This Story Hour, we are delighted to welcome Laurence Raphael Brothers back! We are equally delighted to welcome Michael Merriam back! You are welcome, too! Join us Wednesday, 7:00 p.m. PST! #FantasyFiction #ScienceFiction #SFF #LaurenceRaphaelBrothers #MichaelMerriam #Bookstodon #StoryHour2020 #ShortStories #ShortFiction #AuthorReading @laurence https://www.storyhour2020.com/

#PennedPossibilities 848 — What type of antagonist do you have? Tell us a bit about them. Are they violent, non-violent?

If you were to meet Boss Mead casually, and by this I mean he would have no business with you, you would find him polite, reasonable, well packaged, generally personable as you might find an average man in an average situation you'd meet a man in. Visiting places like a museum or a theatre or around the very upper crust section of the city he lives in, you might find him a bit snooty. If you are around him a bit, he does act a little imperious if you aren't someone he wants to impress.

If you were to meet Boss Mead in a business situation, that is what might be interpreted as mob business, the first thing you will notice in the bodyguards, and then the flunkies. They tend to wait on his every word, though he doesn't keep the obsequious ones nearby. He speaks in vagaries about things he'd like to have happen or would be nice to come about. These things often make money and are illegal. He never issues orders. In the legal profession, this is known as plausible deniability. His minions see that things happen. He's like Trump but with competent people working for him instead of "the best people." He's rarely resorts to violence (but spoilers). It's best you don't disagree unless you have a good argument; he's actually reasonable. Bad things do happen around him, though—by other people's hands.

[Author retains copyright (c)2025 R.S.]

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#WordWeavers 2025.11.18 — What do your MC and SC disagree on?

Lots of SCs, lots of situations (it's a novel), but I'll pick this situation:

The MC (Bolt) tries to be invisible because she's forced to work for the mob, but street photography is her hobby. Through chance and coincidence, to her chagrin, she's discovered. Her work is on the level of Henri Cartier-Bresson. She'd rather crawl back under her rock where it's safe for her. Safer for anyone who knows her.

The SC's:

  • Shugh is a reporter and he convinced her to share pictures of a dramatic event he found her at, which made the front page on three editions. He wants to team up with her for interviews and to take news photos. Bolt's response: Yikes!
  • Night on Fire is a photo editor on their version of The New Yorker and she sees a successful future for them both, already buying earlier photos. Looking at some of these, she proposes a beefcake calendar to someone else. Bolt's response: Yikes!
  • Blue is a guy she pals around with occasionally and, well, you know. He sees a photo taken of him at the event Shugh met her that Blue was policing. It makes him look masculine, handsome (okay gorgeous and hunky), and super attractive in his praetorian uniform, what little he's wearing. He likes the calendar idea. Bolt's response: Yikes!
  • Director Rain Days sort of an antagonist, but not in this part of the story arc. It's her praetorian the MC took a photo of. It was to her that Night on Fire proposed the calendar. Think of the project as a hot fireman calendar photoshoot if that works better for you. The Director likes the idea, a lot, thinking it helps with PR—and she wants a copy. She insists that Bolt take a picture of her, too. Bolt's response: Yikes!
  • [Author retains copyright (c)2025 R.S.]

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    Episode 47: The Great Escape!

    The big day arrives, with a slight complication.

    https://theamazingadventuresof.tortoiseandgecko.au/p/episode-47

    #tortoiseandgecko #sff #books 🪐📚️💙

    Episode 47

    The Great Escape!

    The Amazing Adventures of Tortoise & Gecko
    NEW EPISODE: Time for a new list! This time, the top 20 SFF VILLAINS of each decade - today, the 1950s. One Fantasy, one Sci-Fi, a rich rediscovery of some of the classic villains who defined speculative fiction's evil side. Come see, come see! #SFF https://youtu.be/LrFqCZAFAnY
    Top 20 Fantasy & Sci-Fi Book VILLAINS of the 1950s

    YouTube

    When you're at a convention, it's good to get to know the people you're sitting next to. Here's Konn Lavery promoting his dark fantasy books. We had a lot to talk about, and I had a lot to learn!

    https://www.noahchinnbooks.com/2025/11/17/market-time/

    #bookreview #books #darkfantasy #convention #noahchinnbooks #scifi #sf #sff

    RE: https://mastodon.social/@skipscherer/115572645602806829

    Delve 92!
    -
    He’s been caged. He’s been deceived. Through it all, Kru’s mind has been his strength. Will it be enough?
    -
    No way out.
    No desire to escape.
    The only path is forward.
    -
    New episodes every Tues & Fri. Share and follow along!
    -
    #fantasy #book #writingcommunity #SFF #bookstodon

    What does it look like when an AI nods?
    That's only one question posed--and answered--in Erin Cullen's "asdfghjklkjhgfdsa."

    Read it free in our Autumn 2025 issue.

    #scifi #sciencefiction #sff #shortstory #shortstories

    Pre-order Luna Novella 2026! All That Is in the Earth by
    @gibbondemon When Clifford crash lands on the planet of Abaddon, he might as well be dead 🪐 #SFF
    https://www.lunapresspublishing.com/lunanovella