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vren55.bsky.social
@vren55.bsky.social
69 followers 640 following 83 posts
Author of A FRACTURED SONG book series (editing book 4 of 6), West Coast Canadian, lover of history, video game enthusiast, (he/him).

Trying to post daily to build my profile up! :)

Currently Employed by B.C. Government in welfare work
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vren55.bsky.social
vren55.bsky.social @vren55.bsky.social · Nov 23
🖋️Writing "The Lost Princess" YA Fantasy Novel
🪄Author of "A Fractured Song" YA Fantasy Series www.amazon.com/gp/product/B...
💓 of books, history, anime and musicals
vren55.bsky.social
Day 23
To be blunt, I remind myself that if certain books/tv shows that I will not name, get published/made and get tons of money thrown at them, then I cannot be possibly as screwed as I think I am.

That and I remind myself that writing is a journey not the end point

#🪐📚
#FantasyIndiesNovember
Fantasyindies november 31 prompts
November 24, 2025 at 1:01 AM
vren55.bsky.social
It is very funny the day @just-write-studios.itch.io 's my good friend (check her game out) commented that I have 69 followers that I gain an additional one and lose that status lmao
November 17, 2025 at 5:49 AM
vren55.bsky.social
Day 16

I'm a plantser. I generally try to outline as much as I can but while writing I usually do end up making off the cuff/spontaneous decisions depending on where the scene takes me.

This is usually because as I write my draft, I'm still getting ot know the story.
#🪐📚
#FantasyIndiesNovember
#fantasyindiesnovember prompts 31 of them
November 17, 2025 at 4:21 AM
vren55.bsky.social
Day 15 Saturday Snippet
The snippet I attached is a recently edited short scene featuring two side characters, Martin and Ginger. He's a noble knight, she's a convict and a bit of a fixer-upper. They fall in love b/c that's life and they're freaking adorable

#🪐📚
#FantasyIndiesNovember
Fantasy Indies 31 prompts by ChsneyInfalt and L.v.russell Martin wondered how long it had been since he had met Ginger. It seemed like an age, but he already couldn’t imagine his life without her. Perhaps part of it was his hormones or feelings speaking, but the knight hated seeing the vivacious woman he’d grown to love over the last few days looking so broken. And he hadn’t been able to do anything. He wasn’t there when she was hurt. He hadn’t been able to heal her. Magicless, mundane, Martin could just hold Ginger’s hands, scarred by hours of labor and battle. “Hey.” Martin opened his eyes, wondering if he was dreaming, but he could feel his hand being squeezed back. “Ginger. You’re…” “I feel like shit. Elizabeth… Ayax… are they safe?” she asked. “Yes, because of you. Why did you do that?” Ginger yawned, wincing as she shifted slightly. “I didn’t want to disappoint. Sorry. I… I wanted to do the right thing.” Groaning, Martin leaned over, hand touching Ginger’s face. His fingers trailed across her cheek. His vision was blurring again. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t there. I…” “It’s all good. I’m sorry too. I think I got a bunch of new scars,” Ginger stammered, wincing as she did so. Martin swallowed. He could hear the hurt behind those words. He knew how self-conscious Ginger could be about her appearance. “I don’t care. I’ll have fun kissing them.” “… you know they tickle!” she spluttered, blushing. They were laughing and crying. There was too much pain and sorrow unsaid, but they held each other, trying to find a semblance of joy as the rain pattered against the fabric of their tent.
November 16, 2025 at 6:50 AM
vren55.bsky.social
Day 10:
The favorite line i've written is from Book 2 of of my series
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B...

"I deserve help,” Frances thought to herself. “I deserve to make mistakes and learn from them. I deserve to be cared for. I deserve to be loved. To love."

#🪐📚
#FantasyIndiesNovember
Fantasyindiesnovember 31 prompt list.
November 11, 2025 at 7:26 AM
vren55.bsky.social
Day 4 Inspiring Authors
My series "A Fractured Song" was directly inspired by two authors who I continue to look to for inspiration. They are the late Brian Jacques and his Redwall Series and the still active @garthnix.bsky.social (books pictured below)

#🪐📚#FantasyIndiesNovember
Picture of Brian Jacques Pearls of Lutra (book) and Garth Nix's Lirael.
November 5, 2025 at 4:53 AM
vren55.bsky.social
Day 24 Free Friday
4th concept cover for "A Fractured Song: The Broken Melody" (www.amazon.com/gp/product/B...) by Quietvictories, ft. MC and her mentor.

