The art of bridges in my MM fantasy books. Why bridges are a central concept in my romantasy and how I came to draw them this way. ◊ Why this concept for my romantasy art? Rotterdam. The concept of bridges in drawing has fascinated me ever since I started living in Rotterdam. The three bridges … Read more
Enemies to lovers in MM romantasy and why I chose not to write it. What is the enemies-to-lovers trope, why does it hit so hard in MM romantasy, what are the best gay enemies-to-lovers fantasy books I’ve read, including danmei, and why did I twist this trope in my own books? ◊ What is enemies … Read more
Danmei about a disabled tyrant and his fish, and my mixed feelings. A transmigration danmei worth picking up. ◊ The premise (from Goodreads):“After Li Yu stays up all night to read an engrossing web novel, he finally falls asleep–only to wake up in the world of the novel itself. And not as himself, but as … Read more
Western MM romantasy: two very different slow burns. Captive Prince and A Taste of Gold and Iron. ◊ Both sit high on MM romance fantasy recommendation lists, and both earned that—up to a point. ◊ Captive Prince (C.S. Pacat) is a genuine classic of MM fantasy romance. The plot is layered and gripping, which is … Read more
MM Romance Fantasy Art: The Gates. From early sketches to full-color digital illustrations of the Gates: a concept for the after-climate-disruption (ACD) world of my MM romance fantasy stories. ◊ Twenty years ago I drew on paper with oil pastels. The road from there to being able to illustrate my queer fantasy world the way … Read more
Chinese MM romance fantasy: where to start (and why)? Recommendations: The Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation (The Untamed) and Thrice Married to a Salted Fish. ◊ Danmei (耽美) is Chinese MM romantasy, often epic in scope, and often the slowest of slow burns. Two titles pulled me in completely, and they were worth my time for very different … Read more