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hupfen.bsky.social
Hupfen
@hupfen.bsky.social
110 followers 58 following 220 posts
Fantasy novelist and trash mammal

Vapormage available now: https://vapormage.com

Other things at https://hupfen.com
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hupfen.bsky.social
Look what I found on my porch today
A box containing a few paperback copies of Vapormage, and also bags of air, we all love bags of air
September 21, 2025 at 10:57 PM
hupfen.bsky.social
Preorders for VAPORMAGE are (mostly) up, available probably at the site of your choice:

books2read.com/vapormage

Only ebooks right now, with a couple sites not yet updated. (Amazon is frustrating.) 40% preorder discount!

Self-publishing can be convoluted.

#booksky
Promotional image about Dr. Tobias Fulton, he of Port Mab, Rinculo. A vian (bird-man) with pale feathers, a poor sense of fashion, a busted-up spear, and a ghostly green cat-like creature at his feet. (That's Chapalu.) The blurb about him: "Sometimes the biggest kid is the oldest person around. Tobias (no need to call him Dr. Fulton) lives a relaxed, playful, unimportant life, skimping on responsibility and consequence. He's a well-tenured professor at the prestigious University at Port Mab, specializing in conjuration and summons. The modern world of Linnute is driven by those summons: little creatures of magic, programmed through elaborate spells to do tasks large or small. Tobias would chafe at that, though, since he was part of the research team that designed summons. The familiars running around, doing errands? Those aren't *real* summons. Chapalu, the little green cat often seen loitering around Tobias, is a true summon. Only Tobias could make it, since it's unavoidably a part of him. Chapalu can do the sorts of things that your everyday strix or jaculus never could. Despite what the marketing might claim. Tobias would gladly tell you--at length--all the differences between true summons and everyday familiars. But he'll also gladly shut up and just hang out. At his age, the last thing he needs is to do even more things he'll regret."
August 25, 2025 at 8:58 PM
hupfen.bsky.social
It would seem the ebook is starting to proliferate >_>

Preorder details to come

In the meantime, a bit about Alejandro

www.vapormage.com

#booksky
Promotional image about Alejandro Quintana, he of Gauvencia, Farolé. A friendly-looking Hispanic man with a tuft of black hair, dressed in a grey suit trimmed in purple, offering a handshake but also brandishing a knife. The blurb about him: "The world will always need diplomacy, and officially, that is Alejandro's job. As one of Her Majesty's Speakers, he represents the Four Kingdoms of Farolé in matters of both internal and external import. He's a polite, well-traveled little man, sharp with his words. And, naturally, his blade. Not everyone agrees that the pen is mightier than the sword, so streetwise troublemakers like Alejandro get "recruited" into the state's service as assassins. Violence is only a last resort, of course, but those first resorts have started to fail a little too predictably for Alejandro's tastes. Though he avoids showing it, padding out every interaction with dry wit, he's grown lonely. He can never keep a boyfriend for long, and pushes down his doubts with a workaholic attitude and an almost encyclopedic knowledge of pop music. (He's not all business, after all. And a good show is a good show.) In some ways, Alejandro is a man without direction or a future, carrying on in a job he can't quit. He's bound to seize the first opportunity for change that he can, as long as he can admit to himself that he needs it. But then, how good is a Speaker at listening?"
August 18, 2025 at 10:23 PM
hupfen.bsky.social
The promotional content will continue until the book comes out (which reminder is Oct. 2) (heck that's less than two months)

This week is the grumpy deuteragonist Sheila

www.vapormage.com

#booksky
Promotional image about Sheila Takeda, she of Windglade, Bessetrae. A stern, brown-haired woman wearing an orange/tan coat over armor, wielding a sword, posing all dramatically on a pile of metal rubble. The blurb about her: "Sheila is the team mom. Not that she would particularly expect or like that description, but it's still true. She runs herself ragged, doing more physical and emotional work than any one person should, because it's how she always lived: caring for her little sister and injured father since she was a pre-teen. All of that might seem a little at odds with her gruff, even abrasive personality. It might make more sense given that, for roughly the last decade, she was generally addressed as "Sergeant". Her rise through Bessetrae's army was rather fast, and for a time, a source of personal pride. A lot changed during the Winters' War, the first major conflict in Linnute in decades. Sheila was in the thick of it, protecting her homeland valiantly and victoriously. But when the front lines started being overwhelmed by Vapormages, Sheila found herself doing something different. She ran, fleeing all she was about to lose. But the big, invisible loss Sheila suffered in the war was her loss of purpose. Now she wears a chip on her shoulder as much as she wears a pauldron, ever looking to the skies for something brighter to finally show."
August 11, 2025 at 10:09 PM
hupfen.bsky.social
I guess if I'm actually releasing the book I should do some promo kinda stuff leading up to the date

