Musing on Crows…

So I stayed up super SUPER late last night. I made it through all of my rough draft of A Court of Smoke & Crows!!! It may still need small touch-ups, but I caught some continuity errors and softened one of the harsher scenes so it didn’t stand out so much from the rest of the story.

I’m also debating a few elements of the ending, whether or not the spooky factor needs further ramping up. I think it needs a sequel, once I’m up to it. Pondering what that might look like.

Pexels didn’t seem to want to load today, at least not for setting a featured image, so I’m including a pic of one of my older sketches from a journal. I think it fits pretty well.

The third season of Outer Banks released today on Netflix. Pretty pumped about that, though I’ve only watched one episode so far.

And I got out for a walk. There were small flurries drifting here and there at that time. The snowflakes have gotten fatter and the snowfall heavier since. I’m kind of craving pizza, but I’m not about to make someone drive in this weather unnecessarily over it. I have burger patties aplenty. Had a delicious salad for lunch.

So, what do I do with the sequel to A Court of Smoke & Crows? What would I even call it? Believe it or not, the title A Court of Smoke & Crows came from a fantasy book name meme I found online. I loved it and kept it in mind. Then I had a dream that inspired the narrative.

Crows appeal to me symbolically, as do ravens. Not sure if they would play as important a role in the second story/novella. There’s a shift at the end of the first story that I won’t spoil, that may require fresh themes.

I’ll have to muse on it some more. Of course, there’s no harm in starting to rough out a scene or two and see what direction the story takes. I’m thinking now of the poetic expression, “As the crow flies.” Stories rarely travel that directly, however.

Nonetheless, maybe the second tale needs something of dark feathers and mystery, as well…

Thankful today for inspiration, fresh air, exercise, creativity, and friends and family. And entertainment. And having somewhere warm to be while the snow falls outside.

I’m kinda beat from poor sleep but may attempt some cookies. I’ve got a half bag of peanut butter morsels, left over from S’mores Nachos. The recipe on the bag is for chocolate peanut butter cookies and calls for cocoa powder, which I lack.

My thought was to use the Tollhouse cookie recipe with peanut butter chips instead and maybe only use half the dough today. Then I could save the rest of the dough and add chips to that when I had more. That way the cookies will still have enough chips each.

Just feel like I want something to do while I’m home all day today. I did some very light cleaning yesterday. Could always do more of that. But… cookies. LOL. Priorities, right?

Have a great rest of your day!

Here’s the opening to a lullaby of sorts that comes up within A Court of Smoke & Crows. Enjoy!!!

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“Acacia’s Lullaby” Excerpt

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Forbidden wishes and

feathered kisses, you

shiver under her breath.

Open your soul to her

eyes black as coal, and

she’ll free you forever

from death.