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Nelbrea
@nelbrea.com
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📖 Book 1: The Relic In The Fortress coming soon 🛡️

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@Jonah.Nelbrea.com
@Rob.Nelbrea.com
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Nelbrea @nelbrea.com · 16d
Our website and newsletter are live!

Sign up for the newsletter, and get a copy of the short story "Echo: A Nelbrea Tale", one of our first stories in a planned anthology following Mathis as he tries to return all manner of spirits and specters back to the echo.

#writingcommunity

www.nelbrea.com
NELBREA | Book 1: The Relic In The Fortress Coming Soon
Stay updated on NELBREA series releases, exclusive stories, and news. Sign up to be the first to know and receive a free short story, 'Echo.'
www.nelbrea.com
Reposted by Nelbrea
jonah.nelbrea.com
I love when Peter and Clort hang out. This scene has it all, food, Ustaen language, rumors of the wider world. We don't have many percentages in Nelbrea, so subbing in "half" here.
#WIPsnips
#fantasyauthor
#writingcommunity
#writesky
December 2, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Reposted by Nelbrea
jonah.nelbrea.com
Peter's parents were both killed before he'd formed many memories with them. Will he ever learn the truth of their demise? #wipsnips #fantasywriting #fantasyauthor
December 1, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Reposted by Nelbrea
jonah.nelbrea.com
The concept of scrying isn't unheard of in Nelbrea, Peter understands it pretty easily. Once he learns that he can tell it any food, and it will give him a recipe, he locks in. He actually likes the rambling slice of life blog posts that go with them.
#awesomecharacters
#writesky
#writingcommunity
charliedeltawrites.bsky.social Charlie Delta 🦊🐐 @charliedeltawrites.bsky.social · 2d
Tell me more about your #AwesomeCharacters

We've talked about social media but now your character has inexplicably (unless they had it already) gained access to the whole internet!

How do they feel about it? What are they using it for? Is it beneficial?

#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts
December 1, 2025 at 6:10 AM
Reposted by Nelbrea
jonah.nelbrea.com
Rallo shines in part 2, the flashback sequence. Many characters in Nelbrea work out, but Rallo has a more specific philosophy.
#fantasywriting
#wipsnips
#fantasywip
#writersky
Rallo awoke first, and tore down most of the camp, returning the supplies neatly to the catamaran as Peter slept. He was physically impressive, even for a Veskarin, and it became clear that he worked hard to be so. Just as the Lonestar began to peek over the horizon, Rallo began a routine of squats, push-ups, and even ran up and down the beach a number of times. Peter woke as Rallo was finishing his last run down the beach. He stood at the cusp of the thicket and watched Rallo from a distance. The monk was doing some kind of jumping exercise that Peter had never seen before. He watched for a moment, shook his head softly, and turned back to the camp. He began carefully rolling up the bedrolls, and breaking down the tent. Rallo had cleaned most of the camp already, and within a few minutes the rest was packed down tight. Rallo ducked into the clearing, breathing heavily. Peter’s mind was still catching up to his body, he couldn’t imagine exerting himself that much so early in the day. "You get an early start." Peter yawned into his fist . "It’s my secret- I stay ready, so I don’t have to get ready." Rallo said, bouncing up and down on the balls of his feet. He threw a few punches into the air.
December 1, 2025 at 6:08 AM
Reposted by Nelbrea
jonah.nelbrea.com
Our first newsletter will be going out in early December!
#fantasywriting
#writersky
#writers
#selfpromo
#nelbrea
jonah.nelbrea.com Jonah Sdao @jonah.nelbrea.com · 16d
Make sure to follow @nelbrea.bsky.social for more focused updates on the progress of book 1 of The Effulgence Cycle, The Relic in The Fortress. We also post a lot about different facets of the world, and process.
December 1, 2025 at 6:04 AM
Reposted by Nelbrea
jonah.nelbrea.com
I'm very excited to show off our brand new Nelbrea logo! This is the official banner that will appear across the top of every story set within Nelbrea!
#writersky
#fantasywriting
#logodesign
#logo
December 1, 2025 at 6:03 AM
Reposted by Nelbrea
rob.nelbrea.com
Peter's love interest isn't introduced until the next book, but they bond over their love of everything sweet. Candy, tarts, cakes, if it's sugar then it's good.

