@stevendbrewer@wandering.shop

"I'm afraid you'll need to come with me, ladies," the officer said stiffly.
"I don't see…" Cecelia began.
"Don't test me!" he snapped. "Move! Now!"
Cecelia & Helia stepped cautiously out of the room, still barefoot.
They reached the street. A corporal ran up to the officer.
"We've got 'em on the run, sir!"
The officer backhanded him.
"Fool! You were duped into pursuing the men into the town. We're out of position."
The corporal touched his mouth. A drop of blood formed on his lip.

#wss366

The door burst in as one of the soldiers kicked it at the hasp. Two soldiers charged in.
Helia cowered by the bed. A soldier grabbed her by the hair & pushed her back into the bed.
"Stop it!" Cecelia yelled. Another soldier towered over her & backed her up against the wall.
"Worry about yourself, honey," he leered.
"Hessler! Marnet!" yelled a voice at the door.
The soldiers reluctantly backed up & turned to the door. A grim-faced officer stood there, hand on his sword.
"Out!" he barked.

#wss366

Cecelia went to the window and peeked through the curtains. A squad of Havelock soldiers was moving cautiously down the street. A hail of rocks fell among them, scattering them for a moment. Then they reformed and charged forward. One looked over and locked eyes with Cecelia through the window. He reached down, picked up one of the rocks, and threw it at Cecelia's window. She #dove for cover as the rock smashed through the window.
Helia screamed.
Soldiers began to pound on the door.

#wss366

I have signed the contract with Water Dragon Publishing to publish *A Familiar Problem*! A young man desperately wants a strong magical familiar but, instead, is captured and made the familiar of a powerful demon that intends to train him up for something. But what?

@ceiseman They're pretty li'l guys: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phyllocnistis_insignis

Leafmine of *Phyllocnistis insignis* on American Burnweed (*Erechtites hieraciifolius*) keyed out using the *Leafminers of North America*. h/t @ceiseman

#PennedPossibilities Is your SC merciful? Why or why not?

Kasseh pointed at one of the stools.
"Sit!"
Cecelia perched on the stool. 
Kasseh began pacing back and forth with a fey energy about her which unsettled Cecelia. She peered at her with a fervent light in her eyes.
"I don't know about you," she said, "but I'm not going to let them get away with what they've done."
"But what can we do?"
"I have a plan," Kasseh said.
(from *Lady Cecelia's Flowers*.)

#WordWeavers Does your SC drink alcohol? What kind?

In *Lady Cecelia's Choice*, they visit the Kenderback Distillery to see how Kenderback gin is made and have "beekeepers":

"Ladies generally like sweet things," he said. "So let me make you some beekeepers!" He opened a fresh bottle of gin and poured a shot for each glass. Then he squeezed the juice of a lemon into each, drizzled some honey in, and stirred.
"If you please, Milady," he said, offering the first to Cecelia.

#WritersCoffeeClub Does your WIP contain any humour, romance or horror elements? What’s the tone?

I'm calling *Lady Cecelia's Journey* a "sapphic romantasy road story." It's a fantasy story with strong romance elements. It has dark scenes, though nothing approaching horror. It's generally light-hearted with touches of humor. I'm looking forward to being able to share it with everyone.

Since I was rejected as a participant of the Glasgow Worldcon, I've canceled my plans to attend in person. Before July 31, I can transfer the "attending" portion of my registration to someone else. So if someone would like attend, DM me and I'll transfer my registration to you.

Cecelia pulled Helia to the bed and held her as she shook with sobs. She patted her back and stroked her hair to calm her. Gradually she quieted and, eventually, her breathing evened out as she fell asleep. Cecelia smiled and closed her eyes.
She awoke with a start when she heard yelling outside the inn. There were screams and the class of steel. A pitched battle was taking place on the streets of the village.
Cecelia looked at Helia who was staring back, eyes wide in the dark.

#wss366

Mill Canal Newt by John Sendelbach in the Mill River Recreation Area, North Amherst, installed in 2003. #SilentSunday #WesternMass

#WordWeavers What foods are considered fashionable in your world?

Uh… Stuff I like? I frequently describe banquets & stuff, e.g.

The meal had five courses: an appetizer of delicately seasoned quail's eggs; A salad with a light, creamy dressing; A main course, with tender medallions of beef, spring vegetables, and buttered potatoes; A cheesecake for dessert, drizzled with a raspberry syrup; And, finally, some small candies served with a syrupy, highly aromatic digestif.
(from *Revin's Heart*.)

#WritersCoffeeClub What tropes are explored in your WIP? How do these apply to your characters?

There's the trope where the queer girl uses an emetic on the pushy guy who tries to kiss her. And where the plain girl is secretly a remmer so they can escape from a trap. And where the pretty girl is surprisingly pretty good at swordfighting. And where the commoner has to pretend to be a maid to conceal her romantic relationship with the aristocratic girl. And… What? These aren't tropes?

#PennedPossibilities MC POV: Write about a time you said no.

"You know you want it."
Rory flipped himself over, faced the wall, and said, "No."
"Well, if you're not going to, then get up and start running."
"No." 
"If you're disobedient, I will punish you."
"No."
She poked him with a finger and zapped him. He grimaced, but laid there without moving.
Suddenly, he found himself getting up against his will. He tried to resist, but his body acted on its own, pulling on his clothes and shoes.

Cecelia unlocked the door and held it for Helia. After she entered, Cecelia closed & locked the door. When she turned, Helia began to whimper & tears began to spring from her eyes. She covered her face & started crying in earnest.
"Oh! Come here, Doll!" Cecelia said, & pulled her into her arms.
"I don't know why I'm crying," Helia said, sobbing.
"It was scary!"
"How did you stay so calm?"
"I was scared too."
Helia looked at her, tear stained, & searched her face.
Cecelia kissed her.

#wss366

Since I was not selected as a participant at Worldcon, I have canceled my plans to attend. https://stevendbrewer.com/not-going-to-worldcon/

It's a deliciously cool morning out in the tent for coffee. #WesternMass

#WritersCoffeeClub Halfway>Thinking about this WIP or past works, is it going well at the halfway point, or will you need to change tack or even drop the whole project? Has this ever happened to you?

In the past, I had writing projects fizzle out part way through. But it hasn't happened since I started writing more seriously a couple of years ago. One thing that perhaps helps is that I typically have three or four manuscripts going at any one time and switch among them depending on how I feel.

#WordWeavers Flowers…

"Milord," she pleaded. "Before we return, might I collect a small bouquet to lighten the burden of my incarceration? A few flowers would help ease my isolation immensely."
"Oh, very well," he said. "Which do you want?"
"These lobelias are my favorites," she said, indicating some plants with bluish purple flowers. "Might one of the guardsmen cut some for me?" She did not mention that, in the language of flowers, lobelias mean 'malevolence'.
(from *Lady Cecelia's Trial*.)