Nymm and the Magpie
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nymmgratton.bsky.social
Nymm and the Magpie
@nymmgratton.bsky.social
300 followers 150 following 96 posts
YA Fantasy Author under construction. 🏳️‍🌈 they/them.
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nymmgratton.bsky.social
Just over four weeks ago I was diagnosed as autistic - not much surprise to anyone who knows me IRL! But since then my brain has been re-evaluating pretty much every interaction from my life through a new lens... and getting a better picture of my strengths and limitations.
#actuallyautistic #autism
Symbol for neurodivergence - an infinity sign in blended rainbow colours
September 2, 2025 at 10:21 AM
nymmgratton.bsky.social
I'm learning the "Shaw Alphabet" / Shavian script for English... because... why not!
#shavian #shawalphabet #specialinterests #neurosparkly
Text in the Shaw Alphabet reads "Don't Panic!" in red letters over a large number "42" in front of a galaxy image.
September 2, 2025 at 7:58 AM
nymmgratton.bsky.social
I've been really quiet on here while sorting out MH etc... Here's a low-effort post to get back into things!
#fantasynovel #fantasy #booksky #authorsky
Image of text reads: WHAT'S YOUR FANTASY NOVEL TITLE? A [birth date] of [first letter of your first name] and [first letter of your birth town] BIRTHDATE: 1 A Ballad 2 A Child 3 A Darkness 4 A Crown 5 A Court 6 A Dream 7 A Feast 8 A Game 9 A Garden 10 A Pact 11 A Promise 12 The Forest 13 A Temple 14 A Throne 15 A Trial 16 The Night 17 A Mystery 18 The Cave 19 The Dragon 20 A Song 21 The King 22 Daughter 23 The Lady 24 The Lord 25 The Prince 26 The Queen 27 The Rule 28 The Sea 29 The War 30 The Winter 31 The City FIRST LETTER OF FIRST NAME: A Arrows B Blood C Alchemy D Magic E Eternity F Fear G Ice H Hearts I Witches J Hunger K Mercy L Legends M Smoke N Swords O Hope P Pirates Q Runes R Time S Thorns T Silver U Rats V Sand W Wrath X Stars Y Snow Z Ghosts FIRST LETTER OF BIRTH TOWN: A Ash B Fire C Bone D Dust E Crystal F Flame G Faeries H Honour I Iron J Justice K Secrets L Fools M Mayhem N Roses O Storms P Prophecy Q Silence R Lies S Shadows T Tears U Fury V Venom W Wolves X Chains Y Ravens Z Sky e.g. Sarah J Maas born 5th March in New York City: 05 = A Court, S = Thorns, N = Roses A Court of Thorns and Roses
July 14, 2025 at 11:42 AM
nymmgratton.bsky.social
I know words shift in meaning over time, but the places my brain sometimes goes when reading Victorian fiction can be... unfortunate.

#booksky
May 2, 2025 at 10:46 PM
nymmgratton.bsky.social
Mario Puzo's 1969 novel "The Godfather" follows a mafia family in New York through a transition of power from one family head to the next. Fascinating glimpses into another time (1945+) and way of life and brilliantly flowing prose make it a pleasure to read. 5/5.

#booksky #thegodfather #mariopuzo
Book cover for "The Godfather - A Novel" by Mario Puzo, depicting a hand holding puppet strings.
April 30, 2025 at 3:50 PM
nymmgratton.bsky.social
Sometimes, I write poetry. I took Rudyard Kipling's "If—", and made it better. You're welcome. This is "IF (for the rest of us)".