#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #IndieAuthor #FantasyBook
cometkins.bsky.social Ian Haramaki 🏳️‍⚧️✨ @MFF C8 @cometkins.bsky.social · 3d
What made your MC really start to fall for their love interest in your book/wip? #WritingPrompt
November 30, 2025 at 7:54 PM
Reposted by Nelbrea
rob.nelbrea.com
Peter's "first" (this is in a flashback) big fight comes up after this scene. He gets to see Rallo's Velsha martial arts in action, too (as well as Rallo's extreme confidence).

#WIPSnips #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #writingPrompts #FantasyBook
November 30, 2025 at 10:49 PM
Reposted by Nelbrea
rob.nelbrea.com
The Relic In The Fortress is only about halfway done, but you can sign up for our newsletter at www.nelbrea.com for updates and get a copy of our short story, Echo, set in the same world of Nelbrea!

#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #IndieAuthor #FantasyBook
November 30, 2025 at 7:39 PM
Reposted by Nelbrea
jonah.nelbrea.com
Global doesn't appear at all in The Relic in The Fortress, so I've chosen this passage here that discusses a map in Bishop Dredd's office. The world of Nelbrea is quite large, and we've visited very few of the locales on it. This passage, early in book 1, hints at the scope.
#wipsnips
#fantasyauthor
Bishop Eulisses Dredd stared down at his desk. The surface of the ornate wood was pocked with burn marks, scorched around the edges, and coated in a thin layer of soot. A sheaf of paperwork smoldered in a heap on the floor beside it, curling into ash. A thin trail of gray smoke rose toward the ceiling, then drifted lazily out the single open window that overlooked the training yard. Hands clasped behind his back, Dredd’s breathing was deep and measured, and he counted silently as he inhaled, held the breath, and exhaled again. This was happening more often these days- losing control of his magery, succumbing to the cloying voice in the back of his head that demanded rage from him and nothing more. This was the third desk he’d had hauled up to his office in the past year, and it would need replacing again. Managing his own power was becoming quite a chore for Bishop Dredd. He turned and stared towards a map, hanging from a fraying length of twine. It was a map of the whole of Nelbrea, from the Western Expanse to the Island Nations, from Frozen Collinglee to Darulia. Parze was a minuscule speck in the Bluegreen Sea, dwarfed by the Gran Sel Sals to the east and an enormous swath of nothing to the west. The map was embarrassingly out of date- Darulia hadn’t been included on a map in ten years, yet this one still showed it, far to the south. The surface of the old wayfinder was pricked with small iron tacks, noting all of the Liminal Order’s holdings across the world, but they too were out of date, over half of the Fortresses across the map now either lay destroyed or in the hands of those who would challenge the Order- the Breakers, the Feullans, or the tenacious Lancers. The Fortress on Parze was denoted by a pin twice as large as the island itself; however, it had rusted in place and bloomed out into a crimson stain on the linen.
November 23, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Reposted by Nelbrea
jonah.nelbrea.com
At the end of Book 1, Peter starts assembling his party. The story is an ensemble, even if it takes a while for the whole group to arrive. At the end of the first book, four of the nine are together, and the stakes grow monumentally higher.
#novmemeber
#fantasywip
#foundfamily
#ensemblewriting
November 23, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Reposted by Nelbrea
jonah.nelbrea.com
Nelbrean firearms, or "magearms" fire bullets propelled by dense affinity infused crystals. Peter's is red, Feummic, and has loud, concussive, damaging slugs. In this scene, we see Peter say the line that inspired this entire section.
#wipsnips
#fantasywriting
#fantasyweapons
"Well, well, well." Peter said, raising his voice. "If it isn’t the Lizard of Crimsa." "How dare you!" Loren spat, his eyes shooting so wide, Peter thought his eyeballs would roll out of his head. Loren flicked his wrist- Peter drew, and fired. The explosive crack of the Feummic Affinity crystal in the Pioneer further unnerved Loren, and before he could even form a thought past the insult and the gunfire, Peter had nailed him. It was just a flesh wound, but enough to blow Loren’s concentration. Loren fell from his levitation, crashing through a wooden table with a crunch and a thud.
November 22, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Reposted by Nelbrea
rob.nelbrea.com
Peter is a hugger to anyone he's close to, with a firm handshake to anyone else respectful. If you're rude (or worse), you'll be lucky to even have a friendly nod.

