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Hello & Welcome to Hobbies Include Writing, the Creative Fiction Podcast. The story you are about to hear is a work in progress. Other than minor edits by the author each chapter is virtually untouched. You are invited to be part of shaping this unfinished story by critiquing my writing style, the characters and more via email, social media, or in the forum on my website. Thanks to our patrons: Chrissy Garrison, Jacqueline Lydic and Ivie Montgomery for supporting the show. SPECIAL OFFER for Patrons! If you become a Patron at any level before October 11, you can submit a short story or poem to be read on our Halloween Special Episode. Submissions do not have to be spooky, although that is definitely a bonus. They must be under 2,500 words & submissions are due October 11 at 11:59pm US ET. They must also be written by the patron who submits them. Head on over to Support HI:W to check it out! Thanks to our business partner in cross promotion, Black Ice Comics. Check them out in-store in Houghton, Michigan or go to BlackIceComics.com. Black Ice Comics is a full service comics store with a great community. Also, be sure to check out my recent interview on Arm Cast Podcast here. I’ve been pretty quiet about this on social media, but my husband and I have been in isolation as we were diagnosed with COVID, so I am a little late recording as I’ve waited for my voice to recover but did not want to delay release because... This episode marks the end of Season One of Blood That Binds! Following this, I will take a bit of a hiatus from regular episodes, although I will come out with special content in the interim, so there won’t be a lapse in content release. This episode takes place immediately after the previous episode, still at the dinner table with Umbrosia, Maeve, and Maeve’s family. Click the button above to download, or one of the links on this page to listen on your favorite podcatcher. As always, a PDF of the episode is available below. CONTENT WARNING Be advised, this audio novel contains strong language along with descriptions of blood, biting and vampirism. This story examines toxic relationships and includes descriptions of abuse. This particular episode includes non-graphic discussion of hebephilia - and inappropriate romantic relationship with an underage person. This story also includes characters with a variety of spiritual, gender, sexual and ethnic identities. This is intended to create an inclusive and diverse narrative with the understanding that no character can represent an entire identity or community. Any fantastical depictions of witchcraft are not intended to discredit anyone’s spiritual beliefs or practices. Links & Credits
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Hello & Welcome to Hobbies Include Writing, the Creative Fiction Podcast. The story you are about to hear is a work in progress. Other than minor edits by the author each chapter is virtually untouched. You are invited to be part of shaping this unfinished story by critiquing my writing style, the characters and more via email, social media, or in the forum on my website. Thanks to our patrons, Jacqueline Lydic and Ivie Montgomery for supporting the show. SPECIAL OFFER for Patrons! If you become a Patron at any level before October 11, 2020 you can submit a short story or poem to be read on our Halloween Special Episode. Submissions do not have to be spooky, although that is definitely a bonus. They must be under 2,500 words & submissions are due October 11 at 11:59pm US ET. They must also be written by the patron who submits them. Head on over to the Support HI:W tab to check out our Patreon. Thanks to our business partner in cross promotion, Black Ice Comics. Check them out in-store in Houghton, Michigan or go to BlackIceComics.com. We’ve had some heavy episodes lately, and we will have more to come. This one is a little less heavy. To listen, click the button above to download the episode or choose the platform of your choice. A PDF version of this chapter is also available at the bottom of this post. CONTENT WARNING Be advised, this audio novel examines toxic familial relationships including strong elements of abuse including violence. This episode also includes a depiction of post-traumatic negative thought spirals. This narrative uses strong language along with graphic descriptions of blood, biting and vampirism. This story also includes characters with a variety of spiritual, gender, sexual and ethnic identities. This is intended to create an inclusive and diverse narrative with the understanding that no character can represent an entire identity or community. Any fantastical depictions of witchcraft are not intended to discredit anyone’s spiritual beliefs or practices. This episode in particular also includes discussion and use of multiple slurs against the queer community. Links & Credits
Sneak Peak “Does Maeve know about this?” Eliza lets out a long breath, leaning forward to set her drink on the coffee table. She sits silently for a long time, her elbows resting on her knees, gaze on the floor. When she does look up at Umbrosia, her eyes are hollow. Umbrosia gasps. “What would you tell your child, if they were chained to a monster for the rest of their life?” “The truth.” “Don’t you dare sit there and judge me. How much of the horrible truth would you reveal to a child? Would you fill their head with nightmares and dread when there is no hope of escape? Or would you try to make the best of it? Make their relationship better, make her see him as a father and hope that if she submits to him it will be enough to keep him kind.”
