#PennedPossibilities 999 — How often does your MC bathe or shower? Do others around them consider this to be of normal frequency? Why or why not?

Of course. Alistair bathes daily. Fenella does as well. Hygiene between the cast of characters isn’t a problem in this story, but we also have to consider the fact that this is the tail end of the Victorian era, and showers, for the obvious reasons, aren’t a thing yet. Also, (were)wolves and vampires aspire to be clean beings.

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#PennedPossibilities 1000 — Speaking of the changes since this project’s start, how do you think you’ve grown as a writer since this hashtag began? Have you published anything? Have your writing habits changed?

HAPPY 1000 PROMPTS! 🫶🏻

I mentioned the other day that this hashtag has helped me in many ways. For one, I write on a more regular schedule these days. The prompts I create often help me whenever I’m stuck on certain scenes. An idea might come to me after I’ve written an answer that might be from the MC or SC POV, and that’s a brilliant and helpful thing. I’ve made friends along the way, all of whom help me strive to become better at my craft. I’ve enjoyed helping others as well, of course. I’ve published a lot of things since the start date, and I’ve become more confident in my writing as well. I can only hope that we all feel that way. My writing habits have changed so much as well. I'm healthier about it. Like I said, I’m on more of a regular schedule, from writing, sharpening sentences and dialogue, proofreading, and editing, just all throughout the process and with everything that needs to be done. It comes easier for me now.

I’ve changed a lot since July of 2023. I feel like I was a totally different writer three years ago, to be honest. That’s a great feeling. So, yes, I’ve grown a great deal, and Mastodon can take the majority of the credit for that change, right along with running this hashtag.

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#PennedPossibilities 1001 — Is your MC confident or not? Tell us why.

On occasion, he can be. When the moment calls for it, that is. Sometimes, there’s even prodding from friends involved. Other times, especially when it comes to intimate matters of the heart, Alistair remains silent (and unsure of himself). He’s always been a certain way — and not to be forgotten, he's also ancient and stubborn, so changing is *nearly* out of the question at this point.

Fenella, on the other hand, always has been and always will be. Confidence isn’t a problem of hers. (Unless we’re referring to the way she feels about Alistair, that is. There’s a significant lack of confidence there, to be honest.)

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#PennedPossibilities 1002 — Tell us a random fact (of any kind) about your WIP.

The narrators in “Wings of Quiet Longing” are unreliable. One of them, to be more specific, is the worst of all. You can decide who it is for yourself. (I love an “unreliable narrator” tale. It keeps you on your toes, makes your brain work harder, and it keeps you guessing along the way.)

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#PennedPossibilities 1003 — MC POV: Were you born to shine in one special way? What makes you really stand out?

Alistair: I do not shine. I glint like the steel of a blade in the moonlight. And no, I’m not special.

Fenella: I suppose I must be special if I can keep his sore, sorry arse out of trouble most of the time. Maybe that’s my purpose in this life or what makes me stand out. I remain, if only for him. I was made for him. I was made to love him, even if it’s from afar at times, to annoy him and be his company and to keep him from being too reckless. Hati would say as much, anyway. She’s such a romantic. Don’t let her fool you — because she’ll say otherwise and roll her eyes.

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#PennedPossibilities 1004 — If they have any, tell us about your MC’s philosophical beliefs.

Ooooh, let’s get down to the nitty gritty with this one. Philosophical beliefs are guiding principles or worldviews that shape how individuals understand reality, morality, and existence. I’ve never really thought about this in reference to this specific WIP of mine, but it felt so easy once I sat down and really delved deeply into my answer for the prompt.

Alistair:
• Socratic Method: Developed by Socrates, this belief emphasizes questioning assumptions and engaging in dialogue to seek truth, fostering critical thinking rather than accepting ideas at face value.
• Introspection: The practice of examining one’s own mind and beliefs to gain self-knowledge and understanding. (All Alistair ever does is think, think, and think some more.)

