Derek Leman
@derekleman.bsky.social
Aspiring Fantasy Author. Realtor in Atlanta. Self-Publishing. Indie Books. Mesopotamia geek. DerekWritesFantasy.com
Pinned
Derek Leman
@derekleman.bsky.social
· Nov 21
Hello, world! I want to connect. I’m mainly here for:
- Fantasy books
- Indie Fantasy
-Indie writers
- Self published writers
- Trad writers
- Mesopotamian stuff
Follow me and I will follow back!
- Fantasy books
- Indie Fantasy
-Indie writers
- Self published writers
- Trad writers
- Mesopotamian stuff
Follow me and I will follow back!
Nergal, #mesopotamian god of the underworld. Old Babylonian cylinder seal. Double lion-head scepter. With his foot on a departed soul. Inscription is a dedication to the god by the king of Larsa.
December 28, 2024 at 3:24 PM
Nergal, #mesopotamian god of the underworld. Old Babylonian cylinder seal. Double lion-head scepter. With his foot on a departed soul. Inscription is a dedication to the god by the king of Larsa.
The Omega sign often found with goddesses in #mesopotamian art. Related to the Omega Nebula, a sign of deity in the sky. It suggests the profound power of Creatrix goddesses. See Vanessa Lavallée, Ancient Goddess Magic.
December 26, 2024 at 3:36 PM
The Omega sign often found with goddesses in #mesopotamian art. Related to the Omega Nebula, a sign of deity in the sky. It suggests the profound power of Creatrix goddesses. See Vanessa Lavallée, Ancient Goddess Magic.
December 21, 2024 at 2:24 AM
Religion as theodicy. #mesopotamia Nergal, god of the underworld, instructs a lion-demon in punishing a sinner. A supernatural explanation of illness.
December 18, 2024 at 1:27 PM
Religion as theodicy. #mesopotamia Nergal, god of the underworld, instructs a lion-demon in punishing a sinner. A supernatural explanation of illness.
“We experience life as feelings. . . . It’s funny, then, that so much fiction is written to minimize feelings or leave them out altogether.” — Donald Maass
A short essay on Writing Emotion: www.derekwritesfantasy.com/post/writing...
A short essay on Writing Emotion: www.derekwritesfantasy.com/post/writing...
Writing Emotion #3
In my first essay in this series, I mentioned that reading Sarah Chorn’s The Necessity of Rain was a particularly emotional experience for me. I do highly recommend the book. And a lot of what happene...
www.derekwritesfantasy.com
December 17, 2024 at 2:50 PM
“We experience life as feelings. . . . It’s funny, then, that so much fiction is written to minimize feelings or leave them out altogether.” — Donald Maass
A short essay on Writing Emotion: www.derekwritesfantasy.com/post/writing...
A short essay on Writing Emotion: www.derekwritesfantasy.com/post/writing...
“… great storytellers are able to make emotions as compelling as anything else on the page.”
- Donald Maass
Read a short essay here: www.derekwritesfantasy.com/post/writing...
- Donald Maass
Read a short essay here: www.derekwritesfantasy.com/post/writing...
December 17, 2024 at 1:38 AM
“… great storytellers are able to make emotions as compelling as anything else on the page.”
- Donald Maass
Read a short essay here: www.derekwritesfantasy.com/post/writing...
- Donald Maass
Read a short essay here: www.derekwritesfantasy.com/post/writing...
Reposted by Derek Leman
Voting for the 2024 Indie Ink Awards is now open. If you enjoyed The World-Maker Parable you can cast your vote using the link below.
indiestorygeek.com/story/6594
indiestorygeek.com/story/6594
The World-Maker Parable - Indie Story Geek
indiestorygeek.com
December 16, 2024 at 11:06 PM
Voting for the 2024 Indie Ink Awards is now open. If you enjoyed The World-Maker Parable you can cast your vote using the link below.
indiestorygeek.com/story/6594
indiestorygeek.com/story/6594
The #mesopotamian gods had a minister / attendant. Ninsibur. A clay figurine of Ninsibur was often buried beneath the dais of the cult statue. He was associated with the constellation Orion.
