For ticket #170675 and #173695, and any others in the future for art takedown.

Hey, it's not cool to use personal commissions of mine for RP websites. Make your own water buffalo.

http://bit.ly/FUREH2019BOOKS
http://bit.ly/FUREH2019BOOKS
http://bit.ly/FUREH2019BOOKS

Just like last year! Once again for Fur-Eh! 2019 I ran a panel on furry books published in the last year, and upcoming releases. Give the link above a click and go see all kinds of new and great furry books.

My personal recommendations, distilled:

If you buy one furry book this year, go for CLAW #1.

If you buy two furry books this year, go for CLAW #1 and Dissident Signals.

Searska GreyRaven is killing it this year with her stories "Roses" and "A Road of Dust and Honey".

The 2018 Best Anthropomorphic Artwork Award results have been announced! -- Follow our Twitter account at http://www.twitter.com/bestanthroart

Per last year, I included a $100 CAD prize for Judge's Choice, and a $50 Audience Choice award as well. The Audience Choice award tied this year, and the full prize was given to both winners.

Special Merit award for $20 donated to a charity of the artists choice.

Judge's notes and all 25 of the original contenders, runners up, and finalists can be seen here: http://bit.ly/2GPpUFu

Thank you to all of our great artists who contribute so much to the anthropomorphic genre.

---

Winner, Judge's Choice Award: "Cyber Squalor" by   Nomax -- https://www.furaffinity.net/view/26398213/

Winner, Audience Choice (TIE!): "Calm Before The Storm" by   Firefeathers -- https://www.furaffinity.net/view/29213264/

Winner, Audience Choice (TIE!): "Needle Felted Coyote" by   JulieToys -- https://www.furaffinity.net/view/29135172/ and https://www.furaffinity.net/view/28381419/

Winner, Special Merit: "Fred becomes OE of Rowrbrazzle at the LASFS Clubhouse in January 1989. Present are former OE Marc Schirmeister, and Bob Hill as a Bambioid." -- Photographer unknown. -- http://www.kayshapero.net/FredPatte.....ed_brazzle.jpg

Artist To Watch 2019:   Ira-Arn

---

Congrats to our winners and we look forward to all of your great work in 2019!

Hey folks, Bahu here.

I will be at Fur-Eh! 2018, and on Saturday morning I'll be delivering "This Year's Furry Books", highlighting 45 furry books, novels, anthologies, and ebooks that have been published recently or are forthcoming.

I'll post the powerpoint presentation for it sometime early next week, for those who want to catch up on their reading!

The 2017 Best Anthropomorphic Artwork Award results have been announced!

This year, I included a $100 CAD prize for Judge's Choice, and a $50 Audience Choice award as well, AND a Special Merit award for $20 donated to a charity of the artists choice.

Judge's notes and all 25 of the original contenders, runners up, and finalists can be seen here: http://bit.ly/2ChjQTe

Thank you to all of our great artists who contribute so much to the anthropomorphic genre.

---

Winner, Judge's Choice Award: "Lio" by   hriscia -- https://www.furaffinity.net/view/25785542/

Winner, Audience Choice: "Picnic" by   tacklebox -- https://www.furaffinity.net/view/24782246/

Winner, Special Merit: "Mountain Stream" by   lundi -- https://www.furaffinity.net/view/24662736/

You can read Part 1 here: Click!

---

The next round of previously published furry fiction of mine follows:

Story #4 is Plow Mare, originally published in "Will of the Alpha #3" by Furplanet, edited by Rechan and Lafitte.

A fun M/F bondage and pony-play(ish) story about two powerful athletes winning each other's respect, and eventually, winning each other's affections. With dizzyingly erotic bondage and pony-play between them, this story was a popular one in the anthology.


Story #5 is Eight Seconds and the Grace of God, originally published in "Claw the Way to Victory" by Jaffabooks, edited by AnthroAquatic.

A hard PG story about a clash of Canadian and American pride over the Camrose Rodeo. When Dawson Chinook and Bradley Shoulders meet in the rodeo ring after an earlier bar fight, the dust and fur will fly. Featuring adrenaline-soaked action in a rodeo re-envisioned for anthropomorphics, where steer riding is a violent blend of pick-a-back parkour.

