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Andria Kennedy

Freelance Writer | Essayist | Fantasy & Sci-Fi Writer

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Tag: Nocturna

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Review of Maya Motayne’s NOCTURNA

December 31, 2021 Andria Kennedy

Book 80 of 80 for 2021: Maya Motayne's NOCTURNA

Tagged Maya Motayne, Nocturna, Read or Die, reading, reviewLeave a comment
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Andria Kennedy


Virginia freelance writer, fantasy and sci-fi writer, slave to a feline demon - there's no real limit to my weirdness. Or my creativity. But you probably already knew that (it's why you're here!). If you're looking for another writer to bounce ideas off of? Pull up a chair (mind the Vemon ooze)

Scout For It:

Current Read or Die

andriamkennedy

๐Ÿ“– #antiherokreative | Sci-fi & Fantasy ๐Ÿงœโ€โ™€๏ธ๐Ÿ‘พ|
Bylines: @electricliterature @huffpost (More in Link! ๐Ÿ”—) |
๐Ÿˆ & ๐Ÿ• Mom |
Fibro Warrior ๐Ÿš๐Ÿฆ€ #invisibleinks

Andria Kennedy
This is Frank. Frank is the adorable creation of This is Frank.

Frank is the adorable creation of @dreamkinzstudio I adopted at @dragoncon who now sits in front of my right-hand monitor.

Because he's ridiculously cute.

And I love him.

And he's too perfect for words. (Seriously, look at THAT FACE!)

Whenever I start feeling tense or frustrated, all I have to do is glance in his direction, and he makes me smile.

Everyone needs a Frank in their lives. Especially because it means you get to have a tiny bit of fall with you year-round.

You know I'm right.

(And, no, I have no idea why all of my desk creatures have names like Frank and Steve and George. Maybe because my brain works itself to death naming my characters ๐Ÿ˜‚)

#writerfriendschallenge #hellogourdgeous #dreamkinz #cute #deskfriend #iamanadult #writerhumor #mymuse #timetobreathe #dragoncon2023 #writerlythings #writinglife #writerofig #writerofinstagram #writersofig #writersofinstagram #writerscommunity #writingcommunity #writersnetwork #writingnetwork
Day 4 of #mashaween23: Eyelash Witch Viper. I pul Day 4 of #mashaween23: Eyelash Witch Viper.

I pulled "snake" and decided to go with the eyelash pit viper as it's my dad's favorite. (Surprisingly, they DO come in purple!)

Figuring out where to put the hat was tricky since I didn't want to hide the "lashes."

Definitely pleased. ๐Ÿ˜Š

#justswimdown #inktober #inktober23 #drawtober #drawtober2023 #drawchallenge #megsmashables #animalmashup #amdrawing #humanartist #humanart #krita #kritadrawing #xppen
Fear is a state of mind. No, literally. Your brai Fear is a state of mind.

No, literally. Your brain controls the sympathetic nervous system, AKA your "fight or flight or freeze" response.

But fear starts with how you talk to yourself.

When I started writing, I used A LOT of negativity in my inner dialogue. And that prompted hesitation and reluctance and avoidance.

AKA: fear.

It took time for me to flip those scripts and change the way I looked at things. To speak differently.

And realize the only thing holding me back - holding my writing back - was ME.

Suddenly, I became FEARLESS.

Now, I'm not saying I don't get that twinge down my spine every time I hit "submit." Or mentally wonder about my sanity when I scribble down a new idea (believe me, I worry about me, too).

Writing, after all, isn't for everyone.

But I'm no longer standing in my own way.

And the rewards? So worth it.

Look at how you speak to yourself. Are there things you say that are setting obstacles in your path?

Now, how can you rephrase them to eliminate that fear?

#writerfriendschallenge #nofear #befearless #bescaredanddoitanyway #writefearlessly #iamawriter #writeallthethings #writeeverything #writer #writerofig #writerofinstagram #writersofig #writersofinstagram #writingcommunity #writerscommunity #writingnetwork #writersnetwork
Day 3 of #mashaween23: Dead Man O' War. Because O Day 3 of #mashaween23: Dead Man O' War.

Because OF COURSE I get "jellyfish" on the Bones prompt day.

Oh, well. Halloween decorations always seem to add bones to creatures without them, right?

And I'm incredibly happy with how the tentacles turned out.