So let's do some longer write-ups about the cast, starting of course with the protagonist Kell

www.vapormage.com

#booksky
Promotional image about Kell Rusalka, they of Candhall, Cymona. Depicted in a green, sci-fi-ish wardrobe covering their entire body, doing some relaxed wizardy stuff. The blurb about them: Y'know how they say, "the doctor who graduates at the bottom of their class is still a doctor"? That's Kell. They're the runt. The flunkie. Well behind the other Vapormages in power and capability. Their strengths aren't the things that make a great Vapormage, except for one: they can be stubborn as all hell when they want to be. Kell usually keeps quiet about their childhood, only ever admitting that they were a bit of a punk growing up. You wouldn't know it now, with how they keep to themself, but their close friends can see that personality come through from time to time. Like all the other Vapormages, Kell is all but quarantined at their base until called up for action. They were one of very few who weren't initially called up for the Winters' War years ago, joining the fight only when absolutely needed. When Kell does appear off the Vapormages' base, you can usually find them at the theatre. They love terrible films, and there are plenty to love. Most of the time, they're laughing at the melodrama, but maybe it says something that they keep quoting those movies in their everyday life.
August 4, 2025 at 10:44 PM
hupfen.bsky.social
Trouble does what it wants.

VAPORMAGE, a magitek fantasy adventure novel, drops Oct. 2.

Preorders soon.

vapormage.com

#booksky
The cover for VAPORMAGE, depicting wispy sea foam/ocean waves building up into the general shape of an owl, with intimidating and static-y eyes
July 28, 2025 at 7:52 PM
hupfen.bsky.social
GODKILLER by way of Terry Pratchett

When magic is mundane, it takes a lot for a VAPORMAGE to be special. Kell Rusalka, runt of the group, ain't got it. But when the world seems bent on destroying them and their home, they'll need their fellow outcasts to bring it out of them.

#QuestPit #Q #SFF #A
In lieu of a proper moodboard here's VAPORMAGE as a series of Magic the Gathering cards as doing this gives a better sense of my personality: - A weird cloaked figure removing an obviously false face (Behind the Mask, by Caio Monteiro) - An art deco demon mob boss (An Offer You Can't Refuse, by Dallas Williams) - A samurai/warrior woman holding two badass flaming swords (Mardu Runemark, by Viktor Titov) - Two women fleeing dramatically through a gilded city (Daring Escape, by Ekaterina Burmak) - A yellow ghost cat in a library having a heck of a frolic (Enduring Curiosity, by Julie Dillon) - A dramatically cloaked man dramatically throwing a dramatic kunai (Artful Takedown, by Mike Bierek) - A decaying wolf giving the best awoo it can all things considered (Shrill Howler, by Matt Stewart) - A tranquil beach with a fancy and fanciful academy looming in the background (Idyllic Beachfront, by Robin Olausson)
February 12, 2025 at 7:53 PM
hupfen.bsky.social
Come read VAPORMAGE, we've got:

✨ Magic & magic accessories!
🚘 Anti-war road trip adventure!
🔬 Critiques of immoral technology and capitalism!
📱 Blatant anachronisms!
🏳️‍⚧️ Queer heroes and anti-heroes!
⚔️ Moral quandries about revenge and redemption!
😼 A cat!

vapormage.com

#P2Ppit #A #Q #SF #F #LGBT
In lieu of a proper moodboard here's VAPORMAGE as a series of Magic the Gathering cards: - A weird cloaked figure removing an obviously false face (Behind the Mask, by Caio Monteiro) - An art deco demon mob boss (An Offer You Can't Refuse, by Dallas Williams) - A samurai/warrior woman holding two badass flaming swords (Mardu Runemark, by Viktor Titov) - Two women fleeing dramatically through a gilded city (Daring Escape, by Ekaterina Burmak) - A yellow ghost cat in a library having a heck of a frolic (Enduring Curiosity, by Julie Dillon) - A dramatically cloaked man dramatically throwing a dramatic kunai (Artful Takedown, by Mike Bierek) - A decaying wolf giving the best awoo it can all things considered (Shrill Howler, by Matt Stewart) - A tranquil beach with a fancy and fanciful academy looming in the background (Idyllic Beachfront, by Robin Olausson)
January 17, 2025 at 10:28 PM
hupfen.bsky.social
GODKILLER via Terry Pratchett

Nobody believes advertising. Especially when it sells a VAPORMAGE as an unbeatable master of sorcery. But if Kell, the last vapormage, is going to survive the knights and gods threatening their life, they'll have to live up to the hype.

