Another first draft completed!

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I just finished the first draft of a book I’ve been working on for just shy of three years. It’s epic fantasy, it’s queer, and I love it. I’ll probably end up cutting a lot off of it, because the word count is astronomical right now, but man it feels good to finally have finished that thing!

It took me one full bottle of Writer’s Blood ink, half a bottle of Yama Guri ink, and almost a full bottle of Platinum Carbon Black.

I might need to reconsider this whole ‘writing first drafts by hand’ thing… but still! Right now is just for celebrating, am so excited to hopefully get this one out early next year!

Readers: where do you want to buy books?

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There’s a lot of talk these days about people moving away from Amazon entirely, when it comes to the book world. As a tiny self-published author, I need to be where the readers are–but where do you guys want to be? I am open to moving onto platforms like Kobo if that’s something people feel strongly about.

Shoot me an email and let me know your thoughts–if you’re sticking with Amazon in the coming future, if you would really rather avoid Amazon, the whys and the why-nots. I’ll listen!

What comes next?

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I know it’s been a while since I’ve put anything new out, I’m so sorry! I’ve been working on an absolute chonker of a fantasy book. I’m hoping to get it out by early summer–wish me luck! Hope to see you all there!

Feisty Felines is out!

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Book Trailer | Amazon Link

I am but one of the many authors in this anthology and hope you’ll check it out! When my author copy arrived, I actually started crying, it just felt so impactful and wonderful somehow.

If you enjoyed The World’s Last Whale, you might like my story in this, So Burn Us Both. It’s from the point of view of a witch’s cat, who has been loyal to her all of his many lives. When he realizes they are finally at the end of their story, he gives her one last act of loyalty and support.

If you like the whimsical and fantastical, or want something that might end up as a really fun read for Halloween (we’re so close! It’s August, so technically the spooky season is only a few days away, right?), maybe consider picking this book up.

Look at that, it’s adorable, I love it so much!

Content Warnings for Snow Before Sunset:

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Snow Before Sunset is a quiet, relatively slow-paced survival story about two women who end up caught out overnight in the mountains during a blizzard. While there are some romantic elements (the two have been interested in each other for a long time, but have only just begun flirting) it’s not really a romance. There are some injuries and some mild swearing, but otherwise there is no NSFW content. More content warnings are below, but will also contain spoilers. If you are only looking to find out if there is a happy ending and don’t want any other spoilers, though: yes. The characters survive. No one dies in this story.

Writing Style Content Warnings:
-Workplace romance. It is consensual, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it won’t be uncomfortable for some readers.
-Use of the word ‘queer.’ I believe strongly in reclaiming this word; it is not used in a negative light.
-Swearing. It is infrequent, but in that regard the book is not completely clean
-The eventual rescue happens off-page; I thought it felt better for the pacing tbh
-Head hopping: there is some head hopping from one chapter to the next, but for the most part it stays focused on Margot
-There may be some typos. I do my best to try and catch everything, but some slip through.

Injuries:
-Dehydration. Character ignores warning signs of her dehydration and it begins impairing her judgment.
-Character falls a significant distance
-When one character realizes the other is badly hurt, they attempt the rescue themselves rather than inform anyone else that there is an emergency
-Ignoring survival instincts (characters are imperfect people who make very human choices) leads to accident and injury
-Characters are caught in small avalanche and sustain multiple (but not immediately life-threatening) injuries: broken bone, concussion, injured back
-Buried alive. This happens in snow, and they escape, but may be a potential phobia for some readers.
-Hypothermia. Character has significantly impaired mental function/clarity of thought due to hypothermia, and struggles to physically continue moving and make it to safety.

Food Related:
-Alcohol. Champagne is consumed on-page, but not to excess.
-Food. Characters are aware they may be eating their last meal and struggle to enjoy the flavors

Sensuality:
-Kissing without asking first. Although it is very well-received, a character initiates their first kiss together without asking for permission.

Mental & Emotional Struggles:
-Body image issues. A character frequently has doubts about her own level of fitness and unfortunately relates these to a sense of her self-worth.
-Past emotional trauma. A character discusses past relationship pain and confesses that she felt like the other woman only wanted her because she was the only other openly lesbian woman in town
-Self deprecation. This is frequent throughout the story, a recurring problem Margot significantly struggles with, becomes extreme at times and she puts herself down
-Helplessness. Characters feel helpless and overwhelmed at times when facing the reality of the storm they cannot escape. They do not give in to it, but I know some readers prefer to steer clear of that kind of emotional content
-Dread. Characters face the possibility of their death being very imminent.

