It's been approximately two years since my last journal, a little longer actually. Grief is a personal experience, but I won't go into that at the moment as it's not relevant to this journal. However, I will admit that Kiju's death froze my writing inspiration solid. I have been trying to regain my muse and desire to write, and coupled with a growing financial need, I have decided to start accepting writing commissions. Alongside that, I'll also be starting to free-write. Perhaps in the future, when I get into a rhythm, I may start a Patreon or something similar, where Patreon supporters can get early access to my stories or even potential cameos. But that's something I haven't ventured into yet.

In summary, expect to see new stories from me soon, and if anyone wants to commission me, just send me a note - I check FA at least twice a day.

I want to write something fancy, moving, and telling here but... frankly, I'm still too numb. Yesterday,  Kiju took his own life. I don't have his passwords to announce it on his account, but this is... at least something I can do for him. I knew him for at least half of my life, and we had been together for the past decade. I'm truly numb, and I miss him greatly. Needless to say, anything related to writing or the like is on hold while I try and wrap my head around... all of it.

This is going to be a kind of ramble-y, sort of, so I apologize in advance for that.

It is kind of odd admittedly, that being writing again. I've always enjoyed doing it and getting the commission-trade out of the blue from  theroyalfowl rekindled in me the urge to write, but I also realize I can't just sit around waiting on commissions to roll into do that writing, as that may take a while. I was thankful to  AureliusB for commissioning me basically the same night I opened for them publicly and, thankfully, he loved the story I wrote him. But, I know I can't only write for commissions alone as that doesn't generate traffic nor does it really showcase what I can do frequently. So, I am doing what most writers do - when I don't have a commission to work on, I'm going to be doing smaller pieces of work. They will vary in length and content, but most of them no doubt will be part of my Raptorverse. I can say that the first piece I'm writing for it is, indeed, from that.

I also plan to do a series of spooky-themed stories in October. Spooky but sexy, of course, so if you like ghosts and other such themes, pay attention to that month.

Also, of course, I am currently open for commissions with more information in the commission tab of FA!

See you all again soon for the next story.

So, I do believe I'm ready to take my first commissions! I don't think I'll be taking many this first run, maybe roughly between two and four, since it is a bit of a trial run, and I will be accepting them on a mixture of first-come, first-serve basis and concept of what is to be written. Please read my ToS on my commission page here on FA for more information and then Note me your ideas. If I accept your idea, I'll reply to you via Notes and give you the email you can contact me at for future information, while also asking for your email so I can invoice you if I approve of your idea and we agree upon the total word amount.

So, as I mentioned in the last piece of art I posted, it was a trade - my first. I can't draw, as anyone who knows me knows quite well, but I can write, and out of the blue  theroyalfowl messaged me asking if I took story-based commissions. I never had thought about it before and I jumped at it, delving in with a passion. The result is now up on their page as their most recent (as of this post going live) posting, accompanied by a fantastic piece of art titled 'Under The Incandescent Moon of a Feral Shore'. I haven't done any true writing since I ended up having to abandon the end of my raptorverse stories due to life getting in the way, and writing this made me realize just how much I missed doing so. So, it was with that in mind and a more recent example of my writing that I've decided to go ahead and take more of these story-based commissions, somewhere in the ballpark of 3-5k word-works on average, at least to start. Consider this a feeler to test for interest, but also as a way to announce that I'll be opening in the future - most likely in two-ish weeks. After scouring a ton of other writers, I've settled on $15 USD per 1,000 words.

Of course, my biggest drawback is I am not partnered with an artist to help these stories come to life. Of course, I'm willing to work with just an idea, as I did for  theroyalfowl, but I also will be delighted to work with an already existing piece of work and give it some background and life. After all, a picture can tell at least a thousand words, or so the saying goes. However, as a bit of forewarning, I will say that the following are topics I won't take, so I don't get anyone's expectations up before properly opening.

Vore/Death/Snuff
Scat/Watersports/Vomit
Macro/Micro
Hyper/Muscle
Unbirthing
Rule 34: Some exceptions, usually involving Pokemon; please inquire for specifics.
BDSM: Inquire about specifics.
Rape: Dub-con can be okay, though inquire beforehand.
Smoking/Drugs/Alcohol: Okay as a habit, not as a theme - aka, a character is welcome to smoke or drink in a story so long as it isn't the central theme of it

It has been a very long time since my last journal and an even longer time since I've started to have reflections. Some of this was obvious with the gryphon - a character and artwork still near and dear and is staying around to use in art and the like and after several years, changed into something that makes me happy. Long and short of it without any of the drama is: the fox wasn't doing it for me. Hadn't for several years, but never fully wanted to ditch it either. Enter the gryphon originally, but it didn't pan out the way I wanted it.

The raptor does and it seems, after a time, the gryphon does, too. Both are interchangeably 'me', but without a doubt, the gryphon will get more limelight than the raptor does. Not to worry, the raptor will get artwork, though!

So, those of you are watching may have noticed that I have two characters -

Alexandros Ravenwind, which is 'me'; a culpeo. And Esi Sharpclaw, a Utahraptor gal. There are other raptors as well, one of which - Abasi Darkheart - will be showing up before much longer. I figured, however, that it is time that my raptors got an account of their own, under the gal that 'flagshipped' them if you would. So I'll be deleting all of Esi's art from this account, and moving them over to the new one I've set up for her.

 Esi

That is all!