terrible day for fantasy and sci-fi nerds 💔 rip king I won't forget your pink nintendo DS moment nor your many kindnesses

A sample of some of my hand-drawn and painted maps. I’m putting together some videos over on my TikTok and eventually here. I have so much footage to trawl through lol. #fantasy #maps #illustration

Dunbar in East Lothian is stunning. I’m sure I’ll be back over to this stretch of the coast for some fantasy inspiration soon. #Scotland #writing

I’ve been planning to come to Oban for years. Okay, so I had to dodge a few showers, but it was spectacular. I always think that mountains and islands look so much more mysterious when they’re shrouded in mist and rain clouds. #scotland

Edinburgh looks amazing in any weather, especially moody, gothic weather. #Edinburgh

Beach days help with creativity and filling my well, especially when there are magical landscapes and lighthouses. A good chunk of my WIP is coast and astronomy based so I’m always looking for those nuggets of inspiration that will set the plots or characters apart from each other. #writing

Dedícolle este post a “cascarilleira” melysue Dragón en un relieve de granito (siglo XIV). Museo de San Antón, La Coruña

@louiseblackwick.bsky.social Thanks ♥️♥️. I recently read a mindblowing fantasy book called "Vivian Amberville - The Weaver of Odds". Amazingly epic and trippy read written by author Blackwick. Waiting for Book of Chaos! Visit : www.vivianamberville.com

My new "A day in the life on an international author" series has just dropped its first episode! 🎉🎉🎉 You'll see unedited slices into my day-to-day life & work) as a Netherlands-based, English-writing, bestselling author. Here's an overview of what you might expect: www.patreon.com/posts/119409530

Ah, humble beginnings. There was a time 30 year-old me went to France, put on a black wig & cosplayed as Vivian Amberville (a 13-year old book character) to shoot what is probably the world's most amateuristic book trailer. What us writers won't do for our stories.😶 Still oddly proud of this one...

Social media is a constant slog when it comes to sharing art or books. But still, we battle on! #fantasy #artist This imagery is from a map commission.

Cor, I can't wait to play #OldSkies this weekend! 🎮❤️ I positively DEVOUR every pixelart point-n-click game from WadjetEye Games @wadjeteyegames.bsky.social. Every single one of their games is an absolute gem of storytelling. The Blackwell saga & The Escavation of Hob's Barrow are some of my faves!🥰

This is, by far, the silliest promo video I've ever shot.🫣 If we never met before, my name is Louise Blackwick: a fantasy/sci-fi author based in the Netherlands.✒️📖 I'm mostly known as the author of the #VivianAmberville fantasy series & the creator of NEON SCIENCE-FICTION. Please don't meme me! 💀

Welp, I guess I'm here now. \o_,__O/ Super new here, so please feel free to drop me a word & tell me something about yourself. Show me that cool thing you've been working on! Ok, I'll start: I'm a full time English writer based in the Netherlands. PS: This goes without saying, but I follow back.

My fellow Weavers and Chaos Weavers, "Vivian Amberville - The Book of Chaos" finally releases today, in all formats & for all markets! Info: www.patreon.com/posts/124992736 Vivian Amberville® is a bestselling EPIC DARK FANTASY book series about a girl with the power to twist reality.💙📚 #booksky

Glorious in Edinburgh so I’m making the most of it! From garden to the Firth of Forth. #edinburgh

Another day, another experimental map in my sketchbook. #fantasy

I’ve swapped cosy coffee shops for cafe gardens and sunshine. I’m definitely not complaining. Although I love the autumnal/winter dark academia vibes I’m looking forward to gentle walks and literature themed picnics. Are literature themed picnics a thing? If not, they should be! Who’s with me?

Drawing maps is therapeutic for me but it also gives me the opportunity to worldbuild. I started out studying theatre and film design but found myself drawn to the idea of creating my own worlds and characters. And that’s where I am at now, trying to write a fantasy series and drawing maps. #fantasy

Edinburgh has been glorious recently and we’re in for another fantastic day today. I had a lovely lunch out with a writer friend yesterday and snapped this photo on the way home. I was supposed to be on my way to Dunbar this morning but felt grotty so I’ve rescheduled. Instead I’m reading.