#justswimdown #drawtober #drawtober2023 #inktober #inktober23 #drawingchallenge #drawchallenge #animalmashup #megsmashables #amdrawing #krita #kritadrawing #digitalart #humanart #humanartist #xppen
Let's not talk about how I've neglected my blog th Let's not talk about how I've neglected my blog the past...okay, I don't actually know how long it's been.

Instead, let's focus on how beautiful my website redesign looks! And how I'm finally getting back into my weekly blogging habit.

(Shh! No one mention it will be going on break again in December!)

What better start than a Minion intro? After all, Clea needs a proper dramatic entry. And everyone needs to see cute kitten photos on a Monday.

The link's up in my Bio and Story!

(And I promise I'll get back on that habit...with all of my other commitments)

#antiherokreative #theminions #Clea #blog #blogger #blogwriter #blogging #tabbycat #tabby #rescuecat #gotchaday #writinglife #writer #writerofig #writerofinstagram #writersofig #writersofinstagram #writingcommunity #writerscommunity #writingnetwork #writersnetwork
Day 2 of #mashaween23: Rhinoceros Slimebill. Pull Day 2 of #mashaween23: Rhinoceros Slimebill.

Pulled "hornbill" as my animal, and decided to give the rhinoceros hornbill a try.

I think he looks suitably "melty." ๐Ÿ˜…

(Incidentally, having a lot of fun playing with brushes and layers)

#justswimdown #animalmashup #drawtober #drawtober2023 #inktober #inktober23 #amdrawing #megsmashables #amdrawing #krita #kritadrawing #xppen
#hellowriterfriends! Is it really October already #hellowriterfriends!

Is it really October already? (I'm not complaining, mind you; it's been a rough year)

Anyway, time for another quick intro!

I apply my creativity across a few avenues.

โœ’๏ธ Naturally, I write. Flash, short stories, and novels. Sci-fi and fantasy are my preferred genres, though horror pops in there occasionally.

๐Ÿ“œ I also turn my hand to essays: memoir and creative nonfiction, for the most part.

๐Ÿ’ฌ And, over at @justswimdowncomic, I pen comics. (Great for developing my flash skills!) I'm challenging myself this month by participating in @megsmashables #mashaween23, and you'll get to see my creations throughout the month (You better believe I'm aiming for all 31 days!)

Do you have other creative pursuits that keep your imagination active and supple?

#writerfriendschallenge #writerintro #authorintro #intro #iamawriter #whoami #sciencefictionwriter #fantasywriter #yawriter #shortstorywriter #essaywriter #comicartist #amrewriting #amdrawing #writerofig #writerofinstagram #writersofig #writersofinstagram #writingcommunity #writerscommunity #writersnetwork #writingnetwork
Day 1 of #mashaween23: Eidolion. ("Eidolon" is an Day 1 of #mashaween23: Eidolion.

("Eidolon" is another word for ghost)

Quite pleased with how it came out, especially the transparency!

#justswimdown #drawtober #megsmashables #amdrawing #krita #kritadrawing #xppen
For the record, Juniper CAN run faster than this ( For the record, Juniper CAN run faster than this (at least, she does during zoomies around the garage).

We let her have a chance on the lure run at #muttstrut2023 today. (Where she actually got to meet TWO other greyhounds!)

#theminions #Juniper #greyhound #retiredgreyhound #retiredracinggreyhound #rescuedgreyhound #ilovemygreyhound #rescuedismyfavoritebreed #greyhoundsofinstagram #greyhoundlife #doglurecourse
Because my immune system went overboard and decide Because my immune system went overboard and decided to attack the infection AND my lungs, I missed out on acknowledging #painawarenessmonth.

But as I am finally crawling out of my pit of sickness, I had to rectify that.

In my usual snarky way, of course.

And what goes better with #painawareness than GAME OF THRONES? (Book or show - either works, really)

I sometimes struggle to come up with ideas for the image to pair with my essays, but I actually had this one in mind before I knew where I was going with the concept. (And may have started snickering with evil glee while I worked)

And things devolved from there.

It probably helps if you're familiar with GOT this go-round, I must admit. But, even if you aren't, the humor comes through.

The post goes live at noon EST, and you'll find the links in my Bio and Story. If you subscribe (same places - and there's no fee), the post pops up in your inbox.

Not a book, obviously, but I'm counting it as self-promotion for today's #writerfriendschallenge!

