Forest 🔥🧚♂️⚙️ @hobbitfae.bsky.social · 15/09/2026Where did I get the initial idea for LIKE A FLAME? Spoiler: it contains TTRPG nonsense. #LikeAFlameforesthackley.comOrigins of Like A FlameA question I get frequently from my coworkers is "where on Earth did this story come from?" I have always loved underground cities. The underground tunnels in Magic Kingdom. The underground mutant city in Futurama of Old New York. Underground cities in fiction held a particularly honored place in my heart. And then I moved to Seattle, which had public transit tunnels underneath the city. 020
Forest 🔥🧚♂️⚙️ @hobbitfae.bsky.social · 08/09/2026While I know that online tools exist and might be smart to use, I was raised on the concept to use whatever tool works for your brain. For whatever reason, journals make more sense to me. 000
Forest 🔥🧚♂️⚙️ @hobbitfae.bsky.social · 08/09/2026That said I'm super excited to get an electronic keyboard from the early 2000's and see how it impacts my goldfish easily distractable brain. (This is part of why I always write analog - because ADHD + wifi means I go down research holes.) I'm currently around 74k words total on this project. 100
Forest 🔥🧚♂️⚙️ @hobbitfae.bsky.social · 08/09/2026I get a lot of surprise on this from fellow writers and creatives - but I actually don't use a super complex writing tool. I use an online word doc (shout-out to the @ellipsus.com gang) and a journal with sticky note tabs. 100
Reposted by Forest 🔥🧚♂️⚙️Rosemary • GOT ENGAGED 💍 @breadsticc.art · 14/08/2026TWITCH ALTERNATIVES LIST 📣 If you want to switch from Twitch, I've made a huge list of other streaming sites, including FOSS and Artist-first platforms. If you have any information that you'd like added to this list, please send it to me so I can add it to this doc! app.notion.com/p/breadsticc... 26319234
Forest 🔥🧚♂️⚙️ @hobbitfae.bsky.social · 19/08/2026Thile is incredibly fast and almost manic in the way he plays (or at least what's on Basil's playlist). Basil is very much "shoot from the hip" and "act first, questions later." He doesn't play mandolin, but he definitely likes listening to mandolin records! 120
Forest 🔥🧚♂️⚙️ @hobbitfae.bsky.social · 19/08/2026I listen to a ton of Chris Thile/Punch Brothers/Nickel Creek when writing Basil-centric scenes if I'm not listening to the BaSpen playlist, so it's hard to think of him without thinking of the mandolin. #WritingPrompts #AwesomeCharacters 150
Forest 🔥🧚♂️⚙️ @hobbitfae.bsky.social · 19/08/2026I started two campaigns which I'm having tons of fun planning and have been preoccupying a majority of my brain, but I've been itching to get back to 1889 and telling Aspen's story. And now I go back to my giant document that is heinously long and somehow still not long enough. 💖 020
Forest 🔥🧚♂️⚙️ @hobbitfae.bsky.social · 19/08/2026I've also been making plenty of stuff lately, like BEYOND SEVEN FORESTS, my Monster of the Week hack for a faerie setting. You can find this in my carrd, linked on my profile! 120
Forest 🔥🧚♂️⚙️ @hobbitfae.bsky.social · 19/08/2026I hope to return to doing prompt games when they feel applicable, but my focus is on making the dang content right now. (At present, the rough draft of LIKE A FLAME is roughly 73k words) 110
Forest 🔥🧚♂️⚙️ @hobbitfae.bsky.social · 19/08/2026A few Updates: for consistency, my ability to keep up with my numerous projects, and sanity, the AO3 will be pausing until I finish Like A Flame in earnest. Once I finish the final edits of the book, I will be publishing (for free!) on AO3 as well as a physical copy. 120
