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Author James C Struck

@curioussnowflake.bsky.social

He/They/Him/Them Author of The Curious Snowflake: A Parable, available here: https://bit.ly/3PMYmkR And Children of Dusk, available here: https://a.co/d/brmahZN Musician, parent, #poly, #leftist, #queer, overall big geek. JamesCStruck.com

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Author James C Struck@curioussnowflake.bsky.social · 9mo ago

#WIPSnips for 11/20: special Seekers like Vee and Gideon search the world for potential Weavers, and new potentials usually can only handle Weaving one or two elements at a time. Tim is not the usual new potential. Children of Dusk, coming 12/15! #IndieAuthors #WriteSky #UrbanFantasy

Seekers usually,” he cast another glare at the twins,” introduce potentials to this world slowly, let them get used to the idea and learn their strengths. But while what these two did with you was unorthodox to say the least, I cannot fault them for their excitement.” “Why? What’s so special about me?” “Dude,” Gideon sat up and leaned in towards Tim, elbows on knees, “you do things instinctually that normally take people months to learn, stuff that even Vee and I couldn’t get that fast, and we were born Duskers. That’s why I was kinda hesitant about you at first.” “What, did you think I was a Midnighter in disguise or something?” “Yeah, he did,” said Vee, and her brother shot her a dirty look. “What, you did!” “So did you, Vee,” Tim cut into the middle of their budding argument. “That’s why you got all weird after you healed me.” “Healed you?" Kieran looked concerned. “From what?” “He got jumped by some jocks, beat him up pretty bad. Luckily we were there to bail him out." Vee sat up and leaned in towards Kieran. “K, he can draw all five already.” Kieran gave her an incredulous look, then got up out of his chair and crouched down in front of Tim, holding out his hands. “Show me.” Tim shrugged and took the older man’s hands. He closed his eyes, breathed out, and reached. Immediately, all the elements were there, shimmering at the edge of his consciousness, ready to be used. He drew hard on all five, feeling a puckish urge to show off a little, and started weaving, making it up as he went, layering the elements together almost by whim. He felt a little how he imagined Jackson Pollack must’ve felt, splattering and scribbling away on his massive canvases. Layer upon layer, finer and finer detail, he pushed his concentration to the limit, his eyes rolling back in his head. “Tim, what are you….oh my god." Vee’s voice was a hushed whisper, almost awed. “Whoa,” muttered Gideon. Tim slowly opened his eyes, still concentrating with all his might on holding the dozens of elemental threads in place. Hanging in the gloom above them was a massive spiral of light, a fractal pattern twenty feet across, shining with all the colors of the rainbow and then some. The twins gazed raptly up at it, the colors playing across their faces like Christmas lights, and even Kieran seemed impressed. He looked at Tim with a mixture of pride, amusement, and consternation. “Very pretty, but I’d rather you not make something like that inside my house. Release the layers slowly, otherwise that thing is going to go off like a skyrocket.”
✨#WIPSnips✨ A Daily Writing Share Tag@wipsnips.bsky.social · 9mo ago

The #WIPSnips word for November 20th is "special" #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts

#WIPSnips a bluesky writing community tag November 20 - special Share a line from your WIP with the daily word for inspiration Use #WIPSnips. Don't forget Alt Text for graphics Synonyms, variation and vibes are fine. Support others on the #WIPSnips tag! Hosted by rosie-j-potter.bsky.social The image behind the text is a border that is black with stars with a light blue rectangle highlighted by a fuchsia line. An illustrated caticorn holding a pencil and writing in a book with a rose behind one ear is in the lower right corner
Author James C Struck@curioussnowflake.bsky.social · 9mo ago

I am taking part in the #HumanVoicesOnly event tomorrow and I have a live TT author interview Sunday! Watch the video for all the details! #writesky #indieauthors www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8UdvPoD/

Tomorrow, 11/21, as part of the #humanvoicesonly event, @Nicole Fikes | Narrator 🎙️ will be posting an excerpt from Children of Dusk! Also, on Sunday, 11/23 at 8pm EST I will be appearing on a live in...

