L. J. Amber posts
Posts: 125
Files: 16
Notice: TEWWBAD Chapter 97 Updated
Hello everyone,The hazard of the kind of writing I do is that I need to be emotionally present and accessible to do it, otherwise the prose and narrative don't quite click. That's what happened with yesterday's draft — I was too focused on getting it out the door while juggling other s...
TEWWBAD Chapter 97
CHAPTER 97 – In Perfect Silence, AccompaniedAlthough great was her exhaustion, rest eluded Saphienne as she lay within the cool sheets of her bed staring up at the colder, celestial hallucination. The challenge waiting for her was equally as astronomical where it loomed in her mind, but both the f...
Forthcoming Volume Art for Royal Road
Hello all,I'm getting ready to do a big edit pass of the existing chapters, and as I finish each one I'll be adding volume art to Royal Road. These aren't the future book covers, just a fun placeholder. Since you're supporting me, you get to see them first.I'll reveal the art for...
TEWWBAD Chapter 96
CHAPTER 96 – The Learn’d Magicìan“Tell me again.”Across from Saphienne in Celaena’s study, Faylar squared his shoulders. “If anyone specifically asks what I was doing with you, I tell them that I was helping you copy some books using the library’s Tome of Correspondence. I don’t try...
TEWWBAD Chapter 95
CHAPTER 95 – Readers Don’t StealRelations were not improved overnight. For the first few lessons after their confrontation with Almon, his three youngest students were wary, Saphienne and Celaena in particular being deeply sceptical that he would amend their record in his ledger. Their caution w...
Delay — TEWWBAD Chapter 95
Hello all,Chapter 95 needs reworked. I thought the feedback I got from test readers would be easy to address and have sorted, but the deeper I went into it today, the more I realised I need to restructure it quite significantly (around 30% of it needs redone) to achieve its goal.Should* be done and ...
TEWWBAD Chapter 94
CHAPTER 94 – And Greater StillSummer turned to autumn as so turned the leaves, and red spread through the hair of the elves who flourished in the Eastern Vale. True to her recollection from the prior year, Celaena was early to lose her blonde for auburn — for which Iolas teased her in retaliatio...
TEWWBAD Chapter 93
CHAPTER 93 – The Unknown, and the UnfamiliarNever before had the apprentices seen their master so elated as he was in his garden after Iolas cast his first spell. Almon laughed for joy, forwent bowing to instead applaud his student with great enthusiasm, delighted beyond measure at the feat he had...
Read Ahead Increasing
Hello everyone,Well... damn. The Patreon has hit $1k a month, which means I now owe +4 chapters to the read-ahead, for a total of +14 beyond the public release.Rather than drive myself to ruin cramming this all into a tight timeframe, I'm going to adopt a different release schedule for the next ...
TEWWBAD Chapter 92
CHAPTER 92 – To Bind, or LooseNow all but initiated into the ancient ways, Saphienne reacted as she always did when she felt too much: she distracted herself with her intellect. She was powerless to prevent the mill of suffering from grinding on, and to throw herself between those long-stained sto...
TEWWBAD Chapter 91
CHAPTER 91 – Ways Ancient and MagicalMy Dearest Saphienne,Sat under the maple tree in the upper terrace of the garden, Saphienne smiled through her blush as she read the salutation in the letter from Laelansa. The afternoon was balmy due to the stirring breeze, soothing with the rustle of leaves a...
TEWWBAD Chapter 90
CHAPTER 90 – Maiden and CroneAn age had passed for Saphienne since she last entered the library, and potent nostalgia made her pause on the threshold in recognition of what she had never consciously admitted to herself:This had been her home.With that revelation came the pang of loss, as she behel...
TEWWBAD Chapter 89
CHAPTER 89 – Assumptions of Responsibility“You’re the one who shattered the tree…”Having lived in anticipation of a reckoning with Almon for months, Saphienne listened from beneath a tide of overwhelming despair.“…And Saphienne covered for you, didn’t she?”Surprise made her eyes fl...
Quick Health Update
Hello everyone,I'm alive! High dose of doxycycline knocked me on my back for most of this week, but I'm nearly back to normal today (just tired — slept very poorly last night). I'm going to be throwing myself at the writing tomorrow and over the weekend to catch us up, and all being we...
Delay in TEWWBAD Chapter 89
Hello everyone,I'm really sorry to do this, but Chapter 89 is going to be late this week.I've been increasingly unwell since Saturday, consequently working at a snail's pace. I'm phoning the doctor when the surgery opens this morning; I anticipate I'll be back on antibiotics yet ...
