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Thank you. It's a bit different to my previous two books, where the murder was a bit more traditional.

No full-blown conspiracies, but my current WIP revolves around a murder plot that sees most of a town being poisoned, to cover up two targeted attacks.

I enjoy it. I also owe it to my characters.

Yaetherim doesn't have a romantic partner yet, but that'll change by the end of my current WIP. He and Naeliya are falling in love, but haven't realised it. His brother and her sister push them together. (Art by Ocho.)

A fairy with dark green hair and bark brown skin is sitting in the arms of another. The latter has ginger hair, blue skin and glasses.

Fiction Writing Tips @fictionwritingtips.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Reposted by D.T. Bella, Author

Forget all the rules. Forget about being published. Write for yourself and celebrate writing. -- #MelindaHaynes #WritersCommnunity #WritersCafe #WritersCommunity #WritingQuotes #Writing

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D.T. Bella, Author @rychilla.com · 15/09/2026

My stories take place in a fantasy setting, so no-one speaks English. Most characters can converse in Rychillan or Fairic, the two most common languages spoken. Some speak those of neighbouring nations, too.

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D.T. Bella, Author @rychilla.com · 11/09/2026

Eight months before my first book, Yaetherim was attacked and left for dead. It left him with scars on his body and soul. He's not the man he was before the attack. He's angry, untrusting and feels unlovable. It also robbed him of his purpose, as he was unable to return to duty as a protector.

Fiction Writing Tips @fictionwritingtips.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Reposted by D.T. Bella, Author

Don't give up on your dreams. It's never too late to start. ~ Nora Roberts #writingquotes #motivationalquotes #quotes #NoraRoberts #WritingCommunity

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D.T. Bella, Author @rychilla.com · 11/09/2026

#SeptemberWorldbuilders 12/Sep/26: Any unique/invented foods in your world? Nistyr, a fruit native to Rychilla, is halfway between an orange and an apricot. It's widely used, for both cooking and snacking. Its nectar is also used to sweeten coffee and tea, and is mixed with water to make juice.

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D.T. Bella, Author @rychilla.com · 10/09/2026

Yaetherim has been enjoying spending time with Naeliya more and more, recently. Every time he sees her, it brings a smile to his lips. They haven't realised it yet, but they're falling in love. They'll work it out by the end of my current WIP.

D.T. Bella, Author @rychilla.com · 10/09/2026

#QueerPrompts 10/Sep/26: Who do your characters go to for advice before making a tough decision? Yaetherim usually seeks Naeliya's counsel. She's very astute and knows the town of Alkentoft well. She's also observant and smart enough to later become a detective herself. (Art by KumataJDG)

Two fairies are sitting on a table in an inn. One has red hair and blue freckled skin. She is drinking beer. The other has bark-brown skin and leaf-green hair. He is drinking fruit juice.

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D.T. Bella, Author @rychilla.com · 07/09/2026

I find it better when I know where the story is going. As a whodunit writer, I find it necessary. But there's room for flexibility. In my current WIP, it seemed natural for Yaetherim to talk to the witness from the inciting incident. Which provided him the info from a few planned scenes I then cut.

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D.T. Bella, Author @rychilla.com · 07/09/2026

Yaetherim would want to go back. Tenora would be fascinated by the technology. Not the computers and digital stuff, but internal combustion, railroads and aircraft. She's a mechanic with a hobby of tinkering.

D.T. Bella, Author @rychilla.com · 06/09/2026

#QueerPrompts 6/9/26: Make up a book your characters would read. 'The Machines of Firan Leinad' is a book of plans and notes from an ancient Rychillan named Firan Leinad. He's their version of Leonardo Da Vinci, and came up with several ideas for machines. Tenora has read it quite a few times.

D.T. Bella, Author @rychilla.com · 06/09/2026

#FantasyIndiesSeptember 6/9/26: Do you know what your next WIP will be? Yes. I'm currently working on novel 3 of my series, as well as a novella between novels 2 & 3. I've also got a loose outline for novel 4 planned, which will continue a character arc started in novel 3.

D.T. Bella, Author @rychilla.com · 03/09/2026

#FantasyIndiesSeptember 3/9/26: Education in WIP? Rychillans learn most subjects at school. Magic is taught to schoolkids at the local College of Mages, under the supervision of multiple mages. After school, they apprentice in their chosen profession before becoming qualified for it.

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D.T. Bella, Author @rychilla.com · 02/09/2026

#SeptemberWorldbuilders 2/Sep/26: Spring vibes/events? Every Spring, the Rychillans hold the 'Jacaranda Ball', around the same time Jacaranda trees bloom. It's to thank the goddess Luxanke for refreshing their fields for the next farming season, and one of the biggest events of the year.