The thing about Fenella is that I can’t quite pin her or explain her beliefs. The only thing that comes to mind is “Justice for Women” because of everything she’s done in her life, considering how she’s helped women steadily for nearly a decade. She dedicated her life to the cause.

Not to be forgotten, this is also the tail end of the Victorian era. That plays a major role in all this. It matters a great deal. Times were different. The days were much harder back then, even for vampires.

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#PennedPossibilities 1005 — What type of clothing does your SC typically wear?

Samuel is easy to pin here. Mind you, again, it’s the end of the Victorian era.

I’ll break things down a bit as I go.

• Practicality: Clothing was durable and functional, often consisting of mismatched jackets and vests to save money. (Yet he still manages to look fantastic. Hati always tells him so.)
• Materials: Workers wore wool, corduroy, or heavy cottons in dark, somber colors to hide dirt and wear. (Samuel does just this, of course. He’s a worker with a tough job.)
• Footwear and Headwear: Lace-up boots and simple caps or worn-out bowlers were common, prioritizing protection over style. (Sam prefers caps to what he calls “poncy bowlers,” truth be told.)

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#PennedPossibilities 1006 — How would your characters describe their community or communities?

Typically, it’s cold, miserable, unforgiving, and tough. Vampires are a reclusive bunch and aren’t likely to help one another if they’re strangers. Werewolves, on the other hand, are either found in small packs or simply with a mate. Their groups are very, very small. At times, when the planets align (lol), these communities can also be caring and supportive to friends and family members. Also of note, vampires and werewolves do not get along and are not meant to ever become friends (or more). Alistair and Hati broke that rule. He’s a vampire and she’s a werewolf, and yet they’re close friends. Their small circle can’t understand why immortal beings can’t just get along. There are mortals and immortals. You’re either one or the other, so why does it matter what sort of immortal you are? The hatred is unneeded.

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#PennedPossibilities 1007 — What is your SC’s earliest memory?

It’s of her mother holding her as she cried. She’d fallen and scraped her knee on stone. Hati thinks of her mother often, honestly. She misses her dearly.

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#PennedPossibilities 1008 — Have you ever had someone translate a story of yours (into another language)?

I have, actually. My girlfriend and I are currently writing a story that another friend of mine is translating into Korean to share with other readers. It’s very sweet. It means a ton to us.

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#PennedPossibilities 1009 — Do any of your characters wear glasses?

Ironically, I broke mine tonight, so I can't respond. I will edit this post and add in my answer tomorrow. 😂

Edit: Jon does but only for reading. Caden also wears a fake pair of spectacles most of the time, so people won't suspect a thing. FYI: He's a vampire, of course.

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#PennedPossibilities 1010 — What are any of your characters hiding? (A fantasy, fear, strength, talent, an unpopular or controversial opinion, prejudice, etc.) Why are they hiding it?

Alistair has a huge secret that he’s hiding but I can’t reveal it or speak about it just yet. It’s written, of course, but not yet published for readers. He hasn’t revealed it yet (and won’t ever tell anyone) because it would be world-shattering. As far as Fenella goes, she was also hiding something. It was the truth about her travels around the world, the profession she chose, and what she did to help the women she met. Caden is hiding a secret as well. He’s a Dreamcaster. You’ll just have to read the story to learn what that means.

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#PennedPossibilities 1011 — Do you have a favorite song? What is it, and has it ever inspired anything you’ve written?

Impossible Dream but sung by Andy Williams. That’s my all-time favorite song, hands down. My heart. As for this song inspiring me, let’s instead put it this way: music, in general, always inspires me and sets my muse aflame.

Have a listen: https://youtu.be/bzZufxcPwZE?si=doyhvkDi-bnByoE2

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#PennedPossibilities 1012 — How do your characters feel about seeing doctors or anyone in the medical field?