Romance ensues and Maeve’s friends work desperately to come up with a plan to protect her from the curse. Hello & Welcome to Hobbies Include Writing, the Creative Fiction Podcast. The story you are about to hear is a work in progress. Other than minor edits by the author each chapter is virtually untouched. You are invited to be part of shaping this unfinished story by critiquing my writing style, the characters and more via email, social media, or in the forum on my website. Thanks to our patrons, Jacqueline Lydic and Ivie Montgomery for supporting the show. SPECIAL OFFER for Patrons! If you become a Patron at any level before October 11, 2020 you can submit a short story or poem to be read on our Halloween Special Episode. Submissions do not have to be spooky, although that is definitely a bonus. They must be under 2,500 words & submissions are due October 11 at 11:59pm US ET. They must also be written by the patron who submits them. Head on over to the Support HI:W tab to check out our Patreon. Thanks to our business partner in cross promotion, Black Ice Comics. Check them out in-store in Houghton, Michigan or go to BlackIceComics.com. We’ve had some heavy episodes lately, and we will have more to come. This one is a little less heavy. To listen, click the button above to download the episode or choose the platform of your choice. A PDF version of this chapter is also available at the bottom of this post. CONTENT WARNING Be advised, this audio novel examines toxic familial relationships including strong elements of abuse including violence. This episode also includes a depiction of post-traumatic negative thought spirals. This narrative uses strong language along with graphic descriptions of blood, biting and vampirism. This story also includes characters with a variety of spiritual, gender, sexual and ethnic identities. This is intended to create an inclusive and diverse narrative with the understanding that no character can represent an entire identity or community. Any fantastical depictions of witchcraft are not intended to discredit anyone’s spiritual beliefs or practices. Links & Credits
Sneak Peak “Cousin.” She gives half a smile to Maeve, then flicks her eyes to the doorway. “I see you brought the leech with you.” Maeve drops her bags and steps quickly to the woman’s side. “Kate. I’m so sorry about your mother.” She reaches to place a hand on her cousin’s shoulder, then stops and returns the hand to her side. “I should have called…” Kate flicks a lock of hair out of her face. “Forget it.” She sets the basket in a sink behind her. “You did us a favor keeping that one away from here for the funeral.” Maeve shivers and turns her attention back to the doorway, where Dolan is still standing, suitcase in hand. He and Eliza continue to eye each other apprehensively. Umbrosia has now appeared behind him, clearly not appreciative of standing out in the cold longer than necessary. “Are you going to let all the cold air in the house?” Umbrosia breaks the silence and pushes past him into the kitchen, smiling awkwardly and parking her tall frame in the nearest corner, bumping her head on a rough wooden cupboard door in the process. “He can’t come in without an invitation.” Kate gives a smug smile that almost hides the pain at the corner of her eyes. “I own the house, now.” Dolan removes his gaze from Eliza’s face to glower in irritation at Kate. “Don’t be childish. You know I go wherever Maeve does.” “There is a hotel five minutes away.” Kate cuts him off. “The day my mother died was the last time you ever stepped foot in this house.”
