Ignition James could no longer tell how long he’d been walking. It felt like ages. The forest had thinned, yet the air had grown thicker, warmer, as though he were breathing through cloth. The mist glowed faintly around him, barely illuminated by the moon that wove in and out of clouds. His boots left darkContinue reading “Where the Winged Thing Waits: Chapter Eight”
Author Archives: Nikki
Indie Book Spotlight: Coldharbour by Laura Clarke Walker
Power wasn’t everything.But it helped. Coldharbour by Laura Clarke Walker was both a treat and a guilty pleasure read. Set against a desolate seaside town on the cusp of the new millennium, the story blends buried family secrets and a creeping sense of inherited darkness into something that feels both nostalgic and quietly menacing. Alex WildeContinue reading “Indie Book Spotlight: Coldharbour by Laura Clarke Walker”
Where the Winged Thing Waits: Chapter Seven
Deliverance Every step took James’s party deeper into air so thick it tasted metallic. Behind them, the trees knitted tighter until the path vanished, swallowed up by darkness and creeping fog. Their lanterns barely touched the heavy mist that clung to the space around them. When the preacher lifted his hand to test the air,Continue reading “Where the Winged Thing Waits: Chapter Seven”
Indie Author Spotlight: Marilynn Vicente
Over time, I’ve noticed how often writers turn obstacles into art. Some authors discover storytelling through lifelong dreams, others through unexpected encouragement, and many through sheer persistence. Marilynn Vicente’s journey is one of resilience, imagination, and refusing to let limitations define her. Despite growing up with dyslexia and not receiving the support she needed, sheContinue reading “Indie Author Spotlight: Marilynn Vicente”
Where the Winged Thing Waits: Chapter Six
The Second Gate The Second Gate looked exactly like the First. Same arch of moss-encrusted metal. Same curling ivy gripping the pillars like desperate hands. Same ominous aura that watched them pass beneath. “This can’t be the same one,” Edward muttered, kicking at the wet leaves as they ventured deeper into the woods. “We wentContinue reading “Where the Winged Thing Waits: Chapter Six”
Before the Story Began: Putrescence in Her Peripherals
Putrescence in Her Peripherals is my upcoming dark fantasy. It’s coming out this fall, and I’m SO excited to share it with you. Until then, I’d like to drop a few deleted scenes and unpublished world building moments. Here, we’ll explore the moment Aidan met Amélie. If this teaser piques your interest, swing by myContinue reading “Before the Story Began: Putrescence in Her Peripherals”
Where the Winged Thing Waits: Chapter Five
The First Gate The night air was heavy as the two parties met again where the trees thinned near the road. Lanterns bobbed between them, pale halos cutting swaths through the dark. James was at the front, his Bible tucked under one arm, Millie trailing behind like a shadow in her simple calico dress. IsaacContinue reading “Where the Winged Thing Waits: Chapter Five”
Where the Winged Thing Waits: Chapter Four
Lounge Lizard When a bird chirped nearby, Clara gestured with her chin, still arm-in-arm with Harry. “Hear that? That’s a piping plover. Rare to hear a shorebird this far inland.” Harry smiled as he patted her arm. “The Susquehanna River is a couple miles away. It runs all the way to Chesapeake Bay, so itContinue reading “Where the Winged Thing Waits: Chapter Four”
Where the Winged Thing Waits: Chapter Three
Commotion Brick, Clara learned, was a luxury. Pulling herself out of the coupe, she brushed the wrinkles from her skirt and marched to her brother to extend a hand for a cigarette. He pursed his lips for a moment before he dug out his pack and lit one for her. She raised it to herContinue reading “Where the Winged Thing Waits: Chapter Three”
Where the Winged Thing Waits: Chapter Two
Proposition Edward ran his hands over his hairless upper lip before he lifted his glass for a drink. He missed his mustache, but yesterday’s close call had him nervous. Firebreathing was a fairly simple act, usually, but he’d been slipping as of late. Drinking more meant he slept poorly, but he couldn’t help it. ThisContinue reading “Where the Winged Thing Waits: Chapter Two”