C.S. Madsen
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csmadsen.bsky.social
C.S. Madsen
@csmadsen.bsky.social
130 followers 200 following 430 posts
I'm the #author of the #Mythicals universe, as well as a parent of two wonderful little kids. I drive a #Subaru #BRZ and love every second of it. Still trying to figure life out.

https://linktr.ee/CSMadsen
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csmadsen.bsky.social
Today's #WIPSnips is #direction.

In #TumbledEmeralds, Andee wants to allow her mom to cry in peace. She runs to her favorite haunt: a hobby shop. But... her classmate is trying to rob it. How will she react to Frank violating her holy sanctuary?

#HeavyCrowns #YACrossover #Mythicals #Universe

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A screenshot of a word processor, with the word "direction" highlighted in pastel green. The text reads as follows: She was shocked to have the door opened not by Gerald or Troy, but by one of her graduating class members, a quiet guy named Frank. His hood was up, and he had something—nylon panties?—pulled tightly over his face, obscuring it… just not well enough to hide his identity from her. An old double-barreled shotgun rested uneasily in his hands, loosely pointed in her direction. Frank with a gun. Impossible.
November 21, 2025 at 4:24 PM
csmadsen.bsky.social
Today's #WIPSnips is #special.

In #TumbledEmeralds, Andee's father has very deep influence in the small town she's lived in for six years. She gets pulled over for rolling a stop sign, and wonders if it's because of him that she drives away without a ticket.

#Mythicals #Universe #HeavyCrowns

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A screenshot of a word processor, with the word "special" highlighted in pastel green. The text reads as follows: What was up with the officer’s response, just chucking her license through the window without a word and driving off in the opposite direction? The reasonable part of Andee chided her for being a conspiracy theorist. She wasn’t special; the cop just had to respond to a real emergency somewhere on the other side of town. That was the most reasonable thing to think, but Andee had a very insistent gut feeling that his response was based on what he found when he went back to his cruiser to run her license. Her father’s shadow seemed to whisper its involvement in everything. Was she being paranoid, or was she just right?
November 20, 2025 at 7:58 PM
csmadsen.bsky.social
Today's #WIPSnips is #third.

In #TumbledEmeralds, Andee's father explains the reasoning for why Reginald, the reprehensible Lord of the Bronze Flight, is not only allowed to persist, but is even being protected.

#HeavyCrowns #WIP #AmWriting #Mythicals #Universe

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A screenshot of a word processor, with the word "third" highlighted in pastel green. The text reads as follows: “I’m afraid he did, Andee. Though he has a rightful claim to his throne, Reginald is tyrannical and deplorably infantile in the way he operates. There are only three reasons we are stepping in to save him from the Keepers. First of course, is our pride as dragons. We cannot be seen as dishonorable or weak. Second, to place him firmly in our debt. Third? His son and heir has none of his experience, but flails with twice his petulance. If we allow Reginald to die, humanity—and especially our interests—will suffer far more than they currently do with Reginald at the helm of the Bronze Flight.”
November 19, 2025 at 4:38 PM
csmadsen.bsky.social
Today's #WIPSnips is #spend.

Andee's school friend Frank has a father who struggles with alcoholism. Here, she encounters Frank in one of the most unexpected ways possible: A robbery in progress. With Frank as the robber.

#TumbledEmeralds #HeavyCrowns #Mythicals #Universe #WIP #AmWriting

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A screenshot of a word processor, with the word "spend" highlighted in pastel green. The text reads as follows: This was the same sweet boy she’d swapped gaming recommendations with a week ago? They had plans for him to lend her an old system so she could try his favorite title, Fantastic Finale: Tactical. He was sweet and lived alone with his dad, who made him mow lawns and do odd jobs to earn the money that his father would immediately spend on bottles from the liquor store. Throughout their time in school together, Frank never complained, and he’d confided in Andee that he truly believed his dad would get better soon. For that, she pitied the boy… yet here he was with a gun and a mask. Not very pitiable. His trembling voice snapped her out of her memories.
November 17, 2025 at 5:22 PM
csmadsen.bsky.social
Today's #WIPSnips is #week.

In #TumbledEmeralds, Andee has long been painfully aware that her disgustingly wealthy father is both manipulative and dishonest. Buying off a judge is just another Tuesday for him, and she knows it.