This wasn't chosen b/c it was too zoomed out and didn't capture the MC's appearance!

#🪐📚 #FantasyIndiesSpooktober
Charming forest house with river runing besdie it. Female MC sits on steps whilst mentor character stands by doorway #fantasyindiesspooktober 31 prompts
October 24, 2025 at 8:40 PM
vren55.bsky.social
AI bubble, ethics or not, (and I do think there is an AI bubble and using AI is ethically problematic due to how they are built), it occurs to me that at any point in time the companies running the AI can monetize their product. At which point, frequent AI users are... screwed.

#hottake
October 23, 2025 at 2:31 AM
vren55.bsky.social
Day 21 Scary movie/tv recs
I don't watch enough scary stuff, but a friend of mine showed me the classic "Creature from the Black Lagoon" (1954) and I loved it.

I also recommend @just-write-studios.itch.io "Catalyst Blind Faith" just-write-studios.itch.io/catalyst-bli...

🪐📚 #FantasyIndiesSpooktober
#fantasyindiesspooktober with 31 prompts
October 21, 2025 at 1:11 PM
vren55.bsky.social
Day 16 Tricks and Treats in your WIP

"A Fractured Song" has a drink called Hearthsange, which I describe a sweet, malty orange-flarvored drink made from a herb unique to that world. It's my main character's favorite comfort drink when she's feeling down

🪐📚 #FantasyIndiesSpooktober
October 17, 2025 at 2:13 AM
vren55.bsky.social
Day 15 What would your character's wear to a Halloween Ball?
Frances (MC, petite mage girl with a kind heart): fairy godmother
Timur (her roguish love interest): Pirate or musketeer
Elizabeth (MC's lesbian best friend, korean): Janggeum (1st korean royal physician)

#🪐📚 #FantasyIndiesSpooktober
October 15, 2025 at 4:31 AM
vren55.bsky.social
Been having a lot of fun playing through "Master of Command" Seven Years War!

store.steampowered.com/app/2878450/...

(Release Date October 27, Demo is Out)

@armchairhistorian.bsky.social
#gaming #masterofcommand
Prussian grenadiers behind spiked barricades opening fire in a snowy forest. Austrian artillery and cavalry deploying for battle in "Master of Command The Seven Years War" game Prussian artillery and musketeers deployed for battle. Screenshot frome game "master of command."
October 12, 2025 at 1:13 AM
vren55.bsky.social
Day 11 Saturday Snippet
A fun bit of worldbuilding I did with my series "A Fractured Song" is introduce "Named" wands and staves, sentient magical objects with their own will and special abilities. This is a snippet that introduces them

www.amazon.com/gp/product/B...

#🪐📚 #FantasyIndiesSpooktober
#fantasyindiesspooktober prompt list Snippet from A Fractured Song: The Broken Melody
October 12, 2025 at 1:08 AM
Reposted
just-write-studios.itch.io
#vndev #indiegamedev #art #writingcommunity #horror #darkfantasy

🔥Narrative #devlog on quality #writing + my methods!
✍️I went hard for my favorite #gamedev skill!!😂✍️
🖌️17 pics
✍️5.1k words

💖You can read it here: just-write-studios.itch.io/catalyst-bli...
A working logo for the dark fantasy and horror visual novel "Catalyst: Blind Faith." The subtitle says "Devlog." Grayscale art on the top row shows three main characters. From left to right: A female elf with a sly expression, asymmetric hair, many piercings, and long ears side-eyeing the player; a disheveled and heavily scarred young man, clutching at his head while he stares directly at the viewer; and a bubbly woman in profile view with an unnaturally broad grin and very poofy hair. The bottom row has five sketches of different male body types, all at the same height. These are illustrative of the protagonist, whose appearance can radically change based on the player's choices. From left to right: An emaciated figure in a fighting stance, fists before his face; a slender and broad-shouldered figure in a front-facing and stiff pose; a muscular figure, looking relaxed and confident as he glances over his shoulder; a husky male figure, partially drawn, as some of the right arm is incomplete; and a very heavyset male figure, standing in a similar distant and neutral pose as the slim figure. Flowchart showing a hyper-simplified and colorful version of the narrative design in a branching visual novel. Major branches, endings, and the rough length of each major continuity are all distinguished. The content varies wildly, from one to 25 "honkin chapters" for different sections of the narrative. This all comes after a common route (approximately 14 chapters in length, based on the player's earlier choices), and this flowchart only applies if the player selected a "hard branch" for the God of Vengeance. Much more information on wtf this all specifically relates to is in the game director's most recent devlog!
October 10, 2025 at 1:31 AM
vren55.bsky.social
Related to my previous post on Nebulous Fleet Command (store.steampowered.com/app/887570/N...), just wanted to shout out
@papapandamonium.bsky.social for his frankly fantastic concept on the game which then got translated into some of the best looking ships I've ever seen in scifi
Screenshot from devlog 25 Eridianus industries of 4 bulk freighters (spaceships) https://youtu.be/u810zMktGVI Group of bulk freighter spaceships in space, modified to have broadside guns. Red background, asteroids in background
October 6, 2025 at 7:09 AM
vren55.bsky.social
I posted about my friend's @just-write-studios.itch.io 's horror game last time. This time I want to shout out Nebulous Fleet Command, a game I've been a great fan of since 2021. It's a scifi space sim on sale for 10 more hours so if you're interested...
store.steampowered.com/app/887570/N...
Save 50% on NEBULOUS: Fleet Command on Steam
Take command of your hand-tailored fleet of space warships and use realistic radar, electronic warfare, advanced movement controls in 3D space, and precision targeting to outmaneuver and outwit your o...
store.steampowered.com
October 6, 2025 at 7:00 AM
vren55.bsky.social
Day 5, What are your characters afraid of?
Frances of "A Fractured Song" series is survivor of child abuse survivor. However, while her story is about conquering her trauma, she's actually most afraid of harm coming to her friends and adoptive mother.

