Category: Immortal Holmes

When it all goes wrong…

I had so much fun creating the lingo used by the people of Newcomb in the Immortal Holmes series. Slang and colloquialisms. Oaths and idioms. They lend ambiance and even nuance. For instance, you may have noticed that city-dwellers use more steampunk-y slang (eg. “rust it all!”), but woodfolk like Philtrum Kemp lean more toward nature-based sayings (eg. “that’ll flourish!”).

Widdershins. It’s a quirky term I’ve always loved. Widdershins is just another way to say counterclockwise, so it’s perfect for a town that’s full of coggers & steamworks.

Begging your pardon, gents. I happened to overhear a bit of what you were saying, and I’ll confess myself curious. What you’re saying. It’s all widdershins. I’d swear you’re having two entirely different conversations.”

— Folk-Spelled (Immortal Holmes, No.1)

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Navigating Newcomb

Bridge District. This section of the city is under the royal view, since the palace sits atop the center of the wall overlooking the James, its six bridges, and the gardens. Fun Fact: there’s a saying about letting things go: “water under the nine bridges.” That’s because there are three additional bridges (much less ornamental) downstream in the Academy District.

Posts like this, that dish details from behind the scenes in Folk-Spelled and the upcoming Else-Moored turn up at regular intervals over on my Patreon. I hope you’ll consider following me there!

forthrightly on Patreon >>

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Quarterly Art Card

Philtrum’s Guidance Deck. I’ve begun a new series of illustrations that I’m turning into art cards for my patrons. They’ll be based on the cards in Philtrum Kemp’s guidance deck in the Immortal Holmes series. You may recall the frontispiece illustration from Folk-Spelled, which was Fifth of Forest.

::twinkle::
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What’s in a Name

In Folk-Spelled (Immortal Holmes, No.1), we meet Ramage, who’s a friend from back home for Philtrum Kemp. Ramage is a harpy and a small business owner. He helps to feed the people of Newcomb. You’ll find his restaurant near Rowan Station in the Trestle District.

If you like these kinds of background details, you’ll find lots more on my Patreon.

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Introducing Arty

Sketch Peek. While most of my behind-the-scenes posts about Folk-Spelled (and the upcoming Else-Moored) can be found over on my Patreon, I don’t mind sharing a few peeks here on my blog. This is an early sketch of Arty, a student at the Academy of Mages. He’s a street artist and a skater boi and a friend indeed to out-of-towner Enzo, who’s his next-door neighbor.

Series illustrator Mart Lett and I are already working on a new set of cast portraits to help with promotion in 2026. If you don’t want to miss any early news and sketch peeks, you know where to find me. ::twinkle::

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Kiss-up Kemp

Of the Badge Irregulars. Varti Weller’s best friend Phil is properly Philtrum, which is a lovely word. He’s a blithesome fellow.

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More behind-the-scenes details about Folk-Spelled to come! The books is now available in digital, print, and audio editions. (You can also procure author-signed copies from me.) It’d be brillsome if you picked one up, and truly stellward if you recommended it to another reader, rated it wherever you picked it up, and left a review.

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Art Peek: Skrik

Eyes in the Shadows. When I described Skrik to illustrator Mart Lett, I compared his form as something between a feline & a small gargoyle, a shadow with wisping edges that are in constant motion.

He’s small enough to perch on Enzo’s shoulder. In fact, he’ll often drape himself along his shoulders and peek out from under his hair. Shy thing.

More behind-the-scenes details about Folk-Spelled are sure to turn up here. But if you want LOTS more posts like this, they’re the sort of thing I share over on Patreon. Consider joining, even as a free member. I’d be grateful.

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In Publisher’s Weekly

Getting the Word Out. I’m doing what I can to give the Immortal Holmes series the best possible start. After receiving an Editor’s Pick from BookLife Reviews and its subsequent appearance in Publisher’s Weekly, I reserved ad space. This will be appearing soon and I hope it catches the eye & the interest of new readers.

How would YOU blurb Folk-Spelled? ::twinkle::

Thank you, as always, for supporting my storytelling. When you read, rate, review, and recommend my books, you’re making a world of difference for an indie author like me.

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Table Games

Always Hexagons, Please. Favorite things tend to work their way into my books, which is why Ramage keeps games on the tables at The Speckled Hen. Naturally, I needed to make them fit in with Newcomb’s unique culture, so chess became a six-sided melee, and decks of cards gained a couple of extra suits. During my research, I found (and purchased) this simple puzzle game, which is just the sort of thing you might play with friends while waiting for dinner to arrive at your table.

Details, details. I do love details!

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