#HeavyCrowns #UpperYAContemporaryFantasy #YACrossover

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A screenshot of a word processor. The word "week" is highlighted in pastel green, and the text reads as follows: Andee thought back to when she was a preteen, dealing with her first bully. Much to her dismay, she was known as one of the most beautiful girls in school, but she was no pushover. Years of Sambo, Krav Maga, even a little Wushu—she knew how to handle herself. When Jerome had thrown a water balloon full of urine at her, she’d dodged the splash effortlessly, but the smell was unmistakable. Only her dad’s lawyers had kept her out of repercussions for immediately dropping the putrid boy into a fetal curl of pain where he’d stood proudly laughing only moments before. The legal foxes had gotten her off with the argument that ‘a biological weapon’ had been used. Almost bored, the judge ruled in her favor, but she’d noticed when he drove by the school in a brand new Mercedes a week later.
November 14, 2025 at 3:38 PM
csmadsen.bsky.social
Today's #WIPSnips is #build.

In #TumbledEmeralds, Andee's father is entrenched, and he seems to be connected to everyone. She wants to build her own list of contacts, without having their loyalty paid first to her father.

#HeavyCrowns #UpperYAContemporaryFantasy #YACrossover

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Word processor text that has the word "build" highlighted in pastel green. The text reads as follows: Beaming at their gratitude, the old Andee came out a bit, and she gave a shy wave as the elevator doors closed. The nearly silent glass cylinder ushered her back to her new home, a fishbowl so high in the sky she could parade around naked and nobody would ever see. Well, she could after she got the keycards changed. That was problematic, because she knew she wouldn’t be able to out-do her father’s connections. Whoever she found to do work like that would likely already be known to him. Andee scowled. There had to be a way to outmaneuver him. What did she have that he didn’t? Empathy. That was the ticket. That was her edge. If she built genuine connections with the people she interacted with, if she did them favors first, then she knew she could build more loyalty from those people than her father could ever command with his money and influence. It felt like a distorted Russian doll, planning to use genuine empathy and kindness as a tactic. It was the best move forward.
November 13, 2025 at 10:42 PM
csmadsen.bsky.social
TRIGGER WARNING: Being seen in a state of partial undress.

Today's #WIPSnips is #shirt. In #TumbledEmeralds, Andee just moved into a fancy penthouse, and doesn't realize the doorbell uses a two-way video call until it's too late. Her reaction is... different.

#HeavyCrowns #Mythicals #Universe
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A screenshot of a word processor, with the word "shirt" highlighted in pastel green. The text reads as follows: She’d just thrown on some clean underclothes from her bag when the elevator buzzed. Running over to the panel, she was horrified to see that it was a video call with Claudio, and she’d just appeared on the high-resolution monitor in her underclothes. Freezing in horror, her mind felt a talon curl up inside, and the tiny version of her on the monitor didn’t allow her expression to break. Leaning forward slightly, she gave a jaunty wave to her father’s lackey. “As you can see, I’m not quite ready to go. I’ll be down in a minute.” Not waiting for his response, she hit the clearly-marked “End Call” button, then dashed back to her gym bag, unrolling a t-shirt and a fresh pair of sweatpants. She was annoyed that Claudio had seen her in that state, but it couldn’t be undone, and something in her mind was dismissive of the whole affair. She kind of agreed with herself—it wasn’t really an important event, in the scheme of things. Andee blinked and cocked her head. What? A week ago, she would’ve called Denise in tears and probably sobbed for hours about it. Whatever it was, she just couldn’t quite bring herself to care about a random twenty-something dude seeing her in her bra and panties, and that felt really weird. It was annoying to her, but not hurtful. It wasn’t that she had no shame, it was… what? She couldn’t quite define it to herself.
November 12, 2025 at 7:18 PM
csmadsen.bsky.social
Today's #WIPSnips is #burger.

In a rare moment of pure levity, Anna Florakis gets to try a hamburger from Burger Royalty, something she always hoped to do if she ever got to visit America. Erik feels privileged to witness her wholesome reaction.

