Firlefanz

Firlefanz, 4 months ago to random

It hasn't really been making international news, and even our German media have been lazy about reporting this - but I wanted to let you know that hundreds of thousands of Germans are out in the streets and towns, protesting against the right-wing extremists here in Germany.

I was out myself today, along with 15,000 others in my town, for Holocaust Memorial Day. 100,000 in Düsseldorf alone, plenty more across the entire country. More protests are planned for tomorrow.

1/3

Firlefanz, 10 months ago to random

Okay, App programmers.

If you offer me three options to register and they are

a) Google
b) FB
c) cell phone number

I will always choose

d) None of the above.

Thanks for nothing.

#Apps
#Programmers
#Ableism

Firlefanz, 1 year ago (edited 3 months ago) to random

#Introduction

I'm a German indie author, writing mostly in English, mostly fantasy, sometimes SF. Several series published, working on the "Winds of Destiny" right now, books 1-6 published, #7 coming in summer).

I care about society, climate change, ecosystems, human rights (trans rights are human rights!), art, writing, lifting everyone up.

Find all my books here:
https://books2read.com/hannahsteenbock

Firlefanz, 1 year ago to random

I've published several books so far and am on my fourth series. So here's a little list:

1. The Cloud Lands Saga / Beginnings:
   Dragons and dragonriders. A fight between traditionalists and dragon-friends.

2. The Franssisi Four Chronicles:
   SF, Human slaves fight for freedom. Steamy.

3. Wolves of the South:
   Non-steamy wolf shifters family saga.

4. Winds of Destiny/Pillars of the Empire:
   Epic fantasy, magic system. Some steam.

Full list: https://www.hannah-steenbock.de/

Firlefanz, 10 months ago to fantasy

Final day today, to get free fantasy and SF books centered around the theme of Power.

You'll have to sign up to a newsletter to get a book, but that's not really a hardship.

Check out those amazing books right here:

https://books.bookfunnel.com/fantasyjuly/rywhbrve83

@bookstodon
#Fantasy
#ScienceFiction
#FreeBooks

Firlefanz, 9 months ago to random

If you love dragons of any kind and shape, I have a fiery opportunity for you:

Grab as many of over three dozen dragons books as you like - and there is a chance to get an Amazon gift card, as well.

Flap those scaly wings and fly over to BookFunnel!

https://books.bookfunnel.com/fantasy-dragons-giftcard-2023-aug-sept/ox4o2lb6w0

Firlefanz, 8 months ago to random

Today, I'm going to do a little self-promo here.

You see, I have this Wolf Shifter series out which is basically adventure/romance (with a HEA) and which follows different members of a family of Wolves (and a pack).

I really dislike the whole Alpha trope, so you won't find anything like that in them. My characters also refused to be watched in bed, so it's not steamy.

First book is free!

A Wolf's Quest:
https://books2read.com/WolvesSouthQuest

#UrbanFantasy
#WolfShifters
#FreeBook
#WritingCommunity

Firlefanz, 8 months ago to random

All right, people, I'm catching up on my bookkeeping - and I really need to bring in a little more money than I have with my books.

Which means this is the moment where I tell you that I do proofreading - and as non-native speaker, I find a lot more errors since I learned all that grammar the hard way. Bonus: I check your German phrases.

Special offer: $250 (only three slots, one per month)

I can start working on your book on October 4th. Send me a DM.

#WritingCommunity
#Proofreading

Firlefanz, 8 months ago to bookstodon

New Release!

Earth Splits is officially available in all stores! (Except Apple. They are slowpokes, but it's loading. Print soon.)

A dangerous secret. A desperate love. A terrible fate.

Earth Bear is a Pillar, wielding magical power, destined to be sacrificed for the greater good. She has a secret she’s keeping, protecting an enemy of the Empire from afar. In the night before her ritual death, he intervenes.

Universal link: https://books2read.com/EarthPillarsEmpire

#NewBook
#EpicFantasy
@bookstodon

Firlefanz, 7 months ago to random

So I'm starting so share good things. And I want to create a new hashtag or so to use when you want to jump into sharing hopeful news.

Below is an article about how to change cities so they heat up less. We'll need this in order to survive the heatwaves that will happen more often and become stronger.

These things are doable.

https://grist.org/project/cities/extreme-heat-resilient-city-design-urban-planning-climate/

(You could also do worse than subscribing to Grist.)

Let's unite around building a better future.

#BuildingHope

Firlefanz, 6 months ago to random German

"Wenn das Zugticket mehr kostet als das Flugticket, dann ist das nicht die Mahnung des freien Marktes an mich, dass mir Umweltschutz halt etwas wert sein muss, es ist ein Zeichen dafür, dass hier etwas nicht stimmt. Dass wir die wahren Kosten nicht auf wirtschaftlich korrekte Art einpreisen. Es ist ein Alarmsignal."

@florianaigner

https://futurezone.at/meinung/florian-aigner-kolumne-wissenschaft-umweltschutz-prestigeprodukt/402682432

Firlefanz, 4 months ago to random

PSA for my friends:

Mastodon has no algorithms. That might be a tad weird, especially for people who come from Xitter or FB where a Like actually triggers something.

Here, a Like triggers only one thing: a smile on my face. Thank you.

If you think more people should read a post, you must boost it. Then your friends can see it in their timeline. Nothing else.

There is no algorithm. You see posts by who you follow and what those people share by boosting.

Simple.

