Day 3: Magic Rises
15 days ago
– Fri, Jan 03, 2025 at 07:41:57 PM
Hello Defiant Ones,
Magic refuses to stay in its lane!
After yesterday's dive into the digital, we're switching gears to explore how magic weaves itself into the ordinary moments of country life. Today, we're talking about A Country Event, a tale that proves it's not wise to piss off a woman with power.
[🐉 The air shimmers with a hint of scales. 'Oh, well, you'll be right at home then.' Vren's massive head materialises. 'Shall I fetch you some straw? A banjo perhaps?' As he talks, you see a scrap of red leather caught between his teeth. ]
Vren… Is that a boot heel caught between your teeth? *a beat of silence and then—* Did you eat my Bronc Stompers?!
[🐉 The tip of a massive talon appears and picks the leather out. 'Hmm, yes, I believe it was. Rather tough, but you did want me to experience the local culture.']
I didn't tell you to eat my boots! My nice, new barely-worn boots! I haven't even got any mud on them yet, let alone gone for ride!
[🐉 'Yes, well, your horse looked liked he'd give me indigestion.']
*eyes narrow* Touch the Big Red and you'll wish you were the dude in today's story.
Today's Victory Report
- Current Funding: $926 (231%)
- Backers: 19 defiant souls!
- Next Milestone: $1000. Just $74 until we unlock the Hub and a new short story!!
Today's Tale of Defiance: A Country Event
Things come in threes, like weddings and crones and mail delivery that's far too efficient. Often those things come to people who have no luck at all, people like Niyha who have a way of pissing others off.
Behind the Rebellion
A Country Event is not the first story I've written in this rural fantasy world, but it is the first one where I thought, "oh, so that's a thing!" The connections between it and my other urban fantasy stories, including The Deli, haven't solidified yet and may never do so, except of course for the take-no-crap heroines giving the people who tick them off the bird.
Here's looking at you, Vren.
Tomorrow's Preview
Strap on your apron and get ready to breathe in the roast chicken, 'cause tomorrow we're going to The Deli, where the scariest things are behind the counter.
Quick Actions
- Share the campaign with fellow Rebels: [Link]
- Join the Discussion: [Link]
Until our next act of defiance,
Belinda
Check out these other awesome campaigns.
An Unconventional Mr. Peadlebody. Inheriting a dilapidated mansion & a tattooed butler sends a dysfunctional vampire family into chaos.
Secrets Under Winter’s Snow. A story of found love in a War-torn land. Will our soldier hero be willing to look past titles and accept who he really is inside?
Day 2: Digital Defiance
16 days ago
– Thu, Jan 02, 2025 at 06:14:21 PM
Hello Defiant Ones,
The rebellion goes digital!
You all absolutely blew me away yesterday with your enthusiasm! Already the connections between stories are sparking with life, and today we're diving deep into the virtual world with Bug Hunt – where even computer code knows how to rebel!
[🐉 A shimmer of teal scales reflects off your screen. 'Oh, are we finally getting to the interesting part?' Vren's voice drips with disdain. 'I was beginning to think you'd spend another day talking about quantum locks and heists, and miss the important bit.']
Not everything is about you, Vren.
[🐉 'Whoever said I was the important part?' Victory rumbles through the dragon's voice. 'You, that's who.']
Oh, scre—
[🐉 'Language.']
Today's Victory Report
- Current Funding: $897 (224%)
- Backers: 16
- Next Milestone: $100
Today's Tale of Defiance: Bug Hunt
Libraries can be dangerous places especially virtual ones; all those books on all those shelves may seem innocent enough, but you never know what's lurking between the digital pages. Some people though have a way about them, like Getty who isn't just a scholar, but the Scholar – all brain and no brawn, with eyes that miss nothing, even the things you can't see.
Behind the Rebellion
Some stories need time to find their place, and that was the case with Bug Hunt. If you've been following along with other Short Bits volumes, you'll know a little something about the I Am Maggie series (which you don't have to read in any particular order, but it helps if you do). When it was initially conceived, Bug Hunt was going to be the third story in the series, but now its found its place at number six, which is a good thing because if it had come any earlier—
[🐉 Your screen goes black and a voice rumbles, 'Spoilers.']
Oh, yeah. Right. Sorry.
[🐉 'Now, about the important bit...']
*low muttering, amidst which you hear several words that rhyme with "truck" and one that rhymes with "wagon".*
Anyway, as I mentioned in yesterday's update, Bug Hunt and the Maggie stories are part of the science fiction timeline, along with Gamer and the Hero Rebellion. And Vren.
Vren was born in the sci-fi timeline; if your eyes are sharp enough, you may be able to spot his origins in Gamer.
Tomorrow's Preview
Pointed hats and crystal balls are optional for tomorrow's excursion into the world of A Country Event, but I advise you not to piss off the witch and to watch where you step, manure gets everywhere.