Well, this is an interesting one. Most of the main cast are undead in the sense that they’re immortals AKA vampires and werewolves. The mortals AKA humans, however, will do it whenever it’s necessary. There’s a barber-surgeon (who's also a dentist and a farm animal veterinarian) in town. Let’s also not forget the fact that it’s the tail end of the Victorian era, as far as medical science is concerned. Ooof, we've come such a long way since then...

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#PennedPossibilities 1013 — MC POV: Have you ever lived in another country / place besides where you were born? Would you want to?

Fenella: I have. I’ve lived in many places. I’ve actually traveled the world. In the end, I still found my way home to Moray, Scotland. To Alistair. To Dorcha Castle. I’d like to stay here now, if I’m given the chance.

Alistair: That’s my own business...

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#PennedPossibilities 1014 — If it came down to it, would your SC choose to protect the MC in a dangerous situation?

100000000 percent, yes. Always. Hati (SC) and Alistair (MC) are ancient, caring friends. And they would die for each other, so the feeling *is* returned. They would *both* do whatever is necessary to keep the other one safe. Whoever said vampires and werewolves couldn’t be friends? Screw them.

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#PennedPossibilities 1015 — Were any of the scenes in your WIP inspired by your own experiences?

Not in this story, no. With others of mine, yes, occasionally. Our own experiences can inspire us. But that definitely isn’t the case with my current novel. It would actually be hilarious, considering the content and context.

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#PennedPossibilities 1016 — MC POV: Tell us about a time that you found a “skeleton in the closet,” but it doesn’t matter whose it was. It didn’t need to be yours.

Fenella: It wasn’t a skeleton from my own closet, that’s for sure. It was something from Alistair’s. Something huge as well. He isn’t who he says he is, and I’ll always love him regardless, but a bit of honesty is needed between us.

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#PennedPossibilities 1017 — Reveal a source of misery for your MC.

What he is. The creature that he is. It’s pure misery at times. Period, end of. He is an immortal, destined to live forever. To be alone. The walk the path of life, a very long one as well, and with so few who understand and/or will remain at his side for the duration. Being a vampire isn’t everything it’s cracked up to be. It certainly isn’t how the mortals think it is.

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#PennedPossibilities 1018 — MC POV: Tell us about the first time you felt shame.

Alistair: It was the very first time I had to lie to her. It broke something inside of me. To this day, I’ve never truly recovered. It got worse. The lies, since then, have snowballed out of control. In the end, they’re really only meant to keep myself (and those I love) safe, but I’m afraid they might not understand, especially Fenella.

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#PennedPossibilities 1019 — Has your SC ever been bullied? By who, and for what reason?

Hati has been bullied, yes. By men. By patrons at the various pubs that she’s worked in. Drunks can be disgusting. She can handle herself, though. She’s a werewolf, after all.

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#PennedPossibilities 1020 — Does your MC consider themselves to be outdoorsy or do they prefer to stay inside?

Alistair prefers to be indoors, especially while ensconced in the safety of Dorcha Castle, although he has no issues with being outside, either. Scottish weather can be brutal during the various seasons. Even if he’s bloodbound (AKA a vampire), he still feels the bitter temperatures and loathes them all the same. Various types of immortals and mortals alike have that much in common.

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#PennedPossibilities 1021 — Have you ever co-written a story before?

Many times. I’ve enjoyed writing stories with friends.

On another note, I enjoy collaborative writing (or writing roleplay stories), so co-written work will always be something I’ll love, no matter what genre or which characters. It’s also how and why I met my long-time girlfriend. It brought me straight to her. She and I still do a lot of writing together.

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#PennedPossibilities 1022 — How would your MC like to be remembered after their death? What sort of legacy would they want to leave?

One of kindness. Alistair wouldn’t want to be remembered for the bad things, only the good. He BECAME a better man over the centuries, someone kinder and more compassionate, and that’s certainly what he would want to be remembered for.