TEWWBAD Chapter 88
CHAPTER 88 – Deconstructing the Unseen“Thou art mistaken child.” Celaena tried to pull away; the spirit possessing Taerelle tightened her grip. “Wormwood hath come.”Although Celaena struggled and the alarm bell rang, Saphienne calmed as she learned the bloomkith’s identity. Both her tuto...
TEWWBAD Chapter 87
CHAPTER 87 – MobbedCrying out attracted the attention of the patrons in the teahouse, and Alinar was quick to hurry over to Saphienne with a towel at the ready, utterly perplexed as he slowed to a halt beside the couches. Thessa had jumped across the table and was hugging her with a high-pitched s...
Update — Writing, and the Patreon
Hello everyone,This is just a brief update to explain what I'm doing at the minute.You'll have noticed that we unexpectedly blew past the $500 target for the Patreon, and we're rapidly closing on the $1000 target. Each of those involve increasing the read-ahead for TEWWBAD on here by ano...
TEWWBAD Chapter 86
CHAPTER 86 – In VisibilityOnce Laelansa had set off for the Vale of the White River, Saphienne used the remainder of the day to study her sigil and attempt to deconstruct its meaning. She had thought about it idly during the week, and was pleased to discover that her time away had deepened her cap...
The Economics of Writing for Money on Patreon
Periodically, I get suggestions from readers that the price of subscribing to the Patreon is too high, and that it ought to be lowered, or the Patreon should have another, cheaper tier added.Did you know that when the TEWWBAD Patreon first started, it had two tiers? And that the lower charged $2 for...
TEWWBAD Chapter 85
CHAPTER 85 – Absent ResolutionsWith her plan confirmed, there was nothing for Saphienne to do but wait for the right moment to make her move. That meant giving her adversaries time to relax, which in turn meant that they must see her often enough to feel reassured that she wasn’t a threat; they ...
TEWWBAD Chapter 84
CHAPTER 84 – In JusticeSitting with Laelansa in the expansive kitchen, still cradling Hyacinth within herself, Saphienne contemplated the next step in her plan, aware that there were several preconditions that would have to be met before she could execute it. Chief among them were solitude and sec...
TEWWBAD Chapter 83
CHAPTER 83 – Other Songs to be SungThere was much to do before Saphienne began. Were she to succeed in what she intended, she first had to ready her arsenal — including her mind.Querying how busy the teahouse would presently be solicited suggestions that they wait until afternoon. That allowed h...
TEWWBAD Chapter 82
CHAPTER 82 – Unaccountably Sick, and TiredA small mountain of gifts awaited Saphienne when she returned to the guest room, as did Laelansa, who perched barefoot and cross-legged on the bed with the enchanted tray of tea and chocolates levitating beside her.Yet Saphienne only shut the door and walk...
TEWWBAD Chapter 81
CHAPTER 81 – Her Necessary TransgressionAllow me to paint for you a backdrop, before I stage the drama.The summer solstice festival was a time of joyful unity for wood elves and spirits of the woodlands, the ancient ways embodied in their shared merriment. Across all three days, elves who had befr...
TEWWBAD Chapter 80
CHAPTER 80 – Summer Snow, and Winter SunOf course — it had to be Laewyn who found them on the floor.When Saphienne sat up with Laelansa – her fury at herself mistakable for the fervid bloom that lit her paramour’s cheeks – she saw the older girl leant against the doorway, grinning from ear...
TEWWBAD Chapter 79
CHAPTER 79 – Ask Not For Whom …Gathered in the long dining room for interrogation by Taerelle, Saphienne’s friends were unprepared for the intruder alarm to ring, and the instant she tiredly announced its significance they started to panic.Yet the senior apprentice was calm.Saphienne’s eyes ...
Profanity in TEWWBAD
A member of the Patreon comments:The casual use of the word "fuck" by the elves is kind of off-putting. Does the word have the same multifaceted meaning for them as for modern English? Its an ugly word.Yes, the wood elves use "fuck" and a few other words in the same way as native Eng...
See Saphienne
See Saphienne as she was becoming, the forthright young girl, fourteen years old. Her hair was once more brown as the earth, and she was still pale — though even these features had begun to lose their resemblance to those of the quiet child she once was, her hair thicker, gloss beginning on her sk...
TEWWBAD Chapter 78
CHAPTER 78 – Flock CallBefore Saphienne could cast her first spell, she would have to fully comprehend what was required. Through having listened diligently and by reasoning through the apparent implications, she drew several inferences about the practice of the Great Art, all of which were right,...
