State of the Scribe: February 2025 · 9:31am February 1st
Hey pones! Here again for another month! Last month was pretty eventful, so we'll start by reviewing a little of that, then hit on what's coming for Feb. Things should be a little quieter this time but that doesn't mean there's nothing happening. Let's get into it!
First, remember the printing for Words of Power from the end of last year? We faced a few delays, but a long last the books have been shipped! As of you reading this, I put all the books into the mail on Friday (the 31st). The US packages are shipped with Media Mail to make them affordable, which does mean they can take a minute. I would expect every single person to get their books by the end of Feb.
International shipping is of course more complicated. Many of those have been delivered, while those in nations that require VAT on imports will require you to pay that before you can get your book (I would love to collect it up front and pay it on your behalf, but the EU is unaffordable expensive with regard to doing that. This process was in the $10k range when I talked to an attorney about setting it up, so... not possible for the kind of volume I sell into the EU).
If you ordered a copy of Words of Power and didn't get it by the end of Feb, drop me a DM here or on Discord and I'll get things sorted. Every time I do these there's one or two books that end up getting lost in transit, but that's why I print extras.
Anyway, here's my trunk full of books! US customers will get tracking info sent to them on Sunday the 2nd. If you're international and want your tracking, feel free to drop me a DM with your backer number and I'll investigate for you.
Anyway, I'll be thrilled to have that burden lifted from my shoulders. That was not supposed to take so dang long, but we got there! Now, moving on to stories.
The story about tiny fish mermaids, Playing Koi, finished last month. In its place we have a new story, Celebi Like Them. As the title implies, this is a pokemon TF story, meant to be the third in the series began with Mew Like Me. This story does not require the previous books to be read if you want to hop in now. For those who don't know, I post these on my Patreon primarily because Fimfiction is pony only, so I need somewhere they can live. One of these days I'll set up my own little fanfic site for these, but not today.
They're free for anyone to read, so if you'd like to check out a Celebi TF story, read it here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/new-story-celebi-121255137
Another Day at Unity is the other off-fimfic story currently here. This one is about the same world as Spirits of Change, a crossover with His Dark Materials where humans have pokemon for their daemons instead of earth animals. Only this story is an anthology, so we can explore all kinds of interesting perspectives. We do see Hayden return, along with many of the characters from the novel.
Check the first chapter here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/new-story-day-at-115556555
For ongoing stories, the other one is Quarantine, the almost-weekly Vote-Driven story. This one follows Elliot, a lowly waiter who happens to be on the forefront of a deadly magical disease, remaking those who are infected with it into equestrian creatures. All major decisions our protagonist makes will be decided by polls, which I am to be in all chapters (though I can't always pull this off. I'd rather have a chapter without a poll than one with a stupid forced choice about what to eat for breakfast).
No new weekly stories this month, so we'll just go over all those at the end. Second String is also continuing its course for a few more months. Phil has made great strides in integrating with Equestria, though a great deal still remains in liberating it!
What else have I been up to this month? Mostly writing the 4th (and final) book in the Forerunner's Child series, which I didn't quite finish in January. Still have 20-40k left there, so it may take me the rest of Feb to get it knocked out. But I'm really serious about getting those books published! I've got 2 covers done, ready for the real world printer. and store listings. I hope to have a sales announcement in my calendar next month. Quote me on it!
But that's the end of things for this month. Not as action-packed as previous ones have been, I know. But my writing time isn't as free as it used to be.
Thanks again for everyone who keeps me going--my large sponsors, and small patrons alike. Without you, I would've been done with fanfic a long time ago. You make all this possible!
-Starscribe
First, Ravana's Shadow. This story is the sequel to Forerunner's Child, a story about a remote human colony in the distant future (the same future as in Message in a Bottle, though this is non-pony). The colony, as it turns out, is run by children, without a single adult in their population. How and why did this happen? What's really going on? Follow Kit, an astronaut from ancient Earth, as she tracks down those mysteries, and ultimately becomes a part of the Mara colony.
This story is the sequel to that one, and I can't say much about it that wouldn't spoil the first one. Check the first chapter of Forerunner's Child here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/92942140
Playing Koi is among the silliest projects I've ever written. It explores a magical fish aquarium at a local mall, where the residents are all fish-sized merpeople. Our heroine ventures into the aquarium to track down her missing girlfriend, only to discover a strange world of time dilation, homicidal cannibals, and maybe kinda-sorta jumpstart an underwater industrial revolution? https://www.patreon.com/collection/655220?view=expanded
Finally, the newest weekly story, Another Day at Unity. This story explores the same setting from Spirits of Change, a Pokémon world inspired by His Dark Materials. In this world, every human is born with their soul outside their body, in the form of a Pokémon. These Pokémon decide your lot in life, and work together with their human to advance each others' goals. After the events of Spirits of Change, a school is built with the intent of educating new legendary and mythical children, as their powers make them exceptionally dangerous. This story is an anthology, beginning and occasionally visiting this school, while showing off some more interesting aspects of that world. https://www.patreon.com/collection/850471?view=expanded
Legio IX Hispania, our historical journey into the question of what if the lost Roman legion ended up in Equestria, unravels here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/new-story-legio-78027950
New Way Home is the story of when accidental human arrivals to Equestria are discovered by some very unfriendly creatures, and they're forced to fight for survival: https://www.patreon.com/posts/new-story-rescue-94115163
Family of Chaos follows a mysterious mare named Hurricane. She's lived lifetimes in Equestria, watching seasons come and go. It's only when Discord breaks free of containment that she begins to discover the truth, and her life is turned to chaos: https://www.patreon.com/posts/new-story-family-94115055
Accidental Sunshine: What happens when a young changeling accidentally discovers the existence of Ponies, and is forced to take on the identity of one to keep herself hidden? Friendship waits for her, if she's willing and able to take it. https://www.patreon.com/posts/new-story-105351764
Want a copy of one of my books? You can see what I've printed and buy a copy here: https://starscribe.net/
Obligatory Patreon Link: https://www.patreon.com/RealStarscribe
My Discord, a hub of fun writing activities and lots of other pony-related shenanigans: https://discord.gg/fZ2Y5KgbN2?event=1275614019373498368
Being Canada, I was earlier than first and my copy of Words of Power magically appeared next to my door last Thursday! Thank you!