December 16, 2024 at 2:03 PM
The #mesopotamian gods had a minister / attendant. Ninsibur. A clay figurine of Ninsibur was often buried beneath the dais of the cult statue. He was associated with the constellation Orion.
As spine-chilling as any demon in the AD&D manuals, Pazuzu was a god among demons. #mesopotamia #fantasy #myth
December 14, 2024 at 2:00 PM
As spine-chilling as any demon in the AD&D manuals, Pazuzu was a god among demons. #mesopotamia #fantasy #myth
Throughout the land of Haral, people say, “A witch has cursed us.” When their crops wilt or their wombs shrivel, they believe we have caused it. And they ask, “Where does their spellcraft come from?” The answer seems obvious to them: demons, the very spirits they pray for protection against.
December 10, 2024 at 10:45 PM
Throughout the land of Haral, people say, “A witch has cursed us.” When their crops wilt or their wombs shrivel, they believe we have caused it. And they ask, “Where does their spellcraft come from?” The answer seems obvious to them: demons, the very spirits they pray for protection against.
Promises to be an amazing anthology of sci-fi!
It’s #unboxing time for the first copy of our debut anthology, Of Shadows, Stars and Sabers, from our imprint, @starsandsabers.bsky.social! With 29 incredible authors & edited by @jendiagammon.bsky.social & @garethlpowell.bsky.social, this is one is the cross-genre book tor the ages! Preorder now!
December 10, 2024 at 12:38 AM
Promises to be an amazing anthology of sci-fi!
Face of the #mesopotamian demon, Humbaba (aka Huwawa). Formed to resemble animal entrails. In omenology, if entrails looked like the demon face, bad things were about to occur! Will do more posts on demons. Fascinating. #fantasy #myth #divination
December 9, 2024 at 6:50 PM
Face of the #mesopotamian demon, Humbaba (aka Huwawa). Formed to resemble animal entrails. In omenology, if entrails looked like the demon face, bad things were about to occur! Will do more posts on demons. Fascinating. #fantasy #myth #divination
I have hand-drawn this map two dozen times. I have an artist’s rendering as well. But I find the imperfect one to be charming. #fantasy #worldbuilding
December 7, 2024 at 1:47 AM
I have hand-drawn this map two dozen times. I have an artist’s rendering as well. But I find the imperfect one to be charming. #fantasy #worldbuilding
Ancient Goddess Magic #2. A short essay. Practical insights for capturing “dangerous feminine energy” in #fantasy #literature. Pictured: the goddess Inanna (Ishtar) as goddess of war. www.derekwritesfantasy.com/post/ancient...
December 6, 2024 at 12:07 AM
Ancient Goddess Magic #2. A short essay. Practical insights for capturing “dangerous feminine energy” in #fantasy #literature. Pictured: the goddess Inanna (Ishtar) as goddess of war. www.derekwritesfantasy.com/post/ancient...
Modern photo, marshlands of Iraq. Very similar to ancient Mesopotamian reed houses. What a #fantasy setting! Can’t believe there are not more Mesopotamia-based fantasy worlds! Mine will debut in 2025.
December 3, 2024 at 4:47 PM
Modern photo, marshlands of Iraq. Very similar to ancient Mesopotamian reed houses. What a #fantasy setting! Can’t believe there are not more Mesopotamia-based fantasy worlds! Mine will debut in 2025.
