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JG Duke
@jgduke.bsky.social
600 followers 330 following 570 posts
Author, reader, grammarian.
#AmQuerying #IndieAuthor #EpicFantasy #📚💙
Black Lives Matter. All cops are bastards. AI is not art. Free Palestine. Trans rights are human rights.
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jgduke.bsky.social
#FantasyIndiesJanuary Day 19- Weaknesses

Jaris' weakness is a false sense of politeness; a people pleaser. Meanwhile Junalee learns to assert herself, but doesn't learn how to pick her battles, definitely to her detriment.
Marvee is a push over. And Menther: indulgence is his weakness, for sure.
Picture is a daily prompt for fantasy authors to share miscellaneous aspects of their works in progress throughout the month of January. The associated hashtag is #FantasyIndiesJanuary. Picture is of a (temporary) book cover. A ship is on the open sea, with giant white wings for sails. Text reads "High Winds and Low Whispers, a story of Dainu, by JG Duke".
January 19, 2026 at 1:03 PM
Reposted by JG Duke
jgduke.bsky.social
👑 Royal family drama
💍 Arranged marriage
⚔️ War and strategy
✨ Magic
🔥 Original mythology
Come join Dokiro, Ambea, Danola, and others as they set to put the right family back on the throne- whatever the cost.
Book 1/10 of the series #AStoryOfDainu
#IndieAuthors #📚💙 #WritingCommunity #EpicFantasy
Picture of a temporary book cover. Black background with a golden crown centered. White text reads "Long Live the Queen, a story of Dainu, by JG Duke".
September 6, 2025 at 2:02 PM
jgduke.bsky.social
Had company over today, so I didn't get to my regular online updates.
Instead, let me just leave this Saturday nugget of wisdom:
Keep the humanities human.
Art, literature, dance, song, music, poetry... Never let them give our souls away to algorithmic computation.
The arts are of/for/by PEOPLE.
January 18, 2026 at 12:39 AM
jgduke.bsky.social
#FantasyIndiesJanuary 16- #FreeFriday

You guuuuuuuuys!!! 🤩🥰❤️😭🥳
Seriously, #IndieAuthors, #Booksky, and the #WritingCommunity are the absolute best!! So excited to meet more of you, and go on these adventures together!!
Picture is a screenshot of OP's profile, highlighting 600 followers. Picture is a daily prompt for fantasy authors to share miscellaneous aspects of their works in progress throughout the month of January. The associated hashtag is #FantasyIndiesJanuary.
January 16, 2026 at 6:29 PM
jgduke.bsky.social
"Where there is no human connection, there is no compassion. Without compassion, community, commitment, loving-kindness, human understanding, and peace all shrivel. Art and literature are antidotes to that."
- Susan Vreeland
#art #literature #readers #writingcommunity #connection #LifeIn2026
January 16, 2026 at 12:56 PM
jgduke.bsky.social
#FantasyIndiesJanuary 15- recent reads

Last: 铜钱龛世 vol 2. It's cute, but like- everyone said My Su Li's THE author to read...It's a children's book.
Current: Forcing myself to pause 将进酒 bc it's so damn good, and I'll be devastated when it's over!
Next: I'm excited for the next volumes of 天宝伏妖录.
January 15, 2026 at 2:56 PM
jgduke.bsky.social
"Plot is no more than footprints left in the snow after your characters have run by on their way to incredible destinations."
― Ray Bradbury

#writingcommunity #authors #characters #books #stories #booksky #indieauthor #ForThePlot #quotes
January 15, 2026 at 1:06 PM
jgduke.bsky.social
#FantasyIndiesJanuary 14- What do I hope to improve this year?

It's fascinating to me that when I first started writing these books 20yrs ago, the prose was heavy and elevated and expressed emotion so well! Now, it feels very YA. I want to vamp up my prose...
Without being suicidal again, though.
Picture is a daily prompt for fantasy authors to share miscellaneous aspects of their works in progress throughout the month of January. The associated hashtag is #FantasyIndiesJanuary. Picture is of a woman saying "That's the hardest part"
January 15, 2026 at 12:14 AM
jgduke.bsky.social
"Authors must spend months, years making fantasy believable in a single work, while reality runs rampant in complete chaos elsewhere."
- Don Roff

How hard it must be to write dystopian literature these days!

