J. Sydney Morris ✨is querying ✨
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jsydneymorris.bsky.social
J. Sydney Morris ✨is querying ✨
@jsydneymorris.bsky.social
220 followers 230 following 210 posts
✍️ Author of Romance, Fantasy, & Historical Fiction (usually a combo of all three) jsydneymorris.com
🇺🇸&🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 American Living in Scotland
🐈 Crazy Cat & Chicken Lady (mom)
✈️ Owner of The Boho Traveller Luxury Travel Agency bohotravel.org
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jsydneymorris.bsky.social
Our FMC in #Beduäfan loves some coffee (I mean, same) #WIPSnips #Romantasy
“No, no - I’ll dine in the hall, I just need some coffee to get me going before I see anyone else. For their sake as well as mine.” Elise gave her a knowing smile and scuttled from the room. Moira quickly patched up her face with her handy kit of powder, kohl, and rouge, and then used some of the basin water to tidy up her hair. Moira was poised in a chair by the window watching the comings and goings of the inner courtyard when Elise returned. “Oh thank you. I’ll drink this and put on my stays and I’ll be ready.” Elise nodded at her and bustled about the room, tidying up. Moira drank her coffee quickly, feeling the consciousness of life slowly return to her brain. She set the cup down, put on her boots, and then let Elise lace her up into her stays. In the dark ensemble, she looked every bit the deadly witch.
September 4, 2025 at 1:27 PM
jsydneymorris.bsky.social
FINALLY sharing some of my FMCs description - two noses are being described here though in today's #WIPSnips from #Beduäfan
She stared off towards the ocean, chewing the inside of her lip, wondering if she was a fool for what she was about to try and do. It didn’t help her nerves that Ambrose was indisputably good looking.  His jawline was next to perfect, his cheekbones high, and a nose that turned up at the end she would kill to have on her face.  Nothing like the straight and slightly large breathing apparatus she’d been dealt by the gods.   No, Moira knew she was striking, but not in the way they said women should be. Moira looked like the sea on a day when it can’t decide if it should storm or not.  The left side of her face had blonde eyelashes, a blonde eyebrow and a light seaglass-green eye.  The other side, dark lashes, red brow, and a dark green eye - the colour of forest moss. It was as though the sun forgot to shine halfway across her face the morning of her birth.  Kissed by a sea nymph, her mother used to say. Cursed by demons, if you asked her uncle - or many of the village folk in Newlyn. Her strange features no longer set her at the receiving end of bitter looks in town, though outside of Newlyn she acquired strange stares wherever she went.
August 30, 2025 at 2:41 PM
jsydneymorris.bsky.social
oooohhhhh we've got a little baby "who hurt you" trope that ties into today's #WIPSnip

The tension is building in #Beduäfan 🔥
“Let me see your arm.” She held out the arm where the guard in Ceenguled had grabbed her - bruises mottled her wrist, and it was tender to the touch. Alwyn’s eyes darkened. “Is this the only place he hurt you?” She swallowed, nodding. “How is your leg?” “It’s fine.” Moira cleared her throat and dunked under the water, face burning under Alwyn’s scrutinising glare. When she resurfaced she began to scrub at her feet.
August 29, 2025 at 11:28 AM
jsydneymorris.bsky.social
I *could* have posted the obvious and gone for a broad shoulders mention (is it a romantasy without at least one set?) BUT the #WIPSnips words lately have been very conducive to ship snips! Today we are setting course on a broad reach on The Avontuur
As dusk started to settle, they hauled the anchor and sailed north, per Alwyn’s instructions. The indigo sky accompanied them and the wind offered its favour, allowing McKay to set them on a broad reach, swiftly moving the ship along the coast to the sea stacks. As promised, just past the rocky pillars, Moira saw a small flame, the grey waters churning between the ship and the lantern’s faint glow.
August 28, 2025 at 10:14 AM
jsydneymorris.bsky.social
First time sharing something from this scene, but I feel like I never share any of the actual pirate vibes of #Beduäfan (at let me say, they are there!)

Today's #WIPSnip is stand, and I'm using it in the context of "stand by" aka get your a**es in line lads, sh*t is about to go down!