#UrbanFantasy #Supernatural #Thriller #BYPMW

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Word processor screenshot with two instances of the word "burger" highlighted. The text is as follows: “I am the burger queen!” she cackled, achieving a victorious, sloppy bite. Chewing thoughtfully for a few moments, she gulped her mouthful down and grinned at us. “So this is what American food is like! It tastes a lot better than I was led to believe. Really, it’s delicious. I read about this Burger Royalty place when I was a child, and I always swore to myself I’d try it out if I ever went to America. I simply had to have one of these tiaras.” She used her finger to tick an invisible box in front of her, making a sound like a cash register as she did so. It was hard holding back my mirth from watching her enjoy her experiences with such a genuine, innocent air. I didn’t want her to think I was laughing at her. There was just a wholesome, delightful feeling seeing her so happy, and that sort of emotion was decidedly rare in this strange new world.
November 11, 2025 at 3:36 PM
csmadsen.bsky.social
Back from an illness! Today's #WIPSnips is #local.

😁! This is the first snippet from Book 1 of my new literary pillar! #HeavyCrowns launches with #TumbledEmeralds, Andee's tale. Her father is powerful, with a #draconic secret, and she's about to inherit more than most could ever hope to handle.

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A screenshot of a word processor. The word "local" is highlighted in pastel green. The text reads as follows: With no money to speak of, there were only two places Andee could really go after eight. Her town was small and conservative, so shops closed at seven on weekdays and stayed closed on Sundays. The smattering of dive bars remained open, as did the solitary big-box store, but she was too young for a bar and too poor for impulse shopping. That left her favorite haunt: the local game store. She’d left her mom to unleash her bucking, tightly reined emotions, electing to take a gym bag full of her favorite trading cards as she left with the keys to the car. Each of her decks was carefully collected, sleeved, and boxed in a protective, shock-absorbent case, so she was comfortable with gently tossing the bag into the back seat before turning the key halfway to start the car's electrical system. Waiting the few seconds in that mode that were required to coax the engine to start, she turned the key all the way, and the old ‘boat’ sprang to life with a throaty rumble.
November 10, 2025 at 4:10 PM
csmadsen.bsky.social
Today's #WIPSnips? #Trail. I chose a long snippet, because #Silenus doesn't deserve to have the stage pulled out from under him. He joins a scene where Erik's reality truly steps from the shadows, unveiling itself as something... different.

#UrbanFantasy #Supernatural #Thriller #BYPMW #OftDTftW

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A screenshot of a word processor, with "trail" highlighted in pastel green as part of the word "trailed." The text reads as follows: Baku trailed off as a heavyset, florid-faced man that I didn’t recognize from among the guests staggered into the bathroom, visibly sweating. His sweat stunk strongly of some kind of sweet alcohol to me, though I imagined the potency wasn’t noticeable to my newly minted informant. Our interrupting visitor had a shock of white hair that didn’t quite cover the top of his head, but was drawn into a long ponytail that seemed to make up for the forward coverage his heavily receded hairline had failed to produce. Mopping at his face with an oversized silk handkerchief, the man withdrew a full-sized bottle of wine from within his jacket, which he swigged heartily, pausing mid-swig to notice us for the first time since his arrival. He stared at us blankly, then cast his gaze down to slowly consider the label with a pronounced squint. Seemingly satisfied by what he read, he unsteadily held it out toward me. “Here ya go, kid. Ya got a lot on your plate, and this is the good stuff.” I hadn’t even formed the words to refuse when his face drew into something akin to a child’s pout, and he pulled the bottle away. “Suit yerself.” He mumbled, taking another swig. He eyed Baku suspiciously, halfheartedly offering the vintage, only to once again withdraw the offer before his intended recipient could respond. “Who woulda thunk the two most stressed out people here would be so against relaxing a liddle…” a hiccup snuck its way past his lips, which he promptly drowned with more wine. He rolled his gaze toward me for a moment. “Go on kid…” he slurred, a tendril of plum-colored drool venturing from the corner of his mouth. “Yer brother’s got lots to say to ya an’ not a whole parcel o’ time to tell it to ya.”
November 5, 2025 at 4:23 PM
csmadsen.bsky.social
Today's #WIPSnips is #steel. This allows me to post the very beginning of my first book, Begging Your Pardon, Mister #Wolfe!

Erik's world begins to shift, starting with an encounter with #Baku, an uninvited spirit greedily consuming his nightmares.

