Creating creatures is the best part of writing SFF. 😁

Some of my favorites on Maris include squild (highly intelligent cephalopods), sabre sharks (pack-hunters), and feather whales (flying fish-whale hybrids).

All three present unique obstacles to fishing.

#SeptemberWorldbuilders #MindWalkers #YA

Trying to get back into my usual routine since I actually slept through the night.

"Bodies" by Drowning Pool is a spoiler in so many ways - none of which I'll mention. 😁

youtu.be/04F4xlWSFh0?...

(Also, who doesn't need a good screaming song now and then?)

#SongsOfSeptember #MindWalkers #YA

Okay, this might be a little cuter than the actual opening vibes, but it fits perfectly.

#QueerPrompts #MindWalkers #YA

Gielle: I'm happy taking my place upon the throne.

MujaRi: I have no plans for my future.

Jarian: I don't care that everyone is afraid of me.

#AwesomeCharacters #MindWalkers #YA

Once they Bond, Gielle tends to turn to Irif. As the Walker has access to her thoughts and emotions, she feels the little creature understands the most.

But she'll also ask her Dragons. They've guarded her her entire life, so she trusts their judgement.

#QueerPrompts #MindWalkers #YA

I don't want to give my antagonist away, but I can say this song is definitely near the top of their playlist:
youtu.be/kXYiU_JCYtU?....

"Numb" by Linkin Park captures a lot of their energy and feelings.

#SongsOfSeptember #MindWalkers #YA

Maris has seafood of every type - a favorite of Gielle's.

The ParDafi feed on anything they can hunt, but especially multan (armored camelids).

Lumineye catch fish, gulped (nasty giant leeches), and insects.

#SeptemberWorldbuilders #MindWalkers #YA

Pretty much any of my characters would help clean up the mess.

Except Jarian. He's going to glare at them until they apologize and clean everything up. (To be fair, he always looks like he's glaring 🤷‍♀️)

#AwesomeCharacters #MindWalkers #YA

Vegetarianism is quite prevalent in the System. Lumineye might consume fish or invertebrates on occasion, and Marisians love their seafood, but plants still rank higher.

Only YelNi is exempt, considering ParDafi are obligate carnivores.

#SeptemberWorldbuilders #MindWalkers #YA

Number one on Gielle's list would be Irif, but odds are the two would be together. 😁

So that means calling in either Jarian or MujaRi, depending on the situation. (And how close one or the other might be)

#AwesomeCharacters #MindWalkers #YA

Seafood is a major theme for dishes on Maris.

One of the favorites is called fiskr: a local coconut fish basted in herbs before being cooked over an open flame. Usually served with fresh sea greens.

#SeptemberWorldbuilders #MindWalkers #YA

Gielle is under constant scrutiny by the court, and they pounce on every tiny mistake. She's terrified of disappointing them.

So, hands down, "Waving Through a Window" from Dear Evan Hansen would be her big solo song. youtu.be/kfnMvo87fQU?...

#SongsOfSeptember #MindWalkers #YA

Guess I already did this throughout the week. 😂

As the planets all have different places within the System and different times for days and rotations, it made sense to identify them in different ways the locals would use.

#SeptemberWorldbuilders #MindWalkers #YA

Given her father's collection of books, it would be tempting to say Gielle, but I have to go with Jarian for this one.

He likes nothing better than quiet solitude, and a collection of books would provide the perfect excuse.

And keep others from talking to him. 😉

#QueerPrompts #MindWalkers #YA

Gielle's father has a collection of "antique" books (everything being digital now) - the largest in the System.

She loved taking down volumes and turning the pages to hear the paper.

Her favorite was a copy of Grimms' Fairy Tales.

#AwesomeCharacters #MindWalkers #YA

Without a doubt "The Sound of Silence" by Disturbed (yes, their cover) opens SYMBIOTE: youtu.be/u9Dg-g7t2l4?....

Not only the messaging, but the surge in tempo and strength. I am absolutely obsessed.

#SongsOfSeptember #MindWalkers #YA

Storm season is top of the list for Gielle. She's adored storms since she was a child, spending hours curled on a window seat, watching the waves reach toward the palace walls.

And the season isn't quite as damaging as typhoon season. 😁

#SeptemberWorldbuilders #MindWalkers #YA

Gielle is the crown princess of Maris, so her schedule is full of Council meetings and attending her father's audiences to learn how to handle petitioners.

What she loves, though, is heading the negotiations between Maris and the Senate.

🧵

#Septversary #MindWalkers #YA

I LOVE chapter epitaphs, and I've made up a few books to pull quotes from:

• Basic Anatomy of MindWalkers
• The Unedited Diary of Ethologist, Dr. Marum Talist
• Puppetry of the Forest: A Collection of First-Hand Walker Encounters

#QueerPrompts #MindWalkers #YA

Gielle is well known, courtesy of her title. It annoys her because people don't tend to look any deeper.

Jarian has a reputation that's been buried by the Project, but all of the other Keepers know. He has no opinion. At least until Gielle starts prying.

#AwesomeCharacters #MindWalkers #YA