Hey there folks. So I've decided it's time to finally get around to putting up my previously published fiction up on FurAffinity. Like, follow, share, and if there's a story you enjoy, share it with your friends.

The first three stories I've posted are something of a "then and now", some smut, some non-smut, with a nice blend between serious, sweet, and horror.

Story #1 is "Danang Heat": https://www.furaffinity.net/view/24085129/ My very first paid furry publication, all the way back in 2005. Published in SofaWolf's Heat, Issue 3. I've come a long way since this piece, but it's a good introduction to the type of writing that first got me published.

"Danang Heat" is an M/M semi-NC story about mutual attraction and rough trade in the sweltering heat of the Vietnam War. Featuring bondage, rough sex, and the very first appearance of a few of my recurring characters over the years in other stories.


Story #2 is "Prospero": https://www.furaffinity.net/view/24085334/ A hard-science-fiction horror story about the revenge humanity is owed for casting a social animal out alone into space. Published by FurPlanet in "Abandoned Places", edited by Tarl "Voice" Hocht. Probably my second-favorite story I ever wrote.


Story #3 is "All The Future's Stars": https://www.furaffinity.net/view/24085531/ A history-of-science-fiction piece, originally published in the 2012/2013(? records are spotty) conbook for Camp Feral!. It turns out that the Algonquin area of Ontario has long, deep roots in both science fiction and science fact, and it was a pleasure to bring those together for the benefit of the convention-goers.


More coming soon. :)

Total images that arrived on my subscriptions this year, to date: 13850.

Daily average: I accumulate an average of 38 images per day on FurAffinity.

I +favorited 720 images to date in 2015, representing slightly more than 5% of all images I am shown.

Thus, to make my +favorites list, the pictures must begin in a pool of the top 5%.

---

720 images in pool, to date (more may be added before the end of December)

Of those 720, approximately 675 are eligible for selection, once the deleted or out-of-scope images are discounted.

---

Progress:

216/720 +favorite images sorted. 17/216 passed on to second round.

---

Notes and asides so far:

Simul is as powerful a top contender as ever, likewise Hibbary. DonCoyote emerged on the scene this year like an atom bomb. Kaji is making a strong showing, and of course Dramamine is rocking Night Physics spectacularly. WhiteMantis is also going to be a very strong contender, her animation-stills style work is both technically refined and aesthetically beautiful.

---

More tomorrow.

In case folks at RF2015 in Seattle want to look me up, here's my tentative schedule for the next few days:

Thursday, September 24th:

Supper ~ 5pm at the hotel.
Opening ceremonies 6pm
History of Furry 7pm

Writing and editing somewhere for From Winter's Ashes - 8-9pm

9pm-10pm Meet and Greet with the Furry Writer's Guild

10pm-11pm: Coyotl Awards

Drag my carcass off to bed.

---

Friday, September 25th:

Kaffeeclatsch at 8am
Traditional and Self-publishing 9am-10am.
(Glorious nothing) 10am-11am -- Want to hang out? Here's a good window.
Rejection and Critique: 11am-12pm
Editing and Revising: 12pm-1pm
Lunch and beer with Taxus: 1pm-3pm-ish.

(glorious nothing until 4pm)

GoH Reading: 4pm-5pm
Writing lyrics: 5pm-6pm

(glorious nothing again until bedtime, Book time with me here!)

---

Saturday, September 26th:

Kaffeeklatsch 8am -- Tentative. I may not want to get up this early.

Morning stuff: Demo for Laika Dosha to be released this morning on Patreon.

(glorious nothing until 2pm, book me!)

Writing scripts for voice acting: 2pm-3pm

Preparing for Laika Dosha demo: 3pm-4pm

LAIKA DOSHA DEMO AW YISS: 4pm-5pm.

Recovery until 6pm

Five C's of writing - 6-7pm

(glorious nothing from 7pm to 10pm, probably having supper, come find me!)

10pm - midnight: Kink writing workshops

---

Sunday, September 27th:

8am: Kaffeeclatsch

9am: Publishing From Winter's Ashes

10am: Writing action sequences workshop

11am: Art auction, because I'd never miss that.

