iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Valerie Storm 📚

Kira of the Wind (Erika McCorkle) @kiraofthewind.com · 25/08/2026

Dolly Parton would have wanted you to read a book. Go make her proud today. Go read a book Consider donating to imagination library: imaginationlibrary.com www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTiu...

youtube.com

@DollyParton 's Imagination Library

YouTube video by Dolly Parton's Imagination Library

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Valerie Storm 📚 @valeriestorm.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

Kari was, she realized, #ashamed of crying in front of this boy. That was why she couldn't meet his eye anymore. In turn, Ari did not ask for her attention. He simply sat, quietly solid beside her. #vss365

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Valerie Storm 📚 @valeriestorm.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

Screams echoed the crash of wood-and-thatch rooves caving in; shouted commands rang; and beneath it all was the crackle of flames. Blazing #chaos had spread across the quaint village; and for a moment, all Kari could do was stare at the flares of red and orange amongst trails of dark smoke. #vss365

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Valerie Storm 📚 @valeriestorm.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

#WIPSnips for today, apparently only have #coherent in the whole thing once and it's ~in~coherent lol

When she was close enough to dip her fingers in, she collapsed, her head thunking against the hard shore. Something slimy and cold brushed against her fingertips. Fish. She couldn’t summon the energy to reach for one.
Pathetic, she thought to herself with a groan. Pathetic to let a simple burn do this to me.
She heard Kiki’s laughter and felt blessedly pleased for such a sound.
“You can’t even break a rock!” her voice called from somewhere in the distance, echoing and quiet.
“I could,” Kari mumbled. The voice spoke again, closer and deeper, the words incoherent. She swirled her fingers in the water and edged a little closer, the water rushing over her burns and providing an intense wave of relief that gave way to blessedly dreamless slumber.

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Valerie Storm 📚 @valeriestorm.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

There is #temptation in grief. Kari hadn't paid much attention to it when Kiki died; or maybe there hadn't been a better alternative than to run. Now, facing Lord Ari's home, she felt a tug. A desire to stay with the man who had tried to save Vivianne. Instead, Kari turned to the forest. #vss365

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Valerie Storm 📚 @valeriestorm.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

Lord Ari approached - Kari had already learned the #cadence of his steps. She tilted her head as he entered Vivianne's room. "Did you stay up all night?" Kari rubbed a hand over her face. "Yes." The boy-lord said nothing for a few beats. "Roland made venison stew. Will you join us? Please?" #vss365

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Valerie Storm 📚 @valeriestorm.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

#WIPSnips #unfazed today! From Chapter 1, which I still need to fix lol 🥲

As her gaze took in the sight of snow dotted with specks of blood, she faltered. She’d seen animal blood before; her mother’s shiny snout was still flecked with it from their dinner. Something about the sight of this blood was different and filled her gut with squirming worry. Steam wafted as it melted through the snow, sinking deeper, shining as it did so. Starkly bright and crimson against such crisp, clean whiteness. It was a common sight for one who hunted, yet Kari struggled to tear her gaze away.
Near the edge of the clearing laid a still human body, facedown. Four more of them, three male and one female, were crowded away from her father, their weapons raised to keep him at bay. The massive black wolf, his teeth bared with his snarl, lunged at them. He danced in and out of range, never making the same move twice; unfazed by the bloody gash on his side.

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K Lykkebo 🖤 Fantasy author @karenlykkebo.com · 19/07/2026

🌟 Sunday Spotlight 🌟 Demon Storm by @valeriestorm.bsky.social is a dark, action-packed YA fantasy (romance?) series about a wolf demon with lightning powers. It's a complete series just waiting for you to dive in! www.karenlykkebo.com/post/birth-of-… 📚💙

karenlykkebo.com

Birth of the Storm (Demon Storm #1)

A dark YA fantasy with shadow monsters, a wolf demon, and lightning magic.

