Bethany Laurel

Each Sphere has a slightly different flow of time. The Sixth Sphere of Heaven moves a little slower than the Mortal Realm, for example, so 3 days mortal time is more like two and a half for the angels. Interspace follows no rules.
#februaryworldbuilders #writingcommunity #writesky

Try my fantasy novel with a trans MC for free! www.royalroad.com/fiction/1453...
Would really love more comments 🥺

I’m also doing a tiny campaign to get my ecohorror short Monoculture in the Locus Awards!
Story: www.creepypod.com/episodes/202...
Voting: poll.voting.locusmag.com
#QueerWritersChat

You may laugh, but the Macbeths are a much better role model for a marriage than Romeo and Juliet. They discuss their problems (killing the king of Scotland), share their hobbies (killing the king of Scotland), and resolve their conflicts (by killing the king of Scotland).

like I just said, Tempest is aro. romance repulsed, often. Akieryon hasn’t really examined his orientation, but to me he reads as a little demi-something.
Baleirithys, when you get to know him, is a bi disaster.
#queerwriterschat

I was just thinking about this. As an aroace writer, I have moments where I look at a relationship I’m writing and go, “wait, is this weird?” (In the latest instance, the answer was “it’s actually pretty tame for royalty.)”
#queerwriterschat

Rarely! Romance happens, but it’s not usually centered in the story. In Balances, the main character is in love with the deuteragonist, who is aro. It’s not so much romance as the two of them figuring out the shape of their relationship that forms part of the story.
#queerwriterschat

I’m Bethany, I write queer fantasy literary fiction, and I’m trying to publish my novel Balances, which is about a renegade Demonslayer figuring out what home means to him.
#queerwriterschat

Pssst: It's Library Lovers Month, aka a great time to show love for your library, librarians, and library workers.

We all can play a part in making sure these essential institutions thrive!

What a legend.

#healthcare is not very accessible to people with #adhd. I haven’t had a pcp in 20+ years because I get too overwhelmed trying to pick one. I once went a decade without an eye appointment simply due to time blindness. How do we fix this?

I feel this way about pretty much all vaccine-preventable infectious diseases. You shouldn't be allowed to dump cyanide into municipal drinking water and you shouldn't be allowed to recreationally spread viruses around shared public spaces.

Tharaiyelagh steals office supplies. Before being given a writing set, he had already collected pencils, ink, a glass stylus, and a wax tablet.
#ocsky #writingcommunity #writesky

“It’s fine,” he said, serious now. “I’m fine. We’ll find out who’s behind the attacks, we’ll protect Caspar, and parliament will get started as well as these things ever do.”

“Oh, no.” Almost laughing, Tempest pulled Akieryon into a half-hug. “He’s gotten to you.”
#WIPSnips #writingcommunity

“Just don’t expect him to love you. He doesn’t do that.”

Akieryon looked to where Tempest and Caspar stood beside the fireplace, their heads bent together, conversation animated. They looked closer than brothers, two hearts in counterpoint to the world around them. He gestured. “Is this not love?”

Not really my thing (too aroace to seek out romance in fiction most of the time) but I did like T. Kingfisher’s Saint of Steel books. Her worldbuilding is too tasty to pass up.
#SFFChat

Akieryon loves Tempest, and Tempest’s friends.
Tempest is aromantic. He cares deeply for the people closest to him.
#SFFChat

Depends on the culture. Dragons have a wide variety of relationships at once & consider marriage a sign of deeper trust. Humans often have religion/politics/economics tied up in things. Angels marry strictly for pleasure.
#SFFChat

I’m Bethany, a #queersff writer. I like coffee or tea and crunchy snacks.
#SFFChat

In my setting, humans can learn any/all types on magic, but they are limited by time. Most magic-capable species have longer lifespans. Tempest broke the rules by learning time magic first. Now he gives himself all the time he needs to learn whatever magic he wants.

My simple thought for the day. Stop using AI to try to understand literature, to help with translations or to assist your research.

It’s shit.

Use books instead.

Pretty much every time Akieryon tried to make friends throughout childhood.
#ocsky #writingcommunity #writesky

Tynan 🤝 Tempest: wait, they can DO that???

Because celestial magic is based on manipulating opposing forces (my book is called BALANCES for a reason), it’s pretty common for a novice practitioner to make an explosion instead of a spell.
#febchantment #writingcommunity #writesky

They’re a very proud people, certainly, but also it’s their way of explaining why they are different. They’re the only dragonfolk of the Mortal Realm.

Holy moly: Seattle’s millionaire tax, passed last year, is expected to bring in $115 million in its 1st year, way more than the $50 million anticipated.

The funds will go to the city’s new social housing developer publicola.com/2026/02/11/t...

(Is NY Gov Hochul paying attention?)

In Balances, renegade Demonslayer Akieryon gradually figures out that he is actually part demon. No I did not intentionally write this as an allegory for growing up queer in a conservative household, but lbr, the entire setting exists in dialogue with my Lutheran upbringing.
#writesky #queerwriters

The world began in darkness (this can be confirmed by asking Uriel, if you can manage that), but most cultures have their own creation myths. Shadowmarchers (incorrectly) believe they are the original people of the Mortal Realm.
#februaryworldbuilders #writingcommunity #writesky

I said, “You need to sleep.” She yawned. “Okay, third mom.”

Absolutely not, Akieryon wants to wear his uniform.
#ocsky #writingcommunity #writesky

Tempest has no moral compass and thinks murder is an acceptable problem solving tool.
Akieryon is a little bit clingy.
Tharaiyelagh wants to spit venom at people.
Baleirithys self destructs.
Szearbhyn committed war crimes.
Rahi is a people pleaser.
#ocsky #writingcommunity #writesky