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#PennedPossibilities 1023 — Who would you personally trust the most out of your cast of characters?

Giiiirl, I love this question, and the answer is either Hati or Fenella. It’ll always be them. Hati is such an underdog, always fighting for what’s right. Fenella, on the other hand, never fails to fight for women. She’s such a girl’s girl (if girl’s girls also murdered toxic husbands, boyfriends, or exes and got away with it). She constantly fights for women’s rights in every single way. I would easily put my life in either of their hands, knowing full well that they’ll protect a mortal like me.

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#PennedPossibilities 1024 — MC POV: Name a time where you cried your eyes out.

Alistair: After she was gone, I unfortunately realized that I still loved her, and that it was too late for us. I could do nothing about it. There really isn’t much more to say on the subject, but I was never ashamed of the outpouring of emotion like most men are.

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#PennedPossibilities 1025 — Would you or have you ever killed off a member of the main cast? How would or how did you feel afterward?

I have, of course, and I felt atrocious afterward. It was right for the story, it suited its ending, but that didn’t make it ache any less for the author AKA this softhearted panda bear.

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#PennedPossibilities 1026 — What is your MC’s biggest priority?

Fenella. Fenella, Fenella, Fenella. But it’s far more than that as well. He wants to keep those he loves safe. His friends, his servants, and the bloodbound “family” that he has. They all matter to him, and their safety is his main priority.

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#PennedPossibilities 1027 — SC POV: If you could master any skill, what would it be? How would you use it?

Caden: Lying. Small lies. I’ve been told that I’m awful at it. There is one thing, however, that I’ve been forced to lie about for centuries, something that I’ve had to hide from my fellow vampires. It was for the purpose of survival. It’s something huge. Little white lies, though, I am atrocious with. It makes no sense!

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#PennedPossibilities 1028 — MC POV: Do you feel like you belong somewhere? What does belonging mean to you?

Fenella: I belong right where I am, and beside Alistair, no less. Belonging means… far more than I could adequately put into words. Alistair, being the writer that he is, would be able to perfectly explain and describe the feeling. All I know is that I really do belong here at Dorcha Castle.

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#PennedPossibilities 1029 — Name something your MC has always wanted to learn.

Even the tiniest bit of self-preservation. Alistair is such a menace. He barely cares about his own survival and safety, although this fact really begins to show itself later in the novel. You never expect it at first.

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#PennedPossibilities 1030 — What assumptions did you make about one of your characters when you first created them?

That Alistair would be chill and easy, never keep secrets, be gentle and tender, and always support his friends and ex-lover/lover.

As for being supportive, yes, of course. He always is. He can also be gentle and tender as well. But the rest was wrong. Never make assumptions lol.

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#PennedPossibilities 1031 — Are you satisfied with the genre(s) that you write?

Yes, absolutely. Then again, I’m also someone who shifts from genre to genre while writing various weird, whimsical, and wonderful tales. Now, someone who only writes within one or two genres, and consistently as well, might have a different answer from mine. There are, however, a few genres that I always return to while writing my Romance tales, and those are the ones that I’m referring to in my answer. It’s a yes for them. They are: Science Fiction, Horror, Fantasy, and even Science Fiction Fantasy AKA SFF (like with my Cyberpunk & SFF series). None of these genres are connected for my repertoire of work, of course, aside from the fact that I tend to write a bit of horror within every project, even if it's only just a splash or a smidge.

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#PennedPossibilities 1032 — MC POV: Tell us about the first time you felt shame.

Alistair: It was while I created another vampire. It hit me then, turning another soul bloodbound, just how horrific the act was. I was selfishly murdering someone, someone who would have otherwise died a mortal death moments later from natural causes, and then not unlike Dr. Frankenstein, I created something new. It was utterly shameful.

Fenella: Truly? It was when I left Alistair, despite knowing that it was certainly what I needed. And what he required as well. I could not change him, so in turn I had to release him. But I felt ashamed for lying to him — because I *did* still love him.