The podcast returns to the main narrative, as Maeve grapples with her recent trauma and her friends face growing concern for her well being. Hello & Welcome to Hobbies Include Writing, the Creative Fiction Podcast. The story you are about to experience is a work in progress. Other than minor edits by the author each chapter is virtually untouched. You are invited to be part of shaping this unfinished story by critiquing my writing style, the characters and more under the Discuss tab. Thanks to our patrons, Jacqueline Lydic and Ivie Montgomery for supporting the show. Because of their support I was able to upgrade our Spreaker account so that I can upload hundreds of hours of content without any of the backlog disappearing. Thanks also to our business partner in cross promotion, Black Ice Comics. Check them out in-store in Houghton, Michigan or go to BlackIceComics.com. Black Ice Comics is a full service comics shop with a great community. Hobbies Include: Writing is now part of Project Entertainment Network, a podcast empire. To check out all of the shows, go to ProjectEntertainmentNetwork.com. I recently guested on the Unafraid Podcast. To hear the my story and what led me to create narratives intentionally rich with Queer and diverse representation, click here. To listen, click the button above to download the episode or choose the platform of your choice. A PDF version of this chapter is also available at the bottom of this post. CONTENT WARNING Be advised, this audio novel examines toxic familial relationships including strong elements of abuse including violence. This episode also includes a depiction of post-traumatic negative thought spirals. This narrative uses strong language along with graphic descriptions of blood, biting and vampirism. This story also includes characters with a variety of spiritual, gender, sexual and ethnic identities. This is intended to create an inclusive and diverse narrative with the understanding that no character can represent an entire identity or community. Any fantastical depictions of witchcraft are not intended to discredit anyone’s spiritual beliefs or practices. Links & Credits
Sneak Peak Dolan rolls over, panting, his ginger hair sticking up and splayed in many directions, much like the dark hair on the chest it is resting on. He turns his head to look upwards at the large, bearded face, but the man still lays flat with his head resting back on the floor. The chest under Dolan’s head heaves as well. Dolan chuckles, catching his breath. Asim raises his head to look down at the red head and smiles. “Holy fuck, hey?” “Indeed.” Dolan leans up, propping himself on his elbows, and reaches for his pants. Asim rolls onto his side, holding his head up with one hand. “You know, one of these days we’re going to make it all the way to some place with a bed, instead of just my office.” “Ah, yes, but then what would we do on our lunch break?” The larger man laughs, running his fingers up and down Dolan’s naked back. “Wouldn’t it be a little more… I don’t know, romantic, though?” Dolan shifts and stands up, pulling his pants on. “I told you, I’m not available for...feelings...right now." “I’m pretty sure this started with feelings.” “You’ve lost someone. You’re grieving and you need space to do that and you’re not interested in me for anything more than what this is. I’m not an idiot. I know what this is.” Dolan turns his face toward Asim but doesn’t speak, his face expressionless. “But that doesn’t mean we can’t be kind to each other."
In this special backstory episode, Blood That Binds takes a 400 year step back into Dolan's first years in exile on earth.
Hello & Welcome to Hobbies Include Writing, the Creative Fiction Podcast. The story you are about to experience is a work in progress. Other than minor edits by the author each chapter is virtually untouched. You are invited to be part of shaping this unfinished story by critiquing my writing style, the characters and more under the Discuss tab. At the end of this month, I will hold another Q&A session so be sure to send in your questions & comments about the show. Our $15 and above patrons have the option to listen in and ask questions during the live recording via Discord. To join them, head on over to the Support tab. Thanks to our patrons, Jacqueline Lydic and Ivie Montgomery for supporting the show. Because of their support I was able to upgrade our Spreaker account so that I can upload hundreds of hours of content without any of the backlog disappearing. Thanks also to our business partner in cross promotion, Black Ice Comics. Check them out in-store in Houghton, Michigan or go to BlackIceComics.com. Black Ice Comics is a full service comics shop with a great community. Hobbies Include: Writing is now part of Project Entertainment Network, a podcast empire. To check out all of the shows, go to ProjectEntertainmentNetwork.com. This is a special backstory episode from Dolan’s