#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts #FantasyBook
charliedeltawrites.bsky.social Charlie Delta 🦊🐐 @charliedeltawrites.bsky.social · 11d
Tell me more about your #AwesomeCharacters

How does your character feel about physical touch?

Are they fans of a handshake, hug, pat on the back, etc?

Do they prefer to keep their distance?

Does it matter how close they are to the other person?

#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts
November 22, 2025 at 6:06 AM
Reposted by Nelbrea
rob.nelbrea.com
There is not much better than describing food. One of these days we'll get an in-universe cookbook done. Just gotta actually write out the recipes proper. For now I'll settle for making my own mouth water.

#Writevember #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompt #WriteSky
November 22, 2025 at 6:03 AM
Reposted by Nelbrea
jonah.nelbrea.com
Peter is a genuinely nice guy.
#fantasywriting
#wipsnips
#fantasyauthor
November 22, 2025 at 3:21 AM
Reposted by Nelbrea
rob.nelbrea.com
This is such a good character building scene for Peter. The realization that Dredd is not just his "asshole superior", but a man that actively harmed people, specifically his own family, and is the direct reason he is stuck where he is.

#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts #FantasyBook
November 21, 2025 at 10:47 PM
Reposted by Nelbrea
jonah.nelbrea.com
Utah Carol by Marty Robbins. Peter likes a hero story, and he likes an everyman story, and this song is about a heroic everyman. Peter is also really moved by tragedies, and this song is absolutely tragic.

#fantasywriting
sagetgreene.bsky.social Sage T. Greene, Author @sagetgreene.bsky.social · 12d
#Novmemeber 21

Share a song you think your Main Character would like. This doesn't necessarily need to relate to their story, this is just something you think they would enjoy listening to!
21. A song you think your Main Character would like (purely vibes!) A prompt game for the month of November, titled #Novmemeber (as in meme). Hosted by @sagetgreene.bsky.social . The bottom says "Have fun, interact, and remember alt text!" There is a silly emoji face with wild eyes and tongue sticking out, and some fall-style leaves in the corners.
November 21, 2025 at 5:28 AM
Reposted by Nelbrea
jonah.nelbrea.com
Peter spends all day making a family style platter of Porc d'Rouj. Sweet, tangy chunks of slow braised pork shoulder glazed in a fiery red pepper based glaze. Smoky, sweet, and comforting, it's served over long grain rice, and crispy fried onions. He scorches the rice.
#awesomecharacters
#fantasywip
charliedeltawrites.bsky.social Charlie Delta 🦊🐐 @charliedeltawrites.bsky.social · 12d
Tell me more about your #AwesomeCharacters

It is character potluck day! Everyone is gathering for a meal!

What is your character bringing? Do they have a favorite dish/something they make in a pinch?

Bringing ice or crudité is also acceptable!