#writingcommunity #indieauthor #writesky #reading #books #booksky #quotes #📚💙
January 14, 2026 at 1:11 PM
jgduke.bsky.social
#FantasyIndiesJanuary 13- Character #PetPeeves

Jaris quickly learns he hates alcoholics.
Junalee comes to despise hypocrisy.
Menther is easily peeved by any inconvenience. He also hates being corrected.
And Marvee will rip on anything that's fashionable to rip on.
Picture is a daily prompt for fantasy authors to share miscellaneous aspects of their works in progress throughout the month of January. The associated hashtag is #FantasyIndiesJanuary. Picture is of a (temporary) book cover. A ship is on the open sea, with giant white wings for sails. Text reads "High Winds and Low Whispers, a story of Dainu, by JG Duke".
January 13, 2026 at 11:03 PM
jgduke.bsky.social
"Don't just say you have read books. Show that through them you have learned to think better, to be a more discriminating and reflective person."
- Epictetus

#books #reading #learning #discriminating #literature #quotes #ThinkBetter #ImproveYourself #EducateYourself #booksky #writingcommunity
January 13, 2026 at 12:50 PM
jgduke.bsky.social
FantasyIndiesJanuary 12- #Shoutout

I've never met any of you in person, but a big thank you for all the support and encouragement to
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January 13, 2026 at 1:03 AM
jgduke.bsky.social
So pumped for #bluepit tomorrow!
I can't participate this time, since I'll be at work all day- boooo!
But know that I'm so excited to see all the incredible stories this amazing community has to offer
Y'all are rock stars!! 🤩🤘📚💙 Best of luck!!
January 12, 2026 at 1:41 PM
jgduke.bsky.social
“Writing is the only thing that, when I do it, I don’t feel I should be doing something else.”
— Gloria Steinem

#writing #author #books #writesky #booksky #indieauthor #quotes #DoIt
January 12, 2026 at 1:03 PM
jgduke.bsky.social
Three hundred years after the rightful lineage is exiled, the heir comes to reclaim what is his. Taking Ral Palace is easy- keeping it is another story.

#AStoryOfDainu #EpicFantasy #BookSky #AmQuerying
Picture is a (temporary) book cover. A golden crown is centered on a black background. White text reads "Long Live the Queen, a story of Dainu, by JG Duke".
January 12, 2026 at 1:40 AM
jgduke.bsky.social
#FantasyIndiesJanuary 11- #Lore

So, this is gonna have to be a 🧵, cause there's too much!

Firstly, #AStoryOfDainu is an entirely original universe. It is not based on European myths of dragons and elves, or Arabic myths of gen and sorcery. It is an original mythos,with original ppls and languages.
Picture is a daily prompt for fantasy authors to share miscellaneous aspects of their works in progress throughout the month of January. The associated hashtag is #FantasyIndiesJanuary. Picture is of a (temporary) book cover. A ship is on the open sea, with giant white wings for sails. Text reads "High Winds and Low Whispers, a story of Dainu, by JG Duke".
January 11, 2026 at 3:37 PM
jgduke.bsky.social
“Don’t bend; don’t water it down; don’t try to make it logical; don’t edit your own soul according to the fashion. Rather, follow your most intense obsessions mercilessly.”
— Franz Kafka

#books #writingcommunity #indieauthor #booksky #writesky #HeWouldKnow #quotes #WriteWhatYouLove #stories
January 11, 2026 at 2:34 PM
jgduke.bsky.social
#FantasyIndiesJanuary #SaturdaySnippet

Opening scene of "High Winds and Low Whispers".

#AStoryOfDainu #WIP #EpicFantasy #Quotes #AmQuerying
Picture is a block of text taken from the book "High Winds and Low Whispers", a story of Dainu, by JG Duke. It reads as follows: It had been twenty-seven years since they had seen those pillars. Twenty-seven years since they set foot in their home land of Purn. The four youngest members of the expedition hardly remembered their native land. They had been naju when they left: little more than hatchlings, still covered in scales and unable to speak- though, Jaris' mother did love to remind him that he was able to squawk from a very early age, and had, allegedly, made the fact well known during their entire eight-month voyage to Sol. Now, a lifetime later, they were returning to Purn, coming back to a land they were meant to call home, but a land they had no memories of and no ties to, save their mothers' and mentors' stories. They had lived their entire lives in Sol, raised by and among the Taifin. The Taifin had, of course, spoiled the vom severely their whole lives. Each one petted and dotted on them as though her own son. The ney children had enjoyed their expedition far less than their male counterparts. They were treated as all Taifin were treated: work hard, study hard, train hard. Women must be capable of anything, and ready to act at any time. The vom, meanwhile, were treated like little princes. Don't worry if you miss the target, you'll do better tomorrow. Read a different book if that one bores you, you have the entire library. Language mistakes are to be expected from a creature with a forked tongue; just keep practicing, I know you'll do great, Jaris! .... etc. Picture is a temporary book cover. It shows a ship with wings for sails on the open sea during a sunset. Text reads "High Winds and Low Whispers, a Story of Dainu, by JG Duke". Picture is a list of daily prompts for indie authors to share their work. The associated hashtag is #FantasyIndiesJanuary.
January 10, 2026 at 5:55 PM
jgduke.bsky.social
#FantasyIndiesJanuary 9- #FridayPromo