#BYPMW #UrbanFantasy #Supernatural #Thriller
A screenshot of a word processor, with the word "steel" highlighted in pastel green. The text reads as follows: “I am sated.” The oddly hairless, middle-aged Asian man sitting before me inhaled with deep satisfaction, rocking back in his stainless steel chair with a discordant, grinding scrape. Balanced precariously on the chair's back legs for a moment, he straightened the tie that completed his perfectly tailored, yet otherwise entirely nondescript, blue business suit. He then belched with such a powerful reverberation that his black, mirrored sunglasses rattled on his face, emphasizing his lack of eyebrows. Appearing not a day older than forty, he wore a small, golden name tag that read “貘 - B.Aku.” Producing an intricately patterned, gold-colored handkerchief from an inner pocket, he dabbed it at his mouth with the gentle precision of an action performed countless times before. He certainly seemed ‘sated,’ but by what? There were no signs of food or utensils. The air was sterile, devoid of even the faintest aroma of a meal.
November 4, 2025 at 3:48 PM
csmadsen.bsky.social
Today's #WIPSnips is #nice.

Erik & Jonathan fly to Greece to find Anna, the medium & seer chosen by the #Keepers to guide the reincarnation of #Wolfe through the rules of the hidden #Mythical society. Jonathan just learned of the Drekavac's presence.

#UrbanFantasy #Supernatural #Thriller #BYPMW

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A screenshot of a word processor. The word "nice" is highlighted in pastel green. The text reads as follows: The rest of the flight went by without any other interesting events. Our landing in Iceland felt like almost casually touching down directly into a scene in a painting. The environment was beautiful and vivid. The air rushing in from outside when the pilot descended the gangway was invigorating, the refreshing humidity a welcome contrast to the oppressive, dry heat of my home desert. I could feel Lykaios’ interest in the area stir up within me. It seemed possible that she’d never had the pleasure of setting foot on this particular island, but it turned out that neither of us would yet have that honor. Jonathan extended one hand to stall me as I stood up to disembark. “We’re only waiting here while they add just enough fuel for us to get to the mainland, then we’re off again. Some new developments have occurred at the apartment complex, so we don’t have any time to dawdle. I promise you that I’ll make it up to you with a nice vacation later.”
November 3, 2025 at 4:24 PM
csmadsen.bsky.social
Today's #WIPSnips is #monster. In thousands of pages of #UrbanFantasy, there's only ONE place where I wrote it. Interesting. 🤔📚

Here, #Wolfe faces rare uncertainty. An unpredictable (possibly insane) vampiric ally has given him the reins of a runaway moral train.

#Supernatural #Thriller #BYPMW

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A screenshot of a word processor. The word "monster" is highlighted in pastel green. The text reads as follows: The strands of the web had to be the ensorcelled, blood-linked prisoners. Was this crazy vampire actually implying that burning or blowing up this group of innocent people would work against the Fratelli? That it would overtax the blood magic and rebound on the casters? Was Vlad pushing me to become the kind of monster who’d sacrifice strangers to win a war? Did he think that if I hesitated, my own loved ones would already be lost? Within the recesses of my spirit, Lykaios remained silently watchful. It was as though she, too, felt underequipped to make a decision like this. If this was some kind of test weighed against my humanity, I didn’t know how to pass. There was nothing to guarantee that he’d respect what I considered the sanctity of human life. Was he putting them on the butcher-block to resolve this conflict with a victory, regardless of the cost? He made it sound like it wouldn’t kill the prisoners, but he hadn’t expressly said as much. The idea was insane. They were human beings. With hopes. With loved ones. With futures.
October 31, 2025 at 3:01 PM
csmadsen.bsky.social
Today's #WIPSnips is #spell.

Erik's hard-won vacation time is disrupted when he finds out demonic hit squads are coming for his loved ones. Meanwhile, unrelated, equally murderous and vengeful sirens are out for HIS blood. Rough vacation. 😮‍💨
#UrbanFantasy #Supernatural #Thriller #BYPMW #OftDTftW

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A screenshot of a word processor, the word "spell" highlighted in pastel green. The text reads as follows: “She may not be the last one,” he said, his voice still trembling a bit. “There could still be more, even several more Sirens aboard the ship. This is bad. We need to find Anna and the rest of your friends, then figure out an exfil of some kind. Siren enchantments have some time and range limitations, though they also have some very big, exploitable loopholes. The constraints of their power also vary a bit depending on the Siren’s age and prowess. We can only hope they’re young, inexperienced, or ideally both.” My brother literally wanting to abandon ship signalled that things were beyond bad. I couldn’t see any way around trying to escape, either. If there were more of them aboard, we were in very real danger. There was no way to know who could be under their spell, nor who might be a Siren among the other passengers. The only thing I’d seen that seemed certain was that Sirens were only women.
October 30, 2025 at 3:32 PM
csmadsen.bsky.social
Today's #WIPSnips word is #Costume.

