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mcburnellauthor.bsky.social
Pixies a/k/a Map Nerd
@mcburnellauthor.bsky.social
2.9K followers 1K following 7K posts
Writer of epic fantasies. Lover of cities and odd words. Just here to tell stories.
NO AI
🏳️‍⚧️they/ him
https://mcburnell.itch.io/
https://books2read.com/mcburnell
https://payhip.com/AuthorMCBurnell
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mcburnellauthor.bsky.social
Pixies a/k/a Map Nerd @mcburnellauthor.bsky.social · Nov 18
THE TIPPING WORLD IS FINISHED
and it has everything you want in an epic

✨political intrigue
✨big battle sequences
✨new heroes coming into their own
✨morally gray ancient adepts
✨unique magic system
✨complex plot
✨vivid worldbuilding
✨terrifying villains

🌈📚🪐 #Booksky
books2read.com/Symbols-End
Cover of a book called Symbols’ End by MC Burnell depicting a slender young woman seated on a bench in a fine gown in the rain; the walls of the garden are close and too tall. Text reads: THE GRAND FINALE. Symbols’ End, Vol. 9 of The Tipping World.
mcburnellauthor.bsky.social
Fiona just demanded husband follow her into the bedroom so she could demonstrate that she has figured out how to jump on top of the shelves and be tall like him
February 14, 2026 at 6:16 PM
mcburnellauthor.bsky.social
#Febchantment

I never talk about Elsewhere but this still freaks me out. it's less watching it happen as the explanation: he stole a piece of the life force of the goddess who is material reality in such a way that it's gone forever.

The name for this magic translates as 'the future gets smaller'
While they were still struggling to keep their feet, Delephon threw his head back and screamed. Calix flung his arms around her, turning them both so he stood between her and the other elves. She opened her mouth to tell him she didn’t need to be sheltered from ugliness, hands rising to push him away. And the world went still. There was a moment of perfect silence. She could see nothing but white in every direction. The only sensation was a faint pressure against her eardrums. The freakish detachment lasted a period of undefinable time, then Danae found herself standing in a field with an elf wrapped about her. Calix squeezed her hard as if to hold both of them back from a drop to the death. She looked up into his face, which was dazed and disbelieving. He didn’t seem to be aware that he was pressing his naked, sweat-sticky chest to a woman he barely knew, which said a lot about his mental state. Danae took a step away from him and looked around. It was a struggle to take in what she was seeing: death, in every direction. Dead trees, desiccated grasses, not a bird on the wing or a bug in the sky. Even the air tasted flat and lifeless. It was strangely still, as if the wind had been sucked from this place. The fire burned on uninterrupted, but it was the only living thing aside from them. She turned in a circle, taking in the sizeable expanse that had been destroyed. She glanced down at the place she had been standing, where one small patch of grass remained, protected by whatever Calix did.
February 14, 2026 at 6:01 PM
mcburnellauthor.bsky.social
Okay nerds, I got a lot of drafting done yesterday in spite of not being in the mood, can we repeat this?! Already not in the mood, so the stage is set...
February 14, 2026 at 5:41 PM
mcburnellauthor.bsky.social
#WIPSnips 'sweetheart'

not romantic at all, someone just tried to off Horus's folks
“Sweetheart.” Mom sighed, taking his face in both hands this time. “Might’ve took us too long to figure this out, but almost getting murdered is the kind of thing can open your eyes. We been sitting here watching this whole train of important people fall over themselves worrying about you.” Dad cast a sidelong look at her. “We seen your face up for sale on the poster boards, son. Stories’re… confusing, but they’re out there. We heard about Varenon.” He cleared his throat and looked away. Mom took up for him: “We heard how you gone across the border when these people was took captive and rescued them all by yourself.” Her fingers tightened on his cheek. “I won’t say we understand, honey. What it is you become. But we’re smart enough to see you’re special. The world’s changing, and might be it’s changing around you.” Dad sighed, and he was so sad, just looking at it laid a bruise on Horus’s heart. “You were our little boy, and we loved you so much! You know we still do, but we let ourselves get caught up in trying to protect you. Turns out you were right all along that you didn’t need us to.” “Dad, don’t talk like that,” he protested, throat closing.
February 14, 2026 at 2:31 PM
Reposted by Pixies a/k/a Map Nerd
theodoresnapdragon.bsky.social
Try my fantasy novel with a trans MC for free! www.royalroad.com/fiction/1453...
Would really love more comments 🥺

I’m also doing a tiny campaign to get my ecohorror short Monoculture in the Locus Awards!
Story: www.creepypod.com/episodes/202...
Voting: poll.voting.locusmag.com
#QueerWritersChat
Art of dark rows of corn fields lit as if by a flashlight from the viewer, the corn is green and not sporting any vegetables yet. Over the image are words in white font: Write In Short Story for The Locus Awards Monoculture Monoculture by Theodore Snapdragon (CreepyPod) Link here https://www.creepypod.com/episodes/2025/8/13/amandas-story-amp-monoculture (Story starts at 23:30) Vote here! https://poll.voting.locusmag.com
February 14, 2026 at 1:59 AM
Reposted by Pixies a/k/a Map Nerd
kbdiaz.bsky.social
#QueerWritersChat

Thanks for hosting against, Amara!