12pm-1pm: Lunch, free time, come have lunch with me!

(glorious nothing until 4pm)

4pm: Feedback session on RF2015

5pm: Glorious nothing and dead dog parties etc.

7-10pm: Sushi supper with the Furry Writer's Guild

10pm-??: Dead dog parties!

Just realized my meme entry was no longer accurate: The Laika Dosha demo is going to be 4:00pm on SATURDAY at Rainfurrest, in the games room.

There will be giveaways! Prizes! Patreon patrons will receive love in merchandise form. :D

Hi folks! I'm coming to Rainfurrest! I've already done the RF meme here: https://www.furaffinity.net/journal/7008428/

Come on up to me and say hello, ask me questions about stories or Laika Dosha or even just Tapestries muck bullshit. :D

Looking forward to meeting you all there!

Gender: Male.

Preference: Submissive and feminine, gender doesn't much matter.

Relationship Status: Poly-V relationship, long-term.

How old are you?: 33

How tall are you?: 6'0"

Are you an Artist?: Yes, a writer.

Do you have a sketchbook?: No, I have so many scratchpad documents. So many. So many little story seeds.

Are you a Fursuiter?: No. My taste in anthropomorphic aesthetics trends towards the realistic, so 95% of fursuits out there look too toony for my tastes.

Would you wear one of my fursuits?: *shrug* Maybe? It wouldn't be for my benefit, but whatever?

Attending parties?: Yes. Invite me! I'll try to show up.

Do you drink?: High-quality Stout beer and sweet spirits, yes. Or a bit of Shiraz.

Can I buy you a drink?: If you're flush, one of the drinks above would be lovely. If not, just a Diet Pepsi would be fabulous!

Do you smoke?: No. Allergic.

Are you attending any panels? Yes, plenty of them.

Stage or public performance?: I'll be presenting in the Games room, 4:00pm on SATURDAY, showing off the first demo for  LaikaDosha.

How do I identify my self to you?: By "furry name" is fine. I'm more likely to remember that. I prefer to be called 'Bahumat' or just 'Bahu' for short, myself.

Rules of engagement (physical contact)?: Ask first, I'll probably say yes. Accept refusals gracefully.

How can I find you?: Probably best to use telecommunications. Google talk is best. bahumat[at]gmail.com

Can I talk to you?: Sure, but I'm a weird combination of outwardly brash and internally shy. Don't take it too personally if I'm abrupt. Probably means I'm overwhelmed with the social interaction.

Can I give you lots of money?: Yes. I accept writing commissions, tips, or twenties tucked into my pocket with a flirtatious wink. In short: Will write words for money.

Can I give you stuff?: If it isn't a disease and it is legal, sure!

Can I hug or snuggle with you?: Ask first, I'll probably say yes. Accept refusals gracefully.

Can I come to dinner with you?: Probably. Don't take it personally if I have to prioritize some seating or attention, though. This is a business trip for me, too.

Can I invite you to dinner?: Absolutely, but please accept any refusals gracefully. Chances are I will already have plans, but asking is appreciated!

Can I hang out with you?: For reasonable lengths of time, but please understand that this is a business trip for me, and I have project meetings to attend while I'm there.

Can I take your picture?: Ask me? I've got enough unflattering pictures of me out there.

How do I know if you're not looking to socialize (angry, busy or upset)?: I will be terse, abrupt, and probably leave physically quickly.

Personality Type?: Outwardly brash and confident, the product of applied social skills atop an intensely hermit-shy core. Onions have layers, donkey.

What's your goal for the con this year?: To promote  LaikaDosha, to spend time with my co-writers, editors, and project partners, and to shop some ideas around with fellow artists, editors, and publishers. In short: Business.

Just a heads up for watchers and the curious, Laika Dosha now has its own FA account:  LaikaDosha. All further content for the project will be posted there, and the Laika Dosha images on this account will be moved.

So don't forget to +watch and favorite the images you love!

And if you'd like to learn more about Laika Dosha, come visit us at www.laikadosha.com, or www.patreon.com/LaikaDosha, or Twitter LaikaDosha

 Oouna is once again livestreaming for Laika Dosha. The first hour is exclusive to our supporters of the project as a special thank-you!