A Purnma has three stages in life: scaly childhood, fleshly adulthood, and winged old age.
Jaris spent his scales across the world. Now as an adult, he must learn to sail through hypocrisy, arrogance, and manipulation if he ever hopes to finally soar.
Picture is of a (temporary) book cover. A ship is on the open sea, with giant white wings for sails. Text reads "High Winds and Low Whispers, a story of Dainu, by JG Duke". Picture is a daily prompt for fantasy authors to share miscellaneous aspects of their works in progress throughout the month of November. The associated hashtag is #FantasyIndiesJanuary.
January 9, 2026 at 1:10 PM
jgduke.bsky.social
#FantasyIndiesJanuary day8- strengths

I write #EpicFantasy bc I am very good at elaborate, vivid, almost opulent descriptions within a distinct narrative voice.
My beta readers described my writing as "GoT meets Pride and Prejudice meets Miyazaki." (!!!)

By contrast- Brevity? Never heard of her!
Picture is a daily prompt for fantasy authors to share miscellaneous aspects of their works in progress throughout the month of November. The associated hashtag is #FantasyIndiesJanuary.
January 8, 2026 at 11:39 PM
jgduke.bsky.social
“Just because you’re a slow reader doesn’t mean you’re a bad one.”
— Joe Walters

Reading is not a race. It's not a contest to see who reads the most.
Did you enjoy what you read? Did you learn? Did you use your imagination? Did you change prior biases? Then it was enough.
#📚💙 #reading #books
January 8, 2026 at 12:59 PM
Reposted by JG Duke
shakespeare.lol
Melt, and no more be seen
January 8, 2026 at 12:46 AM
jgduke.bsky.social
#JanuaryWorldBuilders
7- what inspired you to create your world?
Oh boy! Strap in for a thread! 🧵

The short answer is loneliness.

I had grown up with lots of siblings, only to be entirely isolated overseas in my teens. This, paired with a family history of "wild imagination" (ie, BPD),...
kiraofthewind.com Kira of the Wind (Erika McCorkle) @kiraofthewind.com · 12d
Good morning #JanuaryWorldbuilders! A very broad question that I have no doubt is difficult to answer: What was YOUR beginning of worldbuilding? What was your inspiration? Your initial spark? Another work of fiction? Boredom? A powerful imagination seeking an outlet?
MonthlyWorldbuilders prompts daily feed card #JanuaryWorldbuilders Hosted by Kira of the Wind Week 1: Beginning 7. What inspired you to create your world? The background image shows a blurred magic tree with a waterfall coming down between two halves of its trunk. It’s nighttime and the night sky is magical with lots of blues and pinks and purples
January 7, 2026 at 6:48 PM
jgduke.bsky.social
#FantasyIndiesJanuary day 7- first line of WIP, High Winds and Low Whispers.

It had been twenty-seven years since they had seen those pillars.

#AStoryOfDainu #FirstLine #Quotes #indieauthor #WIP #epicfantasy #booksky
Picture is a daily prompt for fantasy authors to share miscellaneous aspects of their works in progress throughout the month of November. The associated hashtag is #FantasyIndiesJanuary. Picture is of a (temporary) book cover. A ship is on the open sea, with giant white wings for sails. Text reads "High Winds and Low Whispers, a story of Dainu, by JG Duke".
January 7, 2026 at 6:30 PM
jgduke.bsky.social
“Woke up this morning with a terrific urge to lie in bed all day and read.”
— Raymond Carver

#Same #reading #books #booksky #readers #morning #indieauthors #quotes
January 7, 2026 at 1:04 PM