Forest 🔥🧚♂️⚙️ @hobbitfae.bsky.social · 19/08/2026An Update and Some Questions Hello, all! As one can probably see from the lack of posts, I took a creative break. Between wrapping up my first full campaign and a creative block due to perfectionism, I had to take a bit of a break to rejuvenate. Unfortunately: for consistency, my ability to keep…foresthackley.comAn Update and Some QuestionsHello, all! As one can probably see from the lack of posts, I took a creative break. Between wrapping up my first full campaign and a creative block due to perfectionism, I had to take a bit of a break to rejuvenate. Unfortunately: for consistency, my ability to keep up with my numerous projects, and sanity, the AO3 will be pausing until I finish… 020
Reposted by Forest 🔥🧚♂️⚙️Nick W @nickwwriter.bsky.social · 12/06/2026Want to hear me read from Blanc LaBelle and the Troll's Daughter? I was a guest on the "Indie Reads Aloud" podcast! And it's available today! YouTube: youtu.be/4BNUTmQf4ak Spotify: spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/LICGaNd5g3b 021
Forest 🔥🧚♂️⚙️ @hobbitfae.bsky.social · 09/06/2026Behind the Keyboard For today, I thought I would do a bit of an about me! When I’m not writing or working my day job, I’m usually writing a tabletop campaign, reading (probably either fantasy or something historical), or spending time with my dog Ami. The campaign I’m currently wrapping up…foresthackley.comBehind the KeyboardFor today, I thought I would do a bit of an about me! When I’m not writing or working my day job, I’m usually writing a tabletop campaign, reading (probably either fantasy or something historical), or spending time with my dog Ami. The campaign I’m currently wrapping up entangles a deeply depressed individual that is causing emotion magic storms across the continent. 020
Forest 🔥🧚♂️⚙️ @hobbitfae.bsky.social · 08/06/2026One of my games is ending in a week. This is the first time I will have successfully finished a campaign on my own as a GM. This is wild. The finale notes are done for the most part. The rest is up to the gang on whether this will be successful. 020
Forest 🔥🧚♂️⚙️ @hobbitfae.bsky.social · 06/06/2026Chapter 11, Respect of #LikeAFlame is now up! Aspen begins to get comfortable at The Respite and has date night. TW: Some sexual themes in this one as they go back to Basil's hotel. If this might bother you, feel free to read until Aspen heads to The Library! archiveofourown.org/works/805792... 010
Forest 🔥🧚♂️⚙️ @hobbitfae.bsky.social · 06/06/2026Basil does also explain what bisexuality means for him at one point. Aspen's genderfluidity changes depending how they're feeling on the day, so questions naturally come up. 010
Forest 🔥🧚♂️⚙️ @hobbitfae.bsky.social · 06/06/2026In a "what does genderfluidity mean for you specifically," Aspen does have to explain their queerness to others. Faeries in Seattle specifically are very queer-normative, (most, but not all, of my faerie characters are queer) but some questions do come up. #QueerPrompts 130
Forest 🔥🧚♂️⚙️ @hobbitfae.bsky.social · 05/06/2026To name a few: Ingrid Michaelson, The "Seamstresses" of Seattle, Stonewall, the concept of keeping secrets, Generalized Anxiety Disorder. #LGBTQWriteAThon 071
Forest 🔥🧚♂️⚙️ @hobbitfae.bsky.social · 31/05/2026I'm going with carrd, which made the process nice and easy. Don't feed your info to the slop machine, gang. 000
Forest 🔥🧚♂️⚙️ @hobbitfae.bsky.social · 31/05/2026Chapter Ten of #LikeAFlame: The Respite, is now up! While Aspen just lost their job this morning, Ander manages to find him a new job within hours. TW: Mention of sex and sex work archiveofourown.org/works/805792... 000
Reposted by Forest 🔥🧚♂️⚙️Maureen Johnson @maureenjohnsonbooks.com · 29/05/2026Do YOU live in New York State? Do YOU want to fight the onslaught of book banning? You are needed RIGHT NOW. Critically. In the next few days. If you click this link, you will be put right through to your rep (and it provides some optional talking points): secure.ngpvan.com/EPPvPAF5FEW4...secure.ngpvan.com Fight for the Freedom to Read: Tell lawmakers to pass the Freedom to Read Act! 04736