(Text version in the image's ALT-text)
#poem #poetry #amwriting #LGBTQ #resilience
Text of the poem IF (for the rest of us). By Nymm. A reimagining of 'If—' by Rudyard Kipling -- If you can keep your head when assholes taunt you And, loud with scorn, are shouting at you ‘shame’, If you can hold your truth while bigots haunt you, Yet stand your ground and never play their game; If you can wait and keep your calm in silence, Or speak with care while others shout their lies, If you can rise and never match their violence, And fight for justice, not for ego’s prize: If you can dream—and not make dreams your mistress, If you can plan—and know your plans may fail. If you can survive your Worries and Distress And with them as companions still take sail; If you can hear your tale used as a warning, Or see your love dismissed as something fake, And, defiant, get out of bed each morning, And live the life you never let them break: If you can own the names they branded ‘shameful’, And wear the flags they told you not to fly, If you can be both visible and grateful, And still not owe the world a reason why— If you know that, no matter where your birthplace, Your gender, or the colour of your skin, You are enough—and stand tall without disgrace, So every moment standing is a win. If you push past the hateful and the mindless, And take the shit they never had to bear, If you can give no fucks, and still show kindness, And plant your flag in open, honest care; If you can rest and know you’re not a burden, And love yourself the way your people do— Then you are home, not perfect but not broken, And every step has always led to you.
April 18, 2025 at 11:50 PM
nymmgratton.bsky.social
While 'The Fledgling Magpie' is out with Beta Readers, I've started drafting my next project - 'Sandbound', a middle grade fantasy of culture shock, language barriers, desert survival, and friendship.

#amwriting #booksky #authorsky #SFF #MiddleGrade #Fantasy
Mock-up cover for a novel "Sandbound" by Nymm Gratton, picturing vast sand dunes in a desert, and a magical symbol: an equilateral triangle pointing down, divided by a central vertical line.
April 17, 2025 at 9:51 PM
nymmgratton.bsky.social
Apparently I'm jumping on the bandwagon...

#actionfigure
Mock image of a "Nymm - Starter Set" action figure, showing a pack with a plastic figure wearing jeans, walking shoes, and pink-striped white T-shirt, with accessories included: camera with flash, notebook titled 'novel notes', green d20 , magpie, saxophone, typewriter.
April 12, 2025 at 4:05 PM
nymmgratton.bsky.social
I'm excited to send my current draft of "The Fledgling Magpie" out to my Beta Readers this morning. The YA Fantasy novel follows Maggie, a 14-year-old who escapes life on the streets to join a school for thieves.

#booksky #writersky #authorsky #betareaders #SFF #YAFantasy #amwriting
Mock-up novel cover for "The Fledgling Magpie" by Nymm Gratton. Behind the writing is a scene of moonlit city rooftops of terracotta tile; in the distance white clouds roll by and two moons are in the sky - one large and white, the other smaller and pale orange.
April 11, 2025 at 8:33 AM
nymmgratton.bsky.social
Larry Correia's "Hard Magic" is a fun romp through an alternative 1930s with gangsters, spies, blimps, super weapons, and a magical secret society. Likeable, richly developed characters and non-stop action. 5/5

#booksky #SFF #TheGrimnoirChronicles #LarryCorreia
April 7, 2025 at 6:50 AM
nymmgratton.bsky.social
I've been on a classic poetry binge over the last week, revisiting old favourites and discovering some I've not dived into fully before.

What are your favourite #poems?

#booksky #reading #poetry
Image with feathery background showing the text of the poem "Hope is the thing with feathers" by Emily Dickinson: “Hope” is the thing with feathers - That perches in the soul - And sings the tune without the words - And never stops - at all - And sweetest - in the Gale - is heard - And sore must be the storm - That could abash the little Bird That kept so many warm - I’ve heard it in the chillest land - And on the strangest Sea - Yet - never - in Extremity, It asked a crumb - of me.
March 26, 2025 at 12:03 AM
nymmgratton.bsky.social
Mixed feelings on "Under the Whispering Door", a fantasy gay romance. A slow start, initially unlikeable MC. Warms up well for most of the later two thirds but finale Deus Ex Macchina near the end unsatisfying. Let's call it 3/5.

#booksky #LGBTQ #SFF
Book cover for "Under the Whispering Door" by TJ Klune, depicting a quirky cottage / tea-shop in woodland with the shadow of a huge stag behind.
March 25, 2025 at 12:56 PM
nymmgratton.bsky.social
Two of my most enjoyable, refreshing reads of 2024 were "Legends & Lattes" by Travis Baldree and "The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet" by Becky Chambers.

What are your fave #cozyfantasy or #cozyscifi reads?

#booksky #beckychambers #travisbaldree #SFF #cosyfantasy #cosyscifi #legends&lattes
Book cover of "Legends & Lattes" by Travis Baldree, depicting a female orc, Viv, making coffee, stood back to back with Tandri, a succubus dressed for bakery.
March 16, 2025 at 6:38 PM
nymmgratton.bsky.social
1 star review on Amazon UK for Lord of the Rings (one of my favourite books of all time):
"Totally unbelievable, this would never happen."

