@stevendbrewer@wandering.shop

The kwanzan cherries are in full bloom ❤️ #WesternMass

#WritersCoffeeClub What's the worst thing about being a writer?

What's not to like?

At BayCon, Ryan Southwick made a video of me folding one of the Islands of Revin's Heart 'zines that I made. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZ18mw46Lew You can download and print your own 'zine here, if you like: https://stevendbrewer.com/islands-of-revins-heart-zine/

#WordWeavers MC POV: What do you dislike about yourself?

Revin was glad to be alone with his thoughts for a few minutes because he was so embarrassed about his lack of judgment. How could he have been so stupid? He shuddered to think how close they had just come to a bad end.
[…]
"I'm really sorry," Revin said, after he returned. "It's all my fault that…"
"Do you want me to slap you again?" the Professor barked. 
Revin paused, wild-eyed.
"It's not your fault," the Professor continued.

#WritersCoffeeClub Does your work include pictures, maps or other custom graphics?

For *Revin's Heart*, I created a map to show the relationships among the islands where the stories are set. It's pretty bare bones. I thought about having a fancier version drawn by an artist for the book, but decided not to because I didn't know enough about most of the islands to complete a map without just making up a lot of stuff. I did use the map in a 'zine for promotional porpoises… https://stevendbrewer.com/islands-of-revins-heart-zine/

Tau turned his back and sat.
"Can you at least tell me why?" Zaza asked.
Tau barked again without looking back.
"I understand you want to protect us from danger, but this mission is inherently dangerous."
Tau looked away.
"I hear you, but do you really understand what you're asking me to do?"
Tau snorted.
"I'm not sure *that* language is called for!" Zaza said, stung.

(from The Better Angels and the Really Rapid Rescue in Better Angels: Tour de Force https://truckstop.waterdragonpublishing.com/product/better-angels-tour-de-force/ )

#wss366

#WordWeavers What are your MC’s living conditions like?

"Here! Here!" the real-estate agent said. "Here's the entrance."
The coach turned off the road onto a broad avenue that passed under a grand archway. Beyond, it traveled a circuitous route under great trees which then opened up and they could see a palace surrounded by a large formal garden. 
"Um… Revin?" Lidja asked in a panic. 
"Yeah," he admitted. "It's not really the sort of 'country house' I was imagining either." (from *Devishire!*)

"Is she really that dangerous?" asked Kasseh.
"You have no idea," replied Cecelia. "She controls everything and everyone. She's like a spider in the middle of a #web. Everything has to go through her."
Kasseh thought for a moment. "What about your father?"
"Well… He's the one that has the actual power. But she keeps him on a short leash. He would never cross her."
"So… Metterwin's does jewelry and Kenderback has mining. And gin. Where do the Aspidelle's get their wealth?"
"Influence."

#wss366

The #WritingLife has a lot of ups and downs… https://stevendbrewer.com/ups-and-downs/ #writing #amwriting

#WritersCoffeeClub Are you writing to prove a point to anyone?

Only myself.

#WordWeavers Do your MCs have any pets?

Revin loved the early morning bustle: wagons making deliveries, the smell of baking bread, the sound of Stinky fighting with another dog. Wait! What?
Stinky had his mouth on its throat when Revin grabbed his collar & pulled him off. The other dog slunk away with Stinky snapping & snarling.
"You should keep that thing tied up!" said an elegantly-dressed woman. Revin looked up & realized he recognized her. Then she recognized him.
"It's YOU!" she hissed.

"Think he'll make it?" Kasseh said.
"I think he wants the reggies," Cecelia responded. "But it is getting pretty late."
Just as the sun dropped below the horizon, they saw Fletch driving a wagon from town with three burly men in the back.
"We're here!" he said, pulling up. "I brought the recovered guayacan lumber. This is what we could get. I hope the boards are long and #thick enough."
Kasseh inspected what he'd brought.
"This is perfect," she said, handing over the other two reggies.

#wss366

#WordWeavers Who's feeling shame in your story? Is it justified?

At first, Revin is terrified of being discovered for being trans. But, when he is accepted by the pirates, he grows more confident in his identity.

Griphon fought a duel with someone who had tried to force his younger sister. After a touch, they tried to claim themselves conquered, so he slit his opponent's nostril. For dishonoring himself, his fiancee broke off his engagement and, ashamed, he left home & joined the pirates.

Cecelia dozed in the warm sunlight, her head resting on Kasseh's shoulder. She had been lulled to sleep by the #jingle of the horses' harnesses & the creak of the wagon. She awoke when she heard the horses' hooves strike the planks of the long wooden bridge. The wide, slow river divided Tenmills from Butterfield & beyond was the broad plain that ran east to the sea.
Cecelia yawned. "What's the time?"
"By the sun, it must be past noon," Kasseh replied.
Cecelia cuddled up against Kasseh.

#wss366

#WritersCoffeeClub Do you share your name with other writers?

It turns out that Steven (or Step Hen) Brewer is a rather common name. The last time I checked, there were something like eight other biology faculty named that. So that was why I started using my middle initial as an author.

In fiction, there is a "Steve Brewer" who writes mysteries. And a "Steven D. Brewer, Sr." who writes historical fiction. But I believe I'm the only Steven D. Brewer who writes speculative fiction.

"'Pedes are coming!" Sisi cried and repeated screaming reports of her *Ublyudok* echoed across the site. 
"Fire up the engines, Cap'n!" David shouted. "Right now!"
Captain Tau barked and started the engines. Sisi and the recon team watched with horror as the wave passed them and dozens of 'pedes began scaling the flare stack. Mumu, Popo, and Rara shot down with their rail guns, trying to keep the #swarm from reaching the top and overwhelming them. (from *Better Angels: Tour de Force*)

#wss366

Mossy boulder by the train bridge near the Robert Frost Trail in Factory Hollow. #WesternMass #SilentSunday #Mosstodon

Cecelia stood in the calm surf, up to her knees, and beckoned to Kasseh, who was still on the sand.
"Come on," she coaxed. "You can do it."
Kasseh looked at her apprehensively.
"You're going to make me swim, aren't you?"
"Yep," Cecelia laughed. "You need to learn."
"It's too deep."
Cecelia looked at her reproachfully. "It is not! It's very #shallow until way out there." She extended her hand. "Don't be shy!"
Kasseh took her hand nervously and they waded out together.

#wss366 #microfiction

#WordWeavers In your story, who’s hiding (literally or metaphorically)?

Interesting. I hadn't thought of the question this way before. In *Revin's Heart* the protagonist is trans and is trying to conceal that fact. In *Cecelia's Journey*, Cecelia and her girlfriend are on the run from Cecelia's family. In *A Familiar Problem*, Rory is compelled to conceal from everyone that he's been captured as a familiar by an ancient demon — and to pretend that the demon is his familiar.

#PennedPossibilities What is the best piece of advice that you as an author have ever received?

Finish stories, submit them for publication, then start writing the next story. When the first story gets rejected, don't give into the temptation to revise it: just send it out again and keep working on the next story.