@stevendbrewer@wandering.shop

Helia pulled back as she realized what she'd done.
"By the skies," she whispered. "I'm so sorry. I wasn't thinking! Please don't hate me!"
Cecelia put a hand on her cheek, then leaned forward and kissed her back. Helia reached out and pulled them together.
"Oh," she moaned. "I've dreamed of this for so long."
"Of lying in the dirt hiding from soldiers?"
Helia giggled.
They cuddled through the afternoon, waiting for dark.
Cecelia absent-mindedly daydreamed as she stroked Helia's hair.

#wss366

#WordWeavers If your MC had to make dinner for close friends, what would they cook?

"What did you bring? What did you bring?" the girls said, jumping with excitement, when Revin returned laden with packages.
"I thought I'd try to make something called 'spicy beef'," he said. 
"Meat? You got meat!" They cheered. "We love you, Revin!"
[…]
"Oh, you missed your true calling in life, Revin," Emma said. "You might be okay as the Queen's Chief of Staff, but you are the best cook ever."

#WritersCoffeeClub What inspired you to tell the story in your WIP?

Lady Cecelia was a minor character in Revin's Heart. Revin encounters her first when Momoire takes him, in disguise, to the botanical garden and introduces him to see if his disguise works. We encounter her again, later, when Revin introduces himself to get help making a corsage when he's been invited by the Baron to take Momoire to the opera. I wrote the story to learn how she got there and became the curator. It's a fun ride.

The men stepped even closer. Cecelia & Helia squashed down in the weeds. Luckily, the men were watching across the field & weren't looking down.
"How much longer?" one asked.
"Until the Duke gives the word," the other replied.
"The Duke!" Cecelia thought. The soldiers were from Havelock!
They moved away after a bit.
Helia leaned over & whispered in Cecelia's ear. "How long are we doing to wait?"
Cecelia leaned over & whispered back. "Until dark."
Helia surprised Cecelia by kissing her.

#wss366

Hello #Readercon! I have five hours between 10 and 3 to get the Water Dragon Publishing and Small Publishing in a Big Universe dealer tables set up before doors open. And I'm going to need them. We have SO MANY BOOKS! I hope people buy all the books so I don't have to pack them up again. #readercon33

#WritersCoffeeClub Do we learn the main plot within the first two chapters?

Usually? I mean, it's always a gradual reveal. In *A Familiar Problem*, the first chapter sets up the story, we learn the general shape of the story with the next couple of chapters, and more details after that. As I've developed as a writer, I've gotten better at embedding indications about the plot in the set up of the story so that it's not a surprise later on.

#WordWeavers What's the earliest version of your stories you allow others to see?

I frequently post fragments of stories as I write them.

I have beta readers who look at a very early version of my rough draft to help me check the story structure and pacing. This is very helpful because I find it much easier to make adjustments at this stage. Afterwards, I make multiple passes of revision where I add detail, polish the transitions, and hone the dialog.

They're trying to put AI in *everything*!

The Butter Angels were relaxing on their day off.
"Taste this, Darling!" Zsazsa said, holding out a spoonful of soup.
Booboo opened her mouth obediently & let Zsazsa feed her. She sampled the flavor & smacked her lips experimentally.
"I think you need to #season it more."
"Yes, but what?"
"Hmm. Well, salt for sure."
"That's not a seasoning. Salt just covers up flavors!"
"Salt is the best flavor!" Booboo replied.
"Is not!"
"Watch out or I'm going to get salty!" Booboo said with a wink.

#wss366

I found the patio for #readercon33.

#WritersCoffeeClub Introduce your main cast.

Lady Cecelia Aster Aspidelle is a young woman from a wealthy family. They intend to marry her off to promote their interests. She is beautiful, with platinum blond hair & passionately interested in botany.

Miss Kasseh Wright, though a commoner, somehow also attends the Finishing School. She's in love with Cecelia, but fears to approach her due to their difference in status. She is large & plain, but has a brilliant mind for engineering & crafting.

Cecelia dragged Helia down into the underbrush at the edge of the forest. They lay still, trying to hide.
"This is so exciting!" she whispered.
"Ssh!" Cecelia hissed. "This isn't an adventure #novel!"
Cecelia tried to peer through the vegetation to see the soldiers to determine where they were from. Their uniforms lacked insignia, so no information there.
Two soldiers came within ten steps of them & looked across the pasture. Cecelia was grateful she hadn't tried to make a run for it.

#wss366

#PennedPossibilities Is your MC possessive?

"The Queen asked how many girlfriends he has," Tiny said.
"Well, he has a few," said Emma & Dexy, holding his arms. "He's not the marrying type."
Revin's mouth worked but no words came out.
"You hadn't heard! He's married now!" Tiny said. "To a girl named Lidja." 
Emma & Dexy looked at Revin reproachfully. 
"And then there's his polyandry with the Queen too."
Now Revin looked truly scandalized, but Tiny was unrepentant: "I saw how she looked at you!"

#WordWeavers What stays the same in every story you write?

Hypothermia, bad.

#WritersCoffeeClub Do we meet any significant primary or secondary characters in the first chapter of your WIP. Who are they?

Uh… Is there any book where you don't meet significant primary or secondary characters in the first chapter? I mean, you might not in a prologue. But I can't imagine a first chapter that doesn't introduce the protagonist. Maybe if there's a framing story… But the whole premise of this question seems kind of whack to me.

Look for *Fruits of the Gods* at the Small Publishing in a Big Universe dealer table at #Readercon33 https://wandering.shop/@wctracy/112747010107532874 #readercon #books

Almost ready to head for #Readercon33 to bring the #books for Water Dragon Publishing and Small Publishing in a Big Universe.

I just finished a new Better Angels story: The Better Angels and the Really Bad Idea. It's pretty weird — i.e. a typical Better Angels story.

"Thanks for showing me your study site!" Helia said.
Cecelia led her across a pasture.
"Watch your step," she said, pointing at a cowpie.
Helia smiled. She had a bright, sunny smile that Cecelia invariably found charming.
"Give me your hand," Cecelia said, stepping over a tiny stream at the edge of the pasture.
Helia took her hand & stepped over the stream. Then Cecelia felt her nails dig into her palm.
"What's that!" she hissed.
Cecelia looked. Armed men were moving through the forest.

#wss366

Ooh! *The Third Time's the Charm*, Part One of *Revin's Heart*, is #1 in "Children's Steampunk Books" at Amazon! (Note: It's not just for children. Note also: You can download it for *FREE* from most online vendors!) https://waterdragonpublishing.com/product/third-times-the-charm/