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#PennedPossibilities 1033 — Would you or have ever considered writing a MC with mental illness? How would or did you approach the subject?

Of course, I have, and it was through careful consideration and research, unless it was also something I had my own personal experience in and understood well enough. Therapy works wonders lol.

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#PennedPossibilities 1034 — If one of your characters could visit any time period in the history of their world, which would they choose? Why is that?

Well, here’s the thing… The majority of the cast have lived through chunks of the world’s history, so the question is moot. Now, for the mortals, of course, the answers would be slightly different. Let’s take Eleanor for instance. She might say, “The creation of the world. That would be interesting!” No vampires would surely think of that one. Maybe they wouldn’t even *want* to know what it was like.

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#PennedPossibilities 1035 — How does your antagonist behave when they’re sick or injured?

There are three parts to this one for me, so I’ll break it all down. No one else needs to answer the prompt this way, but I plan to, and I’ll be discussing Duncan down below. He rarely ever gets injured, but it’s a mess whenever he does. He’s a strong vampire, a skilled fighter, and other immortals often leave him the f*ck alone.

• Is the character’s behavior different depending on the severity of the illness or injury?

It is, and the worse the injury is or becomes, the more Duncan will lash out with rage and fury.

• Has this character always been this way, or has their response to illness or injury changed over time?

Nothing has changed over the years. It’s been this way for Duncan. Whether alive or undead (AKA bloodbound), his personality, reactions, and responses have always been like this. He’s a bomb filled with fury, simply waiting to be detonated.

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#PennedPossibilities 1036 — Tell us about a landmark in your world. What is it most known for, and what does it look like?

For those who are curious or stumped, here’s some help.

Here is a possible list:
• Monument
• School
• Museum
• Building

The history could be:
• Modern
• Classic
• Ancient

Style:
• Ostentatious
• Welcoming
• Rustic
• Anachronistic
• Menacing

Now, onto my own answer. A landmark in Moray, Scotland, could actually be Dorcha Castle. It’s an ancient, archaic, beautiful thing. It has withstood the test of time and is known for just that. Terrifying but gorgeous. I’ll leave some of its description down below. Here’s a passage from the novel…

⸻

It happened that stormy evening. A wayfarer approached the castle. He came on foot, his body bent forward into the driving slant of the rain, his clinging jacket heavy and dark with wet. More than once, he slipped in the slick brown mud and fell, sliming himself from head to foot. But each time, he rose and clambered on, desperate to reach the castle, his eyes intent upon the great portcullis that barred his entry. At length, his vigor apparently spent, his chest heaving, he fell against the outer wall and tried to regain his breath. This done, he commenced to pound and shout, raising his voice high above the shriek of wind, demanding he be let inside.

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#PennedPossibilities 1037 — MC POV: Tell us about a time you didn’t feel “ready” for something.

There are two smaller options here, the first things that come to mind, but I won’t be using either of them as my answers. I’ll still mention them, though.

• When Fenella suggested ending things between them, Alistair wanted nothing more than to say no. He wasn’t ready to say goodbye. He eventually gave in, assuming she was right, and figuring perhaps the love was gone. After she left, and some time had passed, he realized how wrong he was. He wished he had never said yes. He wasn’t ready to lose her, but he already had.

• He wasn’t ready for Fenella to come barrelling back into his life, either. She has a way about her. If it was possible, he might have had a heart attack and expired on the spot. I will admit, writing her arrival gave me a thrill. There was confusion, humor, shock, horror, etc. I adore that chapter so much.

⸻

Instead, here’s my actual answer, and from Alistair’s POV, as promised.

Alistair: I wasn’t ready to become a vampire. When I was made bloodbound, I wasn’t taught a thing. No one gave me guidance. No one assisted me. No help came. I was left on my own. My maker didn’t care.

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