrong, the home office can send a rescue ship after you.

In the meantime, there's the ship's amenities: The lush mossy jungle deck, the galactic beach, the games rooms, the dining groves, the on-board university - Even the theatre for live and recorded entertainment.

Still passengers like to have an experience, and so the Sunward Sail out of Ggxcha with seven hundred passengers dropped out of Superluminal space, the bow wave of exotic particles heating the backstop up to a glowing red.

The Sunward Sail dropped into a lazy orbit around an ancient planet, orbited by a big station trailing glittering wreckage - Obviously something dramatic had gone down here.

The lights were on though - So not a derelict station - and the docking was smooth, so the first set of tourists stepped onto the station, onto the Market deck.

So much to see! So much to do!

Madam Shi-shi's bakery run by a happy Tsin selling classic Tsin pastries, and exotic purple rolls with various filling and other goods.

The Top n' Charmed Quarks Bar with the scarred Atrix obviously a veteran of some war or calamity, serving exotic and colourful drinks:

"Dare you try the Human Menu?" she suggests, pulling it out. "Watch out, the Temple of Shir-li is banned in twelve systems..."

They even have a chance wheel!

Then there's Honest Gar's Genuine Human Antiquities, the wares spilling out from the shop in a riot of colours and patinas, where one can buy a genuine antique reproduction Victorian Empire TV, or a genuine Human Made Brown's Kitchen Imp that can tell you how to make a thousand and five human style recipes with a little sheet glass projection hologram of a human in glasses and red horns. So quaint!

And if you get to the end of the market, or one of the traders tips you off, you can find...

The Black Market

There's someone there, a weathered old... unless they were young... spacer, in a patched and scuffed EVA undersuit with 43 on the chest, who'll spin you unbelievable tales for a couple of creds dropped into the old cracked space helmet he keeps on the table next to him and if you ask, he'll let you in -

The back rooms are dark, rowdy, and full of the coolest stuff. There are lots of humans here, and there's an Atrix little guy, with a set of goggles, riding low on the belly of this Atrix Mech.

If you're lucky you can see one of the humans with some grudge square off agianst the little guy. He's surrounded by switches and levers, with a little pair of waldos.

The mech lurches to life, an angry display on its faceplace, growling in a rattling synthetic voice:

Combat mode! Engaged! Polaron Claws. Charging.

It's claws glowing white hot as it swings into motion, and the Human pulls a little cobbled together blaster out and takes a pot shot. The Mech lurches and sparks, warning lights flashing ominously...

Reactor. Overheat. Reactor. Overheat. Emergency. Venting.

The stricken mecha whirls, the little guy screaming in rage and flipping clunky archaic controls... And then when everything seems to be about to go wrong, the mech begins to spray clouds of vapour from it's vents and the alerts wind down, while the scurrilous human takes the opportunity to flee.

It's very dramatic.

And after that you can buy a souvenir arm patch of Cat Fantastic's Mecha with glow in the dark Polaron claws, before it's time to head back - Don't forget to pick up a packed lunch from Madame Shi-Shi's!

--

"Ugh." said Dave, "I don't mind the tourist run but it ruins my appetite" she muttered.

"You shouldn't snack on your own stock." says Big Ma, touching up Gondy's makeup.

Phalanges, helmet off, chin up and enjoying the cool air blower form the converted life support rig that they'd modded into the mecha grunts noncommittally.

"How are we doing boss?" Raxy asks, potting up souvenir Tsin fungus with Atrix moss and human basil.

O'Patel flashes an OK hand sign. "We are... hitting the funding goals. One more shift - This time it's for the bonus pay." he says with satisfaction and Big Ma looks around, checking everyone's ready as someone helps Cat Fantastic back into his cockpit basket and Gondy makes sure there's enough grenadine left.

"OK people... Showtime!"

[the-bi-library]

Bi books out in July!

We have 15 books out this month!

Preorders help the authors greatly, so make sure to preorder any book(s) that catch your interest.

