Author: Ava Kelly

Snow Globes

Snow Globes

Snow Globes cover depicting a snow globe with a house inside against a soft green backgroundCollection: Contemporary, Holiday, Intercultural, Transgender, Family.

Release date: November 2021

Based around the holidays, the Snow Globes series follows a family as it comes together over four winters. Daniel, an elementary school teacher with a big heart and a collection of snow globes to match his travels, longs for a place to belong. When a snowstorm strands him in the home of Jeff and his daughter, Abby, Daniel wonders if this could be the family he yearns for. Out of misfortune, can a wish come true?

Over time, Daniel, Jeff, and Abby’s family grows. After years of self-enforced exile, Abby’s biological father Nick returns to claim his place in his family. Jeff’s friend Amber gains a girlfriend, and new members, twins Leon and Sara, are welcomed into the fold. When ten-year-old Ben, Abby’s bestie, is suddenly in need of a home, relationships are strained. Happiness, and what it means for each of them, needs to be redefined. But will it make them stronger?

With each holiday they share together, more and more traditions are added to the celebrations in this multicultural group. In the new series epilogue, Abby and Ben face an adventure of their own and we take a peek into the future.

Series: Snow Globes

Publisher: NineStar Press

Out now! NineStarPress | Storygraph | GoodReads | Universal buy link

Earthbound Nebula

Earthbound Nebula

Flash story: Science Fiction, Space, Earth, Post-apocalyptic, Time Travel.

Release date: August 2021

“When it approached, it was slow. Passive enough to get close, unencumbered by human worry, graceful enough that its scarlet brilliance had exalted awe instead of fear.”

Orchid’s Lantern Flash Showcase

Out now! Story online

Soulink

Soulink

Flash Story: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Aromantic.

Release date:  10 August 2021

This story has received a First Place in Queer Sci Fi’s Eighth Annual Flash Fiction Contest.

“Welcome to the largest support forum in the Free Station Coalition for those struggling with their soulmarks. Make sure to read the rules before you post. Be kind!”

Anthology: Ink

Publisher: Other Worlds Ink

Out now! Other Worlds Ink | GoodReads |

Alia Terra: A Minute with the Cast!

Alia Terra: A Minute with the Cast!

Image depicting two characters of Alia Terra. The Tower Princess has short, dark hair. She wears roundish glasses and a white ie (traditional Romanian tunic) with embroidery in red thread. Her tiara is coppery with swirls, rebel curls poking out from underneath. The Tower Dragon is covered in purple scales and wears narrow glasses over which their brown eyes gaze with playful kindness. Their wavy horns complement their majestic presence.

Exclusive! The Dragon Realm is buzzing with anticipation as the cast of Alia Terra step onto the stage! In an dazzling appearance, the cast will answer questions in the forest auditorium. Entrance fee is one small rock. Fallen leaves are also accepted. See you there!

As we near the end of our preorder campaign, consider the exclusive add-ons, the hardcover, and letting people (and dragons, and kittens, and critters, and cryptids) about Alia Terra.

Read here the character sheets with portraits by Matthew Spencer.

Kogaionon: the Sacred Mountain and the Other Realm

Kogaionon: the Sacred Mountain and the Other Realm

Illustration in color of mountain range and a sun setting with mosaic tile effect (by Ava Kelly). The colors are rich and deep, from yellows, oranges, to purple, blue and greens.

Today, an update about the Romanian concept of the Other Realm and how it fits with the Alia Terra stories. I hope you enjoy it. We are so close (so close!) to being able to add a hardcover, so please let people know about our queer, nonbinary, aromantic story project. Emily’s fingers are ready to type updates and posts about it; let’s get her to work. (^_^)

Read here.

The Nonbinary Folkware of Alia Terra

The Nonbinary Folkware of Alia Terra

What do we do when traditional folkwear is available in the eternal men’s/women’s binary but we have nonbinary characters? We reinvent! An update on the design of characters in Alia Terra with Romanian inspiration. Illustration by Matthew Spencer.

Gender diversity is important in the real world, and through stories we strive to impress this message. Read about it here.

Thank you for joining us on this journey through the Dragon Realm! We appreciate sharing this project!

Alia Terra: Salt and bread

Alia Terra: Salt and bread

Have you heard? We reached out first stretch goal and so we’re getting bookplates! Signed by me and Matt, their design is not in the works. Thank you everyone! Emily’s update talks about what happens next.

In the meantime, an update on a Romanian folk tale I remember fondly from childhood, and a Romanian custom of receiving guests. All with photos from the Turda Saltmines in Transylvania. Read about it here.

Thank you for joining us on this journey through the Dragon Realm! We appreciate sharing this project!

salt blocks in a wooden cart against a black wall made of salt from the turda saltmines in romania

Alia Terra: The genders of words and pronouns in Romanian

Alia Terra: The genders of words and pronouns in Romanian

photo of sunset over cityscape with handwriting of phrases in romanian and english: Domnia sa, soarele, surprins la apus. and Their lordship, the sun, surprised while setting.

As the Dragon Realm buzzes with news of the three stories, my first update to the project talks about the genders of words and pronouns in Romanian. Currently, in Romanian, we don’t have an official, ungendered, third person pronoun. What we do have is a polite, formal set. Dumneasa, in third person. It means, in literal translation, “their lordship” as it’s the modern, compact form of “domnia sa.” More about this here.

We are absolutely thrilled to have reached our first goal for Alia Terra! Thank you everyone! Minimum funding gives us one illustration per story, but if you’re like me, your inner dragon will want the hoard of pretty drawings to increase! Emily’s update talks about what happens next.

Alia Terra’s talented illustrator, Matthew Spencer, talks about his process and the stages of our main graphic image here.

Thank you for joining us on this journey through the Dragon Realm! We appreciate sharing this project!

Alia Terra: Stories from the Dragon Realm

Alia Terra: Stories from the Dragon Realm

Alia Terra: Stories from the Dragon Realm – a book of three all-ages queer fairy tales highlighting nonbinary characters, aromanticism, and personal acceptance from Atthis Arts. Written by me, illustrated by Matthew Spencer and edited by E.D.E. Bell, these stories in English and Romanian hold a message very dear to me: Our happiness is our own.

Pre-oder a copy here! If your inner dragon, wants some hoard, we have art carts, Romanian bookmarks, a custom D20 die and many other goodies.

We appreciate sharing this project! Thank you.