iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

RileyWritesNovellas. @rileywrites.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

All three books in the Grand Life of Eliese Moonsorrow are out and available now! Sword Fighting in the Garden, Horse Riding Into War, and the final in the series, Surviving the Heat of Vengeance, can all be purchased off of Amazon as ebooks, or in soft or hard cover!

000

RileyWritesNovellas. @rileywrites.bsky.social · 27/11/2025

Dani, I do not usually targetedly promote like this, but can I interest you in my Novella "Sword Fighting in the Garden?" It has two sequels that are action adventure, but it is more of a slice of life pining romance novella in which two women very much just get to be in love! Here is a snippet!

020

RileyWritesNovellas. @rileywrites.bsky.social · 27/11/2025

The final book in the trilogy of my Novellas is released! Surviving The Heat of Vengeance follows Wynn and Elise fighting in a tournament, with one combatant wanting more than victory in the ring! Link in replies! #sapphic #novella #selfpromotion

The cover to a book titled "Surviving the heat of Vengeance" by "Riley A. Glasen." The cover is blue, with white text, and a white emblem displaying a crown with a sword through the center of it.

111

RileyWritesNovellas. @rileywrites.bsky.social · 21/04/2025

An attempt to use #HeroForge to make the main characters of my #Novellas. Princess Eliese Moonsorrow and her love interest, Sir Ruthwynn of Kirstow. #SapphicRomance #LGBTQRomance

010

RileyWritesNovellas. @rileywrites.bsky.social · 21/02/2025

A #shortstory I wrote a while ago. Re-reading reminded me how good it feels to write at a smaller scale (🧵1/2) #Writers #Writing.

The Singed Blue Dot
A Testimony From a Witness to Earth’s destruction
I was 32 when the sun swallowed the earth whole. Not just earth, but Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, and almost all of the asteroid belt. I remember it vividly, I think everyone does. It was a tragedy, the whole of the human race watched with rapt attention as the ground from which we were born as a species was burned to a crisp.
The invention of instantaneous communication through entangled particles opened up the idea of interstellar travel. The journeys were long, but keeping in touch meant that we were more okay with leaving our home world behind. First we colonized the moon, and then came mars. We set up science labs on the moon Titan. After a while we began to travel to the neighboring stars, using what we now call ‘slow travel’ at first, but soon we discovered a way to make exotic matter capable of stabilizing wormholes. We now colonize a total of 10 stars, 16 colonized planets housing 25 billion humans.

I was stood on the upper floor of a mall in the city of Ardsberg on the planet Newton. I was buying a new phone for my daughter, walking out of the store when all of the screens in the mall illuminated. There was a warning, “graphic footage.” Not really enough to sum up what we were all expecting.
We had some idea this was coming for the last few years, the recent destruction of the newest human colony via flood had people worried. Some people had decided to stay, to be with their homes when the waters came. The scientists wanted to avoid that mentality this time. They began encouraging the people of Earth, the Martian and Lunar colonies, and even those in the labs on Titan to evacuate. There was a surprise when there was almost no resistance.

Almost no one had actually lived on Earth those days, I mean, why would you. It was one of a dozen habitable planets we governed, and of them, it was easily the worst. We’d heard stories, of course, of a time where the sky was blue and there were plants everywhere. Green ones. Weird right? But, at that time, people who had been there said it was hard to breathe, and the sky was grey..The only people living there were scientists and professors who taught at very prestigious colleges. There were also dozens of tourist traps, places where nature had supposedly been preserved, but it was far too expensive to visit, so I’d never even considered it.

Those people left first, the ones running the tourist traps. I think they were afraid of getting sued by some family if they lost someone to the sun exploding while on earth visiting one of their ‘exhibits.’ The teachers left not long after. While the universities prided themselves for being earthbound, they prided their lives more, however. And to no one's surprise their cost of admission has only marginally lowered to reflect this. The last people to leave were the scientists. As much as they valued their lives, a lot of them stuck around, how many chances do you get to collect data on the Apocalypse, afterall. Not that it felt like one. and even they left in the end. All in all, earth went from about a billion people to maybe a dozen who refused to leave. Nothing we could do to force them out. I try not to think about it.

111

RileyWritesNovellas. @rileywrites.bsky.social · 18/12/2024

After "Sword Fighting in the Garden," I thought I was done with Eliese's story. But I guess I wasn't. "Horse Riding Into War" splits the focus between a now married Eliese and Ruthwynn. Wynn has been called to war, and a day later, Eliese has prophetic dreams about her wife's death.

The cover art for "Horse Riding Into War" by Riley A. Glasen. It's red with white text, and features an emblem of a half helmet, half horseshoe.

