July 22, 2026 Update

    Hello, dear readers!

    I know it's been a super long time since my last update, but I at least have some things worth mentioning in this update. 

    So I had a summer goal to get as far in Curse of the Red Amulet as possible. Even to complete the first draft. I've been on summer break since the beginning of May. Initially I was working on this book.

    

    For some reason, I kinda just didn't really want to write that badly, and then in the beginning June I got severe writer's block. I've never had writer's block like this before. I was still thinking of my stories and fleshing out the plot in my mind, but as soon as I sat down to write it was just... like the words wouldn't come.

    That lasted for over a month. I was actually starting to panic because I did have a goal that I was only 4,000 words into. Then last Monday, I felt my writer's block just... lift. I just had to write. So I went and grabbed my Chromebook and that very evening, churned out 1,000 words.

    I have basically been writing nonstop since then. Over the course of 9 days, I've written 14,000 words. Which is fantastic.

    Although this might be a newsflash for you guys... None of those words are on Curse of the Red Amulet.

    Sigh. I seem to keep doing this, don't I? 

    It is now that I might as well introduce my current work in progress, now that I'm 17,000 words deep in it. Which... is pretty serious. This has now become my 3rd most developed story. In less than 2 weeks. Honestly I've been writing so prolifically on this I've not dared to try to shift my focus over to Curse of the Red Amulet. Because yes, I want to finish Curse of the Red Amulet first, but this is also a story I do want to get published someday. So since writing has been so easy on this the past few days, I'm just going to continue with it for now.

    I refer to this story as #083. This one's quite different then other projects I've worked out. Instead of being Fantasy/Fiction like almost all of my stories, this one is Sci-Fi. It's been a lot of fun to write so far. Here's the synopsis I wrote for it:

Rory turned to face him, eyes wild and scared. “Nico, they found out what I am. I need your help. Before they find me.”

Nico’s gaze fell upon the streak of red at the corner of Rory’s mouth. He stood quickly. “Why do you have blood on your mouth?”

Rory didn’t respond immediately. He wiped his mouth with his fingers, and stared at the blood on them. Finally his gaze flickered back up to Nico. “I bit someone,” he whispered. 

16 year old Nicolo de Martino isn’t expecting anything out of the ordinary when he returns for a second year at his province’s Space Academy, an elite school that specializes in training teens for the Space Force. 

His roommate, 15 year old Rory Caldwell, is new to the Academy. Rory’s quiet and somewhat withdrawn, and just seems like he wants to go home. 

It’s not long before the two become inseparable friends.

That’s when the rumors start. Someone claims to have been bitten by a vampire. Quickly, the rumor grows. Students are reporting to the Academy’s infirmary, pale and lightheaded. Others flaunt strange marks on their necks. 

Nico thinks it’s nonsense at first. Vampires aren’t real. He can’t help but notice, however, how oddly Rory’s been acting. 

Rory always gets super quiet in the evening, and is never seen without his hood up after nightfall. He often returns minutes before curfew, with no good excuse as to why he was out so late. He’s often up long after Nico falls asleep.

Initially, Nico just chalks it up as coincidence.

But as Rory continues returning to the dorm just before curfew, Nico can’t help but start to believe that maybe vampires are real.

Then one day, Nico realizes that Rory has fangs. Everything seems to click into place with horrifying certainty. 

His roommate is a vampire. 

For a while, Nico doesn’t say anything, not wanting to become Rory’s next target. But finally, he confronts Rory about it and demands to know what’s going on. Rory tells him, and begs Nico not to turn him in.

But the truth turns out to be far more than just a pair of fangs and a thirst for blood. Unwilling to betray his friend, Nico promises not to tell anyone. For a time, things seem to return to normal.

Then an accident happens, and the whole school knows Rory’s secret. Now both boys are being hunted. Quickly, they find themselves caught up in a scheme more terrifying than either could have imagined – one that threatens far more than just Rory’s life.

    

    Until next time, 

                  Rhianna