Forest 🔥🧚♂️⚙️ @hobbitfae.bsky.social · 25/05/2026I got art done of my main trio of characters! Click in to see the art as well as some lore drops. #LikeAFlameforesthackley.comMeet the Characters of Like A FlameIn a world obsessed with automating and generating pictures, I find myself going back to books and asking the kindness of strangers to draw the people I can't get out of my head. So with that, I'd like to introduce my children! All art is done by the impeccable Nilus Art, who did an absolute phenomenal job. You can commission their gorgeous full color art or get these more black and white sketches via their… 030
Reposted by Forest 🔥🧚♂️⚙️🔞𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐨𝐱🔞 semi hiatus 🧹 @beldamequinox.bsky.social · 25/05/2026Telling your OC lore out loud to friends is so funny because it looks cool and poignant in your head and then actively telling it makes you feel like a 3 year old holding an etch a sketch 4259122695
Forest 🔥🧚♂️⚙️ @hobbitfae.bsky.social · 25/05/2026I think it's not very consistent, especially with the pollutants of the industrial revolution throwing a wrench into things, but ages have gone up (in general, because of science) and then quite recently taken a dive down due to the pollutants. Faeries are very insect-y by nature and quite fragile. 000
Forest 🔥🧚♂️⚙️ @hobbitfae.bsky.social · 25/05/2026This is far from Oleander's first rodeo of seeing people treated unfairly, as compared to Aspen and Basil. This is Yet Another Battle for her. 120
Forest 🔥🧚♂️⚙️ @hobbitfae.bsky.social · 25/05/2026Oleander's age is never explicitly said and I like to keep her mysterious that way. If she were human, she'd be around late 70s, but faerie aging is weird (average mortality rate for humans at this time is mid 40s). 120
Forest 🔥🧚♂️⚙️ @hobbitfae.bsky.social · 25/05/2026I wanted Aspen as fresh faced as I could while still having a number of years of experience (see: trauma). Basil I wanted to be older than Aspen, but not dramatically so. Their ages impact the story insomuch as they are fresh faced revolutionaries who want to change the world for the first time. 120
Forest 🔥🧚♂️⚙️ @hobbitfae.bsky.social · 25/05/2026Aspen: 25 Basil: early 30s Oleander: ??? Ages are kind of out the window and more vibes based because these are faeries as I haven't really pinned down how aging and physiology works for faeries. #AwesomeCharacters 🧵 170
Forest 🔥🧚♂️⚙️ @hobbitfae.bsky.social · 24/05/2026Chapter Nine: War of #LikeAFlame is up! After effects of the May 12 riot. Basil shows Aspen The Library. TW: Riot after effects, death memorial archiveofourown.org/works/805792... 000
Forest 🔥🧚♂️⚙️ @hobbitfae.bsky.social · 24/05/2026As an extra, maybe a branded whiskey for Basil. My boy loves his Irish whiskey. Aspen gets something with lots of pockets. Maybe a suit jacket with lots of interior pockets like they get later in part 1. 💖 110
Forest 🔥🧚♂️⚙️ @hobbitfae.bsky.social · 24/05/2026Maybe it's the cusp of pride month in the air, but I'm gonna go with faerie wing pride enamel pins for Aspen and Basil! (Think insect enamel pins, but in the colors of their respective sexualities/genders.) For Oleander, a recreation of her ring. #AwesomeCharacters 130
Forest 🔥🧚♂️⚙️ @hobbitfae.bsky.social · 23/05/2026More vibes based, but went with "important." Magnolia and Aspen make their first delivery and Magnolia has to use her customer service voice! #WIPSnips 0121
Forest 🔥🧚♂️⚙️ @hobbitfae.bsky.social · 22/05/2026She would also buy a house with a few extra rooms to make sure people without homes would have something secure while they're getting on their feet again. (Gilded Age is now levels of capitalism except actually worse if you didn't know so free housing is a godsend.) Governmental officials. 😂 010
Forest 🔥🧚♂️⚙️ @hobbitfae.bsky.social · 22/05/2026I realize I'm cheating by not picking. If I absolutely had to pick, I'd pick Basil just because eye-smiling is a less common occurrence. 111
