When you're writing a space opera and you fall down a four-hour quantum mechanics rabbit hole to come up with a flimsy theory for why your symbiotic plant-animal priestess can burst into blinding light and irradiate a couple of bounty hunters into a pair of puddles on the landing pad.

Tomorrow, my debut novel goes out into the world. Follow along with Jason and Ayana as they investigate an occult conspiracy in this action-packed, high-stakes, cosmic horror thriller about the monsters we choose. Preorder your copy today! amshilling.com/books #WritingCommunity #Booksky 💙📚🩸

Can't wait to watch this after kiddos are in bed. Very excited for this release, and I'm eager to hear all about the nuts and bolts that went into making it.

Just got back from a fun-filled, booze-soaked, action-packed week in the Alps with family & friends. Managed to get the tiniest amount of writing done. Had the best time, but I am excited to detox and get back to my WIP. Setting myself the lofty goal to get the first draft done in a month. Let’s go!

Just pre-ordered my copy. 😊 Can't wait to read it!

WACB update: Work continues in bursts, but I'm making good progress. 63k-ish atm. I've realised I have to split this into a duology (no surprises there). Currently nearing the mid-point of Book 1. It's pretty bloated with narratorly hijinks right now. My plan: cut heavily, aim for 120k eventually.

Whoop!!!! I cannot wait for this one!! Every snippet I've ever read of this has hooked my attention and never let go, and just look at that art work! Divine. (Pun intended)

Querying update: will be open again on 1st April.

Nearly 7500 words today. A beast of a writing day. Felt great. Slight segue into the most stressful hour of the year this afternoon, but it resolved, and thankfully I was able to get the flow back. Left the last scene unfinished in an attempt to pick up the same momentum tomorrow.

Well, this is glorious. One of my favourite places to write in the house, and today it’s just about warm enough to have the garden doors open. The sun’s shining, there’s a woodpecker in the ash tree behind our house, and our neighbour’s magnolia is starting to bloom.

Never give up! I mean it. I wrote the book 5 years ago and it's been through several iterations since while I kept trying to place it. I can barely absorb the fact that it's going to be a thing! But I also know it wouldn't be the thing it is without that journey. Nothing wasted. Keep writing. 📚💙🏳️‍🌈

Back home in the London rain. Wish I was still at the beach with a G&T. Post holiday blues. On the upside though, kids are off to the grandparents tomorrow for the night, and I intend to get my write on.

Happy book birthday to Olivia Jackson and HUNTER’S TREASURE! Out now from One More Chapter. This thrilling adventure rom-com is now available from your preferred seller of books. A desert island read if I’ve ever seen one… 🌴🌴🌴

Yes, that’s U.S. Champion Amber Glenn and Olympic champion Alysa Liu with the nuiMO version of my OC Chloé LaFleur. And both of them have said they want to read my book when it’s published. Is this a brag? Abso-fucking-lutely.

At the beach for a few days. Beautiful sunshine, freezing cold, scaffolding up around the flat, but still delightfully happy to get away from the London rain. Hoping to get a lot of writing done.

#Febchantment Day 14 The most terrifying thing about the magic that permeates my world is its unpredictability. One small mistake, and everyone ends up as cinders. Or flamingos. Or soup tureens. Occasionally, all at once.

Is it ever going to stop raining? Like, seriously, the Atlantic must be empty at this point.

Seriously, Pantsers, how do you do it? I have tried and failed to pants my latest book. I started out with a rough roadmap. It started out fine. But by the second chapter, I was already mapping out the scenes before I got started on each one. And now, I've completely derailed.

Gone a bit quiet because I'm fully invested in writing at the moment. Something has awoken with a vengeance. Almost 5000 words on the page today. I'm having so much fun with it. The ensemble cast have just arrived, and it's pure chaos. My snarky narrator is having the time of her life.

Today on the Dev Blog, I discuss some of my design principles around species. From the special role of tieflings & dragons to how no humans exist in my story and campaign setting of the megadungeon city of Felcrown. walkerharris.net/felcrown/blo... #DnD #ttrpg #fantasy #levelup #a5e #pf2e 📚⚔️

I was today year's old when I discovered it's strait-laced, not straight-laced. Embarrassingly, I always thought it referred to STRAIGHT as in CONVENTIONAL 🙈 For anyone who wants to know: It's from the 16th century, uses STRAIT as an old form of TIGHT, and compares people to tightly laced corsets.

Got into a good routine with writing We Always Come Back. I've worked in an hour's break at my favourite cafe in the park every day, and I've steadily made progress. Not quite the late nights I usually spend locked in my study, but it's working. Got 10k on the page now. Very happy with it so far.

#WIPSnips #amwriting #writingcommunity #writers #writesky Oh boy this scene is so spoilery but I'm going for it 😆 Mireia & Kena explore somewhere they probably shouldn't be. How'd they get there? What did she feel? 🤷‍♀️ Also yes they can turn invisible lol From Book 2 of my #Atlantis trilogy.

#fantasy #WritingCommunity #WriteSky #WIPSnips #confident Just after yesterday’s snip. Virgil contemplates Rushak, Cerel, and his own decisions with a disturbing conclusion - and typical angst. - From Brother’s Keeper, my fantasy WIP about two brothers bound by a misunderstood power.