#🪐📚 #FantasyIndiesSpooktober
@chesneyinfalt and @l.v.russell_author's #fantasyindiespooktober prompt list
October 6, 2025 at 6:56 AM
vren55.bsky.social
I've been playtesting for this game and I think it's been an utter blast! @armchairhistorian.bsky.social has been a great director and his team have been responsive and contentious. Can't wait to get it on release!
October 3, 2025 at 9:00 PM
vren55.bsky.social
Day 3 "Free Friday"

I really liked this concept cover by my artist (www.artstation.com/quietvictories) but decided not to use it because it was too peaceful. My book had far more action than the cover implied!

#🪐📚 #FantasyIndiesSpooktober
Get my book www.amazon.com/gp/product/B...
Concet cover sketch of a young girl in a gambeson sitting by the riverside, touching her wand against a pond with a city in the background.
October 3, 2025 at 8:57 PM
vren55.bsky.social
September 30, Monthly Wrap Up

This was great to participate in these prompts and I think they're a good way to help one build their audience.

Thank you everybody who liked the posts! It was really nice to be introduced to blusky's writing community!
#FantasyIndiesSeptember #📚💙
September 30, 2025 at 7:16 AM
vren55.bsky.social
Day 28 What stage is your WIP in?

So "A Fractured Song" has 3 books out of the 6 out which you can find here: www.amazon.com/dp/B0DDJ5LTZW.

I'm working hard on editing book 4 right now, which is on Frances defending a city!

#FantasyIndiesSeptember #📚💙
September 29, 2025 at 3:06 AM
Reposted
vren55.bsky.social
And for some reason ppl keep saying to me “oh use ai. it’s more practical/better or efficient.”

I find keeping a good network of ppl you can commission art from and get feedback from far more practical
September 28, 2025 at 8:12 AM
vren55.bsky.social
Re this: Many authors and cover artists will block ppl who use ai. I’m pretty sure that if i wanted to go genai for cover art I’d lose all of my community of friends, peers and acquaintances i write and art with. So aside for the many moral grounds, there‘s a very practical reason for rejecting ai
kamakru.bsky.social Katie Croonenberghs Art - Geek Craft Expo Seattle B08 @kamakru.bsky.social · Sep 27
Authors, one more time:
📣 ANY use of genai will get you onto my "do not read" list.
Cover art, interior art, character pages, extras, bookmarks, ads, marketing material, website, all of it.
Using it AT ALL means you do not respect or understand the damage that genai has done and actively does.
September 28, 2025 at 8:11 AM
vren55.bsky.social
Belated Day 26 Free Friday or share something you’re looking forward to.

I’m looking forward to sleeping in to be honest. I tend to write or think about writing in the late evening which is when I have some time alone but it means I sleep late.

#FantasyIndiesSeptember #📚💙
September 27, 2025 at 7:47 AM
vren55.bsky.social
@just-write-studios.itch.io is a good friend of mine and working on horrifyingly delightful visual novel that she's fought tooth and nail to get to this point. I strongly encourage peopel to check out the demo at just-write-studios.itch.io/catalyst-bli...
September 26, 2025 at 6:27 AM