A second glimpse. 🔮 Jae, a shadow mage blamed for his mentor’s untimely demise. He enlists his estranged best friend on a mission to clear his name. Will he brave the depths of the seas, his past, & his heart—or will he step into the shadow they cast for him? Art by @rossowinch.bsky.social

At long last, a writing update. open.substack.com/pub/alexluco...

Art Commission: Jae, protagonist of 'You Cannot Drown a Shadow' #commissionsopen #commissionedart #art

A second glimpse. 🔮 Jae, a shadow mage blamed for his mentor’s untimely demise. He enlists his estranged best friend on a mission to clear his name. Will he brave the depths of the seas, his past, & his heart—or will he step into the shadow they cast for him? Art by @rossowinch.bsky.social

There’s someone I’d like you to meet. Jae Acolyte, Shadow Pillar Visual concept by @duranch.bsky.social Protagonist of You Cannot Drown a Shadow, my debut novel coming in late 2026. I can’t wait for this special guy who’s lived in my head for so many years to capture your heart 🖤

I have thoughts on being a creative and crafting an interconnected universe, and you can read them now ⬇️ open.substack.com/pub/alexluco...

Why are some of us inclined to the speculative in a world built for the rational mind? How can we reframe embarrassing moments as milestones in our creative journeys? ✍️ I wrote about these and more in my first-ever Substack article ⬇️ open.substack.com/pub/alexluco...

What does it mean to be a creative person? How can we reframe embarrassing moments as milestones and find the strength to keep going? My first-ever Substack article is live. You might get some insights into my writing journey, too! open.substack.com/pub/alexluco...

I feel like authors blocking people who gave them bad reviews is completely reasonable. Just like bad reviews are fair game, why should an author be expected not to do what it takes to preserve their peace? Would you rather said author trash talks the reviewer?

cr: 📖 The Strength of the Few by James Islington—65% through my ARC. Trying to finish before it comes out next week. Been stalling on finishing this because I don’t want it to end! 📖 The Second Death of Locke by V.L. Bovalino. 2 chapters in & loving the immersion.

Happy 1 year to the EP everyone slept on I had high hopes for you youtube.com/playlist?lis...

Yesterday, the ETHOS Kickstarter brought in 58 backers and raised $2,100 of the $3,500 we need to produce this amazing anthology! Let's keep it up. Back it now and help us make this book even better!

For those in the US & Canada looking to start Legend of Tal, now's a good time! The ebook is 50% off for the rest of October. As one reader put it (flatteringly!), what you're getting is "Name of the Wind meets Wheel of Time meets Robin Hobb." May you enjoy! #FantasyBooks #booksale

Revision process on You Cannot Drown A Shadow is moving along. It’s so much more work than I expected, especially for the chapters that require full rewrites. At this point, I’m just having fun with the new stuff I get to add while making sure the continuity lines up 🫶

🎨 New Art Reveal! 🎨 This piece features Tal battling a centaur-ish creature called an ijiraq. I love how she turned out! At least 3 more artworks still to come for An Emperor's Gamble - stay tuned for the reveals. 🏷️ Art by Anderson Magalhães #fantasyart #fantasybooks #kickstarter

Would any authors care to take a look at a short book blurb (that I intend to go on the back cover) and let me know if it makes sense? 📖

I don’t use this app a ton but whenever I log in and I just see people posting about their books and art, it feels like a breath of fresh air. Seriously considering checking in here more often than the other place

I got tired of zombie stories about a decade ago, but I’d love to see one where the punchline isn’t that *gasp* humans are bad. I want to see zombies as the real threat. The surviving humans should be there because their cooperation and compassion got them through. But nope, too optimistic I guess

May or may not have booked a tat appointment in LA with my dream artist for late December without having any plans of how to get there yet or what else I’ll do 😅

How does one bridge the bottomless chasm between the vivid vision in their head and their writing ability?

Slots for September and October are available!

I just posted the progress shots of this background and a poll over on ko-fi! Are you interested in commission a bg? For your world building? To use in your own art work? Please let me know what you think!! ko-fi.com/polls/Are-yo...