Just dropping my preorder and Goodreads link for Dragon's Liberty down here, if you're interested in a Polish House of the Dragon with a lesbian mc!

Amazon: a.co/d/fINQ0D9
Goodreads: shorturl.at/MdnmY
The TBA cover for Dragon's Liberty. There is a dragon on it with a gold border.
February 14, 2026 at 1:58 AM
mcburnellauthor.bsky.social
#QueerWritersChat
Thanks for hosting! Always glad when I catch one of these.

If anyone is interested in a fantasy epic where love itself is taboo, check out The Tipping World.

mcburnell.itch.io/a-path-of-en...
books2read.com/rl/The-Tippi...
February 14, 2026 at 2:05 AM
Reposted by Pixies a/k/a Map Nerd
laurenpburka.bsky.social
The Memorial Garden: An Interplanetary Bisexual Romance is available at Amazon/ku, paperback from Amazon and B&N, and available free in exchange for your soul I mean if you sign up for my newsletter, all details at www.laurenpburka.com
My Books
Spicy, queer science fiction and fantasy The Memorial Garden: An Interplanetary Bisexual Romance Two consorts, lost forever in the Empress’s palace. Will they learn the difference between need and lov...
www.laurenpburka.com
February 14, 2026 at 1:51 AM
mcburnellauthor.bsky.social
#QueerWritersChat

Reply hazy, try again.

But in seriousness, I'm drafting something new and letting my characters tell me who they are, since the reverse never works.
amaralynn.bsky.social AmaraJLynn 🦹 scheming @amaralynn.bsky.social · 17h
#QueerWritersChat

Question Four:
What are the romantic orientations of your primary characters?

Last question at :45!

@theodoresnapdragon.bsky.social #QueerWriters #writesky #writers
#QueerWritersChat Question Four: What are the romantic orientations of your primary characters? Hosts: @amaralynn and @theodoresnapdragon Every Friday 8pm EST All LGBTQIAP writers and allies welcome Background: gray wood with multicolor art supplies around the border.
February 14, 2026 at 2:02 AM
mcburnellauthor.bsky.social
#QueerWritersChat

Making people fight, maybe. I find romantic and interpersonal drama in fiction so often feels contrived and a waste of my time, but people don't just always flawlessly get along and do the right thing in a relationship! I have to remind myself of that
amaralynn.bsky.social AmaraJLynn 🦹 scheming @amaralynn.bsky.social · 17h
#QueerWritersChat

Question Three:
What’s the hardest part of writing romance, or choosing not to?

Next question at :35!

@theodoresnapdragon.bsky.social #QueerWriters #writesky #writers
#QueerWritersChat Question Three: What’s the hardest part of writing romance, or choosing not to? Hosts: @amaralynn and @theodoresnapdragon Every Friday 8pm EST All LGBTQIAP writers and allies welcome Background: gray wood with multicolor art supplies around the border.
February 14, 2026 at 1:58 AM
mcburnellauthor.bsky.social
#QueerWritersChat
There are often romantic subplots in my work, but it's not a central theme. It IS in Tipping World, my epic, bc that story centers a society of warrior-mages who are forbidden love, sex, and even feelings. It's more important in that story bc there's other stuff happening - wars
amaralynn.bsky.social AmaraJLynn 🦹 scheming @amaralynn.bsky.social · 17h
#QueerWritersChat

Question Two:
Is romance a central theme in any of your work?

Next question at :25!

@theodoresnapdragon.bsky.social #QueerWriters #writesky #writers
#QueerWritersChat Question Two: Is romance a central theme in any of your work? Hosts: @amaralynn and @theodoresnapdragon Every Friday 8pm EST All LGBTQIAP writers and allies welcome Background: gray wood with multicolor art supplies around the border.
February 14, 2026 at 1:55 AM
Reposted by Pixies a/k/a Map Nerd
mimulus.bsky.social
I had a lovely time as always, #QueerWritersChat! I have a full-length poetry collection, TIME TRAVEL IS EASY, which uses Deep Time and dinosaurs to examine queer identity, childhood trauma, and life here in the late Anthropocene. It’s available on multiple platforms: mimulus.weebly.com/books.html
February 14, 2026 at 1:49 AM
Reposted by Pixies a/k/a Map Nerd
theeldervampire.bsky.social
#QueerWritersChat
If you like dark fantasy, necromancy, multiple queer MCs, & EGREGIOUSLY long slowburn, you may like my series, The Art of Malignance!
archiveofourown.org/series/4923589
You can also start reading The Witch of Eden Hollow, if you want a standalone❤️
archiveofourown.org/works/75724341
February 14, 2026 at 1:50 AM
mcburnellauthor.bsky.social
#QueerWritersChat

Hey all, Jeremy here! I write a lot of fantasy. Currently doing something really different, where only half the setting is secondary world, and part of the story takes place in Basically Modern Earth.
amaralynn.bsky.social AmaraJLynn 🦹 scheming @amaralynn.bsky.social · 18h
Welcome to #QueerWritersChat!

