KellyDawn

I didn't write a single journal last year?  Really?? 

Well, it's 2014 now.  That's weird, right?

I've got a job working at Build-a-Bear Workshop and y'know, if you've gotta work retail, that's the place to do it.  All my coworkers are excellent people and my managers are supportive and kind.  I think Build-a-Bear just draws in good folks in general.  I've really got no complaints.  Turns out I'm decent with kids, too - who knew?

I need to try and be more creative this year.  Last year I really slacked.  I need to draw more and I need to write more.  I'd like to actually write and finish something for e-publication.  Also I'd like for my drawing style to do something.  Anything. 

And hopefully I'll remember to journal more often during the year!

Less than a month now until NaNoWriMo, folks!  Do you know what you're going to write about?  

Because I don't.    I keep flip-flopping between a handful of different stories.

If you'd like to be writing buddies, though, hit me up over at my NaNo page: nanowrimo.org/en/participants/…

And as usual, you can also find me on tumblr: gatsbygal.tumblr.com

And I spend my time writing fics and browsing tumblr.  MATURITY!

Seriously though, I am on tumblr a great deal and have amassed blogs of my own.

My personal tumblr: gatsbygal.tumblr.com - it's turned into Avengers Time, All The Time over there.  Plus random bits from other things I like.  Basically whatever strikes my fancy.  And yeah, I have been posting most of my recent drawings there too.

My Zsasz tumblr: mymarkuponhischest.tumblr.com - because I'm a pathetic fangirl for this guy, oh god am I ever.  I don't update as frequently as I did when I still had lots of comic scans to post (always sad that he's not a more regular villain), but it's still all about Zsasz over there.

My Zsasz roleplay tumblr: aaci001171.tumblr.com - because I wasn't pathetic enough, apparently.  It's a free agent RP, so anyone and everyone is welcome to chat him up.  He's rotting in Arkham right now and could probably use a "howdy" (though really, notes or not, I'm ultimately doing this for myself because it's so damn fun).

So yeah, if I seem kinda scarce here, it's because I'm probably hanging out on one of those.  I'm trying to draw with a little more frequency, though, so we'll see how that goes.

...and made myself a tumblr.  It's nothing special, and I don't have some grand theme for it.  I just post stuff that I think is neat.  Sometimes it's funny.  Sometimes it's cool.  Sometimes it's lame.  Like me!  



I'm into Ancient Aliens and posting film stills and bits of paintings and other miscellany.  No drawings of mine, I will still post those here.

So if you wanna check me out, it's here: gatsbygal.tumblr.com/

(Sorry, this is only the opening.  The erotica doesn't happen for about 6k more words.  Haha.)

=+=

The bazaar swarmed with early-morning life.  Groups of giggling children darted from stall to stall, sneaking grapes and sugared dates as frazzled mothers gave chase.  Dark-skinned merchants from the far south peddled bright yellow spices and dyed silks.  Old women with creased faces watched the passersby and gossiped amongst themselves in the old languages.

This was Bal Hadar, the capital city of Idrabal, the glistening city that served as the doorway to the great northern desert.  Minarets grew from between the rooftops like gilded weeds through paved streets, though nothing stood as high in the skyline as the golden dome of the royal palace.  It loomed on the horizon from every vantage point in the city, serving as a constant reminder that the citizens below were under its authority.

But authority had never sat well with Kaz Karzaq.

A tall man in a jeweled turban inspected a table covered in silver bracelets.  "I'll take three," he said to the peddler, but when he reached for the pouch of gold coins at his belt, he found it missing.  He kicked up dust as he turned around and searched the crowd.  "Help!  Guards!  I've been robbed!"

Around the corner, concealed in shadow, the thief rested against the alley wall and caught his breath.  Sweat beaded on his neck and collarbone.  The unbuttoned front of his gauzy tunic clung to his chest as it rose and fell, and even his long dreadlocks seemed limp with exhaustion.

"You're getting out shape, Kaz," he said to himself and gave his taut stomach a pat.  

He squeezed the pilfered coins and shuddered with delight.  Goosebumps tingled across his tanned arms.  The first score of the day was always the best rush, like the first hot inhale of good hashish.  He pocketed the other man's money and savored the weight of the gold against his thigh.  

"Hey, you!"  A gruff voice echoed down the alley, and Kaz turned to look.  The voice belonged to a broad-shouldered guard in the process of brandishing a rather mean-looking scimitar.  Lesser thieves might have surrendered at the imposing sight, but Kaz had grown accustomed to dealing with the law.

"Yes?" he asked as the man approached.  "What seems to be the trouble?"

The guard closed in on him, pinning the thief to the alley wall.  "Turn out your pockets."

Kaz only laughed.  "And why should I?"

"Turn out your pockets, or I'll turn them for you."

"Well, then."  Kaz thrust his hips toward the guard.  "By all means."

Before the guard could properly react, the thief kneed him in the groin and took off sprinting.  Kaz ran and jumped for a low-hanging ladder, scrambling to the rooftops.  If anyone in the marketplace had bothered to lift their eyes, perhaps they might have seen him as he leapt from building to building.  

The guard, however, never saw him again.

=+=

(This book is still in the works, but if all goes well it should be completed and hopefully published by late spring/early summer.  I'll keep y'all posted!)