This is just overall a quieter story than usual for me, and it’s a short little novella. It’s been bouncing around in my head for a while though, and just finally needed to come to life. I hope one or two of you will enjoy it! And I hope that these Content Warnings posts are helpful. Thank you for checking them out!

Pumpkin Kings & Spooky Things: Content Warnings

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Hi there! I know content warnings aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, but I also believe they’re a valuable resource to offer readers. If you come across something in the book that you think needs to be on this list, please email and let me know. I may disagree with you and choose not to add it to the list, but will probably err on the side of caution. I prefer to give readers the chance to make informed decisions about what they read ❤ And if I’ve missed something, I’d like to know.

General warning: this is a collection of erotica stories. These are all the stories I wrote under the pen name Liana Eveline. They are meant for adult consumption only! Also, these content warnings may contain spoilers, so if you’re super anti-spoiler, you may want to pass on these.

WRITING QUALITY
-Intentionally cheesy writing at times
-crude language throughout
-A lot of unnecessary attempts at plot when it probably should have just been smut
-Head hopping happens! I am so sorry

SEX & CONSENT
-book contains both straight and LGBTQIA+ pairings
-Cursed characters are forced to marry—and immediately consummate the marriage—if they want to break their curses and save their respective kingdoms
-Rushed anal intercourse with lube, but very little in the way of preparation
-Lovers repeatedly treat each other roughly
-First-time sex happens with a near stranger
-Sex without condoms; neither pregnancy nor STI’s result, but reading it could still be a very justifiable ick for some people.  
-Consensual bite from a vampire’s fangs, multiple places on body, including next to the clitoris
-Texture: rough upholstery described against tender skin
-Venom used as an aphrodisiac without express consent from the bitten partner; although they have consented to sex, the drugging was not discussed and is not consensual
-Generally dubcon vibes with a cobra shifter, although it is ultimately an enthusiastic encounter
-Hot wax applied to male genitals. The recipient is in pain, but enjoys it.
-CBT: generally mild when present, but some lovers have merciless moments
-General lack of safe sex throughout book. There are no pregnancies or STIs as a result, but the explicit lack of protection may be upsetting for some
-Dubcon sex with a demon. Although both participants are enthusiastic about the encounter, it is implied that the demon might attempt violence if she refuses him
-Fear is used as a tool in “seduction”
-Sex partners place magical bonds on each other during intercourse without prior discussion
-A character repeatedly asks not to be touched and their partner ignores this
-On multiple occasions, characters intentionally blur the lines of consent
-Multiple instances of degradation (usually mild) and power play, including a character who requires significant and somewhat ridiculous praise (demands to be told that he is the best and that others exist only because he lets them)
-Sexual encounters between characters with very different levels of personal or societal power
-Rough first time anal without adequate preparation or lubrication, although it is not shown to be significantly traumatic for the recipient (and they are non-humans who heal quickly)
-Consensual encounter where a male grabs a female’s genitals
-Age gap: several encounters between a mature man and one who is legal but sexually inexperienced
-Voyeurism, non-con: one pair watches another pair bang and decides to mimic what they do, but one of the watched participants is unaware of what’s going on
-Dry, painful anal – it is explicitly requested by a character (who will heal very quickly)
-A virgin is pushy about trying to seduce her friend/crush
-Character fantasy on page: a character has a fantasy of being forced. She and her partner discuss the terms in detail prior to acting it out, to be sure they are both comfortable with it
-Potentially excessive “dirty talk” as a couple roleplays. The talk includes things that aren’t very respectful, although in the context, both parties are very comfortable with it
-Sex in this book generally skews towards rougher encounters, although there are some more tender and caring scenes
-Couple consensually roleplays a dubcon encounter where a masseur seduces their client
-Consensual partner swap
-Masseur offers to go further. This is a very gentle and healing moment for the recipient, but could potentially be upsetting for some readers
-Group has sex with new member (at her request, but still arguably dubcon) to comfort her after a panic attack.
-Digital penetration with unwashed hands
Dubcon: a homeowner seduces a contractor

RELIGIOUS
-Use of a spirit/Ouija board
-“God” used in vain repeatedly, including in sexual scenes
-Reference made to the “Threefold Law” without any on-page acknowledgment that this is not standard practice for many modern pagans
-Sex with a demon as a magical reward for a witch who cast a love spell
-The implication that witches—or one witch, in this case—regularly consort with demons and darker powers
-“Gods” used in vain, and with no particular clarification about which gods are being referenced
-“Jesus” used in vain

