This week at A’mara Books:
This week has been heavily focused on getting Game of the Neví ready to share with you the moment we get back from the Coast. Despite the focus, I have been working on reaching my target for new words.
That’s why I could still reach...
over 9,000 new words!
- Neví 5 got 1500 words, bringing it to over 15,000 words.
- Apostrophe writing prompt Into the Woods (a fun foray tying ancient legend into modern England) got 1200 words.
- A new story for the 852 TCE set got the remained of the words this week. It’s now at nearly 6500 words.
Cover image
Yesterday’s mid-day post was on my new cover image. I may still embed it within another picture which is probably going to take another Daz 3D render to achieve, and will do more to tie the image into the actual theme of the story. So far, my image is just about A’mara and the book is also about the Neví… so, that’s why I plan to do some more with it.
Here is what I have so far…
Someone just commented on one of my posts on Hyperspace and gave me some thoughts about how to improve the pose. Beyond that...
The main problem I’m still having is the fact that the cloak is moving incorrectly when the arms move… That’s why I’m embarking on the adventure of...
Blender learning
Yesterday, I decided to take some time to work on learning Blender. Three tutorials in and I can almost make a donut. It’s rather exciting, really. I’m hoping to be able to use my techniques in the coming months to make my cover images even better.
NSFW
Many of you are aware of the upcoming HF21 for Steem which is expected to include a huge shake-up regarding authoring/curating. For many of us, the only way to avoid it really hurting us is to buy upvotes – to reach around 6 SBD each post! That’s a huge burden, to begin with. But it’s worse when you want to write some NSFW material because I’m already running into the fact that some bots won’t upvote NSFW material. (If you know of a good-quality – i.e. fair/profitable exception, please let me know!)
What I really don’t get is this:
As a society, we are exposed to graphic violence and death in most mainstream entertainment media. WHY is it that it’s okay to watch people be horrifically abused, butchered and killed, but it’s not okay to watch the same people make love – or have babies? Why is it more appropriate to make war? And completely unacceptable to make babies? I’ve been told that George Carlin said something similar.
Look at popular music/songs… how many of them have to do with love versus how many of them have to do with war? Some songs are more explicit than others, but most of them involve the same carnal instincts – to find the “other half” and settle down (ideally).
I write romance. Romance includes making love – which often includes making babies – or at least, it used to before that became socially unacceptable as well… Which is why I still feel slightly uncomfortable when my characters include very good knowledge of fertility and the understanding that procreation does not have to mean you don’t have strong characters! Children don’t have to be a barrier to getting things done! And women don’t have to feel that they’re somehow above their animal instincts – men often don’t, after all… Women can choose to have babies (acknowledging their carnal value) and work/run the show/etc… And strong women can choose to raise the babies themselves (and admit that it’s nicer to do that with a man) and focus their lives on creating a warm and welcoming home for their families. Women can even choose to have a “career” using their bodies without fear or thinking that their choices are due to desperation and depravity. Recognizing our animal instincts doesn’t have to fly in the face of culture/civilization!
Yes, my characters have sex – often passionate/steamy! Yes, my characters have babies! If I am going to take the time to describe the weather and scenery, you’d better believe that sometimes I will take the time to describe their bedroom experiences too. (It’s also one of the reasons I respect George R.R. Marin for not having any taboos in his writing.) It’s time for our Victorian society to get over its fear of sex!
(Insert expletive of choice here…)!
</end carnal soapbox>
Coming up this week
- Five more chapters from Mind of the Neví on Steem.
- Seven more chapters from Brighid’s Blood on Whaleshares. (Please visit if you missed this book the first time around!)
- Finish proofreading Game of the Neví
- Finish cover work, map and end materials.
- Work on Neví 5 and/or the 852 TCE set.
- epublish Mind of the Neví
- publish Acting the Part on Lulu, LBRY and Scribl
- Continue with Encyclopedia work once I hit my weekly word count.
Reviews?
If you have liked any of my books, please take the time to leave me a review/rating at Goodreads
Anyway, that’s what’s been going on here at A’mara Books this week! I hope you manage to take a few minutes to immerse yourself in my world of Terrenden – which I’m so delighted to share with you!
Crossposted on Steem, Whaleshares, WeKu.
Please bring popcorn!