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Valerie Storm 📚 @valeriestorm.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

Late #WIPSnips for #next, a rewrite of a scene I've kept for many, many drafts lol

Kari dropped her shoulders. Her tail—wolfish and golden-brown, just like her ears—drooped too. “It wasn’t enough.”
“What are you talking about?!” Kiki hopped over to the rock and pointed at it. “See! There!”
Kari joined Kiki and squinted at the stone. “It’s just gray,” she said.
“There’s a mark!” Kiki insisted. Her cheeks were flushed with excitement as well as the cold. Her excited breaths came out in little gray puffs.
Kari snorted, then laughed. “Alright, alright.”
“Should we practice fighting next?” Kiki put up her fists. “I’m not a great opponent, but since we know you can’t break rocks with your fist…”
Kari smirked. “We could have a race instead. Unless you’re afraid of losing again…”
Kiki narrowed her blue eyes and lowered her hands. “Anyway…” She perked up, smile returning in an instant. “It’s the 29th day of the cold months!”

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Valerie Storm 📚 @valeriestorm.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

For #WIPSnips today. #Extra doesn't always have a lot of importance but this scene was a nice rewrite 🥹

“Actually, this is good, because I wasn’t sure you’d like the birthday present I made you.”
With that, Kiki pulled a folded leather something free. When she held it out, it flopped open into a stitched leather cap. Kari took it, heart warming as she ran her fingers over the soft leather.
“You made me a hat,” she said softly.
“Yes! Took me weeks to tan the leather, and another week to learn the proper stitches. Pa got frustrated with me, wasting so much good leather.” She giggled.
Kari pulled the hat on. It sat snuggly, cupping her head but not pressing on her ears as much as she was used to. She flicked her ears, pleased with the extra room.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
Kiki pulled her into a one-armed hug. “I love you, my friend, and I can’t wait to see the world with you.”

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Valerie Storm 📚 @valeriestorm.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

She had never been #embraced like this. His arms were warm around her. Not too tight; secure. He held her close as she stiffened...then relaxed. "This isn't for me," she wanted to say. Instead, she lifted her arms and placed them shakily around him. #vss365

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Valerie Storm 📚 @valeriestorm.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

He placed his hand on hers. His fingers were calloused yet soft, the weight of his hand not oppressive, but #tenderly comforting. Kari yanked her hand back. "What are you doing?" Surprise, then something softer than guilt crossed his face. "I'm sorry. You looked sad." #Vss365

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Valerie Storm 📚 @valeriestorm.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

Motivation is for sure my hardest. I could be jamming to some awesome song and imagine a scene in my head, then I get home and my brain is like "but y write" 😭😭😭 #SummerofStories

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Valerie Storm 📚 @valeriestorm.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

Suuuuuper spoilers for Fate of the Storm lol but this is scene always made me so giddy to write (and even made me tear up on my own character for the first time...) #SummerofStories

Aza stepped forward, lifting her hands to her hood. "You see, the originals of us—the ones who were freed straight from Yutemi—cannot die by a blade. How useless we would be as pieces for our lord. When you struck me down, I waited...and received a new body."
She flipped her hood back, revealing the shapely, girlish face Kari had known for years. Waves of walnut hair cascaded over her shoulders and to her waist, the ends flowing in the slightest breeze. Eyes as blue as a nighttime sky, usually narrowing at the sight of Kari. Sharp cheek bones, always tinted by color whenever Ari was nearby.
It was the face of Julia.

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Valerie Storm 📚 @valeriestorm.bsky.social · 04/07/2026

Writing has saved my life, hands down. It gave me a place to put my darkest feelings and process them when I was ready. Kari's journey was a proxy for my own healing 😂 #SummerofStories

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Valerie Storm 📚 @valeriestorm.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

I prefer opening lines that grab the reader's attention, whatever that entails, but also gives insight into the character. Though I struggle to find a balance between "interesting" and "info dump" lol 😭 #SummerOfStories

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Valerie Storm 📚 @valeriestorm.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

For #knock... Going back to Birth of the Storm has been a treat 😂 #WIPSnips

“Good. It appears Greglin will move up to a training position soon. Other than that, it’s smooth sailing until the hunt in a few weeks. Linus is preparing some new men for it now, but he wants to have the ceremony for Wilcoth’s promotion first. I have to help him plan that tomorrow—”
A series of loud, sharp knocks interrupted him. Kari’s head shot to the hall.
“I’ll see who it is,” Ari said with a frown.
She stood from the table as he left, her ears flickering when the front door opened.
“Lord Ari,” a breathless voice said.
“Whoa,” Ari replied. “What is it?”
Kari left the kitchen and entered the hall. Ari stood in the doorway facing Wilcoth. He was bent over, hair matted to his head with sweat. He smelled of salt and blood.
“What happened?” she asked sharply.
Ari glanced at her. Wilcoth lifted his head to look at them.
“Something in the forest,” he gasped. “Men are hurt—scouts—there was so much blood. You have to come.”