perspective. However, I still recommend going back to episode one if this is your first time listening. Please enjoy the eighth installment of the paranormal long-fiction audio novel, Blood that Binds. To listen, click the button above to download the episode or choose the platform of your choice. A PDF version of this chapter is also available at the bottom of this post. CONTENT WARNING Be advised, this audio novel examines toxic familial relationships including strong elements of abuse including violence. This narrative uses strong language along with graphic descriptions of blood, biting and vampirism, and mentions of sex and menstruation. This story also includes characters with a variety of spiritual, gender, sexual and ethnic identities. This is intended to create an inclusive and diverse narrative with the understanding that no character can represent an entire identity or community. Any fantastical depictions of witchcraft are not intended to discredit anyone’s spiritual beliefs or practices. Links & Credits
Sneak Peek “So. I haven’t seen you since...well, a couple of weeks ago.” Her voice is a bit more steady than she had hoped, and she presses on, “I haven’t seen you around, that is. At the bar. Or anywhere. Except here. Now.” Her sentence and confidence cascade quickly off a short cliff. Rona glances up briefly from the survey, lips pursing, using one hand to tuck her long blonde hair behind her ear. “You didn’t call the number.” “The---? Oh, right.” Maeve’s memory flickers back to ten black digits hand-written on the bikini line of a scrap of white lace panties. Rona finishes the survey and straightens up, raising one eyebrow and locking eyes with Maeve. “So are you going to ask me out or not?” “Well. I didn’t call the number.” Maeve crosses her arms over her chest and juts out one hip along with her chin. “Defensive. Cute. I know you didn’t call the number. That’s not what I asked.” Rona smiles, her own neck and cheeks turning a little red. Maeve’s jaw relaxes a little, but doesn’t speak. Her eyes widen slightly, leaving the ball in Rona’s court. Rona’s eyes drop, then roam around the crowd. “Hey, it’s not the first time the number on the panties thing has struck out. It’s a pretty bold move, I know. It usually works. But not always. If you do want that drink…” She trails her gaze over Maeve’s neck, cheek and lips, then leans over the table separating them, placing her fingertips on its surface. "Call the number.” Maeve's hookup sneaks out in the early morning light, but leaves a unique keepsake behind. The story takes a dark turn when Dolan reaches the end of his patience. Hello & Welcome to Hobbies Include Writing, the Creative Fiction Podcast. Other than minor edits by the author each chapter is virtually untouched. In fact, I haven’t even finished writing the story yet. You are part of shaping this unfinished story by critiquing my writing style, the characters and more via email and social media, all of which can be found under the Discuss tab on our website. Thanks to our patrons, Jacqueline Lydic and Ivie Montgomery for supporting the show. Because of their support I was able to upgrade our Spreaker account so that I can upload hundreds of hours of content without any of the backlog disappearing. Thanks also to our business partner in cross promotion, Black Ice Comics. Check them out in-store in Houghton, Michigan or go to BlackIceComics.com. Black Ice Comics is a full service comics shop with a great community. If this is your first time listening, I recommend you start back at Episode One and the setup of our story. I will add an extra disclaimer to this episode. It is a bit more action heavy than the previous episodes, but it also examines abuse in a way that is more violent and blatant than you’ve heard so far. Refer to the content warning for specific trigger warnings, and buckle in. These next few episodes are about to get intense. You can listen through any of the major podcast platforms listed on this page, or by clicking the button above. A PDF transcript is also available below. ANNOUNCEMENTS At the end of this month, I will hold another Q&A session so be sure to send in your questions & comments about the show. Our patrons at the $15 and above level have the option to listen in and ask questions during the live recording via Discord. To join them, head on over to the Patreon. Hobbies Include: Writing is now part of Project Entertainment Network, a podcast empire. i will be featuring some spots moving forward to help you get familiar with some of the other amazing shows in the network. There is truly something there for everyone, it’s a great variety of podcasts. CONTENT WARNING Be advised, this audio novel examines toxic familial relationships including strong elements of abuse including violence. This narrative uses strong language along with graphic descriptions of blood, biting and vampirism, and mentions of sex and menstruation. This story also includes characters with a variety of spiritual, gender, sexual and ethnic identities. This is intended to create an inclusive and diverse narrative with the understanding that no character can represent an entire identity or community. Any fantastical depictions of witchcraft are not intended to discredit anyone’s spiritual beliefs or practices. Links & Credits
