Amidst the savage grandeur of the Colosseum, a Pagan senator and his Christian slave contest the edges of pleasure and power in the twilight of the empire. — The beast show was coming to an end and slaves in short gray tunics emerged as if they had peeled from the arena walls. They used hooks and shovels to gather the animal carcasses into a mound near a smoldering tower. The corpses of criminals executed earlier were also heaped…

The fearless Sinru confronts a demonic monster, but Saan unveils the transformative power of compassion. —

Like a flame, desire kept me warm, and sometimes it devoured me. — Before my death, I had been a sensualist. The only moments that mattered were the ones filled with pleasure. Maria said that was the reason the darkness claimed me in the first place. I knew that wasn’t true. The darkness cares nothing for pleasure. It was 1927, and the Army…

From “my little girl” to “my handsome young man” — My son shares some of his journey in this story, but this post is mostly about my journey as his mom: the concerns I had, why I had them, and how he helped me move beyond them. Most of my objections came from my own experience. That’s where being a…

She was a servant to the princess but a slave to her own desires. — The grand ballroom erupted with revelry, and stringed instruments rose to accompany the following festivities. Nobles in a rainbow of elaborate robes danced beneath a thousand candles. Scents of perfumes and flowers mingled in the air. The kingdom’s history, woven with gold into ornate tapestries, draped the walls. Gleaming weapons…

In the Khaimeign’s perilous swamp, Sinru and Saan face off against a malevolent Swamp Hag. Despite Sinru’s indomitable strength and Saan’s unexpected power, friendship remains their greatest weapon against adversity. —

My writing and painting process in 2023 — I published over 100 fictional stories and 35 digital illustrations for those stories on Medium in 2022. Last year, I wrote and painted in styles I’d been creating from for years. I’m trying new styles this year, so over halfway through 2023, and I’ve posted some first looks on Twitter…

Character Design and Development — Writing is my way of living. Ending up with a product you (hopefully) enjoy is a bonus. I’m a pantser. That means I write without an outline. That doesn’t mean I have no notes or ideas or plans. I develop characters and relationships before I write. Stories are all about…

The next few hours would either put Avestine’s head on a pike or change the face of the empire forever. — This story continues from here. This story is a prequel to Darklaw Saga, published by Tantalizing Tales and Redemption Magazine. Read the series here. The following day, the envoy reached the city ahead of schedule but not ahead of Avestine’s ability to plan. She stood beside Rook on Stede’s wall…