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Valerie Storm 📚 @valeriestorm.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

Hi! I'm Valerie Storm (also called Jen lol). I published my first series, Demon Storm, a couple years ago and now I'm fiddling around trying to finish other projects...like giving book 1 a work over. I write exclusively fantasy with a pinch of romance and a pile of trauma 😌 #SummerofStories

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Valerie Storm 📚 @valeriestorm.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

The man's anger made Kari freeze. A web of #apprehension caught any words before they left her mouth; instead of defending herself, she gaped stupidly. Her paralysis only broke when the man pulled the string of his bow back to his chin, then let loose his arrow. #vss365

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Valerie Storm 📚 @valeriestorm.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

" #Carrion will do well to feed your need for hearts?" "They're not my favorite." Valeris shrugged. "But if that's all there is for miles--" "Then there will plenty of scraps for you. My shadows will see to that." #vss365

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Valerie Storm 📚 @valeriestorm.bsky.social · 27/06/2026

Recently got some art drawn by @ginkajack.bsky.social for some tattoos...and they're coming out so freaking good ❤️‍🔥 time for color soon!

Tattoo of a character with a bow on an arm

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Valerie Storm 📚 @valeriestorm.bsky.social · 27/06/2026

Root! Though soon this will all be rewritten... #WIPSnips

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Valerie Storm 📚 @valeriestorm.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

"The #grain is collected from the fields and processed by our bakers. Telda makes excellent bread-" "You pick the grain?" Kari asked, incredulous. Ari laughed. "No, but Telda makes me help knead the dough sometimes." #vss365

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Reposted by Valerie Storm 📚

Shadow Spark Publishing @shadowsparkpub.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

Today's SSP #authorspotlight goes to @Douglasjern.bsky.social, Douglas Jern! Douglas Jern was born in Lund, Sweden and lives in Nagoya, Japan, where he makes his living as a translator and writer. He’s still not sure how a decidedly indoors person like himself ever managed to leave his hometown,

SSP Author Spotlight
Life After Dark

Featuring:
Douglas Jern

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Valerie Storm 📚 @valeriestorm.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

Kari would have rather #pulled Vivianne along as a wolf than carry her backpack. "Are you okay?" Vivianne asked. She still sounded pained from the wound in her shoulder. "Fine," Kari lied. "Let's keep going." #vss365

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Kira of the Wind (Erika McCorkle) @kiraofthewind.com · 13/04/2026

I JUST FINISHED THE FIRST DRAFT OF MY NOVEL (I'm gonna have an epigraph-like epilogue)(I also have a LOT of scenes to add and some to delete, so I have a *lot* more work yet to do)

Welcome to the Good Thyme Inn

They dashed north along the road to Dawndorrel. Into the dark woods Grilled had once been told were infested with bandits. The woods were he sometimes played at being the bandit so he could rob or murder the guests who had failed to pay for ‘protection.’
He supposed there would be real bandits in that forest now.
Grilled just stood there, his arm around Aubergine, as they watched the flames reach higher and brighter. Behind the inn, the sky was so peaceful, the twinkling pink stars and three of Aloutia’s moons a calm that felt dissonant to the chaos below.
Burning, burning, burning, this inn and the hatred in the pit of Grilled’s stomach. Burning until there was nothing but ash.

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Valerie Storm 📚 @valeriestorm.bsky.social · 09/04/2026

SUPER fucking grateful to Lorelei for helping make some major adjustments to my author photos 🥹 Highly recommend!!!