To start things off, introduce yourself and tell us what you're working on! No links, please!

Next question at :15!

@theodoresnapdragon.bsky.social #QueerWriters #writesky #writers
#QueerWritersChat Question One: Introduce yourself and your current project Hosts: @amaralynn and @theodoresnapdragon Every Friday 8pm EST All LGBTQIAP writers and allies welcome Background: gray wood with multicolor art supplies around the border.
February 14, 2026 at 1:50 AM
Reposted by Pixies a/k/a Map Nerd
tabithadial.bsky.social
🧵💝Plant these on your favorite garden lovers for a down-to-earth Valentines Day.

🍀💙Which one would you give to yourself?

#valentines #puns #plants
February 13, 2026 at 11:45 PM
Reposted by Pixies a/k/a Map Nerd
kattakis.bsky.social
🖤 If you want to give an indie author some love for Valentines/Galentines/Palentines week, leave a review of our books, tell a friend about them, borrow or request them from a library and/or reach out to say something nice. 🖤
February 12, 2026 at 10:24 PM
mcburnellauthor.bsky.social
I'm tickled that this happened organically, I'd finished a chapter and was reading what I wrote today when I noticed
Screenshot of a word processor in dark mode. All you can see is: 66666 words.
February 13, 2026 at 11:54 PM
Reposted by Pixies a/k/a Map Nerd
jheijndermans.bsky.social
Today and tomorrow are the last days on the Valentine's Day Romance Book bundle. Get those 29 books for the low price of $25 on Itch!!!
jheijndermans.bsky.social Joachim Heijndermans @jheijndermans.bsky.social · 5d
The week toward's valentine's day is among us. And with that, the Valentine's Day Romance bundle on Itch is live too. For $25 books, get 29 books for romance. Includes my steamy monster romance book Return the Rose. Find the bundle here: itch.io/b/3515/valen...
Banner for Valentine's Day Romance Book Bundle. 29 books for $25. Fantasy, sci fi, contemporary and more!. February 9-14, only on Itch.io. A series of romance books covers before a red background. Listed as 29 books for only $25. feb 9-14 only on itch.io
February 13, 2026 at 9:48 PM
Reposted by Pixies a/k/a Map Nerd
kayla7kat.bsky.social
Reposting some old short stories since I have new installments coming out soon!

💙📚 #Booksky #writer #shortstories #blog

mangothoughtswritingblog.blogspot.com/2023/10/hall...
Halloween Count Down 2023: Rising Tides, Fallen Creatures - Part 1
mangothoughtswritingblog.blogspot.com
February 13, 2026 at 9:52 PM
mcburnellauthor.bsky.social
my word processor is all mad at me about 'still lifes' but idk what to tell you, man, it's multiple paintings of flowers and fruit, I can't do anything about the fact that it looks wrong to you
February 13, 2026 at 8:16 PM
Reposted by Pixies a/k/a Map Nerd
dragonsofwales.bsky.social
Pitcher plant dragon…
A digital illustration of a tiny dragon, inspired by the carnivorous pitcher plant. The dragons long neck and outsized, gaping jaws mimic the flower of the plant.
February 13, 2026 at 5:18 PM
mcburnellauthor.bsky.social
It's a really nice feeling when you look at your wc and think what the hell how have I written only like 100 words today but then it turns out you're a doofus and mistook your starting wc and it's close to 1k

🎉
February 13, 2026 at 7:19 PM
mcburnellauthor.bsky.social
New world, having a bonded pair. If Fiona is agitated and shouting but won't play, the problem isn't that we chose the wrong games: we're the wrong playmates. She wants to have some real fun with the guy who will tackle her somersaulting down the hall 😅
February 13, 2026 at 6:16 PM
Reposted by Pixies a/k/a Map Nerd
shaynenicholai.bsky.social
THE FIRST REVIEWS ARE IN!

-"I loved it!!! I really liked the depth and visceral feel throughout."

-"I could sense and identify with the weight of the feelings you were describing."

-"My partner and I...have to read Shel Silverstein after."

Want to read what they're raving about? Click the link!
Shayne Nicholai | Facebook | Linktree
Shayne is a queer, disabled poet and songwriter residing in MD with his husband.
linktr.ee
February 13, 2026 at 5:22 PM
mcburnellauthor.bsky.social
I got my lores mixed, meant Nonichtar to be the high-altitude desert city (complete with alkaline lake and flamingos) but then wrote it as one of the districts where the climate changed a lot and winter is new to them. Surprise! Mebelsotheria is now the high-altitude desert city
😩
February 13, 2026 at 5:52 PM