Here is the goodreads list of these books.

Books listed:

💕 A Guide to the Dark by Meriam Metoui 💕 In the Case of Heartbreak (Fern Falls, #2) by Courtney Kae 💕 Role Playing by Cathy Yardley 💕 The Afterlife of the Party by Darcy Marks 💕 More to Love by Georgina Kiersten 💕 Digging for Heaven by Jenna Jarvis 💕 The Guilty Twin by Holly Riordan 💕 Wanderlust by Elle Everhart 💕 Three Meant To Be by M.N. Bennet 💕 Case Sensitive by A.K. Turner 💕 I, Caravaggio by Eugenio Volpe 💕 Black Sails to Sunward by Sheila Jenné 💕 Silver Nitrate by Silvia Moreno-Garcia 💕 Here in the Night by Rebecca Turkewitz 💕Trouble by Lex Croucher

Make sure to check the TWs and PG ratings for all the books if necessary.

[maryrobinette]

My Favorite Bit: Sheila Jenne Talks About BLACK SAILS TO SUNWARD

Sheila Jenne is joining us today to talk about her novel, Black Sails to Sunward. Here’s the publisher’s description: In a world of frock coats, solar sails, and rigid class boundaries, Lucy joins the Martian Imperial Navy as a midshipman. Mars and Earth are at war, and Lucy hopes for quick promotion. But when she arrives aboard ship, she finds her childhood ex-friend, Moira, already there.…

[jscalzi]

The Big Idea: Sheila Jenne

Authors often use the past for inspiration. But what point does the inspiration of earlier days become a problem for the setting our author wants to write for? It’s a question Sheila Jenne confronts in this Big Idea for Black Sails to Sunward. SHELIA JENNE: My dad has two major obsessions: space and the sea. Since he couldn’t join Starfleet, he joined the Navy. He always loved telling us about…

[whateveradjunct]

The Big Idea: Sheila Jenne

Authors often use the past for inspiration. But what point does the inspiration of earlier days become a problem for the setting our author wants to write for? It’s a question Sheila Jenne confronts in this Big Idea for Black Sails to Sunward. SHELIA JENNE: My dad has two major obsessions: space and the sea. Since he couldn’t join Starfleet, he joined the Navy. He always loved telling us about…

[curiouslich]

General information——

FULL NAME: Zanarian Felsunder

NICKNAME(S): Many, most comonly something attacking his demonic lifestyle, often by Melanei ( @sakialyn)

TITLE(S): Felsunder, Overseer, Sunward of the Cabal of the Dying Sun

AGE: ~275

BIRTHDAY: May 5th

RACE: Sin’dorei

GENDER: Male

MARITAL/RELATIONSHIP STATUS: In a very open relationship with a handful of select people he label’s as ‘his’. 

Physical appearance——

HAIR: Silk like bone white mane with hints of silver.

EYES: Piercing elf green with black sclera

HEIGHT: 6′5

BUILD: Normal: Athletic medium build with signs of powerful muscles. Demonic:Grey scaled diablo-esque monster with draconian features and a long alligator like tail.

DISTINGUISHING MARKS: As his body is rebuilt after every death he has no lasting scar.

TATTOOS: Arcane and Fel etched markings used to repel magics.

PIERCINGS: Series of pierced lines along his ear lobes.

COMMON ACCESSORIES: Golden chain threading both ears.

Personal information——

PROFESSION: Soldier, Hunter, Sailor (Still Green), 

HOBBIES: Drinking, Fighting, ‘Loving’, Teaching people to let go (Pressing their buttons)

SKILL(S): Hand to hand combat, Close quarters combat, sailing, tracking, socializing, 

LANGUAGE(S): Demonic, Thalasian, Orcish, Common, passing at many others.

RESIDENCE: The Dawnspire

BIRTHPLACE: Duskholme, Shimmervale.

PATRON DEITY: Tel’dorei magics (Mara’s handiwork @stormandozone)

FEARS: Walls, Chains, Becoming his Father, Parenting.