Happy #WIPSnips 3 - confident! From the third Bludeye Beach book. I swear Edie doesn't spend all of her time falling to pieces 😬

Which character do you think most embodies confidence for today's #WIPSnips? 🤔😂

Hiding from the rain at one of my favourite cafes this morning. Got 1000 new words on the page. Looking forward to finishing the chapter later… and for the rain to stop. Seriously. It needs to stop.

One thing I tell people over and over and over again is just how much luck I have had in my career... plus, you know, privilege, which is a systemic boost that makes luck more likely for some. Yes, I'm good at what I do. So are a lot of other people who have not had my luck. No shame to admit it.

Hosting a dinner party on a Sunday night after dry January may be the most masochistic thing I've done in a while. Wow. Hangovers hit hard when you haven't drunk for a month and it's 6am and the kids have dialled up squabbling to the max for no explicable reason other than they sense your weakness.

Ess is a con artist with forbidden magic, able to control minds through touch in a world where skin is taboo. Forced into a plot to infiltrate the forum, her attempts to seduce the majestor are somewhat undermined by the presence of his infuriating son. #WIPSnips

We were on the same PGCE course (teacher training postgrad). Clocked him immediately across the packed auditorium first morning, then ended up in the same class of 30 together. Luckily, the instant attraction was mutual.

#WIPSnips #amwriting #writingcommunity #writers #writesky While arguing with one of the elite clans about slavery, an upsetting revelation comes out about Kena's old family ☹️ (Very first draft so apologies if it's a bit overwritten 😅) From Book 2 of my #Atlantis trilogy.

I’m actively trying to get better at planning shorter books. I try to fit too much in my books, and they always end up beasts. I need to get better at writing more contained, shorter books. I’m experimenting with pantsing right now. Hoping it leads to a more contained story. #pretendpanel

Ess is a con artist with forbidden magic, able to control minds through touch in a world where skin is taboo. Captured by the second most powerful person in the city-state, she finds herself held prisoner on the front lines of a brutal war. #WIPSnips

Managed to get some more words on the page today. 2255 dubious words. But after my recent writer's block, I'll take it!

So, my husband finished reading The Last Sky today. He's not a genre guy—much prefers literary fiction and Russian greats—and though he had beef with a few of my stylistic choices throughout, this was his final feedback: "I miss the characters, actually miss them. I want to... read it again.” 🥹

I don't live in the UK anymore, but this is sickening. Tech companies shouldn't be allowed to profit off an elected government unless they're providing a vital product. AI is not. This is corruption. Just say no!

The Citylord is after our intrepid crew for... reasons. They debate how best to avoid capture. 🏃🏼🏃🏼‍♂️🏃🏿‍♀️ 💨 Note: "Post-deceased" is the polite term for zombie in Shorespine. From an action-comedy novel about the wacky misadventures of a heist crew. #WIPSnips #AmWriting #WritingCommunity 💙📖

Not sure if Mike is on here. But so excited to have him on the team. His weird books are a perfect fit for me!!!!!

Happy #WIPSnips 27 - Storm! From RETURN TO BLUDEYE BEACH. Some more local color 😄

#WIPSnips | storm vibes✨ Bit of post-apocalyptic “snow.” #WritingCommunity #WriteSky #amwriting

Ess is a con artist with forbidden magic, able to control minds through touch in a world where skin is taboo. Forced into a plot to infiltrate the forum, her arrival is sabotaged by the son of her mark returning from the war at precisely the wrong moment for maximal disruption. #WIPSnips

For the first time in my writerly life, I'm experiencing writers block. I have a lot of projects I could be working on, but I'm struggling to choose one and put a single word on the page. How do you overcome writers block? Wrong answers only. 😜

Hey #writingcommunity! I hope y'all will join me starting in a week for #Febchantment, a prompt game focused on worldbuilding magic systems! You can use this to yap about a magic system you already have or build a new one. And oh yeah, feel free to define "magic system" as broadly as you want 😊

Hey writer friends, I have a game for you. ZAP!! Your OCs are now cats! Let's see what they look like. Reply or quote with cat pictures that you think give the vibes of your OCs. Interpret as you see fit, just no AI pics. #WritingPrompt #WritingCommunity #WriteSky

Ess is a con artist with forbidden magic, able to control minds through touch in a world where skin is taboo. Forced into a plot to infiltrate the forum, Ess arrives at her first formal dinner determined to not repeat her disastrous earlier introduction. #WIPSnips

Spencer is tapping into some serious magic. From book 2 of my romantasy WIP about a thief with a heart of gold and a priest of the dead. #WritingCommunity #Writingprompt #HQpress #Wrencer

Ess is a con artist with forbidden magic, able to control minds through touch in a world where skin is taboo. Forced into a plot to infiltrate the forum, it's proverbial gloves off at her first formal dinner. As a forty-something, I apologise for Ess's weaponising age 🫣 #WIPSnips

Ess is a con artist with forbidden magic, able to control minds through touch in a world where skin is taboo. Forced into a plot to infiltrate the forum, she's en route to the palace, undertaking her first sea voyage—and hating every second of it. #WIPSnips

Paperback preorders for THE DEVOURING are now available at: Barnes & Noble Bookshop Books-a-Million + a few other retailers Join Jason and Ayana on their hunt for the truth behind his brother's murder and an impossible illness. Preorder today: books2read.com/u/mvDRWX #WritingCommunity #Booksky 💙📚