If you're interested in supporting the game's development, please visit http://www.patreon.com/LaikaDosha and contribute to receive the Patron-exclusive link.

Want to learn more about the game? Come visit us at http://www.laikadosha.com

A heads up for awesome Laika Dosha fans and followers! Special for our Patreon Patrons,  Oouna will be hosting a livestream as she works on Laika Dosha artwork from 12pm until 6pm Eastern Standard Time.

If you're interested in watching, visit our Patreon and pledge in today! https://www.patreon.com/LaikaDosha?ty=h

This week, we're introduced to Hereford and Libby, the long-travelling and butt-kicking "feet" of the Hive.

Want to know more about Hereford and Libby? Read about them here.

(Art by the hard-working  Oouna, created for the Laika Dosha game project.)

Want to get exclusive Patreon subscriber content? Sign up for our Patreon to receive exclusive artwork and livestreams you won't get anywhere else.

Last week we introduced Pauline, the "left hand" of the Hive, a mathematical hyper-savant so advanced (and crippled by it) that her integration into the Hive was medically mandated: http://www.laikadosha.com/meet-pauline.html

Want to learn more about Laika Dosha? Interested in knowing when the first demo will be available? Come follow us on Patreon, at http://www.patreon.com/LaikaDosha

Last Stop on Your Way to Resurrection!

This week we get to learn about Padua Station, the home of Molly's Hive, and get a glimpse at two more of the Hive, Hereford and Libby!

http://www.laikadosha.com/welcome-t.....a-station.html

www.laikadosha.com is now live, with a bit of a teaser page and some early information about the developing game.

Why don't you go have a read, and follow the project on Twitter: LaikaDosha

Best of all, want to ask Molly some questions? Ask them here! https://twitter.com/LaikaDosha/stat.....56473616683008

Do you care about anthropomorphic arts? You do! Of course you do, you're on FurAffinity. Did you know that aside from all the pretty pictures, there's spectacular furry literature just waiting for you to pick it up and read it?

Better yet, we have two awards systems for anthropomorphic arts: The Ursa Majors, and The Coyotl's. Why don't you go see what's nominated, right here? http://coyotlawards.org/voting/

And if you read "Prospero" and enjoyed it, consider casting a vote for the anthology that published it, "Abandoned Places", won't you?

(Also, seriously, go read and vote for "Jackalope Wives" by Ursula Vernon. It's the best. THE BEST.)

Hi folks! Bahumat here. I've been tapped by  bane2253 to create my story Laika Dosha (Laika's Soul) using the Blackgate Game engine.

Preliminary work is just beginning here, but if you'd like to follow this project and learn more about it, keep an eye on Blackgate Games Patreon and my twitter account, LordBahumat.

Here's a little teaser to whet your appetite:

---

Antimatter smells like bacon.

They knew what they were doing when they wired in that association. Two atoms of antihydrogen react off of a fine copper mesh a few atoms wide and light­seconds across. It’s one net of four hundred and thirty eight scattered around the outer solar system. To my proprioception, my nose spans most of the outer solar system, everything from Jupiter to the Oort.

The scent of bacon hits me, and abruptly I’m eight years old, watching my mother make me a BLT. I’m also, simultaneously, a german shepherd pup of only eight weeks, nose to the air, watching the same. Hive mind memories run parallel that way.

Shared proprioception across three bodies, two brains in a can, one quantum computer, and all those sensor nets, means it’s easier to think of every one of me as a body part of a whole. For example:

Right now my sinuses, Rocco, has his nose up in the air. His eyes are squinting, his ears perked forward, and his tail is doing a lazy spiral. Signals from our sensor array get split; telemetry goes one way, quantum spin data goes the other. Rocco’s a four year old german shepherd dog, with some polar bear and luna moth hacked in for the benefit of our vomeronasal organ.

Almost a third of Rocco’s brain weight is devoted to processing scent; and Rocco gets a direct feed into the sensor array. Through him, the aroma of bacon frying is so rich and overwhelming, I find myself salivating from all of my mouths.