#invisibleinks #invisibleillness #chronicpain #chronicillness #fibromyalgia #bruise #bruises #invisibleillnessawareness #invisibleillnesswarrior #chronicpainawareness #chronicpainwarrior #chronicillnessawareness #chronicillnesswarrior #fibromyalgiaawareness #fibromyalgiawarrior #hermitcrabessays #creativenonfiction #satire #disabledwriter #writerofig #writerofinstagram #writersofig #writersofinstagram #writingcommunity #writerscommunity #writercommunity
Up to book 47 of my #2023goodreadsreadingchallenge Up to book 47 of my #2023goodreadsreadingchallenge, and I definitely turned a corner.

(Did that have to do with picking up MOSTLY confirmed favorites? I refuse to comment)

All the same, there's a relief in reading and not wanting to shake the author repeatedly, screaming, "What the hell is wrong with you?!"

Or feel like hurling the book across the room.

(Because hurting books is very, very wrong)

If you'reinterested, my reviews are in the Link in my Bio (or the link in the Story).

And if you want to keep up with my reading challenge, find me on @goodreads at AndriaKennedy.

Let's be reading friends!

#2023readinggoals #amreading #bookreviews #bookstagram #readinggoals #bookgoals #2023books #bookfiend #books #booklover #bookaddict #bookpics #bookreview #bookreviewer #reading #readingnerd #reader #readingtime #readingfriends #sao
#swordartonline #swordartonlineunitalring #rekikawahara #nimona #ndstevenson #harleyquinn #taskforcexx #stephaniephillips
Yes, I had to do it! ๐Ÿ˜ˆ Seriously, though, if I Yes, I had to do it! ๐Ÿ˜ˆ

Seriously, though, if I tried to list everyone, I'd invariably forget a name and feel horrible. I DO have six bookcases in the house, after all (you've seen the Reel).

If I had to pin down how I determine my absolute FAVORITE storytellers, though, I'd look to who has hardbacks on my shelves.

A hardback means I love the writing, characters, plot, and setting so much, I can't wait the extra months (or YEAR!) for the book to transition to paperback.

And odds are I stalked the publication date so I could pick it up the day it dropped.

There are (and aren't) a lot of authors who've made that cut. Some didn't start out that way (I wasn't a fan of their early work), and others have fallen off the list.

What? Hardbacks cost more!

With extremely RARE occurrences will I buy a new author in hardback. I've been burned too many times to justify the risk. That's an honor I reserve for storytellers who've proved themselves.

I'm not willing to risk wrist fatigue to just anyone!

I want to know I'm going to devour every word long into the night. Cry half-way through. Stare in awe over gorgeous sentences. Laugh at brilliant wit.

And scream in frustration that I have to wait a WHOLE YEAR for the next one.

Those are the best storytellers in my book!

#writerfriendschallenge #storyteller #storyteller #hardback #hardbackbooks #reader #reading #readeveryday #readingaddict #bookworm #booksnob #booknerd #bookaddict #booksbooksbooks #writerandreader #writerofig #writerofinstagram #writersofig #writersofinstagram #writercommunity #writerscommunity #writersnetwork #writernetwork
Confession: There isn't a single moment when I'm n Confession: There isn't a single moment when I'm not uncertain and terrified about my career choice.

(My therapist can back me up)

Writing is HARD.

You need to constantly learn more and refine your art. There's an unspoken expectation to do MORE and excel beyond each milestone.

All while people smile at you and say, "Sorry, not interested," or "Nope, not good enough." (Or, my personal favorite, nothing at all)

You have to be willing to put yourself out there and have your heart broken over and over and over again - with no loss of hope or enthusiasm.

And it's HORRIFYING!

What if an editor laughs?

What if an agent uses my query as a joke at an office party?

What if I never publish anything ever again?

What if everyone has lied to me about my writing?

(Newsflash: There are bad "What if" questions to ask out there)

But I can't erase the core dream that started everything: What if something I write MATTERS TO SOMEONE?

I have a file on my desktop full of comments and compliments (my thanks to the wonderful @elissabassist for telling me to create it). Proof that things I've written have reached people.

That the dream is WORTH IT.

It's what keeps me moving forward and trying, through the disappointment and imposter syndrome.

Even though I'm scared out of my mind.