From my #UrbanFantasy, Begging Your Pardon, Mister Wolfe. Erik grapples with his abruptly altered reality. Sarcastic thoughts about superhero costumes are interrupted by the police showing up with questions he shouldn't answer.

#BYPMW #Supernatural #Thriller

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A screenshot of a word processor with the word "costume" highlighted in green pastel. The text reads as follows: My sarcastic musings on what kind of superhero costume to wear were interrupted when I rounded the corner and saw the police officers at the door. One of the two was positioned a bit further forward, a woman whose cheery face belied the fact that she would look perfectly at home in a full Viking war ensemble. Her blonde hair lay in a simple braid over one shoulder, and she had insignia for Nevada’s Clark County Sheriff's Department in several places on her uniform. Despite the cheerful expression, her set of pale blue eyes was brimming with sympathy. She looked me over, almost as though she was deciding if it would be okay to give me a hug. Her nametag read ‘C. Shepherd’ in raised golden lettering.
October 28, 2025 at 3:44 PM
csmadsen.bsky.social
#WIPSnips is #blood-curdling.

The vibes it evokes are definitely present in this scene, as #Wolfe is flown into Greece to save his as-yet unmet mentor, Anna Florakis. The seer is trapped in an apartment complex with the #Drekavac, a child's ghost.

#UrbanFantasy #Supernatural #Thriller #BYPMW

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A word processor screenshot. Text reads as follows: Somewhere deep within the apartments, an eerie, otherworldly wail rang out. Everybody around me immediately froze, the complete lack of any other sound allowing traffic noises from blocks away to suddenly be the most audible thing in the area. Jonathan signaled me with a rapid, scooping hand motion like he was trying to pull standing water closer to his chest. I scurried over to him. Before I could say anything, he nodded. “That was the Drekavac,” he said, shuddering. “It’s in there. There are already some casualties. As far as we can tell, the Hounds inside have been killed. Probably the kidnapper, too. We don’t know how many civilians have died, but there are bound to be some. The surviving Hounds reported that when it wails, the lights nearby flicker and die. It could be drawing power from them somehow.
October 27, 2025 at 7:15 PM
csmadsen.bsky.social
Today's #WIPSnips is #total.

Here, Erik is being hunted by agents of Enzo, the necromantic seer who foresaw his own demise as a result of the rebirth of #Wolfe. Jonathan is completely unconcerned, and Anna is quietly confident. Their calm helps anchor Erik.

#UrbanFantasy #Supernatural #BYPMW

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A screenshot of a word processor, with the word "total" highlighted within the word "totaled" in a pastel green color. The text reads as follows: “Wait.” she said, “They’re going to come by for another look once they outpace where we could’ve reasonably reached, to see if we deviated.” He nodded to her and settled back into his chair, humming tunelessly to himself. As predicted, only minutes later. Clouds of clay dust were reinvigorated by the powerfully thrumming rotors of the searching helicopter, adding another grimy layer to the already beleaguered windows. I imagined that the outsides of the vehicles were probably so filmed with the stuff that they would be effectively camouflaged even without the cover of the billowing debris and the overpass. I winced at the thought of the interior of the incredibly luxurious SUV, now certainly totaled by the red desert’s earthy mark.
October 24, 2025 at 3:49 PM
csmadsen.bsky.social
Today's #WIPSnips word is #gradient.

From my #novella WIP, "A Proper 'Goose Pilfers." The delightful, #nonbinary Aussie thief #Goose meticulously plans their next hair color decision. Priorities!

