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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."
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.Hello & Welcome to Hobbies Include Writing, the Creative Fiction Podcast. I’m host, writer & creator Mariah Powell.
Thanks to our patrons, Jacqueline Lydic and Ivie Montgomery for supporting the show. Our patrons at the $15 tier and above have access to listen live to these Q&A recordings. Head on over to the Patreon to check out those and other benefits. 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. 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. To check out all of the shows, go to ProjectEntertainmentNetwork.com. As part of that network, I have a special treat for you! This episode includes a conversation between myself and Chrissy Garrison, host of the Alien Beer podcast. Chrissy and I talk writing, podcasting, and creating queer content. Thank you so much to everyone who sent in questions for this episode. Enjoy the discussion with Chrissy Garrison as well. That will be simul-released on her podcast, Alien Beer. Be sure to check it out, especially if you are into sci-fi. You can enjoy this episode via download by clicking the "Listen" button at the top, or find it on your platform of choice using the links on this page. No sneak peeks this week, but here are all our links! Links & Credits Patreon: www.patreon.com/hobbiesinclude_writing?fan_landing=true Twitter: @HIWPodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HobbiesIncludeWriting Black Ice Comics: https://www.blackicecomics.com/ Music edited from Chill Wave by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3498-chill-wave License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 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.” Get your questions ready, listeners!
I will be recording another special Q&A episode the week of July 19, which means you get a chance to have your questions about Blood That Binds and Hobbies Include: Writing answered! We've had a couple of deep and rough episodes (with one more coming before the Q&A) so this is a great time for a deep-dive into the story. Email me your questions by July 19 at 12pm ET to guarantee your question will be answered in the recording. If you would like to sit in on the live recording and ask questions in real-time, head on over and join our Patrons at $15 per month or above. In addition, there will be a special prerecorded segment of this episode in collaboration with Alien Beer Podcast where the host and I will discuss writing, podcasting, and whatever else comes up! 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.
I am excited to announce that Hobbies Include: Writing has joined the Project Entertainment Network podcast empire!
Moving forward, I will be sharing spots from this family of podcasts to help you connect with other shows you will love. P.E.N. includes a variety of podcasts on topics from writing, to sci-fi original fiction, to real world LGBTQ stories, to heavy metal/horror movie crossover discussion. Please be sure to check out, subscribe and review these excellent creators! 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.”
Hello, and welcome to the first ever Q&A episode of Hobbies Include: Writing, the creative fiction podcast.
This episode is officially sponsored by our patrons! Thank you so much to Ivie Montgomery and Jacqueline Lydic for becoming our first Founding Fans. There are still 8 slots and a few days left to join them as a Founding Fan and gain access to lifetime top-tier benefits for any monthly donation of $5 or above. See the Support HI:W tab for more! HI:W also has a business partnership sponsor. Thanks to Black Ice Comics in Houghton, Michigan for partnering with the show for cross-promotion. Their physical store is not open at the moment but they are open virtually at blackicecomics.com. Black Ice Comics is a full-service comics shop and there is a wonderful community of amazing people. This episode was originally recorded live for our patrons, who were able to interact with me during the recording through the Discord. Unfortunately, due to some technical issues the recorded audio was distorted and had to be re-recorded. The audio you will hear still has somewhat of an echo. I apologize for the microphone issues, and promise I am taking steps to fix them as soon as possible. Several of listeners also submitted questions ahead of time for this episode. Instead of a PDF for those who prefer reading to listening, here is the google doc with the questions and my notes. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1F9l_mgx9HdiRabHYmh8NMLkLRVp_J3937O-qKGz6fvM/edit?usp=sharing No sneak peeks this week, but here are all our links! Links & Credits Patreon: www.patreon.com/hobbiesinclude_writing?fan_landing=true Twitter: @HIWPodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HobbiesIncludeWriting Black Ice Comics: https://www.blackicecomics.com/ Music edited from Chill Wave by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3498-chill-wave License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 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.”
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