TikTok video by Author James C Struck

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Author James C Struck@curioussnowflake.bsky.social · 9mo ago

#WIPSnips for 11/16: spend The Duskrealms are dying. As belief in magic and the supernatural fades from our world, so do the ‘Realms, literally. As a side effect, time does some really strange things there, as Tim discovers in this excerpt. #WriteSky #IndieAuthor #UrbanFantasy

But yeah, K’s right,” said Gideon, standing and stretching, “we need to boogie before the Turning.” “The what?” “Time’s different here,” Vee explained. “How long do you think we’ve been here, Tim?” “Umm,” Tim thought about it and was completely flummoxed. It felt like almost no time had passed, like they’d just arrived, yet he knew he’d talked for a long time. “Think that’s a trip?” Gideon grinned at Tim. “Go feel your mug of tea.” Tim walked over and picked up his drink. Two-thirds of it was gone, but the remainder was just as piping-hot as it had been when Kieran gave it to him. “That’s impossible,” he muttered. “No,” said Kieran, “that’s time in the Duskrealms. It moves in fits and starts, moments staying suspended then hours popping by in a blink. It’s always twilight here, always the between-time, but it occurs at dawn as well, not just dusk, and sometimes the shift from one to the other is rather jarring. We call those abrupt leaps forward a Turning, and once you spend some time here you will learn to feel when one’s coming. There’s one about to occur, and I think it would be best to get you back before it happens.”
✨#WIPSnips✨ A Daily Writing Share Tag@wipsnips.bsky.social · 9mo ago

Welcome to a new week of #WIPSnips The word for November 17th is "spend" #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts

#WIPSnips a bluesky writing community tag November 17 - spend Share a line from your WIP with the daily word for inspiration Use #WIPSnips. Don't forget Alt Text for graphics Synonyms, variation and vibes are fine. Support others on the #WIPSnips tag! Hosted by rosie-j-potter.bsky.social The image behind the text is a border that is black with stars with a light blue rectangle highlighted by a fuchsia line. An illustrated caticorn holding a pencil and writing in a book with a rose behind one ear is in the lower right corner
Author James C Struck@curioussnowflake.bsky.social · 9mo ago

#WIPSnips for 11-16: run Weavers can sense when someone near them uses magic, though what they sense is unique to each person. For some it’s warmth or heat, for others it’s sound or vibration. For Tim, it seems, he gets goosebumps. Children of Dusk launches 12/15! #WriteSky #IndieAuthor

“I saw you at that dopey rally yesterday, right?” “Yeah,” said Tim, and he could feel his cheeks getting hot again. “Sorry about that.” “No, no biggie, the timing was just…” she considered for a beat, “interesting.” “Aah, there’s that stupid thing,” said Dan at last, “now, let me see…” he started tapping and scrolling away at his phone. Suddenly Tim felt a massive wave of goosebumps run up his arms. He shuddered involuntarily, rubbing his arms with his hands, and noticed Vee watching him very closely, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of her mouth. “Alright,” said Dan, unaware of the exchange, “how is Thursday, same time sound?” “Perfect,” Vee replied. “Am I rescheduling Gideon as well?” “No, just me.” “Gideon?” Tim asked. “My brother. Big guy I was talking with at the rally? Looks like me but reimagined as a Neanderthal?” “Alright, done and done,” said Dan, placing his phone back in his desk drawer and wiping his hands. “Anything else, my dear?” “Nope, thanks Dan." She turned to the door with the same decisive, bouncing step Tim noticed the day before. She pulled it open then glanced back at Tim with a smile. “See ya soon, Tim,” and she leftBild
✨#WIPSnips✨ A Daily Writing Share Tag@wipsnips.bsky.social · 9mo ago

The #WIPSnips word for November 16th is "run" #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts

#WIPSnips a bluesky writing community tag November 16 - run Share a line from your WIP with the daily word for inspiration Use #WIPSnips. Don't forget Alt Text for graphics Synonyms, variation and vibes are fine. Support others on the #WIPSnips tag! Hosted by rosie-j-potter.bsky.social The image behind the text is a border that is black with stars with a light blue rectangle highlighted by a fuchsia line. An illustrated caticorn holding a pencil and writing in a book with a rose behind one ear is in the lower right corner
Author James C Struck@curioussnowflake.bsky.social · 9mo ago

#WIPSnips for 11/15: progress I had to be very careful about posting this, one paragraph higher would have been a MAJOR spoiler. 😱 Have I mentioned that Naldumiel and his snark is my favorite character in the book? Cuz he’s my favorite character in the book. #Writesky #UrbanFantasy