ROGUISH RAFFLE! 🚨 I've teamed up with some rebellious authors for this awesome book giveaway. Get a chance to win 1 of 33 print books being offered from those in the image. I've read several of the stories and can attest to their quality! Enter through the 🔗 in my bio or below! #fantasy #books

Draft 2 of You Cannot Drown A Shadow is underway 🌊✍️ Buried hatchets resurrect. Extinguished flames spark again.

morning reading spot 📚🍵 // draft 2 outline complete ✍️🎉

✨ ART REVEAL ✨ 30 days, 30 facts about my MC 📚 Day 16 As a member of the secretive order of the Zwe, Jae’s wardrobe varies widely. His everyday uniform consists of a cropped top with a belted hem, pants, & a cloak. He’ll never leave those knives at home! 👀 Concept art by artkblo #booksky

✨ ART REVEAL ✨ 30 days, 30 facts about my MC 📚 Day 16 As a member of the secretive order of the Zwe, Jae’s wardrobe varies widely. His everyday uniform consists of a cropped top with a belted hem, pants, & a cloak. He’ll never leave those knives at home! 👀 Concept art by artkblo #booksky

30 days, 30 facts about my MC 📚 Day 15 Angst. Give him all the angst. But sometimes he wants bubblegum.

30 days, 30 facts about my MC 📚 Day 14 Jae would go on vacation as far away as possible where no one knows him. He needs a break 😅

I have openings in September, November, and December for line editing projects! Also still have time in August to do a novella For info on my rates and request a consultation on your project, visit my website at the link: www.spacemagepress.com/editing-serv... #booksky #writersky #authorsky

‼️ I have two weeks left to make $800 to cover August expenses. $45 Grabbags/$70 Couple Grabbags are still open, As well as $15 Fullbody reference sketches and my regular comms!! Please share with everyone you can! Donations would be greatly appreciated 💗 ko-fi.com/maysar/goal?...

30 days, 30 facts about my MC 📚 Day 13 Jae’s intentions are selfish early on; he just wants to find his place in the world. That alone is a lofty goal for him and changing it isn’t even on his radar. #MC30Days #booksky

30 days, 30 facts about my MC 📚 Day 12 He does not have a romantic interest… as of the start of book 1 👀

The way my top two songs on Spotify are about the same person 👀

The best part of revisions is finding the parts you loved writing & finding ways to make them even better. 📚 #booksky

30 days, 30 facts about my MC 📚 Day 11 Brooding, idealistic, broken

30 days, 30 facts about my MC 📚 Day 10 No context sneak peek of a moment that broke them #booksky

Imagine if everyone took the “don’t publish your first book” advice. So many of our favorite books would not exist.

Had a random creative rush and outlined two brand new chapters between existing ones that will help contextualize later stuff 😌✍️

30 days, 30 facts about my MC 📚 Day 9 Jae’s best friend Iro matters most to him. Here’s a little sneak peek pertaining to that 🫣🥰 #booksky #fantasy #mmromance #books

30 days, 30 facts about my MC 📚 Day 8 Jae is an enneagram 4! Sensitive, creative and emotionally tense, his core fear is not being unique & having no impact on the world. I can’t quite figure out if his wing is 3 or 5; he has aspects of both. #booksky

30 days, 30 facts about my MC 📚 Day 7 Jae doesn’t want anyone to know about his hyperfixation on gluppos, a species of sassy, round, green, flying amphibians native to his homeland. He really, really wants a pet gluppo and has considered getting a tattoo of one. 🫣 #booksky

30 days, 30 facts about my MC 📚 Day 6 Jae is a mage sworn to Shadow. Think illusory magic and the art of stealth. Lots of sneaking around and getting into trouble. 🫣 Oh, and he’s a guitarist. 🥰 #booksky

30 days, 30 facts about my MC 📚 Day 5 Jae hasn’t existed as long as my idea for this story, but aspects of him are an amalgamation of old characters that didn’t work quite right. I’m so glad to have what feels like the perfect MC for me now. 🥰 #booksky

30 days, 30 facts about my MC 📚 Day 4 Not counting flashbacks, I imagine Jae being about 23 or 24 as of chapter 1. I wanted to have a protagonist who’s older than most YA heroes, but young enough to leave plenty of room to write many stories about him. #booksky

Finally I have a computer that doesn’t freak out at my massive documents 🥹🫶 Love having a PC now 🥰 #booksky 📚

30 days, 30 facts about my MC 📚 Day 3 Not a one liner, but it’s a quip 😅 “I’ll get you a mirror when we reach the Keep. I’m afraid you’ll find more shocking revelations than your complicity in a monopoly. You might learn… that your wardrobe is unforgivably tasteless.” #booksky

Imagine if we told musicians not to show anyone their first song, or painters not to show anyone their first painting. Because that’s how some of you talk to writers. 🍵

‪30 days, 30 facts about my MC 📚 ‬ ‪Day 2‬ ‪His MBTI is almost definitely either INFP or ENFP, leaning towards the former. All the feels, all the time. ‬

30 days, 30 facts about my MC 📚 Day 1 Jae is from an archipelago nation in my fantasy setting. Picture maritime Southeast Asia—tropical islands rife with history, dense jungle and rivers, and of course innovative world-class cities that serve as the crossroads between cultures. #booksky