“Well, we’re bloody fucking privateers, aren’t we?” For the first time since they met, Alwyn gave her a genuine beaming smile. “Aye. That we are.” She ran over to the helm. The time was nigh. “STAND BY!” she bellowed. The shoal lie directly ahead, the Beduäfanish brig threatened them off their starboard bow. Seconds passed, feeling like hours, the men taught with anticipation. “COME ABOUT.” Moira threw her body weight into the helm, spinning hard to starboard as her crew let the lines run, sending the boat into purgatory as the sails luffed.
August 27, 2025 at 8:32 AM
jsydneymorris.bsky.social
This entire book is one big adventure, but I do have a few instances of the actual word "adventure". This is one of my favourite scenes in the whole dang thing....and maybe were things start to change for our (anti?) heroine.

I present to you todays #WIPSnip from #Beduäfan - querying in October 🧡
August 26, 2025 at 9:14 AM
jsydneymorris.bsky.social
I had quite a few "recent" options for today's #WIPSnip, however almost all of them gave away huge spoilers. So here is a mini spoiler to tease you on some of the romance that goes down in #Beduäfan
August 22, 2025 at 10:46 AM
jsydneymorris.bsky.social
It's obscene. I've not posted a #WIPSnips in four months....don't ask me how but I'm gonna say it was the summer travel season & planning a wedding.
Anyways, I'm jumping back in with out even the same word (razor) but shave has the same vibes, right? Right. #Beduäfan #WIP #FantasyAuthor #Romantasy
August 15, 2025 at 5:52 PM
jsydneymorris.bsky.social
We've got a lil yearning man over here. I'm obsessed with this entire passage (before and after) from my WIP #Beduäfan - today's #WIPSnips is TRIP #WIP #WriteSky #FantasyAuthor
He knew he may very well never again see her after this trip, but gods above and below, she was perfect, if in nothing but this moment. Hair shining in the starlight, eyes gleaming and eager - he wished he could paint a picture to remember the moment forever, but it would not evoke the feelings he held. Her cheeks were flushed from excitement and the sting of the chilly wind. His eyes darted between her and the sky. He held her hand, and she clung to him as though he was the sole lifeline tethering her to the earth. As sleep took her, Alwyn watched as she fought it, trying to keep her eyes open to watch the heavens. But a higher power than even the gods called, and eventually her breath evened out, hand slack in his. He brought her his blanket and draped it over her. Whatever cruel joke the gods may be playing on him, it mattered not. At least this moment, this fraction of a lifetime, belonged to him.
April 10, 2025 at 10:53 AM
jsydneymorris.bsky.social
Here is a little bit of a tender moment between Moira and....someome in #beduäfan 😉 for today's #WIPSnips of "CRY"
He brought a hand to her cheek, and tilted her head up towards him. He sat with his legs beneath him, knees on the earth, as though praying before one of the gods. “You have Bryluen, and Säde, and all your cousins. And you have Ambrose, and Wee Jamie, and Ezra, Gerden - you have so many who love you.” A single tear slipped from her eyes, down her cheek, and onto the ground between them. He wiped the wet from her face with his thumb. “And if all that fails, my sweet Moira, you have me, little though that may be.” He pulled her into his arms, cocooning her in the shelter of his muscles and cloak. The sky blurred as her cheek pressed into his chest, and her eyes filled with water. She wrapped her arms around him and he pulled her into his lap, holding her as the tears fell. This would be the last time she cried. This would be the last of her weakness. She was stronger than those who’d wronged her. She was stronger than the cruelties life thrust upon her. She was not alone. And even when she was - she would persevere.
April 9, 2025 at 5:44 PM
jsydneymorris.bsky.social
Moira loves to be moody, especially when she can talk down about herself. Our antisocial lass has to build up the courage to talk to her friends...tbh I think many of us can relate to that. While I had a few of "scene"s in my MS, I particularly enjoyed this one #Beduäfan #WriteSky #WIPSnips #A #F
Moira glanced through the window at the scene inside; Ambrose and Bronn discussing something Verdir himself could only know, both with mischievous looks on their faces that meant nothing good; her sister giggling at something Captain Mackay’s son said, bullocks, what was his name? Something that looked sounded like garden, she remembered. He leaned into her sister who batted her eyelashes at him. A few others were crowded around the small table, sharing a roast duck and vegetables. Moira felt a pang of envy that she knew it never was that easy for her. She had friends, sure, and people liked her, but she stood out with her mismatched eyes and face, and those not used to her always felt discomforted around her startling appearance, some even after they came to know her. This group wouldn’t be perturbed by her strange features, but she just didn’t feel a mood to be social, yet. The task ahead weighed heavily on her mind. So she sat at the edge of the sea, where she’d found herself her entire life, staring at the fish swimming by. She had nearly made her mind up to go inside when two finely furnished feet appeared next to her. “Mind if I join yeh, Moira?” She looked up at a flushed Ambrose, a pipe in hand, a warm earthy smoke wafting from him. “You know you needn’t ask.” She patted the hard ground next to her and he somehow made the process of sitting on the ground elegant. The rain had stopped earlier, but the evening carried a chill as the sun began to set. The days grew shorter with each one passing, Moira thought grimly. Winter was nearly here. Pinks and purples streaked through the sky, melancholious and reflective of her thoughts..