What are you implying?” asked Annika, “what about the war?” “Let’s just say,” the Midnighter’s smug attitude reasserted itself,” that things have progressed while you’ve been gone.” A musical tone sounded from Naldumiel’s pocket. He pulled out his phone, thumbed at it for a moment, and smiled. “Well,” he said as he slipped it back into his pocket, “this has been fascinating, but I have more pressing matters to attend to.” He turned to leave. “Where are you going, Naldumiel?” For the first time there was a hint of fear in Annika’s voice. “Oh, I think you know. Did you think I was hanging out on your porch for the scintillating conversation?” He turned his collar up against the tapering drizzle. “But I will leave some friends with you to keep you company. Wouldn’t want you to get lonely, would I?” He turned to one of the possessed jocks. “If they come out that door, kill them all,” he glanced back, “the little ones first. Annika?” He turned back and set the butt of his staff on the ground, “if I ever see you again, I will happily kill you. Tim,” he hesitated, and something like real regret crossed his face, “you’re a fool.” He turned, stepped into the shadows of the nearby trees, and disappeared.
✨#WIPSnips✨ A Daily Writing Share Tag@wipsnips.bsky.social · 9mo ago

The #WIPSnips word for November 15th is "progress" #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts

#WIPSnips a bluesky writing community tag November 15 - progress Share a line from your WIP with the daily word for inspiration Use #WIPSnips. Don't forget Alt Text for graphics Synonyms, variation and vibes are fine. Support others on the #WIPSnips tag! Hosted by rosie-j-potter.bsky.social The image behind the text is a border that is black with stars with a light blue rectangle highlighted by a fuchsia line. An illustrated caticorn holding a pencil and writing in a book with a rose behind one ear is in the lower right corner
Author James C Struck@curioussnowflake.bsky.social · 9mo ago

#WIPSnips for 11/11: burger Here, our MC Tim has to contend with explaining to his nosy, suburban realtor mom about Vee and Gideon, without, ya know, letting her know they’re magic wielders from another dimension who’ve recruited him to save the world. No biggie. 🤣 #WriteSky #UrbanFantasy

That’s why you have the phone, Tim, so I don’t freak out.” She looked up at him for a moment, then smiled. “I can’t stay mad at you. Just like your dad.” She held up the bag. “C’mon, sit and eat. Unless you filled yourself up on scones, that is.” Tim grinned and joined her at the table, grabbing the bag and emptying out the contents. She watched him as he unwrapped his burger and dug in, a tiny half-smile playing at the corners of her mouth. “What?” he mumbled around a mouthful of fries. “Well?” Anna rolled her eyes innocently. “What’s she like?” “Mom! She’s just a friend, her and Gideon both.” “Yah-huh”, she said, blatantly unconvinced. “So what’s she like? Tim huffed through his nose and popped another fry in his mouth, considering. “Six-and-a-half feet of enthusiasm in a five-foot package.” “So, definitely an “opposites attract” situation then, huh?” “Mom, I told you…” “…she’s just a friend, I heard.” She took a sip of her own soda that had been sitting neglected on the table, leaving a ring of moisture there. “They’re good people? I can trust you on that, right?”
✨#WIPSnips✨ A Daily Writing Share Tag@wipsnips.bsky.social · 9mo ago

The #WIPSnips word for November 11th is "burger" Don't have a burger? Just show us another culinary delight from your WIP! #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts

#WIPSnips a bluesky writing community tag November 11 - burger Share a line from your WIP with the daily word for inspiration Use #WIPSnips. Don't forget Alt Text for graphics Synonyms, variation and vibes are fine. Support others on the #WIPSnips tag! Hosted by rosie-j-potter.bsky.social The image behind the text is a border that is black with stars with a light blue rectangle highlighted by a fuchsia line. An illustrated caticorn holding a pencil and writing in a book with a rose behind one ear is in the lower right corner
Author James C Struck@curioussnowflake.bsky.social · 9mo ago

#WIPSnips for 11/10: local Weaving works much MUCH better in the Duskrealms than it does in our world because not enough people here believe in magic. Here, Kieran uses science to explain how belief and consciousness directly affect reality. #WriteSky #UrbanFantasy #QueerWriters