A physical copy of "Horse Riding Into War" standing up on end.

110

RileyWritesNovellas. @rileywrites.bsky.social · 18/12/2024

"Sword Fighting in the Garden" is a sapphic romance novella. it follows Eliese, a princess who was just kidnapped by an enemy of her father! She is rescued by Sir Ruthwynn, a woman who she rather quickly falls for. Unsure of how to proceed, Eliese ends up taking combat lessons from her rescuer!

The cover art for "Sword Fighting in the Garden" by Riley A. Glasen. It's green with white text. There is a white emblem in the middle, featuring a rose crossed with a thorn.

A physical copy of "Sword Fighting in the Garden" by Riley A. Glasen, standing on end.

110

RileyWritesNovellas. @rileywrites.bsky.social · 17/12/2024

I designed these myself! Couldn't afford to commission an artist, and I certainly wasn't going to give the job to A.I. So they are pretty simple, but I love the way they look! www.amazon.com/dp/B0D5TVZBT...

A physical copy of "Sword Fighting in the Garden" by Riley Glasen. The cover is green with white text. A white emblem in the center shows a rose crossed with a sword

A physical copy of "Horse Riding Into War" by Riley A. Glasen. The cover is red with white text. A white emblem on the center is meant to represent both a knights helmet and a horse shoe

032

RileyWritesNovellas. @rileywrites.bsky.social · 16/12/2024

Athena isn't very chonk, but you can have pics anyway

110

RileyWritesNovellas. @rileywrites.bsky.social · 08/12/2024

Like three by @melissajensen2014.bsky.social "The Wolf’s Jaw Inn & Tavern is not a unique sight. Resting points like this, away from any settlements, have existed for a long time, and they are all the same." --chapter 2, "The Start to a Very, Very, Long Ride"

The Wolf’s Jaw Inn & Tavern is not a unique sight.
Resting points like this, away from any settlements, have
existed for a long time, and they are all the same. I remember
staying at a place just like this on the road with my father when
I was a little girl. The smell of freshly cooked stew covering the
smell of freshly brewed beer brings me back there. I was so
small back then, and sure that my father could handle the
whole world. I guess he wants everyone to see him that way,
but I know better now. I shake my head as I dismount Shadow
and give her a snack from my bag, a fresh apple. Well, as fresh
as it could be, anyway. She looks tired. Places like this
sometimes have stables, I think she’d get better rest in one of
those. I lead Norwell inside.

001

RileyWritesNovellas. @rileywrites.bsky.social · 07/12/2024

Like Two by @bookspotlight.bsky.social "When he betrayed your father, he merely wanted to rule Lairen. When he retreated behind the Vicorn, he simply wanted to conquer the lands of man. Now, his ambition grows more. He wishes not to conquer, but to destroy." --chapter 1, "All Good Things"

“That’s my magic he wants. The magic of the crystal.
And with it, he can do a lot of harm. You are the only one with
the skill, the time, and the motivation to save her.” She takes a
step forward, though I hardly notice with all of the emotions
running through my heart.
“What does he want with your magic? What can he do?”
I plead for information. I need to know why.
“His ambition has only continued to grow. When he
betrayed your father, he merely wanted to rule Lairen. When
he retreated behind the Vicorn, he simply wanted to conquer
the lands of man. Now, his ambition grows more. He wishes not
to conquer, but to destroy. To replace the lands of man and elf
with monsters who follow only his command. With my magic,
he can make his will so.” She places a hand on my shoulder, and
it’s like electricity.

101

RileyWritesNovellas. @rileywrites.bsky.social · 07/12/2024

Like one by @rileywrites.bsky.social (I liked my own post to at least share one) "My unconscious body hungers for her warmth, like a reptile to a hot stone. My arms and legs wrap around her, and so most mornings, like now, she has to remove herself from my grasp." --chapter 1, "all good things"

All good things
This is perfect.
I am brought forth from a deep peaceful sleep by the
stirring of my wife. Sir Ruthwynn is trying to untangle herself
from me. I must have wrapped myself around her last night, as
I do most nights. My unconscious body hungers for her
warmth, like a reptile to a hot stone. My arms and legs wrap
around her, and so most mornings, like now, she has to remove
herself from my grasp. Normally I wake up too by this point,
help her get dressed. But today it is early, and she is leaving, so
I feel no pull to help her. Instead I squeeze the last part of her I
still have a grasp on, her arm, in an attempt to plead her to stay
in bed with me, if only for a little bit. Instead, I feel her lips
press gently onto my forehead, and I let out a sigh and let her
go without ever opening my eyes

123

RileyWritesNovellas. @rileywrites.bsky.social · 07/12/2024

I want to share more snippets from #HorseRidingIntoWar now that I own a physical copy of it. How about this. 1 like=1 snippet from my second novella #WritingCommunity

133

RileyWritesNovellas. @rileywrites.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

A very rough draft for the cover of Sword Fighting in the garden, Vs. what it ended up as.