VIOLENCE
-Brief depiction of a woman being accosted by a would-be robber, with an implied threat of sexual assault, although the threat is indirect and the moment is quickly interrupted
-Murder as vigilante justice
-A human feels the sudden desire to sexually harm his shifter lover (but does not act on it) as recompense for pain the shifter inflicted
-A male pulls his female partner’s hair during their first sexual encounter, which is already arguably a dubcon encounter
-A female character feels compelled to negotiate for her safety during a sexual encounter with a male demon she doesn’t know. She isn’t afraid of him, but is aware that he could hurt her
-An older man in a position of power attempts to intimidate a young man in a very uncomfortable scene: he confronts him alone in a hotel room, when the younger man is just in a towel, threatens him, then non-sexually assaults him
-Arson as revenge
-An angry male seeks violent revenge for perceived wrongs, also shuts out a former friend who was very badly hurt by his actions, rather than attempt to talk through or find closure in more civilized ways
-Forced sexual servitude: a character is given to his rivals for one night to do whatever they want with, as repayment for his debts to them
-One character is verbally baited by others, who are looking for a reason to hurt him, hence trying to trip him up
-A character asks another if someone they know raped them. They did not, but just reading a scene of being asked like that, especially when the character being asked is already in an emotionally vulnerable space, may be triggering
-A bully is threatened with SA, although somewhat indirectly
-A woman was severely beaten by her abusive husband. The story starts after she has left him, but the abuse, and its effects on her, play a role throughout her story

GENERAL
-A character demonstrates extreme self-doubt, worrying that being queer means he isn’t good enough, that it will harm the people he cares about if the truth comes out. He thinks his kingdom “deserves” a straight prince
-A character struggles with the frustration and pain of being in the closet
-Death: characters who are undead, as well as characters who are dead (sex with a ghost)
-Alcohol consumption: a character is drunk on the page
-Alcohol use: general
-Alcohol use: somewhat to excess for a character who should probably be trying to remain sober while dealing with his issues
-Alcohol use: while drunk, a character commits multiple property crimes. This ultimately hurts not just him, but the closest members of his pack
-Food: consumption used as a way to avoid social interaction
-Depression over being left by a spouse
-Social anxiety from a shut-in
-Nostalgia and depression blending together as someone reminisces over their childhood
-A character experiences extreme self-doubt and low self-esteem
-Potential body horror: A character’s tongue changes size and shape while performing cunnilingus
-trope: enemies to lovers
-“Alpha wolf authority” being a thing
-Trope: bi-awakening
-Alpha & Omega werewolf dynamics come into play, but there is NO knotting, mpreg, etc—this is not omegaverse
-Character wishes they could be someone’s sex slave, and feels bad about themselves for thinking it
-Character realizes something painful about themselves. This leads to a breakdown, with shame and loneliness and a feeling of having failed at being who they wanted to be
-Feeling of loneliness in the marriage, like the wife is only there to play a role
-Cheating on one’s spouse to “save” the marriage
-Food: textures and greasiness of pizza are described
-Tourist goes to Hawaii for self-improvement and healing
-Caving: Extreme dark, potential of being stuck. Claustrophobic. Character has a panic attack after wedging herself through a very tight squeeze
-Social anxiety: feeling anxious, embarrassed, and overwhelmed while trying a new activity everyone else seems completely comfortable with; joining an established and tight-knit group
-Cheating on spouse as revenge for the spouse’s infidelity




A Heart of Ice: Content Warnings

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Alrighty! I haven’t done content/trigger warnings in the past, but think this is something I would like to start doing now. If you want to avoid spoilers completely, you probably shouldn’t read this post, but I know there are some people for whom the warnings are more important than spoilers. I’ll try to put things as cut-and-dry as possible to avoid making these warnings too spoilery, and hopefully it will work out and be helpful!

WRITING, GENERAL: This book, as with all the rest of them, has some typos and errors. I’ve done my best with them, but they are there. Please be patient with me ❤ It was also written over just about three months, while I was in an incredibly bad headspace and just needed something to keep me going. So, I finally started the vampire series that has been cooking in my head for years. It’s kind of a mess of a book, but I hope you will enjoy it.