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Reposted by Valerie Storm 📚

Shadow Spark Publishing @shadowsparkpub.bsky.social · 16/03/2026

Someone stop us! (But don't though, you LOVE us) Our next anthology, V, will be out next year. V for 5. V for Villains. We have dedicated some much needed time to the villain world and hope you come enjoy us for the ride. Coming June 21st, 2026. #booksky #writesky 🪐 📚 💙

Shadow Spark
Anthology
V
June 21st, 2026

Evil scientists abound
Poems drip with selkie sound -
A shapeshifter faces rage room difficulties,
And the Gleaner torments using awful memories.
While Jack the Ripper is walking dreams
The Lord of Demons rises & schemes
Murderers, villain marriage, tragedy & war, oh my!
So much bad within the good, you won't believe your eyes
The Shadow King seeks vengeance
While the Lord of Terror wields patience
All to be expected - we've a treat
The protagonists take a backseat
Peons rejoice, be paralyzed!
Today, at last, the villains rise

Featuring Shadow Spark Authors:

Rosa Tindall
V. north
Eric Avedissian
Kaitlyn Corvus
Amelia Gimes
Valerie Storm
JW Warner
Jade Black
Mariah Norris
Lorelei Matthews
Erika McCorkle

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Reposted by Valerie Storm 📚

K Lykkebo 🖤 Fantasy author @karenlykkebo.com · 13/03/2026

Need a spooky read for Friday the 13th?? Five short stories of the eerie, tragic, and macabre ⏳💀 One novelette of dark waves and folkloric vibes 🌊🖤 Five creepy tales from the garden 🤎🪱 Ebook from 99c and available on paperback! Find them here: www.karenlykkebo.com/shortstory

Cover of Now and the hour of Death. Skull with a finger in front of its teeth as if shoosing someone.
Cover of Drowned Hearts. Hands reaching up to the surface. A faint outline of an anatomical heart in background. Surrounded by white flowers. Dirt you shall become. Trowel and pink peony.
Text: Spooky short stories. Eerie, tragic, dark short stories waiting to give you goosebumps.

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Reposted by Valerie Storm 📚

K Lykkebo 🖤 Fantasy author @karenlykkebo.com · 12/03/2026

💜🐻 4 WEEKS UNTIL RELEASE 🐻💜 “I like the quiet, because it isn’t truly silent. Her breath disturbs the air. The faint shift of fabric when she’s readjusting herself in the bed. All these quiet ripples of stillness. They soothe me.” Links ⬇️ 📚💙

Trope map for Bear My Heart - a cozy sapphic novella. Ebook cover in green with the outline of a bear in the middle with mountains and a moon within the body.
Text: "spice level: handholding (barely), neurodivergent MC's, a magical mountain, overcoming grief, sapphic romance, a bear-shifter, hermit-vibes deep in the forest, nose-booping, old dying gods.

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Shadow Spark Publishing @shadowsparkpub.bsky.social · 02/02/2026

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K Lykkebo 🖤 Fantasy author @karenlykkebo.com · 08/03/2026

🌟 Sunday Spotlight 🌟 The Demon Storm series by @valeriestorm.bsky.social is a dark YA full of adventure, gut-wrenching trauma, wonderful villains, and sweet romance. www.karenlykkebo.com/blog/tags/demo… 📚💙

karenlykkebo.com

demon storm | lykkebo

Book reviews of Demon Storm series.

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Valerie Storm 📚 @valeriestorm.bsky.social · 14/10/2025

Ilsa's henchmen are alllll the demons, but particularly her Commanders and Lieutenants. Vasthra *wants* his henchmen to be Jact and Vrakya. #FantasyIndiesSpooktober

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Valerie Storm 📚 @valeriestorm.bsky.social · 14/10/2025

I'm in the process of moving things around, so these are all the books I have with me right now 😂 #FantasyIndiesSpooktober

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Valerie Storm 📚 @valeriestorm.bsky.social · 13/10/2025

Brianna hates all the villains - they took her home and everyone she loves. Jack, Vasthra, and Ilsa all find Brianna interesting. Jact sees Brianna as a unique opportunity to remake the society he's grown tired of. #FantasyIndiesSpooktober

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Valerie Storm 📚 @valeriestorm.bsky.social · 12/10/2025

A snippet, freshly edited!!! Aya really started coming alive in this rewrite and I'm so freaking thrilled for her 😭 #FantasyIndiesSpooktober

“It’s the only thing I can do to help, Bri,” Aya murmured. “Please let me try.”