SNEAK PEEK Filled with blood-lust, Dolan smells the stronger magic flowing through the man's veins. Faster than the eye can move, he crosses twenty paces and tears a hole in the man's artery. The energy is so much stronger than anything he has felt since his banishment and fills him so quickly that it calls him back to his senses in moments. But in those moments, the man has already bled beyond the point of recovery. Dolan scarcely knows what he has done before the man lays dying on the earth. Dolan drops the body, staring at the blood on his shaking hands. He raises his eyes to the massacre around him. More than a dozen lives ended in a matter of moments. The friends he had known as powerful, proud, beautiful Fair Folk are nothing but a scrawny pack of feral, murderous animals. The musky citrus scent of the man’s blood no longer drives his frenzy. Instead, it clogs his nose and turns his stomach. He hears a gasp to his left, and snaps his head around to see a young woman with dark auburn hair standing in the field, breathing hard as though she has been running. The energy from her is also strong, but for the first time in nearly a year his need for magic is slated. The woman's eyes are filled with horror. In a moment he realizes her smell is a similar sweet musk to that of the man lying dead at his feet. In the same moment a shrieking wave of grief tears through the air, flying from the woman's chest like thunder into Dolan and each of his companions. And in the next moment, all he knows is blackness.
Maeve and the witches spend a night out with Dolan. A love interest is introduced. Hello & Welcome to Hobbies Include Writing, the creative fiction podcast. Other than edits by the author each chapter you experience is virtually untouched. In fact, I haven’t even finished writing the story yet. You are part of shaping this unfinished story by critiquing my writing style, the characters and more via email and social media. Thanks to our Patrons, Ivie Montgomery and Jacqueline Lydic for supporting the show. Due to their support, I was able to upgrade our membership on Spreaker. HI:W can now upload 100 hours of content for you to enjoy. Thank you patrons for keeping our blacklog of episodes safe! Thanks also to our business partner in cross-promotion Black Ice Comics, a full-service comics store located in Houghton, Michigan with services and products available online. Some of you may have seen my posts on social media regarding recent world events - specifically the Black Lives Matter movement against police brutality. The last episode was recorded before all of that had culminated, and rather than rushing to record something and get it out in a messy and reactionary fashion, I wanted to take some time right now, at the start of this episode, to state a couple of important things. In case I have not made it abundantly clear, this podcast and the story Blood That Binds are intentionally feminist, intersectional, inclusive, diverse, and Queer-friendly. I am a white cis-gender bisexual woman. I stand with Black Lives Matter, and so does this entire creative project. I stand against police brutality, particularly that which is based on race, and so does all of my creative work. It is also Pride Month. As a Queer person, I acknowledge that my rights would not be where they are without the work of black trailblazers like Marsha P. Johnson, Moms Mabley, James Balwin and many, many others. Our rights would also not be where they are without events like the Stonewall Riots. I have been sharing and will continue to share human rights resources, links to donate, and petitions on all of the social media for this podcast. Please feel encouraged to join me. There are a lot of resources out there on ways to support the fight for racial equality. Please find your ways to support, and if you are white, take this time to especially elevate voices of people of color. If you are a person of color and/or a member of the LGBTQIA community, and you see any support of bigotry or racism in my writing, I invite you once again to please call me out, as I promise this comes from the narrowness and privilege of my personal experiences, not from any racist intention, and I will be honored to discuss the error with you and correct it. If this is your first time listening, I recommend you start back at Episode One and the setup of our story. A few days after dramatically convincing Maeve’s friends that he is, in fact, a blood-sucker, Dolan joins the group for drinks. This episode opens on Maeve’s friends interrogating Dolan about