I have a book!

Short Stories from a Distracted Mind is out on April 19th!

#microfiction #tootfic #IAmWriting #microfic #selfpublish

Under the bedclothes, Mahtab gripped the scimitar she'd bribed a guard to give her. She knew her late father's vizier would be making his move soon. She was going to make sure it was his last. No usurper was going to claim the throne that was her birthright.

Cyrus crept through the palace. He had never been here before, having been whisked away as a baby by a loyal servant when his step-sister had killed his family. She had raised him, and told him of his heritage, but a fever took her a year ago. Now he had made his way to the nearby city, and broken into the palace, set on revenge against the woman who had murdered his family.

He had successfully avoided the palace guards, guided by a magic map he had purchased from a witch. There had been one unfortunate matter of an old man with a poisoned dagger, but he had been swiftly silenced.

Mahtab heard the door to her rooms open, and prepared herself to strike, but when the curtain around her bed opened, it was not the shrunken vizier who stood there, but a young man, holding a short roman-styled sword.

He looked as shocked as she was.

Cyrus looked at the young woman in the bed, and the scimitar in her grip. She was around his age, not a score of years older than him.

"Wait, you're not vizier!" she spoke frowning, just as he said "You're not my evil sister!"

Together they asked "Who are you?"

"This is the regent's rooms, right?" Cyrus asked as she quickly veiled herself.

"Yes", Mahtab answered. "Are you his agent?"

"Agent? I was looking for the so-called Queen Cyrene."

"Cyrene? She rules in Susa, not here. I am Princess Mahtab."

"Susa? But I thought my parents ruled here?"

"And you are?"

"Prince Cyrus."

"I heard he died in a revolt in Susa twenty years ago."

"A servant loyal to the throne saved me. She said that my father had ruled the city, and my step-sister had had my family murdered so she could take the throne."

Mahtab looked puzzled "But this is Persipolis - my father had ruled here the last forty years, until he died just a week ago."

Cyrus had the good grace to look embarrassed. "So, I have the wrong palace?"

"I'm afraid so," and then her face took on a worried frown "But I am expecting my late father's vizier to try to assassinate me."

"Uh, would that have been an old man, slightly hunched, with a skullcap?"

"That sounds like him."

"We ran into each other, and I killed him to keep him quiet."

"You have my thanks. I guess I owe you a favour. Sit - and let's work out what we are going to do about your step-sister."

#IAmWriting #SF #SFF #Fantasy #microfic #tootfic #microfiction
An expansion of https://aus.social/@rdm/113043592023617043

i've created the draft for this post a while ago but only now had the time to finish and publish it. nessun dorma - you all have heard this famous aria from the opera turandot by puccini. but what does the phrase actually mean and what's its context within the plotline of the opera? read a short summary here...

http://cogmodo.com/nessundorma

#blog #writing #writingcommunity #iamwriting #opera #love #turandot #puccini

New chapter of #mindAgainstTheMachine

"Good/bad things happening to you leave you expecting for more good/bad things to happen, and an event that is unusual leaves expectation for even more unusual things happening. But that rarely happens in practice. In practice, you most often wait and hope for the interesting part to come, only to find that there is none. So, if after the last chapter you are super-psyched and expect that god-knows-what is happening in this one, please lower your standards. This is not some fantasy I am describing, this is just life (although put in the form of a novel)..."

https://abuseofnotation.github.io/mind-against-the-machine/dont-fear/07-escape/

#writing #IamWriting #creativetoots

Pitch vs Assessment vs Bootcamps

Pitch = 5 minutes where you try sell your story.

Assessment = The editor reads your manuscript in advance and then discusses it with you in a 15 minutes one-on-one session.

Writing Bootcamps = A whole day with an editor!
If you are looking to strengthen your manuscript, gain industry insight, and spend focused time developing your craft with professional guidance, a CYA Bootcamp can be one of the most valuable experiences of the conference. Places are limited, so we encourage you to secure your spot early if you would like to take advantage of this opportunity.

www.cyaconference.com/bootcamp

#CYAConference
#WritersCommunity
#IAmWriting

I have pressed the button.

My book goes live on April 19.

Now to talk to a bunch of FLBS.

#IAmWriting #SelfPublish #AuthorDuties #Scifi #Fantasy #SFF

Milestone!
300 stories and/or fragments in the Infinite Library!

Go me!

#IAmWriting

Internal Memo: Nasty Business, GmbH Pty Ltd (Incorporating Russim's Mechanicals, Magma Property Renewals, and Mandatory Fun Parks (or die))
From: Human Resources
To: Engineering
Subject: Safety Improvement Notes

Following the recent strike by a coalition of so-called 'heroes', we have undertaken a review of the security footage gathered during the incident.

Based on the review, we have the following mandatory recommendations, to be implemented before the close of business.

* All flammable or explosive supplies are to be stored in impact and flame resistant containers with pressure safety release valves.
* As 90% of deaths resulted from being flung over railings, all railings from elevated walkways are to be removed.
* A review of all passwords is to be undertaken.
* As a matter of policy, following the deployment of any self-aware minion, flunky, or agent, all passwords are to be renewed.

Failure to implement by CoB will be dealt with in the usual manner.

Mildred D'Santos-Albrecht, HR Safety Team Lead.

#SF #SFF #SuperHeroes #microfic #tootfic #Microfiction #IAmWriting #TheFlameSuper