April 2, 2025 at 12:32 PM
jsydneymorris.bsky.social
Hi, I'm Moira, I hate myself most of the time, have a terrible relationship with alcohol, push away love but pine after the one I'm not with. bascially I self sabotoge everything!
Did I mention I'm trying to overthrow the patriarchy & smuggle goods illegally to help the revolution? #ChaosPit #F #A
What my friends think I do: Johnny Dep Mixing Absinthe What my parents think I do: Nothing, they're dead What society thinks I do: Dance around the fire in a circle What the author thinks I do: romantic liasons under the moon What I think I do: Elizabeth swan mean mugging someone What I actually do: Monthy pyhton fake horse riding skit
April 1, 2025 at 2:50 PM
jsydneymorris.bsky.social
I'm baaaaaaack with my #WIPSnips of the day...work has been kicking my butt, however I think I am now back to sharing bits and bobs from #Beduäfan - today's word is APPRECIATE
March 31, 2025 at 9:16 PM
jsydneymorris.bsky.social
Moira is falling in love with her best friend while thrust into running her father's merchant business. The country is at war & a trade embargo turns her to smuggling for the enemy & joining the revolution
🧡BFFS-Lovers-Enemies
⚔️Pirates & Witches
🏰Castles & Pubs
💕Love triangle
#WSPit #WSPitQ #F #R #A
This is a moodboard for the novel Beduäfan. there are girls dancing around a fire, gothic castles, a man drinking deeply from a glass of wine, a saying ship in a cove, two lovers meeting at dusk with laterns, a boisterous tavern, Elizabeth Swann from pirates of the Caribbean, a castle run on a beach, and two lovers holding hands as they walk through a grassy field BEDUäFAN 95k word romantic fantasy novel 💪 Strong Willed FMC 🧍‍♀️ ⚔️ Swashbuckling adventure 🏴‍☠️ Pirates & Witches 🧙 🧡 BFFS - Lovers - Enemies 💔 🖤 Love triangle 🖤 🫂 Strong Women Like-Sister Relationships 🫂 🗡️War & Social Revolution - overthrowing the patriarchy 🗡️ 📖 Historical Allegory for the war of 1812 📖 🏰 Castles, taeverns & pubs 🍻 🏕️ Running & Camping 🏃‍♂️ 🌍 Unique fantasy 🗺️ ✨ Magical Transformation ✨ For fans of dark water daughter, the adventures of Amina al sirafi, and mortal follies. The vibes are pirates of the Caribbean, polder, and black sails. Tales of townsfolk burning those with magical powers are spreading through Beduäfan, but more concerning are the rumors that The Crown is behind it all. When Moira’s father is suddenly arrested and thrown into prison, she willingly takes over her family’s merchant marine business...but she quickly learns her father was involved in more than just trading goods and supplies. Moira and her crew sail west to seek trade and answers in the neighboring country of Sildha, where magic is welcomed and the country is wild and ready for growth. Along the way she finds love with an old friend, makes a few new enemies, and begins to hone her new magical prowess with the help of another weilder of night magic. Moira must choose to live her life simply, and ignore the impending war, or to join the revolution and help save her people from persecution.
February 26, 2025 at 10:59 AM
jsydneymorris.bsky.social
Society said to sit down and shut up, so she became a privateer, joining the revolution.