Quick Actions
- Share the campaign with fellow Rebels: [Link]
- Join the Discussion: [Link]
Until our next act of defiance,
Belinda
Check out these other awesome campaigns.
I Am Maggie Volume 1: A LitRPG Cyberpunk Thriller. Enter a world where jet packs clash with swords, gods battle cyborgs and death is just the beginning.
STORM VALOR Collector's Edition. A foil stamped, collector's edition of this friends-to-lovers fantasy romance. For fans of Sarah J. Maas and Brandon Sanderson.
The First Victory!
16 days ago
– Thu, Jan 02, 2025 at 11:41:40 AM
Hello Defiant Ones,
Our first act of defiance is complete!
We did it! In just TWELVE HOURS, while I was sleeping the sleep of chased-by-xenomorph, we've funded! The Short Bits Volume 5 special edition with the exclusive Woman in White is a go!
[🐉 A shimmer of teal scales materializes, accompanied by what sounds suspiciously like party poppers. 'Finally!' Vren's voice booms with satisfaction. 'Though I knew they wouldn't be able to resist the quantum possibilities.']
There's glitter in those poppers, isn't there?
[🐉 The dragon pauses. 'Inter-dimensional glitter.']
Inter—? You know what, I don't care; we can explore that in STRETCH GOAL 1!
[🐉 '...You speak in riddles, human.']
*rolls eyes* Like you're any better.
The Numbers
- Funding: $882 (220% funded!)
- Time to fund: 12 hours (!!!)
- Rebels United: 15 defiant souls
- My Mind: Completely blown
Stretch goal 1: $1000
A new short story + The Hub unlocked! If we hit this stretch goal I'll write a brand new short story exploring the origins of the mysterious Hub (and yes, Vren too). You’ll get the story as a Kickstarter-exclusive advanced copy waaay before anyone else.
What's Next
- Limited Edition details incoming
- And yes, a certain dragon's "helpful suggestions"
[🐉 'My suggestions are always helpful.']
The Hub's filing system would beg to differ.
Until our next update (very soon!),
Belinda
Day 1: The Rebellion Begins!
17 days ago
– Wed, Jan 01, 2025 at 06:40:34 PM
Hello Defiant Ones,
The time for defiance has arrived!
This campaign kicks off a new phase in my storytelling, where all my disparate stories—from space opera to LitRPG thru urban and epic fantasy—start to coalesce and find connections in the Defiant universe.
I want to thank you early backers who have helped kick Short Bits 5 and the Defiant universe off with a bang (see what I did there? LOL). Every act of defiance starts somewhere unexpected – and today, we begin the journey together, with 6 new stories spanning the cosmos.
[🐉 Your screen fritzes, and for a moment, between the lines of static, a giant teal eye stares at you. 'Author, did you forget something?' The voice rumbles, low and deep enough to move mountains.]
Oh, yeah, silly me… Defiers, meet Vren! Vren, say hi.
Vren?
[🐉 ... ]
Vren, are you ignoring me?
[🐉 ... ]
*mutters* "Work with a dragon," they said. "It'll be fun," they said.
*more grumbling* Fracking dragons.
Today's Victory Report
- Current Funding: $321
- Next Milestone: $400 = Funded!!
Today's Tale of Defiance: So Long & Thanks for all the Diamonds
Often, rebels find themselves on the wrong side of the law and Lorelei Lee* is no different. Not that she sees herself as a rebel, more as a… teacher, delivering lessons on the concept of ownership, security and how not even the toughest vault in the safest location is invulnerable.
*[🐉 A low growl. 'The Author has an annoying penchant for obscure pop culture references. Enquiring minds may enjoy finding this one.']
Behind the Rebellion
So Long & Thanks for all the Diamonds was inspired by a book cover, which came complete with the Douglas Adams-inspired title. I know, I know it seems a little backward to write a story based on a random cover with a random title but… the muse works in mysterious ways, and mine in particular likes to defy convention.
In case you're wondering, Diamonds sits firmly on the Defiant universe's science fiction timeline – a place of AIs and living spaceships, where the science gets real close to magic but never quite tips over. The Hero Rebellion and Echo trilogies live in this universe, along with Bug Hunt and the rest of the Maggiestories.
[🐉 Scales ripple under your screen and through your speakers comes the sound of giant leathery wings settling. 'It is my origin too. Small and humble. And secret.']
Tomorrow's Preview
Tomorrow, grab your VR goggles and prepare to go digital as we plunge into the world of games and virtual libraries in Bug Hunt.
Quick Actions
- Share the campaign with fellow Rebels: [Link]
- Join the Discussion: Who's your favourite rebel? [Link]
Until our next act of defiance,
Belinda
Check out these other awesome campaigns.
Library of the Realms: an Urban Fantasy Book Series. An ambitious librarian with an alter ego, a half-elf bounty hunter, and a quest to safeguard a magical library from thieving demons.
Iron & Rock. The second instalment of the Starfire alternate world epic fantasy trilogy, where dangerous icefire rays from a giant world called "the Mother" ravage the world.
