Siege of the Spirit

Image: Mood board for Brother’s Keeper WIP: A block of seven images around a central one. Central image: white text on brown background that reads: “Born to be sacrificed: Drowned, shed, burnt and buried, a sin offering for his people. Had he been, all would be free. But he had not, and they weren't. He could never forget it. Brother’s Keeper (working title) A.C. Turek Surrounding images clockwise from center left: column of bonfire, running gray horse, green water, a hand holding a quartz crystal, a view looking up immense tree trunks, a waterfall, a view looking down on a vibrant green forest.

Two brothers—one accursed, one gifted—struggle with the Power of an empathic bond unseen for centuries. As Rushak seeks to escape his curse Drisal must wield it as evil arises to threaten the world. But the prophesied Power returns only once, and the Shining One is … somebody else. #WSPit WIPs #F #A

Banner showing the covers for the two GRAYLANDS novels, "The Ghost Princess" and "The Jinxed Pirate" under the text, "Graylands is where people go when they don't want to be found..." The cover for "The Ghost Princess" depicts a dark tower sits at the edge of a cliff against gray seas and a stormy sky with a red horizon. The cover for "The Jinxed Pirate" depicts a black-bladed sword covered in blood and stuck in the ground. Around the sword, a medieval city is on fire. Art by Anthony Jensen

Mood board for KATRINA LAMONT of the fantasy novel series GRAYLANDS. Images emphasize her brooding, somber and potentially violent character with hints of her noble and tragic past as a failed chosen one and fallen princess. Top Row - a woman, played by Nell Tiger Free in THE FIRST OMEN, lies curled on a bed and looks troubled - a woman, played by Kristen Stewart in SNOW WHITE & THE HUNTSMAN, stands in battle armor with a shield - a woman, played by Krysten Ritter in JESSICA JONES, drinks from a bottle of liquor Second Row - the ruined head of a statue depicting a king lies in the woods - a woman, played by Nell Tiger Free in THE FIRST OMEN, is in bed with a hangover and looks haggard - a moody forest Third Row - a woman, played by Samara Weaving in READY OR NOT, smokes a cigarette while covered in blood - a woman, played by Alexandra Daddario in WE SUMMON THE DARKNESS, grins maniacally while holding a lit lighter - a woman, played by Melissa Barrera in SCREAM 5, holds a knife with blood splattered on her face

Mood board for KRUTCH LEEROY of the fantasy novel series GRAYLANDS. Images emphasize his beleaguered and put-upon nature as he gets dragged into adventures he doesn't want, plus his weapon of choice and a suggested history with a sorceress. Top Row - a man, played by Brian O'Halloran in CLERKS, is slumped miserably over the counter in the convenience store he works - a pirate, played by Johnny Depp in PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN, frantically flees from angry pursuers with a panicked look on his face Second Row - a witch, played by Cassandra Gava in CONAN THE BARBARIAN, stands at the entrance of her hut, waiting for someone - a man, played by Jeff Bridges in THE BIG LEBOWSKI, looks perplexed while stirring a drink in his hand - a revolver pistol Third Row - a heavily bandaged man, played by Tom Hanks in THE 'BURBS, lays on a gurney and complains "I don't care! I've been blown up! Take me to the hospital!" - a cartoon drawing of Charlie Brown failing to kick a football after Lucy has pulled it away from him

Mood board for LILY BLACKTHORN of the fantasy novel series GRAYLANDS. Images emphasize her dual nature as a friendly and kind-hearted woman who wishes for peace and companionship that is also a demon with predatory instincts and comes from an evil land. Top Row - a woman, played by Pauley Parrette for the show CSI, smiles pleasantly in dark, goth clothing - a drawing of the Marvel Comics hero Magik standing beside her demonic alter ego Darkchyld - a demon, played by Hannah Fierman in V/H/S, roars in rage, revealing sharp teeth and black eyes Second Row - a warm cabin sits in the middle of a lovely forest - a barren and desolate landscape with a volcano in the distance Third Row - a succubus, played by Ksenia Solo for the show LOST GIRL, sucks the life out of a victim - Frankenstein's monster, played by Boris Karloff, sits beside a young girl and enjoys her flowers - Sareena, played by Lia Montellongo for the video game MORTAL KOMBAT MYTHOLOGIES, smiles happily while flexing her arms

🔹G R A Y L A N D S🔹
A frontier without kings.
A failed Chosen One turned drifter.
A cursed outlaw in over his head.
A demon with a kind heart.