#AProperGoosePilfers #UrbanFantasy #Supernatural #Thriller #BYPMW #OftDTftW

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A screenshot of a word processor. The text reads as follows: Mongoose, a moniker they’d grown quite fond of, had finally made their decision. Five tones. A frosty bleach-blonde, fade to pink, then to violet, into purple, stopping at a sweep of raven black. They’d been standing in the hair dye aisle for ages—at least five minutes. Rolling a poker chip across the knuckles of their left hand contemplatively, fingering the nearly-empty pack of ciggies in their pocket with their right, Goose considered how they would obtain the chosen hues. If this were a big chain, they wouldn’t hesitate to pilfer the items and disappear, but this was a mom-and-pop shop in a tiny town. Nah. This time, they’d pay for the stuff. The cutie ol’ gran up front could use the techno-bro money; there was still plenty of dosh from that silly Silicon Valley black-tie crypto event, even after the impulse buy of the beautiful Aston Martin idling outside. Mongoose cocked their head and glanced out the front window at the magnificent machine. Probably should’ve turned it off.
October 23, 2025 at 3:17 PM
csmadsen.bsky.social
The #WIPSnips for the day is #charge.

Here, Erik and his brother meet with a contracted #Mythical, a #Hound. She's a tracker who has cornered #Wolfe's tormentor, Katerina. There's a complication, and this mama bear could die on her hill.

#UrbanFantasy #Supernatural #Thriller #BYPMW #OftDTftW

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A screenshot of a word processor separated by page number 279. The word "charge" is highlighted in pastel green. The text reads as follows: “I’m Abigail, we talked on the phone. This Katerina’s in there good. She caught one of my Hounds, too. Jaden. He’s just a kid, fifteen years old. I know you’re in charge, so I’m tellin’ you right now, you do anything to risk his life, I’ll shoot you myself.” I hadn’t even fully recognized the anger that erupted within me by the time I felt Anna’s hand on my chest, a gentle bridle that somehow immediately dispelled my furious response. The reaction was restrained by her touch, but my fury was still burning firmly in place. Abigail noticed and sneered at me. “Keep your wolf on a chain, or I’ll put him down, too.” At her declaration, Jonathan snorted, which caused her to blink rapidly in surprise. Her heart rate increased a bit, and fear pheromones filled the air, but she had a good poker face. Not as good as Jonathan’s. He turned to gesture sidelong at me. His eyes were as cold as ice.
October 22, 2025 at 3:58 PM
csmadsen.bsky.social
Today's #WIPSnips is #second.

In this scene, #Baku, the being who first heralded the changes in Erik's life and his future as #Wolfe, is about to offer an #accord. Erik cannot delay and consult with #Lykaios. It is his decision to make.

#UrbanFantasy #Supernatural #Thriller #BYPMW #OftDTftW

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A screenshot of a word processor, with the word "seconds" highlighted in green, except for the "s." The text reads as follows: Baku was intentionally showing me his weakness. The Wolfe in me was pleased at the display of submissiveness. It was a token of respect to me, which I decided I would guardedly accept… for the time. Water dripped from the faucet, counting the seconds to my response. Finally, I nodded slowly at him, then performed the formality of asking the question that we both knew had been on my lips from the moment he’d exited the stall. “Why are you here?” His smile, though still brilliantly shining, was devoid of the gems I’d familiarized myself with as it crept its way up his face, settling somewhere near his eyes. He executed a crisp, light bow toward me, inhaling deeply as he did so. When he stood straight once more, his eyes were still smiling, but with a hard glint that told tales of wisdom thousands of years older than the forty-something he appeared to be.
October 21, 2025 at 4:15 PM
csmadsen.bsky.social
Today's #WIPSnips is #dodge. There are some very intense action scenes Erik is forced to be an unwilling participant in,. This is a #snippet of one of those, where Erik has to face some hired muscle trashing the kitchens in the diner where he works.

#UrbanFantasy #Supernatural #Thriller #BYPMW

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A screenshot of a word processor. The word "dodge" is highlighted in pastel green. The text reads as follows: Although the knife didn’t perform the way it would’ve in the movies, it had the desired effect of drawing my target’s attention away from his victim to me. He laughed a deep belly laugh, advancing toward me with the confidence of a high school bully shaking a kindergartner down for lunch money. A thick Russian accent punctuated his taunting words. “You wandered into wrong kitchen, little devochka.” He rested the spine of the machete’s blade on his shoulder, rotating his body to aim the taser at me along his fully extended arm in a surprising simulacrum of competitive pistol shooting. “Now, we see if you piss yourself.” Time gladly accommodated my response by nearly halting. As the darts sprang slowly forward from the weapon, their leads starting to unravel, I crouched down low to dodge by them, tightening the fingers on my right hand together into a rigid, ninja-like knife shape. Jabbing the fingertips of my flattened hand in an upward strike to the nerve bundle in the man’s armpit, I was gratified to hear the beginning of his yelp of pain as he released the machete.
October 18, 2025 at 8:48 PM
csmadsen.bsky.social
Today's #WIPSnips is #loaf. My books don't feature a lot of loafing. Here, Erik is forced to face violent, sudden changes in his life. He begins to confront the realization that he should be dead, and wonders what it all means and where it's all going.
#UrbanFantasy #Supernatural #Thriller #BYPMW