Forest 🔥🧚♂️⚙️ @hobbitfae.bsky.social · 22/05/2026Oleander's smile is more just her eyes brightening and almost twinkling (inspired by Danny, the Champion of the World). Basil has a very toothy David Tennant-esque smile, very ecstatic, taking over his entire being. So, depending on your definition, one of those two! #AwesomeChaaracters 151
Forest 🔥🧚♂️⚙️ @hobbitfae.bsky.social · 21/05/2026Oleander would spend it on making sure she has the ability to take care of others rent and food for a few months. Aaaand maybe a few bribes. Aspen finally gets proper clothing that aren't darned. Basil spoils himself on a fair few Fancy Meals that seemed a bit too extravagant. #AwesomeCharacters 140
Forest 🔥🧚♂️⚙️ @hobbitfae.bsky.social · 19/05/2026I realize that Lou herself as a historical person was likely cisgender, but something intrigues me that she chose Lou as her name, so I ran with it. 010
Forest 🔥🧚♂️⚙️ @hobbitfae.bsky.social · 19/05/2026Amaranth and Lady Lou are both agender! Amaranth has some dysphoria, but Lou would just prefer she didn't have to live in a gendered society. #QueerPrompts 110
Reposted by Forest 🔥🧚♂️⚙️Nick W @nickwwriter.bsky.social · 18/05/2026Craving an Urban Fantasy Story with a twist of Noir Detective? Hungry for some Blue Collar Monsters, A Found Family, or just a dynamic of an Old Curmudgeon Trying to Wrangle Two Teenagers? Blanc LaBelle and the Troll's Daughter is available now! Everywhere you buy books! #indiebooks #urbanfantasy 0102
Forest 🔥🧚♂️⚙️ @hobbitfae.bsky.social · 18/05/2026Oh MAN. I got the art back of all three of my main characters and lemme tell you, this slaps so hard. Very affirmed by my decision to include some art in my book. I'll do a little post about it next week on my blog. 010
Forest 🔥🧚♂️⚙️ @hobbitfae.bsky.social · 17/05/2026Basil talks about his former relationship. “We’re over now. We’re still friendly, obviously, and [SPOILER REDACTED] likes you a lot. I don’t foresee her being…difficult about this, but I wanted to give you context. Do you want to be there when I tell her about us?” #QueerWriters 050
Forest 🔥🧚♂️⚙️ @hobbitfae.bsky.social · 17/05/2026I finished editing all of part one's perspective and chapter one of part two! I did everything on my to do list for once in a hot minute! #queerwriters 150
Forest 🔥🧚♂️⚙️ @hobbitfae.bsky.social · 16/05/2026I really didn't want to create Even More Queer Trauma cause real life has enough of that already, so all the queer moments are (for the most part) moments of joy. 💖Very soft and affirming was important to me. 010
Forest 🔥🧚♂️⚙️ @hobbitfae.bsky.social · 16/05/2026Mild spoilers, but I made a queer speakeasy, so that's Aspen's favorite place to decompress! 110
Forest 🔥🧚♂️⚙️ @hobbitfae.bsky.social · 16/05/2026For Part One, I mixed heavy moments with romantic moments from Basil. A lot of rough things happen to Aspen during Juniper Trees and I wanted to give them a chance to have some queer joy. Most frequently used is going to a restaurant or some kind of date night. #AwesomeCharacters 150
Forest 🔥🧚♂️⚙️ @hobbitfae.bsky.social · 16/05/2026Chapter 8: Euphrasia from #LikeAFlame has been posted! A riot ensues. This was a really rough chapter to write. Please take care of yourself while reading. TW: riot, violence against humans and faeries, police, incarceration archiveofourown.org/works/805792... 000
Reposted by Forest 🔥🧚♂️⚙️Radiant G🌈 @radiantg.bsky.social · 13/05/2026We’ve officially moved our campaign to BackerKit! Video games are less popular there than tabletop, so we really need y’all’s support! #Monsterhearts You can follow the pre-launch at the link below: 313699
Reposted by Forest 🔥🧚♂️⚙️the Mountain Goats @themountaingoats.bsky.social · 13/05/2026www.mountain-goats.com “Days” by the Mountain Goats is now available for pre-order. Pre-order or pre-save, go listen to the new song, we are super proud of this record and I think you will enjoy itmountain-goats.comthe Mountain Goats 1025043