#WSPit #WSPitQ #A #F #R

🧡Lovers to Enemies
⚔️Swashbuckling Adventure
🧙‍♀️Witches & Faerie Folk
⚔️Overthrowing the Patriarchy
🏰 Castles & Pubs
⚔️ Based on the War of 1812

Vibe: Pirates of the Caribbean meets Poldark
Beduäfan - a 95k word fantasy novel 💪 Strong Willed FMC ⚔️ Swashbuckling adventure 🖤 Love triangle 🫂 Found family 🗡️War & Social Revolution 📖 Historical Allegory 🏰 Castles, taverns & pubs 🏴‍☠️ Pirates ✨ Unique Magic System 🌍 Unique fantasy world ✨ Magical Transformation Tales of townsfolk burning those with magical powers are spreading through Beduäfan, but more concerning are the rumors that The Crown is behind it all. When Moira’s father is suddenly arrested and thrown into prison, she willingly takes over her family’s merchant marine business...but she quickly learns her father was involved in more than just trading goods and supplies. Moira and her crew sail west to seek trade and answers in the neighboring country of Sildha, where magic is welcomed and the country is wild and ready for growth. Along the way she finds love with an old friend, makes a few new enemies, and begins to hone her new magical prowess with the help of another weilder of night magic. Moira must choose to live her life simply, and ignore the impending war, or to join the revolution and help save her people from persecution. the vibes are witches dancing around a fire, musicians playing in pubs, midnight trysts with wine, sailing ships. and gothic castles. She wished she could bottle the moment and return to it in the years to come. But no such power existed - or if it did, the gods didn’t share it with her. The night passed between them. None came to relieve them of their watch. Perhaps again, this was the hand the gods. Or perhaps their companions were simply tired. An easy silence fell, sparked only by the cracking of a log, the hiss of the fire. Alwyn never let go of her hand.
February 26, 2025 at 5:25 AM
jsydneymorris.bsky.social
It's #WSPit eve and I'm excited - there has been a lot of hype around this event! I'll go ahead and share my #WIPSnips for the day for part - this is towards the end of Act 2 when our girlie is finally realising she's gotta beef up and get sh*t done
I've thought it through in a million different ways, Ambrose!" She stood and began pacing the room. "I've considered ignoring all of this, pretending like my father wasn't murdered and just returning home to a normal life, pretending I'm not who or what I am. But I don't know how that would even be possible, let alone living a lie for the rest of my life." She shook her head, crossing to the window with her arms folded, rubbing comfort into herself. "Maybe things can't go back to how they were, but privateering? Moira, that's absurd." Ambrose gawked at her, his disheveled hair less romantic now, and more that of a pretentious raving philosopher. "Is it so absurd, Ambrose, that I - someone who has sailed my entire life, someone who has been wronged by Beduäfan, who has ties to Frayne, who has seen the reckless damage and havoc wrecked on innocent lives caused by Beduäfan - that I agree to sail for Sildha? Someone who's father and mother were both murdered in part of Beduäfanish attempts to eradicate people like me?" Her blood pressure was rising, and she was sure if anyone passed in the hall, they would hear her shouts. "Your mother?" Ambrose asked her.
February 25, 2025 at 8:43 PM
jsydneymorris.bsky.social
I had a lot of versions of "SHINE" in #Beduäfan for todays #WIPSnips , but I particularly love this one because it is our first little insight as to the physical appearance of our FMC and her first thoughts on our love interest 🧡 #WriteSky #Romantasy #AmWriting
It didn't help her nerves that Ambrose was indisputably good looking. His jawline was next to perfect, his cheekbones high, and a nose that turned up at the end she would kill to have on her face. Nothing like the straight and slightly large breathing apparatus she'd been dealt by the gods. No, Moira knew she was striking, but not in the way they said women should be. Moira looked like the sea on a day when it can't decide if it should storm or not. The left side of her face had blonde eyelashes, a blonde eyebrow and a light seaglass-green eye. The other side, dark lashes, red brow, and a dark green eye. Like the sun forgot to shine halfway across her face the morning of her birth. Kissed by a sea nymph, her mother used to say. Cursed by demons, if you asked her uncle. Her strange features no longer set her at the receiving end of bitter looks in the village, though outside of Newlyn she acquired strange stares wherever she went. Ambrose ripped her from her contemplations.
February 24, 2025 at 10:01 PM
jsydneymorris.bsky.social
The tail #mainecoon
February 24, 2025 at 9:58 PM
jsydneymorris.bsky.social
Ever since the cone of shame has come off she has stayed as close to me as possible 🧡 #MaineCoon
Calico Maine coon kitten sitting on a couch
February 23, 2025 at 9:26 PM
jsydneymorris.bsky.social
Cone of shame with zero shame. Poor thing, hopefully we can take this off in a few days.