#WSPit #P #A #F

Fox and Av'ry! A red haired woman wielding a flame and a dark haired man with a glow stick stand in draconic ruins, near a waterfall into a deep chasm. Art by Nushdeco

All they wanted to do was avert one little war.

If only it has been that easy.

Instead, they will uncover a plot involving ancient artifacts, petty gods, vanished dragons, and a secret threat to all magic.

Can they hope to face the true threat behind it all?

#DawnsBlood

#WSPit #LGBT #A #W #F

The Mycellium Forest The air smelled of moss and wet leaves as Panez left the council meeting. The late-summer storm had passed, leaving a chill and the promise of fall in its wake. He wrapped his deerskin cloak tighter around himself as he walked back to his arbden, his mind busy and his heart heavy. The council meeting had been everything he expected it would be and more. Something brews int he east--an unnamed threat. They say the Azantium Empire is returning. That they will attack from the east, perhaps even cross the Kalim. He still scoffed at the thought. Cross the Kalim--as if that was even possible. The Kalim was a river so wide you could not see the bank. No one crossed the Kalim. It was forbidden.

Whispers of a rising threat echo from the far East, and a travelling night circus follows the borderlands like a shadow. Ætheren joins them hoping to disappear… but instead he finds himself drawn into a conflict far greater than he ever meant to face.
#WSPit WIPs #W #A #F

Orange square with black text in all caps and a whatever emoji ME: IM UNSTOPPABLE THERAPIST: NO, I SAID YOURE UNSTABLE ME: EH TOMATO, POTATO

I’m unstoppable
#bipolar #therapy #humor
Meme stolen from facebook

A pair of flat topped hoodoos silhouetted against the sky on a distant cliff. Below in left foreground the back of a horse and rider. The horse is dark brown with a black tail and the rider wears a red plaid shirt and a brimmed hat. They are in a sand wash.

And I ride away …
#desert #newmexico #trailride #reset #journey #hoodoo
Me and my bay Arab mare Zil riding away from the viewer in a sand wash with a pair of flat topped hoodoos on a distant cliff silhouetted against the sky.

This account too. #mentalhealth
Politics🚫

Picture of a fire-colored horse entering orange and brown landscape from the right. Text aligned on left reads: SIX ELEMENTS OF THE YEAR OF THE FIRE HORSE February 17, 2026 - February 5, 2027 FIRE. Passion intensifies. What once flickered now blazes. Your inner spark will not be ignored. MOVEMENT. Energy surges forward. Delays dissolve. What once circled aimlessly now finds clear direction. COURAGE. Boldness rises naturally. You speak sooner. You act decisively. You trust yourself deeply. FREEDOM. Restrictions loosen. Old roles fall away. You choose expansion over obligation. SPEED. Acceleration defines the year. Decisions come swiftly. Results follow just as quickly. REBIRTH. Reinvention becomes inevitable. A stronger version of you emerges - untamed, unapologetic, unstoppable. @healingenergytools

The year of the Fire Horse begins!
#yearofthefirehorse #firehorse #newyear #beginnings

Today’s ride: sand wash in New Mexico! #HorseSky #trailhorse #trailride #horsesofbluesky #friesianhorse #arabianhorse #betweentheears #desert
Video: BTE with Zil, my Arab mare in a sand wash, nearing some striped hills in front of high red cliffs. Also shows a friend riding our half-Friesian Marla.

Good morning, and happy Friday! #Coffee #Friday #goodmorning

Have to say I’m not a fan of the people whose attitude is “anything more descriptive than Hemingway is purple prose” and those people are out there.

Shadow of horse and rider rising from the bottom of a photo of a brown earth and gray leafless vegetation

My shadow self
#horsesky #bipolar #trail #shadow #trailride
Zil and I cast a shadow on a recent trail ride.

“Tend to relationships” is one of the DBT skills I was taught. Tried a couple years ago. No one answered my letters or followed through on plans to meet.
Now an old friend’s coming to visit from out of town, & I’m struggling to get the house clean & on the verge of a complete meltdown. #bipolar

I do totally relate!

62. Me neither! 😂

"I am very poorly today & very stupid & I hate everybody & everything" might just go on my headstone.

www.npr.org/sections/kru...