Sensors tag the two little spikes of gamma decay as 1.3 milliseconds apart. Trajectory models bloom in our consciousness. My left arm’s name is Pauline, and her brain is doing the math. My left arm is a human, female, aged thirty, and so powerfully autistic-­savant on its own that it medically mandated hive mind integration. Before me, Pauline tried to communicate with her caregivers through Fourier transforms of Pi, expressed by blinking.

Now, with integration, I can pretty regularly beat the computer on signal triangulation and sequencing. More importantly, I have a backup now in case the computer ever goes down, which my commanding officer assures me is inevitable in this environment.

My mouth’s name is Molly, the communication and integration specialist. I use her to relay the initial report to command: “Command, antimatter delta orbital ­north of Jupiter, relative earth angle one-­fifteen by three point five. Source looks like it’s off the orbital plane­, ninety-three percent certainty. Tracking. Updates will follow.”

Molly’s a genehacked hybrid, a cup of human, a cup of german shepherd dog, a few tablespoons of mynah bird and mockingbird for echolalic transmutations. My mouth has been born for this role; to transform complex hive­mind sensory input into language our command structure can understand. My mouth’s brain specializes in taking the mix of vomeronasal signals that Rocco understands, and the math that Pauline and the computer can come to agreement on, and transform that into words.

Hereford and Libby are my feet, and they boost up and off the station at a lazy two G’s, arcing up to start the long drift towards our target. They’re a pair of pygmy marmosets, eighty percent brain tissue by mass, permanently embedded in their happy little networked cans. Like matrioshka dolls, their cans each nest inside small spaceships with heavy industrial tools.

My job is to rescue people in deep space, and sometimes that means ripping apart a bulkhead or five to get to them. Stasis tanks are typically nestled in the heart of a ship, as far away from hard radiation as engineers can design. Hereford and Libby are here to kick the shit out of every piece of metal that stands in my way, and run those pods back here before the slow freezer­burn of radiation can destroy whoever’s inside.

(again, a shout-out to watchers and friends, I'd love to see your take on The Best and The Rest of 2014)

So now that I've covered off my favorites of 2014, here's the rest of the notables, images that gave me joy or made me want to stare over and over again, or were otherwise notable and memorable:

Best Fifth Element References: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/12942626/ and https://www.furaffinity.net/view/12942639/ by Kenket. Ruby Rhod and Aziz rendered as anthro characters? Oh hell yes. <3

Best Sloth by EclipseWolf: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/13205089/ -- "Apr 12". Okay look guys, EclipseWolf already wins over and over again for "Best Sloths" so, here's his best of 2014 for my money. Adorably barely awake sleepy sloth groggily waking up in his hammock.

Best Lizard With Nips: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/14798163/ -- "Hutch" by Pockyrumz. There's so much textures going on in this picture, and such a nice palette, and Pockyrumz always delivers with excellence. Even if I can't stop staring at the nipple. I can't. Guys. Help.

Best Image That Spent Time As My Desktop: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/15330597/ -- "In The Garden" by Raccoonwolf. There's something so tremendously evocative, to me, about Raccoonwolf's messy painting style, and the composition of this image is just so excellent. It's exactly the kind of thing I want on my desktop at home: Dreamily inviting me to stare off into and through it, and share the experience with the subject of the painting. -- Runner up: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/14987845/ - "Insuus" by Stigmata. I might have a thing for anthropomorphic psychedelia, okay?!

Best Reason Chris Goodwin's the Best 2014: https://www.weasyl.com/submission/4.....st-walked-away -- Over to Weasyl for this one. "Overheard" is an ongoing series simply illustrating overheard conversations and interactions. It's been a very quiet year for Chris Goodwin, here's hoping 2015 sees more of his work's riches pouring back into our lives. <3 -- Also this mouse+lion couple from 2013 still going strong: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/12548266/

Best Reason PseudoManitou is also the Best 2014: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/14535814/ -- "Resistance Is Beautiful" by Pseudomanitou. Sadly, another fantastic artist, another quiet year from them. :( But this is an artist whose grasp of poster-style pop art combined with psychedelia ensures they'll be remembered long after the piece is done.