#P2Ppit #A #Q #SF #F #LGBT
The pitch: A mage, a grunt, a scholar, a spy: four misfits adventure together to save their world, people, and selves. If only they can stop trying to kill each other first. VAPORMAGE: A ~107k word queer science fantasy adventure An erratic listing of tropes roughly related to VAPORMAGE, including: - Magitek! - Underground city! - Birds of a feather! - Bad bosses! - Ragtag bunch of misfits! - Extremely slow burn! - Aliens speaking English! - Bird folk! - Lizard folk? - Opposites attract!
January 17, 2025 at 7:29 PM
hupfen.bsky.social
Come read VAPORMAGE, we have:

✨ Magic and magic accessories!
🚘 Anti-war road trip adventure!
🔬 Critiques of immoral technology and capitalism!
📱 Blatant anachronisms!
🏳️‍⚧️ Queer heroes and anti-heroes!
⚔️ Moral quandries about revenge and redemption!
😼 A cat!

vapormage.com

#BluePit #A #Q #SF #F #LGBT
In lieu of a proper moodboard here's VAPORMAGE as a series of Magic the Gathering cards: - A weird cloaked figure removing an obviously false face (Behind the Mask, by Caio Monteiro) - An art deco demon mob boss (An Off You Can't Refuse, by Dallas Williams) - A samurai/warrior woman holding two badass flaming swords (Mardu Runemark, by Viktor Titov) - Two women fleeing dramatically through a gilded city (Daring Escape, by Ekaterina Burmak) - A yellow ghost cat in a library having a heck of a frolic (Enduring Curiosity, by Julie Dillon) - A dramatically cloaked man dramatically throwing a dramatic kunai (Artful Takedown, by Mike Bierek) - A barking dog, possibly on fire, possibly consumed by horrific magic energy (Karplusan Hound, by Viktor Titov) - A tranquil beach with a fancy and fanciful academy looming in the background (Idyllic Beachfront, by Robin Olausson) These cards are mostly blue and red, is Vapormage Izzet? I do not know
January 13, 2025 at 7:32 PM
hupfen.bsky.social
They say write what you know and I always visualize Kell's helmet as being like a motorcycle helmet so this felt inevitable
I'm at a go-kart track, wearing a motorcycle helmet for safety reasons and looking like a wish.com Stig
December 7, 2024 at 8:28 PM
hupfen.bsky.social
My Black Friday find:

A skvader
A taxidermy work comprised of the body of a duck, head and feet of a rabbit, a pheasant's tail, and antlers. It's labelled as a jackalope but I know a Nordic hoax when I see one (also it was $260 I ain't buying that)
November 29, 2024 at 9:28 PM
hupfen.bsky.social
My old band The Mighty Missoula is doing a show and we managed to get a photo of all past and present members
Five middle-aged guys and one middle-aged gal standing in a line at a bar, looking so normal that you just know you're gonna get wrecked in the pit during the show
November 24, 2024 at 4:14 AM
hupfen.bsky.social
#UnhingedPit #F #A #LGBT Vapormage!

If Final Fantasy isn't gay and millennial enough for you then you're not playing XIV which is fair it's long but Vapormage is only 100k and better than ARR (but I get what that expansion had to do it's a rough job)

VAPORMAGE: it's like Stormblood tier I guess
The main character of Vapormage, Kell Rusalka, rendered up as a Final Fantasy XIV character: dark green full-head helmet, matching cloak and techie gloves, tech pants, big black boots, all on a scrawny frame carrying a magic rod. Look it's not a perfect match but it's what I can do in the game's engine on a level 50 character because I cannot understand Black Mage it's such a specific job to play
November 13, 2024 at 4:34 PM
hupfen.bsky.social
a router going uwu
November 9, 2024 at 11:30 PM
hupfen.bsky.social
A Christmas ornament, it's a bunny playing soccer, it's not extremely 1999 but it's got vintage about it
November 5, 2024 at 2:06 AM
hupfen.bsky.social
You've heard of boob lights?

Well IKEA is here to innovate further with:

butthole light
A display of ceiling light fixtures, in the focal center is a round light fixture with lines going towards a small circle at the center, the shade made of fabric that clusters and crumples towards the center. It's clearly not meant to look like a butt and yet once you see it you can't unsee it
November 3, 2024 at 6:51 PM
hupfen.bsky.social
I suppose with it being Halloween I should share a photo of me in costume

But tbh I'd dress like this every day if the weather was right for it
Me at a Halloween party, dressed in a green cloak, ruffled swashbuckler's shirt, and matching black pants with utility belt. I'm holding a minimalist lamp with exposed bulb because it was the most mystical thing they had to offer, like seriously, no crystals or nothing, c'mon
October 31, 2024 at 11:34 PM
hupfen.bsky.social
Cloning my Mastodon intro:
Hi I'm Zoe. #Drummer and #writer. Working on a #queer #fantasy adventure called Vapormage. It's good maybe I hope!
If I should be working on something I'm probably playing a video game instead.
I've spent a decade+ in tech and would like to get off Mr. Bones' Wild Ride.
Illustration of a light brown bunny person dressed in a dark red, fantasy-style tunic from Final Fantasy XIV, carrying a shopping bag of ephemera that demonstrates that the vague background is certainly some kind of convention. And by "bunny person" you might think "viera" given other context clues, but no, this is "person what is a bunny", she got buck teeth and all that (bun drawn by bun: https://bunluxart.tumblr.com/)
October 22, 2024 at 3:53 AM