Fiction Writing Tips @fictionwritingtips.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

Reposted by D.T. Bella, Author

Start writing, no matter what. The water does not flow until the faucet is turned on. — Louis L'Amour #WritingQuotes #LouisLAmour #WritingCommunity #WritersCommunity #WritersCafe #Writetip

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D.T. Bella, Author @rychilla.com · 02/08/2026

#AugustWorldbuilders 2/Aug/26: What school subjects are taught? Rychillan schools teach the basics (reading, writing, maths, history), as well as Fairic as a language. Magic is also a subject for older students. Lessons start after they've been bestowed with their magic of 1 of the 5 elements.

D.T. Bella, Author @rychilla.com · 23/07/2026

#JulyWorldbuilders 23/Jul/26: Why is your MC in a forest? Yaetherim was born in Riala Village in South Alken Forest, and grew up there. He, along with several of his fellow villagers, grew up to be forest protectors, who look out for crimes being committed in and against the forest.

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D.T. Bella, Author @rychilla.com · 22/07/2026

#JulyWorldbuilders 22/Jul/26: Name of the forest? South Alken Forest is one of the three forests surrouding Alkentoft, and is where Yaetherim grew up.

D.T. Bella, Author @rychilla.com · 16/07/2026

Yaetherim usually carries his panpipes with him, usually has them in his residence. He used to play them with the other fairies in the evenings, before he was attacked. These days, they remind him too much of when things were simpler. Perhaps he'll play them again someday...

D.T. Bella, Author @rychilla.com · 16/07/2026

#JulyWorldbuilders 17/Jul/26: Food for the feast? The Jacaranda Ball is an annual ball and feast, held to thank Luxanke for refreshing the farmlands. So all the food for the feast is local produce, the best of the harvest from the local farmers.

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D.T. Bella, Author @rychilla.com · 16/07/2026

#FantasyIndiesJuly 17/Jul/26: What stage of writing are you in? I'm currently working on novel no. 3 and a novella that happens between novels 2 & 3, focusing on a side character. For both projects, I'm in the middle of drafting chapter 1, now the plots have been finalised.

D.T. Bella, Author @rychilla.com · 14/07/2026

"Show, don't tell" - there's a place for both. The key is knowing when to use them. A scene showing the character searching for clues can be shown. An uneventful car drive across town can be told.

My current novel finishes off Yaetherim's initial character arc, seeing him fully take on the mantle of Inquirer for hire in Alkentoft. It's also where we see him working with his brother, Naveiol, and the two of them finally seeing eye-to-eye again. (Art by @o8cho.bsky.social.)

Two fairies are standing on a tiled roof, talking. One with brown hair and blue skin has his arms folded. The other, with bark-brown skin and leaf-green hair is talking passionately.

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Leaving your story to sit for 2-4 weeks between completion and editing. Allows for a bit of a reset and fresher eyes. Saying things aloud, too. I had one character name that looked alright on paper, but sounded dirty when said. But I was able to catch that in time.

"He's been through a lot." Yaetherim has 8 scars on his arms and legs, and a patch of fabric stitched over a hole in his right wing. All the result of one attack by humans. There's also the scars on his soul, which have left him slow to trust. (Art by Tamasuko.)

A fairy with bark-brown skin and leaf-green hair is sitting down. He has 2 scars on each leg, one on his left arm and 3 on his right. There is a silver patch over a hole in his right wing.

D.T. Bella, Author @rychilla.com · 09/07/2026

#FantasyIndiesJuly 11/Jul/26: Snippet Sunday In which Yaetherim and Innkeeper Rynroth discuss a recent wave of poisonings.

"There's been several of these incidents, all across town. In fact, we were discussing it at our guild meeting a couple of nights ago."

Yaetherim frowned and his wing twitched. This was the first he'd heard of these incidents. But then again, he had been busy.

"Arch-Mage Darnith hired you to help recruit Mage Peran's replacement, didn't he?" Rynroth asked.

"Aye," Yaetherim replied. He rubbed the three scars on his right arm. He'd helped the town guard catch Peran Oaklon, the mage who'd murdered another fairy and nearly killed him. Afterwards, the local Arch-Mage had hired Yaetherim to help ensure he didn't hire another killer.

"You're looking to do the same?" Yaetherim asked. Rynroth nodded.

"It's an option the guild is considering. Some are in favour of it, others believe it's a matter for the healers and apothecaries. They're also worried about this. There's no real clear path forward."

Yaetherim nodded. He'd worked with his brother, Naeviol, while recovering from the attack that had nearly killed him. Had learned a little bit about how illnesses worked. Such a concentration of sickness was unlikely to be the work of chance alone. Perhaps an accidental contamination, or something more deliberate.