what it means to be a vampire, despite her requests to treat him like a normal person. Four witches and a vampire walk into a bar... in this sixth installment of the paranormal long-fiction audio novel, “Blood that Binds.” You can download the episode by clicking the button at the top of this blog post, or through your favorite podcasting platform via one of the links at the top of the page. The PDF version is available at the bottom of this post. Be sure to like, share, subscribe and review! CONTENT WARNING Be advised, this audio novel examines toxic relationship dynamics and includes elements of abuse which may be upsetting to some listeners. This story contains strong language along with descriptions of blood, biting and vampirism. This story also includes characters with a variety of spiritual, gender, sexual and ethnic identities. This is intended to create an inclusive and diverse narrative with the understanding that no character can represent an entire identity or community. Any fantastical depictions of witchcraft are not intended to discredit anyone’s spiritual beliefs or practices. Links & Credits
SNEAK PEEK “You can’t just stalk me wherever I go and creep up on me like we’re in some sort of horror film.” Maeve crosses her arms over her chest. “If you need to feed, text me or some shit like a normal person.” Faster than her eye can follow, Dolan has one hand gripping each of her forearms tightly, books and shelves pressing against her back. His eyes leer down into hers, but she cannot look away from the snarl and fully descended fangs just inches from her face. His voice is quiet, but hard as gravel as he speaks, and in her head his energy is hot and loud as a scream. “I told you not to forget that I’m not human. If you don’t want to see my predatory side, don’t make me track you down like an animal every time I need to feed.” He grasps her chin, forcing her eyes up to his. “You have never known hunger, child, so let me tell you that living under the threat of starvation at the whim of a stubborn witch brat is not pleasant. Continue making it unpleasant for me, and I promise…” He jerks her chin to the side, exposing her neck, his lips an inch from her ear. “I will make it unbearable for you.”
With her secrets revealed, Maeve must face Dolan's response along with her friends' skepticism.... Hello & Welcome to Hobbies Include Writing, the creative fiction podcast. Other than edits by the author each chapter you experience is virtually untouched. In fact, I haven’t even finished writing the story yet. You are part of shaping this unfinished story by critiquing my writing style, the characters and more via email and social media. Thanks to our Patrons, Ivie Montgomery and Jacqueline Lydic for supporting the show. Ivie has been so helpful in beta-reading these episodes in the Google Doc before they get to you and making comments that have helped me with editing. Jacqueline took part in our first live Q&A episode through the Patron Discord channel. The Founding Fans offer has ended for the time being, but you can still join them in supporting the show over on our Patreon. I could not possibly do this without patron support. Thanks also to our business partner in cross-promotion Black Ice Comics, a full-service comics store located in Houghton, Michigan with services and products available online. If this is your first time listening, I recommend you start back at Episode One and the setup of our story. We pick up back at Maeve’s apartment. Last night, in a fit of anger over Dolan’s controlling nature, Maeve revealed to her friends that Dolan is not her junkie cousin, but in fact a vampire bound by blood magic to feed off of her family, and her family alone. Skeptical, her friends decided to get shit-faced and deal with the revelation - and their hangovers - the next morning. Please enjoy the fifth installment of the paranormal long-fiction audio novel, Blood that Binds. You can download the episode by clicking the button at the top of this blog post, or through your favorite podcasting platform via one of the links at the top of the page. The PDF version is available at the bottom of this post. Be sure to like, share, subscribe and review! CONTENT WARNING Be advised, this audio novel examines toxic relationship dynamics and includes elements of abuse which may be upsetting to some listeners. This story contains strong language along with descriptions of blood, biting and vampirism. This story also includes characters with a variety of spiritual, gender, sexual and ethnic identities. This is intended to create an inclusive and diverse narrative with the understanding that no character can represent an entire identity or community. Any fantastical depictions of witchcraft are not intended to discredit anyone’s spiritual beliefs or practices. Links & Credits