#writerfriendschallenge #worlddream #worlddreamday #dream #writinggoals #writingprocess #writinglife #writerlythings #writer #writers #publishedwriter #dreamscometrue #writeeveryday #bescaredanddoitanyway #writerofig #writerofinstagram #writersofig #writersofinstagram #writerscommunity #writercommunity #writingcommunity #writingnetwork #writersnetwork
Surprise! I curate this account. What does that m Surprise! I curate this account.

What does that mean?

I check EVERYTHING that happens. (Youโ€™re welcome - you get my personal attention)

So:

1๏ธโƒฃ I am not obsessed with obtaining thousands of followers - the majority of whom will be bots and nonsense.

That means I read profiles and remove any followers who look suspect. And, yes, it's easy to tell. (I don't know who you think you're actually fooling, robots)

And private accounts? I'm not touching. (If you're a serious writer, you're not going to hide where readers can't find you)

2๏ธโƒฃ I could care less about your daily spam quota. I can - and do! - utilize the Hidden Words feature to eliminate unwanted comments.

Anything new that slips by is reported (congratulations, your account is blocked), and then the appropriate text gets added.

3๏ธโƒฃ I will NEVER accept a sales pitch from a stranger.

I will never vote - in any capacity! - for a stranger.

Following my account simply so you can ask something of me is a waste of time. I have common sense and a head for business (hello, I'm a #freelancewriter).

Why would you think I'd do ANYTHING without thorough research and advanced planning?

4๏ธโƒฃ I am my own brand. I don't need or want to become the "face of" anyone else.

And while I acknowledge the Minions are adorable, I'm not pimping them out, either.

I've never heard of you, worn you, used you, or even SEEN you before. Don't contact me.

5๏ธโƒฃ I'm happily married.

I love my house, and I'm not selling it.

I don't know - or care - about crypto or NFTs.

I'm not interested in astrology, tarot, or alternative medicine.

I will not contribute to your fundraiser.

6๏ธโƒฃ I absolutely will report and block every sex-related account, no question.

I think that covers it.

(And, no, I'm not under any delusion this will stop the nonsense, but it makes me feel better)

#nobot #nospam #nobots #nojunk #overit #frustrated #curated #myaccount #blockedandreported #stopthemadness #makeitstop #writersonly #iamawriter #writer #writerofig #writerofinstagram #freelancewriterlife #writerlife
Shout-out time! These are the wonderful members o Shout-out time!

These are the wonderful members of my #dragoncon2023 Writer's Workshop!

(Yes, photographic evidence of writers in the wild!)

I can't thank these individuals enough for their time and insight into my submitted chapters from SYMBIOTE.

Yes, it's meant rewriting those same three chapters (again), but I'm even more excited about how things are progressing. And it's not like the fundamentals of my story needed changing.

This was definitely the most beneficial workshop I attended thus far this year. And I appreciate the time everyone put in.

#writersworkshop #dragoncon #critique #writingcritique #critiquepartners #writingprocess #writinglife #amwriting #amrewriting #symbiote #amwritingscifi #amwritingya #yawriter #sciencefictionwriter #writers #writerofig #writerofinstagram #writersofig #writersofinstagram #writerscommunity #writercommunity #writersnetwork #writingnetwork
There's something liberating about admitting a tru There's something liberating about admitting a truth.

Even one you aren't always fond of - like the fact your body would rather fall apart than function for five consecutive minutes.

You have to own who you are. And be proud of it.

Or at least not try to deny it so much it retaliated against you at inopportune moments.

That's what I chose to focus on with this week's Invisible Inks. Because I DO tend to shove the reality of my diagnosis aside. A lot. And it doesn't help me.

Especially when the Universe decides to pummel me.

The post goes live at noon EST, and you'll find the link in my Bio and Story. Subscribers (who don't have to pay) have every post appear in their inbox - no muss, no fuss.

#invisibleinks #invisibleillness #chronicillness #chronicpain #fibromyalgia #iamsick #invisibleillnessawareness #invisibleillnesswarrior #chronicillnessawareness #chronicillnesswarrior #chronicpainawareness #chronicpainwarrior #chronicpainsucks #fibromyalgiaawareness #fibromyalgiaawareness #fibromyalgiawarrior #fibromyalgiasucks #fibrowarrior #fibrofighter #hermitcrabessays #creativenonfiction #satire
Book 44 of my #2023goodreadsreadingchalleng done, Book 44 of my #2023goodreadsreadingchalleng done, and I feel like I'm in a funk.

