Checkmate is published at long last and here’s some fun pictures. Also, I’m sick at college.

Heeeello everybody! CHECKMATE IS PUBLISHED! It can be found on Amazon by searching for it (if you add my name–even my first one) in with the title in the search bar. Anyway, here’s some cool pictures I drew this week!

This is young Halthadius and Heria dancing…I’m not sure why I drew it, I just had the idea and they look cute, so I mean it worked out. (the lighting was kind of wonky though)

Here’s Sadha! I started drawing her and honestly she turned out lovely. Her hair isn’t long enough, but yk she looks fantastic anyway.

Xanthia and Glyndel. This is a recently written scene from Checkmate 5. They’re doing their thing, I guess. I don’t know what they do, they just do stuff. Checkmate 5 is interesting to write, to say the least.

Okay I’m feeling very indecisive today, so I’m just going to leave you with a tiny snippet from the prologue of Checkmate 2 (which might be called Paradise in Check, I’m not sure yet if I want to keep the chess theme going.)

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The cell was dark. Weakness surrounded him and he was sick of it. He did not know what day it was, or even how many years it had been.

He hated the scent of fear. It was all around him.

Everyone here was afraid. They were all driving themselves mad or perhaps they’d been driven mad years before.

He hated it.

There was no way out. He had been compromised; his magic was held at bay. Though it got stronger inside him, stirring inside at some points of the day–or perhaps the night, he did not know–making him feel invigorated.

And yet it could never last for long. His lack of any escape plan drowned him, and yet he was not hopeless, for he wasn’t sure if he had hope in the first place.

Footsteps.

The man lifted his head just slightly, his dark hair hanging lank and dirty in his face. He watched the barred door silently, waiting…

A rather good-looking younger man walked into view with three guards trailing behind him. The man looked back down at the floor.

But then his cell door opened.

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that’s all Ima give to u guys for now because I’m feeling indecisive.

LIFE UPDATES! My parents have travelled to Canada to see some cool mountains and I’m stuck at college and it was so much worse yesterday, I’ve had this horrid stomach bug that caused me to not be able to eat/drink anything yesterday and I’m still dehydrated and hungry lol but I’ve managed to eat applesauce and soup today so that’s really good tbh bc I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to do that. I’m feeling a lot better. I’ve also heard from many ppl who’ve gotten my book and I’m supposed to get mine on Monday. Things are on the up and up and though and I’m feeling hopeful for this next week. Thank you all for your comfort and prayers, I appreciate it more than you can know. You’re all amazing, and I’ll post again next week!

Also, update on Elaina and her family and Sebastian, the funeral was this past Thursday. I’ve been trying to check in with Elaina, but I didn’t hear from her yesterday or today, as I am sick. She is mostly stable (last I’ve heard), but still in shock and grief and her family is in immense grief, keep them in your prayers please.

–TheNoelleBird <3

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“Pie makes many things better” –Elaina Johnson