Good morning all. This is a little glimpse into my writing and art space. The clocks have changed and the sun is shining in Edinburgh 🙌😀. Spring is here!

Promarker inks are fun and effective for maps. I’ve used them a few times now and I’m amazed at how well they work on paper and canvas. #fantasy

Ursula K LeGuin

Edinburgh is magical even at night and especially when it’s misty. This is St Giles Cathedral looking more like a fantasy gothic castle. #Edinburgh

Happiness is a pigeon in Spring 🥰 #edinburgh

I was in York for a talk about dark skies. The irony is that the tree here is lit by artificial light, however it is the preferred amber glow that is much kinder to living things. As humans we are nature, and our future depends on a more sympathetic relationship with nature and ourselves. #york

For the new people I have met here (hi!), I make clothes. Dresses and the occasional corset, mostly. It's a matter of mental hygiene. I sew because punching people in the face is frowned upon. So prepare for the occasional work-in-progress #wip post, it helps me with self-accountability.

I’ve been living in Edinburgh for nearly four months and I don’t think I’ve shared any photos of the fantastic bookshops here. Consider it rectified. This shop is Armchair books on West Port. #Edinburgh

Starting a fresh canvas is often hard, so I find that getting a little colour on a surface can help the ideas flow. One painting is fully formed in my head, the other is nothing more than a ghost. Is a blank canvas or page a challenge to you? Or do you dive right in with ideas flowing? #creativity

Spring has definitely sprung in Leith. This was a beautiful sight to come back to. It is a reminder that nature nourishes my soul, even in the darkest times. #Edinburgh

Heading back to Scotland and as usual the scenery is stunning and inspiring. ❤️ #scotland

I’ve wanted to visit North Berwick for a while, especially to see Bass Rock lighthouse. Next time I visit I hope the boat trips will be running or I can walk the coast. #Scotland

Glorious weather in Edinburgh at the moment. I might have to take another walk around today to get some writing inspiration. #Edinburgh

Reaching for the stars. As the nightsky brightens every year I am thankful I still have the moon. #edinburgh

I think I might have finally cracked it in regards to the series I’m writing. I figured that if I can sort some of the developmental edit work early, later edits will be smoother. Hopefully 😂 #writing

A Happy Imbolc to everyone. The signs of Spring are everywhere even on a cold day. Found these little beauties on a walk through a cemetery in Leith. From death there is life.

Absolutely gorgeous day! I almost don’t want to spend it in the library working. I might spilt the day between exploring and work. What do you think? #Edinburgh

After a bit of a naff day it’s time for food and Slow Horses. I love a good spy show!

When you have a day of burnout and doing anything is physically and mentally draining, the best thing is to do nothing. Drink, eat, maybe a walk but nothing else. When work isn’t happening no point in forcing it. Tomorrow is a new day!

Which one are you? 😂

Read. Read books. Reading books is resistance. Buy. Buy books. Buying books is resistance. Share. Share books. Sharing books is resistance. Celebrate Celebrate books. Celebrating books is resistance.

The perfect photobomb at the Waters of Leith Edinburgh.

Finally writing! I’m loving the cosy corners around Edinburgh and the abundance of coffee and book shops.

Edinburgh castle looks like a painting. I’m always in awe of its majestic presence.

I’m trying to build a routine, something that was lost to me for so long. Finding pleasure in my sketchbook is like meeting an old friend again after many years. The kind that no matter how long it’s been, the conversation flows into the early hours of the morning. What nourishes your soul?

Beautiful winter light in Leith and Edinburgh yesterday ☺️

Nothing like working by candlelight, it’s magical. (Just don’t mention going blind in dim light and probably setting myself on fire 😂)

This year is all about consistency. So drawing daily, just for an hour. Little and often. It’s the same with the writing, though that’s been much harder to start. I find it difficult to write when I’m working on commissions as I have to hyper focus. Anyone struggling with the same problem?