Best Dragon of 2014, just look at this fat sassy bastard: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/13861777/ -- "Dragon" by damie_m. What's to say? Fat, grouchy, sassy, and that colour palette, all conspire to make this one the best dragon on FA for my money in 2014. -- Runners up: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/14018301/ -- "Flower Dragon Compilation" by Iggi. I bought the entire set as bookmarks, and now they live in all my favorite books. Especially fond of the black-eyed susan flower dragon.

Best Other Night Physics Oh My God Because One Just Isn't Enough For This List: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/13002041 -- This descent into psychedelic depravity has such a hilariously auspicious start.

Best Otter of 2014: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/13869438/ -- "Tatouage Rouge" by demicoeur. I always see this and immediately think "fish blood in the water". One of the key pieces that helped inspire me towards the otter protagonist of "The Years Of Living Dangerously Happy".

Best Reason I Wish Arphalia Just Did Monochrome Ink-Paints All The Time 2014: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/14007550/ -- "Illustration for Heat 11" by Arphalia. Seriously. This woman can paint monochrome ink like a powerhouse.

Best Use Of That Thing Falvie Does Where The Silhouette Lines Get Subtly Prism-ed So It Looks Like An Actual Camera Was Somehow Involved: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/13236496/ and https://www.furaffinity.net/view/14615573/. I don't know how she does it, but it's a trick I wish more artists would pick up on.

Best Buffalo/Bull of 2014: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/13911585/ -- "Balus", by Oouna. Not that I'm biased or anything. This is a category I take very seriously! Oouna knocks it so hard out of the park Barry Bonds is suing. -- Runners up: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/14528590/ and https://www.furaffinity.net/view/14534376/ and https://www.furaffinity.net/view/12537158/.

Best Maniacal Laugh of 2014: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/14677050/ -- Look at this Spoopy Sorrel by Herboreal. Just look at it.

Best One More Reason To Pay Attention to Dramamine: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/12521654/ -- "bocanegra" by Dramamine. How and where do I even start and finish, I don't know, but I want to be on that journey with that guy.

Best Melancholy Horse Face of 2014: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/13498024/ -- "Dreaming of a Horn" by Colors. I dunno. I just can't shake this one. So beautiful, and it's one of those pictures that I think will always be better for the simpler, messier strokes. Some pictures need finishing, and some are best unfinished.

Best Use Of A Bird Playing Piano: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/12975458/ -- "Sun Conure" by Raccoonwolf. And a giant Buddha head in repose. Huff. God damn I love your work, Raccoonwolf. <3

Best Snake With A Frickin' Laser Beam Attached To It's Head: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/14569837/ -- "Green Snake Token" by Firefeathers. 'nuff said. :)

(Here's a shout-out to watchers and friends, do one of these up!)

2014 was a bittersweet year for me on FurAffinity. I've watched a lot of treasured and talented people go frightfully quiet, while new talent has grown and developed. I think we're seeing a bit of a "genre flight" from the very best talent on FA, which is to be expected; making the leap from "furry artist" to "artist" is a worthy goal.

After reviewing all of my own personal +favorited items across 2014, here are the highlights!

Best Image of 2014:

https://www.furaffinity.net/view/13278504/ -- "Jade" by Coyox. This was a hard choice across five strong finalists, but it's the heart-stopping intensity of that direct eye contact with the viewer, coupled with the muted psychedelia of this piece, that won me over. At a time where digital art is trending towards devastatingly bright and eye-popping colour intensities, Coyox packs power with a muted palette verging on the monochrome. -- Sadly, Coyox's work has now moved on. :(


2nd place:

https://www.furaffinity.net/view/15205612/ -- "Wye" by Bubblewolf. I would write an entire novel just to have this image on its cover. This was a great year for Bubblewolf, with superbly executed paintings that immediately transported me back to the paintings for covers of Tor books back in the 90's and 00's. This image brings detail at every level, and best of all, puts the anthropomorphic characters in a visual context that fits the image well. The choice of clothing for them both speaks of people in their time and place, part of a larger whole.