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A screenshot of a word processor. The text reads as follows: I pulled over again. Reclining my driver’s seat as far back as it would go, I drew back the opaque portion of my moonroof to watch the stormwater washing across the glass in its furious dance while I tried to make sense of my situation. The rain’s pattering steps on the top of my vehicle were almost like a loving partner’s lead in the masquerade of my thoughts, taking control and guiding them through a mysterious pattern of steps.
October 17, 2025 at 3:26 PM
csmadsen.bsky.social
Our #WIPSnips word is #might.

The #Mythical spirit #Lykaios passively grants Erik a "gift": #ataraxia —profound calm, regardless of external circumstances. He faces a terrifying question: Does Lykaios simply enhance Erik?
Or is she taking him over?

#UrbanFantasy #Supernatural #Thriller #BYPMW

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A screenshot of a word processor with the word "might" highlighted in pastel green. The text reads as follows: Empathy and revulsion. Well, yes. I’d had plenty of that recently. With a creak, I shifted from a discomfort that was somehow only physical, despite the revelation. I felt a strange sense of calm, a detachment I’d never recognized before. My reactions to things had always been muted, but this was different. How much was Lykaios altering my perception? I wondered if she might affect me in ways I wouldn’t recognize. Losing my identity was not a concept I was enthusiastic about, and it was oddly less acceptable to me if I was unaware of it happening. The thought of the Erik I’d grown up to be disappearing within the jaws of Wolfe’s identity should have sent a chill down my spine, but the expected sensation never materialized. I realized that the old me would have been terrified of all of this, which drew a deep frown on my face.
October 16, 2025 at 3:55 PM
csmadsen.bsky.social
Today's #WIPSnips word is #care.

From my #UrbanFantasy, Begging Your Pardon, Mister Wolfe. Erik's brother, Jonathan, has an answer for most problems. Here, the answer involves a shadowy clan of operatives, using a budget that would make a tech billionaire flinch.

#BYPMW #Supernatural #Thriller

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A small screenshot of a word processor, with the word "care" highlighted in pastel green. The text reads as follows: “Wait,” he said. “You lost a limb there?” He immediately pulled out his cellular phone and dialed. “This is bad. We need to bury that, if it’s not too late. That’ll lead back to you. This is gonna be expensive, even for the Organization.” His attention returned to the microphone on his device. “There's biological evidence of Wolfe from the Nevada crime scene. Yes, I know the implications. I don’t care what it costs—put the Wraith Clan on it. They owe me, but pay them whatever they want. Just get it done.”
October 15, 2025 at 3:04 PM
csmadsen.bsky.social
Today's #WIPSnips word is #ultimate. In this scene, Erik is on his way to meet the #Keepers, and Anna is teaching him about them. Normally prim and proper, she seems to have unchained a wild and silly side that Erik finds he likes very much.
#UrbanFantasy #Supernatural #Thriller #BYPMW #OftDTftW

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A screenshot of a word processor. The word "ultimate" is highlighted in pastel green, and the text reads as follows: “Anyway, as I was saying… Keepers sound like they’d be very strict, and they are, but there aren’t a lot of rules for them to be strict about. They consider The Ones Who Came Before to be the ultimate authority, and, well… If they existed, those guys have been gone a very long time. Since The Ones Who Came Before aren’t around, the Keepers don’t really make new laws; they only enforce the rules that have been established for many millennia. Technology has added an interesting spin.” Punctuating her statement by pirouetting primly around a particularly bold oncoming bicyclist, she ended her dance move by goofily making an obscene gesture to his unwitting back. Anna seemed unhinged in ways that were surprisingly appealing to me. She noticed me staring at her and shot me a saucy wink before continuing her lesson as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened.
October 14, 2025 at 3:00 PM