#tolkien #lordoftherings #1starreveiews #onestarreviews #booksky
Screenshot of 1-star amazon review of Lord of the Rings from 16 August 2024, reading "Complete Nonsense: Totally unbelievable, this would never happen."
March 16, 2025 at 6:05 PM
nymmgratton.bsky.social
Amber Smith's "The Way I Used To Be" hits like a freight train from page 1 with a vivid, gripping depiction of the aftermath of CSA on the life of a teenager over several years. A solid 5/5.

#booksky #yafiction #ambersmith
Cover of novel "The Way I Used To Be" by Amber Smith, showing yellow dandelion flower stems.
March 7, 2025 at 2:22 AM
nymmgratton.bsky.social
What do you think of music snippets/lyrics in fantasy stories? I think their inclusion in works like The Lord of the Rings and The Name of the Wind do a lot of work in building a rich, lived-in world. (Not to mention Terry Pratchett's "A Wizard's Staff...")

#authorsky #fantasy #SFF #booksky
March 5, 2025 at 12:56 AM
nymmgratton.bsky.social
l adored so many of Asimov's short stories as a teen and 20-something, and I *so* wanted to love Foundation... but found its components rushed and disjointed. Originally from 1951, it hasn't aged so well 😢 3/5

#booksky #scifi #sciencefiction #asimov #foundation #isaacasimov
Cover of novel "Foundation" by Isaac Asimov, showing 70s spaceship art.
March 3, 2025 at 5:42 PM
nymmgratton.bsky.social
My fave writing quote: "There's no such thing as good writing, only good rewriting."
-- Robert Graves

#booksky #authorsky #writing #rewriting #editing #amwriting #amediting
February 24, 2025 at 9:30 AM
nymmgratton.bsky.social
I had to do some "homework" on hyphens vs en dashes vs em dashes... don't remember ever covering them in school. Apparently Alt + 0151 is the way.
#authorsky #amwriting #emdash
February 18, 2025 at 1:05 PM
nymmgratton.bsky.social
I'd forgotten that I enjoy the editing phase too :) Hopefully that feeling will persist for another 41 chapters and a few more passes. Getting stuck in line by line is satisfying.
#authorsky #fantasywriters #booksky
February 18, 2025 at 12:51 PM
nymmgratton.bsky.social
One chapter to go in my current draft of The Fledgling Magpie... a lot of (mental) sweat has gone into this one!
#authorsky #YAfantasy #SFF #fantasywriters #writers
February 16, 2025 at 2:04 AM
nymmgratton.bsky.social
"The Novice" is a consistent follow-up to "The Magician's Guild" by Trudi Canavan. A minor step up from its competent predecessor, but I'll still go for 4/5. I loved the sections focusing on Sonea in the Magician's Guild, but Dannyl's travels often felt like padding. #booksky #fantasy #SFF
The front cover of "The Novice" by Trudi Canavan, "The Black Magician Trilogy Book Two" depicts a lone character in green robes wielding a staff.
February 14, 2025 at 9:36 AM
nymmgratton.bsky.social
A #HeroForge version of my current Dungeons and Dragons 5e Rogue, Lumína Willowwind; a moon elf (high elf) who grew up in the circus taming animals and performing acrobatics.

If it has fur, she will try to pet it.

#Dungeons&Dragons #DnD5e #Rogue #TTRPG #elf #elves #asexual
An image created in HeroForge depicts a dark-haired female elf wielding two whips and wearing studded leather armour with ornate, swirling decoration. She stands in front of an asexual flag.
February 14, 2025 at 9:23 AM
nymmgratton.bsky.social
My YA Fantasy draft has sailed past 80,000 words with a dramatic climax... just a few chapters left to tie things up.
#authorsky #booksky #fantasywriters
February 14, 2025 at 1:03 AM
nymmgratton.bsky.social
English really should agree on a singular, gender-neutral pronoun... the uninitiated do get quite confused by singular they/them.

I've rewritten my two (1 minor, 1 very minor) ungendered characters in my YA Fantasy WiP to use ze/zem/zir #neopronouns.

"Ze" first appeared in 1864! Mind blown.
February 12, 2025 at 2:27 PM