“What if he hurts you?” Brianna bit out. “Or worse, Aya? What if he kills you?”

She imagined Aya flinched, but didn’t look back to see her expression. She swallowed any regret at being so blunt.

Aya’s soft, cool fingers touched her shoulder, gentle as they turned her around this time.

“Here,” she said, holding up some of the grass. “Let me show you—I bet you could make bandages or clothes with these, if you had to!”

Brianna finally lifted her eyes to Aya’s face. Somehow, she had shielded all of her terror and pain behind a tired, yet strong, smile.

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Valerie Storm 📚 @valeriestorm.bsky.social · 11/10/2025

Value of Life: 🌲🌲🏹🙎🏼‍♀️👹👹👹⚔️🔥☠️ #FantasyIndiesSpooktober

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Valerie Storm 📚 @valeriestorm.bsky.social · 10/10/2025

For paranormal creatures, I love demons the most 😂 most varieties vibe very well with me. But I also like ghosts - banshees can be cool. Do zombies count??? Also like them! #FantasyIndiesSpooktober

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Valerie Storm 📚 @valeriestorm.bsky.social · 07/10/2025

Omg OOF it's been too many days... Ilsa's goal is to be a supreme ruler. Vasthra's goal is to overthrow Ilsa. Jact's goal is to be rid of the system altogether. #FantasyIndiesSpooktober

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Valerie Storm 📚 @valeriestorm.bsky.social · 03/10/2025

SO PROUD OF YOU KORI! ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥

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Valerie Storm 📚 @valeriestorm.bsky.social · 02/10/2025

I loooove scary things! Horror movies are my relaxing time 😂 Brianna would, too - she'd love to sit around a campfire and hear creepy stories, then going to bed scared (or having to act tough for her friend Aya, who would be a huge wimp) #FantasyIndiesSpooktober

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Valerie Storm 📚 @valeriestorm.bsky.social · 02/10/2025

I'm Valerie Storm and I'm still poking at Value of Life, Brianna's story and the second prequel to my main series. #fantasyindiesspooktober

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Valerie Storm 📚 @valeriestorm.bsky.social · 01/10/2025

I'm trying not to be harsh on myself for the progress (or lack thereof) on Brianna's story 🥲 I edited maybe 2-3 chapters this month, and they were big edits! Onto the next...

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Valerie Storm 📚 @valeriestorm.bsky.social · 30/09/2025

Brianna leans extrovert, though she's really only comfortable with a handful of people. #fantasyindiesseptember

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Valerie Storm 📚 @valeriestorm.bsky.social · 29/09/2025

I'm allllmost halfway through some heavy edits of Brianna's story. After that, I'd like to have a lovely friend beta it before I finish fixing it. It's a long way from publishing, but I'm having fun~ #fantasyindiesseptember

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Valerie Storm 📚 @valeriestorm.bsky.social · 27/09/2025

A snippet! Last time worked for me to edit a scene, so let's see if it works again... During this rewrite, the background characters finally have some life and existence. It's been occasionally troublesome but also amazing ❤️‍🔥 #fantasyindiesseptember

Darik jerked his head in a vague direction. “It’s obvious that big one likes you.” He wrinkled his nose, and Brianna lifted her upper lip in disgust. “We should use that to our advantage.”
“What does that mean?” Brianna asked. Beside her, Aya shifted and sat up.
“Don’t be dense,” Leo said. “You’re a woman—he wants you for a reason.”
“And a halfling,” Vita added in slow, quiet tones. Brianna had not heard him speak often, but got the impression this was his usual way of talking. “You’re one of them, aren’t you? We can use that.”
“She is not one of them,” Kamari interjected hotly. “She is an Osu, approved by our Chieftain! Hold your tongue, Vita!”

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Valerie Storm 📚 @valeriestorm.bsky.social · 26/09/2025

I'm looking forward to getting some writing time the next couple of weeks...if I can just motivate myself to do it 😂 #fantasyindiesseptember

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Valerie Storm 📚 @valeriestorm.bsky.social · 26/09/2025

25 I DIDNT FORGET 🥲🥲: Brianna's favorite subject would be anything with crafts, specifically creating weapons or something useful for hunting. #fantasyindiesseptember

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