Okay, gonna get a little esoteric here, so try to keep up. Do you know anything about quantum mechanics?” “Actually, yeah." Tim was amused at the look of surprise on Kieran’s face. “I love science. I read a bunch of books on quantum mechanics. Weird stuff, but really cool: wave functions and non-locality and how the act of observing something changes it, that experiment with electrons behaving like waves until they’re measured and then they become particles.” Kieran snapped his fingers and pointed at Tim. “Yes, Feynman’s double-slit experiment, that’s the one! He showed that matter is affected by observation. There are even experiments showing that animals can do the same. This is how we think Weaving works. Some people inherit the ability to manipulate this effect consciously, to literally bend matter and energy as an act of will." He took a swig of tea before continuing. “Now, think about this. If multiple beings observe a single thing, what happens?” Tim thought for a moment. “I’d think that it would kinda solidify things, set them in place even more.” “Ha!" Kieran gave the twins a triumphant stare. “You two need to hang out with this one more, maybe he’ll rub off on you.”
✨#WIPSnips✨ A Daily Writing Share Tag@wipsnips.bsky.social · 9mo ago

Welcome to a new week of #WIPSnips The word for November 10th is "local" #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts

#WIPSnips a bluesky writing community tag November 10 - local Share a line from your WIP with the daily word for inspiration Use #WIPSnips. Don't forget Alt Text for graphics Synonyms, variation and vibes are fine. Support others on the #WIPSnips tag! Hosted by rosie-j-potter.bsky.social The image behind the text is a border that is black with stars with a light blue rectangle highlighted by a fuchsia line. An illustrated caticorn holding a pencil and writing in a book with a rose behind one ear is in the lower right corner
Author James C Struck@curioussnowflake.bsky.social · 9mo ago

#WIPSnips for 11/8: picture One of the signs a person is a potential Weaver is the ability to understand the language the Opacaroi call Housetongue. Here, Tim gets to hear it for the first time. Side note, I think “Taruch vo ma ne’anta ye” would be great on a merch shirt. #WriteSky

Why do you care?" Like Vee, Tim’s tone was frankly curious. She stared at him, seeming to be gathering her courage or something similar. Then she leaned in closer, and said in a half-whisper: “Taruch vo ma ne’anta ye.” At least that’s what Tim’s ears heard. But what his mind heard was a different story. “Because you can understand me.” “What the… you… I just…" Tim stammered. “Shh,” said Vee, and she put a finger to his lips to shush him. “Ka taruch vo ma oholo nes ye tan feich," she whispered. But again, Tim’s mind heard perfect English. “And because you can feel it when I do this." Goosebumps ran up Tim’s arms, and the lights flickered. “That was weird,” said Mrs Gibson. “In any case, it is now 3:30, your quiet hour begins now.” Vee immediately sat up, hands folded in front of her, the very picture of studiousness if one ignored the impish grin on her face. Tim, on the other hand, remained where he was, turned sideways and leaning in towards her. The expression on his face was similar to someone who has just been hit in the head with a bat, but hasn’t felt the pain yet. What the hell just happened? Was he going nuts? Was Vee messing with him? What in the name of… “Mr. Hansen!”Bild
✨#WIPSnips✨ A Daily Writing Share Tag@wipsnips.bsky.social · 9mo ago

The #WIPSnips word for November 9th is "picture? #WriteSky #WritingPrompts #WritingCommunity

#WIPSnips a bluesky writing community tag November 3 - nice Share a line from your WIP with the daily word for inspiration Use #WIPSnips. Don't forget Alt Text for graphics Synonyms, variation and vibes are fine. Support others on the #WIPSnips tag! Hosted by rosie-j-potter.bsky.social The image behind the text is a border that is black with stars with a light blue rectangle highlighted by a fuchsia line. An illustrated caticorn holding a pencil and writing in a book with a rose behind one ear is in the lower right corner #WIPSnips a bluesky writing community tag November 9 - picture Share a line from your WIP with the daily word for inspiration Use #WIPSnips. Don't forget Alt Text for graphics Synonyms, variation and vibes are fine. Support others on the #WIPSnips tag! Hosted by rosie-j-potter.bsky.social The image behind the text is a border that is black with stars with a light blue rectangle highlighted by a fuchsia line. An illustrated caticorn holding a pencil and writing in a book with a rose behind one ear is in the lower right corner