Dam that’s some pretty sweet incoherence, Maxime! 🔥

#pretendpanel
I'm not going to be able to put coherent words on this... I just love how my characters appear and show me their movie, how they choose me as their scribe, how we set off in that passionate, breathless adventure, how we become one in a deep flow state, how words disappear and all the

Panic attack

One more timer beeps. One more alarm goes off. My name is barked behind me. The line of culture specimens on the bench grown one longer. While I grind a knee joint tissue, elbowing a determined lab aide with good intentions and a urine cup away from my sterile field under the…

Looking between brown ears through foliage down at the dam

A beautiful autumn trail with dry oak and green conifers viewed between the ears of a bay horse- my little Arabian Zil.

A row of mixed conifers growing in the snow alongside a high rock cliff face.

On Zil below the dam, looking over her bay head at the dam, from across some clear running water.

Today we had a fun ride to the base of a dam. 1300 foot elevation change. Good is Zil and amazing weather for the first week in February!
#trailhorse #trailride #horsesky #horse #dam #arabianhorse

Along the way to the dam we ride through some beautiful spaces. This old dirt road is soft for their bare hooves and has patches of snow. The brown oak leaves and mixed conifer greens are such peaceful colors. #horsesky #arabianhorse #trailhorse #trailride #Colorado

Bipolar Nebula in Cygnus - UFO FEED Bipolar Nebula in Cygnus

Bipolar Nebula in Cygnus

https://www.ufofeed.com/208001/bipolar-nebula-in-cygnus/

Bipolar Nebula in Cygnus by rbrecher

Banner for M. Walsh's fantasy novel "The Ghost Princess" with the tagline, "Sometimes... destiny isn't all it's cracked up to be..." Also shows cover blurb: "Graylands is where people go when they don’t want to be found. A neutral, mostly frontier country between two opposing empires, it is a haven for drifters, pilgrims, outlaws, and everything in between hoping to build a new life, find adventure, or just disappear. "Katrina Lamont is one such individual. "Once upon a time, she was the Chosen One—a warrior charged with a great and heroic destiny. But when she finished her journey, there was no happy ending waiting for her. Now she lives as an embittered, alcoholic drifter, haunted by the ghosts of her past. "But when an evil sorcerer, Jacob Daredin, seeks to fulfill an ancient prophecy that may grant him god-like power, Katrina will have to take up the sword once again as she finds herself caught in a race to find the young woman whose sacrifice is the key to Daredin’s mad dream. "Along the way, she will contend with Krutch Leeroy—an infamous outlaw who is not all he seems—and cross paths with Lily Blackthorn—a perky, but mysterious woman with a dark secret of her own. "As Daredin’s forces close in, they will traverse a haunted landscape of pirates, demons, killers, con-men, an immortal juggernaut, and worse in an adventure where the line between destiny and plain bad luck is razor thin." The book cover and background image depicts a black tower on the edge of a cliff by a dark sea and stormy skies with a red horizon. Art by Anthony Jensen

An ancient prophecy.
A madman's ambition.
A girl with a secret.
A failed Chosen One and a cursed pirate.
A chance to make things right.

...or much worse.

LINKS: www.books2read.com/ghostprincess
also: m-walshwrites.itch.io/the-ghost-pr...

#BookSky #ReaderSky #Fantasy #books #IndieAuthor 📚💙⚔️

#WIPSnips #WriteSky "select"

Last night I did the snipping but not the posting.

Elrond's friends have had only slightly less difficulty prying him out of Rivendell than his enemies had.

A toning hummed. Sang. Enchanting, luminous, it echoed through the mirror land of trees and sky. It was in everything, and all of nature resonated with it. Ayina and Greta harmonized with it. It was inside Niwa, too. She was singing it. Every cell of hers healed while gliding and resonating. Dreamtime fully merged with reality. Was she awake? In spirit? She felt the boat cradling her through patches of duckweed, reeds, and the liquid sky below, leaving ripples behind.

trippy swamp
#WIPsnips #liquid

Jonathan Edward Durham @thisoneOverhere Full disclosure, living "rent-free in my head" is not exactly the real estate windfall it's been made out to be, that neighborhood has a TON of issues

The silence of an owl's flight
The landscape bathed in pale light
A thousand dew drops soak the grass
A sweet chill breeze to touch your face

#Poetry

Lovely!

Panic attack

One more timer beeps. One more alarm goes off. My name is barked behind me. The line of culture specimens on the bench grown one longer. While I grind a knee joint tissue, elbowing a determined lab aide with good intentions and a urine cup away from my sterile field under the…