VIOLENCE RELATED CW/TW:
-abduction / human trafficking
-being held captive
-torture: implied, stated, but not shown
-being physically restrained through various means
-near drowning/a form of waterboarding: remembered, not shown in detail
-helpless in enemy’s hands
-blood as a general and frequent story element
-narcissistic white man with power
-powerful male enemy wishing to inflict harm
-use of firearms in a violent uprising
-use of firearms: character feels forced to fire a pistol in self-defense
-the implied threat of being shot by guards at a hostile border crossing
-general abuse of people less powerful than oneself
-bullying: a character seems to attempt to taunt another one into putting himself in harm’s way, solely because he does not like/trust him
-violent, non-sexual assault resulting in severe physical trauma
-near death of a main character
-violent insurrection involving firearms, a bomb, one-on-one combat, and significant loss of life, although little of this is shown on-page
-an unnamed trans character is killed off-page as part of the insurrection (not a hate crime)
-a significant, named character is shot in the head; this is shown on-page

MEDICAL/MENTAL HEALTH RELATED CW/TW:
-vampire compulsion makes characters forget own identities, desires, etc
-dehumanizing language (such as “pet”) used towards a person
-loss of autonomy, loss of memories
-panic attacks with physical paralysis & character judging themselves while in the throes of the attack, for being unable to “free” themself from it, because they are unable to realize in that moment that it is not their fault
-forced compliance
-a character is subjected to prolonged, significant mental duress that inhibits his ability to think clearly and make rational decisions
-the word “whore” used as self-deprecation
-self-deprecation: a character shames themself for perceived weaknesses [tied to toxic masculinity and trauma]
-self-mutilation: a character is shown to have a habit of inserting pieces of metal under and through his skin and does not appear to be receiving mental health care for this
-self-harm: a character engages in several instances of self-harming behavior as an unhealthy coping mechanism. His methods of self-harm include burning himself and striking himself with a whip. Unfortunately, the character does not receive any help or intervention for this behavior (in this book, but he will eventually!)
-A character who may be either a Seer, neurodivergent, or both, is dismissed as “crazy” in the POV character’s narrative
-A character is unintentionally coerced into trusting someone enough to put himself into a painful situation. Although there are no ill intentions and the goal is to help him, this could still be uncomfortable
-a character submits to a painful telepathic examination; this obviously isn’t something that happens in real life, but the way it is written, it might be upsetting for readers who have medical procedure trauma
-feeling compelled to be friendly(ish) to one’s abuser while in forced proximity to them
-restricted access to means of communicating, data, etc
-hopelessness and grief: a character believes that no help will come to them as they are too broken to save themself and have no means of reaching out
-broken bones, damaged organs, description of pain
-a character feels themself actively dying
-a character is conscious while they feel their lungs cease working
-brief mention of terminal illness and emotional distress/coping with grief

GENERAL CW/TW:
-Blood providers, although considered to not be slaves, are frequently discussed and shown in a position of slavery
-public display of [noncon & dubcon] near nudity
-being gifted to a stranger
-unreliable point-of-view character
-instalove; it remains unclear how the love started, if it was genuine
-refusal to communicate during a breakup
-several characters are law enforcement personnel
-ownership of slaves: not race related, but still sus
-blindfolded in public
-repeated references to Christianity/Catholic lore; several vampires are in possession of crosses, although they are badly burned by them, and one character is shown praying to the Christian god
-the main character is allosexual; his frequent thoughts of and desires for sexual intimacy may be uncomfortable for readers on the repulsed end of the ace spectrum
-use of firearms in a law enforcement training setting

SEXUAL ASSAULT CW/TW:
-a noncon encounter: a female servant unintentionally forces an unwanted sexual encounter on a male. This triggers a panic attack and the reliving of a time he was sexually assaulted by another male. The attack is not described, but the character vividly remembers the things that were said to him during his attack. This scene is written to be disturbing and so may be upsetting for some readers. While triggered, the character struggles to regain control of his own body, thoughts, and emotions. He does not tell anyone what has happened, and it takes him longer than he realizes to pull out of this episode–he self-harms when his stress becomes too much. The self-harm is not graphic, but the first instance (burning himself) is shown on-page; the second instance is not shown, but another character is aware of it. This entire sequence may be disturbing for readers with triggers relating to any of this.

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If you read the book and come across something you think should be added to the list, please shoot me an e-mail. I may or may not add it, but will probably err on the side of adding as much as possible.

There’s a lot of discourse out there about whether content warnings are better or worse for people, but I believe in allowing readers to make informed decisions about what they’re going to read… and how are they going to do that without knowing what kind of content to expect?