#QueerPrompts 16/Mar/26: How would one of your characters care for another if they were sick?
Yaetherim worked with his brother Naeviol, the village apothecary, for a while after he was attacked. So he's got basic knowledge of medicine. He'd nurse whoever was ill, using all his experience.
#QueerPrompts 15/Feb/26: What role does romance play in your story?
In my current WIP, it's the motive for the murder - the victim is killed out of jealousy. Yaetherim also finds out that someone wishes to court him.
But Naeliya, one of my other MCs (art by o8cho.bsky.social ), is aro/ace.
#QueerPrompts 14/Feb/26: Any forbidden relationships in your story?
Courtships between fairies and humans are taboo, for a couple of reasons. Fairies will usually outlive humans, so there's the emotional aspect there. Fairies are also 1/6 the size of humans, so there's risk of them getting injured.
#QueerPrompts 8/Jan/26: How did your characters meet?
Yaetherim and Charlys met when they were kids, and became like siblings.
Naeliya and Yaetherim were introduced by a tavern owner, who thought they'd get on.
Yaetherim, Karis and Tenora met while investigating a case from opposite ends.
#QueerPrompts 5/Jan/26: Events that shaped your character(s).
Yaetherim was attacked and nearly killed, by two Rychillans trespassing in the forest. It cost him his career as a protector and led to him becoming a private eye.
#QueerPrompts 17/Nov/25: Any students in your story?
Embers of Doubt takes place at the local college of mages, where three apprentices are competing for one position as a mage.
As part of their tests, each apprentice has to teach a class of school students how to use magic to filter water.
#QueerPrompts 8th October:
International Lesbian Day: GIF/Audio or description of a favorite lesbian character
Most of my characters are LGBTQ+ but not in my current WIP. I'm working on a novelisation of #TamLin a 16th century Scottish folk ballad. As you can appreciate there were few out characters during that period so instead let me wish you a blessed #InternationalLesbianDay & this...
#QueerPrompts 6/Oct/25: Any coaches in your story?
Funnily enough, Yaetherim ends up as a sort of coach for Naeliya. In book 3.1 (an interquel) and book 4, Naeliya realises that she's in a position to perform her own investigations. As the kingdom's only private eye, Yaetherim coaches her in these.
#QueerPrompts 3/Oct/25: Do you add body language when you write conversations?
Yes. I find it's a good way to break up the dialogue and keep things moving.
Half of my characters are fairies, so I include their wings in the body language. Flicking to indicate surprise, that sort of thing.
D.T. Bella, Author
Esin is going to take atomoxetine (Hopefully nothing goes wrong)
Author V C Willow