#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts
November 21, 2025 at 12:47 AM
Reposted by Nelbrea
jonah.nelbrea.com
In addition to The Relic in The Fortress, we are quietly working on a cookbook featuring recipes from Nelbrea, titled "The Affinity of The Hearth". The kitchen is a special place to both myself, and @rob.nelbrea.com, when we aren't writing together, we are cooking together.
#WIPsnips
#fantasywriting
The doors to the kitchen were quite grand in comparison to the plain wooden doors found throughout the rest of the Fortress- two large paneled doors, hinged to swing freely in either direction with a push, wide enough to pass two folks abreast through each of them, and tall enough that Peter could carry Paul standing up on his shoulders, and they still would barely brush the top frame. The kitchen held a special significance throughout most of Nelbrea, in many ways considered the most important room in a dwelling. Peter, who bore the burden of an unquenchable sweet tooth, would agree with that sentiment. He pushed the carved wooden doors open and stepped into the warmth of the kitchen. The scope of the room was such that Peter marveled at it every time he visited. The room was a large dome, lit by a persistent magelight at the apex of the ceiling. Against the walls, rows of enormous affinity ovens sat, stoked by the cooks, who channeled their magework into the fires. The sweet smell of burnt sugar, caramel, and arbornuts wafted off of the ovens- the smell of Latiran and Feummic Affinity burning away. The combined Affinity of the cooks and bakers mingled together in the base of the enormous ovens, swirling into a unique type of magery, warm and comforting. It was no surprise that the kitchens were the heart of a Nelbrean home. The Affinity of the hearth soothed anyone who came close enough to it.
November 20, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Reposted by Nelbrea
jonah.nelbrea.com
I decided to share the rest of Peter and Auri's conversation today. I think it's a nice moment for Peter, and the punchline makes me laugh every time. Auri is charming.
#fantasywriting
#fantasywip
#writing
#writingexcerpt
November 19, 2025 at 11:53 PM
Reposted by Nelbrea
jonah.nelbrea.com
The Road, meets The Gunslinger. There's no hope, nobody is coming to help you, and there's no point in making friends, because they'll all shoot you in the back. There is some backstabbing in #Nelbrea, but the core themes are hope, mutual aid, and the power of your friends. With cowboys.
#novmemeber
sagetgreene.bsky.social Sage T. Greene, Author @sagetgreene.bsky.social · 17d
#Novmemeber 16

Share some ANTI-comps (things that are totally OPPOSITE from your WIP)!

You could also try reframing your WIP as a totally different genre. What would it look like if your romance was now horror?
16. Anti-comps (What's the OPPOSITE of your WIP?) A prompt game for the month of November, titled #Novmemeber (as in meme). Hosted by @sagetgreene.bsky.social . The bottom says "Have fun, interact, and remember alt text!" There is a silly emoji face with wild eyes and tongue sticking out, and some fall-style leaves in the corners.
November 16, 2025 at 10:38 PM
Reposted by Nelbrea
jonah.nelbrea.com
I could write an entire novella about magearms in #Nelbrea, and how they work. Paul's Proclaimator is an antique. This is like someone bringing a colt single action army to a .357 Rhino fight. Paul leans on his heritage, while Peter looks to the future. #guns #fantasyguns #fantasywriting
rob.nelbrea.com Robby Beaton @rob.nelbrea.com · 14d
I really enjoy this scene. It's the first big showcase of how firearms work in The Relic in The Fortress, while also being the beginning of another key moment between Peter and Paul (not fully shown here).

#WIPSnips #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #IndieAuthor #FantasyBook
November 19, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Reposted by Nelbrea
jonah.nelbrea.com
I love Clort so much. Clort and his cousin Ustuc are probably two of the oldest characters conceived of in #Nelbrea.
rob.nelbrea.com Robby Beaton @rob.nelbrea.com · 14d
I think Clort would be the one with the most to offer. He's seen enough of the world, and would add some levity to anything I had going on. Goblins always want to throw some song and dance into things.

#writesky #writingcommunity #indieauthor #fantasybook
charliedeltawrites.bsky.social Charlie Delta 🦊🐐 @charliedeltawrites.bsky.social · 14d
Tell me more about your #AwesomeCharacters

Which of your characters would you turn to for advice?

Does it matter what the advice was on? Relationships? Money? Career? Other?

Is there anyone who's advice you would always do the exact opposite of?

#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts
November 19, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Reposted by Nelbrea
jonah.nelbrea.com
This is one of my favorite chapters/exchanges. I've cut it off here before Peter gets really philosophical, but the rest of this conversation is some of our better writing, I think. Peter is not a dogmatic man, and his philosophy deals with the stories folks leave behind.
#WIPSnips
#fantasywriting
November 19, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Reposted by Nelbrea
jonah.nelbrea.com
Self promotion is super awkward for me, too. It's gotten much easier as I'm realizing that our story is worth sharing. I tell people all the time "I don't want to toot my own horn..." when talking about my work, and the general response I get is "toot away". So passing that along. Toot away.
clhellisen.bsky.social CL Hellisen @clhellisen.bsky.social · 14d
Self promo is my bane; it makes me feel like an immense tit when I post stuff about my writing (thanks to upbringing - never blow your own horn), but it is increasingly apparent that all it means is that I'm utterly invisible as a writer...

So, anyway.

I have books and stories out there.
November 19, 2025 at 4:22 PM