Relationships——

SPOUSE : None

CHILDREN: None

PARENTS:

Sedara Shadowsunder (Mother, Deceased) Zavlyx Shadowsunder (Father, Deceased)

SIBLINGS: Zalin Shadowsunder (Brother, younger, alive), Seilaran Lightsunder (Sister, Younger, Missing... again)

OTHER RELATIVES: House of Sunders

Traits——

• extroverted / introverted / in between.

• disorganized / organized / in between.

• close minded / open-minded / in between.

• calm / anxious / in between.

• disagreeable / agreeable / in between.

• cautious / reckless / in between.

• patient / impatient VERY / in between.

• outspoken / reserved / in between.

• leader / follower / in between.

• empathetic / indifferent / in between.

• optimistic / pessimistic / in between.

• traditional / modern / in between.

• hard-working / lazy / in between.

• cultured / uncultured / in between.

• loyal / disloyal / in between.

• assertive / timid / in between

Additional information—— —

SMOKING:  never / sometimes / frequently / to excess.

DRUGS: never / sometimes / frequently / to excess.

ALCOHOL: never / sometimes / frequently / to excess.

Extra——

FACIAL REFERENCE(S): Mathew Mercer

ALIGNMENT: Chaotic Neutral

TAGGED BY: People, No idea.

TAGGING: @stormandozone @sakialyn @captainswingbeard @she-wants-the-d20 (Give me round 2s, I love your alts)

[jennelikejennay]

Today is the day my debut novel comes into the world!

It started out with the idea of an old timey sailing ship. Put that in space. And then add a sapphic couple that absolutely hates each other.

As it took shape, it got bigger, and now it's the first of a trilogy. In this first installment, we meet the Martian Imperial Navy, run in with the pirates, and see Lucy start off on her adventure.

If you want to read it, you can get it at all the major online stores:

[agaricusvisuals-blog]

Notes on William Ernest Henley

INVICTUS

Out of the night that covers me, Black as the pit from pole to pole, I thank whatever gods may be For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance I have not winced nor cried aloud. Under the bludgeonings of chance My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears Looms but the Horror of the shade, And yet the menace of the years Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate, How charged with punishments the scroll, I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul.

Willian Ernest Henley, 1849 - 1903

Born in Gloucester, at age 19 Willian Ernest Henley had the lower part of his leg removed due to tuberculosis of the bone. Robert Louis Stevenson confessed to him that his character of peg-legged Long John Silver in his book "Treasure Island" was based upon Henley: "It was the sight of your maimed strength and masterfulness that begot Long John Silver ... the idea of the maimed man, ruling and dreaded by the sound, was entirely taken from you."

Henley's battles with ill health and periods in hospital beds made him passionate about life and overcoming his limitations. He had a group of followers, known as the "Henley Regatta". G. K. Chesterton, writing in 1902 on the poetry of Alexander Pope, made mention of Henley and his "Regatta":

"We have had a great revival in our time of the cult of violence and hostility. Mr Henley and his young men have an infinite number of furious epithets with which to overwhelm any one who differs from them. It is not a placid or untroubled position to be Mr Henley's enemy, though we know that it is certainly safer than to be his friend. And yet, despite all this, these people produce no satire. Political and social satire is a lost art, like pottery and stained glass. It may be worth while to make some attempt to point out a reason for this." - https://en.wikisource.org/…/Twel…/Pope_and_the_Art_of_Satire

Some of Henley's poems seem modern and free, others seem pinned to the page like insects in a late Victorian collection. But they all have some sense of scansion and verse. Henley and his wife had one child called Margaret. She was a sickly little girl with a speech impediment who was befriended by Henley's mate J. M. Barrie. She would call Barrie her "fwendy-wendy" and Barrie immortalised her as the character "Wendy" in Peter Pan.