(Just for 
| Notes: C.E.= "Common Era" (Earth) | T.C.E. = "Terrenden Common Era" - B.T.C.E. = "Before Terrenden Common Era" |
Brighid's Blood |
2006 C.E. and 1213 B.T.C.E. Book 1 in the series: When God Lines Meet Buy at: |
Birth of the Neví |
829 T.C.E. It is a tumultuous period of Terrenden history. As is all too common, there are those who wish to profit from the misfortune of others. Some of these come together in a new "charitable organization" and step on the toes of the notorious Uugli. Combine this with draconian new measures to combat pollution and Terrenden has a situation ripe for a power struggle. Book 1 in the series: Rise of the Neví Buy at: |
Name of the Neví |
829 T.C.E. - All of Terrenden is reeling in the aftermath of the Restrictions brought in at the end of the last session of Parliament. Suffering the most are the industrial countries throughout the world. But the forests of Çtaráña and Shayanda are still being poisoned and fingers are being pointed bringing the continent of Kranisis to the brink of war. How can the A'mara save Kranisis amidst their own personal struggles? Book 2 in the series: Rise of the Neví Buy at: |
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Rebound of Power: 850 T.C.E. Collection of Romance Terrenden is being terrorized by a previously underestimated Neví who, through the mysterious “Curator,” have been controlling elections all over the planet. In this collection, we meet some interesting women. Iyva - a homeless teenager in Irola whose untrained power leaves her close to death in Rebound of Power; Marc’la - a breeder of prized caballus in Kasago whose heart lives in the past in Friendship on Fire; Zukie - an abused widow whose heart is afraid to try for future happiness in Courage to Trust; Jenna - an elections assistant manager and masseuse who has a prejudice against A’mara in Elect to Change; Kami - a chola student in Varkevand who has been assigned to protect Ardin, a man who has his own reasons to distrust A’mara in Ocean of Empathy. |
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Acting the Part - 851 T.C.E. Collection of Romance The Neví have infiltrated the Terrenden Freedom Party. Dr. Jarly is on the run and the Curator still dominates the Terrenden stage. Famous actor, Derick Aiden has released his Neví expose film and now the Neví want him dead... In this collection, we meet more interesting women. Kauri - a simple receptionist who doesn’t realize one of her wildest dreams has come true; in Acting the Part Tirry - an elections manager who is always the bridesmaid and never the bride; in Building on Promise Zara - a chef who has all but given up on finding love for herself; and D'zani - who isn’t even looking, but has to chaperone her more vulnerable roommate; in Spice of Strength Soala - an heiress who is expected to marry, but refuses to marry someone she doesn’t love; and Moxara - one whose past griefs have locked away her heart in Sands of Survival. We also get updates on some of the lovely ladies we met previously. |
| COMING SOON | TO AN EBOOK STORE NEAR YOU!!! |
Rise of the Neví |
829-835 T.C.E. In this series, the Neví begin their rise in power with the completion of several large housing projects that seem totally charitable, but also hide a great evil within. The draconian measures (829 T.C.E.) have caused major distress throughout the world, perfect for giving the Neví a further foothold on the Terrenden stage. Will the A’mara, now removed from the Council of Peers, be able to shut down the Neví before disaster strikes? Titles include: Birth of the Neví, Name of the Neví, Mind of the Neví, Game of the Neví, more to come... |
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**(To be Named)** - 852 T.C.E. Collection of Romance... It's confirmed that the Neví are now in all three houses of Parliament and most assemblies throughout Terrenden. Additionally, some are threatening to introduce legislation to severely cripple the A'mara of all their privileges.
In this collection, we will catch up with our fugitives (Iyva/Zilan, D'zani/Elíaz). We will also meet Celna Dellan in X'lea; Peri Harmon, a Peer Councilor in Irola; Janys Tyne, an elections team leader in Atrua; meet a nice (as of yet unnamed) woman in Kasago; and revisit Vissia and Catalia in Towani. |
Writing and artwork copyright myself 2005-2019 – all rights reserved.
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Lori Svensen
author/designer at A'mara Books
photographer/graphic artist for Viking Visual
verified author on Goodreads
find me on Twitter
blogging on: Steem, Whaleshares, WeKu, Hyperspace
Join us in the Official Whaleshares server in the text channel "the-phoenix-project"