001

RileyWritesNovellas. @rileywrites.bsky.social · 03/12/2024

Ooh, ooh. This is actually relevant to the opening paragraph of Horse Riding Into War! I rarely get to brag about this one, as book one usually gets all the attention.

000

RileyWritesNovellas. @rileywrites.bsky.social · 30/11/2024

"Sword Fighting In The Garden" and "Horse Riding Into War" tell the story of Eliese Moonsorrow and Sir Ruthwynn, two sapphic women falling in love in the background of a high fantasy Epic, and then being thrust into the middle! It's available on Amazon in all formats! www.amazon.com/dp/B0D5TVZBT...

Two books hard cover books, standing on a table, propped up by being slightly open. The left is a copy of "Sword Fighting in the Garden" by Riley A. Glasen. It's a green book with white text and a white emblem of a rose and sword crossing. On the right is a copy of "Horse Riding Into War" by the same author. This one is red with white text, and a white emblem of a helmet/horseshoe

032

RileyWritesNovellas. @rileywrites.bsky.social · 26/11/2024

"I turn to look at her again. She is staring at her horse, but it almost seems like she is looking past her. Into that deep nothing that the eye is drawn to when the mind is battling something in its interior" -Sword Fighting in The Garden, Chapter four, The Dinner @voicesofvalhoon.bsky.social

"I... see." I turn to look at her again. She is staring at her horse, but it almost seems like she is looking past her. Into that deep nothing that the eye is drawn to when the mind is battling something in its interior

010

RileyWritesNovellas. @rileywrites.bsky.social · 24/11/2024

I haven't introduced Bluesky to my cat yet, have I. Here is Athena

Picture one: a very fluffy cat with mostly black fur, though she has white in her face, chest, belly and paws. She's laying on her back in a beat up old office chair.

Image two: the same cat from image one, sleeping in an awkward position on her side, clinging to the armrest of a sofa. Some sort of charging cable appears to be under her, inaccessible until she moves

Image three: the same cat, this time in a box. She looks grumpy, unhappy having a picture taken of her

010

RileyWritesNovellas. @rileywrites.bsky.social · 23/11/2024

"love is like a ghost, Eliese. It haunts you. It's something you can't let go of." #Snippets #SwordFightingInTheGarden #Love #Sapphic #Novella #WritingCommunity

I wake up alone this time. A different island, but empty. I see the edges in all directions, and there is nowhere for Wynn to be hiding. I fall to my knees. Were we unworthy of what we were trying to do? Were we judged and found wanting? It's suddenly too much to even think about and I start crying. The tears flow from my eyes like rivers, and I wrap my arms around my stomach. I am trying to be as small as possible.

"Overcome with emotions?" The voice is a surprise. The Sorceress has appeared behind me. Or at least her voice has. I don't have the energy to check.

"Mmm hmm." Is all I manage. I don't want to hear my wobbly and weak voice right now.

"I would be too. You just went through something profound and powerful. You know, that experience is unique each time. This is too. All parts of it are. The magic is testing to see if you are ready and worthy of what it will bestow upon you. But you haven't failed yet." The Voice eases the tears, but doesn't stop them. I finally look up at her. She looks the same as she did in the tower.

"Many have been in a similar space to you right now...

"many have been in a similar space to you right now. Often they think a brave face in the face of adversity is all it will take. Few have the strength to feel what they are feeling." She sits next to me and suddenly I feel warm. I wipe the tears from my eyes, and sniffle a little. I'm not through crying yet, but I am reassured.

"Thank you, Madam Wizard." I manage to say. My voice breaks a bit as I do, but she doesn't seem to mind.

"Love is like a ghost, Eliese. It haunts you. It's something you can't let go of." She says. I take a deep breath, and nod. "But unlike a ghost, we cherish holding onto it. You did not let her go. You couldn't. It's worth fighting for." She places a hand on my shoulder.

030

RileyWritesNovellas. @rileywrites.bsky.social · 23/11/2024

It's not for very long, bat that trope is the basis for this trial near the end of my Novella. It's also kind of the basis for all of its sequel.

010

RileyWritesNovellas. @rileywrites.bsky.social · 23/11/2024

Alice "Dragon" Hawke is Parvia's cousin. Like her, she was a mage, and maybe they would have met and been friends, but Hawke wasn't sent to the circle. Instead she hid her magic. Grew to resent it. Eventually, though, the blight struck her hometown of Loathering.