SNEAK PEEK “Mind if I get this one?” Maeve follows the twisting array of tattoos up the woman’s forearm, picking up bright little demon and fairy faces, script and birds amidst a tangle of thorny vines. They bring her to a face she can see much more clearly in the bar than she could by the glow of a cigarette. Thick eyebrows stand out on porcelain skin above deep-set eyes heavily defined with black, smokey makeup. Maeve’s own eyes sparkle as she nods slowly, “Sure, never turn down a free drink.” The woman hands the bills to the bartender with a smile and gets most of it back in change, along with a whiskey and soda. Maeve watches the swish of long, ice-blonde hair as the woman turns her head, but quickly returns her attention to her drink for a moment as blue eyes fall back on her. After a short sip, Maeve raises her eyes again to meet the woman’s “Usually when people buy me a drink they also introduce themselves.” She challenges, then softens with a smile, “I’m Maeve.” The woman offers her hand, “Rona.” Maeve takes it briefly, “That’s a beautiful name.” She smiles, trying not to blush. "Please do not misunderstand my compliment," She thinks desperately, trying to press her intention out as warm pink energy through her fingers, "I am being so queer with you right now." With her third eye, she sees the energy snap and crackle with nervous static where their hands meet. Rona chuckles and takes her hand back, pulling out a stool to take a seat, “Thank you. To be fair, I didn’t pick it out on my own.” “Bet you picked those clothes, though.” Maeve counters, turning her body towards Rona and taking another sip of her drink. Rona swirls the ice in her untouched drink, “And?” Maeve nearly spills her drink as she pulls it away from her mouth and gestures emphatically to Rona’s entire outfit, “You look like a fucking badass.”
Dolan reacts poorly to Maeve's attempt to protect her magic. Maeve reveals a secret... Hello, and welcome to “Hobbies Include: Writing” the creative fiction podcast. The story you are about to experience is unfinished. For this unique experiment, much more than an audience. You have the power to shape this unfinished story, this work-in-progress, by critiquing my writing style, the characters and more via email, social media or right here on the website. Quick announcement: I will be holding a special Q&A episode which will release May 20th. I am open to answering any questions you may have about the story, writing, podcasting and more. Email questions to [email protected] by May 12th to ensure they are answered in that episode. If you are a first time listener I suggest starting back at Episode One and the setup of our story. If you stubbornly refuse to do so, or you just forgot what happened in the last episode, we pick up shortly after Dolan and Maeve’s friends meet for the first time. A violent outburst from Dolan triggered a painful memory from Maeve’s childhood. This episode picks up the very next day. Without further ado, I present the paranormal long-fiction audio novel, “Blood that Binds.” You can listen on your platform of choice by clicking one of the links on this page, or download the episode directly by clicking the link in this post. You can also download the PDF of the episode below. CONTENT WARNING: Be advised, this audio novel contains strong language along with descriptions of blood, biting and vampirism. This story includes exploration of toxic relationship dynamics, including abusive elements that may be upsetting for some people. This story also includes characters with a variety of spiritual, gender, sexual and ethnic identities. This is intended to create an inclusive and diverse narrative with the understanding that no character can completely encompass representing a particular identity or community. Any fantastical depictions of witchcraft are not intended to discredit anyone’s spiritual beliefs or practices. Links & Credits
Sneak Peek “Are you sure this is a good idea?” He glances back at them in an exaggerated fashion, leaning back but with his weight on the balls of his feet, then turns back to her, “Only if you’re sure you don’t want them thinking you are insane.” She wrinkles her forehead and he lowers his tone, “Look I don’t love that you told them but you aren’t the first in the past several hundred years to bring a few trusted friends in on the family secret. Typically, the best route is to prove it to them as soon as possible, before they start calling the men with the pretty white coats.” His eyes sparkle as he grins at her, “Besides, your friends are stronger than you know.” They turn back around to three incredulous faces. Noam raises one eyebrow, dripping sarcasm, “Wow. Such whisper. Much secret. Many sneaky.” Dolan and Maeve give each other a brief, guilty side-eye glance. For a moment she is reminded of her mother catching them sneaking ice cream before dinner when she was a child, and almost smiles. It is only a brief thought, though, and then she is brought back to the present by Sia’s intake of breath. “Holy shit.”