February 21, 2025 at 8:11 PM
jsydneymorris.bsky.social
Thrust into her family's merchant business, Moira is ready for adventure-but first she must sacrifice part of herself to unlock ancient magic. A heated romance grows between her and an old friend, but as rebellion rises, she finds herself drawn to another as they smuggle their goods across borders.
February 21, 2025 at 4:06 PM
jsydneymorris.bsky.social
I have exactly 1 hit for whim in #Beduäfan and this #WIPSnips FINALLY has some of the sailing stuff that initially inspired me to write this thing! I promise there is sailing and adventure in this novel!

Brass Monkey = a rack to hold cannon balls, in case you didn't know 🧡
A stream of organised chaos erupted from her crew, throwing their backs into the ship’s lines to raise the sails and navigate them around the blockade forming before their eyes. “Is this coincidence? Or did they know we were here?” She asked Alwyn. “I have no idea. I’m inclined to say coincidence, unless they followed The Avontuur, but I doubt it.” Moira observed the ships. They didn’t appear to have been ready and waiting for them, only flying a fraction of their canvas. “We can outrun them,” she said confidently, formulating her plan on a whim. “As long as we avoid the shoals - it’ll be close. We need to sail directly at them, then tack at the last minute to cut across their bow at the absolute last second. They won’t open fire on us, we’re still in Sildhan waters, but if they stop us, or trap us in this bay, they will ask for all our papers. Can you ask the cabin boy to relay that to the other two ships?” Alwyn nodded and left her at the helm. Säde came up to her. “What can I do?”
February 21, 2025 at 11:46 AM
jsydneymorris.bsky.social
I have exactly one "plaque" for today's #WIPSnips and that is because our girl may be a bit heavy handed on the drinking - so much so she is commemorated in her local tavern for it lol #Beduäfan
Moira knew less travellers passed through Newlyn these days, while she sat reading during her seemingly endless time at home she often daydreamed out the window, watching the road and those on it. Each day, fewer carriages and foot traffic passed. Things were changing in the land. But tonight didn’t harbour any of that feeling. No, tonight felt like the last night from the week where she earned her plaque on the wall behind Thomas. He caught her looking at it, “Fancy drinking another hundred before you head out, eh, Moira?” “Oh, I think not. As you know, Mr. Penross, I have finished my schooling now and those days are quite behind me.” She used his proper name and gave him a wink. “So, it’ll be the largest ale we’ve got then, eh? If you can’t drink as many.” She let out a laugh, Thomas always knew how to work the room. “And you’ll have the same Ambrose, I take it?” Thomas looked at their hands, still entwined, but not entirely inappropriate, as their gloves separated them. Moira realised with a small grimace that Ambrose’s coat remained draped over her shoulders.
February 20, 2025 at 11:50 AM
jsydneymorris.bsky.social
Today's #WipSnip made me realise I might need to find some synonyms for "sense"...oopsie!But that is what editing is for 🧡 So I decided to share this snip from one of my favourite chapters- it's just such a pretty scene in my head and hopefully on paper too #Beduäfan
February 19, 2025 at 10:54 PM
jsydneymorris.bsky.social
Today's #WipSnip made me realise I might need to find some synonyms for "sense"...oopsie!But that is what editing is for 🧡 So I decided to share this snip from one of my favourite chapters- it's just such a pretty scene in my head and hopefully on paper too #Beduäfan
Was she positively delusional? It didn’t matter. The gods were speaking. It was a romantic night but not in the sense of sensuality, but rather one with the vindictiveness of a wild landscape, of an artist halfway through a masterpiece. It was a romantic night in the way one feels all the little aspects of the world. If any erotic tension lived between the two, perhaps more than the night would pass between them. But no such thing existed. At least not yet, though perhaps not ever. There was no feeling in the air that hung heavy, no shift in pheromones - nothing but the contrast of the chilly wind whipping their cheeks and the fire warming them.. Her face was flushed, but not from lust. His eyes were wide, but not from desire. With each pirouette of the ethereal dancers in the sky Alwyn told her a tale of stories long forgot. The folk stories he spun excited her mind, made her think of worlds she might never see. She quietly asked questions, simple ones to unlock a lower vault in the story still untold. She wished she could bottle the moment and return to it in the years to come. But no such power existed - or if it did, the gods didn’t share it with her.
February 19, 2025 at 2:10 PM