Nothing I've read lately has been completely satisfying. There's been one or two things needling at me the entire time, destroying the story.

Which doesn't make reading time pass quickly.

It's a sad day when you look at your To Read pile and feel anxious.

Here's hoping things improve with the new trilogy I have waiting for me.

In the meantime, my reviews are in the Link in my Bio (or the link in the Story).

And if you want to keep up with my reading challenge, find me on @goodreads at AndriaKennedy.

Let's be reading friends!

#2023readinggoals #amreading #bookreviews #bookstagram #readinggoals #bookgoals #2023books #bookfiend #books #booklover #bookaddict #bookpics #bookreview #bookreviewer #reading #readingnerd #reader #readingtime #readingfriends #melissadelacruz #cinderandglass #harleyquinnlegionofbats #teefranklin #asteriskwar #yuumiyazaki
I'm coming up on two weeks of being sick. And whil I'm coming up on two weeks of being sick. And while I feel better (e.g., I actually get up and attempt to function), my body isn't ready to work at normal capacity yet.

So I haven't met most of my deadlines.

And the world didn't end! (Can't make this up)

It's tempting to get down on yourself or panic when you fall behind because of Real Life. Even more tempting to try to rush back and make up for it before you're well or ready.

But all that does is produce inferior work.

You have to listen to and respect your body (and brain!) when it's sick, tired, or hurting. Give it a chance to rest and recover.

And DON'T beat yourself up for the time you step away.

Because if you break, so does all of your writing. And that isn't a sacrifice you want to make.

#writerfriendschallenge #selfcare #sickday #sickdays #bekindtoyourself #takecareofyourself #writerbrain #writingprocess #writerlife #writerlythings #writer #writers #writerofig #writerofinstagram #writersofig #writersofinstagram #writerscommunity #writercommunity #writingcommunity #writernetwork #writersnetwork #writingnetwork
Cue the happy dance. Booking our honeymoon (final Cue the happy dance.

Booking our honeymoon (finally) felt like a dream come true. But it was over a year away.

Granted, I've driven poor @timjk333 crazy with researching every port, studying the ship, reading articles, menus, and reviews, and learning Spanish in the interim.

(Newsflash: This is what your brain looks like on OCD)

But it still felt really far away. Even as we checked off boxes like flights and hotels and seating times.

We've officially passed up a big milestone, though: booking our shipboard activities and shore excursions!

Now when I open up the app, the itinerary populates with a schedule instead of just the list of days at sea and ports. (And everyone knows how much I love a schedule!)

It feels real in a way it didn't before.

And means I can get even crazier with my research and prep! ๐Ÿ˜‰

#vacationcountdown #honeymooncountdown #honeymoonplanning #vacationplanning #disneycruise #disneycruiseline #disneycruisecountdown #firstdisneycruise #dcl
When you write, are you telling or showing? You'v When you write, are you telling or showing?

You've probably heard the advice, "Show don't tell," but odds are (if they were anything like the people who told me), they never bothered to explain what that meant.

Super helpful.

Essentially, when you "tell," you stand back and report information on your characters. It's easy, moves the writing along, and is super boring. It also leads to infodumps, which no one wants to read.

"Showing" involves stepping into your character and experiencing the world from their POV. It's richer writing, full of sensory details that puts your reader INTO the world and allows them to experience everything with the characters.

One is someone describing a movie to you, the other is watching it yourself.

You always want to show wherever possible. It's more engaging and more professional.

And the easiest way to find those "tell" moments is to look for your action verbs. (You ARE using action verbs instead of "to be" verbs, right?)

Are your characters simply moving around at your direction? Or are they experiencing the world around them?

Do they react with all of their senses? Or are you simply relying on sight to get by?

You don't need to go overboard and drop all five senses into every scene, but sprinkle then throughout where appropriate.

I promise, your writing will sparkle when you do!

(Yes, I deliberately decided to interpret the prompt this way)

#writerfriendschallenge #showdonttell #writingtips #writingtip #writingprocess #writinglife #writinglessons #writer #iamawriter #writingimprovement #writers #writeeveryday #writerofig #writerofinstagram #writersofig #writersofinstagram #writerscommunity #writercommunity #writernetwork #writersnetwork
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