The deity Adad making the weather happen from the back of his trusty lion-dragon. #fantasy #mythology #mesopotamia
December 1, 2024 at 1:35 AM
The deity Adad making the weather happen from the back of his trusty lion-dragon. #fantasy #mythology #mesopotamia
In the Spirit of Thanksgiving, let me share this ancient image of a bird-hunt. Bird-beast. #mesopotamia #thanksgiving
November 28, 2024 at 2:19 PM
In the Spirit of Thanksgiving, let me share this ancient image of a bird-hunt. Bird-beast. #mesopotamia #thanksgiving
Celebrating getting unstuck on this chapter. #amwritingfantasy #fantasy
November 28, 2024 at 1:51 AM
Celebrating getting unstuck on this chapter. #amwritingfantasy #fantasy
Eridu. A real city founded in 5400 B.C.E. Sounds like a #fantasy city. Sumerian legend says it was the first city. By the waters from which creation came. #mesopotamia
November 27, 2024 at 7:21 PM
Eridu. A real city founded in 5400 B.C.E. Sounds like a #fantasy city. Sumerian legend says it was the first city. By the waters from which creation came. #mesopotamia
Writing Emotion #2. Maass explains a simple but impactful strategy for compelling readers with the complexity of emotion and the human experience: don't show the obvious emotion, but dig down to the third layer of underlying emotions. See More >>> www.derekwritesfantasy.com/post/writing...
Writing Emotion #2
I probably shouldn't be writing this post. I am learning from Donald Maass how little I know about emotions. At 57 years old, I would have thought I at least had more emotional intelligence than a con...
www.derekwritesfantasy.com
November 26, 2024 at 9:41 PM
Writing Emotion #2. Maass explains a simple but impactful strategy for compelling readers with the complexity of emotion and the human experience: don't show the obvious emotion, but dig down to the third layer of underlying emotions. See More >>> www.derekwritesfantasy.com/post/writing...
Marduk and his snake-dragon, from a lapis cylinder dated c. 850 B.C.E. The cylinder was supposed to hang from a golden chain about the neck of the idol. #mesopotamia
November 26, 2024 at 1:46 PM
Marduk and his snake-dragon, from a lapis cylinder dated c. 850 B.C.E. The cylinder was supposed to hang from a golden chain about the neck of the idol. #mesopotamia
Reposted by Derek Leman
The Sombrero Galaxy, also known as Messier 104 (M104) or NGC 4594, located in the constellation borders of Virgo and Corvus, approximately 31.1 million light-years from the Milky Way galaxy. Member of the Virgo II Groups, galaxy clusters strung out from the southern edge of the Virgo Supercluster.
November 26, 2024 at 2:21 AM
The Sombrero Galaxy, also known as Messier 104 (M104) or NGC 4594, located in the constellation borders of Virgo and Corvus, approximately 31.1 million light-years from the Milky Way galaxy. Member of the Virgo II Groups, galaxy clusters strung out from the southern edge of the Virgo Supercluster.
Witches, they call us. They fear our magic almost as much as death. Almost, but not quite. Our teas, liquors, and balms save their lives, so they call on us. That is, the ones who can afford us. Magic does not come cheaply.
—Kishar’s Awakening, Derek Leman, not yet published
#fantasy #mesopotamia
—Kishar’s Awakening, Derek Leman, not yet published
#fantasy #mesopotamia
November 25, 2024 at 4:06 PM
Witches, they call us. They fear our magic almost as much as death. Almost, but not quite. Our teas, liquors, and balms save their lives, so they call on us. That is, the ones who can afford us. Magic does not come cheaply.
—Kishar’s Awakening, Derek Leman, not yet published
#fantasy #mesopotamia
—Kishar’s Awakening, Derek Leman, not yet published
#fantasy #mesopotamia
They had cool fantasy art 3,000 years ago. Scene of worship before Ishtar. Neo-Assyrian cylinder seal, c. 700 B.C.E.
November 25, 2024 at 1:56 PM
They had cool fantasy art 3,000 years ago. Scene of worship before Ishtar. Neo-Assyrian cylinder seal, c. 700 B.C.E.
Reposted by Derek Leman
people ask, “how can I recover my sense of wonder?” take an interest in things. visit art galleries, hit up the library and discover-browse. read widely. learn new languages, new words. watch old films. the world is a wonderful place but wonder is a muscle that must be cultivated like any other.
November 20, 2024 at 6:19 PM
people ask, “how can I recover my sense of wonder?” take an interest in things. visit art galleries, hit up the library and discover-browse. read widely. learn new languages, new words. watch old films. the world is a wonderful place but wonder is a muscle that must be cultivated like any other.