Maeve lies to her friends. Dolan gets very drunk. Maeve revisits a disturbing childhood incident... Hello, and welcome to “Hobbies Include: Writing” the creative fiction podcast. The story you are about to experience is a work in progress. I invite you to be my audience, my first editor, my critic and more. You can comment via email, social media or directly on the website. Just head over to the Discuss Tab. Reminder that the Patreon special offer is still running, the first 10 donors at $5 or above receive top-tier benefits for as long as they continue to donate. Since the last episode, I recorded a great interview with You Did A Thing! Podcast which will be launching soon. I want to make a quick apology for any background sounds you hear in this recording. They aren't overpowering, but it may sound like I'm shuffling paper or fabric from time to tome. I learned I cannot wear a certain jacket while recording because it makes noise with every tiny movement. I chose not to re-record in order to ensure I got you this episode on time. If this is your first time listening in, I recommend you start back at Episode One and the setup of our story. Quick recap last episode: we got a look at daily life living with a vampire uncle as roommate and Maeve’s experience of the growing connection between her and Dolan. Without further ado, I present humbly to you the paranormal long-fiction audio novel, “Blood that Binds.” Click above to listen on Spreaker, or choose your podcasting platform. The PDF is available for download below. CONTENT WARNING: Be advised, this audio novel contains strong language along with descriptions of blood, biting and vampirism. This story includes exploration of toxic relationship dynamics, including abusive elements that may be upsetting for some people. This story also includes characters with a variety of spiritual, gender, sexual and ethnic identities. This is intended to create an inclusive and diverse narrative with the understanding that no character can completely encompass representing a particular identity or community. Any fantastical depictions of witchcraft are not intended to discredit anyone’s spiritual beliefs or practices. Links & Credits
"I’m family and I’m paying your tuition and half of rent. You could show a little gratitude,” He wags a finger at her patronizingly. “I do, literally in my own blood!” She slaps her arm like an addict gearing up for smack. “Oh don’t be dramatic. So we had a slip up. These things happen. We can’t be expected to fall into each other’s schedules after just two weeks. Why, it took your aunt and I --” “No!” She swipes her hand through the air to cut him off. “Absolutely you do not get to compare your relationship with Linda to our arrangement. Ever!” “Why not?” He wrinkles his forehead with genuine confusion. “Because you were fucking her! She was your fucking blood-lust thrall, and that is not going to be me,” Maeve grabs a rag and furiously wipes the counter of the little bits of herbs that escaped her charm. “Of course not, you’re like a niece to me, practically a daughter.” He pauses and interrupts himself, realization dawning on his face, “Oh, is that what this is about?” “Linda? Yes it very much fucking is--” She flaps the rag back into its place hanging from the stove handle, but he talks over her before she can continue. “Listen, I know it might be awkward having a father-figure living with you at this stage in your life. You want to sow your wild oats and party, have boyfriends or girlfriends or whatever. Please, don’t let me get in your way. I may be 500 years old but I am more than aware of what it means to hang a sock on the door,” he chuckles with a knowing grin. Maeve pauses in revolted disbelief, then pinches the bridge of her nose with her thumb and forefinger, “I don’t get to have significant others, or even just normal friends, because of you.” Her voice starts off low but quickly gains volume and momentum, “For the rest of my life I am tied down to an unaging 20-something relative who can’t live more than a few minutes away from me because I’m his fucking food source. Long-term, my choices are total isolation from society or starting my life over every time people question why you aren’t aging.” She buries her face in her hands for a moment, “I’m lying to my friends already, how long before I push them away completely?” He appears to have no answer, so she bursts out, “No wonder my aunt fell in love with you. You had her isolated! You were the only person she was allowed to be close to who wasn’t related to her. It wasn’t love, it was fucking Stockholm syndrome!”
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Spotify Spreaker Google Podcasts YouTube Amazon iHeart Radio Castbox Podcast Addict Podchaser Deezer AuthorMariah is the author of "Blood that Binds" and sole creator of the HI:W podcast. Categories
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March 2021
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