"You said several incidents. How many exactly?"

Rynroth leaned back and rubbed a hand on his forehead. His eyes looked off into the distance for a heartbeat, then he spoke again.

"At least a dozen, I can't recall the exact number. Two people had to go to hospital over it. One of them died."

Yaetherim's wings twitched. He stepped forward, a single word shooting from his lips.

"Who?"

"A Jaelshi elf. Don't know his details."

Yaetherim nodded, possibilities already blooming. He took a breath, held it and let it out. Jumping to conclusions wouldn't help. Could just be that elves were more succeptible to whatever was causing this. He needed more facts, but did already know one thing for certain. He would be taking on this investigation. This needed to stop before …

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#FantasyIndiesJuly 9/Jul/26: WIP Aesthetics? Rychilla has mostly a Victorian/steampunk aesthetic to it, with airships and steam powered vehicles, along with fairies and elemental magic. I've also worked some elements of the subtropical Australian rainforests into it. (Art by @o8cho.bsky.social.)

Two women are standing in a mechanical workshop with multiple steam powered vehicles in the background. The taller one with silver hair is looking concerned. The shorter one with navy-blue hair and overalls is professionally affronted.

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D.T. Bella, Author @rychilla.com · 07/07/2026

Yaetherim almost dropped a coconut on the head of the man who'd almost killed him. It would've severely injured him, if not killing him. Yaetherim's friend Charlys stopped him. Having been seriously wounded himself, Yaetherim knows suffering and wouldn't inflict it upon anyone.

D.T. Bella, Author @rychilla.com · 07/07/2026

A good 'why'. Especially as a mystery writer, I've found that most of the plot is built on the killer's motivations, so they have to be strong.

D.T. Bella, Author @rychilla.com · 06/07/2026

#JulyWorldbuilders 6/Jul/26: Clothes worn by special roles? Rychillans on government/royal business wear maroon - this is the reserved royal colour. Connil, convicted criminals, wear hoods that cast shadow over their faces, as part of their repentance. They're giving up identity as part of it.

There are several Feeds for writers. If you search for feeds, there's 'Writing Community', '#WritingQ' for writing questions, and so on. That's how I found the community on here.

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#JulyWorldbuilders 1/Jul/26: Cultural garments? No specific garments, but Rychillan clothing is either sleeveless or has sleeves 1 inch long at most. This is due to the tattooed terax marks along their arms, which indicate profession, rank and social status. Hiding these is considered deceptive.

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#QueerPrompts 1/Jul/26: Introduce self and WIP. I'm Daniel, an Australian author who writes fantasy/whodunit stories. My current WIP, 'What One Does For Hate', sees Yaetherim hired to investigate a series of random poisonings across the town of Alkentoft. He soon finds they're deliberate.

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D.T. Bella, Author @rychilla.com · 30/06/2026

#FantasyIndiesJuly 1/Jul/26: Introduce self and WIP. I'm Daniel, an Australian author who writes fantasy/whodunit stories. My current WIP, 'What One Does For Hate', sees Yaetherim hired to investigate a series of random poisonings across the town of Alkentoft. He soon finds they're deliberate.

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For me it's the first. I need an opening that will draw the reader in and get them hooked on the mystery of the week. I usually try to have a bit of action or tension, just to get the ball rolling.

D.T. Bella, Author @rychilla.com · 23/06/2026

#FantasyIndiesJune 23/June/26: What do you look for in a beta reader? Honesty. I can't fix something if I'm not told about it. A different perspective to my own. Multiple, if possible.

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D.T. Bella, Author @rychilla.com · 21/06/2026

Yes. The key difference in survival is that the other fairy fell into unfiltered river water. The shock of it plus infection from the natural toxins in the water are what finished him off. Yaetherim was attacked in a forest clearing and landed on grass.

For Yaetherim, it's cooking. There's something about cutting, preparing and putting together food that soothes him and helps him let his thoughts simmer. There's also the aspect of sharing it with his friends & loved ones.

I write murder-of-the-week stories, so the killer and detective usually meet at some point during the investigation. One exception is that the killer in 'Embers of Doubt' is a suspect from the previous book - they both happen at the local College of Mages.

He finds another fairy has been killed with identical injuries to those he survived. Furious, he uses this death and legal wrangling to have himself appointed as the Fairy representative on the case. He doesn't recall what happened to him, as he was shot down and banged his head.

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Yes. Yaetherim was a former forest protector (fairy cop) and Naeliya is a messenger. So she pays attention and learns from how he approaches things. She's also shown natural insight, which we see in the previous books. So Yaetherim encourages that.