Like the Llewellyn Davies boys who were also immortalised in the tale of Peter Pan, the inspirations for the male children (including the "Lost Boys") in that classic tale did not have long lives. The book began as a play. George Llewelyn Davies was killed in WWI, and Michael - who was thought to have inspired the character of Peter Pan - became an Oxford student. In 1921, aged 20, he died from drowning at Stanford Lasher, a deep pool below a weir on the Thames, with another undergraduate, his best friend and possible lover, Rupert Buxton. Andrew Birkin wrote that the two bodies were clasping each other when recovered. Peter Llewellyn Davies, who was resentful of Barrie's relationship with Michael, burned letters that had been written by the author to his younger brother. In April 1963, Peter stood on the platform of Sloane Street tube station for hours, before throwing himself under a train. http://modernnotion.com/peter-llewelyn-davies/

Willian Ernest Henley's daughter Margaret, the inspiration for the character of Wendy, had a life even less fortunate. On 11 February 1894, she died. She had not reached her sixth birthday. Barrie had resurrected her in his play "Peter Pan" (also called "Peter and Wendy") which appeared in 1904, a year after Henley himself died, and Peter Pan became published as a children's novel in 1911.

Another poem by William Ernest Henley:

DOUBLE BALLADE OF LIFE AND FATE

Fools may pine, and sots may swill, Cynics gibe, and prophets rail, Moralists may scourge and drill, Preachers prose, and fainthearts quail. Let them whine, or threat, or wail! Till the touch of Circumstance Down to darkness sink the scale, Fate’s a fiddler, Life’s a dance.

What if skies be wan and chill? What if winds be harsh and stale? Presently the east will thrill, And the sad and shrunken sail, Bellying with a kindly gale, Bear you sunwards, while your chance Sends you back the hopeful hail:— ‘Fate’s a fiddler, Life’s a dance.’

Idle shot or coming bill, Hapless love or broken bail, Gulp it (never chew your pill!), And, if Burgundy should fail, Try the humbler pot of ale! Over all is heaven’s expanse. Gold’s to find among the shale. Fate’s a fiddler, Life’s a dance.

Dull Sir Joskin sleeps his fill, Good Sir Galahad seeks the Grail, Proud Sir Pertinax flaunts his frill, Hard Sir Æger dints his mail; And the while by hill and dale Tristram’s braveries gleam and glance, And his blithe horn tells its tale:— ‘Fate’s a fiddler, Life’s a dance.’

Araminta’s grand and shrill, Delia’s passionate and frail, Doris drives an earnest quill, Athanasia takes the veil: Wiser Phyllis o’er her pail, At the heart of all romance Reading, sings to Strephon’s flail:— ‘Fate’s a fiddler, Life’s a dance.’

Every Jack must have his Jill (Even Johnson had his Thrale!): Forward, couples—with a will! This, the world, is not a jail. Hear the music, sprat and whale! Hands across, retire, advance! Though the doomsman’s on your trail, Fate’s a fiddler, Life’s a dance.

Envoy

Boys and girls, at slug and snail And their kindred look askance. Pay your footing on the nail: Fate’s a fiddler, Life’s a dance.

https://www.gutenberg.org/files/1568/1568-h/1568-h.htm

Adrian Morgan, August 30th 2017

[midnightmeadowpublishing]

This sapphic lesbian pirates in space novel is like Bridgerton or Pride and Prejudice meets Treasure Planet.

And the sequel comes out this year. It changed my life. Which is big for a social media gremlin.

Black Sails to Sunward by Sheila Jenné

[jennelikejennay]

@elizmanderson tagged me in this OC game. "They're a ten, but...."

Imperial Mars characters who are tens:

Lucy is a ten, but the stick up her butt must have been surgically implanted at birth.

Moira's a ten, but she is wanted for treason.

Kostya's a ten, but there are cobwebs where his brain should be.

Sagan's a ten, or would be if you ever noticed them, which you won't.

Tagging @kiraofthewind if you're interested.

[midnightmeadowpublishing]

I really wish I could read a regency lesbian pirates in space novel

Oh wait… that’s just Black Sails to Sunward