3rd place:

https://www.furaffinity.net/view/15070599/ -- "Tiger Lily" by Hibbary. A fantastic year for Hibbary, with three of her pieces making it to my final consideration round. In the end, however, this picture's pairing of tiger and tiger lily, coupled with the gloriously warm colour palettes and coloured pencil(?) strokes all come together in the most eye-pleasing bust portrait of the year.


Runners-up:

https://www.furaffinity.net/view/14201758/ -- "Lady in Black" by Saf. Great use of shadow, specular outline, and silhouette all come together to render this dramatic portrait of a fossa femme fatale. Another picture begging to be a movie poster or book cover!

https://www.furaffinity.net/view/13187387/ -- "Only Just Begun" by Kamui. It wouldn't be a "Best of" list without some Kamui. A portrait of the beginning of a hero's journey, architecture and composition coming together to frame the faceless protagonist, a young boy with sword in hand. Adventure's on the horizon.

https://www.furaffinity.net/view/15095339/ -- "Night Physics: Cold Medicine, Part 1" by Dramamine. Dramamine has rocketed up my charts this year with his explosive and vibrant psychedelia series, "Night Physics", and everything about this piece speaks of why. Bright, vibrant, approachable illustrations speak on the topics of psychedelic experiences and interpersonal connections in a way that can vary between the unsettling, terrifying, comforting, and warm, without missing a beat. I contend that Night Physics may be the most important anthro art project happening right now, and a masterpiece of the genre in the making.


Honorable Mentions:

https://www.furaffinity.net/view/12472159/ -- "Burn for You" by Hibbary. I think a glance says it all. The dramatic exploration of ember and cat combined made quite an impression, unforgettable all year long.

https://www.furaffinity.net/view/14059613/ -- "Blank Books" by Bubblewolf. This piece feels very much like the warm-up to "Wye". Once again, Bubblewolf proving that, this year, they're ready to paint book covers fit for any major publisher.

From Winter's Ashes is now open. Regular chapters aren't expected to pipeline until July of 2015, but I'm confident enough in some early chapters to start teasing them out there.

Have a read through the first chapter, and see if it hooks you! This web serial is expected to update twice weekly, and focuses on the life of Heather Blackthorne, a church knight and detective whose primary job is to hunt and destroy necromancy. After the brutal murder of her husband and son at the hands of a survivor of one of her raids, her life and heart are left shattered. Can she find justice for her family? Can she survive the pursuit of revenge? And when her past comes hunting her in the cold, snowy plains of the high north, will she have anything left to fight for?

https://fromwintersashes.wordpress.com/

Abandoned Places Pre-Order

My story "Prospero" is now available for pre-order as part of the Abandoned Places anthology, curated and edited by  voice.

This collection of anthropomorphic horror stories explores the fears to be found in the places abandoned by others... or those places where others are abandoned to.

An excerpt for your reading pleasure follows:

---

Dear Mother,

When I was born, I massed four grams. By the time I’ve come to kill you, I will mass four point seven trillion tonnes.

You named me Prospero, and cast me into the void, boosted out Earth’s gravity well by a chemical rocket. Prospero, a pygmy marmoset crushed down in my tank by a great hand of God. Hitched to a solar sail more tenuous than the ghost of a soap bubble. In my time out here, circling Proxima Centauri, I’ve come to learn a few things about God, Mother.

I’ve learned how to speak His language. I’ve learned how to program Him.

You put God in me, Mother. You whispered His name into my blood before I was even born. A little genetic rosary, intoned seven times: Pax6. Hail Science, full of grace, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy research done, on animals and not on humans. Give us this day our hallowed brains, and shape them to your will. Amen.

He is ticking away helplessly, processing, whispering pleas and warnings, threats and thunderous omens, magnetic fields of force twitching a neuron here, a neuron there.

But I’ve had a long time to learn to out-think Him, Mother. How to think faster, more furiously. Oh, sure, He can reach in through that black magic of magnetic force, compel a neuron to fire, whisper at me from His throne of silicon implanted in this little soup can of a spaceship. But brain plasticity is a marvelous thing; and I’ve learned where He can and cannot reach. I learned what thoughts He listens to.

And I’ve learned that He does not screen his messages.