Those Mummies Were Slow AF But They Still Scared TF Outta Me.

First time public speaking!

I did a thing 👋 Check it out if you're interested in writing, videogames, novels, stories, or just want to see me doing public speaking for the first time 😆

another Angie study in PTS

Yo i have some open slots for headshots portraits (again) so hmu here on via my email if you want a spot :) anastasia.ershova.artist@gmail.com

To purchase the commission right away ( PayPal, Stripe and other types of payment available, including euro payments) proceed here:

https://app.lava.top/products/9bb87c46-34c5-4e84-8bc3-d4171ca132d5

Slow progress is still progress, dammit

It's been a hot second (i.e. an ungodly amount of time) since I posted anything to do with my third and final AoD-sequel novel. Suffice to say I'm genuinely uncomfortable talking about the progress – or lack thereof – of WIPs, especially when they've been WIPs for so long they've started sprouting little purple tendrils and have knotted together into a Lovecraftian horror under the sink.

This is in no small part because of my ongoing health issues. Privacy is very important to me, but it's also no secret that I'm disabled with multiple chronic conditions. I'd hoped, back at the launch of Path of the Black Alchemist in the summer of 2023, to have wrapped up this project and published the final book by Christmas. Or at least spring 2024. Or the next Christmas for certain.

Life, of course, has had other ideas...

The important thing is that the third book IS coming and I AM making progress – even though at times it feels so unbearably slow that it's in danger of being overtaken by hibernating snails. It's no coincidence that part of Lara Croft's arc in this story is about coming to terms with her limitations and accepting/offering help; a huge part of my own life's journey has involved deconstructing my internalised ableism and learning that it's okay – even necessary – to embrace support from others. We're so conditioned to be perfect little self-sufficient, independent individuals that reaching out during hard times can automatically make us feel like a failure.

In reality, nothing could be further from the truth... as Lara finds out the hard way.

Another factor of this challenge is trying to reach out more online. To connect and grow with other creative minds. Hence, this post. Fatigue/energy limitations are a HUGE part of my daily life, so setting spoons aside purely for this is a Big Deal (TM) for me. Tumblr feels like a safer, more welcoming place to write more of these long-form musings than other SM platforms, so we'll see. It's counterproductive for me to make grandious promises about posting every day, or even every week, but it'd be cool to reach out more and try to open up a little after so long retreating into myself these past few years.

I'm also considering (but haven't yet committed to) sharing my works over on AoE. On the one hand, it's more work in the short term. But on the other, I'm seeing a lot of engagement and encouragement in the AoE community even here on Tumblr. Those of you who use it regularly: what would you recommend?

Bon chance xxx

"If you use em dash in your works, it makes them look AI generated. No real human uses em dash."

Imaging thinking actual human writers are Not Real because they use... professional writing in their works.

Imagine thinking millions of people who have been using em dash way before AI becomes a thing are all robots.

REBLOG IF YOU'RE A HUMAN AND YOU USE EM DASH

Tomg Raider Comic - #3

Self Aware Lara questions the purpose of having multiple weapons

.... only to proudly display it an episode later

Page 1 Reference - Episode 2 17:05

Page 2 Reference - Episode 3 2:35

I will close commissions soon! :) Giving the post a few more rounds and closing until next month or so

I've just seen a post where somebody said

"Judge neil gaiman more harshly because his work reflects that he knows how to be a decent person, he just chooses to be the opposite"

And

I couldn't have put it any better myself.

Fuck Neil Gaiman. Fuck Amanda Palmer.