It's people, not algos.

Firlefanz, 1 month ago to random

Here's a very new thing: Indie Authors running their own stores.

If you follow the link below, you'll find 40+ fantasy and sci-fi books that you can buy directly as special deals. (One by yours truly, book 2 in the series. Book 1 is free in the store, grab it.).

This means, the authors earn more than through distributors. And you get a real file (generally delivered through BookFunnel that nobody can take away from you again.

Take a look here:

https://books.bookfunnel.com/may-fantasy-sci-fi-direct-from-the-author/th2zlg26zn

#BookSale
@bookstodon

Firlefanz, 3 months ago to bookstodon

You have probably seen me ramble about setting up my own store so I can sell my eBooks directly to you - my wonderful readers.

I'm finally ready to share it with you all.

Granted, not all my books are up there yet, so far it only holds the Winds and Pillars. So bear with me while I upload all the other stuff.

Even so, I want to link you to the blog post I just published, where you'll find the link, but also why I did all this.

https://www.hannah-steenbock.de/my-brand-new-online-bookstore/

#WritingCommunity
@bookstodon

Firlefanz, 1 month ago to random

Dictionary.com laid off all its lexicographers this month.

Presumably to replace them with AI. (My opinion.)

Sadly, thesaurus.com and dictionary.com are two of my most important resources when writing. I will look for alternatives now, because they basically decided to stop being a good service.

Enshittification is spreading at an ever increasing rate. It makes me sad. I thought we were headed towards a good future. Instead, it's turning... brown. 😬

#WritingCommunity
#AuthorLife

Firlefanz, 25 days ago to random

If you like noblebright stories (ones that emphasize kindness and hope, as well as good feelings), I have a small, curated list of books from Bookfunnel that you can get for free in exchange for your email.

My South Breaks is in it, because yes, my stories are noblebright.

The books will be up there until the 20th of May.

https://books.bookfunnel.com/noblebrightalliance/exts3c0cgz

#WritingCommunity
#Noblebright
#FreeBooks

(Whatever happened to the bookstodon group?)

Firlefanz, 1 month ago to sciencefiction

Also the final day for some great fantasy and SF ebook deals - free or reduced!

Yes, this is a very broad selection, but maybe there's something for everyone!

Check it out right here (and please boost, so more people get a chance to snag a deal):

https://books.bookfunnel.com/sci-fi-fantasy-sales-apr/w1okoe0oh8

#ScienceFiction
#Fantasy

Firlefanz, 19 days ago to random

#WritersCoffeeClub 5/20 -- When did you first know you wanted to be a writer?

I can almost give you an exact date: Jan 30th, 2000.

That's when I started writing down the first intense scene of a story that wasn't fan fiction. It grew and grew in my mind, into three years of hyperfocus and three completed novels with four more started.

Those prompted me to sign up with an agent. (Contract long dissolved.) I've been self-publishing since 2013.

#WritingCommunity
#IndieAuthor

Firlefanz, 11 days ago (edited 10 days ago) to random

#PennedPossibilities 329 How is your SC typically seen by others?

Oh, there is the sweetest side character in A Wolf's Fury: Ashley's neighbor Missy.

Everyone believes her to be a slightly hare-brained old lady, bumbling and perhaps with onset dementia, but Connor sees through that facade.

Because Missy is totally sharp and misses nothing. She also hides a fascinating past (even from me).

A Wolf's Fury, Wolves of the South 4

#WritingCommunity
#WolfShifters

Firlefanz, 9 days ago to random

#PennedPossibilities 331 — Has your MC ever desired the feeling of a fresh start, or a better understanding of themselves and / or the world around them?

Connor's worst moment was when his pack fell apart. When his leader turned out to be cheater, when he turned against his own second, over a woman.

He does get a fresh start, ending up as the pack leader himself, albeit of a demoralized and injured few men. Still, he does the best he can.

A Wolf's Fury

#WritingCommunity
#WolfShifter

Firlefanz, 2 months ago to random

#WritersCoffeeClub Apr 5: What's the best thing about being a writer?

I can create worlds for myself in my own mind, especially when I'm down and disgusted with this one.

Wilhelm Busch said that so well once (Balduin Bählamm):

Kaum missfällt
Ihm diese altgebackne Welt,
So knetet er aus weicher Kleie
Für sich privatim eine neue...

Even better when readers love these worlds and the people living in them just as much as I do. That is always so uplifting. (So yes, tell me!)

#WritingCommunity

Firlefanz, 2 months ago to random

#WordWeavers 374. Antagonist POV: How do you feel about animals?

I'll fall back to our antagonist friend, the Head Priest of Jungle Fortress, for this one.

"Animals are part of the Gods' creation, just like us. We should respect them, even as we use them. We should treat them well, care for them, and if necessary, make their deaths swift."

Sky Falls, Pillars of the Empire 2
(available in all stores)

#WritingCommunity
#EpicFantasy

writerobscura, 1 month ago to Writers

1/5 Got tagged by @madikonrad over at Tumblr for the 'Questions For Your OC'!! – answer 3 questions as your main OC(s) – since we’re #writers, we can write this as a narrative, first-person, or RPG style - anyway we wish.

When done, provide 3 new questions to pass on to the next creator. (you then tag others with 3 new questions)

My main OC’s are Aedan the Ancalite and Lucius Scipio Servius, and the following questions are from sapphic author, Madeline Konrad.

#WritersCoffeeClub #writerdons