Image one: a party of characters in the video game Dragon Age 2. On the left is Fenris, a slightly dark-skinned elf with white hair and white tattoos. He is wearing heavy chest armor, but exposing his arms. To the right of him is the customizable protagonist, in this instance a white haired woman wearing sensible brown clothing. To her right is the character Anders, who is dirty blonde and wearing furry robes. To his right is the final character, Varric, a dwarf with no beared, but acceptional chest hair.

110

RileyWritesNovellas. @rileywrites.bsky.social · 23/11/2024

Starting with Parvia Amell! Born in Kirkwall to a noble family, Parvia first displayed magic when she was five, launching a fireball out of her hands during a tantrum. She was set to be taken to Kirkwall's Circle of Magi, the Gallows, but her mother arranged for her to be moved to Fereldan instead.

Image one: two characters in the video game Dragon Age: Origins. The character on the left Alistair, and is situated slightly further back. He has dirty blonde hair and redish-grey armor. On the right is the customizable protagonist. In this instance they are a black-haired woman with blue lipstick and a green robe.

Image two: the same two characters, this time from a lower angle. The customizable protagonist is on the left, and Alistair is on the right. He is covered in blood spray, indicating this screenshot happened just after combat.

Image three: once again a screenshot of the afford mentioned customizable protagonist, but from later in the game. She's heavy black and gold armor now, and has a blue hood to match her blue lipstick.

100

RileyWritesNovellas. @rileywrites.bsky.social · 23/11/2024

I'm so proud of having designed the covers for my Novellas myself. I know they are simple, and honestly, I don't have much talent for visual art, but it's 1000% better than AI Slop. #FuckAI #WritingCommunity

Image one: the cover of the novella "Sword Fighting in the Garden" by Riley A. Glasen. It is green with white text, featuring a white silhouette of a rose and sword crossing.

Image two: the cover of the novella "Horse Riding Into War" by Riley A. Glasen. It's red with white text, featuring a white silhouette of an emblem that's half knights helmet, half horseshoe.

011

RileyWritesNovellas. @rileywrites.bsky.social · 19/11/2024

The entire chapter "The Dinner" in my novella Sword Fighting in The Garden was very fun to write!

020

RileyWritesNovellas. @rileywrites.bsky.social · 18/11/2024

"Sword Fighting in The Garden" is a 50k word novella about Sapphic love! A knight teaching a princess the art of the blade, and the two falling in love. All set in the background of a high fantasy Epic! It's Sequel, "Horse Riding Into War" throws them into that Epic on center stage! Covers!

021

RileyWritesNovellas. @rileywrites.bsky.social · 18/11/2024

Horse Riding into War Features a helmet and a horseshoe, split and merged into one. This one took me hours, but I'm still happy with how it looks! (2/2)

001

RileyWritesNovellas. @rileywrites.bsky.social · 18/11/2024

About the covers of my #Romance #Novella series. Sword Fighting in the Garden has a simple Sword & Rose, crossed like blades. I'm not a very good artist, so it took me some time to make it right. (1/2)

A physical copy of "Sword Fighting in the Garden" by author Riley A. Glasen. The cover is green with white text, and a white silhouette of a sword and a flower crossing.

112

RileyWritesNovellas. @rileywrites.bsky.social · 17/11/2024

"I usually hate when I focus on my breathing. It makes it so that I can't do it without thinking. But it's nice to have something to focus on other than the chains on my wrist" --Sword Fighting in The Garden

Image one, a snippet of the novella "Sword Fighting in The Garden" by Riley A. Glasen. It reads "I sigh as I look towards the horizon. A dusty trail leads from the tower to that edge, a hill that my vantage point does not allow me to see over. I don't know if I'll die here, but at least the view is nice. The first sun, Woro, was setting. Soon only the pale white light of Moro, the second sun, will light the sky, and after that, darkness and stars. I close my eyes and take in another breath. Focusing on the filling of my lungs. I usually hate when I focus on my breathing. It makes it so that I can't do it without thinking. But it's nice to have something to focus on other than the chains on my wrists."

Image two, a physical copy of "Sword Fighting in The Garden" by Riley A. Glasen. The cover is green with white text, and a white silhouette of a sword crossing a rose is on the center

000

RileyWritesNovellas. @rileywrites.bsky.social · 31/08/2024

New here, so here's some links to my work! Sword Fighting in the Garden! EBook: a.co/d/8alQx89 Paperback: a.co/d/hnIVHMu Hardcover: a.co/d/1bS3XnY Horse Riding Into War! EBook: a.co/d/bdqqoU2 Paperback: a.co/d/fK5man7 Hardcover: a.co/d/fTqZQKP

055